Pushing upstream against the ever increasing tide of rising governmental budgets, Halifax Town Council Tuesday evening proposed a 1998 budget that would come in with a 2.5 percent decrease and a cut in the real estate tax rate.
The proposed budget presented to council is $694,844, a slight decrease over the previous year's budget and the tax rate was set at 22 cents per $100, a drop of five cents.
On a three to two vote with Cabell Daniel and Jack Dunavant voting no, the tax rate was reduced.
Dunavant had proposed a rounding down of the tax rate to 20 cents, but Councilman Buddy Guthrie, citing the large number of people that showed up during Board of Equalization hearings, the town may need the extra to cover a reduced reassessment figure.
Town Manager Bob Greene had sought a 21 cent tax rate.
The tax rate reduction comes about through the increased value of real estate in the town from the recent reassessment.
The town's taxable property climbed from more than $23.56 million to just over $30.2 million.
The cut in the tax rate is directly related to the increased property assessment.
Greene pointed out there was another $30 million of non-taxable property in the town that belongs to the county government and the town's churches.
There were no increases in the town's personal property tax rate or the water and sewer rates.
The only real sticking point in the budget came from town employee's salaries,
Daniel questioned why some town employees with years of service to the town, were getting smaller salary increases than those who have only recently been employed, some less than a year.
Councilman Harold Ray Younger pointed out the higher increases were for trained and certified employees, particularly in the town's police and water-sewer departments.
The higher increases are need to help cut the turnover rate, he said.
Greene was authorized to survey other similar-sized towns in the area to see how Halifax's salary structure compares.
And the budget is not without a wish list.
The biggest "wishes" are increases at both the water and sewer plants of three million gallons per day capacity.
This would come at a price tag of $2.8 million at the water plant and another $3.7 million at the waste treatment plant.
Council also estimates sidewalk improvements would cost about $60,000 and a proposed concrete wall around the cemetery would come in at $20,000.
Council also is considering a new garbage truck at a cost of $46,000 and is also reconsidering a proposal to remove the overhead power lines on Main Street, estimated to cost $40,000.
Following the budget, Dunavant began to vent his frustration over council's actions at a recent joint county, South Boston, Halifax meeting in which, council followed South Boston's lead and left the meeting.
Dunavant's argument was that he was under the impression council was ready to go into the March 16 meeting ready to discuss any issues that may arise.
Dunavant told council, "I've been jerked around enough on this boundary adjustment. Are we going to do it, or are we going to get off the pot."
Dunavant called South Boston "Rude and arrogant" only discussing the 911 issue and then leaving.
Mayor Dennis Osborne told Dunavant South Boston put the 911 issue on the agenda and once that was discussed left. There was nothing rude in their behavior, he said.
Dunavant said he felt Greene was "playing footsies" with South Boston Town Manager Ken McLawhon, unable to "make a move" without consulting him.
At this point Younger moved that council enter into executive session to discuss "personnel matters"
"A significant find of major proportion!"
That's the description being given to the recent discovery of over 1,200 artifacts from what is believed to be an ancient Sapona Indian village lieing beneath about four feet of earth in Staunton River Battlefield State Park.
Core samples have been taken and analysized by one of the nation's most prominent Indian experts.
As soon as the site is secured, according to park officials, a team of student archeologists from Longwood College, under the direction of Ron Bates, will begin on May 18 excavating the area which lies on the Charlotte County side of the Staunton River.
Just a year ago, that same area was acquired and taken into the newest state park in the system.
Already unearthed are beads, tools, pottery, a fish hook and carbon substances believe to date between 800 and 1200 AD.
Once the dig begins, visitors will be allowed to view the project and are asked to report first to the visitor's center located 18 miles east of South Boston on State Road 855 near the Clover Power Plant.
A man with local ties was killed Wednesday by officers of the Chesterfield Police Department after he wounded another police officer, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Donald Mark Davidson, 34, was shot to death early Wednesday morning by Chesterfield officers at the home of his former girlfriend, Sylvia Lavalliere. He had earlier wounded officer Paul Blocher, 45, in the upper chest area, police said.
Detectives in the case called the Halifax County Sheriff's Department to serve the notice of death to Davidson's parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Donald Davidson, Major Ray Link said.
The officer was listed in stable condition at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia Hospitals.
Published reports stated that Davidson allegedly threw Lavalliere down and pointed a gun in her face in an incident that occurred at the woman's home but did not harm her. He eventually and Lavalliere called 911.
Davidson allegedly shot Chesterfield police officer Paul Blocher who responded to the call. According to published reports, moments later, two other Chesterfield police officers who arrived at the scene fatally shot Davidson after Davidson allegedly raised his gun and fired at them.
The long, heartbreaking wait apparently is over.
April Wall of Virgilina, who had been reported missing since November,1995, called home on Good Friday, her parents reported yesterday, to say all is well with her.
She told Bob and Sherby Wall, her parents, that she is living in Billings, Montana, and "doing well there" after previous stays in Alabama and Nebraska.
