BY JOE CHANDLER
Community leaders, officials of local law enforcement agencies, and citizens gathered Wednesday night for the Fifth Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service.
With a small gathering of about 50 persons looking on, officers representing the four local law enforcement agencies placed a memorial wreath at the center of the stage in downtown South Boston's Constitution Square.
Prior to the wreath laying ceremony, community leaders and law enforcement agency officials took turns praising the efforts of active police officers and touched on the contributions the deceased and retired officers made to the community.
"We owe our police officers respect and cooperation," said Commonwealth Attorney John E. Greenbacker, Jr.
"They are the first line of defense in a civil society. They investigate the crimes. They apprehend the criminals."
Greenbacker added that "what we have to do at all times is look behind the badge, look behind the uniformand look, frankly, to the eyes. Those are the eyes of a friend."
The Commonwealth Attorney pointed out that police officers are not popular among some people.
"The police are only as popular as the laws they've sworn to protect," noted Greenbacker.
"You find a lot of people in some popular cutlures condemning them. But all of us must realize they're only doing the job they were sworn to uphold."
Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett thanked the police officers for the job they do in protecting the community.
"We must constantly remain vigilant in, through necessity, to do those things that we must to support our police officers that help us keep the peace to make our people and our property secure," Bennett said.
Bennett said when he thinks our nation three images come to mind.
"The first," Bennett said, "is the Statue of Liberty and the welcome for opportunity and freedom it means."
"The second," continued Bennett, "is the public schoolhouse and what the universal education for all kids has meant to this country."
"And, then," Bennett noted, "I think of the police officers of this country who have insisted and secured the enforcement of the laws of this country."
"This is a country that believes in law. It believes in the sanctity of the individual and the preciousness of individual rights. We can pass laws in Richmond and we can pass laws in Congress but, for the enforcement of those laws, we have to have these people on the front line."
Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes added words of praise and thanks to all of the community police officers.
And, he pointed out that the lack of public attendance and interest in the ceremony apparently reflects the public's view of the police.
"The fact that no more people are here tonight is reflective of the public sentiment about law enforcement," Oakes pointed out.
"It's widespread. It's a nationwide kind of thing. You've got the President talking about law enforcement doesn't have any code of ethics, that they don't have any scruples at all because of one person getting shot in New York which was unfortunate."
"Then,"added Oakes, "you hear that from a man who doesn't have any scruples or morals himself. That's the pot calling the kettle black in my opinion."
Oakes extended his thanks to the people that did turn out to pay tribute to present and past officers.
He reminded the gathering that being a police officer takes a special kind of individual with a lot of heart.
"It's in the heart," Oakes remarked.
"It's not in the eyes, It's in the heart. If you don't have it in your chest you may as well go to work at Dollar General or somewhere like that. I thank you one and all for what you do."
Halifax Town Police Chief Shawn Sweeney encouraged the gathering to say "thank you" to a police officer every opportunity they get at any time and any place.
"I ask you to do this one small thing," Sweeney said, "because every day when that officer begins a tour of duty it might well be his or her last."
"Your police officers are out there every day fighting the evils you fear," continued Sweeney.
"They're the ones you call when you're scared or alone and need help or protection, the one that deals with the distressed mental patient that needs to be picked up, the ones that face the prospect of living the rest of their lives knowing they were forced to kill the suicidal maniac who insisted the police help him take his own life."
"They're the ones who face children with guns in our schools," added Sweeney.
"Each officer knows full well the hazards of their chosen profession including the fact their next tour of duty could very well be their last."
Among the other individuals participating in the service included South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall, South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy, Sgt. T.A. LaRue of the Virginia State Police, South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel, and Rev. John Fariss.
Wednesday night's service was organized and staged by the South Boston Police Department.

