A fiery crash on Route 619 Friday afternoon claimed the life
of a 47-year-old Nathalie man, according to Sgt. D.O. Cooper of
the Virginia State Police.
According to police reports, Larry D. Traynham was a passenger
in a 1999 Ford Taurus operated by Edwin Sydnor when the accident
occurred at approximately 4:55 p.m.
Cooper said that the vehicle was traveling north on the highway
when it ran off the right side of the road and struck several
trees.
Shortly after impact, the vehicle burst into flames, according
to reports from the Virginia State Police.
Traynham, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken by helicopter
to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died approximately two
hours later.
Sydnor was transported from the scene to Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was listed as being in stable condition yesterday.
No charges have been filed in the accident, which is being investigated
by Trooper G.M. Gilliam.
In other police business, Linda Marie Tucker, 26, of East Bishop
Drive in South Boston, was arrested Saturday and charged with
felony forgery and uttering.
The alleged offense occurred December 17.
Deputy D.D. Irby was the arresting deputy.
Isiah Mathew Fuller, 18, of Mountain Road in Halifax, was arrested
Saturday and charged with the possession of marijuana.
The alleged occurred January 12.
Deputy D.D. Irby was the arresting deputy.
Mary Kathy Poole, 43, of Cedar Grove Church Road in Roxboro, was
arrested last September 24 and charged with the possession of
marijuana.
The alleged offense occurred September 24, 2002.
Deputy D.D. Irby was the arresting deputy.
Edgar Hernandez, 31, of Delway Street in Raleigh was arrested
Saturday and charged with driving under the influence.
The alleged offense occurred Saturday.
Deputy T.A. Mocarsky was the arresting deputy.
Connell Ferrell, 26, of Bane Street in South Boston, was arrested
Friday and charged with multiple counts of forgery, uttering and
the conspiracy to commit a felony.
The alleged offense date is listed as December 16, 2002.
Deputy P.C. Clayton was the arresting deputy.
Barbara Edmonds Foster, 42, of Third Street in South Boston was
arrested Friday and charged with the fraudulent conversion or
removal of property valued at greater than $200.
The alleged offense occurred August 1, 2002.
Deputy T.R. Spencer was the arresting deputy.
Brian Lamont Woody, 22, of Porter Lane in South Boston was arrested
Friday and charged with the possession or transportation of a
firearm by a convicted felon.
The alleged offense occurred May 25, 1999.
Deputy D.D. Irby was the arresting deputy.
The South Boston Town Council, in a special closed-door meeting
tonight, could vote on whether to spend in excess of $100,000
to purchase a large parcel of land adjacent to the existing landfill,
The Gazette-Virginian has learned.
"I expect that Monday night there will be some positive steps
taken," a source who asked to remain anonymous said Friday.
When asked whether tonight's meeting could result in a vote to
purchase the property, they were emphatic. "Yes, I think
they will vote to buy the land."
"The proposal is to buy new land to get cover material from,"
the source confirmed Friday.
If passed and the necessary permits are issued, the town could
pull dirt from the new property to cover refuse buried in the
site that is currently being used as a source for cover dirt.
"What they are thinking about doing is making the burrow
pit that is now just a big hole in the ground a new section of
the landfill," the source added.
The parcel, which is reportedly in excess of 25 acres, lies to
the north of the existing landfill between the current site and
Dan River Church Road.
Council is considering using the new land to provide cover dirt,
which will allow the town to use an existing site currently being
used for cover dirt as a new section of the landfill.
During the past session of the General Assembly, Del. Clarke Hogan
got special legislation passed to allow a landfill to be situated
within five miles of a water source.
Hogan said yesterday that he sponsored the legislation at the
request of Council.
"I did that so the town could have the opportunity to close
the existing landfill and perhaps be able to build a new landfill
in that (burrow pit,)" he said.
Before the new landfill can become operational, the town will
have to prove to the Department of Environmental Quality that
it is impossible for leakage from the landfill to mix with any
water sources, according to Hogan.
Contacted Friday, Mayor Glenn Abernathy declined to discuss the
issue, which has largely remained shrouded in secrecy due to the
closed nature of the procedings.
"To the best of my knowledge, (tonight's meeting) will be
another closed meeting on the same subject as the last ones,"
he said.
Following the last two regular meetings, council has convened
in closed session to discuss the matter.
A Halifax woman was acquitted on two firearms transaction charges
Friday in federal court in Danville.
A jury of seven men and five women found Christine L. Schirmer,
34, of Wolf Trap Road not guilty.
