An already bad situation will be made even worse for Danville's George Washington High School if Halifax and several other AAA schools move to AA, charged GW's athletic director Vern Barker.
To turn the tide, the GW athletic director plans to submit an appeal to the Virginia High School League's redistricting plan, a new plan he calls a "win-win situation" for both GW and Halifax.
The Barker plan calls for aligning sports seasons for AA and AAA competitors and embracing a "neighborhood" schedule, whether AA or AAA.
"A reward system would be given a smaller school playing a larger school," Barker explained, "with points for toughness of schedule and opponent."
Within the "neighborhood" schedule, the GW athletic director also thinks there should be two district championships, one for AA and one for AAA.
Child Abuse
"We studied travel, how much class time is being missed, when athletes got home, we did quite a bit of research and put it before the (Virginia High School League) committee," HCHS athletic director Don Thompson said yesterday.
"One athletic trip was three hours one way by bus. An athlete can leave at noon and walk back in his house as late as 2 a.m.," explained Thompson. "And go to class the next day."
On hearing the report, Thompson said that one Richmond principal on the VHSL committee called it "child abuse," because of travel time and class missed.
"I agree with Don (Thompson) and EC Glass that something needs to be done, but this (AA proposal) does not solve problems for everyone," Barker said yesterday. "This is not fair to our athletes."
Thompson understands.
"They are concerned that there will not be schools for them to play, particularly in sports where the seasons are different," said the HCHS athletic director.
For example, in girls basketball AAA plays in the winter but AA plays in the fall.
"You can see they will have a real problem finding girls in the winter when all the schools around them are playing in the fall," added Thompson.
"Our only short trip is to Halifax," observed Barker.
Teams for GW include Patrick Henry, about 87 miles; Cave Spring, 83 miles; Franklin County, about 60 miles.
"But the point being, that is three games, where do we get the rest of the schedule?" asked Barker.
Football schedules need 10 games, baseball 18 and basketball 20 for competition, explained the GW athletic director.
"We have already gone through seasons when we couldn't fill out a full schedule," he added.
Gar-Field is currently the longest distance GW travels, a trip taking over four hours one way.
"We are in a lake and we are drowning," said Barker, with some athletes "out of two or three classes two or three times a week. It is absolutely unacceptable," he charged.
"Freeze it and take a strong look, get (sports) seasons aligned," is Barker's recommendation to the VHSL. "Look at neighborhood schedules."
HCHS's proposal to change from AAA to AA will be decided by the VHSL committee September 20, but would not take effect until the 2001-2002 season.

By MARTHA IRVINE
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) - The surgeon general is calling upon states to use more money from their multimillion-dollar tobacco settlements on anti-smoking campaigns, citing a ''failure to implement proven  strategies.''
In a report released Wednesday, Surgeon General David Satcher said ''enormous'' settlements are available to pay for major new anti-tobacco efforts.
''I think states are missing a tremendous opportunity,'' Satcher said as he released his ''Reducing Tobacco Use'' report at the 11th World Conference on Tobacco in Chicago.
He said he would like to see states use 20 to 25 percent of the settlement money for anti-smoking campaigns.
So far, states plan to spend about 10 percent of tobacco companies' first 25-year payment - $8 billion in all - on smoking prevention programs, according to a report issued last month by the National Conference of State Legislatures. More than half the money has been earmarked for health care and services for the working poor.
Satcher joined conference officials in calling for stepped up anti-smoking measures, including higher taxes on cigarettes and campaigns aimed at young people.
Among other things, the nation's top doctor called for greater access to pharmaceutical drugs that help treat nicotine addiction;  more regulation of tobacco advertising, especially ads aimed at young people; and clean air regulations to protect against secondhand smoke.
''Our lack of greater progress in tobacco control is more the result of failure to implement proven strategies than it is the lack of knowledge about what to do,'' Satcher said.
Such strategies could help the federal government reach its health goals, part of a plan called Healthy People 2010. The goals include cutting Americans' tobacco use in half.
Federal officials estimate that 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. They also estimate that 1 million  young people start smoking each year.
Some states have already begun using funds obtained from  settlements from tobacco companies.
In the last two years, for example, Florida has used millions of tobacco dollars to wage a TV ad campaign against tobacco companies. State officials say the irreverent ads - including one that depicts a tobacco executive receiving an Oscar-like award in hell for causing the most deaths - have helped drop smoking rates among young people.
Ursula Bauer, a Florida health department epidemiologist, said  statewide surveys in 1998, 1999 and this year found that 49,000 middle and high school students have quit smoking since the pilot program began. The survey results were published in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.
Bauer said she felt confident in attributing the drop to the state's education program because, nationally, teen smoking rates continue to rise.
However, she said an agreement signed by other states - part of a group settlement with tobacco companies - bans those states from  running attack ads that ''vilify'' tobacco executives.
''We have more flexibility to present a hard-hitting message,''  Bauer said.
The 1998 settlements call for tobacco companies to pay more than $200 billion to the nation's states over 25 years.
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On the Net:
Satcher's report: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco
World Conference on Tobacco site: http://www.wctoh.org

Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett announced on Thursday a $2 million loan agreement toward research and development of tobacco aimed at the biopharmaceutical market.
The loan was approved at the Thursday meeting of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, held in South Hill, without a dissenting vote.
"Local farmers in this area are among the leaders in Tobio. Tobacco growers and quota holders in every Southside and Southwest Virginia county will be given an opportunity to purchase stock in Tobio. Quota holders and producers who do not wish to purchase stock, but who wish to grow tobacco for the company will be given preference over tobacco growers in other states," said Bennett.
Tobio, L.L.C., a newly formed limited liability company, hopes to use the funds for the following: to conduct field research at eight locations in Southwest and Southside Virginia; acquire and test precision seeding equipment; compile and analyze field research data; design, construct and test small scale harvest equipment; and develop harvesting, transport and processing methods.
Bennett, who serves on the Special Projects Committee of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, said that "tobacco, once called a noxious weed with a bad image will now be used to help people."
According to information provided by Tobio, its core business will be to provide tobacco for uses in the biopharmaceutical and industrial enzyme markets.
This tobacco will be specially developed for these purposes, containing genes not native to tobacco, know in the industry as "transgenic" tobacco.
Tobio has signed a joint Cooperative Agreement with CropTech Corporation, of Blacksburg, that specializes in developing transgenic tobacco for pharmaceutical and industrial uses.
Unlike pharmaceutical drugs that are simple molecule structures that are chemically synthesized, biopharmaceutical drugs are complex molecule structures that can only be derived from living tissue.
The potential is just being realized for the biopharmaceutical drug market.
According to The Ernst & Young Annual Report on Biotechnology, the U.S. market for biopharmaceuticals has grown from $1.8 billion in 1991 to $7.8 billion in 1997, and likely increased to $13 billion in 1999.
Examples of biopharmaceutical drugs of the market today are Epogen (used for anemia), Activase (used for heart attacks) and Neupogen (used for infections).
Among the officers and board members of Tobio is local farmer, Hudson Reese Jr.
Reese, of Scottsburg, raises flue-cured tobascco along with melons, pumpkins and vegetables that are sold at retail at roadside markets and also through wholesale channels.

Halifax County will become a demonstration site for a broad band wireless system for rural areas, according to Bill Confroy of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.
The Virginia Tech Center for Wireless Telecommunications is working with a developer to come up with a system that will provide (last-mile) connectivity between Virginia.link and their clients," said Confroy.
"Virginia Tech has been awarded a grant by the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) to study a model for broad band wireless service for rural areas of the nation," Confroy added.
Representatives of CIT came to Halifax County six weeks ago to meet with Confroy, according to Ralph Byers, director of government relations at Virginia Tech.
The wireless technology under consideration is named local multi-point distribution system (LMDS).
"Virginia Tech holds the license for the technology in this region," said Byers.
"It will help jumpstart the low cost availability of Internet access in the community."

