By Doug Loftis
Farmers pretty much have their noses to the windows these days waiting and wondering just when the rains will end and give them a chance to get another crop into the ground. Meanwhile, livestock producers struggle to get their cash crop out of the ground.
"We've lost cattle that have died in the mud!"
County Extension Specialist Larry McPeters can't remember another time when the ground was so saturated that it simply swallowed up livestock. And it's not just young calves that are succumbing to the muck and mire. McPeters knows of one instance where an 1,800 pound bull was finally pulled from the mud only after the owner secured a logging chain around its head and attached it to a backhoe.
Stress is often the killer of animals caught in such struggles.
For tobacco farmers, weather conditions are making for a different kind of stress. Normally at this time of the year, plantbeds would have been sown and field plowed.
But few plantbeds, if any at all, are underway according to McPeters even those tobacco growers who raise their seedlings in greenhouses are not without problems this year.
Cold nights and cloudy days affect germination and root development not to mention what it's costing growers in fuel.
It can cost about $100 a day to maintain a safe temperature inside a 200 ft. long greenhouse and some producers started the process three weeks ago. Five to six weeks are needed for tobacco seedlings to reach a stage for transplanting.
Given the conditions of the weather so far and the predictions that more cool, wet weather could be around as late as May or even June, McPeters is sounding the alarm now. He's almost certain that a tobacco plant shortage will result this season and wants growers to "get on the stick" now by finding a source, preferably, in this growing area.
"We discourage (producers) going to other states and getting plants," said McPeters while recalling how, two years ago, much of the blue mold in crops here was traced back to plants purchased in North and South Carolina. It stands to reason, he said, that growers there are only able to sell those plants they don't need, plants that often have had enough time to contract diseases.
A number of local plant sources are available but growers needing assistance are urged to contact the extension service in Halifax at 804/476-2147.
The weather has already claimed more than half of the normal winter wheat crop in Halifax County. County officials estimate only 40 percent of the normal acreage was ever planted and of that, yield could be reduced unless the ground dries out soon and makes possible the application of nutrients.
Planting of other small grain crops last fall was likewise lowered because of unfavorable conditions.
Gone too are peaches and apples which were frozen in the bud a week ago when temperatures dipped into the teens. For those that may have survived, another predicted freeze this weekend could seal their fate.
Some flooding of the Dan River at South Boston is expected today following rainfall that measured 2.35 inches here and 3.3 inches to the east of here near Clarksville. Flash flood warnings were posted yesterday for Halifax County and South Central Virginia as yet another drenching winter storm created record flooding in some areas of northern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
According to the National Weather Service, the Dan River will crest at between 23 and 24 feet today and that should pose no problem to businesses located in Riverdale along U.S. 501.
Sunshine finally broke through cloudy skies late yesterday and sent temperatures to near 70 degrees. More clouds are in store for today as highs are expected to reach 67 degrees before heading downward towards the weekend.
Low nighttime temperatures Sunday and Monday are expected to produce freezing but dry conditions.
The Halifax County School Board will hold a public hearing Monday night on the proposed $25 to $29 million school facilities development plan recently unveiled by school system officials.
Deputy School Superintendent Dr. Bobby R. Hall said yesterday that only three people have preregistered to speak at Monday night's public hearing which is set for 7 p.m. at the Halifax County High School auditorium.
But, Hall said, there is still plenty of time and opportunity for people to register prior to the public hearing. Persons who wish to speak are encouraged to preregister by calling Hall's office today or Monday at 476-2171.
Those persons that preregister with Hall's office will be given the first opportunity to speak at the public hearing and will be called upon to speak in the order in which they registered.
Hall noted yesterday that a registration table will be set up at the door Monday night and that persons who wish to speak may sign up at that time as well.
Persons that sign up at the door Monday night will be called upon to speak in the order in which they registered. The persons on that list will follow the persons that preregistered earlier with Hall's office.
Others in the audience that wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so after all of the persons that registered to speak have completed their turn.
Speaking time will be limited to three minutes for individuals. Spokespersons representing a group will be limited to five minutes.
County school superintendent Dennis Witt said this week he is hoping some positive comments supporting the new school facilities proposal will be voiced during Monday night's public hearing.
"We are encouraging people who support the plan to come out and say 'I support the plan,'" Witt remarked.
"I hope that we don't get just negative responses. I hope that people who think we need to do something will come out and say we need to do something."
On the other end of the spectrum, school board chairman Alan Gravitt emphasized during last week's school board meeting that in instances where people or organizations are opposed to the facilities proposal he and the school board want and need to hear more from people than their simply saying they are opposed to the plan.
"I want them to tell us what to do that's different if they don't want to do this," Gravitt said.
"Give us an alternative if you don't agree."
School board member Patricia Nelson echoed that sentiment.
"If you prefer to see something else done, give us some suggestions," she said.
"We have been discussing this for a long time. Something needs to be done. We need to make a decision."
