A four-plane formation fly-by of stealth fighters will open
the May 25 unveilling of a memorial honoring 724 Halifax County
citizens who died in combat, the county's War Memorial Commission
announced today.
More than $300,000, virtually all from private donations, was
raised to purchase the highly visible site and erect the memorial,
Commission Chairman Larry Clark said.
The dedication, which begins at 2 p.m., is the culmination of
seven years of effort to erect the memorial, Clark noted.
The project was conceived by former Halifax County High School
history teacher Brodnax Robertson.
The 724 individuals whose names are etched on memorial walls will
be joined by others as they become known, said Douglas W. Powell,
a member of the commission's History Research Committee.
"Hardly a week goes by that we don't learn of additional
names to be added to the monument," Powell stated.
The list thus far includes 17 who perished during the Revolutionary
War, 16 during the War of 1812, one during the Mexican War, and
483 in the War Between the States.
One died in the Spanish-American War, 59 in World War I, 121 in
World War II, eight in the Korean War, 14 in the Vietnam War and
one in the Persian Gulf War.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William R. Watkins III's name will be
the latest inscribed on the War Memorial in Halifax.
The South Boston airman was killed in action April 6 in combat
over Iraq while supporting Special Forces troops on the ground.
The Halifax Woman's Club was a major contributor to the project,
having donated $125,000 to purchase the site. It is located adjacent
to the historic Halifax County Courthouse Square.
The occasion will be highlighted by a speech by former Virginia
Congressman and former Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, Jr.
The public has been invited to a reception immediately following
the dedication at Halifax Town Hall.
While donations have reached the amount needed to pay for the
monument, more is needed to establish a fund for its perpetual
care, commission member Jack Dunavant said.
Those wishing to make gifts for the monument's care are asked
to send donations to Halifax County War Memorial, P.O. Box 24,
Halifax, VA 24558.
The complete list of the 724 names can be found on the commission's
website, www.halifax.com/warmem.
A South Boston man described as a ringleader in the drug trade
in Halifax County was arrested yesterday, according to Maj. R.S.B.
Pulliam of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement
Task Force.
Shawn Demetrius Faulkner, aka "Crow," 25, of Parker
Avenue in South Boston, was arrested on federal indictments by
members of the task force, the South Boston Police Department
and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, according to the task
force leader.
The arrest occurred at an unspecified location in South Boston,
according to police.
Faulkner was charged with two counts of distributing more than
50 grams of crack cocaine, one count of use or possession of a
firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, Pulliam said.
He added that yesterday's arrest was the result of a multi-year
investigation into Faulkner's network.
Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms assisted the task force in the investigation.
"Additional arrests are anticipated in the future,"
Pulliam said.
He said that Faulkner was considered a "major player"
in the drug trade in Halifax County.
"Faulkner has been involved in the drug trade in Halifax
County for about 10 years," Pulliam alleged. "We suspect
him to be a leader in the drug business in the community and suspect
him to be a major supplier of drugs coming into the community."
"Based on impact to the community, this case has been taken
to the federal level due to the fact that he (Faulkner) has had
a great impact on the quality of life in this community,"
he added. "We want to hold him accountable for his actions."
Faulkner is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail
without bond. Pulliam said he will be transported to Roanoke in
the near future, where he will appear before a federal judge.
If you're a commercial truck driver and aren't in compliance
with the Virginia weight and Division of Motor Vehicles regulations,
Halifax County roads are not the ones you want to be on this summer.
First Sergeant Jeff Lane of the Virginia State Police said yesterday
that his department is concentrating on tractor-trailer infractions
throughout the summer.
Yesterday, members of the DMV enforcement department, along with
the state police and the motor carrier department of the state
police, were out in force in the Volens and U.S. 501 South areas
setting up checkpoints and checking for infractions.
And this is just the beginning, Lane said.
"We'll continue to do this at different hours and at different
locations throughout the summer," he said. "Many people
in the trucking industry have this idea that we only set up checkpoints
between nine and five during the week.
