By Keith Strange/G-V Staff Writer

Future teachers are getting a $4,000 break on education expenses, thanks to the Tobacco Commission.
The scholarship/loan program is designed to bring college-educated residents back to Southside, through loan relief for graduates returning to teach.
If the students come back to Southside to work, the commission will forgive one year's loan for one year's work, according to Sen. Frank Ruff, chairman of the commission's education committee.
At the June 5 meeting of the commission, $2.8 million was allocated for a scholarship fund for Southside Virginia.
Superintendent Dennis Witt, of the Halifax County school system said the scholarship program is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of Halifax County.
"I hope a lot of our young people will take advantage of it," Witt said yesterday.
Although the loan gives priority to those intending to be teachers, Witt said it could be beneficial to others as well.
"I would encourage all students still seeking assistance to contact the high school and fill out an application," the superintendent said.
"They can call the guidance department and get more information," he added.
Witt said the school system will be seeking out students as well.
"We will go back through our senior class and let them know this new opportunity is available," he said.
The goal of the scholarship program is to provide a stimulus for economic revitalization within Southside communities.
"We want to encourage residents to pursue a career in the field of education and then return to the region," said Ruff.
"Southside Virginia is experiencing a critical need for committed teachers in our area," he added. "I see this program as an opportunity to aid in the higher education of our residents while producing the teachers we need to move our region forward."
The scholarship program is set to begin this fall, and will be available for four-year public and independent institutions, both in-state and our-of-state.
"I'm excited about the good we can do for both our young people and our communities," Ruff said.
The recipients of the scholarship must be a resident of one of the 20 designated Southside localities, including the counties of: Amelia, Appomatox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Franklin, Greensville/Emporia, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Prince Edward and the cities of Danville and Martinsville.
Recipients must also intend to enter the education field.
In the program, students attending public or private colleges or universities may receive $4,000 per year for a maximum of four years or $16,000.
The program requires a minimum of half-time enrollment and is designated as a "last dollar" program, not intended to replace or substitute for any other awarded gift assistance except when receipt of the aid would exceed student need or the cost of attendance.
For students returning and teaching in one of the twenty designated Southside communities, each year of teaching service will qualify to cancel one year's tuition loan.
For those who later chose not to teach in the region, loan repayment begins 12 months after program completion.
"In addition to current college students and this year's college-bound high school graduates, individuals seeking a second career in education will qualify.
Ruff said that should there be more applicants than funds, higher preference will go to those students seeking teaching certificates in critical need areas such as math and science, and to those from areas with a higher percentage of Title I students.
"Applications must be received by July 26 to be considered.
Notification of awards will be made by August 1.
Witt said he is excited about the possible implications of the program.
"I think this is the kind of infusion that we need to continue to develop Southside into the environment we're working towards... a higher education environment," the superintendent said.

Dust rose as Stanley Cole kicked some dirt between the rows of his corn crop. Rather than shoulder high and tasseling, this season's crop hardly comes to his knees.
"They say it always rains before it's too late, but if it don't hurry up and rain on this corn, it's gonna be too late."
Cole's concern for the lack of rain this spring­and now summer­has him more than kicking in the dust.
Cole owns the South Boston Livestock Market located in the Hyco community.
For well over a half century, livestock was sold at auction from the market's old location in Riverdale. Cole sold the property and moved the operation to his farm on Virgie Cole Road about five years ago.
He no longer conducts auctions but does purchase beef calves and cows from local producers and resells them in various markets around the state.
Cole plants about 50 acres of corn each year to feed and fatten the young calves he purchases in the spring and carries to market in late summer and early fall.
Now that the corn crop is likely to be lost, he won't be buying calves to fatten for the market.
It's a story that is being repeated throughout the beef cattle industry.
Dry weather has gripped practically every segment of the nation, with some exceptions in the deep south.
In some corn-producing states, excessive rainfall has destroyed or has made difficult the harvesting of this year's crop.
Either way, it's showing up in the wholesale price of beef.
When the price of corn starts to climb, Cole says the price of cows begins to decline.
"When corn gets high, cows get cheap!"
"Last year at this time, fatted cows were selling for over $80 (per hundred weight-cwt)" "This year, it's $62 to $63," Cole noted.
Lower prices for "butcher" or older cows are bringing from $35 to $43 per cwt and Cole believes further declines of from $5 to $8 will come in mid-July.
Even choice steers that were selling for near $100 per cwt last year, are down almost 20 percent.
"This year you're lucky to get $82 for the same (animal)," said Cole.
Dry weather has all but totally destroyed most pasture land throughout the county and livestock owners are feeding animals hay and grain that had been saved for this winter.
Roy and Betty Hatcher of Scottsburg are having to feed hay to their herd of approximately 130 cows. But they consider themselves fortunate in one sense; the streams on their farm still supply enough water for the animals.
Some livestock owners are having to supplement their normal water supplies that have simply dried up.
That's especially true, said Cole, in portions of western Virginia.
If it does begin to rain, will it avert a seemingly certain disaster?
"We need a big hurricane rain to come here," said Cole.
Betty Hatcher figures a good Fourth of July Scottsburg celebration will do the job since it's been known to rain on those parades.
"And I won't complain a bit!" she added.

