By Beth Robertson
Life's realities in the workforce - attendance, performance, drug testing and discipline - will premiere in a high school program for seniors this year.
One hundred employers representing over 10,000 jobs in Halifax County are participating.
The partnership represents industry, business, schools and the chamber of commerce.
The Student Profile Workforce Development Program will be introduced to seniors during the opening weeks of school.
A student profile will include school attendance, discipline referrals, courses, grade point average and type of diploma received. Students will sign a form giving the school permission to release the profile prior to an employer's request.
School officials hope the student profile will make seniors aware of the importance of staying in school and of discipline.
"That school attendance is related to work attendance by employers," said Bill Moore, director of Adult/Career Education and Vocational Education for the county school system.
While industry will gain access to student profiles, enabling them to know more about employee applicants, the business and industrial community is agreeing to five program points, which will vary among participants, according to Moore.
The agreement points include:
---Preference in hiring high school graduates and GED certificate holders in new or replacement hiring.
---To request the student profile for graduates beginning in 1999.
---Statement to students and participants that prior to employment, they may be required to take drug and alcohol test.
---Whenever possible, business and industry will attempt to participate in apprenticeship training, job shadowing and co-op education programs.
---Employers, whenever possible, will participate in the Educator in the Workforce Program to give teachers a better idea of the skill requirements of particular businesses and industries in today's workforce. (Twenty-three teachers spent one week each in a different industry in the county this summer.)
"The program is endorsed by the Senior Executive Roundtable for Local Industry, a group of chief executive officers who meet on items of mutual interest," said Moore.
Employers seek a strong work ethic, good reading and math skills, and technological skills needed for today's workforce not needed in the past, added Moore.
The overall purpose of the program?
"To provide a program beneficial to employers, to help improve their workforce in local industry and businesses as well as to benefit the school system in making the students aware of the fact that their actions in high school have a definite effect on their employment opportunities after high school," said Moore.
"Hopefully we will have other workforce development programs in connection with local industry which could come under the umbrella of this initial workforce endorsement student profile program."
By TODD LEWAN
AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Tobacco companies and state prosecutors are likely to talk at least through next week about ways to salvage a national settlement over smoking claims.
Negotiators were to meet again today and then recess for three days to report back to their constituencies.
''We're doing well and moving past some of those major hurdles that we have to get out of the way,'' North Carolina Attorney General Mike Easley told reporters Wednesday. ''Now is the time to let both sides go back and talk to the people they are representing.''
Easley said the discussions remain focused on health concerns and measures - such as tobacco marketing restrictions - to curb teen-age smoking, though he declined to give any details.
But Fred Olsen, a spokesman for Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire, one of the lead state negotiators, told The Associated Press that the two sides had begun to address some money matters.
''Both sides are satisfied that they're making good progress - enough so that even though there are public health issues to be resolved, they are already starting to talk money issues,'' he said.
Gregoire is seen among her colleagues as eager to reach a settlement because her state's lawsuit, scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 14, has been characterized as weaker than those being prepared by other states.
The negotiations are to resume Monday, though it was not immediately certain where the talks would take place.
The tobacco industry and state attorneys general are trying to settle 37 pending lawsuits by states seeking to recover tens of billions of dollars spent treating sick smokers over the last several decades.
Besides North Carolina and Washington, other states involved the talks are California, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
Mississippi, Minnesota, Texas and Florida have separately settled their lawsuits for $36.8 billion.
The Halifax County School Board's proposed $30 million school facilities plan that includes the closing of a handful of county elementary schools, renovations and additions to existing facilities, and a dual bus transportation system won't go to county voters this November.
Halifax County School Board chairman Alan Gravitt said yesterday that after talks with the county administrator and the Board of Supervisors' finance committee, it has become apparent that the supes will not have the necessary amount of time to review the plan, approve it if they should so desire, and get the necessary paperwork filed with state officials to get it on the election ballot for this fall's elections.
"The time frame is just too short," Gravitt said yesterday.
"I think the Board of Supervisors want some time to look at it and see if they can mold it into their own capital improvements plan. They are developing their own capital improvements plan for the next five to ten years. And, legitimately, they want to include this as a part of that."
Gravitt pointed out that in order to get the school board's proposal on the November ballot the necessary paperwork would have to be in the hands of state officials a minimum of 60 days prior to the election, in other words, by the first week of September.
And, with discussions on the plan only in the initial stages, it is highly unlikely that the matter will reach the county's voters this fall.
"We simply see it as they (the Board of Supervisors) need more time," said Gravitt.
