Fifteen students, seven from Halifax County High School, were arrested by authorities yesterday in the wake of three separate disturbances at the school.
One student was injured and transported to Halifax Regional Hospital after being beaten in a major fight that occurred in a third-floor hallway at the high school as students were making their way to their first class of the day.
Officer Eddie Fallen of the South Boston Police Department, a school resource officer, said the victim, whose identity was not released, sustained lacerations to the head and arm.
"He had been kicked repeatedly," Fallen said, and showed signs of head injury.
The student was taken by rescue squad to Halifax Regional Hospital for treatment.
Clark said that, in addition to the criminal charges filed against the three students, the school system's discipline code will be applied in the matter.
"My recommendation will be that they not be allowed to return to school," Clark stated.
That incident was one of three incidents at Halifax County High School that led to arrests yesterday.
An after-school disturbance in the school bus parking lot resulted in officers arresting 11 individuals, 10 males and a female, most of them on charges of disorderly conduct.
Three of the students were ninth-grade students at the high school, Clark said.
Six of the individuals were students at the new Halifax Career Center and the two others were Halifax County Middle School students.
Clark called that disturbance "a disorderly, abusive situation" and stated that no physical blows were passed.
The high school principal said that the school system's discipline code will be applied to the students at his school.
"They will be faced with suspensions," Clark remarked.
"If we find they have a history of repeated incidents of causing disturbances, we'll recommend long-term suspensions and recommend that they not be allowed to return to the high school the remainder of the year.
In a third incident, a student was arrested and charged with threatening a teacher.
Clark said that student has been suspended from school.
Officer Fallen, who serves both schools, said his first concern in the early morning disturbance was getting to Halifax County Sheriff's Deputy B.D. Birkmeyer, the high school's resource officer, when Birkmeyer requested assistance.
"I couldn't find him or get in touch with him," Officer Fallen said.
After arriving at the site of the disturbance, Officer Fallen said he found the injured student and began to check him over and assist him.
Officer Fallen stated that the individuals involved in the fight had been separated by the time he arrived and that when he arrived with other police officers following, the large crowd of students began to disperse.
"Once they (the students) realized a lot of police had gotten there they pretty much knew they had better get on out of there," Fallen noted.
Clark explained that the time of the day, the early morning when students were in the hallways and heading to class, contributed to the problem.
"Unfortunately, (the incident) occurred at the same time that probably 85 to 90 percent of the students were present in the hallways and were being allowed to go into the rest of the building to their classrooms," Clark said.
"That just makes it more confusing and disruptive. You've got people who want to see and people who want to cheer others on."
Clark said that indications were that the altercation resulted from an alleged boyfriend-girlfriend type situation.
"The indication I have is it was a situation involving a girlfriend and probably a former girlfriend of one of the guys," Clark stated.
Yesterday's afternoon disturbance in the school bus parking lot was another situation where there was a large group of students in the vicinity.
"These things seemingly occur when there is an audience," Clark remarked.
"Obviously, on the bus parking lot at between 3:30 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. there is quite an audience."
Clark said it is often difficult to pinpoint what triggers incidents such as these.
"I attribute some of it to events that occur in the community, some we hear about and some we don't," he explained.
"Some incidents seem to be fairly typical boyfriend-girlfriend problems."
Clark said he spoke to the student body over the school's public address system following the major morning incident.
"I told them that one of the parts of their education is that they must learn ways to resolve conflict without resorting to physical violence.
"That's a very important part of their education," Clark added.
"That is important for them to learn, not only for themselves as individuals, it's important for society in general. You simply can't take matters into your own hands every time somebody offends you."
The high school principal stressed that "We're going to treat our students fairly and we're going to apply the discipline code consistently."
"And," he added, "the students and everyone should know I have no tolerance for that kind of misconduct."

