Many farmers who attended the Virginia Tobacco Conference and Trade Show on Saturday hoping to find some definite answers left shaking their heads, as change appears to be the only certainty on the horizon.
Three consecutive quota cuts, low buying intentions by the cigarette manufacturers, pending lawsuits, and decreasing consumer demand have tobacco farmers across the Commonwealth and other flue-cure producing states wondering if they should stay in business, and if so, how.
According to Don Anderson, with the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association, farmers can definitely expect to see a shift in the industry towards low-nitrosamine tobacco, a concept being promoted by Star Scientific and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco.
"Farmers here today should realize that the issue is here, no question," Anderson told approximately 500 people who attended the conference. "From the individual farmer's point of view, they need to look at how to best deal with it. Do they convert their own barns and attempt to sell on the open market or investigate contracting through Star or R.J. Reynolds.
"Most farmers, however, don't have $5,000 per barn for conversions. On the same hand, companies who would invest that money want to know they will get a certain amount of tobacco back for that investment."
According to Jim Jennings, vice president-grower relations for Star Scientific, around 30 percent of the tobacco farmers in the state of Virginia are under contract with Star for the 2000 growing season.
"Out of 48 million pounds, we will have about 14.5 million pounds under contract," Jennings said, adding that this leaf, which undergoes a two-step, patented nitrosamine-removal process, will be sold to Brown and Williamson and used in Star's brand, Goldsmoke cigarettes.
Mac Bailey of Bailey's Cigarettes said he plans to use some of the low -nitrosamine tobacco in his cigarettes.
Jennings, who did not speak during the conference, said that the StarCure method of removing tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) differs from methods used by other companies, such as R.J. Reynolds.
"It is our goal to have the very lowest level of nitrosamines," he said. "The StarCure method uses two steps, and these steps also help eliminate other toxins."
According to Dr. David M. Peele, the method proposed by R.J. Reynolds to reduce nitrosamines involves only one step.
After years of research, scientists at R.J. Reynolds discovered that nitrosamines in tobacco could be reduced by using heat exchangers during the curing process as opposed to direct firing.
"With a heat exchanger, the exhaust gasses are trapped, and the air is heated and released," he explained, referring to a photo of a heat exchanger. "These are fairly easy to install. So far, in the eastern belt, 27 barns have been modified with heat exchangers."
But while R.J. Reynolds has demonstrated that it will move toward using more and more low-nitrosamine tobacco in its products, Peele said there is no proof directly linking tobacco-specific nitrosamines to chronic diseases in smokers, nor is there proof of the potential benefits derived of reduced nitrosamine content.
"However, it is a step in the right direction," he said.
Anderson predicted that low-nitrosamine tobacco will be the desired product by 2001, and cautioned farmers to plan accordingly.
"The tobacco we have in the barns this year, carryover from 1999 to be sold in 2000, is still okay. There is still a demand for that tobacco," Anderson said. "But in 2000 production this summer, I would encourage growers to try to limit the amount of carryover for the 2001 season."
Tobacco Payments
While producers were mulling a future of contract sales and low-nitrosamine tobacco, they were also very interested in the present, specifically incoming money from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) and disaster relief payments.
Rep. Virgil Goode (5th District) told the audience that they could expect payments from Phase I this year.
"It is cleared to leave Washington, and I expect the checks will follow the Phase II payments in the not-too-distant future," he said.
According to Carthan Currin, executive director of the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, a meeting will be held regarding these payments this Wednesday.
Goode also said he is working hard to make these payments tax exempt.
"The state is considering a bill to make Phase II payments tax exempt. At the national level, I am working to exclude these payments from the definition of gross income. This bill has 21 sponsors, all of whom are from the Southeast," he said.
However, Goode was not optimistic about the bill's future under the current government.
"Tobacco is vital for Virginia and vital for the Southeast, and hopefully we will have a legislature that does not attack it continuously," said Goode.
Scott Oostdyk, with McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe, reminded producers of the new policies regarding the Phase II payments.