The 3,700 workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, including those at the Clover Power Plant, voted to reject a proposed labor agreement and authorize a potential strike, the company announced Monday.
Clover Power Plant employs 143 people, 97 of whom are members of the IBEW and subject to the contract negotiations.
"We had a 90 percent turnout and a 90 percent rejection," said IBEW spokesperson Karen Waybright.
A rejection vote authorizes the union to call a strike with 72 hours notice to the company.
Irene Cimino, spokesperson for Dominion Virginia Power, said any potential strike would have little impact on electric service to residents of Halifax County.
"No power from the Clover Power Station affects Halifax County," Cimino said.
She noted that power produced at the Clover facility is transferred to the Dominion energy grid, where it is transferred to where it is needed.
But both the union and Dominion Power expect negotiations to continue.
"We are disappointed the offer was rejected," Cimino said yesterday.
"We anticipate returning to the bargaining table and resuming negotiations," said Edgar Roach Jr., president and CEO of Dominion Virginia Power.
"We believe that discussions can resume in a professional and amicable manner," he added.
Both Waybright and Cimino said talks continued yesterday.
Dominion Virginia Power spokesman Jim Norvelle said the company made its last, best and final offer on May 17.
"A week later, the union leadership notified us that it would recommend employees reject the offer and seek the authorization to call a strike," Norvelle said.
Jack Wells, business manager and negotiator for IBEW Local 50, said the vote comes after the company's attempt to reduce retirement and pension funds, as well as medical benefits.
"Under the new contract, there has been a dramatic change in the retirement formula and medical benefits," Wells said.
Another change the workers are protesting is the change in the medical benefits package.
"Primarily the prescription card," Wells said.
"Under the proposed contract, the out-of-pocket expenses would be $300 for the employee and $600 for families," he noted.
Wells said he expected the vote to be overwhelmingly in favor of rejecting the offer.
"We knew our membership would stand behind their hard work," he said.
"It's absolutely unacceptable to demean the hardworking folks of Dominion," he added.
Both Wells and Norvelle said that a strike is possible, but at this point they don't consider it eminent.
"We don't want to strike," Wells said. "We want a good contract."
Norvelle said he believes the company offered an acceptable contract.
"We believe we made a fair and reasonable offer on the contract," he said.
"It would be a four-year contract with a three percent annual wage increase," he added.
The present contract expired on March 31.
The company and the IBEW Local 50 began negotiating in January to draft a contract to succeed a three-year agreement that was ratified in 1995 and extended twice, each time for two years.
Norvelle said negotiations had been "professional, amicable and fruitful in most areas."
Company officials said Dominion Power customers have nothing to fear.
"We want to assure our customers that we remain committed to generating and delivering the safe and reliable electricity they expect from us," said Thomas Farrell II, CEO of Dominion Energy.
Farrell noted the company has contingency plans in place and ready to implement if necessary.
Wells said the time frame for a potential strike depends on the company.
"We don't want to strike, but if they force the issue we will take equal action," he said.
The last strike was in 1964.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a production capability of more that three trillion BTUs of energy per day.
Dominion also serves 3.9 million franchise natural gas and electric customers in five states.
Last year, the company's operating revenue was $10.5 billion, with the CEO and President receiving $1 million and a bonus of $1.25 million.

