Friday,
April 9, 2004
House
Seeking Budget Response
Del. Clarke Hogan: ‘We Have To Finish
This Process. Getting Closer Is Not A Solution. I Think
We Have Our Best Chance At It This Week.’
A House proposal carrying a half-cent sales tax increase
and boosting the cigarette tax seeks the Virginia Senate's
response.
The House's new proposal - approved by the House Finance
Committee on a 10-8 vote Wednesday - would increase the
cigarette tax from 2.5-cents-a-pack to 25 cents this year
and to 30 cents next year.
The sales tax would increase from 4.5 cents to 5 cents on
the dollar.
The proposal would generate nearly $1 billion in new revenue,
narrowing the gap in the stalemate between the Senate's
$60 billion budget and the House's $58 billion proposal.
"Right now there's no indication this bill would end
our budget impasse," said Delegate Clarke Hogan, R-60,
yesterday.
"In fact, we have just the opposite, that they're going
to make additional changes to it."
"We're trying to find out what it's going to take to
finish this, to get a revenue number."
Hogan said that he would not consider voting for the bill
until "we have a final solution of the problem."
"We are asking the Senate to provide that," he
added.
The delegate said that he is confident that Gov. Mark Warner
will sign "if the House and Senate agree."
The Senate's package carries tax increases in sales, income
and cigarette taxes.
The new House package is getting mixed revues from Hogan.
"Pieces of it I'm okay with, and there are pieces I
can't abide," Hogan said yesterday.
"I cannot abide the cigarette tax at 30 cents. That's
too high."
He is also uncomfortable with removing the senior deduction.
"I've been told AARP and the Association for Retired
Federal Employees are supportive of the bill, but I have
seen nothing to that effect in writing," he added.
If the advocacy groups support the bill, Hogan said he would
"be more comfortable with it."
"But what we're trying to do right now is find out
what the Senate will agree too."
The delegate said he has been on the telephone talking with
senior senators this past few days.
"We trying to push our leadership and their leadership
to hammer this thing out. That is what we're pushing but
we want some assurance this is the end of the road."
This week the House voted to pass a one-year budget if a
compromise cannot be reached wit the Senate. Senate leaders
and Gov. Warner oppose that measure.
Two
Airlifted To Duke In Crash
Single-Car
Crash Occurred On Old Cluster Springs Road Yesterday
Two county residents were airlifted to Duke Medical Center
following a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Old
Cluster Springs Road, State Trooper S.M. Krantz said yesterday.
The driver, Justin Mark Wilkerson, 18, of South Peach Orchard
Road, South Boston, and Kayla N. Martin, 16, were both ejected
from the 2004 Acura RSX two-door sedan during the crash,
Krantz said.
The trooper said Wilkerson was traveling north on Cluster
Springs Road at approximately 8 a.m. when the car ran off
of the left shoulder, was overcorrected and ran off the
left shoulder once again, striking the ditch line and flipping
numerous times.
The accident occurred Route 704 about 2.4 miles north of
Route 706 (Bold Springs Road), according to police reports.
Krantz said speed was believed to be factor.
He estimated $27,000 damage to the new vehicle.
The trooper said that charges are pending.
House
Seeking Budget Response
Del. Clarke Hogan: ‘We Have To Finish
This Process. Getting Closer Is Not A Solution. I Think
We Have Our Best Chance At It This Week.’
A House proposal carrying a half-cent sales tax increase
and boosting the cigarette tax seeks the Virginia Senate's
response.
The House's new proposal - approved by the House Finance
Committee on a 10-8 vote Wednesday - would increase the
cigarette tax from 2.5-cents-a-pack to 25 cents this year
and to 30 cents next year.
The sales tax would increase from 4.5 cents to 5 cents on
the dollar.
The proposal would generate nearly $1 billion in new revenue,
narrowing the gap in the stalemate between the Senate's
$60 billion budget and the House's $58 billion proposal.
"Right now there's no indication this bill would end
our budget impasse," said Delegate Clarke Hogan, R-60,
yesterday.
"In fact, we have just the opposite, that they're going
to make additional changes to it."
"We're trying to find out what it's going to take to
finish this, to get a revenue number."
Hogan said that he would not consider voting for the bill
until "we have a final solution of the problem."
"We are asking the Senate to provide that," he
added.
The delegate said that he is confident that Gov. Mark Warner
will sign "if the House and Senate agree."
The Senate's package carries tax increases in sales, income
and cigarette taxes.
The new House package is getting mixed revues from Hogan.
"Pieces of it I'm okay with, and there are pieces I
can't abide," Hogan said yesterday.
"I cannot abide the cigarette tax at 30 cents. That's
too high."
He is also uncomfortable with removing the senior deduction.
"I've been told AARP and the Association for Retired
Federal Employees are supportive of the bill, but I have
seen nothing to that effect in writing," he added.
If the advocacy groups support the bill, Hogan said he would
"be more comfortable with it."
