The current state budget impasse does not sit well with Halifax Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett.
"Our job is to do the people's business. I can't believe there's no room for compromise," said Bennett.
Especially frustrating to Bennett is the fact that the proposed budget approved by the House of Delegates included three and one-half percent raises for teachers, deputies and constitutional officers, as well as $650,000 for the Continuing Education Center (CEC).
Approximately $50,000 in funds for the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History are also at risk, due to the impasse.
"I voted for the House version because it had money for teachers, deputies and the CEC," said Bennett.
"Since we didn't approve an amended budget, we're operating under last year's budget, but it's not current - it doesn't have money for the Governor's car-tax phase-out, or money for the CEC, deputies' raises or teachers' raises."
Gilmore has proposed a 70 percent cut in the car-tax phase-out for this year, and 100 percent in 2002, as opposed to the Senate's proposed cuts of 55 percent this year and 70 percent next year.
Published reports state that Gilmore intends to call a special legislative session, presumably in late March, in order to give the House and Senate a chance to reach a compromise on the budget.
"No date has been set as yet, but it has to be in time for us to act on it in the House and the Senate, then send it up to the Governor for him to act and send it back down for us to consider," said Bennett.
According to Bennett, a legislative veto session is scheduled for April 4, with the re-districting session set for April 5.
In response to the budget stalemate, Governor Gilmore announced on Monday that he was ordering state agencies to temporarily freeze hiring and discretionary spending.
Bennett implied the timing couldn't be worse for the budget impasse and the resulting actions by Gilmore, mentioning that ongoing projects such as the CEC needed funds from the proposed budget to proceed with the purchase of lab technology, classroom equipment and faculty administrators' salaries.
Bennett indicated that the Tobacco Commission and Longwood College will provide money this year to assist the expanded CEC, which is scheduled for completion by August.

By Doug Ford
Carolyn Hall has a treasure trove of memories from her 34 years as Deputy Clerk and Clerk of the Halifax County General District Court.
Hall started on July 1, 1967, when it was called county court, and has vivid recollections of the first judge she served.
"Judge Waller, (the judge of the General District Court at that time), seemed to always find everyone guilty, charging them $10 and court costs," recalled Hall.
"When he began to shuffle his feet, you knew you had to be quiet.
One defendant wasn't so quiet, according to Hall.
"Judge Waller was trying a case and suddenly the defendant jumped up and grabbed the warrant from the judge's hand," said Hall.
"It took troopers Bob Compton and Ray Fowler to calm him down and handcuff him."
Starting as a deputy clerk, Hall became clerk of the court five years later.
"Back then, everything was hand-written," said Hall, adding that computers came along about 1985.
"We used the old-fashioned "Shaeffer" pens, that you would dip into an ink well - those were the kind that you would change the tip."
The case load has increased dramatically since the 1960s, according to Hall.
"There were two of us then - and now there are four of us. We're still understaffed," said Hall, referring to a recent study by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Hall remembers that clerks were required to work every other Saturday when she first started at the clerks' office.
"It was my first Saturday alone, and Del. Bennett came by and wanted a Detinue Warrant," used as a legal device to obtain possession of personal property.
"I didn't know what to do, so Ted stood over my shoulder while I typed, telling me how to fill in the blanks."
Hall recalled serving under three additional judges after Judge Waller, including Judge Robert T. Vaughan, Judge Irving D. Sugg and Judge Joel Cunningham, who presently serves on the bench.
Judge Cunningham will swear in Hall's successor, Brenda M. Peters, at the General District Court today.
"I've been fortunate to work with very nice judges, and I've enjoyed working with the attorneys and their secretaries," said Hall.
Hall doesn't intend to rest for very long, and is already planning trips to Emerald Isle, to Chicago, where her son Robbie lives with his wife, Allison, along with Robbie Jr., her first grandchild.
Hall also has parents to visit in North Carolina, as well as a daughter, Karen, who lives with her husband, George, in Charlotte.
She also intends to help more at her church, Scottsburg Baptist, than she has been able to before.
But Hall also plans to do plenty of "antiquing," with husband Bobby Hall, retired Assistant Superintendent of Halifax County Public Schools.
"I loved my job. When I first started, I couldn't understand why people didn't like to come to work," said Hall.
"I worked for the public, and I always treated them the way I wanted to be treated."

