Monday, March 8, 2004

Rt. 58 Fiber Initiative Will Soon Be A Reality
Tobacco Commission Awarded $6 Million To The Project Thursday

A move by the Tobacco Commission Thursday ensures that 33 industrial parks and a region from Stuart to Emporia - including Halifax County - will soon have additional access to state-of-the-art high-speed Internet, according to Technology Committee Chairman Clarke Hogan.

During their meeting in Richmond, commission members voted to award $6 million in funding to match the money already awarded by the federal government through the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Phase I will connect the communities of Stuart, Martinsville, Rocky Mount, Ferrum, Danville, South Boston, Keysville, Clarksville, South Hill, Lawrenceville and Emporia with a 294-mile fiber optic backbone along Routes 58, 220 and 360.

Once complete, the entire project will span over 700 miles, connecting 56 industrial parks and 22 counties in Southside by December, 2006, Tobacco Commission Technology Commission Chairman Clarke Hogan said yesterday.

"Since the beginning of the Tobacco Commission, this initiative has been a key aspect of what the commission has defined as its role in (Southside)," Hogan said.

A study into getting the technology in Southside and Southwest Virginia by Virginia Tech initially estimated the cost at $100 million, he said.

"What we'd looked at when we started trying to figure out how to have a region-wide solution with the resources we had available was 'what are we missing that's keeping costs high and limiting our access?'" he added.

Hogan said the committee discovered that telecommunications companies that are trying to expand their services and keep costs affordable couldn't get on the national Internet backbone at reasonable prices because Southside is a rural area and the services are being provided in a federally regulated environment.

"We decided that the best place for us to spend our money wasn't hooking up a few businesses and houses, but providing a backbone that will allow the private sector to sell to the consumer," the chairman said. "Because our emphasis is on economic development and job creation, we've put these access points in industrial parks."

Halifax County's access point will be located at Riverstone Technology Park.

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Scott Morris said that in addition to providing the needed high-speed Internet access to business and industry, the move will offer alternatives for Internet access - fostering competition and lower costs.

"That's the biggest thing it can do initially for the county," he said.

"Right now, no matter what, you depend on Sprint," Morris added. "Everyone who provides Internet service in the county has to pay Sprint to go online."

The IDA director said the new fiber will offer those customers another option.
"In the end, this project will bring in competition and open up the opportunity for local providers and businesses to provide services across these lines," he said.

In addition, the ability to offer access to the fiber is an economic development tool, Morris added.

"This is a region-wide project," the IDA director noted. "It's already causing additional exposure for the area and people are looking at this and realizing it will create some opportunities for businesses to locate in the county."

The Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC) will oversee the implementation, deployment and operation of the Regional Backbone Initiative for Southside Virginia.

In addition to awarding the funds, commission members awarded the operations contract to Adesta, an Omaha, Neb., company that is tasked with the management and operations of the network.

"I'm pleased to announce that with this grant and the formation of MBC, we've made a substansive step towards realizing an open access fiber network in all of Southside Virginia," Hogan said. "If you put your mind to it, you can make a project work with the resources you have."

The chairman said that hundreds of hours were invested by the members of the committee and their staff to arrive at Thursday's vote.

"As the chairman, I'm very proud of the work we've done and appreciate all the work the committee has done and the support we've had from Virginia Tech, the Governor's Office and others," he said.

Group Gets First Look At Berry Hill Plan
Consultant Offers Several Scenarios For Development Of The Historic Property

Approximately 45 business and community leaders got a first glimpse at what could be the future of Berry Hill Mansion during an update meeting at the mansion Thursday.

Berry Hill owners Ryan Hill and Darrin Phillips introduced the community to members of Hill & Associates (no relation), the firm that has been hired to develop a master plan for the property.

David Hill of Hill & Associates said his group was working on several different scenarios for the development of the property that will be narrowed down to the final master plan.

Under the first scenario, an additional wing would be added to the hotel wing on the property, doubling the number of rooms to 200 and adding more conference space.

This plan would also consider damming the lowlands at the current railroad tracks, creating a lake and the construction of lakefront cottages.

Two hiking and biking trails would be constructed to view the historic and natural sites on the property, Hill said.

"We're also considering adding a stable and livery (in the plan)," he added.

Scenarios two and three utilize adjacent property that the owners currently hold an option on, the consultant said.

In addition to the construction in the first plan, the second plan would also include three "pods" of residential development out of sight of the main property, he said.

A retirement community and equestrian center are also being considered, according to Hill.

The third scenario was described by the consultant as "a pretty intense scheme for this piece of land."

It would include the creation of an 18-hole golf course and golf cottages in addition to the previous development.

The fourth plan would incorporate all of the development on the entire property, including the optioned land, and add a retail area and golf school, Hill said.
"We're halfway through the process (of reaching a master plan)," Phillips told the group, adding that a plan was expected to come together in the next month.

