Supervisors unanimously voted Monday night to send a budget
with no real estate or personal property tax hikes to public hearing
June 23.
The Board also cut a $500,000 request by the Industrial Development
Authority for capital outlay or economic development incentives
from the proposed budget.
The "no tax increase" decision came on a motion by Supervisor
Tom West, leaving the existing 42-cent per assessed $100 real
estate tax rate and the $1.76 personal property rates in place.
Prior to last night's action projected budget expenditures had
been $69,045,192.
Projected revenue had included a two-cent real estate and 14-cent
personal property tax increase (producing $754,000) or consideration
of a four-cent real estate tax, (producing $756,964).
Earlier Finance Committee recommendations had included a two-cent
per assessed $100 real estate tax rate increase and a 14- cent
increase on personal property.
"Some other stuff needs to be cut out," Supervisor R.E.
"Dickie" Abbott said Monday night of the proposed budget.
"I've got it marked."
While the no tax increase decision was unanimous, Finance Committee
Chairman James Edmunds warned citizens that in seven years the
county faced a loss of about $4 million in school funding from
the composite index.
Edmunds also said an estimated $2 million will be needed for landfill.
"The harsh reality is seven years is coming and we are going
to have to raise taxes 20 cents," said David Martin, chairman
of the Board.
Edmunds said that with the landfill problems included, it would
take a 28-cent increase over seven years. The said the committee
had weighed the four-cent increase annually, "gradually,"
instead of waiting to have a huge tax increase later.
Edmunds had called for a one-cent tax real estate tax increase
and taking the IDA's $500,000 request out of the budget prior
to West's motion.
West assured Halifax County IDA Director Scott Morris that if
the funds were needed in the future to entice industry to the
area, supervisors would stand ready to assist.
"At some point, someone has to pay," Edmunds said.
"If we increase taxes now, it will be spent and we'll be
in same situation," countered Supervisor West.
"Or decrease spending," said County Administrator Joe
Martin.
The no tax increase decision followed a line-by-line questioning
of a string of budgeted items by Marcia Harris (see Harris story
page 10).
"I trusted you while you paid $44,000 an acre for nine acres
of land adjacent to the airport, $700,000 for Riverstone while
it was assessed at $179,000 ....," charged Harris.
"Just give us a break this year. Department heads are losing
control, being told what to submit. Do your part and help. If
things get worse, what are we going to do?
"This is a great county office for the most part. We want
to do our part. There are millions of dollars in this budget that
you can cut out if you want to," charged Harris.
Several retired residents sought budget constraint from supervisors.
H.D. "Gene" Riddle called for scrutiny of the budget
for wasteful and foolish spending.
"That was the first thing I asked," Edmunds said, naming
tax relief for the elderly and disabled. He said a formula is
being crafted and that a recommendation is expected within a few
months.
One resident who lost her job said she had bills galore and asked
supervisors to "please" not raise taxes. She suggested
bringing new businesses into abandoned industrial sites.
Ralph Tuck, a Virgilina farmer, encouraged supervisors to forget
any tax increase that does not support public schools.
Former supervisor O.B. "John" Tate told supervisors
that "one thing industry looks at is a tax base," and
urged the Board not to raise taxes.
"What have you done since on the Board for senior citizens?"
he asked. He said those people have problems paying medical bills,
taxes, etc., adding the reassessment will raise taxes.
Other speakers included Eugene Morris, Virginia Hightower and
Thomas Hines, among others.
The public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m.
Monday, June 23, at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
South Boston attorney Kim Slayton White and incumbent Sheriff
Jeff Oakes claimed victory yesterday in the hotly contested Republican
primary, with White carrying all but two precincts.
She swept to victory with 3,969 votes to incumbent CA John Greenbacker
Jr.'s 2,471, losing only the Clays Mill precinct by one vote and
Virgilina by 40 votes.
The sheriff's race was much closer, however, with incumbent Sheriff
Jeff Oakes narrowly overcoming a challenge by newcomer Keith Tribble.
Only 292 separated the candidates.
Oakes captured 3,351 votes and challenger Tribble, 3,059.
Shortly after claiming victory, White said she was thrilled with
the victory.
"I am overwhelmed and thrilled by the support that the community
has given me today. I am excited about continuing in this race.
I really, really want this job," White said.
The GOP nominee said she decided early on to run a positive campaign
and "the comments I've heard from voters is that they liked
the upbeat momentum that we have in this campaign.
