Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Opening Yields Mixed Results
126,850 Pounds Were Sold For An Average Price Of $1.62 In SoBo Yesterday

"This is nothing like it used to be," one observer said as he watched buyers inspect the piles of tobacco yesterday at the New Brick Planter's Warehouse in South Boston.

"I remember when every warehouse in town was packed with all the tobacco they could handle."

The majority of leaf sold at just above price support as South Boston's lone warehouse opened its doors for the first sale of the marketing season Tuesday morning.

With the auctioneer's chant replaced by hand-held computers, much of the excitement surrounding opening day seems to have been replaced by apprehension over what the future will bring for the beleaguered producer.

"I'm just hanging on hoping for a buyout," Clays Mill producer James Clayton said.

Clayton was carefully watching the buyers to see what his crop would bring.
"It looks like the government is getting most of it so far this year," he said. "I know we have a great crop to sell and more tobacco than we want, but I'm awfully afraid that it's not going to sell good."

According to Clayton, at the beginning of yesterday's sale, prices paid by manufacturers - a small percentage of the tobacco purchased yesterday - were hovering around the price support level.

"I think this is going to be one of those years where (farmers) have to take what they can get," he said. "Hopefully, when (this year's tobacco) gets on up the stalk it'll sell better."

"It looked like a relatively small percentage of the tobacco sold went to the companies," Kevin Bohon of the Halifax County U.S.D.A. office said. "Everything else went to (the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative) Stabilization (Corporation).

"What the companies bought, they paid a penny a pound more than Stabilization was offering," he added.

During yesterday's sale, 126,850 pounds were sold for an average price of $1.62, a little higher than the average for markets opening last week.

"For ground leaves and second pullings, it's not too bad," Bohon said.

"Looking at the openings from the last few years, the price is down. That could be because we didn't have the carryover leaf to sell."

With markets to the south opening last week, Stabilization received around 90 percent of the net auction sales, compared with 81.2 percent during the first two days last year, according to the U.S.D.A.

Yesterday, Bohon said 87 percent of the leaf sold at the South Boston warehouse went to Stabilization.

Gross auction sales last week totalled just over 1.2 million pounds and averaged $160.11 per hundred pounds.

Much of that decline in price can be attributed to carryover leaf being marketed, Bohon noted.

The U.S.D.A. reports that 22 percent of combined auction and contract sales has been placed in the loan program so far this year.
School Employees Face Insurance Hike

The Halifax County school system's group health insurance program will cost 15.6 percent more in the coming school year.

With the Halifax County School Board providing no additional money toward employee health insurance premiums in the 2004-2005 school budget, school system employees will have to shoulder the extra cost.

Under the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield KeyCare 300 Plan, the plan chosen by approximately 500 school system employees, the out-of-pocket cost for the individual subscriber will rise from the current $31.62 per month to $83.47 per month, an increase of $51.85 per month.

With the rates calculated on a 10-month basis, the increase will be $518.50 for the year.

School system employees have several coverage options from which to choose and all of them have significant cost increases.

As an example, the increase in the monthly out-of-pocket cost for subscribers on the employee/child plan for the coming year will be $81.47.

For the employee/spouse coverage, the increase in the monthly out-of-pocket cost will be $117.19 and the increase in the monthly out-of-pocket cost for the employee/family plan will be $129.64.

The Halifax County School Board pays $300 a month toward the individual employee coverage, $340 a month toward the employee/child plan, $360 a month toward the employee/spouse plan and $380 a month toward the employee/family plan.

There are two other Anthem KeyCare insurance plans offering differing levels of coverage school system employees may choose.

However, cost increases are noted in those as well.

If there is a bright spot, it lies in the fact that school system officials take the cost of insurance premiums out of the individual employee's paycheck before taxes are figured.

This year marks the third year of a three-year contract the school system has with Anthem Insurance.

The school system's insurance year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year.

Bill Covington, the school system's chief financial officer, was asked about insurance coverage by other companies.

"Sure, there are other insurance companies out there in the world," Covington said.

"But, unless they have arrangements with the doctors in your county and the hospitals in your county and in your region, you don't have a satisfactory plan.
"If most of the doctors you are used to going to say 'sorry, we don't participate in the plan you're talking about,' it doesn't do you very much good, even with a lot lower premium," he continued.

