The debate concerning stricter regulations for confined livestock operations took a new twist Friday as some 30 black farmers met to discuss how these restrictions discriminate against African American farmers trying to get into the hog business.
Phillip J. Haynie III, director of the National Black Farmers Association's Outreach Program, was on hand during the two hour meeting at St. Mark's Baptist Church in Alton to listen to the farmers concerns and discuss the possibility of discrimination.
Individuals attending the meeting denied rumors that a discrimination lawsuit is in the works or even that the subject was discussed during the meeting.
"The Black Farmers Association Representative was there to educate black farmers about how to recognize discrimination and outlined the settlement (from the USDA discrimination suit). As far as a lawsuit, the setbacks have only been proposed, not passed, so how can there be any lawsuit," asked 32-year-old black farmer Stanley Brandon.
Brandon, who has a 75-acre farm in the Alton area, said he has been considering "getting into" hog farming, and hopes the proposed setbacks and restrictions do not pass.
"I don't do it currently, but with these proposed setbacks it just seems as though it's a lot to meet," he said after the meeting.
At the current time, Southside Concerned Citizens chairman Jack Dunavant said he knew of no large, commercial hog producers among African Americans in Halifax County.
And, should the proposed regulations pass, Brandon and others like him feel there won't be, because the increased setbacks would cut out those farmers with less than 650 acres in most cases.
In Brandon's opinion, this cuts out the little man, i.e. the small black farmer.
Others, like 68-year-old William Yancey, agree.
Yancey reportedly expressed his feeling that he has already been squeezed out of the tobacco business, and now that he is trying to diversify, he's finding that he isn't big enough to get into the hog business, either.
It is this claim and the opinion that as a rule in this county most black farmers do not own large farms and will therefore not be able to meet the setbacks that Haynie says he will investigate.
Proponents of the stricter restrictions and deeper setbacks feel the involvement of the Black Farmers Association is simply a diversionary tactic employed by those who oppose the proposed regulations.
"The setbacks that the Halifax County Board of Supervisors are proposing don't have anything to do with race. They have to do with pigs and people," said Dunavant after hearing about Friday's meeting. "I don't know how this got started, but I wonder if the Farm Bureau has been involved in exciting the black community. This is just a diversionary tactic."
In fact, Dunavant said, if anyone should be targeted for investigation it should be the big hog industries.
"It's nothing more than corporate slavery," he said. "Ten years ago there were over 100 hog producers in this county, and now there are just eight. It is the industrial swine facilities that have forced the smaller farmer out."
According to Dunavant, it is just not feasible for a farmer to raise hogs on a small scale, because there is no market for them.
"The small farmer can still raise hogs - up to 750 of them - no question, but there's no market for them," Dunavant said.
Hap Hagood, a member of Southside Concerned Citizens, agreed.
"I think these people who are upset have been misled. Actually, whether you're black or white, if you don't have a large piece of land, these hog industries are not going to do business with you," Hagood said. "In fact, a UNC study showed that these industries usually target the small, low-income communities because they don't speak out and don't have a lot of political clout."
Friday was reportedly to be the first of a series of similar meetings. The date and location of the next meeting was not available, and phone calls to Haynie were not returned.

A public hearing on supervisors' increased hog setback recommendations has been set for Monday, July 12, by the Halifax County Planning Commission.
Supervisors agreed to increased setbacks and added new provisions earlier this month.
But Southside Concerned Citizens continued to call for a mile setback for lagoons and animal confinement buildings from property lines, charging the increased setback was needed to protect neighbors from odor and decreased property values. SCC chairman Jack Dunavant called the 500 ft. proposal "reverse zoning."
The July public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room in Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
There will be at least one additional public hearing regarding this ordinance, one held by the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.
The planning commission "can take action that night or at a later meeting, and that action is open-ended," said assistant county administrator Jerry Lovelace of the July 12 public hearing.
"They can recommend the supervisors' proposal as is, they can modify it, or they can reject it and develop one of their own," explained Lovelace.
"It is critical, however, that interested parties remember this is only a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors (by the planning commission). Only the Board has the authority to amend ordinances," emphasized Lovelace.
Proposed as amendments are the following: intent, definitions, applicability, maximum number of swine on an individual facility, setbacks/offsets for all buildings and accessory/support facilities, setbacks/offsets for land application of liquid wastes, setbacks from existing CAFO facilities, annual well water testing, odor abatement technologies, minimum acreage requirements; subdividing of CAFO lands, Nutrient Management Plan; wastes disposal system, site plan/development plan and variances.
Public Hearing Procedure
...Speakers will be limited to five minutes for presentations during the July public hearing.
...Speakers are encouraged to submit written copies of their comments either prior to or at the hearing.
...Those who want to comment but do not want to speak are encouraged to submit written comments prior to or at the hearing.
...Written comments submitted by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, will be mailed to the planning commission prior to the hearing. Submittals after that date will be distributed at the hearing, according to Lovelace.
...Comments may be mailed to Halifax County Planning and Zoning Office, P.O. Box 699, Halifax, 24558.
... Comments may be delivered to the Planning and Zoning Office at 134 South Main Street, Halifax, or faxed to Planning and Zoning Office (804) 476-3384. However, faxed documents should be followed by either mail or delivery of the documents with original signature. "Anonymous comments will not be used," advised Lovelace.
"These are comments for the record and they must be signed. It is the same policy at all public hearings regarding written documents," emphasized the assistant county administrator.

