The scope of JPS Apparel Fabrics' economic woes widened with the corporation's announcement late Friday that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
JPS is seeking Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina "in order to facilitate an orderly sale of substantially all of its business and assets to a third party," according to a press release issue by the corporation.
"Although discussions continue with several possible buyers, no agreement has been reached with any buyer," according to the company's release.
In addition to seeking Chapter 11 protection, the company is also restructuring its operations to reduce monthly expenses.
"Although cost cuts will be made across all departments of the company, the company will preserve all operating functions and intends to continue to provide service to all of its customers," JPS officials said.
In its restructuring process, JPS announced Thursday that the South Boston plant, with 346 employees, would be closed by Aug. 20, and that it was ceasing its spinning operations at its Watts Plant in Laurens, South Carolina, also by Aug. 20.
Laurens plant employees were told that plant would cease spinning operations last Wednesday. The next day, officials notified South Boston plant employees that plant would be closed.
The spinning production at the Watts Plant will be absorbed at the Monaghan plant located in Greenville, South Carolina .
"We are extremely saddened to announce these closings," said Reid A. McCarter, JPS president.
"Due to the dramatic slowdown in the economy, it because clear that we needed to further consolidate our manufacturing operations and exit certain filament fabrics markets."
"The employees at the Watts and South Boston plants are among the most experienced in the industry and we plan to work with them to assist in finding employment at other area locations, said Ronnie Brown, JPS Director of Human Resources.

It wasn't the plant fire earlier this year or the employees that closed JPS Apparel in South Boston, it was NAFTA and imports, JPS Plant Manager J.R. Griffin charged the day after JPS officials said that the plant would be closed.
"People need to get the word to their congressman that something needs to be done here," said the plant manager.
"Any product coming in should be manufactured under the same requirements we have."
"We had pretty well recovered from the fire and our performance on quality this week was better than it was before the fire," he said Friday.
"The global economy is the entire problem here. Two words, NAFTA and imports."
The segment of the market that South Boston competes in has been impacted more from imports than any other segment of the textile industry, according to Griffin.
"The problem is American industry in general is not competing on a level playing field," said the plant manager.
"We have laws in this country that regulate things like fair labor, EPA, minimum wage laws, all of those things."
In competing countries like Mexico, Griffin said that they have no regulation whatsoever.
"There is no environmental law. They don't care what they pump into the atmosphere or rivers.
"They are shipping a finished product into this country cheaper than we can sell a product before it is finished," Griffin said.
Pay scales in competing countries may range $2 to $3 per day, noted Griffin.
"And our politicians are not doing anything about this. We continue to concentrate on world trade and free trade but are totally ignoring fair trade, and until somebody in this government does something to correct it, it is not just textiles that are going to suffer, it is going to be all manufacturing.
"Twenty-five more years of this kind of thing and this country will not have manufacturing ...
"It is the sucking sound Ross Perot talked about 10 years ago. This is what we are hearing here today."
Employee Benefits
The plant manager said Friday that the pension plan is secure, 401-K accounts and the savings account in credit.
Griffin said Friday that the corporation is filing an application for Trade Act Assistance.
"It provides things like extended unemployment benefits if you go back to school," explained Griffin.
Other provisions could be reimbursement for education, relocation expenses and mileage for job interviews in other areas, according to the plant manager.
But Griffin said the Trade Act Assistance is not guaranteed. "We have to qualify. All we can do is file the application," the plant manager said.
On Friday, Griffin said that he did not know how long it would be before the company would be notified regarding its application.
"As I look back at the plant over 61 years of operation, we have an extremely good group of people here, the best I have ever been associated with. And I can honestly say that the result of this plant closing is absolutely not the fault of anybody here or our company. It is our economy, NAFTA ..."