"They're mistaken," he added.
Lane said that issuing citations and summons' were not the goal
of the enforcement campaign.
"The main object of this isn't to hand out tickets and collect
fines," he said. "It's to make sure the vehicles are
in compliance with state standards and that they're safe."
The first sergeant said that safety was the biggest reason for
the campaign.
"When trucks are overweight or overheight, they present a
danger to other travelers," he said. "The roads can't
handle the additional weight and they are apt to overturn if they
are over the height limit."
The "turnouts" that are often the site of the checkpoints
have been a blessing, Lane added.
"They have just been a godsend," he said. "They
allow us to safely enforce the motor carrier laws."
To be in compliance, trucks have to meet stringent state and federal
guidelines. The state police have a department that focuses specifically
on those regulations.
Motor carrier troopers, as they are known, can enforce both state
and federal regulations.
"Our motor carrier troopers have a checklist that they go
by," Lane said. "All of their work is safety oriented
to make sure the trucks are in compliance and are safe when they
are on Virginia roads."
He added that when a truck is found to be out of regulation, the
motor carrier officer can have it parked until the infraction
is repaired.
"We will put trucks out of service if the infraction is serious
enough," the first sergeant said. "Once it's parked,
it can't be moved before it's fixed."
According to state police documents, a weight checkpoint was conducted
on April 17.
At that checkpoint, the department assessed 12 weight violations
for a total assessment of fines of $3,457.
They put 16 vehicles out of service for a total of 64 equipment
violations and issued 27 summons/arrests. One of those summons
was for a federal violation.
I'll try my best in every way
But when you get upset with me
Relax and have a pot of tea.
Kindergarten
Mrs. B. Wilkins
Halifax Elementary
Kindergarten tables packed with carefully
drawn, brightly colored paper teapots bearing a single tea bag
await the big day, Mother's Day.
Pride and excitement reined supreme yesterday as these five and
six year olds rushed to share a preview of their artistic gifts
for Mom.
They also shared their own special array of Mother's Day sentiments.
"I like giving her presents because she hugs me," advised
Tyler Gordon, 6. "She takes care of my boo-boos," he
added, immediately hiking his shirt to reveal a small scrape.
"I like when we play," said Jessica Hooper, 5.
"When she watches cartoons with me," said an animated
Ada Logan.
"When she goes to the movie with me. And she watches me blow
bubbles," added a serious Ron Lipscomb, 5.
For Kristen Epps, 6, happy times include "when my daddy plays
ball with me." He also "puts bandaids" on when
needed.
"I like when she has a tea party with me," said Terrika
Wade, 6.
Jeffrey Stovall loves it when his mother "plays games"
with him.
"She's nice," announced Shiiy-Tiek Wyatt .
Dezmon Edmunds likes "to throw baseballs" with his mom.
If Santa Claus were coming, these five and six year olds could
not have been more excited yesterday, a factor kept under control
by a very experienced Mrs. Wilkins.
Halifax County's players knew they needed a win over Patrick
Henry here Wednesday night if they were going to remain in the
thick of the Western Valley District title chase.
The Comets delivered, ringing up an early 3-0 lead and riding
it to a 10-6 district win over Patriots.
Wednesday night's Senior Night victory was the third win in a
row for the Comets and lifted them to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in district
play.
The win put the Comets into a ties with E.C. Glass for second
place in the district standings, a game behind district leader
GW.
"We're at that point now where every win is big," said
Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
"Every win is important coming down the stretch.
Wednesday night's game kicked off the final stretch drive of the
regular season for the Comets.
Last night the Comets were to face Franklin County here in a district
contest.
Today, the Comets travel to Roanoke to face Patrick Henry in another
district game.
The Comets will close out their district and regular season schedule
on the road next week, facing E.C. Glass in Lynchburg at 6 p.m.
Tuesday and ending the season next Friday with a 7 p.m. game against
GW in Danville.
"From the beginning of the season, this stretch is what we've
been playing for," Davis said.
