Instead of spending the evening in front of the television watching the Super Bowl, thousands of Halifax County residents found themselves lighting candles and wrapping up in blankets Sunday evening as an ice storm blew through Virginia causing wide-spread power outages.
In Halifax, an ice-encrusted power line snapped, catching a car on fire on Maple Avenue, and caused wide-spread power outages in and around town.
Sam Burton with the Halifax Fire Department said the ice built up on the line, causing it to break shortly before 6:30 p.m.
"It landed on a Daihatsu, and the insulation on the line broke when it hit the car and caught it on fire. The car was completely burned," he said.
The South Boston Office for Virginia Power reported just over 3,000 area customers were without power around 6 p.m. Sunday, according to spokesperson Patty Campbell.
"Those 3,000 were widely scattered over Halifax and Charlotte counties, but the majority was concentrated in the towns of South Boston and Halifax," Campbell said.
By the following day, that number was down to 800, as extra crews from South Hill and Roanoke Rapids came in to help repair lines damaged by ice and broken tree limbs.
"We're putting more than three times (the personnel) into this restoration effort," Campbell said, predicting that power should be completely restored by Tuesday, at the latest.
"The real problems with this storm were caused by tree limbs, rather than entire trees, coming down over the lines. But the greatest problems were in the Richmond area, and we've got the outages to prove it," Campbell said. "There were 180,000 customers without power. Monday morning, the number was down to 123,000, and it will probably be Wednesday before we get everyone's power back on."
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative crews were also busy throughout Sunday night, especially in the Denniston and Cherry Hill Church Road areas.
MEC line superintendent W.R. Creedle said the problems began shortly before noon on Sunday, as ice-laden trees and branches came into contact with power lines.
Creedle said power had been restored to all of the 150 affected customers by Monday morning.
Interrupted Cable
Adelphia Cable customers planning to watch the big game Sunday afternoon were out of luck.
According to Luke Matthews, general manager of Adelphia Cable's South Boston office, approximately 1,500 customers saw nothing but static when they tuned in their televisions that afternoon.
"Due to the ice, we had two major areas - the northern end of Halifax and the eastern side of South Boston - lose power," he said. "Halifax went out around 4 p.m. when we lost part of a line, and the other area shortly thereafter."
Matthews said service was restored in Halifax by 7 p.m., while South Boston customers had to wait until midnight for their picture to return.
"The cable system is an electronic system," Matthews explained. "We regret any time we have an outage that interrupts service, but there's probably not a worse day (for that to happen) than Super Bowl Sunday. But that was the worst weather we've seen on that day."
Treacherous Roads
Virginia Department of Transportation and South Boston Public Works employees struggled through yet another long night of winter weather trying to keep the main roads from turning into skating rinks.
"We had so many things to do it was pitiful," said South Boston Public Works Director Ron Marshall.
Not only were crews busy dealing with unclogging drainage systems and trying to remove the ice and slush that was rapidly coating everything in its path, to make matters worse, a water main broke on Main Street right when the storm was reaching its peak Sunday afternoon.
"It was a bad water leak," said Town Manager Ted Daniel.
The break affected hundreds of water customers for about three hours, as workers shut down the main valve and drained the lines to repair the damage.
Using the four functional town trucks, crews worked steadily from noon on through the night clearing the main arteries through town of slush and ice.
"We kept trying to push some of the slush off the roads and keep it from bonding with the pavement. Once it gets like that, you almost have to use a road grader to chip it off, and that would probably tear the road up," Marshall said.
Those employees who weren't busy with the roads were clearing ice-clogged grates and drainage areas.
"We spent a lot of time on that," Marshall stated.
"It was really a matter of taking priorities. First we have to get the streets safe for everyone. Some people don't understand. Once we put the chemicals down, we have to let them set and start to take effect, otherwise they'll just get plowed right up," Marshall explained. "That's why sometimes it probably looks like we're not doing anything to the roads, but the drivers are just waiting for the chemicals to work."
Looking Ahead
Road crews throughout the state are counting on warmer temperatures to help clear the roads of the stubborn layers of ice and snow that have accumulated over the past two weeks.
"We're seeing some sun and it's helping the roads a lot. They're so frozen and packed down, we couldn't plow very well. When they soften up, we're able to make improvements to the secondary roads," said VDOT resident engineer Joe Barkley, who said VDOT had all of its trucks and motorgraders at work on Monday, in addition to numerous vehicles owned by private contractors.
"It's been a long week or so here, but our forces have done an excellent job. I'm really proud that we haven't had any accidents with our equipment considering the weather conditions and fatigue factor," Barkley said.
Fortunately, neither the town nor VDOT has run short of chemicals or abrasives.
According to Barkley, the residency's store of salt and chemicals is down from about 1,800 tons to 350 tons - just about enough for another storm and a half.
"It takes about 250 tons (of salt) minimum to treat the roads here and in Charlotte County, but we have about 1,000 tons ordered, so we're hoping some of that will be delivered soon," Barkley said.
Calcium chloride, which is mixed with sand, is also in short supply.
"We're down to about a fifth of our capacity, which is 500 tons, but we've got about 250 tons on order and plenty of sand," Barkley said.
Marshall in South Boston said that while the town had used a large amount of salt and abrasives during the series of storms, reserve materials were available and more could be ordered.

