Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Kerry Wins County, State
Despite Low Turnout, County Voters Show Strong Support For Front-Runner

The perceived front-runner in the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for President easily won the support of Halifax County voters yesterday.

Despite lackluster turnout at the polls in the county, Sen. John Kerry easily won the hearts and minds of county voters, with 841 voters giving him the nod for Virginia's delegates.

North Carolina Senator John Edwards came in a distant second, with 457 votes.

Former NATO commander General Wesley Clarke finished third in Halifax County, with 143 votes at press time.

The Rev. Al Sharpton finished fourth, with 93 nods from the county's voters.
Howard Dean, formerly considered the front-runner for the party's nomination, finished a disappointing fifth, garnering only 60 votes from county voters.

At press time, Dennis Kucinich had made only a token showing in Halifax County, receiving nine votes. Lyndon LaRouche received six votes.

The two candidates who have dropped out of the race each received single-digit votes from county voters. Joe Lieberman garnered nine votes and Dick Gephardt received three.

With Virginia holding open primaries, all of the 20,372 voters registered in Halifax County were eligible to go to the polls yesterday regardless of party affiliation.

Results of yesterday's primary will determine which candidates 82 of the state's 98 delegates to the Democratic National Convention will support.

Ed Committee Issues Report
Advisory Panel Recommends Broad Changes To Instruction, Facilities

Following months of studying the county's school system, W.W. "Ted" Bennett, chairman of the Halifax County Advisory Committee on Educational Improvement, outlined sweeping recommendations - and had some strong words about the condition of the county's schools - to the Board of Supervisors and School Board Monday night.

The plan includes broad changes in facilities, school organization and instruction.

Safety Issues Are A Top Priority

The committee recommended addressing safety issues in the schools as a top priority.

In recommending upgrades and improvements to the county's school building, the committee had some strong words on the current conditions of the schools.

"After completing our investigation, research and school visits, we found that none of the school buildings that were omitted from Phase I of the school renovations and consolidation efforts of the School Board are up-to-date or adequate, and have in several instances unsafe features," Bennett said.

"They certainly do not meet the guidelines and principles for attractiveness, functionality or truly meet the goals, either educationally or otherwise, as set forth in the general principles adopted in this report."

The chairman said that none of Halifax County's schools, except those recently renovated, "compared favorably to any schools we have seen" in surrounding counties.

"In sum, the schools' conditions in too many instances are deplorable, pervasive and of such long standing they present an exceptional challenge both physically and fiscally for the county in that the need for repairs have apparently far outpaced the ability of the school system to repair and maintain them," he said.

The committee singled out Washington Coleman, South of Dan, Cluster Springs, Halifax and Sinai Elementary Schools and the middle school as being "extremely overcrowded and in many instances, safety issues raised are of concern."

Bennett said several studies have indicated that students perform better in functional buildings.

"We find it incomprehensible to believe the saying that 'buildings make no difference in a child's learning,'" he said.

Another point the committee addressed is the disparity between the conditions of different schools in the school system.

"This disparity is harsh and vivid and presents a clear moral and ethical dilemma for all who wish to provide equal educational opportunities to all the county's children," he said.

"The attractiveness and quality of our school buildings speak volumes about our core values and priorities as a community," Bennett said.

Bennett said the middle school condition is a critical issue because every student in the county passes through during their "transition years" between elementary and high school education.

Second Middle School

One option the committee presented is the construction of a second middle school and renovation of the current facility.

"It is our belief that 984 students or there about is simply too large a school for the children of our county," he said.

Bennett added that the location of the current school made transportation times an issue.

"Perhaps a location can be found in the county for a second middle school, conceivably north of Banister River, to relieve transportation time for those children in the far northern outreaches of the county," he said.

The committee also presented the option of removing grade six from the elementary school level to the middle school if the second school is constructed.

"This should relieve the necessity for an extra number of classrooms needed to be built otherwise at those schools that have sixth grade and save some... construction costs," he said.

