Monday,
June 21, 2004
Supporters
Protest Clarkton Demolition
Hundreds Turn Out To Support The
Preservation Of Clarkton Bridge
Deck
boards that once supported horse-drawn carriages were once
again supporting the people of Halifax and Charlotte counties
yesterday as several hundred citizens gathered at Clarkton
Bridge to protest the impending demolition of the historic
structure.
Approximately 300 people turned out under cloudless skies
to show their support for efforts to save the span.
"There have been comments that say people aren't interested
in saving this bridge," advocate Doug Powell said as
he stood on the bridge and looked out over the Staunton
River. "I guess this shows different. Our communities
(Halifax and Charlotte counties) assumed people were in
places of responsibility that followed the correct procedures
to save historic property.
"It's a shame to have one person with the authority
to undermine all that work," he added.
After months of working with the Clarkton Bridge Alliance,
a VDOT spokesman announced plans to tear down the structure
on June 2 in a press release, citing safety issues and the
inability to find a permanent owner for the bridge.
In the notice, W.T. Ramey, VDOT's Lynchburg District administrator,
said the decision to demolish the bridge was made based
on safety issues.
"Reports indicate that there is major structural damage
to the bridge which could result in collapse," he said.
"After extensive efforts to work with citizens desirous
of saving the bridge, VDOT must consider the safety of area
citizens and visitors to the region and proceed."
But advocates of saving the bridge cite a study conducted
by VDOT six months ago that indicates the bridge can be
saved cost-effectively.
In a letter to members of the Alliance earlier this month,
Transportation Secretary Whit Clement said the department
had tried to cooperate with the Alliance, but time had run
out.
Last week members of the Alliance appeared before the Commonwealth
Transportation Board to ask for more time to find a permanent
owner, to no avail.
The CTB is an advisory committee who works with the Secretary
of Transportation and VDOT Commissioner.
The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority passed
a resolution Thursday requesting a 45-day extension on plans
to tear down the bridge.
The IDA is proposing that Halifax and Charlotte counties
form a joint authority to oversee the ownership of the property.
Supporters of the bridge said yesterday that they had not
given up on saving the structure.
"We're going to do whatever it takes to keep this bridge
and organize a group to oversee and take ownership of this
historic structure," said supporter and IDA member
Jack Dunavant.
Many of the advocates blame what they call "unilateral"
actions by VDOT for the impending demolition.
"There's been more undermining in the fate of this
bridge in the past two months from Richmond than in the
past 100 years from the Staunton River," Alliance member
Carl Espy said as he walked across the span.
Built in 1901, Clarkton Bridge spans the Staunton River
between Charlotte and Halifax counties.
It was closed in 1998 due to safety issues.
In 2003, the Clarkton Bridge Alliance was given the opportunity
to find a suitable owner, delaying the awarding of a demolition
contract for the bridge.
Proponents of saving the bridge say the structure could
be an economic engine by promoting tourism and could be
a part of planned birding and heritage tourism efforts.
It has been designated a stop on Virginia's Birding and
Wildlife Trail and is eligible for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places.
VDOT advertised the contract for the bridge's demolition
in May, 2003, with the awarding of the contract going to
Burleigh Construction of Concord, Virginia, at a bid price
of $197,826.
The planned demolition was put on hiatus as the Alliance
sought a permanent owner for the bridge.
Following the June release, demolition of the Clarkton Bridge
could begin at any time.
The
Roots Of Progress
Dignitaries Announced $12 Million
Broadband Initiative On Friday
"Today will be charted as an historic moment in the
economic history of Virginia," Delegate Clarke Hogan,
chairman of the Technology Committee for the Tobacco Commission,
said Friday.
"It is a day that through simple strands of fiber we
as a Commission composed of citizens from one end of Virginia
to the other, made a decision; A decision to connect our
communities to the information age; A decision to open an
era of new economic opportunity; And a decision to invest
a once in a life time allocation to the states in the form
of these tobacco settlement dollars for the one project
that can invigorate the imagination to the new possibilities
of growing what some have called, 'the industries of the
mind'," Hogan added.
In what has been proclaimed a national model for rural economic
development, state dignitaries including Governor Mark Warner,
the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization
Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development
Administration (EDA), Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative
and Senator and Tobacco Commission Chairman Charles Hawkins,
announced Friday a $12 million economic development and
technology infrastructure initiative that will serve as
a national model for other states to follow.
