Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Supes Authorize Condemnation
King Village 30-Year-Old Road Issue Passes With 4-3 Vote Monday Night

Supervisors voted 4-3 to begin condemnation of right of way to improve the existing King Village Trail.

The action came Monday night with one supervisor, Tom West, absent.
Board Chairman William Fitzgerald called for action, noting there had been an effort on behalf of the alternate route recommended by the Board of Viewers.

"To this date, there's no concrete information to indicate funding for that route," he said, noting he had contacted state officials about the project.

"There comes a time when the issue needs to be resolved," said Supervisor W.B. Claiborne of the 30-year road improvement effort. "The time is now."
Claiborne said supervisors have "so many things to deal with in the county, the school budget, a new administrator" to be hired.

"It's time to resolve this issue," repeated Claiborne.

Supervisor James Edmunds, in whose district King Village lies, entered the motion to prepare a resolution of condemnation of right of way for the existing road.

"I am a strong advocate of private property rights," Edmunds said.

"But I feel there are extenuating circumstances here," naming the decades-old effort by King Village residents.

"Who will pay the lawyers?" asked Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan. "Who will pay for the land?"

Although he said he could not answer Vaughan's question, Fitzgerald replied that the county already had been paying an attorney for one and one-half years as they county sought a road solution. "That's the best answer I can give on cost," he added.

"I'm new to the Board but not new to this issue," said Supervisor Doug Bowman.

Bowman said that he had come to the conclusion the alternate route (along the Banister and then on to King Village) was not preferred for several reasons: the cost (of the proposed alternate) would be double the existing road; maintenance for a road/boat access could be costly and would be paid for by local or state taxpayers; the river access could present possible safety/security issues.

The supervisor also said funding from the state was limited at best and that the project would probably would not see the light of day in his lifetime.
"By state code, this (condemnation) procedure is to be rarely and reluctantly used," added Bowman.

The supervisor said this was not something to set a precedent, but a special case.

He said there was no visual or environmental impact whatever to the property, and no new access to the land.

"This is about getting right public access to the community that it does not have," added Bowman.

King Village residents have charged the existing road presents a safety issue following heavy rains or snowfall because neither residents nor emergency vehicles can travel the road.

"Given the facts before us, I think it is time to act ...," said Bowman, adding that in his heart he thought it was the right thing to do.

Edmunds told the Board there had been misconceptions about this issue and the road.

"People ask when the Board will build them a road," he said.

"This condemnation is for necessary right of way. The circumstances are extenuating."

"This will not happen just because others ask, unless they've been fighting 30 years," he added.

Even if approved, Bowman cautioned gaining the right of way was the first step, and that the final project could take years to occur.

Voting in favor of condemnation were supervisors William Fitzgerald, Doug Bowman, James Edmunds and William Claiborne. Opposing the action were Ronnie Vaughan, Lottie Nunn and R.E. "Dickie" Abbott.

King Village resident Carolyn Ballou thanked supervisors.

"On behalf of King Village, I thank God for the four members who voted (in favor)," she said.

She also expressed thanks to all who had supported residents' efforts to improve King Village Trail.

New SoBo Chief Vows To Seek State Accreditation
Chief Glenn M. (Mick) Reed Joined Department On March 1; Will Take Over Reins March 15

South Boston's new police chief said yesterday that one of his top administrative priorities will be to work toward receiving state accreditation for the town's police force.

"It's very much a priority for me.

"Once we achieve that, we're telling the community that our department meets the guidelines of professionalism set forth by the state," Chief Glenn M. (Mick) Reed said.

Reed said the state has developed a standard for police departments that includes over 180 policy mandates for accreditation.

Once accredited, South Boston's department will save money on Virginia Municipal League insurance rates and qualify for advanced training at reduced rates.

"Even more important than that, in my opinion, are the bragging rights for both the department and the community at large," the chief said. "It's a source of internal pride for both the officers and the town itself."

