Flood warnings for Paces and Riverdale areas predict the Dan River to crest sometime tomorrow at 23 and 26 feet respectively, If accurate, it would bring about the third closing of US 501 since January 30 when the Dan peaked around 324 feet above sea level.
Another wild round of weather dumped a measured 1.30 inches of rainfall in South Boston during a 24-hour period beginning Monday and prompted a flash flood watch from the Virginia Department of Emergency Services yesterday afternoon. In neighboring North Carolina including the border counties of Person and Granville, a tornado watch was issued around noon yesterday that described conditions as being capable of producing winds up to 70 miles per hour, hail up to two inches in diameter and heavy rainfall.
Schools in adjoining Pittsylvania County closed early because of the weather and concern for flash flooding. One inch of rainfall fell at Philpott Reservoir in a five hour-period beginning yesterday at 8:00 a.m
The National Weather Service at Blacksburg predicted from 1.00 to 1.30 inches of rain could fall by early today.
Downstream at Clarksville, Buggs Island Lake had an elevation of 312.8 feet above sea level yesterday and is expected to rise at least a foot as a result of all the rain.
A spokesman with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wilmington, NC said yesterday that a more accurate elevation prediction would come today as they continued to analysis the data being received.
Those Riverdale area merchants affected by flooding were generally taking a wait-and-see approach to the warnings yesterday. Ray Conner and his son Ray Jr. weren't taking any chances however and yesterday, were loading merchandise, fixtures and equipment into boxes should they decide to move out early tomorrow.
Their key and lock shop business floods when the river rises to 26 feet and above. Two old school buses are used to shuttle the goods to higher ground when and if the decision is made to move out.
When threatened with flooding on January 30, Conner moved out but the water never got high enough to enter his building. A week after that, he boxed the business but didn't move out.
Some Halifax County residents have been driving extra miles since January 30 when the roads leading to their homes became flooded and remain that way today. Five more roads were added to the closed list yesterday and they are:
·Route 613 from Route 914 to Route 344
·Route 617 from Route 618 to Route 623
·Route 621 from Route 609 to Mt.Laurel
·Route 685 from Route 662 to Route 683
·Route 778 from Route 746 to Route 600.
Closed since earlier this month are:
·Route 601 from Route 630 to Route 737
·Route 716 from Route 727 to Route 344
·Route 716 from Route 727 to Route 726
·Route 730 from Route 876 to Route 58
One motorist was injured early Monday morning during a bizarre incident on U.S. 360, under the Vaughan Street Bridge in South Boston.
Logs from an unknown logging truck struck the overpass bridge, causing several large logs to spill onto the roadway of U.S. 360, according to the investigation.
The logging truck left the scene, but a 1984 Ford van driven westbound by Richard Hopper, 52, of Clover struck one of the logs at 12:28 a.m., police said.
Hopper was injured during the collision and transported to the Halifax Regional Hospital by the Halifax County Rescue Squad.
Damages to the van were estimated at $200, according to the investigation.
Despite the early morning hour, traffic began to back up while a backhoe was being brought from the South Boston Department of Public to move the logs.
Traffic was re-routed along Seymour Drive, Marshall Avenue, and Hodges Street while the logs were moved, police said.
Two vehicles collided Monday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. 58 and U.S. 360 in Riverdale, according to the Virginia State Police.
Willie Lynn Newton, 69, of Buffalo Junction was headed eastbound when his 1993 Cadillac struck the rear of vehicle stopped for the traffic light, police said.
Newton's vehicle struck a 1996 Honda driven by Kimberly Darnell O'Leary, 38, of Virginia Beach. No injuries occurred.
Newton's vehicle sustained an estimated $1,500 in damages, while O'Leary's vehicle sustained an estimated $1,000 in damages, according to the investigation.
Newton was charged with following too closely. The 2:50 p.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper S.M. Krantz.
Other wrecks investigated:
· A single-vehicle wreck occurred Friday afternoon on U.S. 58, one-half mile west of Rt. 658, police said.
Bulent I. Tamersoy, 69, of Clarksville was driving a 1995 Ford Explorer when he lost control, ran off the right side of the road, slid back across the roadway, and struck an embankment, police said.
He was not injured during the 1:30 p.m. incident. Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $3,500, according to the investigation.
Tamersoy was charged by Virginia State Trooper D.J. Cline with reckless driving.
· A two-vehicle crash occurred at 1:20 p.m. on Friday at the intersection of U.S. 501 and Rt. 654 in Centerville, police said.
Katherine Slayton Shortt, 61, of Halifax was driving a 1995 Chevrolet when she attempted to make a left turn from U.S. 501 onto Rt. 654, police said.
She was struck by a 1993 Ford driven by Sharon Denise Howerton, 33, of Nathalie. No injuries occurred.
