From Staff and Wire Reports

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - S. Vance Wilkins Jr. resigned as speaker of the House of Delegates on Thursday after admitting he paid at least $100,000 in hush money to a woman who accused him of sexually harassing her.
"He did the honorable thing," Del. Clarke Hogan, R-Halifax, said yesterday afternoon.
"I guess at the end of the day the speaker, in my opinion, has put the state, the party and the agenda ahead of personal wishes," Hogan added.
Hogan said he hoped history would be kind to the speaker.
"Ten years from now, the people will remember the positive things he's done for the state," Hogan suggested.
"When he could no longer advance that agenda, he stepped aside," he added. "That's how I will always see him."
Wilkins, a Republican who was the state's most powerful legislator, told The Associated Press that he stepped down. The resignation came after a drumbeat of demands from top party officeholders over the past few days.
It was not immediately clear whether Wilkins would retain his seat in the House, where he has been a member for 24 years.
Wilkins' former chief of staff, Claudia Tucker, had no comment when reached by phone yesterday afternoon.
"We gave no press conference, and we will have no press release," Tucker said.
Wilkins, 65, became the state's first Republican speaker in 2000 after leading the GOP to control of the House of Delegates for the first time in history.
Pressure had been growing for Wilkins to resign since last Friday, when The Washington Post reported that Wilkins had reached a settlement with Jennifer L. Thompson.
Thompson claimed Wilkins groped her and pinned her against furniture last year at the building that housed the speaker's hometown office and the road-building company he once owned.
She never filed a claim in court, and the settlement barred Wilkins and Thompson from discussing the allegations, the newspaper said.
Last weekend, Elizabeth Massie, an airline attendant and unsuccessful Amherst mayoral candidate, told The Associated Press and WSET-TV in Lynchburg that Wilkins had groped her at a Christmas party last year. Hosts of the party, in an interview with The News & Advance in Lynchburg, rebutted Massie's claim.
Under House rules, the interim speaker is Del. Lacey Putney, a conservative independent from Bedford who organizes with the Republicans and is chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee. Putney, 73, is an ally of Wilkins and has served in the House for 40 years, making him the longest-serving delegate in history.
A permanent speaker could only be appointed by a vote of the full 100-member House. Among the top contenders for the post include House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith Jr., R-Salem; Del. Leo Wardrup, R-Virginia Beach, who is chairman of the House Republican Caucus; House Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent F. Callahan Jr., R-Fairfax; and Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach.
Callahan, who said he is satisfied with his current position as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, said, ''I think it was the honorable thing to do. He's saving himself, the legislature and the commonwealth a lot of grief.''
As speaker, Wilkins had undisputed control of committee appointments, a distinction that gave him enormous influence to mold legislation and to determine which bills live and which die. Having spent much of his 24 years in the House raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for GOP House candidates, Wilkins also enjoyed deep loyalty within his party.
Last year, the speaker's political action committee, the Dominion Leadership PAC, raised $483,700 as Republicans gained 12 seats, increasing their majority to 64 of the 100 House seats, not counting Putney. The PAC brought in $394,349 in 1999, when the party won its first majority.

Chronology

June 7: The Washington Post reports House of Delegates Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr. paid at least $100,000 last year to settle a sexual harassment complaint. Jennifer L. Thompson claimed Wilkins repeatedly made unwelcome advances, but Wilkins denied the accusations.
June 8: A second woman, flight attendant Elizabeth P. Massie, says Wilkins made unwanted sexual advances toward her last year at a party in Amherst. Wilkins says he does not remember making an improper sexual advance toward Massie.
June 10: Wilkins discusses the allegations during a meeting with members of the House Republican majority that he helped build. Republican leaders, dissatisfied with Wilkins' answers, agree to meet in a week before deciding Wilkins' fate.
June 12: Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, the highest-ranking Republican in state government, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine urge Wilkins to resign.
-From wire reports

