Detectives with the South Boston Police Department are investigating
two more break-ins that occurred Wednesday, according to Investigator
T.M. VanAernem.
Officers from the police department responded to Coles Gun Shop
on Broad Street at 1:03 a.m., VanAernem said.
"We received a report of someone attempting to gain entry
into the front door of the business," he said.
After receiving the call, Officer A.C. Fisher arrived within minutes
of the call, finding the glass in both the front door and the
front window shattered.
Despite the damage, VanAernem said police suspect that the suspects
did not gain entry into the business.
Police currently have no suspects in the crime, the investigator
said.
Just moments after the call to the gun shop, at 1:29 a.m., Officer
M. McGregor discovered the front door of Runt Powell's Store on
J.D. Hagood Highway shattered.
McGregor discovered the crime while on patrol, according to police
reports.
According to Investigator B.K. Lovelace, the thief or thieves
broke the front window and took an undisclosed amount of merchandise
and equipment from the business.
Police are currently investigating both break-ins.
Both Lovelace and VanAernem ask that anyone with information about
these or any other crimes contact the South Boston Police Department
at 575-4271 or Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.
These latest crimes come on the heels of a Tuesday break-in at
Schewels Furniture.
VanAernem said following the Tuesday incident that South Boston
investigators are working closely with members of the Halifax
Town Police and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office due to the
similarities between these crimes and incidents reported in the
Town of Halifax.
Both Pino's Pizza and Halifax Auto Suppliers have been burglarized
recently, according to police reports.
"There's a possibility that all of the crimes could have
been committed by the same people," Lovelace said yesterday.
He said the methods of entry were similar in several of the incidents.
"In many of the cases, the suspects broke out the front door
or window to gain access to the businesses," Lovelace added.
In other police business, Thomas Wayne Conner, 45, of Nathalie
was charged with reckless driving following an an accident on
Route 677, approximately one and a half miles north of Route 57
on Tuesday afternoon, according to Trooper D.J. Cline.
Cline said that Conner ran his 1991 Dodge off the right side of
the road and struck a tree.
Conner was listed as injured in the accident.
Cline estimated that the Dodge sustained $2500 in damages.
If you've ever wanted to see what it takes to bring the Gazette-Virginian
to your door three days a week, Saturday is the day for you.
The offices, grounds and production facilities of the Gazette-Virginian
have been landscaped, shined, washed, buffed and dusted as staff
members busily prepare for the open house at the paper's offices
in South Boston.
The public is invited to join the publisher, management and staff
of the paper Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m., as we continue our year-long
100th anniversary celebration.
All aspects of the production of the paper, including photo processing,
composition and pagination and a short press run will be available
for "your viewing pleasure."
"We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday," Publisher
Keith Shelton said.
Staff members will be on hand to answer any questions from the
public.
"I'd like to invite everyone to come out and see what goes
into bringing the paper to their mailbox," Beth Robertson,
managing editor said yesterday. "We use some of the latest
technology, and I think the public will be amazed at how it all
comes together."
Light refreshments will be served, including a birthday cake for
the paper, and guests may register for free newspaper subscriptions.
So come on down, look around and help us celebrate 100 years of
service to the community.
The Gazette-Virginian offices are located at 3201-3201 Halifax
Road in South Boston. Anyone with questions about the event can
call 572-3945.
Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters said yesterday
that there are both good and bad sides to this year's forage crops.
"Like other farming crops and everything else, there's an
upside and a downside to the wheat and hay situation," he
said.
"The upside is that our pastures are in really good shape,"
McPeters observed.
The extension agent said that Halifax County livestock consist
primarily of feeder calves.
"Basically, the more weight we can put on them, the more
dollars we can put in our pockets," he said. "And this
year, our cattle have had plenty to eat."
But McPeters said the downside to this year's forage crops required
some careful planning from producers.
"We have a tremendous hay crop on the land," he said.
"But it's gotten tough and we aren't going to be able to
make any hay out of it.
"If this weather pattern continues for another couple of
weeks, we're going to lose our entire crop," McPeters added.
While the extension agent said that hay production per acre has
been plentiful this year, the quality was rapidly waning.
"If we are able to harvest it, it will be over-mature,"
he said. "Mature hay is low in protein and energy and will
need to be supplemented this winter."