After deliberating for nearly three hours, a Halifax County Circuit Court jury returned verdict of not guilty in a classic date rape case Thursday.
The verdict exonerated Phillip R. Ewell, 26, of Turbeville, who sat impassively next to his Richmond lawyer, Christopher Collins, while the 24-year-old woman who claimed Ewell raped her, testified that he would not take no for an answer the night of September 19, 1998.
According to testimony from both the victim and the defendant, Ewell and the woman had been seeing each other for about a week and were returning from a night of dancing at a club in Danville when the incident occurred.
Both testified that the woman drove from the club between 2:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. with Ewell, and that they had parked the vehicle and were kissing inside it near the Turbeville Fire Department. They later moved the vehicle to the parking lot of the Turbeville Elementary School because of the strong floodlight outside the fire department.
But then their stories diverged.
In tears, the soon-to-be-biology- graduate told the jury how she told Ewell to stop trying to put his hands down her pants as they lay together in front passenger seat.
"I told him no, and he asked me why. I told him I just didn't want to do it," she testified.
Still crying, the woman testified that she traded places with Ewell so that she was on the bottom when he pulled her pants off and raped her despite her protests.
"He kept says yes I do (want to do it). I was crying and telling him no," she said.
Under cross examination by Collins, the woman testified that she did not object to kissing and petting, and that at no time did Ewell threaten or force her to participate.
Nor did she fight back, according to her testimony.
"I felt awful. I was crying. I couldn't believe he was actually doing this to me," she said in answer to Commonworth Attorney John Greenbacker Jr.'s questions during redirect.
According to Ewell's testimony, the woman was a willing participant and never told him to stop.
"She never said no," he said. "She was not crying or acting upset. We talked about 15 or 20 minutes after, and she said we shouldn't have done this so soon, since we just met. I told her I was sorry.
"I was never led to think she was upset or frightened," he continued.
The only other witness, Virginia Delegate (60th district) and Halifax lawyer Ted Bennett said he had known the victim's family for approximately a quarter of a century and had known the woman since infancy.
He testified that she has an "impeccable reputation for telling the truth.
The jury chose not to break for lunch after receiving the case at 12:22 p.m., and raised voices were often heard issuing from behind the closed doors of the jury room. At one point about an hour later the jury asked to hear testimony regarding the lack of threats and other forms of intimidation.
At 2:25 p.m., after deliberating for two hours, the jury informed Judge Charles L. McCormick III that they had reached an impasse.
McCormick allowed them to recess for lunch until 3:30 p.m., at which time they resumed deliberation.
After deliberating another hour, the jury returned with the verdict of not guilty.

Halifax Town Council approved the first reading of its proposed 1999-2000 balanced budget set at $768,827 with no water/sewer or tax increases during its Tuesday night session.
Town manager Robert Greene said a public hearing on the budget will be advertised for June 1.
The proposed budget reflects almost a $74,000 increase over last year's budget.
Although the town manager said the proposed budget is balanced with expected increases in revenue through the meals tax and increased water/sewer sales, future budgets concerned council.
"Overall, we are slowly losing," said councilman Buddy Guthrie. "We have got to increase our revenue in the future."
The proposed 1999-2000 budget shows the General Fund balanced at $399,550 and the Water and Sewer Fund balanced at $369,550.
The budget also reflects revenue to support the following capital expenditures: $375,000 to upgrade the waste treatment plant; $250,000 to upgrade the water treatment plant; $25,000 to upgrade the town cemetery.
The budget does not propose any across the board cost of living or salary increases.
Town council is also moving forward with annexation plans, scheduling a meeting with the town's attorney and anticipating publicly setting proposed boundary lines in June, according to Greene.
In other business, a letter from the county to owners of the old Halifax mill at the southern entrance to Halifax was discussed.
The county Building Officials Department conducted an inspection of the site and sent a letter of owner, J. Hudson Reese, in mid-March following several complaints.
Roy Bradley, director of Code Compliance, advised Reese that most of the complaints had dealt with the small addition to the structure next to Highway 501.
"The inspection showed that the small addition is structurally unsafe and most likely creates a potential liability situation for the owner," Bradley wrote.
He advised that the county Building Code required any unsafe structure either be repaired or demolished. "In your situation it is our opinion that the only portion of the building that this applies to at this time is the small addition adjacent to the highway."
Bradley recommending removing the small addition and boarding up the opening that connects the addition to the main structure, which he said would bring the building into compliance with the County Code.
Bradley said Reese contacted him in mid-April and said he was in the process of getting a contractor to tear away the old section in question.

