Friday, March 26, 2004

Halifax To Enforce Property Maintenance
Action Comes As Town Prepares For Spring Clean-Up

Gross violations involving sanitary conditions, debris and unsafe buildings in the Town of Halifax will draw warnings then fines, town planners agreed Wednesday night.

Halifax police will enforce the town's Property Maintenance Code.

If property owners do not respond to town warnings, the town will take the necessary action to remedy the violation and collect the cost from the property owner, which includes, if necessary, filing a lien on the property, explained Carl Espy, town manager.

Action comes as the town prepares for its annual April 30 and May 1 Spring Clean-up.

"We wanted to make the general public aware of the maintenance code," said Espy before taking action.

While unsanitary and unsafe premises are the focus, parked junk cars without decals and neighborhood lots filled with debris, will also draw enforcement.

In other business, planners will recommend to council a special use permit, with conditions, for Home Occupation in a Residential Zone for Busy Bees Cleaning & Lawn Care Service.

Busy Bees is located on Pine Road in Halifax.

Council will hold a public hearing prior to approval of the special use permit.

Planners stipulated that all lawn equipment be stored inside a garage, out of view of the general public. Signs are also prohibited.

Espy told planners that town personnel and public school representatives met last week regarding trash pick up for Halifax Elementary School. The town will remove paper trash and cafeteria waste for HES.

In other action, revised Planning Commission bylaws were approved Wednesday night.

Planners also agreed to form a standing committee prior to their April meeting to begin updating the town's Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Ordinance.

Prior to the Wednesday night meeting, business owners scanned architectural renderings displayed in Town Hall of proposed changes to properties participating in the Facade Improvement program.

Since Monday, architects and consultants from Hill Studios have conducted one-hour design workshops with participating businessmen and women, completing that work Wednesday evening.

"You are seeing a very interesting process take place," said Espy.

Into The Future - Hill Studios architect Don Harwood and Halifax businessman Steve Henderson reviewed design possibilities for Henderson's property Wednesday evening. Architectural renderings for the 32-eleigible participants in the Halifax Facade Improvement program can be seen at Town Hall in Halifax. Henderson is the owner of Halifax Tire.

Sarnataro, Harrell Win Awards At Annual Chamber Banquet
Annual Meeting And Banquet Was Attended By More Than 540 Members Of Business Community

More than 540 members of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce gathered Tuesday to celebrate another successful year during the Annual Meeting and Banquet at the World of Sports.

Two new awards were established this year, "Business Person of the Year" and "Business of the Year," according to chamber President Nancy Pool.

"The awards are based on outstanding contributions to the quality of life in Halifax County and the business person and business that exemplified and promoted the mission of the Chamber of Commerce through involvement and investment in our community," Pool said.

In determining the winners this year, members submitted nominations for the awards based on the 2003 calendar year, according to the president.

During Tuesday's banquet, Italian Delight's Viny Sarnataro was named Member of the Year and R.O. Harrell, Inc., won the Business of the Year Award.

Dave White, current chair of the chamber's Board of Directors, said that Sarnataro was recognized for his generosity, friendly manner and work ethic.

"Through his restaurant he helps out with community events, church functions, school activities and holiday projects," White said. "He is the kind of person who believes in giving back to the community. He supports many organizations such as school sporting events, Christmas Angel Tree, the Humane Society and Chamber of Commerce programs."

To the delight of the audience, Sarnataro began his acceptance speech with his well-known "Hello, South Boston."

Surrounded by his family and employees, Rick Harrell accepted the Business of the Year award. In presenting the award, White told the audience about "the active role in support of many community causes including the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Halifax Regional Health System, the truck driving education program, community visioning, Rotary, the Mentor-Role Model Program, our Chamber of Commerce and many other worthwhile causes."

"In addition, the recent relocation of R.O. Harrell Inc., to a new facility was a demonstration of continued commitment to our community," White added.

