What has turned into a public referendum on the Halifax County War Memorial's design and color took yet another bizarre twist yesterday.
The Halifax County War Memorial Commission announced that it is withdrawing its design for the proposed monument pending further evaluation.
The Commission also announced that it will not participate in the June 4 public hearing set by the Board of Supervisors this month to address the monument's color.
"The issues of coloration, cost, construction materials and location are too complex to be decided at this time, and a public hearing is not the appropriate forum," the Commission said in a statement issued yesterday by Larry Clark, the Commission's acting chairman.
"It is also felt by Commission members that the Dewberry and Davis Final Report on the monument with their proposed changes is cost prohibitive," Clark said.
Clark said the Dewberry and Davis report proposes a monument that is considerably larger than the one the Commission proposed.
He emphasized that the Commission's concern was "not just about color, but the cost" of the project.
He said that another factor is the "continuing concern over the use of wood in the canopy over the black centerpiece of the monument," as well as questions concerning construction materials.
"Our unanimous opinion was that in fairness to the entire Board of Supervisors and to all of the people who have contributed to the memorial that the issues were of such magnitude that not to be sensitive to them was truly unfair to everyone concerned. They have to be addressed," Clark said.
The Commission's hope, according to Clark, is to begin an analysis process of the original design proposal as modified and the Dewberry and Davis Final Report proposal and come back to the Building and Grounds Committee with a comparison of the two.
What if the public hearing goes forward?
Clark said that it is the Commission's hope that the public hearing will not come to pass.
"We would like to think the Board would let us come back with our analysis," he said.
But if the public hearing continues, Clark said that "somewhere along the way Building and Grounds or someone will have to address the issues that the Commission brought to the table" at this time.
"Cost is a primary concern because we have been charged with raising the money," said Clark. "We were authorized by the Board of Supervisors and the circuit court judge to research, finance, design and erect this war memorial.
"Obviously we have received help, but those resources are not unlimited and cost is a concern. Also, construction issues," he added. "Monuments typically are not constructed of wood."
Cost speculation by Building and Grounds Committee members for total monument and park completion have run as high as $250,000, although estimates from Dewberry and Davis as well as A.C. Joyner, the Commission's monument consultant, were not yet completed at the committee's last meeting.
Stalled by a design impasse between the Commission and the county's Courthouse Grounds Committee and project benefactor, the Halifax Woman's Club, supervisors took over the project and referred the matter to the architectural firm of Dewberry and Davis for monument review and park design.
At supervisors' mid-May meeting, the three-member Building and Grounds Committee, composed of supervisors R.E. "Dickie" Abbott, James Edmunds and David Martin, recommended a treated copper roof, Bethel White granite support columns and monument platform, wood entablature unless Bethel White granite was less costly than wood, the center piece should be made of the same stone material and the memorial structure should be round with height, shape and proportions as recommended in the Dewberry and Davis Report, with the site walkway and eyebrow wall to be of fieldstone veneer over block, subject to cost considerations.
The Committee also recommended a June 4 public hearing to receive comment on the color of the centerpiece of the monument, black versus white.
The Board approved the committee's recommendation and set a public hearing for Monday, June 4.

Whitt Clement, D-Danville, added Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett's endorsement to his bid for the state attorney general slot sought by four democrats in the June 12 Democratic primary.
Clement campaigned in Halifax on Monday.
"During his time in the legislature, Whitt Clement has compiled an impressive record of helping fight crime and putting thousands of new law enforcement officers on Virginia's streets," said Bennett Monday.
"As attorney general, he will fight to protect consumers from fraud and require that nursing homes perform criminal background checks on their employees. That's why state legislators and sheriffs from all across Virginia are endorsing Whitt Clement for attorney general," added Bennett.
Thirty-seven sheriffs have endorsed Clement in his bid, which the candidate attributes to his law enforcement record.
"The biggest issue is letting people know there is a June 12 primary," Clement said Monday.
"And that there is no such thing as a registered Democrat or Republican" (to vote in the primary).
Of the four candidates in the attorney general contest, Clement said that he has the most legislative experience, having served in the House for 14 years.
A past president of the Virginia Bar Association, Clement said the position gave him great contacts statewide with other lawyers and clients.
He also thinks that being a rural candidate brings strength to the ticket since Mark Warner, a resident of Northern Virginia, is the party's uncontested gubernatorial candidate.
"The stakes are high. We have a great opportunity to put together a regionally balanced ticket. If I am successful, I will work hard to advance the interest of people of Southside, " Clement said.
Del. Bennett agrees. "We have a rare opportunity to help counterbalance the urban influence in state government by electing a great guy like Whitt from this part of the state.
"And to miss that opportunity is to miss something that may not happen again for a decade or more, so we need to jump behind Whitt and catapult him up the best we can," added Bennett.
Clement said that he has raised about $750,000 from 1,450 donors statewide in his campaign.
Legislative Record
In the House of Delegates, Whitt sponsored legislation requiring nursing homes to perform background checks on their employees and has proposed creating a special task force to crack down on fraud against the elderly.
As attorney general, Clement said that he would fight to promote safer schools, protect seniors and other consumers as well as preserve natural resources. He targeted the pollution of the Staunton River as one environmental problem.
In 1999, Clement was a leader in legislation to indemnify growers and to revitalize tobacco dependent communities from the national tobacco settlement funds.
Clement said that this legislation will make available as much as $2 billion to communities throughout Southside Virginia over the next 25 years.
In 2001, the delegate introduced a measure establishing the Rural Prosperity Commission and chairs its Southside Committee. Clement said that this legislation is intended to "examine ways to preserve our rural heritage and yet make our region more competitive for more and better paying jobs."
Clement was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1987, representing Danville and part of Pittsylvania County.
He is a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee where he has served as chairman of the Public Safety Subcommittee and currently serves on the Higher Education Subcommittee.
On June 12, all registered voters in Virginia may vote at their regular voting locations from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Democrats seeking the attorney general slot include Clement, Richmond attorney Donald McEachin, state Sen. John Edwards and attorney Sylvia Clute.

Physician Pleads Guilty Drug Charges

Dr. Charles H. Parker Jr., a 45-year-old gastroentrologist and Halifax resident, has entered guilty pleas to two separate counts of unlawfully and feloniously obtaining Schedule I or II control substances.
Charges against the physician came as a result of a investigation lead by Special Agent Keith Keese of the Virginia State Police testified before the Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury empaneled at the Circuit Court of Halifax County on May 8.
According to the indictments, the acts occurred on or about January 12, 2000.
Judge William L. Wellons on Friday deferred a finding of guilt for 12 months and tentatively continued the case for May 20, 2002. Dr. Parker, who has been a volunteer in a monitoring program by the State of Virginia for physicians with chemical dependency, has been placed on probation and must remain drug free and submit to random drug testing.
The court has ordered that he remain enrolled in the program administered by Virginia Monitoring Inc.
Additionally, Dr. Parker's vehicle operator's license has been restricted to travel to and from Halifax Regional Hospital, his medical office, other medical facilities and offices for call, duties, consultations and emergencies incident to the practice of medicine, to and from all activities incident to recover as monitored by Virginia Monitoring Inc., and travel to and from such other locations at such times as Dr. Parker is subject to medical call for his own patients, by the hospital or upon request of other health care providers.
Through his attorney, Don P. Bagwell of Halifax, Dr. Parker issued a statement saying that he takes full responsibility for his actions and "deeply regrets" any inconvenience and embarrassment to others resulting from his own chemical dependency.
Dr. Parker is said to be suffering from "chronic sinal stenosis" and following a treatment and rehabilitative period of approximately eight months, has returned to his private practice with the full support of his monitoring program and the Virginia Board of Medicine.
"Dr. Parker expects to fully cooperate with the Commonwealth's Attorney's office as may be needful, both now and in the future and looks forward to resolution of the legal aspects," the statement read.

Sarah Hudson, director of the county library system, announced her retirement Monday "for personal and professional reasons."
She had been with the library system for 20 years.
Paul Johnson, assistant director, has been named acting director.
Hudson notified the library's Board of Trustees of her decision in a letter dated Saturday, May 26.
"I am leaving the local library system with state aid funds that have grown from $45,000 to over $142,000, which will allow for more improvements. This occurred during my tenure on the Virginia Library Association Legislative Committee, for which I feel very proud."
Library funding for last year included the county's contribution of $166,235, South Boston's contribution of $40,735 and the state of $147,985, according to Johnson.
In May of 1999, several South Boston councilmen voiced their concern that the town was continuing to fund the library when the reversion agreement with the county had indicated funding for five years only.
Also as part of that agreement, the Library Board was asked to raise 35 percent of its funding.
Controversy surrounded the 35 percent funding issue for several years, with Hudson saying the board had not been notified of the agreement.
However, Johnson's outlook was positive yesterday.
"To the best of our knowledge the town's support is no longer in question," said library's new acting director.
Ross Garrett, Library Board chairman, said yesterday that the Board will strive to schedule a meeting within the next two weeks.
Otherwise, the next called meeting is Tuesday, June 26, at 4:30 p.m. at the Halifax library.
In a statement released by Hudson Monday, she said:
"I have enjoyed my association with the library staff, who are the most underpaid and over worked in the community. I have enjoyed my association with the patrons of the Halifax -South Boston Library. The associations I have formed with various community organizations, including and especially my church, have been richly rewarding. All of these associations have been supportive during many difficult times both personally and professionally.
"When I came 20 years ago, I was fortunate to have such mentors as Roy Davis, Sterling Bagby, Gatha Richardson, William Kent and others. Their support will hold a special place in my heart.
"It has been an honor to automate the library, obtain materials and equipment for the visually handicapped, acquire a new bookmobile and serve on the Advisory Committee of the General Assembly For Internet Filtering. It also has been quite rewarding to have formed close cooperative programs with schools, community colleges and other area libraries. I am leaving the local library system with State Aid Funds that have grown from $45,000 to over $142,000, which will allow for more improvements. This occurred during my tenure on the Virginia Library Association Legislative Committee, for which I feel very proud.
It is with a feeling of accomplishment for the improvements I have made in the library system during my 20 year tenure that I submit my letter of resignation."
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Jean Hudson

State Police say that a motorcyclist was traveling on the wrong side of the road at high speed Saturday night when his bike slammed head-on into a car on Highway 759 just east of U.S. 501 in the Cluster Springs community.
Eric Cooper Blackwell, 38, of Roxboro, N.C., lived only a short while after the 10:30 p.m. crash while his passenger, 33-year-old Karen Crawley of Cluster Springs, is still alive but in critical condition at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
State Trooper D.T. Conner said that both Blackwell and Crawley were thrown from the bike and traveled through the air a distance before landing on the road and the shoulder of the highway.
Both were wearing helmets and traveling on a 1997 Suzuki-1400CC motorcycle.
Driver of the second vehicle, Tammy Renee Lawson, 29, of South Boston, was driving a 1980 Buick. Lawson, while not charged for causing the accident, was charged with driving under the influence and having no operator's license.
In other accidents over the Memorial Day weekend, police are searching for the driver of a Ford pickup truck they say was involved in a hit and run crash Saturday on Highway 626 around 4:30 p.m.
Reported as injured and driving the second vehicle was 49-year-old Willie Paul Clay of Halifax. Clay's 1982 Ford sustained an estimated $2,000 in damages.
A single-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on Highway 653 caused an estimated $6,000 in damages to a 1994 Dodge van being driven by Dwayne Edward Collie, 40, of Halifax. State Trooper D.T. Conner reported that Collie ran off the road, lost control, overcorrected and his vehicle overturned.
Collie was charged with driving under the influence.
A Friday afternoon crash on U.S. 360 resulted in injuries to the driver, 61-year-old James W. Skipwith Jr. of Danville. Skipwith was driving a 1995 Mazda when, according to State Police, he fell asleep at the wheel and his vehicle ran off the road and struck a culvert.
Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $5,000 and Skipwith was charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain control of his vehicle.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
A solo homer combined with excellent pitching advanced the Halifax County High School baseball team into the second round of the Northwest Region Baseball Tournament.
Good teams preserves leads and the 1-0 victory over Franklin County on Monday was a clear sign of how the Comets stepped up in a crucial game.
"We have a good many seniors on the team who've shown a lot of leadership coming down the stretch.
That is one of the things I've told them that they're going to have to do. Because what will win us a lot of ballgames is the leadership that we have from them," head coach Kelvin Davis said.
Halifax County moves on to face GW today at home at 7 p.m.
In Monday's game, the Comets took the lead in the second inning, when leadoff-batter Mike Priest, blasted a towering homer over the left-centerfield fence.
"He crushed it," Davis said.
"Evidentally, he guessed the right pitch and he got all of it," Davis added.
Protecting the lead was the job for Justin King who fanned 12 batters and pitched a three-hit shutout before leaving in the seventh inning.
"King threw a great ballgame. He kept the guys off-balanced and as a pitcher, that is what you have to do," Davis said.
"He did an excellent job of working through his frustrations," Davis added.
King said at the beginning of the game that his fast ball wasn't as lively as he wanted it to be.
However, he worked through it to get his fast ball on track and along with his change-up and slider, he was able to keep Franklin County at bay.
After a Franklin County got a hit off King to start the seventh inning, Priest came on in relief and the Comets retired the next three batters with Priest fanning one.
A bunt fly-ball to third-baseman Scott Adams kept the runner at first.
Priest struck out his second batter and finished off the last hitter with a ball hit to Adams who made the play at first base.
"My hat goes off for Franklin. They fought with us and we were very fortunate to come off with a win," Davis said.
Despite a two-hit pitching performance and strong defensive plays by Franklin County, the bats were unable to manufacture a run, despite having runners in scoring position throughout the game.
The Comet's other hit came in the sixth inning from Brandon Howerton who in the third inning, had hit a deep ball in the gap only to have it run down by the right-fielder in the track.
"It's just one of those things because we told the team that if we made all the plays, we'd be in the ball game," said Franklin's head coach F. L. Slough.
"We made all the plays, we were in the ballgame and had our chances, yet it just wasn't meant to be," Slough added.
Opportunities for Franklin County came in the first inning when a single and then a double placed two runners in scoring position with one out.
King, however, struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Again in the third inning, Franklin County loaded the bases with two outs and failed to score after a ball was hit to King who threw out the runner at first base.
"Halifax has got a great club and they're well coached," Slough said.
"We're not happy, of course, but we're tickled with what we did and we'll use this as a motivation to get better," Slough added.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
Making clutch plays was the key to the Halifax County High School softball team's advance into the second round of the Northwest Regional Tournament.
A 3-2 win over Franklin County on Monday placed the Comets in the semifinal round today at Cave Springs at 4:30 p.m.
In Monday's game with Franklin County, two freshman pitchers went at each other on the mound with Emily Pool getting the win by pitching a three-hitter.
"Emily did a great job," head coach Melanie Saunders said.
"When you see her teeth, she's having fun and as long as I could see her smiling, I knew she was going to be okay and she could close it down for us" Saunders said.
Pool finished the game with seven strikeouts and two base on balls.
Halifax County took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Jennifer Roller reached base on a walk and Felicia Sprattley followed after a fielder's choice.
Roller scored on an RBI by Jenny Armistead and Sprattley made it home on a sacrifice bunt.
In the third inning, Franklin County collected two hits and scored with two outs before a fly ball to left field closed the inning.
Pool shutdown her opponents for the next two innings to preserve the 2-1 lead before Franklin County threatened to score in the sixth inning.
An error by the shortstop allowed a base runner and then a single followed with one out.
Pool struck out the next two batters to escape the threat.
The Comets added another run in the sixth inning when Branda Best singled and scored after a bunt by Roller, which Franklin County mishandled.
However, Franklin County again threatened to score in the seventh inning after a base on balls and an error put two runners on with no outs.
An infield grounder followed for the first out and Pool struck out the next batter.
Another hit allowed Franklin County to score, while the tying run was held at third base.
Franklin County's next batter hit to third base and Lindsay Stolzenthaler who threw out the batter at first to end the threat and the game.
"We scored on their errors and they scored on ours and it came down to the last two innings where we made some solid plays," Saunders said.
"Both teams didn't hit the ball as well as they're capable of hitting and I hate to say it, but it was a error-full ball game that cost both teams a lot of runs," Saunders added.
Brandi Conner went two-for-three with the double.

Vaughan N. Ford of Florence, S.C., died May 26 at Carolina Systems Hospital in Florence at the age of 69.
Mr. Ford was born in Albemarle County on June 25, 1931.
Survivors include one son, Brandon Ford of Columbia, S.C.; his mother, Frances Ford of South Boston; one sister, Juanita Anderson of Esmont; and one brother, Rev. Dr. Roger Ford of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Ford will be held May 31 at 1 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Esmont with the Rev. H.L. Long officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of his brother, Rev. Ford, 1023 W. Oak Hill Drive, South Boston.

Waverly Lacks, 82, of 1040 Finch Lane, Clover died May 26 at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mr. Lacks was born in Halifax County on August 2, 1918, the son of Jimmy Lacks and Betty Garrett Lacks and was married to Gladys Pleasant Lacks. He was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Eliza Brooks of Washington, D.C. and Brenda Lacks of Clover; three sons, Alexander Lacks of New Haven, Ct., Waverly Lacks Jr. and Gary Lacks, both of Clover; 15 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Lacks will be held June 1 at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Lacks Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home.

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, Harriett Irby Chambers; 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.

Charlotte Veasey Ray, 79, of Fayetteville, N.C. died May 28 in Raleigh, N.C.
Mrs. Ray was born in Halifax County the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Steven Bennett Veasey and was married to the late Gillis Ray. She was a member of Gilead Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville.
Survivors include two children, Marshall Ray of Fayetteville and Diane Miller of Raleigh; one grandson and one granddaughter; one brother, Dan Veasey of Roanoke and one sister-in-law, Rosetta Veasey of South Boston. She was preceded in death by two grandsons.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ray will be held today, May 30 at Gilead Presbyterian Church.