Another suggestion presented by the members of the committee centers on converting the Mary Bethune Complex into the second school.

"It would be much less expensive than building a second, new middle school," he said. "This option would also offer the same benefits of a new additional middle school, probably offering more opportunities and extracurricular activities for students and a reduction of space for construction needs at the elementary school level if the sixth through eighth grade alignment was adopted."

Academic Issues

"All students must exit high school with the knowledge and skills to allow them to exercise choices among the options of entering the workforce; obtaining post-secondary technical education or training; going on to college, graduate or professional school or combining these pursuits," Bennett said. "Academic achievement and preparation for work are inclusive, not exclusive, concepts."

In an effort to facilitate a more competitive education in the county, the group recommended the establishment of the Magnet Governor's School in the county.

Bennett suggested the school could be located in the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston.

"The committee recommends to the two boards the establishment of a world class magnet school for the eleventh and twelfth grade students," he said.

If established, Bennett said the purpose of the school would be to foster analytical and critical thinking.

"Currently, the predominant mode of instruction by teachers in most schools in the county... is the "tell, text, test," one blanket approach for all students," he said. "This is an accepted mode of instruction for the entire cross-section of students in a given class, and is essentially based on the theory that "one blanket fits all.""

But Bennett said his committee had extensively researched the subject and found that all students do not thrive under this teaching model alone, that many need a more challenging learning environment.

"Such a one-blanket approach does not fit those students, but when the two methodologies are used in conjunction with each other to a higher degree of sophistication, then one's schools and classrooms begin to enter what is euphemistically known as world class education," he said.

The chairman said committee members had contacted the Halifax Educational Foundation and they had agreed to apply for $1.5 million in tobacco funds for the school, and planned facilities at The Prizery could be available for use by the school.

"The availability and conjunction of these two facilities would make for exceptional offerings to the advanced students and significant capital savings to the taxpayers," Bennett said.

Offering Students A Career Path

The committee also recommended the two boards consider the establishment of an Applied Technology and Career Exploration School for all eighth-grade students in the county.

"The popular view that students need to know something upon graduation that would be of economic worth to themselves and society - they simply need a marketable skill - has spilled over into our faculty, teachers and administrators particularly at the high school and middle school," Bennett said.

He added that both critics of the school system and ordinary citizens have been calling for this option for decades.

The committee recommended that all eighth grade students be required to participate in one of the career exploration paths at one of two proposed middle schools.

"This option would manage to reduce the size of the student population in the current middle school building by some 240 students a day," he said, adding that "this option would also be significantly less expensive. It is estimated that the capital costs of this center would be at least half the costs of a second, new middle school."

"Community Schools"

According to Bennett, while everyone wants small, community schools, the fiscal reality of offering a quality education and range of services at the community school level make schools containing less than 300 students unworkable.

He cited several reports from, among others, the U.S. Department of Education.

"Those diminishing returns reflect the economic realities of being able to afford the cost of administering these much smaller schools, while at the same time attempting to deliver fully and adequately all the educational programs in the system to the child," Bennett said.

He singled out reading specialists, who currently have to travel between schools losing valuable time traveling.

"The committee recommends that while it is essential to pull the child out of the school for reading improvement, do not pull the reading teacher out of the school," he said.

After discovering, for example, that only eight percent of the students at Halifax Elementary Schools live within the Town of Halifax, and 92 percent are bussed to the school - some from as far away as Airport Road, Bennett recommended the school review its attendance zone policy.

"The use of these old attendance zone lines may now be outdated or otherwise turn out to be artificially drawn," he said. "The same analysis and concern should be shown to Virgilina (Elementary School) to determine whether or not a shift in attendance zones would warrant taking a second and serious look at reopening that school.

"Our committee recommends that the Virgilina issue be revisited at least in terms of whether or not there is some artificiality in the drawing of the attendance zones that penalized Virgilina unduly and might be reasonably corrected, if not reopened, if sound educational principles seem to so dictate," Bennett said.

