A former Halifax County administrator, Joe Morgan, will return as administrator here on September 1.
Morgan is currently Pulaski County's administrator, a position that he held since leaving the Halifax County post in 1986.
Supervisors chose Morgan from over 20 candidates vying for the post, announcing the appointment following a supervisors' meeting Thursday night.
"He is highly respected all over the state," Joe Satterfield, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said yesterday. "I support him."
Satterfield, who serves as president of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, said that he got to know Morgan through the association.
Supervisor R.E. Abbott cast the single dissenting vote Thursday night, citing the salary issue and funding for the position.
Abbott said that he supported interim administrator Julia Moss for the position, adding that she would do the job for about half the cost.
Former Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper's salary was $64,512 when he resigned in March. Morgan's salary in Halifax will be about $84,224. His salary in Pulaski County last year was reported at about $108,000 by The Roanoke Times this weekend.
In Pulaski, Morgan is credited with helping to keep the Volvo plant from moving, securing the largest Governor's Opportunity Fund allocation toward its expansion; securing three of Virginia's 50 Enterprise Zones in Pulaski County as well as a Foreign Trade Zone; and opening six industrial parks in the county since 1990, according to The Roanoke Times report.
In a prepared statement issued by Morgan following the supervisors' session Thursday night, Morgan said that he looked forward to working with the board and its experienced staff.
"I have served the best county in Southwest Virginia for the past 14 years," Morgan said. "I now have an opportunity to return to serve the best county in Southside Virginia. Halifax County is a location nearer to my family and roots," he said of his native Smithfield, N.C.
The new administrator described the Halifax Board of Supervisors as one with "a rich blend of experience, statewide leadership and commitment to public service.
"I hope to support the Board of Supervisors in continuing the county's excellence in economic development; sound financial base; and attractive quality of life."
Morgan also said that he looked forward to working with the county's staff.
"I know no other public servant more caring, considerate and conscientious than Julia Moss," he said. Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace was described as "rural Virginia's leading planner...
"Together in their roles as assistant county administrators, they reflect the best of Halifax County," said Morgan.
During the next two months, Morgan said that he hoped to spend several days a week refreshing his understanding of Halifax County and renewing his acquaintance with the county's citizens.
Morgan is a graduate of North Carolina State University. He earned a master's degree in state and local government from the University of Virginia.
He also attended the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute in 1986 and 1997.
Morgan is married to Nancy Johnson Morgan and they have two daughters, Elisabeth Morgan, a graduate physical therapy student at the Medical College of Virginia, and Virginia Morgan, a recent Virginia Tech graduate.

Seeking a reduction in the proposed $1.26 machine and tool tax rate, three industry spokesmen told supervisors that the increase will hurt existing industry, send the wrong message to prospective industries and singles them out.
The call to supervisors to reconsider the 9-cent tax hike came during a public hearing on the county's proposed $61.5 million budget Thursday evening.
Supervisors are scheduled to meet Thursday, June 29, at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax to adopt a FY2000-2001 budget.
Lott Rogers, plant manager at Burlington Industries in Halifax, said the proposal would mean over a $22,000 increase to Burlington.
The plant manager asked that supervisors reconsider the tax and urged them "to look after established industries" in Halifax County.
"No other Burlington plant comes close to the tool tax paid here," he said.
He described the industry as one of the oldest and mostly highly capitalized.
Rogers said that he does not oppose a real estate tax hike and that he is personally supportive of a tax increase to help the school system, which he said he knew needed more money.
He reminded supervisors that a $12 million payroll helped the community.
John Bosiger, ABB Facilities manager, told supervisors that the proposed machine and tool tax increase would hurt his company.
He also warned supervisors that it "sends the wrong message out to new industries" considering locating here.
He said the increase would also affect existing businesses wanting to expand.
Bosiger said the increase in the tax would pay for two production people at ABB. When business is in a down cycle, he said, jobs are lost.
He told supervisors that they were planning on increasing the tax on the very thing that brings new industry into the area.
J.R. Griffin, JPS Apparel plant manager, said that he was not opposed to tax increases in business or personally.
But he did object to the increase in the machine and tool tax increase. "If you are going to start taxing, hit equally," Griffin said.
Industry and business does not have deep pockets, he emphasized. And when costs go up, he said that he cannot pass the increase on.
"Spread the pain a little bit further than just industry," he urged.
Sister plants in Greenville and Laurens pay significantly less, according to Griffin. Laurens pays under $32,000 and Greenville pays a total tax of $68,000.
