Swirling irrigation systems shot water over blooming strawberry patches throughout the county two nights in a row this week, but sub-freezing weather took its toll.
"We took a right good beatin' in strawberries," Dean Puryear said yesterday.
"I figure we lost 40 to 50 percent with the early plants," he added, although he said that hope is high for later plants.
Like Hudson Reese, Puryear sprayed acres of strawberries with water Wednesday and Thursday night to insulate the young plants.
Although Reese was feeling good about his four-acre strawberry crop yesterday, he knows that he has damage to his tomato plants. "I don't know how significant, I haven't assessed it yet," he said.
Reese's sons, Jay and Don, were "kept up running the sprinklers" on the family's strawberry fields both nights, according their father.
"I don't think we have damage there but it adds to the cost and aggravation," added Hudson Reese.
Potentially, the Reeses have 5,000 to 10,000 quarts of strawberries per acre.
Their tomato crop yields about 1,000 to 2,500 in 25-pound boxes, according the family's patriarch.
The Reeses used row covers to try to protect their tomato plants.
Dean Puryear just smiled when asked about his tomato plants.
"We're in good shape. They were in the greenhouse," he said.
Puryear said that they had put the tomato plants out to toughen up, but they simply but them back when the freeze was predicted.
"The cold didn't seem to bother the corn," added Puryear.
"I know that it got to 27 degrees," he added. Puryear used a digital thermometer to get the 27 reading. But when he used a laser thermometer to check the sprayed fields covered in ice, he got a 31 degree reading. Nearby fields that had not been sprayed with water were 28 degrees.
"This isn't unusual weather," Reese said. "The last two or three years spoiled us. It was about 30 degrees out here. We didn't have a really hard freeze," he added.
Reese predicted a good strawberry crop ripe in early May, with tomatoes by early July.
For Reese, the cold temperature "slowed things down."
Puryear will be taking a closer inventory of his strawberries today, but his tomatoes are right on schedule.
Unfortunately, many local peach and plum orchard owners anticipate a small harvest or none at all due to the freeze.

A 65-year old South Boston man who attempted to kill Halifax County Deputy D.H. Barksdale has been declared incompetent to stand trial and has been ordered to undergo treatment in an effort to restore his competence so that he can face attempted murder charges.
Hilltop Motel owners called police on September 19, and reported that they were having problems with George Edward Bass who had rented a room.
When Deputy Barksdale was unable to persuade Bass to respond to commands to open the door, he entered with a key.
Barksdale told how Bass was hiding behind the door and when he entered, Bass lunged and struck him in the chest with a butcher knife.
Hearing what he described as a "ping", the shocked law enforcement realized that the sound he had heard was that of a butcher knife that had broken upon impact with his chest.
"It came to me, this man tried to kill me!" said Barksdale, who was not wearing a chest protector at the time of the attack.
But in another case heard this week in Circuit Court involving assaults against police officers, Tammy Evette Thaxton, 28, of South Boston, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Thaxton had been charged October 6 with assault and battery of South Boston Police officers Rick Hess and Wanda Garner following a high speed pursuit that ended on Wilborn Avenue at a convenience shop.
Thaxton was charged with possession of cocaine, failure to stop for law enforcement officers, two counts of assault and battery, driving under the influence (fourth offense) and refusing to take a blood test.
Judge Charles L. McCormick II accepted Thaxton's plea of guilt on the drug charge, failure to stop for an officer and assault of officer Rick Hess. Other charges were nol-prossed.
Thaxton was sentenced to five years of the three convictions with all suspended except for 12 months on conditions of her good behavior for 15 years, that she be placed on two years of probation and submit to random drug screening.
For violation of probation conditions ordered against Thaxton June 2, 1997, Judge McCormick revoked a 12-months jail sentence and ordered that it too, run concurrent with other sentences imposed on Tuesday.
A former employee of CDM Enterprises Inc./Colonial Homes of South Boston, 41-year-old Curnel George Hairston, Jr., of Danville, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny/embezzlement.
Records show that Hairston received $3,600 from Angela Hurt for down payment on a home last August. Later in October, Hairston received $1,560 from the same victim for payment towards the purchase of a home.
Additionally, Hairston received from Sherry Kane $1,700 last December for payment toward the purchase of a home and is reported to have received $1,000 from Thomas Lassiter, employee of Hayles Tire and Axle Co., of Henderson, N.C., for payment towards tires, axles and wheels.
Hairston is said to have used the money to purchase drugs.
Judge McCormick accepted Hairston's plea of guilt on three charges of grand larceny/embezzlement and a single charge of petit larceny on the condition that he pay restitution of $300 to Sherry Kane prior to being sentenced in June.
Hairston remains free on bond.
In other cases heard this week, the following dispositions were taken:
· Rickie Lewis Compton, 25, of Alton, pleaded guilty to hit and run ­ personal injury and driving after declared an habitual offender. His vehicle struck another occupied by Shawn Thomas Conner of Halifax last August.
Compton was also found guilty of a pretrial violation because he was under court supervision at the time of the offense. He remains in jail awaiting sentencing June 19, and has been authorized for work release.
· Richard Dale Caudle, 65, of Virgilina, was convicted to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon last April. He will remain in jail for sentencing June 19.
· Maurice Daniel Dance, 23. of South Boston was found guilty of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and possession of a hidden firearm last August. He remains in jail for sentencing June 19.
· William McKinley Royster, 41, of South Boston was found guilty of probation violations stemming from a forgery and uttering conviction. Royster was ordered to begin serving a five year jail sentence in addition to having to serve 30 days in jail on weekends.
· Donald Kelly Ferrell, 24, of South Boston, was found guilty of probation violation and the court reimposed a 12-months jail sentence while authorizing work release. Probation of 12 months will continue upon his release from jail.