Step back in time about 1,000 years and visit an ancient village in the same pasture where the rag-tag group of Confederate soldiers held off Confederate troops intent on capturing the Staunton River Bridge in 1864.
Beginning May 17, the dig site located within the confines of the Staunton River Battlefield State Park and accessible from both the Charlotte and Halifax counties, will be opened to the public.
The park has long been a favorite and productive dig site for students of the Longwood College Archaeology Field School.
Three years ago the Department of Conservation and Recreation retained Longwood College to assess the archaeological potential of the park.
At first Brian D. Bates, Director of the Longwood Archaeological Field School, concentrated on the Civil War elements in the park, accessing a sequence of earthworks on the Halifax side in 1997.
The formation revealed that Confederate troops had dug out the area and formed a number of gun platforms, at least one well, and a powder magazine.
While the site did not yield any significant Civil War artifacts, Bates and his students did unearth bits and pieces of wood and a number of nails.
However, not long after Hurricane Fran ripped through the area, Bates stumbled onto an area where he discovered several prehistoric objects - even human remains.
The prehistoric Native American site is located on the north side of the river, at the west side of the battlefield.
From the old railroad bed (now a walkway for visitors), a grassy knoll is visible in the distance. The site runs parallel to the river, about 100 yards from the river bank.
Covered in dark green grass and easily discernible from the surrounding field of lighter colored grasses, the knoll stretches out like a long finger. Like a levee, it is elevated enough to be an island in flood waters, which has prevented soil erosion.
Bates and his students have uncovered thousands of artifacts, including human remains, projectile points, bone tools, pottery shards, and animal bones. Radiocarbon analysis has provided dates for the site between 1040 A.D. and 1275 A.D.
"The soil composition is a mixture of sandy loam with deep deposits of charcoal, a soil neutralizer, which is unusual in an area with so much clay," Bates said. "However, this charcoal counteracts the degenerative effects of acid in the soil, and the organic preservation is very good."
In one tests site, Bates and his students were able to extract almost half of the broken pieces of a conical-shaped pot, identified as Dan River ceramics, 1200-1400 A.D.
The students have already discovered over 700 pieces of bone, about 1,000 pieces of shell, and 450 pieces of broken pottery, Bates said.
Last year the archaeological field school and the Archaeological Society of Virginia conducted a joint excavation in the park and uncovered a number of indications of prehistoric life including a cooking hearth, several trash pits, bone fish hooks, and even the grave sites of what they believe to be a male in his mid-thirties and one child, probably two or three years old.
"We know that this site is rather significant in size - at least a hamlet of 50 to 75 people or a village," he said.
This summer the public is invited to observe the dig as Bates and his students work to discover the actual size of the site.
"Can we say with certainty what we have? I don't think so," Bates said. "What we try to do in the Field School is to illuminate various facets of the prehistoric past. It is the information about the day-to-day living of a group of people that I, as an archaeologist and anthropologist, find particularly compelling.
"We are doing much more than digging holes. We are trying to understand the people that we're looking at, what their daily lives were like," he continued.
Short of a deluge, Bates said digging will be conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The last two days, June 8 and 9, the site will be closed for final cleanup.
Visitors should check-in at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park Visitors Center, and the site is within easy walking distance from there.
The school will file their report findings by late September. It will be available on the Staunton River Battlefield State Park web at www2.halifax.com/county/battle/event3.htm.
The park is located on Route 600, Black Walnut Road, which is accessible from State Route 92 west and Route 607.
For more information call the field house at (804) 454-4186 during the excavation, or call Bates at (804) 395-2875.