"Applications have been sent to the 3,660 tobacco farm operators who did not apply for payment by the November 1999 first-round deadline. Approximately 11,230 quota holders and producers are eligible to receive payments for the tobacco associated with these farms," he said.
To qualify for this second round of payments, applications must be completed and returned no later than March 1, Oostdyk said.
He also reminded the audience of the following:
· For the next six years, the Phase II Tobacco Board will continue to certify payments to producers and quota owners based on production in 1998 and/or the quota owned as of July 1, 1998.
· For the next six years, producers' payments will be made to those who produced flue-cured or burley tobacco in 1998, whether or not they grew tobacco thereafter.
· For the next six years, the board's policy is that any quota owner who sold quota after July 1, 1998, or sells it hereafter, will continue to receive payments until made whole for losses sustained from the recent reductions in quota.
· For 2000, flue-cured quota owners and producers will each receive 50 percent of the flue-cured payments.
VTGA Annual Meeting
Following the conference, the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association held its annual meeting.
During the meeting, the following individuals were named to the VTGA board of directors: Wayne Vaughan, Charlotte County; Henry Murray, Halifax County; John Ragsdale, Pittsylvania County; Barry Thomas, Brunswick County; and Ray Waller, Halifax County.
"I want to thank all the growers for attending the show, and I hope it was beneficial to them. I appreciate the support that all the exhibitors and growers have shown in past years, and I hope it continues," Anderson said.
VTGA New Resolutions for 2000
·We support changes in The Federal Tobacco Program that would provide for
A. A buyout and compensation for marketing quota
B. Redistribution of bought out quota to active tobacco producers
C. Changes to the price support formula to reflect the elimination of quota costs, allowing U.S. tobacco to be more price competitive in the world market
· We support the establishment of the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. We request that the commission carry out the intent of H.B. 2635 and S.B. 1165 by indemnifying quota holders and growers for their losses and by allocating economic development monies to those regions that have historically produced flue-cured and burley tobacco.
· We request that the T.I.C.R. Commission allocate Phase I payments to quota holders and producers equally.
· We support H.B. 176 and S.B. 178 which provides Virginia State tax relief for individuals and corporations receiving tobacco settlement payments. We urge the 2000 session of the Virginia General Assembly to pass this legislation.
· We support H.R. 2748 now being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives, providing Federal Tax Relief for recipients of tobacco settlement payments. We request our Congressional delegation to work for the passage of this legislation through both houses of congress.
· We request that the 2000 Virginia General Assembly pass legislation that restricts the activities of The Legal Services Corporation of Virginia and its associated groups to those activities required in Federal Law.

Firefighters from three departments spent a very tense 45 minutes looking for a 70-year-old woman thought to have been trapped in her burning home on Sunday morning.
Approximately 35 firefighters from Triangle, Liberty and Halifax fire departments responded to a house fire at 1102 Hunting Creek Road at 11:35 a.m., only to be told that Frances Faulkner might be inside the burning two-story converted school house.
"From what I was told, she was not long out of the hospital and couldn't walk real well. A relative, her niece, said she thought (Faulkner) might be inside, so we started a search-and-rescue effort," Bomar said.
As the fire, which started around a wood-stove chimney in a bedroom, was in the rear of the structure, firefighters began their search in the front portion of the house.
"We were more interested in finding her than putting out the fire, so we started a search and rescue, just knocking down the fire as we went," Bomar said. "Then we got the exhaust fans in, and once the smoke cleared, we did an in-depth search."
With Halifax Rescue Squad members standing by, firefighters combed the charred remains of the structure in search of Faulkner for nearly an hour before they got the good news.
"I spoke with the niece again later in the search, and she remembered that someone had come to visit Faulkner (Sunday) morning, so she called and found out Ms. Faulkner was with them," Bomar said. "So the niece went and brought her to the house."
Although firefighters stayed on the scene for over two hours, the fire caused considerable structural damage, Bomar said, estimating the house sustained between $20,000 and $25,000 in damages.
Shaken by the news, but otherwise uninjured by the fire, Faulkner went to stay with relatives, said Bomar.
The chief expressed his gratitude toward Halifax and Liberty firefighters who assisted Triangle Volunteer Fire Department in fighting the blaze.
