Monday, February 16, 2004

Hogan Defends House Tax Plan
By Eliminating Tax Exemptions, House Plan Creates Outcry Among Business Community

By KEITH STRANGE | G-V Staff Writer

Delegate Clarke Hogan (R-60) said yesterday that House Republicans have submitted a bill that will generate an estimated $500 million in revenue by ending annual tax exemptions for business.

"This will move the playing field and redefine the argument on taxes," Hogan said.

But Gov. Mark Warner's office is treating the measure as, at best, a partial solution to the state's tax problems and at worst, bad policy.

Ellen Qualls, Warner's spokesperson, questioned the timing of the move by House Republicans yesterday.

"There was a lot of hand-wringing by Republicans in the House that they wouldn't have enough time to study the Governor's plan that was released in November," she said. "We find it curious that the House would vote on a plan they've seen for two days with dollar figures they're making up.

"There may be elements of this bill that are worth studying," Qualls added. "But it is in no way a comprehensive reform of our tax system.

"I feel like I'm in Bizarro-world where Republican delegates are attacking small businesses that provide jobs across the state," she said. "They already pay higher taxes. This would tax them at a higher rate."

The bill, drafted during Friday's House floor session by Delegate Phillip Hamilton and heard by the House Finance Committee just minutes after adjournment, is perceived to be the clearest alternative to Democratic Gov. Mark Warner's tax reform proposal to surface.

If passed by the full House, HB1488 will end at least a dozen corporate and industrial exemptions from the tax code. The affected businesses include telecommunications companies, shipping, taxicabs, textile machinery, equipment used to print newspapers, and meals furnished by restaurants for their employees.

The legislation is a response to the state Chamber of Commerce endorsement of Warner's tax plan - which includes a one-cent increase in the state's sales tax, higher income tax for the wealthy and a cigarette tax increase, but cuts the grocery tax and the car tax.

Hogan said the bill, which has caused an outcry from lobbying groups at the Capitol, is simply an attempt to tax everyone fairly.

"The Senate is producing a budget based on quite a large tax increase," he said. "And we're getting ready to go to conference (where the budget is worked out between the House and Senate) in the next two weeks.

"Our position is if you're going to consider an overall increase, let's work out the exemptions before starting to raise taxes," Hogan added.

Hogan called the position taken by the business community "inconceivable."
"Two weeks ago, a big chunk of the business community testified before the House and Senate committees about why it was important to have a tax increase," he said. "Yet when the sales tax exemptions were taken away, they testified that we were hurting business.

"If the overall tax increase doesn't hurt business, how can doing away with exemptions so that everyone pays the same tax hurt business?" he asked. "They want to raise everyone's taxes except theirs."

In response to the exemption question, Hogan said the Virginia Department of Taxation was questioning the reliability of figures used to compute the influx of funds HB1488 would create.

"For the Department of Taxation to argue the numbers being put forth on the exemptions are unreliable at this point is outrageous," he said. "Everything we do is based on numbers we receive from the Department of Taxation.

"If these (figures) aren't any good, then none of the others we have are any good either," he added.

Qualls said yesterday that the figures used by Del. Hamilton were based on an early 1990's study for a piece of legislation that didn't pass.

"The tax department has no idea what the affect reinstating taxes on these industries would have," she said. "It's virtually impossible for the tax department to come up with a quick answer to what impact the proposal would have.

Qualls said that, in contrast to HB1488, Warner's plan is based on concrete data.

"But it's ludicrous to suggest the tax department doesn't know how much is paid in income taxes each year. We know what that figure is because we collect that tax now," she said.

In a Friday response to the bill, Gov. Warner's office issued a statement that continued to tout his tax plan.

"Delegate Hamilton's proposal claims to increase sales taxes by hundreds of millions of dollars over the biennium by eliminating certain tax exemptions," Warner said. "It is essential that we determine the actual size of this tax increase and the impact on jobs and individual taxpayers in Virginia."

"The administration suggests we don't have a plan. So we bring them a plan and they challenge the numbers," Hogan responded.

The delegate said he would support the House plan, including the exemptions, and reserve judgement on the decision that comes from the conference.

"We think that with this move we can produce a balance sheet that is honest and realistic and doesn't continue to pick who wins and who loses through the legislative process," Hogan said. "We can produce a budget that is long-term and will generate a realistic approach to how much money we have to spend.
"We think everyone should have to pay their fair share," he said.