McPeters expects the intake per cow to be reduced due to the "increase
in fiber of over-mature hay."
"Poor quality hay, coupled with reduced intake will result
in poor performance both in milking ability as well as reproduction,"
he warned.
McPeters said farmers could expect reduced and/or delayed cycling
of cattle on poor quality of feed.
"Poor quality feeds can also result in retained placenta
and reduced weaning weight of calves," he pointed out.
But McPeters said that farmers who haven't already cut their hay
crop and exposed it to rainfall were "better off than those
that have."
"It's better left standing than cutting it and letting it
get wet," he said.
A lot of farmers depend on corn silage to feed their herd through
the winter, McPeters said, but there are some alternatives that
should be considered this year.
"We need to think about planting grain or forage sorghum
to replace corn silage this year," he suggested. "But
the key is to pick a short-maturing variety to ensure frost doesn't
get to it before you can get it to the silo."
The extension agent said summer annual hays can be seeded up to
July 1 and still produce average yields given a normal season.
"Soybeans or foxtail millet will provide about two-and-a-half
tons per acre of forage of better quality hay than over-mature
fescue," he said.
McPeters recommends seeding two to three bushels of soybeans per
acre and fertilizing with 300 pounds of 0-10-20 per acre.
"Be sure to inoculate the seed to enhance plant growth,"
he said.
Foxtail millet should be seeded at 35 - 40 pounds per acre and
fertilized with 400 pounds of 20-20-20 per acre or equivalent,
according to the extension agent.
"Farmers should harvest soybeans when pods are half full
and harvest foxtail millet at the bloom stage," McPeters
said. "These forages should not be seeded as a mixture, rather
seeded as separate crops."
"I would suggest farmers plant some of those to offset the
quality of the over-mature fescue," he said. "They can
then alternate feedings to balance the rations the cattle are
eating."
Wheat
The extension agent warned that this year's wheat crop is becoming
mature and "needs to be combined as soon as moisture levels
of the grain reach 13 percent."
But he said the wet, rainy and high-humidity weather continue
to keep the grain too wet for harvesting.
"The wind has blown over some wheat," he said. "Producers
who purchased crop insurance should contact their insurance agent
if the wet weather continues."
McPeters said that some wheat fields have begun to deteriorate
due to frequent rains while others are becoming green with ragweed
and other weed pests.
Grain receiving stations will not tolerate green weed trash in
combined wheat without the farmer taking a hit on the receiving
price, according to the extension agent.
But proper action on the part of the producer ensures a better
price.
"Wheat can be sprayed with a herbicide prior to harvesting
to kill green weed pests," he said.
McPeters recommends labeled herbicides for controlling weeds in
wheat to be harvested, including Roundup Ultra Max at .8 to 1.6
pints per acre or 2-4-D Amine at one to two pints per acre.
"But producers should consider the cost of herbicide treatment
and losses from application equipment damages before treating,"
he said.
Producers wishing more information should contact the Halifax
County Extension Office at 476-2147.
Halifax Council cut a proposed machine and
tool tax rate from 30 to 20 cents per assessed $100 before unanimously
approving its $1,222,192 budget Tuesday night.
The budget carries neither real estate nor personal property tax
increases for town residents.
The reduced machine and tool tax rate cut created an estimated
$4,500 loss in the town budget.
Finance Committee Chairman Buddy Guthrie said the town would "try
to make it up in administrative salaries."
The machine and tool tax reduction followed questions by Rick
Hammock of Sunshine Mills at Council's June 10 meeting.
Hammock told Council that his company would be paying $12,200
of the $14,000 the town would collect on its proposed machine
and tool tax rate increase, a jump from one cent to 30 cents.
He said that when the plant was taken into the town during its
boundary expansion in 2000, he recalled the machine and tool tax
was not to be increased.
Town officials also recalled the earlier discussion, but neither
Hammock nor officials could recall a time limit on tax.
Hammock said that Sunshine Mills has worked with the town in many
ways, by helping repair machinery, and by its use of water, with
over half not returned to the sewer plant for processing.
The Finance Committee met immediately prior to the Tuesday night
Council meeting and unanimously voted to lower the rate to 20
cents.
