A delegation Virgilina residents opposing the closing of Virgilina Elementary School has submitted a proposal calling for $1 million in additions and renovations to the school or the construction of new school to be located in the Kingswood area on Route 738.
In addition, the plan offered by the Virgilina delegation calls for redrawing the Virgilina school attendance zone, a move that supporters say will increase the existing school's population to 147 students.
A larger population, 271 students, would attend the new school that the delegation proposes for construction in the Kingswood area as part of its second option.
The plan aired by Norman Talley and Julie Gilliam and backed by a large delegation of an estimated 50 Virgilina parents and townspeople, calls for adding four classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, a gym, in-class restrooms for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade classrooms, and a clinic that meets state and federal mandates.
As part of the plan to add four classrooms, the plan calls for providing space for itinerant teachers (art, music, band, speech, and guidance), the elimination of two mobile units, and provide extra space for future programs such as a preschool.
In terms of renovations, the Virgilina delegation proposes that the existing cafeteria and kitchen be renovated to provide storage space and space to serve as a meeting place for conferences, individual counseling, and special community groups such as scout groups, 4-H groups, and Town Council.
Also, the plan proposes that existing heating and air conditioning systems be renovated to provide central air conditioning, that entrances to the school be modified to provide access for persons in wheelchairs, and that the parking lot be relocated so that students do not have to pass cars to get to the school's playground.
In addition, the proposal calls for school system officials to redistrict the Virgilina Elementary School school attendance zone to bring the total number of students at the school to 150 or more.
The renovations, the proposal states, will cost about $1 million and would save the school system money over the cost of constructing a new school. Also, by revamping the school attendance zone, the school system could save money by reducing the number of classrooms that would have to be added to South of Dan Elementary School.
Talley presented school trustees a wealth of data supporting the group's contention that it would be better to renovate and add to Virgilina Elementary School than it would be to close the facility and send the students to South of Dan which is one of the moves proposed in the plan unveiled by school system officials.
He pointed out that as it stands, Virgilina Elementary School has maintained consistently high scores on both the Stanford 9 achievement test series and the Literacy Passport Tests with Virgilina having the highest percentage of students passing both of the Literacy Passport Tests of any school in the county.
Much of that success, Talley said, is due to the small class sizes "and, teachers having time to spend with our students."
He also pointed out that Virgilina has the lowest number of disciplinary actions in the county and that the school won the county-wide school attendance award five times during the 1996-97 school year.
There is widespread community support for the school, Talley pointed out, noting that Virgilina students, parents, and patrons generously support the United Way and various school projects each year.
"And, the P.T.O. is planning to purchase the Accelerated Reader Program next fall," Talley stated.
One aspect of the opposition to the school system's plan of moving Virgilina's students to South of Dan Elementary School centers around increased travel time and increased distances. Data presented by Talley showed that Virgilina students would have to travel an additional 14 to 16 miles each way, or about 50 percent further, to get to school at South of Dan.
"Students living on the county line would be traveling too long and too many miles," Talley said.
"A school bus traveling forty miles an hour and making frequent stops will take much more time than a car."
Along with all of that, Talley said that if Virgilina Elementary School is closed, the entire Town of Virgilina will suffer.
"The Town of Virgilina would stand to lose its identity because the school is a vital part of the community," Talley remarked.
"Clover Elementary School is the only other school recommended for closing which would also lose community identity."
Talley also stated that the plan unveiled by school system officials "made no guarantees about class sizes."
The school's water and sewer situation was also addressed by Talley.
"Since Virgilina Elementary School is using the town water and sewer systems, there is no problem with having an adequate water supply and adequate waste disposal," Talley pointed out.
The second and less favored option presented by the Virgilina delegation calls for the closing of the existing school and the construction of a new Virgilina Elementary School in the Kingswood area on Route 738.