"This is basically the last week of the season. If we can
keep our momentum going, I think we'll be fine."
The Comets did many things right against the Patriots, enough
that a couple of miscues and a four-run PH rally in the final
inning didn't put them in any real danger.
Halifax County stung the Patriots' mound staff for 10 hits with
Brent Long and Jason Lloyd each getting two hits.
Robert Carter, Drew Lewis, Kirby Barbour, Ryan Gieselman and reserves
Jacob Owen and Steven Smith each had a hit in the contest.
Five of the Comets' hits went for extra bases including Long's
two-run round tripper in the bottom of the fifth inning.
"The hits we got were excellent base hits," noted Davis.
"Some of the guys that got hits really needed it. I'm glad
they came through at the right time."
Tyler Clarke had another good night on mound, fanning six PH batters
and scattering three walks and seven hits.
"Tyler went out there and did exactly what we wanted him
to do," said Davis.
"He threw strikes and kept our defense working."
The Comets did what they needed to do early, ringing up three
runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a quick 3-0 lead.
Carter, the leadoff batter, unloaded a triple to start the game
for the Comets and scored on a one-out single by Lloyd.
Long reached base on a fielder's choice and a double to centerfield
by Lewis plated Lloyd and Long to put the Comets up by three runs.
"I thought we jumped on them really well," pointed out
Davis.
"We got three runs on top early. That's what I preach all
the time. I was glad to see the guys come out and do that."
A two-run homer by Patrick Henry's Adam Peters in the top of the
third inning made it a 3-2 score and brought PH back to within
a run.
But the Comets added two runs in the bottom of the third inning
to run their lead back to three runs.
Lloyd smacked a double with one out and took advantage of two
PH errors to score.
With two out, Lewis smacked a long fly ball to centerfield which
was dropped and scampered all the way to third base on the play.
A passed ball allowed Lewis to score and put his team up 5-2.
Long's two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning put the
Comets up 7-2.
Halifax County added its final three runs of the game in the bottom
of the sixth inning when Gieselman walked and moved to third base
on a double by Smith.
A double by Owen scored Gieselman and Smith to make the score
9-2 and a two-out double by Long plated Carter to put the Comets
up 10-2.
Patrick Henry made the game a little closer in the top of the
seventh inning with a four-run rally that made the final 10-6
score.
A Comets error and an interference call on Barbour, the Comets'
catcher put two runners on base and a single loaded the sacks.
PH put together a pair of hits with two out to score the runs
in the last-inning rally.
"We just got a little lax on defense and things started happening,"
said Davis.
"It's all about concentration. We have to do a better job
of concentrating out there in the late innings.
"My hat's off to PH," added Davis.
"They kept coming back at us. They didn't die. They showed
a lot of class by staying in the ball game."
Dossie Ann Taylor Chapman, 98, of 1022 Virgie
Cole Road, South Boston, died May 8, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Chapman was born in Halifax County on June 1, 1904, the daughter
of the late Josh Oscar Taylor and Mary Matoga Hackney Taylor,
and was married to the late Charlie Lee Chapman Sr. She was a
member of Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle, a member of VFW Post 8243
Ladies Auxiliary and was retired from JPS.
A funeral service for Mrs. Chapman will be held at Brooks Funeral
Home Chapel tomorrow, May 10, at 3 p.m. Burial will take place
in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Hazel Clienhans of South Boston;
one son, Charlie L. Chapman Jr. and his wife, Doris, of South
Boston; one granddaughter, Ginger Farmer of South Boston; one
grandson, Michael Chapman of Asheboro, NC; three great-granddaughters,
Cindy Fisher of Scottsburg, Dr. Amy Fears of Hillsville, and Brook
Clienhans of South Boston; two great-grandsons, David Farmer and
Brian Clienhans, both of South Boston; four great-great-grandchildren,
Libby Taylor Fisher and Malory Lea Fisher, both of Scottsburg,
Kenlee Lynn Farmer and Chance Alexander Farmer, both of South
Boston; and two special friends, Kay Wilkins and Callie Dunn.
