South Boston police are searching for a suspect who they believe
robbed a county man at gunpoint on Sinai Road Wednesday, according
to investigator T.M. VanAernem.
"Officers W.M. Garner and S.L. Song responded to Sonny's
Quick Shop on Sinai Road in reference to a report of an armed
robbery," he said.
When the officers arrived on the scene, the victim told them that
he had been robbed at gunpoint in the WestSide Trailer Park by
an unidentified black male, according to police reports.
"The victim stated that the suspect called to him, at which
time the victim walked toward him to see what the person wanted,"
VanAernem said.
According to police, as the victim approached the suspect, the
suspect pulled a gun and robbed the victim of an undisclosed amount
of money.
"The suspect then told the victim to start running,"
the investigator said. "When the victim fled the area, the
suspect fired several shots at him."
VanArenem asks that anyone with information about this or any
other incident contact the South Boston Police Department at 575-4271
or Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.
In other police business, a juvenile has been arrested for vandalizing
the Halifax Road branch of the BB&T Bank.
South Boston Police officer R.L. Lilly responded to a report of
a broken window at 7 a.m. Friday, according to police reports.
VanAernem said police suspect the crime occurred sometime overnight
Thursday.
"When Officer Lilly responded, he located the juvenile standing
behind the building," he said.
Lilly found the glass from one of the bank's rear windows had
been broken out, VanAernem added.
The juvenile has been taken into custody and sent to W.W. Moore
Detention Center in Danville to await his court date, according
to police.
· Eric Hamlett, 20, of Great Oakes Lane in Nathalie, was
arrested Saturday and charged with shooting at an occupied vehicle
and the assault and battery of a family member
The alleged crimes occurred Saturday.
Deputy R.C. Lipscomb was the arresting deputy.
· David Lee Wood, 49, of the Days Inn in South Boston,
was arrested Saturday and charged with trespassing at the Stop
In Shell.
The alleged offense occurred Saturday.
Deputy T.C. Spencer was the arresting deputy.
· Charles Anthony Epps, 49, of Chaffin Trail in Halifax,
was arrested Sunday and charged with the possession of controlled
substances.
The alleged offense occurred Sunday.
Deputy T.C. Spencer was the arresting deputy.
PHENIX - Charlotte County authorities believe they may have
witnessed a miracle Friday, when a bank robbery in Phenix rapidly
turned into a multi-jurisdictional shooting rampage that left
the robbery suspect dead and another man in jail, but only caused
minor injuries to one deputy.
While complete details of the investigation may not be known for
days, Charlotte County Sheriff Thomas Jones said the incident
began at approximately 9:30 a.m., when a white male wearing a
black T-shirt and camouflage clothing walked into the Bank of
Charlotte County along Rt. 40 armed with a modified fully automatic
assault rifle.
The suspected bank robber, whose identity had not been confirmed
as of a Friday night press conference, was said by authorities
on Saturday to have been Lonnie R. Russell, 26, of Carey, Ohio.
A suspected getaway driver, David B. Thompson, 20, also of Carey,
was arrested Saturday morning and charged with bank robbery in
connection with the incident, authorities said. He was being held
in the Charlotte County Jail without bond.
"When one of the tellers saw him (Russell) enter the front
door, she ran from the room," Jones said during the press
conference Friday night. "At that point, he fired two shots
into the counter, and the other tellers dropped to the floor."
Jones explained at that time that because no official reports
had been gathered from the many agencies involved in the investigation,
some facts, such as those concerning the bank, had only been given
to him by word of mouth from other investigators.
"The gunman then went behind the counter and demanded that
the tellers fill his duffel bag full of money," he added.
"They put the money in the bag and he left the bank on foot."
As the incident unfolded in the front section of the bank, other
bank employees who had been in several back offices, fled the
building through a rear door, the sheriff said.
At the time the shots were fired, an employee of the bank was
on the phone with the bank's Keysville branch, when an employee
there heard what was happening and notified authorities when the
phone suddenly went dead.
Leaving The Bank
"He (Russell) came out of the bank and began walking down
a side street next to the bank, and that's when two of our deputies
arrived - Deputies Bob Kolach and Tim Trent," Jones said.
"They ordered him to stop, but he turned and fired at them."