In conjunction with that, the delegation proposes that a new Virgilina school attendance zone. That zone would be formed with Route 744 from its intersection at Route 501 in Riverdale to the North Carolina border being the western boundary, the North Carolina line being the southern boundary, the Mecklenburg County line being the eastern boundary, and the Dan River being the northern boundary.
Talley noted in his presentation that such a move would give the new Virgilina Elementary School a student population of 271.
"Since closing Cluster Springs Elementary would leave 610 students to house, a new school in the Virgilina district would absorb part of those students thereby eliminating the need for a third new building in the Turbeville area," Talley told the school board.
"Option two is not what the parents at Virgilina Elementary School really want," added Talley.
"But, it will be more acceptable than busing students across the entire South of Dan zone."
While Talley's presentation covered the concerns of the Virgilina delegation, several other Virgilina supporters offered comments as well, all citing the high quality of education that Virgilina students receive as a result of the small student population and the close knit ties that the school's teachers and administrators have with the students, their parents, and the town as a whole.
One of them, Kaye Tuck, a member of a 10 person committee that devised the two pronged proposal, urged school trustees to adopt the committee's Virgilina proposal.
Tuck told the body "you don't get rid of disparity by bringing what is working down. You bring what is not working up."
Others also spoke in favor of keeping Virgilina open including Mary Griffin who has a daughter that has special needs.
"The quality of the teachers at Virgilina is overwhelming," Griffin said, pointing out that thanks to the individual help that her daughter has been able to receive at the small school, "they have given her a life worth living."
"I think we need our small schools," added Griffin.
"Children who fall between the cracks need every opportunity they can get to make their life worth living."
Red Bank resident Billy Arrington also called for keeping the small school.
"Some children fall through the cracks because teachers don't have time to work with children one on one or two on one or three on one," he pointed out.
School board chairman Alan Gravitt said after the hearing that the school board will give the proposal offered by the Virgilina delegation serious consideration.
"We really want to work with the people from Virgilina," Gravitt said.
The school board chairman pointed out that "everybody likes small class sizes" and that "there is not as much disparity (in class sizes) as a lot of people think."
He also noted that the plan offered by school system officials "does not call for any increases in class size. Everybody from Governor Gilmore to Mr. Witt (school superintendent Dennis Witt) to everybody on the school board wants to try to decrease class sizes."
Pros, cons, and some alternative suggestions surfaced Monday night during the Halifax County School Board's public hearing on its proposed $25 million to $29 million school facilities development plan.
Out of the sparse crowd estimated at about 100 people, 27 people spoke with 18 people, several of whom were connected with the Virgilina delegation, citing opposition to the plan and nine voicing favor with the proposal.
A brief citing of opposition to the plan came from Clover which, like Virgilina, has a school that is a major fixture and mainstay in the community.
A an opponent from South Boston asked the school board to refrain from closing Washington-Coleman.
No comment was heard from the Turbeville community.
Under the plan offered by school system officials, six schools, Virgilina, Clover, Volens, Halifax, Washington-Coleman, and Cluster Springs would be closed. Two schools, Halifax and Cluster Springs are proposed for use for other purposes.
A proposed use for Halifax Elementary would be for a teacher training center and additional space for school system or other county agencies. Cluster Springs Elementary is proposed for use to house the school system's Alternative Education program.
Two options are in place for study in the case of Turbeville, one being to close the existing school and construct a new school for 400-450 students on the Route 58 corridor between Riverdale and Turbeville or renovate and construct additions to the current school to house 400-450 students.
The other component of the proposal aired by school system officials calls for renovations and additions to the other existing elementary school facilities that will allow some schools to have 325 to 375 pupils, some to house 400-450 students, and others to house 525-575 students.
There are also components in the plan for upgrades and renovations at the middle school and high school.
The plan includes a proposal to implement a dual bus system, a move that would have an initial cost of more than $1.7 million that would include the purchase of 32 additional buses and the hiring of 32 additional drivers.
Former school principal Carter Hicks, Jr. noted opposition to the proposed closing of South Boston's Washington-Coleman Elementary School and said that extensive renovations to the school would be more feasible.
