As of late yesterday, five persons had filed for three seats on South Boston Town Council with still no word that the election will be held on May 5. The Justice Department has until April 10 to review and rule on an annexation plan that was approved by the town and county December 31, 1997.
If the April 10 deadline is not met, all five candidates would have to be recertified according to the State Board of Elections. The actual date of the election would be at least 60 days after the justice department rules that there is no objection to the election changes and in fact, meets provisions pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Those filing in South Boston include incumbents Josephine Marshall and W.C. "Buddy" Wilborne and newcomers Dr. Eula Payne-Williams, Ed Owens and Thomas S. Raab.
Dr. Payne-Williams is a Birch Street resident and serves as secretary of the Virginia State Council. Owens owns and operates a Ed Owens Insurance Agency in Halifax.
Raab owns and manages Electric Service Company and he and his wife Anne have a son Scott who is a senior at Hargrave Military Academy and a daughter Rebecca who is an eight grade student at Halifax County Middle School.
Raab earned his BS in agriculture at Ohio State and holds a MS in management from Duke University.
Raab serves as secretary to Cornerstone board, served eight years on the South Boston Planning Commission and is a member and past president of the Downtown Business Association. He is a member and past chairman of the Halifax County/South Boston Republican Party, member of the South Boston Rotary Club, past president of South Boston Jaycees,
He is a member and serves as a deacon and treasurer of First Presbyterian Church in South Boston.
Town of Halifax Mayor Dennis Osborne will face a challenge from political newcomer A.W. "Sandy" Mosby III in the May 5th election.
In addition to the mayor's office, all four Halifax Town Council ward seats will be on the ballot with all four incumbents seeking re-election. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the councilmen faced no opposition, however, candidates had until 7 p.m. to file.
The four ward seats and current incumbents include: Ward A, Cabell Daniel; Ward B, Sam Thompson; Ward C, S.J. Dunavant Jr.; Ward D, David "Buddy" Guthrie. No challengers had filed for these seats as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The town's two at-large seats, held by John Murphy and Harold Younger Jr., are not up in this year's election.
Virgilina will also have a contest for the mayor's seat with incumbent Jay Stover Long challenged by Lessie R. Hughes.
Seven candidates are seeking Virgilina's six town council seats. Vying for office are incumbents R. Michael Glasscock, Lois Tuck Long, Sue N. Long, Beverly S. Murray and Thomas Keith Tuck Jr. as well as candidates Rufus Edward Chandler Jr., Kate T. Cosner, Mary Helen W. Gravitt and John E. Youngk.
In Clover, only four candidates had filed for town council's five seats
as of late afternoon Tuesday, Roosevelt Garrett Jr., Shelby D. Newcomb,
Robert Leo Noblin and E. Ray Nichols and for mayor incumbent Deborah J.
Griles.
Halifax Town Council is seeking legal counsel from Lynchburg attorney Carter Glass IV and a meeting with Virginia Tech facilitator Don Lacy to discuss boundary adjustment issues.
Council - with councilman Cabell Daniel objecting - authorized town manager Robert Greene to contact Glass and Lacy to meet with Council to discuss legal and real estate matters, "both pertaining to boundary adjustment" with the county. The action came following a called Council meeting Monday night.
After the meeting, Daniel said he opposed the move because people who spoke at the town's public hearing on boundary adjustment last year were opposed.
The Town of Halifax and county supervisors agreed Nov. 20, 1997 to hold public hearings on a boundary settlement proposal that added about 3,000 acres to the town. The public hearings were scheduled Dec. 10.
However, following the public hearings supervisors declined to vote on the proposed boundary settlement, instead voting 7-1 to reenter negotiations with the town.
In other business Monday night, town council authorized Greene to make arrangements to hook the Halifax and South Boston water systems together at Webb Park for emergency use.
South Boston Town Council approved a storm water control project for Westmoreland Street Monday night, and the town will have to pay all of the estimated $110,000 cost.
There is a head start of $89,600 on hand, however, with the additional cost to be funded from the special storm water drainage account recently established. Council voted to put the job up for bid.
At the same time the governing body delayed a similar project for Eastover Drive, in the hope that a FEMA grant is available.
Councilman Buddy Wilborn said he felt Council should go ahead and start looking seriously at Eastover Drive, because the damaged area is becoming a matter of safety.
Councilman Bill Starke, who will be stepping down from his seat on July 1 because his employment is taking him to Richmond, delivered a parting message to the citizens of the town and to the entire community, urging all to become better informed and more involved in community life.
