A South Boston physician is "evaluating" seeking the 60th District House seat currently held by Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett of Halifax.
Dr. Gerald Burnett said yesterday he would run as a Republican if he decides to make the bid.
The doctor said he is taking "a serious look at it because it is a Republican district being represented by a Democrat that, by the nature of things, has to do what the liberal Democratic Party tells him to" in Richmond.
Dr. Burnett pointed to Gov. Gilmore's 65 percent to 35 percent lead in the last election.
The physician said he is talking with voters in the district about issues important to them as he evaluates his decision.
"If it is a Republican district, I think there is bound to be a problem" with some issues when represented by a Democrat, added the doctor.
Bennett began his first term of office in January of 1990. The 60th District includes the counties of Campbell (part of county), Charlotte, Halifax, and Pittsylvania (part).
Supervisors
In other races, there are rumors a challenge may emerge in Election District 5 for the seat held by Supervisor Earl Watts Sr., although there has been no formal announcement by a challenger.
Watts, who has held the seat since Janaury 1, 1996, said this week that he plans to seek re-election.
In addition to Watts, other supervisors up for election this year include R.E. "Dickie" Abbott of Election District 1, "Bill" Abbott of ED-4, Garland Ricketts of ED-7 and "Robbie" Smart of ED- 8.

School Board Elections
At least two of the five school board members whose slots are up this year have indicated they will not seek re-election. They are Raleigh Moorefield of District 1, who has served for approximately 14 years, and Lottie T. Nunn of District 7. Nunn has served since 1983.
School board members indicating they will seek re-election in the November elections include Alan Gravitt of District 4, Patricia Nelson of District 8 and Carl Furches, District 5.
Also on the ballot this fall, all constitutional officers, which includes Sheriff Jeff Oakes, Clerk of Court Bobby Conner, Treasurer Linda Foster, Commissioner of Revenue Danny Jackson and Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker, who will face opposition from South Boston attorney Robert Meeks.

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee will sit down tonight with county school board members and school system officials to review the county school board's proposed record $42.1 million 1999-2000 school budget.
And, the most glaring item that the finance committee will notice is that the school board is not asking the governing body for any additional local dollars to fund the proposed $42,152,141 budget package.
It will take $9,820,356 in local dollars to fund the school board's proposed 1999-2000 school year budget package, the same amount that the local governing body appropriated for the $39,863,070 1998-99 school budget package.
The new budget package includes funding for 13 new teaching positions that include five elementary positions, one secondary English teacher, four Special Education teachers, two teachers for the new Halifax Career Center, and a new position for the school system's Test Coordinator.
Also included is funding to provide a $1,000 signing bonus for new teachers entering the school system for the first time, an average six percent pay hike for all certified personnel including teachers and school system administrators, and an average seven percent pay hike for all support personnel. In addition, longevity steps will be added to the pay scales for support personnel.
The pay hikes will have a cap on the top end of nine percent and there will be a floor with a minimal increase of four percent. One exception was noted to that, and that was in the case involving the salary scales of the school system's Computer Lab Managers which was not limited to the nine percent ceiling.
Other major items in the proposed budget package include $75,000 to give elementary school teachers a duty free lunch period with that money being used to pay cafeteria aides to supervise students during teachers' lunch period and funding to increase the number of replacement school buses from nine to ten.
In addition, the budget contains funding to allow the school board to increase its contribution to individual employees' health insurance premium from $150 per month for 10 months to $160 per month for 10 months, increasing the first step on the Computer Lab Managers' pay scale by $2,000, raising the hourly wage for part-time teaching positions from $15 per hour to $15.50 per hour, and increasing the pay for non-certified substitute teachers from $45 per day to $50 per day and increasing the pay for certified substitute teachers from $55 per day to $60 per day.
Also, the budget package includes funding to employ an additional nurse to serve the county elementary schools, funding to employ an additional computer lab manager which will fill a position at the new Halifax Career Center, and funding to employ four additional Special Education aides.