The real estate tax rate remains 22 cents per assessed $100, and
personal property tax remains at 80 cents per $100 in value.
The town's new does carry water/sewer rate increases.
There is a 15-cent per 1000 gallons water and sewer rate increase
for both in-town and out-of-town residents.
There is a $100 decrease ( from $600 to $500 each) in the water/sewer
in-town tapping fee and change to an availability fee.
There is also a decrease in the water/sewer out-of-town tapping
fee ($1,200 to $1000) and change to an availability fee
Following approval of the budget, Council went into executive
session to discuss personnel matters. In open session, Town Manager
Robert Greene, who is retiring this summer, was instructed to
advertise for a replacement for the town manager's position effective
August 1.
By JOE CHANDLER
A successful, though rain-shortened test at VIR a couple of
weeks or so ago has Ward Burton encouraged about his prospects
for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at California's Infineon Speedway.
"Road courses are certainly not one of my favorite races,
but since they aren't going away any time soon we've been working
on that part of our program," said Burton.
"We went to Virginia International Raceway and tested a couple
weeks ago. We worked on shaking the car down, getting the breaks
worn in and just making sure we had a good setup to get us started.
"Even though the test session was cut short by rain, we got
a lot done on a few hours."
Burton pointed out that he was pleased with the results yielded
by the rain-shortened test.
"Overall, we were pleased with the way the car was handling
and the equipment we had on the car," Burton said.
"We got the breaks working good and made some mocked up runs.
It was a good test and we had good cars to gauge ourselves by."
Burton's crew chief, Frank Stoddard, agreed that the test went
well.
"We had a really good test at VIR (Virginia International
Raceway) a couple weeks ago and learned some things about Ward's
driving style on road courses," said Stoddard.
"It was a good chance to get the team familiar with the things
that Ward likes in the car under braking and turning.
Road courses have always been a lot of fun for the driver, but
not so much for the crews," added Stoddard.
"Strategy plays a real important part of the road courses
because track position is paramount in all the race tracks we
run."
Burton said the CAT team's Dodge ran times that were competitive
with the handful of other NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams that
were testing at the famed Halifax County road course the same
day.
"Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon were both there and we all
know they are two great road course racers," Burton said.
"Compared to them, I felt like we were competitive enough
to have a car good enough to compete."
The Caterpillar team goes to Infineon Raceway with car 46, the
same car it ran at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International
Speedway last year.
In last year's event, Burton started 11th and was running in the
top 10 when a gear in the transmission broke. Burton was relegated
to a 40th place finish as a result.
Burton fared well at the California road course in the 2001 running
of the Dodge/Save Mart 350, starting fifth and finishing sixth.
"We've all worked real hard at getting the CAT team's road
course program better in the past few years," Burton pointed
out.
"It used to be that I dreaded going to those race tracks
and then I had some coaching help that taught me some braking
techniques and driving techniques and that immediately helped.
"I hope we can go out there and start up front and stay up
front," Burton concluded.
Cleo Lee Bagby
Cleo Lee 'Stoney' Bagby, 63, of 1038 Woods Creek Lane, Scottsburg,
died June 18 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bagby was born in Mecklenburg County on August 23, 1939, the
son of Joseph Robert Bagby and Rosa Redd Bagby and was married
to Ruby Noblin Bagby. He was a member of Nelson Baptist church,
and was retired from Burlington Industries.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel tomorrow,
June 21, at 2 p.m. with the Dr. Tony Brooks and the Rev. Katrina
Brooks officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Bagby include his wife; two daughters, Arlene
B. Morningstar and husband, Jerry, of Buffalo Junction, and Darlene
B. Bowman and husband, Frank, of South Hill; one son, Duane E.
Wilson of Scottsburg; two sisters, Gertie B. Coghill of Buffalo
Junction, and Madeline B. Barbee of Winston-Salem, N.C.; three
granddaughters, Tawny Morningstar, Jennifer Sanders and Crystal
Bowman; and one great-grandson, Camrin A. Morton. He was preceded
in death by two brothers, Ryland and Harvey Bagby; and one sister,
Estelle Sehen.
The family will receive friends this evening between 7:00 and
8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Anyone wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
County Rescue Squad, PO Box 183, South Boston, or Bethel Baptist
Church Building Fund.