The deputies took cover behind one of the squad cars as multiple
bullets struck the car, blowing out the driver's side window,
and punching numerous holes in the vehicle's sides, the sheriff
said.
Kolach, a canine handler, unleashed his dog towards the suspect,
but called the dog back as Russell opened fire, reports stated.
The dog was in the back of the car when it was hit, but none penetrated
the door area, Jones said.
Russell continued walking down the road towards a set of railroad
tracks and a wooded area behind the bank, all the while firing
shots back at the two deputies, officials said.
At one point, one of the deputies returned fire with a .223 caliber
rifle, but officials said they are unsure if the suspect was hit
at that time.
After crossing through the wooded area, the man later identified
as Russell worked his way back to Rt. 40 approximately 300 yards
from the bank, authorities said.
Suspect Steals A Vehicle
He entered the front lawn of an elderly couple identified as the
Eppersons, who quickly closed and locked their door as he approached,
according to reports.
"He went to the front door and just blew it open," Jones
said. "He shot out the lock, and sprayed bullets into the
living room - hitting the piano, couch and a book case.
"Luckily, the Eppersons had gone into the kitchen at the
back of the house and were not shot."
He demanded the keys to the couple's Ford Taurus, and Mrs. Epperson
threw them to the man, who immediately left the residence and
drove off in the car, Jones said.
The entire incident in Phenix only took a few minutes, and as
the suspected robber (Russell) left the scene with the two deputies
in pursuit, the sheriff, who had been on personal business that
morning, other deputies and a Drakes Branch police officer headed
to the scene from Charlotte Court House.
State Police officers, deputies from Campbell and Appomattox counties
and two FBI agents also began to converge on the area as area
law enforcement agencies were called in to assist.
Russell briefly headed east on Rt. 40, then turned left towards
Red House on Rt. 722, officials said.
As his vehicle passed the two deputies near the bank, he again
fired his weapon towards their vehicles, the sheriff said.
"We caught up to the deputies on 722, but we temporarily
lost the suspect in Red House," Jones said. "One of
the lead deputies had to pull over as his tire had gone flat from
being struck by a bullet."
As two deputies continued along 722 towards Appomattox, the sheriff
and remaining cars in pursuit were stopped by a local citizen
who said he believed the vehicle they were chasing had turned
onto Rt. 615 headed into Campbell County.
The individual's information turned out to be correct, as the
suspect (Russell) had wrecked his vehicle in a curve after running
off the road approximately five miles into the county.
"While the gunman was stuck on the side of the road, a man
by the name of Jim Bennett and his son pulled up next to him in
their pickup truck," Jones said. "They didn't know who
he was or that we were chasing him, but they drove off after the
gunman told them to get out of the truck."
When Bennett hastily pulled away, Russell "emptied a clip"
into the back of the truck, Jones added.
"But neither of them were hurt, most of the shots hit the
tailgate and they made it back to their driveway down the road,"
Jones said.
Moments later, a Campbell County deputy arrived on the scene also
not knowing the vehicle on the side of the road contained the
suspect Russell.
Standoff
But as he pulled alongside, Russell opened fire on the vehicle
- blowing out the driver's side window and narrowly missing the
deputy, who threw the car into reverse and drove back around a
bend and out of view, officials said.
"That's when we arrived at the scene," Jones said. "We
stopped about 100 yards away and ordered him to get out of the
car - he did, but he pulled out the rifle and opened fire."
The eight officers on the scene took cover behind an SUV, which
was immediately sprayed with bullets, authorities said.
"He emptied the clip and got back into the car to reload,"
Jones said. "We returned fire, and then he came out shooting
again."
That scenario was repeated several times as hundreds of shots
were fired by Russell, who was loading and emptying "30 to
50" round clips into the gun, officials said.
While the sheriff and one deputy returned fire with .40 caliber
pistols, three others returned fire with two .223 rifles and one
shotgun loaded with buckshot.
Eventually the shooting stopped, and the man now identified as
Russell lay dead on the ground.
Despite all the shots fired that day in both counties, no one
was seriously injured besides the gunman himself.
The Campbell County deputy whose window was shot out did receive
some minor injuries to his face when glass sprayed into his vehicle.
