By Doug Loftis
"Wake up tobacco farmers!"
That warning by a retired Rockingham County, N.C., tobacco inspector and government grader brought applause from the estimated 200 producers attending yesterday's Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation's 43 annual District 10 meeting at the American Legion.
Bill Shropshire's concerns for growers embarking on direct contract sales with tobacco companies were echoed by Stabilization officials, who fear the marketing procedure threatens the price support program and ultimately the half-century-old grower-owned cooperative itself.
"When you sign a production contract with any company, your tobacco is no longer eligible for price support," Andrew Shepherd, vice president of Stabilization told the gathering.
"Take an intelligent look at your choices'" the Stabilization official urged growers.
But that statement by Shepherd was later challenged by another Stabilization official who told contract producers that they still had the option to bring their tobacco into the auction system and then become eligible for price support.
"As long as you pay the no-net-cost, you are eligible for price support," a Stabilization spokesman noted.
Growers, however, must designate where they intend to sell their tobacco and under present rules, must do so 30 days before that sale.
Adding to the confusion and uncertainties surrounding direct purchasing were suggestions that growers have their "family attorneys" review contracts before signing.
"Never assume that breaking a contract will be easy or you might be excused," said Shepherd, who urged growers to seek out the best deal and get it in writing.
One grower's response was that most family attorneys were simply unqualified, "not up to snuff," to really advise in such matters.
The same grower suggested that Stabilization make available, for a fee, its own attorneys to advise growers. But Shepherd said that he had a problem with Stabilization's involvement in such legal matters preferring, instead, that grower organizations might be better suited for the task.
Stabilization officials expressed concerns for what they said could be the inherent grower liability under direct contract purchasing. "Right now, you don't have much liability as a grower," said Shepherd.
Citing the more than 50 percent cut in the growing quota during the past five years, Shropshire leveled an attack against the tobacco companies for purchasing from foreign producers "just about as much tobacco as we (U.S. farmers) grow."
Shropshire criticized tobacco companies for reducing the number of buyers they send to warehouses. And now, said Shropshire, if all warehouses are closed, growers will have to accept whatever price companies are willing to offer.
"You had better wake up before the auction markets are gone!" he warned.
Stabilization officials compared the 100 tobacco warehouses in operation last season with just 33 buying points established to receive cured leaf.
"Where is all the green tobacco going to be stored?" one official asked while suggesting that the loss of more warehouses could pose a marketing nightmare this season.
Officials are already estimating that as much as 60 or 70 percent of the 2001 flue-cured crop will be sold under contract.
Present rules do not provide for government graders at contract receiving stations. But that, they say, could change.
Stabilization is concerned that fewer graders will be used this season and force many to simply seek other employment.
It takes two to three years to train a tobacco grader.
They estimate losing as many as half the trained government graders this year.
"Once you lose a grader, you may not get him back," said Shepherd.
Concerns for the loss of the Stabilization program prompted officials to note that half of all flue-cured domestic leaf is exported.
Foreign buyers such as Japan and Turkey, they say, want only the best grades of flue-cured tobacco. "Fifty percent of our quota is dependent on export buyers," said Shepherd.
"If Stabilization goes under....there will be no place for them to come to get this tobacco."
The Stabilization official asked growers "why?" all of sudden, tobacco companies are now willing to purchase a grower's entire crop while, previously, only certain grades and quality were desired.
Concerning price supports, Stabilization officials say that the better grades of tobacco are likely to receive higher support levels this year while lower grades could fall as much as 50 percent.
Lower grades, they say, are difficult to market at any price.
Recognizing that the traditional auction system must yield to contract purchasing, Stabilization officials called for grower unity. "Let's try to work together," said Andrew Shepherd.
"If you're the only bird out there that gets away, you ain't gonna last long!"
"You're the most important cog in this wheel," he told growers as he encouraged them to demand certain conditions of their buyers.
Barn Program Delayed
Stabilization has requested to USDA for a one-year extension of the July 1, 2001 deadline that would require all curing barns to be equipped with a heat exchanger.
They cite unavoidable delays in both the certification process and the retrofitting process.
Growers were told that the deadline for funding assistance has not changed and is the program is expected to expire June 30, 2001.
Those funds were provided by grants from the tobacco companies including Philip Morris and Stabilization.

A 33-year-old Halifax man was convicted yesterday of 11 charges of the grand larceny/embezzlement of property belonging to Lasco Bathware after a bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court.
