Friday, April 2, 2004

Citing ‘Inexcusable’ Actions, IDA To Hire Riverstone Site Manager
The Board Sent $461,569 Draft Budget Back To Drawing Board

Citing what one board member called "inexcusable" actions by Riverstone builders, the Board of Directors of the Industrial Development Authority agreed to hire a full-time site manager.

The action came as the board met early Monday morning to address a problem with fill dirt on the property and receive a draft budget.

Vice-Chairman Jack Dunavant said shortly after the meeting that the problem arose when the contractors pulled more dirt from the Building Two site than was originally thought necessary.

"The plans called for four to six inches of topsoil and then reaching fill dirt," he said. "Instead (contractors) stripped two feet and as a result we haven't got enough fill material.

"They went four feet lower than the plans are designed for and we are going to have to do something to fill it up."

Moving fill dirt back into the site could cost up to $92,000, Dunavant said.
"There are a lot of questions about what happened," the vice-chairman said. "But what really bothers me is they didn't alert us that they had a problem.

"They just went ahead and did it and we got hit with it after it was all said and done," he added. "Being in the grading business, I think it's inexcusable."
Dunavant said he feels the IDA shouldn't be held responsible for the contractor's mistake.

"As it looks now, we're more than $154,000 over budget.

"The way the problem arose is one thing," he said. "How we deal with it is another. I think someone else is culpable."

IDA Director Scott Morris suggested that bids for Building Two are being solicited.

"I think we should give (contractors) bids on the job and once a bid is accepted, we can negotiate from there," he said.

Board member Billy Royster pointed out that there was already $1,019,163 in change orders on the Riverstone project.

"You want to do another change order?" he asked, adding that the engineering firm, Timmons, was already 119 percent above their contract as a result of change orders.

The engineering firm had an original contract for $457,778 and has added change orders totalling $546,872, although Morris said Monday that many of those change orders were issued at the behest of the board.

"We have made those changes," Morris said. "The IDA board made the decision and most of the changes was because the board wanted additional work done.

"We asked for the additional work because we had grant funding to get the work done and they (Timmons) were under contract to us."

Contractor Haymes Construction won the contract with an original bid of $2,312,600 and has added change orders amounting to $472,291.

"Haymes was under contract to do the work and the vast majority (of change orders) was because the board wanted the additional work," the IDA director said.

"I don't think we should approve any more costs," Dunavant said. "We shouldn't have to bear the burden for their mistake. There were some practices out there that are simply unacceptable."

Royster agreed.

"There's a problem, they don't inform us, how does that get to be our problem?"

Chairman Carlyle Ramsey called the problem a "compelling reason to hire a site manager."

"We're open ended here," he said. "This thing is out of control. Who is looking out for the taxpayers of this county? We need a site manager and we need him now."

The site manager will report directly to the board on a daily basis in hopes of curtailing cost overruns.

Board members hope to have the job filled within the next 30 days.
Draft Budget

During a review of the upcoming budget, due to be presented to the county on April 6, Board members questioned several items and ultimately appointed a committee to review expenses and make cuts.

The IDA received $320,000 from the supervisors this year and intended to ask for $461,569 in the upcoming budget.

The budget review committee, consisting of Royster and Treasurer Gene Faucette, met with Morris after the meeting and will present a new budget during a noon meeting Monday.

"We have increases of up to 500 percent in this thing," Ramsey said, holding the three-page document. "When we have these high unemployment and foreclosure rates in this county, we don't need to be spending $2,000 on planning.

"We have to ask the Board of Supervisors for a significant amount of money," the chairman added. "I think that except for core services, everything needs to be scrutinized and cut.

"I would suggest we zero everything and build a new budget," Ramsey said. "Given what we're about to take on (with Riverstone and other projects) we really need to look at this."

Morris said that several costs increased, pointing to liability insurance of $17,000 in the budget, up from $1,098 last year.

"That's to bring our insurance up to include Riverstone and insure things we're required to insure," the director said. "If we're going to own buildings, we're going to have to insure them."

Once approved by the Board, the new budget will be presented to the county Tuesday.

Huber Plant Cited For Emissions Violations
OSB Manufacturer Tests Over Permit Limits For Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde

A Halifax County oriented strand board manufacturer has been cited by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for excessive carbon monoxide and formaldehyde emissions.

