Wednesday, April 21, 2004

County ABB To Add 25 Jobs
$3 Million Plant Expansion Will Help Preserve 350 Existing Jobs, Add Additional Jobs As Business Dictates

In a welcome piece of news for the area, Gov. Mark R. Warner announced yesterday that ABB, Inc., will be expanding its Halifax County plant.

The $3 million project will create 25 additional positions over the next three years and ensure the preservation of the 350 existing jobs at the plant.

ABB's Human Resource Manager Wanda Blythe said yesterday that the company will be hiring the additional employees as business dictates.

"We're certainly very excited that the opportunity to increase our orders and business has occurred," she said. "We're glad we have some good news to communicate. It's good news for our employees and good news for the community.

"This certainly helps solidify our presence here," Blythe added.

"This is exciting news for our county," Halifax County Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald said. "The growth of our existing industries is a key part of our economic development plan. We hope this is a sign of other positive things to come from ABB."

The Halifax County liquid-filled transformer manufacturer was chosen after successfully competing with locations in Oregon and China for the project, according to Warner's spokesperson Ellen Qualls.

"During my European trade mission in May 2003, I met with senior ABB officials in Zurich, Switzerland to discuss the importance of this facility to Halifax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia," Warner said. "ABB's decision to expand in South Boston creates 25 new jobs and preserves hundreds of existing jobs for Virginia's Southside region."

The quality of Halifax County's work force also played a role, according to Milt Axton, the company's vice president and general manager of the small power transformer division.

"The South Boston plant was selected for the employees' commitment to quality, service and continuous improvement," he said. "This expansion is continued evidence of customers' preference for the quality of ABB's products and the service provided by its employees in Virginia."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority assisted ABB with its decision to expand, Qualls said.

"The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $50,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds to support Halifax County with the project," she said.

The company will also take advantage of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance's (DBA) Workforce Services Program, Qualls added. The DBA also helped ABB obtain $50,000 in funding from the regional Workforce Investment Board.

Supervisors Authorize Hearing On Amended County School Budget
Supervisors Cut $822,549 In Proposed Roof Repair Funds From The School System’s $14,532,555 Request From County

Halifax County Board of Supervisors agreed Monday night to advertise an amended school system budget for a May public hearing.

The action came as supervisors got their first look at a proposed FY 2004-2005 budget during a meeting in the County Administration building in Halifax.

With no state budget in place on which to base their projections, school system officials have based their budget on the lowest proposal submitted by the Virginia House of Delegates.

"The message for tonight is to give the School Board the go-ahead to advertise a budget," Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman told the supervisors.

In approving the advertisement, supervisors cut $822,549 in proposed roof repair funds from the school system's $14,532,555 request from the county.

County Administrator Joe Morgan told supervisors that the initial move didn't mean that the planned roof repairs wouldn't happen, it would just give the Board a smaller figure to work with in preparing a county budget.

"If there is anything you want to cull out I would submit it's the $800,000 for roof repairs," Morgan said as the finance committee considered the school proposal.

"The school system has $1.7 million in capital investment funds (in next year's budget) they can use for roof repairs. If that helps some, that's one way to deal with a lower number."

The administrator told supervisors that once a state budget is passed, if available, the roof repair funds could be put back on the table.

"It may come to the point that you want to put this back in (the proposed budget) in June," he said. "But this gives us some options."

The finance committee approved the move on a motion by Supervisor James Edmunds and with a second by Bowman. Supervisor R.E. Abbott abstained.
At a later meeting of the full Board, Bowman said they should consider only operational funds.

"What the finance committee recommended was to take out the roof repair part and stick to the operating budget," he said.

On a motion by Edmunds and with a second by Supervisor Tom West, the Board unanimously approved the advertisement. Abbott was absent.

Removing the funding for roof repairs means the school system will advertise a $52,558,986 budget.

The total county school funding under consideration is $13,710,006.

Supes Get First Look At County Budget

In preparing the budget, Morgan told supervisors that he based general fund revenue estimates on the assumption that the state will provide funds equal to last year's.

"The good news is that we expect to receive about $1.1 million more next year than we did last year," he said. "The bad news is $4 million more has been requested this year than was requested last year."

Based on flat state funding, preliminary estimates indicate that the county is expected to receive $25,167,339 in revenue next year, compared to $24,002,819 received the previous year.

Total general fund expenditures, including agency requests, total $29,226,039, Morgan said.

Other Business

During Monday's meeting of the finance committee, the county's financial advisor told the group the county was losing money because assessed property value isn't keeping up with actual property value increases.

"Assessments are currently done on a six-year basis," John Anzivino said.

He said that property values were increasing in the county, but the dollar value being taxed remained stagnant throughout the entire six-year period.

"Halifax County is losing money because of that," the financial advisor said.