Several individuals are expected to appear before the Halifax County School Board on Monday to air comments regarding the procedures used at Halifax County High School with relation to bomb threats.
A review of the bomb threat procedure and a review of a policy prohibiting sixth-grade students from participating in interscholastic sports are the big topics slated for discussion at the meeting.
Monday night's meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room on the second floor of the Mary M. Bethune Office Complex in Halifax.
It is open to the general public.
The high school's procedure of "freezing" or locking down the building has come under fire in recent weeks in the wake of a pair of bomb threats made against the school.
A Halifax County High School student, Todd Eakes, one of the more outspoken individuals opposing the policy, has been touting mandatory evacuation in each incident.
Eakes is expected to present petitions, containing the signatures of 500 or more of his fellow students calling for mandatory evacuation, to the School Board.
Eakes is slated to address the School Board with regard to the bomb threat policy as are Mr. and Mrs. Dean Long, Mrs. Marcia Harris and Mrs. Mary C. Mitchell.
The School Board is expected to review and discuss its bomb threat policy after hearing the public comment.
Also Monday night, the School Board is expected to hear comments from a pair of parents, Donnie Wilkerson and David Lacks, pertaining to the school system's policy of banning sixth-graders from participating in interscholastic sports.
That policy is also expected to come under review by the School Board after public comment.
Noticeably absent from the agenda for Monday night's School Board meeting is discussion on the proposed $3.2 million 2000-2001 school budget.
The proposed budget, which was aired at a recent budget work session, will require $3.8 million in additional local funds over the current year's appropriation.
That budget contained a 2.4 percent salary hike for teachers.
Also Monday night, the School Board is expected to approve bids for a pair of construction projects.
One of the projects is an addition to and renovation of the county's school bus garage. The other is the construction of a new concession stand/restroom facility at Tuck Dillard Stadium.
In another matter, County School Superintendent Dennis Witt will update the School Board on the school system's capital improvements projects.

Speed, and, perhaps, driver distraction are to blame in a single-vehicle crash early yesterday morning that claimed the life of 19-year-old Paul Glen Quinn. Quinn was the driver of a 1998 Ford pickup truck that ran off of Highway 610 in the Scottsburg community and struck two trees.
Quinn, whose body was ejected from the vehicle, was said to have died upon impact. Two passengers, 28-year-old Fred Quinn, brother of the deceased, and Chris Carson, 22, were both treated and released from Halifax Regional Hospital.
State Trooper Dan Cline estimated the speed of the pickup at approximately 70 miles per hour just prior to impact. Kline said that one of the passengers told him that the driver was attempting to light a cigarette and became distracted just before the crash.
Air bags on both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle deployed. Kline said that one of the passengers was believed to have been wearing a seat belt.
Both the deceased and his brother were South Boston, Berry Hill Road residents and Carson is a Scottsburg resident. All were said to have been heading for work at the time of the crash.

A Riverdale man was the victim of a malicious wounding early Wednesday morning when he was shot in the mouth by an unidentified person.
According to Captain Larry Fears of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department, Carlos Williams was returning home from a store, at around 2:30 a.m.,when he was shot.
Williams was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital where he was treated and released, said Fears.
The incident is still under investigation by deputies Steve Moore and Keith Henderson.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Halifax County Sheriff's Department at 476-3334 or Crime Stoppers at 476-TIPS (8477).
· Gregory Wendall Ballou, 36, of River Road in South Boston, was arrested Wednesday by sheriff's deputies on assault and battery charges.
Ballou is charged with the alleged assault and battery of Claudette S. Penick and of Lynete S. Mills.
Each incident allegedly occurred on February 28.
Ballou was scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on March 8.

In other police reports:
A 16-year-old Scottsburg youth was charged with reckless driving Saturday afternoon after a crash on Old Cluster Springs Road that injured a 16-year-old passenger.
Trooper D.T. Conner said the youth was driving a 1991 Honda when the vehicle ran off the right side of Old Cluster Springs Road (Route 704), one and two-tenths of a mile south of Route 58.
The vehicle went out of control, crossed the center of the highway, ran off the left side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned, said Conner.
The trooper estimated $4,600 in damages to the vehicle from the 2:50 p.m. crash.

A 12-member jury took just an hour yesterday to find 44-year-old Donald Williams guilty of rape and five separate counts of aggravated sexual battery. His nine-year-old victim took the witness stand and struggled to describe the acts which occurred over a three-year period starting in 1995.

Williams, an auto mechanic, had lived with the victim's mother, Ann King, during the time the crimes took place. King even defended Williams, insisting that the acts may have even been committed by others.

Dr. Rebecca Coker, who examined the girl, testified in explicit terms that the young girl had been sexually violated.
The two-man, 10-woman jury recommended that Williams be given five years for rape, one year on each of the five separate counts of aggravated sexual assault and that he be fined $2,000 on each count for a total fine of $10,000.
Circuit Court Judge William Wellons ordered that Williams remain in jail to await a presentence report due in the April term of court.

The danger of forest and field fires in Halifax County is "very high," local Virginia Division of Forestry officials said yesterday.
"If we continue with this drought, it (the fire danger) could get extreme," said Chief Forest Warden Alex Williamson.
"It is dry. We have had extremely hot days and it seems like the wind gets up in the afternoons.
"With 10 mph to 15 mph winds and 25 percent or less humidity you're looking at the potential of having some bad fires," added Williamson.
While there have been a handful of fires, Halifax County, as a whole, has been fortunate, Williamson pointed out.
"People, I think, recognize the danger," Williamson said.
"They remember the 4 p.m. Burning Law and are abiding by it."
Williamson and personnel from the local Virginia Division of Forestry office have been involved with county fire departments in fighting a small handful of fires in the past week.
However, none of them has resulted in citations being issued for violating the 4 p.m. Burning Law.
The largest of the recent fires occurred Thursday, March 2, on Route 683 near the Oak Level Volunteer Fire Department on properties owned by Linda Lewis and the Wesley Chapel Church.
Williamson stated that the fire burned five acres of open land three acres of woods.
"It was a windy day and a fast moving fire," Williamson remarked.
The chief forest warden said it took forestry personnel equipped with a bulldozer and firemen from the Oak Level and Turbeville Volunteer Fire Departments approximately three hours to squelch the fire.
Two fires were reported Sunday, one near Falkland Farms and the other near Vernon Hill.
Williamson stated that the fire near Falkland Farms burned six acres of woods on land owned by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers being leased by Staunton River State Park.
Forestry personnel using a bulldozer, assisted by personnel at Falkland Farms with a second bulldozer, needed approximately three hours to bring that blaze under control.
The fire, which was spotted by the Forestry Department while on a flight across the area, originated from Falkland Farms.
Williamson explained that individuals at Falkland Farms did some burning Friday night and that the fire escaped.
The second fire reported Sunday occurred on land owned by Pete Ingram which was located on State Route 360 near Thompson's Curve.
That fire, which consumed an acre and a half of open land, resulted from debris burning that was conducted the night before.
Firemen from the Oak Level Volunteer Fire Department needed approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.
A field fire last Saturday burned four acres of open land on Route 737 that is part of the estate of the late William M. "Bill" Tuck.
Williamson stated that fire fighters from the Midway Volunteer Fire Department and the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department extinguished that blaze.
"There was a stream nearby that proved helpful in stopping the fire," Williamson noted.
That fire resulted from debris burning the night before.
Saturday's other fire occurred on Slick Rock Road near the Nathalie Post Office on land owned by Randy Humphries.
"He was burning legally after 4 p.m. and the fire escaped," Williamson said.
The 4:15 p.m. fire burned two tenths of an acre of woods and a tenth of an acre of open land.
Firemen from the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call.

Defenders of the Staunton River turned out en masse for a public hearing conducted by the State Water Control Board (SWCB) Tuesday night.
The majority of those speaking favored maintaining adequate recreational flow minimums in the Staunton River as proposed in the Virginia Water Protection Permit for LG & E Westmoreland in Altavista.
Prior to the hearing, local Staunton River activists waged a publicity campaign gathering support from fishermen, scenic river supporters and advocates of sound environmental policy who attended the SWCB public hearing on Tuesday at William Campbell High School.
Last night, many local river supporters centered their comments on whether adequate recreational flow minimums are set in the proposed permit.
The purpose of the hearing was to receive comments on the proposed issuance of a Virginia Water Protection Permit to LG & E Westmoreland in Altavista for the operation of a water supply intake on the Staunton River in Altavista.
The hearing was conducted after the SWCB staff proposed reissuing the Virginia Water Protection Permit with certain conditions determining water withdrawal limits, minimum instream flowby limits, monitoring requirements and reporting requirements.
Gary Dean of LG & E Westmoreland in Altavista was the first to speak favoring the company's proposal to operate a water supply intake on the Staunton River withdrawing a maximum of 2.86 million gallons per day.
"All the scientific information shows our withdrawal will not hurt aquatic life in the river," Dean said noting the company's permit proposal would lower the water level in the Staunton River "by only one-eighth of an inch."
Following Dean's presentation, Shelton Miles of the Citizens for the Preservation of the River, voiced concerns that the precedent established in the pending permit and the principles involved will have long term significance not just for the Staunton, but for every river in Virginia.
Miles, a co-founder for the Citizens for the Preservation of the River, a conservation group concerned with the well-being of the Staunton River, said, "The issue has never been how much water LG&E Westmoreland - Altavista withdraws from the river. The issue is how much water they must leave in the river.
"There is simply no reason why LG&E should be granted exceptional relief from state legislation that mandates the establishment and protection of a minimum flow for recreation and a healthy fishery, which were pre-existing uses when LG&E sought to withdraw water."
During the hearing Tuesday night, other citizens commented on the proposed permit and the effect of the project on water quality and the use of state waters.
NASCAR Winston Cup race car driver Ward Burton told those in attendance that "the issue before us tonight could set a precedent which will allow more rationing down of the river flow which will be dangerous to our wildlife."
Burton, creator of a tax-deductible wildlife habitat foundation with three farms in Halifax County bordering the Staunton River, continued saying, "We are requesting that the Virginia Water Protection Permit Code that was set in February 1990 be upheld.
"Anything below that level would cause our fishery as well as all other wildlife to suffer. Other Virginia Water Protection permit holders along the Staunton River have accepted these permits with flow-by limits as recommended by the staff building water stores to enable them to operate. This permittee must do the same," Burton said referring the LG & E.
Del. W. W. "Ted" Bennett traveled from Richmond to the hearing and told the SWCB that if an exception is made for LG&E, "it would have to be done for all ... to the detriment of the river.
"I urge the State Water Control Board to stay the course...and to protect the waters of the Staunton River for the present and future enjoyment of all Virginians," Del. Bennett said receiving a standing ovation for his comments.
J. T. Davis Jr. of Friends of the Staunton River said a 720 cubic feet per second flow-by in Altavista "is essential for a healthy environment where fish can thrive and not just survive."
Cole Poindexter, Chairman of Staunton River Watch, told the SWCB, "You have a reasonable permit in front of you, please stick to it to the very letter."
J. D. Puckett, Brookneal District representative on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, said, "If we allow one particular industry a special treatment, then we are not being fair to other industries. Our citizens have withstood enough...and it is time that we stand firm and say no more water."
In addition to those who spoke out during the hearing, others attending the meeting were offered an opportunity to rise in support for adequate flow minimums.
The majority of those attending the hearing stood to show their support of the Department of Environmental Quality which has been receptive to the local river activists' proposal and concerns, according to Miles.
No action was taken following the Tuesday night public hearing.
The State Water Control Board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on March 29.

Halifax County High School senior guard Fred Price has been named to the All Northwest Region Basketball Team.
Price, the Player of the Year in the Western District, was one of only two players from the Western District to earn enough votes to finish in the top five of the post-season balloting.
GW senior Brian Gunn was the other player from the Western District to earn top five status in the regional voting.

Chris Carter, the head coach of the GW team, was named Coach of the Year in the Northwest Region.
The Northwest Region does not designate a First Team and Second Team. However, the five players that earn the most votes in the regional voting will have their names placed into consideration for Group AAA all-state honors.
Players who earn Player of the Year honors in their respective districts are assured a spot in the top five in the Northwest Region balloting.
With four districts in the Northwest Region, Gunn essentially was a "wild card" selection.
Cave Spring sophomore standout J.J. Redick and senior forward Jernavis Draughn of Potomac were named Co-Players of the Year in the Northwest Region.
The fifth player among the top five players to receive votes for the All Northwest Region Team was guard Hugh Parker of Stafford.
Marcus Wilson, Albemarle's standout guard, also made the All Northwest Region Team. He was ninth in the balloting.

