Ticked off.
It's tough when Man's best friend is a walking incubator for a nasty collection of ticks looking for a human host.
But tis the season and dogs and cats are bringing the unwelcome guests home by the dozens, according to two area veterinarians' offices.
"They seem to be worse this year. Everything has them, dogs, cows, horses, people," said Jackie Wright, office manager at the Halifax County Veterinary Center.
"We are giving a tremendous amount of medication for fleas and ticks," said Susan Woody of Animal Medical Clinic of South Boston.
The veterinarians are encountering deer and seed ticks, but primarily seed ticks, according to Wright.
Since December, Woody said their office has been treating animals for ticks.
However, there is relief for animals through medication available through veterinarians.
"Unless we have cold weather and the ground freezes long enough, they don't die," she observed.
"It's really a combination of everything," Woody said. "We are just blessed in this area with all kinds of ticks," she teased.
Not only are dogs and cats sharing their tick bounty, they're everywhere else as well.
After working in the yard a couple of hours, Wright said that she became a host.
The unmistakable sensation of a tick crawling alerted her and, sure enough, three ticks were crawling and one had already attached to her skin.
"They are hitchhikers," explained Jason Fisher of the Halifax Extension Office. "They wait until you come by and then jump on."
Fisher also had some tick-fighting tips.
"Woodpiles are condominiums for ticks," he said. "They also like to nest in dry areas under sheds."
Ticks will also gravitate to abandoned piles of leaves.
The four most common ticks we Virginians encounter are the lone star tick, the American dog tick, the brown tick and the deer tick.
The American dog tick is found predominately west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, while the lone star tick is found to the east of the mountains, according to a Virginia Tech publication.
The brown dog tick can be found throughout the state but tends to be uncommon. The deer tick is also described as uncommon and found primarily in the northern and eastern sections of the state.
Tick Facts
The brown dog tick is not known to carry any disease in Virginia.
Both the lone star tick and the American dog tick are potential carriers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
The deer tick is a potential vector of Lyme disease and has been implicated in the transmission of ehrlichiosis. In any case of suspected tick transmitted disease, consult with a physician, recommended Tech's Entomology Fact Sheet.
There is also a vaccination for Lyme disease, reminded Fisher.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
A tick needs to be attached for four to six hours in order to transmit RMSF to its human host, according to the fact sheet. The first symptoms noticed are usually severe headache, chills, fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms.
These first symptoms usually start two to 12 days after the tick bites. By the third date after the bite, a red rash develops on the wrists and ankles, in most cases, and often spreads to the entire hand or foot. A blood test is needed to confirm the disease, and early use of antibiotics has a very high rate of cure, according to the publication.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease initially develops as an oblong rash, usually two or more inches in size, with a clear center that develops at the site of the tick bite, although only 70 percent of people develop this symptom, according to the fact sheet.
At a later time people usually develop flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache, fever and general stiffness of the neck joints. Chronic symptoms of a small percentage of untreated people include arthritis and nervous system complications.
Tick ID
All ticks have eight legs in the adult stage, but have six legs as newly hatched larvae.
Small ticks of all species are called seed ticks, a common name that does not refer to one particular species.
The American dog tick is about 5 mm long with short stout mouthparts. It is a dark brown with light wavy lines or reticulations on its back.
The lone star tick is about 5 mm in length or less with long mouthparts. It is light reddish-brown with a central white spot on the back of most of the adults.
The brown dog tick is about 5 mm long with short stout mouthparts. It is distinguished from the American dog tick by its dark reddish-brown color and lack of any white markings.
The deer tick is a small tick about 2-3 mm in length with long mouthparts. It is off-white or reddish when fed and has black legs.
Tick Stages
Ticks pass through three feeding stages: the larva, nymph and adult. Typically, each stage feeds on a different host.
Hosts include a variety of animals, mice, rabbits and deer, and each stage of the tick has a different host depending on the life stage.
Humans are accidental hosts that are not part of the tick's natural life cycle.
After feeding on a host, a tick becomes engorged with blood and drops from the host. Once in a protected place, immature ticks molt to the next stage, and adult females produce eggs after their final blood meal.
PreventionTips
Virginia Department of Health
· Avoid tick invested areas such as tall grass and dense vegetation.
· Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against weeds and tall grass.
