A false kidnapping report Sunday led to the arrests of two
county men on drug charges and a Pittsylvania County woman for
a probation violation, according to South Boston Police Department
officials.
Carlos A. Walker, 21 , of Golden Leaf Road in Nathalie, was charged
with the possession of marijuana and the possession of cocaine
with intent to distribute, according to police reports.
Police report that Dirk L. Waller, 21 , of Beaver Pond Road in
Nathalie, was charged with the possession of cocaine with intent
to distribute.
Tammy Shelton, 34, of Hurt, was charged with a violation of her
probation, police said.
Lt. B.K. Lovelace reported that the department received a call
from Deputy Dutton of the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department
alerting them to the kidnapping of a Pittsylvania County woman,
Tammy Shelton.
"According to Deputy Dutton, Shelton's mother told him that
Tammy was being held against her will," Lovelace said. "(The
mother) reported that her daughter had called her and needed $60
wired via Western Union to South Boston so she could be released."
After confirming the accuracy of the report, Lovelace responded
to the nearest Western Union, located at Hupps Mill Plaza.
Upon arriving at the scene, Lovelace observed the Shelton subject
and a male leave a black Chevrolet and enter the store.
Once Shelton's identity had been determined, Lovelace called in
back-up units who were standing by to converge on the automobile.
As officers arrested subjects in the car, Lovelace re-entered
the store and took the Shelton subject into custody as Sgt. R.E.
Redd detained the male subject.
"Once all the subjects involved were detained, it was determined
that the Shelton subject had not been kidnapped as was earlier
suspected," Lovelace said.
Upon searching the vehicle and the subjects, an estimated $2,500
worth of cocaine and approximately $20 worth of marijuana were
seized.
Officers also seized the automobile, a 1998 Chevrolet four-door,
a set of digital scales and an undisclosed amount of money.
"The investigation is continuing and additional charges are
pending," Lovelace said.
Waller is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail under
a $10,000 secured bond.
Walker is being held under a $50,000 secured bond.
Shelton was transported to Pittsylvania County, according to police
reports.
Yesterday, during the prayer service for the men and women
serving the U.S. in the War in Iraq, Gen. Carroll Thackston, (Ret.)
called for public support of our troops as he spoke to approximately
125 people at First Presbyterian Church.
The following is a text of his speech in its entirety.
"Dr. (Russell) Lee asked me to speak to you all briefly to
give my perspective on what we might do to support our troops
who are now engaged in war with Iraq.
"He wanted the views of someone who had worn a uniform for
an extended period and I guess 38 years in the active Army Reserve
and National Guard qualifies me as a long-termer," Thackston
said with a smile.
"First, let me go back to 1990-1991 when Desert Storm began.
I hope you will remember the many TV scenes across America showing
the Guard and our nations reserves as they left for this war.
The Army Guard here in Virginia called 11 units, 10 of which ended
up on the sands of Kuwait.
"If you will think back, you may recall the streets lined
with cheering citizens, bands playing, yellow ribbons everywhere
and many folks waving American flags.
"Our troops got a great send-off.
"This sent a message to our service men and women and the
message was simply this:
"We are proud of you. We applaud your willingness to serve
and our prayers are with you to come home safely.
"Well, the circumstances are somewhat different this time
as our regular services are doing most of the fighting.
"Sure, our local National Guard is gone, along with Danville,
Martinsville, Chatham, Lexington, Lynchburg - the list goes on
and on, and they are guarding sensitive areas in America and Cuba,"
Thackston pointed out.
"Don't misunderstand, this is still a sacrifice for our soldiers
and their families, but they didn't get the patriotic send-off.
"And you know in this time of sophisticated communications,
our troops are often exposed to television and they see the liberal
media covering the protests and anti-war demonstrations.
"They no longer have to wait to read the official word from
the Stars and Stripes newspapers, as some of you older veterans
will recall.
"My thought is that it is time for the silent majority to
be heard.
"Let's have more support rallies. Let's write letters to
newspapers and please write your representatives in Washington
voicing your support.
"We have got to stand up and try and rekindle the fires of
patriotism and fight the negative press.
"From my viewpoint, this is what our service men and women
want and need along with our prayers- they do not want to fight
and risk their lives for a country that does not care.
"Rather, our attitude should be they answered the call, they
served the caller and they fulfilled the calling.
"Thank you."
A three-way North Carolina water alliance that could seek to
draw up to 28 million gallons of water per day (MGD) from the
Dan River could be a done deal, according to reports in the Roxboro
Courier-Times.
The paper reported that the leadership of Person County, the City
of Roxboro and the Town of Yanceyville were scheduled to meet
last night to discuss, and possibly take action, on a proposal
to draw water from the Dan River.
The meeting, a called meeting for all three governing bodies,
was scheduled for 7 p.m. last night at Yanceyville Town Hall.
