Monday, July 19, 2004

Boards To Tackle EDA, W/S
South Boston, Halifax Town Councils, County Supervisors To Meet Tonight

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors and the town councils of South Boston and Halifax will address the proposed economic development authority and the Riverdale water and sewer system tonight.

The meeting will get underway when the Boards convene for their joint meeting at 6 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.

A draft agreement that would transfer the operation, maintenance and control of the Riverdale water and sewer system to the South Boston Public Works Department is expected to be reviewed.

If adopted, the agreement stipulates the intent to eventually incorporate the system into the Greater Halifax County Public Water and Sewer Authority.

Under the agreement, South Boston will:

• Repair and maintain the Riverdale system.

• Take responsibility for service delivery in Riverdale.

• Conduct all tests of the system necessary for permitting.

• Read all meters and bill customers.

• Accept payments from Riverdale customers.

• After one year of the agreement, accept full ownership and control of the system.

• Pledge to transfer control and owners hip to the future authority following the one-year period.

According to the proposed agreement, the county agrees to:

• Pay existing debt service on the current system.

• Adopt the South Boston out-of-town rate schedule for Halifax County customers on the Riverdale system.

Town customers on the Riverdale system will pay in-town rates.

• After one year of the agreement, transfer full ownership and control of the system.

During tonight's meeting, the group is expected to vote to authorize engineering services on the proposed transfer.

The joint Boards are also expected to discuss the proposed Economic Development Authority.

During the May joint meeting, Board of Supervisors Finance Committee Chair Doug Bowman presented the proposal for the new Board, suggesting the new body would focus on marketing, existing business support and project management.

"This would be the sales team for Halifax County," he said, adding the new group will join forces with the Chamber of Commerce, tourism director, agricultural development director, South Boston Community Development Director and the Halifax Town Manager.

The new board will be comprised of five at-large members from the county and two at-large members from South Boston.

Bowman said the primary focus of industrial development authorities is asset ownership and business expansion financing.

He asserted that the new economic development configuration would free up the EDA to focus on its primary focus of marketing.

The new board will concentrate on prospective business recruitment, existing business support and project management, according to the proposal.

Bowman told the boards that the EDA is an idea whose time has come.

During the earlier meeting, Bowman said that both the South Boston and Halifax County IDAs would remain in place for asset ownership and bond purposes.

According to the proposal, the EDA will be funded for marketing related purposes, with staff support from the current county IDA staff, the South Boston Town Manager's office and the county administrator's office.

During their June meeting, supervisors voted to form a joint task force to study the matter for 60 days before making a decision on the new body.

In other business, the Boards are expected to adopt an agreement establishing a cooperative program to receive and administer funding from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality litter prevention and recycling grants.

The Boards are also expected to consider participating in the Jamestown 2007 Quadri-Centennial celebration.

Members of the Community Arts Center Foundation are expected to address the joint Board to clarify the amount of pledges versus donations received and release public funds.

The group is expected to receive an update on the funding for a bicycling path project on Cowford Road.

The Kezziah Walker Community Park project is also expected to be addressed.

Board members are also expected to address incentives offered to Lowe's Superstore under the Economic Stimulus Program.

According to the agreement, the program is intended to invest up to one-half of the increase in sales tax receipts over a 10-year period in incentives to new or expanding retail activity that creates a minimum of 20 new jobs and $5 million in new sales in the county.

Serpent Safari
Exotic Snakes, Dangerous Snakes Make Serpent Safari One Of The Most Popular Kids Kollege Classes This Summer

Tongue-flicking Zok, a hefty, 10-ft. Burmese Python, slithered silently around the boy's neck.

The eight-year-old loved it.

"It's really cool to hold a snake," confided Coles Wetmore. "But he's heavy."

Weighing in at about 35 pounds, Zok was almost as big as the boy, but the challenge to hang tough with the python was obviously as sweet as candy.

Nearby, Athena, an 80-pound albino python, was draped around two Kids Kollege classmates, Alex and Clifford. Athena, who is over 12 feet long, has produced over 30 little pythons with Zok.

With cages of exotic and colorful snakes lining the room, student participation is not a problem in Frank Shealy's Serpent Safari class.

And Kids Kollege officials say his class has been at the top of the "to do" list for several dozen county kids eager to learn more about amphibians and reptiles this summer.