· Keep grass and underbrush cut and thinned.
· Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be found easily.
· Tuck pant legs into socks so ticks stay on the outside of pants.
· Conduct tick checks on children and pets every four hours.
· Keep pets outside from April to September to help keep ticks out of the house.
· Use tick repellents that contain at least 30 percent DEET.
· Ask your veterinarian to recommend tick controls for your pets.
· Treat clothes with permanone (be sure to follow all label precautions).
Tick Removal
Ticks are best removed with tweezers or by wrapping the tick in tissue paper and pulling out with fingers, according to the report.
Do not twist or jerk, and pull slowly to avoid leaving the mouthparts in the wound.
Do not use nail polish, petroleum jelly, alcohol or hot matches to remove the tick.
Wash the wound with an antiseptic after the tick is removed. Kill the tick in rubbing alcohol and keep it in a small vial for a few months in case any disease symptoms develop.
(Commercial products named in this publication for informational purposes only. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University do not endorse these products or intend discrimination against other products that also may be suitable.)
For additional information on tick control, contact the local Halifax County Extension Office at 476-2147 and ask for Bill McCaleb in the horticulture office or for Jason Fisher.

By Gertrude Slabach
Take a lamb, a heifer, or a steer--pair it with a young person. Help him feed, water, exercise, and train the animal, and help him manage the financial figures. Bring the pair to the Halifax County Fairgrounds on Monday, April 23, 2001, and you've got the annual 4-H Livestock Show & Sale. Right? Wrong.
The best things in life aren't really free. Building character traits in children doesn't come easily or without sacrifice. Ask any parent whose child has participated if it's easy work. Ask any child who's ever shown an animal. They'll tell you. Yet while the best things in life may not be free, they're worth every bit of the effort.
Mitzi Waller, an active parent, shares her view of this event. "The purpose is to provide young people experience with responsibility, showmanship, ownership, sportsmanship, making friends with other participants, learning to handle finances, and being able to 'let go' of an animal they've spent a lot of time with."
Ask numerous parents their reason for allowing their child to participate. They'll tell you. Overwhelmingly, one word overrides any other reply: Responsibility.
Traci Talley, whose two sons are showing, describes her own experiences: "I started showing when I was 9 years old. My sister and I were always responsible for feeding and taking care of the animals; our parents would help us get started--but we'd finish breaking the cattle. We used the money to purchase animals the following year; if there was any money left, we had to use it to buy our own school clothing."
You'll find Jimmy Anderson at every show, helping not only his daughter but others as well. He says that in addition to teaching responsibility, "it also teaches respect for living creatures and a work ethic."
Jay and Don Reese, whose children are busy training animals, have experience as participants themselves. Their father Hudson first participated in the 1950's. "We learned the responsibility of caring for animals and managing money," they say.
Jay adds, "I also learned how to deal with other people and with social reactions--how to get along with different people."
Ask Jay if it's fun to win, and he'll chuckle. "I didn't do much winning," he'll tell you, "so I had to learn how to handle losing. I always came in second place."
Don says he envisions the show will "teach my kids to learn responsibility in taking care of animals. They need to learn the consequences of what happens when you don't do something you're supposed to do."
There are other good reasons besides responsibility.
MarkSlabach, former showman and father of two participants, says, "I'm motivated for my children to participate because it promotes the livestock industry, which is dwindling at the family farm level."
J.O. Crews adds, "children learn hard work, working together as a family, and appreciation of where food comes from. Hard work never hurt anyone, and things in life require effort."
"The show and sale allows the child to see the results of his work and rewards him for his efforts," claims Jimmy Anderson.
Stan Morphew hopes his son will learn "the dirty side of farming, plus pick up basic things a person needs to know."
Katherine Mize's children are first-timers this year. She thinks her kids will gain an appreciation for livestock and the people who raise them. "I think it will help them become well-rounded," she adds.
Keith Francis, a past 4-H participant with two children showing, shares, "It takes a lot of work on the part of kids as well as the parents. Whether they do well or not the day of the show, they can step back and know they did the best they could and be proud of what they did."
Show participants spend hours and days halter-breaking and training their animals. Amber Glass (11) explains how she trains her lamb. "I lead it around the house and set it up in the carport, and my daddy checks his loin and acts like the judge."