"I want to thank both departments and the Halifax Rescue Squad for their assistance. It's really nice when you get other departments to come in and help out in a situation like this," Bomar said.

An armed robbery took place at Eastside Video on Seymour Drive Saturday night after the owner had locked up the building.
According to the South Boston Police Department, Kenneth Puryear, owner of the business, was going to his car after closing up the building when a man approached him.
The man appeared to present a weapon and told Puryear to lie down on the ground.
Puryear complied and the robber went through his pockets, taking some items and an undisclosed amount of cash.
The robber then fled towards the Best Western.
Officer John Barber responded to the scene and called for assistance from the State Police.
Trooper Gene Perkins brought a tracking dog and searched an area that extended toward C.H. Friend Elementary before the search was called off.
The robber was described as a black man about six feet in height, weighing approximately 165 pounds and wearing a black stocking hat.
B.K. Lovelace has been assigned to the case as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information relating to the armed robbery is asked to contact the South Boston Police Department at 575-4271 or Crime Stoppers at 575-TIPS (8477). A $1,000 reward is available should the information lead to an arrest.
· A South Boston man was arrested Thursday by sheriff's deputies on charges of petit larceny and destruction of property.
Robert Junior Kaywood, 21, of Traver Avenue, was charged with stealing eight CDs valued less than $200, which belonged to Walter Woody III.
The CDs were allegedly stolen by Kaywood on February 4.
Kaywood was also charged with destruction of property, after he allegedly intentionally damaged a 1991 Ford Mustang that belonged to Woody. The amount of damage was valued more than $1,000, and allegedly committed on January 28.
· Lewis Lester Patrick Jr., 36, an inmate at the Adult Detention Center, was charged Thursday with possession of a controlled substance.
Patrick allegedly committed the offense on December 20.
A hearing is scheduled for Patrick at the Halifax County General District Court on February 18.

In other police reports:
A Nathalie woman was charged with reckless driving Sunday morning after a crash on Howard P. Anderson Road.
Trooper R.T. Ridgeway said the 6:55 a.m. crash occurred when a 1991 Chrysler, driven by Mildred Renee Stewart, 30, swerved to miss an animal on Howard P. Anderson Road (Route 626), about one-tenth of a mile south of Crystal Hill Road (Route 610), and ran across ice on a railroad track.
The vehicle ran off the right side of the road and overturned, said Ridgeway.

Drug agents from Halifax and Henrico counties combined forces last week to arrest a man suspected of running drugs between Halifax County and Richmond.
Major R.S.B. Pulliam, coordinator of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force said local task force officers and the Henrico County Police Department's Strike Force Narcotics Unit arrested George Manson Rogers, 46, on Thursday in Richmond on four counts of distributing cocaine and one count of distributing marijuana.
Rogers, who has listed addresses in both Clover and Richmond, is being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax.
Officers conducted a search of Rogers' residence on Gilchrist Court in Richmond and seized cocaine, heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash, Pulliam said.
His arrest was the result of a three-year investigation centering around an operation in which cocaine, marijuana and moonshine were allegedly transported between the Richmond area and Halifax County.
"There will be additional arrests in this organization and of its customers," Pulliam said, adding that Rogers will be indicted in Henrico County on additional charges at a later date.

By LARRY O'DELL
Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Taking their cue from Gov. Jim Gilmore,  Republicans kept legislation to help unemployed textile workers bottled up in committee, infuriating the bill's sponsor.
''Now we're in a position that just because the governor puts on  pressure and political heat, you turn your back on people,'' Del. Ward Armstrong said as Friday the Labor and Commerce Committee prepared to vote on his bill. ''Today I am ashamed to be a member of this House of Delegates.''
His comments drew applause from scores of former textile workers who made their third bus trip from the Martinsville area seeking an increase in unemployment benefits and access to health insurance under Medicaid.
Del. Jay Katzen of Fauquier County was the only Republican to break ranks as the panel voted 12-10 to reject a motion to send the bill to the House floor. A motion to kill the bill outright died on an 11-11 vote, leaving the measure in legislative limbo. Del. Sam Nixon, R-Chesterfield, joined Katzen and the Democrats in voting against killing the measure.
