Monday, March 29, 2004

Saving Soldiers’ Lives, Creating High-Tech Jobs
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., Is At The Right Place At The Right Time To Help Steer An Additional $6.4 Million To The VIR Research And Testing Facility

It was a James Bond high-tech performance at Virginia International Raceway Friday afternoon as the unmanned helicopter swept over the tarmac in search of simulated mines.

Discovering one, the helicopter executed a 360-degree turnabout, and an unmanned rover guided by computer went to the site.

In combat, the unmanned vehicle could either destroy or mark the mine, a scenario that could save countless lives when U.S. troops, and others, are forced to cross enemy mine fields.

The high-tech research for military use was key to Sen. John Warner's support for the Joint Unmanned Systems Testing Experimentation and Research (JOUSTER) program at VIR in Halifax County.

It is also key to the additional $6.8 million being sought by Warner.
"These folks are employing today's technology that can be translated to the battlefield in a year's time," Warner told reporters gathered Friday at VIR.

But first the $6.8 million budget request must pass committees, the Senate, the House and be signed by the president.

Warner did not hesitate to call on 5th District Congressman Virgil Goode for House support, but senator's attitude was one of confidence.

"The check will be in the mail," he told the crowd.

The additional funding would provide continued unmanned research and testing facilities at the Halifax County site.

In 2003-2004, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) received $2.2 million federal grant for JOUSTER, one of six projects being developed by Virginia Tech at IALR in Danville.

"We fully expect that as this Department of Defense work moves ahead, it will draw other businesses here, and jobs will be created in a variety of support fields," Goode said Friday.

He said the research project will offer opportunities to Southside's young people to work in advanced technology.

Sen. George Allen's aide Tucker Watkins read a letter from the senator, who could not attend the event, describing the new facility as one that will create investment as well as draw top military and university research personnel to the area.

"Robotic technology is an emerging economic powerhouse," emphasized Tim Franklin, executive director of the IALR.

Virginia Tech President Charles Steger told the crowd that creation of a knowledge-based economy was a critical component for the region's future, and that the research facility would play an important role in creating that component.

Bill Fitzgerald, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, told the crowd that no one could have predicted what would happen in Southside with the loss of tobacco, textile and furniture plants.

"We are working hard to bring it back to prosperity," said Fitzgerald.

He said the county had worked with Pittsylvania County and Danville to provide infrastructure to VIR and open economic opportunities.
Halifax Impact

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority Director Scott Morris and Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan see the JOUSTER announcement as a return on investment.

"It is huge for us in that it is giving us a research component we didn't have before," said the IDA director.

"It is something the military needs done, and there are some commercial benefits that could spin off.

"A very good explanation of why we do put money in VIR," added Morris. " If we had not done those things with the county infrastructure investment, it would be somewhere else. This is an example of opportunities investments are bringing us." added Morris.

County administrator Joe Morgan sees JOUSTER as adding diversity to VIR.

"It brings in a fifth dimension that has the involvement of the Department of Defense (DOD) and federal funding," Morgan said early Friday morning. "The purpose is to bring in high-tech jobs."

While VIR is about racing, the second dimension is tourism, according to Morgan.

The third is the motorsports industry at the Raceplex, the industrial park at the entrance to VIR; the fourth is VIPER research with Virginia Tech-based funding, an effort involved with the Tobacco Commission, IALR and Tech ...
"JOUSTER brings the federal presence, which adds that fifth dimension," said Morgan.

"Our hope is to get a significant presence that is diversified," he added.

Search Continues For Missing Man
Willie ‘Willie Boy’ Harris Was Last Seen Saturday

Search and rescue teams combed the Midway community in an extensive search for a man reported missing at about noon yesterday.

Willie "Willie Boy" Harris, 58, was last seen at his Skylark Trail residence at 11 o'clock Saturday night, according to Halifax County Sheriff's Office Sgt. D.D. Irby.

"His girlfriend saw him when she went to bed and woke up at 4 a.m. to check on him and he was gone," said Irby. "He apparently has a history of wandering but he normally comes back in four to six hours, which is probably why they waited so long to call us."

Irby described Harris as an African-American weighing 140 to 150 pounds with bushy hair.

He was last seen wearing a black cap, grey pants, a red shirt, a brown jacket, black high-top shoes and a belt with three keys, according Irby.

He added that Harris has a history of seizures and is "known to be violent when confronted."

Irby said the Sheriff's Office responded by securing the scene, and calling in search dogs and the Virginia State Police Med Flight 3 helicopter.