During the event, Del. Clarke Hogan, R-Halifax, was the featured speaker. The topic of his speech was "Government, Community and Charity in the 21st Century."

In his speech, Hogan addressed the efforts by the business community to better the place in which they live.

"As I look around the room, I see many who have given a great deal to their community. Many who have worked countless hours for no personal gain," Hogan said. "Being here, ladies and gentlemen, is a statement of intent, but intent without engagement simply establishes false expectations.

"Fundamentally, this task before us - that of bettering our lives and our community - is a difficult one. There are no clever tricks or shortcuts.
"I would ask you to join me to aspire to be one of the others of which there is no memory," the delegate urged. "To desire not to be remembered but only to succeed in leaving a mark on this community so that when we lie in peace, remembered perhaps by only our own families or no one at all, we will know that we made our best effort.

"That knowledge and the comfort it brings should certainly be enough," he concluded.

Raffle drawings for trips to Natural Bridge Hotel, Hotel Roanoke, Mariner's Landing at Smith Mountain Lake and tickets to events at VIR, South Boston Speedway and Martinsville Speedway events culminated the evening.

Halifax To Enforce Property Maintenance
Action Comes As Town Prepares For Spring Clean-Up

Gross violations involving sanitary conditions, debris and unsafe buildings in the Town of Halifax will draw warnings then fines, town planners agreed Wednesday night.

Halifax police will enforce the town's Property Maintenance Code.

If property owners do not respond to town warnings, the town will take the necessary action to remedy the violation and collect the cost from the property owner, which includes, if necessary, filing a lien on the property, explained Carl Espy, town manager.

Action comes as the town prepares for its annual April 30 and May 1 Spring Clean-up.

"We wanted to make the general public aware of the maintenance code," said Espy before taking action.

While unsanitary and unsafe premises are the focus, parked junk cars without decals and neighborhood lots filled with debris, will also draw enforcement.

In other business, planners will recommend to council a special use permit, with conditions, for Home Occupation in a Residential Zone for Busy Bees Cleaning & Lawn Care Service.

Busy Bees is located on Pine Road in Halifax.

Council will hold a public hearing prior to approval of the special use permit.

Planners stipulated that all lawn equipment be stored inside a garage, out of view of the general public. Signs are also prohibited.

Espy told planners that town personnel and public school representatives met last week regarding trash pick up for Halifax Elementary School. The town will remove paper trash and cafeteria waste for HES.

In other action, revised Planning Commission bylaws were approved Wednesday night.

Planners also agreed to form a standing committee prior to their April meeting to begin updating the town's Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Ordinance.

Prior to the Wednesday night meeting, business owners scanned architectural renderings displayed in Town Hall of proposed changes to properties participating in the Facade Improvement program.

Since Monday, architects and consultants from Hill Studios have conducted one-hour design workshops with participating businessmen and women, completing that work Wednesday evening.

"You are seeing a very interesting process take place," said Espy.

Into The Future - Hill Studios architect Don Harwood and Halifax businessman Steve Henderson reviewed design possibilities for Henderson's property Wednesday evening. Architectural renderings for the 32-eleigible participants in the Halifax Facade Improvement program can be seen at Town Hall in Halifax. Henderson is the owner of Halifax Tire.

Comets Girls Track Team Wins Tri-Meet; Boys Take Second
The HCHS Girls Track Team Downed GW And Bassett Wednesday While The Comets Boys Track Team Placed Second

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

The Halifax County High School girls track team has a lot to smile about these days.

Halifax County, competing in its second meet of the season, made it two wins in a row as it downed GW and Bassett Wednesday night in Danville.

The Comets girls tallied 77 points, 26 points better than runnerup GW which had 51 points. Bassett trailed with 21 points.

It was a banner day for the Comets girls as they won 10 of the 15 meet events and had a double winner in the form of Ashlee Coleman who took the top spot in both the shot put and discus.

