Two former Alton residents and a North Carolina man, all members of the same family, have been charged in a multi-state drug operation.
Phillip Henry Barfield, 43, Charity Dawn Thompson Barfield, 26, and Dennis Howard Barfield, aka "Bud," 71, were arrested Monday on a seven-count federal indictment following a three-year investigation.
"The arrest phase began (this week) in a three-year investigation of a multi-state drug ring importing large quantities of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines into Virginia and North Carolina," a Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force press release announced yesterday.
Phillip Barfield, formerly of Paradise Road in Alton, was arrested and charged for multiple counts of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, and operating a drug conspiracy since January 1990.
The distribution counts involved quantities of over 5 kilos of cocaine, over 100 kilos of marijuana and in excess of 500 grams of a methamphetamine substance.
Also arrested in the same indictment were Charity Dawn Thompson Barfield, formerly of Paradise Road and Howard Barfield of Harper House Road in Newton Grove, North Carolina.
Federal search warrants were executed at the Watershed Road, Newton Grove, residence of Phillip Barfield and at the Harper House Road, Newton Grove, residence of "Bud" Barfield.
Seized at Phillip Barfield's residence was a methamphetamine laboratory in a building attached to the residence, a quantity of methamphetamines, records, numerous firearms, ammunition, truck, tractor and numerous stolen items, including two four wheelers and a lawn mower.
Seized at "Bud" Barfield's property was a methamphetamine laboratory and a copper "moonshine" still.
The investigation is continuing and additional arrests of suspects that purchased drugs from Phillip Barfield in this multi-state organization are anticipated.
Police officials here credited the success of this investigation to a partnership involving the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brunswick County North Carolina Sheriff's Office and the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force.

By DOUG FORD
Michigan State Police authorities hope to find out today if they will come to Halifax County to interview Estelle Kirby, wanted on a fugitive warrant for an October 7, 1970, fatal stabbing in Port Huron Township, Michigan.
"We're working with possibly coming down and interviewing her, but we won't know until tomorrow," Detective Michael Waite said yesterday.
Part of that interview may involve a polygraph test, according to Waite.
Kirby's attorney, William Watson, did not return calls yesterday.
Kirby, whose name appears in the Michigan fugitive warrant as Estelle Marie Smith, is suspected in the October 7, 1970, stabbing death of Donald R. Simons of China Township.
Halifax County General District Court Judge Joel Cunningham adjourned an initial extradition hearing on February 28 until March 28, so Kirby and her attorney can gather evidence to prove she wasn't part of the stabbing that killed Simons.
According to Watson's comments after the initial hearing, numerous people are willing to testify Kirby has been a resident of Halifax County and was here through the time of the stabbing.
"We're looking for doctor's records, social security records and employment records," Watson said at that time.
Michigan State Police troopers were called shortly before 2 a.m. to the scene of an accident on Dove Road in Port Huron Township after a car ran into a house, according to a Port Huron Times Herald report filed by jason Cody.
They found Simons, 33, unconscious behind the wheel, dying from his wounds.
Simons died later at Port Huron Hospital.
Investigators found the victim's wallet, containing money, and determined he was not the victim of a robbery. A tracking dog was brought in after witnesses said they saw two men running from the scene, but the search turned up nothing.
An open murder warrant was issued for Smith's arrest in 1970, but she fled St. Clair County and was never questioned by police, the report continued.
"We know she had some family connections in southeast Michigan in the Detroit area," said Michigan State Trooper Scott Sheets.
According to Sheets, Smith lost her job in Virginia in April 1970, a few months before the October killing.
Michigan State Police were led to Kirby in January, after they ran a routine computer check, Waite said.
"We got a hit on a random social security number check," recalled Waite.
"Other times we've had hits on this case, but they didn't work out until now."
According to Waite, witness statements connected Smith to the murder, but he added she has never been interviewed in this investigation.
According to court records, Kirby was arrested on the fugitive warrant on January 11, and released on bond the next day.

