Approximately 300 Halifax County residents packed the offices
and production facilities of the Gazette-Virginian Saturday for
an open house.
The paper held the event as part of a year-long celebration of
its 100th anniversary.
Del. Clarke Hogan presented the staff of the paper with a joint
resolution from the Virginia House of Delegates and the state
Senate honoring the paper on its anniversary during the event.
Staff member Roy Moore, an employee of the paper for 53 years,
accepted the resolution from Hogan on behalf of the staff.
During the event, five residents won free subscriptions to the
paper during a door prize giveaway: Jesse Spencer Sr., Ed Wagner,
Henrietta Reagan, Herbie Wilkins and Wyonie Killingsworth.
In addition, the staff put together a special edition to allow
visitors to see first-hand how a newspaper is created.
In addition to photos of the open house, the special edition featured
an article on the history of the paper.
The present publishing plant was dedicated in May 1974, and among
the special guests at the dedication was the late Senator Harry
F. Byrd.
During his remarks, Byrd said that it was a "dangerous illusion"
to think that the press consists of only major networks or corporate
news outlets.
"Preoccupied with grand events, their executives need to
get their heads out of the rarefied atmosphere of the city skyscrapers
and plant their feet on pavements of towns like South Boston and
on the farm lands of our rural areas like Halifax County,"
the senator said.
Currently, the newspaper's 22 full-time staff members represent
465 years of experience.
Following open house, the staff of the paper gathered in publisher
Keith Shelton's office.
"Our duty as a community newspaper is not only to keep an
eye on the pulse of the community and report the news, it's to
monitor our government. It's up to us to keep the public informed
as to what's going on," Beth Robertson, managing editor,
told the staff. "We're the eyes and ears of this community.
"If we don't do it, there is no one else who will,"
she added.
Supervisors will meet with the School Board at 5:30 p.m. today
the Halifax High School cafeteria to revisit the closing of Virgilina
School.
The Board of Supervisors sought the meeting during its June session.
"We want to try to see if we can come to some understanding
as to why they want to close the school," said Supervisor
David Martin, chairman of Board, following its June meeting.
Virgilina Mayor John Youngk will speak on behalf of the embattled
school, according to school officials.
The School Board voted 5-3 to close the school during its May
meeting. School Board members Arthur Reynolds, G.C. Ratliff and
Carl Furches opposed closing the school.
Children attending Virgilina Elementary School are scheduled to
be transferred to South of Dan and Cluster Springs Elementary
schools this fall.
Outraged citizens, who felt they had completed the School Board's
requirements to retain the school, met with the Board of Supervisors
at its June meeting.
Supervisors voted 6-2 to revisit the VES closing issue with the
School Board.
The Board's decision was unanimous in asking school officials
not to remove equipment from VES.
Within weeks of the School Board's decision, petitions bearing
over 1,100 names had been collected by VES and community elementary
school supporters and presented to supervisors at their June meeting.
Community school supporters seeking help from the Board packed
the supervisors' conference room.
Tonight, School Board members had been scheduled for a routine
meeting to authorize payment of bills, but the request by supervisors
to revisit the controversial Virgilina closing issue is expected
to dominate the session.
At 7 p.m., supervisors are holding their public hearing on the
FY 2003-2004 budget at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing tonight on the Board's
proposed $68,547.183 budget, one carrying no real estate or personal
property tax hikes.
The budget hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. in the conference room
at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Tax rates remain unchanged in this year's proposal, remaining
at 42 cents per assessed $100 for real estate and $1.76 per assessed
$100 for personal property tax.
The proposed industrial machinery and tools tax per assessed $100
valuation - based on 50 percent of original capitalized cost -
is $1.26.
Supervisors are expected to adopt the FY 2003-2004 budget at their
June 30 meeting.
Prior to the budget hearing, supervisors will meet with the School
Board at Halifax High School cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. "to revisit"
school officials' decision to close Virgilina Elementary School
(VES).
A Nathalie man has been arrested and charged
with two drug violations following a Friday evening raid on a
car wash in the Cody area, according to the Halifax/South Boston
Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam said yesterday that members of the task force
conducted a raid on the Cody Car Wash and arrested Michael Wayne
Waller, 39, of Bull Creek Road.