Phillips said the consultants had brought in people from PKF, who he described and "the number one hospitality consulting firm in the country," to view the property.

"With Hill & Associates and PKF involved together, it will make it a bankable project and will be the cornerstone of the reorganization process," the owner said.

Berry Hill is currently seeking to reorganize after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Former General Manager and consultant on the reorganization Bill Carder told the group that the group was conducting a feasibility study to determine the size and scope of the development on the property as well as an economic impact study to determine how the development will affect South Boston and Halifax County.

"We think it's critical that the county and town participate in the reorganization project," Carder said.

He added that the studies should be complete in "the next couple of months," and that Hill and Phillips are currently interviewing management companies.


School Board Expected To Decide On Make-Up Days
Board Will Meet Tonight In The Cafeteria Of HCMS


The Halifax County School Board is expected to make a decision tonight regarding school makeup days stemming from the recent spate of winter weather.

The School Board will meet tonight at 7 o’clock the Halifax County Middle School cafeteria.

The change of the meeting location from Halifax to the Middle School stemmed from a recent School Board decision to alternate its meeting sites between Halifax and the county's schools.

Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said the School Board will determine how it wants to use the upcoming Spring Break, set for April 12-16, to make up for lost school days.

As it stands now, March 26, which was originally designated as a teacher workday, will now be a regular school day for students and teachers.

Also, Good Friday, April 9, which was originally designated as a holiday, will now be used as a regular school day.

March 26 and April 9 are two makeup days that remain from the first five-day string of missed school time.

In a related matter, the School Board is expected to approve the calendar that had previously been adopted for the 2004-2005 school year.

The 2004-2005 school calendar was established and approved last year when the School Board approved the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 calendars in one action.

This year's school opening will be one of the earliest openings in recent years.
The 2004-2005 school year will open for students on Monday, August 23 with the first day for teachers being Monday, August 16. New teachers will report to duty on August 11.

In other matters, the School Board is slated to hear comments from a Virginia Education Association representative who is expected, according to Witt, to make a pitch for pay and benefit hikes for teachers.

Also, Mrs. Wanda Williamson and a kindergarten student from South of Dan Elementary School will appear before the School Board to make a presentation on Read Across America Month.

School system officials will air a series of reports, one of which will touch on advisory committees to the School Board.

Witt explained that statutory requirements mandate that the School Board establish an advisory committee on remediation, a School Safety Audit advisory committee and a Parent Advisory Council to encompass Title I and other parent committees.

The school superintendent said School Board members will be asked to recommend individuals from their district to serve on the committee with school system personnel and bring their recommendations back to the School Board for approval at the April meeting.

The term of the committees, Witt said, will be a one-year term to run from July 1- June 30.

In another matter, the School Board is expected to approve a change in the date of its April meeting to April 19.

One matter that the School Board is not expected to tackle at this meeting is the 2004-2005 school year budget.

Witt said the budget impasse in the Virginia General Assembly has made it impossible to gauge the amount of funds the school system will receive from the state.

"As soon as we get an estimate of the (state) revenues that we think will be somewhere in the ballpark we will put a proposed budget together," Witt said.
School system officials have been working on a proposed budget document for some time, he said.

"We've been going through the various line items and putting in increases or decreases based upon actual expenses of this year," Witt said.

Witt said a special budget meeting will be needed later this month for the School Board to review the proposed budget.

"As soon as we feel we have something to go with (regarding an estimate of revenues from state funds) we'll set a budget meeting for the School Board.
Witt said the law requires the Board of Supervisors to approve a school budget in May.

In order to do that, the School Board will need to adopt a budget in April.

Conditioning Program
HCHS, HCMS Sports Facilities Are Being Groomed For Start Of New Season

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County school athletic teams aren't the only ones getting ready for the spring season, as athletic fields and sports facilities are also undergoing a conditioning program of their own in anticipation of this week's schedule of preseason scrimmages.

No less than eight Comets sports teams have scrimmages scheduled this week, the majority of teams having two scrimmages to iron out the kinks before regular season play commences.

In addition to ongoing construction of track and tennis facilities, the girls softball field at the high school now features two above-ground dugouts, a new drainage system, and a set of concrete steps leading down to the field.

Bleachers at the softball field have been relocated to give spectators an unobstructed view of the action down both the first base and third base lines to the outfield fence.

Conditioning continued at another nearby field used for high school sports.
Across town at C.H. Friend Field, workers were busy laying sod in preparation for upcoming Comets jayvee boys baseball games.

That work will also provide a better playing surface for the Dixie Pre-Majors and Dixie Majors Baseball League that use C.H. Friend as their home field.
The new track and tennis courts at Halifax County High School are almost complete.

Most of the remaining work that needs to be done revolves around crews applying the surface materials to those facilities.

