School trustees will be asked to adopt a school facilities plan at Monday night's meeting of the Halifax County School Board.
Monday night's meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the school system administration's first floor conference room in the Mary M. Bethune Office Complex in Halifax. The meeting is open to the public.
"I hope the school board will pass a plan Monday night," Witt said yesterday.
"The school board has to come to terms on a concept. You can't go forward without agreeing on where you want to go."
The $25 million to $29 million plan offered by Witt in March calls for the closing of six of the county's elementary schools including Clover, Volens, Halifax, Washington-Coleman, Cluster Springs, and Virgilina as part of a consolidation effort that would reduce the number of schools in the county from 15 to nine.
Renovations and additions to existing schools, a reduction in personnel, a dual busing system for elementary and secondary students, a grade structure of grades K-6, 7-8, and 9-12, and some shifts in school attendance zones will also be a part of the overall package.
Witt said that he hopes school trustees will adopt that plan or some form of it after further discussions Monday night.
A group of Virgilina residents opposing the proposed closing of their community school cited their opposition to the plan at a March 23 public hearing.
At that time they called upon school system officials to consider an alternative, that of putting up $1 million toward the renovation and addition of Virgilina Elementary School or constructing a new elementary school in the Kingswood area on Route 738.
A very small crowd of only about 100 people turned out for the county-wide public hearing with the Virgilina delegation comprising the bulk of the citizens that voiced opposition to the proposal.
Witt said that school system officials and school trustees alike have given the comments and suggestions aired at the public hearing a good deal of consideration during the approximately two and a half months that have lapsed since the subject of school facilities was last dealt with.
The school superintendent had stated earlier that he would like to see the school facility proposal process move along through the pipeline from the school board through the Halifax County Board of Supervisors at a pace that would allow a referendum for the proposal to be placed on the November election ballot.
Witt said yesterday that if the matter is to reach the ballot for the November election the school board would have to get the proposal to the Board of Supervisors in July and that the supes would have to push it along to a point where the matter would have to reach state officials in Richmond by the end of the first week of September.
The school superintendent pointed out even if the Board of Supervisors can act fast enough to get the issue on the fall election ballot, it doesn't mean that the governing body will have committed to anything.
"The supervisors really wouldn't have committed to anything other than letting the people have a voice," Witt said.
Another major matter that school trustees will discus Monday night is the school system's group health insurance program.
Witt said yesterday that the school system has one more year to go on its two year contract the locally based Community Health program and will stick with that program through the next school year.
There will be a slight increase in the employee group health insurance premiums for the next school year, Witt noted.
"There will be a slight rate increase but it is well below the cap that they (Community Health officials) that they put on it last year."
Witt acknowledged that there have been "some kinks and complaints" about the group health insurance system that the school system adopted after breaking rank from its long time bond with Trigon more than a year ago.
"But, we think we have improved it," he said.
The school superintendent said that a complete evaluation of the Community Health program will be conducted as the school system nears the end of the second year of its two year contract and a decision on whether or not to continue on with Community Health will be made at that point.
Other topics that will be covered Monday night include student scholastic accident insurance, action on a state policy concerning "teacher removal of students from class," revisions to the school system's Code of Student Conduct, and routine financial matters and reports.
By Beth Robertson
The ancient almost cat-like scene carried a surreal cast in the stark, hardwood-floored YMCA class.
The fluid movements of the yoga master were spellbinding as she serenely stretched, ultimately extending her body, arms and legs before wrapping them like a closed water lily into a symmetrical whole, then slowly unfolding again, petal by petal.
It was exquisite in-place ballet.
All the while Patti Ward coachedb her attentive yogis, her calm voice backed by the quiet strains of oriental music.
"Yoga is primarily about breathing and going into one's self, a process of discovery on the body level," explained Ward. "But breathing is very key to this ....and relaxation."
Students work on breathing and relaxation. "Stretching, just getting themselves in a non- stressed mode," said the teacher.
At the "Y" program Ward is working on two levels to accommodate her students.
"Incorporating flow poses," she began "A little more physically demanding but again it has to do with the breath work. Not pushing beyond what one's body is telling one to do," she emphasized. "But quite attainable at different levels for everyone.
"At some point what I would really like to see happen is to have an individual come in at beginner level and then take them progressively through, working on the more challenging breath and physical work. It is a body-mind-spiritual connection," she emphasized.
Ward, whose personal resume is dominated by the study and instruction of dance, has been incorporating yoga into her dance technique work for years.
""This was a self-discovery of mine in taking dance technique classes and teaching. Dance can be rigorous. A happy medium, breath work enhanced dance work immensely, and I was sold."