Anzivino said he recommends the county begin assessing property values every two years, a move that would require a full-time assessment staff.

"It would appear that going to biennial reassessment, (Halifax County) would receive about $300,000 in additional real estate revenue each year at 90 percent of actual market value," he said.

Hiring full-time property assessors would cost between $135,000 and $150,000, Anzivino estimated.

"I think it's something you should take a deeper look at," he said.

The committee suggested that the financial advisor further study the issue of a change in the assessment schedule and present the Board with their findings

With a motion by Edmunds and a second by Abbott, the committee also passed a resolution authorizing imposing an administrative fee on delinquent accounts to the county.

The fees will not exceed 20 percent of the total delinquent account.

The resolution is expected to be adopted during the May 3 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Bennett Urging ‘Aggressive’ Plan
Chief Among Plans Is Establishing Magnet Governor’s School

Former Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett urged the Halifax County School Board Monday night to adopt an aggressive plan of school capital improvements and model education programs that will take Halifax County to the forefront of educational excellence.

Bennett, the chairman of the Halifax County Advisory Committee On Educational Improvement, recommended that the School Board adopt measures outlined in the committee's report which was aired on February 9.

Chief among them were the establishment of a Magnet Governor's School for high school juniors and seniors that replicates the Maggie Walker Governor's School program's teaching methodology.

He also touched on other recommendations in the committee's report including the establishment of an Applied Technology and Career Exploration School for all eighth-grade students based on the model of the "Genuae Center" in Franklin County.

Bennett also recommended the construction of a new consolidated elementary school in South Boston to house students from Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend and converting C.H. Friend into a Magnet School.

Adopting those kinds of educational programs and the school capital improvements needed to make those things happen is an expensive proposition.

However, Bennett told the School Board it must aim high for educational excellence and quality facility improvements when it puts a plan on the table in front of the Board of Supervisors.

"It is up to you to propose and lay it on the desk of the Board of Supervisors for them to dispose," Bennett explained.

"If you lay less than that which is needed, much less than what is needed to carry us forward, then it is easy for them to dispose and keep us at the mediocre."

Bennett's appearance before the School Board was a prelude to a special meeting the School Board will hold April 28 to discuss school capital improvements issues and, hopefully, come to a consensus on what direction to follow.

The former delegate said he feels the community will support the School Board if it adopts an aggressive plan to improve educational programs and school facilities.

"It is my belief you will find the people of this county to be receptive and supportive of providing the means necessary to not just meet our basic needs educationally, but to meet the challenges necessary to put us at the forefront of educational excellence in Southside Virginia," Bennett told the School Board.

"It is you (the School Board) who must take the lead and point the way. It is you who must set the standard. It is we who must have the willpower to provide the resources to meet those standards you set.

Bennett stressed the importance of setting the bar high.

"If you set expectations low, people will walk away," Bennett pointed out.
"If you raise the bar, my belief is the people of this county will be there."

Bennett noted there has been one change in the original recommendation made by the Advisory Committee.

That report had recommended that the Magnet Governor's School be established at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.

Bennett said, however, that the school system would be better served if C.H. Friend Elementary School was converted into the Magnet School.

"I proposed to the Board of the Halifax Education Foundation which owns the SVHEC building that we consider putting this facility there," Bennett explained.

"It's clear that's not going to work. But, it's also clear that C.H. Friend is far more suitable. It has the space, it has the facilities, it has the gym, it has the fields, it has the classrooms.

"I believe you will get as much, if not more, bang for the bucks by using C.H. Friend than you will the limited facilities there at the foundation," he added.
The Magnet School, Bennett said, would be a huge benefit to Halifax County.

"The challenge for Halifax is that the students who are enjoying that model of instruction at Maggie Walker are the so-called elite students," he pointed out.
"It is our belief, and that of serious thinkers out there, that the average student, too, can achieve equally well. They only have to be motivated.

"I would not be that much concerned about grades and other achievements except as they reflect motivation," he added.

Bennett also told the School Board that there is a clear need for a program to address disenfranchised students, students such as those that attend the Halifax County Career Center.

The Career Center, Bennett said, is not being properly used.

"The Career Center in Halifax is terribly under utilized," he said.

"The mission of the Career Center is confused."

After Bennett concluded his presentation, Walter Potts, a former Halifax County School Board member and the current education chairman of the Halifax County-South Boston branch of the NAACP, agreed with Bennett's assessment of the Career Center.

"There is no question we are under utilizing the Halifax County Career Center," Potts said.

"At the same time, I think we have an over-representation of African-Americans and others over there based on socioeconomic factors. I think we need to take a look at that."

Potts contended the Career Center has taken on the look of a dumping ground for students with discipline problems.

"When the career center concept came up a few years ago, one of the concerns we represented was we wanted to make sure the career center wasn't going to be a dumping ground for kids that could not be handled or for troublemakers from the high school and, possibly, from the middle school," Potts pointed out.

