Sunshine, bright skies and mid-fifty degree temperatures today should make yesterday's snowfall but a wintry memory. A blinding snowstorm that swept across much of Virginia yesterday caused numerous vehicle accidents and forced the closing of schools, most public offices and some industries.
Weather forecasters predicted accurately that the fast-moving weather front would cause trouble in the morning hours and be mostly gone by noon.
In South Boston, snow and ice began falling around 8 a.m. and by midday, an unofficial two inches had accumulated. The storm was even accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Streets and highways covered quickly and caught unwary motorists off guard. South Boston Police responded to or called in State Police to assist in seven crashes in less than a hour.
One of the drivers involved in a two-car collision on Wilborn Avenue near Hupps Mill Plaza left the scene and is being sought in the hit and run investigation. Officer Dennis Blanks said that a pickup truck being operated by Arthur Alton Sydnor was rear-ended by a car that Sydnor could only describe as being brown in color.
Blanks said that the hit and run vehicle probably sustained extensive front-end damages and anyone having information is asked to contact police. Sydnor was not reported injured.
Several incidents resulted in blocked roadways, including Hamilton Boulevard, U.S. 360 east and U.S. 501 north. A spokesman for Mac Ragan's towing service in Riverdale said that he had nine calls for assistance in less than an hour.
State Police reported a two-vehicle crash on Route 654 involving a Ford Explorer being driven by 25-year-old Cheryl Darlene Smith of Meherrin and a Dodge pickup, operated by 40-year-old Robert Lewis Burns of South Boston. The Smith vehicle crossed the center line and struck the Burns' auto.
Smith was charged with reckless driving.
In a similar accident on Route 638, a vehicle operated 39-year-old Anthony Hines of Nathalie skidded into the path of a car being operated by Betsy D. Bentley, 50, of Phenix. Bentley was taken to Halifax Regional Hospital and a passenger in the Hines' vehicle, 53-year-old Lester Tuggle, was transported to Lynchburg Regional Hospital, both for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
Hines was charged with reckless driving.
Halifax County students and teachers were away from classrooms yesterday and officials said at a press time last evening a decision to reopen today had not been announced.
VDOT officials said that the entire maintenance staff of approximately 85 persons in Halifax and Charlotte counties were at work spreading abrasives and salt even before the precipitation started. The full fleet of snow plows began scraping primary highways around noon and were expected to move onto secondary roads last night.
Most town and government offices, including general district and juvenile and domestic relations courts, county administrator's office, school administration and social services, all closed early yesterday.
Industry closings included second shift workers at Annin Flag and Clover Yarns.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - A federal judge has told tobacco farmers to notify him if cigarette companies threaten sales contracts because of a lawsuit that alleges a price-fixing conspiracy.
U.S. District Court Judge William Osteen said Tuesday that tobacco company lawyers assured him there would be no further threats.
Farmers have filed a lawsuit against cigarette companies claiming the auction system is rigged to keep prices low. More than 100 farmers came to Osteen's court for a scheduling hearing to show support for their lawsuit.
The attorney for the farmers, Alan Wiseman, said Philip Morris sent a letter in September warning farmers that if they joined the suit, they would not get offered contracts.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. contracts with farmers also forbid legal action against the company, Wiseman said.
''The growers are caught between a rock and a hard place,'' he said.
Tobacco companies have said they will expand the use of contracts this year to buy tobacco directly from farmers and cut their reliance on the traditional auction sales of tobacco.
The lawsuit contends that nine cigarette companies conspired to dismantle the federal tobacco program by artificially cutting production quotas, rigging auction prices and bypassing the auctions through direct contracts.
The lead attorney for the farmers is Washington-based Alexander Pires, who settled a $1.2 billion civil-rights suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on behalf of 19,000 black farmers.
Lawyers for the farmers are trying to get the lawsuit certified as a class action, which could include tens of thousands of burley- and flue-cured-tobacco farmers and quota holders.
Lawyers for four major tobacco companies - Reynolds, Philip Morris, Lorillard Tobacco Co. and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. - contend that quota holders and farmers from various states are so diverse that they can't be considered one class.
''They're different markets, different auctions and different parties involved,'' said Daniel Donahue, representing Reynolds. ''It's a silly situation when six individuals can claim they can represent the claims of 5,000 individuals.''
Other companies named in the suit are Universal Leaf Tobacco Co., J.P. Taylor Co., Southwestern Tobacco Co., Dimon Inc. and Standard Commercial Corp.
Osteen said he could rule on whether to certify the lawsuit as a class action by summer at the earliest.
Keith Parrish, a plaintiff in the suit, said auctions have no competition.
''Everything on the row almost identically brings the same price,'' said Parrish, a Johnston County farmer and executive director of the National Tobacco Association.
''Nobody ever bumps the prices. Who ever heard of a tie-bid at an auction?''