In an effort to make the best use of the current school locations and retain an enrollment of 300 students per school, the committee recommended building a new combined Washington Coleman/C.H. Friend Elementary School and convert the existing C.H. Friend building into a sixth grade Magnet School for students living in and around South Boston and south of the Dan River.

The committee told the two boards that similar action should be taken with the Halifax and Sinai elementary schools, converting Halifax Elementary School into a Magnet School for students living north of the Dan River.

Following the report, School Board Chairman Arthur Reynolds said he hoped the group could implement some of the recommendations of the committee.
"It is my hope that the report won't just be a report but that we will take it seriously and will take immediate action to try to correct many of the problems we have in the county with our schools," he said. "I think all of the items that were listed are very important.

"We have to take a look at the amount of money we have to work with and attack those problems that we consider to be the highest priority," Reynolds said.

School Board Vice-Chair Sandra Rister said she was impressed with how thorough the committee was in their findings.

"I think they have done a marvelous job of trying to find ways of not only giving us good world class education but trying to also help us find a way to pay for it," she said.

But Steve Anderson said the board had been considering many of the options presented.

"There were a couple of new initiatives in there like the Governor's School but, as far as the rest of it is concerned, it is things the Board had already discussed at some point in one way or another," he said. "We've got a lot of things we need to tackle right away.

"We need to decide where do you begin," Anderson added. "I agree the middle school needs to be a priority. But the elementary schools have needs too. Where do you go?

"There's nothing surprising," Halifax County Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald said. "I've been in the schools and I've seen what they're talking about. I understand.

"The question is how do we get there and to what extent?"

Fitzgerald said there were a couple of options as far as funding.

"We could go to referrendum and let the people decide or we can decide on a capital initiatives program and follow that," he added.

The members of the committee are: Bennett, Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, Michael Hudson, Larry Layman, Wanda McDowell, Phillip Saunders, Thomas Stutts and Fields Thomas.

All of the members of the committee voted in favor of recommending the renovation of the current middle school and the construction of an applied technology and career exploration center for eighth-grade students except Abbott, who prefers the construction of a second, new middle school north of Banister River and the renovation of Halifax Elementary School.

Saving Clarkton Bridge
State Agencies Join In Effort To Preserve Treasure From Southside Virginia's Past

Unanimously supporting a resolution to take a section of Route 620 near historic Clarkton Bridge out of the Secondary Highway System, supervisors took another step Monday night in "the multistep process" to save the bridge linking Halifax and Charlotte counties.

VDOT seeks to cease ownership of Clarkton Bridge by March 15, and discontinue jurisdiction over right of way for a section of Route 620.

Preservationists hope to open the bridge to bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
That plan fits with a developing Halifax County tourism effort promoting bike, equestrian and pedestrian trails.

Cost estimates to preserve and adapt the bridge for recreational use have also decreased since first explored.

Clarkton Bridge Alliance spokesman P.K. Pettus said that VDOT estimated in their report that it would cost roughly $200,000 to demolish the bridge. VDOT estimates repair to its decking and a support pier at approximately $218,000.

She said VDOT will make demolition funds available to the new bridge owner for these costs and support TEA-21 grant application.

Improvements to the bridge to carry light maintenance vehicles and remove lead paint could increase the total to more than $1 million, according to the VDOT report by engineers Wallace T. McKeel Jr. and Jose P. Gomez of the Va. Transportation Research Council.


The steps could be phased over time.
Pettus also told supervisors that APVA Preservation Virginia has agreed to interim ownership of the bridge until a permanent owner is found, if key conditions are met.

The APVA Board is scheduled to meet later this month.

Identifying a long-term owner of the bridge is one condition, and the Alliance suggests permanent ownership under a multi-jurisdictional parks and recreation authority.

The bridge crosses the Staunton River and is located near Staunton River Battlefield State Park, which claims land and operates facilities in both Charlotte and Halifax counties.