A 34-year-old Vernon Hill man was sentenced in Halifax County Circuit Court to a total of 60 years in prison for six cocaine distribution convictions.
Jeffrey Keith Daniel will serve an effective prison term of 17 years, the remainder suspended by Judge Leslie M. Osborn on the condition of Daniel's good behavior for 60 years.
Judge Osborn additionally ordered Daniel to be placed on probation for two years following his release and pay restitution to the Halifax Drug Task Force in the amount of $3,060.
· Ronnie Dwaynn Chappell, a 23-year-old Chase City man, was sentenced Monday to a total of 46 years in prison, with all but four suspended, for seven felony convictions.
Judge Osborn sentenced Chappell to two years in prison each for three separate counts of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony, with two sentences to run together, for a total of four years in prison .
In addition, Chappell received four 10-year suspended sentences for convictions stemming from his breaking and entering the residence of Joe Allred Sr.
Those convictions included breaking and entering, grand larceny of shotgun and rifle, grand larceny of an air conditioner, television, rifle and shotgun, and grand larceny of a boat motor, all belonging to Allred.
Judge Osborn ordered the suspended portions of Chappell's sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 46 years, and ordered Daniel to be placed on probation with the Department of Corrections for two years following his release.
The court ordered Chappell make restitution in an amount to be determined by the probation department.
· Mitchell Antonio Allen, 32, of South Boston, entered an Alford plea Friday to the malicious wounding of Rosalyn Davis, use of a firearm to commit malicious wounding, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and conspiring to commit a felony.
The Alford plea came as the result of a plea bargain with the commonwealth that resulted in an effective three-year prison term for Allen.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
Under terms of the plea agreement, Allen was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the wounding charge, with all time suspended.
Allen also received two 10-year suspended prison terms for discharging a firearm from a vehicle and conspiring to commit a felony.
The commonwealth sentenced Allen to three years in prison for using a firearm to commit a felony and nol prossed a charge alleging Allen possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, also as part of the plea agreement.
Judge Osborn ordered the suspended portions of Allen's sentence be conditioned on Allen's good behavior for 20 years.
The court additionally ordered Allen to be placed on probation for two years following his release, to make restitution to his victim, and to have no contact with his victim.
· Timothy Wallace Puryear, 41, of South Boston, was sentenced Monday to a total of 30 years in prison for two cocaine distribution convictions and one conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Judge Osborn suspended all but one year each for the distribution convictions, and six months for the conspiracy conviction, for an effective prison term of two years and six months for Puryear.
The court ordered the suspended portions of Puryear's sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 30 years, and ordered Puryear to be placed on probation for one year following his release.
The court additionally ordered Puryear to make restitution in the amount of $620 to the Halifax Drug Task Force and to undergo random drug screens.
· Robert Dwayne Covington, 35, of South Boston, was sentenced Monday to five years each in prison for two counts of credit card forgery of Radio Shack, and to five years each for credit card forgery of W.A. Fuller, LTD and Belk.
Judge Osborn suspended Covington's entire sentence, conditioned on his good behavior for 20 years.
The court ordered Covington to be placed on probation with Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services for six months, and to make restitution in the amount of $266.46 to Fuller and $265.10 to MBNA.
· David Thomas Perkins, 56, of Vernon Hill, was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for throwing a missile against an occupied vehicle.
Judge Osborn suspended Perkins' sentence to time served, conditioned on his good behavior for three years.
The court additionally ordered Perkins to be placed on probation for one year with the Department of Corrections, to undergo mental health counseling and to make restitution in an amount to be determined by the probation department.
· Sherelene Hazelwood, 39, of Halifax, was convicted Monday of a probation violation.
Judge Osborn ordered Hazelwood to serve six months of her previously suspended prison sentence.
· Mary Elizabeth Burch, 41, of South Boston, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for the unlawful wounding of James Terry.
Judge Osborn suspended all but 60 days of Burch's sentence, conditioned on Burch's good behavior for five years, with work release or weekend service authorized.
The court additionally ordered Burch to be placed on probation with the Department of Corrections for one year following her release, and ordered her to perform 50 hours of community service.
The court ordered Burch to abstain from illegal drugs and alcohol and to make restitution in the amount of $582.98 to Halifax Regional Hospital and $308.25 to Halifax Rescue Squad.
· Newell Thomas Butts, 55, of Nathalie, had charges against him alleging he made a false statement on a form to purchase a firearm dismissed on Monday.