JPS Apparel's plant manager J.R. Griffin spent all day Thursday telling 346 people that their jobs were gone.
"It was the toughest day of my working career to stand before these people and tell what was going to happen here," Griffin said.
A steady series of meetings from 2:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. consumed the plant manager's day.
No doubt it was a plant manager's nightmare, one with tears, his and "lots of other people's."
"It was a gut wrenching experience," he recalled. "I know that people knew that business was bad, and you read about this kind of thing everyday and see it on television, but think that it can't happen to us.
"They were shocked, hurt, upset and concerned," said Griffin of his employees.
At South Boston JPS there are 22 families with both the husband and wife working at the plant, according to Griffin. And there are many with sons, brothers and sisters.
"There is even a third generation family, the Spangler family," Griffin said. Several brothers work at the plant as did their father and grandfather before them.
"They are like I am, everything they have came from this plant," Griffin said.
"I am a native of South Boston and many of these people were working here when I was just a child. I came here and they trained me and told me what this was all about. I know these people, know their families, see them at ball games and the grocery store," the plant manager said softly.
On a personal note, Griffin said that he believes everything happens for a reason.
"People can't see it now, and neither can I, but I feel like something good will come from this."

Six military veterans who are descendants of Confederate military soldiers and a handful of descendants of participants in the Battle of Staunton River Bridge were honored Saturday by the United Daughters of the Confederacy Halifax Chapter 1321 and the Historic Staunton River Foundation.
The awards were presented during the annual commemoration of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge.
Five military veterans, all of whom are lineal descendants of a Confederate solider or sailor who rendered military service, were honored by the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Halifax Chapter 1321 for their service to their country.
Those honored with Military Service Awards by the UDC included Jimmie D. Cumbie, a World War II veteran who is an ancestor of Edwin Washington Cumbie, Co. F 53rd Va. Infantry.
Billy Wayne Ligon and Johnny Alvin Ligon, both of whom served during the Korean Conflict and the late Oscar M. Ligon, who served in World War II, were also honored.
Don Ligon, the son of the late Oscar M. Ligon, accepted the posthumous award.
The Ligons are lineal descendants of Sgt. Obadiah W. Ligon who served with Co. G, 22nd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry Volunteers.
Michael Dudley Rutledge, a veteran of the Viet Nam War, received a National Defense Award from the UDC.
Rutledge is a descendant of Park H. Rutledge who served in Co. B, Farinholt's Virginia Reserves.
Each award recipient received a certificate and medallion from UDC officials.
Officials of the Historic Staunton River Foundation honored descendents of participants in the Battle of Staunton River Bridge.
Award recipients included:
· Sue Blackstock Snead of Scottsburg and Korey Ren Snead, descendants of Charles Henry Blackstock;
· Douglas Powell of Halifax, descendant of Pvt. Robert Hart Carlton and Pvt. Charles Lacy Beale of the First Virginia Reserves;
· Bruce Cumbie of Saxe, descendant of Pvt. Edwin Washington Cumbie of Co. F, 53rd Virginia Infantry;
· C.H. Russell III of Clarksville, descendant of Charles H. Russell who was originally a member of the Washington Light Infantry and served as a member of the Home Guard;
· William B. Caldwell of South Boston, descendant of Alexander Nelson Seymour;
· Lester Sutphin of Boydton, descendant of Dr. John William Sutphin who was in the militia in South Boston but went to battle as a civilian at age 45;
· Floyd E. Vassar of Scottsburg, descendant of James Harrison Tucker.
Two other individuals were recognized but were not present for the ceremony.
One of them was Dorothy B. Wilmouth of Halifax, a descendant of Henry Wilson Austin.
The other was Jane Marie Swisher Yates of Richmond, a descendant of Daniel Taylor Swisher who served in the Boys Brigade and Company I, Third Virginia Light Artillery, Rockbridge County Reserve.
Saturday's awards ceremony was part of the annual commemoration of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge staged by Halifax Chapter 1321 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Two members of the Nelson Seymour Chapter Children of the Confederacy, Amber Dodson and Korey Snead, placed the memorial wreath.
A pair of Charlotte County students played a hymn on their trumpets before playing taps.
Approximately 50 persons attended the ceremony held under a tent on the lawn of the Clover Visitors Center.
The ceremony is normally conducted at the UDC monument at the earthworks in the Staunton River Battlefield Park.
However, a threat of rain from the gray skies that mirrored the gray of the uniforms worn by the re-enactors necessitated a move to drier quarters.
The somberness of the gray morning was matched by the ceremony, which began with the singing of "America the Beautiful," "Carry Me Back To Old Virginia," and "Dixie" and concluded with the playing of taps and a 21-gun salute by the 18th Infantry re-enactors.
A posting and retiring of the colors by the re-enactors, the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and a salute to both the Confederate flag and the Virginia flag were also part of the ceremony.

