A 32-year-old South Hill woman has died as a result of injuries she received early Sunday morning on U.S. 58 near the intersection of Route 703. State Trooper Stanley Noblin identified the victim as Karen Short and said that she was the sole occupant in a vehicle that went out of control and overturned twice.

According to Noblin, the victim was ejected and came to rest in the center of the pavement, about 50 feet away from her vehicle. A country music singer, Mark Wills of Tennessee, was among the first to arrive at the crash site which is near the Halifax County Industrial Park.
Wills was said to have used his van to block approaching traffic while waiting for rescue units to arrive.

Short was flown by helicopter to Duke University Medical Center where, according to hospital officials, she died yesterday.
Her death brings to five the number of persons killed on Halifax County highways this year. The site of the crash was only a short distance from where the fourth highway fatality occurred a week earlier.

Zero Tolerance.
That, says Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt, will be the school system's new policy with regard to school absenteeism.
The Halifax County School Board adopted sweeping changes in the school system's attendance policy Monday night that will impact all students in all grades.
In addition, the School Board revamped the discipline system at Halifax County High School to include detention and a new off-campus in-school suspension program.
The new attendance policy, which will go into effect for all students in grades K-12 with the start of the 2000-2001 school year, is a much more stringent policy than the one currently in place.
"If a student misses a class, there will be a makeup assignment which the student will have to do which will be graded," Witt explained.
"If the student does not do the assignment, it will go down as a "zero" which will be recorded in the teacher's grade book."
Witt said that all teachers in the school system will be required to prepare the makeup work.
Teachers will be required to grade the makeup work turned in by the student, record the grade and count that grade in computing the student's grade for the grading period.
Even if a teacher does not take a grade from other students on work done in class during the day a student is absent, the student that is absent will still have to complete the makeup work assigment and teachers will have to record a grade for the makeup work assignment.
School Board member Patricia Nelson said she hopes that teachers will not just assign students "busy work.
"It shouldn't be just busy makeup work that they will be doing," Nelson said.
"It needs to be something meaningful. I think they (students) should have to make up their work no matter what."
Board member Steve Anderson reminded his fellow board members that the new policy will put an additional responsibility on teachers.
"I hope we're don't lose sight of the fact that we're asking teachers to do additional work to prepare the makeup work and then grade it," Anderson said.
"We've thought about that," Witt replied.
"But, in a block schedule teachers have 90 minutes for planning. They have three classes and about 75 students. We don't think it is unreasonable to ask that they do this."
School Board member Carl Furches asked what will be done in the case of student athletes who have to miss class.
"They're not absent," replied board member Alan Gravitt.
"They're involved in a school sponsored activity," Witt added.
"But, they still have to make up the work they missed," Nelson pointed out.
The new absenteeism policy does not contain a minimum number of days from school a student is allowed to miss from school.
"After a student misses five days we will start pursuing the reason for the absences," Witt stated.
"We will bring the parents in for a conference and they will have to explain the reason for the absences."
Witt stated that after a student misses days six through eight the student will be referred to the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court system for further action.
"If we think the excuses for the absences are not valid reasons, we will turn them (the students and parents) over to the juvenile court system," Witt stated.
"We have the juvenile court system committed to this and we're going to work with them."
The new attendance policy reflects a change from the school system's previous stance.
"It's an expectation and attitude change," Witt said yesterday.
"School is a student's business. You have to get up and go to school because it is your job. You have to have responsibility and accountability.
"We've got to have that if we're going to have successful schools and successful communities," added Witt.
"Those are values we have to instill in school."
The new discipline approach using detention and in-school suspension is aimed at keeping students in school.
Under the discipline section, the third time a student receives a discipline notice, the student will be assigned to after-school detention for three days.
The after-school detention will run from 3:20 p.m. until the time the school activity buses run in the early evening hours.
And, the fourth time a student receives a discipline notice, the student will be assigned to after-school detention for five days.
A student's refusal to attend the after-school detention will result in the issuance of another discipline notice.
After that point, the new in-school suspension program kicks in.
"That is something that has been done at Halifax County High School several years ago," Witt said.
Witt explained that the school system is going to move one of its mobile units to the site where the old Continuing Education Center was located and will use that mobile unit as the in-school suspension facility.
The idea, the school superintendent explained, is to keep the students in school and make them do their schoolwork while isolating them from their friends.
"We want it to be meaningful," Witt stated.
"We want it to get their (the students') attention that this is not a desirable place to be and that they're not going to be out of school roaming the streets.
"And, if they don't come to the center, we'll let the juvenile court judge talk to them."
In the revamping of the discipline system at the high school, minor offenses such as being tardy for class will be handled as a separate matter.