Kate Mize (11) says, "I trained my lamb by tying it up sometimes and walking it each day."
Her brother Holden (6) says, 'I trained him to be nice by acting nice to him."
Maybe the best things in life aren't free, but there are some "best" experiences about being in the show.
Jay Reese thinks some of his best memories are "being there with friends and doing something that we all enjoyed." His father's best experience was "the year I had a champion Hereford steer, and the friendships I made."
After nine years' experience, Jamie Crews thinks the best thing about the project is that "it has built my character and taught me responsibility . . . how to interact with people and animals, and that winning isn't the most important thing."
Beth Slabach remembers poignantly, "My best memory was last year, when my sponsor bought my lamb and then gave it back to me to take home!"
Amber Glass states, "the fun part about showing is having to fool with them every day trying to get them ready." Are there any things she doesn't like about showing? "Not really," she says. "I love working with them, so there is not much I don't like." Her brother, Anthony, says his favorite part is playing with the other kids and animals.
At the show, parents watch from the sidelines, observing their children's responses when things go awry in the ring. They watch for character growth in addition to how their kids are faring with the judge.
J.O Crews shares, "One year when the sheep pawed Jamie during the show, she stuck with her animal and didn't give up. She showed her determination and maturity."
One mother remembers a daughter's steer that was particularly unruly. "She stood in the ring, hanging on to that steer. He kept tramping on her foot deliberately. Our daughter had a terrific temper, and she was upset, but she didn't lose it. Even though her animal pulled her to the bottom of the class in showmanship, we let her know that she was a winner in our eyes, because she maintained her cool."
Then there are stories about the times an animal got away, became ill, or died. "We had a sheep that had kidney stones ten days before the show, and to keep from losing the animal we had to slaughter it. At that point we had to go buy another sheep and try to get it halter-broken and sheared. That was quite a trying time!" J.O Crews remembers.
Don Reese shares, "A couple of years we had a steer die on us before the show; we always had two animals apiece, so we just showed one."
"One of the worst things about participating," says Mark Slabach, " is having to tell a contestant that his lamb will not live to be shown."
Buck Watkins says a negative experience for him in the past was when "my sheep got out and got killed by my dog. I learned," he adds, "never to leave the door open."
Sarah Beth Slabach remembers her first lamb. "I came home from school when I was in kindergarten, and my lamb had died. I was very sad, and we had to find another lamb."
"My most negative experience," Jamie Anderson says, " was when we had to put one of my lambs to sleep."
Then there are the days when folks might wonder if it's worth the hassle. Hudson Reese's first experience happened the very day that he bought his first steer for his first show.
"My dad was already dead, so I was pretty much on my own. I was in tenth grade, and my steer got out of the pen after I got him home. I had to go out at midnight by myself. The steer was about one mile from home. I led him back with a bucket of feed. He just followed me home. My mother helped me get him in the pen."
Jay Reese remembers, "It was hard work, breaking calves and getting run over and dragged by them. I remember one day one of Don's calves took off running and pulled me down. I had hold of the end of the rope. The calf was dragging me, and my daddy was running after me yelling, 'Don't turn him lose! Don't turn him lose!' I held on, and we finally caught him."
Was his father proud of him for hanging on?
He chuckles, "I reckon my daddy was proud of me."
His father added, "Pat and I both got run over by one of their steers. It's a wonder we weren't hurt. We were very fortunate that they ran over us and didn't step on us. The boys had several hard-to-handle animals that took some working."
Dave Slabach recalls the year his older sons were showing heifers for the first time. "I was working with them one morning before I went to work. They dragged me clear across the field. I was sore for days."
"A negative experience I had," Blake Waller shares, "was while I was showing a lamb. The judge was walking around looking at my lamb, and it jumped up. The lamb pushed my head into a wooden pole."
Many parents and contestants recognize that this experience helps children learn the cycle of life. "The 4-H program teaches children there is a cycle to life, and when something dies, it is for the benefit of others," Jamie Crews says.
Participants know that their lamb or steer will be sold the evening of the show and sent to be slaughtered. On occasion, someone will buy an animal to take to his farm, but most are led from the sale onto a waiting truck.
Holden Mize says, "The part I don't like about showing is that I am going to have to sell him afterward."