Hicks stated that the building's age is not an appropriate factor to consider in this case because several sections of the building are of different ages.
"The very center of the building is the oldest part," he pointed out.
"The portion (of the building) with the tin roof part could be replaced."
In a proposal offered by Hicks, that portion of the building could be razed. Coupled with that, Hicks said, "we could purchase property adjoining Washington-Coleman's property to the rear that fronts College Street and tear down the old club house building to gain access to College Street. Buses could come in from College Street and parents could come in and go out on College Street."
The school, with additions and renovations, would then be used as a K-6 elementary school to serve students in the Town of South Boston.
Coupled with that, Hicks proposed that instead of C.H. Friend be turned into a middle school. That school, he suggested, would operate similar to a charter school and that high achieving youngsters would have the opportunity to attend that school.
"You would have two middle schools," Hicks explained, "and C.H. Friend would be a charter type school for high achievers. It would be open to students of all races and acceptance would be based on a lottery system."
Hicks stated that in order to be used as a middle school, additions and renovations would have to be made to C.H. Friend which was formerly used as a high school to give the school adequate facilities and modern science and vocational facilities.
The former educator also proposed that the school board eliminate interscholastic athletics at the middle school level and instead create intramural sports programs.
Dorothy Peffer, a supporter of Clover Elementary School, cited opposition to the proposed closing of that school.
Clover's teachers, she said, "are dedicated, hard working, and caring. We have a great deal of pride and affection for our school. It's supposed to be that way."
Peffer said that the school board's request for people to put aside their personal preferences "is absurd. Small schools are becoming more and more valuable, not less."
She concluded by asking the school board to tell people what it will require to keep the county's small community schools open rather than saying they must be closed.
Jill Will spoke in opposition to the proposed closing of Halifax Elementary School, citing the large numbers of students in the South Boston and Halifax schools and the large number of students who are allowed to attend those schools as a result of parents' job and child care situations.
Will proposed that there be four centralized schools, Washington-Coleman, C.H. Friend, Sinai, and Halifax, all with k-6 populations "to help these parents having these problems."
The Halifax area resident also asked the school board that if C.H. Friend can be renovated and made safe for children to attend "why can't you renovate Halifax and make it safe for children?"
"I think we should be told how much it would cost to renovate our existing schools," she pointed out.
Also, Will cited opposition to the school system's proposal of using Cluster Springs Elementary School as a site for an Alternative Education program.
"Cluster Springs is right next to South of Dan," Will pointed out.
"My understanding is that Alternative Education is where the dangerous students at Halifax County High School are put who are not allowed to go back to school. If I lived in that school district, I'd be scared to death to have my children there (at South of Dan)."
Virginia R. Jones, a Business Education teacher at Halifax County High School, echoed Will's concern over the school system's proposal for putting the Alternative Education program at Cluster Springs.
"I feel that another closed facility would be a better location for that program," Jones said.
"I am alarmed that students who are unable to achieve at the middle school and high school for various reasons including discipline and drug problems will be placed in close proximity to South of Dan Elementary School. I don't feel elementary school students should be exposed to this situation and these types of students."
Clays Mill Elementary School principal Joe Griles asked the school board to take the necessary steps to end disparities in the county schools.
Griles pointed to the situation at his school which was designed to have 23 teaching stations. However, he has had to double up some teachers and even create a makeshift teaching area in the school office area to make the 28 teaching stations that he currently needs.
"Teachers having to teach in inadequate spaces hurts student learning," Griles remarked.
"When two teachers are teaching different groups and different grades in the same workspace it becomes a distraction to the students as well as the teachers. Teachers are assigned to rooms to teach which were not designed for that purpose. It creates crowded conditions which affects learning and teaching. This is not fair to the students or teachers."
"If one student is in a situation that is not equal to others in the building or the school system, we have created disparity within that school and within the system," Griles added.
"I have 54 students affected because of inadequate instructional space."