"I think South Boston has a bright future. Things are happening here," he asserted, including Halifax County, and urging everyone to forget the differences of several months ago and continue to work hard together.
"It's over. It's done. It's legal. Let's put (any difficulty) behind us and move on."
He touched briefly on differences between town and county services and the fact that town real estate taxes are higher.
"Town people are willing to pay for those services, and that's the way it should be. When I came here I had the choice of buying a larger place in the county, but I chose the town because I wanted the services," he said.
He cited the garbage and trash pickup, enhanced police service and other benefits of living in town.
Centerville area businessman Bob Crone renewed his plea that he was erroneously included in the annexed area when the maps showed he was not included.
But Town Manager Ken McLawhorn said the proper map had been made available and Crone did not avail himself of it.
Crone told Council he did not see how it could keep McLawhon in his position and also give him a raise. Also asserting that his business license tax was going up by 700 percent, he gave Finance Director Vandie Saunders a down payment of $30 on the bill.
In other business, Council approved a special use permit for Sandy Palmer to enlarge a home occupation tailor shop near his residence oat 1406 College Street, and appointed a board of viewers to look and see if an alley to the rear of 300 Chalmers Street should be closed.The board was composed of Addison Marable, Jeff Wilborn and George Tunstall.
Mrs. Carolyn Nichols was appointed to fill the vacancy on the Regional Library Board of Claudia Austin, who has resigned for health reasons.
A Halifax County Circuit Court jury began deliberations late yesterday afternoon for the only murder case which occurred in Halifax County for 1997.
Michael Angelo Easley, 37, of South Boston was accused of gunning down Jesse Williams Jr., 26, of Sinai during an argument which occurred on July 26, 1997 at the Country Green Apartments.
Easley shot an intoxicated and unarmed Williams at least eight times with a 9mm semi-automatic Ruger handgun during a late night cookout which was held at the apartment complex, according to testimony.
Defense attorney Bill Watson portrayed the incident as a case of self-defense against a 200-pound, 6'1" Williams, who had a reputation for physical violence whenever he drank.
"He (Williams) wasn't intoxicated, he was drunk," Watson told the eight-woman, four-man jury. "When he gets drunk, he fights..he was a big, drunken maniac who had been in the penitentiary."
Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker disagreed. "What was operating here was simple rage," said Greenbacker. "It was an act of retaliation done in anger."
The shooting incident took place at 3:49 a.m. in the parking lot in front of 325 Country Green Apartments, where the victim lived with the defendant's sister, Frances Morton, according to testimony.
The argument first took place inside Morton's apartment, apparently over disagreements about Morton's son, Greenbacker explained.
Williams pushed Easley against the wall, "like a wild man," Watson told the jury.
Easley left the apartment but was followed outside by an angry Williams, according to Watson.
Testimony from prosecution witnesses who observed the murder differed from Watson's opening remarks to the jury.
"He (Williams) came out of the house with a beer under his arm and one in his hand," testified Gail Chandler, who is the first cousin of the victim. "Michael said (to him), 'I'm going to get you, you ragged ------------.'"
She also testified that she did not see or hear Williams say anything that constituted a threat to Easley.
Under cross examination from Watson, she admitted that at the time of the incident she was a crack cocaine addict and that she had previous felony convictions for cocaine possession and welfare fraud.
Derrick Waller, the victim's brother-in-law and another witness to the murder, testified that he saw the victim walking towards Easley, but that he also did not hear any threatening words from the victim.
"They were just talking," he said to Watson. "Like you and me."
A short while later, Waller heard the first gunshot. "Michael pulled the gun out and shot him," he told the court.
Under cross examination, Waller admitted that he has been convicted of cocaine distribution twice in New York and once in Virginia. He also admitted to previous felony convictions of check forgery.
Immediately after the first gunshot, Waller ducked into an apartment and called police, he testified.
The first officer to arrive on the scene was Cpl. S.T. Moser of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department, who secured the area so members of the Halifax County Rescue Squad could arrive and begin resuscitation efforts.
When he arrived, Moser saw two subjects standing and a third subject kneeling next to Williams' body, according to his testimony.
Under cross examination, he stated that he did not search Williams' body for any possible weapons.
Investigator M.A. Womack arrived and began interviewing subjects, as well as initiating a search for the murder weapon. He stated that he did not see any bruises or marks on Easley which indicated that he had been beaten by Williams.
Under cross examination from Watson, Womack testified that he did find a rip in the rear of Easley's shirt.