Wireless E-911 works best when regional.
State funding to help localities meet the state-mandated July 1, 2002, deadline to receive wireless E-911 calls was the primary message to supervisors and South Boston and Halifax town councilmen Monday night, but the regional theme drew immediate action.
"There is strength in numbers," said Mel Sheridan, deputy coordinator with the Public Safety Communications Division (PSC) of the Virginia Department of Technology.
"I think the idea of doing it as a region is a good one," added Emmy T. Isbell, Sprint E-911 area manager.
Before the session ended, Halifax County's new E-911 Center planner, Allen Bober, was meeting with citizens from Charlotte, Campbell, Pittsylvania and Mecklenburg counties who had attended the session.
"We are investigating it," confirmed Jerry Lovelace, Halifax County assistant administrator. "Bober was setting up a meeting."
"The money is there to help," Steve Marzolf, PSC coordinator told officials Monday night.
"There is still $32 million available" in the treasury, added Marzolf.
The PSC coordinator suggested the county skip Phase O (a locality taking the call typically on a seven-digit line) and move to Phase I for funding.
In Phase I a call is routed through the 9-1-1 system based on the cell site/sector receiving the call and provides the cell site information and call back number.
Also, there is no funding available for Phase 0, explained the coordinator.
However all "reasonable and direct" costs of Phase I are funded by Wireless E-911 Services Board.
Localities must also commit to and select an implementation date for Phase I before being eligible for funding, according to the coordinator.
Marzolf told county and town officials that wireless grant funding covered dedicated equipment and that shared equipment/personnel is partially funded by his board.
"The proportion of funding is based on the percentage of wireless E-911 calls to total calls in the Center," said the coordinator. He estimated that number would range in five to six percent range in Halifax County.
In another E-911 matter, Lovelace urged town and county residents "to put your house number up."
On several occasions emergency personnel have spent valuable time searching for a residence when trying to respond to an E-911 call.
During the Monday night session, Beth Robertson and Grayson Powell presented tentative plans regarding the 250th Halifax County Anniversary in 2002. Robertson sought $25,000 in funding for the two-year period as planning for events advances.
School Issues
County and town officials heard Halifax County Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt present the system's capital improvements proposal, including the Phase II proposal for closing the smaller Virgilina and Wilson Memorial Elementary schools.
Supervisors had heard the presentation earlier this month, but what many had not heard was Witt's suggestion Monday night that they "let this year blow over" because of the state budget tangle. "But we need to sit down afterward and talk about Phase II," he said.
During the joint session, Witt asked officials "to put their analytical hats on" to help decide where the system should go.
The superintendent said that it cost as much as $2,000 more per pupil to serve students in the smaller schools.
With the closings, Witt estimated $604,000 in operational costs could be saved annually. "This is hard dollars," he said.
He estimated the closing of Volens and Clover schools, already scheduled, would save $400,000 in operations.
The superintendent put about a $12 million price tag to complete the proposed renovations to Turbeville, Meadville, South of Dan and Cluster Springs. The schools would be prepared to serve about 350 students.
Phase III recommendations include addition/renovations to the Middle School, Halifax and Sinai Elementary schools at an estimated $11.5 million.
C.H. Friend and Washington-Coleman in South Boston would also be addressed in Phase III, but Witt said a decision on the best course had not been determined.
Addressing the proposed closing of Virgilina and Wilson Memorial, Witt told officials that "you cannot operate a 100-person school. We cannot win with these statistics."
With a map, Witt explained where students at Virgilina and Wilson Memorial schools would attend school.
Primarily, Virgilina students would be transported to Cluster Springs or South of Dan and Wilson Memorial students would attend either Turbeville or Meadville Elementary schools, depending on the location of their homes.
"The decision is up to you," Witt told county officials. "We have a good system. We want to make sure it is a quality school system, a place where people want to live and work."
In other business, supervisors approved the William Tuck Airport Commission's recommendation to lease space at the airport to a businessman for aircraft sales.
Supervisors also approved a $25,000 matching commitment to Lake Country Area Agency on Aging if their grant proposal to construct or purchase a building for an adult day care center in Halifax County is approved.
The Agency previously operated a day care center in Halifax County but was forced to move due to relocation of some county offices.