Icy roads will keep Halifax County's students and teachers out of the classroom again today.
But County School Superintendent Dennis Witt says plans are to get students and teachers back to school Thursday.
"If we have a good melting day (Wednesday) we'll probably have school Thursday," Witt said late yesterday afternoon.
"At the worst, we would hope to get back to school with a delay."
Witt said the plan to try to get everyone back to school Thursday is based upon current weather forecasts and road conditions.
The school superintendent said that while everyone would have liked to have gotten school back in session today, road conditions just weren't quite good enough.
"Sixty percent of the roads are clear," Witt stated.
"That leaves us with 20 percent that would be a gray area and 20 percent that were not clear."
Witt said that missing school today puts the school system nine days behind the school system calendar.
"Two days we have missed have already been made up," he noted.

Some Halifax County emergency patients got more than the normal response team this week as members of the U.S. Army National Guard joined the ranks of the Halifax County Rescue Squad to provide assistance during one of the worst snow and ice storms in recent history.
Guardsmen, equipped with all-terrain Humvee vehicles from the First Battallion-246 Field Artillery based in Danville, were dispersed to Halifax and adjoining Mecklenburg County to accompany emergency responders. The four National Guardsmen included Sgt. Martin Shelton, Spc. Murrill McLean, Spc. Terry Ferguson and Spc. David Murray.
In private lives, Shelton works as a water and gas superintendent in Danville, Murrill is a diagnostic technician with Danville Neurology Clinic, Ferguson is a teacher at Gibson Middle School and Murray is a correctional officer in Yanceyville, N.C.
The National Guard arrived Sunday and left late Monday afternoon as road conditions improved. It was the first time in the history of the Halifax County Rescue Squad, that the National Guard was called in for assistance.
Guardsmen from the same battalion assisted North Carolina flood victims last year.

A seven-month-old German shepherd puppy was rescued from a frozen pond on the evening of January 22, when the Halifax County Rescue Squad plucked the dog out of the frigid water.
After two hours in the water, the dog was taken to the Animal Medical Clinic of South Boston, where Dr. Kathryn Dixon Edmunds, DVM,waited to administer fluids and anti-shock medication.
Jerry Messick, of Alton, and owner of Domino's Pizza, said his ten-year-old son, Brent, and a friend were walking by the pond when a stick was tossed out on the ice.
The German shepherd instinctly went for the stick about 40 feet out when the ice gave way.
As the puppy attempted to find a way out of the frigid water, it was swimming in an area of about 15 feet in circumference.
The boys ran back to the house to notify Messick, who returned to the pond in hopes of retrieving the dog.
Rocks were thrown to break up the ice, however, time was running out for the puppy.
"I couldn't just stand there and see that puppy drown so I called the rescue squad. It was the only thing left to do," said Messick.
Jason Johnson, a cardiac-technician of the Halifax County Rescue Squad received the call at 5:15 p.m., outfitted a boat along with three other EMTs, and arrived at Traynham Grove Road in time to pull the 80 pound dog out of the water.
Dr. Edmunds said the puppy had a low body temperature of 90 degrees, compared with a normal range of 100 to 102 and that its gums were white due to hypobolemic shock.
IV fluids were administered, heating pads and dryers applied to gradually increase body temperature and the puppy recovered remarkably.
It was released two days later.
"I'm just pleased that the boys were smart enough to stay away from the pond after the puppy fell in," said Messick.
Assisting in the rescue effort were Tyrone Sweeney, Jason Dickerson and Cathy Garich.