Gregory Daryl Traynham was arrested in June 2000 and originally charged with the 11 counts of grand/larceny embezzlement in addition to 11 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.
According to commonwealth evidence, the crimes were committed in a period from July through December 1999, with resulting losses to Lasco in excess of $15,000.
Traynham entered an Alford plea to 11 counts of grand larceny/embezzlement after the commonwealth agreed not to prosecute the 11 charges of obtaining money by false pretenses.
Under the terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes the prosecution evidence makes a guilty verdict almost a certainty.
Judge Charles L. McCormick III ordered a presentence report due for the March term of court. Traynham is free on bond until that time.
Other Court Proceedings
· James Franklin Flory II, 40, of South Boston, was convicted yesterday of an amended indictment of two counts of aggravated sexual battery after a bench trial.
Judge McCormick ordered a presentence report due for the March term of court. Flory is free on bond until that time.
· Louis Danforth Chandler, 28, of South Boston, was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison each for three charges of assault and battery against sheriff's deputies J. Clay and J. Spencer, and against sheriff's investigator K. Tribble.
Judge McCormick suspended all but six months in jail on each charge, with the six-month term on two of the charges to run consecutively, and the remaining six-month term to run concurrently with them, for an effective prison term of one year.
The suspended portion of Chandler's sentence is conditional on his good behavior for nine years following his release.
Michael Donnell Dance Jr., 25, of Long Island, pleaded guilty yesterday to an amended indictment of the possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Judge McCormick suspended all but one year and eight months of Dance's ten-year sentence, conditional on Dance's good behavior for ten years following his release.
· George Myers Breedlove, 36, of Nathalie, had five years of his originally suspended 10-year prison sentence reimposed yesterday by Judge McCormick, for failure to report to jail for weekend confinement.
· Ernest William Brooks, 36, of South Boston, had one year of his previously suspended prison sentence revoked on Monday for violation of probation conditions.
Judge McCormick ordered Brooks to serve six months of his reinvoked sentence concurrently with a sentence Brooks is presently serving, with the remaining six months coming at the end of that term.
· Zamari Jucolle Vamper, 34, of Chatham, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for escaping custody without force, and to 12 months each in prison for misdemeanor trespassing on private property and misdemeanor destruction or defacing a sheriff's department car.
Judge McCormick suspended all but one year of Vamper's escape charge, and ordered it to run concurrently with the remaining two charges for an effective prison term of one year.
· Shatner Devone Womack, 36, of Halifax, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for the possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, and 12 months in prison for misdemeanor obstruction of justice.
Judge McCormick suspended all but two years and six months of Womack's sentence, conditional on Womack's good behavior for six years.
· Ralph Lowell Ewell, 48, of Alexandria, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for the possession of cocaine.
Judge McCormick suspended all but three months of Ewell's sentence, conditional on Ewell's good behavior for five years.
· Charlie Wayne Waller, 53, of Long Island, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for grand larceny.
Judge McCormick suspended all but two years of Waller's sentence conditional on his good behavior for 10 years.
· Barry Lee Younger, 34, of Greensboro, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for grand larceny.
Judge McCormick suspended all but six months of Younger's sentence, conditional on Younger's good behavior for 10 years.
McCormick additionally authorized Younger to serve his sentence on weekends, and to remain under probation indefinitely.
Restitution was set at $9,877.
· Joseph Sydnor Jr., 39, of South Boston, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for felony bad checks.
Judge McCormick suspended all but seven months of Sydnor's sentence, conditional on Sydnor's good behavior for five years following his release.
In addition, McCormick ordered Sydnor be subjected to a two-year period of active supervised probation, and that he make restitution in the amount of $510.17 to his victim.
· Oveda Roland Harris, 42, of South Boston, was sentenced yesterday to five years each in prison for the distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Judge McCormick suspended Harris' entire sentence, conditional on Harris' good behavior for 10 years, and his completion of the Diversion Center program.
McCormick additionally ordered random drug testing for Harris and that he be subjected to a three-year probationary period, to begin immediately.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
Perhaps one of the wisest mediators of all times was Solomon, the King of Israel who astounded his people during a custody battle when he suggested the child be cut in half.
The true mother relinquished her claim in order to save the child, and Solomon immediately knew the "real" mother's identity.
What proved beneficial for the child in the days of King Solomon is equally important today, with mediation offered as a preferred means of settling custody, visitation and child support issues.
