Friday, February 6, 2004

House Kills Warner's Tax Plan
Wednesday's Vote Could Set Off Battle Between House, Senate Republicans

Gov. Mark R. Warner’s wide-ranging tax reform proposal was killed in the House Finance Committee Wednesday, along with more than 30 other proposals to increase the state’s sales, gasoline and cigarette taxes.

While Wednesday's vote is likely to set off a battle between House and Senate Republicans, Del. Clarke Hogan (R-60) said yesterday that lawmakers would work to protect core services.

"This is the first step in a detailed budget plan," he said. "But we will work very hard to make sure core services remain (in the budget)."

Senator Frank Ruff (R-15) said yesterday that structural issues between the House and Senate made the vote necessary.

"In the Senate, the Finance Committee handles both revenues and expenditures," he said. "While in the House, the Finance Committee handles revenues and the Appropriations Committee handles expenditures.

"House Appropriations didn't know what they would be working on with their base budget," Ruff added.

"For them (House Appropriations) to start working on the budget in good faith, all tax bills had to be either killed or passed to give the a baseline."

Ruff said that since there were a number of tax proposals on cigarettes, most Southside legislators were "very happy."

"This means the House budget will be developed with no new taxes at all," he said.

House Republicans appear ready to draft a new state budget without raising taxes, while the more moderate GOP-controlled Senate is likely to endorse a hefty package of increases.

The panel voted largely along partisan lines, 13-7 with two abstentions, to defeat Warner’s proposal, which sought to cut some taxes and increase others to raise about $1 billion in additional revenue he maintains is necessary to prevent a shortfall.

Democratic Minority Leader Franklin P. Hall said Virginians, meanwhile, ‘‘are caught in the crossfire of bitter ideological warfare inside the Republican majority in this General Assembly.’’

‘‘Already some in the partisan militia are talking about a billion dollars that is going to appear like magic from some great economic miracle in the sky,’’ he said.

Republicans on the panel, however, rejected that claim, sticking to their assertion that tax increases are not necessary to help the state rebound financially.

‘‘I want to do what’s right for Virginia, but we also know that the economics are clear,’’ said Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William. ‘‘If you’re a tax-increasing state, you actually hurt economic growth. Now is not the time to raise these taxes.’’

The Republican majority on the committee killed nearly three dozen individual tax increase bills in addition to Warner’s, some of which were submitted by fellow party members. Many of the bills sought to raise the state’s lowest-in-the-nation tobacco tax, but others targeted the gasoline tax, which was not part of Warner’s proposal.

One tax bill passed out of the committee — a Republican-endorsed measure to eliminate the tax that is levied on the estates of millionaires when they die. Similar legislation passed the House and Senate last year only to be vetoed by the governor.

Warner also had repealed much of the estate tax in his sweeping proposal this year, leaving it in place only for estates valued at more than $10 million that are not working farms or closely held family businesses.

Portions of Warner’s tax plan could re-emerge in the compromise that budget writers from the House and Senate will have to work out before the legislature adjourns on March 13.

But Del. Harry J. Parrish, sponsor of Warner’s proposal and the only Republican to vote for it, said lawmakers sent a clear message Wednesday that they would oppose any effort to pass a budget based on revenue resulting from tax increases.

‘‘Most of the governor’s package is a good proposal,’’ Parrish said. ‘‘The decision was to make it a party vote.’’

Ellen Qualls, the governor’s spokeswoman, said that seemed to be at the direction of the House leadership, which has vowed only to consider increasing what it describes as ‘‘user fees’’ on cigarettes and gasoline.

‘‘Over the next several weeks as they elect to work this out in the budget process, we will see competing visions for Virginia,’’ Qualls said.

‘‘The governor’s vision preserves our fiscal integrity and keeps our commitments. The other vision appears to be what the House Appropriations Chairman (Del. Vincent Callahan) has already labeled draconian.’’

The House Appropriations Committee released a budget memo last month detailing $1 billion in potential cuts ranging from highway construction to education services for at-risk 4-year-olds if taxes are not increased.

E-911 Center Begins Operations
Currently Handling SoBo Police Calls, Will Take Over All 911 Calls Wednesday

After more than two years in the planning and construction stages, the county's new Emergency 911 center is up and running, already accepting calls for the South Boston Police Department, according to Allen Bober, E-911 director.

The facility is consolidating the county's emergency dispatchers to one location. The dispatchers will mobilize officers for the Town of Halifax, South Boston and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department, as well as emergency rescue personnel and firefighters.