Griles told school trustees that the solution is to add classrooms.
"I ask you to make a decision that will provide adequate classroom space and eliminate disparities within our schools," he concluded.
Gene Riddle told school trustees "I'm certainly not opposed to building new schools. We all like to have them. My main concern is safety and quality education within our school system."
In addressing the school board, Riddle explained, "I was compelled to come here tonight because of something that was said in a meeting a month or so ago that I attended. One of the speakers introduced themselves and started off by saying I work in an environment that has armed guards, drug sniffing dogs, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, rape, fights, gangs, and profane and obscene language. I teach at Halifax County High School. For some reason I can't get this out of my system."
Riddle also told the school that while they look at facilities "you
need to also look at pay, money for our teachers that work in this environment."
Among the speakers that came out in support of the school system's proposed plan was Walter Potts who represented the South Boston-Halifax County branch of the NAACP.
"We feel that it is imperative that this (plan) takes place in this system with all due speed," Potts said, "not only to facilitate the classroom sizes through a lower pupil-teacher ratio but to providing the type of learning atmosphere that is most conducive for the children of this county."
Potts aid that the NAACP feels that "we should not wait for two or three years to start a dual bus system. When the new system starts at the high school with block scheduling, the dual bus system should be in close proximity to being implemented. We also hope that enough time has been given or will be given to prepare teachers, staff, pupils, and parents for block scheduling for the 1998-99 school year."
In addition, Potts stated that "we'd like to see some other type of innovative plans to lessen the crowded situation at the high school along with block scheduling that can be implemented within a short time frame."
"We encourage this board to approve the plans to be presented before them and to put forth the needed effort to secure the funds to make the improvement project a reality," concluded Potts.
Sandra Thompson also voiced support of the school system's plan. She pointed out that "six years ago, we had a lot of debate as to whether or no to go to the middle school concept. Many parents and citizens felt it was not the way to go. Today, five years after we went to middle school, I think the overwhelming majority would say it was the right decision to make."
Thompson urged the school board to act favorably on the proposal and concluded by saying "I think the real beneficiaries in this process will be our children."
Scottsburg area residents Jay Reese and Don Reese both noted their support of the proposed school facility plan.
"I think it's a great plan," said Jay Reese.
"I don't blame the people in Virgilina. But, we can't afford to have every student in the county in a 10 student classroom. I'd like to have everybody in class have the same opportunities. If we could get (the number of students in each class) down to around 20 to 25 it will be better than having some at 30, some at 28, and some at 10."
Detra Carr, a Halifax area resident, said, "I challenge the school board that if they do go along with this to stick with all of the things they have in the plan."
He also urged the school board that in looking at personnel cuts that would be associated with the proposal that they also look closely examine making cuts in administrative personnel as well.
"Let's start at the top and see where we can cut," Carr told the trustees.
"Let's start at the top and work down."
"The bottom line," Carr continued, "is why we have schools -to educate the children. Let's be concerned about the children."
Mattie Claiborne also noted support for the plan and told the school board that she appreciated the hard work that was put in by the committee that drafted the proposal.
Noting the need for progress, Claiborne stressed "we can't continue to operate in the same mode we are operating in today."
Claiborne told the Virgilina delegation that she attended a small school and then was bused to attend a larger school.
"There comes a time when things have to change," she pointed out.
"Let's look at the county as a whole."
South Boston Town Council plunged into the heavy work of setting real estate tax rates Monday night, and property owners are going to like the sound of the discussion.
One of the two chief goals Council members set for themselves was to achieve a significant decrease in real estate property.
Prominently mentioned was a 21 cents per $100 rate, half of the current rate of 42 cents.
The reduction would apply to both residential and business properties.
The figures were advanced at a workshop Council called Monday night for the express purpose of starting work on the next budget, the first full-year revenue plan since South Boston expanded its boundaries January 1.
Another goal for Council is to establish a priority list of capital needs on the part of the town.