If a large-scale fire occured today, county firefighters would not have use of a ladder truck to fight the blaze or evacuate the building.
That urgent need was confirmed at Tuesday's meeting of the Fire Commission of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.
According to a memorandum passed out at the meeting, the current ladder truck, a 1963 International, recently failed a series of certification tests.
When notified of this, the South Boston Fire Department advised all its members that under no circumstances should any member be allowed to climb the ladder of the truck.
The report made mention of recent fires at the John Randolph Motor Inn, Billy's Steak House, Julia's Alterations, and JPS Apparel plant, all of which could have been extinguished more rapidly with use of a ladder truck, and with safer conditions for local firemen in fighting the blazes.
Other structures within South Boston are candidates for use of an aerial device in the event of a fire or immediate evacuation, including the new Berry Hill AXA building, the Clover Power Plant, the J.M. Huber plant and the Patrick Henry Boys Home in Cluster Springs.
"We wanted to bring it to everybody's eye," said Chief William Murray of the South Boston Fire Department, saying that it was an issue that could come back to haunt them one day, if not addressed.
Murray said that in the event of a major structural fire involving upper level or roof operations, his department would be severely handicapped, having to call for ladder truck service as much as an hour away.
The commission concurred with Halifax Fire Chief Wayne King that a committee be formed to explore the purchase of a new truck and the methods of paying for it.
King, Chief Rob Ford of Cluster Springs and Chief Ricky Hicks of Turbeville were appointed to the committee.
Commission Chairperson Lottie Nunn recommended another committee be formed to go to local businesses for their support to get a new ladder truck "before something tragic happens."
"If people know exactly what you need, they're more inclined to contribute toward it," said Nunn.
Commission member and Supervisor Corky Rorrer, who represents the largest number of South Boston residents, said it was incumbent on governments to provided these services.
"Certain industries are in need of a ladder truck. We have to bite the bullet as far as it's concerned," said Rorrer.
E-911 Center Report
Allen Bober, planner for the consolidated E-911 Dispatch Center, gave a progress report on the implementation of the system, saying there were still a few things to work out before determining a date for the whole system to be on line.
A site for the consolidated center has yet to be determined, according to Bober, who also mentioned that reports for alternative sites for the center are due to be considered soon by the E-911 Board of Directors.
"There's a need for the overall budget to be determined before the site can be determined," said Joe Morgan, county administrator.
Morgan added that the priority at this point is to implement the communications component of the plan, as determined by the E-911 Board of Directors.
"That's a good priority," said Morgan.
Bober said that while the purchase of a Motorola fire and rescue radio system has been approved by the E-911 Board, the Board has not determined the final timetable for its installation.
The overall cost of the system is approximately $400,000, Bober reported to the commission.
According to Bober, the plans are for the system to be installed one station as a time, after the "backbone" of the system is installed.
Bober added that pager testing had already been conducted in the county with good results, and that amplifiers were being studied to assist with communications in the more remote areas of the county.
Bober anticipated that low band radios would remain active as part of the system, primarily for personal communication.
"We want to take our time and make sure we do it right in order to ensure coverage for the outlying areas of the county," said Bober, a sentiment echoed by Rorrer and Nunn.

