Developers announced plans yesterday to build a new Lowe's
Home Improvement Warehouse along with space for other retail shops
on a 33-acre site on the Old Halifax Road in South Boston.
Site development on the estimated $20-million project will begin
in two weeks in order to meet Lowe's projected opening this fall.
The new Lowe's store will have 110,122 sq. ft. plus a 27,720 sq.
ft. garden center and offer shoppers over 40,000 products. An
estimated 175 persons will be employed at the new Lowe's Home
Improvement Warehouse.
Lowe's will relocate from its present store at 3455 Old Halifax
Road that opened in July 1977.
Matt VanVleet, spokesman for Lowe's at its Wilkesboro, N.C. headquarters,
said that the decision to build a new and larger store in South
Boston was driven by a number of market indicators including history
of sales at its present store, traffic counts, number and type
of homes in the community and potential for growth.
VanVleet described the new Lowe's store as "the newest of
the new" with wide isles and new signage to make shopping
a delight for customers.
"Our customers in South Boston are going to be delighted!"
he added.
Developers for the property are named as J.T. South Boston LLC
which includes the firms of Trinity Development Inc. of Knoxville,
Tenn., and Jemsite Development of W. Jefferson, N.C.
Jemsite is responsible for the development of a Lowe's Home Improvement
Warehouses in Reidsville and Kinston, N.C.
Mark Smith, president of Trinity Development, said yesterday
that Dollar Tree, now located in the adjoining Tri-Rivers Plaza
Shopping Center, would be relocated into a new 10,000 sq. ft store.
With Lowes and 28,400 sq. ft. of additional retail store space,
the new shopping center will have 166,242 sq.ft. total space
and over 570 vehicle parking spaces.
Two, 1.23 acre outparcels, will be available for future development.
All stores are designed to face the Old Halifax Road (see site
map).
Smith said that a connecting road between the two developments
on the Old Halifax Road is included in the project. A new traffic
signal at the main entrance on the Old Halifax Road has already
been approved for installation.
The land upon which the new shopping center will be constructed
is referred to as the "Hodges Property" and belongs
to Dr. Allen Fuller and his wife Lucy Fuller and Hugh Edmunds
and Holt Edmunds.
The burned remains of a house, along with standing timber, have
recently been removed from the property.
Listing and selling agent for the property was Jerry Hudson with
the Davis Company. No price was disclosed.
Smith said that developers had letters of intent from several
new retailers and were discussing space contracts with as many
as two, new chain restaurants.
General contractor for the project is Banyou Construction of Jefferson,
N.C.
Plans to development an adjoining 110-acre tract of land on the
Old Halifax Road belonging to the Dance family are in the making
according to Hudson.
"The decision by Lowe's to build this type of super store
here just shows the draw area that the South Boston retail shopping
area has," said Hudson.
Smith expressed appreciation Hudson, and to South Boston town
officials, including Town Manager Ted Daniel, for assisting developers
in bringing the project to fruition.
When it comes to classroom instruction time in preparation
for Standards of Learning Tests, every minute is valuable.
That is especially true this year as Halifax County students have
missed 11 days of school due to bad weather.
With Spring Break now all but used up after all but two days were
recently designated as school make-up days, there isn't much wiggle
room as the SOL testing window draws closer.
Ann Conner, the county school system's instructional supervisor,
says the lost time will almost surely impact SOL test scores.
"Two weeks is a lot of time to make up," Conner said
yesterday.
"I expect there will be some impact all around the state.
But, I don't want to use that as an excuse."
Conner said she is confident that Halifax County's teachers, administrators
and students will work very hard to make up the lost ground.
"The teachers are going to work as hard as they can,"
Conner pointed out.
"I think the teachers will work very, very hard and will
help students stay very, very focused. I think they will be as
focused as they can possibly be."
Conner pointed out yesterday that teachers will have to focus
hard on covering the content and material that students must know
in order to be successful on the SOL tests.
As a result, things such as field trips or school assemblies may
have to be delayed or canceled.
"We may have to look at how we schedule some school activities
such as field trips or assemblies," she noted.
"Some of those types of things may have to be delayed until
after the SOL tests. We will have to do what we have to do to
teach the content that has to be covered."
SOL Writing Tests May
Be Postponed
State education officials are considering pushing back the writing
portion of the Standards of Learning exams because of the number
of school days lost to bad weather across the state this year.
Conner said late yesterday that no official word has been received
here from state officials.
"We are aware that is under consideration," Conner said.
"But there has been no official authorization from the state
at this time."
The writing test, comprised of a multiple choice section and an
essay, is scheduled for March 3-5.
State Department of Education spokesman Charles Pyle said earlier
this week officials may postpone the test until March 13 or later.
A final decision will be made by the end of this week, Pyle said.
''We started looking at this earlier this month before the most
recent storm had moved through,'' Pyle said.
''Quite a few schools have missed a significant amount of time.
