Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Buchanan Indicted On Sex Charges
Faces 21 Counts Of Production Of Child Pornography, Taking Indecent Liberties With A Minor

A 22-year-old Halifax man has been indicted by the Halifax County Grand Jury on 21 sex crime charges, according to police reports.

Steven Bruce Buchanan, of Oak Level Road in Halifax, was arrested and indicted Monday afternoon on 20 counts of the production of child pornography and one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor, Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White said.

He is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail without bond.
"These charges are the result of a long-term investigation that led to the grand jury indictment," she said.

The charges against Buchanan allege that between January 1, 2001 and Monday, the suspect took pornographic photos of two females in the county, the commonwealth's attorney said.

"While I won't comment on the details of the investigation, the charges involve two county girls ages 16 and younger," she said.

Although the current charges involve two victims, White said the investigation is continuing.

"We are currently continuing to look into the matter to see if more girls were victimized," she said.

White said investigators had not yet determined if the photos allegedly taken by Buchanan were posted on the Internet.

"They don't have to be sent out for the activity to be a crime," she said. "The taking of the photographs and storing them are felonies and the possession of them is a crime."

While the possession of the photographs is currently a misdemeanor, legislation passed in the General Assembly last year makes the possession of child pornography a felony.

The law took effect July 1, 2003, after Buchanan's crimes were allegedly committed.

The commonwealth's attorney said that several law enforcement entities were involved in the investigation.

"Through the efforts of the sheriff's department, computer experts in other jurisdictions and the Virginia Attorney General's Office, we have been able to place these charges against an individual we allege has been preying on young females in the county for several years," she said.

Investigator A.D. Tribble was the investigating officer.

Sunday’s Winds Leave Trail Of Destruction
The High Winds Downed Over 140 Trees; 5,400 Were Left Without Power

Strong winds ripped through Halifax County Sunday night - closing roads and schools, sparking numerous fires, injuring motorists and leaving 5,400 residents without power, according to officials.

VDOT Assistant Resident Engineer Zack Weddle said yesterday that high winds downed over 140 trees closing around 70 roads in the county Sunday night and Monday morning.

"We had crews working all night Sunday," he said. "And, the last tree blocking a road was taken care of at 10:30 Tuesday morning."

Although all roads are now open, Weddle added that VDOT would be dealing with cleanup for the rest of the week.

"It is a good thing the winds didn't last any longer than they did," he said.
VDOT had to wait for Virginia Dominion Power to clear downed power lines from several of the blocked roads before they could be re-opened, according to Weddle.

Additional crews had been deployed to Halifax County to help restore power to the 5,400 customers whose service was interrupted as a result of Sunday's high winds, according to company spokesman Irene Cimino.

At press time, most of the power outages caused by the storm had been restored, according to Dan Genest, company spokesman.

The Halifax Christian School in Centerville remained closed yesterday as a result of the power outages.

Downed power lines also sparked several field fires throughout the county, according to a spokesman for the South Boston Fire Department.

In the town, one truck and 11 firefighters were dispatched to a field fire caused by downed lines in the Church of God area in Centerville Sunday night, according to the spokesman

He estimated the fire scorched about a third of an acre of land.
A second truck dispatched to the scene was stopped by fallen trees blocking the road, he added.

The South Boston Fire Department responded to a second fire at Fordland Estates with two trucks and 17 firefighters.

The spokesman said someone was burning leaves when the strong wind picked up some sparks and blew them to another area, catching around 30 square feet of grass on fire.

Several motorists were injured Sunday night by falling trees, according to the Virginia State Police.

First Sgt. J.N. Lane said Sandra Burton Comer, 57, of South Boston, and two passengers, Elna Burton, 77, and Sallie Lewis, 78, were injured when their 1993 Ford Taurus was hit by a falling tree.

Comer was transported to Duke University Hospital, according to Lane.
He said Comer was slowing for debris in the roadway when the falling tree struck their vehicle.

Lane estimated that Ford sustained $3,500 in damages in the accident which occurred on Route 614 half a mile north of Route 651 at 7:10 Sunday night.
Another motorist, Harvey Perkins, 36, of Scottsburg, was seriously injured and transported to Duke University Hospital after his 1993 Ford Mustang hit a falling tree, according to Trooper K.C. Phillips.