"But what we're trying to do right now is find out
what the Senate will agree too."
The delegate said he has been on the telephone talking with
senior senators this past few days.
"We trying to push our leadership and their leadership
to hammer this thing out. That is what we're pushing but
we want some assurance this is the end of the road."
This week the House voted to pass a one-year budget if a
compromise cannot be reached wit the Senate. Senate leaders
and Gov. Warner oppose that measure.
HCHS
Comets Baseball Win Streak Snapped At Six
HCHS Suffered Its First Loss Of The
Season Here Wednesday, Falling To Experience-Laden Garden
City, N.Y. 7-4
By
JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer
Halifax County suffered its first setback of the season
here Wednesday night, falling to a talented and well-drilled
Garden City, N.Y. team 7-4.
But the Comets didn't go down without a fight in the contest
between the two undefeated teams.
Trailing 7-1, the Comets tagged Garden City's lefthanded
hurler Matt Petiton for three runs in the bottom of the
sixth inning to cut the deficit to three runs at 7-4.
A two-RBI double by Brent Long plated Nathan Thomas who
reached base on a walk and Jason Lloyd who reached base
on a fielder's choice.
That and a run-scoring hit by Chris Perkins to score Long
did the damage as the Comets attempted to claw their way
back into the contest.
Halifax County threatened to score again in the bottom of
the final inning when Ryan Roller led off with a single.
He was erased when Chris Lowery hit into a fielder's choice.
Steven Smith walked to give the Comets two baserunners with
one out.
The Comets' scoring threat ended, however, when Petiton
fanned Robert Carter and Thomas to end the contest.
Comets coach Kelvin Davis praised his team's effort in battling
back and trying to overcome a six-run deficit.
"It showed a lot of character in us," Davis said.
"The guys never let down. For them to fight back like
they did, for them to have that never-say-die attitude,
that was good. It was good for us coaches to see that out
of our team."
Wednesday night's loss snapped a six-game winning streak
and put the Comets at 6-1 overall and 1-0 in Western Valley
District play.
While the loss was disappointing, Davis felt his team gave
a good effort against the undefeated New York team that
has 17 players returning from last year's team, 13 of which
are seniors.
Garden City, which had defeated Bluestone Monday night and
had swept a doubleheader from GW in Danville the previous
night, ran its record to 8-0 with the win over the Comets.
"We faced a great ballclub," Davis pointed out.
" My hat goes off to those guys. When we can face a
team like that early in the season it will help us tremendously
on down into the season.
"Hopefully, the guys will learn something from this
experience," he continued.
"I truly believe we're not going to face another pitcher
like we faced tonight. I doubt we'll see a team the rest
of the season any better than this one."
The Comets out hit the Trojans 6-5 with Long leading the
Comets with two hits.
Carter, Thomas, Perkins and Roller each had one hit for
the Comets.
Garden City got off to a quick start, nailing Lloyd, the
Comets starting pitcher hard after Lloyd had opened the
game with a strikeout and hit the second batter with a pitch.
After Adam Chilelli was hit by a pitch, Lloyd walked Andrew
DeRosa to put two runners on base.
A single by Ryan Boelsen scored Chilelli. Another base hit,
this one by Petiton, scored DeRosa to put the Trojans up
2-0.
Lloyd fanned Terence Hartigan for the second out of the
inning but John Emmert delivered a long single that scored
Boelsen and Petiton and gave the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
The Comets' hurler got himself out of the inning by fanning
Jeff Rhodes, the eighth batter in the Trojans lineup.
Things started looking up for the Comets in the bottom of
the first inning when Carter, the Comets' leadoff batter,
reached base on an error.
A two-out single from Long plated Carter and allowed the
Comets to cut their deficit to three runs at 4-1.
The score remained 4-1 until the top of the fourth inning
Garden City's Erik Lucas reached base on a two-out single
and Marino reached base on a passed ball on what was a third-strike
pitch from Lloyd.
With two runners on the sacks, Chilelli delivered a three-run
homer that gave the Trojans a 7-1 lead that put the Comets
into a deep hole.
"We knew they hit the ball well," said Davis.
"We had information from their game (Tuesday night)
against GW that they hit the ball really well.
"If we make a couple of plays here and there, we're
still in the ballgame," added Davis.
"We just didn't make a couple of critical plays we
should have made."
Lloyd and the Comets retired the Trojans in order in the
top of the fifth inning.
Carter was brought to the mound in the top of the sixth
inning to relieve Lloyd who had recorded five strikeouts
while allowing five hits and three walks.
He and his Comets teammates retired Garden City in order
through the final two innings.
With the pitching and defense retiring Garden City in order
in each of the last three innings, the Comets attempted
to get back into the contest in the last two innings.
While they scored three runs in the sixth inning to narrow
the gap, the Comets couldn't get the three runs they needed
in the final inning to extend the game to extra innings
and keep their hopes alive.
The Comets will return to action tonight when they hit the
road to face Amherst County, last year's Group AA state
champion.