Damages to Shortt's vehicle were listed at $1,000, while damages to Howerton's Ford were also estimated at $1,000, according to the investigation.
Shortt was charged by Virginia State Trooper C.M. Fleming with failure to yield right-of-way.
· A single-vehicle wreck last Thursday night on Rt. 703, one-half mile west of Rt. 881 injured a South Boston woman, police said.
Lashonda C. Medley, 18, of South Boston lost control of a 1997 Mercury, ran off the right shoulder, overcorrected, ran off the left shoulder, then struck an embankment, according to the investigation.
Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $3,000 after the 10:50 p.m. wreck.
Medley was charged by Trooper Krantz with driving under the influence.
· A tractor trailer crashed Thursday afternoon on Rt. 40, two-tenths mile from Rt. 603 in Cody, police said.
Ronnie James Seamster, 37, of Brookneal lost control of a 1988 Kenworth, ran off the right side of the road and struck a sign and several small trees, police said.
He was not injured, but the rig sustained an estimated $16,000 in damages during the 2:30 p.m. crash, according to the investigation.
A Virginia Department of Transportation sign sustained an estimated $50 in damage.
Seamster was charged by Virginia State Trooper R.L. Hodges with reckless driving.
· A North Carolina man drove past a "road closed" sign last Wednesday night on Rt. 601, causing his 1995 Volvo to submerge in 4.5-feet of water, police said.
Sarshar Motamedi, 35, of Graham, N.C. was not injured during the 8:55 p.m. incident which occurred on a bridge over the Hyco River Bridge, two-tenths of a mile west of Rt. 737.
Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $5,000, according to the investigation.
Motamedi was charged with failure to obey a highway sign. The incident was investigated by Trooper Krantz.
Ron Ramsey, who has served as an assistant principal at Halifax County High School for almost 20 years, retired from his post Monday.
Halifax County High School principal Larry Clark said yesterday that assistant principal Leon Johnson has assumed Ramsey's duties of handling ninth grade discipline and transportation matters.
In addition, Johnson will continue to handle his current duty assignments of directing the school's vocational education and Special Education programs.
Clark pointed out that Johnson will be assisted in those areas by Bill Moore who is the school system's director of vocational education and Kenneth Plaster who serves as Director of Pupil Personnel services when needed.
"Mr. Johnson will wear two hats for the rest of the school year," Clark said.
"We've had to do this before. We'll be fine."
The vacancy created by Ramsey's retirement will not be filled until July 1. Clark explained that the vacancy will be advertised this spring with applications being reviewed and interviews conducted with a target of having someone in place July 1.
The high school principal said yesterday that Ramsey, who has been employed at the school in various capacities since 1970, will be missed.
"I have nothing but good things to say about his dedication to the school and his dedication to the students," Clark said.
"He was a valuable and vital part of the excellent administrative team I have assembled, something that you have to have in order to manage a school of this size."
Clark said that he has mixed emotions about Ramsey's retirement.
"I'm happy that he has the opportunity to retire," the high school principal noted.
"But, at the same time I'm sad because we have lost such a good friend and colleague. I will miss him both as a person and as a professional."
Ramsey has served Halifax County High School in a number of capacities. He began his career at the school in 1970 as a physical education teacher. In addition to his teaching duties, Ramsey served as assistant football coach, assistant track coach, and head Comet football coach.
The South Boston resident began his tenure as an assistant principal in 1978. In addition to handling various administrative duties, Ramsey remained involved in the school's athletic programs for a number of years while serving as Athletic Director.
A stolen portable radio owned by the South Boston Police Department was recovered Friday night by a Halifax County Sheriff's Deputy.
The Motorola HT 440 is believed to have been stolen from the home of SBPD Officer Stuart Comer in August, 1996, according to the investigation.
It was recovered during a search of a parked vehicle on Wild Turkey Run (Rt. 901), a dead end road located near the intersection of Rt. 360 and Rt. 654, just west of Halifax.
Two juvenile subjects in the vehicle were questioned, but no charges have been filed. However, the youths may face charges as the ongoing investigation continues, Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes pointed out.
Halifax County Sheriff's Deputy J.L. Lucia had just started his shift when he spotted a 1994 Geo Tracker parked at the end of Wild Turkey Run, police said. He encountered the vehicle, which was parked backwards, at 11:04 p.m.
The youths told Lucia that the "check engine" light had activated and they pulled into the dead end road to check the engine, according to the investigation.
After consent was given to search the vehicle, Lucia found the radio on the floorboard behind the front passenger seat, according to the investigation.
One of the juveniles stated that he had found the radio at a green box site near News Ferry, Lucia said.
The portable transmitter is valued at approximately $300. It was stolen prior to the installation of computer scrambling chips into all radios of the South Boston Police Department, Lucia pointed out.
