Design and engineering plans for a $8.3 million building inside
the new Riverstone Business and Technology Park have been approved
by Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County.
The IDA board also agreed yesterday to hire the firm that prepared
the plans as consultant for the multi-tenant building the county
hopes will attract new industry.
Prepared by the Raleigh, N.C.-based firm of O'Brien & Atkins,
the local IDA board has agreed to pay the firm a fee equal to
7.4 percent of the total cost of the first building in the new
industrial park located west of South Boston off U.S. 58.
Funding for the project will come from the Tobacco Indemnification
Fund and construction is expected to begin in the fall of this
year and be completed by the end of 2004.
O'Brien & Atkins will serve in a somewhat dual role for design/engineering
and consultants. The firm is said to be responsible for much
of the design of the Research Triangle Park and, in planning the
Riverstone project, conferred with a noted biotech specialist
in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Scott Morris, executive director for the IDA, referred to the
O'Brien & Atkins firm as having the "resources and support
we need to put people into this building."
As yet, there are no secured occupants for the building that is
designed to house multiple tenants.
Work on the Phase I of the Riverstone project is underway and
includes turn lanes on U.S.58, a four-lane entrance road, relocating
Hwy 703, cul-de-sac road off the loop road and associated utilities.
In other business, the IDA board accepted a draft budget for FY
2003-04 that calls for $592,358 in total expenses. Of that total,
$266,584 would go to salaries and benefits of the IDA director
and staff.
O'Sullivan Industries is closing its second shift, costing
Halifax County 210 more jobs, a company official said Wednesday.
Second shift operations will be phased out over the next 60-90
days, and will affect both salaried and hourly employees, according
to Don Blevins, manager of the company's South Boston plant.
But second shift employees aren't the only ones whose jobs could
be in jeopardy.
"With all things being equal, seniority will be the determining
factor," said Human Resources Manager Steve Mand. "That
means that not all of the employees on second shift will lose
their jobs."
He said that some members of first shift who don't have as much
time with the company could lose their positions to those second
shift employees with more tenure.
"The exact people who are losing their jobs hasn't been determined
as of yet," Mand said.
The latest round of belt-tightening means the company will have
about one-half the amount they had last year at this time.
After the layoffs, the company will operate with 240 employees,
according to Mand.
"Last year at this time, we had approximately 540 employees,"
he said.
The announcement comes on the heels of the March 28 announcement
of the shutdown of its third shift operations, at a cost of 90
positions.
Blevins said that the current economic downturn forced management
to make the cuts.
"In the past few months, sales of O'Sullivan Furniture's
residential and office furniture have been hurt by declining consumer
confidence due to the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economy,
increasing levels of import competition and tensions in the Middle
East and Asia" he said.
"The decision to cease the second shift operations in South
Boston was undertaken to better align O'Sullivan Furniture's corporate
production levels with the realities of the current economy."
Blevins said that company officials held off as long as fiscally
possible.
"We had hoped market conditions would have improved by now
so this additional decision would not have to be made," he
said.
The manager said the company would "continue to operate in
a conservative mode and wait for our country's economy to recover."
The latest unemployment figures, reporting for March, listed Halifax
County as having a 10.9 percent unemployment rate, according
to reports from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC).
In March, 2,123 county residents out of a total labor force of
19,537 were unemployed.
With the additional layoffs at O'Sullivan, the unemployment rate
could rise to as high as 12.4 percent, according to the previously-released
figures.
A 56-year-old South Boston man was arrested Wednesday night
and charged with DUI after he struck three pedestrians in the
Sinai community.
Capt. Jim Binner of the South Boston Police Department said that
George Thomas, of Glendale Drive struck Shantay Boyd and two female
juveniles at approximately 9:30 p.m.
"A group of residents of the community were walking on Westside
Drive towards Sinai road when Roberts allegedly struck them from
the rear with his 1988 Dodge Dakota," Binner said.
"After Officer Fletcher Daniel arrived on the scene, a crowd
quickly gathered and more officers were called in to handle the
crowd," he added.
Binner said that one subject was taken into custody and charged
with disorderly conduct following the accident.
The subject's name was not available at press time.