Game time tonight at Amherst County High School is 7 p.m.
Obituaries
Blanche
Williams Canada
Blanche Williams Canada, 99, of 1009 Williams Road, Scottsburg
died April 6 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Canada was born in Halifax County on July 26, 1904,
the daughter of James T. and Florence Olivia Wilmoth Williams,
and was married to the late Beverly Gibson Canada.
Survivors include one sister, Sallie Austin of Scottsburg;
two brothers, Frank Williams of Scottsburg and James Williams
of South Boston. She was preceded in death by one sister,
Lillie Walters; five brothers, Flave, Willie, Sam, Robert
and Connic Williams.
Funeral services for Mrs. Canada will be held today, April
9 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs.
Bonnie Pizzeck and Kenneth Williams officiating. Burial
will follow in Clover Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Carlton Williams,
124 White Oak Drive, South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Clover
United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 1005 Mosley Ferry
Road, Clover, 24534.
George
Wesley Garrett Sr.
George Wesley Garrett Sr., 62, of South Boston died April
6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Garrett was born in Halifax County on March 15, 1942,
the son of Milton Palmer Garrett and Phoebe Smith Garrett
and was married to Delois Williams Garrett. He was a member
of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Shenell Garrett
of South Boston and Darlene Ragland of Nathalie; two sons,
George Wesley Garrett Jr. of South Boston and James Richard
Garrett of Nathalie; seven grandchildren; five sisters,
Annie Ragland and Connie Carrington, both of Clover, Beulah
Miller of Nathalie, Nannie Canada of New York and Phoebe
Jennings of South Boston; six brothers, Dr. William Brown
of Washington, D.C., Milton Garrett of New York, Saint Clair
Garrett of Alexandria, William Garrett of Nathalie, Lester
Garrett of Chase City and Alexander Garrett of New York.
Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by one daughter, Debbie
Garrett; and one son-in-law, Michael Ragland.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 10 at 2 p.m.
at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. James E. Traynham
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Delois Garrett,
1160 Cole Ferry Road, Nathalie.
Roy
Wesley King
Roy Wesley King, 70, of South Boston died April 7.
Mr. King was born in Campbell County on October 14, 1933,
the son of Oliver Cromwell King and Mary Shelton King and
was married to Mildred 'Mickey' Perkins King.
Surviving Mr. King are his daughters, Lisa King of Huntersville,
N.C., Janet Dawson and her husband, David, of Halifax, and
Donna Griffith and husband, Mike, of Cary, N.C.; one granddaughter,
Stacey Dawson of Halifax; one brother, Jackie King and his
wife, Betty, of Lynchburg; one sister, Annie Wood and her
husband, Harvey, of South Boston; and his loving companion,
Ella Williams, of Virgilina.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; two brothers,
Melvin and Russell King; and one sister, Edna Elder.
Funeral services for Mr. King will be held tomorrow, April
10 at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev.
Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in Ellis
Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 9 from
7:00 until 8:30 at the funeral home, and other times at
the home of his daughter, Janet Dawson, 1114 Mountain Road,
Halifax.
Joseph
Marable
Joseph Marable, 88, of 101 Hedgerow Drive, Halifax died
April 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Marable was born March 18, 1916, in Halifax County a
son of the late Pleasant Marable and the late Sallie Lou
Marable and was married to Mary Fannie Harris Marable, who
preceded him in death. Prior to his retirement, he was employed
as a custodian with J.P. Stevens, and he was a member of
New Arbor Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Joan Johnson of the home;
one son, Joseph M. Marable of South Boston; and his close
friend, Donna Carr.
A funeral service for Mr. Marable will be held April 9 at
1 p.m. at New Arbor Baptist Church with the Rev. Nelson
Stamps officiating. Burial with military rites by American
Legion Post 29 will follow in the church cemetery.
A viewing will be held April 8 from 2 until 8 p.m. at First
Baptist Church, Ferry Street. The family will receive friends
at the home.
Bertha
Robinson Medley
Bertha Robinson Medley, 93, of Lynchburg, formerly of Halifax
County, died April 7 in Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mrs. Medley was born in Halifax County on July 25, 1910,
the daughter of the late Charlie Robinson and Mary Logan
Robinson and was married to the late Melvin Medley. She
was a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Nathalie.
Survivors include a son, Walter Parrish of New York, N.Y.;
one foster son, Tyke Lamont Farrow of Lynchburg; one sister,
Viola Cheatham of Lynchburg; two grandsons, Lamont Farrow
of Lynchburg and Tyree Farrow of South Boston.
Mrs. Medley was also preceded in death by seven sisters,
Hennie Robinson, Rennie Pringle, Maude Cage, Florence Pringle,
Bessie Bradley and Elsie Howard; and two brothers, William
and Lewis Robinson.
A funeral service will be held tomorrow, April 10 at 1 p.m.
at Hickory Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Alfred Dean
officiating. Burial will follow in the Robinson Family Cemetery.