"And, we're not opposed to that. We don't want the Board of Supervisors to reject our plan because they haven't had time to look at it. We're not going to let an artificial deadline of a referendum control the schedule. The process is so long anyway that it doesn't make sense to have it controlled by artificial deadlines."
"I'm personally not concerned about the referendum." added Gravitt.
"What I'm hoping for is a chance to work with the Board of Supervisors on how to phase in this plan."
The county school board chairman also indicated that county officials and supervisors have said that in addition to considering the overall plan, they want to examine the possibility of phasing in portions of the plan over a period of time as opposed to doing everything at one time.
"What the board (the Board of Supervisors) is saying is maybe consider phasing it in rather than doing it all at one time," Gravitt stated.
Another consideration in the decision not to push further for a vote in November is that there will be another education related matter on the November ballot - a $1.75 million referendum for the new Continuing Education Center project.
"That is certainly a very worthwhile project," Gravitt pointed out.
"We certainly don't want to compete with that project. And, the scope of that project is so much smaller than ours. For the Board (of Supervisors) to go forward with that is different than going forward with our facilities plan."
Gravitt stressed that while there will not be an urgent push to have the school board's plan on the November ballot, the school board's facilities plan is very much alive and kicking.
"From my perspective, we still plan to proceed with our plan," Gravitt said.
"The plan we have responds to the work that needs to be done at our county elementary schools. We (Gravitt and county school superintendent Dennis Witt) will go back to the school board and talk about the possibility of phasing it in."
The $1.75 million CEC bond issue set for referendum in this November's election is expected to cause a real estate tax increase of slightly more than 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to updated estimates released Thursday by County Administrator Dan Sleeper.
If passed, the 10-year bond issue for the Continuing Education Center's expansion project would require estimated annuals payments of $212,400 to $225,400, Sleeper said.
Currently, the county's real estate tax rate is 31 cents per $100 of assessed value, while the Town of South Boston's total rate is 52 cents per $100. If passed, the CEC general obligations bonds would raise the respective rates to 32.5 cents and 53.5 cents.
In other clarifications, county officials stated that the estimated expense for the bond issue of $55,000 would be taken out of the $1.75 million, rather than being an additional expense.
If passed by the voters on November 3, the $1.75 million bond issue is contingent on the Halifax Educational Foundation, Inc. (fundraising arm for the CEC expansion project) raising a matching $1.75 million.
The South Boston Flue-Cured Tobacco Market will open Tuesday at 8 a.m. with refreshments and blue grass music at Planters/New Brick Warehouse.
Opening ceremonies began at 8:30 a.m. and will feature veteran broadcaster Ray Wilkinson. The opening sale of the day will follow, one led by National Champion auctioneer Bob Cage.
Last year 16,865,462 pounds of tobacco were sold at the South Boston market. Sales were $28.8 million with a yearly average of $1.71 per pound.
This year conditions in Halifax County's tobacco fields vary widely as the market opens. Extension agent Larry McPeters described tobacco pulled two weeks ago, "as far as most advanced maturity," and tobacco "just layed-by" in other sections.
"So we will see a limited amount of new crop tobacco on the warehouse floor Tuesday morning," predicted McPeters.
"Based on what other markets have done south of here, they've averaged paying around $1.47 a pound for primings, and there are less primings going into the stabilization corporation percentage-wise than old crop tobacco," said McPeters.
"One other observation, old crop tobacco will usually bring less the first opening week than it will the following week, and that is reflected again in reports received from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. And the basis behind that is that the companies want to look at the crop and see what it is like, find out if there are any problems in old crop or stored tobacco," explained the extension agent.
At this point in the production year, county farmers are irrigating tobacco "with everything they have got, about emptying ponds," added McPeters.
The good news, he said, is that the crop has responded very well to irrigation and rain.
Of the overall Halifax County crop, McPeters described "an average or better crop" on the hill at this point.
"Because I am confident, unless something happens, we will sell our pounds or more. The potential there is in the crop to sell our pounds and have carryover," said McPeters.
Anytime it is dry year some of the primings don't look too good, but I suspect the quality of our primings is going to improve on the warehouse floor the week following opening week.
Although Halifax County farmers need rain, McPeters said "all in all, I think Virginia has a better crop on the hill quality-wise than does North Carolina," said the agent.
"They are really dry down there and susceptible to black shank and granville wilt. We have very little granville wilt up here, so I feel better about the Virginia tobacco crop, that we will be able to offer the tobacco companies a higher quality product than North Carolina, and I think the figures will show that at the end of the year," said McPeters.