Other workshops are planned before a possible final draft is developed in the next couple of months. At present, department heads are still in the process of presenting and justifying their requests.
Halifax County will continue to use the average retail value for calculating the amount of property tax owners must pay, a method many believe is unfair since almost no one is willing to pay the suggested retail price. Retail value is obviously the highest base of consideration and one which only a handful of localities in Virginia use.
Neighboring counties such as Mecklenburg use 35 percent of the loan value, Charlotte County uses trade-in value while Pittsylvania uses 30 percent of average trade-in value. All figures are taken from the N.A.D.A. Used Car Guide.
Take for example a 1995 Chevrolet full size pickup truck that N.A.D.A. lists as having an average retail value of $11,075, a trade-in value of $8,925 and a loan value of $8,050 The older a vehicle becomes, often, the greater the disparity. A 1991 Ford Taurus carries a $4,075 retail price, a $2775 trade-in and has a loan value of $2,500.
Regardless of the value method, it is the amount of the levy or tax rate that determines the amount of tax owners must pay. Halifax County's current rate is $1.26 per hundred, Mecklenburg County's rate is $4.65, Charlotte County is $2.00 and Pittsylvania is $7.25.
A 1997 Oldsmobile with a retail value of $18,000 carries a $226.80 tax in Halifax, $227.03 in Mercklenburg, $309.50 in Charlotte and $336.58 in Pittsylvania County.
Prior to 1994, 20 percent of the average retail value was being used in Halifax County but the levy then was $5.95 per hundred. The following year, the method of assessment was changed to average retail value and the levy adjusted downward to $1.19 per hundred. Since then, seven cents has been added to the rate.
Halifax County Commissioner of the Revenue Danny Jackson went before the Board of Supervisors last fall and persuaded them to change the assessment method from average retail to loan value. Jackson felt the change when have been fairer especially to owners of older, higher milage vehicles.
But Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore's auto tax relief plan had not been finalized and when it did become law this month, localities were told that the method of assessment in place July 1, 1997 would be the basis for refunds for taxpayers and localities.
Beginning this year, the state car tax cut will eliminate the tax on cars worth less than $1,000. On cars worth $20,000 or less, the tax cut phases in at the following levels: 12.5 percent in 1998, 27.5 percent in 1999, 47.5 percent in 2000, 70 percent in 2001, 100 percent in 1992 and thereafter.
The state reimburses local governments for the amount of money they would lose from the tax cut. Car owners continue to pay the full tax on any assessed value over $20,000.
According to Jackson, Halifax County, had it changed the assessment method, would have experienced a short in tax reimbursement from the state. Likewise, some vehicle owners would have seen lower values on vouchers that will be submitted to the state for reimbursement.
The county studied the effects and decided to rescind an earlier decision to change the assessment method from retail to loan value.
Vehicles with high mileage and/or substandard conditions will be given consideration this year but owners must make known those circumstances by May 1, 1998.
High mileage discounts begin at 115,000 miles and could amount to approximately $850, increase to $1,400 for 130,000 and $2,000 for 150,000 miles. In no case would deductibles exceed 40 percent of the trade-in value according to Jackson.
A local firefighter and two rescue squad members traveled to Stoneville, N.C., Friday evening, shortly after a tornado devastated the community.
"It looked like what you see in those old films of bombed-out cities in World War II," commented Mark Wilson, a paramedic with the Halifax County Rescue Squad. "What you saw on the television news just didn't bring justice to the total destruction that was almost everywhere."
Wilson, along with fellow HCRS paramedic Larry Nelson and firefighter Ray Conner, a Lieutenant with the South Boston Fire Department, ventured to Rockingham County as soon as they received a frantic call from Wilson's mother, who resides in Clarksville.
Wilson's sister, Shelia Crouch and her family, still live in Rockingham County and were initially unreachable, he explained. After his mother's call, Wilson and his two friends decided to go the scene, not only to check on family and friends, but also to pitch in if his rescue skills were needed.