He said Perkins suffered serious head injuries as a result of the accident on State Route 360 near Route 614.

"He had come over the hill and a tree fell across the road right in front of him," said Phillips. "He struck it even with his windshield and the top of his car."
Phillips said the Ford was totaled, estimating that it sustained between $10,000 and $11,000 in damages.

"We had to extract the top of it to get him out," said Phillips.

The trooper said Perkins was listed in stable condition yesterday.

Two juvenile passengers in the back of the car were not injured, according to Phillips.

Trooper J. V. Bavely reported another injury in a weather related accident in Charlotte County Sunday night.

Bavely said a passenger, Grace D. Randolph, 50, in 1992 Cadillac operated by Walter L. Randolp, 60 of Phenix was injured when the vehicle ran into tree that had been blown over by the wind.

National Weather Service Hydrologist Mike Gillen said Monday that although no tornadic activity was recorded, wind gusts averaged speeds between 50 and 70 miles per hour between 7 and 8 p.m. Sunday night.

"We know the winds were quite strong and did a lot of damage," said Gillen. "The winds got way above what we had expected.

"The front took its time coming across the mountains and built up enough energy to really accelerate once it got over the Blue Ridge area," he added.WIND DAMAGE - Strong winds reaching gust speeds of 50 to 70 miles per hour ripped through Halifax County Sunday night knocking down trees and power lines, pulling roofs and shingles off of buildings and uprooting carports throughout the county. Several motorists were injured by falling trees, and local fire departments were busy responding to fires started by fallen power lines.

Vandals Continuing To Plague Area Businesses
Cars ‘Keyed’ At Downtown Business On Wilborn Ave.

Investigator T.M. VanAernem of the South Boston Police Department said yesterday that a Wilborn Avenue business has fallen victim to vandals for the second time in a week.

Officer P.M. Williams responded to a 10:55 a.m. call at E.J. Wyatt Chevrolet Saturday reporting the vandalism of several vehicles, according to VanAernem.

"Further investigation revealed that 18 vehicles had been vandalized throughout the night," he said.

The vehicles had been "keyed," damaging the paint, according to police.
The vandals caused an estimated $9,000 in damages, according to police reports.

Earlier in the week, Sergeant D.L. Blanks responded to a call reporting the vandalism of eight cars at E.J. Wyatt Chevrolet, according to Lt. B.K. Lovelace.

The damage occurred between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.

Lovelace reported that cars on the lot in the earlier incident were also "keyed".
The damage from the first vandalism is estimated at $2,400, according to Blanks' report.

Anyone with information about these or any other crimes is asked to contact the South Boston Police Department at 476-4900 or 575-7273, or Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.

In other police business, Courtney Harris, 20, of Piney Creek Road in Scottsburg, was arrested Monday and charged with assault and battery.
The alleged offense occurred Saturday.

Deputy D.H. Barksdale was the arresting deputy.
Jessie Daniel, 26, of Piney Creek Road in Scottsburg, was arrested Tuesday and charged with the assault and battery of a family member and assault and battery.

The alleged offense occurred Saturday.

Deputy T.R. Spencer was the arresting deputy.

Jamie Loving Floyd, 23, of Alex Lane in Nathalie, was arrested Tuesday and charged with grand larceny.

The alleged offense occurred December 29, 2003.
Deputy S.A. Jennings was the arresting deputy.

Comets Girls Eye Lofty Goals
The HCHS Varsity Girls Softball Team Is Loaded With Experience, Talent

By DOUG FORD | G-V Staff Writer

Sights are set high for this year's Halifax County High School varsity girls softball team, after a late-season surge last year that saw the Comets advance to the second round of the Northwest Region Tournament.

Part of the optimism is due to a strong returning group of players, 12 of them in all, in addition to three newcomers who played for an undefeated jayvee softball squad last year.

Halifax is fundamentally sound, with strong pitching and defense, according to head coach Melanie Saunders.

"The team is fundamentally sound, with a lot of leadership from the returning players, not just the seniors, but all of them," said Saunders.

"That's the good thing about returning players, they know how we work and how things go at practice, the routine things.

"I think that helps with the new ones coming in."

Seniors Lindsay Hastings and Erica Elliott, both infielders, have been named as co-captains for this year's team.

