South Boston's municipal election slated Tuesday, May 5, received U.S. Justice Department approval this week.
The town sought approval following its December 31 boundary adjustment with the county.
"We were optimistic that pre-clearance would occur in time to hold the election as previously scheduled and still provide an opportunity for the town's new citizens to participate," said town manager Ken McLawhon yesterday. "This obviously will occur," he added.
"The Attorney General does not interpose any objection to the specified change," wrote Elizabeth Johnson, chief, Voting Section, U.S. Department of Justice, in a March 10 letter to attorney Carter Glass IV, the town's attorney in the annexation matter.
"However, we note that Section 5 expressly provides that the failure of the Attorney General to object does not bar subsequent litigation to enjoin the enforcement of the change," added Johnson.
Five candidates filed for three South Boston Town Council seats open in the May election. Seeking re-election are Josephine Marshall and William C. "Buddy" Wilborn. Councilman H.W. Starke is not seeking re-election.
Also seeking seats on town council race are candidates Tom Raab, Ed Owens and Eula P. Payne-Williams. Raab and Owens are area businessmen and Payne-Williams is a minister.
In the May 5 election South Boston residents will cast their ballots at the Virginia National Guard Armory on Hamilton Blvd.
A Halifax judge told three teenagers charged in a sexual incident at the high school last year he will withhold judgment until they complete specified programs.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Frank M. Slayton took the cases under advisement Wednesday during a sentencing hearing.
The incident occurred June 3 at the high school and one female and two males were charged with having sex after being discovered by a teacher.
The two males, 16 years old at the time, admitted that they engaged in sexual acts with the girl and described her as a willing participant during testimony at the January hearing.
The female, in the ninth grade at the time of the incident, was charged with two counts of sodomy and one count of fornication in the case. She entered a plea of not guilty at the January hearing and maintains she was raped.
One male was charged with one count of sodomy and one count of fornication. The second male was charged with sodomy. Both males entered pleas of no contest at the January hearing.
Juvenile probation officer Donnie Barker testified Wednesday that the female "maintains she was forced" to have sex. Barker also told the court the girl had no prior record, has earned her high school diploma and is in counseling.
Barker recommended unsupervised probation for 12 months and continued counseling with quarterly reports to the court.
Judge Slayton ordered the teenager to continue counseling - with reports to the court - and to report back to the court one year from Wednesday's court date. The judge said he would review and decide at that time. Among the judge's options, follow the commonwealth's recommendations or dismiss.
Two male codefendants, one charged with fornication and sodomy in the incident and the second charged with sodomy, were ordered to successfully complete current programs. The young man with two charges lodged against him was placed on unsupervised probation.
One of the young men is currently in the Job Corps and the second is in alternative education. Their cases will remain under advisement until the successful completion of the programs.
The commonwealth sought findings of guilt, 100 hours community service and the completion of a five-page paper on sexually communicable diseases for the defendants
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Petra Blanchard noted the extensive investigation involved in the case and said she thought the defendants needed "to give back to the community" through community service.
"The whole purpose of what we are trying to do is teach these young people this conduct is not appropriate ....," said Judge Slayton, particularly "not at school."
The county's second highway fatality of the year occurred Wednesday night on U.S. 360, sixth-tenths of a mile west of Rt. 344, according to the Virginia State Police.
Thomas Anderson Powell, 32, of Naruna was killed after he lost control of his pickup truck, ran off the road, and struck a tree, according to the investigation.
Powell was headed northbound at 10:45 p.m. when his 1992 Toyota truck ran off the right side of the road. He overcorrected, lost control, ran across the highway and struck a tree in the median strip, police said.
Damages to truck were listed at $7,600.
The incident is still under investigation by Virginia State trooper D.J. Cline.
Charges are pending in another wreck which occurred early Thursday morning on Rt. 744, 300 feet south of Rt. 58.
Terry Chism of South Boston was driving a 1995 Nissan when he ran off the left side of the road and struck a utility pole at 2 a.m., according to the investigation.
He was not injured and initially fled the scene, police said.
Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $6,000 and damages to the utility pole were estimated at $700, according to the investigation.
The incident is still under investigation by Trooper Cline.
Police matters dominated the Halifax Town Council meeting this week with a finance committee recommendation and motion to buy a new police vehicle tabled.
In other police business, town manager Robert Greene was asked to seek information for a comparative analysis/cost of services study in places where towns have contracted with counties for police protection. The information is to be presented at council's March meeting.
The finance committee's recommendation to buy a new police vehicle initially ran into opposition from councilmen Cabell Daniel and S.J. "Jack" Dunavant.
