Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Burlington Property Sale Expected
To Be Completed Next Week To Unnamed Investment Group

The sale of Burlington Industries’ Halifax plant and approximately 80 acres of land to an investment group is expected to be finalized next week according to an official who is in charge of the disposal of the bankrupt textile firm.

Neither the name of the purchaser nor the purchase price were disclosed, but officials say that the new owners hope to secure a tenant, an indication that the acquisition may be purely speculative on the buyers’ part.

Scott Morris, executive director of the Halifax County IDA, said that he had heard the property was purchased for “pennies on the dollar.”

“When someone buys it for less than we have it on the books for means a loss of value to us but, probably, an opportunity. It’s a loss right now, but it’s a gain in the future if there’s a chance we can work with them to put something in the building,” Morris said.

Situated in the Town of Halifax and fronting on the Cowford Road, the property consists of approximately 350,000 sq.ft. of building, office and warehouse space.

The property has been on the market since Burlington ceased operations here in late 2002.

Prior to that time, Burlington had employed approximately 650 persons in Halifax who earned an estimated $15 million annually.

The county assessed the property at $5.9 million and Burlington had been paying approximately $345,000 in real estate taxes to the Halifax County and Town of Halifax.

Other properties owned by Burlington, including those in Clarksville, continue to be marketed for sale by the liquidation trust under guidelines established by the bankruptcy court.

Another investment group known as Consolidated Development Co. Inc. of Elizabeth City, N.C., recently purchased Kinderton Distribution Center in Clarksville. Burlington had used KDC as a warehouse and a spokesman for BII, agents for the liquidation, said that the new owners are expected to use the 162,115 sq.ft. facility in similar manner.

Still for sale is Burlington’s former manufacturing facilities in Clarksville and approximately 88 acres, which border Buggs Island Lake.

Harold Vaden, a spokesman for BII, said that several individuals continue to express an interest in the Clarksville property but, as of this week, no offers have been accepted.

Berry Hill Group Is Asking For More Time
Sees Three Possible Exit Strategies For Bankrupt Property: Sale, Refinancing And Development, Financial Partnering

The group who owns the Berry Hill property has filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to extend the deadline for filing a plan of reorganization, according to court records.

If approved by the court, the deadline will be pushed back from March 19 until June 21.

Berry Hill Hotel Associates - with principals Darrin Phillips and Ryan Hill - claims that given the additional time, they will be able to "propose a plan that will result in a successful reorganization."

"The debtor's immediate business goal is the development of a master plan with an accompanying feasibility study for the property," the motion reads.

"Once the master plan and feasibility study are complete, the debtor will be in a much better position to evaluate and negotiate various business options for the property, such as sale of the property, a refinancing and development of the property or the location of alternative financing and financial partnering.
"Once the debtor has analyzed all options, it will be in the position to formulate a plan of reorganization," the motion continues.

Hill Studios was retained to conduct the $154,060 study, with an estimated completion date in the end of April.

In a December 1 letter to Halifax County Industrial Development Director Scott Morris, the two owners said they would fund 25 percent of the study and wrote, "we would request that the Town of South Boston and County of Halifax pay the other 75 percent of the cost." The suggestion was never pursued by either the town or county.

The two are funding the full amount of the study personally, according to consultant Bill Carder.

Hill and Phillips suggest in the motion that the Berry Hill property will be included in a master economic development plan that includes 400 acres currently optioned by the Halifax County IDA for residential development, Riverstone Technology Park and 550 acres of near-by property - "some of which would be used for a park or open space."

In the motion for extension, Hill and Phillips hint at future financial support for the property by the town and county.

"A master plan, together with the feasibility study, ... are crucial to the county and town in their consideration of their financial commitment in the development of the property," the motion reads. "Their support and financial commitment will enhance the value of the property and will assist the debtor in the formulation of its business strategy and its reorganization plan."

Berry Hill closed its doors on September 7, 2003.

Internal financial issues, including the non-payment of bills by the owners to former property managers Marriott, Inc., forced Marriott to pull out of the agreement on September 5, 2003 and lay off approximately 45 employees, Halifax County Industrial Development Executive Director Scott Morris said shortly after the closing.

