If the Halifax County School Board okays the dates Tuesday
night, public hearings will be held next month at two elementary
schools to help decide their fate.
School officials are seeking public input as the Board contemplates
renovations and additions to four elementary school as part
of the school system's proposed $50 million school capital improvements
project.
An alternative under consideration is the merger of the two
South Boston elementary schools, and the possible consolidation
of Halifax and Sinai elementary schools.
One public hearing has been tentatively set for March 4 at 7 p.m.
at Halifax Elementary School.
The other is set for March 18 at 7 p.m. at C.H. Friend Elementary.
The proposed capital improvement projects at the four schools
and the estimated price tags are as follows:
· Halifax K-2, capacity 285 students - $6.7 million;
· Sinai 3-6, capacity 425 students - $2.8 million;
· C.H. Friend, 3-6, capacity 425 students - $7.6 million;
· Washington-Coleman, K-2, capacity 285 students - $5.5
million.
Witt pointed out there are alternatives for parents and school
system officials to consider in the projects affecting the four
schools.
With regard to the proposals for Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend,
an alternative is to construct a new 600 to 700-student capacity
elementary school in South Boston to accommodate students from
both Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend.
That alternative, architects say, could be accomplished at a cost
comparable to the combined cost of renovating both Washington-Coleman
and C.H. Friend.
Parents of students attending Sinai and Halifax Elementary Schools
have a similar alternative.
An alternative scenario for those schools is to renovate Sinai
Elementary School, creating one school of 600 to 700 students
for Halifax and Sinai.
The price tag for that alternative would be close to that of renovating
both existing facilities, according to architects and school officials.
The School Board wants to know what the public thinks is best,
separate or combined schools, explained Witt.
"We want to get a feel for how parents feel about these things
and what their preferences would be."
In other business, the School Board will consider school make-up
days.
Due to bad weather, all of the dates specified in the school
calendar for use as make-up days have been used.
The School Board must decide how to make up an additional four
days.
Witt said yesterday the recommendation school system officials
will bring to the table Tuesday night will be a combination of
measures that will include the use of "Bank Time," extending
the school year and using some of the Spring Break as makeup days.
As far as using Spring Break for makeup days is concerned, Witt
said the proposal calls for a four-day weekend for Spring Break
with that "being the least break we would have."
Also Tuesday night, the School Board will be asked to consider
proposals for school calendars for both the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005
school years.
Witt did not divulge details of the proposed calendars.
He did say, however, that the two proposed calendars "are
fairly traditional calendars that we're familiar with."
Another item on the Tuesday night agenda, a recommendation from
school system officials to add an additional four-teacher instructional
team at Halifax County Middle School.
The teachers are necessary next year due to an expected large
influx of seventh-grade students.
School principal Gail Bosiger voiced concerns to the School Board
last month about classroom space to accommodate the four additional
teachers.
Witt declined to state the specifics of the recommendation that
will be aired before the School Board, but did say a possible
solution has been reached.
He said there will be recommendations that would provide space
without adding physical structures for the 2003-2004 school
year.
Also Tuesday night, the School Board will award honorary high
school diplomas to World War II, Korean War and Viet Nam War
veterans.
The school Board has held similar ceremonies in past years.
Tuesday night's Board meeting is a departure from its normal
meeting schedule.
The Board normally meets on the second Monday of each month. However,
the date was changed this month because school system officials
and School Board members will be in Richmond Monday to meet with
Governor Mark R. Warner and area legislators during the Virginia
School Board Association's Legislative Conference.
Two drivers involved in an accident on Bill Tuck Highway at
approximately 8:19 a.m. yesterday were transported to Halifax
Regional Hospital following the accident.
Sgt. D.L. Blanks said that 25-year-old Brooke F. Wiley of Cedar
Fork Road in Halifax when she pulled her 1999 Toyota RAV-four
into the path of a 1993 Geo Tracker operated by David Francis
Baird, 56, of Willow Street in South Boston.
Blanks said that Baird was traveling west on Bill Tuck Highway
when Wiley pulled into his path.
"She was attempting to enter the highway and turn left,"
Blanks said.
He added that a tractor-trailer that was waiting in the turn lane
of the highway motioned Wiley to continue into traffic.
"As she pulled out, the Baird vehicle struck her in the
driver's side, causing her to overturn," the sergeant said.
Blanks said the accident could have been much worse if the drivers
hadn't been wearing seatbelts.
"Wiley had to be cut down from her seatbelt," he said.
"It probably saved her life."
According to investigating officer Cpl. F.M. Edmunds, the Geo
sustained $6,000 damage and the Toyota received $15,000 damage.
No information on Wiley and Baird's condition was available at
press time.
Wiley was charged with failure to yield the right of way, Blanks
said.