"This will benefit emergency services personnel from having to duplicate calls and transfer calls between departments," Bober said. "It will also save us money because we're not having to duplicate services."

Although not fully on-line yet, emergency calls that were being handled by South Boston dispatchers are already going to the center.

"Right now, we're just accepting calls for South Boston," Bober said yesterday. "Next Wednesday, we're expected to begin receiving calls for the Halifax County Sheriff's Department."

The new state-of-the-art center, located adjacent to the Mary Bethune Conference Center in Halifax, is complete with an Emergency Operations Center, a facility that can be equipped with multiple computer terminals to handle large-scale emergency scenarios, a kitchen and snack room for the employees.

"We upgraded the 911 phone system," Bober said. "The two systems that were being used were aging and obsolete."

The facility cost around $700,000, with funding coming from state grants, 911 surcharges and a loan from the county.

A fully secure building with a keyless entry system, the facility is equipped with a drive-through window so emergency and law enforcement personnel can drop off paperwork.

The facility is set to begin with three dispatchers on at all times, but is equipped to handle up to five dispatchers at once, Bober said.

"I'd like to thank the E-911 Board, the Town Councils and Board of Supervisors for their assistance in making this facility a reality," Bober said.

"I'd also like to thank the citizens of the county for their patience as we moved forward to better serve and protect the county."

New Non-Emergency Numbers
South Boston residents need to take note of a new telephone number that can be used to report any problems or concerns they may have with water and sewer, sidewalks or streets, garbage collection, animal control, non-emergency fire or police calls, or other concerns.

The new number is 575-TOWN or 575-8696.

Residents need to continue to use 911 for police, fire and medical emergencies.

The new number is being instituted due to the consolidation of emergency services.

"We felt it necessary to have a new number that residents can call when they have problems or concerns with town matters," a spokesman for the South Boston Public Works Department said. "We hope that residents will remember to call the town when they have questions or concerns and use the 911 number for fire, rescue and police emergencies."

Political Issues To Dominate Tobacco Conference
Legislation, Buyout Top Speaker's Agenda

When producers converge on Halifax County High School for the 11th Annual Virginia Tobacco Conference, buyout legislation pending in the U.S. Congress will be a main topic.

The event is expected to get underway in the auditorium Saturday at 10 a.m.

U.S. Congresman Virgil Goode is expected to offer an update on the pending legislation as well as the political dynamics of the House and Senate as far as the legislation is concerned.

Following Goode's address, Del. Clarke Hogan will discuss current tobacco issues in the Virginia legislature.

"We have a number of bills ranging from issues affecting tobacco to a new Secretary of Agriculture to general tax policy that could potentially affect farming at large, not only in Halifax County but across the region as well," Hogan said yesterday.

"I look forward to having the chance to speak and listen to the comments of those who continue to produce tobacco in these troubling times," he added.

Dr. Dixie Watts Reaves, extension economist with Virginia Tech, will offer the group insight on the effects of economics on the potential tobacco buyout.

Reaves has held a number of leadership and committee positions at Tech, including President of the College of Agriculture.

She currently serves as President-elect of the national Food Distribution Research Society and hosted the 2003 National Institute on Cooperative Education.

Keith Parrish will offer a summary of current litigation between DeLoach and Phillip Morris and the potential involvement of tobacco producers.

Dr. David Reed, tobacco research specialist at Virginia Tech, will discuss current tobacco production issues.

Tommy Bunn, executive director of the Leaf Tobacco Exporters Association, will discuss options available to producers in the event a buyout isn't forthcoming.

Motivational speaker Matt Lohr will headline the conference, offering a humorous look at life with the power of positive thinking.

Following the presentation of an award of appreciation, the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association will hold their annual meeting.

After a report on pending resolutions by Don Anderson, a Board of Directors will be nominated.

Nominees this year include Billy Wilkinson of Mecklenburg County, W.B. Bass III of Campbell County, Wally Roberts of Brunswick County, Monte Mason of Charlotte County and Johnny Angel of Franklin County.

It’s Not ‘Championship Week’
HCHS Blue Comets Still Face Critical Games Against PH, Franklin County

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Mother Nature has once again put a damper on things - so much so that the Western Valley District boys basketball championship will not be decided this week.

While this week has lost its Championship Week status, it will still be an important week for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team with key games that will impact the title race.

Instead of a three-game week for the Comets in which they were scheduled to face Franklin County twice with a game against Patrick Henry sandwiched in the middle, the Comets will now play two district games.

