By Beth Robertson
Supervisors will need Solomon's wisdom to face the expected onslaught at Monday night's public hearing on the budget.
The call for additional funding for public schools is a hot topic and contentious issue.
One agency, Southside Community Services Board, is warning that the seriously mentally ill could be on the streets with no medication and no psychiatrist if the clinic's funding is cut.
Several major manufacturing plants, as well as smaller businesses, have either closed or are closing their doors in the county this year, sending the county's unemployment figures into double digit percentages.
Mix into the fiscal brew taxpayers' worries about real estate and property tax hikes, and supervisors face a daunting budget-setting task.
On the board is a 4-cent real estate tax hike ceiling and an 85-cent personal property tax increase ceiling.
During supervisors' final meeting before advertising the budget, supervisors agreed to set rates high with the understanding they can be lowered. Tax rates cannot be increased after their advertisement.
An 85-cent personal property tax rate increase- the rate is currently $1.26 - would raise about $2.3 million in revenue.
A 4-cent real estate tax hike - the current rate is 40-cents per assessed $100 - would add $888,000 to the county treasury. (See page 5 for tax rate comparisons with other Virginia counties provided by Joe Morgan, Halifax County administrator.)
"They have the ability to reduce by $1.2 million and still have a surplus," explained Joe Morgan, county administrator.
The administrator said that the board's original projections were that $1.5 million would be the general fund balance on July 1.
"Now, the school system says we will get restored school funds this year. We haven't received them yet, but they think it will be $4 million," added Morgan.
If those funds were added to the treasury, the county would have $5.5 million in reserve, according to the administrator.
"The auditor says that is a reasonable fund balance," added Morgan. "That would pay one month's bills." Taxes are going to have to go up to meet expenses, Morgan said.
"A lot of people would say, okay, you have the money, it is okay to let the budget go in the red next year. But I recommended balancing the budget at whatever level suits the board," Morgan said prior to the board's May meeting.
Following the public hearing Monday night, supervisors must wait seven days before taking action on a proposed budget. As of yesterday, the board's next scheduled meeting following the public hearing is June 3.
Supervisors advertised a budget reflecting $66,319,291 in total revenues and $65,102, 287 in total expenditures.

The 51-year-old John Randolph Bridge, long a traffic headache for both area residents and travelers, has been tentatively set to give way to two separate two-lane bridges.
The $31 million project was approved as part of a $7.2 billion tentative VDOT Six-year Program by the Commonwealth Transportation Board during its meeting in Richmond on Thursday.
"We're hopeful the contract will be underway by the summer of 2003," said Zach Weddle, VDOT assistant resident engineer, who estimated that completion of the entire project would take a least three years.
"Design and right-of-way work is nearing completion, with final approval to begin construction contingent upon the completion of environmental permits.
"A new two-lane bridge will be built to the east of the old bridge, after which time the old bridge will be torn down and a new two-lane bridge built," Weddle explained.
The project also involves the four laning of John Randolph Blvd. from the east end of the bridge to Hodges Street, and the relocation of Eastover Drive's intersection with John Randolph Blvd. to line up with Hodges Street, according to Weddle.
The Vaughan Street bridge over Route 360 would also be demolished and a new bridge built to accommodate the widened John Randolph Blvd.
Two other bridge projects previously included in the Lynchburg District's primary system program didn't receive tentative approval for construction Wednesday.
A bridge to replace the aging structure over Banister River outside of the Town of Halifax was removed from the 2002-2003 Six-year Plan due to inadequate funding.
Another bridge-building project along Route 58 in Leggetts bottom was reverted from the construction phase of the plan to the development phase.
Paula Jones, VDOT public affairs coordinator, explained that the project for Leggett's bottom remains in the plan, but was reverted to development.
"What that means is that funding was provided for preliminary engineering and right-of-way, but no funds were approved for actual construction," said Jones.
The Six-Year Program will be presented to citizens at meetings in Wytheville and Richmond on June 5, with the CTB expecting to give the program final approval at its June 20 meeting.

Carlton Clay Hodnett Jr., 45, of Buffalo Road in Long Island was arrested Monday by members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office inside a business in the Phenix area of the county.
"The building has been under surveillance for several days following a burglary two weeks ago," Halifax County Sheriff D.J. Oakes said.
Property from inside the business was recovered from Hodnett's vehicle, Oakes said.
Acting on information provided by Charlotte County investigators, a search was later conducted at several locations in northern Halifax County.
Numerous items suspected to be stolen property from adjoining jurisdictions were recovered.
"Items were identified from burglaries in Danville, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Lynchburg and South Boston," Oakes said.
Oakes said Hodnett is alleged to be a part of a multi-county theft ring that has been targeting those localities for the last several months.
"Hodnett has been charged with the larceny of an Ariens lawn tractor and GPC aerator from Good's Lawn and Garden in Centerville," Oakes said.
Hodnett has currently been released on bond and is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on May 20 for advisement.
According to police, investigators from each jurisdiction are assisting in the recovery and identification of the stolen property.
"Investigator J.D. Clay has been assigned to the case," Oakes said.
Stephanie Denise Boyd, 19, of South Main Street in Clover was arrested Thursday and charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony.
Deputy Stanley Britton, the arresting officer, said the offense occurred on March 30.

No one spoke Monday night when Halifax Town Council held a public hearing on its proposed $1,249,115 budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget shows an increase of $12,611, or 1.02 percent, but includes no water/sewer or tax increases.
The advertised budget also includes no increases in employee salaries, but the town will contribute its share of the VRS Retirement Fund to match those benefits of surrounding government agencies.
Council set a Tuesday, May 21 date to act on approval and appropriation of the Town's budget.
They will meet at the Town Administration building at 7:30 p.m.
A breakdown of the general fund of the town's proposed budget shows that 45.7 percent is allocated to the police department with another 24.8 percent going to administration.
The other 29.5 percent is allocated to the trash department (14 percent), the municipal building (5.3 percent) and fire and street departments (5.1 percent each).
Sewer funding for next year is set at $355,200 and funding for the water department is $243,550.
Ned Strange presented the need to upgrade the town's water plant capacity to the board.
"The only revenue increase is a $5 decal fee," said Mayor Dennis Osborn.
Halifax residents currently pay $20 for decals, but will pay $25 if the budget is approved.
Osborn said that the funds generated by the decal increase would be used for maintenance of the town's streets and contributed to the town employee retirement funds.
Councilman Jack Dunavant noted that the largest increase in the budget was a line item increase in administrative salary and expenses.
"It's an increase from $110,000 to $146,000, is there a bookkeeping explanation?"
Town Finance Director Rocky Reynolds said that Town Manager Bobby Greene's salary has been coming from the water and sewer fund, and with the new budget would come out of the general fund.
"It will help balance the water and sewer budget to prevent any potential increases," Greene said.
"I came here today to tell you that we need to expand the water plant," Strange said.
He said that the plant was currently running 19 hours a day at 80 percent capacity.
"We need more water, to be able to make it quicker and to be able to store more," he added.
"With the new EPA regulations that have to be online by July of 2003, our plant is very borderline," Strange said.
He added that the plant is 40 years old and no where near adequate to meet the needs of the community.
"We don't have any extra filters or chemical basins," he said.
Strange said the Burlington plant used very little water, "but if a company comes in and needs a lot of water, we're in trouble."
Dunavant said the town needs a fail-safe, so if a filter breaks, the town could still produce water.
Greene suggested the board put together an engineering committee to look at the proposals.
Councilman H.C. Phillips asked where the funding would come from.
"We are looking at grants right now," Greene said.
"There is money available, but we're going to need political clout to get it," he added.

By Joe Chandler
Halifax County High School officials knew their worst fears would likely become reality when the Virginia High School League Redistricting and Reclassification Committee met Wednesday in Charlottesville.
For the most part, that's what happened.
The Virginia High School League R&R Committee voted to recommend a continuation of the three-group classification structure for the next two-year cycle which begins with the 2003-2004 school year.
As a result, Halifax County High School will continue to be in the Group AAA Western Valley District with GW of Danville, E.C. Glass of Lynchburg, Franklin County in Rocky Mount and Patrick Henry of Roanoke.
The R&R Committee placed Albemarle High School of Charlottesville into the district as well, giving the district six teams starting with the 2003-2004 school year.
Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, a current member of the Western Valley District, will drop to Group AA status as its enrollment was split with the creation of a new high school, Hidden Valley High School, in its district.
If there was any good news at all for Halifax County, it was that the R&R Committee chose to leave Pulaski County in the Group AA Blue Ridge District.
Halifax County officials had received word late last week from VHSL officials that there was a good possibility that both Pulaski County and Albemarle would likely be placed into the Western Valley District.
Such a move would have put the school in the worst possible situation as far as travel and missed class time for student-athletes is concerned.
Bringing Albemarle back into the Western Valley District creates an additional travel hardship for Halifax County, but not as much of a hardship that would have resulted had both Albemarle and Pulaski County been placed into the district.
Halifax County High School Athletic Director Don Thompson said yesterday he is very disappointed with the VHSL R&R Committee's move.
"We can live with it," said Thompson.
"My point is why do we have to? I say that because there is a better plan. There is a plan out there that will not put us in the position of having to travel to Roanoke and Charlottesville.
"Can we live with it?" added Thompson.
"Obviously, we'll probably have to. But, it's absolutely not necessary."
Wednesday's recommendations, which included district and region alignments, must be approved by the VHSL Executive Committee in September.
Schools have until August 14 to appeal their placement.
Thompson said yesterday he sees no hope that the VHSL Executive Committee will do anything that will bring relief to Halifax County's plight.
"I do not see any hope," Thompson said.
"With the three classification system, there is nowhere else for us to go. Until they (VHSL officials) make major changes, we will continue to be put in this position every time schools are reclassified.
"All they (the VHSL officials) are doing is what they have done for the past 32 years, which is have schools send in their ADM (average daily membership) numbers, draw a line, and say this where you go," added Thompson.
"Their message is that we're not going to be able to please everybody, therefore, some people just have to suffer. What that says to us is, Halifax County, we're not going to please you, you'll just have to suffer. There is no creative thinking to have change."
In voting to recommend a continuation with the current three-group structure, the R&R Committee rejected a proposal for a two-group classification structure which could pave the way for the creation of combination "neighborhood districts" for regular-season play.
Halifax County officials and the Western Valley District member schools had voted unanimously for that proposal in an effort to relieve undue hardships of travel time and missed class time for student-athletes.
Monday night, the Halifax County School Board adopted a strongly worded resolution asking the VHSL to adopt the two-classification structure and put Halifax County into a "neighborhood district."
Included in that resolution was an alternative, that being not to place Pulaski County and Albemarle in the Western Valley District.
There was also a proposal on the table at Wednesday's meeting calling for the addition of a 4-A classification.
One Group A region and one Group AA region favored that proposal but it failed to pass muster as well.
With Halifax County High School's fate all but sealed for the next two-year cycle, Thompson said yesterday he will soon begin the process of scheduling the school's district athletic contests and finding non-district schools to fill in the vacant open dates.
"We'll have to find games and we'll have to travel," he said.
"It's have team, will travel. There's no other choice."

Norma Sue H. Giuffrida

Norma Sue Hudson Giuffrida, 80, of 1717 Irish Street, South Boston, died May 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Giuffrida was born in Halifax County on March 2, 1922 to the late Henry E. Hudson Sr. and Gracie Lowery Hudson. She was married to the late Cosimo Giuffrida and was a member of the Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
Her survivors include her brother: Richard Hudson of South Boston; three nephews: Dean, Michael and Ronald Hudson. She was preceded in death by her sister: Rose Mary Hudson and brothers: H.E. Hudson Jr. and Willard Hudson.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 18 at Shady Grove U.M. Church at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Don Davidson officiating and interment in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held tonight, May 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Richard Hudson, 1309 Orleans Ave., South Boston.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shady Grove U.M. Church Building Fund.

Marjorie Agatha Tilson

Marjorie Agatha Tilson of 11425 Virgilina Rd., Roxboro, N.C. died May 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 77 years old.
Mrs. Tilson was born August 30, 1924 in Rogers City, Mi. to the late John Thomas and Fannie Frances Sutherby Cummings. She was married to the late James Arthur Tilson.
Survivors include a sister, Shelby Jean McCullough of Roxboro, N.C.; and two brothers, Dale D. Cummings of Hacienda Heights, Ca. and George D. Cummings of Long Beach, Ca.
Graveside services were held yesterday at Virgilina Cemetery.

Geneva Falls Dalton

Geneva Falls Dalton of 348 Jasperwood Rd., Lot 11, Hurt died May 14 at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was 75 years old.
Born November 7, 1926 in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of the late Hart Falls and Helen Henderson Falls. She was twice married, first to the late Henry Smith and then to the late Fred E. Dalton. Mrs. Dalton was a member of Motley Baptist Church.
She is survived by two sons, Fred Richard Dalton of Hurt and Thomas Henry Smith of Florence, S.C.; three daughters, Joyce D. Wade of Hurt, Shirley S. Scearce of Danville and Carolyn S. Phillips of Halifax; five brothers, James Falls Edward Falls and Boyd Falls, all of Gretna, George Falls of Hurt and Williams Falls of Dillon, S.C.; three sisters, Elsie Rowland and Jean Richardson, both of Gretna, and Frances Walker of Halifax; seven grandchildren, Tammy Hayes, Jay Creasy, Penny Creasy, Kristi White, Kim Smith, Tonia Robinson, and D.J. Wade; five great-grandchildren, Michael Johns, Michelle Johns, Trevor Robinson, Caleb Robinson and Kamera White.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Thomas Henry Smith II; a sister, Lucille Bray; and two brothers, Jr. Falls and Melvin Falls.
Funeral services will be held today at the Colbert-Moran Chapel by Rev. Gary Phillips. Interment will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.

Robert Tyrone Hester

Robert Tyrone Hester of 218 Wildflower Dr., South Boston, died May 13 at his residence at the age of 55.
He was born in Halifax County May 10, 1947 and was the son of the late Robert Allen Hester and Agnes Knight Hester. He was married to Marion Wade Hester and was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Mr. Hester is survived by his wife; two sons, Derwin Hester and Maurice Hester, both of Raleigh, N.C.; five sisters, Teresa Wilson of Columbus, Oh., Vanessa Washington of Randallstown, Md., Hope Davis of South Boston, Rosalind Lacks of Clover and Sylvia McCraw of Norfolk; four brothers, David Hester of Halifax, George Hester of South Boston, Eric Hester of Baltimore, Md. and Michael Hester of Raleigh, N.C.; one daughter-in-law; seven brothers-in-law; and four sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Hwy. 501 South, Roxboro, N.C. with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.

Jaiden Nigel Chandler

Infant Jaiden Nigel Chandler, son of Dewan Yvette Chandler and Jason Brian Sims, died May 14 at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
He was born in South Boston May 10, 2002.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandparents, Leroy and Shirley Chandler of Halifax and Raymond and Rosa Sims of South Boston; and great-grandparents, Roy and Marie Chandler of Virgilina and James and Cora Lee Marable of Halifax.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home. Interment will be private.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Chandler, 3003 Mountain Rd., Halifax.

Ronald Robert Morefield

Ronald Robert Morefield, 64, of Brooklyn, N.Y. died May 13 at St. John's Hospital in Brooklyn. He was born September 4, 1937 in Manhattan, N.Y., the son of Arlean Jones Foy and the late Fred Everett Jones. He was married to Carmen Harris Morefield.
Survivors of Mr. Morefield include his wife; five sons, Jonathan and wife Renee Morefield, David and wife Pat Morefield, Ronald Jr. and wife Wanda Morefield, Jamieson and wife Patrice Morefield, Reginald and wife Lovie Morefield; three daughters, Christine, Nadine and Denice Morefield; 15 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter, all of Brooklyn; his mother and step-father, Arlean and John Henry Foy of Scottsburg; three brothers, Anthony and wife Myra Jones of Shelby, N.C., Wayne and wife Carrie Jones of South Boston, and Barry Jones of Clover; one sister, Diana J. and husband Ray J. McFarland of South Boston.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Woodside Funeral Home, 918 Gates Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.

James Earl Lacks Sr.

James Earl Lacks Sr., of Halls Trail in Halifax, died May 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 66-years-old at the time of his death.
Lacks was the son of Frank Earl Lacks and Gracie Elliott Lacks, and was married to Betty Dixon Lacks.
He was a member of Halifax Baptist Church.
James Earl Lacks Sr. is survived by his wife, Betty Dixon Lacks of Halifax; two sons, James Lacks and wife Nancy, of Alton, and Tony Michael Lacks of Halifax; three daughters, Jean and husband Gary Hodge of South Boston, Cindy Ann Lacks of Halifax, and Sherry Robertson of Lynchburg; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Sevices for James Earl Lacks Sr. will be held Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m., at Powell Funeral Home.
Burial will take place in the Halifax Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home on Friday fro 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Bettie Pace Wilborne Cousins

Bettie Pace Wilborne Cousins, 82, of 3228 Neals Corner Rd., Clover, died May 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Cousins was born in Halifax Co. on September 29, 1919, the daughter of the late Ned and Alvirgie Garrett Wilborne. She was married to Jessie J. Cousins and was a member of the Bethel Grove Baptist Church.
Her survivors include her husband; three daughters: Queen Esther Dismuke of Clover, Catherine C. Greene of Nathalie and Gladys C. Fleming of Richmond; two sons: Jesse Evans Cousins of Clover and Ricky Garnett Cousins of Nathalie; 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Mary Collins and Ellen Epperson of Clover and Marlene Cherry of New York, NY; three brothers: James and Joseph Wilborne of Clover and Jacob Wilborne of Randolph.
A funeral service will be held Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Grove Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence.

Mary E. Ragland

Mary E. Ragland, 1102 Cole Street, South Boston, died May 16. She was born December 23, 1923.
Arrangements will be announced later.