Shortly after Marriott's withdrawal, AXA Berry Hill - who holds a $4 million note on the property, issued a notice of default on October 16.

Former general manager of the property under Marriott, Bill Carder, has been hired as a consultant to Hill and Phillips.

The consultant said the owners of the property are hopeful for the future of the historic property.

"We remain optimistic that we will be able to open the property in some form by the end of the year," he said. "We believe this project, when it's complete, will be a tremendous boon for the Town of South Boston, Halifax County and all of Southside."

Halifax County Industries Benefit From Job Program
IDA Executive Director Scott Morris Is Pleased With Workforce Services

Described as a "key part of our economic development plan," IDA Executive Director Scott Morris said he is pleased with increased local activity of Workforce Services.

"Our increased communications with existing industries and Workforce Services has led to an increase in the services and support being provided," he said.

A division of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, Workforce Services offers customized recruitment, training and reimbursement to new and expanding companies in an effort to assist them in offsetting human resource development costs, Morris added.

The IDA director pointed to several local industries that have benefited from the use of the program.

Started in 2003, Virginia Brands is a new cigarette manufacturer in Riverdale that enlisted the help of Workforce Services with on-the-job training and recruitment.

Earlier in the year, Workforce Services began working with the company to assist them with creating 57 new jobs, 18 of which have already been filled.
O'Sullivan Industries, began working with the group in September, 2003 to retrain 240 existing employees.

"O'Sullivan, one of Halifax County's largest manufacturers, was forced to lay off 305 employees during 2003 due to economic downturn and overseas competition," Morris said. "O'Sullivan changed their production techniques to lean manufacturing and received assistance in retraining employees."

Headquartered in Lamar, Missouri, O'Sullivan has grown to become America's eighth largest furniture manufacturer.

Workforce Services is also supporting Bohler Uddeholm Specialty Metals.
"There is constant need in manufacturing to become more efficient," said Marvin Morris, plant manager. "The support of Workforce Services is allowing us to make strides in that direction."

An international leader in the production of high-speed steels, tool steels and specialty metals, Bohler Uddeholm has been working with Workforce Services since October, 2003 to retrain 30 existing employees for lean manufacturing to help with cost reductions and maintain employee positions.

Both Annin & Co. and d-Scan were also assisted by Workforce Services in 2003.

In 2004, the group is beginning to work with Lasco Bathware and Dollar General.

The Dollar General distribution center has announced plans to expand their local work force by 100 employees in 2004, according to the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.

To assist the company with the expansion, Dollar General has said they will use the Workforce Services program to assist with employee screening and applications.

"They do a great job of getting us the people we need," said Mike Dunn, plant manager.

Lasco is working toward retraining approximately 25 employees on new equipment they are expected to receive early this year.

For more information on the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and Workforce Services, go to www.dba.state.va.us/workforce.

It’s Do-Or-Die For Comets
HCHS Faces A Rematch With GW Here In Thursday’s District Tournament Semifinal Game

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

It's do-or-die time for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team.

The Comets, after seeing their bid for the Western Valley District regular-season title slip out of their grasp, have one last chance to earn a berth in the Northwest Region Tournament.

That opportunity will come Thursday night when the Comets square off against archrival GW of Danville here at 7 p.m. in one of the two Western Valley District semifinal games.

If the Comets (14-8 overall, 6-2 district) defeat GW (14-6 overall, 5-3 district) and advance to Saturday's district championship game, they will advance into the Northwest Region Tournament field if their opponent in the championship game is regular-season champion Franklin County.

Should Franklin County fall victim to an upset in the semifinals, the Comets would have to win the tournament championship game to advance to the Northwest Region Tournament.

A loss to GW tomorrow night will end the Comets' season.

The Comets will enter Thursday night's Western Valley District Tournament semifinal game having won against GW here at home both this year and last year.

Halifax County won the season's first meeting of the two teams on a buzzer-beating shot by Craig McCargo.

However, the Comets enter Thursday's action coming off of a disappointing 87-79 overtime loss to GW last Friday in Danville.

Also, the Comets will be trying Thursday night to snap a two-game losing streak after having lost road games to Franklin County and GW last week.