A proposal, challenged by many localities in Virginia and put
forth by the City of Roxboro and Person County, to pull water
from the Dan to meet future water needs will be the topic of the
meeting.
The three-party, interlcoal agreement to establish a regional
water alliance is set to be presented, but whether members of
the three boards decide to act on it or postpone action has not
been determined.
"We're going to leave it as flexible as possible," Roxboro
City Manager Jim Freeman told the paper Friday. "We would
like for (action to be taken), but if it doesn't, it's okay.
"Some of the board members may want more time to digest some
of the information," Freeman added.
The city manager called last night's meeting an "open unveiling
of all this information so all the parties can understand it."
Freeman said the participating governments had hoped Caswell County
would join the alliance, but last Monday the Board of Commissioners,
on a 5-2 vote, chose to stay out of the pact.
But the city manager said the door was still open for the county,
however once agreements between the three bodies are signed, Caswell
will have to make arrangements with Yanceyville to use part of
their allocation.
Earlier, when Caswell was considering entering the regional authority,
a total of seven million gallons per day were allocated to be
split between the county and Yanceyville.
The draft document, to be presented during last night's meeting,
allocates the entire amount to Yanceyville, according to the Roxboro
paper.
Strategic leaders from Halifax County and
Southside met at Virginia Tech yesterday to learn more about the
Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville and what
it can mean to Halifax County.
IDA members, chamber of commerce members, county officials and
business leaders attended the Southside Implementation Team meeting.
Dr. Timothy V. Franklin, the Institute's executive director, called
the Institute a creative hub for the region.
The director said that Virginia Tech and the IALR have made a
commitment "to transform the economic landscape of Southside
in partnership with local leaders."
The recurring theme was the need for cooperative, regional development
efforts.
"We need to look at the opportunities to further partner
with Virginia Tech, to continue our ongoing initiatives and tap
into the resources available from the university," said Scott
Morris, Halifax County IDA executive director.
"Riverstone will give us an opportunity to capitalize on
the investments made and the research Virginia Tech plans on doing,"
added Morris.
"The Institute will be a tremendous economic engine because
of Virginia Tech's involvement," said John Cannon, a Halifax
Industrial Development Authority board member, yesterday.
"Virginia Tech will bring so much credibility to the table."
Dr. Franklin told about a dozen Halifax County leaders at the
meeting that strategic research in polymer sciences will be aimed
at serving local industry to improve manufacturing performance
or the value of the products.
Research in horticulture and forestry will also benefit by "creating
new products that will diversity the region's agribusiness through
high-value crops that will support moving beyond tobacco dependency,"
added the IALR director.
The Institute is also working with Virginia International Raceway
to develop performance engineering and robotic testing and research
programs.
The E-58 fixed broadband initiative was discussed by Tobacco Commission
members meeting Monday, according to Morris.
"This new communication network is designed to provide low-cost
access to all Southside citizens, connecting our people to the
global economy and provide upward social and economic mobility."
said Dr. Franklin.
Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan described the Tuesday
meeting at Tech as "an excellent education of the resources
made available to the Danville area by Virginia Tech, and the
opportunity to share in those resources with Halifax County, particularly
horticultural, mechanical engineering, polymer and educational
expertise."
Cannon said the Institute would "enhance our Riverstone Project
because we are looking for high-tech companies, and the Institute
will serve as a catalyst for bringing companies and research to
the area."
The 93,000-square foot Institute is currently under construction
in Danville.
Dixie Youth Baseball officials have awarded South Boston resident
Hugh Moore, a key figure in starting Dixie Youth Baseball in South
Boston, the organization's Lifetime Membership Award.
Moore, who has served as a National Director for 47 years and
served as national statistician for 44 years, is only the third
person in the 49-year history of Dixie Youth Baseball to earn
lifetime membership status in the organization.
In addition, Dixie Youth Baseball officials have named the championship
trophy for the Virginia Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament in Moore's
honor.
The trophy will now be known as the Hugh Moore Championship Award.
On the local level, Moore helped start the Dixie Youth Baseball
program in South Boston and helped the league acquire and develop
the Carter Field baseball complex.
Moore served as the South Boston league's first president and
held that position for 37 years.
One of the fields at the new Dixie Youth Complex on Hamilton Boulevard
is named in his honor.
On the state level, Moore was instrumental in bringing Dixie Youth
Baseball to Virginia.
Until last year, the only Dixie Youth World Series held in Virginia
was hosted by South Boston.
Moore was a key figure on the state level as well, serving as
the state statistician for 44 years.
On the national level, Moore has served as a Dixie Youth Baseball
National Director for 47 years and served as national statistician
for 44 years.
In addition, Moore served as Deputy Commissioner for 10 years.
Moore also served on numerous committees, including the rules
committee and scholarship committee.
He is the third longest serving officer in Dixie Youth Baseball.