"We are going to be looking at $123,000, said Griffin.
"The cost of doing business in Halifax County seems high to me when you look at the figures," he said.
Griffin also noted that the plant was playing a higher water/sewer bill, $50,000, with the South Boston rate increase.
JPS returns in excess of $10 million a year into the community, said Griffin, as well as supporting a variety of community projects.
"Incentives are offered new industries," he noted, calling for the county to take care of its old industries.
Griffin said that he believes JPS is here to stay, noting the plant's niche market.
"I feel like we are going to be here, but you should strongly look at helping us stay here," he urged supervisors.
Fire Departments
Volunteer fire department representatives Bert Martin and Chad Loftis asked supervisors for an increase in funding for all county fire departments.
"Our request is that the amount in the proposed budget be increased by $14,751, which would apportion $24,000 to each department," said Martin.
He noted that in the 1999-2000 budget, the departments received an increase of 2 to 3 percent and that the proposed budget is in the same range.
However, the cost of operating the fire departments has increased in some cases by 6 to 7 percent, with the exception of fuel and repair.
Fuel costs are up dramatically, as well as the cost to repair aging equipment
Martin said the appropriations forced volunteer members to work harder to raise needed funds, in addition to spending time participating in training and responding to calls.
Martin told supervisors that Charlotte County recently raised the amount per department to $25,000 and set up a fund of $25,000 to $35,000 for a capital improvements plan.
Prince Edward County pays $50,000 annually per department, and Campbell County pays $40,000, plus paying for the departments' insurance, vehicle maintenance and providing a $140,000 fund for capital improvements.
"A statewide study in 1993 by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs found that the 303 volunteer fire fighters in Halifax County saved the county over $8 million in salary and benefits alone."
Fire department volunteers are the most cost-effective service provided to the citizens of Halifax County, he explained.
"All we are asking for is a little more help."
"Every little bit will help us," added Loftis.
John Cannon, representing the Southside Virginia Economic Partnership, told supervisors that "the partnership is working," and urged supervisors to continue local funding, which is in the $18,000 range.
Cannon told supervisors that a private funding effort for the partnership hopes to raise $200,000.
Cannon also introduced Jack Messer, director of the SVEP, to supervisors.
There were no speakers during the public hearing addressing the proposed utility tax increase from $2 to $3.
During the public hearing for the proposed E-911 fee increase from 40 cents to $2.50, EMT/volunteer fireman Bert Martin told supervisors that "we need a radio system that will work, a long-term system for 10 to 20 years down the road."
Supervisor Abbott warned that in the future he feared some rescue squads would have to close because the county "can't afford to keep them up."
During the Thursday session supervisors also approved picking up the employees' contribution to the Virginia Retirement System.
The majority of counties in Virginia pay for VRS for employees.
Supervisors also approved a request from the Juvenile and Domestics Relations Court for a video teleconferencing system. Monthly fees for the ISDN lines are $56.72 each, for a total of $170.16 per month through a Sprint agreement. Sprint has advised that a special offer currently exists where the three ISDN telephones lines can be installed at no cost if the county entered the agreement by July 1.

South Boston Town Council will hold its monthly committee meetings during a work session tonight in council chambers on Yancey Street.
The session will start at 6 p.m. with the swearing-in ceremony for new council members Coleman Speece, Chris Elliott and Carroll Thackston.
The Honorable Frank M. Slayton, chief judge, Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, will administer the oath of office.
At 6:30 p.m., the Current Issues Committee (CIC) will consider three agenda items.
The CIC will consider the application of Vilma and Leo Pambid for conditional zoning at 611 Watkins Avenue to allow a small eat in/take out diner and a duplex in an R-2 Medium Density Residential Zone.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this application on June 14 and recommended approval, accepting the proffers offered.
Those proffers included acknowledgments by Vilma Pambid that she would not operate after 9 p.m. on any given day and that the restaurant not apply for an A.B.C. license.
The CIC will also consider a request from the owners of a portion of Halifax Square Shopping Center for a Town Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Code amendment.
The amendment would allow individual lots without frontage on improved streets to exist within shopping centers.
The applicant is McLaughlin Shopping Centers, LC.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this issue on June 14 and did not support a change in the ordinances.
Finally, the CIC will consider a structural fill placement agreement with Reuse Technologies to develop approximately seven acres adjacent to the Dixie complex in Houghton Industrial Park.

A weekend break in at Grace Baptist Church, on Buckshoal Road in Virgilina, resulted in about $10,000 worth of equipment being stolen.