The Banner and The Star tobacco warehouses have merged, South Boston Tobacco Board of Trade Sales Supervisor Teresa Pool announced Friday.
The Banner, owned and operated by Andy Anderson, will move its operations to The Star Warehouse, owned and operated by D.T. Neal at 2202 Parker Avenue.
"Tobacco farmers with Banner need to go to the ASCS office and redesignate to 965," advised Pool.
The merged warehouses will be able to handle all of the marketing of the designation under the one Star roof, added the sales supervisor.
"It is just a business decision," said Pool of the Banner/Star merger. "Moving the business headquarters over to The Star and combining their efforts."
The Star facility is the newest one locally. "A good, clean facility, and good people to work with," added Pool.
Banner Warehouse was formerly located on Highway 58 near the World of Sports.
With the Star/Banner merger, there are now three tobacco warehouses serving the South Boston market, The Star, the Victory and New Brick/Planters Warehouse.

It has been nearly a decade since children splashed and played in the Penick Avenue Pool, but their laughter is expected to return when the new community park is completed.
Town leaders drew criticism when they made the decision not to reopen the Penick Avenue Pool, but after conducting an extensive study concerning projected repair expenses and other alternatives, they concluded that repairing the pool facility simply was not feasible, and that a community park would be a better alternative for the community.
The Penick Avenue Pool was closed between 1989 and 1990 for a number of reasons, according to South Boston Recreation Director Matt McCargo.
"The pool wasn't being used by very many people, and had a lot of structural problems and it doesn't meet current safety standards," he explained.
Daniel added that the town had studied every option on the pool, but it just wasn't cost effective to make the necessary repairs.
"While we got an estimate that it would cost about $17,000 to patch it and install a filtration system, that would only be short term, and there is a great deal of other work that needs to be done. There is no sense in doing this unless it is done in a first rate manner," Daniel added.
While several people have come before Town Council to protest the facility's closure, especially in light of the closure of the Grove Street Pool several years ago, those individuals living along Webster Lane near the old pool are glad it is gone and look forward to the park.
"The pool's a problem. We need a playground," declared Nellie Barley, who has lived on Webster Lane across from the pool for over 30 years. "No one on this street wants that pool. The people that are complaining about it closing don't even live around here."
According to Bailey, random gunplay, loitering, and foul language have become commonplace in the neighborhood surrounding the pool despite frequent police patrols.
"I don't want to go over there and hear that language with my children, but I'm afraid to leave them alone. I don't even let them play in the front yard," Bailey said.
But she feels that the park will attract a different crowd, and she and her grandchildren were eager to examine the plans for the community park when Daniel and McCargo visited the site Friday morning.
Daniel said $26,000 has already been approved for the park in the current budget, and he hopes work will begin July 1.
Once the pool is filled in and the site leveled, Daniel said construction will begin on the park itself. If all goes as planned, the park should be open for Labor Day Weekend.
"This park will cater to all ages. We hope it will be a place where little children can play and families will gather and interact with their children," Daniel said.
Daniel said the park will have new playground equipment, swings, playhouse attractions like distorting mirrors and funny slides, and even a small water park of sorts.
"What it will be is a series of concrete slabs with nozzles shooting water up in the air for children to run through when it's hot," Daniel explained. "We also plan to design this so the run-off water is channeled out to water the flowers that will be planted throughout the acre-and-a-half site."
Daniel said the community park will also feature a large covered picnic shelter, sitting areas and foot paths.
"Many people don't realize just how big this area is. The town also owns the wooded area behind the pool, and we plan to clean that area out and put in paths and benches and make a really beautiful place," Daniel said. "This is going to be a community park with plenty of things for the entire family to enjoy."

Supervisors will meet with South Boston and Halifax town officials tonight at 6 p.m. to continue their discussion of urban issues in a large area extending from Halifax to South Boston and spilling into the county.
The joint meeting will be held in the Conference Room at Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax.
Following adjournment of the joint meeting, supervisors will receive a finance committee report and address a Fair Housing resolution.