South Boston wants a second supervisor's seat on the board.
The town is currently served by Supervisor C.W. "Corky" Rorrer, Election District 8, but five other supervisors' districts lap into the town's domain.
"Twenty-five percent share a commonalty of interests but have only 12 percent representation on the board," South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy told supervisors.
The mayor said that he was estimating the county's population in the 36,000 range and the town's at about 10,000, but that "no one knows" the 2000 Census figures.
The South Boston mayor asked that officials "look at the county and see how many other towns are divided into six districts."
Supervisor Rorrer said that he would be glad to work with the town in any way.
But the message was clear, the town wants "two full seats" on the board of supervisors.
The issue came up following a Redistricting Advisory Committee report by Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan.
Abernathy asked Morgan if the committee had received a message from the town regarding redistricting.
A public hearing to receive public comment on county polling places and election district boundaries is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in the conference room at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Redistricting using 2000 Census data is required for the 2001 General Election. An ordinance must be adopted by May 1 to allow federal government review prior to the November election.
Morgan noted during the county/town joint session Monday night that the 2000 Census figures are not expected until April 1. In order to meet all deadlines, the county needs to conduct a public hearing by April 15 before adopting a recommendation May 1, the administrator explained.
Because of the time constraints, Morgan suggested that some redistricting issues may be identified during the spring redistricting process but addressed the following year.

Last year, the Virginia Cooperative Extension announced that tobacco flat trays contaminated with the Tobacco Mosaic Virus should be brought to the warehouse at the county landfill on Bethel Road. The trays could possibly contaminate future tobacco crops of local farmers.
The Halifax County Improvement Council and the Virginia Cooperative Extension thank local tobacco growers for bringing these trays to the warehouse rather than burning them - the trays release toxic fumes - or putting them in the greeen boxes, which could cause a spill over and a release of the lightweight containers into the area.
A collection of the trays by the County will continue at the warehouse. Approximately 2,000 trays have been collected and a search is underway to market them.
The trays cannot be used for plants related to the tobacco plant, which may be susceptible to the tobacco virus, such as lettuce, eggplant, beets, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, quinoa, melon, squash, pumpkin tomato, poppy, beans and ground cherry.
Other plants may be suitable for the trays.
"The trays reportedly cost about $2 each new, so anyone that could use them for planting something that wouldn't be affected by the virus would be saving a lot of money," said Jenny Hochstein, Recycling and Litter Control coordinator.
Also, the trays may be utilized for a purpose unrelated to planting.
"A few people have mentioned using them to build a floating dock in a lake or pond," Hochstein said.
The trays are made of Styrofoam and are 26 inches long by 13 inches wide and two inches deep with one-inch square holes.
"These trays are free to anyone who can use them. You may have two or 2000; all you have to do is pick them up," Hochstein said.
For more information on the trays for planting, call the Extension Office at 476-2147.
For questions unrelated to planting or to arrange a pick up of the trays, call Jenny Hochstein at the Halifax County Improvement Council at 476-3308.

The sound of baseballs and softballs being slugged by aluminum bats filled the air at Halifax County High School and Halifax County Middle School Monday afternoon as the first day of spring sports practice got underway.
While the baseball and softball teams from the two schools were getting in their first turns at the plate and in the field, the high school soccer teams were also hard at work as coaches gave basic lessons in proper kicking form and other skills.
Members of the track teams were out running Monday as were players on other teams as coaches got their first look at the students vying for a spot on the teams.
Halifax County High School varsity boys baseball coach Kelvin Davis had 20 players out for drills Monday.
His counterpart for the boys jayvee baseball team, Shawn Torian, had 32 players to come out for the team.
Halifax County High School head girls soccer coach Sid Young had 33 young ladies come out to try out for spots on the varsity and jayvee teams.
The numbers weren't quite that heavy for the boys soccer teams which also had a pretty good turnout for the first day of practice.
Coaches are placing a heavy value on the good weather that greeted the start of the spring sports practice season Monday.
Halifax County Middle School's baseball and softball teams will open their seasons on March 14.
Halifax County High School's baseball and softball teams, both of which had a banner season last year and made it into the Northwest Region playoffs, will open their respective seasons Monday, March 19.
The Comets baseball team will open its season that day on the road in Lynchburg where it will face Heritage.
Halifax County's varsity girls softball team will open its season on the road in Roanoke where it will face Patrick Henry.
The Comets varsity boys baseball team and girls varsity softball teams will play seven non-district games before tackling E.C. Glass here in their respective Western District openers on April 6.
The Comets jayvee baseball team will open its season here on March 19 with a game against the Heritage jayvees.
Halifax County's jayvee girls softball team will also kick off its season that day with a game on the road against the Patrick Henry jayvees.
In addition to those four teams, the Halifax County High School varsity girls and jayvee girls soccer teams will open their seasons that night with home contests against neighboring Person High.
Halifax County High School's boys tennis team opens its season on Tuesday, March 20 on the road against Person High.
The Comets varsity and jayvee boys soccer teams will open their seasons the following day, March 21, with home contests against Franklin County.
Last to open its season are the Halifax County High School girls and boys track teams.
They will kick off their respective seasons on April 7 with the Vince Bradford Relays in Lynchburg.
All six of the Comets' regular season track meets will be held on the road.