"Our employees like the fact that 97 percent of our doctors participate with Anthem and like the fact that this hospital and almost every hospital you go to in this region uses this plan. They don't really want to change companies, even to save a few dollars."

Covington said he and school system officials are always looking at various options.

"We will always be looking," he said, "to see if other groups can come in and provide that kind of coverage.

"To be perfectly honest with you, right now, it's not a very competitive market," added Covington.

School Superintendent Paul Stapleton suggested to the School Board that the present approach should be to retain the benefits the way they are.

"They (school system employees) have good coverage. Most people don't like to lose their benefits along with increasing what they have to pay.

"I told Bill (Covington) I feel like it is probably better to maintain the coverage and the benefits where they are, and then we will look at the budget process, trying to come up with more money to help with the expense for our employees next year."

Stapleton reminded the School Board "you have one of the best (insurance) coverage of any (school) system around."

Noting that the majority of school system employees seem to be satisfied with the current insurance plan, Stapleton said he didn't want to change.
Other Matters

Also Monday night, Del. Clarke Hogan presented the School Board a check for $316.

"I said when we went into the special session (of the General Assembly) I would not take the per diems," Hogan said.

"So, I have split up the money among the four counties I represent and tonight I've brought you your fourth."

Hogan apologized for the late-spring state budget snaffu that created headaches for local government officials across the state.

"I know we put you all, as much as anybody, through a fair amount of stress in the last six months and I apologize," Hogan said.

"I appreciate the work you all put into this (school) system and wish you the best with the big job you have in front of you."

The School Board also heard a report from Elementary Instructional Supervisor Marliss H. Barczak outlining highlights of the Halifax County Elementary Department summer activities.

The school system's Summer Reading and Math Camp for students in Grades K-5 was held June 21-July 16 at four school sites with 30 teachers and nine instructional aides providing instruction in reading and math.

The first two-week session had 317 students participating. A total of 331 students took part in the second two-week session.

Fifty-five percent of the students showed improvement in reading skills and 66 percent of the participants showed improvement in math skills.

Fifty teachers and administrators participated in a two-day Math Academy for teachers in Grades 4-9 in mid-June.

The Academy was presented by the Virginia Department of Education.
On July 26-27, two school principals and a total of 103 teachers from Grades K-5 attended Houghton Mifflin Textbook Training to familiarize themselves with new textbooks and related materials that will be put into use this year.

SoBo Town Council Will Publish 2003 Delinquent Tax List

South Boston councilmen approved publication of the 2003 delinquent real estate tax list during a brief meeting Monday night.

In 2003, approximately $27,987 was delinquent, Town Finance Director Vandie Saunders told councilmen during their July work session.

Also approved Monday night, a request to charge off $6,244.46 in unpaid utility bills.

In other action, Council unanimously supported the Finance Committee's recommendation to carry over funding for three projects to FY04-05.

The three projects budgeted for the last fiscal year either have not been completed or have yet to be billed, according to Saunders.

Those projects include an estimated $180,500 for storm water work in the Balmoral Subdivision and Willingham, and $11,470 for equipment replacement at the South Boston Fire Department. The remaining $155,030 is slated for upgrades to the town's traffic signals, according to Saunders.

"This is something we normally do," said Mayor Carroll Thackston of the carryover.

Council also unanimously approved two resolutions: one honoring retiring Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan for his leadership and contributions to the community, and one honoring South Boston native and 2004 United States Olympic Team athlete Tisha Waller, who was described as "quite accomplished not only as an athlete but as an educator."

Next month the county and town are planning an event honoring Waller.

Rushing To Success
Former Comet Alonzo Coleman Stars For Hampton University

BY DOUG FORD
G-V STAFF WRITER

"What can you do for an encore?' That's probably a question more than one person asked former Halifax County High School running back Alonzo Coleman before his freshman season at Division I-AA Hampton University.

Coleman left Halifax County after leading the Comets to a regional playoff appearance in 2002, finishing his career with three school records, including a single-game mark of 313 yards against E.C. Glass, a single-season mark of 1,508 yards, and a career rushing record of 3,345 yards.

Any questions concerning Coleman's ability to play at the collegiate level were quickly answered his freshman year.

Coleman led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with 18 touchdowns and 1,137 rushing yards on 239 carries in 2003, while earning MEAC Rookie of the Year honors.