The Prizery project was awarded a $100,000 federal TEA-21 grant during the Commonwealth Transportation Board's meeting last week.
The grant is for the continuing restoration of the historic South Boston tobacco building into a Community, Fine Arts and Welcome Center.
The Prizery was one of 10 projects awarded funds. Statewide, $20,2 million was awarded to 119 new and ongoing projects.
This is the fifth year The Prizery, located on Seymour Drive next to the new Continuing Education Center, has received a grant award, bringing its total to $1,475,000.
CACF President Chris Jones was appreciative and enthusiastic when notified Friday that The Prizery was once again being awarded dollars for restoration.
"We want to thank all of the User Groups who co-sponsored the many fine events in the Prizery in 2000," Jones said. "This new award will enable Phase One of the project - the restoration of our building to include an interior Welcome Center - to begin this year."
The foundation recently has been working on the design phase of the project with the architectural firm of Hanbury Evans Newill Vlattas & Co. from Norfolk.
Architects indicated last month that they hoped final schematics for the building would be ready by summer's end so that the construction bidding process could begin later in the year.
All TEA-21 federal funding must go toward the building restoration and, according to Jones, "private donations and yearly fund-raisers are a vital part of seeing the project move forward."
Restoration of the Prizery is a phased project.
"We'll be glad to get started with Phase One of the Prizery restoration later this year," Jones said. "Our board is excited to be involved in improving downtown's economic development of the tobacco warehouse district."
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21 Century (TEA-21) funds planning provisions aimed at enhancing communities in the areas of transportation, the environment and aesthetics.
Projects will go through two final public hearings later this summer. Citizens wishing to know more about The Prizery project and how to get involved may contact The Prizery coordinator, Shelley Peace, at (804) 575-4249 or e-mail prizery@sobova.com.

More changes among Halifax County's leading industrial manufacturers continued to unfold last week with an announcement that d-Scan, Inc., maker of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture, has been acquired by Masco Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products.
d-Scan, a former multi-national Norwegian/Swiss-based firm, opened in the Halifax County Industrial Park in 1988 and, at times, has employed upwards to 200 persons. Its products include bookcases, entertainment centers and other home/office products.
Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), whose headquarters is located in Taylor, Mi., is engaged in the manufacture, installation and sale of home improvement and building products such as faucets, cabinets, architectural coatings, locks and other consumer brand name home improvement and building products. For the fiscal year ended 12/31/00, revenues for Masco increased 15 percent to $7.24 billion.
Its brands include Tvilum-Scanbirk (one of Europe's leading manufacturers of RTA furniture), Delta Faucet, Peerless Faucet, Faucet Queen, American Shower & Bath, Brass Craft, DraftMaid Cabinetry, Baldwin Hardware, Zenith Products, Behr Products, Arrow Fastener, Aqua Glass bath and shower units, Watkins Hot Spring spas, Gale insulation and American Metal Products to name but a few.
More than 80 percent of Masco's sales are generated by operations in North America - primarily the United States - and its international operations are located primarily in Europe in Denmark, Germany and England.
David Nelson, president of d-Scan, notified d-Scan's suppliers with a printed statement dated May 21, that the company had been acquired by Masco Corporation.
"The addition of d-Scan into the Masco family of companies brings together two of the premier manufacturers of RTA furniture, and offers opportunities for further expansion into the North American and European marketplaces," Nelson stated. "Together, Tvilum and d-Scan will leverage shared resources, including purchasing, product development, manufacturing and technical expertise."
d-Scan, said Nelson, will continue to operate independently, but will, in the future, work together with Tvilum-Scanbirk.
Masco Chairman Richard A. Manoogian, in announcing the acquisition of d-Scan along with two other companies, Milgard Manufacturing, Inc. and Resources Conservation, Inc., described the three companies as leaders in their respective markets. Milgard makes aluminum, wood-clad and fiberglass windows and sliding doors while Resources Conservation is a manufacturer of energy and water saving showerheads and decorative trim products.
The three companies, said Manoogian, have combined annual sales of approximately $500 million. Terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