Schrimer had been charged with knowingly making a flase and fictious
written statement during the purchase of a firearm and of making
a false statement and representation on a firearms transaction
record.
Regional drug prosecutor Jeb Terrien and assistant U.S. Attorney
Donald Wolthius prosecuted the case, which began on Thursday.
A. Wayne Harrison of Greensboro, N.C., was the defense attorney.
The case went to the jury at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
They returned from their deliberations at 2:30 p.m. with the not
guilty verdicts, according to court officials.
The case was heard before Judge Jackson L. Kiser, Senior U.S.
District Judge.
In other judicial business, Joe Caesar Dabbs, 49, of Scottsburg,
was convicted Wednesday of two separate indictments charging him
with a subsequent offense of driving after being declared an habitual
offender.
Dabbs was additionally convicted of an indictment charging him
with misdemeanor driving after being declared an habitual offender,
and of a capias charging him with failing to appear in court.
All four convictions came as the result of a plea agreement with
the Commonwealth.
Judge William L. Wellons sentenced Dabbs to 10 days on jail for
failing to appear in court, with all suspended conditioned on
Dabbs' good behavior for 12 months.
Judge Wellons continued sentencing for the other three convictions
to the April court term.
Dabbs is free on bond and under supervision of Halifax Pittsylvania
Court Services (HPCS) until that time.
· Willie Lee Wade Jr., 40, of Crystal Hill, was convicted
Thursday of the misdemeanor assault and battery of Marian L. King.
Judge Wellons sentenced Wade to one year in jail, but suspended
all but 10 days, conditioned on Wade's good behavior for one year.
The court ordered Wade to have no contact with his victim unless
the victim wanted it.
· John Wayne Fallen, 36, of South Boston, was convicted
Wednesday of an indictment charging him with misdemeanor driving
after being declared an habitual offender.
The court sentenced Fallen to 10 days in jail, with weekend service
authorized.
· John Henry Brandon, 29, of South Boston, was convicted
Wednesday of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct, both
misdemeanors.
An indictment charging Brandon with the assault and battery of
Police Officer Devin Snead was dismissed by the court.
Judge Wellons sentenced Brandon to one year in jail for each of
the misdemeanor convictions, and suspended all of Brandon's sentence
for disorderly conduct, conditioned on his good behavior for one
year.
The court authorized work release for Brandon.
· Jerry Thomas Guthrie, 42, of South Boston, pleaded guilty
Wednesday to possession of cocaine.
The court deemed the evidence sufficient to find Guthrie guilty,
but granted Guthrie first offender status and withheld its finding
until a presentence report in a later term of court.
Guthrie is free on bond and under supervision of HPCS until that
time.
Halifax County businessman Charles Purcell
began circulating petitions last week to qualify as a candidate
for the School Board in Election District 5.
Due to redistricting, Purcell is seeking the seat formerly held
by Carl Furches, who is seeking re-election to the Board in his
new district, ED-4.
Yesterday, Purcell said that he would support "the people's
wishes to keep schools separate and revitalized."
"Ultimately they would be the ones taking on the responsibility
to retire bonds. If they want individual schools," Purcell
said that he would support them.
He also supports a referendum to borrow capital funds for the
school construction/revitalization projects.
Purcell and his wife, Jean, are the parents of an eight-year-old
boy.
"I am very concerned about public schools," added the
candidate.
Halifax County High School varsity boys soccer coach Frank
Shealy only got to see his team play a half a game here Thursday
night.
But, he liked what he saw in the scrimmage contest with Bluestone
that was stopped at halftime due to a lightning-packed thunderstorm.
"I was extremely pleased with the way we played," Shealy
said of his team's performance in the 0-0 deadlock.
"I said I thought our game against Park View the night before
was a game to build on. I felt we played better against Bluestone
than we did against Park View."
The contest, the Comets' second and final preseason scrimmage
game, gave some hint of the way that the Comets are capable of
playing - and improving.
"Our passing was better, our positioning was better and our
players were responding to what we, the coaches, have been trying
to teach them," Shealy pointed out.
The contest was an even one for the most part with both teams
exhibiting a good effort.
Halifax County outshot Bluestone 11-9 but just couldn't punch
in a score.
"Both teams had some excellent shots," sais Shealy.
"The goalies for both teams played very well."
Shealy pointed out that both Bluestone and Park View were on par
skillwise with his team and that both scrimmage games proved to
be valuable learning tools as the Comets prepare for the regular
season which opens this week.
"I was really tickled to death that we could pick up these
two scrimmage games," remarked Shealy.
"They are very evenly matched with us and I hope we can continue
to have games with them in the future."