"If we did a foot search right now it would compromise any scent that the search dogs might pick up," he said early yesterday afternoon.

Two separate foot searches had begun by 5 p.m. yesterday, according to Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes.

Halifax County 911 Coordinator Alan Barbour said K-9 units from both Pittsylvania and Mecklenberg counties had been called in as well as the Angel Search and Rescue Team.

Barbour said the Halifax County Emergency Management Team, Halifax County Search and Rescue, Halifax Underwater Response Team and local volunteer fire departments were available to search.

"Probably about every fire department in the county has some representation at the scene," said Oakes. "We are going as hard as we know how to go.

"There is a lot of manpower out there," added Oakes. "People who were enjoying their Sunday off are now working hard to find this guy. We are using every resource we have."

Teen Held Following Stabbing
Sixteen-Year-Old Allegedly Stabbed SoBo Man In Back

A 16-year-old male juvenile is being held in W.W. Moore Detention Center in Danville following Friday afternoon stabbing incident, according to Investigator C.L. Carswell of the South Boston Police Department.

Carswell said the Poplar Creek Road juvenile has been charged with malicious wounding following the stabbing of Timothy Mills, 21, also of Poplar Creek Street in South Boston.

South Boston officers as well as deputies from the Halifax County Sheriff's Office responded to the 5:05 p.m. call to Fairmont Apartments on Poplar Creek Street reporting the stabbing, according to Carswell.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered that Mills had been stabbed in the back with a large kitchen knife following an altercation.

Carswell charged the juvenile with the stabbing, he said yesterday.

No information about the cause of the altercation was available at press time.
Mills was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

In other police business, Garrett Cheatham, 31, of Chase City, was charged with reckless driving following an accident on Route 360 three-tenths of a mile west of Route 607 Saturday morning, according to the Virginia State Police.

Trooper K.C. Phillips said Cheatham fell asleep at the wheel of his 1998 Plymouth, ran off the left side of the road and struck a guardrail.

Phillips estimated that the Plymouth sustained $7,000 in damages while the guardrail sustained $225.

No injuries were reported in the 9:40 a.m. accident.

Comets Batter Park View, 14-1
HCHS Tuned Up For Tuesday’s District Opener Against E.C. Glass By Downing Park View 14-1 Friday Night In South Hill

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County faced Park View Friday night looking for a good tune-up for Tuesday's Western Valley District opener against E.C. Glass.

It got it.

The Comets took command early and dropped Park View 14-1 in South Hill in a contest that was stopped after five innings under a slaughter rule.

"It was a good win for us," said Davis.

"We went down there (to South Hill) expecting Park View to have a pretty decent ballclub. We jumped on them early, got an early lead and held it the rest of the night.

"Everybody got to play," Davis continued, "and we got a chance to see everybody perform. I felt like getting everybody into the game was important, especially with us starting district play this week."

Friday night's win gave Halifax County a sweep of its early-season non-district games and advanced the Comets' record to 4-0 on the season.

The Comets' convincing win over Park View set the stage for Tuesday night's district opener.

In E.C. Glass, the Comets will face a Hilltoppers team that is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in district play.

E.C. Glass downed Franklin County (2-4 overall and 0-1 in the district) 6-5 in Rocky Mount late last week behind the arm of standout lefthander Jared Bolden.

Bolden was the mainstay of the E.C. Glass pitching corp last year when the Hilltoppers advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Davis said he knows his team will be facing a tough team on the road in Tuesday night's contest in Lynchburg.

"This is what it is all about," Davis said referring to the start of the Western Valley District season.

"This game against E.C. Glass will be an important one for us to win. We know we're going to be facing a good ballclub. They lost a couple of players from last year but they still have good players."

Davis pointed out that this is not a must-win game, but, instead, is a game that can help the Comets a great deal later down the line if they can get this first road win.

"It's not a game that we absolutely have to win," Davis said.

"But, we'd like to win this first district game of the season and use it to help us continue to build momentum.

"It's always big when you can get that first district win under your belt early," he continued.

"E.C. Glass has always been a scrappy team. We've got to go into the game mentally focused and mentally prepared to play. The big thing we need to do is come out and play well."

Davis said he anticipates his team will face Bolden Tuesday night.

"If he pitches, it will probably be a low-scoring game," Davis said.

"We're going to have to play well and take advantage of the opportunities we get."

Tuesday's contest against E.C. Glass will be the first game of a three-game week for the Comets.

On Thursday night, the Comets will host Park View here at 6 p.m. in a return match.