"Personally, I think that has happened. Unfortunately, I think they're doing the best they can with them at the career center."

Potts stressed that more emphasis should be placed on trying to mainstream those students back into the regular school environment.

"I think they're spending too much time getting them in and keeping them in," he said.

"I thought the goal at the career center was get them in and get them out and back into the mainstream.

"We realize some kids can't do that," he added.

"If we put the right motivation under them I think we'll be able to do that."

Potts added he felt that the concept of a Magnet School would be supported by the NAACP.

"We haven't voted as a branch on this, but I think we would be in agreement to look into the possibilities of doing a Magnet School," Potts noted.

"I think it's time we brought this county into the 21st century. A Magnet School would help do that."

The NAACP representative said he had no problem with Bennett's suggestion of using of C.H. Friend as a Magnet School.

"The only problem I have is that if we do come up with another school to take care of C.H. Friend and Washington-Coleman, who is going to pay for it?" he queried.

"I think that's us. Taxes will have to be raised in order to justify building it."

Comets Blank Park View
Hchs Picked Up Its Eighth Win Of The Season Here Monday Night With An 11-0 Shutout Of Park View

By JOE CHANDLER & DOUG FORD | G-V Staff Writer

If the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team had any rust at all Monday night from its 10-day break in the action, you wouldn't have known it.

The Comets jumped on a game Park View team quickly and scored an 11-0 win in a game stopped after four and a half innings under a slaughter rule.

Monday night's win improved the Comets' record to 8-1 overall while Park View dropped to 4-3 overall.

Two of Park View's three losses have come at the hands of the Comets with the other coming at the hands of the Garden City, N.Y. team that handed Halifax County its only loss of the season.

Halifax County jumped on top quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, two of them coming on a two-run homer by senior Jason Lloyd.

The Comets made it 4-0 with a solo homer by senior Brent Long in the bottom of the third inning.

Halifax County added seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 11-0 and put the game out of reach.

"I was pleased with the guys and the way they jumped on them (Park View)," said Comets coach Kelvin Davis.

"Park View has a young club and we just had to go out there and jump on top early."

Davis said the early home runs by Lloyd and Long were big in the Comets' win.

"You have to be pleased with the two home runs," Davis pointed out.

"That really boosted us up. We hadn't really gotten going and that got us going.

"Jason and Brent have been hitting for us all year," continued Davis.
"It was good to see that at home."

Mike Greene, the Park View coach, said he was disappointed with his team's hitting.

"I was proud of our defense but a little disappointed with our hitting," he said.
"I thought we'd hit a little better."

Park View managed only two hits off of Halifax County's junior hurler, Tyler Clarke, a first-inning single by Logan Rowley and a single in the third inning from Chris Mosley.

Clarke fanned five of the 18 Park View batters he faced in the contest and allowed only one walk.

Davis praised Clarke's effort.

"He really threw the ball well tonight," Davis said.

"He throws a lot of changeups, keeps guys off balance and works the guys real well."

Halifax County had a good night at the plate, getting seven hits and taking advantage of nine walks given up by Park View hurlers.

Long had two hits and three RBIs in the contest with Lloyd following with one hit and two RBIs.

Steven Smith, Blake Waller, Ryland Clark and Chris Lowery also had a hit each for the Comets.

The Comets got off the mark quickly in the bottom of the first inning when Carter, the leadoff batter, walked and stole second base.

Smith followed with a single that plated Carter. Lloyd followed with his round-tripper to put the Comets up 3-0.

Long added to the Comets' total with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 4-0 Halifax County lead.

Halifax County's big inning was the bottom of the fourth inning, an inning in which they produced the seven runs to put the game out of reach.

Ryan Roller walked to start the inning, stole second base and scored on a double by Lowery that gave the Comets a 5-0 lead.

Lowery advanced and scored on a pair of wild pitches to give the Comets their sixth run.

Ryan Gieselman, the designated hitter for Clarke, walked as did Carter and Lloyd.

Long followed with a two-RBI double, Lloyd scored by stealing home, and a base hit by Waller scored Long.

A hit by Clark scored Owen who had advanced over to second base on a passed ball.

Park View, by contrast, had only four baserunners in the game and stranded two of them in the top of the first inning.

It wasn't until Mosley singled in the top of the fourth inning that Park View got another runner on the sacks.

A Halifax County error gave Park View its last baserunner of the game in the top of the fifth inning but the Comets erased the runner and ended the game with a double play.

Greene gave Halifax County credit for a good night.

"We're not playing any shabby players here," Greene said of the Comets.
"They've only lost to the team from New York. This will only make us better."

Halifax County will continue with its busy three-game week tonight when they hit the road to face Martinsville in a 6 p.m. contest.

The Comets will be seeking to improve their 1-0 Western Valley District mark Friday night when they host archrival GW.

Friday's game against GW here at Comets Field will start at 7 p.m.

Obituaries

Fredric Hume Bardin Sr.

Fredric Hume Bardin Sr., 68, of Morganton, N.C., died April 18.
He was the son of Dr. Robert M. Bardin of North Carolina and South Boston, who presently lives in Franklin, Tenn., and the late Anne Fitts Bardin of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.

Mr. Bardin is survived by his father; his children, Fredric Bardin Jr. of Utah, Elizabeth Page Vinton of Crystal Lake, Ill., Katherine C. Powell of Mundelein, Ill., and their mother, Katherine Covington Fragale; his grandchildren, David Vinton, Sarah Vinton, Nicole Powell, and Amanda Powell. He is also survived his sisters, Elizabeth Campell of Punta Gordon, Fla. and Susan LaBrec of Franklin, Tenn.; and a brother, Robert Bardin Jr., of South Boston.

Mr. Bardin graduated from Durham High School in Durham, N.C. in 1953, and attended Riverside Military Academy, The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and graduated from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, N.C. He spent many years with Baxter/Travenol Laboratories in Libertyville, Ill., and in Callie, Columbia, and Sidney, Australia where he and his family lived before retiring to Morganton.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Wilson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Burke County, P.O. Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690.

John Henry Gayles

(Location of Service Changed)

Funeral services for John Henry Gayles will be held tomorrow, April 22, at 1 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church in Red Oak. Elder Thomas L. Holsey will officiate. Burial with Masonic rites will follow in the First Baptist Church Cemetery in Drakes Branch.

Elisha Edward Hodges Jr.

Elisha Edward 'Ted' Hodges Jr., 71, of 216 Virginia Avenue, Farmville died April 18 at Johnston Willis Hospital in Richmond.

Mr. Hodges was born in Halifax County on December 20, 1932, the son of Elisha Edward Hodges and Helen Palmer Hodges and was married to Barbara Chaney Hodges. He was a member of First Baptist Church, former member of Farmville Rotary Club, and a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity of Wake Forest College. He attended Wake Forest and the University of Richmond, was retired after 49 years as a tobacconist, first with J.P. Taylor Tobacco Company, then with Universal Leaf Tobacco Company.

He served in Argentina, Venezuela and Europe, and was president of Dunnington Beach Tobacco Company in Farmville from 1974 to 1996.

Survivors of Mr. Hodges include his wife; two daughters, Terri H. Holt and husband, Teddy, of South Boston, and Sharon H. Gray of Charlotte, N.C.; one son, Elisha Edward 'Teddy' Hodges and wife, Sarah, of Farmville; five grandchildren, Emily Grey Holt and Edward Tyler Holt, both of South Boston, Richard Edward Gray of Chapel Hill, N.C., Elizabeth Redd Hodges and Kyle Perkins Hodges, both of Farmville.

Funeral services will be held today, April 21 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel in South Boston with the Rev. Doug Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick Henry Boys Home, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528, or the Make A Wish Foundation.

Robert Lee Jennings

Robert Lee Jennings, 49, of 2219 Swain Road, Halifax died April 17 at his home.

Mr. Jennings was born in Halifax County on July 27, 1954, the son of Herbert Miller and Mattie Lee Jennings. He was a member of New Vernon Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Jennings is survived by one son, Robert Lee Edmonds of Vernon Hill; a daughter-in-law, Sheila Edmonds; two grandchildren; one brother, Gene A. Jennings of Halifax. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jennings Hightower.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 23 at 2 p.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger M. Ford officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home Thursday evening from 7:00 until 8:00.

Edna Ingram Jennings Mitchell

Edna Ingram Jennings Mitchell, age 84, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond on April 19. She was born in Halifax County on February 8, 1920, a daughter of the late Louis Jackson Ingram and Blanche Johnson Ingram of Nathalie. She was married to the late William Wesley Jennings, Sr. of South Boston.

She is survived by one son, William Wesley Jennings, Jr. and wife Sandra Sue of Charlotte, North Carolina; and one daughter, Sylvia Jennings Henderson and husband Glen of Charlottesville; three grandchildren, Dr. Bryan Jennings, Suzanne Jennings Campbell, and David Henderson; and five great-grandchildren, Grayson, Hayden, and Hudson Jennings, and Justin and Andrew Henderson.

Mrs. Mitchell owned Jennings’ Childrens Shop in South Boston for a number of years and was retired from the Henrico County Court Clerk’s Office. After her retirement, she ran E & J’s Antique Shop in Mechanicsville.

The family will receive family and friends at Powell Funeral Home in South Boston from 7:00-8:30 on Wednesday evening. Services will be held on Thursday at 2 PM in the Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Mark Dean conducting the service. Burial will follow in the Halifax Baptist Church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart Association.