Funeral services for Frank Jeter Conner will be held at Brooks
Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, March 25, at 2 p.m.
Burial will follow in the Church of God of Prophecy Cemetery in
Scottsburg.
The Revs. Clyde Everett and Leonard Watlington will officiate.
Visitation will be held at the Brooks Funeral Home today from
7-9 p.m. and at other times at the home of Chip King and Jennifer
Phillips, 4407 Brentwood Drive in South Boston.
Mr. Conner died Saturday at the Maple Heights Rest Home.
He was 88.
Mr. Conner was born October 27, 1914 in Halifax County to the
late Howse Mount Conner and the late Zora Womack Conner Riley.
He was a retired farmer and employee of Central Contracting Co.,
and was a member of Ephesus Baptist Church.
Survivers include five sons, Micky Conner and wife Ann and Ricky
Conner and his son Matthew, all of Ringgold, Warren Conner, Wayne
Conner and Frank Clay, all of Halifax, one daughter, Barbara Newcomb
and husband Glenn of Clover, one sister, Lucy Conner Wells of
Clover, 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and a special
niece, Virginia Wilmoth of Clover.
Mr. Conner was preceded in death by one son, Frank Lee Conner,
sisters, Jenny, Wilma Mae, Josie, Rosa and Myrtle, and brothers
Johnny, Lewis and Marlow.
Thomas Anthony Francis, 65, of 18709 Carter Road, Dinwiddie, died
March 24 at Southside Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Francis was born in Halifax County on March 7, 1938, the son
of John Massey Francis Sr. and Minnie Owen Francis and was married
to Mary Long Francis. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church
in Colonial Heights.
Survivors include his wife; one brother, Owen Francis of Scottsburg;
three sisters, Agnes Grundman of Jacksonville, FL, Lucille Thompson
of Virgilina, and Madeline Moorefield of Scottsburg. He was preceded
in death by a brother, John Massey Francis Jr.
Services for Mr. Francis will be held tomorrow, March 27 at 2
p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Eugene Ballance,
Glenn Russell and Raymond Moorefield officiating. Burial will
take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening
from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of Mrs. James
G. Long, 2041 Philpott Road, Lot 17, South Boston.
There will be a memorial service at Faith baptist Church in Colonial
Heights at a later date.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American
Cancer Society, 1079 Spruce Street, Martinsville, 24112.
William Berkley Hill, 78, of 1035 Westside Park Drive, South Boston,
died recently in Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Hill was born in Halifax County on December 9, 1924, the son
of James Thomas Hill and Flemetta Bassett Hill. He was a member
of Berry Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include one brother, Thomas Easley Hill of Philadelphia;
and one sister-in-law, Rev. Gwendolyn Hill of P hladelphia.
Funeral services for Mr. Hill will be held today, March 26 at
11 a.m. at Berry Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy F. Crews
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church following the service.
Mardan Omar Hunt, 56, of 514 Greenway Drive, South Boston, died
March 23 at Hunter-Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.
Mr. Hunt was born in Clarksville on July 8, 1946, the son of Daniel
O'Connell Hunt and Margaret Glasscock Hunt and was married to
Anne Hazelwood Hunt.
He was a member of South Boston Seventh Day Adventist Church,
American Legion Post 8 in South Boston and the Disabled American
Veterans. Mr. Hunt served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Thomas Edison
Submarine which was based out of New London, CT, and was a buyer
for F&A Automotive in Chase City.
Survivors include his wife; one stepdaughter, Angela Hazelwood
and husband, Bryant, of Evington; two grandchildren, Alysha and
Matthew Hazelwood, both of Evington; one brother, Ralph Hunt of
Orange; and three sisters, Rose Chandler of South Hill, Mary Hunt
of South Boston, and Charlotte Harris of Bullock, NC.
Services for Mr. Hunt will be held today, March 26 at 2 p.m. at
Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Garland Day officiating.
Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Military Rites.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity
of your choice by either a gift or your time.
Henry Edward Woody Sr., 76, of 1025 Tuck Trail, Nathalie, died
March 23 at his home.
Mr. Woody was born in Pittsylvania County on November 24, 1926,
the son of Howard Woody and Minnie McDowell Woody and was married
to Colleen Gregory Woody. He was a member of Catawba Baptist Church
and was a Veteran of WWII.
Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn W. Clark and Patricia
W. Fields, both of Nathalie; one won, Henry E. Woody Jr. of Scottsburg;
four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Woody was
preceded in death by one granddaughter, Mary Katherine Woody;
and three brothers, Carroll, Leroy and Elmer Woody.
Services will be held today, March 26 at 2 p.m. at Catawba Baptist
Church with the Revs. Michael O'Shea and Jason Murray officiating.
Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Gideons
International, 3255 L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie, 24577,
or the Building Fund for Catawba Baptist Church, P.O. Box 128,
Nathalie, 24577.