Over 35 Halifax residents, businessmen and officials gathered Wednesday to seize the opportunity to create an attractive, thriving county seat.
Gail Moody, Southside Planning District senior planner, described two preliminary county/town grant awards and the first July 24 deadline.
Grant funds are designated for planning, engineering, design, community assessment and analysis.
Surveying economic and visual blight, as well as creating a plan for a vital future are on the planning table.
Utility lines, vacant buildings, uneven sidewalks and crosswalks will be among items documented.
Volunteers agreed to meet June 25 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall for the first planning session.
"These are public meetings and everyone who wants to participate is invited," said Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator.
Halifax, working with the county, has been awarded a T-21 VDOT grant and a Community Development Block Grant.
"The county/town contributes $3,000 and we have certain milestones to meet by the July 24 deadline," explained Lovelace.
County costs will be reimbursed, and if the town is successful in meeting requirements, it will be eligible for up to $17,000 in additional block grant funds, added Lovelace.
About $60,000 in T-21 funds, which also carries conditions, could be available, according to Lovelace.
Moody told those attending the meeting that Halifax is "a unique project since the town is the county seat."
"People will come to the county seat. There is a base and we need to take advantage of it," she added.
"We have lots of opportunity and there is funding available for things we want to do."
The planner said that "money is one thing," but that people are the other essential ingredient.
"We need energy and creative ideas. This is a continuing process," Moody said.
"We want to promote the area. Tourism is one of the best industries you can have," observed Lovelace. "They come, spend money and leave."
The assistant administrator also reminded the crowd that the area has numerous assets, including excellent genealogical records at the courthouse.
He also named the new War Memorial site, the Civil War Trails system, which will have a marker in Halifax, the archeological digs and Civil War history at Staunton River Battlefield State Park, the scenic Staunton River, the historic courthouse and Mountain Road district.
Lovelace urged the public "to share ideas and let imaginations run free."
David Martin, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, said the town has "a heritage worthy of care."
Martin said the community is offered an opportunity to create "an area pleasing to the eye and beneficial to the community."
Halifax's Future
"The 'Sketchbook' that was commissioned by Mayor Bill Covington in the 1970s was visionary and progressive in its scope as this type of model for development is now being heralded as 'new urbanism' utilizing the pre-WWII neighborhood oriented central business district," observed Carl Espy, the town's Planning Commission chairman, in a letter to Moody this year.
For financial reasons, many of the recommendations were not implemented, noted Espy.
"Sadly, today we find Main Street in even greater demise than 30 years ago, with an economic pulse so faint that it is hardly recognizable to an aging generation who recalls its once vibrant beat," added Espy.
But the planning commissioner is optimistic.
Many of the study's recommendations could have "a profound effect on economic revitalization, traffic and parking issues, as well as preserving and improving upon the rich historic, cultural and environmental character that this community is so fortunate to hold," Espy wrote planning commissioners.
"We are trying to blend the physical side to economic side," added Moody.
But the county is looking farther into the future.
"We are trying to develop a program for 2030, not 2002," observed Lovelace.
Planning Committee
Those named to the planning committee included Halifax Town Manager Robert Greene, Town Planner Carl Espy, Country Administrator Joe Morgan, David Martin, chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, Jerry Lovelace, Carol Throckmorton, president of the Halifax Village Business Association, Beth Gillis, with the Halifax Improvement Council, Paula Edmunds and businessman Bill Abbott.

The Halifax United Way, which cut funding to two area agencies this year, announced the following distribution of funds on Wednesday.
· American Red Cross, $15,840.87.
· Mental Health Association of Halifax County, $11,147.28.
· YMCA, $11,147.28.
· Halifax County Mentor Role Model Program, $9,093.83.
· Blue Ridge Mountain Council Boy Scouts, $7,407.07.
· Halifax County Community Action Agency, $5,060.28.
· Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council, $4,546.92.
· Halifax County 4-H Clubs, $3,740.20.
· Halifax County Salvation Army, $1,246.73.
· Halifax County Salvation Army, $1,246.73.
· Association for Retarded Citizens of Halifax County, $733.37.
Cut from this year's funding were the Rescue Squad and the Halifax County Cancer Association.
Those two agencies received only donation earmarked for them during the Halifax United Way campaign.
The Rescue Squad received about $1,800 and the HCCA received $3,218.15 in designated donations.
Last year, HCCA received about $12,000 from HUW, according to Rhonda Reaves, HCCA executive director.
HCCA's board plans to meet with HUW officials June 25 to ask them to reconsider their decision not to fund the organization, Reaves said.
HUW has asked both agencies to submit their budgets for consideration in next year's funding process.