An accredited police department goes hand in hand with economic development efforts, according to Reed.

"I see it as an economic issue because if the police department is accredited, then people considering moving into the community or moving their businesses here will know that there are safe schools for their children and that South Boston is a safe place to live," he said.

As far as challenges go, Reed said he would continue to work to remedy the drug problem in the town.

"While I don't want the public to get the wrong impression that I'm focusing on one area of crime more than others, I don't think there's a bigger issue in this area than the drug problem," he said. "I think whatever we do, we as a police department need to examine every option available and either maintain or increase what we're doing."

Although he admits there are goals that need to be met, the new chief said he is confident South Boston's department is equipped to meet the challenge.

"I'm incredibly proud of the department I'm coming into," he said. "I'm hoping to take a good department and make it even better.

"I'm completely confident that given the men and women of South Boston's police department, we're going to be able to provide the community with the most professional, well-trained law enforcement available," Reed added.

Reed is married with two grown children and served on the City of Salem Police Department for 25 years.

In addition to commanding the uniformed officers in the patrol division for Salem, he was also responsible for officer assignments and developing policies and procedures that governed the Accredited Police Department program.

He joined the South Boston department on March 1, and will officially take over full operations of the department on March 15.

May 4 Elections Set As Filing Deadline Passes


Halifax County Registrar Judy Meeler said yesterday that the current vice-mayor in South Boston is the only person to turn in the paperwork to run for the mayor's seat in the May 4 elections.

The deadline to file for the municipal elections was yesterday at 7 p.m.
Vice-Mayor Carroll Thackston announced in January that he would seek the post being vacated by Mayor Glen Abernathy.

Thackston's move, coupled with the re-election bids of Councilmen Colemen Speece and Chris Elliott, means that four people will be seeking three seats on the six-member Council.

Both Elliott and Speece have filed for re-election.

The two are being challenged by former School Board member Carl Furches and retiring assistant School Superintendent Morris Bryant.

As of press time, Virgilina Mayor John Youngk had not filed for re-election to the seat.

The Town of Virgilina will elect six Council members and a mayor on May 4.

Kate T. Cosner is the sole candidate running for the mayor's seat.

Incumbents Rufus Edward Chandler Jr., Mary Helen Gravitt, Lessie R. Hughes, Ralph Owen Murray Sr. and Thomas Keith Tuck Jr. had filed for re-election to their Council seats.

The five are being challenged by newcomers Gayle Cole and Allen D. Cosner.
Incumbent Beverly Murray hadn't filed for re-election as of yesterday afternoon.
Three people are hoping to fill two at-large seats on the Halifax Town Council.
Incumbent Sam Thompson, who is completing the term vacated by Harold Ray Younger, is running for another term.

The second seat is currently held by H.C. Phillips Sr., who has not filed the paperwork to run for re-election. Phillips won the seat by write-in vote during the last election.

Evelyn Allocco and Dr. Charles Parker are joining Thompson in the race for the two open seats on the Council.

The mayor's seat and five Council seats are up for grabs in the Town of Scottsburg.

Ira R. Wilkerson II is running unopposed for another term in the mayor's seat.

Two incumbents, Robert D. Elliott and Connie H. Glass, and newcomer James Edward Stoner Sr. have filed the necessary paperwork to be on the May ballot.

O’Sullivan Wins Industrial League Title
O’Sullivan Downed School System In League Tourney Championship Game

By DOUG FORD | G-V Staff Writer

The South Boston Business and Industrial Basketball League Tournament championship game Sunday night was a battle between the quick and the strong.

On this night, the overall team quickness of O'Sullivan overcame the size of Halifax County School System (HCSS) for a 78-72 win, the game closer than even the final score indicated.

Treymayne Boyd, named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, scored a game-high 29 points to lead four O'Sullivan players in double figures.

Treymayne Boyd hit two treys and was 6-10 from the foul line, including going 4-6 in the final minute.