"It always makes me so sad," says Rebekah Slabach, "when I have to sell my lambs."
In most areas where children compete, the competitors do not work together in preparation for the competition. Not so with this county show!
"Another purpose of the show," Mark Slabach says, "is to give participants responsibility of working together with others before and after the show for a 'common cause', while competing with the same individuals and hopefully learning how to win or lose graciously."
Four days before, all contestants work together at the fair grounds to set up. Partitions for pens are put in place, shavings are spread on the floor, and chairs are set up. The participants work together in the same arena in which they'll be competing in just a few days. Newcomers and old-timers, children and adults, learn to know each other by more than just a name. Parents whose children will be competing with each other work shoulder to shoulder.
Between the show and the sale, there is free time followed by a dinner for the participants and their sponsors. If you walk through the building during this time, you'll find the participants, who just hours before were competing fiercely with each other, now playing games in the ring. Off in a corner, you might find a kid lying with his lamb, hugging it tearfully. On occasion, you might find a kid snuggling up to a steer, trying to hide unbidden tears. In a few hours, the animals will be loaded and hauled away.
"The livestock show is good training for kids. They learn to love livestock and get a good dose of reality, too, when they have to give them up. They learn a lot about life and living. It's a good positive experience for everybody," explains Hudson Reese.
A few days later, you'll find the same group of children and parents rubbing shoulders again as they clean up the sawdust and take down the partitions. There will be a few more games of tag as parents round up their kids to go home.
Responsibility and hard work. Fun times and teary times. Learning to win or lose gracefully. Experiencing death as well as life. None of it comes easily--and none of it is free. Yet while the best things in life aren't free, they're worth the effort.
As Jamie Crews aptly explains, "The 4-H Show is not about cruelty to animals. It is about character and responsibility. It teaches kids things they will need to know in the real world."
Join other parents and friends on Monday, April 23, 2001 at the Halifax County Fairgrounds for the 43rd annual Junior Livestock Show & Sale. There will be 31 youth participating this year with the show to begin at 11:00 AM and public sale beginning at 6:30 PM. Come support the kids in this county who want to learn to live responsibly. You'll be glad you came!

The merger of banking giants First Union Corporation and Wachovia Corporation will create the largest financial holding company in its Southeast/East Coast region and the fourth largest nationwide.
But over the next three years, the combined staffs of the two, said to be approximately 90,000, will be reduced by approximately 7,000 positions.
Wachovia has branch operations at Centerville in South Boston and in the Town of Halifax.
The agreement is being billed as a merger of equals, although First Union's total assets outweigh Wachovia's by a margin of greater than three-to-one.
Terms of the agreement call for common stockholders of Wachovia to receive 2.0 shares of common stock of First Union in exchange for each share of Wachovia common stock.
The combined company, which will be known as Wachovia Corporation, will offer its 19 million combined customers an unprecedented array of corporate banking, retail banking, asset and wealth management, capital markets and securities brokerage services and products.
The new Wachovia will have total deposits of $183 billion, assets under management of $222 billion and mutual fund assets of $96 billion. Total assets are listed at $324 billion with a market capitalization of $45 billion.
The company's 19 million customers (3.1 million of them on-line) will be served by 90,000 total employees, 2,900 banking branches, 5,100 ATMs, and nearly 600 brokerage offices staffed by 8,300 registered representatives.
The company will be headquartered in Charlotte, and maintain the regional headquarters for its North and South Carolina banks in Winston-Salem.
Wachovia's board is expected to approve a special 48 cents per common share dividend payable prior to closing in the third quarter.
The purchase accounting transaction will be immediately accretive to the cash earnings per share of both companies upon closing, and will provide an internal rate of return in excess of 20 percent for both groups of shareholders a company news release stated.
When the merger is completed, L.M. Baker Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Wachovia, will become chairman of the new organization.
G. Kennedy Thompson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of First Union, will become president and chief executive officer of the new company.
The board of directors of the combined company will comprise 18 members, nine from each banking board.
"Together, this new company will have what superregional banks rarely have: a full line of financial products, services and distribution capabilities, sufficient density of coverage and depth of talent to leverage its leading share in key growth markets, strong capital position and an experienced management team," stated Baker.