Halifax Town Council approved a new R-1A classification dealing with manufactured homes following a public hearing Tuesday night, but decided to meet with its planning commission before tackling two other issues, a conflict in the ordinance regarding agriculture and a separate pedestrian safety issue.
Council unanimously approved the new R-1A classification, which described single family manufactured homes with brick and mortar underpinning.
"Isn't that really just cosmetic?" asked Councilman Jack Dunavant.
But attorney George Bagwell told council that the underpinning met state fire code regulations.
The specified underpinning also allows the owner to seek a homeowner's insurance policy, added businessman Allen Stevens.
In other business, "the keeping of animals" wording derailed an attempt to resolve a conflict in the town's ordinance regarding agriculture.
Town Manager Robert Greene explained that pets and pleasure horses were not meant to be included in any exclusion. He said the intention was "not to raise for agricultural marketing" and that harvests were not to be used for that.
"The interpretation is important," said Councilman Jack Dunavant. "People harvest hay and pine trees."
"To me, you have to draw the line somewhere," added Councilman Harold Ray Younger, as the discussion ranged from the keeping of lambs as pets to the status of dogs and cats.
Halifax resident Leslie Booher warned that in 20 years, a new council might interpret the proposed action in a different way.
Younger proposed that council and its planning commission get together and discuss the matter before taking action. "Put more thought before doing something that might cause problems later on," added the councilman.
Council unanimously agreed to withhold action Tuesday night and to meet with the planning commission.
The town's request for a pedestrian crossway - with a push button walk/don't walk light - at the intersection of Main and Mountain Road will also be on the agenda when council meets with its planning commission.
VDOT notified council last week that the pedestrian count did not justify a separate pedestrian phase in the traffic signal, however, VDOT officials said that the department was willing to install the pedestrian push-button that will enable the pedestrians to change the traffic signal in their favor.
During a 12-hour pedestrian count on Feb. 6, VDOT recorded a total of 40 pedestrians crossing Route 501 (Main Street) at the intersection, and a total of 30 crossing the Route 360 (Mountain Road) leg during the count period.
The record also showed that 152 pedestrians crossed Route 501 at the next crosswalk south of the intersection during the same period.
The walk/don't walk pedestrian light would cost an estimated $25,000. The push-button modification would cost an estimated $2,500, according to Joe Barkley, VDOT resident engineer.
Councilman Dunavant also told council that he had been asked by residents what impact action might have on the ability to turn right on red from Mountain Road onto Main Street.
Council agreed that the matter had become more complicated than anticipated and agreed to discuss the matter with the planning commission.
In other business, the town manager told council that in case of emergency, South Boston will supply water to the town through a connection in Webb Park.
Council expressed its appreciation to the Town of South Boston.

The Halifax County Improvement Council is preparing for the 17th Annual Spring Clean-up, which will take place during the month of April.
"The Spring Clean-up involves local civic groups who volunteer their time and energy to remove litter from the roadsides to make Halifax County a cleaner, healthier and more beautiful place to live," said Jenny Hochstein, Litter Control and Recycling coordinator for the county.
This year, in lieu of an awards banquet, the Improvement Council will reward Spring Clean-up participants with cash prizes.
Top prizes of $50 will be awarded to groups based on:
· Largest area covered
· Most trash collected
· Most recycling collected
· Largest number of bags collected per person.
All other groups collecting 10 or more bags of trash will receive a monetary prize, which will be determined by the number of groups participating. Every group will receive a prize as long as they collect at least 10 bags of trash, explained Hochstein.
All participating groups also will receive a Certificate of Participation from the Improvement Council.
"The county truly appreciates the help of these local civic groups in this annual event," said Hochstein. "Community pride and support are needed to maintain the beauty of our county."
Participation forms have been mailed to previously involved civic groups. "If your group did not receive a form but it would like to be involved in the Spring Clean-up, call me at 476-3308 for details," said the Halifax County Litter Control and Recycling coordinator.