Lamont Boyd, MVP for the league regular season, scored 16 points, Bernard Monroe had 13 points, and David Garner chipped in 10 points for the winners.

Wade Martin chipped in 5 points, including a crucial 3-point play down the stretch, while Eddie Lipscomb and David Scott scored 3 and 2 points for O'Sullivan, respectively.

Lipscomb had the other trey for O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan was a combined 14-29 from the foul line.

Garrett Dillard topped the scoring for HCSS with 22 points, including four 3-pointers, while Kelvin Davis and W.J. Long worked inside for 18 and 11 points.
Jeff Davis scored 14 points, also inside the paint, while Alexis Cowan and Lawrence Wilkerson added 5 and 2 points, respectively for HCSS, but Kenneth Day, one of the best 3-point marksman in the league, went scoreless in the title game.

HCSS was a combined 14-24 from the charity stripe, with Kelvin Davis hitting 6 of 10 foul shots.

The first half of the title game was a back and forth battle, neither team gaining an advantage for more than a few possessions.

The first of three Treymayne Boyd treys gave O'Sullivan an early 5-2 advantage, before a 12-2 run by HCSS gave it its largest advantage of the contest at 14-7.

That came with little more than 14 minutes remaining in the first half, but O'Sullivan countered with 6 points by Treymayne Boyd and 4 points by Garner to help tie the game at 17-17.

Neither team would lead by more than 5 points the rest of the half, Jeff and Kelvin Davis combining for 10 points for HCSS, and Treymayne and Lamont Boyd scoring 8 points for O'Sullivan in that span.

Dillard hit one of two free throws to give HCSS a 37-35 halftime lead.
The second half began much as the first had, HCSS surging to a 45-39 lead after consecutive treys by Dillard, but O'Sullivan came back to take the lead 48-47 after a basket by Lamont Boyd at the 14:00 mark of the second half.

The score was tied at 50-50, before Garner hit two shots in a row for a 4-point lead for O'Sullivan, but two consecutive inside baskets by Long tied the score again.

The teams traded baskets before Dillard's 3-pointer tied the game at 59-59, and the teams continued to match buckets until Lamont Boyd's two free throws gave O'Sullivan the lead for good at 65-63 with four minutes remaining.
A 9-0 run by O'Sullivan keyed by two 3-point plays in the final four minutes proved to be the difference in the game.

After a key HCSS turnover, Martin hit a shot inside, was fouled and converted the 3-point play for a 68-63 lead, and Martin was fouled on a breakaway.

His foul shot made the score 69-63, and another 3-point play by Treymayne Boyd after a steal gave O'Sullivan a 72-63 lead, before HCSS mounted a final rally.

A field goal by Dillard, three foul shots by Kelvin Davis, and four missed free throws by O'Sullivan brought HCSS to within 4 points at 72-68 with little more than a minute remaining.

HCSS got as close as 73-70 after two foul shots by Long, but Treymayne Boyd went 3-4 from the line and Lamont Boyd added a field goal in the final seconds to secure the title for O'Sullivan.

Tournament Consolation Game
ABB 68, AWNC 63

Rodney Chandler scored 23 points, and Michael Jackson and Whitney Harris added 17 points apiece, as ABB took third-place in the South Boston Business and Industrial League Tournament with a come-from-behind 68-63 win over AWNC.

Lamont Traynham added 7 points and Leo Ferguson 4 points for the winners.
AWNC led at halftime 35-30, behind 15 first-half points by game-high scorer Travalas Staten, before the second half rally by ABB.

Staten finished with 25 points, Alfred Coleman 18 points and Tavent Staten 12 points, with Coleman hitting two treys, and Emmanuel Harris, Robert Jennings and Travalas Staten one 3-pointer each.

Chandler and Harris led the second half comeback for ABB, Chandler scoring 14 points, including two treys, and Harris 11 points after intermission.

ABB held a slight advantage at the charity stripe, going 5-13 at the foul line, while AWNC was 0-4.