Easley had left the scene shortly after the murder and was later found at the intersection of Rt. 654 and Rt. 1308, just east of the adjacent Westside Village Apartments, according to testimony.
Virginia State Trooper R.L. Hodges saw a group of males at the intersection and when he asked if any of them had seen the suspect, Easley, who was in the group, turned himself over.
During a search of Morton's apartment, Halifax Police Department Officer Stanley Britton found the pistol on a coffee table in the front living room, along with clips, a shoulder holster, and case.
The following morning, HCSD Investigator J.L. Hicks gathered nine spent shell casings around the location of where Williams was slain, according to testimony.
Hicks recovered four flattened bullet fragments in a pool of blood. That was indicative of a scenario where Easley shot Williams as he lay in a prone position after the first bullet wounds, Greenbacker told the jury.
According to an autopsy report which was presented as evidence, Williams had eight different entry wounds, with most to the upper chest and neck area, while one bullet penetrated his skull.
Watson contended that Easley left the apartment with the weapon in his hand because he was going to "go home to bed." He also took the weapon with him because he was going fishing the next day and always carried the pistol on such occasions, according to Watson.
Greenbacker pointed out that Williams presented no immediate threat to Easley, since he had a beer in one hand and a sandwich in the other, as well as a second beer that he held under his arm.
The number of shots fired by Easley also indicated rage and anger, not self-protection, he added.
The scenic River Road between South Boston and Elmo will have another bed-and-breakfast inn after the Halifax County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit during their Monday night meeting.
Mary Lou Pugh, who moved to "Magnolia Plantation" near Elmo in 1993, obtained county approval after presenting details of her plan to the board. A week earlier, the Halifax County Planning Commission recommended approval for the bed-and-breakfast project.
The conditional use permit is for a five-acre portion of her 88.16-acre tract where the 19th century home is located. Pugh and her husband plan to add on a central meeting room for guests to the existing structure.
They also plan to renovate several barns on the premises which would be used for guests who have children, she told the board.
No one who attended Monday night's public hearing spoke in opposition, while a neighboring landowner did voice opposition during the planning commission meeting held last week.
In a second public hearing for a conditional use permit Monday night, Catherine Fitts of Scottsburg gained approval to operate a fast food restaurant and arcade on U.S. 360, just west of the intersection of Rt. 344.
No one spoke in opposition to that request.
In other matters before the board:
· Tentative low bids were opened for three county road improvement projects, according to Joe Barkley, Resident Engineer of the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The bids must be finalized by VDOT officials prior to the official process of awarding the contracts, he told the board.
APAC of Danville was low bidder on the U.S. 501-Broad Street by-pass project. M.C. Construction Company of South Boston was low bidder on two projects, one for Rt. 744 and the other for Rt. 658.
· Jennifer Macintosh of the Community Arts Center Foundation appeared before the board to request funding for the ongoing renovation efforts of The Prizery, a historic tobacco processing building in lower South Boston.
On behalf of the organization, she asked for $5,000 which will go towards first floor improvements that would lead to a Certificate of Occupancy from the town's building inspector.
The request involves an estimated $1,175 in improvements for the floor; $980 for a handicapped bathroom; $780 for two egress doors; $330 for lighted exit signs; and money for administration for the facility.
Macintosh noted that over 20 requests for use of The Prizery have been received, causing a speedup of renovation efforts.
The matter was referred to the board's Finance Committee which will report back to the board with a recommendation next month.
· The board approved the appointment of individuals to the county's 911 Advisory Board, contingent upon their acceptance to serve. Those members are Garland Ricketts, Tom West, Roy Bradley, Sheriff Jeff Oakes, Debra Tuck, L.C. Fisher, Bert Martin, David Pulliam, Joseph Chandler, Dr. Gaylord Ray, and Mike Tuck.
Six charges were filed Monday afternoon against a Grubby Road man after a traffic stop and chase in South Boston, according to South Boston Police Lt. Rick Loftis.
Jermanine Lashone Terry, 21, of Halifax was arrested after attempting to flee on foot from a routine traffic stop on Spring Street, near College Street, Lt. Loftis said.
The traffic stop was made at 4:45 p.m. by SBPD Officer P.J. Murphy. Terry and two occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, with the two passengers escaping.
Terry was arrested a short time later and charged with six misdemeanors, Lt. Loftis said.
Those charges include possession of marijuana; attempting to elude police, obstruction of justice, failure to transfer title, speeding, and no operator's license.
Terry is being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on April 13.
