Like the President of the United States, he was a sworn officer of the government caught up in a nasty sexual scandal involving younger women.
Unlike President Bill Clinton, however, former jailer Jonathan Edward Majors, 29, of Halifax cooperated immediately and fully with investigators and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of sodomy.
During a hearing held Wednesday, Majors was sentenced by substitute-Circuit Court Judge Gerald Clemens to five years on each count for a total of ten years in prison. All of that time except for six months in jail were suspended.
Majors was allowed to remain free on bond until August 26 when he must report to the Blue Ridge Jail-Halifax by 6 p.m.
Last year, Majors and two other jailers were subjects of an internal investigation conducted of the then-Halifax County Jail.
As evidence surfaced that a sexual relationship between at least one jailer and two female inmates occurred, Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes called in the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate if any of the inmates' had their rights violated.
It was determined that no rights had been violated and that nothing was gained by the inmates in exchange for sexual favors, according to the investigation.
The two other jailers resigned from their positions and were not charged.
Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John D. Greenbacker Jr. stated that jail time was needed for Majors since he violated standards and guidelines of his sworn duties.
"One individual like this makes the public lose the moral rectitude of police," Greenbacker told the court. "We really have to make an example of the fellow because if we don't, more activity like this could occur."
Greenbacker conceded that the women involved were exchanging sexually-suggestive notes with Majors and were not directly forced to commit the acts.
"However, a jailer is not much different than a slavemaster," Greenbacker pointed out. "He has the ability of total control...Mr. Majors abused this power so egregiously."
Greenbacker also conceded that in the light of scandals in Washington, D.C., the crime of sodomy is looked at differently from years in the past.
"There's a large percentage of people in the country, including perhaps the President of the United States, who thinks this (sodomy) should not even be on the books unless it's forcible," Greenbacker reflected.
Defense attorney Bill Watson described his client as "not trying to gain anything...it was from weakness."
Watson, while not making any national political implications, reminded Judge Clemens that his client was totally cooperative with the investigators.
"He's the kind of man who doesn't try to weasel out of it," Watson said. "Of all the people (under investigation), he was the most honest and open...that was the only way he got convicted."
Majors took the stand during his sentencing hearing and apologized for his actions. "It's something that just happened," he explained. "I was weak...I didn't use force...I just got caught up in the moment."
Judge Clemens, in handing down his sentence, described his view of the offense. "The sexual acts are not the major part of this," Judge Clemens said. "It (being a jailer and committing the acts) is almost like embezzlement, bribery, or kickbacks. You took an oath to obey the law."
The judge agreed to approve work release status for Majors, after Watson completes the request process with the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority.
A South Boston man sentenced last week on a cocaine distribution conviction in the Halifax County Circuit Court is facing a new round of legal problems.
Ernest Percell Medley, 36, was allowed to remain free on bond following his sentencing hearing which was held on Thursday, August 6, according to court records.
Medley was first arrested during "Operation Fall Harvest" on September 25, 1997 for a felony count of distribution of cocaine. At last week's sentencing hearing, Halifax County Circuit Court Judge Charles L. McCormick III sentenced Medley to five years in prison with all but seven months suspended on condition of his good behavior for a period of five years.
Medley was allowed to remain free on bond until today, but was arrested Wednesday on two felony counts of distribution of cocaine, according to Sgt. Richard Pulliam of the Tri-County Regional Drug Task Force.
The new charges stem from alleged controlled buys from Medley made by undercover operatives on March 21, 1998 and April 23, 1998, Pulliam pointed out.
Medley was arrested about an hour after he confronted an undercover informant who had offered testimony against him at his original trial, according to Sgt. Pulliam.
"Medley came up to this subject and spit on her and her baby, after he was warned by the court system not to even go near the informant," Sgt. Pulliam said.
"We're not going to tolerate anybody who attempts to harass or intimidate, much less make any retribution towards undercover operatives or informants," Sgt. Pulliam pointed out. "It's a simple as that."
Medley will also face charges from the alleged confrontation with the informant, Sgt. Pulliam added.
"We are moving towards a show cause hearing because we believe Medley violated the court order of being of good behavior," he explained.
A show cause hearing is usually conducted when a convict who violates court orders and is under a suspended sentence is summoned to reappear before a judge "to show cause why he should not have any of that suspended sentence revoked," according to court officials.
Medley is currently being held in the Blue Ridge Jail-Halifax pending his next appearance in court.