J.M. Huber, located off of Howard P. Anderson Highway, was listed as a "high priority violator" for the fourth quarter of 2003 during a meeting of the board Monday, according to meeting records.

The description of the violation was listed as "alleged exceedance of CO (carbon monoxide) and formaldehyde emission limits."

According to Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Nicole Wright, Huber tested at 22.6 pounds per hour for carbon monoxide and .95 pounds per hour for formaldehyde.

The company is permitted a maximum of 8.93 pounds per hour carbon monoxide emissions and .14 pounds per hour formaldehyde emissions.
Wright said the level of violation warranted formal enforcement actions.
"We have three levels of enforcement with the highest being a notice of violation," she said.

Huber was issued a notice of violation on December 31, 2003 after voluntarily requesting the test in early March, 2003.

Despite volunteering to be tested, Wright said the company could be fined for the violation.

"The way it works is we issued the notice of violation and finalize a compliance plan through issuing a consent order," she said. "Most of the time it's associated with a civil penalty."

Huber Plant Manager Richard Holtman said efforts were being made to deal with the problem.

"We are in the process of correcting it and we are working through some things like permit modification," he said. "The limits named by DEQ do not violate any Environmental Protection Agency ambient air qualities."

Huber's director of corporate communications, Bob Currie, said this was an important point.

"This plant did not exceed any EPA air quality standards," he said.

Formaldehyde is a naturally-occurring compound that, according to a 1997 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is often used in the glue during the manufacture of pressed wood products such as oriented strand board.

It affects people differently based on their sensitivity to the compound.
The CPSC reports that when present in the air at levels above .1 parts per million, it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes and allergic reactions.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause fatigue in healthy individuals and chest pain in people with heart disease.

At higher concentrations, it can cause impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea.

Currie said there had been "no reports of anyone in the plant community citing any of the health or environmental concerns raised by the CPSC data."

"To the best of Huber's knowledge, plant emissions have never reached a threshold that could cause any health or environmental concerns," he added.

Hogan Hears Support For Senate Budget
Break the Budget Stalemate And Support Halifax County, Speakers Urged Delegate Clarke Hogan

A standing-room-only crowd of about 180 sent a clear pro-Senate budget message to Del. Clarke Hogan during his Tuesday night town meeting at The Prizery.

Various speakers called on Hogan and the House to work with the Senate to produce a budget for Virginia, not to take the conflict to referendum, and challenged the House's $58.3 billion budget proposal, saying the Senate's $61 billion plan does more for Halifax County.

A series of speakers representing education, health care, social services, mental health and various state institutions spoke during the almost two-hour session.

Several times applause accompanied calls for the Senate's budget plan.
A lone voice spoke in favor of holding the line on taxes.

Education drew much of the spotlight.

"The work of Virginia is not being done," said Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt, addressing underfunded Standards of Quality as one example.
"The Senate is saying there are unmet needs which your own JLARC (the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission) has identified," added Witt.
Witt said JLARC identified $2.6 billion in K-12 needs and $808 million in higher education.

"Neither the House nor the Governor's budget begin to address these needs. This scenario plays out for other core services as well," he said.

"The House budget would send $978,005 in new state money to Halifax County compared to $5.5 million in the Senate budget.

"That gap is astronomical in terms of local appropriations," Witt said.
The superintendent asked Hogan to examine the House's "no-tax stand."
"It is not analytical. It seems the House has taken an unrealistic position," added Witt.

"We seem to always be looking at the short-term quick fix," he added.

The educator also noted that of the $1 million in new money slated for Halifax County in the House budget, over $700,000 would have to go to increases in the Virginia Retirement System, which he said had been raided the past two bienniums to create new state money.

Witt also asked Hogan not to operate the state by referendum, describing the issues as "too complex".

Former School Board chairman Patti Nelson also sought support for the Senate plan, noting there was $4 million more in the Senate budget for education.

"Please don't shortchange our county for party politics," she said.
Hogan defended the House.

The delegate said it was not a partisan fight, that such a fight would not be to their political advantage.

"It is pure policy and how this affects people," said Hogan.

"The Senate wants sales and income tax" hikes, added Hogan. "People ran against higher taxes...