Daniel is continuing to investigate the accident to determine
whether more charges should be pressed against Roberts, according
to Binner.
"We're still looking at the position of the victims and where
the truck was to determine whether he ran off the road to strike
the victims," he said.
This will be Roberts' third offense of DUI, Binner reported.
"Even though more charges could be placed against him following
the investigation, Roberts is facing a felony charge because this
is his third offense," he said.
The victims were transported to Halifax Regional Hospital, according
to police reports.
Binner said that officers from the Virginia State Police, the
Town of Halifax Police Department and the Halifax County Sheriff's
Office assisted the department in controlling the crowd.
In other police business, a South Boston man was arrested and
charged with attempting to elude police following a short vehicle
chase Wednesday night.
Binner said yesterday that Officer Aaron Fisher was attempting
to pull over Keith Chambers, 39, of Elliott Avenue for speeding
when Chambers attempted to flee the scene in his pickup truck.
· Kenneth Lloyd Coleman, 32, of Wilmouth Avenue in South
Boston, was arrested Thursday and charged with the abuse and neglect
of children.
The alleged offenses occurred December 18, 2002.
Deputy P.C. Clayton was the arresting deputy.
· Rodney Lavell Palmer, 18, of North Main Street in South
Boston, was arrested Thursday and charged with felonious assault.
The alleged offense occurred May 8.
Deputy P.C. Clayton was the arresting deputy.
· Cassandra Lynna Lawson, 24, of Virgilina Road, was arrested
Wednesday and charged with the fraudulent conversion or removal
of property valued greater than $200.
The alleged offense occurred March 25.
Deputy D.W. Martin was the arresting officer.
The Halifax County School Board is expected
to determine the fate of Virgilina Elementary School Monday night.
The decision will come as the board convenes at 7 p.m. at Halifax
County High School for its May meeting.
Both School Board chairman Patricia Nelson and County School Superintendent
Dennis Witt said yesterday there will be no public hearing during
Monday night's meeting.
"We are not having another public hearing," Nelson said.
"We haven't advertised this as a public hearing. One individual
from Virgilina will be on the agenda to speak to us. I, personally,
will not recognize people from the floor.
"I think most of us on the School Board know the pros and
cons of the situation," Nelson added.
Witt pointed out that a lengthy public hearing regarding the
school has already been held.
The public hearing was conducted by the School Board prior to
a vote taken in early 2002 that resulted in the school remaining
open and the implementation of the enrollment targets proposed
by Virgilina residents in their attempt to keep the school open.
"This is a continuation of the plan that was presented by
the Virgilina people and agreed to by the School Board,"
said Witt.
Virgilina's representative, according to the School Board's meeting
agenda, is expected to be Virgilina Mayor John Youngk.
The center of the School Board's decision on whether or not to
keep Virgilina Elementary School open for another year will revolve
around the school's enrollment figures and one number - 120.
That number represents the 2003-2004 school enrollment target
Virgilina supporters and the School Board agreed to in February,
2002 to keep the school open.
While the School Board may consider other factors in the decision,
the decision is expected to hinge on whether or not the 120-student
enrollment target is met.
Witt said yesterday Virgilina Elementary School's enrollment stood
at 101 students when the school system's membership figures were
compiled for the month of April.
Nelson said information she has obtained indicates the numbers
will be close to the agreed upon enrollment target.
"I know the numbers are between 110 and 120," she said.
The School Board chairman said the additional students enrolling
at the school next year "are a wide variety of kids,"
including several students who will be attending the school out
of zone to students transferring in from neighboring areas.
Nelson said she expects school and school system officials to
have reviewed the enrollment applications and have followed the
school system's enrollment policies in this instance, just as
they would with regard to enrollees at any other school.
Witt confirmed that, saying the Virgilina enrollment applications
will be reviewed and that the enrollment numbers given to the
School Board Monday night will be as accurate as possible.
"We will have processed them as we would applications for
any other school," Witt said.
"We will identify the bonafide number of students, present
that to the board and let the board take it from there."
Virgilina Elementary School escaped the ax in January, 2002 when
a split 4-4 vote resulted in the school being allowed to remain
open for another year.