A house-trailer on Fox Lane, in the northern part of Halifax County, was completely destroyed by fire Monday afternoon as firefighters from Liberty and North Halifax fire departments responded to the scene.
Fire Chief Kelly Ragsdale of Liberty Volunteer Fire Department said two units responded to the call at around 11:45 a.m. and that a tanker from North Halifax also arrived about eight minutes after the call.
Ragsdale said the trailer was fully involved and that the occupants had escaped injuries.
The chief said the units used about 3,500 gallons of water to extinguish the fire in about one and a half hours, which included the protection of another trailer about 75 feet away.
Ragsdale said the units, equipped with chains, had no problems getting to the scene from Meadville Road.
The trailer was owned by Robert Epps Jr. and occupied by Victoria Kirby.
The cause of the fire is unknown.

Two Halifax County youths face multiple charges in connection with a pair of purse snatching incidents that occurred at the Wal-Mart shopping center and Riverdale Shopping Center on January 19.
Lt. Rick Loftis said that a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old were charged with grand larceny, robbery, assault and battery and conspiring to commit a felony.
The youths were spotted in a vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot by South Boston police. When the vehicle was approached, the youths sped away causing a chase in heavy snow by the officers and the Virginia State Police on Dan River Church Road.
The suspects' vehicle crashed on Terry's Bridge Road and they fled on foot.
A tracking dog from Camp 23 was brought to the scene and the 17-year-old was arrested by Officer Mike Moreno during the early hours of the following day in the Lakewood Trailer Park.
According to Lt. Loftis, the second youth, a 15-year-old, was brought in to the South Boston Police Department by the youth's parents on the same day.
· Christopher Quinton Boyd, 20, of Dryburg Road in Clover, was arrested by sheriff's deputies Monday on a charge of fraudulent conversion, the removal of property valued more than $200.
Boyd allegedly removed two gold chains not belonging to him on October 22.
A hearing is scheduled for Boyd on February 9, at Halifax County General District Court.
· A Halifax man was arrested Monday by sheriff's deputies on a trespassing charge.
John Robert Bostick, Jr., 43, a.k.a. Bostic or Johnny, of Carr Lane, was charged with trespassing on the property of Mary L. Bostick on the day of the arrest.
Bostick is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District on February 2.

