Friday, July 30, 2004

Administrator May Be Named Monday

In what one supervisor called "probably the most important decision we'll make this year," the Halifax County Board of Supervisors are expected to announce a new county administrator during Monday's meeting.

"We'll take the issue up and hope to be able to announce the final candidate Monday," Policy and Personnel Committee Chairman William Claiborne said yesterday.

The new county administrator will replace Joe Morgan, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Committee members have been searching for Morgan's replacement since January, supervisors said.

"The application process went well," Claiborne said, noting that the committee received around 90 applications for the position.

"We narrowed the field to 10 candidates, and then down to three," he said.

At press time, the field had been narrowed to two candidates vying for the position.

"We plan to make the decision prior to Monday's meeting," committee member Ronnie Vaughan said. "We're all pretty close on the one we want, but we want to make sure."

The Board is planning to meet in closed session briefly before the full Board meets and are expected to make the announcement during the regular monthly Board meeting.

Claiborne said that as the field narrowed, the decision became more difficult.
"We feel the quality of the candidates, especially with the last two, is superb," he said. "We had a hard time deciding on who to choose because both of the final two candidates are so well-qualified to take the position."

Vaughan said filling Morgan's position wasn't a job the Board took lightly.

"We realize as a Board this is probably the most important decision we'll have to make this year," he said. "A lot of time went into getting to this point."

Claiborne agreed, saying the committee worked with the full Board as the field of candidates narrowed.

"The entire Board has been involved in the process," he said. "We've been meeting with the full Board for the last few weeks to deal with the final candidates in the selection."

Board members will convene Monday's meeting at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room at the Mary Bethune Complex.

Heritage Festival Offers Another Tourism Draw

Antique farm machinery and exquisitely remodeled classic cars will be the centerpiece of the First Annual Heritage and Antique Machinery Festival this Saturday at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.

The event will also offer displays of hit and miss motors, antique tools, machinery parts, motorcycles and trucks.

"It is kind of like what a county fair used to be," said Halifax County Tourism Director Linda Shepperd. "There will not be big rides but it will be just a fun family day."

The festival will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a $3 admission.

One of the event's organizers, Bobby Conner, said there is already a lot of interest throughout the county in collecting historic machinery.

"These events are held throughout the rural communities of this nation," said Conner. "Some of them run three to four days and attract over 100,000 people.
There is no reason Halifax County can't do the same.

"It is a great opportunity to bring together various groups in a noncompetitive situation appealing to both the spectators and those participating," he added.
"It is a chance to showcase what our forefathers worked with and what they used. And, it is a chance to showcase what the county's mechanically gifted people do in their spare time."

In addition to displaying a variety of restored machines and vehicles, exhibitors will also be showcasing blacksmithing, painted glassware, jewelry, quilts and chair caning.

"We didn't want to limit ourselves to just an antique machinery show," said Shepperd. "It is not just a car show or a tractor show, we are just making this big umbrella and saying, 'hey bring it all over.'"

Shepperd said organizers hope to eventually turn the festival into an interpretive event showcasing the county's rural farming heritage.

"I think that is their goal," she said. "I think that is what they really want to see."

The festival is designed to garner support for a heritage park planned for the new James Edmunds Memorial Park.

"The ultimate vision is to have our own show park that would have some permanent facilities as well as temporary exhibits that you would bring in on different weekends," said Conner.

But for now, area residents can enjoy a family-oriented day viewing antiques, both large and small, and maybe even take a piece of history home with them, according to Shepperd.

"There will be some opportunities to buy some antiques and crafts," she said.
The new festival provides yet another tourism draw for the county, one that may appeal to a niche of people that are not drawn to existing events, according to Shepperd.

"There has been so much interest and it is from people we usually don't see," she said. "This is a whole different group of people."

Shepperd said she is expecting over 100 exhibitors from as far away as Richmond and North Carolina.

And, anything that draws new people to the county is good for local businesses, she said.

"They will come to our community, stay in the motels and eat in the restaurants," said Shepperd. "It is another event that puts us on the map."