· Faustine Crutchfield, 41, of Ridge Street in South Boston
was charged with failure to yield the right of way following an
accident at the intersection of Charles and Broad Streets yesterday.
Blanks said that Crutchfield was attempting to make a left turn
from Charles Street onto Broad Street when her 2000 Mitsubishi
struck a 2002 Chevrolet utility truck belonging to the Town of
South Boston and operated by Sylvester Walker, 45, of College
Street.
"As the traffic cleared, both Crutchfield and Walker attempted
to move and collided," Blanks said.
The sergeant estimated that Crutchfield's vehicle sustained $3,500
damage, and said the damage to the town truck was an estimated
$600.
In other police business, Donnie Wayne Walker, 34, of Virgie Cole
Road in South Boston was arrested Thursday and charged with obtaining
utility service without payment.
The alleged offense occurred January 13.
Deputy D.W. Martin of the Halifax Count Sheriff's Office was the
arresting officer.
Questions concerning a potential leaf buyout are expected to
be addressed this Saturday as two tobacco executives, Congressman
Virgil Goode and Dr. Ed Barnes speak at the 10th annual meeting
of the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association.
Congressman Goode will kick off the program, which begins at 10
a.m. at Halifax County High School.
Goode is expected to address federal issues affecting tobacco
production in this year's Congress, including an update on the
potential "buyout" of quota.
"This issue is one that the congressman has been working
on for a long time now," Ward Armstrong, a Goode spokesman,
said yesterday.
Mike Fariss, vice-president of leaf purchasing for Philip Morris,
will address contractual marketing, issues related to leaf marketing
in 2003 and a vision of leaf marketing in the future.
Farriss was appointed to his current position in August of 1999.
Prior to that, he was director of budgets, financial planning
and accounting operations for the company.
He joined Philip Morris in 1978 as an accountant.
Currently, Farriss is responsible for the procurement of all U.S.
leaf tobacco requirements, as well as the processing, storage
and delivery of the tobacco to the various manufacturing plants
around the country.
Tommy Bunn, executive vice-president of Leaf Tobacco Exporters
Association and Tobacco Association of the United States, will
address the group on the future of U.S. export leaf.
Dr. Ed Barnes, special guest speaker at this year's conference,
will make a presentation on "farming healthy" in the
face of recent major changes in tobacco production and marketing.
Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters said this year
conference planners wanted to present a speaker who could boost
the flagging morale of tobacco producers.
"This past year, the extended growing season was really hard
on producers with the drought, followed by an almost too-wet season
and the threat of a frost while farmers were trying to get the
last of their crops into the barns.
"We felt that Dr. Barnes could talk about mental health
issues as they relate to tobacco production," he said.
McPeters suggested that many producers could already be feeling
the strain of the current economic uncertainty and not even know
it.
"So often, stress and mental fatigue can escalate into depression
without the sufferer being aware of any problems, so we wanted
to offer up something like a pep talk to our growers," he
said.
Following the conference, a sponsored lunch will be provided at
no cost to attendees.
All tobacco producers, family and allotment holders are encouraged
to attend to receive important information and support their growers
association.
The conference is sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension
and the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association.
Pre-registration is not necessary to attend the conference.
A 48-year-old Halifax woman was sentenced
Thursday to a total of 20 years in prison for forgery and theft
convictions, following a sentencing hearing in Halifax County
Circuit Court.
Judge Charles L. McCormick III sentenced Mary A. Davis to five
years in prison for forging and uttering a name and social security
number on a Sun Trust NA deposit agreement and substitute W-9.
McCormick also sentenced Davis to five-year terms for grand larceny
from Sun Trust Bank NA, the attempted grand larceny from Radio
Shack, and the forging and uttering a name and social security
number on a Radio Shack Inc. credit card application.
The court suspended all but 12 months in jail for the Sun Trust
forging and uttering conviction, conditioned on Davis' good behavior
for 12 years, and ordered her to be placed on probation for two
years following her release.
· Bryan Lee McKinney 23, of Halifax, was sentenced Thursday
to five years in prison for each of two assault and battery convictions.
Judge McCormick sentenced McKinney to five years in prison for
the assault and battery of Officer T.K. Redd and five years in
prison for the assault and battery of Q.W. Clark.
The court additionally sentenced McKinney to pay $100 in fines
for two misdemeanor convictions, including disorderly conduct
and public intoxication.
Judge McCormick suspended all but one year for each of the assault
and battery convictions, to run consecutively for an effective
two-year prison sentence, and ordered McKinney to be placed on
probation for two years upon his release.
· Major Wilson Davis, 47, of Scottsburg, was sentenced
Thursday to five years in prison for the unlawful wounding of
Mary Lee Barksdale Davis, and to five years in prison for the
reckless endangerment of a child, not his own.
The court also sentenced Davis to 12 months in jail for brandishing
a firearm, a misdemeanor offense.