Waller has been charged with one count of the possession of cocaine
and one count of possession of marijuana, according to Pulliam.
He is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail on a $10,000
secured bond.
Pulliam said yesterday that additional arrests are expected as
a result of the raid.
"Based on information we received from concerned citizens,
sheriff's deputies and task force officers remained in the area
and conducted traffic stops," the major said. "Additional
drugs, drug paraphernalia and a firearm were seized."
He said the additional arrests would be based on a laboratory
analysis of the seized materials and further investigation.
"The sheriff's office and the task force would like to express
their gratitude for all the telephone calls and letters passing
along valuable information about drug activity and violators in
our communities," Pulliam said.
By JOE CHANDLER
Alonzo Coleman worked hard through his high school years trying
to reach the next level.
Last season Coleman culminated a successful high school football
career in style by shattering three Halifax County High School
rushing records and helping lead the Comets to a berth in the
Northwest Region playoffs.
The former Comets grid star is now preparing for bigger stages,
the July 11 Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star
Football game in Hampton and the playing fields of Hampton University.
"I'm ready for it," Coleman said Thursday while preparing
for his departure for Hampton on Friday to face the challenges
that lie ahead.
"But I'm not really ready for leaving my family so fast."
Coleman went to Hampton University early to attend a session of
summer school and get a jump on the academic side of things before
immersing himself in football.
"I wanted to take a couple of classes like English and math,"
Coleman said.
"I wanted to try to get a head start and try to get some
of the classes out of the way."
While Coleman will have to spend a good amount of time with his
textbooks and classwork, he will also be spending some quality
time on the field.
"One of the coaches is going to work with me one-on-one,"
said Coleman.
"I'm going to work on conditioning and getting myself in
shape and learning the things I will need to know when practice
starts in August."
The workouts Coleman will jump into at Hampton University will
help prepare him for the week of practice he will have with his
high school all-star teammates prior to the July 11 all-star contest.
Coleman wants to be as prepared as possible for the all-star game.
He considers it an honor to be able to play in the game and represent
Halifax County one last time.
"Playing in the all-star game is a big honor," Coleman
said.
"There haven't been too many people from Halifax County to
play in the game. I really want to do well."
Coleman has continued to work out and condition himself since
football season ended last November.
Since the start of last season, Coleman, who was listed at 5-11
and 185 pounds, has bulked up to 196 pounds.
His speed has improved as well as demonstrated by his ability
to log a 4.3 second 40-yard run.
"I feel like I've gotten a lot faster and a lot stronger,"
said Coleman.
"I feel like I have more power. I feel good about the power
and speed I have gained."
Coleman says he feels no pressure going into the all-star game.
But, he knows he is going to have to be at his best form because
there will be as many as five or six running backs looking to
get a significant amount of playing time in the all-star contest.
"It's one of those deals where there will be five or six
of us and we'll probably get five or six carries each," Coleman
explained.
"I want to do the best I can. I know I have to make the most
of each opportuinity I get. That's what I plan to do."
As far as facing the challenge of earning playing time on the
Hampton University football team is concerned, Coleman says he
is eager to get started.
"I can't wait," he said.
"I'm a little nervous but once the first week is over, it
will be fine."
Coleman says he is the number three man on the Hampton University
depth chart going into the start of practice in August.
"That can change," he pointed out.
"I'm going to go out there and see what happens. I want to
be first on the field."
Nora V. Henry, 73, of Washington, D.C. died
June 16 at her home.
Mrs. Henry was born in Halifax County on June 12, 1930, the daughter
of Earnest and Hannah Woodall and was married to Charlie 'Nash'
Henry.
While in Washington, she attended First Baptist Church of Deanwood
and was a member of New Zion Baptist Church in Meadville.
Survivors include two sisters, Nancy Sweeney of Washington and
Lenell W. Sydnor of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Henry were held June 21 at 11 a.m. at
New Zion Baptist with the Rev. Willie N. Yancey officiating. Burial
followed in the church cemetery.
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, Nancy Yates; 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.