BY JOE CHANDLER
Police and school system officials are continuing to take precautionary measures today as unfounded rumors of a shootout at Halifax County High School and other rumors of potential forms of violence at the middle school and high school continue to fly throughout the community.
"The rumor mill is running rampant," South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall said yesterday, "not only here but across the entire nation. The rumor mill is working overtime. It's like a big snowball rolling downhill. As it rolls downhill it keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger."
South Boston Police Lt. R.D. Loftis stressed that the rumors flying around the community about the shootout "are totally unfounded. All it is is just that - rumors. And, they've got a lot of students upset and parents are upset."
"It's the old game of gossip," Hall added, "and they (the students) are creating their own hysteria by keeping these rumors going."
Loftis said everything possible is being done to ensure that the schools are safe and that the students are safe while in school. And, referring to those who may be responsible for perpetuating the rumors, Loftis added, "we're not going to let them shut down the schools."
Yesterday, as a precautionary measure, Hall stationed two police officers at Halifax County High School and an officer at Halifax County Middle School. Those police officers are expected to be at the schools again today.
"We're going to do everything we can to make it as safe as possible," Hall said.
"The safety of the students is our primary concern."
The police chief said he and his officers as well as school officials are very much aware of the rumored student shootout that is said to occur today at the high school. That, he said, is one of the reasons the decision was made to put additional officers in the middle school and high school yesterday and again today.
"If we hear anything, we're going to look into the matter," Hall pointed out.
"We keep hearing all kinds of things the kids are talking about. But, they have no substance."
Touching off the chain of events was a rumor circulated among middle school students via what has been described by police and school system officials as a "chat room" type situation on the Internet that a bomb was to be placed into the middle school Tuesday night and set to explode at 10:46 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Loftis and South Boston Police Inv. B.K. Lovelace have been investigating the situation but have released few details. Witt said Wednesday that the incident appears to involve a group of middle school students. But, Loftis said yesterday the exact extent as to the number of individuals involved is not yet known.
"Some (students) were talking about it (a bomb at the middle school) on the Internet, not really as a direct threat to the school," explained Loftis.
"A lot of it was discussion on the Internet. That's what most of this is all about. It's hard to pin down the original source of it."
Loftis said police investigators have been able to identify one particular Internet site but declined to say what that site was. The investigation will continue, Loftis said, with investigators expecting to take a look at some computers the first part of next week as part of the continuing effort to trace the source of the rumor.
"There are ways to trace it," Loftis pointed out.
"There are people trained to do that sort of thing."
The rumored bomb threat prompted school system officials to delay the opening of county schools by two hours Wednesday morning while Virginia State Police bomb experts armed with dogs trained to sniff out explosive devices, and teams of officers from the South Boston Police Department, local state troopers, and Halifax County Sheriff's Department personnel combed the middle school searching for any would-be explosive devices.
Middle school students were taken to the high school and sent to the gym where until word was given from school system officials that the building was safe. Students boarded buses and taken to the middle school where they were greeted by police with bomb sniffing dogs who searched their book bags and other items before they were allowed to enter the building shortly before mid-day.
Rumors flew about a middle school student being arrested after a South Boston officer removed a student from the gym for being disruptive.
Witt said yesterday that the student was not charged with any crime.
"We called his mother," Witt explained.
"He (the student) said he was not going to go to the school when they had had a bomb threat. We didn't charge him. He just said he wasn't going to go to the middle school. We called his mother and she came and got him."
Hall said he removed one middle school student from the gym and there is a possibility that a juvenile petition may be issued charging the student with disorderly conduct.
He explained that "he (the student) didn't want to do what Mr. Martin (Halifax County Middle School principal Bristol Martin) wanted him to do. He refused to conform and we removed him."
The student, Hall said, had been in some previous trouble at the middle school.
The disruption of the two hour delay in the opening of school and the rampant rumors of violence and shootings took a toll on student attendance at both Halifax County Middle School and Halifax County High School.
A total of 248 students were absent from school at the middle school Wednesday and another 66 students checked out. At Halifax County High School, 251 students were absent from school Wednesday with 436 students checking out and 50 students checking into school.
Attendance-wise, yesterday was a much more normal day by comparison with just 67 students absent at the middle school. There was an unusually high number of students checking out of school yesterday with 63 students leaving school.
At Halifax County High School, 126 students were absent yesterday, a figure that school assistant principal Leon Johnson said "was about average."
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt explained the school system has continued to observe its regular attendance policy and will continue to do so. Students with properly documented absences as described in the county's attendance and discipline code received excused absences. Otherwise absences were unexcused.
"We checked everything," Witt said.
"We had the school ready to go. When we have school, if you decide not to come that day, that is your choice. For those that are on the bubble of missing six days from school, they will be given an opportunity to make up their work."
"I respect the people's feelings of being afraid," added Witt.
"We were afraid too and we did everything we knew how to do to make it safe."
While the buildings and grounds of Halifax County Middle School were thoroughly searched and secured Wednesday, police staged a walk through search at Halifax County High School as well and the building was found to be secure.
Halifax County High School principal Larry Clark did, however, note a couple of incidents unrelated to the bomb scare and the flow of the rampantly running rumors.
A discarded ladies purse was found in a men's restroom, Clark stated.
"When it was discovered, we had one of the bomb dogs sniff it to make sure there wasn't some type of explosive device in it," explained Clark.
"The purse was recovered and returned to its owner."
Witt said that a teacher at the high school found about a half dozen .22 caliber gun shells on the ground near the student parking lot.
"My question," said Hall, "is how long had they been lying there. No weapons were found."
Clark said Wednesday afternoon rumors of various incidents and situations were flying fast and furious.
"We had several reports from students they had heard this or they had heard that or this or that might happen," Clark stated, "and we followed up on them. In every instance we tried to locate individuals who knew first hand what it was that was being rumored but we never could get to the bottom of it."
"We feel an obligation to follow up on these rumors," added Clark, "but it's frustrating that we can't locate people to substantiate the rumors.