Judge McCormick suspended all of Davis' sentence on the firearm
conviction, all of Davis' sentence on the unlawful wounding conviction,
and all but seven months in jail on the endangerment conviction.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Davis' sentence be
conditioned on his good behavior for 11 years, and ordered Davis
to be placed on probation for two years upon his release.
· April Shavon Witcher, 52, of Nathalie, was sentenced
Thursday to five years in prison for the grand larceny of property
belonging to Wal-Mart and to 30 days in jail for misdemeanor trespassing.
The court suspended all but 30 days in jail for each conviction,
to run concurrently, for an effective term of 30 days in jail.
The court ordered the suspended portions of Witcher's sentence
be conditioned on her good behavior for five years, and ordered
her to be placed on probation for two years, effective immediately.
· Alvin Lee Jones, 35, of Halifax, was sentenced Thursday
to three years in jail for felony hit and run.
The court suspended all but 10 days in jail for Jones, conditioned
on his good behavior for three years, effective immediately.
Weekend jail service was authorized for Jones.
· April Michelle Reid, 19, of Java, was sentenced Thursday
to three years in prison for embezzlement of over $200.
Judge McCormick suspended Reid's entire sentence, conditioned
on her good behavior for three years, and ordered her to be placed
on probation for one year.
· Diane Dalton Arthur, 40, of Nathalie, pleaded guilty
Wednesday to three charges, including misdemeanor destruction
of personal property and driving after being declared an habitual
offender.
She also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of hit and run/property
damage.
All of Arthur's pleas came as a result of a plea agreement with
the Commonwealth, and were accepted by Judge William L. Wellons.
Under terms of the plea agreement, the Commonwealth agreed to
nol pross two misdemeanor charges, including one for defective
equipment, and one for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
The court ordered Arthur to be evaluated for the Detention and
Diversion Center programs.
Arthur is free on bond until sentencing in the March court term,
where the issue of restitution will be considered.
· Michael Glenn Ford Jr., 19, of South Boston, was convicted
Wednesday of an amended indictment charging him with the misdemeanor
assault and battery of Leon Womack.
Judge Wellons sentenced Ford to 12 months in jail, suspending
all to time served, and ordered Ford to pay restitution in the
amount of $10,472.
Ford was ordered not to have any contact whatsoever with his victim.
· Nathan Edmund Coleman, 51, of Scottsburg, was convicted
Wednesday of possessing a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
The court ordered Coleman to be placed on bond under supervision
of Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services until sentencing in the
March court term.
· Nannie Elizabeth Harris, 19, of Scottsburg, was convicted
Wednesday of the assault and battery of Sheriff's Deputy C.S.
Yeatts.
The court ordered Harris to be evaluated for the Detention and
Diversion Center programs before her sentencing in the March court
term.
Harris is free on bond until that time.
· Christopher David New, 37, of South Boston, was convicted
Wednesday of a probation violation.
The court revoked one year each on two of New's previously suspended
prison sentences, to run consecutively, for two additional years
of jail time.
The court also convicted New of failing to report to jail for
weekend confinement under a previous sentencing order, and ordered
him to serve that nine-month sentence straight through.
· George Wesley Garrett, 28, of Nathalie, was convicted
Wednesday of a charge of failing to appear in court.
The court ordered Garrett to pay a $25 fine, but suspended the
entire amount upon payment of court costs.
· Davis Hughes, aka Carl David Hughes, 39, of South Boston,
was convicted Thursday of a violation of the conditions of his
weekend jail service.
The court ordered Hughes to pay $200 a month on court costs, to
continue weekend confinement, and to abstain from alcohol consumption
prior to reporting to jail.
· Carla Jean Shortt, 24, of South Boston, was convicted
Monday of misdemeanor DUI.
The court sentenced Shortt to a 30-day suspended jail term, to
pay a $150 fine and restricted her operator's license for travel
to and from work for one year.
· Carlton Leviticus Chalmers, 40, of South Boston, was
convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.
The court revoked four months of Chalmers' previously suspended
prison sentence.
· Steven Bruce Buchanan, 40, of Vernon Hill, had a charge
alleging the use of an illegal steering wheel dismissed Thursday.
· Laura B. Fallen, 25, of South Boston, had a charge alleging
she forged and uttered a check dismissed Thursday.
Dr. Philip Hubert Fensterer Jr., 79, of 680 Canterbury Drive,
Halifax, died February 6 at his home.
Dr. Fensterer was born in Oyster Bay, NY on November 22, 1923,
the son of Philip Hubert Fensterer Sr. and Laurietta Brice Fensterer,
and was married to Christine Chaney Fensterer. He was a member
of St. John's Episcopal Church, and the AMA. He practiced family
medicine in Glen Cove, NY and Glen Head, NY, and emergency medicine
in South Boston.