In February, 2002, the School Board voted to accept enrollment
targets Virgilina community residents and school supporters offered
the School Board the previous month in their attempt to keep the
school open.
The School Board, in doing that, excused the Virgilina supporters
from a 100-student enrollment target that they had sought for
the 2002-2003 school year, the first year of a three-year series
of enrollment targets.
However, the School Board made it clear to Virgilina Elementary
School supporters at that time that they would not waver from
the target of 120 students for the 2003-2004 school year and the
140-student target for the 2004-2005 school year.
While the decision on the fate of Virgilina Elementary School
is the primary issue facing the School Board Monday night, the
agenda has other major highlights.
The School Board will recognize its 2003 Teachers of the Year,
citing teachers chosen by their peers at their respective schools
as the Teacher of the Year.
In addition, Halifax County's 2003 Teacher of the Year will be
recognized.
Also, the School Board will recognize local students selected
as winners in the Virginia School Boards Association Southern
Regional Forum art competition.
A graveside memorial service was held May
9 for Yvonne Coleman Dates of NY, formerly of Clover.
She was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church in Clover.
Mrs. Dates is the daughter of Doris T. Coleman of NY and the late
Lawrence Coleman, and the granddaughter of the late Ida Mae Terry
of Clover.
Survivors include two uncles including John D. Terry of Scottsburg;
and other relatives.
Mrs. Dates was buried in the Terry Family Cemetery with the Rev.
Michael D. Terry officiating.
Frances McLean Evans, 88, of The Landmark
Center, Stuart, formerly of Martinsville, died May 13, at Memorial
Hospital.
Mrs. Evans was born July 3, 1914, in Brunswick County, the daughter
of Mark A. McLean and Betty Boyd McLean, and was married to George
S. Evans.
In addition to her parents, her husband and two sisters, Elizabeth
M. Seymour and Sarah McLean Coe; and one brother, Eugene Boyd
McLean, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Evans was a member of Halifax County UDC, a past Matron O.E.S.,
former regent of D.A.R., a member of United Commercial Travelers
where she had served as past Grand, International Grand Representative
and Supreme Chaplain and was also a charter member of Villa Heights
Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Larry George Evans of Martinsville;
one sister, Eula M. Slanker of Lehigh Acres, FL; and one brother,
William H. McLean Sr. of Hagerstown, MD.
Funeral services for Mrs. Evans will be held May 18 at 4 p.m.
at Villa Heights Baptist Church with the Dr. Clint Hopkins officiating.
Burial will follow in Roselawn Burial Park.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 at McKee-Stone
Funeral Services in Martinsville Saturday evening, and other times
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Larry George Evans, 170 Chatmoss Court,
Martinsville.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Villa Heights
Baptist Church, 150 Corse Avenue, Martinsville, 24112, or the
ARC of Washington County, 820 Florida Street, Hagerstown, MD 21742.
Franklin Roosevelt Morris, 72, of 1125 George
Phillips Trail, Virgilina, died May 8 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Morris was born in Halifax County on January 31, 1931, the
son of Bessie Tuck Morris and Willie Osborne Morris Sr. and was
married to Eunice Ann Phillips Morris. He was a member of Union
United Church of Christ where he was a deacon and served on the
Board of Deacons for a number of Years. Mr. Morris was a past
Sunday School superintendent. He was retired from ABB and served
in the US Army.
A funeral service was held May 10 at 11 a.m. at Union United Church
of Christ with the Revs. Charles Lowery, Bobby Whitfield and Bill
LaWall officiating. Burial followed in Virgilina Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Morris include his wife of the home; two brothers,
Gerald G. Morris and wife, Katherine, and Henry B. Morris and
wife, Estelle, all of Virgilina; two sisters, Beatrice Buchanan
of Clarksville and Barbara M. Holt and husband, Coy Lee, of Cluster
Springs; one grandson, Bradley William Cole; and one granddaughter,
Lesley Ann Cole. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death
by one daughter, Glenda Morris Cole; and five brothers, Thomas,
Woodrow, David, Willie O. Jr., and Albert Morris.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Union United
Church of Christ, PO Box 148, Virgilina, 24598, or a charity of
your choice.