Marie Maudie Williams Yancey, 84, of 699 Wolf Pitt Road, Oxford, NC, died February 23 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Yancey was born in Franklin County on May 7, 1916, the daughter of Millie Williams and was married to Alexander Yancey. She was a deaconess of First Baptist Church of Virgilina.
Survivors include her husband; two stepdaughters, Ocie Yancey of Pasadena, Calif. and Betty Yancey of Pittsburgh, Pa.; one stepson, Ruffin Yancey of Tynabora, New Hampshire; eight step-grandchildren; two sisters, Edna Bell of Jersey City, NJ and Shirley Richards of Baltimore, Md.
Funeral services for Mrs. Yancey were held February 26 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Virgilina with the Rev. Lorenzo Love officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

George William Gordon III, 59, of Buffalo Junction, died February 23 at Durham Regional Hospital in Durham, N.C.
Mr. Gordon was born January 2, 1942, the son of George William Gordon Jr. and Lillian Woltz Gordon and was married to Anne Hughes Gordon. He graduated from Bluestone High School and obtained his bachelor of science degree from Virginia Tech.
He was a member of Clarksville Baptist Church, where he was serving on the board of deacons. He owned and operated Aarons Creek Farms Inc., was a partner of Gordon Brothers Farming Operation, served on the board of the Cooperative Supply Inc., and was active in the Sandy Fork Hunting Club.
A memorial service for Mr. Gordon was at 2 p.m. February 25 at Clarksville Baptist Church with the Rev. John Bohannon officiating. By his request, his cremated remains will be scattered on the family farm.

Survivors in addition to his wife and father are two sons, Gregory Vernon Gordon and wife, Anne Strange Gordon, of Clarksville, and Eric Matthew Gordon of Buffalo Junction; one sister, Judith Gordon Elliott of Clarksville; and two grandchildren, Patrick and Lillian Evelyn.

Bernard Webster Coleman, 68, of 2096 Beulah Road, Nathalie, died February 23 at his home.
Mr. Coleman was born in Halifax County on September 4, 1932, the son of John Eddie Coleman and Rosa Lovelace Coleman and was married to Marjorie Thompson Coleman. He was a member of County Line Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Webster Jerome Coleman of Upper Marlboro, Md.; five daughters, Wanda Edmonds and Judith Winstead, both of South Boston, Leonia Burnell of Washington, DC, Pamela Cheek of Clinton, Md., and Sheila Coleman-Hoxie of Waverly, Ohio; two brothers, James Eddie Coleman of Washington and William Thomas Coleman of Halifax; five sisters, Mary Anna Dixon of Berry Hill Nursing Home, Dora Elizabeth Wilson of Nathalie, Louise Tucker of Halifax, Irene Vaugh of Baltimore, Md. and Mable Stephens of Blairs.
A funeral service for Mr. Coleman will be held today, February 28 at 11 a.m. at County Line Baptist Church with the Rev. Otis Dillard conducting the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service, and other times at the home.

Richard Blanks Hubbard died at Halifax Regional Hospital on February 25.
Mr. Hubbard was born September 12, 1913 at Leda, the son of Joshua and Minnie Mae Hubbard and was the senior member of a Virginia family dating to 1630. He was married to Mary Frances Everett.
Mr. Hubbard left Leda in 1933 and moved to Washington, DC, where he worked for Chestnut Farms Dairy. In 1956 he returned to Leda and as the last family member to farm on the family property and to operate the store at Leda, which was founded circa 1850. Along with his cousin, the late Frank Clements, he was widely regarded as a pioneer in commercially raising cantaloupe in Halifax County.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Richard of Livermore, Calif., Robert of Kensington, Md. and Stephen of San Diego, Calif; one foster son, John Quinn of Olney, Md.; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mass of the Resurrection will be at St. Elizabeth Church in Brookneal at noon today, February 28 with Father Mathias Newell and Father John Petri officiating.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider St. Elizabeth's Communion Cup Fund or your favorite charity.

William D. Harris, 39, of Greensboro, NC, died February 24.
Survivors include his wife, Lisa Ragsdale-Harris; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Harris Sr. of Newport News; one sister, Cheryl Parker of Newport News; two brothers, Staff Sergeant Eric Harris of Ramstein, Germany and SPC4 Andrew Jones of Fayetteville, N.C.; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Ragsdale of Halifax; two sisters-in-law, Brennetta Ragsdale Williams of Chesapeake and Cassondrus Ragsdale of Halifax; and one brother-in-law, Floyd Williams of Chesapeake.
Funeral services for Mr. Harris will be held today, February 28 at 1:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro with Bishop George Brooks officiating.