Comets coach Garrett Dillard said yesterday his team came back to practice Monday with a good attitude.

"They (the players) came in with good energy," Dillard said.

"It was good to see them come in and not be pointing fingers and blaming people and things like that.

"We had a good practice Monday," Dillard continued.

"The guys seem to be in a pretty good mood."

Dillard said he still feels his team is the best team in the district despite the back-to-back losses to Franklin County and GW in the final week of the regular season.

"It was just that on two nights we didn't play like we were the best team in the district," Dillard pointed out.

"Unfortunately, those two nights were on the last two nights of the regular season.

"It was a tough situation to be in having to face Franklin County back-to-back and then face GW," he continued.

"You can't control the weather. But, if you play Franklin County back in January like we should have, you have a different situation, even if you lose. Either way, whatever happens, you still face a tough situation."

Dillard said he and the team will have some adjustments as it prepares for Thursday night's rematch against GW.

One of the big things Dillard said his team needs to do is play better defense.
Also, the Comets did not handle GW's pressure defense well in the first half of last Friday night's game in Danville.

It is those kinds of things that Dillard and his coaching staff are taking advantage of the extra practice time to review with the team.

"We, as coaches, are going to have to do some things to give the kids the best opportunity to win," Dillard said.

"The kids have to want it but we have to do as much as we can to help them."
Dillard said his team is fully aware of what is at stake Thursday night.

"We've told them situation and we've talked about it," the Comets coach said.
"They know that if we win we keep playing and if we lose we stay at home. Nobody wants to stay home."

Sharmane Holeman, one of only three seniors on the Comets squad, pointed out after last Friday's loss to GW that he and his teammates will be ready for GW.

"We're definitely going to be ready to play," he said.

"It is definitely do or die. We don't want to stay home. We know we have our backs against the wall. We've got to come out fighting."

Sophomore Jeremy Jeffress, one of the Comets' sharpshooter guards, echoed that sentiment.

"We've just got to come out and play hard," Jeffress said.

"I think it's going to be tough for everybody but we've got to come out and play hard. If we play hard and score like we're supposed to, if everybody's shot is falling, if everybody is playing defense and helping out, we can do it."

GW head coach Bobby Martin said the difference between the Comets win here and GW's win in Danville last Friday was simply a matter of who made the shots at the right time.

"When you have two teams that are really going after each other, you make some shots and you miss some shots," Martin said.

"They (Halifax) made some shots down there (in Halifax) and missed some up here.

"It's going to come down to who wants it most," Martin concluded.

Obituaries

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 Langford and wife Norma Jean and Tex Wayne Langford, all of Roxboro, Tim Langford and wife Elizabeth of Virgilina and George Langford 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.

Rev. Dr. Aquillia Johnson Sr.

Rev. Dr. Aquillia Johnson Sr., 80, of 212 Wildflower Drive, South Boston, formerly of Newark, N.J., died February 15 at his home.

Rev. Johnson was born in Aiken, S.C. on April 30, 1923, the son of the late William Johnson and Amanda Calhoun Johnson, and was married to the late Alice Homes Johnson. He was the owner of Johnson Trucking Co. and also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Rev. Johnson served as pastor of Beulah Grove Baptist Church in Newark before retiring. He was an active member of the Black Ministers Conference of Newark and Shiloh Baptist Association.

Survivors include one daughter, Elizabeth Penn of South Boston; four sons, Rev. Aquillia Johnson Jr. of Linden, N.J., Anthony Johnson of San Francisco, Calif., Gregory Johnson of Orlando, Fla. and Craig Johnson of Pleasantville, N.J.; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gladys Williams of Detroit, Mich. and Hazel Cadle of Aiken, S.C.; and one brother, Bennie Johnson of Passaic, N.J.

A funeral service for Rev. Johnson will take place February 21 in Newark.

John F. Lewis

John F. Lewis of South Boston died February 15.

On February 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, the viewing and funeral service will be held at First Church of the Living God in Hartford, Conn.

There will be a service February 21 at 2 p.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston.

Burial will follow at Owens Grove Cemetery in Cluster Springs.