... There are certainly many districts that have missed more than
a dozen days.''
The writing test is given to students in fifth, eighth and 11th
grade. This is the first year juniors will be required to pass
the test in order to graduate, Pyle said.
The essay section must be administered to students on the same
day to prevent cheating.
Pyle said the essays must be turned over to the schools' outside
grading service by March 19.
Administrators could theoretically postpone the exam beyond March
13, though the state needs some leeway before the March 19 deadline
to accommodate students who are absent on test day.
The multiple choice section, which is not graded by hand, can
be given to students anytime, although Pyle said it should be
administered within a day or two of the essay section.
While more time would not necessarily help students better prepare
for the test, which is designed to assess writing skills developed
over years of instruction, school administrators say children
need to be in the right mind frame to perform well.
''I don't know you're going to teach someone to write in a week,''
said Layton H. Beverage, assistant superintendent for instruction
in Nelson County.
''However there's more to it than that. There's general preparation.
There's testing anxiety. ... Kids like to go into this feeling
as if they're ready.''
New HS Graduation Requirements
The State Department of Education has sent a video to every school
district in the state as part of a statewide effort to drill students
and their parents on new high school graduation requirements
for students who will graduate in the spring of 2004.
Under the new requirements, students are required to earn a specified
number of verified credits in order to receive a standard or
advanced high school diploma.
Students who will graduate in 2004, 2005 and 2006 must have two
verified credits in English, one in writing and one in reading
and literature.
In addition, they must earn four other verified credits which
can come in any combination from science, social studies or math.
Students wishing to earn an advanced diploma beginning in 2004
must obtain nine verified credits, two each in English, math,
science and social studies and one other of the student's choice
from among those previously specified subject areas.
Conner pointed out that 2004, 2005 and 2006 are "transition
years" with the graduates of 2006 and beyond having to achieve
verified credits in specific combinations.
Starting in 2006, a student must earn verified credits in the
following manner - two in English, one each in math, science and
social studies and one in the student's choice among those subject
areas.
The state video comes with a brochure and a score sheet to help
students chart their progress through the requirements.
Both feature the slogan ''2 + 4 in 2004,'' referring to the two
high school English SOL exams and four additional exams students
must pass to earn a standard diploma next year.
Conner pointed out that school guidance counselors will be stressing
to students the importance of earning the needed verified credits.
"Guidance counselors, as they are registering students, will
make sure students know how far along they are in achieving those
credits," Conner said.
She added forms will be made available to parents to let them
know where their children stand with respect to the verified credits
that have been earned.
Icy roads and poor judgement during the past several days have
caused more than $33,000 in property losses and left several persons
injured as a result of vehicle crashes.
State Trooper S.L. Noblin investigated a Sunday evening crash
on U.S. 501 north of Halifax that occurred when a tree fell onto
the highway and was struck by a 1995 Chevrolet being driven by
a Raleigh, N.C. man.
John Patrick Armstrong, 39, escaped injury but damages to his
vehicle were estimated at $12,000. No charges were filed.
A four-year old child, Terbonya Rachelle Jackson, was injured
Saturday when the vehicle she was a passenger in overturned and
struck an embankment on U.S. 58.
State Trooper B.E. Jones charged the driver, Latanya M.Dailey,
26, of Halifax, with reckless driving in the crash. Her 1994
Nissan sustained an estimated $5,000 in damages.
A Monday crash on U.S. 58 resulted in damages estimated at $4,000
to a 1992 Dodge being driven by Henry E. Jennings Jr., 53, of
South Boston.
Trooper Noblin reported that the Jennings' vehicle skidded and
overturned in the median. No charges were filed.
A single-vehicle crash Monday on Highway 663 resulted in $6,000
damages to a 2002 Ford pickup being driven by Justin M. Armitage,
30, of Vernon Hill.
Trooper B.E. Jones charged Armitage with reckless driving after
the pickup ran off the road, down an embankment and struck several
trees.
Another U.S. 58 crash on Monday resulted in injuries to 19-year-old
Misty Bagby of Buffalo Junction. She was a passenger in a 1986
Chevrolet pickup being driven by Anthony S. Powell, 22, of Buffalo
Junction.
State Trooper D.J. Cline charged Powell with reckless driving
after he lost control of the truck and it overturned. Damages
were estimated at $4,000.
Stanley J. Rustin Jr. 24, of Boydton was charged with reckless
driving by Trooper Cline on Monday following a crash on U.S. 58.
Rustin's 1996 Chrysler skidded off the road, struck a mailbox
and a guy wire causing total damages estimated at $1,000.
When the lights dim tonight during Danville's
first showing of "Gods and Generals," Tom Ward, David
Wilson and Travis Clay's images will become part of silver screen
history.
All members of the 18th Va. Co. B - the Danville Grays, two of
the men, Ward and Wilson, will attend the Danville showing in
full Confederate uniform.
The men will be in Danville throughout the weekend as part of
the Danville Gray's living history presentation at the Danville
Museum.