Rodney Leo Acree, 41, of Scottsburg, died February 23 at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Acree was born in Baltimore, Md. on February 17, 1960.
Survivors include his father, Hugh Acree of Scottsburg; three sisters, Valerie Bond, Carolyn Oliver and Angela Oliver, all of Baltimore; five brothers, Conrad Acree, Erwin Acree and Kenneth Oliver, all of Baltimore, Hugh Acree of Nathalie, and Joel Acree of Hyattsville, Md.
Funeral services for Mr. Acree will be held today, February 28 at 2 p.m. at Traynham Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Revs. William Keene and Moses Dixon officiating. Remains will lie in state one hour prior to service. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie.

Willie Hudson Hancock, 82, of Nathalie, died February 24 at The Medical Care Center in Lynchburg.
Mr. Hancock was born in Campbell County on April 8, 1918, the son of Roy Hancock and Mattie Clark Hancock and was first married to Lelia Hancock and later to Ruby Hamlett Hancock. He was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Judy Hancock, Ellen Canada, Earnestine Black and Mattie Tucker, all of Nathalie; one son, George Hancock of Ashbury, N.J.; one stepson, James Henry of Brookneal; 30 grandchildren, including four devoted, Barbara Terry, Helen Jennings, Patricia Hancock and Terry Tucker; 53 great-grandchildren; one step-granddaughter; and four step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Hancock will be held today, February 28 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. L.S. Otey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

James Douglas Cameron, 76, of Laurel, Del., formerly of Halifax County, died February 22 at The Delaware Hospital.
Mr. Cameron was born in Halifax County on October 12, 1924, the son of Zack Cameron and Emma Guthrie Cameron.
Survivors include four sisters, Gracie Cameron of Alexandria, Ethel Miller, Pauline Cameron and Elizabeth Scott, all of South Boston; two brothers, Edward Cameron and Willie Cameron, both of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Cameron will be held March 2 at 2 p.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ethel Miller, South Boston.

William Byrd Strange, 72, of 1412 Porter Lane, South Boston, died February 25 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Strange was born in Halifax County on March 14, 1938, the son of Nelson Strange Sr. and Annie Singleton Strange and was married to Katherine Owen Strange. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Harvey Ray Strange of South Boston; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Nelson Strange Jr. of Baltimore, Md.; and one daughter-in-law, Ruth Strange.
Funeral services for Mr. Strange will be held March 3 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church with the Revs. Harold Roberts and James Carrington officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home.

Luther MacDonald (Mac) Knott, 82, of Roxboro, N.C., died February 26 at his home.
Mr. Knott was born in Person County, N.C., the son of Luther DeWitt and Annie Royster Knott and was married to Mary Poole Knott. He was a member of Webb's Chapel Church, retired from carpentry and insurance sales, and was a WWII Army Veteran.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Doug Knott of Roxboro; four stepchildren, Wayne Wilson of South Boston, Glenn Wilson of Clover, Elaine Thornton and Debi Chandler, both of Roxboro; six brothers, Cecil, Don and Bruce Knott, all of Roxboro, Robert Knott of Rome, Ga., Charlie Knott of Durham, N.C., and Bart Knott of Timberlake, N.C.; three sisters, Mary K. Gentry and Sandra K. Eakes, both of Timberlake and Violet K. Whitfield of Hurdle Mills, N.C.; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Elizabeth K. Murray and one brother, Sterling Knott.
Funeral services for Mr. Knott will be held today, February 28 at 2 p.m. at Olive Branch Baptist Church by the Rev. Victor Blackwell. Burial will follow in Virgilina Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Olive Branch Baptist Church, 7347 Dirgie Mine Road, Roxboro, N.C. 27573

Lois Johnson Gregory, 82, of Chase City, died February 26 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Born in Mecklenburg County, she was a member of New Hope Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Gregory Sr.
Services for Mrs. Gregory will be held today, February 28 at 2 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Skipwith with the Rev. Roger Wilcher and Glenwood Gillespie officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Survivors include three sons, Burlin Gregory of Skipwith, Dallas "Sambo" Lee Gregory of Chase City and James Robert Gregory Jr. of Clarksville; one brother, Sidney Johnson of Chase City; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Chase City Rescue or New Hope Scholarship Fund.