BY KEITH A. SHELTON
Despite a population growth of only about 200 persons, the cost of operating Halifax County's government has doubled in the past eight years.
Some call them the Sleeper years, named for erstwhile County Administrator Dan Sleeper who recently returned to his former administration post in Pittsylvania County, which he left eight years ago.
While funds for education, public welfare and health accounted for most of the budget expenditures, other agencies were doing more than nibbling at the bait.
On Sleeper's watch, for example, the number of fulltime workers reporting directly to Sleeper was 22. Now, eight years later, the number has swollen to 36, not including those being paid under "grant" programs.
When Sleeper took office, there were a total of 43 vehicles owned by Halifax County, and that accounted for 11 landfill operations and 23 for the sheriff's department.
As the demand for police cruisers soared, so did requests for new and used vehicles escalate among smaller agencies.
Social Services has seven cars and vans for its use; building officials three; emergency medical services four (includes one school bus and a fire truck); general properties four and animal control two.
The county administrator's office has three, a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, a 1992 Ford Crown Victoria and a 1993 Ford van.
Not to be left out was Tuck Airport where one county owned, 1973 Ford truck was in use.
Altogether, the county now owns 99 vehicles compared with 43 only a few short years ago. The fastest-growing agency in county government is the sheriff's department where 45 are now employed.

Here's how the eight fiscal years grew:
Fiscal Year 1992-93..............$34,000,719
Fiscal Year 1993-94..............$40,751,934
Fiscal Year 1994-95..............$41,096,308
Fiscal Year 1995-96..............$49,575,702
Fiscal Year 1996-97..............$51,909,593
Fiscal Year 1997-98..............$53,489,663
Fiscal Year 1998-99..............$54,926,719
Fiscal Year 1999-00..............$59,343,265
Fiscal Year 2000-01 (proposed) $68,278,492

The deputy's desperate call for backup was so garbled in radio transmission, not even his mother would have recognized it.
No one at the dispatcher's office heard it.
An inexpensive scanner picked it up clearly.
Before the ordeal ended, Deputy Todd Moser wasn't calling for specific units anymore, he was calling for "somebody."
It was 13 minutes before anyone responded to him, according to Halifax Chief Dispatcher Debra Tuck.
Time had been an enemy.
The routine call ended with one man dead and with Moser dragged down a driveway.
It happened in Halifax County in April.
And before the month was over, another police officer's call for help in Riverdale would be impossible to decipher at dispatch headquarters.
"Luckily, no one was hurt that time," said the chief dispatcher.
"You call and can't get anyone," explained Mike Tuck, Halifax County Rescue Squad captain.
"In certain sections of the county you cannot hear and you cannot call back in," added Helen Compton, Rescue Squad EMS supervisor.
"It happens every day," confirmed the Halifax 911 dispatcher.
"It isn't an isolated occurrence," emphasized Halifax Police Chief Shawn Sweeney. Even in the Town of Halifax, the chief said "you cannot understand half" of what's being said.
In Virgilina, volunteer firemen have two radios in four of five trucks because Granville County is on high-band. Virgilina is not, so the extra radios are necessary simply to communicate.
"The first responders were in Granville County and their pagers didn't go off for a second call in Halifax County," recalled Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department Chief Waverly Morris.
The good news was someone else heard the second call for help, Chief Morris recalled.
Sheriff Jeff Oakes and Dr. Gaylord Ray, Halifax Regional Emergency Room director, do not intend to wait for something else to happen.
The two will be joined by county fire department members, rescue squad personnel and others - who count on accurate information to rescue, help or protect - in a fight for a high-band radio system.
They will take their cause before the Board of Supervisors on May 1.
They want a radio system that will allow them to communicate with one another and with surrounding counties.
In Charlotte, Campbell, Pittsylvania and Person counties, high-band communication is used.
"We want the public to know that we are not after a fancy system, just one that other counties had five years ago," said Dr. Ray.
Sheriff Oakes has talked with several communications vendors in preparation for next month's Board of Supervisors' meeting.
"Without exception, each vendor has informed the group that an antennae site in the northern section of the county is crucial if we are to have an effective radio system," the sheriff wrote supervisors.
Preliminary estimates, Oakes said, range from $400,000 to $850,000, depending on antennae locations, frequency requirements and equipment brands and quantity.
The price is steep, but emergency personnel worry that the alternative may be deadly.

