By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House and Senate Democrats are uniting behind a bill that would hit the tobacco industry with a $1.50 a pack tax increase and give the government broad new powers to regulate tobacco products.
Vice President Al Gore said the White House, which has thus far left it to Congress to work out details of tobacco legislation, ''strongly supports'' a bill put together by a Senate Democratic task force.
''It is the next big step toward writing tough anti-tobacco measures into the law of our land,'' Gore said Wednesday at a Capitol Hill news conference.
He said the Democratic plan gives ''very powerful momentum'' to the drive for anti-tobacco legislation this year.
But Congress still has a long way to go to enact into law aspects of the massive agreement reached between the tobacco industry and state attorney generals last year.
Republicans were generally cool to the Democratic strategy of crafting their own bill. Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., a leader on health issues, said, ''This is an issue that cries out for bipartisan leadership, and frankly, a bill written solely by the Democratic caucus is not going to get the job done.''
House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., faulted President Clinton for not submitting an administration bill and said his choice was for a strong anti-teen smoking bill. Gingrich said taking into consideration new documents showing that the industry has targeted young smokers, ''There is virtually no sentiment for listening in any way to the tobacco companies.''
Senate Republicans are taking a different approach. Sen. Majority Whip Don Nickles, R-Okla., asked committee chairmen to submit tobacco legislation by March 16 that falls under their committees' purview. Labor and Human Resources Committee Chairman Sen. James Jeffords, R-Vt., is to introduce a bill today dealing with public health issues and Food and Drug Administration authority.
The Democratic plan, introduced by task force leader Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., raises the cigarette tax by $1.50 a pack over three years, much faster than the 10 years suggested by the White House. It gives the FDA full regulatory authority over tobacco products, makes the industry responsible for reducing the level of teen smoking and helps tobacco farmers move into other crops.
Gore said it meets the ''core principles'' sought by the White House: reducing teen smoking, affirming federal authority to regulate tobacco products, limiting tobacco marketing, helping smokers quit and protecting tobacco farmers from bankruptcy.
It does not, as stipulated in last year's settlement, protect the industry from future health-related lawsuits, a key provision for tobacco companies.
Industry spokesman Scott Williams said the Conrad bill would be unacceptable and could lead to the industry refusing to restrict some business practices. He said the cigarette tax would have substantial economic impact on the Southeast and target the ''40 or 50 million Americans who consume a legal product.''
Conrad said his bill would raise $82 billion over five years and $500 billion over 25 years, money the administration wants to direct into health care and childcare programs.
Senate Democratic leader Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said his party wants to work with Republicans and characterized the Conrad bill as ''a very good beginning.''
Daschle said Democrats generally oppose giving the tobacco industry immunity from lawsuits, but ''at the end of the day, it depends on what the bill looks like. I think everything has to be on the table.''
A South Boston resident who is a native of Colombia, South America was arrested Monday on a total of 14 felony cocaine charges.
Jamie Varon, 29, who lived on Fenton Street, was arrested without incident by Sgt. Richard Pulliam and Investigator Jim Binner of the Tri-County Drug Task Force.
Varon was charged with nine counts of distribution of cocaine and five charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to Major R.L. Link of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
The indictments were handed down by a grand jury of the Halifax County Circuit Court. The alleged charges stem from incidents which occurred from December 1996 to February, 1997, police said.
Varon was released from the Halifax County Jail after posting a $75,000 bond.
No trial date has been set.
Deputies also arrested Michael Eugene Wheeler, 43, of Halifax this week after he tested positive for cocaine after the administration of a court-ordered drug test. He was charged with possession of cocaine.
Wheeler recently had been released from the Halifax County Jail on a cocaine conviction, under condition of successful drug test results following his release.
He is being held without bond pending a show cause hearing in the Halifax County Circuit Court.
Nerds4Rent delivers, but if you're expecting a weird little dude you knew in high school, forget it.
These nerds are high tech detectives who take telephone and computer calls for help when your computer is on the blink.
It is a winning service and a growing Richmond-based business, the brainchild of Halifax County native H. Mark Saunders.
The company's representatives on site can offer a variety of services, from a system tune up, to software installation and upgrades to hardware upgrades. The company also offers at least a half dozen other technical services.
Necessity was indeed the mother of invention in the Nerds4Rent case.
The idea had its origin three years ago when Saunders was having trouble with computers in his own securities brokerage office.
"It is such a cottage industry," explained Saunders. "You don't know who to call." Calling for help he described as "like hiring a doctor without knowing his background." Too often Saunders discovered his system still had a problem.
Computer glitches and bills for service continued until Saunders' son Allen, 17 years old at the time, came in and fixed a problem.
Freedom Communications, Inc., (Freedomnet and Nerds4Rent) was the 1995 offspring.
Nerds4Rent took off, continuing to grow its staff of high tech nerds as it expands.
The company has a Web page for those seeking answers or they may call toll-free (888) NERDS4U.
"Some of the easy, repeat questions, we answer at no cost," said Saunders.