About a dozen local residents turned out for the monthly Scottsburg Town Meeting Tuesday to protest a $3 increase in their water bills.
While the official papers have yet to be signed, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors has already set money aside to loan Scottsburg to upgrade and repair their 24-year-old water and sewer system.
The county agreed to proved Scottsburg a $30,000 long term loan at 4 percent (compared to eight percent from the bank) interest to be repaid over the next three years. This money would be used to repair and upgrade the primary pumping station that feeds the main sewer treatment facility.
However, as a condition of the loan Scottsburg Mayor Ricky B. Gordon explained, the town must increase water and sewer rates.
"We have got to get the money from somewhere, and while we haven't heard about our chances of getting some type of Federal funding, it's looking dim. But (County Administrator Dan) Sleeper did say the money has been appropriated, but that we had to go up on our rates in order to repay the loan. He wants us to raise them $3, I prefer $2," Gordon said. "I don't like to have to go up on our rates. My rates go up, too."
But it wasn't so much the increase in rates that bothered Herman "H.B." Hall Jr., but the fact that he is a water customer as opposed to a water and sewer customer.
"What about those of us that don't have sewer service? Why should we pay for something we don't even use," Hall questioned. "I shouldn't have to pay more just because I live in the county and not in the town."
Hall is one of 200 customers who use Scottsburg's water system. There are 108 water and sewer customers, according to Town Clerk Susan Franklin.
Gordon explained, that like the majority of other towns, residents who live inside of town pay less than those individuals who live in the county because town residents are required to pay town taxes in addition to county taxes.
Because the water and sewer system in Scottsburg is linked, everyone who uses it, even if they only use water and not sewer, are witnessing a increase in rates.
Based on 4,0000 gallon usage, in town residents currently pay $12 for water and $11.50 for sewer. Out of town residents pay $14 for water and $12.50 for sewer.
Water revenue was projected to be $35,110 for the 1998 fiscal year and so far $25,224 has been collected. Sewer revenue was projected to be $16,400 for the 1998 fiscal year and so far $12,816 has been collected.
Franklin pointed out that regardless of how it is done, if the town cannot repair the system and provide clean water, the system will be taken over by the county.
"If the town as a whole can't survive, it's going to the county, and then see what your rates are," she said. "Clover residents experienced a 40 percent increase."

A South Boston man escaped serious injury in a fiery after he collided with a gas pump at a convenience store along Route 58 early Wednesday morning.
According to Virginia State Police reports, Elman Leonel Balcarcel, 26, of South Boston, had attempted to pass a 1995 Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Danny Ray Craver, 47, of Danville, on Route 58 .6 miles west of Route 704 around 5:30 a.m. but struck the truck in the process and then collided with a gas pump at the FasMart causing a fire.
South Boston Fire Department Captain Steve Phillips said when the car went up in the gas pump it knocked the pump loose from the piping.
This reportedly activated safety devices which cut off the main supply of gas.
"Only the gas in the line caught fire and burned the front of the car a little bit," Phillips said.
Phillips said three South Boston Fire units responded and sprayed the area with foam to put the fire out. He added that the rainy weather helped the situation.
Investigating State Trooper D.O. Cooper charged Balcarcel, who was not injured, with unsafe passing.
Balcarcel's car, a 1990 Mitsubishi, was declared a total loss with an estimated $6,000 in damages.
Damage to the gas pump and canopy was set at $7,000, while the tractor trailer sustained an estimated $1,000 in damages.
Later that same morning around 11:30 a.m. a South Boston man was injured when his car was struck by a pickup truck on Route 58.
Reports indicated that Burnett Lee Morris, 60, of South Boston, was driving a 1988 Chevrolet on Route 58 when a 1970 Chevrolet pickup driven by Larry D. Seals, 38, of Alton, pulled onto Route 58 from Route 119 and collided with his car.
Investigating Trooper D.O. Cooper charged Seals with failure to yield the right of way.
Morris' Chevrolet sustained an estimated $2,000 in damages, while damage to the pickup was estimated at $500.

