The Community Arts Center was notified yesterday it has tentatively been awarded a $200,000 ISTEA grant by the Virginia Department of Transportation for the Prizery project in South Boston.
The Foundation plans to restore the historic tobacco warehouse factory, "The Prizery," into a community fine arts and welcome center at its 716 Seymour Drive location along the Dan River in downtown South Boston.
The Foundation was awarded a $75,000 grant last year.
"I think the citizens of South Boston have worked very hard to improve their community and the grant will help us continue to make this a better place to live," said Foundation board member and grant writer Ellen Gray Hogan.
"We also hope downtown revitalization and the cultural amenities offered through the Prizery will attract other businesses to our area and provide jobs," added Hogan.
The Foundation member said she was assisted in writing the grant by Chris Jones and Jennifer Mackintosh.
The late 1890s Prizery building was donated to the Foundation by businessmen John Cannon and Eva Harris of R&J Investors in 1996. It is located next to the proposed Continuing Education Center site
Hogan said yesterday she anticipates the new grant funding will be directed to the first floor. "A place large groups of people could use right away," she added.
Plans for the historic 38,000 square foot Prizery ultimately include a bottom floor for exhibits, a second floor theatre and a third floor for classrooms.
Last summer, "The Prizery Turns a New Leaf," an art exhibit featuring 163 original art works was staged as a gala opening. School children as well as the general public toured the exhibit during the week-long show.
The Junior Woman's Club also staged a Halloween Carnival there last year.
The ISTEA grants are subject to two final public hearings later this summer.
A total of $10,000,000 was allocated for 63 projects across the state of Virginia.
The Federal Intermodal surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) established funding and planning provisions aimed at improving community life. It was "crafted for projects designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal transportation system."
The Software Factory celebrated its grand opening here Wednesday with the announcement of about $1 million contract with James Martin Consulting, Inc.
The Software Factory, established in South Boston in the fall of 1997, provides computer programmers to address Year 2000 remediation as well as other software program development.
Robert Brower, chief executive officer of The Software Factory, told the crowd that the company and its workers offered capacity and stability in precision work done on time.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal made the ceremonial final "electronic bridge" connection Wednesday joining in "real time" Software officials in South Boston with a Va. Department of Accounts in Richmond.
"What makes this really work is to be able to communicate with companies anywhere in the world," said Software Factory co-owner and president Jerry Hill.
The ISDN, digital network, was made possible here by Sprint.
The electronic bridge offers businesses in varied locations the opportunity to talk with, see and address problems at the same time through the electronic hook-up.
"It is a chance to bring in industry we have never had before," said Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett, describing the center as "a catalyst" for Southside Virginia.
The delegate described the new technology as offering the opportunity to do more faster to bring jobs to the town and region than interstate highways or airports.
Sec. DuVal described the celebration as a community pulling together in a time of transition and lauded the entrepreneurship and innovation as well as the energy and enthusiasm of Software co-founders Jerry Hill and Beverly Lucas. He said employees, business and Virginia win through the creation of jobs and workforce.
"It is a unique win, win, win scenario," said DuVal.
"This underscores the high tech approach to problems does not necessarily have to be in Northern Virginia," said Sen. Charles Hawkins of Chatham.
Dale Copeland, president of James Martin Consulting, described his company as one with a lot of management ability.
Still, Copeland said no matter how fast computers work, they no nothing until people put them to work.
Hill told the large audience of business, technology, political and community supporters that "Ted Bennett played an important part" in the company locating here.
Hill said he and his wife and co-founder, Beverly Lucas, met with Bennett at his Halifax office and that the delegate welcomed them and put them in touch with the local Industrial Development Authority team.
Since they got underway eight months ago, Hill said the company has been "accepted and embraced by the community."
Hill described the workforce here as having both "the attitude and aptitude" to do the work," describing employees as exceeding their expectations."
The company currently employees 25 trained programmers with 15 more trained.
Hill also noted over 400 people attended a recent open house. "There is a lot of interest in this region and community in this 21st Century type of work," said the president.
However, "work is not easy to come by," said Hill. "We have found work," he emphasized, noting the "very substantial contract" of about $1 million. In addition, The Software Factory will begin a local project for Clover Yarns next week, a company spokesman said yesterday.
"This underscores the high tech approach to problems does not necessarily have to be in Northern Virginia," said Sen. Charles Hawkins of Chatham.
Other special guests attending the Wednesday grand opening included state Sen. Louise Lucas, Del. Frank Ruff, South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy and Halifax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Satterfield.
A three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has denied a federal appeal petition by Lance Chandler who was sentenced to death on a capital murder charge for the February, 1993 murder of William Howard "Billy" Dix during the robbery of a Love Shop convenience store.
The ruling Wednesday by the trio of judges means that Chandler could be executed as early as late August.
Halifax County Commonwealth Attorney John E. Greenbacker, Jr. received notification of the Fourth Circuit's denial of Chandler's federal habeas corpus action yesterday from Assistant Attorney General Katherine P. Baldwin.
The Commonwealth Attorney said that Baldwin pointed out that Chandler can, and likely will, file a petition with the Fourth Circuit for a rehearing within the next 14 days. He noted, however, that Baldwin indicated that the Fourth Circuit typically denies such petitions approximately two weeks after the filing.
If the rehearing is denied, Baldwin will notify Circuit Court Judge William Wellons of that action and notice will be sent to the judge that he will be required to set an execution date for Chandler within 60 days of receipt of that notification.
Greenbacker said that Baldwin indicated that if the chain of events works in that fashion, Chandler will likely face execution sometime in late August.
Chandler, now 34, has failed in his attempts to seek post-conviction relief from his conviction and death sentence on the capital murder charge. In his latest court action, Chandler alleges that the courts are wrong in denying his claim that the trial court erred in allowing Greenbacker to strike three black jurors from the jury panel in violation of the Batson Rule.
The former College Street resident also contends that the courts are wrong in denying his claim for ineffective assistance of counsel during the sentencing phase of his trial.
"Two of those people clearly indicated they were opposed to the death penalty," Greenbacker said yesterday.
The written opinion rendered by the panel in the case of the third juror in question stated "On Chandler's challenge to the prosecutor's reason for striking juror --the record shows that the prosecutor struck -- because he had been "remarkably noncommunicative" during voir dire (questioning)."
None of the three instances where a potential juror was struck was viewed as a discriminatory act by the panel of judges.
During the jury selection process, Chandler's attorney objected to the prosecutor's use of three of five peremptory challenges to remove three black jurors from the jury.
However, the trial judge ruled that Greenbacker's explanation for striking the three black jurors was "race neutral" and overruled the objection.
There were five black jurors on the 12 member jury panel that sat in Chandler's trial.
Chandler's second argument on the appeal was that his attorneys Buddy Ward and Nora Miller of the local Public Defenders Office had failed to investigate and present mitigating evidence during the sentencing phase of his trial.
There was that his attorneys had failed to request an instruction to the jury explaining the concept of mitigating evidence and that his attorneys failed to object to the trial court's refusal to inform the jury that if given a life sentence, Chandler would not be eligible for parole for 25 years.
"Chandler refused over the objections and advice of the judge and his attorneys to permit them to present evidence during his sentencing hearing," Greenbacker pointed out.
The trial transcript clearly shows that Chandler instructed his attorneys not to present any evidence in the sentencing phase of his trial.
Judge Wellons thoroughly questioned Chandler several times at length about his decision not to have his attorneys present evidence.
The judge was quoted as telling Chandler after he had indicated his preference that his attorneys not present evidence "Now, you also understand, too, that you have the right to present final argument to the jury. Ordinarily, that argument will be presented by your attorney; in this case Mr. Ward or Ms. Miller. Are you asking that they not present any final argument?"
"Yes," replied Chandler.
"This is your choice?" the judge asked.
"Yes," Chandler replied.
"You realize that this is your opportunity to present argument to the jury that the jury consider an option other than the death penalty, in other words, life imprisonment?" the judge asked Chandler.
"Yes," Chandler replied.
"You understand that?" the judge asked.
"Um-hum," Chandler replied.
After further related questions, Judge Wellons asked Chandler "And, you're absolutely certain that this is what you want to do?"
'Yes," replied Chandler.
Judge Wellons then told Chandler that he would encourage him to consider presenting a final argument to the jury and present any evidence of mitigation that he may wish to present.
"I can't express too strongly how much I urge you to have Mr. Ward give a final argument and also present any evidence you might have in your behalf at this stage of the proceeding," Judge Wellons told Chandler. "Do you understand everything that the Court has asked you?"
"Yes," Chandler said.
In addition to receiving the death penalty for the capital murder conviction that stemmed from the February 7, 1993 murder of Dix during the convenience store robbery, Chandler was sentenced to 39 years in prison for convictions on related charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and two charges of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Chandler had been convicted of robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with a holdup of a UPS delivery driver that occurred less than six months before the Dix murder. He was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison for those crimes.
Co-defendants in the Dix murder case, Dwight M. Wyatt, Geraldine Fernandez, and George Boyd were prosecuted and convicted on related charges.
Both Wyatt and Fernandez entered guilty pleas to charges of first degree murder and other charges related to the crime.
Boyd was convicted of a misdemeanor petty larceny charge.
Another co-defendant, Bernice Murphy, who was a juvenile at the time of the offense, was convicted on charges of robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a robbery. However a three judge panel of the Court of Appeals of Virginia later reversed the convictions on an appeal and dismissed the charges.
By DAVID ESPO
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Tobacco legislation came under attack on two fronts in the Senate on Thursday, with some lawmakers saying it was overly generous to cigarette companies and others contending its tax increases were too harsh on moderate-income smokers.
''This is not an industry which deserves special protection from the United States Congress,'' argued Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who led an effort to remove the bill's liability limitation of $8 billion a year.
Others argued that the cap on liability payments for Big Tobacco was a reasonable price to pay to persuade the companies to join in the anti-teen smoking effort and accept restrictions on advertising and other provisions in the bill.
''Without those liability provisions, ... the industry will not participate to the fullest extent possible in any tobacco program,'' said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, ''and they certainly will not participate voluntarily.''
The lawsuit issue aside, conservatives signaled for the second straight day that they intend to wage war on the $1.10-per-pack price increase mandated in the bill.
Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, said he intended to force a vote on a proposal that would rebate part of the costs to low- and moderate-income taxpayers by repealing the so-called marriage penalty that forces some married couples to pay higher combined taxes than they would if they were single.
''If our objective here is to get people not to smoke and to do it by raising the price of cigarettes, shouldn't we take some of the money that we're taking from very moderate income Americans and give it back to them by cutting other taxes?'' said Gramm.
In addition, Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., who held the Senate floor for more than three hours Wednesday, spread word that he intended to renew his campaign to eliminate the tax increases in the measure. Ashcroft, a presidential hopeful for 2000, drew only 26 votes on Wednesday with a proposal to eliminate the $1.10 increase from the bill.
Whatever the outcome of the day's struggle, the legislation seemed certain to be back on the Senate floor next month - and for an extended period.
The measure is designed to reduce teen smoking, and the $1.10-per-pack price increase would be used to fund a variety of activities, including reimbursing the states for health care costs, an advertising campaign to discourage teens from smoking, payments for tobacco farmers who would be disadvantaged and other programs.
President Clinton has endorsed the bill, and its Senate sponsors, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others, have labored to shield it from attacks over the past three days on a variety of fronts.
The Senate debated the bill as outside groups continued their campaign for the strongest possible bill.
Dr. C. Everett Koop, former surgeon general, and David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administration, joined House Democratic leaders for a news conference, pressing House Speaker Newt Gingrich to schedule action on a companion bill.
Koop, who has appeared at several news conferences on the Capitol grounds this week, also expressed disappointment that the White House was supporting the $8 billion liability cap.
On the Senate floor, though, Hatch jabbed at health experts offering advice on legal issues.
''I would like to see Drs. Koop and Kessler limit themselves to their areas of expertise,'' he said. ''In many respects, they're gumming up the possibilities for getting this money.''
The vote on the liability cap represented one of the strongest challenges to the measure to date.
Supporters of the cap included Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, who worked to line up the votes to keep in the bill. He and others stressed that there was no provision for immunity from lawsuits, only an annual limit on the money the companies could be forced to pay.
But Gregg ridiculed the notion that the bill contained a provision of little value, saying it would provide a ''special preferential position in the order of American commerce, a provision which no other industry will have.
He said supporters of the cap were acting on a ''on a wish and a hope and a prayer that an industry which has shown itself to be ... irresponsible will show itself to be responsible and return to the table.''
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said that ''if the tobacco companies hadn't known they could be sued and sued successfully, ... we never would have found out about'' many of their practices such as targeting 14-year-olds with advertising/
A 56-year prison term against a convicted cocaine dealer was affirmed during a formal sentencing hearing held Wednesday in the Halifax County Circuit Court.
James Madison "Billy" Hughes, 37, of South Boston was found guilty on April 16 of eight felony counts of cocaine distribution. Hughes sold cocaine to undercover operatives on four occasions between May 8-15, 1997, according to testimony.
Four counts were for distribution of cocaine, while four counts were for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Rather than having his trial heard by a judge, who normally follows state sentencing guidelines, Hughes demanded a jury trial. The jury found him guilty on all counts and recommended a sentence of seven years on each count to run consecutively for a total prison term of 56 years.
The mid-point range of his sentencing guidelines, which is determined by a complicated formula that takes into consideration prior convictions, was 4.7 years, according to court records.
The jury also recommended Hughes be fined $1,000 on each of the eight counts, for a total of $8,000 in fines.
His defense attorney Jesse W. Meadows III of Danville attempted to talk Hughes out of going before a jury, but Hughes insisted, court and law enforcement officials pointed out.
During Wednesday's sentencing hearing, Hughes became belligerent and even threatened Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John E. Greenbacker Jr.
"He flipped me the 'bird' and he told me that he would 'see me in my grave,'" Greenbacker said.
When Hughes was told by Halifax County Circuit Court Judge William L. Wellons to stand and was asked if he had any final statements, an angry Hughes knocked over his witness chair.
Hughes stated that Greenbacker would have "to answer to a higher authority."
Hughes sold 1.08-grams of cocaine for $150 to an undercover operative on May 8, 1997; .483-grams for $100 on May 9, 1997; .792-grams for $100 on May 14, 1997; and 1.467-grams for $176 on May 15, 1997, according to court records.
Hughes has a previous conviction of cocaine distribution from 1991, as well as over 40 misdemeanors convictions, officials said.
Greenbacker was asked if he had been given an obscene gesture in court before. "To the best of knowledge, that's the first time I've ever been flipped the bird," Greenbacker reflected. "At least the first time inside a courtroom."
In other circuit court activity Wednesday:
· Aundra Antonio Barksdale, 34, of Nathalie was convicted of a reduced charged of unlawful wounding of Warren Bernard Barksdale. He had originally been charged with malicious wounding.
A. Barksdale struck W. Barksdale several times with the blunt end of a hatchet during an argument on December 8, 1997, according to testimony.
Judge Wellons ordered a presentence report for the July term of court. A. Barksdale was allowed to remain free on bond pending the hearing.
· Christopher Wayne Jones, 30, of South Boston was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon (a knife) after previously having been convicted of a felony. The incident occurred on January 10.
Jones was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but four years and six months suspended. The suspended portion was on condition of his good behavior for a period of five years following his release.
Annie Mae Elliott Wilborn of 104 Ellyson Avenue, South Boston died Thursday, May 21, 1998 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Wilborn was born in Halifax County on April 10, 1918 and was 80 years of age at the time of her death.
She was the daughter of Theodore C. Elliott and Lelia Josephine Jones Elliott and was married to Zorah Mitchell Wilborn. She was a member of Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Becky W. Hopper of Granbury, TX, Ann W. and George Edwards of South Boston; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert Mitchell (Bobby) and Jean W. Wilborn, and Barney Kay and Betty N. Wilborn, all of South Boston; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, five brothers and two sisters, most recently Floyd J. Elliott.
Graveside services for Mrs. Wilborn will be held Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens with Rev. Delia Earnhardt conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, May 22,
from 7 until 8:30, and other times at the home of her son, Barney Wilborn,
1104 Grove Avenue, South Boston.
Sam Wood of South Boston died Monday, May 18, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on March 31, 1908 and was 90 years of age at the time of his death.
Funeral services for Mr. Wood were held May 21 at 11 a.m. at Daniel Funeral
Home chapel with Rev. L.S. Leigh conducting the service. Burial was in New
Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Betty Lipscomb Ewell, age 65, of Virginia Beach died Sunday, May 17, 1998. She was past president of the Ladies Auxiliary, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 136, Virginia Beach; member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW for more than forty years; and life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. She is survived by her husband, William D. Ewell.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 1998, in the Hermon Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Saxe.