A woman who was free on bond awaiting sentencing for illegal drug trafficking, is back in jail after being arrested Sunday night for attempting to pass stolen checks at Wal-Mart.
Cathy Bowman Clark, 44, of Riverdale Drive, South Boston, has been charged with two counts of possessing stolen checks, one count of forgery and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
South Boston police also recovered from Clark a pipe which is commonly used for smoking crack cocaine.
Police said the checks were stolen in February from Essie Rea Alford, also a resident of Riverdale Drive, South Boston. Authorities say that the total amount of the forgeries has not been determined but indicate that it could exceed $1,000.
Clark was among a score of persons arrested last October during an illegal drug sweep. She was convicted March 24 of distributing a Schedule II controlled substance.

A 20-year-old Brookneal man was arrested Saturday by Chief Shawn Sweeney of the Town of Halifax Police Department, on several charges of stemming from a felonious assault.
Brian Edward Jennings, of Lewis Ford Road, was arrested with the assistance of Game Warden Andy Danison and Officer BillOzmec of the South Boston Police Department, and charged with the alleged assault of Rachel Garrett by attempting to run head on to her vehicle with his own vehicle, the abduction of Charity J. Garrett, and driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol while being under age.
Jennings is scheduled to appear in Halifax CountyJuvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, May 5.
· Robert Easley of Halifax County was charged with felonious assault Saturday by the Town of Halifax Police Department after a scuffle that followed a card game at Bethel Road.
According to Lt. Glenn Stanley, Easley allegedly used a lawn chair in the assault of Hagood Coleman of the Town of Halifax.
The altercation allegedly occurred after some name calling, during which Easley was said to have pushed Coleman to the ground.
The officer said Easley then hit Coleman with a lawn chair.
According to Stanley, Coleman then picked up a piece of aluminum from a trailer door and with the object wrapped in a coat, pursued Easley, who mistook the object for a gun, across the Banister River bridge, prompting an observing citizen to call 911.
No charges were filed when Officer Stanley, with the assistance of sheriff's deputies, arrived at the scene.
However, after Coleman was taken to Halifax Regional Hospital and received 16 staples in his head, he pressed charges against Easley.
· Donald Clay Ford III, 28,of Coles Lane in Scottsburg, was arrested by sheriff's deputies on a felonious assault charge.
Ford allegedly caused bodily harm to Stephanie Ford on the day of arrest.
· Tony Sydnor, 36, of Gatha's Trail in Halifax, was arrested Saturday by the Town of Halifax Police Department on several charges stemming from falsely summoning an ambulance.
Chief Sweeney said Sydnor was charged with falsely summoning an officer without just cause, falsely summoning an ambulance without just cause and resisting arrest.
Sydnor is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on May 1.

The fate of the Clarkton Bridge is in the hands of the Boards of Supervisors from Halifax and Charlotte counties.
The 100-year-old structure was closed in 1998 after a VDOT inspection indicated that the footings of the bridge had been undermined.
Estimated costs for repair of that specific problem were approximately $200,000.
Before VDOT closed the bridge, it served approximately 70 vehicles each day. It had a three-ton weight limit for vehicular traffic.
VDOT had earlier stated that if the Clarkton Bridge were closed again, it would remain closed.
According to Joe D. Barkley II, VDOT resident engineer, approximately $90,000 a year has been spent since 1990 on repairs to the structure, as well as $9,000 twice a year to inspect it.
"It's like giving up an old car when repairs just aren't cost effective any longer," Barkley said.
In a letter addressed to both boards on April 10, Barkley said "the estimate for bridge construction is approximately $1.5 million.
"The estimate for the design, right of way, roadway construction, engineering and contingencies was approximately $2 million. The total cost would approximate $3.5 million."
After considering the earlier repair costs, the boards of Halifax and Charlotte counties sought alternative funding for the bridge.
In January 1999, a federal enhancement grant (TEA 21) was applied for.
In June 1999, that application was approved, resulting in approximately $162,000 in funds for repair of the bridge. The remainder of the repair costs were due to be made with matching funds.
At a joint supervisors meeting on September 23, 1999, both boards agreed to have VDOT conduct an in- depth inspection of the bridge.
That report, presented at the March 13 joint meeting of the boards, stated that the total cost of repairs was approximately $1.5 million, the figure reflected in Barkley's letter.
"The status of this project will be reviewed when both boards work on revisions to their six-year secondary road plans this fall," said Barkley.
Barkley said that there are "three options" for determining the future of Clarkton Bridge.
"The bridge can be dismantled, a new bridge can be built, or someone can assume ownership and liability of the structure.
"That last option would involve the abandonment and discontinuance of the roadway by VDOT," Barkley added.
"This is the most complicated issue I've faced...there are so many factors to consider and different aspects to this situation."