The Halifax Police Department is in the process of obtaining petitions for two teens suspected of being responsible for vandalizing the Halifax County Courthouse and surrounding areas in mid-April.
Halifax Police Chief Shawn Sweeney said the two 15-year-old male suspects, both of the Halifax area, have confessed to the spray painting of gang related graffiti during the early morning hours of April 15.
The acts caused extensive cosmetic damage to the Halifax County Courthouse, the Halifax/Pittsylvania Court Services Office, Maple Avenue itself, The Pet Shop located at the corner of Mountain Road and Main Street, Gravitt & Gravitt, and various other private properties located along Maple Avenue and within the courthouse complex.
The Halifax Police Department is in the process of obtaining petitions for the suspects from Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. A hearing date has not been set at this time.
According to a news release from the Halifax Police Department, the graffiti has been identified through investigation and collaboration with the Gang Investigation Unit of the Norfolk Police Department as symbols relating to a nationally known gang.
Further investigation has revealed that one of the suspects has been affiliated with this particular gang through previous incarcerations at juvenile detention facilities. The other suspect does not have any legitimate gang ties, he does however attempt to emulate gang members, the news release stated.
The gang symbols were references to gang with ties to the "CRIPS", a Los Angeles based gang with chapters throughout the United States.
These symbols include the terms "Blood Killer", which makes reference to a rival gang, the "Bloods".
Sweeney stressed that the six pointed star has no reference to the Star of David or any other anti-Sematic rhetoric.
He said the other writings and symbols were relative to marijuana usage, such as "4:20", and dealing with anarchist behavior, such as letter A inside a circle.
Sweeney said the teens will probably be charged with multiple counts of destruction of personal property and destruction of public property, and violation of the town curfew ordinance.
A full estimate of the monetary damage has not yet been compiled, however preliminary estimates put the damage in the thousands of dollars.
"The Halifax Police Department does not take this or any other act of vandalism lightly and will prosecute any destructive act to the fullest extent of the law," Sweeney said. "This senseless act has cost both the private and public sector a substantial amount of time, money and anguish."

HALIFAX, Va. (AP) - Del. Ted Bennett said he will ask the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to investigate the  Department of Environmental Quality's willingness to release data collected with tax money.
Bennett, D-Halifax, said Wednesday his request was prompted by a weekend report in The Roanoke Times that the DEQ denied scientists, government agencies and its own staff access to a water toxin database for five years.
Bennett said he wants JLARC to find out what other data or studies the department might have that it hasn't released to the public.
Bennett's district includes parts of the Roanoke River where  polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were found in fish tissue in the late 1980s. PCBs can cause cancer and liver damage in humans. Many scientists believe the toxin database could help pinpoint sources of contamination.
The DEQ released the database last month after continued requests from the Environmental Protection Agency and others.
''DEQ has a responsibility to protect the public health, not hide information that may help identify where pollution is coming from,'' Bennett said.
Secretary of Natural Resources John Paul Woodley said the toxin database controversy was not typical of how the agency handles information requests.
''All requests for information, including databases, are honored in a timely manner,'' Woodley said. ''This was a situation where a program was terminated and no one was keeping tabs on the database.''

Water customers in the Town of Clover, in Riverdale and probably South Boston, can expect to pay higher water bills soon. Public hearings for Riverdale and Clover water/sewer rate changes will be scheduled Monday night when the Halifax County Board of Supervisors meets beginning at 7:00.
Increased rates should come as no surprise to Clover residents whose forewarning came last year as the town prepared for what would become an annulment of its charter. On the first day of 1999, Clover's status as an incorporated town ended and its public services came under the management of the county.
Clover's water storage tank repairs and painting along with other improvements forced the county to enter into a $75,000 loan with a five-year payback schedule.
Those improvements, along with adjustments to make equal user rates for both in and out-of-town customers, is expected to produce an approximate 40 percent rate increase.
Riverdale water and sewer rate increases of as much as 20 percent are being discussed according to County Administrator William D. Sleeper. These proposed rate increases are the result, in part, of new and larger line installations and to match the cost of providing services with income from user fees.
Similar increases in fees for water and sewer customers in South Boston are expected to be discussed by town council soon.
Other items on the supervisors' agenda include the following:
· approval of the 1999-2000 school board budget.
· adoption of rules of procedure of Board of Supervisors
· appointments to the Economic Development Council-ED#4

