Monday, July 7, 2003

SoBo Man Drowns In River
Police Are Unsure Whether Christobal Alfan Urbina Jumped Or Fell Into River

A 38-year-old South Boston man died Saturday after either falling or jumping into the Falling River in Brookneal, according to Officer Ricky Cousin with the Brookneal Police Department.

The Brookneal police suspect that Christobal Alfan Urbina, of Bold Springs Road, had been standing on the dam itself while friends were taking his picture Friday afternoon when he went into the water.

Officials are unsure at this time whether Urbina slipped or jumped into the high water.

"From what we can gather, we think he slipped because prior to the incident there were two children on the dam with him," Cousin said. "We're lucky there wasn't more than one who went into the water."

The officer said there was between 20 and 30 people in the area at the time of the incident. "We don't think many were from Brookneal," he said.

"The majority of them were from South Boston, Halifax County and the Alta Vista area," Cousin added.

The dam is located just off Route 40 in Campbell County.

Although Urbina was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident, the current was strong enough to pull him under, according to officials.

According to Cousins, when police arrived on the scene, Urbina's friends were performing CPR on the South Boston man.

Urbina was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he died Saturday morning, according to reports.

Police officials say water at the dam, which is owned by the Dan River Company, was approximately six feet above normal at the time of the incident.

They add that there are several "No tresspassing" signs within sight of the location.

"We haven't charged anyone with tresspassing as of yet," Cousin said.
He added that the Brookneal police need to find out what Dan River wants to do about the incident. "The property belongs to them."

Cousin warned county residents to be mindfull of high water and know the area they are cooling off in. "The people in Brookneal know not to get into the water," he said. "It's dangerous."

Record Crowd Of Over 12,000 Jams Scottsburg
The Scottsburg VFD Raised $13,000 At Friday’s Celebration

Halifax County celebrated the Fourth of July in a big way Friday as a record crowd estimated at 12,000 people jammed their way into the Town of Scottsburg for the 22nd Annual Scottsburg Fourth of July Parade and Celebration.

Wayne Seamster, the event chairman, said Saturday the 12,000-person count may be a little on the conservative side.

Nonetheless, Seamster and officials of the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department say there is no doubt Friday's celebration was a record-breaker.
"This was the biggest crowd we've ever had," said Seamster.

"We had a really good day and were very pleased with the way everything went. Everybody seemed to have a good time and nobody got out of order."

While the annual Fourth of July celebration produced a record turnout, more importantly, it produced a record fund-raising day for the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department.

Seamster said the fire department took in $18,957 during Friday's 12-hour event.

Fire department officials, Seamster said, estimated that they should have in excess of $13,000 after expenses are paid.

The money will come in quite handy, Seamster said, as a good portion of the proceeds from the event will go toward paying off the debt on the new 2003 Ford F550 EMS rescue unit the fire department recently purchased.

The vehicle cost $104,000.

"We want to thank everyone who came out and everyone in the fire department who helped put the event on," Seamster said.

"We especially want to thank our sponsors and the many volunteers from the community who helped us. If it wasn't for the help of the volunteers we couldn't do it. We couldn't do all of this by ourselves."

Visitors came to the Town of Scottsburg in throngs Friday despite temperatures that reached the mid-90's and the wilting humidity.

A vast majority of the estimated 12,000 people on hand for the parade stuck around to enjoy lunch and some of the early afternoon activities.

The crowd thinned out quite a bit after lunch, but the throngs of people returned to the fire department Friday evening to enjoy the food, live music and the colorful fireworks display that capped the event.

Fire department officials said there were as many people on hand for the evening activities as there were for the parade.

"The whole yard was full of people when we shot off the fireworks," Seamster said.

"Cars lined both sides of the street all the way to the town limits on both ends. This was the biggest crowd we've ever had."

The visitors to the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department consumed virtually all of the food and drinks the fire department had on hand to sell.

Seamster said the fire department completely sold out its 100 gallons of Brunswick Stew, 200 pounds of hamburger, 200 pounds of chicken, its hot dogs and its 20 cases of french fries.

"There's no telling how much soft drinks and lemonade were sold," Seamster said.

"The only thing we had left over was a very little bit of barbecue."

Friday's Fourth of July Parade drew 175 units and had 19 different fire departments from Halifax County and surrounding areas participating.

Scottsburg Baptist Church's float entry won Best Appearing Float with Marion Ridgeway's float entry taking second prize.

Janet Clay won the award for Best Appearing Clown with Cole McKinney earning the second prize.