The recently revived YMCA Sea Serpents swim team will make its debut Friday when it hosts Clarksville in a dual meet.
Friday's meet at the South Boston YMCA will begin at 6 p.m.
"I'm looking forward to the meet," said team coach Dewey Compton.
"We've got some swimmers who will be very competitive. We have some older kids who were on the high school swim team, some of whom were on the Comets team as eighth-graders when I last coached the team."
Among the 41 team members, Compton has 10 swimmers who were members of last year's Halifax County High School team.
That group includes Brennan Manning, Jimmy Bishop, Lauren Armstrong, Anna Bowen, Amanda Holmes and Helen Greenbacker.
Also included in that group are Caroline Clements, Kylie Lowe, Christina Manning, Sara Lowery and Liza Holmes.
Anne Ashley Compton, a rising ninth-grader who swam for the Hargrave aquatic team last year, is also on the squad.
Liza Holmes and Christina Manning are serving dual roles, doubling as both swimmers and assistant coaches.
"Both of them have a lot of experience," Compton said.
"They have a lot of experience from being on the Comets teams and both of them are very good with the kids. Both of them have helped a lot."
Compton said he has a group of newcomers that is also doing well.
That group includes Emily Bowen, Lacy Will, Emily Martin and Emily New.
There is also a group of younger swimmers that is coming along nicely.
That group includes Kent Bane, Mike Owens, Raleigh Powell, Les Powell and Farley Will.
"All of them are improving," Compton said.
Compton said that in an overall sense he is pleased with the progress the team has made it began practice sessions about three weeks ago.
"A lot of kids have made a lot of progress learning new strokes, how to start and how to swim competitively as opposed to recreationally," Compton said.
"The main thing we want to do with the summer program is to have the kids learn the strokes, learn about what it is like to swim in competition and for them to have fun.
"Hopefully, that will help them become better and more competitive swimmers as they go into the high school program," added Compton.
This summer marks the first time in approximately two years that the YMCA has fielded a summer swim team.
Approximately 40 youngsters have come out for the team, a number that Compton says is good for a revival year.
"We've been right at 40 swimmers," Compton said.
"I'd have liked to have had more but 40 is not a bad number. It's been two years since we have had a swim team. Hopefully, we can keep these kids interested in continuing in the program this winter and the ones that are eligible for the high school program will go out for the high school team."
Compton said the door is still open for any youngsters that would like to join the summer program.
"Any kids who have finished playing baseball or softball that are interested in swimming are welcome to come join us," Compton said.
"Anyone that made all-stars who may finish up early are welcome. All they need to do is contact me."
Compton noted that the YMCA's executive director, Tom Brown, has been very supportive of the effort made to revive the swim team.
"He has supported us 110 percent," Compton said.
"There is no way I can describe just how supportive he and Teresa have been at the YMCA. Mr. Brown has assisted us in getting the things we need together and he has pitched in and helped us a lot."
The summer season meets are structured a little differently than the winter meets.
Age groups for the summer competition are 6 & Under, 7-8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15 & Over.
The summer meets also feature mixed relay events with teams of two girls and two boys.
In addition, there is a mixed relay event in which there is one youngster from each age group starting with the 9-10 age group.
Also in the summer meets, the longest event is 100 meters with the majority of the events being 50-meter and 100-meter events.
The younger kids swim 25-meter events, the equivalent of one length of the pool.
Joining the South Boston-Halifax County YMCA in the summer swim league competition are the Eden, N.C. YMCA, and swim clubs from Clarksville, Farmville, Stuart and Forest Grove near Reidsville, N.C.
Friday's meet is the first of five meets the YMCA Sea Serpents swim team will compete in this summer.
The schedule includes a July 9 meet at Farmville, a July 13 meet at Eden, N.C., a July 18 quad meet here with Clarksville, Stuart and Forest Grove and a July 27 meet at Eden, N.C.
An end-of-the-year awards dinner for the team will be held July 30.

