A violent Saturday afternoon storm ripped through South Boston, felling trees, unleashing a hail barrage that covered the ground along Marshall Avenue and dumping 4.32 inches of rain.
The storm also knocked out power and telephone service to some area residents.
Less than 200 Virginia Power customers in 50 different areas were affected, Al Smith, external affairs manager with the company, said yesterday.
"We got them all back on about 11 a.m. Sunday," he reported.
Lightning and tree damage were blamed for outages.
Virginia Power began notifying crews in Farmville, South Hill and Altavista about 5 p.m. Saturday to assist Halifax crews, according to Smith.
Lightning streaked its jagged course across the Halifax County sky almost three hours Saturday as the storm waxed and waned.
The 4.32-inch rain Saturday was measured at the town's waste water plant, according to Aubrey Clark, an operator at the plant.
Saturday's storm hit within two weeks of last year's hail storm here, a June 3 storm that also struck on a Saturday afternoon. The 2000 storm unleashed golf ball- sized hail that smashed windows out of houses and damaged cars and trucks throughout the county. Heavy rain also caused major roof damage at Becker Furniture in South Boston during last year's storm.

A fugitive warrant from New York led to the arrest of Ronald Remaley, 41, on a manufacturing-marijuana charge Friday after the discovery of a marijuana manufacturing operation on his property in the Meadville area.
U.S. Marshals and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department went to the Remaley residence off of Johnson Mill Road after an investigation into the fugitive warrant for Remaley.
While deputies were serving the warrant, marijuana was discovered growing in a Dodge RV.
The Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force conducted a search of the property and found a major marijuana manufacturing operation in progress.
About 200 marijuana plants were seized along with four green houses, two firearms, three vehicles, a small amount of cash and additional processed marijuana, said Major R. S. B. Pulliam, chief deputy and Task Force coordinator.
Pulliam said Remaley had purchased about 15 acres of land and cleared an area to set up the greenhouses.
One green house was set up and operable while the other three were being assembled, the chief deputy said.
"It was an elaborate set up and would have been capable of producing approximately $150,000 worth of marijunana," Pulliam said.
"The property had a creek and a multi-stage pumping station to supply water to the manufacturing operation," Pulliam added.
Remaley was also in possession of documents providing him an alias, according to Pulliam.
More charges against Remaley are anticipated as well as the arrest of additional suspects, Pulliam said.
Remaley is being held in the Halifax Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Task Force is currently working in conjunction with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office in New York in assisting in the investigation.
· James Jennings, 35, Daniels Trail, was arrested Friday by sheriff's deputies on a felonious-assault charge.
Jennings was charged with the alleged malicious wounding of Gray Carrington with the intent to kill, which occurred on the day of the arrest.
A hearing for Jennings is scheduled in Halifax County General District Court on May 23.
· A 47-year-old South Boston man was arrested Thursday by sheriff's deputies for the unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Donald Robert Hughes of Cherry Hill Road was charged with the felony after allegedly taking a 1986 Plymouth, valued at more than $200 and belonging to Roger Wilborn, without the consent of the owner on November 15, 2000.
The arrest came after an indictment from the grand jury of the Halifax County Circuit Court.
· Michael K. Chapin, 27, of College Street in South Boston, was arrested Wednesday by sheriff's deputies on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery.
Chapin was charged with the alleged assault of Sheila Martin, which occurred Tuesday.
A hearing is scheduled for Chapin in Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on May 21.

In traffic reports,

One injury resulted from a three-car accident that occurred Wednesday evening in front of Tangles on Route 501.
South Boston officer D. Snead said Carroll Joseph Austin Jr., 34, of Danville, was injured when the 1987 Nissan he was driving was struck in the rear by a 1991 Toyota driven by Cynthia Cole, 35, of South Boston.
The impact caused the Austin vehicle to strike the rear of a 1987 Dodge pickup driven by Herbert Hamlett Jr., 38, of Nathalie, Snead said.
Austin was taken to Halifax Regional Hospital where he was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Cole was charged with driver inattention and driving with an expired license.
· Valentine Barrow Rodriguez, 28, of Roxboro, N. C., was charged with reckless driving Monday, May 14, after a single-car accident on Route 501 near Carrington Trail.
Trooper C. M. Fleming said the 5:20 p.m. accident involved a 1989 Pontiac operated by Rodriguez that ran off of the left side of the road after Rodriguez reached for a cell phone.
The driver overcorrected and the vehicle ran off of the left side of the road and overturned, according to the trooper.
Fleming estimated $4,500 in damages to the vehicle.

Military displays, music, fun and good food.
It was all part of Saturday's second annual Armed Forces Day Celebration in South Boston's Constitution Square.
The event sponsored by Tri-River Chapter 840 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, was South Boston's tribute to military men and women from Halifax County and across the nation who have served and are currently serving in the United States' armed forces.
South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel, a B-52 jet pilot who flew in five of the 11 Christmas bombing missions of Hanoi and Hyphong that led to the release of American POWs, paid tribute to Halifax County soldiers in his remarks during opening ceremonies.
Daniel called attention to the service and sacrifices made by our local military personnel in recent past decades.
"They deserve our most tremendous admiration and our utmost respect," he said.
After calling attention to the service and sacrifices made by our military personnel in modern times, Daniel stepped back in time to recognize Halifax County's soldiers of 1781.
Daniel pointed to the service that Halifax County men and women made in assisting General Nathaniel Green's army cross the flooded Dan River during the Revolutionary War.
The result, Daniel said, was that Green's troops were able to stop General Cornwallis' advance south of the Dan River and Cornwallis was forced to take an alternate route - one that ultimately led to Yorktown where he met General George Washington's army.
"Had Cornwallis not been stopped south of the Dan River, the fate of our country could have been entirely different," Daniel said.
Daniel also pointed out in his remarks the need for the United States to maintain a strong national defense system.
"Our nation is at a critical point," Daniel said.
"We have to pay close attention to our national defense. We have to have a strong national defense to insure that we don't have a catastrophic loss in the future."
Following the brief opening ceremonies visitors strolled by the exhibits of the various military recruiters, viewed a 105mm cannon and military jeep, took turns in climbing aboard the cockpit of the F-41 Phantom II jet fighter that was on display and enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, fish dinners and cold soft drinks as a DJ played music from the 60's and 70's.

An almost three-year-old bank robbery trail led to the arrest of two men last week in connection with the One Valley Bank heist here in June of 1998.
A Nelson County man, Kent Randal Bowen, 24, Wilson Newton Road, was arrested at a construction site in Henrico County on Wednesday by South Boston Police Lt. Rick Loftis, officer Rick Hess, an FBI agent, and C.W. Gill with the Henrico County Police Department.
On Thursday, a Boydton resident, Eric Allen Tollerson, 21, Rogers Road, was arrested in connection with the case.
Both men were charged with unlawfully and feloniously robbing Nancy Irby of One Valley Bank, 904 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and conspiring to commit robbery.
Bowen and Tollerson were jailed without bond in Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax.

The "real" Scott Adams showed up for the Halifax County High School Blue Comets in Friday's game against Albemarle.
After a tough night during a relief stint in the Comets' previous game against E.C. Glass, Adams was ready to prove a point.
He did that and then some.
Adams fanned 15 of the 27 Patriots batters he faced including six in a row over the last two innings and allowed only five scattered hits and one walk as the Comets downed Albemarle 7-2 to win the regular season Western District title.
Friday's win gives the Comets a berth in the Northwest Region Tournament and allows the Comets to play their games in this week's Western District Tournament at home.
"This is only the beginning," said Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
"This was one hurdle we needed to clear. We didn't want to get into the predicament we were in last year and have to be involved in a playoff game.
"It's a big win - no question about it," added Davis.
"But we've got a lot more hurdles in front of us that we want to jump."
Davis pointed to Adams' mound performance one of the big keys to the team's win.
"The Scott Adams we needed to be there was there," Davis pointed out.
"Scott threw a heck of a game. Anytime a pitcher can go out there and strike out 15 batters he's done a heck of a job. Scott just went out there and took control of the ball game."
Adams, who had his worst night of the season in the Comets' close 7-6 win over E.C. Glass a week earlier, showed no sign of trouble against Albemarle.
In fact, after Albemarle had scored a run in both the fourth and fifth innings, Adams retired Patriots in order, striking out the side in the last two innings.
While Adams was working his magic on the hill, his teammates worked their magic with the bats.
The Comets supported Adams well, scoring at least one run in each of the first four innings, running up a 6-0 lead by the time the Patriots came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning.
"That's what we've talked about needing to do all along," said Davis.
"We knew we needed to get some runs on the board early and we did that. By us doing that, it gave Scott the opportunity to go out there and perform without any real pressure.
"The guys knew what the game plan was," continued Davis.
"They went out and executed, got the runs we needed early, and Scott took control of the game."
With the exception of one error, the Comets' defense turned in another solid performance.
"We made the plays when we had to do it," Davis said.
"With Scott striking out 15 batters there wasn't a lot that they had to do. But, when they had to make the plays, they did it."
Halifax County stung Albemarle hurlers Drew Atchison and Kyle Utz for nine hits with David Greene and Mike Priest getting two hits each.
Nick Thompson, Matt Hastings, R.D. Cole and Jonathan Wallace each had one hit with Wallace's hit being a solo homer in the fourth inning.
The Comets got off to a good start with Greene, the leadoff batter, getting on base with a walk and scoring on single by Priest to left center field to put the Comets up 1-0.
Cole's single with one out in the second inning triggered another scoring opportunity.
A double by Adams plated Cole to make it a 2-0 Comets lead and a single by Greene to right field scored Adams to give the Comets a three-run cushion.
Halifax County added two more runs in the third inning which started with a walk to Thompson.
A double by Hastings scored Thompson and Hastings made his way to third when the Patriots' centerfielder failed in an attempt to nail Thompson at the plate.
Hastings scored when Priest grounded out to the shortstop to put the Comets up 5-0.
Wallace's solo homer to left field in the top of the fourth gave the Comets a 6-0 cushion.
Two base hits and a Comets error gave Albemarle a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 6-1 contest.
A leadoff single by the Patriots' designated hitter Jason Lawson gave the Patriots another scoring opportunity.
The capitalized on it with a two-out single by Ben Evers to make it a 6-2 game.
Halifax County came up with an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Greene led off with a base hit and scored on a two-out double by Priest.
If there was a down side to Friday's game for the Comets, it was in the loss of first baseman Justin Shepperd.
Shepperd was ejected from the game in the top of the third inning after bowling over Albemarle catcher Tyler Zimmerman at the plate.
He will have to serve a one-game suspension, that coming in Wednesday's Western District Tournament semifinal game.
"He's a little frustrated right now," Davis said of Shepperd.
"He got caught up in a rundown between third base and home plate and ran over the catcher. The umpire said he (Shepperd) hit the catcher with both arms up like he was trying to take him out."
Davis said it appeared that Shepperd knew a collision was coming and was attempting to protect himself.
The Comets coach said there was no doubt that Shepperd made a hard hit on Zimmerman.
"He (Shepperd) clobbered the guy," Davis said.
"My point was that the catcher was up the line. But the umpire said he (Shepperd) actually took him out."
Davis said he may take a look today at the possibility of an appeal.

Mary Wade Duffey, 85, of Randolph, died May 19 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Duffey was born in Halifax County on December 9, 1915, the daughter of Addie Wade and Ida Lacks Wade and was married to Berkley Grey Duffey. She was a member of Mt. Laurel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Brenda D. Davis of Scottsburg; one brother, Tommy Wade of Clover; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one step grandson. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Larnie and Roy Wade; two daughters, Jean Puryear Ingram and Sylvia East; two sons, Carl Burton Duffey and Bernard Grey Duffey; and one grandson, Edward Davis.

Graveside services for Mrs. Duffey will be held today, May 21 at Woodland Cemetery in Chase City at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Richard Saunders conducting the service.

Durelle Gregory Canada Jr., 82, of 1019 Avondale Drive, South Boston, died May 18 at his home.
Mr. Canada was born in South Boston on August 14, 1918, the son of Durelle Gregory Canada Sr. and Mary DeJarnette Canada and was married to Claire Barbour Canada. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and president of the Lacy Bible Class. He also was former president of the South Boston Rotary Club and former president of the Halifax United Way. He was a US Navy WWII Veteran.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter Candy C. Lance of South Boston; one son, Durelle Gregory Canada III and his wife, Lynn of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three granddaughters, Joan Canada Gallob of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Mary Claire Canada of Phoenix, Ariz. and Brianne Rebecca Lance of Satellite Beach, Fla.
Graveside memorial services for Mr. Canada will be held today, May 21 at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Bob Fox and the rev. Dr. Melvin Bradshaw conducting the service.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Hospice Support Care of southside Virginia, PO Box 1355, Halifax, 24558.

Cubie Coles, 61, of Suitland, Md., died May 15 at DeBlair/Prince George Hospital in Cheverly, Md.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Coles of Bowie, Md. and Sonya Coles Swan of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; one son, Carrington Coles of Norfolk; two granddaughters; four brothers, Lindburg Coles, Emmit Coles Hobert Coles and Conwell Coles.

Funeral services for Mr. Coles were held May 19 at 11 a.m. at New Zion Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Willie Yancey officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Jannie Bowman Buster, 69, of 1411 Ridge Street, South Boston, died May 17 at Duke University Medical Center.
Mrs. Buster was born in Halifax County on December 25, 1931, the daughter of Mattie Bowman and was married to William Edward Buster Sr. She was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Janice Buster Chappell of South Boston; two sons, Alfreddie Buster of Richmond and William Edward Buster Jr. of South Boston; one foster son, Vincent Bowers of South Boston; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren; three sisters, Betty Knight of Baltimore, Md., Serita Williams of Chesterfield and Anne W. Hamlett of South Boston; two brothers, George Wood of South Boston and John R. Wood of Florida; one daughter-in-law, Frances Buster; one son-in-law Henry Chappell; one brother-in-law, Leroy Williams and one sister-in-law, Lucille Tuck of Virgilina.

Funeral services for Mrs. Buster will be held today, May 21 at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Gordon Lee Tucker, 64, of 1184 Pine Ridge Trail, Vernon Hill, died May 18 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Tucker was born in Halifax County on November 22, 1936, the son of Clarence H. Tucker and Connie Williams Tucker and was married to Mamie Wells Tucker. He as a member of Mt. Pleasant CME Church.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Brenda Howerton of South Boston, Loretta Crowder of Halifax, Frances Chandler of Oxon Hill, Md. and Cynthia Easley of Vernon Hill; four sons, Grayson Tucker of Baltimore, Md., Gordon Tucker Jr., Alphonso Tucker and Gary Tucker, all of Vernon Hill; 20 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; four sisters, Clara Alice Bailey and Eloise Cosby, both of Richmond, Nannie Tucker of Vernon H ill and Evonne Peacock of Tallahassee, Fla; three brothers, Clarence Tucker Jr. of South Boston, Nelson Tucker of Richmond and Theodore Tucker of Vernon Hill.
Funeral services for Mr. tucker will be held May 22 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant CME Church with Pastor William Howerton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Macie Moore Pulliam, 87, of 32 Berry Hill Road, South Boston, died May 17 at her home.
Mrs. Pulliam was born in Halifax County on September 16, 1913, the daughter of Albert Lee Moore and Sallie Bett Griffin Moore, and was married to James Andrew Pulliam. She was a member of Revelation Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Macie Pulliam Roberts and Nellie Pulliam Keaton, both of South Boston; three grandchildren, Thomas Monroe Keaton Jr. of Winchester, Angela Keaton Davis of South Boston and Jesse Roberts Jr. of Virgilina.
Funeral services for Mrs. Pulliam were held May 19 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ed Fulenwider and Bill LaWall conducting the service. Burial was in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Shirley Whittington Crute, 82, of Richmond, formerly of Amelia, wife of the Rev. Harold L. Crute, died at her home on May 17.
Survivors include her husband, who was a former pastor of both the Alton and Bethel Baptist churches; one daughter, Janet Cook of Rockledge, Fla.; one son, Robert of Richmond; four granddaughters, Misha Hash, Gretchen Best, Esther Crute and Julie Cook; one great-grandson, Alan Nash; two sisters, Inez Saunders of Amelia and Blackstone and Imogene Deeds of Salem.
A funeral service for Mrs. Crute was held at Amelia Baptist Church with burial in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Amelia Baptist Church Building Fund.

Cephas Ray Billingslea Jr., 67, of 8208 Bill Tuck Highway, Virgilina, died May 18 at Duke University Medical Center.
Mr. Billingslea was born in Buena Vista on July 29, 1933, the son of Cephas Ray Billingslea Sr. and Hava Grace McClain Billingslea and was married to Josephine Smith Billingslea. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church, Woodmen of the World Lodge #106, and a lifetime member of the Jaycees.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Susan Hava B. Gordon and husband, Steve of Amherst; one son, George Ray Billingslea and wife, Maggie of Richmond; one sister, Ardith Billingslea Thompson of Virgilina; one brother, John Billingslea of Lynchburg; six grandchildren, Jessica G. Billingslea, Joshua Ray Billingslea, Robert Wall and Christopher Wall, all of Richmond, Derek Gordon and Tyler M. Gordon, both of Amherst. He was preceded in death by a son, Cephas Ray Billingslea III.
Funeral services for Mr. Billingslea were held May 20 at 3 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Stewart conducting the service. Burial was in the church cemetery with Woodmen of the World Rites.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Grace Baptist Church Building Fund.

Captain USNR William Thomas 'Tom' Chambers, 83, of Townsend, Ga. died May 9 at his home.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. on May 11 in the Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville, Ga. The Rev. Robert Reese officiated.
Captain Chambers was a native of Wilkinson County, Ga., the son of the late Frank Breckinridge Chambers and the late Lamar Albea Chambers. He was a retired Captain in the united States Navy and a veteran of WWII, and the Korean Conflict. Mr. Chambers was a retired manager of the University of Georgia Book Store. He was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Darien, Ga., a former volunteer for the United Way and a member of the Northeast Georgia Retired Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife; one son, William Thomas Chambers Jr. of Hartwell, Ga.; one daughter, Carol Louise Chambers of Savannah, Ga.; one brother, Frank B. Chambers of Milledgeville, Ga.; two sisters, Kathleen Chambers Jarratt of Sandersville, and Barbara Chambers Turner of Marietta, Ga.; two grandchildren, Katie Norris and Ben Norris; a daughter-in-law, Donna W. Chambers.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Cancer Society.