"It is not over," said Pettus yesterday of the fight to preserve the bridge. "But working together we can sit down and figure a way over the hurdles.

"The Clarkton Bridge Alliance and VDOT are working together as partners toward two shared goals," Pettus said following the meeting.

"The first is saving Clarkton Bridge, and the second implementing a plan that will make that happen."

VDOT was described by Pettus as being "resourceful, gracious and imaginative" in the preservation effort.

Recent Development

In October, Secretary of Natural Resources Tayloe Murphy convened a meeting to explore options for preserving Clarkton Bridge.

Participants included Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement, who was described Monday night as the first "to give the bridge a stay of execution," and Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade Matt Erskine.

Also attending were representatives of the Departments of Historic Resources, Conservation and Recreation, Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Tourism Corporation, local governments of Charlotte and Halifax, non-for-profit organizations, including Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, Historic Staunton River Foundation, APVA Preservation Virginia and Clarkton Bridge Alliance.

The Alliance spokesman said that following the meeting VDOT undertook a new study regarding costs of preserving the bridge for non-vehicular use.

Clarkton Bridge Alliance researched prospects for a regional parks and recreation authority and steps needed to transfer ownership.

Halifax County Alliance members attending the Monday night meeting included Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy IV, Douglas Powell, Martha Coates, Dan Shaw and Tom and Edith Stutts. Also attending the Monday night session were two Charlotte County supervisors, Haywood Hamlett and Dr. Nancy Carwile.

Lawter Named High School AD
Veteran Teacher And Coach Allen Lawter Will Succeed Don Thompson As Athletic Director At HCHS

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Allen Lawter, a veteran teacher and coach at Halifax County High School, has been named as the school's new athletic director.

He will succeed Don Thompson who is retiring after 13 years at the post.

Lawter's appointment was announced yesterday morning by Halifax County High School Principal Albert T. Randolph and Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt.

"I would like to thank Mr. Randolph, the selection committee and the School Board for giving me the opportunity to serve as Athletic Director at Halifax County High School," Lawter said.

"Coach Thompson has provided excellent leadership for our athletic program for the past 13 years. It will be difficult to fill his shoes but, with his help over the next four months, I am confident it will be a smooth transition.

"We have an excellent coaching staff at the high school and I anticipate a good working relationship with each one of them," continued Lawter.

"I look forward to the challenge that this opportunity presents."

Lawter, who serves as a cross country coach and an assistant varsity softball coach said he was not sure if he will be able to continue coaching.

"This (being the athletic director) will be number one," Lawter pointed out.

"It takes a lot of time and a lot of energy. I will not say 100 percent that I will not coach anything. Mr. Randolph and I will talk about it when the time comes and we'll do what is best for the program. If, timewise, we figure it is best that I not coach I will not do it."

Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said Lawter will make a great addition to the administrative and athletic team at Halifax County High School.

"I'm sure with Mr. Randolph's leadership and Coach Lawter's experience and interpersonal skills, we will be able to move the athletic program forward and build on what has already been accomplished," Witt said.

"This is an opportunity for Mr. Lawter and Mr. Randolph to continue to take our athletic program to whatever the next level might be."

Witt pointed out that Halifax County High School has a quality athletic program and that Thompson's leadership is one of the ingredients that has made that possible.

"Part of the reason we have the quality program we have right now is because of Don Thompson," Witt said.

"Coach Lawter is going to have a very steep learning curve starting off and we do have some time for him to transition with Coach Thompson.

"The athletic director is a role model for the program," Witt continued.

"Your values, philosophy and beliefs are what transcend into the head coaches and other coaches in our program. A person in this position has an important job in setting expectations and modeling what we expect out of our athletic program and that is a big job. We think Coach Lawter is up to the task."

Thompson said he feels school system officials have made an excellent choice for his successor.

"I feel like our programs will certainly go forward," Thompson said.

"Allen will bring a certain enthusiasm to this position which is lacking. I think he will involve the community.