"I look forward to receiving support from the community in
November," she continued.
Greenbacker was gracious in defeat and offered his and the support
of the Republican party to Kim White.
"I've been in this office for fifteen and one-half years
it's been a long run," he said. "But everything has
to come to an end.
"Mrs. White put together an excellent campaign," Greenbacker
admitted. "I truly think she will be the best person to take
over this office. I wish her luck and I wish Halifax County luck."
What did he view as differences in campaign?
"Fifteen years of rubbing people the wrong way," Greenbacker
said. "It also appears to me that the crossover vote made
a huge difference."
Sheriff Oakes admitted his surprise when asked how he felt about
the narrow margin of victory in the primary.
"It bothers me to a certain extent, because I feel like I
am not getting my message to the people I need to educate,"
he said.
But Oakes had some kind words for the challenger.
"I think his support is a reflection of the effort Mr. Tribble
put into getting his message out," Oakes said.
Sheriff Oakes said he would continue to campaign on the same platform,
but admitted he would change the focus of his campaign somewhat
for the November election.
"I'm going to continue to try to get the same message out,
he said. "But I plan to put more emphasis on other achievements
than just the task force," he added.
"I think Mr. Tribble is to be commended for getting his supporters
enthusiastic about his campaign. It is obvious he is connected
to some people that know how to run a campaign."
Although decidedly disappointed, Tribble said he was grateful
for the support his campaign received.
"I think we put up a good fight," he said. "I would
like to take this opportunity to thank all the good people who
helped me. I gave this campaign 110 percent and I wouldn't do
anything differently. I will support the Republican Party this
fall."
The Republican nominees will next do battle in the November General
Election when White faces independent candidate Robert Meeks for
the Commonwealth's Attorney post and Oakes is pitted against a
host of candidates.
Expected to challenge Oakes are Democrat Ray Link and independents
Freddie Edmunds, Todd Moser and Shawn Sweeney.
White began her career in 1988 with Vaughan and Slayton, a South
Boston law firm.
In 1991, she began serving in the Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney
office, where she rose to the rank of Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney
in charge of violent crime.
She also served as a special U.S. Attorney on federal cases during
her stint in Lynchburg.
White is a graduate of Mary Washington College and Mercer University
Law School in Macon, Ga.
She and her husband Dave are the parents of two children, David
Hampton White III, and Katherine Winfield White.
Another suspect has been arrested and charged with the 1993
murders of two men, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax
County Sheriff's Office.
Louis Jordan Powell Jr., aka "J.J." 31, of Chatham Road
in Halifax, was charged Monday with the murders of 23-year-old
Joseph Gerrard Gibbons of Lynchburg and 20-year-old John Raleigh
LaPrade of Rustburg.
The arrest of Powell comes just days after Pulliam announced the
arrest of Verlie Marion Word, 30, of Chatham Road in Halifax,
and Dexter Lamont Dixon, 30, of Bane Street in South Boston, were
arrested.
Powell is currently incarcerated in Roanoke City Jail on federal
drug charges.
He pleaded guilty in September, 2001 to one count of conspiracy
to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, one count of
distribution of more than five grams of crack cocaine, one count
of distribution of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, one count
of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense and
one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He is awaiting sentencing and has pleaded to a minimum mandatory
25 years incarceration.
All three men have been charged with 13-count indictments charging
them with the shooting deaths of Gibbons and LaPrade.
The shooting occurred on December 21, 1993, according to Sheriff
D.J. Oakes.
At the time of the murders, police became aware of the crime when
a vehicle pulled onto the lot of the Riverdale Amoco on Highway
58 west in Riverdale.
According to Pulliam, the driver, later identified as Gibbons,
got out of the vehicle, collapsed and died at the scene.
LaPrade, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was also pronounced
dead at the scene.
"The driver and passenger had both been shot in the back
of the head execution-style," Oakes said.
The ensuing investigation into the crime revealed that the vehicle
was a rental car.
In 2001, when members of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic
Enforcement Task force were conducting an investigation into a
drug operation, new and relevant information into the two murders
was uncovered that led to the three arrests.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said he would be seeking
the death penalty.
"This is a capital case," he said. "I drew up the
indictments myself.
"The basis for the capital charges really derives from the
fact that this is the killing of two or more people in the same
criminal transaction and secondly the individual killings are
murder in the course of a robbery."