Funding is also being provided to increase allocations for instructional supplies by $1 per pupil.
And, to enhance the benefits for Special Education car drivers, the school board will provide those employees two days of sick leave and provide the drivers with a monetary bonus for obtaining a CDL license.
The additional dollars to fund the budget comes primarily from an 8.99 percent increase in state revenues, a figure that represents $2,249,071 additional dollars over the current year's state revenues.
Of that amount, $855,623 comes in the form of state construction and lottery funds and $442,000 comes in the form of technology funds, funds which the school system can use to purchase additional hardware such as Smart TV's, computers, items necessary to provide Internet access, and educational software to bolster the school system's technology program.

Pointing the additional state monies that will be funneled into the county, county school superintendent Dennis Witt called this year's General Assembly session "by far one of the better years for public education" and said that the additional revenues "will enable us to address some concerns we have had over the years."
Witt also called the proposed 1999-2000 school budget "a budget for all people."
"It's appealing and is more than what they (the various categories of school system employees) had last year in a positive way."
Witt pointed out that the additional teaching positions were needed to deal with an increase in enrollment of approximately 100 students and, in the case of the additional Special Education teachers, they were needed to handle the increase in the number of Special Education students that is projected for next year.
The Testing Coordinator, which is a new position, will be responsible for such things as organizing all of the school system's testing schedules, dealing with the dissemination of testing materials, and handling virtually all facets of the SOL (Standards of Learning) Tests, the Stanford 9 tests, and the End of Course testing at Halifax County High School. That individual may also take on some other duties, Witt noted.
Witt said that the $1,000 signing bonus that the school board is proposing to offer for new teachers coming into the school system for the first time will be a valuable recruitment tool.
"If you come to Halifax County from outside Halifax County, we will give you $1,000 to help you get on your feet," Witt explained of how that bonus will work.
Witt said that new teachers coming into the area would have the bonus money to help them pay for such things as moving expenses, their first month's rent, or for whatever purpose they need to use the money.
"We will try to work it out to get it to them before they get their first paycheck," Witt said.
"If we can't, it will be in their first paycheck."
"We think it will be a significant recruiting tool."
The salary hikes that were placed into the teachers' salary scale are significant, not only in terms that the proposed average six percent pay hike would be the largest pay increase teachers will have seen in a number of years, but also in that it all but brings the salary scale into a straight line scale which has been the goal of the school system for a number of years.
After the 1999-2000 school year, the long struggled for straight line salary scale will come into play, meaning that after next year, everyone at each step on the scale will receive the same pay hike.
The proposed 1999-2000 school year budget will be the primary topic of conversation when the Halifax County Board of Supervisors' Finance Committee meets with school board and school system officials tonight.
However, school board members and school system officials will also bring some other budget related issues to the table tonight.
School board members and school system officials will present the school board's proposal for an Optional early Retirement Program to the finance committee and request that the Board of Supervisors set up a trust fund account for that program.
In addition, they will make a verbal request to the finance committee to carry over and reappropriate to them any excess revenues that the school system may receive from the state during the current school year and excess unspent appropriated funds and allow them to place those monies into the school system's Capital Improvement Fund.
The balance in the school system's Capital Improvement Fund stood at $584,439 as of March 16. However, with the addition of $467,864 in lottery monies coming from the state that will dedicated to school construction for 1998-99, $457,583 in lottery monies that will be dedicated to construction for the 1999-2000 school year, and $398,040 in state school construction monies for 1999-2000, the Capital Improvement Fund's balance with 1999-2000 school year monies will hit $1,907,926.
School system officials noted that $600,000 of that money will be used to pay for the renovations to the new Halifax Career Center, leaving $1,307,926 available for use.
Even that figure could swell, though, if one or more other funding sources come through.
Possibilities there include $467,863 which represents a portion of 1998-99 state lottery funds assigned to the school system's operating budget, $150,000 in 1998-99 budgeted funds for projects that have not yet been completed, and $200,000 which would represent excess state revenue from the 1998-99 operating budget.