James Edward Brown, 90, of 1044 Stovall
Trail, Halifax died June 18 at his home.
Mr. Brown was born in Halifax County on April 7, 1913, the son
of Witcher Brown and Virgil Dodson Brown and was married to Fannie
Younger Brown. He was a member of New Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include his children, Nell Brown, Charlie Brown, Nannie
Commer, Valeria Commer and Ivory Commer; 10 grandchildren; nine
great-grandchildren; and one sister, Louise Lovelace.
Funeral services for Mr. Brown will be held tomorrow, June 21
at 3:30 p.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger
Ford officiating. Burial will follow in New Zion Baptist Church
Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Dennis Wayne Conner, 55, of Louisville,
Ky., died June 14 at his home.
Mr. Conner was born in South Boston on December 25, 1947. He was
married to Dale Duke Conner.
Services will be held June 22 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home
Chapel with the Rev. Doug Martin officiating. Burial will follow
in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Surviving Mr. Conner are his wife; his father, Melvin 'Pete' Conner;
his stepmother, Dorothy Conner, both of South Boston; two daughters,
Jody and Cheri Conner, both of New York, N.Y.; three stepsisters,
Ramona Perrone and Linda Jones, both of New York, and Dottie Lee
Foushee of Roxboro, N.C.; two stepbrothers, Greg Crenshaw of Pinehurst,
N.C. and Mark Crenshaw of South Boston. He was preceded in death
by his mother, Laura Gladys Powell Conner.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening between 7:00
and 8:30 at the funeral home.
Carmen Nelida Escalera, 69, of 1083 Jeffress
Trail, Alton, died June 12 at her home.
Mrs. Escalera was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico on June 17, 1933,
the daughter of Pedro and Savina Melendes Ortiz, and was married
to Modesto Escalera Sr. She attended South Boston Church of God,
and was a retired assembly worker with Lumex in Danville.
Graveside services were held June 14 at 2 p.m. at Floral Hills
Memory Gardens in Danville. The Rev. Vance Midgett officiated.
Survivors of Mrs. Escalera include her husband; two daughters,
Carmen Evelyn Rivera of Alton and Maria Escalera of Brooklyn,
N.Y.; four sons, Modesto Escalera Jr. of Fayetteville, N.C., Miguel
Escalera and Luis Escalera and his wife, Rosa, all of Long Island,
N.Y., and Angel A. Escalera and wife, Veronica, of Alton; four
sisters, Nefta Ortiz, Iris Ortiz, and Migdalia Ortiz, all of Puerto
Rico, and Gladys Ortiz of Bronx, N.Y.; four brothers, Rafael and
Victor Ortiz, both of Melbourne, Fla., Juan Ortiz of Boston, Mass.,
and Francisco Ortiz of Ohio; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592.
Funeral services for William T. Marable
were held June 6 at First Seventh Day Adventist Church in Newtonville,
N.J.
Mr. Marable died June 2 in Atlantic City Medical Center, Mainland
Division. He was born in South Boston on November 25, 1931, the
son of John and Rebecca Marable, and was married to Annie Starke
Marable. He was a member of Second Baptist Church of Atlantic
City.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, William Jr. and wife, Sheryl,
of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. and Larry and wife, Sandra, of Bowie,
Md.; one daughter, Annie and her husband, Michael, of Atlantic
City; one brother, John and wife, Nancy, of Washington, D.C.;
sisters-in-law, Virginia Boone of Pleasantville, N.J., Virginia
Starke of Baltimore, Md. and Jessie Marable of South Boston; eight
grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Marable was preceded in death by one son, Raymond S. Marable;
two brothers, James and Archie Marable; and one sister, Nancy
Wood.
Ernest Jake Mills, 87, of 1064 Sinai Road,
South Boston, died Monday, June 16 at his home.
Mr. Mills was born in Halifax County on May 13, 1916, the son
of Howard Mills and Fannie Edmonds Mills, and was married to Mary
Williams Mills. He was a member of New Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Betsy C. Edmunds,
Mary Dixon, Rebecca Ballou and Min. Shirley Woody, all of South
Boston; three sons, Ernest Mills Jr. and James A. Mills, both
of South Boston, and Willie Mills of Halifax; 19 grandchildren;
23 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Ida Mae Williams of Halifax,
Elizabeth Howerton of Danville, Evang. Thalia Ragsdale of South
Boston, and Ellen Dunn of New York, N.Y. Mr. Mills was preceded
in death by one daughter, Adell Mills.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 21 at 1 p.m. at New
Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Roger Ford officiating.