The Rev. Jack Stewart said the church was entered sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning through a side door that had been pried open.
The door led into the office and the perpetrator(s) entered the sanctuary where a bass guitar, keyboard, amplifier and speakers were taken.
The equipment were located behind the pulpit.
A sound room was also entered and another ampifier was taken.
The break in was discovered around 9 a.m. Sunday morning by the pastor and members of the congregation.
An investigation is underway by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department. Anyone with information about the break in is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 476-8477 or the Sheriff's office at 476-3334.
· Harold "BB" Junior Logan, 55, of Charlie Brown Lane in Halifax, was arrested Thursday on a felony charge of malicious wounding.
Logan allegedly wounded Thelma Ferrell with the intent to harm on the day of the arrest.
A hearing is scheduled today for Logan in Halifax County General District Court.
· A South Boston man was arrested by sheriff's deputies Friday on a felony charge of grand larceny and for the malicious removal of a highway sign.
Antione Jarrod Scott, 19, of Ponderosa Road, was charged after he allegedly stole a 1995 Chevrolet Corsica, valued more than $200, belonging to Elliott's Auto Sales, and allegedly removed a highway sign.
The alleged offenses occurred on December 12, 1999.
· Cynthia L. Clayton, 29, of Fowler's Mobile Home Park in South Boston, was charged Tuesday by sheriff's deputies on an assault-and-battery charge.
Clayton allegedly committed the assault and battery of Patricia Smith on June 19.
A hearing for Clayton is scheduled in Halifax County General District Court on July 5.

In other police reports:

A two-car crash involving two Scottsburg residents occurred Friday afternoon on Scottsburg Road (Route 344), 150 feet west of Green Level Road (Route 720).
Trooper L.G. Perkins said a 1866 Ford pickup, driven by Harry Wilson Austin, 50, pulled into the path of a 1982 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Latoya Tameshia Ballou, 23.
Ballou's vehicle then struck the Austin vehicle, according to the trooper.
The trooper estimated $2,500 in damages to each vehicle from the 4:20 p.m. crash.
Austin was charged with failing to yield the right of way.
· Another two-car accident occurred Thursday night on Route 501.
Trooper D.J. Cline said the 9 p.m. crash involved a 1994 Mazda pickup, driven by Devin Ray Lloyd, 22, of Nathalie, and a 1999 Ford, driven by Betcina L. Hubbard, 22, of Brookneal.
The trooper said Lloyd's vehicle made a right turn into a driveway off of Route 501, three-tenths of a mile south of Shiloh Church Road (Route 626), and was struck in the rear by Hubbard's vehicle.
Cline said the Hubbard vehicle then fled the scene.
Hubbard was charged with following too closely.

By CHRIS KAHN
Associated Press Writer
CLARKSVILLE, Va. (AP) - The sweet scent of tobacco used to permeate this southern Virginia town, wafting from curing barns that roasted the raw green leaves and colored them amber.
''It was the best smell in the world,'' said George Gordon III, 58, whose family has grown tobacco just outside of town for almost a century.
But times have changed since Gordon was a boy, as they have for many rural towns in the heart of Virginia's tobacco country. Foreign competition and a $206 billion legal settlement have weakened the industry.
Statewide, land devoted to flue-cured tobacco has declined 60 percent in the past three years. Cutbacks in harvest quotas have forced growers to leave fields fallow and scrape by, waiting for better times. Many have decided to get out of the business altogether.
''It's stressful,'' said Don Anderson, a tobacco farmer and executive director of the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association. ''If you lost half of your income, how would you feel?''
Farmers can't rely on tobacco anymore, said Payne Jones, who grows burley tobacco, strawberries and tomatoes in Scott County.
''There's a need to diversify,'' Jones said. ''Tobacco is, I hate to say, on its way out.''
Since colonial times, tobacco has been king in Virginia. It turned Jamestown into a boomtown in the 1600s and supported much of  America's early economic growth.
But state leaders have always worked to diversify Virginia's  economy. Thomas Jefferson went as far as calling tobacco an ''infinite wretchedness,'' which raises little food for the farmer and needlessly depletes the soil.
Today, Clarksville relies heavily on tourist dollars from its 52,000-acre man-made lake. Lake Kerr boasts 800 miles of shoreline and some of the best fishing around.
About 3 million tourists come each year for the stripe bass and crappie, said Charlie Simmons, president of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce. On land, they can hunt for antiques in downtown boutiques or dine on moo goo gai pan at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant.