Initially, police only identified the gunman as a white male,
of approximately 30 years of age, and six feet tall.
An Ohio identification was found in the duffel bag that contained
the bank money, but investigators said Friday night they could
not make a positive identification from the picture.
The medical examiner's office was scheduled to do an autopsy Saturday
to help positively identify the man, and local investigators were
working with Ohio investigators for further identification purposes.
Those efforts led to the release on Saturday of Russell's name.
According to published reports, the suspected getaway driver,
Thompson, fled the Phenix area when the action near the bank began,
left the car in Appomattox County, and caught a ride back to western
Charlotte County. He was reportedly at a cousin's house when he
was arrested Saturday morning and charged with bank robbery.
Authorities said Russell and Thompson were friends and that Russell
had reportedly left Ohio about a week ago.
The two men apparently had been staying in a tent set up in the
yard of one of Thompson's relatives in Appomattox while they were
in the area.
When Friday's incident came to an end at approximately 10:30 a.m.,
investigators determined that seven vehicles had been hit by gunfire
- four Charlotte County police vehicles, the Drakes Branch police
vehicle, the Campbell County sheriff's car, and Mr. Bennett's
truck.
"It's a miracle that no one was hit, especially when you
consider the amount of shots fired," Jones said. "He
just kept emptying one clip after another through the whole incident
- hundreds of rounds were fired.
"It's really amazing no one was injured, I guess it was just
the grace of God."
Jones commended all the Charlotte County officers involved in
the incident, as well as all the officers from neighboring jurisdictions.
"Everyone did a terrific job out there, it was a bad situation,
but everyone did their jobs professionally," Jones said.
"I've been a sheriff for 15 years, and even though we have
had one bank robbery in those years, it was nothing like this."
While no officers involved in the shooting were placed on temporary
leave until the investigation is over - as occurs in some shooting
incidents - Jones said the Campbell County Sheriff's Department
will hold counseling sessions for all involved.
The sheriff's office is overseeing a portion of the investigation,
while the State Police and Campbell County Sheriff's Office continues
to work on other aspects along with two FBI investigators.
Supervisors will meet with the Finance Committee at 6 p.m.
today prior to approval of the FY 2003-2004 budget, one carrying
neither real estate nor personal property tax increases.
A $68.5 million budget had been proposed, but Supervisor R.E.
"Dickie" Abbott said last week that he thinks there
is still room for additional budget cuts before approval.
The Board's scheduled session begins at 7 p.m. at Mary Bethune
Complex in Halifax, also the site of the Finance Committee meeting.
The meeting will substitute for supervisors' July meeting.
At 8 p.m., a public hearing is scheduled to establish a Technology
Zone Development Fund Ordinance.
The proposed action is intended to give governing bodies the authority
to use tax increments to encourage private investment in local
technology zones as an economic development tool.
The technology zone being considered is about 150 acres in the
Riverstone Technology Park area located on the north side of U.S.
Highway 58.
In other business, an update on appointment of Cooperative Extension
Service Agricultural and Natural Resources agent employment.
Public Works and Environmental Services Committee's report is
expected to discuss authorization to lease convenience center
and recycling site on Route 658, near intersection of Cedar Grove
and Cluster Springs roads; recommended public hearing on increase
in utility rates for Clover (30 percent) and Riverdale (25 percent)
systems; water and sewer extension to Franklin's Garage and Fallen
Trucking in Riverdale, as well as a policy consideration for new
property owners' connection when a balance was owed by a previous
property owner.
The Agricultural Marketing Center grand opening is set for Thursday,
July 25, at 5 p.m. at the old Bethel Landfill site.
Also on tonight's agenda is a Board of Viewers' status report
on King Village Trail.
A Land Use Task Force report is scheduled tonight.
August Public
Hearings
Tonight the Board will be asked to set public hearings in August
on the following three land use applications:
·A conditional use permit sought by Fred Jeffress Jr. for
a golf driving range, with concessions, on Route 344 adjoining
Staunton River State Park.
· A rezoning application sought by Verlyn Emswiler, Emswiler
Diesel, for diesel repair, parts sales, storage units, on the
north side of Route 58 about .1 mile west of Route 742, Alphone
Dairy Road.