April told her parents she and the companion she left with, Joseph Sim, are together and have a 17-month-old son, Donald Joseph (Donnie).
She said she is "happy there and welcomes a visit from her family."
She said she "regrets having caused her parents and family so much heartache (and) has matured quite a bit and now realizes how she hurt her family by running away."
Also, her parents, related, April "admits she was too scared to call home until now."
Sherby and Bob plan to visit April and Joe in Montana as soon as they can.
And there is one other special notation to this story:
They can't wait to see their grandson, Donnie!
Alan Davis dreams of being famous. Not rich famous, just fun famous. The rosy-cheeked, well-spoken 11-year old seems to have his act together but he's taking no chances. "It took me about a year to do all this stuff."
This "stuff" happens to be juggling and Alan can hold his own in this ring which happens to be the Roberts Bros. Circus that came to town yesterday for a one-night performance under the big top.
Never mind that his dad's the ringmaster and his mom operates the concession stand, this kid's out to prove he can do what he sets his mind to.
With three clubs spinning slightly above his head, he quickly raised and bent his right knee, made a toss under his leg and never broke rhythm. "It takes skill and concentration," said Alan who's on the road with his mom and dad from March until October as the circus rolls in and out of towns from Florida to Pennsylvania.
Alan attended public schools until his was eight years old. Since then, he's been home-schooled. Three to four hours of instruction each day, he's convinced, is giving him an education he wouldn't get in public schools.
"I learn a lot more and I'm not in danger," he added making reference to the recent Jonesboro, Arkansas student slayings.
For now, the young circus performer is juggling balls and clubs but he plans to add a new medium to his act.
"Chain saws!"
"The trick is to remove the chains. You can have 'em running but they (audience) can't see 'em!" And if the hand is indeed quicker than the eye, Alan Davis will have his audiences awed.
By midday, the big tent was in place and workers were ratcheting down props for the high-wire act and other events that were to have thrilled audiences of all ages just outside the South Boston Speedway.
Roberts Bros. Circus is a scaled-down version of the greatest show on earth but for some youngsters (no age limit), it affords a unique hands-on opportunity to see a real traveling road show complete with elephant (singular), ponies, goats and poodles.
Lisa is the show elephant and has traveled with Roberts Bros. Circus since she was about 8 years old. At 30, "she's fat as a butterball" her keeper said which explains why she weighs in at just over 8,000 pounds! The rugged yet docile pachyderm performs in the ring, gives rides but has been retired from her once work assignments of raising the tents.
The circus was brought into town by the Southfax Sertoma Club.
John Henry Hughes of 1089 Daniels Trail, Halifax died Monday, April 13, 1998 at his home at the age of 90.
Mr. Hughes was born in Halifax County on January 23, 1908 the son of John and Ellen Falden Hughes and was married to Virginia Coleman Hughes. He was a member of Five Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Gracie Melvin of Lynchburg, Bettye Robinson of Fresh Meadows, NY and Virginia Louise Hughes of Bronx, NY; two sons, Calvin Hughes and Chandler Hughes, both of Halifax; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, Deems Melvin of Lynchburg; one daughter-in-law, Geneva Hughes of Halifax; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by two children, Henry Davis Hughes and Helen Lee Hughes.
Funeral services for Mr. Hughes were held Thursday, April 16 at 1 p.m.
at Jeffress Funeral Home chapel with Rev. James E. Traynham officiating.
Burial was in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
John Horace Moss Jr. of 11226 James D. Hagood Hwy., Clover died Tuesday, April 14, 1998 at his home. He was 73 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Moss was born in Halifax County on January 17, 1925 the son of John Henry Moss and Minnie Dunkley Moss and was married to Marian Bomar Moss. He was a member of Clover Methodist Church and the American Legion.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 16 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home chapel. Burial was in Clover Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Moss include his wife; one son, Horace A. Moss of Colorado
Springs, CO; three grandchildren, Dawn Wolkowich of Hampton, Amanda Moss
of Newport News and Leslie Moss of Hampton; two sisters, Maggie Edmondson
of Clover and Corrie Griffin of South Boston; and one great-grandchild,
Jessica Wolkowich. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Moss.
Richard Garland Woosley Sr. of Nathalie died Thursday, April 16, 1998 in Lynchburg General Hospital. He was 78 years of age.
Mr. Woosley was born in Halifax County on February 4, 1920 the son of Cleveland Woosley and Nettie Canada Woosley and he was married to Ethel Ashby Woosley. He was a member of Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, a Veteran of WWII, and a retired carpenter.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Richard Garland Woosley Jr. of Nathalie; one daughter, Vivian Woosley Anderson of Nathalie; two sisters, Marion W. Foster of Brookneal and Christine W. Bigger of Bedford, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral service for Mr. Woosley will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18 at Henderson Funeral Home chapel with burial to follow in Childrey Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight, April 17 from 7 until 8:30 at Henderson Funeral Home, and other times at the home.