By RUSS BYNUM
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA (AP) - When states sued tobacco companies en masse over smokers' illnesses, Georgia joined in for a share of the cash settlement. Now attacks on the industry are taking a toll at home, and state lawmakers want to cushion the blow.
The General Assembly voted this year to give protection from potentially bankrupting lawsuits - and up to $6 million in tax breaks - to Brown & Williamson, the Kentucky-based tobacco giant that owns a large cigarette plant in Macon.
At the same time, lawmakers prepared to reap the first installment of an expected $4.8 billion from the national tobacco settlement, which Georgia joined to recoup the cost of treating sick smokers.
Anti-smoking advocates say the state is sending conflicting signals - blaming tobacco companies for health problems and demanding compensation, then passing out perks to keep them in business.
''It's a little schizophrenic,'' said Roger Salazar, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society. ''It goes to show you how deep the pockets of Big Tobacco are and how much influence they have over these legislatures.''
Legislative leaders admit their positions won't always jibe when dealing with tobacco, a legal product with harmful risks and economic rewards.
''The whole tobacco controversy is a mixed message,'' said House Majority Leader Larry Walker. ''For years the federal government subsidized tobacco, they taxed tobacco and then they want to say tobacco's killing people. ... It's a struggle between health and economic prosperity.''
Walker said he refrained from voting on both bills because Brown & Williamson is a client of his law firm.
Gov. Roy Barnes has signed into law a $25 million cap on the amount of bond money corporations must post while they appeal massive punitive damage awards imposed by a jury. Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky passed similar laws.
Tobacco companies are anticipating a damage award of possibly hundreds of billions of dollars in a Florida lawsuit filed on behalf of 500,000 smokers. Florida law requires companies to post a bond equal to the damage award while they appeal, which cigarette makers say could force them into bankruptcy.
In Georgia, the bond cap applies even if the judgment is rendered in another state.
The Legislature also approved up to $6 million in annual tax credits for companies that manufacture cigarettes in Georgia for export to other countries.
Rep. Robert Reichert sponsored the bill to help Brown & Williamson stay in business in Georgia.
The company - which makes Kools, Carltons and Lucky Strikes - employs 2,900 at its Macon plant, the only major cigarette plant in the state, with a payroll of $190 million.
Its work force outnumbers Georgia's 1,480 tobacco farmers, whose combined income last year was $105 million, said J. Michael Moore, a tobacco specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service.
The plant has been hurt by slumping cigarette sales as tobacco companies have raised prices to meet the demands of the national settlement. Brown & Williamson had to shut it down for a week last month, furloughing its 2,000 production workers.
''They began to think, 'Good grief! What's going to happen to us?''' said Reichert, who says the employees' union asked for his help in passing a tax incentive to keep the plant open.
Barnes has yet to sign the bill. He said he's trying to weigh moral and health concerns about cigarette exports against the argument that ''these jobs are going to be somewhere, and should they be here in Georgia?''
Brown & Williamson did not ask lawmakers for the tax break, said Jim Teague, spokesman for the Macon plant.
But the company did lobby lawmakers for the bond cap on punitive damages. Though the measure would apply to any type of business, Brown & Williamson asked for it as part of a larger bill dealing with corporate lawsuits. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Martin said the cap makes good sense.
''If there's a trial court or jury that really slams them hard and there's an enormous verdict and they have trouble filing an appeal bond, it requires a corporate defendant to reach a settlement prematurely,'' Martin said. ''It's a way to control what I call runaway juries.''
Brown & Williamson contributed $20,900 to Georgia campaigns in 1998, not enough to be considered a heavyweight political contributor. The company gave $4,000 to Barnes. Individual lawmakers received $150 to $750.

Halifax County High School's baseball and softball teams are facing an important week.
Yesterday's scheduled Comets varsity baseball game against William Fleming was postponed due to rain and will be played as a doubleheader here Friday, May 5 at 5 p.m.
And, yesterday's scheduled varsity and jayvee girls softball games that were slated to be played here against Albemarle were postponed until Wednesday, May 10.
That, however, was only a slight damper on the week's baseball and softball schedules.
The Comets varsity baseball team was supposed to face Person High here today, but the games have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
The Comets will face Albemarle here at 7 p.m. Friday in game in which the Comets will be attempting to claw their way back into a tie for the lead in the Western District standings.
Halifax County lost 2-0 to Albemarle a couple of weeks ago in Charlottesville in a no-hitter .
Friday night's game here in a return engagement will give the Comets a big opportunity to get back into the heart of the Western District race.
The Comets jayvee baseball team's game against Person High today has been cancelled also and will not be made up. The jayvees face Albemarle here Friday at 5 p.m. in the preliminary game to the big varsity matchup.