Halifax County also made a sweep of the top two positions in five events.
It was a different story for the Comets boys track team.

An outmanned and sometimes outmatched Comets boys track team failed to win any events and recorded six second-place finishes among its best efforts of the day.

The Comets boys team placed a distant second behind GW which tallied 106 points.

Halifax County logged 26 points and Bassett trailed with nine points.

In the girls meet, the Comets got their usual good effort from Coleman who had a winning toss of 95 feet and two inches in the discus and a winning throw of 35-1 in the shot put.

Shaday Coleman had a big event for the Comets, scoring a win in the 100-meter dash with a time of 8.03 seconds, taking second place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 55.9 seconds and winning second place in the triple jump with a mark of 28-3.

In addition, she placed fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.7 seconds.

Denice Jones scored a win for the Comets, topping the field in the 400-meter dash with a mark of 1:06. She also placed fourth in the 200-meter race with a time of 30.91 seconds.

Ashton Claiborne won the long jump with a leap of 13-8,75 and placed third in the 200-meter race with a time of 29.38 seconds.

Juanita Kincy won the 300-meter hurdles with a clocking of 53.3 seconds and finished second in the long jump with a mark of 13-7.5.

Shaday Barksdale won the triple jump with a jump of 30-8 and placed second in the 200-meter race with a time of 2:50.

Deelynn Leigh topped the field in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:48.

Two of the victories by the Comets came from the relay teams with the 4x100-meter relay team and the 4x400-meter relay team taking the top spot in those events.

Also having a good day for the Comets was Brittany Gayles who placed second in the shot put with a throw of 30-6.

Siobhan Howerton finished in a tie for second place in the long jump with a leap of 13-7.5 and placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.

Markeisha Coleman placed third in the discus with a toss of 84-8.

In the boys meet, the Comets were led by Chris Irby who placed second in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:15 and Justin Davis who placed second in the 3200-meter race with a time of 11:49.

Troy Douglas also had a good outing, placing second in the 100-meter race with a time of 16.9 seconds.

The Comets relay teams also scored second-place finishes in the 4x100-meter relay, the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x800-meter relay.

Also, the Comets picked up a fourth-place finish from Jeremy Clauden in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 19.1 seconds and a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter race from Patrick Terry with a time of 11.26 seconds.

Brandon Dosher placed fourth in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:25 and Taron Rogers placed fourth in the 400-meter race with a time of 56.45
seconds.

Boys Results
Halifax, GW, Bassett
110M Hurdles--Stephens GW 15.2, Anderson GW 17.82, Ferguson GW 18.5, Clauden H 19.1.
400 Dash--Wilson GW 53.43, Witcher GW 55.2, Bennett GW 56.15, Rodgers H 56.45.
800M--Oates GW 2:13, Irby H 2:15, Holbrooks 2:16, Dooher H 2:25.
Long Jump--Wilson GW 20'7.75; Thompson GW 20'7, Moore B 19'11.25, Craig B 19'2.75.
Discus--Pritchett GW 144'7, Arnold GW 114'.50, Pointer GW 109'5, Totten GW 108'8.
200M--Thompson GW 22.95, Lanier GW 23.13, Leigh H 23.58, Graves GW 23.6.
100M Dash--Lanier GW 11.03, Douglas H 11.9, Thompson GW 11.22, Terry H 11.26.
Shotput--Pritchett GW 48', Tolten GW 41'5.50, Kirby GW 40'1, Brandon GW 39'9.
1600M Run--Adams B 5.00, Middlebrook GW 5.10, Holbrooks GW 5.12, Johnson B 6.20.
300M Hurdles--Anderson GW 43.9, Stephens GW 45.47, Ferguson GW 47.38, Holt GW 53.5.
3200M--Turner GW 10:46, Davis H 11:49.
Triple Jump--Wilson GW 35'10.
4x8 Relay--GW 8:56, Halifax 9:14, Bassett 9:16.
4x100 Relay--GW 44.34, Halifax 45.68, Bassett 46.00.
4x400 Relay--GW 3:45, Halifax 3:51, Halifax 4.00.
Girls Results
Halifax 77, GW 51, Bassett 21
Discus--A. Coleman H 95'2, Adams GW 86'6, M. Coleman H 84'8, Martin B 74'.
100M Dash--Woods GW 12.7, Sampson GW 12.8, Swan GW 13.5, S. Coleman H 13.7.
300M Hudles--Kinsey H 53.32, S. Coleman 55.90, Adams GW 58.37, Howerton H 1.05.
100M Hurdles--S. Coleman H 18.03, White GW 19.77, Adams GW 19.42, Taylor H 21.50.
1600M Run--Prrod B 6:59, Parrish GW 7:16.
800M Run--Leigh H 2:48, Bakrsdale H 2:50, Smith GW 3:09, Parrish GW 3:10.
High Jump--Woods GW 5'2, Green B 5', Callaway B 4'8, Adams GW 4'6.
400M Dash--Jones H 1:06, Green B 1:08, Henry GW 1:09, Jones H 1:15.
200M Dash--Woods GW 28.24, Sampson GW 28.49, Claiborne H 29.38, Jones H 30.91.
Shotput--A. Coleman 35'1, Gayles H 30'6, Martin B 28'9, Carden H 25'1.
Long Jump--Claiborne H 13'8.75, Kincy H 13'7.50, Howerton 13'7.25, Woods GW 13'5.
Triple Jump--Barksdale H 30'8, S. Coleman H 28'3, Woods GW 28.2.50.
4x8 Relay--Bassett 13:17.
4x1 & 4x4 Relays--Halifax.

Obituaries

Billy Edward Logan

Billy Edward Logan, 52, of 181 Beulah Rd., Nathalie, died March 23 at Lynchburg General Hospital.

Mr. Logan was born in Halifax County on May 3, 1951, the son of the late Hiwatha and Bernice Logan. He was married to the late Linda Gale Womack Logan and was a member of New Zion Baptist Church.

His survivors include two sons: Rodney E. and Nathaniel L. Logan of Nathalie; four brothers: Eugene and Ralph Logan of Nathalie and Vincent and Ronald Logan of Maryland; daughter-in-law, Tomecia Logan. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hampton and Nathaniel Logan.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, March 27, at 3 p.m., at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Rodney Logan, 2051 State Shed Rd., Nathalie.

Robert Edward Palmer

Robert Edward Palmer, 73, of 1085 Leda Rd., Nathalie, died March 21 at his home.

Mr. Palmer was born in Halifax County on November 8, 1930, the son of the late Willie and Minnie Younger Palmer. He was a member of the New Zion Baptist Church and a Korean War Army veteran.

His survivors include his wife: Maple Powell Palmer; niece: Kim Lewis; and nephew: Harold Palmer.

A funeral service will be held today, March 26, at 2 p.m., at the New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie Yancey officiating. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.

Ira Walton Poole

Ira Walton Poole, 63, of 1011 Tennessee Street, Virgilina, died March 24 at his home.

Mr. Poole was born on October 30, 1940 in Halifax County, the son of the late Mary Ford Poole and Aubrey Elburn Poole. He was married to Joan Throckmorton Poole was retired from Lanco Paving Co.

His survivors include his wife; three daughters: Kimberly (Steve) Smith of Shawsville, Kathy (Mike) Olszewski of Blacksburg and Karen Virginia Poole of Chapel Hill, N.C.; three sisters: Cassie Bowyer and Virginia Dixon of Roxboro, N.C.; and Ann Poole of Virgilina; brother: Owen “Moose” Poole of South Boston; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers.

A graveside service will be held today, March 26, at 2 p.m., at Virgilina Cemetery with the Rev. Harvey Carnes and Dr. Michael Haskett officiating.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, VA 24592 or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA 24592.