Don Hochstein, a Vernon Hill resident, is a semi-retired mediator who is employed part time by the Virginia Supreme Court for the specific purpose of providing an alternative to litigation in cases involving some Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts' issues.
While mediation is funded by the Department of Dispute and Resolution of the state court, Hochstein, operates within a one-hour radius of his home on referrals provided by J&D Court judges.
The mediation process, which is used throughout the state of Virginia, was first implemented in August of 2000 for District 10, which includes Halifax County.
A judge may offer the case to mediation when it serves as a beneficial means of providing both the petitioner and respondent - disputing parties - an opportunity to forego the combative atmosphere of the courtroom. The object is to arrive at a more peaceful solution, through mutual agreement, regarding the well-being of the child.
Once an agreement is reached, a memorandum or contract is drawn up by the mediator for the disputing parties and then sent to the judge to sign off in a court order binding that agreement.
One South Boston woman said that mediation helped her in a case of visitation and support.
"After my husband and I split up, it got to where he wouldn't call or come see our child, and it was hard with the money situation too," she said.
"I was living with my parents and the circumstances were making him feel uncomfortable.
A mediator was recommended and several days later, Hochstein spoke with the couple.
"He listened to what we had to say and he helped us realize that we needed to be friends for the child's sake."
Mediation not only allowed the couple to work out a solution, after two months of working together, they are currently making efforts to restore their marriage.
Because of the backlog of cases in Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts - a case in dispute can tie up the court many hours and there has been instances of 20 witnesses testifying on behalf of a disputant - mediation alleviates the load on the judicial system.
Docket management has been helped since lawyers can look forward to getting a hearing within a short amount of time, according to Judge Michael M. Rand.
And rather than creating embittered outcomes, a mediator works to obtain a settled agreement in a confidential manner that lessens the post effects of a court battle.
"Two things cause the most bitter battles, money and children," Hochstein said.
Hochstein is trained and certified in general and family mediation, but his service is free to the parties in custody, visitation and support cases referred by the J&D courts of Halifax, Charlotte and Mecklenburg.
Once he receives a referral by a judge, Hochstein meets with the parties at the courthouse to establish an agreement.
"So many people have asked me, 'When did this start?' because they were unaware of it and wondering why mediation was not known before," Hochstein said.
"In cases involving children, mediation is easier on a child when responsible mature parents sit down to resolve their dispute peacefully," Hochstein added.
"Children pay the biggest price when parents can't get along," said Judge Frank Slayton.
The decision to settle an issue out of court allows the individuals to make all their decisions rather than having a judge decide the case, Hochstein said.
It's a process that allows the mediator to talk back and forth with the disputants, while staying structured and focused on the issue.
The result? Out of 15 to 20 cases a month, Hochstein managed to have over 90 percent of them reach an agreement out of court.
"I'm not there to act as a judge, nor as an attorney," Hochstein said.
"I do not offer legal advice and I cannot take sides with either party.
"Neither do I allow the parties to sway my opinions," Hochstein added.
Should the parties of a case fail to reach an agreement, Hochstein returns that case to the court for a ruling by the judge.
Hochstein also offers private mediation in securities - involving individual complaints in commodity disputes - through the Washington, D.C. district office of the National Association of Security Dealers in New York City.
His mediation services also include consumer complaints through the Better Business Bureau; residence and community disputes, involving contractor claims and zoning.
He also provides mediation and arbitration services with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, among other associations.
Raised in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Hochstein earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh, a master's degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and did post graduate work in mediation and arbitration.
Don and Jennifer Hochstein moved to Halifax County from Williamsburg after his retirement as a state mediator for District 9. She currently serves as the Litter Control and Recycling coordinator for the Halifax County Improvement Council.

South Boston Speedway will hold a memorial service for NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Saturday at 4 p.m. at the speedway.
There will be a guest speaker and special music. Details will be announced later.
The service will follow Saturday's scheduled day-long test session for drivers of the touring ASA ACDelco Series.

By Joe Chandler
"He was the Michael Jordan of stock car racing and probably always will be."
That, Ward Burton says, was Dale Earnhardt.
Earnhardt, NASCAR Winston Cup racing's top icon, perished in a last-lap crash in Sunday's Daytona 500.
Burton, who drives the Caterpillar Dodge, joined others this week in remembering NASCAR's fallen hero.
"He was a competitor to me and a mentor to all of us," Burton said.
"Dale was, in a lot of ways, a quiet person but when he spoke, everybody listened. He had a demeanor about him that was humble yet straightforward."