Because temperatures dictate when the surface material can be applied, school officials will have to wait until the weather becomes consistently warmer before the facilities can be surfaced.

Halifax County Middle School officials are also waiting on improved weather conditions for work to be completed on the new softball field that is being constructed on the campus.

The Lions softball team will continue to use its current facility until the new field can be completed.

Athletic teams at both schools will be busy with scrimmages this week in order to prepare for season-opening contests starting the week of March 15.
Virtually every Comets and Lions athletic team will begin season play that week.

Obituaries

Aileen Celestie Hines Irby

Mrs. Aileen Celestie Hines Irby, 91, of South Boston and formerly of Nathalie, died Friday, March 5, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Irby was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Hines and Annie Elizabeth Elder Hines and was married to the late John Nolan Irby.

She was a member of Hunting Creek Baptist Church.

Mrs. Aileen Celestie Hines Irby is survived by two sons, Robert Lee (Bob) Irby and wife, Marian, of Nathalie; and John Otey (J.O.) Irby and wife, Bettie, of Halifax; six grandchildren, Deborah Morris and husband, C.J., of South Boston, Deanna Weatherford and husband, Randy of Danville, Matt Irby and wife Wendy of South Boston, Tim Irby of Halifax, David Irby of Halifax, Mark Irby and wife Mary Jo of Clover; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Aileen Celestie Hines Irby will be held today, March 8, at 3 p.m. at Hunting Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. W.D. Mills, the Rev. Richard Saunders and the Rev. Tony Sisk officiating.

Burial will follow in the Hunting Creek Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Robert Lee (Bob) Irby, 1005 Stony Ridge Road, Nathalie.

For memorials, please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va., 24592, or a charity of your choice.

Joel Phillip Terry

Mr. Joel Phillip Terry, 88, of Nathalie, died Sunday, March 7, at his home.
He was the son of the late Percy C. Terry and Maude D. Terry, and was married to the late Frances Brumfield Terry.

Mr. Terry was a member of the Mulberry Baptist Church and was a retired farmer.

Joel Phillip Terry is survived by four daughters, Ellen T. Tunnicliff and husband Jerold of Nathalie, Margaret Ann Terry of Nathalie, Betty Terry of Danville, and Deborah Terry of Nathalie; two grandchildren, Lisa Brown and husband Jarrod of Danville, James Tunnicliff and wife Karen of South Hill; two great-grandchildren, Autumn and Madison.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Paul Terry and by one sister, Neva Terry.

Funeral services for Joel Phillip Terry will be held Tuesday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at Mulberry Baptist Church, with the Rev. Latta B. Terry, the Rev. Coy Terry and the Rev. William Venable officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

John Thomas ‘Bubba’ Tucker

John Thomas "Bubba" Tucker, 54, of Alexandria and formerly of Alton, died Wednesday, March 3, at the Alexandria Hospital.

He was born in Alton on July 8, 1949, the son of the late Isaac M. and Thelma M. Dunn.

Mr. Tucker is survived by one brother, Ralph Dunn of Hampton, two sisters, Annie C. and Viola M. Dunn, both of Alton, one great-aunt, Frances Jeffress of Philadelphia, Pa., three aunts, Hattie Stovall of South Boston, Shirley Coleman of Alexandria, and Penrose Boxley of Bold Springs, one uncle, Gene Tucker of Alexandria, two sisters-in-law, Cora Dunn of Hampton and Jannie Dunn of Newport News, one brother-in-law, Joseph Featherston, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday at the Dan River Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. James Thomas officiating. Burial followed in the family cemetery.

Wilbur Eugene Wilkins

Wilbur Eugene Wilkins, 47, of Alexandria, formerly of Halifax County, died February 29 in Alexandria.

Mr. Wilkins was born in Halifax County on November 1, 1956, the son of the late Annie Virginia Wilkins.

Survivors include one sister, Rozella Sydnor of Alexandria; two brothers, Wayne Preston Hill of Alexandria and Harvey Wilkins of Oxon Hill, Md.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilkins were held March 6 at 2 p.m. at Harvest Assembly Family Life Center in Alexandria.

A graveside service was held March 7 at 1:30 p.m. at White Oak Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Virgilina.

Brad Thomas Wilson

Brad Thomas Wilson, 53, of Virgilina died Friday, March 5, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

He was born in Orange County, N.C., on March 17, 1950 and was married to Joan A. Daye.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, two sons, Tommy Wilson and Casey Wilson, both of Hurdle Mills, N.C., one daughter, Candice Wilson of Hurdle Mills, N.C., two brothers, Mark Wilson and Charlie Wilson, both of Durham, N.C., and his godfather, Harold Tapp "Pop" of South Boston.

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, March 9, at 2:30 p.m. at Blue Wing Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Jennings officiating.