However, Travis Clay's job will keep him from attending the three
and one-half hour performance of "Gods and Generals"
during its initial Danville showing.
Ward has already seen himself in action in the movie, and he smiles
when he recalls his performance. He liked it.
He's also on the movie's Internet site at www.godsandgenerals.com.
"We've had two private viewings of about 45 minutes of the
movie," he explained yesterday, "one on the set the
last day and one at the battle re-enactment ...," he added.
"It was just so amazing how they set those scene up. When
I walked down on the scene of Fredericksburg, it looked exactly
like Fredericksburg today without the modern houses. It was a
lot of fun," added Ward.
Part of the fun was dining with actors, including Robert Duval,
Stephen Lang, Patrick Gorman, director Ron Maxwell and Ted Turner,
who had a cameo part in the production.
"Dinner included steaks, roast beef, sundry desserts, all
served in a gigantic tent on set in West Virginia," Ward
recalled.
With perhaps 6,000 to 7,000 re-enactors involved with the new
Ted Turner movie, the Halifax men will join the rich and the famous
in the march into cinema history in the first of a trilogy of
Civil War films.
"Gettysburg," the movie first released, is actually
the second in the planned three-piece epic.
"Gods and Generals," based on a book written by Jeff
Shaara, is historically the first story of the war, recalling
the war "up to Gettysburg," explained Ward.
Look for members of the Danville Grays in the Battle of Fredericksburg
in "Gods and Generals."
"It was one of the biggest battles in the beginning of the
Civil War," Ward said.
"The Last Full Measure" will be the last in the trilogy,
tracing the Civil War from Gettysburg to the end of the war, Ward
added.
Travis Clay was one of about 20 Confederates pulled for "close
work for explosions for the Battle of Manassas."
Although Clay hasn't seen himself in action in cinema yet, a
friend did see him in a preview of the movie. He is looking forward
to seeing the production himself.
For Ward and Wilson, days on the set began at about 7 a.m. and
closed at about 6 o'clock.
Travis described the process as "hurry up and wait."
"We would shoot a scene for about two or three minutes and
they would yell 'Cut' and they would reset the same scene and
shoot again," said Ward with a smile. "And they did
that all day long for three days."
"David and I make a joke that we probably shot Jeff Daniels,
who played the Yankee Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, a
hundred times," Ward added.
There is also a philosophical side for Travis Clay.
"In the movie it shows other reasons Southerners fought,
other than slavery," said Clay.
Ward, from what he has seen, thinks the movie "will give
both sides" in America's dramatic struggle.
In addition to the Halifax men, Virginia Tech Professor and renown
historian Dr. James Robertson served as an advisor for the movie.
Robertson is a Danville native.
As for Robert Duval's portrayal of Gen. Robert E. Lee, Ward thinks
Duval will give a good performance.
"This movie has battles but also involves the lives of the
people, the home life of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and
Joshua Chamberlain. I think it's going to be a more in-depth look
at home life and life on the battlefield," said Ward of "Gods
and Generals."
Will Ward be at casting call for "The Last Full Measure"?
"Definitely," he replied.
Mary Arden Whitlow Martin, 75, of 5063 Old Cluster Springs Road,
South Boston, died February 19 in Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Martin was born in Halifax County on April 18, 1927, the
daughter of Jim Whitlow and Mamie Whitt Whitlow and was married
to Arthur Lee Martin. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist
Church.
Funeral services will be held today, February 21 at 4 p.m. at
Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Grover Stevens and Don
Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Black Walnut Baptist
Church Cemetery, Cluster Springs.
Survivors of Mrs. Martin include one daughter, Dale Keatts and
her husband, Jerry, of South Boston; one son, Roger Lee Martin
and his wife, Susan, of South Boston; five grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
Lelia Ford Reeves, 80, of 3004 Cluster Springs Road, South Boston,
died February 19 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Reeves was born in Halifax County on July 29, 1922, the daughter
of Ethel Glover Ford and Robert Edward Ford and was married to
Thomas Owen Reeves Sr. She was a member of Alton Baptist Church
and was retired from Tultex.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas Owen Reeves Jr. and his wife,
Cora, of Nathalie, and Kenneth Reeves and his wife, Dean, of Alton;
two daughters, Becky R. Newcomb and her husband, Gary, of Omega,
and Rachel R. Long and her husband, Cliff Sr., of South Boston;
seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Mrs. Reeves will be held today, February
21, at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Vance
Midgett officiating. Burial will follow in Alton Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Alton Baptist
Church, PO Box 11, Alton, 24520.
Hubbert Wilson Waller, 61, of South Boston, died February 17 at
Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mr. Waller was born in Halifax County on June 21, 1941, the son
of Robert Waller and Mary Irene Sydnor Waller.
There are no immediate survivors.
Graveside services were held February 20 at 3 p.m. at Spanish
Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Ronnie Womack officiating.