The deadline for closure of the South Boston Landfill has been extended from December 31, 2005, to 2007.
The Halifax County Landfill, along with two others, was removed from the closure list altogether because they no longer accept waste.
An agreement was struck earlier between Halifax County and South Boston to allow county refuse to be transported to the South Boston Landfill to accelerate its closure by the 2005 date.
After a public review of the closure schedule announced in July 2000, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) proposed that the 10 highest priority landfills be closed by 2007.
Those older landfills, including the one in South Boston, posed the highest potential for exposure to contaminants in the air, soil or water, according to the DEQ.
Seventeen other landfills have received a "medium" ranking for potential exposure and would be closed by 2012. Eight landfills were ranked with a "low" exposure potential and will be closed by 2020.
The preliminary schedule had proposed closing the high and medium priority landfills by 2005 and 2010, respectively. DEQ is proposing two additional years for closing these landfills to allow the owners sufficient time to find alternative waste disposal locations.
The closure dates apply only to the landfills, or portions of landfills, that received permits before stricter requirements took effect in 1993.
"This is a common-sense approach to setting closure priorities based on the conditions at each landfill," said DEQ Director Dennis H. Treacy.
"The comments we received on the proposed priority list were very thorough, and we appreciate the cooperation Virginia localities have shown as we revised the schedule and rankings.
"Our objective always has been to ensure that the landfills are closed on a reasonable schedule to reduce the potential for exposure that could affect people and the environment," added Treacy.
As a result of detailed examinations of existing conditions at individual landfills, adjustments were made to the model that calculates landfill rankings.
Four landfills moved to a higher priority ranking, such as "medium to high," while 12 landfills moved to a lower priority ranking.
Landfills on the closure schedule received state permits before October 1993. These landfills contain disposal areas that do not have state-of-the-art liners and leachate collection systems required for newer landfills, though some have recently constructed disposal areas that meet the current requirements.
The 2000 General Assembly instructed DEQ to develop the closure schedule based on the potential for exposure to landfill contaminants.
DEQ's evaluation takes into account the potential for humans, animals and plants to be exposed to landfill waste or to soil, air, ground water or surface water that is contaminated by landfill waste.
Other factors evaluated include the type of engineering controls in place at a landfill - such as the type of liner or leachate collection system - and how to close a landfill is to a sensitive area such as a stream or drinking water supply.
DEQ will accept public comment on the revised schedule until May 23. The schedule, along with supporting information and landfill data, is available on the DEQ Web site at www.deq.state.va.us/waste/waste.html.
DEQ expects to announce a final closure schedule this summer.