Ward began teaching yoga at the South Boston "Y" last summer with a pilot program and continued this fall.
The class meets each Monday and Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Karen Moses and Peg Anderson "have been faithful and religious" about their commitment to the class, according to Ward.
"Two or three students have been coming for a greater period of time and have moved to another level, seeking another challenge," explained the teacher.
While some students are shy about sharing their emerging yoga techniques, Moses and Anderson are not.
Anderson began taking the class last year.
"I always wanted to learn yoga," she began. But " a hurt back" first drew her interest. "I thought it would be 'back friendly' with the stretching. Also as a stress reliever at the end of the day," said the Halifax County Middle School teacher.
Moses, an occupational therapist, has been taking the yoga class since last September, but even before class she had initiated the study of yoga on her own.
Why the yoga class?
"It's the only thing I have really stuck with," she began with a smile. "All the others got boring after a while."
Moses describes yoga as "toning, strengthening and relaxing."
She also says she has "noticed a drop in her blood pressure and heart rate."
She definitely recommends the class to others.
"Yoga in this area is fairly new," noted Ward. "My mission is spreading the word."
What does yoga do for the "Y" guru?
"Yoga is my way of relaxing and really getting in tune with myself on a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual level," said the master.
A former jailer at the Halifax County Jail pleaded guilty Thursday in the Halifax County Circuit Court to two felony counts of sodomy.
Jonathan Edward Majors, 28, of Halifax was arrested after an extensive investigation into alleged sexual activities at the Halifax County Jail.
The incidents occurred during April of 1997 and Majors was arrested in March of 1998.
After an in-house investigation initiated by Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was called in to determine if any rights of inmates had been violated.
The FBI investigators determined that no rights had been violated and the case against Majors was then sent by local authorities to a grand jury for indictment.
Two other jailers of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department who were subjects of the initial investigation resigned, but were not charged. Their alleged infractions were not sexual in nature, but involved violations of jail procedure such as giving cigarettes to inmates, officials said.
Majors unlocked cell doors within the female cellblock of the jail and committed sodomy with two former inmates, Gina Holbrook and Kimberly Pettiford, according to Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John E. Greenbacker Jr.
Holbrook was serving time on crack cocaine convictions and Pettiford was being held on bad check charges, according to court records.
The investigation was triggered when references to sexual activity with a jailer was intercepted in mail from inmates to outside friends. When top jail administration staff read the letters, Sheriff Oakes was immediately alerted.
The sheriff called narcotic investigators Richard Pulliam and Jim Binner from the Tri-County Drug Task Force, who utilized a jail inmate as an undercover operative, fitting him with a hidden wire and recorder, Greenbacker explained.
Majors was recorded on the tape making comparisons on activities between each of the two female inmates, according to Greenbacker.
"I think the undercover operation conducted by these investigators was an excellent piece of investigative work and greatly contributed to the successful outcome of the trial," Greenbacker pointed out.
"The sheriff was furious when he first heard about this incident and he did everything he could to see that the situation was handled properly and professionally and that justice could be served," Greenbacker added.
Each of the three jailers were hired during previous sheriff's department administrations, officials said.
Substitute-Circuit Court Judge Gerald O. Clemens asked if the incidents were consentual.
Greenbacker stated that in an interview with Holbrook, she related that she "thought she was under some kind of duress." However, the cases went forward as consentual because, "the Commonwealth didn't think there was enough evidence to prove that it wasn't consentual," he explained.
Majors' defense attorney, Bill Watson told Judge Clemens that the incidents with both inmates were consentual.
Majors, who served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended one year of college before becoming a jailer, was allowed to remain free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.
Judge Clemens ordered a presentence report prior to that hearing which was scheduled for August 12.
By DAVID ESPO
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle circulated a proposal for an election-year tax cut today to ease the impact of the so-called ''marriage penalty'' and provide relief for self-employed workers who buy health insurance, The Associated Press has learned.
The provision was drafted as an amendment to tobacco legislation pending in the Senate, and is aimed at countering a tax cut proposal that Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas and many fellow Republicans support.
Congressional sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Democratic alternative would be less costly than Gramm's proposal, although no final figures were immediately available.
In political terms, these sources said that Daschle was bidding to give Democrats, particularly those seeking re-election next year, a chance to vote for a tax cut without jeopardizing chances for passage of the tobacco measure.
Taxes aside, numerous other thorny issues remain unresolved on the tobacco bill, including how to protect tobacco farmers from economic hardship; whether to grant Big Tobacco limited liability from lawsuits and what type of penalties to impose on tobacco firms that fail to meet pre-set targets for reductions in teen smoking.