In a fast-moving Board of Supervisors meeting Monday evening, the board approved appointments to consolidation study committees, addressed landfill and other issues and met with Halifax and South Boston town councils.
Responding to a request from Halifax Mayor Dennis Osborne, supervisors appointed members to a joint committee to study parking problems in the town.
Halifax Town Council members have expressed concern that when General District Court returns to its renovated quarters in the courthouse this summer, already congested parking will be accelerated in the town.
General District Court has been held at the Mary Bethune Complex during the courthouse renovation.
"It's not a new problem," said Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace.
He noted that the original lower parking lot in Halifax held 120 parking spaces but that the enlarged lot now provides 164 public parking spaces.
Halifax Town Manager Robert Greene said that the new jail parking lot is already filling up with cars prior to General District Court's return.
Named by supervisors to a joint Town of Halifax and Halifax County Parking Study Committee were David Martin, James Edmunds and Page Wilkerson.
Appointed to the combined consolidation study committees for the South Boston/Halifax County E-911 Committee by supervisors were Lottie Nunn, Corky Rorrer and David Martin. South Boston Town Council named Tom Raab, Buddy Wilborn and Chris Elliott to the committee.
Landfill Water/Sewer Study Committee members named were R.E. Abbott, Tom West, Corky Rorrer and Page Wilkerson. South Boston members named were Ed Owens, Coleman Speece and Carroll Thackston.
The Combination Study Committee, which includes recreation, animal control, building inspections and industrial development, includes county members Lottie Nunn, Page Wilkerson and R.E. Abbott. From South Boston, Ed Owens, Carroll Thackston and Chris Elliott will serve.
County members named to the Library Committee were Tom West and R.E. Abbott. South Boston members include Ed Owens and Tom Raab.
In other business, supervisors approved the Town of Halifax's petition to use the Halifax County Building Code Board of Appeals, as does South Boston.
Supervisors also gave final approval to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Halifax and the county regarding surplus sheriff's vehicles for the town and the use of the town's radio tower for communications for county general properties personnel.
The amended memorandum agreement provides a 30-day notification escape clause for either town or county. The agreement also provides that the exchange of cars from county to town will take place only if the Sheriff's Department cars are indeed surplus, and with supervisors' approval.
During the Monday evening meeting, supervisors agreed to a $9,600 bid to rebuild an engine for the ladder truck; approved a conditional use permit (with conditions) for A-1 zoned property located on the east side of Route 501 approximately 1,000 feet south of the intersection of Route 40 and Route 632. The land is currently owned by Gerald and Frances King, but is to be purchased by Steve Mays to be used as an auto body shop.
Supervisors also unanimously approved a resolution saying that they will appropriate funds to pay the short-term $8.9 million lease financing for the school system to begin elementary school construction. The lease financing is coming through South Boston's Industrial Development Authority. The funds will be used by the school system until the state Literary Fund monies become available.
Supervisors set June 12 as the date for the rural additions tour with VDOT.

Halifax County students will return to their classrooms a little earlier this fall with the opening of the 2000-2001 school year set for August 28.
New teachers and teachers who are new to the school system will report on August 16 with all of the other county teachers reporting for work on Thursday, August 17.
While the calendar for the upcoming school year drew much attention, an equal amount of discussion was directed toward the calendar for the 2001-2002 school year.
A large majority of the School Board members expressed favor in moving the start of the 2001-2002 school to early August so that high school exams and the first semester of school could be completed when school is dismissed for the Christmas holidays.
Such a move would mean that students will have to start school at least two weeks earlier than they will in the coming school year.
That would move the 2001-2002 school opening date for students to a date prior to August 15.
However, while 2001-2002 school year would open early, it would also close early as the school year, under that format, would end at the end of the month of May, 2002.
The School Board was strong enough in favoring an early start that it unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the formation of a committee to explore the pros and cons of such a move and to develop a calendar.
That committee will bring its findings and a proposed calendar to the School Board sometime during the early winter months.
School Board member Patricia Nelson pointed out that it will be imperative that the School Board adopt a calendar as early as possible during the winter months.
Nelson stressed that parents, students and school system personnel will need to begin making plans early if an early August starting date is to be implemented.
"We need to make that decision in the fall," Nelson told her fellow board members.
"Next spring will be too late," added board member Alan Gravitt."
This year will be the first year of a projected four-year period that the Halifax County school system is able to qualify for a waiver from the state to start school early.
One of the proposed calendars for the 2000-2001 school year that the school system's calendar committee reviewed contained an August 21 starting date for students.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bobby R. Hall told the School Board that that date did not appear feasible.
"It was felt that too many plans had been made to do it (start school) this quick," Dr. Hall said.
The 2000-2001 Calendar
The calendar adopted for the 2000-2001 school year was pretty much on line with that of the current school year with the exception of the addition of one more holiday.
Acting upon what the state has done, the school calendar will include a Jackson-Lee holiday on January 12 and a Martin Luther King holiday on January 15.
Nelson asked the school superintendent if the state is mandating that the school system take both holidays and if the school system could act as it has in the past and take the Martin Luther King holiday and not add the other holiday into the calendar.
Witt replied that while the state is not mandating that schools be closed for the two holidays, state officials are recommending it.
As far as splitting the holidays and taking one and not the other, Witt said he didn't feel that would be a good idea.
"I would think that we would either take both or take neither," Witt said.
However, those two holidays have been placed into the school calendar to be used as makeup days if needed.
The traditional holidays have all been included in the calendar.
Thanksgiving holidays begin when school is dismissed at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22.
Christmas holidays start when school is closed at the end of the day on Wednesday, December 20, and will end when students return to class on Tuesday, January 2.
The spring holiday break is slated for April 13-20 and Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 28.
School will end on Wednesday, June 6 and high school graduation is set for Friday, June 8.

Clays Mill Elementary School Principal Joe Griles has been appointed by the Halifax County School Board to the post of Director of Pupil Personnel Services.
Griles will fill the post that has been held by Kenneth Plaster who, last month, was appointed to the post of Executive Director for Administration.
The appointment will take effect July 1.
The appointment of Griles to the supervisory post will open a vacancy for a principal at Clays Mill Elementary School.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday that the principal's post at Clays Mill will be advertised within the school system.
However, the vacancy creates a somewhat unusual scenario that could possibly result in a shared principalship of Scottsburg and Clover Elementary Schools.
Witt pointed out that with renovations to Clays Mill and Scottsburg starting this fall and Clover Elementary School closing when the renovations are complete, it is possible that the shared principalship between Clover and Scottsburg may be a good option to pursue.
"We're looking at the possibility of combining principalships for one year so that we don't fill a position for a year and then have to do away with it," Witt said.
"We haven't had any public discussion on that particular item. We have talked about it informally.
"We'd like to be able to absorb the position without anybody losing their status," Witt said.
In his new position, Griles will be dealing with special needs for students in all areas, from the exceptionally talented and gifted students as well as other students who are in need of special services.
Griles is a 1971 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and received his master's degree from the University of Virginia in 1976.
In 1996, he received a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational administration from Virginia Tech.
Griles began his career in the Halifax County school system in 1971 as a teacher at Cluster Springs Elementary School.
In 1979, Griles was moved to the central office where he served as ESAA and Title I Supervisor until 1984.
Griles was appointed principal at Meadville Elementary School in 1984 and stayed there until 1991.
In 1991 he was named as the principal of Clays Mill Elementary School and will remain there through the end of the current school year.

By Doug Ford
Wayne E. Stanfield, 56, of Alton, marks the date of May 20 on his calendar as a time of reflection, remembrance and, most of all, emotion.
Armed Forces Day will do that to any veteran.
Stanfield is the president of the 53-member Tri-Rivers Chapter 840 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
The 20-year Air Force veteran was an air traffic controller in Saigon from May 1969 to June 1970.
"The military base at Saigon was also the international airport. During this shooting, raging war, Pan-Am and Air France flew scheduled round-the-world service through Saigon every day.
"I would be in the tower handling fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters while Boeing 747s from Air France were loading and unloading passengers.
"It was very surreal," Stanfield added, saying that the airfield was also subject to periodic mortar attacks.
"The other thing which has stuck in and affected my psyche more than anything else is rather gruesome, but was also very realistic.
"The control tower in Saigon was at the end of one of the runways. Directly across on the other side of the runway was the morgue," said Stanfield.
"Everyone (American servicemen) killed in action in Vietnam was transported to Saigon. I would sit day in and day out and watch forklifts load C141s (transports).
"During the year I was there, I would suspect that I saw several thousand (deceased) being loaded."
According to Stanfield, the protests against the war and the overall dissension in the States were disheartening and discouraging to him.
Originally discharged from the Air Force in the spring of 1971, Stanfield was disillusioned by the attitude of many Americans toward Vietnam veterans, and re-enlisted the following year.
"People didn't want to know you or about what you did," said Stanfield.
"We had no welcome home parades or officials to greet us on our return."
Stanfield had mixed emotions watching the parades and support that the servicemen from Desert Storm received on their return.
"You're there doing what you believe in and what you believe is right for the country you're serving."
Most servicemen were two-to-three days removed from current events in the United States, but G.I. newspapers and the Armed Forces Network made them aware of attitudes back home.
"We read the 'Stars and Stripes' religiously," said Stanfield.
"There was none of the hoopla surrounding our return that surrounded the return of soldiers from any war before or after Vietnam, including Desert Storm.
"I came back from Vietnam knowing what we could have done, but didn't. It created a lot of emotional stress," Stanfield said.
"Part of my job was recruiting people to work for me to direct artillery fire. When you have to get on an FM radio and call a village and make sure it's OK with the village chief to drop bombs...that happened every day.
"That was part of what made me decide to get out. What made me decide to get back in was the attitude of the people in this town and this county who didn't know who I was or where I'd been.
"I thought that I might as well be in with guys who at least care."
Re-enlistment
Stanfield re-enlisted in November 1971, being assigned to Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire.
"Going back in was easy. I was at an Air Force base where half of the people there had been in Vietnam, or were going there soon."
Stanfield had the same questions as most of the troops in Vietnam -why are we here?
"The reason we were there was a good, valid reason, but we were not allowed to do what was needed to be done to end the situation. It was all politics.
"We know now (from the writings of President Lyndon Johnson and then-Secretary of Defense McNamara) that politics was the problem at the start and it was a problem throughout the entire period."
According to Stanfield, there were a lot of "yes men" in Washington during the Vietnam conflict, who responded to the political machine of that time period.
"I think Robert McNamara was one of them. He could have done a lot more and affected much more change than he did."
When asked about normalization of diplomatic relations with present-day Vietnam, Stanfield expressed no animosity toward the Vietnamese people.
"I walked along the streets every day with Vietnamese who looked just like the ones that we were shooting at in the jungle," Stanfield said.
"It was hard to have animosity from my perspective. I was there doing a job...I spent my year, did my job and left.
"If Vietnam comes back into the economic world, I prefer it to be as a democracy. I see no reason to keep them out.
"I would say welcome!"

By Michael A. Paige
"It was a great year and I honestly believe our players improved both mentally and physically," said Coach Barry Powell of the Halifax County Middle School baseball team.
After winning a consecutive 56 games and four straight years of taking the conference title and tournament championship title, Powell equated this year as a rewarding and gratifying experience.
The Lions went undefeated for a third straight season, which Powell, in his fourth season, said was a streak the community could be proud of.
"So many parents were involved in bringing this about and I'm glad to be a part of the streak," said Powell.
Coach Powell was satisfied with the team from the start of the season, particularly with the adjustments of the players to overcome a lack of power hitting that was missing from previous teams.
"We may not have had to power of other teams, however, we were able to manufacture runs," said Powell.
It was an aggressive style of play, whereby the players consistently took advantage of their opponents in the little things with an alertness that moved them around the bases.
"Barry picked up on the little things and made the corrections, whether in practice or in the game, and that's what developed the team this year," said Dewey Compton, athletic director at Halifax, whose 43-0 record as coach, along with Scooter Dunn in the early 1980s, was broken by Powell.
And then there was the pitching.
"Our strong point was our pitching with Jason Lloyd and Brent Long. They were our workhorses," said Powell.
Both pitchers combined to win 11 games and a total of 86 strikeouts.
Lloyd was also an effective leader in the infield as well as the mound as he was said to anchor infield play.
"I also appreciated the efforts of Long, who came on with the bat," said Powell.
"With both Lloyd and Long contributing by their hitting, infield play and pitching, it was asking a lot," Powell added.
Powell said Ryan Gieselman also did an excellent job as catcher.
"He (Gieselman) called the signals and played with a lot of heart. He's a hard nose player and we relied on that," said Powell.
And then there was the defensive plays of deception that netted eight pick-offs.
"That was just a certain phase of the game where the players learned the plays and could perform them," said Powell.
Overall, Powell said he was pleased with how the players pulled together.
"I try to teach the skills of playing with the hand you're dealt with and to think positive.
" It's not just baseball; but a tool to develop good people," said Powell.
Considering himself a coach with many philosophies, Powell has learned to incorporate many different perspectives from experienced ball players, which includes some professionals, such as Jeff Bagwell and Mo Vaughn, players Powell has gotten to know personally, and from influences such as Jimmy Epps.

"It's a combination of a lot of people that I use to win the kids over, not only to teach the game, but to prepare them in whatever direction they take.
"It may be baseball at a higher level or a steppingstone for a college scholarship.
"The emphasis is to teach them to be the best they can be," said Powell.
With the Dixie League providing new crops of players and a roster return that will keep the nucleus of the team intact, the Lions are in good shape for next year.

"We'll have some needs to address, however we have four teams in the Dixie League to choose from, while our catchers are coming back along with Andrew Bradley and David Lacks as returning pitchers.
"So we should be in a good position next year," said Powell.

Fitzhugh Herman Moser, 71, of 1510 Watkins Avenue, South Boston, died May 14, 2000, at his home.
Mr. Moser was born in Pittsylvania County on May 18, 1928, the son of Robert Franklin Moser and Illa Brown Moser and was married to June Barksdale Moser.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Sammie H. Moser of South Boston and Jackie L. Moser of Alton; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Leonard Moser of Java, Roland Moser and Roger Moser, both of Danville; and one sister, Ruby Perkins of Salem.
Funeral services for Mr. Moser will be held today, May 17 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Albert Moser and Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston 24592.

Mallie Alley Donovant Turner, 88, of Collinsville, died May 16, 2000, at her home.
Mrs. Turner was born in Carroll County on August 25, 1911, the daughter of Mike Alley and Rosa Mae Swinney Alley and was first married to Harry Donovant and later to Steven Lewis Turner.
Survivors include six daughters, Louise Purdy of Bassett, Pauline Carter of Eden, N.C., Mary Stevens of Nathalie, Lorraine Smith of Clover, Hazel Alexander of Richmond and Peggy Wright of Collinsville; one son, Paul J. (Pete) Turner of Ridgeway; 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Uary Alley and one granddaughter, Kimberly Ann Clem.
Funeral services for Mrs. Turner will be held May 18 at 2 p.m. at Freedom Baptist Church of Martinsville with the Revs. Tim Whiteheart and Jimmy Wood officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. View Cemetery in Ridgeway.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 17 from 7:00 until 9:00 at Collins Funeral Chapel in Bassett.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Hospice/MHMHC, PO Box 4788, Martinsville 24115.

Mrs. Irvin Weatherford Anderson, 81, of Danville, died May 15, 2000, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Conerly bible class and financial secretary of the church for 27 years.
Survivors include her husband, Hunter C. Anderson; three sons, Andrew James Anderson of Crozet, Robert Hunter Anderson of Vernon Hill and William Tucker Anderson of Roanoke; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew James Weatherford; her mother, Elizabeth Salome Pollard Weatherford and one sister, Elizabeth Weatherford Matthews.
Mrs. Anderson was born in Halifax County on December 25, 1918. She was a 1938 graduate of Averett College and taught school four years in Halifax County.
Funeral services will be held May 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. R. Levi Stroud Jr. conducting the service. Burial will take place in the Asbury United Methodist Church Cemetery in Halifax County at 3 p.m.
The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service Thursday from 1:00 until 1:30 p.m.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Danville Life Saving Crew, 202 Christopher Lane, Danville 24541.