·Joey Long is seeking a conditional use permit for a motorcycle
parts and accessories sales, as well as future sales and repair
services for motorcycles, in the northeast corner of the intersection
of Route 58 and Route 881, the former Bill's Country Store site.
Supervisors will next hold a joint meeting with towns on Monday,
July 21, at 6 p.m. in South Boston at The Prizery.
The Current Issues Committee of the South
Boston Town Council will address an application to conditionally
zone a building on Watkins Avenue tonight.
Resident Vilma Pambid has requested the permit to allow the property
to be used for basic business uses allowed in B-2 business districts.
The meeting will get underway at 5:45 p.m. this afternoon in Council
Chambers on Yancey Street.
The town's planning commission held a public hearing on the issue
on June 11, and recommended the application be approved on the
condition that the business not receive an ABC license.
Council has scheduled a public hearing on the issue for July 14.
During their May 12 meeting, town council nixed a request from
Pambid to rezone the Watkins Avenue property from residential
to general industrial.
Pambid had wanted to use the property for a beauty salon, but
a packed crowd in opposition forced council to consider other
options.
Speaking in favor of the zoning change, Dr. Leo Pambid told council
that the current zoning prohibited any use of the property.
"Three years ago, we came before this respectable body for
the purpose of conditionally zoning this small commercial property
since general commercial business zoning would constitute spot
zoning at that time," he said during the May meeting. "It
was approved to operate as a restaurant/diner with the condition
that it would not operate a business with a Virginia ABC license.
However the operation was never resumed."
Pambid told council that he was losing money due to the zoning
restrictions.
"Several motivated individuals have inquired if they can
rent the space," he said. "They have different ideas
or businesses in mind besides diners or restaurants. We do not
have the flexibility to do any of these.
"We've missed all these opportunities as this property was
restricted and conditionally zoned only to operate as a diner,
restaurant or bakery," the property owner said.
"Give us the opportunity to help other aspiring people. Give
us the opportunity to contribute help in the development of this
community. I ask you gentlemen to give us that flexibility and
I will give you a productive property as well as a productive
citizen," Pambid concluded.
But the standing-room-only crowd, many of whom live and worship
in the neighborhood, weren't convinced.
"We oppose rezoning this property because we feel it would
cause a disturbance to our worship service and our programming,"
said the Rev. William Boulden, pastor of Mizpah Presbyterian Church.
"There's a possibility of traffic and noise that could affect
the church service and programs.
"We don't have a problem with the property having a business,"
he said. "We just have a problem with the type of business
she (Pambid) wants to use."
Following the Current Issues Committee, members of the Finance
Committee are expected to receive the town's monthly finance statement
from Finance Director Vandie Saunders.
By BRENDA E. LEE/Special To The Gazette-Virginian
DALLAS, TX - Leon Carter, sports editor of the award-winning
New York Daily News, was honored by the Associated Press Sports
Editors (APSE) on June 26 at the keynote luncheon of its annual
convention, held this year in Dallas,Texas.
The luncheon celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sports Journalism
Institute (SJI), a sports journalism internship program which
Carter and Sandy Bailey, assistant managing editor of Sports Illustrated,
created in 1993 to address the lack of representation of women
and minorities in sports journalism.
SJI selects 10 college-enrolled students each year for a 10-day
intensive training course and summer internship with newspapers
across the country.
Carter, who is a Virginia native and Norfolk St. alumnus, is one
of only four African-American sports editors at major newspapers
in the nation, and Bailey was the first female president of APSE.
The Institute has developed into a successful feeder program for
sports media by producing over 100 graduates with more than 80
percent remaining in full-time jobs in journalism today.
"It is truly our legacy that we are leaving journalism,"
said APSE president John Cherwa.
"Hopefully we are keeping APSE alive by populating papers
with sports interns and editors of the future."
Carter, who is the son of John and the late Mary Carter of Alton,
was a 1977 graduate of Halifax Senior High School.
He earned his B.A. in journalism from Norfolk State University.
In addition to the APSE members, over 30 alumni of the program
paid their way to attend the festivities in Dallas and present
Carter and Bailey with a surprise gift.
Gregory Lee, SJI class of 1994 and current deputy high school
sports editor of The Washington Post, organized a scholarship
funded by the alumni to sponsor one intern each year.