The involved service naturally comes at a price, $25 for up to 15 minutes by telephone, according to Saunders, with the price dropping to $1 a minute for additional time.
Priority on site service is billed at $60/hour, according to the company's Web site, with discounts available for non-priority service or by buying contracts in advance.
Expansion is already in the Nerd mill. "We want more people on site. We are looking at Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia," said Saunders yesterday. "We are looking for qualified people."
Kelly Yancey serves as president of Nerds4Rent. Allen Saunders, a computer science major at James Madison University, is also part of the company.
"Kelly is one of those people who can learn anything by himself," said Saunders.
"It is the most fun I've ever had with marketing," said the businessman. "My wife came up with 'It pays to be a Nerd' for recruiting," he laughed. "And we are the only Nerds in the phone book."
The company's Web address is http://www.nerds4rent.com. or toll-free (888) NERDS4U.
Although the computer business is expanding, Mark Saunders "real job" is the brokerage business, a business he has been in 15 years.
The certified financial planer's resume includes stints as a representative with Wheat and with Dean Witter before starting Saunders Asset Management, Inc. in the 1980s, which specializes in retirement rollovers. In 1992, he also opened Saunders Discount Brokerage.
A 1971 graduate of Halifax County High School, Saunders earned his B.A. in Psychology from Averett College, and M.S. in Counseling at VCU and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Mark is married to Nancy Anderson and has two sons, Allen 21 and Paul 18.
Lola Jackson Davis of Brookneal died Monday, February 9, 1998 at her home at the age of 63.
Mrs. Davis was born in Campbell County on March 4, 1934.
Survivors include six daughters, Willie Mae Davis of Wilmington, DE, Cynthia Davis Fox of Lynchburg, Linda Davis Hancock, Janice Annette Davis, Andrea Denese Davis, all of Newark, DE, and Teresa Ann Davis of Norfolk; seven sons, Carnell Davis of Spartanburg, SC, Calvin McKinley Davis of Gladys, William Edward Davis of Lancaster, OH, Arthur Wayne Davis of Newark, Louis Junior Davis of Lynchburg, Clarence Edward Davis of Norfolk and Andrew Jerome Davis of Brookneal; 21 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Pearl E. Williams of Annapolis, MD and Bernice Jennings of Nathalie; two brothers, James Obey Jackson of Glen Burnie, MD and Norman Lewis Jackson of Brookneal; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Davis were held Thursday, February 12 at 2
p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with Rev. John E. Price Sr. officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
John Winston Creath died Sunday, February 8, 1998 at his home. He was 81 years of age at the time of his death. Burial was in the family cemetery.
Mr. Creath was born at "Elmo' in the Paces community of Halifax County on September 24, 1916 the son of Rev. W.T. Creath and Celeste Fontaine Creath. He was first married to Elizabeth Stebbins Creath until her death, and later to Irene Thomas Greeley Creath.
He attended North Carolina State University and served in the U.S. Marines during WWII. He had taught Sunday school and had served as a deacon in several area churches and was a member of Centerville Baptist Church. He was a past member of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.
Survivors include his wife of the home; six sons, John Winston Creath Jr. of Perry, GA, Patrick F. Creath and David S. Creath, both of South Boston, Matthew H. Creath of Germany, Frederick K. Creath of Suffolk, and W. Andrew Creath of Danville; four daughters, Martha C. Joyce and Amy C. Osborne, both of Danville, Elizabeth C. Young of Pelham, NC and Charlotte C. Perdue of Lynchburg; three step-daughters, Dot G. Carr of South Boston, Nancy G. Childress of Roxboro, NC and Lou G. Bowman of Danville; 25 grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at Arbor Baptist Church Sunday, February 15 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite ministry.
Willie Lee Guill of Route 2, Scottsburg died Thursday, February 12, 1998 at The Woodview. He was 87 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Guill was born in Halifax County on December 19, 1910 the son of Ethan Allen Guill and Florida Allen Guill. He was a member of Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Lanier G. Owen of Halifax and Linda Corelle of Salt Lake City, UT; two sons, Larry L. Guill of South Boston and Garland M. Guill of Scottsburg; two sisters, Virginia Throckmorton of Scottsburg and Annie B. Beckedorff of Greensboro, NC; one granddaughter; three grandsons, and two great-granddaughters.
Graveside services for Mr. Guill will be held Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m. in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Brian Walls conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, February 13 from 7 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home of his daughter, Lanier Owen, 3235 J.D. Hagood Highway, Halifax.
Georgia Cook Chalmers of 2117 Sugg Avenue, South Boston died Tuesday, February 10, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 78.
Mrs. Chalmers was born in Halifax County on January 1, 1920 the daughter of Pledge Cook and Ella Davis Cook and was married to John Chalmers. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Judy Cook of South Boston and Annie Cook of Pittsburg, PA; one brother, Tom Cook of Nathalie; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Joyce Irene Chalmers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Chalmers will be held Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church with Rev. Samuel Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Jeffress Funeral Home tonight, February 13 from 7 until 8:00.