Before they arrived in Stoneville, they received a cellular call that their family members had been located and were safe. The three emergency personnel decided to continue the trip anyway.
Wilson lived in Rockingham County from the time he was ten years old until he graduated from high school. He did not know the two people who died when the F-3-rated tornado (winds in excess of 158 miles per hour) touched down.
They arrived a couple hours after the 3:40 p.m. storm and once they showed their credentials were allowed through checkpoints into the damages areas, he said.
"My brother-in-law's mother heard the wind rising and she grabbed her two grandchildren so they could hide in a closet next to a bathroom," Wilson said. "She said that all of a sudden they could see the sky above them."
They were unhurt, but the only thing left standing of her home was the bathroom and closet, he added.
"Nothing I've ever seen in my 28 years even comes close to the amazing destruction that I saw in Rockingham County," he reflected. "Sheet metal that had been peeled off roofs were wrapped around trees and utility poles like paper.
"The bleachers from the high school at Mayodan and Madison (two small towns near Stoneville) were blown in all directions," he continued. Wilson, who used to sit on the very same bleachers, found pieces scattered up to a half mile or more away, even in the yard of his sister's home.
Conner reiterated that the destruction was simply unimaginable. "What you saw on television just doesn't compare to what you saw at the scene," Conner said. "It was simply total destruction."
All three emergency personnel quickly praised the emergency operation set into place immediately after the storm.
"The level of professionalism, training, equipment, and experience matched the level of destruction that was there," commented Wilson. "Without a doubt, they had the situation covered."
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation provided an elaborate Mobile Command Center, which comprised all the latest in telecommunication equipment, Wilson pointed out.
All the neighboring counties, towns, and cities provided waves of rescue, both paid and volunteer, to meet the needs of the crisis, Conner said.
"There was even a Building Collapse Team from the Greensboro Fire Department," Wilson pointed out. "They really had everything and everybody worked really well together."
Such personnel and equipment were certainly needed, given the intensity of the storm, they all agreed.
"My sister's mother-in-law didn't say it sounded like a freight train, like you hear people say in such cases," Wilson said. "She said it sounded like a jet aircraft."
Only a small amount of marijuana was found Monday during a school-wide search involving three drug-sniffing dogs, according to Major Ray Link of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
The search took place at the Halifax County High School, the Halifax County Middle School, and Project HOPE, the alternative education facility located on Rt. 360, west of Halifax.
"There were no illegal drugs found inside the school buildings, but we did find a small amount of marijuana and pills hidden in a car parked in the lot at the high school," Major Link said.
A 17-year-old male at the high school will face juvenile petitions for a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. Further charges may possibly be lodged against the youth after the pills are analyzed at the State Forensic Lab, Major Link pointed out.
Drug-sniffing K-9 units from the Virginia State Police and the Lynchburg Sheriff's Department participated in the search.
The search of the high school lasted from 9:10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the search of the middle school took from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. The search at Project HOPE began at 1:30 p.m. and lasted less than an hour, police said.
In a separate case, James Thomas Jones, 27, of Danville was charged Tuesday with a felony count of operating a motor vehicle after having previously been declared a habitual offender.
He was arrested after a traffic stop in the Town of Halifax by Halifax Police Department Officer Stanley Britton.
Jones is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on April 13.
A North Carolina man was injured Monday morning after losing control of a 1990 Kenworth tractor trailer on Rt. 96, about five miles east of U.S. 501, according to the Virginia State Police.
Carlton Eugene Fugitt, 58, of Albertson was headed westbound when he ran off the right side of the road, struck a guardrail, then ran off the left side of the road, where he struck another set of guardrails.
The vehicle, which was hauling logs, overturned in the middle of Rt. 96, causing a temporary detour of traffic, according to the investigation.
The Kenworth sustained an estimated $20,000 in damages, while a total of $2,000 were sustained by the guard rails.
Fugitt was charged with reckless driving. The 11:55 a.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper D.T. Conner.