The tobacco bill would raise billions, largely through a $1.10 per pack increase in the price of cigarettes, and tax cuts would come from those funds - which already had been earmarked in the legislation for the states for national health care research and other efforts.
Demoratic officials said Daschle was hoping for votes in the Senate during the day on the tax cut issue as the Senate renews work on the tobacco legislation.
President Clinton has proposed using some of the revenue from the tobacco bill to pay for a variety of domestic spending programs, and has thus far not embraced a proposed tax cut.
Gramm's legislation would provide an estimated $17.5 billion in tax relief through 2002 for certain low and moderate income couples earning up to $50,000 a year. Some couples pay more in taxes than they would if they filed separate returns, a phenomenon known as the ''marriage penalty.''
Daschle was countering with a proposal that would provide between $11 bilion and $12 billion in relief, officials said. About half the money would go for easing the impact of the marriage penalty, and the other half would allow the self-employed to deduct the cost of their health insurance.
Two public hearings and a final November 3 vote are ahead for the approximate 200 Clover residents following a Monday night decision by the Clover Town Council that is expected to annul the town's charter by year's end. Council voted to accept an agreement with the Halifax County Board of Supervisors that the county accept the town's revenues, water and sewer services and its facilities.
In so doing, Clover certifies that it has no outstanding debt in its general fund or pending litigation which would require payment by the county.
The annulment process now moves a petitioning of the Circuit Court for a November 3 referendum allowing town residents to vote on whether or not to nullify the town's charter that dates back to 1895. If that happens, Clover would become the second town in Virginia in recent times to annul its charter. Residents of the Town of Castlewood in Russell County voted last year to dissolve their town, but then was split between pro and anti-annulment factions.
No date for either hearing has been set but the first is expected to take place July 6. Since town officials first discussed annulment in March with the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, no organized opposition has surfaced.
Clover's town services basically amount to water and sewer and street lights. Police and garbage services were curtailed last year because of inadequate revenues.
Clover officials hope that there will be enough revenues in the general fund to pay for street lights for another two years.
There is nothing like being in the right place at the right time.
South Boston Police officers combing Westside Trailer Park Tuesday in search of a man who allegedly robbed an elderly woman at knifepoint a few hours earlier made an arrest on a cocaine distribution charge.
And, later that night, town police located and arrested the armed robbery suspect that they were looking for in the first place.
South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall said that 36-year-old Bernard Blanding was arrested by Officer Chris Carswell at 11:34 p.m. Tuesday at a residence at 1928 Jeffress Boulevard and charged with a felony charge of robbery with a deadly weapon.
Officers Stuart Comer and Gary Slaughter assisted in the arrest.
Hall said that Blanding allegedly went to the door of the residence of 79-year-old Jessie Woody at 103 Forest Trail East in the Westside Village area shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday. The police chief stated that Woody's son, Walter Stevens, was there and came to the door.
Blanding, he said, allegedly told Stevens that someone at the corner wanted to see him and Stevens left the house. At that point, Blanding allegedly forced his way into the house, allegedly assaulted Woody, stole her purse, and fled on foot.
Less than $200 was taken, Chief Hall said.
Officer Carswell responded to the scene when alerted by the police dispatcher and he and other officers investigated the crime until they were relieved at 8 a.m. by another group of officers that included Officers Daniel Frazier, Lt. R.D. Loftis, and Officers Todd Gordon and Pat Murphy, all of whom continued to investigate the crime in the Westside Village area.
Chief Hall explained that as Officer Frazier was entering Westside Trailer Park he spotted an individual walking toward him with his right hand closed up into a fist.
Officer Frazier stopped and approached the man. And, upon investigation, found that the man was holding a quantity of crack cocaine in his hand.
As a result, Frazier arrested the man, 19-year-old Latroy Lee Saunders of 1050 Bane Street, Lot 11, South Boston and charged him with distribution of crack cocaine.
A hearing has been set for July 13 in Halifax County General District Court for Saunders.
After returning to duty Tuesday night, Officer Carswell spotted Blanding at the Jeffress Boulevard address and he and Officers Comer and Slaughter took Blanding into custody.
A 27-year-old Chase City resident, Thomas Lee Rawlings, was charged with reckless driving by state police in the wake of a two vehicle crash that occurred Wednesday night on Route 621 that resulted in an estimated $7,000 damage.
According to a report filed by Trooper R.C. Compton, a car driven by Rawlings allegedly struck the right side of a pickup truck driven by Jesus A. Martinez of Halifax with the impact causing the Martinez vehicle to go off of the road into a ditch.