"These strengths will enable superior growth rates in revenues and profits,'' said Baker. ``At the core, each company has an accomplished corporate bank, a wonderfully positioned retail franchise, and unbeatable opportunities in wealth and asset management. Our home region has great economic fundamentals. Our corporate cultures are very similar, focused on customer relationships.''
The companies said the new Wachovia will have leading market share in numerous high growth markets, with an extensive product offering - the No. 1 retail bank in the East, No. 1 in small business banking, a leading national brokerage and fund manager, an investment bank focused on growth companies and a well-positioned corporate bank.
Wachovia and First Union also have designated the other key members of the new company's senior management team:
· Robert P. Kelly, executive vice president and chief financial officer of First Union, will become chief financial officer;
· Donald K. Truslow, senior executive vice president and chief risk officer of Wachovia, will become chief risk management officer;
· Benjamin P. Jenkins III, vice chairman of First Union, will head general banking;
· Stanhope A. Kelly, senior executive vice president of Wachovia, will head wealth management;
· Donald A. McMullen Jr., vice chairman of First Union, will head brokerage and asset management;
· W. Barnes Hauptfuhrer, managing director, and Stephen E. Cummings, managing director, of First Union, will co-head Corporate and investment banking;
· Paul G. George, executive vice president of Wachovia, will head human resources;
· Jean E. Davis, senior executive vice president of Wachovia, will head operations and technology;
· Mark C. Treanor, executive vice president, secretary and general counsel of First Union, will head legal affairs;
·Robert S. McCoy Jr., vice chairman and chief financial officer of Wachovia, and David M. Carroll, executive vice president of First Union, will head the merger integration team.
The companies expect the merger integration process to be completed in three years.
The companies expect the merger to generate $890 million in annual expense reductions, phased in over the three-year integration period. This equals eight percent of the companies' current combined expense base.
The companies expect to take merger-related one-time charges of $1.45 billion, related to staff training, retention and severance; real estate; systems integration; and other miscellaneous accruals.
The companies say that they may be required to divest approximately $1.5 billion to $2 billion in deposits as a condition of regulatory approval. Over the three-year integration period, the combined staff will be reduced by approximately 7,000 positions. Close to half of this reduction is expected to be achieved through normal attrition.
The combined company expects to pay a quarterly cash dividend of 24 cents per common share, and to maintain over time a dividend payout ratio of 35 percent to 40 percent of its earnings.
The transaction will be accounted for under purchase accounting. It is expected to close in the third quarter of 2001 and is subject to normal shareholder and regulatory approvals.
The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Wachovia and First Union have granted each other options to purchase, under certain circumstances, up to 19.9 percent of each other's outstanding common shares. Wachovia was represented by Credit Suisse First Boston and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. First Union was represented by Merrill Lynch and Sullivan & Cromwell.
First Union had $253 billion in assets and stockholders' equity of $16 billion at March 31, 2001. First Union is a leading provider of financial services to 15 million retail and corporate customers throughout the East Coast and the nation.
The company operates full-service banking offices in 11 East Coast states and Washington, D.C., and full-service brokerage offices in 47 states.
Wachovia: (NYSE: WB) is a major interstate financial holding company offering banking and financial services to individuals primarily in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and to corporations and institutions throughout the United States and globally. Wachovia Corporation is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Atlanta, Ga., and had assets of $74 billion at December 31, 2000.
The proposed transaction will be submitted to First Union's and Wachovia's stockholders for their consideration, and First Union and Wachovia will file a registration statement, a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC.

James B. Holcomb, 21, of Ridge Road in Vernon Hill, was arrested Monday by sheriff's deputies on charges of assault and battery and brandishing a weapon.
Holcomb is alleged to have assaulted Judy Lee Terry on April 9.
A hearing is scheduled for Holcomb on April 16, in Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
· Another Vernon Hill man, Clyde Donald "Donnie" Womack Jr., 31, of Ashbury Church Road, was arrested Monday by sheriff's deputies on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery.
Womack was charged with the alleged assault of Laura Womack.
The alleged offense occurred on January 22.
In traffic reports,
A two-car collision occurred Saturday afternoon at a downtown intersection in South Boston, in which one of the vehicles veered off of the street and struck the Haley's House of Carpets building.
Officer W. Ozmec said the 5:04 p.m. collision involved a 2000 Dodge pickup, driven by William Michael Dunn, 36, of South Boston, who was traveling south on Main Street, and a 1991 Dodge, driven by Bessie Mae McCargo, 69, also of South Boston.