Halifax County Planners Tuesday night approved a public hearing on possible ordinance variances for the proposed 1,200 VIR Motorsport Country Club in Southwestern Halifax County.
Planners set a hearing for their next meeting on May 25.
VIR, planning on six to eight public events a year, is seeking four variances on its outdoor amusement permit.
The group is seeking an annual events permit, similar to what is already issued to South Boston Speedway and the Halifax County Fair Association.
Presently, VIR would have to seek a permit for each individual event.
VIR is also seeking a variance on its sign, leaving it in place for the season and removing it after the season's last race.
They are also seeking a variance on Sunday starting times, hoping for an 8 a.m. starting time.
The group will stop all racing and practice on Sunday's between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., normal church times, Planning Director Jerry Lovelace told the commission.
They are seeking the ability to start early on Sunday, but would rarely exercise the option except when large numbers of competitors are on hand and the earlier time is needed to finish the race before dark.
And they are seeking permission for overnight camping for its members.
This would be only for members, and not for the general public attending the races, Lovelace said.
The group is hoping to have at least one race this year, sometime this fall, he said.
Blue Chip Racing Resorts, the organization seeking the application, is proposing spending upwards of $20,000,000 in developing the site and expects to hire 80 fulltime employees and another 50 parttime person on race days.
In other action, planners set Thursday, May 27 as a date for a public hearing, if the Board of Supervisors send back to the commission the proposed confined animal feeding ordinance.
The commission approved the possible public hearing, to begin at 7 p.m. and will limit each speaker to five minutes.
The hearing will only be held, if an ordinance is sent back to the commission and another hearing is needed.
Also, if the hearing is held, commission members urge those wishing to speak, to submit written documents.
Planners also presented Mrs. Ellen Elliott with a framed resolution in recognition of her late husband's nine years of service to the Planning Commission.
And the commission presented a second resolution to long-time chairman George Whitted for his service to the group.
Whitted is leaving Halifax County to take a new job in the Norfolk area.

Josh Hazelwood of 1166 Paul James Road, Halifax died Tuesday, April 27, 1999 at his home. He was 84 years of age.
Mr. Hazelwood was born February 12, 1915 in Halifax County the son of John Thomas Hazelwood and Karrie Owen Hazelwood and was married to Katie Stover Fuller Hazelwood. He was a member of Church of God of Prophecy, Scottsburg.
The funeral will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, April 30 at 2 p.m. with Revs. Rudolph Jacobs and Courtney W. Coffer officiating. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Mennonite Church Cemetery, South Boston.
Survivors of Mr. Hazelwood include five daughters, Edith H. Thomas and Lucy Epps, both of Halifax, Barbara Powell of Clover, Anita Wilborn of Clays Mill and Sally Snead of Scottsburg; one son, David Hazelwood of South Boston; two brothers, Tom Hazelwood of Danville and James Hazelwood of Clover; 24 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and 13 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; one son, George Thomas Hazelwood Sr.; five brothers and two sisters.

Henry Moore of Washington, DC died Thursday, April 22, 1999 in Washington at the age of 78.
Mr. Moore was born in Halifax County on October 12, 1920.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Everett and Perry Cornish; nine grandchildren; six sisters, Julia Marable, Arnita Vass, Ardelia Boyd, all of South Boston, Mable Smith of Danville, Carolyn Owen and Ruby Collins, both of Evauston, IL.
Funeral services for Mr. Moore will be held today, April 30 at 11:30 a.m. at Israel Baptist Church in Washington.

Annie Vass Patrick of 203 West Forest Trail, South Boston died Tuesday, April 27, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 77.
Mrs. Patrick was born in Halifax County on October 18, 1921 the daughter of William Vass and Harriett Richardson Vass and was married to Leroy P. Patrick. She was a member of First Baptist Church of News Ferry.
Survivors include six daughters, Mary Patrick of the home, Ella Bowman and Bessie Stewart, both of South Boston, Flo Macklin of Reidsville, NC, Phyllis Wright of Ft. Washington, MD and Elizabeth Patrick of Washington, DC; one son, William Patrick of South Boston; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary L. Jennings of South Boston; one brother, John Vass of South Boston; two sons-in-law, Robert Wright and Richard Macklin; one daughter-in-law, Crisanta Patrick; and a devoted friend, James Walton of Washington.

Funeral services for Mrs. Patrick will be held Sunday, May 2 at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of News Ferry with Rev. Ronnie E. Keene officiating. Private burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home