Daniel put police matters before council quickly Tuesday night when he asked about the cost of town police operations in the budget. He followed by asking how much it would cost to contract with the Sheriff's Department for protection.
Dunavant asked Greene to seek information on police consolidation costs where it has been tried.
Noting a scheduled Monday, March 16, meeting with the county, Dunavant said "consolidation of services will be a main topic and I think we should avail ourselves of all the information we can." The councilman noted West Point as one example of town/sheriff's department police protection consolidation.
However, council did not name any subjects to be entered on the March 16 meeting called by the county. All five towns are invited but only Clover had officially responded to the county's invitation as of yesterday. South Boston Town Council met last night and was expected to discuss the county's invitation.
Discussing the Town of Halifax's police vehicles, finance committee member John Murphy recommended the purchase of a vehicle. Prices were in the $22,000 range with the finance committee recommending purchase of a 4-wheel Jeep
"I think the timing is wrong with things before us like annexation. It is wrong to spend that kind of money for a new vehicle," said Daniel.
Halifax Police Chief Shawn Sweeney told council the department needed a new vehicle. He noted repair costs on several of the department's vehicles, which include a '90, '93 and one earlier vehicle, and expressed concern about safe operations.
Dunavant agreed with Daniel that "the timing is wrong" to buy a vehicle, noting the towns' scheduled meeting with the county.
The finance committee motion was tabled until Council's regular meeting in March.
Murray D. Sanford, 28, of South Boston was convicted Wednesday of the November 4, 1997 armed robbery of the Jiffy Store on Wilborn Avenue.
Sanford was also convicted of use of a firearm while in the commission of robbery. A third charge of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony was dismissed.
He was found guilty by Halifax County Circuit Court Judge William L. Wellons.
Sanford walked into the Jiffy Store at 10:46 p.m. and robbed a store clerk of $62, according to the investigation. No injuries occurred.
He then drove to the City of Danville where he allegedly robbed a clerk of the Stratford Inn on Riverside Drive of $175. Officers of the Danville Police Department arrested Sanford shortly after the 2:09 a.m. armed robbery, police said.
Judge Wellons ordered a presentence report for Murray who will be sentenced during the May term of court. He was remanded to the Halifax County Jail after his trial.
In other cases heard Wednesday:
· Greg Phillips, 21, of Halifax pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of an imitation substance and two counts of distribution of marijuana.
The imitation conviction stemmed from Tri-County Drug Task Force agents setting up a "buy" from Phillips which was supposed to have been LSD, police said. The incidents occurred in August, 1997.
A presentence report was ordered for the May term of court when Phillips will be sentenced. He was allowed to remain free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.
· Eddie Clark, 34, of Nathalie was convicted of grand larceny of an ATM card owned by Curtis Younger. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
The theft occurred sometime between September 1 and September 25, 1997, according to the investigation.
A presentence report was ordered for the May term of court when he will be sentenced. Clark was allowed to remain free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.
· Ulysses Grant Scott, 62, of South Boston pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of crack cocaine.
Scott sold .25-gram to an undercover operative on April 22, 1997 and was arrested during the initial "Operation Fall Harvest" sweep which took place on September 25, 1997.
He was found guilty and a presentence report was ordered for the May term of court when he will be sentenced. Scott was allowed to remain free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.
Two confrontations last November between a landowner and deer hunters near Paces resulted in trespassing convictions Wednesday afternoon in the Halifax County General District Court.
Numerous counts of brandishing firearms against the five deer hunters were dismissed, while some were "nol prossed" or chosen not to be prosecuted.
The cases were heard by Halifax County General District Judge Robert B. Spencer Jr.
The confrontations occurred on November 8 and November 22, with the actual arrests occurring after the second incident, according to testimony.
The subjects were hunting from a boat which was floating along the Dan River adjacent to property owned by James Edmunds II. In the second case, Edmunds and Jimmy D. Clay attempted to identify them, which triggered an argument at the Rt. 658 bridge .
They brought the boat to shore and ran up the hillside to confront Edmunds and Clay. At that point, Virginia State Trooper D.T. Conner happened upon the scene, diffusing the situation, according to the investigation.
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Game Warden Andy Danison was called to the scene and charges were later filed against the hunters.
Among those convicted:
· James E. Smith Jr., 31, of Nelson was convicted of two counts of trespassing and possession of a detached deer tag. Two counts of brandishing a firearm were not prosecuted.