Survivors include his wife of the home; five daughters, Anna Marie
Fensterer Seale of Frederick, MD, Carol F. Pattarini and Dr. Dorothy
Fensterer-Newton, both of Halifax, Sara F. Price of East Point,
GA, and Susan F. Gates of Ponca City, OK; one son, Philip Hubert
Fensterer III of Portland, OR; three stepsons, Dr. Carrington
Smith of Allentown, PA, Jeffrey Smith of Halifax and Gerald Smith
of South Boston; one sister, Dorothy Edelstein of Virginia Beach;
10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Dr. Fensterer
was preceded in death by his first wife, Beatrice U. Fensterer,
and one daughter, Diane F. Armstrong.
Services will be held February 9 at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal
Church with the Rev. David Booher officiating. Burial will take
place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Saturday
evening from 7:00 until 9:00, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Virginia
State Police Association, or Patrick Henry Boys Plantation, PO
Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528.
Shamont Dewayne Hubbard, 26, of Camp Springs, MD, died January
30 at Prince George Hospital.
Mr. Hubbard was born in Halifax County on November 20, 1976, the
son of Kathy Hubbard Dixon and Royal Carden. He is the stepson
of Willie Dixon.
He is also survived by two children, Ikeem Woody and Shamont Dewayne
Hubbard Jr.
Funeral services will be held today, February 7 at 1 p.m. at County
Line Baptist Church in Halifax County with Pastor Otis R. Dillard
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends today from 11 a.m. until service
time at the church, and other times at the home of Lottie Ferrell,
1151 Sinai Road.
John Thomas Strickland, 77, of 1092 Cluster Springs Road, South
Boston, died February 4 at his home.
Mr. Strickland was born in Halifax County on December 13, 1925,
the son of Arthur Strickland and Lillian Crews Strickland and
was married to Mattie Layne Strickland. He was a member of Black
Walnut Baptist Church, was a WWII Veteran, and a member of the
VFW.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one daughter, Mary Lee
Conner and husband, Taylor, of Mt. Laurel; one son, Tommy Strickland
and wife, Darlene, of Halifax; six grandchildren, John Taylor
Conner, Steven Thomas Murray and Lori Beth Conner, all of Mt.
Laurel, Michelle Leigh Conner of South Boston, Troy Strickland
of Salem and Jessica Tomlin of Lynchburg; two great-grandchildren,
Madison Layne Murray and Jordan Elizabeth Murray, both of Mt.
Laurel; one brother, Lee Strickland of Alamogordo, NM; five sisters,
Linwood Guthrie and Spotswood Davis, both of Nathalie, Elizabeth
Saunders of Halifax, Jean Oakes of Alton and Alice Strickland
of Tulsa, OK.
Services for Mr. Strickland were held February 6 at 2 p.m. at
Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. H.V. Conner and Shelton
Miles officiating. Burial took place in Black Walnut Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592.
Anna Virginia Thaxton, 81, of 1021 Stevens Lane, Halifax, died
February 5 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Thaxton was born in Halifax County on May 11, 1921, the daughter
of the late Bob Pulliam and Jenny Thomas Pulliam and was married
to John Al Thaxton. She was a member of Aarons Creek Baptist Church.
Graveside services will be held today, February 7 at 2 p.m. at
Aarons Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Bill McEntire
officiating.
Survivors of Mrs. Thaxton include two sons, Robert Wade of Halifax
and Tommy Thaxton of South Boston; one brother, Jordan Pulliam
of Virgilina; four grandchildren, Bobby Wade, Tommy Thaxton Jr.,
Michael Thaxton and Travis Thaxton; and two great-grandchildren.
Eunice M. Wood, 94, of The Woodview, died February 1 in South
Boston.
Born in Patrick County on January 30, 1909, she was the daughter
of the late John Edger Moore and Lula Fulcher Moore, and was married
to the late James Edger Wood. Mrs. Wood was a retired school teacher,
and was a member of Patrick Springs Providence Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Vera Williams Wood; two grandchildren,
Kathy Wood and Sandra Lowery, all of South Boston; and two great-grandchildren,
Lydia and Dylan Lowery. She was preceded in death by a son, James
'Jimmy' Wood.
A funeral service for Mrs. Wood was held February 3.
Louise Foster Crayton, 71, of 111 Rose Hill Apartments, South
Boston, died February 5 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Crayton was born in Halifax County on January 5, 1932, the
daughter of the late James Foster and Lottie Powell Foster. She
was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Lottie C. Chandler of Scottsburg;
two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Phyllis Carden
of Scottsburg; three brothers, Louis Foster of Washington, DC,
William Foster of Clover and MacArthur Foster of New York; and
one son-in-law, Rev. Alfred Chandler.
Funeral services for Mrs. Crayton will be held February 9 at 2:30
p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the
church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Alfred
Chandler, 8179 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg.