Halifax County's
250th Anniver
sary weekend
ended with a bang
Saturday night thanks to a fireworks display in South Boston that rivaled any Fourth of July celebration.
The shrieks of children filled the air as hundreds in Constitution Square looked skyward to watch the pyrotechnic presentation.
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine's visit and the debut of the Piedmont Community Band highlighted the events as the county celebrated over the weekend.
Kaine, who was the keynote speaker during Friday's formal ceremony in the Halifax courthouse, urged a spirit of cooperation in reaching Virginia's goals.
"Life has changed dramatically in the past 250 years and yet, here we are, still striving and looking to the future, still pulling together for the good of the citizens," Kaine said Friday.
After leading the court in the Pledge of Allegiance, Goode presented Judge Charles L. McCormick with a U.S. flag that had flown over the U.S. Capital.
"We will keep this flag in a place of honor, flying high over the courthouse in Halifax County," McCormick said as he accepted the gift.
Resolutions commending the county on its anniversary were read by many of the dignitaries attending the formal event, including Rep. Virgil Goode, Del. Clarke Hogan and David Martin, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
The community band first played Thursday night in Halifax after a thunderstorm threatened to halt the Town of Halifax's celebration.
Instead of cancelling their performance, the band moved into the circuit courtroom where they performed to the delight of those in attendance.
"I am really proud of them," director and founder Kenneth Cranford said. "They performed wonderfully."
The group also performed Saturday at South Boston's celebration, where they were the hit of the day.
"They are fantastic, I never knew there was so much musical talent here," one audience member said.
Cranford, who received a standing ovation from the hundreds gathered, beamed after the performance.
In addition to the community band, the U.S. Army National Guard Band thrilled the crowd with both traditional marches and contemporary music.
Living History Associates, from Richmond, brought history to life with a lesson given from the perspective of colonial soldiers in 1782.
They also enlisted members of the audience into the "Virginia Militia," marching them in formation to the delight of the crowd.
In addition to the events in Halifax and South Boston, the community of Providence held its annual Noland Day celebration Saturday, with food and fun for everyone.
Restored antique farm equipment was on display in Providence, including a "hit and miss" saw displayed by Bobby Conner.
Kyle Martin and Friends entertained the crowd, playing a variety of country and bluegrass standards.
The weekend offered plenty of activities for county residents, and the weather proved perfect for the occasion.
"This was a fitting end to a wonderful weekend," said one of the event's organizers as parents bundled up their sleepy children and the crowd headed home.

In a meeting overshadowed by dispute, the Rev. William Avon Keen, pastor of the Traynham Grove Baptist Church, was named to head the Virginia Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Saturday.
Keen was elected during the group's annual state convention in Danville last week.
Keen said yesterday that his goals for the group would be a continuation of the goals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
"We want to continue to dream of Martin Luther King's vision of creative non-violence and reinforce the dream of all men being created equal," Keen said.
He added that the group seeks to be a national force in the return of America to its religious heritage.
"Our belief is to try to redeem the goals of America and make the nation a God-conscious nation," the minister said.
Keen served as interim president since January, when a dispute erupted within the group over the recommendation of the group's state board.
The group, which was founded by King, has been shrouded in controversy since the board's recommendation of Jack Mills, a 71-year-old white man, as the next president.
Ten days after Mills received the board's nomination, he was told that the nomination had been rescinded.
Mills has accused the group of opposing his presidency because he is white.
The SCLC has never had a white president in any of it's state or national chapters.
Officials within the state group said that race is not an issue in the group's decision.
They cited the public statements made by Mills where he called himself a "prophet to be an inspiration for poor people," as well as reports that claim Mills was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Mills has denied the allegations.
Keen said yesterday that the organization is open to people of all races, and the choice was based on character, not race.
"He had character qualities that were not in keeping with the goals of the group," Keen said. "I feel that he had a problem with the understanding of the philosophy of Dr. King."
"There are many people who would like to dismantle the civil right's movement, and try to use the issues of race to side-track the mission of the group.
"I don't want to make any accusations, but it would appear to me that he's not by himself, and the enemies of the organization are using him instead of partaking of the true mission," he added.
"This is a civil rights organization and movement," Curtis Harris of Hopewell said. "There are people out there who want to destroy the SCLC."
Although he did not attend the Danville meeting, Mills claims that the action by the board effectively conferred the presidency on him.
Mills has filed an injunction against the SCLC that would bar the group from conducting any business without him.
Harris, a former chapter president who has been criticized by Mills, said at the meeting that Mills was being used by a group within the state SCLC that is seeking to incorporate the organization in order to drum up business for a law firm.
Harris said the national SCLC opposes incorporation, which Mills advocates.
At Saturday's conference, the SCLC declared the committee that nominated Mills "null and void."

Two men were arrested Friday, one following a raid on a South Boston home, the other after walking into the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
Recardo Antwan Ford, 31, of Danville was arrested Friday by members of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force following an investigation into drug trafficking.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Task Force said that police converged on a Ridge St. residence in South Bosaton at approximately 1 p.m. and arrested Ford, aka "Fuzzy."
Ford, of Danville and formerly of South Boston, was arrested on a federal indictment for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine.
"These charges stemmed from undercover purchases of crack cocaine, surveillance and information from citizens," Pulliam said.
He added that Ford was arrested following a two-year investigation.
Pulliam said that the investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Danville Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Roanoke, the Task Force, the South Boston Police Department, the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Virginia State Police.
"If Ford is convicted, the charges carry a penalty of 10 years to life in a federal penitentiary," Pulliam said.
Also Friday, Edwin Aguilar Jr., 31, of Clover, was arrested on a federal indictment from the U.S. District Court of eastern New York for firearms trafficking, according to Pulliam.
Both Aguilar and Ford were transported to Roanoke, where they will appear before a federal magistrate.

