Museum Prepares For Opening
By Doug Loftis
Out front, a dozen or more students from Halifax County Senior High's masonry classes were mixing motor and laying the final bricks where the sign of the new South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts will be positioned.
Inside, carpet was being stretched and secured at the north end of the main gallery where, just a few away, the dismembered, nude and scattered body parts of several mannequins lay curiously upon the floor.
"I used to get a quarter to stand on this shelf and wash this mirror," Dick Smith said as he carefully leaned forward and installed one of the four clear glass fixtures on the massive backbar that stands stately against the auditorium wall.
It was just a year ago when the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History began renovations of its new home on the corner of Wilborn Avenue and Webster Street but now that this weekend's formal opening is just hours away, an almost frantic effort by scores of volunteers is all focused on having the facility ready for the expected hundreds, perhaps thousands, who will see it for the first time. If there is a common thread that bonds the museum and its more than 200 members, named and anonymous patrons, it is that of voluntarism. Without it, there would be no need to even schedule Sunday's grand opening which begins with a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.
Special invitations have gone out to state and local elected officials included Governor George Allen and Governor-elect Jim Gilmore but as of yesterday, neither had responded.
The same adjective-massive-that describes the solid oak, 24-feet long backbar can be used to measure the task of renovation that includes the building of an interior courtyard complete with stone walls and swinging iron gates, a replicated country store with fixtures and stock, a gift shop where visitors can purchase such items as a custom designed afghan with stitched images of area landmarks or a 1997 Christmas ornament bearing the museum's image and that's only the beginning.
Drawings are now be prepared for a stage that will include the porch columns from the old Lord Halifax Hotel. Remember the glass doors leading into the Princess Theatre and the tin man that once hung above the King's Metal Shop on Short Street? The theatre doors survived the fire that destroyed the downtown landmark while the tin man, sans legs, now lie in wait for a place inside the museum.
Just moving the hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia has been exhaustive. The backbar's 18' x 6' solid plate mirror required 10 men to raise into place.
It is somewhat of a miracle that the highly ornamental bar survived to become a focal point in the museum. Believed to have been built in Roxboro, N.C., it bears the date 1895 and functioned for years in the old Patterson's Drug Store on lower Main Street.
As a boy, Dick Smith remembers how the depression caused his family to lose their home in the 1920s and his father, Rufus L. "Red" Smith moved the family of six into an apartment on the second floor of Patterson's Drug Store. The young Smith persuaded the late J.G. Patterson to hire him for odd jobs that included cleaning the long mirror over the bar that doubled somewhat as a yesteryear sports information center.
How?
The drug store had one of the few radios around during those days and when the World Series was being played, he'd listen to the play action and post with Bon Ami soapthe box scores on the long mirror. It kept patrons running in and out of the drug store throughout the series to see who was winning.
When Patterson's finally closed, the family removed the backbar and stored it at Green's Folly, their family home. When the home was sold in later years after its surrounding acres became a golf course, Smith was asked by the family to sell the bar.
A portion of the bar was sold and it is now a fixture in Hill's Tavern on Wilborn Avenue, almost in sight of the new museum's home.
Smith even succeeded twice in finding buyers for the bar only to have the deals fall through because it was so tall, 11 feet in fact. Among those disappointed buyers were Ronnie and Joyce Green who had planned to have it installed in the new Ernie's Restaurant after fire destroyed the original facility in 1995.
As fate would have it, the bar found a final and quite appropriate home in the museum but not before it was carefully restored by Doug Clark, a local cabinet maker. The item is valued at approximately $18,000.
And yes, Clark volunteered all the materials and labor.
It's all part of the remarkable story that may best be described in the museum's motto: Moving into the future with an appreciation of the past."
The county school system may attempt to buy the Craddock Terry factory building in Halifax.
County school superintendent Dennis Witt told county school board members at a budget work session Monday night that school system officials are eying the building as a site for the school system's Alternative Education program.
"We're talking with representatives of the company," school superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday.
"We have done a lot of groundwork and have talked to the company and they're interested. Right now, they don't have a plan for the building."
Witt did not reveal any price figures that have been discussed but did say that the cost of purchasing the facility appears to be reasonable.
"For that kind of space under roof we feel it's very reasonable," he said.
"The money looks reasonable as compared to building a facility. We can offer them a tax writeoff because we are a public agency so there could be some negotiation for so much in cash and so much as a tax writeoff."
Witt said that he hopes to make a recommendation concerning the Craddock Terry property to the Halifax County School Board at its January 12 meeting.
The school superintendent added that he plans to make a recommendation to the school board concerning a comprehensive school facilities development program, a recommendation that he says will be a variation on the recommendation that the school facilities taskforce made to the school board in April, at that same meeting.
"We hope to have something together by the first of the year," remarked Witt.
"When we get to talking about facilities, we'd like to know if this is an option in our facility plans."
The school superintendent said that school system officials are well along in their groundwork on the Craddock Terry building. Witt said they have toured the facility and have acquired information from Craddock Terry officials concerning what has been done to the facility and when.
"We would need to do some renovation," Witt noted, "like putting up some walls and that sort of thing. But, the infrastructure, the heating and air conditioning and the plumbing and so forth, appear to be very sound."
Witt said the idea to explore the possibility of acquiring the Craddock Terry facility arose from a similar situation that occurred in Brunswick County. The result there, he said, was a good one for both the school system and the industry.
The need for a larger, more comprehensive Alternative Education program has increased over the past couple of years as the number of students in need of services and the number of students in need of remediation have risen.
Witt pointed out to school trustees that the Craddock Terry building is a sound structure and that, plus its location in Halifax, make the facility an ideal site for the alternative education program.
"It would be a wonderful alternative school," added Witt.
"The potential there is unlimited for all kinds of programs, especially the alternative program."
The school system operates an evening Alternative Education program at the old agriculture building located on the Mary M. Bethune complex in Halifax. A daytime alternative program is in operation at the school board's Mountain Road Annex on Route 360 west of Halifax.
"We do not have a proper place for an Alternative Ed program," Witt told the school board.
"We're doing good with what we have. But, we could be more efficient and do a better job with a proper facility."
School trustee Patricia Nelson pointed out that the entire Alternative Education program needs to be restructured. Pointing the impending implementation of the state's new Standards of Learning, Nelson noted "obviously, there is going to be more remediation."
She also said that there are also elementary and middle school students "that are need of something different than what they're getting. If we fail them, the community pays for it."
Witt said yesterday that school system officials will be evaluating and re-examining the school system's Alternative Education program with an eye toward restructuring the program regardless of whether or not the school system acquires the Craddock Terry property.
"A lot of the programs run in the evenings," Witt said.
"And, it's a short program that is focused on the GED. We feel we need to try to get some job skills in. And, we feel we need to have students go to school in the daytime. We've got that program and we have Project HOPE and somehow we need to try to mesh those programs better."
Hiking starting salaries for teachers, school facilities issues, and expanding summer school.
Those were chief among a variety of topics school trustees discussed Monday night in their initial work session on the 1998-99 school budget.
No proposed total budget figures were compiled or discussed But, school trustees and school system officials did mull over issues that will have a major impact on the 1998-99 school year budget which may exceed the current $38 million budget package.
In terms of salaries, trustees and school system officials focused on concerns of school system officials that the starting salary for teachers in Halifax County needs to be more competitive with those in neighboring localities.
County school superintendent Dennis Witt proposed that the starting salary for teachers be elevated to a point that would equal the third step on the salary scale. Based on the current scale, that would mean an increase from $23,750 to $24,800. However, the final numbers that will emerge later this spring will likely be different.
In conjunction with that, Witt proposed that the base salary for teachers be the same for each of their first three years in the school system with those teachers receiving that salary plus whatever base salary increase that the school board implements.
Teachers are under a probationary status for their first three years and it would be those teachers that would be affected under this proposal.
Starting with their fourth year, teachers would receive the step increase plus the base salary hike.
Witt said Monday night that school system officials are eying a base salary increase of three percent for the 1998-99 school year.
This move, Witt said,"will get our entry salary up and give us better attracting power to get new teachers. It will have very little extra cost and it will help us a lot."
School board vice chairman Carl Furches noted that "we also need to get the top end (of the salary scale) straightened out as soon as possible."
Furches was referring to the fact that due to the huge increase in the final step of the salary scale, the school board has had to place ceilings each year on the amount of increase to be doled out on the top step. As a result, it has taken several years in some cases for some employees to reach that final step.
"The way you're doing it now and putting a ceiling on it, I don't know how to do it any other way," Witt remarked.
School facilities issues will likely have a major impact on the school system's budget. But, what that impact will be is not yet known.
"We have 15 schools and we have several small schools with a full time staff and a full time principal," Witt told the school board.
"It's a philosophical and political issue as well as a budget issue. It's very real."
One idea offered by Witt was, in the case of small adjacent schools, to have one principal be responsible for both schools.