Prizery Gets $247,000 For Phase II Construction

Dreams of a Halifax County cultural and community arts center came one step closer to realization Friday, when U. S. Congressman Virgil Goode presented The Prizery Fundraising Committee with a check for $247,000.

"This money is an Economic Development Initiative Earmark Grant," said Goode. "I am pleased that some of your federal tax dollars are going to enhance life in this area."

He said it was appropriate for community revitalization efforts to begin in a building formerly used for tobacco production.

"It is tobacco that supported this area and the Commonwealth for almost three centuries," said Goode. "And, today, it is tobacco that breathes a new energy into the future of this area."

Goode added that The Prizery would serve as much more than an arts center, noting that it would also serve as a welcome center and provide classes for Halifax County students.

"A developed and utilized Prizery will enhance South Boston's and Halifax County's attractiveness to business and industry," he said.

Representatives of the Board of Supervisors and South Boston Town Council agreed.

"From a county perspective," said Supervisor Doug Bowman, "this is viewed as a catalyst for the new economy.

"We need to raise the standard of living and the cultural awareness in the community in order to attract businesses in the future," added Bowman.
Prizery Executive Director Chris Jones said that Phase II construction will cost between $4 and $4.5 million dollars.

That money has come from a variety of sources including $2 million in historic tax credits, a $1.5 million matching funds grant form the Board of Supervisors and South Boston Town Council and $1.5 million in private contributions.

"Right now we are $1.2 million toward the $1.5 million we need," John Cannon, chairman of The Prizery Fundraising Committee, said on Friday. "We are real close."

But Jones said contributions were still needed.

"We need the community to step up and match what the local governments have promised," he said. "That money is contingent upon us being able to match it privately.

"We are still in need of approximately $300,000 in donations," he added.
Final interviews with contractors are scheduled for Thursday and Phase II construction is expected to begin in early March, according Jones.

Supervisors Will Take Comment On Tax Cut

Supervisors are considering a real estate tax exemption for certain elderly and disabled persons.

A public hearing has been set Monday, March 1, in the Board Room at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax for public comment.

The Board's Finance Committee is recommending utilizing the model from Campbell County, one with a household income limit of $22,000 for those 65 years and older, among other provisions.

Also, the net combined financial worth of owners, and of the spouse of any owner, cannot exceed $60,000.

This figure includes the present value of all equitable interests as of Dec. 31 of the preceding calendar year, but excludes the value of the dwelling and its one acre or less site.

A three-step sliding scale for exemption is proposed based on total income, with a maximum annual exemption on any one property of $500.

Prior to the public hearing, a copy of the tax ordinance is available for inspection at the County Administration Building at 134 South Main Street in Halifax.

Campbell County has been utilizing an elderly and disabled tax exemption, and neighboring Pittsylvania County has put it into practice, according to Joe Morgan, county administrator.

"As with a lot of programs, our neighbors to the west have them and our neighbors to the east do not," Morgan said when asked about neighboring counties' policies.

Supervisor James Edmunds said yesterday that he has been interested in tax relief for the elderly and disabled since he came on the Board.

Discussed in past budget sessions, Morgan said it was decided "when the budget was generally in balance, they would look at this tax relief (for elderly and disabled)."

Last week, the Finance Committee also adopted a budget calender for work sessions to begin in April.

In other money matters, the Finance Committee recommended engaging attorneys to assist with delinquent tax collection.

"Delinquent taxpayers should pay now before attorneys are involved and those fees added to the bill," Morgan said Friday.

County Treasurer Linda Foster estimated that on a 17-year basis all delinquent taxes are approximately $235,000.

"The rate of collection, even with this, is around 4 percent not collected," she said. "Ninety-six percent are paying."

The county tax rate on real estate was 42 cents per assessed $100. However, with the recent reassessment, Morgan said it would take 36 cents per assessed $100 to yield the same revenue this year.

However, Morgan said that he "anticipates folks are going to want spending increases that would require revenue adjustment."

Supervisors could increase the tax rate this year but special notice must be given to raise that rate in a reassessment year, Morgan said Friday.

Comets Fall Shy In Title Bid
An 87-79 Overtime Loss To GW Friday Leaves Comets In Second-place And Facing GW Again Here Wednesday In District Tournament Semifinals

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County saw its last chance to make a bid for the regular-season district title slip away Friday night in a disappointing 87-79 overtime loss to archrival GW in Danville.