Left-handed pitchers have sometimes been a thorn in Halifax County's side.
But, not yesterday.
The Comets bombarded Northern Durham's two-left-handed hurlers, Jeff Elliott and Kyle Apple, early and often enroute to an easy 14-2 win in yesterday's opening game of the Halifax County Invitational Baseball Tournament.
It was the sixth win in as many games for the Comets.
"They (Northern Durham) had decent pitchers and we came out and real aggressive at the plate," Comets coach Kelvin Davis said after the game that was halted after four and a half innings under a slaughter rule.
"That's what we've been preaching."
The Comets nailed Northern Durham with 14 hits with Nick Thompson and Adam Conner leading the way with three hits each.
Thompson, in fact, lacked only a double from completing a full cycle for the day with a three-run homer in the third inning, a triple and a single to his credit for the afternoon.
Matt Hastings and R.D. Cole each chipped in a pair of hits for the Comets.
Mike Priest, Justin Shepperd, Jonathan Wallace and Chad Conner all had a hit each.
The Comets also got a good performance on the mound from sophomore Matt Clay who made his first start on the mound this season.
Clay allowed only four scattered hits and fanned five Northern Durham batters in his four innings of work, leaving his coach with a big smile.
"He pitched a whale of a game," Davis said.
"Matt kept the ball down and kept the hitters off balance. He did a good job for us."
Senior Brandon Howerton, the Comets regular starting second baseman, came to the mound in the top of the fifth inning. He gave up a hit, a walk, and one run but struck out two of the five batters he faced.
Halifax County tagged Northern Durham for two runs in the first inning on a two-RBI single by Jonathan Wallace. Wallace plated Thompson and Hastings who came up with back-to-back singles with one out in the inning.
The Comets doubled that with four runs in the second inning to take a quick 6-0 lead.
Adam Conner led off with a single and Chad Conner reached base on a fielder's choice in which Adam Conner was thrown out at second base. A triple by Thompson plated Chad Conner.
Hastings walked and, with Priest batting, attempted to steal second base. The Knights' catcher threw the ball to second base in an attempt to nab Hastings, opening the door for Thompson to score. The throw was wide and Hastings scrambled to third base to complete the play. Hastings then scored on a double Priest. A single by Shepperd plated Priest to give the Comets a 6-0 lead.
Two Comets errors and a base hit allowed Northern Durham to manufacture a run in the top of the third inning to make the score 6-1.
Halifax County put the game out of reach with an eight-run barrage in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 14-1 score.
The big inning, which was highlighted by seven hits by the Comets, was keyed by Cole and Adam Conner who each came up with a two-RBI hit and Thompson who added a three-run homer.
Northern Durham scored its final run in the top of the fifth inning when it got a two-out walk from Howerton, the Comets' relief pitcher, and tagged Howerton for a hit that plated the run.
"This was a big win for us," Davis said.
"We came out and swung the bats, which is what you have to do to win these ball games. We did a lot of things well and executed well. This was what we needed."
The Comets were to play Baldwin High School from Pennsylvania in last night's 7 p.m. contest.
Halifax County will play Baldwin in a second game today at 6 p.m. which will be preceded by a 4 p.m. game pitting the Baldwin High School jayvees against the Halifax County jayvees.

Janet C. Robarr, 81, of 103 Eanes Street, South Boston, died April 17 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Robarr was born in Halifax County on September 29, 1919, the daughter of Eula Crenshaw and Elise Crenshaw and was married to Norman G. Robarr. She was a member of Center United Church of Christ and the Herb Club.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Susan Ann Gregg of Cockeysville, Md.; one son, James D. Robarr and wife, Donna of Lockport, N.Y.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Claude Crenshaw of Nathalie, Hunter Crenshaw of Silver Springs, Md. and Charles Crenshaw of Mt. Laurel; two sisters, Polly Fitchlee of South Boston and Helen Morris of Halifax.
A funeral service for Mrs. Robarr will be held today, April 20, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Doug Martin officiating. Burial will take place in Clover Cemetery.

