Monday, June 14, 2004

Drug Task Force Disbands
Oakes: In Process Of Being Restructured; Enforcement Efforts Continue

Although efforts to reconfigure the project are underway, the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force will cease to exist on June 30, according to Sheriff D.J. Oakes.

But both Oakes and South Boston Police Chief Mick Reed insist the move will have little effect on drug enforcement in the community.

"We have taken steps to continue to work together," Reed said.

The chief said those steps were taken to ensure continued cooperation between the two agencies.

"We've done more than shake hands and say we'll keep working together," he said. "The name may be changed, but the project is still in place."

Reed said the community "will not be hurt in any way" by the move.

"The one thing everyone unanimously agrees on is that this community needs to maintain a combined effort to continue to address the issue of illegal drugs," Reed added. "We've not given up anything. But the current format under which we operate has been altered."

"In its current configuration, it's over," Oakes said Friday. "There's a supervisory structure that continues to meet, but the people who work in the field are doing something different."

"I see this as nothing more than an evolution," Reed said. "In any project, there comes a time when you need to step back, reassess the situation and evolve."

Oakes said the decision to disband was made "about a month ago" by the four agencies involved and would only say that there were "personal issues" involved and all four agencies had vowed not to reveal the particulars of their differences.

But the sheriff added that he would have liked to see the task force stay together.

"It's been an excellent and valuable resource for the county," he said. "But there were some issues that we could not resolve.

"We just sort of had a difference of opinion on where drug enforcement ought to go," he said. "We agreed to disagree."

Composed of members of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the South Boston Police Department, the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the present task force was formed in the late 1990s. The "regional" task force dates to the mid-1980s and initially included law enforcement agencies from within the Southside Regional Planning Commission.

The task force operated under a "command group" composed of Oakes, Reed, Lt. Jerry Barbour of the state police and Special Agent Buddy Driscoll of Virginia ABC.

Oakes said that efforts to restructure the task force are underway and his office and the South Boston Police Department are continuing to exchange information.

He said that he would like to see the pair more closely aligned in the future.
"The two agencies are a formidable group working together," he said. "ABC and the state police have duties outside of drug enforcement. Administrative and clerical duties take them away from being here 24/7."

Both Reed and Oakes said the four agencies are continuing to meet and share information and intelligence at least monthly.

"We have agreed to continue to meet and exchange information and discuss cases and information," Oakes said. "The four of us have a very good personal and professional relationship. We speak candidly."

The only job loss from the restructuring is a part-time secretarial position.

Sheriff Oakes said his department's budget, which goes into effect July 1, has no money allocated for investigative funds, drug enforcement relating to the purchase of drugs as part of an investigation and compensation for drug informants.

The budget also cuts $17,000 earmarked for task force operations next year.
"I hope the breakup will be short-lived," Oakes said. "Maybe it will let us look at ourselves. Maybe what we thought we wanted to do is not working. Maybe it wasn't broken."

HCHS Graduates 350 Seniors
Thousands Gather To Honor The Class Of 2004

Thousands of family and friends were on hand Friday night to pay homage to the 350 seniors graduating from Halifax County High School.

The valedictorian for the Class of 2004 is Lucas B. Gravitt and Charlotte M. Sibley was honored as salutatorian.

Rounding out the top 10 students (in order) were Lauren Armstrong, Benjamin Slabach, Patricia Knutti, Jessica Nelson, Kate Poirier, Kathryn McAbee, Steven Weadon and Andrew Green.

During the ceremony, Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt, who is retiring at the end of the school year, was honored with a plaque from faculty and staff at the high school.

Focusing on a new beginning in their lives, the three commencement speakers said they were eager for the challenges that lie ahead.

"Now I am eager to take on the responsibility that so frightened me a year ago," said Lauren Rebeckah Armstrong during her commencement address. "I am eager for the new experiences and new relationships.

"T.S. Eliot once said 'What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.' I am eager to author a new chapter in my own life."

In a humorous commencement address, Gravitt said graduation was symbolic of "the downward spiral to parentdom."

"Our faces will begin to wrinkle, and those once-sexy six packs will become kegs.

"Our backs will begin to ache, our feet will begin to ache, our legs will begin to ache, our heads will begin to ache and we'll spend all day talking about them with friends. We'll start diets that, due to secret midnight cookie runs, always seem to fail.

"Despite all this, there are a few benefits.We'll get to surpprise our kids every Christmas with gifts.

"We'll get to have breakfast in bed on Mother's and Father's Days. We'll get to see our kids grow into respectable adults.

"You know, becoming our parents doesn't sound too bad," he said. "Class of 2004, WE MADE IT!"

Sibley challenged the class to strive for greatness but put happiness first.