Jamie Anderson, Emily Pool and Kim Ford are the other returning seniors.
Anderson will anchor the catcher's position, Pool, a right-hander, will take the hill this season as one of the Comets' pitchers, while Ford will roam the outfield.

The team includes eight juniors, five of whom saw playing time as sophomores on last year's team.

Cari Clark, Lori Reeves and Tracy Nelson are listed on the roster as outfielders, while Amanda Rogers and Mallory Lawter will see time in the infield.

Juniors Jessica Lewis, Laura Roller and Cally Zanarini will see varsity action for the first time this season after playing on the Comets jayvee team for the past two years.

Lewis will man one of the infield positions, while Roller and Zanarini are listed in the outfield.

Sophomores Beth Throckmorton and Jasmine Parker, both of whom saw varsity action last season as freshmen, return to the team this year.

Throckmorton, a right-hander, is set to share pitching duties with Pool, while Parker, the team's only left-hand batter, will play in the outfield.

Last year's team, a relatively young squad with five sophomores and two freshman, started slowly, before making its run toward the end of the season.
The Comets advanced to the second round of the Northwest Region Tournament, after an 11-inning 2-1 thriller over host Culpeper.

Those players are a year older, and more experienced, coming into this season.

"The whole thing about bringing those kids up last year was to give them some experience for the years to come, and this is the first time we can see the results," said Saunders.

An early season tournament in Richmond, as well as a tough non-district schedule last season, was also meant to prepare the Comets for the district games, according to Saunders.

"We have the same schedule this year, we're going back to the tournament in Richmond," said Saunders.

"I'm hoping for a better showing, but the competition is tough again."
The Comets went 1-3 last year in the Richmond tournament, losing one contest by a single run.

The Comets have added Amherst County and Martinsville to the schedule, and again play Person High School.

"Amherst, Martinsville and Person are tough non-district opponents," said Saunders, who has scheduled two preseason scrimmages, against Heritage and Dan River, respectively.

"We try to explain to them the preseason scrimmages (against Heritage and Dan River) are used to get our fundamentals down in order to learn what we need to do.

"That's what we try to drill into them."

Another reason for optimism this year has been the attendance at the Comets preseason conditioning program, along with a weight training program added for the first time over the offseason.

"This year, we've had a lot more commitment to it than before," noted Saunders.

"The girls have been conditioning over the winter and have worked hard.

"They've been hitting the weight room also, and they're showing a commitment to the program we've never had before.

"We haven't done that (weight training) until this year, and we're hoping it will pay off this season."

A strong point of this year's team, as it was last season, is its versatility, according to Saunders.

"Versatility is a strength," said Saunders.

"We have kids in the outfield who can play infield, and infielders who can catch or pitch.

"We have that capability depending on game situations, and it's a very strong positive, like last year."

That strength has made selecting a starting lineup a difficult task, she added.
"We're still looking at a starting lineup, and if you asked me right now what my starting lineup will be, I couldn't tell you," said Saunders.

"It's going to come down to scrimmages and we'll just have to see what works."

Competition in the Western Valley District has stiffened in recent years, and this year will be no exception, according to Saunders.

Halifax and GW tied for first in the regular season last year, with GW edging the Comets in a play-off for the top seed in the district tournament.

After defeating Franklin County in the district semifinals, the Comets were again defeated by GW for the Western Valley District title, before hitting the road for the regional win.

GW, as well as Franklin County, are again expected to be strong this year, and Patrick Henry and E.C. Glass aren't far behind, according to Saunders.

"The district is so tight now, all the teams are side-by-side, and it's going to come down to who wants it the most," noted Saunders.

Patrick Henry and Glass have improved, and even though GW lost some good players, they had a good jayvee pitcher, and they'll be strong.

"Franklin County has their pitcher back, and they'll be strong."

She added pitching has been and will be a key.

"Pitching is key, the last couple of years, the district has been so tight, no team has been far out front of the others.

"It's the same way this year. It may come down to who warms up the bats first and is most consistent with their hitting.

"Each team is solid defensively."
Saunders cited last year's team as an example.

"We looked back last year, and saw that we got hits, but didn't string them together," she said.

"As the season went along and into the regionals, we finally started getting hits together and manufacturing some runs."

"It comes down to who swings the bats at the right time."

Obituaries

Frances Elizabeth Gordon Austin

Frances Elizabeth Gordon Austin, 79, died in Lynchburg March 7.