Coleman led the conference in rushing, and ranked seventh in the country in scoring, becoming the first Pirate freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards.
The Sports Network lists Coleman as the ninth best returning running back in Division I-AA, with Coleman being named the MEAC preseason Player of the Year for 2004, and Coleman has also received mention as a pre-season All-American.

Coleman was at the opening day of practice for the Comets varsity football team Monday to receive another accolade, Comets head coach James Hodges presenting him with a football to be displayed in the school's trophy case, the football inscribed with all three of Coleman's school records.

Coleman had a quick learning curve his first year at Hampton, starting the season as the number three tailback, but working his way into a starting role by the fourth game.

Hampton finished with a 7-4 record for the season, and is picked number two in the league this year, according to Coleman.

His personal goals are even loftier.

"My goal this season is to lead Division I-AA in rushing and in scoring, but my main goal is to help the team win the championship," said Coleman.

Academics and athletics are at a different level at Hampton, he added, with discipline and hard work emphasized, both in the classroom and on the field.
"The academics are harder...we have study hall after practice from 7 to 9 p.m. and we get all the tutoring we need," said Coleman.

"There's no reason to fail."

"My coach (Joe Taylor) emphasizes academics are as important as athletics. You're an athlete second, according to him."

Playing college football requires both mental and physical toughness, according to Coleman, but he quickly added those were attainable goals.
"You just have to work hard, do what you're supposed to do and get the job done," he said.

That hard work has added 22 pounds to his frame since his senior year in high school.

Now a robust 202 pounds, Coleman was timed recently in the 40-yard dash at 4.32 seconds.

Hampton opens the season with a September 4 game against Jackson State in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and Coleman expects a crowd of about 70,000 people.

The crowd will not be a factor, he added.

"You play in front of a lot more people (than high school), but to me it's like no one else is at the game.

"I play for my family, my brothers and sisters, everything I do, I do for them.
"That's what motivates me."

Hodges wants Coleman's accomplishments to serve as an example of what hard work and dedication can do.

"Alonzo had a heck of a first year at Hampton, and he got all kinds of honors," he began.

"He left here with a bunch of school records, and I wanted to present him with this football for the school's trophy case for everyone to see what an outstanding athlete he was.

Coleman has set a benchmark for the current team, according to Hodges.
"They just need to recognize Alonzo worked very hard. There might have been other athletes who were a little better than he was, but add the combination of his ability and work ethic...you can see the results.

"We have others who can do that. If they worked as hard as Alonzo, they'd have the same opportunity.

"Obviously, it's made a difference in his life, both academically and athletically.

"Hampton is a great academic institution. Alonzo went through one summer school last year to acclimate himself to college, and again this year to stay ahead."

Alonzo Coleman plans to keep it that way.

Obituaries

Nadine H. Bennett

Nadine H. Bennett, 69, of Randolph died August 9. She was the widow of Reuben C. Bennett.

Surviving are two sons, David Bennett and his wife, Joyce, Daryl Bennett and his wife, Tamara, all of Randolph; one daughter, Tammy Hall and her husband, Garnett, of Halifax; six grandchildren, Korin bennett, Michael Bennett, Timmy Bennett, Devin Hall, Drew Hall, and Dalyn Hall; two brothers, Garnett Harvey of Kansas and Gerald Harvey of Texas; and two sisters, Louise Hux of N.C. and Phyllis Elder of Brookneal.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bennett will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, August 12, in the New Hope United Methodist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Browning Funeral Home in Keysville from 7 to 8 this evening, August 11.

Isabel Scott Bolton

Isabel Scott Bolton, 77, of Saxe died August 9.

Mrs. Bolton is survived by her husband, Albert Matthew Bolton Jr.; four children, Kaye Bolton Lucado, Albert Matthew 'Matt' Bolton III, John Anthony 'Tony' Bolton, all of Saxe, Joan Bolton Tuck of Randolph and their spouses, David Lucado, Wanda Bolton and James S. Tuck; nine grandchildren, David Earl Lucado Jr., Paul Lucado, Jennifer Berkley, Suzanne Driskill, Melanie Currin, Matthew Bolton, Emily Bolton, Ryan Bolton and Jeremy Tuck; eight great-grandchildren, Julia Lucado, Trey Lucado, Kristen Lucado, Alyssa Berkley, Jarrett Driskill, Lonah Driskill, Ben Currin and Ethan Currin; two sisters, Joyce S. Wynn of Summerville, S.C. and Brenda S. Anderson of Richmond.

Mrs. Bolton was preceded in death by her parents, James W. Scott and Julia T. Scott; a sister, Dorothy S. Ailsworth; and two brothers, James R. Scott and David L. Scott.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, August 11 in Lebanon United Methodist Church, Drakes Branch. The Rev. John Ward will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Lebanon United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Tuck Hudson, P.O. Box 397, Drakes Branch, 23987.

William Wesley Burton

William Wesley Burton, 88, of 2119 Tobacco Road, Nathalie, died August 8, at The Woodview. He was the husband of the late Hessie Crews Burton.
Mr. Burton was born in Halifax County on February 12, 1916, the son of the late James Wesley Burton and Martha Marshall Burton. He was a member of Republican Grove Methodist Church and a retired farmer.

Survivors include one son, John Wesley Burton and his wife, Becky, of Nathalie; two daughters, Barbara B. Jefferson and husband, John, of Sandy Level, and Linda B. Saunders and husband, Louis, of Evington; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Iris B. Swain of Richmond.

Graveside services for Mr. Burton will be held at 11 a.m. today, August 11, at Republican Grove Methodist Church by the Revs. Sam Caldwell and Robert Newcomb.

Elaine West Johnson

Elaine West Johnson of Hampton, formerly of South Boston, died August 7 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Richmond.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Drakes Branch the daughter of the late William Sherman West and Alberta Greene West. She was a member of St. Augustine Episcopal Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Dr. Diane J. Beatty and son-in-law, Dr. Thomas H. Beatty of Glen Allen; a sister, Mary West Coleman of Clover; granddaughter, Elaine Clark of New York, N.Y.; step-granddaughters, Lauren and Joy Beatty, both of Glen Allen; a brother-in-law, James P. Barnes of Charlotte, N.C.; her caregiver, Pleasie Beatty.

Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Hunter N. Johnson Sr.; a son, Hunter N. Johnson Jr.; two sisters, Ellen West Capiz and Alberta West Barnes; and a brother, James Winston West.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow, August 12 at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Halifax with Father David Booher officiating. Burial will follow in St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery in Clover.

The family is receiving friends at the home of Mary Coleman, 1189 Clover Road, Clover.

Rev. Claude George Powers

Rev. Claude George Powers, 102, of Salem, died August 8.

Rev. Powers was born in Crawfordsville, Ind. and graduated from Life Bible College in Los Angeles, Calif. He first served as an evangelist and later as pastor of churches in Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia.

Survivors include his wife, Hester Powers; sons and daughter-in-law, Will and Mary Powers and John Powers; daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Dwight Jones; grandchildren, Mirinda Reynolds, Megan Reuter, Mariel Powers, Meris Powers, Rachel Talbott, Sarah Schmucker, Mary Jones and John Jones; great-grandchildren, Mikaila Reynolds, Barrett Reynolds, Zachary Powers.
Funeral services for Rev. Powers will be today, August 11, at 11 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God, with Pastor Burt Franks officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Roanoke.

Cordie W. Turner

Cordie W. Turner, 58, of Teaneck, N.J. died August 5, at home.
Mr. Turner was born on June 16, 1946, in Dodge, Ga., the son of the late Willie Lee Turner Sr. and Mildred Lee Jordan-Turner. He was married to Carol Barley Turner, formerly of Java, and was a member of the Faith Temple Church in East Orange, N.J.

Surviving are his wife of the home; two daughters, Cassandra Turner of W. Orange, N.J. and Tara X. Turner-James of Jersey City, N.J.; one son, Antron Turner of the home; one grandson; his mother of Dudley, Ga.; four brothers, Willie J. Turner, Dublin, Ga., Charles E. Turner, Montrose, Ga., Dennis Turner, Atlanta, Ga. and Willie Lee Turner Jr. of Germany; two sisters, Cantrell Coney, San Angelo, Texas and Winnie Lois Stanley, who preceded him in death; and one son-in-law, Anthony James.

Funeral services for Mr. Turner will be held today, August 11 at 7 p.m. at the Faith Temple Church, in East Orange.

A memorial service will be held August 13 at 11 a.m. at Dunn and Sons Funeral home, 540 N. Main Street, Halifax with burial in the Barley Family Cemetery, Java.