Friday night's loss capped a disappointing week in which the Comets lost to regular-season district champion Franklin County on the road Wednnesday and fell to GW Friday.

The Comets, 14-8 overall and 6-2 in Western Valley District play, entered Friday's game against GW needing a win to force a playoff game with Franklin County for the regular-season title and an automatic berth in the Northwest Region Tournament.

With the loss, the Comets dropped to second place in the final district standings and will host GW Wednesday night in one of the two Western Valley District Tournament semifinal games.

That game will put the Comets in a do-or-die situation.

A win Wednesday night will put the Comets into the district tournament championship game on Friday night.

And, if Franklin County is the opponent as it is favored to be, the Comets can advance to the Northwest Region Tournament simply by making it into Friday night's title game.

On the other hand, a loss to GW here Wednesday night under any scenario will end the Comets' season.

Friday night's loss was a huge disappointment for Comets coach Garrett Dillard, the coaching staff and players.

"We had every chance to win it," said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
"We just didn't finish it - no excuses."

To the Comets credit, they mustered the strength to rally from a 14-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and take a 64-63 lead on two free throws by Quintin Brown with 1:28 left in the contest.

It was a see-saw battle from there until Craig McCargo, who led the Comets with 21 points, hit both ends of a one-and one opportunity with 1:07 to play and Derrick Sprattley hit a fall-away jumper with 44 seconds left to put the Comets up 68-65.

GW's Cameron Martin, who led the Eagles with 25 points and canned seven three-point shots in the game, tied the game with a trey with 28.2 seconds to play.

McCargo, who had hit three free throws in a row with 3:48 to play to help continue the comeback effort and had hit two free throws a minute earlier, went back to the free throw line with 7.2 seconds to play to shoot two shots that could have put the Comets on top and given them an excellent opportunity to secure the win.

Both missed the mark and officials called a jump ball when Comets and GW players tied up wrestling for the rebound on the second missed shot.

That gave GW five seconds to work with but the Comets, with a good defensive effort, thwarted GW's attempt on the final shot in regulation.

GW grabbed the early lead in the four-minute overtime period but a three-pointer from Sprattley put the Comets back in front and a bucket from Brown padded the Comets' lead at 73-70.

After GW made one of two free throw attempts the Comets had a chance to extend their lead but turned the ball over on a 10-second violation.

GW then reeled off six unanswered points to take a 77-73 lead with 1:41 left.
Brown missed a layup and GW followed with two free throws from Derek Carter on its ensuing possession to make it a 79-73 lead.

Twice down the stretch, McCargo hit big three-point shots to keep the Comets close, the last coming with 39.9 seconds left to bring the Comets to within two points at 81-79.

That was the last time the Comets scored.

With the Comets being forced to foul, GW iced the game by canning six straight free throws in the final 37 seconds to preserve the win.

GW, which had canned only two of 12 free throws in regulation, was 9-11 in the overtime period.

"We're proud of the kids but the only thing we wanted was a win," Dillard said.
"We're not going to take a moral victory. We wanted to win that thing. Nothing will make up for that."

Comets senior Sharmane Holeman, who saw his team see one of its best opportunities to end a lengthy losing streak to GW in Danville slip away, echoed that sentiment.

"I definitely wanted to get this one," said Holeman who came off of the bench to score 10 points and become one of five Comets players to hit double figures.

"I'm not sure about the rest of the team, but I'm taking it very hard because I went out there and gave it my all and it slipped away from us.

"It's tough for everybody on the team," added Comets sophomore Jeremy Jeffress after his 14-point night.

"We should have held the lead."

While it was a disappointing loss for the Comets, the standing-room only crowd that packed the GW gym in Danville were treated to a game that will join many others on the long list of great basketball games between the two schools.

"It's been two really good basketball games," Dillard said pointing to his team's win here on a buzzer-beater shot and this overtime thriller.

" We got them at home and they got us here."

GW head coach Bobby Martin agreed.

"You've got two great teams going after it and sometimes you make them (shots) and sometimes you don't," Martin pointed out.

"They (Halifax County) made some shots down there and missed some up here. That was the difference in these two games."

Things didn't look good for the Comets at the outset as GW scored seven unanswered points in the first minute and three seconds of the game to take a 7-0 lead.

After a Comets time-out, McCargo broke the ice with a three-pointer.

Trailing 12-3, the Comets reeled off nine straight points with the help of shots from McCargo, Derek Brooks, Jeffress and Brown to tie the game with 4:34 left in the first quarter and took the lead later on a basket from Chase Weddle with 2:25 left in the quarter.