The committee will not consider the bill again unless Armstrong and Gilmore are able to reach a compromise. Armstrong, D-Martinsville, was not optimistic.
''Until the General Assembly adjourns, anything is possible. But this was a huge setback,'' Armstrong said after the committee meeting.
George Galloway, who lost his job when Tultex Inc. closed its  Martinsville apparel plant, was disappointed but still held out some hope.
''This is heartbreaking,'' he said. ''I hope and pray to God that their hearts will open up and they'll talk this over.''
The Textile Workers Relief Act of 2000 would raise the maximum weekly unemployment check from $232 to $332 in areas with high unemployment. It also would provide health insurance to workers displaced by foreign trade because of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Gilmore says it would be unfair to increase benefits for some unemployed Virginians but not others. Del. Jack Rust, R-Fairfax and a member of the Labor and Commerce Committee, said the increased benefits could drain the state's unemployment trust fund.
''I do think we need to do something for Martinsville and Henry County, but this is not it,'' Rust said.
Armstrong said he was dismayed that the issue has become bitterly partisan. The bill had bipartisan support before Gilmore weighed in, he said.
''Many of you signed onto this bill because you believed in your heart it was the right thing to do,'' Armstrong said. ''There's only one person who is diametrically opposed to this, and he's the governor.''
Del. Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk, denied that Republicans buckled under to pressure from the governor. ''I resent what's been said in this room today,'' she said.
The committee's action came a day after the Senate Finance Committee voted 9-6 to defeat its version of the bill. The vote came along mostly partisan lines.
Since Tultex began laying off workers late last year, Martinsville and Henry County have rocketed to Nos. 1 and 2 in the state in joblessness with rates of 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively, said Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Henry County. About 3,300 textile workers have lost their jobs.

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen toured Dollar General Corporation and then met about 50 supporters for lunch during a campaign swing through here Friday.
The former governor, who already has $4.1 million in his campaign chest, will challenge incumbent Sen. Charles Robb for the seat.
Obviously impressed with his tour of the 1,250,000-square-foot Dollar General facility, Allen described the best part as "seeing people working there," happy with their jobs.
He recalled working with Bill Confroy, Industrial Development Authority executive director to get the corporation to locate a facility here.
Allen tagged Enterprise Zones, with their tax and less regulation incentive packages, as major tools in drawing industry, ultimately adding up to more jobs and more revenue.
"The greatest legacy of the Allen administration was economic development," Confroy told the luncheon crowd. "Halifax County was a winner during your administration."
The IDA chief later explained that Allen changed course in two ways. "First, he named Wayne Sterling as the director of economic development, which was then reorganized to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
"Second, Gov. Allen was always available to meet with industrial prospects ...and was instrumental in the location of Dollar General here."
Outlining his campaign platform for supporters, Allen named the following issues:
·Protect Social Security: All money from Social Security taxes from the employee and employer should be put in a trust for retirement benefits only. "Since 1960, they have been taking money out of that," said Allen. The senate candidate also said that taking action to protect Social Security benefits would also help reduce the national debt.
·National Defense: Allen noted the need for training, compensation and equipment for all the armed services.
·Education
·Law Enforcement.
"After taking care of those (issues), there should be a dividend for people of the country, a tax cut," Allen told the crowd.
Allen also called for communities to pursue "technology" opportunities and training to compete for industry. He told the luncheon crowd that small communities had a strong work ethic to offer employers and, that in some competitive labor markets industries were having to pay employees a BMW or a similar dividend to stay with the company several years rather than constantly change jobs.
The senate candidate also took aim at President Clinton and Vice-President Gore for proposed tax increases and fines on the tobacco industry.
The candidate said supporters of the four-laning project for Highway 501 from the North Carolina line to Lynchburg had already spoken to him during his South Boston tour.
As a senator, Allen pledged "to work to make sure Virginia gets back" more of its gasoline tax.
He told the crowd that while Virginia at one time was receiving about 79 cents on the dollar, some northern states were getting back $2.12 for each gasoline tax dollar.