The next step in the budget process for the county school board is to hold a public hearing on the proposed 1999-2000 school budget. That public hearing will be scheduled for Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. when the school board will hold its April meeting.
After the public hearing on April 12, the school board could, that night, or in an additional meeting, take action to formally adopt a 1999-2000 school budget.
Once that action is taken, the budget will be sent to the Board of Supervisors for its approval. Once the Board of Supervisors receives the school board budget, it must hold a public hearing on the county school budget and, after that, formally adopt a school budget package.
By law, the Board of Supervisors must adopt a school board budget prior to May 1.

"Where do we start?" was followed by an awkward silence Monday evening when South Boston, Town of Halifax and county officials informally sat down to discuss "issues of mutual concern."
But the silence quickly turned to dialogue, which turned to action, which led to the formation of a committee to begin "drawing a circle" indicating an urban planning zone in the developing area from the Town of Halifax through South Boston and spilling into county territory.
The urban planning zone is described as not a geographic boundary but a planning area to identify the specific needs.
"The trend I see is multi-jurisdictional," observed Bill Turner, AICP, of Langley and McDonald, a consultant working with the county in upgrading their comprehensive plan.
The comprehensive plan, which is required by the state and must be reviewed and revised if necessary every five years, addresses projected growth in a commercial, industrial, urban, neighborhood and agricultural areas, and helps project recreation , transportation, school and water and sewer, emergency 911 and police needs, among others.
South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy welcomed the Town of Halifax to the Monday night meeting, explaining at the last joint meeting he thought South Boston and the county had decided to try to identify the urban area that in the future would need urban services and work these into comprehensive plans to mesh as closely as possible. The next task, he said, was to identify the area.
The committee named to began that process Monday night included the mayors of Halifax and South Boston, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the two town managers, the county administrator and planning commission representatives, as well as a consultant working with the county on the development of their comprehensive plan.
The new committee plans to meet for the first time during the week of April 5.
County assistant administrator Jerry Lovelace spoke in favor of one plan for the area, "one regional concept reflecting individual needs and desires."
"A comprehensive plan is not zoning but does point to development," explained Turner.
"A comprehensive plan is based on projection of future land use, "he added. "A guide the planning commission could use to bolster rezoning."
In contrast, Turner described an zoning ordinance has one with the force of law.
"The comprehensive plan is your guide," said Lovelace. "The collective wisdom says this is what we think will happen for the next 5-20 years."
Both South Boston Manager Ted Daniel and county administrator Dan Sleeper noted the comprehensive plan does carry legal obligations if adopted.
However, the plan was also described as an evolving document which can be changed.
Of the specific area of study, Supervisor T.E. West said: "This has been the urban area of Halifax County for 100 years and will continue to be. So it behooves us in this room to commence a plan to provide services ...," said the supervisor. "The better we do this, the more pressure is taken off rural areas."
The supervisor described the next big step as what services will be needed and who will provide it.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Satterfield said he always felt a common sense approach could be worked out collectively.
The 25 men gathered around the three tables seemed to agree.
Coming up with one comprehensive plan is the challenge.
"I would support giving us one confined urbanized area," said Abernathy. The mayor also spoke in favor of reaching an agreement on "who would do what down the road and then having the support of others to get grants" for needed work.
"Circle off the area and go from there," said Town of Halifax Manager Bob Greene. "It is to all of our interests to have (this) firmed up and know where we are going."
Halifax councilman S.J. Dunavant said he was for one plan "if we give everyone some safeguards" from decision making they don't approve.
Timing appears to favor a joint effort by the towns and county.
Halifax County is working on its Comprehensive Plan update "so the three localities that need to do something, all three are at the same point in the road. If we are ever going to do it," this is the time suggested Turner.
One issue of concern raised by elected officials Monday evening was the threat to agricultural land by the division of farms into subdivisions by developers, but without roads and other needed services provided.