Any aspirations Halifax County had of winning the Western Valley District regular season baseball title went down the tubes Friday night in a 4-3 loss to E.C. Glass.
Not only that, the alternative of any hopes the Comets had of taking lone possession of second place in the district title race went out the window as well.
"It was big for us to win that game," Comets coach Kelvin Davis said in the wake of the team's loss in the eight-inning nail biter against E.C. Glass in Lynchburg.
"A win would have been very big for us in terms of the district standings."
The loss, which left the Comets 8-6 overall and 3-4 in Western Valley District play, put the team in a precarious position entering the final week of the regular season.
Halifax County needs to win out this week as it faces Patrick Henry today in Roanoke and concludes the week with home games Wednesday night and Friday night against Franklin County and GW respectively in Western Valley District games.
If the Comets win all three games they could finish in a tie for second place.
"Right now, it's an outside chance," noted Davis.
In order to lay claim to second place, Halifax County will have to have some help in the form of a loss from one of their challengers (Franklin County and Cave Spring) and a win a coin toss that would likely be the tiebreaker should there be a deadlock.
A loss in any one of this week's three games could leave the Comets anywhere from that point to as far down as fourth place.
If the Comets are going to win these games, they will have to awaken their slumbering bats.
The Comets' hitting woes continued Friday night as they could manage only five hits against Glass hurler Dominic Barrett.
Robert Carter got two of them and Jason Lloyd, Casey Owen and West McDowell had a hit each.
Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers tagged Lloyd, the Comets' starting hurler, for six hits through his 6.1 innings of work and reached reliever Justin King for three hits including a bases-loaded, one-out, game-winning single by Barrett in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Glass out hit the Comets, getting nine hits to the Comets' five.
"We wouldn't have deserved to win," Davis said.
"We're not hitting the ball. You have to score runs to win and you have to hit the ball to score runs. Right now, we're not hitting the ball."
Davis said it is frustrating to see his team being stymied at the plate.
"I know this team can hit the baseball," Davis said.
"We proved it earlier in the season. To see these guys struggling like they are is frustrating because we know what these guys can do.
"The way I see it, this (hitting slump) can't last," added Davis.
"I'm just hoping we can stay in this thing and keep knocking around until our bats start cranking up again."
Davis said he has been pleased with the effort of his pitchers.
Lloyd gave up only two walks and fanned eight batters while King walked one and fanned two batters.
"Early in the season we were concerned with our pitching," Davis pointed out.
"We didn't think hitting was going to be a problem. Our pitchers are doing a good job. They're doing what we ask of them but we're not backing up those guys. We've got to have some offensive production to help our pitchers."
Things looked good for the Comets early.
In the top of the first inning, Lloyd came up with a base hit with two out, stole second base and scored on a double by Owen to give the Comets a 1-0 lead.
Glass tied the game with two out in the bottom of the third inning after Lloyd hit Nathan Roberts with a pitch.
Roberts advanced around the horn on a hit by B.J. Butler and scored by stealing home plate.
Glass took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a walk to Jared Bolden, a bunt sacrifice to move him to second place and a hit to left field from Mark Vance to get the run and tale a 2-1 lead.
Halifax County bounced back in the top of the fifth inning to regain the lead at 3-2.
The Comets' rally started when McDowell reached base on an error. He stole second base and scored on a one-out single from Carter.
Lloyd walked and Carter scored when Owen reached base on an error to give the Comets the lead.
Glass knotted the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Austin Peters singled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Barrett.
The Comets had a prime scoring opportunity go by the board in the top of the seventh inning when they had the bases loaded with one out.
Carter reached base on an infield hit with one out and advanced to second base when Lloyd walked.
Owen reached base on an error to load the bases with one out.
Glass escaped by nailing Carter at the plate when Chase Hetzell hit into a fielder's choice and getting out of the inning by making a routine force out when Jonathan Barbour hit a shot to third base.
The Comets had another opportunity in the top of the eighth inning when McDowell singled to left field with two out and moved to second base on an error.
McDowell stole third base but the inning ended when Brent Long grounded out to the second baseman for the third out.
Glass won the contest in the bottom of the eighth inning when leadoff batter Kaylin Campbell singled and moved to second on a bunt single from Bolden.
A sacrifice bunt from Peters moved the runners up. King gave an intentional walk to Vance to load the sacks.
That set the stage for Barrett to deliver the game-winning single.

Hugh Edmunds Sr.

Hugh Edmunds Sr., retired vice president and director of Export Leaf Tobacco Co. in charge of buying tobacco in Europe, America, Latin America and Australia, died Thursday, May 9.
He is survived by his wife, Elsie A. Edmunds of their home; stepdaughter, Caroline Freeman of Columbia, SC; three sons, Hugh Edmunds Jr. and Holt Edmunds of Richmond, and Edward Edmunds of Kenbridge; and one brother, James Edmunds of Halifax.
Graveside services were held May 12 at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Halifax.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a favorite charity.

Jeanette Singleton Ward

Jeanette Singleton Ward, 53, of 1079 Daniels Trail, Halifax, died May 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Ward was born in Halifax County on April 14, 1949, the daughter of Elmer Lacy Singleton and Aileen Francis Singleton and was married to Thomas David Ward. She was a member of Revelation Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Sherri Ward Lindsey of Halifax; one sister, Virginia Eastwood of Reidsville, NC; three brothers, Carson Wayne Singleton, Doug Singleton and Billy Ray Singleton, all of Reidsville; and one grandchild, Joshua Dylan Lindsey of Halifax. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services for Mrs. Ward will be held today, May 13 at 2 p.m. at Revelation Baptist Church with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Childrey Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston.