Preparation of a county budget carrying a 10 percent real estate hike was approved by supervisors Monday night for public hearing June 4 with adoption by June 30.
Halifax County's current real estate rate is 36 cents per assessed $100.
A 10 percent real estate tax hike is projected to add $800,000 to the treasury the first year.
Next year's revenue estimate is $22,963,571 with expenditures of $26,345,525, with the county using $3 million from reserves and borrowing $381,954.
The proposed tax hike may be the first step in 6-year real estate tax hike program to balance the budget.
If back-to-back four-cent rate increases in the real estate levy follow, the hike would produce an additional $6,096,555 over six years.
The county also appears to be moving toward a merchant's capital tax instead of a retail business license tax.
Joe Morgan, county administrator, projects and estimated $200,000 in additional revenue through the merchant's capital tax. However, the merchant's tax would not be initiated until May of 2002.
There were no surprises Monday night as supervisors approved a Building and Grounds Committee recommendation for the War Memorial concept - subject to cost estimates - and a War Memorial Park design concept.
The Building and Grounds Committee, meeting jointly with the Courthouse Grounds Committee and the War Memorial Commission's design Committee, received a review of the project from the architectural firm of Dewberry and Davis last week.
The Building and Grounds Committee also recommended that a final budget and any phasing options be developed by the June 4 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisors did not mention the color of the war monument, either in presenting or accepting the report Monday night.
However, during the Board meeting Flora Osborne asked supervisors to opt for an all-white monument.
Osborne told the Board that petitions continue to circulate in the county calling for a white monument rather than one with in black.
The monument design called for a black granite centerpiece carrying the names of the county's fallen heroes.
Osborne described white as honoring the fallen warriors while black would cast a funereal pall over the focal point of Halifax.
A $100,000 figure was mentioned for the memorial/park complex during the joint meeting last week, however formal cost estimates have not been received. Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator, said yesterday that cost estimates are expected within the next few weeks with a presentation for supervisors by June 4.
Following a public hearing , supervisors approved a conditional use permit for Breezy Oaks bed and breakfast located about four miles from VIR.
Only one speaker, Linda Zuniga, who is seeking the permit with her mother Gray Williamson, spoke during the public hearing. The bed and breakfast, which also offers spa treatments, is located at 2115 Calvary Road.
In other business, supervisors gave approval to the administrator to develop a plan without the old school building at Project Hope site for a community center for solid waste collection and recycling. The site is located on upper Mountain Road and the building was formerly used by the school system.
In other business, supervisors:
· Set a Wednesday, May 23, date to meet with Charlotte County supervisors at a Charlotte Courthouse restaurant to discuss the fate of historic Clarkton bridge. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. VDOT advertised for a new owner for the bridge during the spring and received five replies, according to Joe Barkley II, VDOT resident engineer.
· Heard that road work is underway at Banister Shores.
· Set two public hearings for June 4, one for Jimmy Gulley seeking a conditional use permit in ED-6 for the sale of crafts, antiques and collectibles at the Red Barn property, 4226 Philpott Road. The land is currently zoned agricultural. The second is a rezoning application from Dean Jones for signage and other potential small business activities on 19 acres of land on the north side of Route 58 about .1 mile west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
· Confirmation of publication of delinquent taxpayers - Summer 2001.
· Approved entering a contract with Dewberry and Davis to provide architectural/engineering services for planning and schematic design for expansion of the county animal shelter. The proposed price is $6,400.
· Approved the William Tuck Airport Commission report seeking electrical reinstallation and temporary terminal improvements (office trailer and porch) of up to $12,000 from insurance proceeds and T-Hangar repairs of up to $19,000 from insurance proceeds to restore four rental hangars with tenant assistance recommended. . The action comes following a devastating fire at the airport which destroyed terminal facilities. Supervisors also addressed an invitation to apply for runway improvements grant for $1,478,000 with a $29,560 local match.

South Boston Police are continuing their efforts to locate a man who allegedly fired multiple shots into a car early Saturday morning outside a South Boston restaurant and nightspot.
Lt. H.B. Rice said witnesses described the individual who allegedly shot up a 1990 model car owned by Haresh D. Jinwala of South Boston as being a black male approximately six feet tall.
Anyone having witnessed the incident or having any knowledge about the crime is asked to contact police.
Lt. Rice said residents in the Seymour Drive area contacted police shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday reporting they were hearing gunshots being fired in the vicinity of Shannon's Restaurant.
Officers responding to the call found the car owned by Jinwala in the restaurant's parking lot.
Police said the car had been struck numerous times by bullets.
Lt. Rice said evidence at the scene indicated that the assailant used 9mm ammunition in the attack on the car.
Damage to the car owned by Jinwala was estimated at $2,000.
Sgt. R.E. Redd and Sgt. B.K. Lovelace are investigating the incident.
In other matters:
Charges are expected to be filed against a Scottsburg woman and a 16-year-old Halifax County High School student involved in a fracas at the high school Friday night.
According to South Boston Police Lt. H.B. Rice, Officer C. L. Carswell's report stated that the adult, Scottsburg resident Donna Hastings, allegedly grabbed a chain from around the neck of the youth and allegedly struck the youth on the arm with a baseball bat.
Lt. Rice said that the officer's report stated that witnesses told police that both Hastings and the youth had a baseball bat in their possession and that witnesses broke up the altercation.
Hastings is also alleged to have smashed out the tail lights of the youth's vehicle during the incident.
A damage estimate to the youth's vehicle was not available.
Personnel from the Halifax County Rescue Squad examined the youth's injury at the scene.
The incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. in the parking lot at Halifax County High School a short time after the Comets-GW baseball game had concluded.
Police did not disclose the identity of the youth because of his age

South Boston councilmen approved a federal grant application for up to three additional school resource officers, and asked the Library Board of Trustees some tough questions regarding their operations at their Monday budget work session.
An issue left unresolved, however, was responsibility for funding of the school resource officer program for the additional year after expiration of grant funding, as required.
Council approved that issue for discussion at their joint meeting with the county on May 21, after receiving assurances that they would be under no obligation to accept the grant if they could not resolve jurisdictional issues with the county concerning the program.
The grant would fund $125,000 for three officers each year for three years, with each locality obligated to fund the program for at least one year following the grant's expiration.
Although agreeing in principal with the resource officer program, councilmen questioned both the number of officers needed, as well as the future sources of funding for the program.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt, and Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes were invited to share their perspectives on the issue, with both adamantly supporting the need for resource officers at the high school, middle school and career center.
"Three [resource officers] is not an outlandish number, considering the size of our high and middle schools," said Witt.
"There's not a busier place in this county than the high school," continued Witt, saying that there was activity at the high school from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with activities occurring later than that most evenings.
Additional resource officers could be used for C.H. Friend and Washington Coleman elementary schools, in order to familiarize those students with how an officer works, according to Witt.
"It's a nice opportunity - you (council) have to decide whether the expense is worth it, considering the upfront cost. I feel it's worth it."
Sheriff Oakes agreed with Witt, saying that an increased number of resource officers would result in greater peace of mind among school staff.
"It's a nightmare for one resource officer to work at the high school. The resource officer is looked to by teachers for peace of mind and security," said Oakes.
"The school is too large for one resource officer - if there are two officers there, everyone's more at ease."
Oakes reminded council that officers are involved with driver education programs and other functions in addition to providing security at the school.
Oakes declined a suggestion from councilman Tom Raab to apply for the grant in the Sheriff Department's name, saying that he didn't believe the Board of Supervisors would agree to support funding an extra year after the grant expired.
Looking beyond the personnel issue, Raab asked fellow council members to "keep in mind we're asking for additional vehicles as well."
"I think we should work together with the county to apply or not at all, with jurisdiction under the Sheriff's Department" said Raab.
Other council members were similarly cautious.
"I think we should apply if we're under no obligation to accept it," said Coleman Speece.
"I'm in favor of some action, but not of saddling the citizens of South Boston with an extra $125,000 at the end of three years."
Freddie Edmunds, a South Boston police officer, addressed a safety issue not previously mentioned.
Edmunds, who worked alone between the high school and middle school in the early 1990s, asked council to consider the safety of the school resource officers themselves, if they were forced to confront a dangerous situation without backup.
Library Budget Discussion
Council members invited members of the Library Board of Trustees to meet with them Monday to discuss the proposed $42,364.40 budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year.
Ross Garrett, chairman of the board, and Paul Johnson, assistant director of the Halifax-South Boston Regional Library, told council of the direction and long-term goals for the local library system.
Current issues include implementation of a new software program and a wireless transmission system between the libraries, according to Garrett.
Although council members were pleased with the board's proposed expansion of Saturday hours at the South Boston Library, they expressed concern over what they saw as a lack of urgency by the Board in communicating with council, in seeking new partners in a regional library system, and in looking at a consolidated library.
Those concerns were expressed by South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy.
"The big concern down the road is losing regional status - what are we going to do about it?" said Abernathy.
"We have to start preparing for loss of regional status in the future."
Garrett answered that the already installed software would act as a server for a regional system involving other counties, and remarked that they could start marketing the system this year.
"It may take two years for another locality to express interest," added Garrett.
Regionalization would be a hard sell, according to Garrett, primarily because some neighboring localities already belong to another regional library system, and others may not want to come in as a secondary partner to the local system.
Mayor Abernathy and council members also raised the issue of alternative funding in relation to the loss of funding after the local library system loses funding as a regional system within 10 years.
It was suggested that a Friends of the Library Association be started locally to assist in raising funds for the library, an organization Johnson said been attempted before, but had experienced a great deal of turnover in leadership.
Budget Public Hearing
A public hearing is scheduled for the May 14 council meeting to receive citizen comment on the proposed budget.
Although there are no proposed tax increases, the preliminary budget contains a 3 pecent increase in water and sewer rates, as well as an increase in landfill user fees from $1 to $2 per month.

A 37-year-old Nellysford resident is being held in jail without bond in the wake of his arrest on charges that he abducted and maliciously wounded a county woman on two separate occasions.
Larry W. Vandevisser Jr. has been held at the Halifax Adult Detention Center since his arrest on April 26 by deputies of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
In addition to the charges pending against him in Halifax County, Vandevisser is facing multiple charges in North Carolina.
Vandevisser is charged with abducting Christine L. Schirmer and maliciously wounding her in an incident that occurred April 16.
A week later, on April 23, Vandevisser allegedly abducted Schirmer again and wounded her.
Vandevisser is also facing a felony vandalism charge in the wake of an accusation that he allegedly intentionally damaged property owned by Schirmer.
He is charged with intentionally damaging figurines, a ceiling fan, a dresser, clothes, a bathroom door, a shower stall and a telephone with an answering machine, all belonging to Schirmer.
The damage was estimated at over $1,000.
Vandevisser is also charged with displaying a firearm in a threatening manner while attempting to commit an abduction.
He is also wanted by the Greensboro (N.C.) Police Department on multiple misdemeanor charges.
The charges include the unauthorized use of a vehicle, two counts of assault on Schirmer, and communicating threats.
A hearing has been slated for May 15 for a judge to appoint an attorney to represent Vandevisser.
Vandevisser is scheduled to appear in Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on May 29 for a preliminary hearing.
Traffic Cases
Gerald Edward Womack, 64, of South Boston, was charged with reckless driving Sunday afternoon in the wake of a two-car accident on Morton's Ferry Road (Route 623).
Trooper G. M. Gilliam said Womack, driving a 1992 Chevrolet pickup, was being followed by a 1988 Ford pickup, driven by John Edward Powell III, 46, of Clover.
According to the trooper, Womack stopped his vehicle in the road and Powell stopped his vehicle behind Womack.
Womack's vehicle then backed up and struck the front end of Powell's truck.
Gilliam said the accident occurred at 2:45 p.m. one and two-tenths of a mile north of Hunting Creek Road (Route 603).
The trooper estimated $1,200 in damages to the Womack vehicle and $350 in damages to the Powell vehicle.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
He grew up with the tobacco in the fields of Alton, hunted rabbits and told his grandmother that if the country were involved in a war, he would go.
Shortly after graduating high school in 1965, Tommy Reeves joined the U. S. Marine Corps.
He was sent to Vietnam where he was tramping through the fields of a different world.
"It didn't dawn on us at the time what was going on," said Reeves 35 years later.
"We didn't talk about it that much other than hearing about the Vietnam War on the news.
"After I graduated, I told my mom that I was going to have a good time during the summer because it would probably be the last one for a while," Reeves said.
Instead of waiting to be drafted, Reeves joined the Marines Corps, had basic training and then was sent to California where he received training in jungle warfare.
He was then shipped to Okinawa for further training.
And then Reeves went to war.
He spent two tours of duty with the infantry and experienced the horrors of Operation Hastings in 1966 and the sudden eruption of the Tet Offensive in 1968.
"We lived in miserable conditions with mosquitoes, the monsoon season and hot weather.
"It was just another day in Vietnam," Reeves said.
"I remember we were out in what I thought was the middle of nowhere and there was a village and a Vietnamese woman was selling ice cold Coca-Colas. Where she got ice, I don't know.
"She was selling them for a dollar a piece. And in a place like that, it was worth a dollar."
Reeves said he had to keep his guard up all the time while he was among the Vietnamese people.
There was even a sense of doubt about the South Vietnamese troops with whom the Americans were fighting.
"I remember guarding a bridge and we were assigned to a certain section while the South Vietnamese held another section.
"My bunker was right next to the South Vietnamese.
"We had orders that if we got hit, to keep our eyes on them to see if they would turn on us.
"We did get hit, however, they fought just like we did."
Reeves said he believed that what those people wanted most was for everybody on both sides to go home.
"They didn't care what kind of government they had as long as they could raise their rice and water buffalo.
"I think that's what they really wanted."
Reeves' second tour of duty was from 1968 to 1969.
"One lady said to me when I went back to Vietnam that it was guys like me that kept the war going, and I told her, 'yes, and it was guys like me that keep us free too.'"
As for the outcome, Reeves said he had mixed emotions about the war.
"When you live in America, you have the freedom to speak up against something.
" However, I felt like we should be in Vietnam, that there were some who wanted to be free and live in a democratic government.
"And that if we could have established a democratic government in South Vietnam, that eventually the majority of the people would have liked it."
Reeves returned to the United States unscathed by the war.
"It was a great feeling to be back in the States.
"It was hard to believe that here on earth there was that much difference in two places.
"I remember when we were in a valley with a big river and the sun was going down.
"It was so peaceful and we were settling in for the evening. Then all hell broke loose and the enemy was across the river shooting at us and we were shooting back at them.
"It was just unbelievable how things changed all of a sudden."
Reeves has yet to see the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
He said there were too many memories, too many names that are forever engraved on that wall.

Ashley Epperson's list of major wins in track and field grew a little more last weekend.
Epperson, with a mark of 17 feet and 6 3/4 inches won the long jump in last weekend's Charleston Gazette Relays in Charleston, W.Va.
The win by the Halifax County High School track standout was a big contribution to the team's ninth place finish in the 32 team field that included only two teams from Virginia.
Epperson, who is still trying to recover from an injury she sustained earlier this year, has already met the standard to qualify for the State Group AAA meet which will be held in early June.
The Comets also got a good performance from Ashley White who placed third in the 800-meter race with a personal best time of two-minutes, 28.19 seconds.
Ciji Moore also had a good outing in the meet, finishing fourth in the shot put with a throw of 32-10 and taking eighth place with a toss of 73-11.
Two of Halifax County's relay teams also turned in a solid performance.
The Comets' 4x800-meter relay team consisting of Angel Patterson, April Goode, White and Kianna Ferrell finished fifth in its event with a mark of 11:40.80.
Halifax County's 4x400-meter relay team consisting of White, Ferrell, Goode and Marquita Carden also earned a fifth-place finish.
It's mark for the event was 4:27.10.
The Comets' 4x100-meter relay team consisting of Jones, Brittany Jackson, Patterson and Carden posted a seventh-place finish with a time of 54.48 seconds.
Jones placed eighth in the 100-meter race with a time of 13.46 seconds and placed eighth in the 200-meter race with a time of 28.19 seconds.

Emmett Venable Martin, 92, of Randolph, died May 4 at his home.
Mr. Martin was retired from the Charlotte County School System where he was a bus driver and school bus mechanic. He had also operated a country store and had been a farmer.
Surviving are his wife, Nellie Duffey Martin; two daughters, Ruth Martin Moore of Richmond and Rochelle Martin Smith of Randolph; three granddaughters, Sherry G. Green and husband, Bill Green of Randolph, Terry S. Klein and husband, Gary W. Klein of Red Oak and Michelle M. Batton and husband, Billy Batton of Monroe, N.C.; four great-grandchildren, Kris W. Klein, Kaitlin N. Klein, Danielle R. Gwaltney and Joshua T. Batton. He was preceded in death by a son, Gilbert K. Martin.
Funeral services for Mr. Martin were held at 4 p.m. May 6 in the Providence Presbyterian Church, with burial in the church cemetery.