Maynard Lee Chandler

Maynard Lee Chandler, 63, of Clarksville, died June 24 at his home.
Mr. Chandler was married to Anita Johnson Chandler, was a graduate of Bluestone High school, class of 1957, was a member of Gravel Hill Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons and was a past chairman.
He was a former member of Bethel Baptist Church in Skipwith, was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 119, and ACCA Temple Shriners. In 1985 he founded and served as a partner in Atlantic Medical, Inc. He retired in 2000. Mr. Chandler was captain of Chase City Rescue Squad for 10 years and was Life and Charter member.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. June 27 at Bethel Baptist Church, with Masonic Committal Rites following.
Survivors of Mr. Chandler in addition to his wife, include a son and daughter-in-law, James Allen and Dolly Chandler of Clarksville; a daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Todd Hamlett of Fredericksburg; four grandchildren, Chad Chandler, Sean, Brandon and Aisley Hamlett; two sisters-in-law, Wanda Chandler and Wanda Thompson and her husband James; a brother-in-law, Chester Johnson and his wife, Janie.
The family will receive friends this evening, June 26, from 7-9, at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shriner's Hospital in Richmond or Patrick Henry Boy's Home.

Jerry Wayne Dean

Jerry Wayne Dean, 46, of 207B East Tenth Street, Richmond,Va., died June 25, 2002 at his home.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time yesterday.
Arrangements will be announced later by Brooks Funeral Home.
Born August 8, 1955 in Elwood, Indiana, Mr. Dean was the son of the late Alva Wayne Dean and Patricia "Patty" Baugher Dean of South Boston.
Mr. Dean was employed as a computer technician at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
He was a member of Community Baptist Church in Richmond, and served as a volunteer with Good Samaritan of Richmond.
Survivors include his mother; two daughters, Tara Gretchen Dean and Melissa Opal Dean, both of Richmond; three sisters, Cindy Throckmorton and her husband, David Throckmorton, of Scottsburg, Diana Cole and her husband, Danny Cole, of Virgilina, and Jenny Knutti and her husband, Bob Knutti, of South Boston and one brother, Tommy Dean, and his wife, Elaine Dean, of Scottsburg.
Six nieces and one nephew also survive.

Annie Laura Ewell

Annie Laura Ewell, 86, of Nathalie, died June 20 at the Woodview Nursing Home.
She is survived by four sisters, Rosa B. West and Edmonia E. Bailey, both of Richmond, Emma E. Brown of Clover and Lou Ella Jennings of Nathalie.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. June 23 at Sunflower Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

Billie Dodson Myers

Billie Dodson Myers, 79, of 412 Ellyson Avenue, South Boston, died June 25 at her home.
Mrs. Myers was born in Pittsylvania County on October 23, 1922, the daughter of the late Roy Wister Dodson and the late Myrtie Owen Dodson. She was a member of Seven Oaks Baptist Church, and was retired from J.P. Stevens.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Wayne Myers of Forest and David Raye Myers of South Boston; one daughter, Linda M. Burgett of South Boston; two sisters, Cecil Blair of Danville and Mary Ola Marshall of Crownsville, MD; three brothers, Mitchell Dodson of Semora, NC, Glen Dodson and Vernon Dodson, both of Yanceyville, NC; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Myers was preceded in death by two sisters, Pattie Clark and Nelsie Taylor; and four brothers, Buster, Alexander, Roger and Newman Dodson.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Brooks Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at the home of David Myers, 1730 Irishdale Court, South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Attn. Memorial/Honor Program FH, PO Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148-0552, or Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Plantation, PO Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528.

James Archer Saunders Jr.

James Archer Saunders Jr., 70, of Richmond, died Sunday, June 23.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dale Harman Saunders; four children, James Archer Saunders III, Julian Harman Saunders, Dale Harrison (DeeDee) Saunders White and Samuel Philip Goodloe Saunders; six grandchildren; two sisters, Maryanne Saunders McElroy and Elizabeth Saunders Miller.
Mr. Saunders attended VMI in the class of 1955. He was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church; an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving in Korea as a member of the Combat Engineers; a member of the Mathew's Yacht Club; and a retired contractor.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, June 26, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the VMI Foundation, Foundation Office, VMI, Lexington, 24450.