Last week, about a dozen students learned to identify snakes native to Halifax County.

They learned that the copperhead is the only poisonous snake native to our county, although Shealy said many wrongly think the ill-tempered water moccasin is a native.

Shealy uses a hook to handle the copperhead, keeping it well out of the strike zone.

Since he was eight years old Shealy has loved snakes. "I always found them fascinating," he said Friday, recalling the stream that ran behind his boyhood home and his first snake catches.

The fascination continues today with dozens of snakes calling Shealy's home their home.

It is a reptile world his daughters Maeghan and Mallory negotiate with the same self-confident ease their father exhibits, stretching a python its full length with the poise of a veteran.

While participants of the Serpent Safari were handling snakes, others were sending the Halifax County High School CometBot tooling around the classroom.

Designed to teach the basics of robotics to participants, the Robotics Roundup also featured a preview of the Leggo League, debuting this year at the Halifax County Middle School.

For the robotics participants, even breaks were engaging as they got the opportunity to try their hand at the interactive computer game based on the movie "I, Robot."

Kids Kollege

The annual Kids Kollege at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center is billed as "the hands-on, eyes and ears wide open" program for county youth.
And with something for everyone, it lives up to its motto.

The program features a wide range of courses designed to pique the interest of children.

While last week's courses featured snakes and robots for the older set, this week teaches four and five year olds.

For more information, call 572-5448 or 572-5440.

Coleman Is Named GDC Clerk
She Will Begin Her Duties In Halifax County On August 1

Veresia Wood Coleman has been named the Clerk of the Halifax County General District Court effective August 1.

She succeeds retiring clerk Brenda McPeters.

Coleman is a native of Halifax County, a graduate of Halifax County High School and a graduate of Electronic Computer Programming Institute in Virginia Beach.

Prior to returning to Halifax County, Coleman was employed with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Durham, N.C.

She has been a deputy clerk in the General District Court for three years.

“I am honored and delighted to succeed Mrs. McPeters who served as my mentor and who set very high standards for me to follow," Coleman said. “I will do my best to continue serving the citizens of Halifax County and South Boston with the highest degree of efficiency, professionalism and courtesy."

Majors Notch Pair Of Wins
The South Boston Dixie Majors Downed Amherst 9-4 Yesterday To Run Its Record To 2-0 In State Tournament Play

By Joe Chandler
G-V Staff Writer

The South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team picked up its second win in a row in the Dixie Majors State Tournament, downing Amherst 9-4 yesterday in Brookneal.

South Boston also won its opening-round game on Friday, downing Pulaski 8-5.

Yesterday's win kept South Boston in the winner's bracket and set the stage for a game tonight at 8 p.m.

South Boston overcame an early 1-0 deficit by scoring twice in the top of the second inning and blowing the game open with five runs in the top of the third inning.

For the second day in a row the South Boston bats ruled with South Boston outhitting Amherst 10-8.

Jason Lloyd and Nathan Thomas led the way with two hits each with Kirby Barbour, Brent Long, Chris Perkins, Chris Lowery, Chris Conner and Clyde Brooks each getting one hit.

After falling behind as the result of a walk, an error and a hit, South Boston grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.

Thomas walked and moved to second on a passed ball, Ryan Roller walked and Conner walked to load the sacks.

A double by Lloyd plated Thomas and Roller to put South Boston up 2-0.

South Boston came right back with five more runs in the top of the third inning on the strength of four back-to-back hits from Long, Perkins, Lowery and Thomas.

A run scored when Brooks reached base on an error and a late single by Barbour also helped fuel the rally that gave South Boston a 7-1 lead.

Amherst answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 7-2 score but South Boston got that run back and more with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning that made the score 9-2.

Back-to-back hits by Conner and Brooks opened the inning.

Conner scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Lloyd and Brooks scored when Long hit into a fielder's choice.

Amherst County scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 9-4 game.

In the bottom of the final inning, Amherst threatened to do more damage, loading the bases up on South Boston. South Boston got out of the inning when relief hurler Jody Nelson came up with a big strikeout to end the game.

South Boston 8
Pulaski 5

The South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team began its quest for the state tournament title in a big way with an 8-5 win over Pulaski.