Northern Virginia's communities posted huge gains while populations continued to decline in many Virginia cities during the past decade, according to census data obtained from state officials yesterday.
Halifax County's population rose from 29,033 to 37,355 but that increase was largely due to South Boston's former city status in 1990 when its population was 6,997. South Boston reverted to a town status in 1995.
Other southside and central Virginia communities posted equally modest increases in population such as Charlotte -11,688 to12,472; Mecklenburg - 29,241 to 32,380; Pittsylvania - 55,655 to 61,745; and Campbell - 47,572 to 51,078.
The City of Danville's population declined from 53,056 to 48,411.
Loudoun County led the state in growth in the 1990s, nearly doubling its population from 86,129 in 1990 to 169,599 in 2000 - a 97 percent increase.
Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, surrounding Fredericksburg, increased by more than 50 percent over the decade. Spotsylvania grew 57 percent; Stafford, 51 percent.
Petersburg lost the most residents as its population dropped 12 percent, followed by Norfolk, which lost 10 percent, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.
''Virginia is not only a metropolitan state, but increasingly a suburban one,'' said Julia H. Martin, director of demographic research at the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center in Charlottesville.
Most of the growth occurred in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and in former rural counties on the outskirts of metropolitan Richmond. Powhatan County's population, for instance, increased 46 percent, while Hanover's grew 36 percent. Louisa grew 26 percent.
In Chesterfield County, which grew 24 percent, planning demographer Bill Handley said the census data was expected.
''Instead of living in the city, people are choosing the suburbs,'' he said. ''We're not surprised.''
Elsewhere in northern Virginia, Manassas Park City grew 53 percent, while Prince William County grew 30 percent.
Growth and sprawl have been key issues as northern Virginia tries to cope with the spread of suburbia.
''We have shifted from being a bedroom community to an employment center,'' said Sam Adamo, director of planning and legislative services for Loudoun County Public Schools. Enrollment in the system's 48 schools more than doubled over the decade, Adamo said.
By 2005, school officials expect to have begun 22 new school projects to accommodate the influx of new students.
Overall, the state's population grew 14 percent, from 6.2 million to 7.1 million.

County Clears First Hurdle

County representatives seeking over $3.6 million for economic development and education from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission cleared the first hurdle yesterday.
"The subcommittee approved the funds and it goes to the full commission today," said Chris Lumsden, chairman of the Halifax Educational Foundation, late yesterday.
"The key to this is that we are united as a community, the supervisors and the IDA, for funding for these two projects, and they are two high-quality economic development projects for the community and the region," said Lumsden.
Elated with the Southside Economic Development Committee's action yesterday, Lumsden nevertheless noted that the full commission must still act on the recommendation today.
Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett joined Lumsden in seeking a $1.7 million grant to be used at the new Continuing Education Center, slated to open this August in South Boston. The grant can be used for furnishings, equipment and state-of-the-art technology.
The HEF chairman was also tapped by the Industrial Development authority to seek $1.9 million for Riverstone Technology Park.
"This is really important," IDA director Bill Confroy said. "We have marketed all of the industrial sites that the county had on Route 58. We need to develop another park."
The Riverstone property contains approximately 150 acres on the north side of Route 58 at the old Christmas Tree farm.

Preliminary results from the investigation into the Monday morning fire at William M. Tuck Airport state the cause of the blaze as suspicious but of undetermined origin, according to Larry Bishop, special agent for the Virginia State Police.
Bishop indicated there are still leads to be pursued. However, unless someone comes forward with additional information, Bishop stated his department would have to wrap up its investigation, leaving it an open case.
Electricity has been restored to some areas of the airport and telephone service has resumed, according to Bishop.
Bishop stated that damage estimates will remain close to $1 million unless the hanger portion damaged by the fire can be deemed as usable by structural engineers.
Then the estimate would be lowered, the agent said.
Meanwhile, the airport continues to operate during daylight hours only.
Linda Clark, a partner of Skylark Aviation Company, said a temporary office was set up in the maintenance hanger and would remain there until such time as temporary facilities could be arranged.
The runway lights and rotation beacon remain inoperable. Because of their requirement as a safety feature, top priority will be given to have them restored as soon as possible, according to Clark.

Halifax County High School had three cagers to land spots on the First Team All Western District Team.
But when it came to the selections for the All Northwest Region Team, Halifax County was shut out.
Not a single Halifax County High School basketball player was named to the All Northwest Region Team.
Comets guard Carleton Roach and forward Dashawn Baird, both of whom were First Team selections in the district voting, failed to make the final list,
Guard Branda Best from the Comets girls basketball team, the lone member of the team to be named to the First Team, also failed to make the regional list.
Only two players in the Western District, GW's Antonio Fitzgerald and Albemarle's Ian Johnson, made the All Northwest Region boys team.
Fitzgerald, the Player of the Year in the Western District, was named to the First Team of the All Northwest Region Team while Johnson was named to the Second Team.
Cave Spring High School star J.J. Redick was named as the Most Valuable Player in the Northwest Region.
Gar-Field coach Andy Gray was named Coach of the Year.
GW standouts Ravin Yancey and Tokisha Burton were named to the First Team All Northwest Region girls team.
Yancey was named as the Most Valuable Player in the region and GW coach Wayne Shelton was named Coach of the Year in the region.
Rachel Hanley of Albemarle was the only other Western District player to be named to the All Northwest Region Team.
Hanley was named to a position on the Second Team.

Byars Stokely Holland Sr., 81, of 1809 Chamberlain Street, South Boston, died March 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Holland was born in Richmond on November 27, 1919, the son of Henry Strange Holland and Vivian Ford Holland and was married to Mildred Chesley Holland.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Sharon Holland of Juneau, Alaska; one son, Byars Stokely Holland Jr. of Manassas; one brother, Henry S. Holland III of Charlottesville; one sister, Frances H. Drinkwater of Richmond; two grandsons, Byars Stokely Holland III of Manassas and Richard Isett of Juneau; one granddaughter, Chris Isett of Juneau.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the charity of your choice.