A computer check of the serial number revealed that it was stolen. A label on the rear of the radio reads "Martin," which is believed to have been a designation for David Martin, a former law enforcement officer of both the South Boston Police Department and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department. He is now employed as a computer programmer.
The radio was subsequently believed to have been issued to Comer just prior to the break-in of his house, according to Lucia.
Investigator C.A. Bates of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department will assist Lucia in the investigation, according to Sheriff Oakes.
An argument Monday at a Ball Park Loop Road residence has resulted in a felony charge of malicious wounding, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Lonnie Donnell Mosley, 25, was charged with a felony count of malicious wounding of Shenita Mosley, a household or family member.
He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Jermone Coleman, also a household or family member.
Mosley is scheduled to appear in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on March 4 for the malicious wounding charge.
He is scheduled to appear in the Halifax County General District Court on March 20 for the assault and battery charge.
Mosley was arrested by Halifax County Sheriff's Deputy J.L. Lucia.
In another case, a South Boston man was arrested this week on a felony count of possession of cocaine, police said.
Christopher David New, 32, was indicted by a Halifax County Circuit Court grand jury and arrested by agents of the Tri-County Regional Drug Task Force.
The indictment was the result of a traffic stop that occurred in October, 1997.
New is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail on a $25,000 bond pending his first court appearance.
He was arrested by Narcotics Investigator Richard Pulliam and Special Agent G.V. Thomas of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Vasco Slayton of Philadelphia, PA, formerly of Pittsylvania County, died Thursday, February 12, 1998 in Philadelphia.
Mr. Slayton was born in Pittsylvania County on October 10, 1916 the son of Howard and Minnie Hall Slayton and was married to Edna Jordon Slayton. He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Isaiah Slayton, Frankie Slayton and Vasco Slayton Jr., all of Philadelphia, and Larry Slayton of New York; two brothers, Joseph Slayton and Frank Slayton, both of Philadelphia; five sisters, Pearl Walthall and Eunice Patrick, both of Philadelphia, Edith Rosser of South Boston, Estelle Waller and Dora Pannell, both of Long Island; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Slayton will be held Thursday, February 19 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
James Glenn Anderson of 4100 Halifax Road, South Boston died February 17, 1998 at Twin Oaks Nursing Home. He was 76 years of age.
Mr. Anderson was born in Halifax County on February 1, 1922 the son of Earl Talmadge Anderson Sr. and Mabel Oakes Anderson. He was a member of Center United Church of Christ.
Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services for Mr. Anderson will be held Thursday, February 19 at 11 a.m. in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. John Wilder conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, February 18 from 7:30 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Ethel Gaye James 'Jimmy' Covington of 1324 South Avenue, South Boston died Monday, February 16, 1998 at her home. She was 90 years of age.
Mrs. Covington was born in Endicot on March 4, 1907 the daughter of Gordon Bennett James and Minnie Ethel Martin James and was married to Henry Melvin 'Luck' Covington. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke and was a nurse at the South Boston Hospital in the 1930's.
Survivors include one daughter, Betty Jean Covington of South Boston; two sisters, Opal Grapes of Manderville, LA and Thelma Drewery of Rocky Mount; four grandchildren, Mary Brett Covington Crews of Babylon, NY, Leigh Covington of Florida, Sally Covington of New York, NY and Edward Spencer Covington of CT; and one great-granddaughter, Taylor Renee Covington Crews of Babylon. She was preceded in death by one son, Henry Melvin Covington.
A memorial service for Mrs. Covington will be held Sunday, March 8 at
her home. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. followed by the memorial service
at 4 p.m. conducted by Rev. Dr. Michael Cole. Burial will take place in
Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church Cemetery on April 26 at 4 p.m.
Jennie Smith Murray of South Boston died Monday, February 16, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 96 years of age.
Mrs. Murray was born November 27, 1901 in Halifax County the daughter of Buck Smith and Tennie Ann Smith and was married to Howard N. Murray. She was a member of North Fork Baptist Church.
Graveside services will be held today, February 18 at 11 a.m. at Virgilina Cemetery with Rev. Russell Pedigo officiating.
Survivors of Mrs. Murray include one daughter, Marjorie M. Hite of Buffalo Junction; two sons, Edsel S. Murray of Buffalo Junction and K. Douglas Murray of Martinsville; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, and two sons, Glenn A. Murray and Curtis E. Murray.
Mattie Torian Smith of 4050 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg died Sunday, February 15, 1998 at Berry Hill Nursing Home at the age of 87.
Mrs. Smith was born in Halifax County on March 23, 1910 the daughter of Jacob Torian and Alice Carden Torian and was married to Archie Smith. She was a member of Spanish Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Clyde Smith of Scottsburg; four grandchildren; one sister, Florence T. Green of Scottsburg; one daughter-in-law, Rosa Smith; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be held Friday, February 20 at 2 p.m. at Spanish Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Freddie Jeffress officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.