A 40-year-old Randolph man was arrested Wednesday by sheriff's deputies on a sexual battery charge.
Carroll Louis Barksdale, of Jacksonville Road, was charged with the offense, which allegedly took place on July 14.
· Two Java residents have been arrested this week by sheriff's deputies.
Jimmie Lee Saunders, 41, of McNear Trail, was arrested Wednesday on a felony count of issuing a bad check in the amount of $1,017.60 when Saunders allegedly knew of insufficient funds.
The check was drawn on Community National Bank and made payable to Premium Tanks and Stone Inc. on August 3.
· Also, Marvin Edward Jennings Jr., 28, of McNear Trail, was arrested Tuesday on a felony count of fraudulent removal of leased property.
Jennings allegedly intended to defraud Prime Time of a 20-inch 12mm Herringbone necklace, valued over $200, while he was subject to a written lease.
The offense occurred on July 8.
· Tina Evette Bowman, 28, of Sinai Road in South Boston, was arrested Wednesday by sheriff's deputies on a felony count of fraudulent removal of property.
On the day of the arrest, Bowman allegedly removed a washer and dryer, refrigerator, stove, living room furniture, dinette, coffee table, end tables and lamps from the premises under agreement of Ace TV Rentals.

In other police reports,

A logging truck incident Monday afternoon resulted in a charge to the driver of failing to secure the load.
Trooper D.J. Cline said the 2:15 p.m. incident occurred at the intersection of Chatham Road (Route 832) and Meadville Road (Route 642) after a 1987 Peterbilt tractor and trailer, driven by Morris K. Townsend Jr., 47, of Drakes Branch, attempted to make a right turn with a loaded trailer of logs.
Cline said the logs shifted causing the trailer to overturn.
The trooper estimated $10,000 in damages to the truck.
· A two-vehicle accident involving a tractor and trailer and a motorcycle occurred Tuesday afternoon on Route 58.
Trooper S.L. Noblin said that the 2 p.m. accident resulted in a charge of improper lane change after a 1994 Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by Dalhaji R. Smith, 25, of Clarksville, was forced off the road by a 2000 Peterbilt tractor and trailer, driven by James William Jackson, 53, of Cumberland.
Noblin said the rig attempted to change lanes and forced the motorcycle off of Route 58, two-tenths of a mile west of Fulp Industrial Road (Route 939).
The trooper estimated $2,000 in damages to the motorcycle.
· A two-vehicle accident occurred early Tuesday morning on Route 58, 200 feet east of Route 501.
Trooper G.M. Gilliam said the 5:58 a.m. accident occurred after a 1998 Ford, driven by Patricia Green Childress, 25, of Drakes Branch, pulled out of a store lot and struck the side of a 1992 Pontiac, driven by Oscar Benites, 24, of South Boston.
Gilliam estimated $2,500 in damages to the Benites vehicle and $500 to the Childress vehicle.
Childress was charged with failing to yield the right of way.
· A two-vehicle accident occurred late yesterday morning at the intersection of Broad Street and Easley Street in South Boston.
Corporal Freddie Edmunds said the 11:28 a.m. accident involved injuries after a 1991 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Shirley Yancy, 63, of Buffalo Junction, ran a stop sign and struck a 1996 Buick, driven by W.B. Barnett, 69, of South Boston.
Injuries occurred to Shirley and Thomas Yancy, a passenger. Both were taken to Halifax Regional Hospital and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Yancy was charged with failing to yield the right of way.

By Michael A. Paige
In a last-inning rally, the Virginia State Champion Dixie Boys all stars came up short Tuesday against Georgia and were eliminated by an 8-5 loss during the World Series in Boaz, Ala.
"Our opponents were patient at the plate," said manager Todd Trickey, after Georgia took advantage of 14 walks.
With the Alabama heat and humidity wearing down the Virginia pitching rotations, Georgia capitalized in the fifth inning by scoring five runs and going ahead 7-2.
Brent Long was the starting pitcher for Halifax and went three innings to face nine batters and allowed one hit and two runs.
Long struck out five and walked seven.
Halifax had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Andrew Bradley scored on a fielder's choice.
After Georgia went ahead 2-1 after the second inning, the game was tied at two in the third inning when Bradley scored again from a fielder's choice.
Dion Ferrell went to the mound in the fourth and fifth innings and faced eight batters. He gave up three hits and five runs, striking out three and walking five batters.
Bradley closed the game by pitching two innings and facing five batters. He allowed one hit and one run and also walked two.
The 13-year-old Virginians attempted a rally in the seventh when Ferrell, the lead-off batter, doubled.
Faced with two outs, Chris Perkins singled and Chris Lowery followed with a double to bring in Ferrell and Perkins.
Marcus Humphrey then tripled to score Lowery.
The rally was closed out after Humphrey and Virginia ended what was a very exceptional showing of the players.
"Anytime you've won two games at the world series, then you've done well," said Trickey.
In the game, Lowery and Humphrey led the team in RBIs with two each.
Lowery was two for four in hitting with a single and a double.
While Georgia collected eight runs off of five hits, Halifax had a team total of five runs off of 10 hits.

By Michael A. Paige
The Virginia State Champion Dixie Debs all stars are out of the World Series in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
After a 6-1 win Tuesday over North Carolina, the Debs came up one game short of playing for the championship after a 3-2 loss to Alabama.
Details of their elimination were not available at press time, however, according to one source, both teams were tied before going into the seventh inning.
In Tuesday's game, the Debs went ahead in the third inning when Felicia Sprattley singled and scored on an error.
Jenny Roller also singled and she scored when Brandi Conner tripled.
Sprattley was on the mound as the starting pitcher for the Halifax Debs. She went three innings to face 11 batters, striking out one,walking one and allowed two hits and no runs.
Shannon Torian went to the mound in the third inning and pitched three innings.
Torian faced 12 batters and gave up four hits and one run. She struck out one and walked none.
Their opponents scored in the fourth inning to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Virginia added two more runs in the sixth inning when Shonda Welch singled and Lindsay Stolzenthaler followed with a single.
Both runners scored from a Jenny Armistead double.
Two more runs were tacked on in the seventh inning when Conner singled, Anna Lewis singled and both runners were brought home by a double by Welch.
Stolzenthaler closed out the game on the mound, facing four batter and giving up no hits and no runs. She walked one batter.
In the win against N.C., Welch went four for four in hitting with three singles and a double.
Conner went two for four in hitting with a triple and a single.
Sprattley was one for one with a single.

Vennie Russell Royal of Lynchburg, age 77, died August 8 at a local nursing Home.

Survivors include one sister, Rosalind Anderson and her husband, Rev. John Anderson of Halifax.
Services for Mr. Royal will be held today, August 11 at 3 p.m. at the Community Funeral Home in Lynchburg. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Burial Park with military rites.

Mattie A. Bowman Puryear, age 60, of Chesterfield, formerly of Chase City, died Tuesday, August 8.
She was the daughter of the late Jeff and Myrtle Bowman.
Survivors include three sons, Ronald Lee Puryear of Orlando, Fla., Gary Wayne Puryear and Brian Keith Puryear, both of Richmond; two sisters, Lucille Lankford of Ashland and Jeanette Atkins of Halifax; and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Mozelle Bohannon.
Graveside services will be conducted today, August 11 at 11 a.m. at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Linwood Wilkinson and David Blakely officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Society.

Virginia Riley Rimmer, age 59, of 102 Robin Hood Road, South Boston, died August 8 at Duke University Medical Center.
Mrs. Rimmer was born in Person County the daughter of the late Larrie T. and Vallie Day Riley and was married to Rev. Alfred Rimmer. She was a school teacher, having taught in Halifax and Pittsylvania counties and Person and Orange counties in N.C. She was a member of Buffalo Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Lonnie rimmer and wife Pam and Lennie Rimmer and wife Sheila, all of Richmond and Matthew Rimmer of Palm Beach gardens, Fla.; three brothers, Jessie Lee Riley and Billy G. Riley, both of Roxboro and Mervin Riley of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Elizabeth Beaver and Ann McCulloch, both of Hurdle Mills, N.C.; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister.
Funeral services for Mrs. Rimmer will be held today, August 11 at 1 p.m. at Brooks & White Chapel in Roxboro by the Rev. Tony Brooks. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. at Danville Memorial Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston 24592.