Assisting in Terry's arrest were Lt. Loftis, Sgt. D.L. Blanks, Officer D.W. Barker, and several deputies of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
A 41-year-old South Boston man escaped injury Monday morning when his car ran off the road and crashed into a fence.
Trooper D.T. Conner identified the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident that occurred at 9:30 a.m. on Route 659 as Claude Gary Womack.
According to the trooper's report, Womack apparently fell asleep and his car ran off of the right side of the road and struck a fence owned by Cecil N. Vaughan of South Boston at a site 200 feet west of the intersection of Route 671.
Damage to the 1985 model car driven by Womack was estimated at $2,500. An estimated $250 damage was done to the fence.
Trooper Conner charged Womack with reckless driving; failure to maintain control of the vehicle.
No charges were filed and no injuries were reported in a two vehicle accident that occurred Monday at 8:40 a.m. at the intersection of Routes 360 and 58.
That accident involved a car driven by 71-year-old Nancy Goode Wood of Clarksville and a car driven by Marvin Lee Overbey of Route 1, Nelson.
Trooper R.C. Compton's report stated that traffic was being controlled by a flagman while repair work was being done to the nearby bridge. Wood, the report stated, started forward behind a line of traffic and Overbey started forward. Wood slowed again and Overbey's vehicle struck Wood's vehicle in the rear.
Damage to Wood's 1997 model auto was listed at $1,200.
Thirty-two-year-old David Lee Eanes of Nathalie was charged with driving under the influence by state police following a single vehicle crash that occurred Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on Route 667, one mile south of the intersection of Route 647.
Trooper M.S. Roark, Jr. reported that Eanes lost control of his vehicle when it ran out of the road. The car slid back across the road and overturned.
Damage to the 1995 model car driven by Eanes was estimated at $2,500.
Jones Harper Barksdale Jr. of Java died Sunday, March 1, 1998 in Danville Regional Medical Center. He was 75 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Barksdale was born in Pittsylvania County on July 7, 1922 the son of Jones Harper Barksdale Sr. and Mary Jones East Barksdale and was married to Pansy Jones Barksdale. He was a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church, was a charter member of the Riceville-Java Volunteer Fire Department, and served in the United States Army during World War II.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 3 at 2 p.m. from Scott Funeral Home chapel by Rev. Donald L. Wright and Rev Dr. John S. Ruef. Burial was in Danville Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Barksdale is survived by his wife; one son, Dennis H. Barksdale of Chatham; two daughters, Dianne Barksdale of Blairs and Brenda B. Adams of Ruffin, NC; two sisters, June B. Moser of South Boston and Margaret B. Woltz of Clarksville; three grandchildren, Brenda Carol McKinney, Monica Denise Barksdale and Jess Harper Adams; two great-grandchildren, Cheyenne McKinney and Autumn McKinney. He was preceded in death by one son, Dillard L. Barksdale, and one sister, Mary Jean Perkins.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Riceville-Java
Volunteer Fire Department or The 640 Rescue Squad.
Mrs. Bessie Chumney Crump, 75 of Drakes Branch died at Berry Hill Nursing Home on Sunday, March 1, 1998.
She is survived by her husband: Thurman Crump of Drakes Branch; four daughters: Mary C. Govoni of Blackwood, NJ, Linda C. Griles of Charlotte County, Brenda G. Younger of Nathalie, Bitsy C. Taylor of Chase City; one son: George B. Crump of Danville; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb Allgood Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. W. R. Thornton and Rev. Don Derflinger officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Chase City Rescue Squad.
John B. Stevens, 88 of Richmond, died February 27, 1998. He is survived by his wife, Thelma of 59 years; four daughters and their husbands, Carolyn and Stanley Snyder, Nancy and Robert Dement, Rebecca and Spencer Pugh and Patricia and Chris Petras; seven grandchildren, Deborah Warner, Sharon Swinson, Robert Jr., and Eric Dement, Gregory and Tara Pugh and Peter Petras; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Robert and Melvin Stevens of South Boston and Archer Stevens of Moore, SC; and two sisters, Mary Barnes and Gladys Dodson of Halifax.
Mr. Stevens served for 32 years as General Manager of Walton Lumber Company and as an accountant for Baskervill & Son in Richmond for nine years. He performed as a licensed tax practitioner for 24 years and was a member of the Virginia National Guard. He was a long time member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Brook Hill, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1948 until his death. He served as a vestryman for many terms, including three terms as Senior Warden and was a licensed Eucharist Minister for 24 years.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Interment was in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Emmanuel Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or Lakeside Vol. Rescue Squad.