By Keith Strange

The director of economic development for Rome, Ga. is slated to become the new director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority today.
Scott Morris, 30, will formalize the relationship when he signs a contract with the county this morning at 11:30. Following the signing of the contract, Morris will be introduced to the community via a press conference at the IDA offices.
Morris, who will be succeeding retired executive director Bill Confroy, will take over from Confroy on August 5.
Prior to serving as director of economic development in Georgia, Morris served as director of membership and finance at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.
During his tenure in Rome, Morris was involved in attracting Pirelli Tire's North American headquarters to the area, as well as attracting Suzuki's first U.S. manufacturing plant to Georgia.
He also has experience in the private sector with Mohawk Industries.
Morris received his B.B.A. and Finance degrees from the University of Georgia, where he attended the Terry College of Business, and is a 2001 graduate of the University of Georgia's Institute for Organization Management.
Members of the search committee say they are pleased with the results of the search.
"John Lovorn did an excellent job," committee member Jack Dunavant said yesterday.
"We had four candidates who were top notch," he added. "It was difficult to make a decision."
Another member of the committee said he is pleased with the selection of Morris.
"He's is young and aggressive," the committee member said. "He handles himself really well.
Committee members said they are confident they have made the right decision.
"This is the guy we want," one observed.
Dunavant said that there was a wide range in the age and experience level of the final four candidates.
"We had people with a lot of experience who were older, and some in the middle range," Dunavant said.
"Scott was chosen as one of three who were so close to each other in their qualifications you couldn't see daylight between them," he added.
Dunavant also noted that Morris' age would be a benefit for the county.
"He wants to prove himself," he said.
"He's going to be a real winner for the county," he suggested.
Several committee members said they were excited about Morris.
"He's a young, intelligent man with a proven track record of success," Dunavant added.
"He will be a welcome addition to Halifax County.
"He has a winning personality that I think will open some doors that would otherwise not be opened," he observed.
Dunavant said committee members realized the importance of the position.
"He has some tough shoes to fill, and he has to perform," he said.
Morris' contract will be renewed yearly.
"He's said he will be here a minimum of two years, but I hope he will stay here and make Halifax County his home," he noted.

South Boston Town Council approved a resolution to share the cost of E-911 services with the county during a joint meeting Wednesday night, but offered to pay only half of its share of the costs until the new consolidated center is up and running.
But Vice-Chairman Tom Raab said the town was dedicated to the consolidation project.
"We plan to give the money to the county," Raab said.
But he said once the town gives up its power to charge for E-911 service, it's gone forever.
"We have an ordinance that allows the town to tax for the surcharge," Raab added.
He said that once the consolidated center in up and running, the town will rescind that ordinance and give the power to tax for E-911 service to the county.
But the town wants to be cautious.
"Once we rescind the ordinance, we won't get it back again," Raab noted.
Once the new center is operational and the town dispatch center is deactivated, town officials said they will provide the full $2.50 monthly fees as county residents currently do.
Raab said that at that point, the county will be in charge of emergency dispatch services.
"The date the joint operation starts, we will send the whole amount to the county," he said.
South Boston only charged its residents $1.20 per month per telephone line for emergency service fees, but will hike the rate by another $1.30 to match the rate charged by the county.
While the center is being constructed and activated, the town will send the county the additional $1.30, but withhold the original $1.20 in order to continue to operate its own dispatch center.
In approving the resolution for revenue sharing with the county, council adopted a provision that Mayor Glen Abernathy described as "a stopgap measure to ensure that the center operates properly."
The provision provides a way out if the town is dissatisfied with emergency services.
It was offered by Councilman Tom Raab and seconded by Chris Elliott.
Both Raab and Elliott are members of the E-911 Emergency Communications Center Board.
The provision says that the town may rescind the adjusted tax within one year of activation upon recommendation by the E-911 board, the South Boston Police and Fire Departments, and the Halifax County Rescue Squad.
"Our intention is to work with the county and get them all their funds, but not until we are receiving the service," Raab said.
During the meeting, council and the planning commission also held a public hearing on a rezoning request from Winn Bishop of General Development Company to rezone Hupps Mill Plaza from B-1, neighborhood commercial to B-2, general commercial.
Following public comment, during which the only speaker was the attorney for the shopping center, the planners voted to recommend approval of the rezoning to the council.
The major reason for the rezoning is the B-2 zoning allows merchants greater flexibility in the size of the signs advertising their businesses.
Raab said he didn't know why the shopping center wasn't originally zoned B-1.
"This will allow Hupps Mill Plaza to have bigger signs, and also allows for the operation of garden centers and other things," Raab said.
Council accepted the recommendation of the council and unanimously approved the request.

The South Boston National Guard unit of the 246th Field Artillery is mobilizing August 1 to support homeland defense.
The mobilization is for one year, Major General Claude Williams announced earlier this week.
The call to active duty affects approximately 350 soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 246th Field Artillery and Battery E, 111th Field Artillery.
The 246th Field Artillery has units located in Danville, Martinsville, Chatham and South Boston.
Battery E, 111th Field Artillery is located in Sandston.
Soldiers will receive their duty assignments after a short training period at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.
On July 13, administrative processing will begin at the National Guard Armory in Danville for soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 246th Field Artillery in preparation for mobilization.
Battery E, 111th Field Artillery will undergo administrative processing in Sandston.
The units are being ordered to active federal service in response to terrorist activity September 11, 2001.
The units will support the homeland defense mission known as Operation Noble Eagle, the Adjutant General said.
The Virginia Army National Guard soldiers will travel from their home armories to Ft. Dix, New Jersey in early August.
The 246th Field Artillery was last ordered to active federal service in May 1951 as a part of the Korean War mobilization.
The unit served in an active federal status until March 1955. While in an active federal status the unit saw service at Ft. Polk, La., Ft. Benning, Ga., and Ft. Campbell, Ky.

The South Boston Police Department is investigating a rash of break-ins in the Shepherd St./Yancey St. area.
"We think it's possible that these incidents are related," said Lt. B.K. Lovelace.
The first incident occurred at a residence on Shepherd Street on June 26.
Lovelace said the victim was at home at the time of the break-in and was struck over the head by an unidentified assailant.
"His wallet was taken from the home," the investigator said.
Lovelace reported that a home on Yancey Street was broken into early last Saturday morning.
The victim of this second break-in was also at home, investigators report.
"A resident of the home was awakened, looked up and saw an unidentified person in his home," he said.
According to investigators, a struggle ensued, after which the perpetrator fled the home.
"Nothing was taken from the home," Lovelace said.
Sometime between Friday evening and Sunday morning, the First Presbyterian Church of South Boston was broken into.
"The break-in was discovered Sunday morning as people were arriving for church," the investigator reported.
Lovelace said some items were stolen from one of the offices.
Police have no suspects at this time, and are asking residents in the neighborhood to report any suspicious activity.
"We are in the process of interviewing people in the neighborhood to see if they have witnessed any suspicious activity," Lovelace said.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS, or the South Boston Police Department at 575-4272.
The South Boston Police are also searching for an Exmark 60" riding lawnmower that was stolen from the Day Compley between 1 and 7 a.m. on Saturday.
Police report the value of the lawnmower at $6,399.