A Chevy dealer displays shiny new trucks down the road. A Burlington textile plant employs 1,400.
''We won't give up on tobacco, but we've got to look for other industries,'' Simmons said.
Similarly, farmers like Gordon have had to look to other enterprises to survive tobacco's decline.
Several greenhouses the size of football fields now cover Gordon's 600-acre farm. Inside, machines inject flower seeds into thousands of thumb-sized cartons. Endless rows of potted flowers grow on metal trays.
Gordon still reserves a 35-acre plot for tobacco, but the majority of his income now comes from selling plants to upscale retail nurseries. He also has started a new Internet business selling home greenhouse construction kits.
''I'd rather just grow tobacco,'' Gordon said. ''But I really can't make a living at it anymore.''
The nursery business is one of the few bright spots in Virginia agriculture, said Gary DeOms, a unit coordinator for Virginia Cooperative Extension. And ironically, it feeds off of a typical farm killer - urbanization.
With every new apartment complex, housing development and strip mall there is the need for decorative plants like pre-grown oaks and potted petunias. Increasing numbers of nursery owners - including many traditional farmers like Gordon - are scrambling to fill the demand.
''All our products sell out,'' said Jones, who has spent the past five years selling wholesale flowers.
Floriculture - the business of growing flowers - tripled its sales during the past three years in Virginia. In 1999, flower growers raked in $73.4 million, making floriculture second only to tobacco as a cash crop.
The nursery business is where the money is, said Bonnie L. Appleton, an extension specialist and professor of horticulture at Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. And many are converting their farms to accommodate floriculture.
While 2,574 farmers stopped growing tobacco from 1992 to 1997, 652 nurseries opened shop.
At first, farmers stubbornly hold on to their traditional peanut or tobacco crops, relying only partially on their nursery, Appleton said.
''But then they realize the nursery industry is just much more profitable and give up whatever crops they were growing.''
Gordon said that as tobacco declines, so will Virginia's traditional farms. Profitable tobacco was the only way farmers could afford to grow other crops like peanuts or wheat, he said.
''There was a time when 10 acres of tobacco could support two families,'' he said, shaking his head. ''Not anymore.''

By Doug Ford
There are two things that many schoolchildren learn when they first start their education.
One is their school bus number.
The second thing is the name of their school bus driver.
Many middle and high schoolers in northern Halifax County know bus number 125 and their driver, 16-year veteran Pam Lane.
Lane, of Stagecoach Road, is one of approximately 140 school bus drivers in the Halifax County school system. She also serves on the "snow watch team" for the school system during the winter months.
Her 36-mile route takes her through some of the outermost areas of the county, starting on Stagecoach Road, and including Routes 905, 621 and 638 before heading towards the middle and high schools on Route 501.
"I've got a pretty good group of kids this year," said Lane.
According to Lane, the daily number of students on her route varies.
All of the buses are set up for maximum loads," said Lane. Some students ride in the morning one day and in the afternoon the next day. As we get toward the end of the school year, some of them drive to school," said Lane.
According to J.O. Crews, supervisor of Facilities Planning and Community Relations for county schools, bus drivers don't have an easy job.
"I've seen less respect than ever for buses. There are more reports every year of drivers passing a school bus loading children.
"It puts that much more burden on a bus driver to pay attention to everyone else as well as to what he or she is doing," said Crews.
Stray animals in the road, railroad crossings and tailgating drivers are just some of the hazards that bus drivers face daily.
Lane's day starts before dawn and includes a thorough inspection of her vehicle.
She starts with the engine and then tests the lights, turn signals and crossarms. Lane finally inspects the tires for potential problems.
At approximately 7:17 a.m., Lane begins her morning run, returning home around 10 a.m. She leaves home for the afternoon route at 2:20, returning at about 4:45 p.m.
"We're allowed five minutes either way when picking up students, but sometimes we can't keep our schedule due to traffic conditions or other delays.
"We're also supposed to pull over and allow the vehicles following the bus to pass if there are five or more of them," said Lane.
"Sometimes parents don't understand how difficult it is to keep to our exact schedule," Lane added.
Weather conditions also adversely affect a bus schedule.
According to Lane, conditions could be favorable upon first observation, but deteriorate rapidly before her route begins.
Lane and Crews agree that the worst time for unfavorable weather, including snow storms, is at dawn, right before the buses begin their runs.
"We're really in a pickle when that happens," Crews said.