The police officer said McCargo attempted to cross the intersection while traveling on Arch Street and the vehicles collided.
McCargo's automobile veered off and struck the front left corner of the Haley building.
Officer Ozmec estimated $2,000 in damages to the McCargo vehicle and $1,000 in damages to the Dunn vehicle.
Two glass tiles of the building were broken by the impact.
The damage was estimated at $1,000 by Ozmec.
No charges were filed.
· Melissa Ann Estes, 18, of South Boston, was charged with reckless driving Friday afternoon after a two-car accident at the intersection of Love Shop Road (Route 614) and Dan River Church Road (Route 716).
Trooper G. M. Gilliam said the 5:20 p.m. accident occurred when a 15-year-old Scottsburg youth, driving a 1995 Nissan, was stopped at a stop sign and Estes, driving a 1986 Chevrolet, struck the rear of the youth's vehicle.
The trooper estimated $1,100 in damages to the Estes vehicle and minimal damage to the vehicle driven by the youth.
· Gladys Marie Moore, 24, of South Boston, was charged with reckless driving Friday morning after a single-car accident on Huell Matthews Highway (Route 501).
Trooper D. T. Conner said the 7:30 a.m. accident resulted when Moore lost control of the 1995 Chevrolet he was driving on a wet road surface during a hard rain.
The car ran off of the right side of the road and struck a guard rail, 200 feet north of Woody Loop (Route 866).
The trooper estimated $3,500 in damages to the vehicle and $400 in damages to the guard rail.
Moore was charged with driving too fast for road conditions.
· Charges are pending in the wake of a single-car crash that occurred Saturday evening on Terry's Bridge Road (Route 613).
Rita Smith Clark, 43, of South Boston, was driving a 1996 Chevy Blazer and ran off of the right side of the road.
The vehicle came back across the highway and ran off of the left side of the road before striking two trees, according to Trooper Gilliam.
Clark was injured in the 5:30 p.m. crash, which occurred one-tenth of a mile west of Easley Crossing Trail (Route 914).
She was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital for treatment and was later released, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The trooper estimated $9,000 in damages to the vehicle.
· Danny Wayne Lacks, 34, of Nathalie, was charged with reckless driving after failing to maintain control of a vehicle early Sunday morning on Clays Mill Road (Route 610).
Trooper Conner said the 2:30 a.m. single-car accident involved a 1997 Chevrolet, driven by Lacks, which ran off of the right side of the road.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle came back on the roadway and overturned.
The crash occurred one mile west of Winn's Creek Road (Route 615).
The trooper said two 16-year-old passengers, Lindsey Dale Singleton and Robert Wayne Compton, sustained minor injuries.
Conner estimated $3,000 in damages to the vehicle.
· A two-car accident resulted from avoiding a deer early Sunday morning on L. P. Bailey Highway (Route 501).
Trooper S. L. Noblin said the 2:40 a.m. accident occurred one mile north of Bethel Road (Route 360) when James Timothy Irby, 32, of Halifax, slowed down the 2001 Jeep he was driving to avoid a deer.
Irby's vehicle was then struck in the rear by a 1989 Dodge pickup, driven by Inez Rebecca Ross, 18, also of Halifax, according to the trooper.
Trooper Noblin estimated $2,000 in damages to the Ross vehicle and $1,000 in damages to the Irby vehicle.
Ross was charged with following too closely.

Tomorrow's Halifax County Invitational Baseball Tournament will be an experience builder for the Halifax County High School baseball team.
The Comets, who have played only five games this spring, will play three games during the two-day event.
Halifax County will face Northern Durham in Thursday's opening game at 12 noon and will face Baldwin High School from Pennsylvania in Thursday's 7 p.m. nightcap.
The Comets will play again Friday, meeting Baldwin in a 6 p.m. game.
"This tournament provides us a great opportunity to play against good teams that play good fundamentally sound baseball," said Comets coach Kelvin Davis whose team sports a perfect 5-0 overall mark and a 2-0 record in Western District play.
"We see the tournament as an opportunity to play a couple of games, give everybody some experience and give the guys some turns at the plate."