The Regional Backbone/Roots of Progress Initiative will
create 700-miles of new fiber optic cable that will connect
five cities, 20 counties, 56 industrial parks and provide
high-speed Internet access to nearly 700,000 citizens and
more than 19,000 businesses throughout Virginia at a 20%
reduction in high-speed Internet access costs.
Developers say the economic impact of this initiative will
include:
• A projected 1,560 new jobs, $70.2 million in new
wages, and $143 million in projected new investments.
• These new technology-based jobs will carry wages
54% higher than the average wage rate in Southside Virginia.
• Impact projections from Virginia Tech estimate that,
within three years after construction is complete, a minimum
of two technology-based businesses will have located in
75% of the 35 "targeted" business, commercial
and industrial parks. Median employment is expected to be
around 30 persons at an average wage of $45,000.
Businesses will also invest approximately $2,750,000 in
plant renovation and development.
• The project's network operator estimates its project
value at $15-$16 million.
John Cannon, chairman of the Halifax County Industrial Development
Authority, said the fiber optic backbone couldn't have come
at a better time for Halifax County.
"This backbone of fiber optics is our interstate highway
into the information, technology and financial growth for
the future," he said. "The Riverstone I building
could not have been planned more timely so that Halifax
County will reap the fruits of the new technology highway
for Southside Virgina."
Construction is scheduled to begin in October and expected
to be completed by January 2006.
"Consistent with our economic development strategy,
we are announcing today a dramatic leap forward in the ability
of rural Virginia to connect to the world through the Internet,
and related advanced communications technologies,"
Governor Warner said.
"Now, through this investment of tobacco settlement
proceeds, Southside Virginia, connected to similar investments
in Southwest Virginia, over twenty-five towns, cities and
counties of rural Virginia will have access to the latest
broadband technology, offering the promise of new economic
opportunity.
"This administration has been committed to advancing
a progressive economic development agenda for the Commonwealth,
and rural Virginia specifically," Warner said. "With
bipartisan support of the General Assembly, we stuck to
our guns and rejected making tobacco settlement funds one
more quick fix for Virginia's budget woes. This money is
supposed to be used to strengthen the economies of our tobacco
regions, and that is exactly what it is going to be used
for.
"This investment, serving as a model in the South and
our nation, will certainly get the attention of new employers
and investors looking to tap the potential of Southside
and Southwest Virginia," the governor added.
"The Southside Broadband Initiative is the cornerstone
investment by the Tobacco Commission, and will serve as
the lasting testament to the commitment of not only the
Commission, but the Commonwealth, to the economic revitalization
of Southside Virginia," Sen. Hawkins said.
"Coupled with our grants for the broadband telecommunications
links in Southwest Virginia, we are creating a seamless
network that will literally connect most of rural Virginia
to the rest of the planet.
"It will open new markets for entrepreneurs, enhance
the competitiveness of our existing businesses, and work
to attract the types of employers we need to prepare our
communities for the new century," he added.
Hogan said the initiative illustrated prudent use of Tobacco
Commission funds for economic development.
"Today marks the moment that we brought that message
to the people of Virginia, and the country. That message
is simple, 'With this investment in telecommunications infrastructure,
from here, you can be anywhere'," he said.
Serving as a national model, the RBI will create an open-access
advanced broadband network that will provide wholesale dark
fiber and managed high-speed bandwidth services to rural
Virginia where services do not currently exist.
Developers also say the initiative will bring increased
competition for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC)
and Internet Service Providers (ISP) as well as other competitive
carriers which should result in lower costs for high speed
Internet connections for citizens.
"As the Tobacco Commission makes this commitment to
connecting Southside Virginia with state of the art telecommunications
infrastructure, we are hence making a commitment to continuously
work with our communities on how to maximize their potential
with this new economic tool," said Carthan Currin,
executive director of the Tobacco Commission.
The initiative stems from a collaboration between the Tobacco
Commission, the EDA and the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative,
a Richmond-based nonprofit organization formed to manage
the project's funds of $6 million from the Commission and
another $6 million from EDA.
The EDA grant is the second largest single project disbursement
from the U.S. Department of Commerce and one of the largest
grants from EDA to date this year.