In other recent cases:
· James Leonard "Droopy" Carrington, 43, of South Boston was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison on felony convictions of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
He was sentenced to 20 years for the distribution conviction and five years for the conspiracy count. All but 12 months of the term was suspended on condition of his good behavior for a period of 20 years upon his release.
The incident occurred on August 15, 1996 and he was arrested during "Operation Fall Harvest."
· Walter Lee Crawley, 35, of Cluster Springs was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but 11 years and 29 days suspended, for a conviction of attempting to cause bodily injury with intent to maim.
Crawley was convicted of attempting to wound Lloyd Thomas Newman on January 1, 1997, according to testimony.
The suspended sentence portion is on condition of his good behavior for a period of five years following his release and successful completion of one year of supervised probation.
· Audrey Mitchell, 31, of Halifax was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each of two felony counts of distribution of cocaine for a total sentence of 20 years in prison.
That sentence, however, was all suspended on condition of her good behavior for a period of 20 years and successful completion of two years of probation.
The undercover buys were made on May 2, 1996 and May 8, 1996, according to court records.
· Lawrence H. Everette Jr., 17, of Halifax was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all time suspended except for jail time to be served until October 14, for a felony count of distribution of cocaine.
The incident occurred on May 23, 1997. He was also sentenced to 30 days in jail for a petit larceny conviction which occurred on August 23, 1997.
The suspended sentence portion is on condition of his good behavior for a period of 10 years following his release, and the successful completion of two years of supervised probation.
· Henry Eric McKinney, 27, of Java was found guilty of a felony count of attempting to possess crack cocaine. The incident occurred on November 22, 1996.
A presentence report was ordered for the September term of court when McKinney will be sentenced.
A South Boston firefighter remains in critical condition at Duke Hospital in Durham, N.C. following a single-vehicle wreck which occurred a week ago near Scottsburg.
Kevin Scott Daniel, 19, of Halifax sustained head injuries when he lost control of a 1995 Dodge, ran off the road and struck three trees, according to the Virginia State Police.
The incident occurred on Friday evening, August 7 on Rt. 344, six-tenths of a mile east of Rt. 720, according to the investigation.
Damages to the vehicle were estimated at $8,000. The 9:30 p.m. incident is still under investigation by Virginia State Trooper R.C. Compton.
Daniel, a well-liked member of the South Boston Fire Department, was transported by helicopter to Duke Hospital following the crash where he remains in critical condition, fire department officials said.
"He is a great guy and we all sincerely hope he makes a quick and full recovery," commented firefighter Brad Satterfield, President of the South Boston Fire Department Association.
Many firefighters have visited Daniel at Duke, Satterfield said. "We have told the family that if we can help in any way to let us know," he said.
Efforts to raise funds or hold some sort of event to help Daniel out are currently being arranged, he added.
In other wrecks:
· A two-vehicle collision Saturday on U.S. 58, 200 feet west of U.S. 501, injured one woman, police said.
Richardo R. Garcia, 21, of Durham, N.C. was driving a 1983 Pontiac when he collided with a 1990 Nissan driven by Patricia S. Crews, 49, of South Boston, according to the investigation.
Damages to the Pontiac were estimated at $300 and damages to the Nissan were estimated at 2,000, police said.
Garcia was charged with reckless driving. The 3:05 p.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper C.M. Fleming.
· Another two-vehicle collision occurred Saturday on U.S. 58, 100 feet west of U.S. 501, police said.
Zelda Breedlove Guthrie, 32, of Nathalie was driving a 1990 Dodge which collided with a 1998 Chevrolet driven by Richard Andrew Pelletier, 40, of Richmond.
The two cars struck when Pelletier was attempting to change lanes and moved over when Guthrie's vehicle was in his blind spot, according to the investigation.
Damages to the Dodge were estimated at $500 and damages to the Chevrolet were estimated at $1,000, police said.
No charges were filed and the 10:15 p.m. incident was investigated by Trooper Compton.
A North Carolina man was injured during a collision which occurred Sunday night on U.S. 501, five-tenths of a mile south of Rt. 615, police said.
Hubert Lee Anderson, 48, of Bullock, N.C. was injured when he attempted to pass another vehicle, but cut in front of that vehicle too fast causing the collision, police said.
The other car, a 1992 Dodge driven by Evelyn Ruth Balducci, 33, of Halifax ran off the road and overturned, according to the investigation.