"With a diploma in hand, the playing field will be leveled and eash of us will be afforded the opportunity to make a fresh start," she said. "The infinitely important certificate renders irrelevant test scores and other mundane details of our high school careers.

"Years from now, it will not matter where you were ranked in our graduating class or how many perfect SOL scores you received. What will be important is the wisdom you carry with you and what you choose to do with it.

"Right now, each of you holds a world of opportunity in the palm of your hand.

The key is to be sensible and take advantage of the chances that will inevitably present themselves," Sibley added.

"Maintaining a sense of happiness is also integral to long-term self-satisfaction," she said. "Each of us must concentrate on the ways in which we can make positive impacts on the world around us instead of occupying ourselves with the larger evils that plague society.

"Each day that we are alive is a gift from God, so we should make the most of any given situation," Sibley said.

Budget, EDA On Council Agenda
SoBo Finance Committee Meeting This Morning Has Options On RE Tax Rate

South Boston Town Council will hold a public hearing tonight to receive comment on a proposed ordinance creating an Economic Development Authority of Halifax.

Council is also expected to adopt its 2004-2005 budget on first reading.

Council will convene at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.

The EDA's focus would be marketing, existing business support and project management, Supervisor Doug Bowman said at supervisors' May meeting.

However, county supervisors last week ordered an Advisory Commission formed to study the issue before organizing an EDA. The study period is 60 days.

Supervisors sought a joint Commission with representatives of the South Boston and Halifax County Industrial Development Authorities, South Boston Town Council and supervisors.

Tonight, South Boston councilmen will decide their course of action on EDA.
In other business, South Boston's Finance Committee is meeting this morning on the eve of Council's first reading of a proposed $11,245,660 budget.

The Finance Committee has the option of recommending Council retain the town's current 19 cents per assessed $100 real estate tax rate or lowering the rate to 17 cents to reflect the recent reassessment increase in value.

The 19-cent rate would add approximately $66,000 in additional revenue, according to a town official.

South Boston staff recommended a $11,245,660 budget earlier this spring, one reflecting neither an effective real estate tax rate increase nor water/sewer rate increases.

However, in presenting its budget recommendation staff cautioned there is a projected $315,555 shortfall in water/sewer funding that must come from the General Fund, rate increases, or a combination of the two as determined by Council.

Council is expected to adopt the FY 2004-2005 budget tonight on first reading.

Council's second reading of the budget and budget adoption is expected at its June 28 meeting.

Tonight, councilmen also are expected to set the operating hours of the South Boston landfill.

Council is expected to make a number of appointments during the Monday night session, naming appointees to the Halifax County South Boston Public Library, the South Boston Board of Zoning Appeals, the Community Arts Center Foundation and the Southside Planning District Commission.

Post 8 Sweeps Opening Twinbill
The South Boston American Legion Post 8 Baseball Team Swept A Twinbill From Albemarle Here Saturday

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

There were some question marks when the South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team opened its season here Saturday.

But the Post 8 players gave coach Chris Conner some good answers and did it quickly.

Post 8 rose to the occasion for Saturday's home season opener and swept a doubleheader from Albemarle Post 74.

In the first game of the district twinbill, Post 8 came up with a big three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull off a 7-6 win.

Later, in the nightcap, Post 8 rode a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning to a 5-2 win.

It was a banner day offensively for Post 8 which had 10 hits in the first game and eight in the nightcap.

In the opener, Robert Carter David Lacks and Justin Armistead each had two hits with Dion Ferrell, Blake Waller. Scott Gieselman and Bobby Owens getting a hit each.

Later, in the second game, Post 8 got two hits each from Ferrell, Carter and Ryan Gieselman with Waller and Tyler Clarke getting a hit each.

In the first game, Post 8 got a leadoff hit from Ferrell. Carter singled and Lacks walked to load the bases.

Ferrell scored on a passed ball to put Post 8 up 1-0. Waller singled with one out to plate Carter and give Post 8 a 2-0 lead.

Albemarle tagged Clarke, the starting hurler for three hits and two runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game.

Post 8 jumped back on top with a run in the bottom of the inning with Ferrell reaching base on a fielder's choice and scoring on a hit by Carter.

Albemarle came back to pick up four hits in the top of the fourth inning, scored three runs and gained a 5-3 lead.

Post 8 answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut its deficit to a single run.

Armistead led off with a base hit and scored on a double by Lacks to make the score 5-4.

The score stayed that way until the top of the seventh inning when Albemarle took advantage of a Post 8 error and a two-out double off of relief hurler Justin Worsham to tack on what it hoped would be an insurance run and make the score 6-4.

It wasn't enough.

The heart of the Post 8 batting order came alive in a big way to produce three runs and pick up the win in the team's first outing.