Freezing rain and resulting harzardous road conditions forced postponement of Monday night's Halifax County - Franklin County game in Rocky Mount - a game that would have broken the deadlock between the two teams for the lead in the Western Valley District standings.

That game has been rescheduled for Wednesday night, February 11.

Last night, the Comets hit the road and traveled to Roanoke to face Patrick Henry in the first of two district games they face this week.

The Comets are scheduled to conclude the week with a home game Friday night against Franklin County.

Comets coach Garrett Dillard said his players were disappointed they didn't get the opportunity to square off against Franklin County Monday night as scheduled.

While the team didn't get to play Monday night, it did get in some practice time.

Dillard said Monday's practice went well.

"The kids were disappointed that we didn't get to play but we came in and practiced and had a really good practice," Dillard said yesterday.

"We just have to play it (the road game against Franklin County) when we have to play it. We try to prepare the kids to be ready to play whenever game time comes."

With the Franklin County game having gone by the board, last night's game against Patrick Henry was the Comets' next task.

Halifax County defeated Patrick Henry by six points when the two teams squared off here on January 20.

Last night's game marked the first time the Comets had returned to Patrick Henry since winning the Western Valley District Tournament championship game there last year.

"We're going to be prepared for Patrick Henry," Dillard said.

"We're going to focus on that game and not worry about Franklin County and GW."

After last night's contest, Halifax County has three district games left, a Friday night game here against Franklin County, a road game against Franklin County next Wednesday and a road game against GW in Danville next Friday.

If the Comets managed to defeat Patrick Henry last night, they could lock up the district title by winning both of the Franklin County games or by winning one of the two games and getting some help in the form of a GW win over Franklin County.

As it stands, the regular-season district title and its accompanying berth in the Northwest Region Tournament, will likely be determined between the Comets and Franklin County.

The two teams have a two-game cushion over their nearest challenger.
Unless both teams stumble with an unexpected loss against another district opponent, the district title will go to either the Comets or Franklin County.

Obituaries

Sallie Lipford Davis

Sallie Lipford Davis, 78, of Catawba, N.C. died February 3 at Clinch Valley Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held today, February 6 at 2 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, Indian Trail Chapel with the Rev. Lawrence Funderburk officiating.

Burial will follow at Ritch Cemetery.

Mrs. Davis was born February 16, 1925, in Halifax County the daughter of the late Wilson and Sallie Ann Lipford, and was married to the late Roy C. Davis. She was a member of Welcome Baptist Church.

Survivors include six sons, George W. Shearin and wife, Colleen, of Indian Trail, N.C., David R. Shearin and wife, Janet, of New Salem, N.C., R. Wilfred Shearin of Monroe, N.C., Dexter D. Davis and wife, Myra, of Mebane, N.C., Michael Davis and wife, Wanda, of Monroe, and Larry Davis of Kernersville, N.C.; one daughter, Diane Rogich and husband, John of Richlands; one brother, Keith Morris of South Boston; 21 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Davis was also preceded in death by one son, Harold E. Shearin; and a grandson, Chad Davis.

Dorothy Edwards

Dorothy Edwards, 79, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., formerly of Scottsburg, died January 31 in New York.

Ms. Edwards was born in Bronxville, N.Y. on October 8, 1924, the daughter of the late Willie Edwards and Mamie Edwards. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

Survivors include two sons, Bruce Edwards of Los Angeles, Calif. and Lawrence Edwards of Raleigh, N.C.; one daughter, Carolyn BenReuben of Mt. Vernon; one adopted daughter, Malika MacCabee of Mt. Vernon; one brother, Arnold Richardson of Scottsburg; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Ms. Edwards will be held tomorrow, February 7 at noon at Spanish Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Ronald Womack and William Coleman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church Saturday.

Velma Roberts Jones

Velma Roberts Jones, 87, of Augusta, GA, formerly of South Boston, died February 3 at Forrest Lake Health Care in Augusta.

Mrs. Jones was born in Halifax County on January 28, 1917, the daughter of Elijah Thomas Roberts and Daisy Jane Hipkins Roberts, and was married to the late Claude Radcliff Jones.

Survivors include three daughters, Evelyn Barbara Larson of Augusta, Ann Jones Jarrell of Henderson, N.C. and Helen Jones Mandich of Beaufort, S.C.; one son, Hugh Steve Jones of Richmond; one stepson, Bobby R. Jones of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mrs. Jones will be held today, February 6 at Powell Funeral Home Chapel in South Boston at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Horace Murray officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.