An EDA spokesman said the infrastructure will boost the
economy of Southside.
"The fiber-optic cable in Southside Virginia will help
businesses innovate, bringing high-skill, high-wage jobs
to the region," said Paul Pisano, EDA Director of Intergovernmental
Affairs.
"At a time when terms like "downsizing,"
"outsourcing," "and "shutdowns"
are dominating our national news, this initiative to implement
broadband infrastructure states that we are committing as
a Commonwealth and Broadband Cooperative to making our communities
and regions as competitive as any other for the creation
of new jobs and investment," David Hudgins, chairman
of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative, said.
"As one who has been involved in regional economic
development for over a dozen years, l have witnessed the
change in our strategic thinking from a day of tax breaks,
shell buildings, and water lines, to a new day of only discussing
with companies 'life long learning, and band width.' It's
a change that must be embraced," he added.
Post
8 Kicks Off Busy Week Tonight
The
South Boston American Legion Post 8 Baseball Team, Facing
A Busy Four-Game Week, Will Be Looking To Get Back Into
The Win Column When It Faces Lynchburg Here Tonight
By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer
The South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team will
be looking to get back into the win column when it kicks
off a busy four-game week here tonight against Lynchburg
Post 16 at Comets Field.
After having won its season-opening doubleheader, Post 8
was handed its first loss of the season Thursday night in
a 2-0 road loss to Chatham Post 1097.
Post 8 had its opportunities but was unable to come up with
a hit at the right time to punch across a run.
South Boston out hit Chatham 7-4 with Robert Carter and
Ryan Gieselman leading the way with two hits each and Dion
Ferrell, David Lacks, and Scott Gieselman each chipping
in a hit.
The telltale item in the statistics column for Post 8 was
that left a dozen runners stranded on the basepaths.
Lacks, the starting hurler for Post 8, fanned six batters
and allowed two hits and one walk.
Tyler Clarke came to the mound for Post 8 in the bottom
of the sixth inning and was roughed up by Chatham which
scored its two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After Clarke walked the first two batters he faced, Chatham
came up with a two-RBI double by Richardson that proved
to be the game-winning hit.
Post 8 got out of the inning with a groundout and a double
play.
With the sixth inning behind him, Clarke finished the game
with two relatively calm innings.
Clarke fanned two Chatham batters and allowed a scratch
single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
He added another strikeout to his total to kick off the
bottom of the eighth inning.
Chatham got a runner on base thanks to a Post 8 error but
Post 8 got out of that inning with another double play.
Aside from the bad inning Post 8 encountered in the bottom
of the sixth inning, the story for Post 8 was its inability
to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Post 8 squandered a possible scoring opportunity in the
top of the first inning, an inning in which Ferrell led
off the game by reaching base on an error only to get picked
off later.
Carter followed with a single and stole second base. Lacks
flied out to left field for the second out and Ryan Gieselman
walked to put two runners on the sacks. The inning ended
when Blake Waller hit into a fielder's choice and Gieselman
was erased at second base.
In the top of the third inning, Carter and Lacks had back-to-back
singles with one out but Post 8 again failed to score.
Post 8 stranded two more runners in the top of the fourth
inning when Miles Thomas reached base on an error with two
out, stole second base and Justin Armistead walked. That
inning ended when Ferrell flied out to centerfield.
Post 8 got its first two batters on base in the top of the
eighth inning and, again, failed to score.
Ryan Gieselman led off the top of the eighth inning for
Post 8 with a double and moved to third base when Waller
reached base on an error.
Waller stole second base to put runners on second base and
third base and put two Post 8 runners into scoring position.
But, Post 8 was left dry again when Bobby Owens popped up
to the first baseman, Scott Gieselman went down on strikes
and Clarke grounded out to the second baseman for the final
out.
In the top of the ninth inning, Ferrell walked with one
out but was stranded when Carter flied out to right field
for the second out of the inning and Lacks went down on
strikes.
Post 8 has four games on tap this week, two games here at
Comets Field and two games on the road.
After tonight's 7 p.m. game here at Comets Field against
Lynchburg Post 16, Post 8 will face Big Island Post 217
Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Jefferson Forest Middle School.
On Thursday night, Post 8 will face Danville Post 325 here
at Comets Field at 7 p.m.