"The athletic director's position is more visible now than in years past," Thompson pointed out.

"People want to know what is going on and they are always looking at what goes on. You have to wear a lot of different hats and he can certainly do that."
Thompson commended school system officials for acting on the appointment of the new athletic at this early juncture.

"I think the Halifax Countyschool system has made a wise choice in Allen Lawter but also even wiser in making this appointment early so he can make the transition smoothly," Thompson said.

"I have watched over the years school systems that have not done this and it has been very difficult on their incoming athletic director, which affects all of your programs."

There were 42 applicants for the athletic director's job with 11 of them being granted interviews.

Ten of the 11 individuals that were granted interviews were individuals within the county school system.

"I was very impressed with all of the candidates in our interviewing process," Randolph said, "especially our own individuals.

"We have several people here with a lot of strengths. I'd like to commend our applicants who applied."

Witt pointed out that many of the coaches at the high school were interviewed.

"We were extremely impressed with the quality of the individuals in our athletic program, their dedication, their vision and their mission," Witt said.
"It was very impressive and we should be proud of the athletic program at Halifax County High School and the quality of the people we have in the program."

One of the things Lawter says he will do is to continue efforts to generate community support for the school's athletic program.

"You've got to communicate with the community," said Lawter.
"We've done some things here in past years to help that and we want to continue."

Athletic facilities have become a big issue. Lawter says he will keep a close eye on facility issues.

"We've made a lot of improvements to certain parts of the football facility," Lawter noted.

" There may be some more we need to make if possible. I think what we need to do right now is take the improvements we've made, particularly the track and tennis courts, and use them to their fullest."

One of the big issues Lawter will have to tackle is the ongoing Virginia High School League redistricting and reclassification battle.

Thompson and school system officials have been working hard over the past few years to create a situation in which Halifax County High School's student athletes could compete in more of a neighborhood district, whether it be Group AA or AAA, with the motivation being to cut down on the amount of travel involved in athletic contests.

The next round of that battle comes in March.

"I think Allen will certainly pursue that for the good of our student athletes," Thompson said.

"It has been a battle. Obviously, we have not won any phase of that battle to this point. It is an ongoing issue and one that Allen is fully aware of. He coaches and knows what we have to do to play the games and what is involved as far as travel and missed class time.

"I know he will continue that batle and drum up support from our fellow district schools," added Thompson.

The Lawter Profile

Education - Graduate of Halifax Co. High School, B.S. Degree in Mathematics From Longwood College;

Teacher - Halifax County High School 1985-Present - has taught General Math, Consumer Math, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometery and other courses;

School Activities - HCHS Summer Baseball Program 1994-2001 - wrote the proposal for the program and implemented the program and served as an instructor; sponsor for Junior Habitat for Humanity 2000-2002;

Athletic Experience - Was a member of HCHS jayvee and varsity basketball teams 1978-81 and varsity baseball team 1978-81;

Was a member of Longwood College baseball team 1981-85, was team captain 1984 and 1985 and was Virginia Player of the Year in 1985;

Coaching Experience - served as former assistant basketball coach, head jayvee boys basketball coach, head girls basketball coach where won one district title, head baseball coach 1995-99, cross country coach 1998-present, assistant varsity softball coach 2000-present;

Business Experience - Owner and Operator of Clean All Custodial Service 2001-present; worked with the firm since 1997;

Community Involvement - Dixie Softball Coach 1998-Present, Dixie Softball Vice President 2001-2002, currently Dixie Softball purchasing agent; former American Legion baseball coach.

Obituaries

Thomas Edward Anderson Sr.

Thomas Edward Anderson Sr., 79, of Nathalie died February 10.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.