South Boston Police are searching for a freckled bandit who reportedly robbed a local gas station Wednesday night.
According to reports from the South Boston Police Department, the attendant at the Savings Gas Station on Halifax Road said a tall, red-headed white male with a white cloth wrapped around his head walked up around 9:30 p.m., pointed a stainless steel gun at him and demanded money.
The alleged victim said he could see a lot of freckles on the man, who wore faded blue jeans and a gray sweatshirt.
Police reports describe the man as being between 17 and 25 years old, six-feet, one-inch tall, and weighing around 160 pounds.
The robber left with an undisclosed amount of money.
South Boston Police urge anyone with information regarding this crime to call Crime Stoppers at 575-8477 or 476-8477.
Individuals who call do not have to identify themselves or testify in court and can receive up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The South Boson-Halifax Junior Woman's Club recently attended the Virginia Federation of Woman's Club State Convention in Richmond and walked away with seven state awards.
The club won Best Overall in the State for Arts with their children's art workshops, photography contest, Valentine's poetry contest, and various other Arts projects. They also received Best Single Project in the State for the General Federation of Woman's Club Junior Special Project (child advocacy).
This was awarded for the After Prom Party '98, which was chaired by Robin McAlexander. For Public Relations and Communications members brought home awards for Best Single Project and Best Overall.
Projects in this area include the club's web page which was created by Tamyra Vest.
The club competed against 72 other clubs throughout the state.

 The club also placed first in Public Affairs for their continuous work with The Prizery, their annual Halloween Carnival and The After Prom Party.
A Gold Honor Society award was presented to the club as recognition of their many varied projects.
A Special Junior award was received as well.
The Blanch K. Satterfield Performing Arts Award and $25 was presented to the club. Several members helped with Little Theater's Production of Grease.
Kim White made the poodle skirts as well as assembling many of the other costumes used. Michelle Buchheit did the makeup for the actors and Niki Perkins produced the playbill.
This award was presented during the State Convention Banquet for all Virginia Federation of Woman's Club members.

Branchie Trent Minnix, 73, of Gladys died Tuesday, May 4, 1999 at her home. She was the wife of Coral Haywood Minnix.
Mrs. Minnix was born September 2, 1925 in Charlotte County the daughter of Frank Trent and Evadne Jordan Trent. She was a member of Mt. Carmel Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by four daughters, Amelia Smith and husband, Carroll, Kay Dawson and husband, Kenneth, Sue Doss and husband, Ray, all of Gladys, and Coral Elder and husband, Dan of Vernon Hill; three sisters, Pauline Pollard of Phenix, Vivian Ledbetter of Concord and Mattie White of Moneta; eight grandchildren, Matt Smith and wife, Cerise, Mark, Michelle, and Nicole Smith, Kim and Chris Doss, and Jon and Gerry Elder.
A graveside service was conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 6 in Mt. Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery by Revs. Don Cockes and Andy Grose.

Frank Moses Lee Conner of 2182 Clover Road, Clover died Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at his home. He was 58 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Conner was born February 10, 1941 in Halifax County the son of Frank Conner and Hannah Clay Hudson and was a retired employee with English Construction Co.
The funeral was held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel Thursday, May 13 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Ricky L. Bibee officiating. Burial was in Clover Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Conner include two sons, Tony Lee Conner of South Boston and Dwayne Eddie Conner of Clover; his mother of Clover and father of Roxboro, NC; two sisters, Barbara Allen Newcomb of Clover and Wanda M. Lacks of South Boston; five brothers, Jerry Wayne Conner of Henderson, NC, Darrel Warren Conner of Halifax, Mickey Mantle Conner and Ricky M. Conner, both of Danville, and Marshall Monroe Hudson of Cluster Springs; three grandchildren, Emily Laurn Conner, Allison Nicole Conner and Benjamin Chase Conner, all of South Boston; and his former wife, Patricia Conner. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Danny and Robert Hudson.