THE TOP FIVE
Jernavis Draughn - Potomac
J.J. Redick - Cave Spring
Hugh Parker - Stafford
Fred Price - Halifax County
Brian Gunn - GW
THE REST OF THE TOP 10
Aaron Andrews - Gar-Field
Vince Love - Brooke Point
Maurice Watkins - Woodbridge
Marcus Wilson - Albemarle
Jermaine Hardy - Wm. Fleming
COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Carter - GW

Walter Amos Pulliam, age 68, of 7186 Red Bank Road, Virgilina, died March 7, 2000.
Mr. Pulliam was born in Halifax County on January 9, 1932, the son of Walter Lee Pulliam and Alpha Pulliam and was married to Elizabeth Pulliam. He was a member of Aarons Creek Baptist Church and retired from J.P. Stevens.
A funeral service will be held at Aarons Creek Baptist Church March 10 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Richard Cooke officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Pulliam include his wife; three sons, Amos Pulliam and Donald Pulliam, both of Virgilina and Henry Pulliam of Ringgold; one daughter, Carolyn P. Dickerson of N.C.; two brothers, William Pulliam and Mason Pulliam, both of Virgilina; five sisters, Georgia P. Anderson of Halifax, Frances P. Gittman of South Hill, Ida P. Smith, Ruby P. Wade and Betty P. Smith, all of Virgilina; and six grandchildren.

Bobby Gene Stevens, age 47, of 3041 Oak Level Road, Halifax, died March 8, 2000, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Stevens was born in Chicago, Ill. on October 27, 1952, the son of James H. Stevens and Dora Millner Stevens Bentley.
Survivors include one daughter, Theresa Cook and husband, John of Halifax; two grandson, Jeremy and Zachary Cook of Halifax; his mother and stepfather, Carroll L. Bentley of Nathalie; and one brother, David Bentley of South Boston. He was preceded in death by one son, Jody James Stevens and one brother, James E. Stevens.
Graveside services for Mr. Stevens will be held March 11 at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Leslie Rowsey conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Friday from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.

John Thomas Acco, age 59, of Alexandria, formerly of Halifax County, died March 7, 2000, at Inova Hospital in Alexandria.
Mr. Acco was born in New York, N.Y. on September 29, 1940 the son of Louise Scott Farrar and David Acco. He was a member of Zion Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Alice Mosley of Clover and Dorothy Thompson of New York; and one brother, Winston Sydnor of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Mr. Acco will be held March 12 at 1 p.m. at Zion Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Jefferson Goode officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Alice Mosley, 1092 Guill Town Road, Clover.

Kevin Dale Bailey, age 35, of 1023 Carr Lane, Halifax, died March 7, 2000, at North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie, Md.
Mr. Bailey was born in Halifax County on June 25, 1964, the son of John Leigh and Carolyn Bailey Hilliard. He was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his father of Crystal Hill; two brothers, Andre' Leigh of Charlotte, N.C. and Terrence Hilliard of Halifax; his paternal grandmother, Bertha Leigh of Crystal Hill; his stepfather, Nathaniel Hilliard of Daleville, Ala.; and one sister-in-law, Ivy Leigh.
Funeral services for Mr. Bailey will be held March 11 at noon at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

John Ellis Snead Jr., age 73, of 1214 Ash Avenue, South Boston, died March 8, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Snead was born in Halifax County on October 9, 1926, the son of John Ellis Snead Sr. and Esther Snead and was married to Virginia Snead. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, American Legion Post 8, was retired from Burlington Industries and was a Army veteran.
Graveside services will be held today, March 10 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Snead include his wife; two sons, Wayne Snead and his wife, Bonnie of Scottsburg and Stuart Snead of Halifax; two sisters, Esther S. Wilmouth of South Boston and Faye S. Newton of Halifax; three granddaughters, Beverly Seamster and her husband, Bobby, April Snead and Stephanie Snead; one grandson, Travis Snead; and one great grandchild, Zackery Wayne Seamster.

Shanks M. Wilborn Sr., age 83, of 1720 Irish Street, South Boston, died March 8, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Wilborn was born in South Boston on August 6, 1916, the son of James B. Wilborn Sr. and Zulene Shanks Wilborn and was married first to Emma Keene and then to Rebecca Williams Wilborn. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of South Boston, a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he was a member of Cappa Sigma Fraternity and the track team. He was an Army veteran of WWII, a flight instructor at Luke Field in Arizona and West Point in New York. He also served on the South Boston Town Council.
Survivors include one daughter, Becky Wilborn of New York; one son, Mitch Wilborn of Hong Kong, China; two sisters, Lillian W. Bagwell of Halifax and Frances W. Bennett of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilborn will be held March 13 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of South Boston with the Rev. Dr. Russell Lee conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home March 12 from 7:00 until 8:30.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or Halifax County Rescue Squad.