Helen Warren Ballou

Helen Warren Ballou, 70, of 1231 Sinai Road, South Boston died February 9 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Ballou was born in Mississippi on December 13, 1933, the daughter of the late Matthew Dee Warren and Ophelia Payne Warren, and was married to Herbert Hoover Ballou. She was a member of Banister Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Felicia B. Louis, Joannie Ballou and Shelia B. Lewis, all of New York, and Regina Ballou of South Boston; one son, Herbert E. Ballou Jr. of South Boston; four grandchildren; three brothers, Paul Warren, David Warren and Matthew Warren of Long Island, N.Y.; six sisters, Murlene Frierson, Arguther Carbo, Joan Northern, Jeanette Warren and Ophelia Warren, all of Bronx, N.Y., and Earlene Cloud of Teaneck, N.J.; one daughter-in-law, Martha Ballou; devoted friends, Janice White, Delois Logan, Diane Johnson, Hattie Sims and Loraine Dance.

A funeral service for Mrs. Ballou will be held February 14 at 11 a.m. at Banister Hill Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

After 11 a.m. February 13, the remains will lie-in-state at the Crawford House in Halifax. The family will receive friends at the home.

Curtis Lee Dismuke

Mr. Curtis Lee Dismuke of Richmond, and formerly of Clover, died Saturday, February 7 at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond.

Mr. Dismuke was 46 years of age at the time of his death.

Mr. Dismuke was born in Halifax County on November 8, 1957, the son of the late Stonewall Jackson Dismuke and Queen Ester Cousins Dismuke.

He was a member of the Zion Grove Baptist Church and was a supervisor with Richmond Coal Storage.

Mr. Curtis Lee Dismuke is survived by three daughters, Miss Lashelle Staten, Miss Keisha Staten and Miss Miyomi Dismuke, all of Richmond; his mother, Mrs.. Queen C. Dismuke of Clover; three sisters, Mrs. Wanda Vaughters of Clover, and Mrs. Sandra Thomas and Mrs. Sherri Jones, both of Richmond; one brother, Mr. Dennis Dismuke of Red House; a devoted friend, Ms. Nancy Staten of Richmond; one step-son, Mr. Clinton Staten; four nieces, one nephew and a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Curtis Lee Dismuke will be held Thursday, February 12, at 2 p.m., at Zion Grove Baptist Church in Clover, with the Rev. Jefferson Goode officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. Queen Dismuke, 3016 Green Valley Road, Clover.

Juanita ‘May’ Martin Ferrell

Juanita 'May' Martin Ferrell, 49, of 3208 Ball Park Loop, Halifax died February 7 at her home.

Ms. Ferrell was born in Halifax County on September 3, 1954, the daughter of Clarence Martin and Aline Easley Martin. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church and was a former employee of JPS Converters, Inc.

Survivors include one daughter, Tiffany Martin of Halifax; one son, Michael J. Ferrell of Halifax; her parents; four sisters, Nyoming Wimbush of Washington, D.C., Jeretta Jones of Clinton, Md., Jearlean Haley of Crystal Hill and Rita Childress of Halifax; and one brother, Richard Royster of Halifax.

A funeral service for Ms. Ferrell will be held tomorrow, February 12 at 11 a.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

After 5 p.m. today, February 11, the remains will lie-in-state at the Crawford House in Halifax, where the family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m.

Bertie Ruth Hite

Bertie Ruth Hite 70, of Clarksville died February 6 in Chippenham Hospital in Richmond.

Mrs. Hite was a native of Alabama, but had lived most of her life in Clarksville where she retired from Burlington Industries.

A funeral service was held February 10 at 2 p.m. in the Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel in Clarksville. Burial followed in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery, Chase City.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Henry Gayle of Virgilina; two sons, Ricky D. White of Roxboro, N.C. and Lindsey H. White of Chesapeake; two sisters, Gwen Carter of Colonial Heights and Bobbi Coursey of Walnut Grove, Ala.; one brother, Dan Gilliland of Petersburg; four grandchildren, Crystal Ward, Chris White, Autumn White and Lindsey White III; and five great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Hite was preceded in death by children, Ronnie and Betty White; and one granddaughter, Michelle Puryear.