"You have the option of one principal doing two small schools," Witt told the trustees.
"It's a great budget impact when you have a full time principal for a very small school."
Witt said Monday night that he will make a recommendation regarding a school facilities development plan to the school board at its January 12 meeting. But, he declined to speak about specifics.
"We are going to make a recommendation to the board in January," Witt stated.
"It will be some variation of the recommendation that the (facilities) committee made last year."
In April the school facilities taskforce recommended to the school board a $70 million long range plan that calls for the closing of seven county elementary schools including Clover, Cluster Springs, Halifax, Volens, Virgilina, Washington-Coleman, and either Meadville or Wilson Memorial.
Along with that, the plan called for renovations and or additions to C.H. Friend, Clays Mill, Scottsburg, Sinai, South of Dan, and Sydnor Jennings to accommodate 450 students each and the construction of two new schools, one at Turbeville and one at either Wilson Memorial or Meadville, to accommodate 450 students each.
That move would reduce the number of schools from 15 to eight.
Also, the taskforce proposal calls for renovation of the existing middle school to accommodate 900 students and construct a new middle school at a site to be determined to accommodate 600 students.
In addition, the plan offered by the taskforce calls for the renovation of Halifax County High School to accommodate 1,800 students.
Witt told school trustees that there is a need to expand the summer school program to offer remedial work for students and that the need will increase with the impending implementation of the new state Standards of Learning and Standards of Accreditation.
The state will require that school systems implement a remedial program when the new standards are phased in.
"It could be done as an after school program but, more than likely, we will have to expand summer school," Witt said.
School system officials are eying holding summer school at four different sites in the county.
"We think we can reach more children and do a better job than by having it only at the middle school," the superintendent stated.
Furches proposed that the body consider purchasing an additional 25 video cameras to install on county school buses as a safety measure. Several of the buses are already equipped with video cameras that monitor the activities of students on the bus.
"We've got some tough situations on some of these buses," Furches said.
"The way the situation is getting, we need to be doing something to head off some of this stuff."
Former school board chairman D.H. McDowell, Jr. expressed concern over the seemingly large amount of time and effort students are spending in school PTO, club, and athletic team fund raising projects.
"I think our PTOs do a good job and they have done a lot for our schools," McDowell said.
"But, some people have told me that they feel that they (students) do it (fund raising projects) too much and that the school system should put more money into it (the schools)."
"I think it's important to keep the children and the PTOs involved in the schools," added McDowell.
"I think we should appropriate a little more money per student for supplies and
things like that."
Maintenance concerns, primarily with roof repairs at several schools, were also noted Monday night with Raleigh Moorefield particularly expressing concern over the roof at Volens Elementary School.
The 1998-99 budget package will likely contain a proposal for the purchase of eight new school buses, a move that will keep the school system in line with its tradition of replacing school buses every 12 years.
And, there was word from school system officials that an estimated $50,000 in energy savings may result from the installation of a digital control system for the heating and air conditioning systems at Halifax County High School.
A major flood control project in the Orleans Avenue area and next year's street pavement and surface treatment programs were approved by South Boston Town Council Monday night.
Council also approved the town's new long-range Comprehensive Plan after several people spoke in opposition, decided to sell about $73,000 in Trigon Healthcare stock and okayed a $34,300 boundary adjustment survey.
Council's action on the flood control project apparently resolved a problem that has lingered for a long while, and especially since the visit of Hurricane Fran to the community in September of 1996.
With the help of FEMA funds, the town will pay an estimated $107,000 to improve flood protection and reduce the possibility of future damage on Orleans Avenue at Reedy Creek.
FEMA first made an award of $50,380 to repair the 60-foot metal arch culvert at the location.
However, the town's consulting engineers, Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, are recommending a double 8-foot by 8-foot box culvert as a "betterment" to the metal culvert, and Council is asking FEMA to approve this with an allocation in excess of $106,000.
The culverts, Town Manager Ken McLawhon said, will increase "the adjoining area's ability to handle a 100-year event or to a level which should sufficiently reduce the possibility of future damage in this direct vicinity."
Asphalt paving was approved for Edmunds Street from Summit Drive to Wilborn Avenue, Johnston Street from Watkins Avenue to Noblin Avenue, Logan Street from Wilborn Avenue to Broad Street, Meadow Drive from North Main Street to Hamilton Boulevard, Riely Avenue from Vaughan Street to Chamberlain Street, Robinson Court from Meadow Drive to dead end, Suggs Avenue from Briggs Street to Williams Street, Summit Drive from Railroad Avenue to Bancroft Street and Yancey Avenue from Fenton Street to North Main Street.
In association with the paving, curbs and gutters are planned for Riely, Suggs, a portion of Summit Drive and Yancey Avenue.
Surface treatment was approved as follows, on all or portions of:
Johnston Street, Bancroft Street, Wagstaff Lane, Mineral Street, Decatur Avenue, Alderson Avenue, Fuller Avenue, Traver Avenue, McCanless Street, Jefferson Avenue, Belt Street, Railroad Avenue, Glenn Avenue, Railroad Avenue, Beard Street, Logan Street.
Also, Robin Hood Road, Oak Lane, Tanglewylde Drive, Carrington Street, Truxton Avenue, Spring Avenue, Maid Marion Lane, Ward Street, Taylor Avenue, Soil Street, Spring Avenue, Stebbins Street and Wall Street.
Total cost of this work is $256,273.31.
The public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan drew comment from four individuals, all of whom were opposed to it.
Chief among the speakers was Biggy Hunt, a Centerville businessman who has property that will be included in South Boston's outward boundary adjustment.
He had several suggestions as to how the town and county could save taxpayers' money, such as using the Ferry Street Taylor Building as a new Town Hall, combining the two emergency 911 systems, and boosting tourism rather than spending money on providing parking and other services for downtown.
He noted that the Plan says recreation facilities are adequate, but then mentions a $1 million need. He said that, overall, he had heard that the cost to implement the Plan is bout $30 million, and how it is to be paid for.
He said that Town Council should have a presence at Supervisors meetings, and vice versa, but noted that is impossible at the present because they meet at the same time.
He pointed out that the town is employing a fulltime Community Development Coordinator, but she spends nearly all of her time on downtown, leading people in Hupp's Mill to refer to their situation as taxation without representation.
Hunt also wondered if the people are aware of the Comprehensive Plan and what is in it. He especially wondered if the people to be included in the boundary adjustment are informed.
Town Manager McLawhon said the document has been made available to the county and to all interested citizens.
Mac Ragans and Ray Conner, two Riverdale businessmen targeted for inclusion in the South Boston boundary adjustment, and Reba Wade, a Green's Folly subdivision resident, also spoke against approval of the Plan.
"We suffer enough over there. We're fighting to survive," Ragans asserted.
Wade posed a question to Council: What's in the Plan to help us?
The South Boston Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Plan on October 8, and afterward recommended its adoption. Copies of the Plan have been on view at the Town Manager's office and at the South Boston Public Library.
At Monday's meeting, Council also:
*Authorized the sale of the 2805 shares of Trigon Healthcare stock the town acquired when Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield became a public company, at a price of not less than $26 per share, or a total of $72,930 minimum.
*Okayed a boundary adjustment survey by Jones & Associates, if the boundary proposal wins final approval, at a cost not to exceed $34,300.
*Decided to have town forces perform the work toi effect a storm drain solution on Vaughan Street, at a cost of $9,248 rather than the $23,500 it would have cost to contract it out.
*Approved the connection of the Rice property at 2513 North Main Street to the town's water system at a cost to the town estimated at $1,163; the property is served by well water and is within 500 feet of the landfill, which violates state regulations.
*Had Mayor Glen N. Abernathy, on behalf of Council and the town, present a resolution to Mr. and Mrs. John Cole III and radio station WHLF on the station's 50th anniversary.
*Approved revisions to Cornerstone's by-laws, at the request of Cornerstone.
Saturday will be a big day for the Alton Community community as residents will gather to usher in the Yule season with the annual Alton Christmas Parade.
Stacy Hughes, one of the organizers of the event, said that 40 units have been signed up to participate in the parade which will begin at 11 a.m.
The parade will be held rain or shine.
A variety of other activities are scheduled in conjunction with the parade in the heart of Alton that day starting with a Crafts Fair at 9 a.m.
The Crafts Fair has drawn a lot of interest, Hughes pointed out, and a good number of vendors are expected. Anyone wishing to reserve a space for the Crafts Fair should contact Hughes at 753-1523 or Charlotte Prevette at 753-2557. Spaces for the Crafts Fair are available free of charge.
Also, parade organizers are seeking float entries and other units to participate in the parade. Anyone wishing to enter a float or other unit in the parade should contact either Hughes or Prevette at the above mentioned telephone numbers.
Hughes said that while they are seeking entries of floats carrying a Christmas related theme, any floats will be accepted. She added that it is not mandatory that groups or individuals sign up ahead of time and that any units that show up on Saturday will be allowed to participate.
A major disappointment to parade organizers is that there will be no high school bands in this year's parade.
"There are three other parades at other locations Saturday and there is a major band competition that a number of area bands participate in," Hughes said yesterday.
"None of the bands that we thought we would have will be with us this year."
Among the 40 units that have entered the parade are a unit from The Woodview, the Halifax County High School JROTC, Lillian's Dance Academy, and the Turbeville 4-H Club which will have a float as well as horses.
A dozen local pageant winners and a float bearing several state pageant winners will also be in the parade.
"Plus, we will have a lot of cars, motorcycles, trucks, and fire trucks," Hughes said.
Awards will be presented for Most Creative Float, Most Religious Float, and Best In Show Float. Awards will also be presented for First Place Twirling Team, First Place Drill Team, Best Dressed Horse and Rider, Best Dressed Horse and Buggy.
The parade will follow its customary route. Units will line up on Route 711 between the Spring Hill Recreation Club site and Bobby Shotwell's home, Starting on Route 711 (Harmony Road), the parade will move along until it turns to head down Route 655 (Blane Road).
The Crafts Fair will kick off activities in the heart of Alton at 9 a.m. and the Alton Homemakers Club will conduct a bake sale.
There will be plenty of delicious food available throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Due to the complications with bands being scheduled for other events, Hughes said that the date of the Alton Christmas Parade will be moved to either the second or third Saturday in December.
While the 1997 Alton Christmas Parade has yet to unfold, the 1998 version of the Alton Christmas Parade is already taking shape. Hughes said that six area high school bands including GW High School and Dan River High School have committed to participating in next year's Yule event. And, Bob & Madison from Raleigh, N.C. radio station G105 have already committed to serving as the Grand Marshal for the event.
"We're going to have a good time and do the best we can this year," Hughes said, "and, at the same time, look forward to next year."
The deer population in Halifax County should be stabilized at current levels, two state wildlife biologists told the Halifax County Board of Supervisors Monday night during their regular monthly meeting.
"No deer are going to starve in Halifax County; we're no where near that now," commented Matt Knox, a Deer Program Supervisor of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
However, deer are indeed responsible for crop damage and vehicular wrecks, and deer hunting is a proven method to stabilize the populations.
Knox, who is based in Forest (near Bedford) and fellow District Wildlife Biologist Patrick D. Keyser, who is based in Farmville, appeared before the supervisors to answer questions and concerns that arose from a public hearing last month on eliminating the ban on using rifles to hunt deer. That proposal failed in a 5-3 vote, after a heavily-attended public hearing.
Knox presented a history of deer in the state, which has shown a rapid increase in population, especially in the last two decades, he said.
"In 1940 two-thirds of the entire state had no white-tail deer at all," he said. Such deer are now virtually located in all parts of the state, including populous areas such as Fairfax County, he said.
The current deer population in Halifax County is between 14,000 and 21,000 deer, according to Knox.
After a question from supervisor Dickie Abbott, Knox explained that, generally-speaking, the larger the density of deer, the smaller the size.
It could be advantageous to the farmer suffering crop damage and the deer hunter who wants bigger trophy kills to have a decrease in the deer population, Abbott pointed out.
Knox and Keyser agreed, but maintained that the current level is acceptable and should be stabilized.
An increase in the number of days that hunters are allowed to shoot deer is not the key in decreasing the local deer population, Knox told the board.
"The highest numbers of deer kills in the state are in Southwest Virginia and they only have a 12-day season," Knox explained. "When the season is stretched out, there's no pressure on for the hunters. But when you have it like that (shorter period), they all go out and get the deer running (causing more kills)."
Instead of increasing the length of a season, the key to controlling deer population is increasing the length of the doe season. "The way to control the deer herd is by killing doe," Knox said. "You won't control deer by killing bucks."
Another way to control the deer population, especially in a specific area that is suffering crop damage, is by kill permits. These permits allow landowners to shoot deer by otherwise unlawful means, such as out of season and even spotlighting at night.
In 1996, there were 13 kill permits issued in Halifax County, an increase from four issued in 1995, and five issued in 1994, according to Knox.
The largest number of kill permits issued in the state is in Southampton County (Southeastern Virginia), which has a heavy concentration of peanut and cotton farm operations, he added.
Knox asked for comments from the board for the statewide Deer Management Plan which is being drawn up to create a six-year framework of "what needs to be done, how to do it, and when it should be done," he said.
For more information and for comments, citizens can write the Deer Management Plan, attention of Matt Knox, 910 Thomas Jefferson Road, Forest, Va. 24551 or call (804) 525-7522, or fax, (804) 525-7720.
In other matters:
· The board unanimously approved a resolution to increase the fees for garbage and refuse that is taken to the Halifax County Landfill by the county from privately owned and rented containers.
Those fees will increase from $2.25 per cubic yard to $4.00 per cubic
Minimum fees were set at $16 for a four-cubic yard container; $24 for a six-cubic-yard container; and $32 for an eight-cubic-yard container.
The motion to increase the fees was made by supervisor Tom West and seconded by supervisor Robbie Smart.
· A proposal to amend the Halifax County Code concerning the application of building codes and fees on farm buildings was referred to the Agricultural Committee for further study. That motion was made by supervisor Bill Abbott and seconded by Smart. It passed 7-0.
· Supervisors Satterfield and West were re-appointed to terms as elected officials on the Southside Planning District Commission. The commission seat previously held by supervisor William Coleman, who was not re-elected to the board, was filled by supervisor Smart.
· County Administrators Dan Sleeper told board members that the landfill's trash compactor was damaged by a fire this past weekend and may be out of operation for at least 30 days. Curently, wide load permits to transport the machine to a repair site have not yet been obtained.
In the meantime, a compactor will have to be leased at a rate of about $200 per day, he told the board. No damage estimate has been determined on the compactor.
The fire was possibly caused by a fuel line that pulled loose or ruptured,
Sleeper told the board.
An arrest has been made in the beating of a Prospect woman which took place in a parking lot of the Halifax Regional Hospital on November 16, according to Lt. Rick Loftis of the South Boston Police Department.
Jerry Jerome Wright, 28, of Prospect in Prince Edward County was arrested on November 26 on one cout of felonious assault, Loftis said.
Wright was arrested by officers of the Prince Edward County Sheriff's Department on a warrant filed by the South Boston Police Department.
He allegedly beat Melissa Royale during a domestic dispute in the front parking lot on Sunday, November 16, according to the investigation.
"It is important to note that this is a case of a domestic violence and was not a random attack on a person at the hospital," Loftis pointed out. "He came there looking for her in particular."
Wright was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on December 10.
Police are investigating the breaking and entering of two area businesses which occurred sometime between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Good's Lawn and Garden Center in Centerville was broken into at approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday. Police responded after an audible alarm was triggered by someone who pried open a basement door, according to the investigation.
A Virginia Department of Corrections K-9 team was called to the scene, which followed a trail to a nearby mini-storage area where the suspect is believed to have gotten into a vehicle, police said.
Owners of the facility reported the theft of a chain saw, according to the investigation.
Officers from the towns of South Boston and Halifax assisted in the call. The case is being investigated by Sgt. T.E. Logan of the sheriff's department.
A second breaking and entering case is being investigated in the Town of Halifax, police said.
The Halifax Tire Company located behind the Halifax Exxon was discovered broken into at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when employees arrived.
Entry was gained by someone who broke a side window. The store safe was also broken into and officials are currently trying to determine what was stolen, police said.
The case is under investigation by the Halifax Police Department, with assistance from Investigator C.A. Bates of the sheriff's department.
A charge of assault and battery filed against a former Halifax County Sheriff's Department investigator was dismissed Monday morning in the Halifax County General District Court.
Kurland Roark, who is currently employed by the Brookneal Police Department, had been charged with assault and battery of Tracy Beadles.
Substitute-General District Court Judge Lee Stilwell of Danville dismissed the charge after sustaining a defense motion to strike the evidence after Beadles' testimony.
The incident occurred in a parking lot in the Town of Halifax on October 26. Roark was off-duty at the time of the incident, according to testimony.
In another case, Jason Thomas of the Union community was convicted on eight counts of not having county dog tags for his eight dogs. Charges of not having rabies shots for the dogs were dismissed after he provided documentation that the shots had been given.
He was fined $75 and court costs.
A Long Island teenager escaped injury after a single-vehicle wreck Sunday afternoon on Rt. 640, according to the Virginia State Police.
Delano Brian Grasty, 19, was driving a 1985 Nissan which came upon a rain covered stretch of road, 100 feet south of the intersection with Rt. 639, police said.
Grasty lost control of the vehicle, ran off the left side of the road, and overturned. Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $1,800, according to the investigation.
He was charged with reckless driving by Virginia State Trooper R.T. Ridgeway.
In other wrecks:
· Mary Helen Boyd, 41, of Nathalie was driving a 1992 Volvo Friday night on U.S. 501, when a deer came into her vehicle's path and was struck and killed.
Damages to her Volvo were estimated at $3,800 after the 11:40 p.m. incident, police said. The incident occurred on U.S. 501, seven-tenths of a mile south of Rt. 795.
No charges were filed and the wreck was investigated by Virginia State Trooper M.S. Roark Jr.
· A two-vehicle crash Friday night on U.S. 501, one-quarter of a mile north of U.S. 58, injured an Alton woman, police said.
Janey Marie Hunter, 34, of Alton was driving a 1989 Chevrolet when she was struck from behind by a 1982 Chevrolet driven by Edna Garland Fields, 45, of South Boston.
Hunter, who was injured, was stopped waiting to make a left hand turn when her vehicle was struck, according to the investigation.
Damages to Hunter's vehicle were estimated at $2,500 and damages to Fields' vehicle were estimated at $1,200.
Fields was charged with following to closely. The 10:35 p.m. wreck was investigated by Trooper Ridgeway.
Police are searching for a 15-year-old juvenile who escaped from custody Monday afternoon following his arraignment in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The incident occurred at about 3 p.m. in the intake area of the Halifax County Jail, according to Major Ray Link of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
"As soon as a jailer took the youth's handcuffs off so he could eat his lunch, the juvenile fled through the door of the area which leads to the hallway," Link said. "At this point we don't know which direction he exited the building, but we believe it was through the front of the building."
The youth did not have leg shackles on, he added.
The juvenile, who is from the Virgilina area, was brought from the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center in Danville Monday morning for arraignment on two felony charges of breaking and entering and one felony charge of grand larceny.
Those alleged incidents occurred in Halifax County. He was scheduled to be taken back to the W.W. Moore facility after his lunch, according to the investigation.
The juvenile will be facing a felony charge of escape upon his rearrest, according to Link.
"We would also like citizens to remember that anyone who may be hiding this individual may face a felony charge of harboring a fugitive," Link pointed out.
The juvenile is described as a white male who was wearing blue jeans and has blonde hair.
Anyone with any information on his whereabouts are asked to call the Halifax County Sheriff's Department at 476-3339 or the Halifax County Crime Stoppers at 476-8477.
Chris Cory Foster, 35, of Halifax was charged Tuesday with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
He allegedly assaulted Lois Conner, a household or family member, on Monday, according to the investigation.
Foster was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of failure to appear in court for a previous charge, police said. He was arrested by Deputies H.L. Farmer and Danny Martin.
Foster is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on December 10.
In other cases:
· Rashee'd Rodney Wallace, 26, of South Boston was charged with a felony count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The alleged incident occurred on November 18.
Wallace is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court. He was arrested by Sgt. M.A. Womack.
· Donnell Gregory Edmonds, 27, of South Boston was charged with a misdemeanor count of violating a protective order. He allegedly called the home of Wanda Brion against the court order, according to the investigation.
Edmonds is currently in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on December 9. He was arrested by Sgt. T.E. Logan and Deputy R.C. Lipscomb.
Annie Palmer Gilliland, 98, of Route 2, Brookneal, died Monday, December 1, 1997 at Virginia Baptist Hospital. She was the wife of the late James Bates Gilliland.
Mrs. Gilliland was born in Charlotte County, November 6, 1899, daughter of the late Luke B. Palmer and Hettie Fallen Palmer. She was a member of Staunton River Baptist Church and a retired employee of Campbell County Schools.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, James and Dorothy Gilliland of Nathalie, William and Edith Gilliland of Naruna, John and Mildred Gilliland of Forest, and Wilson and Margaret Gilliland of Lynchburg; five daughters and two sons-in-law, Edith G. Doss of Brookneal, Hettie G. Buckley of Lynchburg, Laura G. Carey of Lynchburg, Mabel and James Derbin of Lynchburg, and Elizabeth and Edwin Johnson of Lynchburg; 24 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence Palmer and Innis Palmer; and one sister, Willie Ethel Trent.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, December 3 at Staunton River Baptist Church by Rev. Clint Brooks with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Lena Mae Tarry, 62, of 1378 Buffalo Springs Road, Buffalo Junction died Tuesday, December 2, 1997 at her home.
Mrs. Tarry was born in Iradell County, NC on November 23, 1935 the daughter of Henry and Angerone Patterson. She was a graduate of Jerry's School of Beauty Culture, and was a 31 year employee of Burlington Industries.