It's a hands-on ministry.
About 340 adults and youth gathered yesterday from all over the state of Virginia to meet at the Halifax County High School where they will stay and participate in a week of volunteer construction projects.
The program is Impact Virginia, organized by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board in Richmond and sponored by the Dan River Baptist Association to provide volunteer assistants in the renovation of 27 homes in Halifax County.
About 25 churches are participating in the program, with the Dan River Baptist Association coordinating the week's work.
"It's a thrill to me to see how all this creates a bond," said Dean Miller, a state coordinator and youth mission consultant. Miller emphasized that the home is the project and the family is the ministry.
In his third year as coordinator, Miller said the program is about appreciation and care and that those involved come away from the experience with a closeness that is never forgotten.
According to Miller, this year's program has a record in participation with over 1,400 people expected to participate statewide.
"It makes a big impact," said Kenneth Zahn Jr. of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Stafford.
Zahn is among 57 members of Mt. Ararat who have arrived to participate.
"This is a worthwhile experience and something that I'll remember forever," Zahn said.
After their arrival yesterday afternoon, the youth were to meet and learn what crew team they would be a part of for the week.
Miller said the local sites are the first of four areas that Impact Virginia! would be participating in this year.
Fredericksburg, Smithfield and Charles City are the other areas, which will mean about 100 home being renovated.
Crews of 24 will begin today at the sites with area churches providing the logistics.
According to Miller, a former minister of youth at the First Baptist Church of South Boston, an excellent job of coordinating the event has been done by the Dan River Baptist Association, headed by the Reverand Tony Brooks.
Over $25,000 was raised by the local sponsor for materials by Dan River Baptist Assocation.
Each participant paid $160 for the week.
Brooks has handled the local arrangements, such as providing materials, dumpsters, port-a-johns, cell phones and churches that will provide the lunches for the crews.
Local arrangements include such items as 350 pounds of ice a day that is needed for the water coolers.
Area churches with 11 local participants are Alton Baptist, Averett Baptist, Dan River Baptist, Ash Avenue Baptist and the First Baptist of South Boston.
The crews, made up from about nine members to 18 members, will start today with a morning celebration and then leave for the job sites at 8:15 a.m.
Lunches are served at the job site.
At 4 p.m., the crews will return to the school and prepare for dinner and then worship services afterward.
College students serving as summer missionaries are also participating as counselors and conducting the worships with songs and skits.
"It's a great opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime experience in missions," said Amy Vest of Richmond, a rising sophomore at the University of Richmond, who will help in the worship activities, including video taping the work sites.
"For many, this will click that this is what Christianity is about," Miller said.
"It's about serving others and they can see it with their own eyes," Miller added.
Each participant receives aT-shirt and a hat or tool belt.
An inscription on the back of the T-shirt reads "Makin' Things New," which is a part of scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:17.
For the youth and families that will experience this week, Impact Virginia! will be an experience of bonding together and making things new in the hearts and minds of those who will participate.

Halifax County High School third baseman and relief pitcher Mike Priest and hurler Scott Adams received their team's top honors Friday night, receiving Most Valuable Player Awards at the team's annual postseason awards banquet.
Adams, the big player on the Comets' pitching staff, finished the season with an 8-2 record, had an earned run average (ERA) of 1.38 and recorded 83 strikeouts this season.
Along with doing a yeoman's job on the mound, Adams helped his cause and his team's cause quite a bit as a solid hitter with a .367 batting average for the season.
Priest, who played third base for most of the season while nursing a shoulder injury, came on strong late in the season as a strong relief pitcher to help close out several wins for his team.
He batted .466 for the season, had four home runs, scored 21 runs and had 24 RBIs and had a big season defensively.
Priest's offensive numbers also earned him the team's batting title.
Offensive Player of the Year accolades went to Nick Thompson.
Thompson batted .419 for the season, scored 24 runs, had two homers, 15 RBIs, and six doubles.
Comets catcher Adam Conner received the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Conner compiled a .986 fielding average for the Comets.
He also batted .294, had 10 RBIs, scored nine runs and had 15 hits on the season.
Justin King, who shared starting pitcher duties with Adams, received the Pitching Award.
King compiled a 4-1 record for the season, had a 1.35 ERA and fanned 43 batters during the season.
He batted .200 for the season.
Three Comets players, David Greene, Matt Hastings and Justin Shepperd received the Coaches Award.
Greene batted .235 and had seven RBIs for the year. Hastings hit .270 for the season had 10 RBIs and scored 17 runs.
Shepperd compiled the fourth best batting average on the squad with a .392 average.
He had one home run, 22 RBIs, and had 20 hits for the season.
All of the Comets players who were named to the All Western District team were honored.
Priest and Thompson were recognized for being named to the First Team of the All Northwest Region Team.
The pair were also eligible for All Group AAA Team honors. However, those selections have not yet been named.
Comets head coach Kelvin Davis congratulated his players, especially the 10 graduating seniors, for a job well done in a season that marked Halifax County's first appearance in the state tournament in six years and a second straight appearance in the Northwest Region Tournament.
"We're trying to build a foundation," Davis said.
"In order to have a good building, a good program, we've got to have a strong foundation. This is a stepping stone that we're doing."