If Virginia got back $1 for each $1, it would mean about $400-plus million more for transportation, explained Allen.
He also suggested Hwy. 501 supporters try to get the highway listed in the National Highway System designation in order to pursue a good mix of funding.
NAFTA
On the heels Friday of a House Labor & Commerce Committee's action effectively killing a bill offering immediate relief to textile workers, Allen was asked to comment on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is blamed by some for loss of jobs to cheaper, foreign competition.
While supporting "fair, free, open trade," Allen also acknowledged the devastating blow delivered many in Southside due to global competition.
He also said that NAFTA, on balance, is beneficial to Virginia, creating jobs opportunities, trade benefits and port and rail use, among other benefits.
The candidate also named several textile operations in Virginia that are prospering, naming a Carroll County firm making yarn as one.
"The key to trade is not to make it a one-way street," Allen said.
He called for fair trade agreements that removed high tariffs against American firms.
Allen also said that if jobs are lost due to international competitions, perhaps a partnership with federal funds could be explored.
The workers should have adequate funds for retraining and education for job-specific skills, he suggested. He also suggested one avenue to help the workers might be a mix of federal/state programs to assist with insurance coverage.
Allen said he "would be willing to look at reasonable ideas" on the issue.

Halifax County High School's basketball team turned the lights out in the dressing room, and sat quietly in the darkness for several minutes prior to Friday night's game here against E.C. Glass.
Each individual pondered the task ahead and what it would require to be successful.
A little over an hour and a half later, the Comets turned the lights out on the Hilltoppers with a 67-58 win in what was a "must win" Western District game for the Comets.
"Before the game, when I came down to the locker room, the guys had the lights out, just sitting there quietly, focusing on the ball game. When it came time to play, I didn't say a word."
Dillard said he let the team's half dozen seniors, Fred Price, William Jennings, Jameen Jackson, Cardell Mosley, William Haugh and Josh Milam have their say.
And, when they finished, no more words were necessary.
"I told the seniors 'you tell us what you want to do tonight,' Dillard explained.
"Each senior spoke and everything I was thinking, they said it."
A trio of seniors led the Comets' effort with Price scoring 20 points, Jennings hitting for 18 points, and Jackson having one of his best games of the season, getting into double digits with 13 points.
Price scored 13 of his points in the first half and was held to a single field goal in the second half. Yet, his free throw shooting in the final two minutes of the game, were instrumental.
Jennings put 10 crucial points on the board for the Comets down the stretch in the second half, most of which were toughly contested points deep in the paint.
"I jumped on William Jennings really hard after the Franklin County game and I want to thank him for accepting the challenge and making something happen tonight," Dillard pointed out.
"He told me, 'coach, I'm going play hard and do what I have to to win the ball game' and scored 18 points tonight. He worked on his game today and worked really hard in practice Thursday and promised me he was going to come back and do it. I want to thank him for that."
Price and Jennings received solid supporting role performances from Jackson who scored eight of his points in the second half and Dashawn Baird who scored seven second half points and came up with four key rebounds in the closing minutes.
Teddy Bradley also played a big role in the second half of the contest with three baskets in the third period, two of them coming back-to-back, to take the Comets from a one point lead to a five point lead midway in the stanza.
The win on Senior Night, the Comets' final home game of the season, put the Comets 2-3 in the Western District standings, elevating them to third place in the four team league and to an 8-9 overall slate.
Glass, the team with whom the Comets were battling in their attempt to get out of the cellar, dropped to fourth place and 1-4 in the district standings.
"This is big because this (E.C. Glass) is the first team that we can say we've gotten revenge on," Dillard remarked.
"It's a sign that we're better. Hopefully, it will carry on into next week. The next big thing is the GW game (Friday night in Danville) and the tournament (the Western District Tournament which will be held the following week."
The Comets held a one-point 45-44 lead at the end of the third period and Jackson upped the Comets' edge to three points with a layup that followed a nifty assist from Price.
Glass scored to cut the lead to one again but Baird sank a three-pointer to put the Comets up by four and Jennings followed with a six footer that gave the Comets a six point lead.