Damages to the Dodge were estimated at $500, while damages to the Ford were estimated at $1,000, police said.
Anderson was charged with driving under the influence. The 9:38 p.m. incident was investigated by Trooper Compton.
An arrest was made Wednesday in three area break-ins, one of which occurred in Campbell County, according to the Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes.
Matthew Donald Stacy, 18, of Halifax was arrested Wednesday on three felony counts of breaking and entering and two felony counts of grand larceny, Sheriff Oakes said.
Stacy allegedly broke into the Crystal Hill Ordinary in Crystal Hill; the Four Forks Market located at the intersection of Rt. 40 and U.S. 501; and the offices of WODI radio station in Campbell County, according to the investigation.
All three incidents occurred during the late night hours of July 23 or the early morning hours of July 25, police said.
Nothing was stolen from the radio station, as an electronic alarm went off as soon as a rear window to the building was broken, according to the investigation.
Cigarettes and lottery tickets were stolen from the Crystal Hill Ordinary, while cigarettes and money were stolen from the Four Forks market, police said.
The incidents were investigated by Investigator C.A. Bates, with assistance from Sgt. Keith Henderson and Deputy S.A. Jennings.
Stacy is currently being held in the Blue Ridge Jail-Halifax pending his arraignment.
In other arrests:
· Sterling Lynn Lacks, 30, of Timberlake, N.C. was arrested on a felony count of driving a motor vehicle after having previously been declared a habitual offender, police said.
The incident occurred on Tuesday and he was arrested by Deputy R.C. Lipscomb.
Lacks was released on bond pending his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court on October 2.
· Latoria Y. Villines, 21, of Cluster Springs and Darryl Villines, 25, of Turbeville were each charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery, police said.
They allegedly assaulted Kim Rogers on July 25 and were arrested Tuesday, according to the investigation.
They were released on bond pending their trial in the Halifax County General District Court on September 4.
· David Perkins, 52, of Vernon Hill was arrested on a misdemeanor count of trespassing on the property of Vicki Pruitt. The alleged incident happened on April 26.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on May 29
Citizens will have an opportunity Tuesday evening to speak for or against two Town of Halifax issues, a zoning request to allow a public school alternative education center to locate on Main Street, and a proposed 3 percent meals tax in the town.
Halifax Town Council will open the public hearing at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 70 Main Street.
The Halifax County School Board is seeking a change in the M-I industrial zone to allow the upgrading of the old Craddock-Terry Building for use as an alternative education facility.
The school system paid $212,500 for the approximately 42,000 sq. ft. building and anticipates spending about $400,000 for renovations, Halifax County Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt said yesterday. Initially the school system plans to renovate about half the facility.
If the zoning change is approved, Witt said plans call for the facility to be opened as an alternative education center in the fall of 1999.
Geographic location within the county, the building's proximity to the high school and flexibility of building use were named by Witt as central to the Craddock-Terry selection.
Why not use one of the six schools targeted for closure in the school board's current $30 million school facilities plan?
Facilities other than the Craddock-Terry Building could be used "but the only (geographic) location that is suitable is Halifax Elementary," said the superintendent.
However, Witt said the Halifax Elementary "building does not lend itself" well, noting its two-story construction.
Witt estimated renovation to bring Halifax Elementary School up to today's standards would cost as much as the purchase and renovation of the old Craddock-Terry Building.
"There is so much more flexibility with this (Craddock-Terry Building) facility and so many more possibilities for alternative educational programs," said the superintendent.
The Main Street Center is expected to serve a variety of alternative education needs with programs serving between 100 and 150 students. There will be both day and evening programs at the center, said the superintendent. The center may also serve as a maintenance storage facility.
The superintendent also envisions "growth in alternative education on the academic" scale as standards of learning are instituted.
Additionally, work force training, technology education and other career education programs are viewed as part of the future alternative education package.
Students suspended from high school for academic or behavioral reasons, adult GED programs and adult vocational education programs will be among the center's uses next year.
Witt described the facility's use as "primarily for students not on track for a regular high school diploma."
Project Hope, one of the programs slated for the new center, serves about 60 students who are not functioning in the normal high school setting for a variety of reasons, according to Witt.
The program currently operates at a building on old 360 West where Witt said the staff "does a wonderful job."
"We do not have a good environment for alternative education," said the superintendent. And "a nice, clean environment" affects students, he added.