Kimberly Denise Johnson, 31, of 1410 Belt Blvd., South Boston, died April 18 in Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Gasden, Ala. on November 9, 1969, the daughter of Earl Johnson and Brenda Faye Ingram Johnson.
Survivors include her father and step-mother, Judy Johnson of Winter Haven, Fla.; step-father, Leonard Crute of Crystal Hill; three brothers, Michael Johnson and Bobby Johnson, both of Winter Haven, and Douglas Johnson of South Boston; two sisters, Tammy Johnson and Brandy Johnson, also both of Winter Haven; a special friend, Randolph Wilson of South Boston, and a close family friend, Mary Ann King of Halifax.
A memorial service for Miss Johnson will be held April 21 at 2 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends at the home of Lawrence Crute, 1094 Clays Mill Road, Halifax

Lillian Long Petway died April 18.
She is survived by one son, Noel Wayne Gravitt and his wife, Janice D. Gravitt; one grandson, Elliott N. Gravitt; one step-grandson, Christopher C. Crosby; three sisters-in-law, Eunice Long, Betsy Gravitt and Marion Long.
Mrs. Petway was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Richmond, where a memorial service will be held April 21 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, Virgilina at 4 p.m.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Building Fund at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 9801 Fort King Rd., Richmond.

Elizabeth Conner Crews, 83, of 1132 Cody Road, Nathalie, died April 19 at her home.
Mrs. Crews was born in Halifax County on March 23, 1918, the daughter of Fountain C. Conner and Leona Foster Conner and was married to Henry Richard Crews. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
She was a graduate of Longwood State Teachers College, taught school in the Halifax County School System for 39 years, having taught at Buffalo, Perth, Republican Grove, Volens and Sydnor Jennings schools. She was a member of the North Halifax VFD Auxiliary Quilting Ladies.
Survivors include one granddaughter, Martha Brizendine of Nathalie; one grandson, Richard Brizendine Jr. of Scottsburg; one son-in-law, Richard 'Dickie' Brizendine of Nathalie; one great-grandson, Michael Brizendine of Scottsburg; one sister, Ruby Conner Newton and her husband, L.J. Newton Jr. of Nathalie; one brother, Hampton Kent Conner Sr. and his wife, Mildred Edmunds Conner of Takoma Park, Md.
Funeral services for Mrs. Crews will be held April 21 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles conducting the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 20, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home, and other times at her home.

Margaret Grinnan Harris, 79, of Baltimore, Md., formerly of Halifax County, died April 17 at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Mrs. Harris was born in Halifax County on August 10, 1921, the daughter of the late Willie Grinnan and Adlissa Lacks Grinnan, and was married to Richard Archie Harris. She was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Adissia Marie Paul and Carol Harris, both of Baltimore; three sons, Richard Harris Jr., David Lee Harris and Ricky Harris, all of Baltimore; two sisters, Sadie Sturdivant and Marie Heard, both of Baltimore; two brothers, Howard Grinnan of Clover and Shirley Grinnan of Baltimore.
A funeral service for Mrs. Harris will be held April 22 at 2:20 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, Lackstown Road, Clover.

Jane Dennis Boyd, 51, of 1155 Hog Wallow Road, Nathalie, died April 17 at her home.
Survivors include two sisters, Virginia Forest and Queen Jennings, both of Nathalie; one brother, David Dennis of Nathalie; and one devoted God daughter, Cassandra Fuller.
Funeral services for Mrs. Boyd will beheld April 21 at 2 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Forrest officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Connic Warren Williams, 76, of 8067 Catawba Drive, Jacksonville, Florida died Monday, April 16.
Mr. Williams was born in Halifax County on March 22, 1925, the son of James T. Williams and Virgie S. Williams, and was married to Carmen Williams.
Services were held Wednesday, April 18 at Eternity Funeral Home, Jacksonville, Florida.
Survivors of include his wife, three daughters, Patricia Rutledge of Skipwith, Judy A. Chamberlin and her husband Gary and Tina M. Young and her husband Mike all of Jacksonville, Florida; four grandchildren, Amanda , Ashley , and Ryan Rutledge and Julia Marie Young; two sisters, Blanche W. Canada and Sally W. Austin of Scottsburg; three brothers, Jim Williams, Robert L. Williams and Frank R. Williams of Scottsburg.