Survivors include her husband, Larry Tarry; one son, Patrick A. Tarry; three brothers, John L. Patterson of Arlington, Claude Patterson of Clarksville and Lonnie L. Patterson of MD; one daughter-in-law; six sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Tarry will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 4 at St. Mark Baptist Church, Buffalo Junction with Rev. John H. Brown officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, December 3 from 7 until
8:00 at C.H. Harris Funeral Home in Clarksville.
Louise Stephen White of Brooklyn, NY died Saturday, November 22, 1997 at
Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, at the age of 81.
Mrs. White was born in Halifax County.
Survivors include four daughters, Earline Powell, Linda Wheless, Joanne Logan and Dollena Ealy, all of Brooklyn; five sons, William White, Hular White Jr., Benford White, Delmer White, and Edgar White, all of Brooklyn, 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; five sisters, Maude Pope of Chatham, Mattie Womack of Richmond, Hattie Jones of Chester, PA and Faye Stephen of Washington, DC; two brothers, Charlie Stephen of New Rochelle, NY and Joe Stephen of Capital Heights, MD; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. White were held Friday, November 28 at 1 p.m. at County Line Baptist Church in Vernon Hill with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Otis Dillard officiated.
Charlie Edward Edmonds Jr. of South Boston died Sunday, November 23 at Fort Washington Hospital in Fort Washington, MD, at the age of 85.
Mr. Edmonds was born in Halifax County
Survivors include three daughters, Lottie Patterson of Riverdale, MD, Delois Price of Silver Springs, MD, and Joyce Edmonds of Temple Hills, MD; three sons, Velton Edmonds of Temple Hills, James Edmonds of Upper Marlboro, MD, and Phillip Edmonds of Ocean Grove, NJ; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Anderson of Washington and Nettie Mayo of South Boston; one brother, James Edmonds of Largo, MD; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Edmonds were held Saturday, November 29 at noon at New Vernon Baptist Church in Vernon Hill with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Roger Ford officiated the service.
Rose Stovall Reeves of South Boston died November 24, 1997 at Duke Medical
Center in Durham, NC.
Mrs. Reeves was born April 3, 1944 to the late James and Rose Lee Stovall and was 53 years of age at the time of her death. She was married to David Reeves.
Survivors include her husband of Harrisburg, PA; four daughters, Yvonne Walton of South Boston, Mary Ann Stovall, Sabrina Reeves, Conchita Reeves; one son, James Reeves, all of Harrisburg; five brothers, Raymond and William Stovall of South Boston, James Stovall of Mt. Laurel, John Lee Stovall of Brookneal and Joe Lewis Stovall of Harrisburg; four sisters, Sally Hamlett of Clover, Josephine Stovall, Lelia Stovall and Gladys Stovall, all of South Boston; one son-in-law, Calvin Walton; three grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Reeves were held Saturday, November 29 at 2 p.m. at the chapel of Kent, Ballou and Crowder Funeral Service with Rev. William Dixon officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church cemetery.
Rosetta Brandon Jeffress of 1198 Jeffress Trail, Alton died Thursday, November 27, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 79.
Mrs. Jeffress was born in Halifax County on July 18, 1918 the daughter of Charlie Ed Brandon and Sarah Brandon. She was married to Willard McDoward Jeffress and was a member of Greater Brandon Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Pearlene Powell of Alton and Arlene Beamon of Newburgh, NY; two sons, Solomon and Wylie, both of Alton; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gladys Pointer of Alton and Eva Jeffress of Baltimore, MD; three brothers, Clifton Brandon, Edward Brandon and Charlie Brandon, all of Newburgh, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jeffress were held Sunday, November 30 at 2 p.m. at Greater Brandon Missionary Baptist Church in Alton with Rev. Darren Brandon officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
William Henry Faulkner of 1200 East Hyco Road, South Boston died Friday, November 28 at the V.A. Hospital in Richmond at the age of 64.
Mr. Faulkner was born in Halifax County on April 30, 1933 the son of William Faulkner and Janie Green Faulkner and was married to Inez Aires Faulkner. He was a member of First Baptist Church in South Boston.
Survivors include five step-children; two sisters, Dollie F. Nealous of Raleigh, NC and Frances F. Houston of Newark, NJ; one brother, Charlie E. Faulkner of Suitland, MD; one brother-in-law, Willie Houston of Newark, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Faulkner will be held today, December 3 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in South Boston with Rev. Alan G. Smith officiating. Burial will take place Thursday at 11 a.m. at Virginia's Veterans Cemetery in Amelia.
The family will receive friends at the home of James Faulkner,
310 Johnson Street, South Boston.
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