In other wrecks:
· A Sunday night collision between a car and a tractor trailer injured a Clover man, police said.
James Edward Clark, 44, was driving a 1986 Pontiac when he struck the front tandem wheels of an oncoming 1983 Kenworth driven by Wayne Maxwell Fowler Jr., 29, of Richmond, Kentucky, according to the investigation.
The incident occurred at 8 p.m. on Rt. 605, one-tenth of a mile east of Rt. 607, police said.
There was no damage to the tractor trailer, but damages to the Pontiac were estimated at $4,000, according to the investigation.
Clark was charged with driving under the influence. The wreck was investigated by Virginia State Trooper R.C. Compton.
· Hope Danielle Biederstaedt, 19, of South Boston was charged with reckless driving after a single-vehicle wreck Friday morning on Rt. 729, two miles east of Rt. 716, police said.
Biederstaedt was driving a 1991 Hyundai when she entered a curve in excess of the posted rate of speed, ran off the left side of the road, and overturned, according to the investigation.
She was not injured. The vehicle sustained estimated damages of $3,000, police said.
The 11:30 a.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper R.L. Hodges.
· Antonio David Shelton, 18, of South Boston was charged with reckless driving after a single-vehicle wreck early Friday morning on U.S. 360, four-tenths of a mile east of Rt. 344, police said.
Shelton was injured during the 1:20 a.m. crash. He apparently fell asleep, ran off the left side of the road, woke up, overcorrected, ran off the right side, struck an embankment, and then overturned.
Damages to the 1995 Chevrolet truck were estimated at $6,500, while damages of approximately $400 was done to a lawn and shrubbery, according to the investigation. The incident was investigated by Trooper Compton.
· Another single-vehicle wreck involving a pickup truck occurred Friday evening on Rt. 716, 1.5-miles east of Rt. 344, police said.
Ricky T. Hudson, 21, of South Boston was driving a 1985 Toyota pickup truck when he entered a curve, lost control, struck an embankment on the right side of the road, and overturned, according to the investigation.
Hudson was injured and his truck sustained an estimated $4,800 in damages, police said.
He was charged with reckless driving. The 5:40 p.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper W.J. Wilborn Jr.
· A two-vehicle collision occurred Friday at 4:10 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 501 and Rt. 744, police said.
Watt Hailey Lacks, 66, of Clover was driving a 1985 Nissan when he slid through a stop sign into the path of a 1994 Acura driven by Walter Wingfield Walker, 50, of Charlotte, N.C., according to the investigation.
No injuries occurred. Damages to the Acura were estimated at $3,800 and damages to the Nissan were estimated at $750, police said.
Lacks was charged with failure to obey a stop sign. The incident was investigated by Trooper M.S. Roark Jr.
· Another two-vehicle collision occurred Saturday afternoon on Rt. 654, one-tenth of a mile north of Rt. 659, police said.
Shaunta Antwon Chism, 17, of South Boston was stopped in the road, waiting for traffic so he could make a left turn into a private driveway, police said.
His 1985 Volkswagen was struck from behind by a 1988 Buick driven by Ophelia Barbour Logan, 74, of South Boston, according to the investigation.
No injuries occurred. Damages to the Volkswagen were estimated at $1,200, while damages to the Buick were estimated at $200, police said.
Logan was charged with following too closely. The 12:50 p.m. incident was investigated by Trooper Conner.
· James Edward Pannell, 45, of Halifax was injured after a single-vehicle wreck which occurred Saturday night on Rt. 901, eight-tenths of a mile north of Rt. 360, police said.
Pannell was driving a 1985 Chevrolet when he ran off the left side of the road and struck a stump. Pannell was charged with reckless driving.
The 3 a.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper G.M. Gilliam.
Clyde Andrew Hendrick, 87, of Brookneal died Sunday, March 22, 1998 at Virginia Baptist Hospital.