Halifax County's varsity girls softball team, however, won't be as stressed.
The girls have only game this week, that being Friday's key Western District game against Albemarle in Charlottesville. Game time is 5 p.m.
Halifax County's jayvee girls team, like the varsity team, is idle until Friday when it faces the Albemarle jayvees at 5 p.m. in Charlottesville.
This week will be a big week for the boys and girls soccer teams as well as both will face tough Albemarle teams Friday.
The girls varsity and jayvee soccer teams will play here while the boys team will face Albemarle in Charlottesville.
Halifax County's varsity boys team will get a tune-up for Friday's Western District contest tonight when it hits the road to face Prince Edward County in a 7 p.m. contest.
The Comets boys tennis team has only one contest this week, that coming here Friday at 5 p.m. against Albemarle.
Halifax County, which has one win for the season, will be seeking its first district win in that contest.

Virginia Glass Coleman, age 70, of 2246 Logan Road, Java, died April 22, 2000, at her home.
Mrs. Coleman was born in Pittsylvania County on April 3, 1930, the daughter of George Glass and Ozelia Jones Glass and was married to Clarence Coleman.
Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Coleman was employed by the Halifax County School Board as a teacher's aide and she was a member of Elkhorn Baptist Church where she served as a member of the deaconess board, interim church clerk and past president of the senior choir.
Surviving are three daughters, Patricia Brown and husband, Malcomb of South Boston, Linda Stephens and husband, Clarence of Blairs and Deloris Davis and husband, Calvin of Gladys; five sons, Joel Lee Coleman and wife, Almatine of Chester, Penn., Paul (Eddie) Coleman and wife, Ethel of Java, Lawrence Coleman and wife, Eula of San Antonio, Texas, Bradford Coleman of Danville and Gregory Coleman and wife, Lisa of Woodbridge; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a devoted friend, Nettie J. Dunn of Nathalie; and a devoted cousin, Evelyn Whittler of Java. She was preceded in death by one brother, William Glass.

Funeral services for Mrs. Coleman will be conducted April 26 at 1 p.m. from Elkhorn Baptist Church by Dr. C. Lewis Motley with burial in the Coleman family cemetery in Java.

Margaret Carpenter Atkins, age 70, of Carrollton, died April 23, 2000.
A native of South Boston, she had been a Peninsula resident for 35 years.
She retired, as a Public Service Specialist, from the Division of Motor Vehicles in 1992, after 17 years of service and was formerly employed for Curtis Motor Co., of Lee Hall, for many years. She was a member of Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Atkins was preceded in death by her parents, Shob A. and Nannie T. Davis and husbands, Dewey E. Dunaway, Charles J. Carpenter and William R. Atkins.
Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn D. and Ernest Howard and Patricia D. and J.B. Tolley, all of Newport News and Charlise M. Carpenter of South Hadley, Mass.; two granddaughters, Stephanie Brooks of Dyess A.F.B., Texas and Ashley Marie Tolley of Newport News; two brothers and sister-in-law, Robert and Shirley Davis of Madison Heights, Mich. and Joe Davis of South Boston.
A funeral service for Mrs. Atkins will be held at 7 p.m. April 26 at Peninsula Funeral Home by the Rev. Rudy Tucker.
The family will receive friends after the service until 8:30 p.m. Burial will be private on Thursday in Peninsula Memorial Park.

Linda Faye Johnson, age 25, of 3101 Cody Road, Nathalie, died April 23, 2000, at her home.
She was born in Halifax County on November 17, 1974, the daughter of Willie Howard Johnson and Mary Tucker Johnson. She was a member of Millstone Baptist Church and was a former employee of Wal-Mart.
Miss Johnson is survived by her mother of Nathalie; three brothers, Willie Earl Tucker and Cecil Johnson, both of Nathalie and Howard Johnson of South Boston; and a devoted friend, Marcus Link of Cluster Springs.
Funeral services for Miss Johnson will be held April 27 at 1 p.m. at Millstone Baptist Church with the Rev. James E. Traynham officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.