Those baskets were big ones for the Comets because they went scoreless for about two and a half minutes after that, opening the door for Glass to go on a 6-0 run and deadlock the game with 2:57 to play.
Down the stretch, a combination of a stingy defense, a 12-19 shooting effort at the charity stripe that included a 5-9 performance by Price, and four big offensive rebounds and a nifty recovery of an errant Glass pass by Baird paved the way for the Comets' win.
Three of the rebounds by Baird were critical in that they came off of missed free throws.
Those saves by Baird allowed the Comets to retain possession of the ball and forced the Hilltoppers to foul again in an attempt to get the ball back, thus giving the Comets extra opportunities at the foul line.
Jennings got three points off of a free throw and a basket on separate possessions to put the Comets up by three points and Price hit a basket to put the Comets up 57-52 with 1:48 remaining in the contest.
Baird came up with the ball on an off the mark pass by the Hilltoppers with 1:38 left in the game, got the ball to Price, and Price was almost immediately fouled.
Price sank his two foul shots with 1:30 left to put the Comets up 59-52 to all but seal the contest.
From there, it was a matter of the Comets making their free throws, which they did in most instances, to ice the game.
The Comets played with a good deal of enthusiasm and intensity for the most part and got off to a good start with Jennings converting a three point play and Price sinking a three-point basket to put the Comets up 10-3 with 4:43 left in the opening period.
Halifax County upped its lead to as high as eight points late in the period before Glass scored to cut the Comets' lead to six points at 17-11 at the end of the first period.
Glass hit back-to-back three-point baskets to open the second period and deadlock the game at 17-17.
Jackson hit a three-pointer to give the Comets a 22-19 lead with 6:02 left in the first half to break a second deadlock.
The Comets then stumbled their way through a series of turnovers and missed shots that opened the door for Glass to go on a 7-0 run and take a 26-22 lead with 4:11 left in the half.
Halifax cut the Glass lead to two points with a pair of free throws from Price with 1:59 left in the half.
A three-pointer by Glass put the Hilltoppers up 29-24 but Price answered with a basket with 1:01 remaining in the half that put the Comets to within three points at 29-26 at the halftime break.
The Comets turned the ball over six times in the second period and 11 times in the first half.
Dillard made a lineup switch in the second half, moving to a smaller, quicker fivesome, and it worked.
Trailing 34-28 with 6:54 left in the third period, the Comets ignited a big 11-0 run that started when Jackson converted a three-point play.
Back-to-back baskets by Jennings gave the Comets a 35-34 lead and back-to-back buckets by Bradley put the Comets up 39-34 with 4:04 left in the period.
Glass put together a 6-0 run late in the period that allowed the Hilltoppers to regain the lead but a layup by Baird with eight seconds left in the stanza allowed the Comets to go back on top 45-44 at the end of the quarter.
"We started out with a lot of intensity," Dillard pointed out.
"Then we through a moment when we got lackadaisical and they took the lead at the half. That's when we knew we had to get into the up-tempo game and decided to go small. Coach Cowan and I talked and we made the decision together. I want to thank him for all the hard work he puts into the program."

Halifax County wrestlers Kevin Smith and Brian Hall won district titles as the Halifax County High School wrestling team finished third in Saturday's Western District Wrestling Tournament in Lynchburg.
All 14 Comets wrestlers that participated in the tournament qualified for this weekend's Northwest Region Tournament which will be held Friday and Saturday at Gar-Field High School.
Albemarle won the tournament with 186.5 points with GW taking second place with 160 points.
This marked the fourth time over the past five seasons that Albemarle has won the Western District Tournament title.
Albemarle won the regular season dual match title with a perfect 3-0 mark with a 36-35 win over GW being the pivotal win.
Halifax County finished third with 140 points and tournament host E.C. Glass finished fourth with 95 points.
Smith, a senior, claimed his first district championship in the 275-pound weight class by pinning E.C. Glass' James Ware in 2:31.
"He's done everything we've expected him to do," said Comets coach Brady Taylor.