Top award winners in the judging of the fire trucks were as follows:

Best Appearing Brush Truck - Keysville VFD; 2nd-Place - Chase City VFD;
Best Appearing Pumper - Drakes Branch VFD; 2nd-Place - Brookneal VFD;
Best Appearing Pumper-Tanker - Clover VFD; 2nd Place - Midway VFD;
Best Appearing Salvage/Squad Truck - Bacon District VFD;
Fire Dept. Traveling Furthest Distance - Meherrin VFD.
In the fire department's cash drawings, Stanley Bomar of Mt. Laurel won the $200 prize and Johnny Hatcher of Scottsburg won the $100 cash drawing.

The name of the winner of the $50 cash drawing was not immediately available.

Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department officials have already turned their thoughts toward next year's Fourth of July Parade and Celebration.

Because 2004 is a leap year, the Fourth of July will fall on Sunday next year.
As a result, Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department officials say they will stage their annual Fourth of July gala next year on Saturday, July 3.

Fire department officials said if the event is rained out on Saturday, July 3, their tentative plan is to use Monday, July 5, as a rain date.

FBI Joins Search For Hargrove
Police Say Dennis Lamonte Hargrove May Be In SoBo

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined in the search for a Clarksville man wanted for murder, whom Durham, N.C., police say may be this area.

Murder and assault warrants have been issued by police in Durham, for Dennis Lamonte Hargrove in connection with a June 25 multiple shooting in Durham that left a woman dead and three others in critical condition.

The search is centering around the areas of South Boston, Danville, Virginia Beach and Richmond, according to police officials.

Both the South Boston Police Department and the Halifax County Sheriff's Officers are on the lookout for the 27-year-old man, who Durham police think killed a woman and critically injured three others, including a toddler.

Authorities describe Hargrove, whom they say has outstanding warrants in Virginia for malicious wounding and a drug charge, as 6 feet in height and 180 pounds.

According to information from the Durham Police Department, the search is continuing for Hargrove, also known as Chuck Hargrove, Dennis Venable and Chuckie Venable, of Wildlife Road in Clarksville.

Hargrove has been charged with one count of murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, officials said.

Officials believe Hargrove could be in the company of his cousin, Brian Keith Hargrove, who is also wanted for questioning in the case.

Police reports allege that on June 25, Hargrove entered a residence on E. Markham Ave. in Durham and "maliciously shot and murdered Ms. Collette Moss" around 11:05 p.m.

She died Thursday at Duke University Hospital, officials said.
Before leaving the residence, he also allegedly shot a 2-year-old child, 14-year-old girl, and a 22-year-old woman while inside the home, officials said.

The three are currently listed in critical condition at a hospital in the Durham area.

The two men are believed by police to be operating a light silver Nissan Pathfinder with four doors and tinted windows, with a JBM-1170 Virginia registration.

The motive for the shootings is still under investigation, according to Durham officials.

Officials with the Clarksville Police Department and the Southside Drug Task Force said last Tuesday that people should also be on the lookout for a gold-colored 1997 Infiniti with Virginia license BKGROV, as well as the Pathfinder, which they say may also be more gold in color.

Anyone with information about the location of Hargrove can call Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS, the Halifax County Sheriff's Office at 476-3334, or the South Boston Police Department at 575-4271.

Obituaries

B. Lee Clark

Graveside services for Mr. B. Lee Clark were held yesterday at the Halifax Memorial Gardens.

The Rev. John Eure officiated.

Mr. Clark died Thursday, July 3 at his home on Magnolia Drive.

He was 58.

Mr. Clark was born in Halifax County to Mrs. Elizabeth Morris Clark and Mr. Benjamin M. Clark, both of South Boston.

He was married to Mrs. Eunice Riddle Clark.

Mr. Clark was a transportation operator for the Virginia Department of Transportation and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his wife, mother and father, all of South Boston, one brother, Charlie M. Clark and wife Linda, both of South Boston, two sisters, Lorene Clark of Halifax and Shirley C. Taylor and husband Alan of Brookneal.

Anyone wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va., 24592 or the Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va., 24592.

Bernice Cridlin Ward

Funeral services were held Saturday at the Kerns Memorial United Methodist Church for Mrs. Bernice Cridlin Ward, of Sutherlin.

The Rev. Joe Bradford officiated.

Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Ward, of Elmwood Trail, died Thursday, July 3, at her home.
She was 90.

Mrs. Ward was born on August 29, 1912 in Richmond, to the late Morris Stanley Cridlin and Virginia McDowell Cridlin.

She was married to the late Ralph Carlton Ward.

Mrs. Ward was a veteran of WWII and served in the United States Nurses Corps.

She is survived by two sons, Ralph Carlton Ward Jr., of Jacksonville, Alabama, and Ellwood Cridlin Ward of Sutherlin, one daughter, Ellen Deborah Ward Heritage of Woodbridge, Va., one brother, Leslie Wayne Cridlin of Florida, three sisters, Ina Louise Strickel of Sandston, Va., May Fought of Richmond and Margaret Warren of Highland Springs, and seven grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Kerns Memorial United Methodist Church or to the Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, Va., 24592

Mary Cliborne Wilmouth

Graveside services for Mrs. Mary Cliborne Wilmouth will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Halifax Memorial Gardens.