"We have to make the hard decisions," he said, charging the Senate plan would cost each family of four $675 in taxes.

However, figures provided by the VEA contradicted those figures, showing a $30,000 income range would pay $110 less while a $60,000 income would pay $29 more.

Hogan challenged those figures, saying they were wrong.

Referring to Halifax County's windfall several years ago delivering $4 million annually due to composite index revisions, Hogan defended state financing.

"Where did the previous $4 million for the schools go?" asked Hogan.

"The state, in this county, has done its part in education," he said. "At some point we are going to have to accept responsibility to educate our children."
Northern Virginians pay much higher taxes to fund education, Hogan noted, adding their representatives do not look favorably on Southside's low tax rate.
"What about their unemployment?" asked a member of the audience. "Half of Halifax County does not have a job."

Chris Lumsden, Halifax Regional Hospital administrator, named three major issues for Virginians: education, health care and public safety.

Lumsden thanked Hogan for his support on Medicaid, noting its huge implications regarding the health system's ability to provide services. He also sought a vehicle (in the budget) that shows accountability for how those services will be paid for.

Lumsden too noted the $4 million difference between the House and Senate budgets for Halifax County education.

"The Senate budget gives us more," emphasized Nelson. "Why not vote for it?" she asked Hogan.

But the delegate said the Senate tax increase was unreasonable for Virginians.

During the evening, Carole Inge of the Teachers Institute said the House budget calls for the Institute's elimination.

She said that some of her staff of 19 had been notified regarding impending layoffs, and that others are seeking jobs due to the budget impasse.

However, Hogan said that he was working with Longwood President Patricia Cormier to restore the program.

Bonnie Bowen, president of the Halifax County Education Association, supported the Senate's budget.

She said the Senate budget would act on the state's promise to fully fund Standards of Quality, naming benchmarking of the Standards of Quality.

Larry Harris of the Longwood Small Business Center and Amy Lammerts of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center both detailed the opportunities and positive impact delivered through their programs, and both expressed concern about state funding.

Lammerts cautioned student costs could increase and community college programs could be affected.

Joyce Willis, Behavioral Health Service supervisor, and Jeff Pittman, a spokesman for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), sought support for the mentally ill.

Willis named four concerns, a safety net for the indigent, funding for psychiatric patient beds, daytime support programs and Medicaid waver slots.
She said there has been no increased funding for several of the programs for 10 to 13 years, and that it can take hours to find needed bed space in Southside.

Jeff Pittman of NAMI told Hogan that "people are going to jail in Virginia for no other reason except there is no bed space."

Pittman charged Virginia ranks forty-one in spending for Mental Health and ranks in the low forties in taxing.

Dr. Wayne Adams said that Halifax County had 12 dentists in the past, but has only nine dentists today.

He said that in the Senate's and Governor's budgets, but not in the House budget proposal, there is money for dentistry. He urged support for the state's dentistry program, noting MCV also plans to raise funds in its behalf.

Betty Wells, director of the Department of Social Services, called for compromise to deliver a state budget.

She said that her department's caseloads are going up 15 to 30 percent, depending on the category. She emphasized services are mandated, and that without a budget the services are at risk.

She sought a House compromise with the Senate to deliver a budget.
Several speakers during the evening noted the state budget's impact on the state's bond ratings through Moody's rating service.

Greg Porier suggested Hogan seek a Rural Caucus to break the budget logjam.

Josephine Marshall suggested the House budget would lead to property tax increases locally.

In response to a question from the audience, Hogan said there were increases for state employees in the House budget.

Danville Community College President Carlyle Ramsey sought compromise between the House and Senate.
He also opposed a referendum, adding he hoped that "calmer heads will prevail" in the process.

"What's wrong with a sales tax (increase) ?" asked Bobby Conner.
"The people who buy the goods are the ones who pay that," Conner added.
Hogan said a half penny to one penny local option sales tax has been considered.

However, the delegate said, "A general tax increase nails the middle class."
The legislator also said that care had to be exercised not to slow the economy down.

"We have spent hundreds of hours trying to reach a compromise," said Hogan. "Please be patient, we are working hard."

After the meeting, Hogan said that he was not surprised by the large turnout Tuesday night.

"The Foundation of Virginia did a good job getting people out," he said.