Even before the birth of her son two weeks ago, 15-year-old Cathy was charting a long-range plan which included education.
Loretta Brown, Cathy's resource mother at the state Health Department and a strong education advocate, continues to support the teenager.
For example, Cathy continued her education throughout her unplanned and sometimes difficult pregnancy and, with summer school, will be on grade track next year.
Unmarried, the teenager lives at home with her mother, who helps with the baby when she is not working.
Although Cathy doesn't think she is ready to get married, she wanted the child.
The baby's birth will enter the 1998 Health Department statistics as a nonmarital birth in Halifax County.
Two years ago there were 446 live births in Halifax County with 45.3 percent nonmarital births, according to state Health Department data. Of the 202 nonmarital births, 21.4 percent were white and 74.3 percent were black.
Locally, social worker Debbie Ferguson's goal is to reduce the nonmarital pregnancy rate without increasing the abortion rate.
Too often there are consequences for maternal and child health and well-being in nonmarital cases. Studies reveal that the mother in a nonmarital birth is less likely to obtain adequate prenatal care.
Cathy does not fall in that category.
She began regular prenatal care when the pregnancy was confirmed. At the same time she began working with Brown, who encouraged her to continue school.
Diet, exercise, adequate rest, regular appointments with the doctor, all are followed by the resource mother.
"And along with that make sure she is going to school," said Brown. The resource mother also helped Cathy make plans for a homebound teacher following the birth.
The Health Department's goals, said Brown, include trying to prevent low birth weight babies and infant deaths as well as providing nutrition counseling and encouraging the mothers-to-be to keep prenatal health care appointments.
The resource mother also emphasizes options. "I tell young people it is up to you what you want to do with your life."
Working with about two dozen young women, Brown has witnessed life choices leading to GED degrees and LPN careers, among others.
"School is my thing," said Brown. "After they finish school, they can decide what they want to do."
Cathy's goal is to complete high school and attend college, pursuing computer studies.
Still, it is not easy.
"They have to grow up themselves and help their baby grow up," said Ferguson. "They can be great mothers, but they have to work real hard at it."
The birth of a child also affects the father's life, said Ferguson, noting fathers must share financial responsibility.
It is a too often shared "It can't happen to me" philosophy that launches many teens down the early parental path.
Cathy said she really did not think about birth control before her baby's birth. She will now.
She is quite frank in saying she does not want to get pregnant. She remembers being scared when she found out she was going to have a baby.
And pregnancy was not easy for Cathy. It was "a hard pregnancy, staying sick all the time," recalled the young mother.
Although she loves her infant son very much, Cathy does not recommend having a child so early in life.
Two weeks into motherhood she is already well acquainted with getting up at night with the baby.
"It is very difficult so far and it will be difficult for the rest of their lives," said the resource mother.
"Staying in school is the only way. Without education you cannot support a child," said Brown.
Still, Cathy is blessed with support from her family as well as the baby boy's father.
And unlike many teens, she has a long-range plan for the future.
(Editor's Note: The teenage mother's name is not Cathy. A fictitious name was substituted. Resource mother Loretta Brown invites teenagers who need help to contact her at the Health Department located at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax. It is important for mothers to began care during the first trimester, she emphasized.)
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 25 that credit unions cannot accept outside members, immense concern was raised throughout the nation's 3,600 federally-chartered credit unions.
The ruling could force 10-20 million of the nation's 32 million credit union members to lose their membership, pointed out Dan A. Mica, President of the Credit Union National Association.
However, the Halifax County Community Federal Credit Union, located at the Halifax County Community Action Agency in Riverdale, will not be affected, according to its President and Chief Executive Officer William E. Coleman.
"We have an almost unique existence in Virginia which will protect us from this ruling," commented Coleman. "Our current members and any citizen of Halifax County, or who works primarily in the county, have absolutely nothing to worry about at all."
The local credit union was formed in 1981, one year before the National Credit Union Administration changed its concept of "common bond," which governs such membership. The time frame of the local credit union's birth created a local exemption from the ruling, according to Coleman.
Previous to the 1982 ruling, only major companies with hundreds or even thousands of employees could afford to create and manage credit unions for their employees.
That eliminated millions of potential members - many of whom were in the lower echelons of the economic ladder - from utilizing the more customer-friendly relationship offered by credit unions, Coleman pointed out.
The local credit union was formed to address the lack of any available credit union in the Halifax County area, Coleman said.
While expressing deep concern for the recent ruling on the entire credit union system, Coleman stated that the Halifax County Community Federal Credit Union will continue its service to the community.
"This credit union was formed under the pretext of being located in an economically-depressed region," Coleman explained. "We're in a rural and relatively poor area and the government saw a definite need for a credit union here."
A bill entitled "The Credit Union Membership Act" is currently working its way through the U.S. Congress and already has 175 co-sponsors, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The proposed bill would legitimize multiple "common bonds" for credit union membership and is being strenuously lobbied against by the Independent Bankers Association of America.