The finance committee will meet prior to the joint county/towns meeting to address issues ranging from lottery fund distribution to school divisions to the Virginia Retirement System Resolution on Age 50/30 years of service - as well as other retirement issues, to groundwater monitoring at the landfill to the Sheriff's Department - 2000 budget.
A Halifax County Service Authority meeting will follow the joint town/county session at approximately 8 p.m. with an agenda which includes discussion of the Grubby Road system, water/sewer services in Riverdale, additional taps at AXA project and Woods property request, Grubby Road.

Two Halifax County teens were arrested Saturday and charged with beating another child.
Halifax County Sheriff's reports indicated that Tamara Michelle Logan, 18, and Brian Keith Rowland, 19, both of 2145 L.P. Bailey Highway, were charged with assaulting a child under the age of 15 Friday.
They were arrested the following day and are scheduled to appear in Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court July 6.
A Brookneal teen has been ordered to appear in court this week on vandalism charges linked to the destruction of more than 30 mailboxes in the Nathalie area last month
Friday, Halifax County Sgt. J.K. Henderson issued more than 30 summons for Kevin Lloyd, 18, of Brookneal, who was charged along with Ronnie Carson Beadles, 18, of Thorton's Road, Nathalie, in connection with the destruction of approximately 34 mailboxes along Acorn Road, Thornton's Road, and Stateshed Road May 30.
The two boys allegedly used a large iron rod to smash the mailboxes.
Lloyd, who also faces charges of underage possession of alcohol, is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court Wednesday, according to reports at the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
Beadles was also charged with puncturing five tires on a dump truck and spray painting two highway stop signs that same weekend.

Thanks to a child safety seat, a Halifax toddler came through a single-vehicle accident unscathed, however, the unbuckled parents were not so lucky.
According to Virginia State Trooper C.M. Fleming, the mother, Jennifer Francis Smith, 18, of Halifax, was thrown from the 1985 Buick she was driving during the accident Saturday, and her husband, Ronnie Smith was also injured. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, Fleming said.
"She was thrown from the car and her husband got banged up, but they had a small child in a child seat who wasn't injured at all," Fleming said.
Fleming's report indicated that Smith was traveling along Stoney Ridge Road (Route 644) in the northern end of the county around 10:30 a.m. when she ran off the right side of the roadway in a curve, overcorrected and overturned.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000, and Fleming charged Smith, who had reportedly only been driving for a month, with reckless driving.
The Virginia State Police are asking for assistance in finding the driver of a vehicle that caused an accident along Chatham Road (Route 832) earlier the same day.
Fleming said Samual Lamont Averette, 24, of Chatham, was heading south at 8:30 a.m. in a 1998 BMW when he encountered an oncoming vehicle that was partially in his lane.
Averette reportedly swerved right to avoid the vehicle, ran off the road, overcorrected, and then ran off the left side of the road and through a barbed wire fence near Leewood Trail.
The other vehicle, which was described as a grey or light colored older mid-sized car, did not stop.
"We are seeking the driver of this other vehicle on criminal charges," Fleming said.
While Averette was not injured, damage to the BMW was extensive, and Fleming estimated it would require at least $10,000 in repair work.
Fleming said he charged Averette with defective brakes because there was an inspection rejection sticker on the car.
Earlier in the week, Margaret E. Carrington, 51, of Clover, and a 17-year-old passenger were both injured when the vehicle they were in overturned along Rodgers Chapel Road.
Carrington reportedly swerved left to avoid a dog, ran off the road, struck a culvert and overturned at 2:10 p.m. Thursday.
Fleming declared the 1997 Dodge four-door driven by Carrington a total loss with approximately $11,000 in damages.
No charges were filed.

Halifax Town Council members approved the town's 1999-2000 $768,827 budget during a called meeting Friday afternoon.
The budget carries no tax hike or water/sewer rate increases, and there was no public comment during the budget's public hearing earlier this month.
During the regular June 1 council meeting, councilman Harold Younger noted the town had increased expenses during the year at the waste treatment plant. Town manager Robert Greene said that was due to waste treatment plant emergency repairs and replacement of worn-out equipment.
In other business with financial impact, town councilmen in June voted to seek annexation of territory which would take the town boundary to the South Boston line in Centerville, would include Salishan and the Golf Course Road area to the east, take in the Burlington plant and, to the west, extend up Mountain Road.
In the June meeting, Halifax councilmen asked the county board of supervisors to respond by mid-August to the annexation information forwarded to them since the town plans to hold a public hearing in September.