Lacks started the rally with a single and Ryan Gieselman and Waller received back-to-back walks to load the sacks with nobody out.

Scott Gieselman delivered the first of the three runs with a run-scoring single that allowed the sacks to remain full.

Later, with the bases loaded and two out, Armistead delivered a two-RBI single that gave Post 8 a 7-6 lead and the win.

Post 8 used two hurlers in the game with Clarke, the starter, allowing eight hits and two walks while fanning one batter.

Worsham, who pitched the final two innings, allowed one hit and one run and fanned two batters.

Post 8 started the nightcap in almost identical fashion to the first game, picking up a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

Ferrell fired up the Post 8 effort early, getting a leadoff double to start the contest.

Carter followed with a hit that moved Ferrell to third base and stole second base to put runners at second base and third base with no out.

After Lacks grounded out to the first baseman Ryan Gieselman hit a grounder to third base. The Albemarle third baseman made the play on Gieselman at first but Ferrell bolted home and scored to give Post 8 the lead.

A Post 8 error and a hit allowed Albemarle to score a run in the top of the second inning and deadlock the game at 1-1.

The score stayed 1-1 until Albemarle took advantage of another Post 8 error and a hit to score a run in the top of the fourth inning and grab a 2-1 lead.

Post 8 produced its game-winning four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead.

The big inning opened with Ryan Gieselman and Waller getting back-to-back base hits and Owens getting a walk to load the bases.

Armistead reached base on an error with two out to plate Gieselman and tie the game.

A two-RBI single by Ferrell gave Post 8 a 4-2 lead and a base hit by Carter scored Armistead to put Post 8 on top 5-2.

Worsham, the starting pitcher, who had yielded only two hits and two runs while fanning one batter through four innings, was relieved by Owens in the top of the fifth inning.

Owens went the rest of the way on the hill, allowing two hits and three walks. He fanned two batters.

The Post 8 defense came up big in the last inning, putting together a nifty double play to squelch any hopes Albemarle may have had for a last inning rally after getting its leadoff batter on base with a walk.

Post 8 has two games on tap this week, both against Chatham Post 1097.

The first game between the two teams will be played Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Chatham High School.

Post 8 will host Post 1097 here Friday at 7 p.m. at Comets Field.

Obituaries

Norman Bennie Bomar

Norman Bennie Bomar, 66, of Nathalie, died Saturday at Halifax Regional Hospital.

He was born in Halifax County on June 14, 1937, the son of the late Eddie Meeks Bomar and Clara Jane Francis Bomar and was the husband of Lousie Woosley Bomar.

Mr. Bomar attended Childrey Baptist Church and was a Brookneal Police Officer.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Norman Keith Bomar and wife Mary of Nathalie and Mark Bomar and wife Dena of Nathalie, one daughter, Terry Lynn Clark and husband Earnest of Gladys, four grandsons, Jared Bomar, Jonathan Bomar, Matthew Clark and Alex Clark, two brothers, Fred Bomar and Ray Bomar, both of Nathalie, and three sisters, Louise Henderson of Nathalie, Joyce Trent of Manassas and Rebecca Layne of Gretna.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church cemetery with the Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating.
The family will receive friends at the residence.

Lawrence Thomas Crawley

Lawrence Thomas Crawley, 48, of 1811 Horseshoe Trail, Cluster Springs died June 9, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Crawley was born in Halifax County on October 30, 1955, the son of Olivia Crawley Lawson and the late Will Thomas Lawson. He was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors include his mother of Cluster Springs; four sisters, Marion Guy of South Boston, Tammy Crawley of Virgilina, Karen Crawley and Joann Crawley, both of Cluster Springs; three brothers, James Lawson of Halifax, Walter Crawley and Michael Crawley, both of Cluster Springs.

Funeral services for Mr. Crawley will be held today, June 14 at 2 p.m. at Zion Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Sylvester Crawley officiating. Burial will follow in the Crawley Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home.

Rosa Ella Marable

Rosa Ella Marable, 96, of Gaithersburg, Md., died Wednesday in her home.
She was born November 9, 1907, in Halifax County, a daughter of the late Letcher Henry Davis and the late Emma Trent Davis, and was married to the late Isaac Marable.

She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Marable is survived by two daughters, Florine Dixon and Bessie Mae Green, both of Gaithersburg, Md., three sons, Isaac Marable Jr. and Nathaniel Marable, both of Danville, and Letcher Henry Marable of Halifax, two sisters, Mattie Chatman and Melinda Harden, both of Danville, numerous grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held today, June 14, at 1 p.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Ford officiating. Internment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of her son, Nathan Marable, 5197 Old Richmond Road, Danville.