The Comets managed to hold the lead for most of the remainder of the first half only to fall behind late in the second quarter at the hands of a GW rally.
Halifax County fell behind by as many as four points and trailed by two points at 35-33 at halftime.

During the first half, the Comets struggled to handle GW's pressure defense and committed many of the 14 turnovers it made in the game.

"A lot of it was mental mistakes," Dillard pointed out.

"We got the ball inbounds but we were getting it to the wrong place and dribbling it too much instead of looking to swing the ball."

After trailing 35-33 at halftime, the Comets struggled in the third quarter and, after failing to score in the final two minutes, trailed 57-45 at the end of the quarter.

"They (GW) got the lead down the stretch," Dillard said.

" From that point we were fighting to stay in the ballgame."

The Comets had seven players to score with five hitting double figures.
Following McCargo's team high 21 points was a 17-point effort from Brown, a 14-point night from Jeffress, a 13-point night from Sprattley and a 10-point game from Holeman.

Weddle and Brooks scored two points each.

Obituaries

Theodore Roosevelt Carden

Theodore Roosevelt Carden, 91, of 1183 Allen’s Mill Road, Scottsburg died February 11 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Carden was born in Halifax County on December 12, 1912, the son of the late Elijah Carden and Nater McCargo Carden and was married to Lutishia Smith Carden. He was a member of Spanish Grove Baptist Church, and was a World War II Army Veteran.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Elizabeth Jeffress and Brenda Carden, both of Richmond, and Wilma Jean Carden of Scottsburg; five sons, Terry Carden of Waco, Texas, Donald L. Carden of Columbus, Ga., Cliffer T. Carden and George E. Carden, both of Halifax, and Milton Carden of Philadelphia, Pa.; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Augusta Venable and Josephine Jacobs, both of Tuckahoe, N.Y.; and one brother, Hebert Carden of Tuckahoe.

A funeral service for Mr. carden will be held February 17 at 1 p.m. at Spanish Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Womack officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home.

James Otha Edmonds

James Otha Edmonds, 45, of Bridgeport, Conn., and former resident of South Boston, died Thursday, February 12, in Branford, Conn.

Mr. Edmonds was born in Bridgeport, Conn., on August 18, 1958, the son of the late Henry H. Edmonds and Beatrice Hargrove Edmonds.

He was a former employee of Mason C. Day Construction Company.

Mr. Edmonds is survived by two daughters, Doeava Barrett and Precious Barrett, both of Bridgeport, Conn., two sons, James O. Barrett of Bridgeport and Damien Watson of North Carolina, six sisters Dorothy E. Younger, Annie R. Crawley and Beatrice O. Tyner, all of Bridgeport, Conn., Hallie M. Sparks of South Boston, Hazel E. Edmonds of Hamden, Conn., and Carolyn L. Jackson of Rochester, N.Y., ten brothers, Nathaniel Edmonds of Chatham, Henry L. Edmonds, Preston W. Edmonds, Joseph H. Edmonds and Willie L. Womack, all of South Boston, Elijah W. Edmonds, Irving E. Edmonds, Gregory M. Edmonds, Calvin E. Edmonds and Lawrence C. Edmonds, all of Bridgeport, Conn., the mother of his children, Rena Barrett, one son-in-law, Lineo Young, five grandchildren, three aunts, Dorothy White of Vernon Hill, Mildred Bruce of Bridgeport, Conn., and Flossie Edmonds of Brooklyn, N.Y., five sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 17, at 3:30 p.m. with services at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax, Va.

Interment will take place in Christ Temple Blue Rock Pentecostal Church Cemetery in Vernon Hill.

The family will receive friends at the home of Dorothy White, 1186 Blue Rock Road, Vernon Hill.

Frances Langford Gentry

Frances Langford Gentry died on Friday, February 13.

She was born July 15, 1928, and was a devoted educator.

She began her teaching career in Stokesdale, N.C., in 1955 and retired in 1986 from the Burlington School System.

Mrs. Gentry is survived by her husband of 46 years, Lamberth George Gentry, two children, Andrew and Sandra, one granddaughter, Miranda, three sisters, Carolyn Chambers of Rougemont, N.C., Ethel Blalock and husband David of Timberlake, N.C., and Mary Hunley and husband Merritt of South Boston, and four bothers, Johnny Mack Gentry and wife Norma Jean and Tex Wayne Gentry, all of Roxboro, Tim Gentry and wife Elizabeth of Virgilina and George Gentry and wife Faye of Lake Worth, Fla.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 16, at 2 p.m. at the Rich and Thompson funeral chapel in Burlington N.C.

Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Kinnett Memorial Baptist Church, 1106 East Morchead Street, Burlington, N.C. 27215 or the charity of the donor's choice.

Samuel Edward Puryear

Samuel Edward Puryear, 42, of 2041 Philpott Road, South Boston died February 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Puryear was born in Halifax County on April 11, 1961, the son of Carlton W. ‘Pete’ Puryear Sr. and Shirley Yancey Puryear. He was employed as a truck driver.

Survivors include his parents of South Boston; four daughters, Heather, Kelley and Samantha Puryear, all of South Boston, and Victoria Puryear of Blairs; one sister, Joanne P. Smith and her husband, Tony, of South Boston; one brother, Carlton W. Puryear Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Durham, N.C.; and one grandson, Jonathan Hammock of South Boston.

A funeral service for Mr. Puryear was held February 15 at 2 p.m. at Black Walnut Baptist Church with the Revs. Richard Saunders and H.V. Conner officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Gwendolyn Faye Lowery Whitlow

Gwendolyn Faye Lowery Whitlow, 84, of South Boston, died Friday, February 13, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Lowery was born in Halifax County on October 29, 1919, the daughter of the late Mack Aldy Lowery and Annie Comer Lowery and was married to the late Roby Holt Whitlow.

She was a retired employee of J.P. Stevens and was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Lowery is survived by three sons, Tommy Whitlow and wife Sharon and Rick Whitlow and wife Johnette, both of Virgilina, and Ray Whitlow and wife Sonja of South Boston, one brother, Paul Lowery of Richmond, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Orleans Lowery, and one grandson, Adam Whitlow.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 16, at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frankie Reaves officiating.

Burial will take place at Shady Grove U.M.C. Cemetery.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to give to their favorite charity.

Ethel Elizabeth Armbrister Wright

Memorial services for Mrs. Ethel Elizabeth Armbrister Wright will be held Monday, February 16, at 7:30 p.m., with services at the Brooks Funeral Home Chapel.

The Revs. Shelton Miles and James Crockett will officiate.

Funeral services will follow Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Dudley Mortuary in Bluefield.

Burial will follow in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton, W.V.
Mrs. Wright, of Stagecoach Road in Nathalie, died Saturday at the Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was 88.

Mrs. Wright was born in McDowell County, West Virginia on February 8, 1916, the daughter of the late Kathleen M. Armbrister and the late Cloyd Madison Armbrister. She was married to the late Weldon James "Happy" Wright.

She was a school teacher in McDowell County and was a member of the Northfork United Methodist Church, where she was the organist.

Mrs. Wright was also a member of the United Methodist Women and the Eastern Star.

Survivors include one daughter, Janice Wright Davis and husband Lee Roy, of Nathalie, one daughter-in-law, Lynette Wright of Daleville, two granddaughters, Sarah Hamlett and husband Bernard and Kathleen T. Jennings and husband Scottie, all of Brookneal.

She was preceded in death by one son, James Weldon Wright, II, two brothers, Cloyd Armbrister and Litz Armbrister and one sister, Hazel Jordan.
The family will receive friends at Dudley Mortuary in Bluefield Wednesday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove, 4210 Leda Grove Road, Nathalie, or the Northfork United Methodist Church of Northfork, W.V.

A. Wayland Young

A.Wayland Young, 71, of Carrollton, died Friday, February 13, at his home.
He was a native of Halifax County, a peninsula resident since 1951, and a Carrollton resident since 1977.

Mr. Young retired with 36 years of service as a supervisor in the Newport News Shipbuilding nondestructive testing department.

He was a member of Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church in Newport News, St. Tammany Lodge #5, A.F. &A.M. in Hampton and a former member of A.S.N.T.

Mr. Young is survived by his wife, Naomi C. Young, one sister, Annie Y. Satterfield of Seaford, one brother, A. Swanson Young and wife Hilda D. of Kernersville, N.C., and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, his parents, Stephen and Hallie Young, one sister, Virginia Y. Heath, and three bothers, Walter D., Clifton D. and James E. Young.

Funeral services will be held today, February 16, at 10 a.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home with the Rev. Steven Plymate and the Rev. Amanda Garber officiating.

Burial will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park.