Saturday's Full Moon First 'Blue Moon' Since '01

Although Saturday's night sky may not look any different than normal, celestial aficionados know a rare phenomenon documented in popular slang and song will be taking place.

Saturday night will be brightened by the first 'blue moon' to shine over Halifax County since 2001.

But what is a blue moon?

According to reports on the Internet, there are actually two definitions.

The most recent definition of a blue moon (and the one Saturday) occurs when there are two full moons in a calendar month.

This month the first full moon occurred on July 2, while the second will wax to fullness on Saturday.

Scientists expect 17 blue moons, based on this definition, over the next 20 years, according to Internet reports.

The earlier definition of a blue moon is more complicated.

According to the Maine Farmer's Almanac, a blue moon is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.

Apparently the distinction used to be important when moon cycles were used to establish dates of holidays in the Christian ecclesiastical calendar.

On years that have 13 (instead of the more common 12) full moons, the unnamed thirteenth moon disrupted the calendar's dating system.

Thus, a name, 'blue moon' was established to maintain temporal order.

Unfortunately, neither definition actually refers to the color of the moon, although NASA reports that blue colored full moons have been seen over the years.

In 1883, an Indonesian volcano named Krakatoa exploded.

The result? A blue-tinted moon, according to the NASA report.

Apperntly, particles of ash from the eruption were just the right size to scatter red portions of the light spectrum, causing moonbeams to appear blue and sometimes green, NASA reported.

Other, more recent, volcanic eruptions have also affected the appearance of the moon.

The NASA report says lunar tinting occurred in 1983 following the eruption of the El Chichon volcano in Mexico, 1980 after Mt. St. Helens exploded and in 1991 when Mount Pinatubo erupted.

Six Teams Ready To Battle In The World Series


SOUTH BOSTON DIXIE MAJORS ALL-STARS
Members of the Virginia champion South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team are Jake Owen, Jason Lloyd, Clyde Brooks, Steven Smith, Jody Nelson, Chad Lewis, Kirby Barbour, Chris Conner, Chris Lowery, Ryland Clark, manager Jeremy Satterfield, Ryan Roller, Brent Long, Nathan Thomas, coach Dennis Lewis, coach Dan Powell, Chris Perkins and coach Shane Foushee. The South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team will face Arkansas Saturday at 6 p.m. in its first game of the Dixie Majors World Series in Monroe, LA.

SOUTH BOSTON DIXIE BOYS 13/14 ALL-STARS
Members of the Virginia champion South Boston Dixie Boys 13/14-Year-Old all-star team are Drew Hall, Michael Ferrell, Jeremy Foster, John Cole, Stanley Thomas, Shawn Hylton, Stacey Majors, Jacob Hodges, Daniel Wilborn, manager Dean Waltman, Chad Waltman, Pierre Brandon, Allen Stephens and coaches Matt Gunn and Garnett Hall. The South Boston Dixie Boys all-star team will face North Carolina Saturday at 7 p.m. in its opening game of the Dixie Boys 13/14 World Series at LaGrange, GA.

VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPION HALIFAX NATIONAL BELLES
The Virginia State Champion Halifax National Belles are Mindy Watts, Heather Oakes, Ally Thompson, Liz Trickey, Shayna Oakes, Paige Rickman, Tracy Spencer, Kimberly Tuck, Heather Hudson, Jessica Morris, coach Steve Bowman, Amber Bowman, Mandy Watts, coach Kathy Hudson and manager Vic Hudson.

VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPION HALIFAX NATIONAL PONYTAILS
The Virginia State Champion Halifax National Ponytails are Jameshia Smith, Emily Conner, Betty Rose, Jessica Bagbey and Lyndsay Lawter, Jill Trickey, Megan Day, Brittany Cole, Jamilia Smith, Allison Thaxton, Robin Jennings, Lauren Daniel, manager Eddie Daniel and coaches Allen Lawter and Tony Conner.

VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPION HALIFAX COUNTY DEBS
The Virginia State Champion Halifax County Debs are Jamie Anderson, Emily Pool, Jessie Lloyd, Cari Clark, Jasmine Parker, Mallory Lawter, Lori Reeves, Jessica Lewis, Erica Elliott, Kim Ford, coach Jimmie Wade, Amanda Rogers and manager Gary Rogers, coach Jerry Pool.

VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPION HALIFAX AMERICAN ANGELS
T he Virginia State Champion Halifax American Angels are Meg Bane, Kendall Lloyd, Autumn McFadden, BriAna Pierce, Meredith Day, Shannon Smith, Lucy Ferguson, Blaire Hodges, Jennifer Lacks, Kate Bane, coach James Hodges, manager Barbara Lacks, Samantha Gibson, KiAna Pierce, Tanisha Malone and coach Woody Bane.

Obituaries

Hazel Lorain Claiborne Gatewood

Hazel Lorain Claiborne Gatewood, 57, formerly of South Boston, died July 21.
Graveside services for Mrs. Gatewood will be held tomorrow, July 31, at 4 p.m. at Five Forks Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Sandy Palmer and Moses Dixon officiating.

Lena Frances Good

Lena Frances Good, 76, of South Boston died July 29 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was born December 20, 1927, in Halifax County the daughter of Henry and Cora Good.

Funeral arrangements will be handled by Powell Funeral Home. They were incomplete at press time.

Arthur Kendrick Hite

Arthur Kendrick Hite, 85, of Clarksville, husband of Shannon Tillotson Hite, died July 27 in South Boston.

Born in the Buffalo Springs area, he was the son of Steven Bedford and Emma Owen Hite.

Retired from Burlington Industries, Mr. Hite was a deacon and trustee of Antioch Baptist Church and served on the cemetery committee.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 30 at Antioch Baptist Church with the Rev. Greg Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hite is survived by a daughter, Judy Hite Williams of Chase City; one son, Wendell Kendrick Hite of South Boston; sisters, Josie Jones of Clarksville and Lottie Boyd of South Boston; grandchildren, Wendy Lee Knott, Stuart Kendrick Hite, Elaine Kelly Bluhm, Rhonda W. Witt; and great-grandchildren, Kelsey Lee Knott, Allie Bluhm, Erich Bluhm, Danielle Witt and Darcy Witt.

Frances Maxey Turnbull

Frances Maxey Turnbull, 87, of Clarksville died July 28 in Clarksville.

Born in Clarksville, she was the daughter of the late George Claiborne and Vivian Jones Maxey and was married to the late Irby Turnbull Jr.

A retired teacher, Mrs. Turnbull taught in Halifax and Mecklenburg counties. She was a member of Clarksville Baptist Church where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow, July 31. The Rev. Wade Tucker will officiate. Burial will be private.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Keith Martin of Hyde Park, Vt.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Irby III and Kay Turnbull of Boydton and George and Susan Turnbull of Elmo; four granddaughters and three grandsons.

The family will receive friends from 7:30 until 9:00 this evening, July 30, at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Mecklenburg County Life Saving and Rescue Squad.

Laura Juanita Hudson Wallace

Laura Juanita Hudson Wallace, 93, of Halifax died July 26 at the Woodview.

Mrs. Wallace was born in Halifax County on November 1, 1910, the daughter of the late Charles Paul Hudson and Alice J. Hudson, and was married to the late Frank Wallace. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.

Funeral services will be held today, July 30 at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Survivors of Mrs. Wallace include one sister, Alice French of Palm Springs, Fla.; one grandson, James Ross of Halifax; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two step-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandson; and devoted friends, Calvin and Pauline Younger of Halifax.

Catherine Delaney Yeatman

Catherine Delaney Yeatman, 4-year-old daughter of Alfred M. and Michelle Anderson Yeatman, died July 27 at her home in Fredericksburg.

Other than her parents she is survived by her brother, Trevor, and a sister, Corrin, both of the home; maternal grandfather, Phillip Anderson of Nathalie; paternal grandparents, John and Rebecca Harrington of Fredericksburg, Alfred M. Yeatman Jr. of Newport News. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Catherine Moore Hudgins.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 30, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg with the Revs. Joan Peacock and Tricia Hamilton Mack officiating. A graveside service will be held at Halifax Memorial Gardens Saturday, July 31 at 1 p.m.