"We've depended upon him all season and he's come through. He's done a great job all year. It's kind of depressing that he's a senior and this has been his first opportunity. I wish we had him back next year."
Hall landed his first district title by pinning Albemarle's Nate Nauman in 1:14.
"He's been improving all season long," Taylor said of Hall.
"He wrestled very well. Brian had a great first match. He was a little sluggish in the first period and then got some fire under him. In the finals he came out on fire and did everything we wanted him to do."
Halifax County entered the final round of the tournament trailing leader Albemarle by just 18 points and having seven of its wrestlers in the final round.
Unfortunately, only two of the seven Comets grapplers won their matches.
Albemarle, by comparison, had six of the 10 wrestlers that made it to the final round to emerge with wins.
GW had six of its eight wrestlers that made it to the championship finals to win in the final round.
"We had a chance to make that (the 18 point deficit) up," Taylor said.
"Some days are good ones and some aren't. Things just didn't go the way we had hoped they would go.
"But, I'm real happy with our performance," added Taylor.
"We got seven in the finals and all of our kids qualified for the regionals. I'm real happy about that."
Five Halifax County wrestlers earned runner-up finishes in the tournament including 119-pounder Nick Wilson, 130-pounder Mike Neff, 135-pounder Jason Long, 145-pounder Malcolm Christenbury, and 215-pounder Alex Haynie.
Those were good performances, especially for Wilson who finished third last year as a 119-pounder, Neff and Haynie who finished fourth last year, and Long who was defeated in his first two matches last year and did not place.
Halifax County got third place finishes from 112-pounder Morgan Jones, 140-pounder Charlie Hall, 160-pounder Reid Stanley and 189 pounder David Adams.
Comets 103-pounder Aaron Vaughan, 125-pounder Chris Emory and 171-pounder Terrance Bowman, earned fourth place finishes.

Edith Estes Long Seamster of 725 Riley Street, South Boston died February 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was born in Lynchburg on August 11, 1929 and was 70 years old.
She was the daughter of William Embry Estes and Elsie Mae Bates Estes and was married to Elvin Curtis Seamster Jr. She was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School.
Mrs. Seamster is survived by her husband of the home; one daughter, Teresa Long Milton of Glen Rose, Tex.; one son, Timothy Earl Long of Norfolk; four sisters; three brothers; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Lloyd Estes, and one sister, Doris Ann Estes.
Funeral services were held yesterday at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. John Farris conducting. Burial took place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.
For memorials please consider a charity of your choice.

Robert Hays Steilberg, 68, died suddenly Friday, February 11 at Riverside Hospital, Newport News. At the time of his death, the Rev. Mr. Steilberg was Associate Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Newport News. A 1956 graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, he served churches in Kentucky prior to coming to Virginia in 1959 as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, South Boston. He was rector of St. Michael's Church, Bon Air from 1966 through 1988 and later served as Rector of Wicomico Episcopal in Wicomico Church. He also served on the staff of Freedom House, an inner-city ministry in Richmond.
Since 1966, Mr. Steilberg has served in a team ministry in St. Paul's Episcopal Church with his wife, the Rev. Isabel Fourqurean Steilberg, focusing particular attention on social outreach to the homeless and hungry of the community.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by Robert Christopher and Allison Steilberg of Atlanta, Ga., Matthew Henry and Ann Steilberg of Elicott City, Md. and Anne Boyd Seilberg of Birmingham, Ala. His grandchildren are Joseph Augustus Steilberg and Charlotte Isabella Steilberg of Atlanta and Robert Hays Steilberg II and Jackson Henry Kemp Steilberg of Ellicott City. Also, one brother, Henry Alan Steilberg and his wife Lucy of Louisville, Ky. and a sister, Susan Steilberg Millington and her husband, Anthony of Tokyo, Japan and an aunt, Marion Becker Will of Louisville, Ky.

The Burial Office and Holy Eucharist will take place at St. Paul's tomorrow at 3 p.m. with burial at Wicomico Episcopal Church cemetery Wednesday at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Social Justice/Community Outreach Ministries of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 221 34th St., Newport News, VA 23607.