On the November 8 trespassing count, Smith was fined $150 and court costs. He was fined $500 for the November 22 incident, with $250 of the fine suspended and an additional fine of $50 for the detached deer tag conviction.
· Ricky Shelton Morris, 37, of Red Bank was convicted of two counts of trespassing. He was fined $150 and court costs for the November 8 conviction and $500, with $250 suspended, for the November 22 incident.
· George Thomas Overby, 32, of Clarksville was convicted of trespassing on November 22; possession of a deer carcass; and possession of a detached turkey tag.
He was fined $500 and court costs, with $250 suspended for the trespassing conviction; $100 for possessing the deer carcass; and $50 for possessing the detached turkey tag.
· Michael Thomas Overby, 30, of Nelson was convicted of trespassing on November 8. He was fine $250 and court costs.
Two charges of brandishing a firearm were dismissed.
· David James Wilson, 31,of Virgilina was convicted of trespassing on November 22. He was fined $150 and court costs.
Two counts of brandishing a firearm were dismissed.
Harvey Nathaniel Stone of 4428 Bowden Avenue, Virginia Beach died Wednesday, March 11, 1998 at Bayside Hospital in Virginia Beach. He was 73 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Stone was born August 29, 1924 in Person County, NC the son of Thornton Stone and Ophelia Young Stone and was married to Ada Wilson Stone. He was a retired Navy Chief.
A funeral service will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m. with burial to take place in Virgilina Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Stone include his wife; one son, Ronald B. Stone of Chesapeake and one granddaughter, Rachel Stone.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening,
March 13, from 7 until 8:30.
Joseph Allen Jones of 2105 Mt. Carmel Road, Alton died Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 52.
Mr. Jones was born on January 30, 1946 the son of Willie Mae Jones and was married to Frances Watkins Jones. He was a member of McLaughlin Memorial Holiness Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Clara Jean Massaquoi of VA Beach and Wendy Davis of Washington, DC; two sons, Joseph Jones Jr. of Yanceyville, NC and James Jones of Roxboro, NC; six grandchildren; his mother of Alton; three brothers, Albert Jones of Danville, Bert Jones of Orange, NJ and Johnny Jones of Alton; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Jones will be held Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at McLaughlin Memorial Holiness Church with Rev. Leonard Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home Friday from 7 until 8 p.m. and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jones, 269 Withers Road, Danville.
Thomas Anderson 'Andy' Powell of 5121 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg died Wednesday, March 11, 1998. He was 32 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Powell was born in Halifax County on August 19, 1965 the son of Thomas Henry Powell and Minnie Hazelwood Powell.
Survivors include his mother of Scottsburg; four brothers, Gerald Wayne Powell and Wesley N. Powell, both of Halifax, Michael C. Powell of Clover and William T. Powell of Chester; four sisters, Elaine P. Throckmorton and Edith P. Cole, both of South Boston, Carolyn P. Martin of Scottsburg and Cynthia P. Keeton of Oxford, NC; and his step-grandmother, Janie L. Hazelwood of South Boston. He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral services for Mr. Powell will be held Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. at Church of God of Prophecy with Revs. Courtney Coffer and Garnet Byrd conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, March 13 from 7 until 9:00, and other times at the home of his mother, 5121 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg.
Priscella H. Carrington of 284 Witcher Road, Ringgold died Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at Danville Regional Medical Center at the age of 79.
Mrs. Carrington was born in Halifax County on January 12, 1919 the daughter of Tommie Hamlett and Pearl Williams Hamlett and was married to William W. Carrington. She was a member of Mason Chapel Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14 at noon at Mason Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Ronald Claiborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Carrington include one daughter, Clariece Berry of Tampa, FL; two sons, Wilbert Carrington and Cornelius Carrington, both of Ringgold; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Joyce Royster of South Boston; one brother, Elbert Hamlett of Ringgold and other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends at Mason Chapel Baptist Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., and other times at the home.
John Tinsley 'Jack' Oakes Sr. of 2058 Cherry Hill Church Road, South Boston died Wednesday, March 11, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 69 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Oakes was born October 5, 1928 in Halifax County the son of Harold Cook Oakes and Thelma Woody Oakes and was married to Vernell B. Oakes. He was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church, retired from Daystrom Furniture and was an Army veteran.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Grover Stevens conducting the service. Burial will take place in Cherry Hill United Methodist Church cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Oakes include his wife; his mother of South Boston; three sons, John T. Oakes Jr. of Midlothian, Randy B. Jones of Nathalie and Gary T. Jones of Richmond; and five grandchildren.
The family will receive friends tonight, March 13 at Brooks Funeral Home from 7 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston, VA 24592.