Steve Edward Roark, 57, of Clarksville died May 5.
Mr. Roark was born March 17, 1944, to Elva Roark and the late William Edwin Roark, and was predeceased by a son, Randy Neal Roark.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children, Robert Anthony 'Andy' Roark of Keysville, Rhonda Roark Lewis of Gloucester Point, Amanda Roark Noblin of Kenbridge, Steven Edward Roark and Reagan Wyatt Roark, both of Crewe; brothers, Don Roark and Howard Roark; sisters, Gaye Lawson and Anne King; three grandchildren, Derrick, Samantha and Jacob.
A funeral service for Mr. Roark was held at Newcomb Allgood Davis Funeral Home in Chase City on May 8 at 11 a.m. Burial was in Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Victoria.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Cancer Society of Virginia or Clarksville Rescue Squad.

Algie Sanford Tuck Sr., 87, husband of Ethel Davis Tuck of the home, died May 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Tuck was born in Mecklenburg County, the son of the late James Fletcher Tuck and Nannie Hite. He owned and operated A.S. Tuck Construction Co. for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, May 9 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel in Clarksville with the Rev. Jack Stewart officiating. Burial will follow at the Buffalo Baptist Church.

Survivors of Mr. Tuck include his wife; two daughters, Priscilla Tuck Overbey of Oxford, N.C. and Sandra Tuck Moore of Buffalo Junction; one son, Algie Sanford Tuck Jr. of Buffalo Junction; one sister, Ethel Issac of Tappahannock; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Joseph Doyle Willis, 78, of Clarksville, died May 7 at his home.
Mr. Willis was born in Rome, Ga. on September 29, 1922, the son of Joseph Clyde Willis and Oda Johnson Willis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathrine Madge Blakely Willis, and one son, Joseph Doyle Willis Jr.
Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Annette Willis Vaughan and husband, Jerry Dean Vaughan of Clarksville, and Mary Elizabeth Willis Kagey and husband, Alan Howard Thomas of Colorado Springs, Col.; two grandchildren, Charles Wayland Nethercutt and wife, Gela Andrice Nethercutt of Effingham, S.C., and Joseph Benjamin Fuller of Portsmouth; four great-grandchildren, Charles Durell Nethercutt, Kathryn Nakita Nethercutt and Naquan Shamont Chandler, all of Effingham, and Lauren Alyssa Fuller of New York, N.Y.; five sisters-in-law, Meta Virginia Blakely of Georgetown, S.C., Jeanette Hatzenbuhler of Jupiter, Fla., Lorraine Brandon of Pine Bluff, Ark., Frances Taylor Blakely of Durham, N.C., and Lamurl Shuman Blakely of Savannah, Ga.
Mr. Willis served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After discharge, he worked and retired from Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk. He lived in the Norfolk, Virginia Beach area for 40 years. He then lived in Halifax County for six years, and in Effingham, S.C. for 15 years, and had recently moved to Clarksville. He was an active member of Evergreen Baptist Church in Effingham.
The family will receive friends and family today, May 9, from 6-8 p.m. at Mayer Funeral Home in Georgetown, S.C.

Charles Wesley Jones, Jr., 69, of Newman, Ga. died Tuesday, May 8 at his home. He was born August 21, 1931 in Savannah, Ga. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1954 and was retired from Delta Airlines.
Surviving are his wife, Margaret Greenwood Jones, two daughters and sons-in-law, Melanie Jones Beaty and John T. Beaty, Jr. of Moreland, and Mary Margaret Jones Norton and Michael S. Norton of Newman; three granddaughters, Morgan Ashley and Lauren Nicole Beaty and Hailey Elizabeth Norton; and one brother Roland B. Jones of Orlando, Fla.
Mr. Jones was predeceased by his parents, Charles W. Jones, Sr. and Louise Nessmith Jones.
A funeral will be held Thursday, May 10 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of McKoon Funeral Home, Newman, with Dr. David Campbell, the Rev. Richard Long and the Rev. George Wannamaker officiating. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends tonight at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 2452 Spring Road, Smyrna, Ga.