It was a problem addressed by Supervisors Dickie Abbott, Page Wilkerson and Bill Abbott.
"Agricultural land sees threat," said county administrator Dan Sleeper. Subdivision laws and zoning are tools to address the problem.
"One of my fears is a lot of development coming in. I like the rural area, the open spaces and farming," said Wilkerson. "I want to protect it."
"A comprehensive plan is not zoning but does point to development," said Turner.
Supervisor "Dickie" Abbott targeted the subdividing of farms for residential development by developers who fail to services like roads.
Supervisor Bill Abbott called for a joint effort. "What the county is asking is work together," he urged.
During the Monday night session the two town councils and board of supervisors also agreed to continue their recently established joint monthly meetings on April 19 at 6 p.m. at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.

Despite the turmoil currently rocking the tobacco industry, it remains business as usual at the South Boston Tobacco market, one of the oldest tobacco markets in the state.
The South Boston Tobacco Board of Trade met with warehouse owners last week to quell any negative rumors concerning the future of South Boston's tobacco market.
"With all the frustration and rumors flying there's a renewal in the way this group of warehousemen are pulling together and the strength they're showing to keep this market strong," commented auctioneer Bob Cage. "As long as tobacco is sold, we're going to sell it here."
Drastic quota cuts over the past two years have created an atmosphere of competition between market towns as they jockey for position and spawned rumors to the effect that some of South Boston's warehouses would not be operating this year.
But Teresa Pool, South Boston Tobacco Market Sales Supervisor and Cage met with local warehousemen to assure them that there would be no change in the South Boston Market now or in the near future.
The only change, Pool said, involves the merger between the New Brick-Planters Warehouse and the Independent Warehouse.
Last month, motivated by reduced quotas and new packaging methods that require less floor space, warehouse owners George Tribble and Charles Payne announced their plans to consolidate all their sales into the 55,000 square foot Planters Tobacco Warehouse.
"That is the only change, but farmers are hearing all these rumors and just don't know which way to go," Pool said. "If they don't sell in South Boston, it will hurt everyone down the line, so it is important that the growers know we are going to be here."
When the South Boston market opens this year, probably in late July, the auctioneer's chant will resonate within the warehouse walls of Planters, owned an operated by Payne and Tribble; Star, owned and operated by D.T. Neal; Banner, owned and operated by Andy Anderson; and the Victory Warehouse with manager Lemuel Powell.
According to Pool and Cage, the South Boston Tobacco Market, the second largest in Virginia, offers the same services as surrounding markets, including baling equipment at each warehouse, but with a little extra.
"What we have here is good service, real good personal service," Cage said.
"We have men who work as competitors, but who work together, as well, to the good of our market here," Pool said.
While the warehouses will have balers available to the public this season, Pool said as of yet, there has been no formal statement from companies that there will be a premium paid for baled tobacco. However, last year baled tobacco averaged about $.05 per pound higher than sheeted tobacco.
"Both sheets and bales are acceptable packages," Pool said.
Pool offered farmers a reminder that designations are due by April 10.
"If you fall leased tobacco last year you need to check with the ASCS (now known as the Farm Service Agency) Office where your designation is, because you might want to change it," Pool said. "Right now with the quota cuts, it is very important for farmers to be as efficient as they can. That's why it makes good sense to sell in South Boston. Not only is it convenient, it makes good financial sense, as last year 24,175,840 pounds of tobacco sold through the local warehouses at an average $176.65/hundredweight.

A Halifax man who was found guilty of stealing prescription drugs from the Halifax Rescue Squad last year received a suspended sentence Monday.
Halifax Count Circuit Court Judge Charles L. McCormick III sentenced 20-year-old Andrew Norman Epps of East Oak Hill Drive to a total of 11 years in prison but suspended all but 32 days time served after his arrest April 12, 1998.