Miriam Cumbie Gravitt of Kingwoods Road, Virgilina died Wednesday, May 12, 1999 at The Woodview. She was 93 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Gravitt was born in Halifax County on March 23, 1906 the daughter of George Calvin Cumbie and Alice Downey Cumbie and was married to Hugh M. Gravitt Sr. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years.
Survivors include two sons, Hugh M. Gravitt and wife Patsy of Virgilina and James C. Gravitt and wife Catherine of Richmond; one sister, Polly Ratliff of Richmond; four grandchildren, Hugh M. Gravitt III of Bassett, C. Scott Gravitt of Richmond, Mark J. Gravitt of Glen Allen, and Sarah Gravitt Barnes and husband Bill of Glen Allen; three great-grandchildren, Aeme' Gravitt, Hugh M. Gravitt IV and Tanner Barnes.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gravitt will be held today, May 14 at 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Stewart conducting the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Grace Baptist Church or the Gravitt Scholarship Fund, Crestar Bank, South Boston.

Emily Barksdale Childress of 1168 Wilson Memorial Trail, Vernon Hill died Monday, May 10, 1999 at her home. She was 85 years of age.
Mrs. Childress was born in Halifax County on March 7, 1914.
Survivors include five daughters, Louise Bailey of Jersey City, NJ, Martha Ferrell of Englewood, NJ, Ruby Wesson of Lawrenceville, Ruth Crite of Brown Summit, NC and Annie Wade of Englewood; four sons, Robert Childress Sr. of Franklin, TN, Leonard Childress and Clearance Childress, both of Jersey City, and Ernest Childress of Grove City, PA; 46 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Annie Moore of Jersey City and Cora Grimes of Brooklyn, NY; three foster sons, Beverly Wade of Jersey City, James Womack of Rockville, MD and James Edmonds of Grove City, PA.
Funeral services for Mrs. Childress will be held Saturday, May 15 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant CME Church in Halifax with Rev. Ronald Dean officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Crawford, Garrett & Burton Funeral Service this evening from 7-8:00 and other times at the home.

Helen Coleman Smith of 302 McKinney Street, South Boston died Monday, May 10, 1999 in Person County, NC at the age of 47.
Mrs. Smith was born in Halifax County on February 6, 1952 the daughter of Charlie Roberts and Eva Coleman Roberts and was married to Thomas Smith. She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Tamara Smith of South Boston; one son, Thomas L. Smith of Staten Island, NY; two grandchildren; her mother; two sisters, Vanessa Williams and Michell Roberts, both of Albany, NY; three brothers, William Carrington and Charlie Roberts Jr., both of Clover and Alvin Roberts of Albany; one Goddaughter, Cynthia Adams of South Boston; one Godbrother, Steve Coles of Nathalie; and a devoted friend, Curtis Baldwin of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Smith will be held today, May 14 at 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Rev. Vaughan W. Brayboy officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Edward Lee Scott, 65, of 405 Darrell Lane, Hurt died Tuesday, May 11, 1999 at Lynchburg General Hospital. He was twice married, first to the late Irma Saunders Scott, and second to Caroline Walker Scott of the residence.
Born March 8, 1934 in Campbell County, he was the son of Gracie Yeatts Scott of Gladys and the late Jesse Graber Scott. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove where he was a deacon and a member of the Joy Group. Mr. Scott was a retired employee of BGF Industries.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by two step sons, Danny W. Hall and Eddie Thomas Hall, both of Richmond; two step daughters, Doris Brown Thomas of Hurt and Betty Brown Hunley of Lynch Station; two brothers, Leslie Scott of Hurt and Willie Scott of Gladys; nine step grandchildren, and three step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Ella Riley.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, May 14 in First Baptist Church of Republican Grove by Revs. Shelton Miles and LeeRoy Davis. Burial will follow in Altavista Memorial Park.
Those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Building Fund.

Mrs. May Smith Overman Henice died May 6, 1999 at her home in Orange, CA at the age of 70.
Mrs. Henice is the daughter of R.F. "Sam" Smith and Corinna Long Smith.
Her survivors include her sons: Eric Overman of Humming Beach, CA and Michael Overman of Freedom, CA and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son: Kirklin Overman.

A memorial service will be held Monday, May 17 at 1 p.m. at Harmony United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael Sullivan officiating.