The Rev. Marvin Cook will officiate.

Mrs. Wilmouth, of the J.D. Hagood Highway in Scottsburg, died Saturday, July 5, at the Lynchburg General Hospital.

She was 92.

Mrs. Wilmouth was born in Halifax County on April 1, 1911 to the late Willie Cliborne and Annie Brown Cliborn.

She was a member of the Clover United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Wilmouth is susvived by one daughter, Christine W. Wilkerson and husband Raleigh of Scottsburg, one grandson, Mark R. Wilkerson and wife Mickey of South Boston, one granddaughter, Debra W. Cassell and husband Stan of Hampton, one sister, Betty Lou Snead of Halifax, one brother, David Cliborne of New Jersey, two great-granddaughters, Amanda Nichols and Heather Blanks, two great-grandsons, Justin Wilkerson and Brian Seigla and one great-great-granddaughter, Hailey Blanks.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Gertrude Boyer and Truman Womack, and two brothers, Charles Cliborne and Clayton Cliborne.

Martha Coleman Wood

Funeral services for Mrs. Martha Coleman Wood will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 7, at the Ellis Creek Baptist Church.

The Rev. Rodney Forrest will officiate.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Wood died Wednesday, July 2, at the Berry Hill Nursing Home.
She was 84.

Mrs. Wood was born in Halifax County on May 21, 1919 to the late John Thomas Coleman and Sarah Lacks Coleman.

She was married to the late Riley B. Wood and was a member of the Ellis Creek Baptist Church.

Mrs. Wood is survived by eight sisters, Estelle Coleman and Eva Bates, both of South Boston, Mozelle Coleman of Eden, N.C., Mazy Brown of Halifax, Lenora Bowman and Pearl Coleman, both of New York, N.Y., Katherine Coleman of Vernon Hill, Va., and Pauline Cousin of Teaneck, N.J., two brothers, John T. Coleman and Paul Coleman, both of Vernon Hill, three sisters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends..

HCN Angels Win District Crown
With 19-5 Win Over Brookneal In The District 7 Tournament Title Game

By DOUG FORD | G-V Staff Writer

The Halifax National Dixie Angels all-stars earned a berth in the Dixie Angels state tournament with a 19-5 rout of Brookneal Saturday to win the District 7 championship.

Halifax National, which eliminated Halifax American 6-2 the day before, is scheduled to play a 4 p.m. game Friday in the Dixie Angels state tournament, which will be played in Madison Heights.

Championship Game
Hal. National 19, Brookneal 5
Halifax National exploded for seven runs in the fourth and eight in the fifth to rout Brookneal 19-5 in the District 7 title game.

Jameshia Smith had a single and a triple and Jill Trickey pitched a complete game to get the win.

Trickey also smacked two doubles and scored a run, as Halifax National overcame a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the second inning and never looked back.

Halifax National took a 4-3 lead in the second inning, using three walks, two hit batsmen and Jameshia Smith's hit to score four runs.

The fourth inning saw 14 batters come to the plate for Halifax National, with Allison Thaxton and Jamilia Smith reaching base before Brittany Long's single and Jameshia Smith's triple.

Robin Jennings singled and Emily Conner and Mayghan Strange drew walks and later scored the final runs of the inning, as Halifax National bolted to a 11-3 lead.

Halifax National added eight runs in the top of the fifth inning, taking advantage of five walks, before Brookneal scored twice in its final at-bat for the final margin.

Halifax National's first round opponent Friday in the eight-team tournament will be the District 5 champion from the Powhatan area.

Friday Game
Hal. Nat. 6, Hal. American 2
Halifax National scored three runs in the top of the first inning Friday on its way to a 6-2 win over Halifax American.

Brittany Long smacked a double for Halifax National, while Jamilia Smith, Jameshia Smith, Robin Jennings and Samantha Osborn collected hits.

For Halifax American, Tanisha Malone collected two hits, while Blaire Hodges, Kate Bane and Dalyn Hall collected hits.

Four walks, two fielder's choices and Jameshia Smith's hit led to three runs for Halifax American in the first inning, before Kate Bane walked and scored after consecutive singles by Hall and Malone in the bottom of the inning for Halifax American.

Halifax National put together three hits in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead, using Osborn's leadoff single, Long's one-out double, and Jenning's two-out hit.

Halifax National added a run in the fifth inning, before Halifax American scored once in the sixth for the final score.

White walked and later scored for Halifax National, while Jennifer Lacks walked and scored on Malone's hit for the Halifax American tally.