Mr. Hendrick was born in Halifax County on July 21, 1910 the son of Acie Reecie Hendrick and Mary Alice Puckette Hendrick and was married to Ida Mae Harris Hendrick. He was a member of Brookneal Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and trustee and a charter member of Brookneal Volunteer Fire Department. He was a employee of Snell Motor Co. for 32 years and owner of Hendrick's Auto Repair for 32 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Clyde Andrew Hendrick Jr. of Nathalie and Richard Bailey Hendrick of Danville; one daughter, Eoline Hendrick Habel of Richmond; one sister, Elizabeth H. DeJarnette of Portsmouth; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Andrew Hendrick, a daughter, Carolyn Ann Hendrick Puryear, and a grandson, Michael Clyde Hendrick.
Funeral services for Mr. Hendrick were held Tuesday, March 24 at Brookneal Baptist Church by Rev. Charles Ward with burial at Childrey Baptist Church cemetery.
James Irven Coates of 2132 Meadville Road, Halifax, died Monday, March 23, 1998 at his home. He was 83 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Coates was born in Halifax County on May 5, 1914 the son of Bernard Coates and Carrie Dickerson Coates and was married to Mildred Lacy Coates. He was a member of McKendree United Methodist Church, a 50 year Mason and member of the Halifax Masonic Lodge #96 AM & FM, and past member of Bethany Chapter #132 O.E.S. Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include three daughters, Martha Coates of Irvington, NY, Alice Coates of King George and Mildred Cavin of Fredericksburg; two grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and four step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Coates will be held today, March 25 at 2 p.m. at McKendree United Methodist Church with Rev. Tim Earnhardt conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider McKendree United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department or your favorite charity.
Mae Bennett of Thomson, GA died Friday, March 20, 1998 in Providence Nursing Home at the age of 92.
Mrs. Bennett was born March 28, 1905 in Campbell County the daughter of Robert Coleman Stone and Mrs. Fred Smith and was married to Albert Lloyd Bennett. She was a member of Sweetwater Baptist Church and was a member of the Eunice Sunday School class.
Survivors include three sons, David Bennett and Milas Bennett, both of Thomson, and Albert Bennett Jr. of Franklinton, NC; two daughters, Genevee Hayden of Charlotte, NC and Barbara Hailey of South Boston; 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bennett were held Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. at Curtis Funeral Home in Thomson with Rev. Randridge officiating. Burial was in Sweetwater Baptist Church cemetery.
S.F. C. John S. Conner died Monday, March 23, 1998 in Medigan Army Hospital at the age of 62.
Born May 14, 1935 in Halifax County he retired from Ft. Lewis Army Base of Steilacoom, WA after 22-1/2 years. He also served in Korea, Vietnam and Germany.
SFC Conner is survived by his wife, Deana Conner of Steilacoom; one son, Larry Conner of Marysville, WA; three daughters, Ann Martin of Alton, Connie Glenn of Germany and Carolyn Wright of Lakewood, WA; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Harris Conner of Richmond and Paul Conner of Mt. Airy, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Conner and Willie Fuller Conner; also one daughter Romy Conner; and five sisters, Etta, Mary, Nannie, Ora and Annie Bett; also three brothers, Walter, Roy and George Conner.
Services are pending at Powell Funeral Home. Burial will be held at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Wolf Trap Road, South Boston.
Ina Ligon Blount of 1121 Blounts Crossing Trail, Clover died Tuesday, March 24, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 78.
Mrs. Blount was born in Halifax County on March 16, 1920 the daughter of Robert Ligon and Estella Conner and was married to Benjamin Franklin Blount. She was a member of Mt. Laurel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Bob Blount of Mt. Laurel; two grandchildren, Bobby Blount of Mt. Laurel and Bruce Blount of Charlottesville; one sister, Sara L. Lee of Richmond. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Blount and one brother, Rev. Leonard Ligon.
Funeral services for Mrs. Blount will be held Thursday, March 26 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Ralph Rice conducting the service. Burial will take place in Clover Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, March 25 from 7 until 8:30, and other times at her home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Rescue Squad.