There are only two other federal credit unions in Virginia formed under an "economically-depressed" basis. They include credit unions in the City of Newport News and the County of Middlesex. In the entire nation,there are only 154 such credit unions.
The Halifax County Community Federal Credit Union works closely with its 3,000 members (or depositors), many of whom are at or below the poverty level.
Intensive money management counseling is frequently given to members on issues. "We fill a need in this community where the larger banks would not necessarily be able to fill without charging higher fees," Coleman elaborated. Such fees or minimum deposit levels would not be affordable to many local citizens."
While the credit union works closely with such citizens, the membership includes a complete cross section of the Halifax County.
"We have millionaires and we have people on assistance, and practically everybody in between," Coleman said. "We are here to stay for all citizens of Halifax County.
Millard Filmore Stevens of Chesterfield died Tuesday, March 17, 1998. He was 70 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Stevens was born September 9, 1927 the son of Daniel J. Stevens and Mamie Owen Stevens and was married to Josephine Francisco Stevens.
Survivors include one daughter, Cindy Stevens Glascock; three grandchildren, Ricky, Bethany and Melissa Glascock of the home; three sisters, Nellie S. Glass of Altavista, Elizabeth S. Bane of South Boston and Sally S. Smith of Virgilina; two brothers, Walter Stevens of Halifax and Frank Stevens of South Boston.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 20 at Bliley Funeral Home in Chesterfield.
Frank Morell Thompson of Halifax died Friday, March 13, 1998 at his home. He was 63 years of age.
Mr. Thompson was born in Halifax County on June 23, 1934.
Survivors include two daughters, Doris Thompson of Woodbridge and Patricia Thompson of Charlotte, NC; one son, Frank Thompson of Boston, MA; four grandchildren; three sisters, Geneva Richardson of Philadelphia, PA, Irene Sawyer and Aramenta Goode, both of Halifax; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Thompson were held Thursday, March 19 at 11 a.m. at Crawford, Garrett and Burton Funeral Chapel with Rev. William Carr and Elder Jefferies officiating. Burial was in Banister Hill Baptist Church cemetery.
Billy Ogean Cole of South Boston died Sunday, March 15, 1998 at his home at the age of 43. He was born in Halifax County on February 8, 1955.
Survivors include his wife, Stella Cole of South Boston; two daughters, Sherry and Kimberley Cole of South Boston; one God daughter, Nikia Jackson; two sisters, Stella Chandler of Passiac, NJ and Deloris Vargas of South Boston; one brother, Robert Cole of Passiac; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Cole were held Thursday, March 19 at 2 p.m. at Wesley Chapel CME Church with Rev. Ronald Dean officiating. Burial was in Union Grove CME Church cemetery.
Georgia Permelia Hudson of 502 Philpott Road, South Boston died March 18, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 79 years of age at the time of her death.
Miss Hudson was born in Halifax County on July 4, 1918 the daughter of Charlie Jasper Hudson and Jewel Cole Hudson. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church.
Survivors include one brother, Giles Hudson of Goose Creek, SC; four sisters, Glenn Daniels of Roxboro, NC, Elsie Jones and Theresa Smith, both of South Boston and Marie Couch of Halifax; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Miss Hudson will be held Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Revs. Grover Stevens and Michael Phillips conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, March 20 from 7 until 8:30 and other times at the home of her sister, Theresa Smith, 1038 Four Oak Road, South Boston.
George Sydnor Sr. of 1188 Lower Liberty Road, Nathalie died Tuesday, March 17, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 54.
Mr. Sydnor was born in Halifax County on November 12, 1943 the son of Edward Lee Sydnor and Katie Jackson Sydnor. He was first married to Catherine Canada Sydnor and later to Olivia Gray Sydnor. He was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, George Sydnor Jr and Kirk Jeffrey Sydnor, both of Baltimore, MD; three daughters, Cynthia Jordan, Cathy Sydnor and Paulett Sydnor, all of Baltimore; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two sisters, Sally Coleman and Katie Coleman, both of Clover; three brothers, Rev. Charles Sydnor of Baltimore and Joe Sydnor and Fred Sydnor, both of Nathalie; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Sydnor will be held Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. with services at the Ellis Creek Baptist Church with Rev. William Mosby officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home .
Leon Medley of Washington, DC, formerly of Halifax County, died Saturday, March 14, 1998 in Washington at the age of 61.
Mr. Medley was born in Halifax County on April 7, 1936 the son of Scott Medley and Virgie Thomas Medley.
Survivors include one daughter, Vilisah Medley of Washington; his mother; one sister, Marie Covington of New York; one brother, James Medley of New York; one granddaughter, LaShele Whitaker of Washington; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Daisy Medley.
Funeral services for Mr. Medley will be held Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at People's Congregational Church in Washington. Burial will follow in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Bladensburg, MD.