Three area men accused of separate drug-related offenses were convicted Wednesday in Halifax County Circuit Court after entering into plea agreements with the commonwealth.
· Elijah Jarrod Porter, a 29-year-old South Boston man was convicted Wednesday in Halifax County Circuit Court of an amended charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine as an accommodation.
Porter pleaded guilty to the amended charge as the result of a plea agreement with the commonwealth that was accepted by Judge Leslie M. Osborn.
The commonwealth nol prossed a charge alleging Porter conspired to distribute crack cocaine, that action also a result of the plea agreement.
Porter was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with all but two years and two months suspended, conditioned on his good behavior for 10 years.
The court additionally ordered Porter to be placed on probation for one year through Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services (HPCS) following his release, to submit to random drug tests as required, and suspended his operator's license.
· Edward Aaron Bryant Jr., 23, of South Boston, pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and a subsequent offense of DUI.
Under terms of a plea agreement, Bryant was sentenced to five years in prison, with all by 60 days suspended, 30 days in jail for the marijuana charge and 12 months in jail for the DUI offense, with all but 10 days suspended.
Judge Osborn conditioned the suspended time on Bryant's good behavior for five years, and additionally ordered Bryant to be placed on probation through HPCS for one year following his release.
The court ordered Bryant to submit to random drug tests and suspended his operator's license for three years, restricting it for travel to and from work and VASAP meetings until November 19, 2003.
· Giles Zorro King, 21, of South Boston, pleaded guilty to possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with the intent to distribute.
Under terms of a plea agreement, the commonwealth nol prossed an additional charge alleging King conspired to distribute a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
King is free on bond until a sentencing date in the July term of court.
Judge Osborn ordered King be evaluated for the Diversion and Detention programs before that time.
· Lawrence William Byrd, 44, of Halifax, was convicted Wednesday of practicing a profession (contracting) without a Virginia license.
Judge Osborn sentenced Byrd to 12 months in jail, with all but three months suspended, and ordered Byrd to be placed on probation through HPCS for 12 months following his incarceration.
The court additionally ordered Byrd to pay a $500 fine and pay restitution in the amount of $720 to his victim within six months.
· Melissa Palmer Jones, 26, of Nathalie, was convicted Wednesday of breaking and entering the home of Cynthia Stevens.
Jones is free on bond until sentencing in the July term of court.
· Tamika Sheree Crawley, 20, of Cluster Springs, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of petty larceny.
Judge Osborn sentenced Crawley to six months in jail and suspended all but four days, and authorized her to serve her sentence on weekends.
The court additionally ordered Crawley to be placed on probation with HPCS for one year, and pay $600 restitution to her victim within six months.
· Eugene Lee Skipworth II, 19, of South Boston, pleaded guilty Thursday to the grand larceny of a Yamaha dirt bike belonging to Christopher Shotwell.
Under terms of an unwritten plea agreement, the commonwealth nol prossed a charge alleging Skipworth broke and entered the shop of John Shotwell.
Judge William L. Wellons sentenced Skipworth to five years in prison, with all time suspended to time already served, conditioned on Skipworth's good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Skipworth to be placed on probation for one year through the Department of Corrections and pay restitution within 12 months.
· Kristine Kaye White, 33, of South Boston, was sentenced Thursday to five years each in prison on three counts of forging and uttering, with all time suspended.
Judge William L. Wellons ordered White's suspended sentence be conditioned on her good behavior for 15 years, and that she be placed on probation for three years, starting immediately.
The court additionally ordered White to pay restitution of $22,863.
According to court records, the offenses occurred on October 21, 1999, from October 30 to December 17, 1999 and from October 31 to December 29, 1999.
· Susan Anderson Vernon, 44, of Halifax, entered an Alford plea Thursday to an amended indictment of felony eluding an individual police officer, the result of a plea agreement with the commonwealth.
Under terms of an Alford plea, an individual doesn't admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence makes a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
Judge Wellons sentenced Vernon to five years in prison, with all time suspended, conditioned on Vernon's good behavior for five years.
The court additionally ordered Vernon to be placed on probation for six months, to start immediately.
· Antwain Levelle Harris, 22 of Alton, was convicted on Wednesday of conspiring to distribute a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
Judge Osborn ordered Harris be evaluated for the Diversion Center program before a future sentencing date.
Harris is free on bond until that time.
· Duston Chad Montgomery, 26, of Brookneal was found not guilty after a Thursday jury trial of the grand larceny of currency and hunting equipment belonging to Bobby J. Davis.
· The court dismissed charges Wednesday against Hubert Reaves Jr., 29, of South Boston, alleging he violated his probation conditions.

Joseph Wallace Easley

Joseph Wallace Easley, 73, of Nathalie, died June 9 at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Mr. Easley was born in Halifax County on May 18, 1929, the son of the late Estelle Dawson and the late Johnnie Easley.
Survivors include one brother, the Rev. Silas Easley of Nathalie; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Easley will be held tomorrow, June 15, at 1 p.m. at Banister Hill CME Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Francis Coates officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ruby Easley Chism, 1013 Trinity Trail, Halifax.