The Comets varsity boys soccer team will open regular-season play
here Tuesday night when it hosts Dinwiddie at 7 p.m. at Tuck Dillard
Stadium.
On Thursday, the Comets will journey to Prince Edward County for
a 7 p.m. game.
Then, on Friday, the Comets will host Amherst County in a 7 p.m.
game at Tuck Dillard Stadium.
Samuel Louis Ashby, 69, of Gladys died March 13 at his home. He
was the husband of the late Helen Hailey Ashby.
Mr. Ashby was born in Halifax County on January 15, 1934, the
son of the late Johnnie Louis Ashby and Maggie Mason Ashby. He
was a member of Childrey Baptist Church and a retired employee
of Burruss Lumber Company.
Survivors include one son, Bobby Wayne Ashby and wife, Angie,
of Baltimore, MD; three daughters, Glenda Dale Ashby, Janet Beadles
and fiance', George, all of Baltimore, and Lisa Dawson and husband,
Raleigh, of Altavista; three sisters, Lucille A. Woosley, Ethel
A. Woosley and Geneva A. Crews, all of Nathalie.
A funeral service for Mr. Ashby was held March 15 at 11 a.m. at
Childrey Baptist Church by the Rev. Rodney Barwick. Burial was
in the church cemetery.
Funeral services for Ruth Elliott Pulliam of Aarons Creek Road
will be held at Hitesburg Baptist Church on Tuesday at 3 p.m with
burial in the church cemetery.
The Revs. Lee Merck, Richard Cooke and Vance Midgett will officiate.
Mrs. Pulliam, 87, died Sunday at The Woodview.
She was born in Halifax County on September 18, 1915, a daughter
of the late Nannie Rose Hudson Elliott and Hammett Elliott. She
was married to the late John Pulliam.
Mrs. Pulliam, a homemaker, was a member of Hitesburg Baptist Church.
Mrs. Pulliam is survived by two sons, Ronnie Pulliam of Aarons
Creek and J. Ray Pulliam of Lynchburg, one daughter, Joan P. Newman
of Lynchburg, one brother, Robert Elliott of Virgilina, five grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Carroll Elliott, Alfred
Elliott, Marshall Elliott, Ben Elliott and Edgar Elliott and one
sister, Dexter Elliott Smith.
Visitation time at Brooks Funeral Home is Monday from 7:00-8:30
p.m., and at other times at the home, 4026 Aarons Creek Road,
Virgilina.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please
consider Hitesburg Baptist Church.
Funeral services for Rawleigh Allen "Bossie" Snead will
be held today at 2 p.m. at the Clover Baptist Church.
The Rev. Tom Walker will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Clover Cemetery with military honors.
Mr. Snead died Saturday at the Tar River Manor in Greenville,
N.C.
He was 79.
Mr. Snead was born in Halifax County on May 25, 1923 to the late
Carl Raymond Snead and the late Sallie Throckmorton Snead.
He was a member of the Clover Baptist Church and was a veteran
of the U.S. Army, where he served during World War II.
Mr. Snead is survived by one daughter, Sandra Snead Everett and
husband Lester of Robersonville, N.C., two sisters, Mary S. Parks
of Scottsburg and Sarah S. Weston and husband Ernest of Chase
City, one brother, George Snead and wife Janet of Richmond, one
grandson, Alan Harris and wife Kristi of McClellanville, S.C.,
one granddaughter, Mary Marshall Mattocks and husband Noland of
Winston-Salem and three great-grandchildren, Rawleigh Harris and
brother Samuel Harris, both of McClellanville, and Harris Gray
Mattocks of Winston-Salem.
For memorials, please consider the Clover Baptist Church or the
Hamilton Baptist Retirement Home, P.O. Box 220, Hamilton, N.C.,
27840.
Funeral services for Felton Edison Whitlow, formerly of South
Boston, will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Palmetto Street Church
of God in Florence, S.C.
Burial will follow in Florence Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Whitlow died early Friday morning in a Florence hospital after
an illness.
He was 77.
Mr. Whitlow was born in South Boston to the late George H. and
Gladys Wilkerson Whitlow.
He was a member of the Freedom Worship Center in South Boston,
and was a retired buyer for Export Leaf Tobacco Co.
Mr. Whitlow is survived by his wife, Pearl Campbell Whitlow, four
children, Linda Barnio of Florence, Danny Whitlow and Ricky Whitlow,
both of South Boston and Jack Whitlow of Lexington, S.C., one
sister, Sylvia McCurry of Halifax County, eight grandchildren
and nine great-grandchildren.