Earlier in the evening, Hogan charged the Foundation with conducting a campaign favoring Governor Warner's and the Senate's budget proposals.

"The average Joe citizen was not part of the education community saying raise my taxes," said Hogan of the Tuesday night meeting.
"The people speaking were keenly interested in the benefits."

Dillard Shined In Several Sports
Les Dillard, A Multi-Sport Standout, Will Be Inducted Saturday Into The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Sports has always been a big part of Les Dillard's life.

While he played three sports, football, basketball and baseball while attending South Boston's C.H. Friend High School Dillard's athletic success rested primarily in basketball.

The South Boston attorney is also an avid and accomplished golfer.

Dillard's athletic career and his success on the links have earned him a place in the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.

Dillard, along with Buddy Yancey and John Burton, have been selected as this year's inductees into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.

The annual Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at C.H. Friend Elementary School in South Boston.

Advance tickets are being sold for $20 each.

Tickets may be purchased at Waskey Cleaners, the office of Dr. James Priest, Gravitt & Gravitt PC, Electric Service Company, Halifax Pharmacy, Edmondson Cleaners and the Gazette Virginian.

Tickets may also be purchased by calling Addison Marable at 572-3031.
Only 250 tickets will be sold.

If any tickets are available after advance sales have been completed, they will be sold at the door for $25 each.

The guest speaker for the occasion will be Jerry Steele, longtime former coach of the High Point (N.C.) University men's basketball team.

Steele was the youngest coach to be inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame when he was enshrined in 1987.

He became one of a handful of college basketball coaches to reach the 500-win plateau in January, 1995.

Entering the 2002-2003 season, Steele was ranked among the top 30 on the all-time list of active coaches with 621 career wins.

In addition to a stellar career as a college basketball coach, Steele coached in the professional basketball ranks, serving as an assistant coach, head coach and, later, Director of Player Personnel for the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association.

Dillard began playing sports at as a youth, starting with midget football while in elementary school.

While attending C.H. Friend High School, Dillard played varsity football, varsity basketball and varsity baseball under coaches Watt Fugate and Tucker Watkins.

He played basketball all three years in high school and, in his senior year, C.H. Friend's team went to the finals of the Class B tournament in Charlottesville.

The C.H. Friend team defeated Martinsville in the morning round and lost to Fredericksburg in the finals in the afternoon.

In addition to Dillard, members of the team included Frank Sullivan, Weldon "Mutt" Bennett, Wallace "Foots" Veasey, Lorenza "Circus" Nelson, Teddy Holt and T.J. Glasscock.

Dillard went on to advance his basketball career, enrolling at Hampden-Sydney College in 1936 and playing all four years he attended Hampden-Sydney.

During that span, Hampden-Sydney faced several noted teams including Long Island University (New York), the University of Richmond, William & Mary, American University, Lynchburg College and Randolph-Macon.

In addition to playing football, basketball and baseball, Dillard also enjoyed playing softball.

During summers following his graduation from Hampden-Sydney, Dillard played softball.

Dillard played for several teams including Blue Ribbon Creamery, XSO Extras and Western Auto.

Some of the better-known local players that Dillard was on teams with included Jimmy Edmunds, Jimmy Epps, Bill Morgan, Bob Owens, Click Smiley and Tom Morningstar.

Today, golf, a sport Dillard took up following military service in World War II, is a big part of his life.

He credits two good friends, Dick Bailey and Buddy Clement , both of whom were excellent players, for giving him considerable help with his game and partnering with him in many area tournaments.

Clement won the Virginia State Open Golf Tournament at the age of 18.
Dillard plays golf regularly at Halifax Country Club where he won the Club Championship in 1971 and the Walter McCormick Memorial Golf Tournament in 1969 and 1984.

He is most proud of the unusual accomplishment of having scored a total of five holes-in-one, all of them at Halifax Country Club.

Obituaries

Norman Morris Cousins

Norman Morris Cousins, 78, of 3024 Neals Corner Road, Clover died March 27 at The Woodview.

Mr. Cousins was born in Halifax County on April 14, 1925, the son of Chestley Cousins and Katherine Harris Cousins, and was married to Mary Greene Cousins. He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, a retired Army Veteran having served during World War II, the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Survivors include his wife; one son, the Rev. Kevin L. Cousins of Browns Mill, N.J.; one daughter-in-law, Marie Cousins; and one granddaughter, Kayla B. Cousins of Browns Mill.