Although one may think that with a perfect record the Comets are in need of work, Davis says his team needs to play some games.
"When you look at the schedule, we haven't played that many games," he pointed out.
"We've got one (rained out) game against Patrick Henry that we will make up later. We won't make up the (rained out) doubleheader that was scheduled against Brentsville. This gives us an opportunity to get in some games."
Davis pointed out that both Northern Durham and Baldwin are both quality opponents.
"Northern Durham has two pretty decent left handed pitchers," Davis said.
"I know of them throws the ball with good velocity and has a good changeup.
"This will give us an opportunity to see some pretty good pitching before we have to play GW," added Davis.
Baldwin High School will also present a good challenge for the Comets, Davis pointed out.
"They came down last year and played and they executed and did everything well," Davis said.
"I know they're going to be ready to play."
Baldwin, which is on southern swing, is scheduled to play GW today in Danville before coming entering play in Thursday's Halifax County Invitational Tournament.
New to the Halifax County Invitational Baseball Tournament this year is the addition of a couple of jayvee games.
The Halifax County High School jayvee baseball team, fresh off of a win here Friday over Albemarle, will play two games against the Baldwin High School jayvees.
Those two teams will meet for the first time Thursday at 1 p.m. in a game that will be played at the C.H. Friend Elementary School field.
The two jayvee teams will play each other again Friday at 4 p.m. at the Halifax County High School field.
"It will be a good experience for our jayvee team," Davis said.
"One of the good things is that they will play Friday before our game and it will give our varsity coaches a chance to see the game.
"Sometimes it's hard for the varsity staff to get to see the jayvee team play. It will be a good opportunity for us to get a good look at the team, get an idea of where the individual players are and see who could help us down the road."
All in all, Davis said the Halifax County Invitational Tournament should be an exciting affair and that he is encouraging Comets baseball fans to come out and support the team.
"I think the weather forecasters are calling for some pretty decent weather," Davis said.
"We had some weather problems the last couple of years but I think we're going to get some decent weather this week.
"Hopefully we can get a good crowd out here," added Davis.
"I know a lot of people are working at 12 o'clock in the day but I hope we will get a good turnout for the game and that more people will come out for the evening games Thursday and Friday."

Hamon Junior Francis, 86, of Millstone Church Road, Nathalie, died April 15 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home.
Mr. Francis was born in Halifax County on May 15, 1914, the son of the late William Thomas Francis and the late Martha Wright Francis. He was first married to the late Lelia Cash Francis and then to Rachel Glass Francis, who survives. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Millstone and a retired carpenter and farmer.
In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, James Francis of Farmville, Clark Francis of Taylor, Mich. and Kenneth Francis of South Boston; three daughters, Eleanor Harris and Ruth Jennings, both of Nathalie and Rebecca Hogan of Halifax; two stepdaughters, Debra Owen of Gladys and Janice Briggs of Randleman, N.C.; one brother, Woody Francis of Nathalie; two sisters, Dorothy Rudd of Nathalie and Irene Coates of Brookneal; 15 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Mr. Francis will be held today, April 18, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Millstone by the Rev. Bob Watts. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Billy M. Waddle, 85, died April 10 at his home in Prescott, Ariz.
He was born November 23, 1915, in Greenville, Texas, to William A. and Mabel Swann Waddle.
Mr. Waddle served in the U.S. Army from March 1941 to December 1945. He entered the service as a private in a cavalry assignment and was discharged following three years of service in the Pacific Theater as a captain, unit commander.
He graduated with a doctorate in plant breeding from Texas A&M University in 1954. He was an agriculture research administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mr. Waddle started his career at the U.S. Field Station in Sacaton, and after more than 30 years ended his career in Beltsville, Md.
His expertise was in the research and development of cotton, and as a consultant for the Rockefeller Foundations he traveled around the world helping countries develop their cotton programs. He moved to Prescott in 1977.
Surviving Mr. Waddle are his wife, Joy; one daughter, Beverly McMurray of Albuquerque, N. M.; two sons, Bill Waddle and his wife, Judy, and their two children, Michael and Melissa, all of Halifax, and Michael Waddle of Winslow, Ark. and two other grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Catherine Myers Waddle.
A celebration of Mr. Waddle's life was held April 14 at 11 a.m. at Prescott United Methodist Church, Prescott.