Project Hope's program is not a full day's schedule, prompting concern among some Halifax residents about students congregating in the town.
When students leave the campus, Witt said, "We can't tell them where to go." However, the superintendent said the system would like to put in a full-day program.
Most students have someone who picks them up and drops them off. "We might be able to institute bus transportation," added Witt.
"If there is a problem, we will address it, anything that becomes a negative situation," said the superintendent. "We have the power to do it. If the school system can't be a good neighbor, who can?
"We understand the apprehension, but we would do everything in our power to make sure the school had no negative impact on the Town of Halifax ...and I do not believe it will," said Witt in closing.
Also on tap during the Tuesday night public hearing, a proposal to levy a 3 percent tax on meals in the town.
Town manager Robert Greene said the town hopes to raise between $35,000 and $40,000 with the tax. Town budget this year is $697,000.
The town manager said the tax is needed "to make ends meet."
"It is the fairest tax you can have," said Greene. "We are probably one of the few towns in the United States that does not have a meals tax.
The Lake Gaston/Virginia Beach pipeline may be removing 35-million gallons of water per day from the Roanoke River Basin but it has not affected the level in Kerr Reservoir "one drop" according to Thomas Leahy, Water Resources Manager for the City of Virginia Beach.
Calling a published report in this newspaper "one-sided journalism" Leahy leveled criticism at the newspaper and statements made and positions taken by House Delegate Frank Ruff of Mecklenburg County . Written by reporter Rob Simmons and entitled "Gaston Pipeline Fight Far From Over", it appeared in the August 10 issue of The Gazette-Virginian and its Mecklenburg County affiliate newspaper, The News-Progress.
That article told of how Ruff was asking residents of the lake communities to support the State of North Carolina's efforts to place restrictions on withdrawals of water during periods of drought.
Leahy claims the reporter made no attempt to contact Virginia Beach nor was there indications that the Corps of Engineers or Virginia Power were spoken with .
Ruff's is making an appeal for contributions that would be used by the Roanoke River Basin Association to make legal arguments in the relicensing proceedings on the application Virginia Power/North Carolina Power is about to file soon with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
While the pipeline is capable of providing the Tidewater community with up to 60 million gallons of water per day(mgd), only 35 mgd are presently being withdrawn according to Leahy. That withdrawal, said Leahy, is impacting flows downstream but is not to blame for current low water levels in Buggs Island Lake.
Leahy made that statement to reporters by phone yesterday but in a letter faxed to the newspaper several hours later, he noted that pipeline withdrawals in 1998 had averaged 29 cubic feet per second (cfs), with July averaging 54 cfs.
Yesterday's elevation was 296.05 feet above sea level, down about four feet from what is considered to be ideal recreation pool.
Reservoir inflows and outflows are measured in cubic feet per second (cfs) and according to Leahy, 35 million gallons of water daily requires about 50 cfs, far below the average of 3,000 cfs being released daily at John H. Kerr Dam.
Provisional data for the John H. Kerr Project as compiled and reported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Wilmington District, show outflows for August 10 and 11 to have ranged from 68 to 78 cfs except during times of power generation when releases ranged from 4,018 to 15,378 cfs.
Kerr Reservoir is under contract to maintain a consistent elevation in Lake Gaston which is owned and controlled by Virginia Power.
"The Corps is not releasing more water because of the (pipeline) withdrawal," Leahy insisted . And while Virginia Beach holds certain storage rights in Kerr Reservoirs that could be demanded during times of need, it has not exercised that privilege this year according to the Tidewater official.
Virginia Beach residents are under no current water use restrictions.
Concerning Ruff's position in support of the State of North Carolina, Leahy said residents of the lake communities "need to understand" that North Carolina is seeking to increase the demand that downstream releases from Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Reservoir be increased by 1,000 cfs in the summer and 2,000 cfs in the winter.
In his statement of response, Leahy made note of the mostly wet summers during the 1990s, a marked difference from the seven years from 1980 through 1986 when summertime elevations in Kerr Reservoir were four feet below the rule curve.
Picking up on that comment, Ruff responded saying "that's exactly what we were worried about." Ruff said he felt it only "fair" that some agreement be reached that would impose restrictions on withdrawals of water from the Roanoke River Basin during times of drought such those that have existed this summer.