Post 8 will cap its busy week Saturday night when it travels
to Lynchburg's City Stadium to face Lynchburg Post 16.
Obituaries
Bayton
(Bobby/June) Alexander Barbour Jr.
Mr. Bayton (Bobby/June) Alexander Barbour Jr., of Petersburg,
and formerly of Halifax County, died June 16 at Colonial
Heights Health Care Center.
Mr. Barbour was 59 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Bayton Barbour Jr. was born in Halifax County, the son
of the late Mr. Bayton A. Barbour Sr. and Mrs. Rebecca Dixon
Barbour and was married to Mrs. Gloria Fitzgerald Barbour.
He was a member of Mr. Olivet Baptist Church in Petersburg
and was a former member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Mr. Barbour was a U.S. Army veteran and retired from the
Honeywell Corporation in 2001.
Mr. Bayton Barbour Jr. is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gloria
Fitzgerald Barbour of Petersburg; one daughter, Ms. Aliza
Barbour of Petersburg; one son, his wife Sherell of Petersburg;
three grandchildren, Briahna Barbour, Justin Barbour, and
Christian Barbour, all of Petersburg; three brothers, Mr.
Patrick Barbour of Petersburg, Mr. James Barbour of South
Boston, and Mr. Raymond Barbour of Richmond; his mother-in-law,
Mrs. Jean Pettiford of Petersburg; four sisters-in-law,
one brother-in-law, five uncles, six aunts and a host of
other relatives and friends.
A graveside service for Mr. Bayton Alexander Barbour Jr.
will be held tomorrow, June 22, at 12 noon at the Dixon
family cemetery, with the Rev. Franklin Dixon officiating.
Those wishing to view the remains may visit Jeffress Funeral
Home today, June 21, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The family will be receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Janie
Crews Comer
Mrs. Janie Crews Comer, 69, of Ridge Road, Vernon Hill,
died Sunday at her home.
She was born in Pittsylvania County on October 30, 1934,
a daughter of George Crews and Cordie Young Crews and was
married to the late Herbert Thomas Comer.
She was a retired Burlington employee.
She attended New Hope Praise Center.
Mrs. Comer is survived by five daughters: Rita Faye Edmondson
of Clover; Judy Rice of South Boston; Janice Martin of Halifax;
Joan Snead of Scottsburg; and Jewel Boelte of South Boston.
Also surviving are and two sons, Garry Thomas Comer of Halifax
and Herbert C. Comer of Vernon Hill.
One sister, Sally C. Knick of Chatham, and special friend
Hattie Sims, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren
survive.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Brooks
Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Carl Hudson and the Rev.
Jason Murray officiating.
Burial will be in North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Brooks
Funeral Home and at other times at the home at 2240 Ridge
Road, Vernon Hill.
Those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider the
Halifax County Cancer Society, P.O. Box 875, South Boston,
Va. 24592, or Halifax Regional Hospital Hospice, 2204 Wilborn
Ave., South Boston, Va. 24592.
Dixie
Stockinger Ellul
Mrs. Dixie Stockinger Ellul, of Rock Barn Road, Nathalie,
died Sunday, June 20, at Virginia Baptist Hospital.
Mrs. Ellul was 82 years of age at the time of her death.
Dixie Stockinger Ellul was born in Flint, Michigan on July
11, 1921, the daughter of the late Matthew Stockinger and
Lucy Fredericks Stockinger, and was married to Joseph Ellul.
She was a member of Clover Bottom Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband, Dixie Stockinger Ellul is survived
by four sons, William Talmadge and wife Loraine of Flint,
Michigan, Ward Talmadge and wife Gayle of Pontiac, Michigan,
John Talmadge and wife Sandra of Nathalie, and Joseph Ellul
and wife Loretta of Houghton Lake, Michigan; one daughter,
Judy Mollon and husband Jim of Ros Common, Michigan; 15
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Dixie Stockinger Ellul will be conducted
today, June 21, at Clover Bottom Baptist Church, with the
Rev. James Crocker and the Rev. Michael Tucker conducting
the services.
Visitation with the family will follow the service in the
church fellowship hall, and the family will receive friends
at the residence of John and Sandra Talmadge at 2030 Rock
Barn Road in Nathalie at other times.
A private family interment will take place tomorrow morning,
June 22, in Clover Bottom Baptist Church cemetery.