While the contest was a three-run game at its conclusion, South Boston scored in each of the first four innings and held a 7-0 lead through five innings.

A pair of South Boston errors and other miscues opened the door for Pulaski to score four runs in the top of the fifth inning and get back into contention.

South Boston shut the door by coming up with another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to double the score on Pulaski.

Pulaski rallied for a run in the sixth inning to cut the final margin to three runs.
South Boston had a big night with the bat, pounding Pulaski hurlers for a total of 13 hits.

Lloyd was a perfect 3-3, Roller was a perfect 2-2 and Conner added two hits as the trio accounted for seven of the team's 13 hits.

Long was 1-1 with a triple, Perkins was 1-2 with a double and Chad Lewis, Lowery, Brooks and Thomas each had one hit.

Nelson had a big night on the mound as well, throwing a no-hitter until Pulaski got its first hit in the fourth inning.

He threw five complete innings and allowed only two hits and scattered four walks. He struck out two batters.

Barbour came to the hill in relief and allowed one hit and one walk. He struck out one batter.

South Boston jumped on Pulaski hard in the bottom of the first inning, picking up three runs on five hits.

Lloyd opened the inning with a hit, stole second base and third base and scored on a triple by Long.

Perkins followed with a double that plated Long. Back-to-back singles from Lowery and Roller were enough to plate Perkins and give South Boston a three-run lead.

South Boston made it a 4-0 score in the bottom of the second inning when Brooks led off with a triple and scored on a single by Lloyd.

Two runs in the bottom of the third inning gave South Boston a 6-0 lead.
Roller started the rally with a single. Brooks walked to put runners on first base and second base and Lloyd followed with a two-RBI double.

Another run in the bottom of the fourth inning gave South Boston a 7-0 edge.
Lewis reached base with a single with one out. Lowery walked to put runners on first base and second base and a single from Thomas scored Lewis to give South Boston a seven-run lead.

Pulaski scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning, only one of which counted as an earned run.

South Boston bounced back to score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it an 8-4 contest.

Lloyd opened the inning by reaching base on a walk, stole second base and third base and scored on a single by Conner.

Pulaski scratched up one run in the sixth inning but it wasn't enough as South Boston held on to win its opener.

Obituaries

Charles Henry Snead III

Charles Henry Snead III, 50, of Chase City, formerly of Halifax County, died July 14 at Lynchburg General Hospital.

Mr. Snead was born in Halifax County on August 2, 1953, the son of the late Charles Henry Snead Jr. and Irene Pleasants Snead. He was married to Linda Toombs Snead and was a member of Bethel Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors of Mr. Snead include his wife; his mother of Clover; two daughters, Tanisha Smith of Chase City and Felicia Snead of Boydton; two sons, Devon Dunaway of Birmingham, Ala. and Christopher Snead of Chase City; five sisters, Gwendolyn Harp Vaughan and Sheena Price, both of Detroit, Mich., Sharon Smith of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Yvette Dunkley and Shernitha Douglas, both of Clover; two brothers, Reginald Snead of Oswego, N.Y. and Ronnie Snead of Drakes Branch; four grandchildren; and his grandmother, Angie Vaughters Snead of Randolph.

Funeral services for Mr. Snead were held July 18 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. William Hicks officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Robert Edwin ‘Bobby’ Winstead

Funeral services for Robert Edwin “Bobby” Winstead of Spring Avenue South Boston, will be held today, July 19, at 2 p.m. with services at First Baptist Church, Ferry Street, South Boston.

Mr. Winstead died Friday, July 16, at Halifax Regional Medical Center.

He was 58.

Mr. Winstead was born to the late Edwin Winstead and Louise Vass Winstead on November 21, 1945, and was married to Judith Coleman Winstead. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, was a U.S. Army veteran, and was employed with Sprint.

Mr. Winstead is survived by his wife: Judith Coleman Winstead; one son, Derick Winstead of Fort Bragg, N.C.; one daughter, Miss Brandi LaShell Winstead of the home; his mother, Mrs. Louise Winstead of South Boston; two grandchildren, Mountour D. Winstead and Kianna T. Winstead; his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Yvette W. Winstead; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends at the home and also at the home of Mrs. Louise Winstead, 1813 North Main Street in South Boston.