Not only is Lane responsible for students while they are on the bus, but also right before they board and right after they exit the bus.
"As a driver, you're at an advantage on the afternoon run," said Lane.
"You have more control over the situation with students already on the bus. If a vehicle tries to pass (illegally), I can always keep the door closed and the student on the bus.
"I hold my breath a lot more on my morning run before they're safely on board," Lane said.
Maintaining discipline while operating the bus is a challenge for all of the drivers.
Five-year bus driver Debra Elliott had similar comments.
"I have to watch about seven different mirrors as well as sit with my back to the students." she said.
Elliott's 12-mile route includes stops on Ponderosa Road and Alphonse Dairy Road, as well as Arthur Ware Trace.
Her final destinations include South of Dan and Cluster Springs Elementary schools.
"I took the job to be with my children," said Elliott. Both Jared and Jenna ride their mother's bus each day.
According to Elliott, her job allows her to interact with her children, both on the bus and as a substitute teacher with the school system.
The children on Elliott's bus #97 are essentially a second family to her.
"I know each kid individually - their personality, when they're sick, when they're on a field trip and not riding the bus on a particular day, said Elliott.
"Their parents work really well with me."
Like Pam Lane, Elliott does other things for the school system, such as driving the High School varsity cheerleaders to away games and driving the bus for student field trips.
The idea of school bus aides to assist the driver with student discipline also agrees with Elliott.
"It would be wonderful to have aides. My back is to the students...all we have is the mirror to see them."
When asked if students behaved differently on the bus depending on the time of year, Elliott had a ready answer.
"They're definitely rowdier in the spring. Summer and vacation are on their minds. The kids are calmer other times of the year."
It would be hard to imagine any student not looking forward to that last school bus ride of the year.
Most will come back next September, perhaps on a different bus, and to a different destination. High School graduates will never ride a school bus again.
It is a safe bet, however, that most of them will not forget the bus - or the person behind the wheel.

Patricia Lee Terry, 61, of Baltimore, Md. and formerly of Halifax County, died June 22, 2000 at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Ms. Terry was born in Halifax County on June 26, 1938, the daughter of Joseph Daniel Terry and Hattie Sue Jordan Terry. She was a member of the Jones Chapel Church, Roxboro, N.C.
Her survivors include her mother; two daughters: Penny Wagstaff and Pamela Wagstaff of Baltimore; seven sons: Charles Terry, Wayne Paylor, Neatom Paylor, Nathaniel Wagstaff, Henry Wagstaff, Douglas Wagstaff and George Wagstaff, all of Baltimore; 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held today, June 26 at 1 p.m. at the Jeters Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Roderick Fitz officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Johnny Edward Majors, 85, of 1004 Billy's Lane, Halifax, died June 23, 2000 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Majors was born in Halifax County on February 10, 1915, the son of Howard Majors and Oranda Thaxton Majors Trent. He was married to Edna Logan Majors and was a member of St. Paul CME Church and the Mt. Sinai Masonic Lodge #203.
His survivors include his wife; daughter: Carolyn M. Coles of Halifax; three sons: William Edward Majors, Thomas Majors and Theodore Majors, all of Halifax; two sisters: Mary Powell of Halifax and Annie Logan of Queens, N.Y.; brother: James Majors of Halifax; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 27 at 1 p.m. at the St. Paul CME Church with burial in the Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Joseph William "J.W." Hill of 872 Singleton Ridge Road, Conway, S.C. died Saturday, June 24, 200 at Sterling House.
He was 82.
A funeral for Mr. Hill will be held Tuesday, June 27, 2000 at 2 p.m. at the Union United Church of Christ. Burial will take place in Virgilina Cemetery.
Mr. Hill was born May 1, 1918 in Lawrenceville, Va. and was a military veteran. He was a retired merchant and owned and operated Hill's Grocery.
Mr. Hill was a member of the Union United Church of Christ. He was a member of Virgilina Masonic Lodge No. 248 for 54 years and was a member of the Woodmen of the World Lodge No. 106 for 25 years.
Surviving are one daughter, Brenda Hill Proffitt of Conway, S.C.; two grandchildren, Michael Murray and Kelley Morrison, both of Conway, S.C. and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Bequette Morrison and Tanner Miles Morrison, both of Conway, S.C.
The family will receive friends tonight between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Patrick Henry Boys Home, Route 2, Box 125, Brookneal, Va. 24528 or the Virgilina Masonic Lodge in care of Ryland Harris, 2929 Halifax Road, South Boston, Va. 24592