William Irving (Bill) Greenwood of 117 Ridge Road, Vernon Hill, died June 23, 2001 at Danville Regional Hospital. He was born in Halifax County November 10, 1914 and was 86 years old.
He was the son of Willie Henry Greenwood and Natalie Croxton Greenwood and was married first to Evelyn Lacks Greenwood and then to Louise Adams Greenwood.
Mr. Greenwood was a lifetime member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a Sunday School teacher, a former president of the Virginia Rural Letter Carriers Association, a former moderator of the Dan River Baptist Association, member of The woodmen of the World Camp 127, member of the Halifax Masonic Lodge, and a World War II Army Air Corp veteran.
Survivors include one daughter, Carol G. Trejo of Tucson, Arizona; two sons, the Rev. Dr. William Irving Greenwood Jr. of Winston-Salem, N.C. and Paul Croxton Greenwood of Midlothian; one step-daughter, Dolores W. Reynolds of Danville; four grandchildren, Kevin Greenwood of Chapel Hill, N.C., Emily Greenwood of Winston-Salem, N.C., Paul Greenwood of Raleigh, N.C. and Ann Laney Swank of Knoxville, Tenn.; and two great-grandchildren, Kenan and Brayden Greenwood of Chapel Hill.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill Wilkins and Dib Mills conducting. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. and other times at the home.
For memorials, please consider the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church or the Virginia Baptist Children's Home in Salem.

Eugene McDannald Perkins of 1184 Lewis Ferrell Road, South Boston died June 23, 2001 at the home. He was born in Halifax County December 22, 1928 and was 72 years old.
He was the son of Eugene Thomas Perkins and Elizabeth Hughes Perkins and was married to Rosalie Conner Perkins.
Mr. Perkins was a member of Union United Methodist Church and Woodmen of the World #127.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Perkins is survived by four daughters, Carolyn P. Jacobs of Elkhart, Ind., Barbara P. Messick of Alton, Janet P. Lewis of Powhatan and vicky P. Garner of Elkhart, Ind.; ten grandchildren; two great-greatchildren; and one sister, Eula V. Loftis of South Boston. He was preceded in death by one brother, Sanford E. Perkins.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 27 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel wit the Revs. Harper Davis and Bill Leonard conducting. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tomorrow from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston.

Agnes Snead Rebick of 5876 Powhatan Trail, King William, died June 22, 2001 at Riverside Convalescence Center in West Point.
Mrs. Rebick was born in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harold Snead of Scottsburg and was married to Thomas J. Rebick.
She was an active member of Colosse Baptist Church in King William and also a member of the church choir.
Mrs. Rebick was retired from the post office at West Point, where she served as assistant postmaster for many years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sisters, Christine Snead Priest of Scottsburg and Gray Snead Dismuke of South Boston, and one nephew, Dr. James Harold Priest of Vernon Hill.
Funeral services will be held today at 3 p.m. at the B.W. White Funeral Home at King William with entombment at Colosse Bptist Church Cemetery at King William.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Colosse Cemetery Fund, 23945 West Point Road, West Point, Va.