Greenbacker said he was at the 1993 crime scene.
"When these bodies were discovered there was also a large
amount of cocaine and cash money discovered," he said.
Pulliam said investigators discovered approximately one-half ounce
of crack cocaine and $3,000 cash in the vehicle.
All three men have been charged with the following:
· The capital murder of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· The capital murder of Gibbons during the commission of
a robbery or attempted robbery.
· The capital murder of LaPrade during the commission of
a robbery or attempted robbery.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of the
murders of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· Two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission
of capital murder.
· The murder of Gibbons.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of Gibbons'
murder.
· The murder of LaPrade.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of the LaPrade
murder.
· Conspiracy to commit two counts of robbery.
· The robbery of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of robbery.
"The principal bullet wound was almost directly in the back
of the head," Greenbacker said of LaPrade's wounds. "We
believe that the assailant was in the back seat and got out and
went around the side of the car in the front.
"The trigger man shot Gibbons in the side of the head behind
the ear and slightly above it," the commonwealth's attorney
said.
Investigators believe that Gibbons remained alive long enough
to put the vehicle in motion.
"It went down the hill and across Route 58 without stopping
and ended up in the Amoco lot near the front door," Greenbacker
said. "Gibbons got out of the car, tried to get to the front
door to get help and collapsed on the sidewalk."
Officials speculate that robbery was the motive for the crimes.
"There will be proof that the individuals who participated
in the robbery attempt had been advised beforehand that these
folks were in town peddling their wares and felt that this would
be an excellent opportunity for them," the prosecutor said.
In other police business, Anthony Baptist, 39, of Lovetown Road
in Buffalo Junction, was arrested yesterday and charged with the
possession of marijuana.
The alleged offense occurred July 17, 2002.
Deputy P.C. Clayton was the arresting deputy.
Supervisors want to meet with the School
Board to revisit the Virgilina School issue, and are unanimously
asking school officials not to alter Virgilina Elementary in a
way that "would reduce the option of re-use of the school
facility."
Supervisors Tom West and C.W. Rorrer opposed the motion to revisit
the school closing decision in a 6-2 vote.
The Board also wants to focus on elementary school planning, including
the communities served by Wilson Memorial, Halifax, Sinai, Virgilina
and the South Boston schools.
Virgilina Mayor John Youngk warned supervisors Monday that "decisive
action has to be taken tonight."
VES supporters told supervisors they feared the school would be
stripped of its equipment by school officials and unusable if
supervisors didn't take some action.
Youngk was adamant.
"You guys have passed over a violation. We are not talking
about opinion. We have been lied to, wronged. There is an element
that thinks you should be responsive," the mayor said. "It
is a serious issue."
The Board's action came Monday night following Youngk's urging
and a passionate and sometimes fiery call to the Board by South
Boston attorney Willard Greer to respond to voters.
Greer was the spokesman for Virgilina area residents when the
session opened.
He told supervisors that petitions bearing over 1,100 names to
sustain VES and other elementary schools had been quickly collected.
"We don't want any centralization of elementary schools,"
Greer told the Board.
"We have stout-hearted people in Virgilina, and they are
not going to stop whatever you do, but we hope you will see the
wisdom of not consolidating schools," he urged the Board.
The South Boston man told supervisors that after public hearings
at Halifax and C.H. Friend elementary schools, the "overwhelming
majority of residents" were against consolidation.
He also said the School Board had backed off a $50 million referendum
for capital spending.
Greer told supervisors that Virgilina is "on a solid path
and it is growing," and he charged the School Board with
lying to the people and with bridling their constitutional rights
to speak out at meetings.
"You cannot have a democracy if people are not allowed to
speak," he said. "The constitution is supreme. If we
have to go to court, we are going to prove it."
Charges that the School Board is led by a bureaucrat who is not
needed in Halifax County were leveled by VES supporters.
"We are here to focus on the little children of this community.
Education is the most important thing in the world," the
attorney said.
Noting the high scores at VES, Greer said, "We don't need
tennis courts (currently being built at high school). We need
to get every school in the county down to (a) 15 to one"
teacher/student ratio.
"We are going to have a new School Board. Mr. Witt is going
to go," said Greer.
Supervisor Lottie Nunn told the crowd that children five and six
years old would be on the bus three hours a day traveling from
the Virgilina area to Cluster Springs/South of Dan schools.
"All neighborhood schools are better," said Supervisor
R.E. "Dickie" Abbott.