A fifty-year-old Crystal Hill man was convicted of breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny after a bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Danny Lee Beadles entered an Alford plea to the charge of breaking and entering the property of Wayland Branch Hudson between November 1 and December 17 with the intent to commit larceny.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes that prosecution evidence makes a finding of guilty almost a certainty.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn ordered a presentence report due for the March term of court. Beadles is free on bond until that time.
Chevelle Crowder, 31, of South Boston, was convicted on Wednesday to an amended indictment of misdemeanor driving after having been declared an habitual offender.
Judge Osborn sentenced Crowder to 12 months in jail, with all but 30 days suspended.
Theresa Brown Bailey, 31, of Drakes Branch, entered an Alford plea on Wednesday to one count of enhanced larceny.
Judge Osborn ordered a presentence report due for the March term of court. Bailey is free on bond until that time.
Bernard Lester Waller, aka Bernard L. Rease, 37, of Nathalie, was convicted on Wednesday of making a false statement on a voter registration form.
Judge Osborn set secured bond at $5,000 for Waller, before remanding him to custody.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
Close...very close.
It came down to a three-point basket with seven seconds left in the ballgame, but the shot bounced off the rim and Albemarle was able to escape with a 62-59 win.
In a valiant effort the Halifax County High School boys' basketball team erased a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter and climbed to within two points of a semifinal Western District tournament victory Wednesday in Charlottesville.
Instead, crucial turnovers throughout the game (11 in all) proved to be a thorn in the side for the Comets, allowing Albemarle to lead from the start, despite Halifax's opportunities to rally.
The unforced turnovers - dropping the ball and throwing the ball out of bounds - allowed Albemarle to take a 17-11 first quarter lead and a 33-28 lead at the half.
"We had some critical turnovers at critical times, times when we could have cut Albemarle's lead to two or when we could have had easy baskets or, early in the game, when we could have kept the game tight," coach Garrett Dillard said.
"We didn't get the tempo where we wanted it until late in the game," Dillard said.
" We were gambling a little bit on the defense end and that let guys get by us. So, we weren't able to keep a tempo.
"We weren't scoring so we weren't able to press the way we had intended to," Dillard said.
"That was critical because if we could have established the tempo early, then Albemarle would have had to play our game.
"But we had to play their game and it was a chess match.
"We had to make the first adjustments because we got behind, so the first quarter was very critical," said the coach.
However, Albemarle had plenty of opportunities at the free-throw line with the team shooting 25 for 33.
And between the fouls and the turnovers, the early fourth-quarter run by Albemarle hurt the Comets.
Three three-pointers in the fourth quarter gave Halifax the opportunity to rally and cut Albemarle's lead to one, at 60-59, with eight seconds left.
Albemarle was sent to the free-throw line for two baskets, building a three-point lead.
"If we could have kept it below 10 or seven points, I feel we would have won the ball game, even though they (Albemarle) made their free-throws in the fourth quarter, we were still able to cut that 12-point lead down to one," Dillard said.
"We just allowed them to get too far ahead of us, especially that late in the ballgame."
Carleton Roach and Anthony Owen hit the three-pointers that gave Halifax the lift in the fourth quarter.
Owen hit two of his three three-pointers in the fourth.
Terez Garland, who hit four three-pointers in the game, took the last shot, which hit the rim and bounced into Albemarle's hands.
Garland and Dashawn Baird led the team in scoring with 15 points, while Owen and Carleton Roach each had 11 points in the game.
Dante Ballou finished the game with four points, while Andrew Witko and Sterling Williams each had a field goal.
Coach Dillard said he was pleased with the way Witko performed at the boards and said there was a positive aspect in the way Witko was serenaded off the floor by Albemarle fans after his fifth foul.

Virginia Holt Matthews Hen-rickson died February 20 in Hot Springs.
Mrs. Henrickson was born in Halifax County and also lived in Blackstone. She was a resident of Sarasota, Fla. from 1973 until she moved to Virginia in 1996.
She graduated from Blackstone College for Girls and was a member of Sigma Iora Chi Sorority, was active in Blackstone College Alumni Association and was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Sarasota. Mrs. Hen-rickson belonged to the Allapattah Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Sarasota, where she served as Regent for two years.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Patsye Matthews Johnson and Robert Johnson and their children, Tyler and Paul, all of Monterey; and one sister, Mary Robertson of Richmond. Her husband, Arthur Henrickson and first husband, George Matthews, preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be sent to St. John's United Methodist Church, Sarasota, Fla. or to a charity of choice.

Herman Easley Lee, 82, of 113 Webster Street, South Boston, died February 20 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Lee was born in Halifax County on July 13, 1918, the son of Addie Marie Lee and was married to Jewel Cobbs Lee. He was a member of Peaceful Tabernacle Baptist Church and was also a U.S. Army Veteran.
Survivors include five daughters, Mary Ann McCook of Bronx, N.Y., Velma D. Lee and Gladys S. Lee, both of Temple Hill, Md., Myrtle E. Lee of Washington, D.C., and Sarah Hendren of South Boston; one son, Herman E. Lee Jr. of South Boston; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Funeral services for Mr. Lee will be held February 24 at 2 p.m. at Peaceful Tabernacle Baptist Church with the Revs. James Carrington and Jackie Stamps officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening, February 23, from 7 until 8, and other times at the home.

Elizabeth Marshall 85, of Nathalie, died February 21 at The Woodview Nursing Home.
Ms. Marshall was born in Halifax County on October 10, 1915, the daughter of Lewis Marshall and Flossie Johnson Marshall. She was a member of Sunflower Baptist Church where she served as Sunday school secretary and teacher.
Survivors include one brother, John Louis Marshall of Nathalie; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara M. Cooper.
Funeral services for Ms. Marshall will be held February 25 at 2 p.m. at Sunflower Baptist with the Rev. Robert Tucker Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of her brother, 1067 Dr. Lacy Trail, Nathalie.