And, on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the Comets will host Baldwin, Pa. at Comets Field.

In Friday night's contest against Park View, Robert Carter had a big night on the mound for the Comets, going the distance and fanning eight batters while allowing two hits and scattering five walks.

Carter was also a big cog in the Comets' offense which produced a dozen hits as he had two hits in two official trips to the plate, scored three times and stole two bases.

Nathan Thomas also had a big night, going 2-2 at the plate with one of his hits being a run-scoring triple in the first inning. He had two RBIs for the night.

Jason Lloyd and Chris Lowery were also 2-2 at the plate with Lloyd getting a single and a triple and ending his night with three RBIs and Lowery getting a single and a double and one RBI.

Starters Brent Long, Ryan Gieselman and Steven Smith each had one hit and Clyde Brooks, playing in a reserve role, came off the bench to get a hit.

The Comets jumped on Park View early, picking up three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Carter opened the game with a single and scored on Thomas' triple. Lloyd singled to score Thomas, giving the Comets three straight hits.

Lloyd stole second base, moved to third base when Long flied out to centerfield for the first out of the inning and scored when Jacob Owen grounded out to the second baseman for the second out of the inning.
The Comets plated seven more runs in the top of the second inning to take a 10-0 lead.

Lowery opened the second inning with a single, stole second base, moved to third base on a single by Gieselman and scored on a throwing error that allowed Gieselman to advance to second base.

Gieselman stole third base and scored on a single by Thomas.
Lloyd tripled and scored Carter who reached base on a walk and Thomas and a double by Long scored Lloyd.

Long stole third base and scored on a wild pitch.

Owen scored the final Comets run in the inning on a two-out double by Lowery.

Park View scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Logan Rowley led off with a hit, moved to second base on a passed ball and scored on a one-out double by Justin Hite.

The Comets went back to work in the top of the third, adding four more runs to pad their lead to 14-1.

Smith opened the inning with a hit, moved to second base on a hit by Carter, advanced to third base on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Thomas, Lloyd and Tyler Clarke, pinch-hitting for Long, all walked, forcing Carter across the plate for a run.

Thomas and Lloyd scored as the result of Park View errors to complete the Comets' scoring in the contest.

Park View got runners on the sacks in the bottom of the third inning as the result of walks from Carter but was unable to score.

Those two runners, William Edwards and Rowley, were left stranded on the sacks and were the last Park View players to reach base in the game.

Obituaries

Colby Lynn Blanks

Graveside services for the infant Colby Lynn Blanks were held Sunday, March 28, at Halifax Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service.

The infant died March 25 at Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, N.C.
He is survived by the mother, Dana Kay Blanks of Roxboro, N.C., the father, Johnny Williams Jr., of Scottsburg, the maternal grandparents, Ronnie and Melinda Blanks of Roxboro, N.C., the maternal grandmother, Sherry Blanks of Clover, the paternal grandparents, Dennis and Janice Puryear of Scottsburg, the paternal grandfather, Johnny Mack Williams Sr., of Scottsburg, and one sister, Kaylee Williams of Roxboro, N.C.

E.M. ‘Dave’ Davis

E.M. "Dave" Davis, 78, died Thursday, March 25.

He was a native of South Boston and was a member of the Bayside Masonic Lodge #218, A.F. & A.M.

Mr. Davis was the founder of D&M Seafood, which he opened in 1964.

He is survived by two sons, Michael Davis and wife Sharon and Harold Davis and wife Sharon, one sister, Barbara Puryear, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, at Bayside Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Pullen officiating.

Burial will follow in Rosewood Memorial Park, Virginia Beach.

The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel Monday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cabel Earl Smiley

Cabel Earl Smiley, 83, of Ashland, died Saturday, March 27.

Mr. Smiley was a decorated WW II veteran and worked for Dupont for 42 years.

He was a member of Lebanon United Methodist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Smiley is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anne "Connie" Baugh Smiley, one daughter, Kathryn A. Smiley Andelman of Arlington, one son, Kenneth Sterling Smiley of Blacksburg, two brothers, John Clifton Smiley of Scottsburg and Harry Edward Smiley of Newport News, one nephew and three nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Sterling and Lettie Russell Smiley of Clover, one sister, Effie Smiley Luck and one brother Dewy Garland Smiley.

Funeral services will be held at Reid Funeral Home, 412 South Washington Highway, Ashland, at 2 p.m. Tuesday with burial in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the Reid Funeral Home from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation 4600 Cox Road, Suite 130 Glen Allen, Va., 23060.