When the motion to ask the School Board to revisit the Virgilina
closing decision passed, David Martin, chairman of the Board of
Supervisors, said, "I think it is worth fighting for."
"We cannot tell the School Board to keep Virgilina open,"
said Edmunds, noting the supervisors' actions are limited by law
and that School Board members are elected officials.
Following several failed motions, Supervisor James Edmunds said
that "some realistic numbers and expenses to keep Virgilina
open, as well as to make all schools equitable" in teacher/student
ratios was needed.
"People are seeking equity ratios" for their children,
he said.
Failed Motions
Supervisor Nunn offered a motion asking supervisors to send a
resolution to the School Board requesting no consolidating of
elementary schools, no closing of schools and, a strong recommendation
that the School Board consider reversal of the decision to close
Virgilina Elementary School.
But Supervisor William Fitzgerald offered a substitute motion
asking school officials to revisit the closing of Virgilina Elementary
School, along with a request for no further consolidation of schools.
On that motion, only Fitzgerald and Supervisor Edmunds voted yes,
with all others opposed.
On Nunn's original motion, Abbott, Ronnie Vaughan, Nunn and David
Martin voted yes with Edmunds, C.W. Rorrer, Fitzgerald and Tom
West opposing. In a tie vote, a resolution fails.
A motion by Vaughan that supervisors send a resolution to school
officials to leave VES open also failed on a tie vote. Abbott,
Martin, Vaughan and Nunn voted yes with West, Fitzgerald, Edmunds
and Rorrer opposing.
Disaster Declaration
In other business, supervisors also asked staff to begin the process
for a disaster declaration due to the extremely wet weather conditions
by farmers in the county, which impact hay, tobacco, corn, cantaloupes
and other agricultural products.
Supervisors postponed consideration of the school building program
by the full Board at the Monday night meeting.
By JOE CHANDLER
Robert Huffman knows what it takes to be successful on the
NASCAR Goody's Dash Series circuit.
He won three straight NASCAR Goody's Dash Series titles in 1998,
1999 and 2000 but fell shy in his title bid the past two years.
This season, the Claremont, NC driver has his eyes set on the
title once again.
Huffman enters Saturday's $48,575 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series 150
here at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway with wins in two of
the season's first three races and holds the series points lead
with a 58-point cushion.
That, by anyone's standard, is a great start to a season.
"We've really had a good season so far," said Huffman
who will pilot a Toyota Celica in Saturday's 150-lap race.
"We've won two of the first three races and finished fourth
in the other one and had a shot at winning it. We're really excited."
With two wins and three top-five finishes in the season's first
three races, Huffman has gotten his year off to the kind of start
many drivers dream about.
"I don't know if it is the kind of start you thought you
could have but it's the kind you wish you could have," Huffman
said.
"You have to take every race like you're going to win this
championship and that's what we're trying to do.
"We'd really like to win this championship for Toyota and
our sponsor, White House Apple Juice," he added.
The fact that this season's NASCAR Goody's Dash Series schedule
contains only eight events makes each race a critical one.
"Every race is really crucial to the points championship,"
said Huffman.
"We're taking it one race at a time being as how we have
only eight races. Hopefully we can be a little more competitive
every week."
Huffman says he is looking forward to returning to Big Daddy's
South Boston Speedway for Saturday night's event.
In last year's race, Huffman was running in the top three when
another car tagged his Toyota and he spun down the backstretch.
Unfortunately, the incident was a continuation of a streak of
bad luck that has befallen Huffman here at the .4-mile oval.
"We've run very well here the last three races here but just
haven't had very good luck," said Huffman.
"It's awful frustrating when things like that happen. But,
the shoe could be on the other foot at any time. Racing is racing.
You just have to take it as it comes and deal with it as you go.
We're going to turn it around here this year and win this race."
When asked if the incident in last year's race makes him that
much more determined to return here and prove a point Saturday
night, Huffman says he always races with determination.
"I'm pretty determined to win every week," Huffman pointed
out.
"We put forth a good effort every time we go to the race
track. When people ask me how I feel I'm going to do, I tell them
I'm going to win. That's what I'm there for. If it doesn't play
out that way, we just have to take what is dealt to us."
The fact that Huffman brought his Toyota here last week for a
test session shows how much emphasis he is placing on Saturday
night's 150-lap race.
"NASCAR allows us only two tests per year," pointed
out Huffman.