The full text of Leahy's response follows:
This paper recently published an article by Rob Simmons entitled "Gaston Pipeline Fight Far From Over." The article attempts to link low lake levels in Kerr Reservoir to the Virginia Beach Lake Gaston pipeline. As Water Resources Manager for the City of Virginia Beach, I take exception to both the article and the one-sided journalism practiced therein.
The reporter made no attempt to contact Virginia Beach and there is no indication that he made any attempt to contact the Corps of Engineers or Virginia Power, either. If he had, he would have learned (and hopefully reported) that Virginia Beach has not used storage in Kerr Reservoir this year and the City's withdrawals from Lake Gaston have not had any effect on lake levels in Kerr. I know many people m the Roanoke basin disagree with the Lake Gaston pipeline, but I bet most of them try to hear both sides of a controversial issue before they take a position.
Deviations of two to four feet below the Kerr summertime guide curve elevation of 299.5 ft-msl during August and September are not uncommon, they are just not evenly distributed. While most of the 1990's have been characterized by relatively wet summers, in the seven years from 1980 through 1986, summertime elevations in Kerr Reservoir were four feet below the guide curve in four (1980, 1981, ] 983, 1986). Minimum releases at Kerr Reservoir to meet federal power contracts in August and September are about 3,100 cfs. These releases will cause Kerr reservoir to drop below the guide curve in any hot, dry summer
The City's withdrawal from Lake Gaston in 1998 has averaged 29 cfs, with July averaging 54 cfs. All of the withdrawals have come from flows already released from Kerr Reservoir not from storage in .Kerr reservoir. Although the City has contracted with the federal Government to use storage in Kerr Reservoir during major droughts, this storage was not used this year. If and when that storage is ever used, the total volume of that storage amounts to three inches on Kerr Reservoir.
With respect to the relicensing of Virginia Power's Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Reservoirs,your readers should know that North Carolina is demanding that downstream releases from Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Reservoir (which get 95% of their inflow from Kerr Reservoir) be Increased by 1,000 cfs in the summer and 2,000 cfs in the winter. Existing releases, both in absolute terms and relative to the mean average flow of the river, are already among the highest in the nation.
Thomas Leahy
Water Resources Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Delegate Frank Ruff's letter for contributions and support follows:
Don't believe everything you've heard!
The fight to stop the Gaston Pipeline isn't over. The State of North Carolina still has the power to shut it down.
The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot recently acknowledged that without North Carolina's permission, there can be no renewal of VEPCO's license to operate the Gaston and Roanoke Rapids dams.
We need to let the Governor of North Carolina know how important it is for the state to use its power to block this diversion of water from the Roanoke River.
If North Carolina doesn't act, Virginia Beach will take 60 million gallons a day from Lake Gaston- even during the worst droughts. The water will be pumped across two other river basins to be used by Virginia Beach and its neighbors. Not a drop of this 60 million gallons day will be returned to the Roanoke River.
Virginia Beach will be by far the largest consumptive use of Roanoke River water. Its diversion will be more than half of all the water consumed in the Roanoke River basin.
That's not right. It's not fair.
Water is vital to the people of Southside Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. It' is a key ingredient of the area's economy. We depend on water for raising crops and livestock. We need it to maintain tourism and recreation. Businesses in the Roanoke River basin, especially manufacturers, power plants and other water-dependent operations, can't prosper and won't stay here if there isn't abundant water.
Various federal and state agencies are meeting with VEPCO to decide the future fate of the Roanoke River basin. We can't afford to let them settle on a course that makes Southside Virginia and the rest of the basin even less economically competitive.
VEPCO continues to minimize the importance of water to the future of our region. Our voices must be heard loud and clear on this issue - now! I'm asking you to help me preserve this precious resource for future generations of Southside Virginians.
Here's what you can do.
First, contact Governor Jim Hunt in Raleigh and urge him to help us stop the Gaston Pipeline. And get your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. You can reach him by telephone at (9l9) 733-4240, by fax at (919) 715-3175 or by U.S. mail at; The Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor,
Second, send a letter to the editor of your paper calling on every Southside Virginian to contact Governor Hunt.
Third, mail a contribution to the Roanoke River Basin Association, clo Frank Ruff, P.O. Box 332, Clarksville, Virginia 23927, to support the experts we need to have to present our case during the relicensing proceedings on the application VEPCO is about to file in the next few months with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We won't have another opportunity to present our case to FERC for the next fifty years of the term of VEPCO's new license.