Mrs. Chapman was preceded in death one daughter, Joyce Ann Chapman;
one grandson, Mervyn E. Clienhans; one great-granddaughter, Tammy
Lynn Seate; and one great-great-grandson, Thomas Seate.
The family will receive friends this evening at Brooks Funeral
Home between 7:00 and 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston.
Mandy Palmer Claiborne, 86, of 1817 Hoover
Street, South Boston, died May 5 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Claiborne was born in Halifax County on June 6, 1916, the
daughter of Dave Palmer and Julia Winbush Palmer, and was married
to Henry Claiborne. She was a member of Five Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Venessa Monger of South Boston;
two grandchildren, Tiberius Monger and Octavis Gray, both of South
Boston; a devoted niece, Verta Scott of South Boston; a devoted
friend, Hazel Gatewood of Philadelphia, PA; one brother-in-law,
Jesse Claiborne of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Claiborne will be held tomorrow, May
10 at 2 p.m. at Five Fork Baptist Church with the Revs. Sandy
Palmer and Moses Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in the
church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Venessa Monger,
1301 Peach Avenue, South Boston.
Julian Palmer Hall, farmer, of Halifax,
died May 8 at his home.
Mr. Hall was born May 26, 1921, in Crystal Hill. His parents were
the late Herbert and Ruth Hall of Halifax.
He served his country for four years in Europe during World War
II. In France, he met Alice, his wife of fifty-four years, who
died in 2000.
Mr. Hall is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Lisa Hall
of Nags Head, NC, and Dick and Christine Hall-Sizemore of Richmond;
one granddaughter, Dr. Alice Julianna Mar and her husband, Humphrey
Mar, of Falls Church; and one brother, John R. Hall of Kissimmee,
FL.
Mr. Hall was a long time member of St. Paschal Baylon Catholic
Church of South Boston.
A funeral service will be held at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic
Church at 10 a.m. tomorrow, May 10. Burial will follow in Halifax
Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 this evening,
May 9, at Powell Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Halifax County
Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, or a charity of
your choice.
Albert McKinsley 'Speedy' King, 66, of Brooklyn,
NY, formerly of South Boston, died May 4 at Franklin General Hospital
in Queens, NY.
Mr. King was born in Halifax County on February 9, 1937, the son
of Nannie Beard King and Roosevelt King. He was married to Barbara
Edmondson King.
Survivors include his mother of Virgilina; his wife; two daughters,
Jeanney Gary and Linda King; one son, Alvin Michael King; two
grandchildren, Adonis Gary and Alvin Michael King II; one sister,
Lina Green of Brooklyn; two brothers, George King of Hollis, NJ
and Henry King of Springfield, NY.
Funeral services for Mr. King will be held May 11 at 2 p.m. at
Jeter's Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Roderick Fitz officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of his mother, 1118
Skylark Trail, Virgilina.
Peggy Loftis Peatross, 77, of Jackson, MS,
formerly of South Boston, died May 3 in Jackson.
The daughter of the late Charles Monroe and Lucille Fitzallen
Sparrow Loftis of South Boston, Mrs. Peatross was born on November
5, 1925.
Survivors include her husband, J.T. Peatross of Jackson; one daughter,
Deborah P. Long of Houston, Texas; two sons, Pete Peatross of
Atlanta, GA and Edward Peatross of Jackson; five grandchildren;
two sisters, Nancy L. Powell of Newport News and Charlotte L.
Carmichael of Baltimore, MD; and one brother, N. Page Loftis of
South Boston.
Mrs. Peatross was the first woman to serve as a sales representative
for Moore Business Forms in Jackson, was active in the D.A.R.
and in the First Christian Church of Jackson where she served
as an elder. She also taught adult literacy and reading on educational
television.
Funeral services were held May 6 in Jackson.
Anyone wishing to make a memorial should consider the American
Lung Association or the charity of your choice.