"Any time you get something from the students, there's a
personal attachment to it," Carter said afterward.
"I've always felt that students from SJI are a part of my
extended family, and they will always be special to me. It is
a special bond that I have with the graduates that you kind of
wish every journalist would have something such as that to look
back on in their career."
Lee presented Bailey and Carter with plaques that read, "For
Your Work and Dedication to Diversity We Honor You In Naming The
Sandy Bailey and Leon H. Carter SJI Internship."
Cherwa also presented them with plaques commending their efforts
for "Creating a Diverse Future for Sports Journalism."
"Without Leon's dedication and perseverance, this program
would never have lasted beyond the first year," Bailey said.
Clearly touched by the scholarship, which the graduates decided
to start because of past difficulties in finding sponsor papers,
Bailey and Carter accepted their plaques to a standing ovation
with wide smiles on their faces.
"As funding has gotten tighter over the last few years because
of the economy, every dollar that we raise toward the program
helps," Carter said.
"The alums are setting up a fund--it is needed--but it also
is their way of giving something back to the program, which is
really what the program is all about for us who teach."
The surprise scholarship presentation capped a luncheon that featured
the return of Calvin Hill, former Pro-Bowl running back for the
Dallas Cowboys, who spoke to the first SJI class.
The classroom portion of the program that year was conducted at
Norfolk State, where Carter was teaching for one year.
Hill declared his support for diversity and affirmative action
and commended the program's purpose.
"I applaud you because I know what it's like to be on the
outside," Hill said.
"I'm glad I lived long enough to see this program last 10
years."
With APSE and public figures such as Hill affirming the purpose
of program, Carter voiced his hope that SJI lasts at least another
10 years and recited from the gospel song "Still Standing"
to emphasize its growth and strength:"I didn't think it would
last 10 years, and it is amazing after all we've been through
that 'after all these years we are still standing tall.'"
Don Darrell Cartwright
Don Darrell Cartwright, 58, of Vernon Hill, died June 25.
Mr. Cartwright, a son of Norma Wait Cartwright and the late Don
Russell Cartwright, was born in Carlton County, Minn.
He was a retired woodcraftsman, specializing in cabinet making.
Survivors in addition to his mother, include sisters, Debbie King
and Marilyn Johnson, both of Vernon Hill; a brother, Kevin Cartwright
of Esko, Minn.; a dear friend, Ronnie Taylor; and a grandchild,
Jesse Taylor, both of Stevinson, Calif.
The family will have a private memorial service.
William Marshall Farley Sr.
A funeral service for William Marshall "Bill" Farley
Sr. of Martinsville will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Norris
Funeral Services Chapel.
The Revs. Ron Mateer and Dwight Grissom will officiate.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Highland
Burial Park in Danville.
Mr. Farley died Saturday, June 28, at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville/Henry
County.
He was born October 7, 1927 in Keeling, a son of the late Marshall
A. and Mildred T. Farley.
He graduated from Dan River High School in 1943 and served in
the U.S. Marine Corps from 1945 to 1948.
He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
in 1952 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. During his senior
year at VPI & SU he served as president of the civilian student
body senate and vice-president of the civilian student body. He
was a member of phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi and other honor societies.
Following graduation, he worked for E. I. DuPont De Nemours &
Co. in Martinsville and Wilmington, Delaware.
In the mid-1960s he began selling and servicing two-way radios
and other communication equipment. This venture led to his eventual
position as president of Virginia Communications & Electronics
from which he retired in April, 2002.
He was a member of B.P.O.E. #1752, where he was a past Exalted
Ruler and past District Deputy. He was also a member of the Loyal
Order of the Moose Lodge #2003, The Edward W. Richardson Detachment
of the Marine Corps League and V.F.W.
He is survived by one daughter, Bailey F. Showalter of Martinsville,
one son, William Marshall Farley Jr. of Bassett, and their mother,
Jane C. Farley of Martinsville. He is also survived by two grandchildren
and two step-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday 7-9 p.m. at Norris Funeral Services
and at other times at the home of Bailey F. Showalter at 335 Tanglewood
Drive, Martinsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Elks National Home,
931 Ashland Avenue, Bedford, Virginia 24523.