Funeral services for Mr. Cousins will be held tomorrow, April 3 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. James E. Traynham officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Arlington National Cemetery on April 13.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Allie Bennett Crowder Jr.

Allie Bennett Crowder Jr., 85, of Semora, N.C. died April 1 at the home of his daughter.

Born in Pittsylvania County, he was the son of the late Allie Thomas and Ottie Abbott Crowder and was married to Mildred Rimmer Crowder. He was a retired farmer and a member of Semora Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters and their spouses, Ann C. and Billy Murray of Alton and Joan C. and Joe Slade of Blanch, N.C.; one brother, Jack R. Crowder of Pelham, N.C.; three sisters, Bessie C. Long of Yanceyville, N.C., Mattie C. Ferguson of Greenville, N.C., and Vivian C. Davis of Danville; two grandchildren, Mike Murray and his wife, Carrie, and Heath Slade; two great-grandchildren, William Murray and Kristal Tate.

Mr. Crowder was preceded in death by four brothers, Abbott, John, Harvey, and Howard Crowder; and his closest friend, John Martin Scott.

Funeral services will be held April 4 at 2 p.m. at Brooks & White Funeral Home Chapel in Roxboro, N.C. with Pastor John Bradsher officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Danville.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6-8, at the funeral home.

Joseph Ditta

Joseph Ditta, 77, of South Boston died March 31 at The Woodview.

Mr. Ditta was a landscaper and grounds keeper and was employed by Walter and Barbara Bass of South Boston.

Memorial services will be private.

Ronald Wayne Gillogly

Ronald Wayne Gillogly, 66, died March 31 in Indiana. He was born to Silas and Para Lee Elliott Gillogly of Crawfordsville, Ind.

Mr. Gillogly was first married to the late Marie Davenport and then to Aleta Ann Baker, who survives him.

He is also survived by four children, Rhonda Rogers and her husband, Jimmie, of Alton, Jeff Baker of Kingman, Bryce Gillogly and wife, Lisa, of Washington Boro, Pa., and Terri Armold and her husband, Barry, of Bainbridge, Pa.; one brother, Donald Gillogly of Crawfordsville; 11 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Maurice Edward Gillogly.

Funeral services for Mr. Gillogly will be held in Waveland, Inc.

Willie Wilson Landrum Jr.

Willie Wilson Landrum Jr., 61, of 1837 Chamberlain Street, South Boston died March 31 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Landrum was born in Halifax County on January 9, 1943, the son of Willie Wilson Landrum Sr. and Essie Moore Landrum and was married to Sandra Boyles Landrum. He was a member of McCanless United Methodist Church where he was an usher and on various committees.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Michael Scott Landrum of South Boston; one brother, Lester C. Landrum and his wife, Martha, of Lucoma, N.C.; a sister-in-law, Kay L. Vaughan of Richmond; two nieces, Mary Jo Vaughan of Richmond and Lisa Landrum Smith of South Boston; and one nephew, Page H. Vaughan III of Statesboro, Ga.

Mr. Landrum was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Otis Clifton Landrum.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, April 3 at 2 p.m. at McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Phil Showers officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider McCanless Memorial UM Church, 300 Edmunds Street, South Boston, 24592.

Ida Beatrice Neal Smith

Ida Beatrice Neal Smith, 87, of 1309 Bayonne Avenue, South Boston died at Outlook Pointe, Fredericksburg on April 1.

Mrs. Smith was born in Halifax County on March 21, 1917, the daughter of Charlie Henry Neal and Annie Yeatts Neal, and was married to the late Lawrence P. Smith. She was a member of First Baptist Church of South Boston, and the American Legion Post 8 Auxiliary.

Survivors include one son, Lawrence P. 'Larry' Smith Jr. and his wife, Pamela, of South Boston; one daughter, JoAnne S. Farley and her husband, Harry D., of Fredericksburg; one sister, Ruby Smith of Newport News; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be held tomorrow, April 3 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Tim Cannon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of Larry and Pam Smith, 1309 Bayonne Avenue, South Boston.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church People of Hope, 815 North Main Street, South Boston.