She was the wife of Willard Lee Austin, and the widow of James Haygood Stevens. Born November 1, 1924, in Halifax County, she was a daughter of the late Allie James and Mary Jane Yancey Gordon.

Mrs. Austin was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Donia Stevens Eley and husband, Randolph; a son, James Haygood Stevens Jr. and wife, Lavelva; stepchildren, Ronnie R. Austin and wife, Ginger, Bonnie A. Lewis; a sister, Mary Ann Royster; two brothers, James Gordon and Allie Franklin Gordon; grandsons, Hunter Randolph Eley, Brook Davis Eley; step-grandchildren, Jeremy Austin, Scott Lewis; and a special friend, Jenny Sunderman. Mrs. Austin was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Gordon.

A funeral service will be held today, March 10 at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church by the Rev. John Thompson. Burial will be in Black Walnut Baptist Church Cemetery in Cluster Springs, at 2:30 p.m. by the Revs. Thompson and H.V. Conner.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Calvary Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church in Halifax, or Black Walnut Baptist Church.

Willie Murphy Coleman

Willie Murphy Coleman, 90, of 1020 Talley Loop Trail, Halifax died March 8 at Riverside Nursing Home in Danville.

Mr. Coleman was born in New York on July 28, 1913, the son of the late Raleigh Carrington and Alice Morton Carrington. He was a member of Spanish Grove Baptist Church of Scottsburg where he served as a deacon.

Survivors include two sons, John M. Coleman Sr. of Crystal Hill and Thomas H . Morton of Stuarts Draft; three brothers, Aaron Coleman of New York, James Coleman and Major Coleman, both of Scottsburg; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two daughters-in-law, Dorothy D. Coleman of Crystal Hill and Willie M. Morton of Stuarts Draft.

A funeral service for Mr. Coleman will be held tomorrow, March 11 at 1 p.m. at Spanish Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Coleman Sr., 6137 Howard P. Anderson Road, Crystal Hill.

Shymerra Arlene Ford

Infant Shymerra Arlene Ford, age 5 months, died March 5 at VCU-MCV Health System in Richmond.

She was born in South Boston on September 29, 2003, the daughter of Shamekia Nicole Wyatt and Michael Glen Ford Jr.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Betty Wyatt and James Owen, both of South Boston; her paternal grandparents, Cloyd Lee and Arlene Lee of Vernon, Conn.; her great-grandmothers, Pauline Palmer, Ella Mae Wyatt and Eliza Owen, all of South Boston; her great-great-grandmother, Nannie Wyatt of South Boston; and her step-grandfather, Timothy Hughes of South Boston.

Funeral services for Infant Ford will be held today, March 10 at 1 p.m. at New Mt. Olive Apostolic Holiness Church with Minister David Hamlett officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Stacey Smedley Majors

Stacey Smedley Majors, 60, of 119 Jackson Street, Halifax died March 7 at her home.

Mrs. Majors was born in Kimball, W.Va. on April 29, 1943, the daughter of the late Booker T. Smedley and Ruth Shelton Smedley and was married to the late Artie Benjamin Majors. She was a member of St. Paul CME Church.
Survivors include two sons, Timothy Smedley of Port Jervis, N.Y. and Warren Harris Sr. of Bloomingburg, N.Y.; one sister, Alice Clark of Charlotte, N.C.; five grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Bessie Smedley. Mrs. Majors was preceded in death by one brother, Ronald Smedley.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow, March 11 at 11 a.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax. The remains will lie-in-state at the Crawford House today, March 10, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The family is receiving friends at the home.

Ernest Green Wilmouth Jr.

Ernest 'Junie' Green Wilmouth Jr., 77, of 3000 McDonald Road, Scottsburg died March 9 at his home.

Mr. Wilmouth was born in Halifax County on July 19, 1926, the son of Ernest Green Wilmouth Sr. and Mertie Throckmorton Wilmouth and was married to Ida Moorefield Wilmouth. He was a member of Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; three sisters, Eleanor Rickman of Colo., Edith Crenshaw of Silver Spring, Md. and Shirley Snead of South Boston. He was preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Wilmouth; and one brother, Henry Wilmouth.

Funeral services for Mr. Wilmouth will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 11 at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating.

Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery at Scottsburg.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening, March 10, from 7:00 until 8:30.