The accident occurred at 9:20 p.m. on Route 621, nine tenths of a mile east of the intersection of Route 609.
Damage to the 1982 model pickup truck driven by Martinez was estimated at $1,000. An estimated $6,000 damage was done to the 1992 model auto driven by Rawlings.
Twenty-year-old Jonathan Matthew Scott of South Boston was charged with following too close by Trooper S.M. Krantz after the Jeep he was driving ran into the rear of a pickup truck driven by Jerry Moody Wilborne, 49, of Route 2, Scottsburg.
The mishap occurred Tuesday at 1:25 p.m. on Route 501 at its intersection with Easley Street.
According to the trooper's report, the Scott vehicle struck the pickup driven by Wilborne in the rear as Wilborne was stopped at a traffic light.
Damage to the 1989 model Jeep driven by Scott was estimated at $900. An estimated $300 damage was done to the 1996 model pickup truck driven by Wilborne and owned by the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation.
A 32-year-old Nathalie area resident, David Rogers Hill, escaped injury in a single vehicle crash that occurred Monday at 2:55 p.m. on Route 678, a tenth of a mile west of the intersection of Route 781.
Trooper R.L. Hodges reported that Hill's vehicle was traveling in the center of the road when he met an oncoming vehicle. Hill then ran off of the right side of the road and his vehicle struck some trees.
Damage to the 1985 model car driven by Hill was estimated at $3,000.
Trooper Hodges charged Hill with failure to drive to the right of the center of the highway.
William E. 'Worth' Cooper Jr. of 3849 Bradshaw Road, Salem died Wednesday, June 3, 1998 at his home in Roanoke. He was 47 years of age.
Mr. Cooper was born in Halifax County on May 9, 1951 the son of William E. Cooper Sr. and Jenny McGregor Cooper. He was married to Deborah Nelson Cooper.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Robert M. Fox Jr. officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Cooper include his wife; his mother of South Boston; one son, William E. 'Trey' Cooper III of Roanoke; and one brother, Ronnie Cooper.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tonight, June 5 from 7 until 8:30.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the National Brain Tumor Foundation, 785 Market Street, Suite 1600, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Janie Fisher Clements, 79, of Powhatan, died June 1, 1998.
Mrs. Clements was the past president of the Sunshiners Club and the Powhatan Woman's Club where she was voted Woman of the Year in 1993. She was the Christmas Mother for Powhatan County in 1995. She was a member of the Home Extension Club and May Memorial Baptist Church for 37 years where she was active in many mission groups.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Elwood Lee Clements; a daughter and her husband, Betty Jane and Pete Burruss of Powhatan; and two granddaughters, Shelley and Ashley Burruss.
She was preceded in death by three sons, Ronnie, Douglas, and Winston and one grandson, John Burruss.
Funeral services were held Thursday morning in the May Memorial Baptist Church, Powhatan. Interment was in the First Baptist Church Cemetery of Republican Grove, Halifax.
Contributions may be made in her memory to May Memorial Baptist Church, Powhatan or First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Cemetery Fund.
Naomi Jackson Wooden of 7194 Mortons Ferry Road, Clover died Tuesday, June 2, 1998 at her home at the age of 71.
Mrs. Wooden was born in Halifax County on April 7, 1927 the daughter of Ledgus Jackson and Elizabeth Green Jackson and was married to Charlie Edward Wooden Sr. She was a member of Bethel Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Wooden Chappell and Vanessa Wooden Carden, both of Clover; one son, Charlie E. Wooden Jr. of Chase City; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Marion J. Snead of Washington, DC; and one brother, Hurley R. Jackson of Clover.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wooden will be held Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Robert H. Vanhook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Joseph Barnett Sr. of 1188 Horseshoe Trail, Alton died Wednesday, June 3, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 56.
Mr. Barnett was born in Halifax County on May 18, 1942 the son of Arthur Barnett and Englebirth Ragland Barnett and was married to Carolyn Carrington Barnett. He was a member of the Owens Grove Baptist Church and formerly employed by the City of South Boston.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Joseph Barnett Jr. of Halifax; three grandchildren; four sisters, Geneva Drumwright, Catherine Williams, Daisy Mae Barnett and Josephine Barnett, all of Alton; two brothers, Willis Barnett of South Boston and Herbert Barnett of Richmond; and other relatives and friends including the devoted Joann Lawson of Alton.
Funeral services for Mr. Barnett will be held Saturday, June 6 at noon at Owens Grove Baptist Church with Rev. John Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the Barnett Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.