In other police reports,

State Police are continuing their investigation into a hit-and-run incident in which a South Boston woman was struck by a car Saturday afternoon.
Trooper D.J. Cline said 25-year-old Penny A. Smith was struck while attempting to cross the intersection of Route 360 and K Fork Loop (Route 903).
The unidentified vehicle fled the scene.
Smith was treated at Halifax Regional Hospital and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Charges are pending from the 5:05 p.m. incident.
Icy road conditions contributed to a rash of weekend traffic mishaps.
· Mark Hudson McCrory, 25, of Virgilina, was injured in a crash Friday morning after losing control of his vehicle.
Trooper R.C. Compton said McCrory was driving a 1995 Ford on Lowery Road (Route 741) and skidded on ice three-tenths of a mile south of Virgie Cole Road (Route 658).
McCrory lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off the road and overturned at 10:35 a.m.
The trooper estimated $10,000 in damages to the vehicle.
No charges were filed.
· A Nathalie man was charged with reckless driving Sunday afternoon following a crash on Route 501.
Trooper D.T. Conner said Irvin L. Jones, 23, was traveling on the icy road in a 1999 Suzuki and exceeded safe speed before losing control of the vehicle one-tenth of a mile south of Murray Grove Road.
The vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree.
Conner estimated $6,000 in damages from the 1:15 p.m. crash.
Jones was charged with reckless driving, failing to maintain control.
· An 18-year-old Clover youth lost control of a vehicle Friday afternoon on Hardings Mill Road (Route 619).
Trooper Compton said Derrick Elliott Greene was driving a 1994 Mazda and skidded on ice before losing control eight-tenths of a mile north of Hunting Creek Road (Route 603).
The vehicle slid off the road, hit a bank and overturned.
Compton estimated $2,500 in damages from the 2:30 p.m. crash.
No charges were filed.
· Lance A. Thompson, 20, of Clover, lost control of a vehicle on Mt. Laurel Road (Route 746) Saturday night resulting in a crash one-tenth of a mile north of Rodgers Chapel Road (Route 607).
Trooper Cline said Thompson was driving a 1993 Dodge and lost control of the vehicle after hitting an icy patch on the highway. The vehicle ran off the left side of the road and overturned.
No charges were filed.

Alice Lovelace Bishop, age 96, of Halifax, died January 29, 2000, at Twin Oaks Nursing Home.
Mrs. Bishop was born in Halifax County on July 3, 1903, the daughter of Dr. William S. Lovelace and Bessie Gates Lovelace and was married to Willam Pleasants Bishop. She was a member of Halifax Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one son, William L. Bishop and wife, Margaret L. Bishop of Winston-Salem, N.C.; two grandchildren, William L. Bishop Jr. of Greensboro N.C. and Scott B. Bishop of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; two great grandchildren, Anna Bishop and Bethany Bishop, both of Greensboro.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bishop will be held February 2 at 11 a.m. at Halifax Presbyterian Church with Rev. Terry Blevins officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church today, February 2 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Presbyterian Church.

George W. Carr, age 69, of Nathalie, died January 28, 2000, at Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Burkeville.
Mr. Carr was born in Halifax County on March 5, 1930, the son of Willie Mack Carr and Nannie C. Carr and was married to Thelma J. Carr. He was a member of Sunflower Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; five sons, Douglas Carr and James Carr, both of South Boston, Doyle Carr of Columbus, Ga., Dennis Carr of Lum Germany and Ronald Carr of Bambery, Germany; three daughters, Marion C. Staten of Randolph, Frances D. Carr of Richmond and Peggy C. Davis of Nathalie; four brothers, Willie Carr, Joe Carr and Robert Carr, all of Newark, N.J. and Thomas Carr of Charlottesville; two sisters, Nannie Atily of Newark and Effie Nowell of Charlottesville; 19 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Funeral services for Mr. Carr will be held February 3 at 2 p.m. at Sunflower Baptist Church in Nathalie with Bishop Vivian Carr as eulogist and Pastor Robert Tucker officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Daniel Funeral Home tonight, February 2 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Samuel Earnest Carden, age 76, of 5065 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg, died January 29, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Carden was born in Halifax County on May 14, 1923, the son of Charlie West Carden and Martha Stroud Carden and was married to Margaret Sims Carden. He was a member of St. James Baptist Church and was also a World War II Navy Veteran.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Juanita Carden Colbert and her husband, Charles Colbert of Washington, D.C. and Regina Carden Hayes of Rochester, N.Y.; two sons, Samuel E. Carden Jr. and his wife, Gay Green Carden of Clinton, Md. and Clyde W. Carden and wife, Carolyn White Carden of Scottsburg; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lillian C. Logan of South O'Zone Park, N.Y. and Ann C. McDaniels of St. Albans, N.Y.
Funeral services for Mr. Carden will be held February 3 at 11 a.m. at St. James Baptist Church with Rev. Byrd Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Jeffress Funeral Home tonight, February 2 from 6:00 until 7:30 and other times at the home of Margaret Sims Carden, 1050 Patrick Sims Drive in Scottsburg.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider St. James Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 178, Scottsburg.