Joel Clarence Hawkins, 99, a retired Washington and Northern Virginia real estate broker, died March 1, 1999 at Howard County General Hospital.
Mr. Hawkins was born in Halifax County, moved to the Washington area in 1918 and attended Strayer Business College.
Before World War II, he worked in the State Department's passport and visa office, then sold real estate. During World War II, he was administrator of the division of radio and radar control for the War Production Board.
Later, he returned to the real estate business as a sales manager, then went into business for himself. He retired in 1968.
He was a former member of Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in Washington and the Interfaith Chapel at Leisure World.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Erwin Hawkins of Columbia.
A burial service will be held at Union United Methodist Church at 11:309 a.m. on June 26, 1999.

Cecil Tarlton Richardson of 528 Wentworth Drive, South Boston died Friday, June 18, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 79 years of age.
Mr. Richardson was born in Halifax County on May 1, 1920 the son of Elmer Terrell Richardson and Nannie Hite Richardson Hudson and was married to Mary Ingram Richardson. He was a member of First Cross Roads Baptist Church and was treasurer of the Turbeville Ruritan Club.
Survivors include his wife; one sister, Frances Cole of Cluster Springs; and one half-brother, Bobby Hagood Hudson of Halifax.

Graveside services for Mr. Richardson were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 20 at Halifax Memorial Gardens with Revs. Ken Williams and Jim Smith officiating.

Michael Steven Brooks of Richmond, formerly of Halifax County, died Thursday, June 17, 1999 at Stuart Circle Hospital in Richmond at the age of 37.
Mr. Brooks was born in Halifax County on November 20, 1961 the son of James Palmer and Mary Elizabeth Brooks. He was reared by his foster parents, Lucy Stephens and the late Irvin Stephens. Mr. Brooks was a member of Elkhorn Baptist Church and was a U.S. Marine Veteran.
Survivors include three sisters, Debra B. Wyatt and Phyllis A. Brooks, both of Durham, NC, and Diane M. Brooks of Rougemont, NC; three brothers, Clyde Brooks Sr. of South Boston, Jerome Brooks of Richmond and James Brooks of Nathalie; one half-brother; two half-sisters; his foster mother of Java; five foster sisters; and five foster brothers.
Funeral services for Mr. Brooks will be held today, June 21 at 3 p.m at Elkhorn Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. C. Lewis Motley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Lucy Stephens, 1200 East Elkhorn Road, Java.

Margaret Mitchell Coleman of 1206 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg died Thursday, June 17, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 71.
Mrs. Coleman was born in Halifax County on November 12, 1927 the daughter of James Mitchell and Maggie Stroud Mitchell and was married to Ernest Coleman Jr. She was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Earnestine Green of Baltimore, MD and Jacqueline Street of Clover; two sons, Kenneth M. Coleman of Pasadena, MD and Raleigh C. Coleman of Baltimore, MD; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Ramona Dickerson of Brooklyn, NY; two brothers, Rev. George Mitchell and Mr. Elijah Mitchell, both of Scottsburg.
Funeral services for Mrs. Coleman will be held today, June 21 at 1 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Aileen Dove Brillhart Hagood of 324 North Main Street, Clover died Friday, June 18, 1999 at her home. She was 78 years of age.
Mrs. Hagood was born November 29, 1920 in Troutville the daughter of Arile Raphael Brillhart and Lelia Pearl Moomaw Brillhart and was married to Dr. William Joseph Hagood Jr. M.D. She was a member of the Church of The Brethren, Halifax Regional Hospital Auxiliary, American Red Cross-Halifax County Chapter, a long time Sunday School and Bible School teacher at Clover Baptist Church and was a retired Registered Nurse.
A memorial service will be held at Clover Baptist Church Tuesday, June 22 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Tom Walker officiating.
Mrs. Hagood is survived by her husband; three daughters and sons-in-law, Diann H. Lucy and Jon A. Lucy of Gloucester Point, Nancy H. Orth and Robert Orth of Gloucester, and Jean H. Chrismon and Randolph Chrismon of Flemington, NJ; one son and daughter-in-law, Mark W. Hagood and Marianne M. Hagood of Thornton, CO; two brothers, Leonard Brillhart of St. Petersburg, FL and David Brillhart of Abingdon; four granddaughters, Karen Lucy, Jennifer Orth, Leanna Orth, and Laura Chrismon; four grandsons, Brian Lucy and his wife Amy Lucy, David Chrismon, Davis Hagood and Nicholas Hagood; and two great-grandchildren, Tyler and Kaylee Lucy.
The family will receive friends at Clover Baptist Church tonight, June 21 from 7 until 8:30, and other times at the home. Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick Henry Boys Home, MCV-VCU Hospitality House, 612 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, or the American Cancer Society.