Epps was arrested as a result of a tip to the Halifax County Crimestoppers last April and charged with grand larceny for stealing an assortment of drugs from Halifax County Rescue Squad vans earlier that month.
Epps was convicted of possession of morphine, possession of cocaine, and possession of Diazepane, as well as grand larceny.
Other Halifax County Circuit Court cases this week included the following:
· Teresa Ager, 27, of East Bishop Drive, South Boston, was allowed to go free after McCormick dismissed a charge of possession of cocaine pending against her and nol prossed a marijuana possession charge.
· Jeffrey W. Comer, 21, of Wilson Road, Virgilina, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of attempting to possess a Schedule II controlled substance namely cocaine. He remains free on bond until his sentencing date in May.
· Wister King Jr., 45, of Danville, pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of grand larceny. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. McCormick suspended the sentence except for time served on the condition that King remain on good behavior for 10 years.
· Monroe Junior Martin II, 27, of Halifax, pleaded guilty and was found guilty of possessing marijuana. He was placed on first offender status on the condition of his good behavior for 12 months and sentenced to 12 months probation.
He received an identical sentence for his conviction of possession of cocaine.
· Carroll Dexter Owen, 25, of Birch Elmo Road, South Boston, pleaded guilty and was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
· Scott Hadley Rottler, 41, of Noblin Avenue, South Boston, pleaded guilty and was found guilty of distribution of cocaine. He was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing date scheduled for April 26.
· Larry Daniel Scott, 41, of Alphonse Dairy Road, South Boston, pleaded guilty and was found guilty of grand larceny of the Super 8 Motel February 14, 1998. He was given first offender status and sentenced to 12 months probation on the condition of his good behavior for 12 months.
· Lorena Traynham, 40, of Parker Avenue, who was found guilty of possessing crack cocaine July 28, 1997, was found to be in violation of the conditions of her suspended sentence.
She was remanded to jail and will undergo an evaluation for the detention program.

For years now the Halifax County/South Boston Crimestoppers "hotline" has been a tremendously effective tool in the local fight against crime, but organizers warn that reward funds are running low.
According to Crimestoppers treasurers Dickie Whitten and Biggy Hunt, since Crimestoppers Inc. was founded back in 1988, it has generated countless tips that have helped solve crimes throughout the county by providing monetary rewards to individuals who call in with information about various crimes ranging from vandalism to murder.
However, the reward money fund is running dangerously low.
"Our community needs your immediate financial support to assure the continuation of The Crimestoppers Organization," Hunt and Whitten wrote in a letter that has been distributed among local businesses and industries soliciting donations to the fund. "Crimestoppers reward fund is down to $500 and without your immediate help we are in danger of losing this valuable asset to the community."
Crimestoppers is totally funded through private donations from individuals, businesses and industries. The money is used to pay for rewards and to maintain the phone line. Hunt and Whitten hope to build the fund back up to $10,000.
"Since the beginning of the Drug Task Force, STOP (the predecessor of the local Crimestoppers) and Crimestoppers in 1988, hundreds of arrests, prosecutions and convictions have been the direct result of your generous contributions," he continued, adding that the reward system generates approximately 25 calls a day.
"This is a very important tool, because people will report someone or something for money. This makes our streets, neighborhoods and businesses safer because it gets criminals off the street," Hunt said. "It's like a garbage truck and the criminals are the garbage."
Captain Larry Fears with the Halifax County Sheriff's Department said Crimestoppers has been a terrific help to local law enforcement agencies.
"Tips are called in all the time providing us with information that we couldn't otherwise obtain," Fears said.
Lt. Rick Loftis with the South Boston Police Department, who helped to organize Crimestoppers, concurred that the anonymous tips that have come through Crimestoppers helped solve cases that otherwise would have remained unsolved.
Hunt said the main reason Crimestoppers has been so effective is that those having information about various crimes are not required to give their names when they contact Crimestoppers with their tips, and they still receive the reward money.
According to Hunt, the amount of all rewards are dollar charted based on the value of the information received and the crime committed.
Anyone wishing to make a donation should mail it to: Halifax County/South Boston Crimestoppers Inc., P.O. Box 14, Halifax
Va., 24558.
Loftis said Crimestoppers also needs volunteers, and encouraged anyone interested to call him at the South Boston Police Department at 575-4217.

Betty Lorraine Walker Lawson, formerly of South Boston, died Tuesday, March 16, 1999 in New York.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lawson took place in New York. Burial was on Saturday, March 20 at 4 p.m. at the Bates Family Cemetery in South Boston.

Lacy Hill of Nathalie, died March 11, 1999 at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Brookneal. He was born in Halifax County on October 14, 1914.
Mr. Hill was the son of the late Tom Hill and Lillie Traynham Hill and was married to the late Mrs. Blanche Traynham Hill.
Mr. Hill was a member of Sunflower Baptist Church.
He is survived by two daughters and two sons: Mrs. Paulene Davis, of Rustburg; Mrs. Alice Mabins, of Nathalie; Mr. Roy Hill and Mr. James Hill, of Halifax; three brothers; Eppie Hill and Linberg Hill, of Nathalie; and Ollie Hill, of Maryland; one sister; Mrs. Lottie Hill, of Renan; fifteen grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Hill were held Tuesday, March 23 at Sunflower Baptist Church with the Rev. TImothy Walker conducting the service. Interment followed in the Sunflower Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Delores Roberts Hayes of 1091 Sinai Road, Halifax, died Saturday, March 20, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 62.
She was born in Halifax County, on February 2, 1937 and was the daughter of the late German Roberts and Elvictor Hughes Roberts Edmonds. She was married to Bishop Ralph Hayes and was a member of the Mission of Hope Church.
Mrs. Hayes is survived by her husband; Bishop Ralph Hayes; two daughters; Mrs. Peggy L. Collazo, of West Germany, and Mrs. Deborah Lovelace, of Halifax; one son; McKennley Scott, of Washington, DC; eight grandchildren; one great grandchild; one sister; Mrs. Gather Ann Bailey, of Hampton; one brother; William Hughes of Petersburg; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Hayes will be held Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 p.m. with services at the Greater Morning Star Apostolic Church with the Elder John Williams officating. Burial will follow in the Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel tonight (Wednesday) from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Elisha Jefferson Stanfield of 5130 Bill Tuck Highway, South Boston died Friday, March 19, 1999, at the age of 56.
He was born in Newport News on September 24, 1942 and was the son of the late Albert "Nick" Stanfield and Bertha McCargo Stanfield. He was married to Onetha Wilson Stanfield and was a member of the Jeters Chapel Baptist Church.
Mr. Stanfield is survived by his wife: Mrs. Onetha Wilson Stanfield; one daughter: Ms. Olivia Stanfield, of Bronx, NY; one son: Timothy Stanfield, of Bronx, NY; three grandchildren; his step-mother: Mrs. Gracie Stanfield; eight sisters: Mrs.. Lillie E. Coleman, Mrs. Bertha Rogers and Mrs. Karen Chandler, all of South Boston; Mrs. Marjorie Carrington, of Newport News; Ms. Lucille Stanfield, of Fayetteville, NC; Mrs. Atha Ridges, Mrs. Marie Walton and Mrs. Grace Trimble, all of the Bronx, NY; four brothers: Albert Henry Stanfield, Leon Stanfield and Philmore Lester, all of South Boston and Mr. Jerome Stanfield, of Hampton; seven foster children; sixteen foster grandchildren; one great foster grandchild; one God son: Kenneth Tyrell Harris and nieces and nephews, relatives and friends including a devoted niece, Renay Harris, of South Boston and a devoted friend, Mrs. Gladys Yarborough Faulkner, of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Stanfield will be held Friday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. with services at the Jeters Chapel Baptist Church with he Rev. Roderick Fitz, officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. Gracie Stanfield, Highway 58 West, South Boston.