The South Boston driver said Earnhardt had power and carried it well.
"He had a huge amount of power," Burton pointed out.
"He used the power to help the sport and to help himself grow."
Burton illustrated Earnhardt's status, power and presence with a tale of an event that occurred last year in Texas.
"When aspiring to be President George Bush came to Texas last year and he walked into the room, the big wheels of NASCAR got Earnhardt," Burton said.
"George Bush talks to Earnhardt before anybody. That's just the kind of thing that happened."
Burton illustrated Earnhardt's importance with an incident that occurred prior to Sunday's race.
"At the drivers' meeting some corporate executives came in and they came in to meet Earnhardt," explained Burton.
"Earnhardt always sat on the front row and they came to meet Dale. He was the ambassador."
Burton says the shock waves from the death of Earnhardt will send a ripple effect into the deepest depths of the sport.
"I don't think NASCAR has ever been faced with anything similar to this," Burton pointed out.
"This is the first time we've had a veteran, one of the leaders of the sport, taken out. He (Earnhardt) has touched a lot of people with what he's done on and off the track. It's going to send shock waves that are no telling how deep they will go."
Burton says he sees the ripples of the shock reaching all the way down to Winston Cup racing's top corporate sponsors and companies that may have held some interest in becoming a sponsor.
"Are they going to want to do the things they have to do and pay the money to endorse a driver that possibly won't be their spokesman from one day to the next? Burton queried.
"I just signed a deal with Hershey's Milk Chocolate. Hershey's Milk Chocolate is a family oriented business. A lot of adults as well as children use their products. Are they going to have second thoughts?
"These people (sponsors) are looking for long-term relationships," continued Burton.
"It's going to be interesting to see how deep the shock waves run."
Burton said that NASCAR should end the races at Daytona and Talladega until an answer is found to help increase driver safety.
The South Boston driver was involved in a huge crash himself, one that started when Robby Gordon hit him in the rear and caused him to spin, touching off a 15-car melee in which Tony Stewart's Pontiac flipped several times.
"In my opinion, as much as it's politically incorrect to say it, but it's true, we shouldn't be running Talladega and Daytona until they (NASCAR officials) come up with a better answer," Burton said.
"It's a great show for the fans. But when you get three or four drivers running side-by-side all day it's bound to happen, period.
"You can put any drivers from any series out there," continued Burton, "but nobody is perfect, the cars are not perfect and they're not going to handle perfect.
"All it takes is one little misjudgment like the 4 car (Gordon) did when he hit me and there you go - you take out 15 or more cars. That wreck could have killed somebody. We could have had two fatalities in the Daytona 500."
Burton says the tragedy of Earnhardt's death also leaves questions about this weekend's event at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.
"What is Richard Childress going to do?" Burton queried.
"What is Teresa Earnhardt going to do? What are the race fans going to do? How many race fans are going to come watch when Dale Earnhardt is not there? How many people are going to watch the race on TV?"
Burton didn't have the answers to those questions. But, he knows one thing.
"I know this weekend is going to be horrible," Burton said.
"But come Saturday morning we've got to get down to business."

Anthy Lee Coleman, 73, of 1179 Ramble Road, Virgilina, died February 16 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Coleman was born in Halifax County on August 9, 1927, the daughter of Richard Coleman and Hattie Logan Coleman.
Survivors include two daughters, Ann Williams and Norma Jean Coleman, both of Virgilina; three sons, Jimmy Lee Walker of Fredricksburg, Lawrence Walker of Ringgold and Malcolm L. Coleman of Keeling; eight grandchildren; four sisters, Queenie C. Harris of Takoma Park, Md., Gloria C. Lewis and Barbara Coleman, both of Germantown, Md. and Ruby Coleman of New Jersey. She was preceded in death by one son, Jesse Walker.
Funeral services for Ms. Coleman will be held today, February 21 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in Berry Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Jerry Moody Wilbourne, 52, of 6029 Green Level Road, Scottsburg, died February 20 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Wilbourne was born in Clarksville on February 16, 1949, the son of Bernard Wilbourne and Evelyn Dunn Wilbourne and was married to Donna Guill Wilbourne. He was of the Baptist faith and was a mechanic with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Kacey Marie Wilbourne of Scottsburg; one sister, Susan W. Guill of Scottsburg; and one brother, Gary Wilbourne of Oxford, N.C.
A funeral service for Mr. Wilbourne will be held February 22 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening, February 21, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston 24592.

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