Burial will follow in Union Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Jean Wright Purcell, 58, of 1040 Fox Den
Trail, South Boston, died June 18 at her home.
Mrs. Purcell was born in Henderson, N.C. on September 30, 1944,
the daughter of Durwood Allen Wright and Jean Reams Wright, and
was married to Charles Flounoy Purcell Jr. She was of the Baptist
Faith, was a former coordinator for the Infant Program and former
Head Start director with Halifax Community Action.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Charles Tyler Purcell
of South Boston; one daughter, Teresa S. Lassiter of Louisburg,
N.C.; her mother-in-law, Sylvia C. Corum of Eden, N.C., two special
friends, Yvonne Council and Rachel Long; and one sister, Brenda
Adams of Henderson. She was preceded in death by one son, Robert
Lewis Stainback.
Funeral services for Mrs. Purcell will be held today, June 20
at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Matt Evans
and Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax
Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, or Halifax
Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.
Lillian Conner Roller, 74, of 8125 Mt. Laurel
Road, Clover, died June 18 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Roller was born in Halifax County on January 22, 1929, the
daughter of Elender Ligon Conner and Charlie Whitfield Conner
and was married to Edward Herman Roller Sr. She was a member of
Mt. Laurel United Methodist Church where she was one of the founding
members of the Riley Circle.
Survivors include her husband; six sons, Edward Herman 'Butch'
Roller Jr. and wife, Florence, of Richmond, Ronnie Lee Roller
and wife, Frances, Dennis Keith Roller and wife, Lisa, and Kevin
Wayne Roller and wife, Cheryl, all of Clover, Bobby Roller and
wife, Reya, and Larry Dean Roller and wife, Elizabeth, all of
Scottsburg; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three
sisters, Mildred Rickman of Clover, Wynette Nichols and Elizabeth
Wilborn, both of South Boston. Mrs. Roller was preceded in death
by one sister, Gladys Austin; and three brothers, Curtis, Clarence
and Ernest Conner.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 21 at 2 p.m. at Mt.
Laurel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Pizzeck officiating.
Burial will take place in Clover Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening from 7:00 until 8:30
at Powell Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick
Henry Boys and Girls Home, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528.
Patricia Ann Wyatt, 51, of Landover, Md.,
formerly of Halifax County, died June 16 at Prince George Hospital
Center.
Ms. Wyatt was born in Halifax County on June 5, 1952, the daughter
of Milton Wyatt and Annie Brandon Wyatt. She was a member of First
Baptist Church, Ferry Street, South Boston, and also a member
of American Legion Auxiliary, James E. Walker Unit #26.
Survivors include her father of South Boston; two sisters, Mary
Lee Brandon of Washington, D.C. and Lucille Carver of New Jersey;
and two brothers, Franklin 'Doc' Wyatt and William Clark, both
of South Boston.
Funeral services for Ms. Wyatt will be held tomorrow, June 21
at 11 a.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Penick
Wagstaff officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of 'Doc' Wyatt, 1505
Stebbins Street, South Boston.
W. Ervin Yates, 78, of Marshallberg, N.C.
died June 14 at his home. He was a WWII Veteran.
Services were held June 17 at 6 p.m. at Marshallberg Community
Center with the Rev. Ellis Bedsworth officiating. Burial will
take place in Palmers Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Hillsborough,
N.C. at 6 p.m. on June 24.
Survivors of Mr. Yates include his wife; two sons, Marc Yates
and wife, Joy Good Yates, of South Boston, and Stephen Yates of
Chapel Hill, N.C.; one daughter, Lena S. Yates of Ashville, N.C.;
one brother, James Yates of Chapel Hill; four sisters, Margaret
Cox, Edith J. Keith and Francis Clark, all of Hillsborough, and
Louise Truesdale of Durham, N.C.; three grandchildren; and one
great-granddaughter.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Carteret
County Hospice.