"I feel like our speedway stuff is pretty much in line. We've
run well at Charlotte and Kentucky and places like that.
"I haven't won here at South Boston yet," continued
Huffman.
"And, I haven't won at Greenville-Pickens (SC) in my career.
I felt like we needed to go to these two places and test and hopefully
we can win."
Huffman says he likes coming to Big Daddy's South Boston and facing
the challenge it offers.
"I really look forward to coming here and I enjoy racing
here," said Huffman during a break in a test session here
last week.
"This is a driver's kind of race track. Your race car has
got to stay hooked up all night and you've got to keep it on the
bottom up off the corner.
"That's why I think our package has been pretty good,"
added Huffman.
"We're bringing the oldest car we have back here. It's my
favorite car. Out of the 40 races I've won, this car has probably
won 20 or 25 of them. The car is about six-years-old. I just enjoy
racing it. It feels good. I think it's going to be the secret
it takes to win."
Huffman said he drove the car which has been named "Lucky,"
twice last year.
The results were, however, anything but lucky.
"Last year we had our worst two finishes with it," said
Huffman.
"We had little things to break."
But that hasn't stopped Huffman from bringing the car back out
again this season.
"We ran it at the dirt track and sat on the outside pole
and should have won that race," noted Huffman.
"It turns good (in the corners) so we decided to bring it
up here."
While Huffman knows a win here Saturday night will help to further
cement his title bid, he knows he has some tough competitors trying
to upset the apple cart.
"The Hobgoods are always good," said Huffman,"
and Randy Humphrey is third in the points. There is a handful
of guys that really have a good shot at winning this thing. The
secret to it is you're going to have to finish in then top five
every week when you can't win.
"You're not going to be able to afford to have a DNF (did
not finish)," added Huffman.
Louise Jennings Jacobs of Bronx, N.Y., formerly
of Halifax County, died June 7 in New York. She was the daughter
of the late John and Martha Jennings of Nathalie.
Survivors of Mrs. Jacobs include her husband, Joe Jacobs; two
sons, Barry and Kenny Jacobs, all of the home; one granddaughter,
Martika Williams; three sisters, Betty Nichols of Baltimore, MD,
Catherine Jennings of Bronx, N.Y., and Gracie Ragsdale of Nathalie;
two brothers, Joe Jennings and wife, Peggy, of Philadelphia, Pa.
and Richard Jennings and his wife, Cornelia, of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jacobs will be held tomorrow, June 12,
at noon at Fellowship Covenant Church in Bronx. Burial will follow
in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y.
James C. 'Jim' King, 62, of Decatur, Ga.
died May 31 at his home.
Funeral services were held June 3 at 2 p.m. at Ward's Fairview
Chapel. Burial followed in the Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge,
Ga.
A native of Virginia, Mr. King was the former owner of Jim's Tree
Service.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Decatur; three daughters,
Pamelia K. Powell of Nathalie, Tammy K. Watts of Halifax, and
Lisa King of High Point, N.C.; two sons, Chris King of High Point
and Todd King of S.C.; three grandchildren, Crystal Powell, Devin
Watts and Regina King; one great-grandchild, Lindsey Hammock;
four brothers, Herman, Roy, Burke and Roger King; and four sisters,
Virginia Hanes, Virgie Marsh, Susie Waller and Emma Thornton.
Henry Preston 'Pete' Terry, 67, of 2007
Sinai Road, South Boston, died June 9 at Twin Oaks Convalescent
Home.
Mr. Terry was born in Halifax County on November 28, 1935, the
son of Claude Stephen Terry and Sallie Clark Terry. He was married
to Hattie Womack Terry and was a member of New Vernon Baptist
Church. Mr. Terry was a retired employee of Daystrom Furniture
Company.
Survivors include three daughters, Thalia T. Traynham, Avaris
N. Terry and JaDalyn V. Terry, all of South Boston; one son, Derwin
L. Terry of Cusseta, Ga.; four grandchildren; four sisters, Catherine
Jefferson, Laverne Terry and Claudia Carter, all of Richmond,
and Gladys T. Wimbush of Vernon Hill; four brothers, Wallace and
John 'Eddie' Terry, both of South Boston, the Rev. Samuel C. Terry
of Lynchburg, and Cordell Terry of Albany, N.Y.
Funeral services for Mr. Terry will be held June 14 at 1 p.m.
at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Ford officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.