Evelyn Virginia Whitlock of 6115 Melon Road, South Boston died Monday, July 27, 1998 at the age of 85.
Miss Whitlock was born in Paces on May 18, 1913 the daughter of Samuel and Isabella White Whitlock. She was a member of White Oak Grove Baptist Church and of the local and state Retired Teachers' Associations. She taught in Halifax County for 40 years.
Survivors include three nephews, one niece and several great-nephews and nieces.
Funeral services for Miss Whitlock will be held Saturday, August 1 at 2 p.m. at White Oak Grove Baptist Church, Sutherlin with Rev. Jefferson Goode conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home. Viewing will take place at Daniel Funeral Home today, July 31.
Lightfoot Boyd Fourqurean died Monday, July 27, 1998 in South Boston. She was born near Alton on January 5, 1913 the daughter of Isabelle Loftis Boyd and Thomas Jefferson Boyd and was a lifelong resident of Halifax County/South Boston.
She was predeceased by her husband, Henry Jordan Fourqurean and is survived by one daughter, Isabel Fourqurean Steilberg and a son-in-law, Robert Hays Steilberg of Newport News. Other survivors include three grandchildren: Robert Christopher Steilberg of Atlanta, GA, Matthew Henry Steilberg of Ellicott City, MD, and Anne Boyd Steilberg of Birmingham, AL, as well as three great-grandsons, Joseph Augustus Steilberg of Atlanta, Robert Hays Steilberg II and Jackson Henry Kemp Steilberg of Ellicott City.
The family will receive visitors this evening, July 31 from 7 to 8:30 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 515 Yancey Street, South Boston. A memorial service will take place at Trinity Church at noon on Saturday, August 1. Powell Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Trinity Episcopal Church or to the Fund for Social Justice Ministries at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 221 34th Street, Newport News, VA 23607.
Jessie Murray Evans of 1120 Noblin Avenue, South Boston died Wednesday, July 29, 1998 at her home. She was 89 years of age.
Mrs. Evans was born October 10, 1908 in Roxboro, NC the daughter of William Scott Murray and Lula Puryear Murray and was married to Robert G. Evans Sr. She was a member of McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church.
A funeral service will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, July 31 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Delia Earnhardt officiating. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Evans include two grandsons, Robert Glenn Evans III of South Boston and Scott E. Evans of Cluster Springs; two granddaughters, Linda E. Noblin of Fayetteville, NC and Wanda E. Powell of Clarksville; a very special great-granddaughter, Sherri E. Powell and her husband, Gerald of South Boston; a special friend, Kathleen Granger of South Boston; seven other great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, R.G. Evans Jr. and one daughter, Marion E. Snead.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider South Boston Fire Company.
Earl Briggs Allen Sr. of 1914 Willow Street, South Boston died Tuesday, July 28, 1998 at his home. He as 67 years of age.
Mr. Allen was born November 23, 1930 in South Boston, the son of L.E. Allen and Edna Maude Wilkerson Allen, and was married to Carolyn Lumsden Allen. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church, a 50 year member of Faulkner Memorial Lodge #91 AF & AM, an inactive member of American Legion Post 8, a volunteer member of the Halifax County Rescue Squad for five years, and a volunteer member of the South Boston Fire Company for 27 years. He was retired from Earl B. Allen Carpet & Tile.
A funeral will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, July 31 at 11 a.m. with Revs. John Fariss and Don Fox officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Allen is survived by his wife of the home; his mother of South Boston; one daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth A. and Gene E. Smith of Clarksville; one son and daughter-in-law, Dr. E. Briggs Allen Jr. and Elise of Bristol; and two grandchildren.
Sallie Crowder Chandler of 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston died Tuesday, July 28, 1998 at Berry Hill Nursing Home. She was 94 years of age.
Mrs. Chandler was born February 15, 1904 in Halifax County the daughter of Willie Crowder and Signor Moorefield Crowder and was married to Walter Miller 'Pete' Chandler. She was a member of First Baptist Church, and the oldest member of American Legion Post 8 Ladies Auxiliary.
Graveside services will be held Sunday, August 2 at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Louise Chandler Walker and L. 'Tubby' Walker of Clearwater, FL; two grandsons, Randy Walker and Charles Chandler Walker, both of Baltimore MD; one granddaughter, Nikki Walker of Baltimore, and one foster granddaughter, Linda Dixion Horvath of Richmond.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home Saturday night from 7 until 8:30.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The American Legion, Post 8, South Boston.