Obituaries

Howard Dwayne Hamilton

Howard Dwayne Hamilton, 49, of 2308 North Main Street, South Boston died February 28 at VCU-MCV Health System in Richmond.

Mr. Hamilton w as born in South Boston on September 28, 1954, the son of Levi B. Hamilton Sr. and Amelia Walton Hamilton. He was a member of Ebenezer CME Church and was employed by Lasco Bathware, Inc.

Survivors include his parents of South Boston; five sisters, Katrina H. Graves of Manassas, Kathy H. Brown of Holly Springs, N.C., Shelby G. Hamilton of Mitchellville, Md., Martha H. Henry of Richmond and Frankie H. Towner of Austell, Ga.; and one brother, Levi B. Hamilton Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.

Funeral services for Mr. Hamilton will be held tomorrow, March 4 at noon at Ebenezer CME Church with the Rev. Leonard Jones III officiating. Burial will follow in the Pounds Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of his parents, 2203 North Main Street, South Boston.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Ebenezer CME Church Building Fund, c/o Ebenezer CME Church, 2309 North Main Street, South Boston, 24592.

Charles David Harvey

Charles 'Chuck' David Harvey, 59, of Lynchburg, died March 1. He was the husband of Chris Harvey for 16 years.

Mr. Harvey was born September 29, 1944, in Seattle, Wash., a son of Ed Willoughby and the late Ernestine Davidson Willoughby. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was retired from Babcock & Wilcox where he worked in Quality Control, and also worked as a radio announcer in the Central Virginia area. He was a member of Living Word Baptist Church, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #196, Disabled American Veterans Chapter #8, and was a volunteer with Centra Health Auxiliary Services.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Gregory Paul Harvey and Jeffrey Nolan Burns, both of Lynchburg, and Brian David Harvey of Rustburg; a daughter, Suzanne Burns Johnson of Appomattox; one brother, John Ed Willoughby Jr. of Columbia, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4, at Tharp Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, March 5, at Tharp Funeral Home with Pastor Marvin Suitt officiating. Burial will follow in Fort Hill Memorial Park. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post #16.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #196 or Living Word Baptist Church Building Fund, 2305 Waterlick Road, Forest, 24551.

Joe D. Via

Joe D. Via, 52, of Keysville died March 1.

Surviving are his wife, Diane Cole Via; one daughter, Nicole D. Via of Keysville; two brothers, Jack Via and Mack Via; one sister, Dorie Fields, all of Missouri; his mother-in-law, Jeanette T. Cole of Keysville.

A funeral service for Mr. Via will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 4 at Browning Funeral Home in Keysville with burial in Eureka Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Browning Funeral Home from 7:00 to 8:30 this evening, March 3.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Cancer Society.

Randal Ralph Ward

A former WHLF radio announcer, Randal 'Randy' Ralph Ward, 36, of Chapel Hill, N.C. died February 3 at his home.

Mr. Ward was born in Clearwater, Fla. on January 17, 1968, and moved with his family to Chapel Hill in 1976. He lived in Halifax 1982-84, and in 1990 was employed as an announcer for WHLF, and by Gilliam's TV and Appliances. He returned to Chapel Hill where he was a well known rock musician in the Triangle area, performing with 'Metal Flake Mother,' 'Family Dollar Pharoahs', and most recently in his one man band 'Protean Spook.' He was a furniture maker with Stoneline Designs in Hillsborough, N.C.

Survivors of Mr. Ward include his parents, Donald and Gail Ward, of Franklinton, N.C.; a sister, Amy Ward Brogden and her husband, Jeremy Brogden, of Albany, Ga.; a brother, Robert Ward and wife, Kelly, of Holly Springs, N.C.; and a devoted partner, Amanda Yaggy, of Chapel Hill.
A memorial was held in Chapel Hill on February 15.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Covenant House, Times Square Station, P.O. Box 731, New York, N.Y. 10108-0731.