We need to have our position heard now. Relicensing will involve many issues affecting us not just the Gaston Pipeline.
I wish I could tell you that we can sit back and rest after so many years of battles to protect the Roanoke River. The reality is that we can never rest. Faster growing and more heavily populated areas beyond the Roanoke River basin will always want to take our water. If we aren't prepared to fight them, we are in effect inviting more Gaston Pipeline projects.
Those big cities constantly thirsting for more water will think twice about coming to the Roanoke River if we show them they're in for a real battle when they do.
I intend to stay right here in Clarksville and work to make Southside Virginia prosperous. I don't intend to let outsiders dry up the Roanoke basin. Any other course means watching more water, more jobs and the future of Southside Virginia pumped to distant places. That's just not acceptable to me. It shouldn't be acceptable to you.
I hope you're with me.
Halifax County High School officials will once again require its students, faculty, and staff to wear photo identification badges during the school day and at specified school related functions.
And, to facilitate that move, the school has purchased a new computerized photo identification badge system which will produce high resolution color images that will make it easier for school personnel to identify students as well as their fellow faculty and staff members.
Also, the new system will enable school officials to implement a color coding system that will make the badge usable for multi-purpose identification needs.
The new system, which has arrived but has not yet been installed, cost approximately $8,000, Clark said.
The decision to require everyone at the high school to obtain and wear the photo identification badges is a reversal of the position school officials took last year when students were required only to have their badge in their possession and produce it on demand.
Clark told the school board that the decision to revert back to its former policy requiring students to wear photo ID badges on their person was based on the feelings of the school faculty, incidents that school officials have dealt with, and circumstances surrounding the shooting incident that occurred at a Richmond high school in June.
"At the end of last year when we held a meeting with the faculty we had a general open discussion about the 1997-98 school year," Clark explained yesterday.
"It was my opinion, though we didn't take a head count, it was the consensus of the faculty we should reinstate the wearing of the photo ID badges. That, coupled with the escalation of violence, especially the events at Richmond, it was my opinion that we need to do whatever we think is necessary to maintain safety and security in our school."
As part of the school's policy concerning the use of the photo identification badge, students will have the choice of either clipping the ID badge onto an article of clothing or wearing them around their neck.
Clark noted that students will not be allowed to enter a classroom without their photo ID being displayed on their person. Students that come to school without their photo ID will be required to purchase a replacement ID at a cost of $2 each.
"We want the ID's checked each period," Clark stated yesterday.
"We don't want a student in a classroom without an ID. The cooperation of the faculty is essential if this is to work. If my perception of what the faculty wanted is correct and that is what they want, they will have to share in the responsibility for the enforcement. If they want it to work, they've got to share in the responsibility for it."
Not only will the new computerized photo ID system make it easier to identify students, Clark pointed out that the photo ID badges can be color coded so that students 18 years of age or older who qualify to receive smoking permits can be more easily identified.
As a result, those students will not have to carry a special permit while, at the same time, the school can do away with that additional form of identification.
Clark also stated that the new system will make it easier for the school to generate replacement identification cards as the computerized system will be able to generate a duplicate badge in a brief amount of time.
When school trustees asked Clark why the photo ID system was not used last year as it had been in the past, he noted that one of the reasons was the high maintenance cost of the old system.
"Maintenance costs had gotten to the point where it was cost prohibitive," Clark explained.
"The cost of maintenance was over one third of the cost of the original cost of the system. It was that and I wanted to see how we operated without it."
Clark pointed out that the high maintenance costs for the old system put the school in a situation that many businesses find themselves in from time to time.
"It's the same dilemma businesses face with photocopiers and computers," he explained.
"They are still usable but the expense of maintenance service contracts makes it become almost not feasible to maintain service on the machines."
Under questioning by school trustees about the system, Clark pointed out that while students will be required to wear their ID badges throughout the school day while on school grounds and at certain designated school related functions and activities, there is no present plan to have students wear their ID badge at home football games this fall.
"I really don't think that's necessary," Clark said in reply to a question from a school board member.
"I think it would be awful difficult to enforce with the number of persons we have on duty. And, the games are open to the general public as well."
Clark said that the photo identification badge system that had been in use at the high school will be turned over to the Central Office at the Halifax County School Board Office in Halifax.
"It could, obviously have some applications that could be used with other employees," Clark said.
"The way that it could be used there would be more efficient and more reliable when it is used in fewer numbers than it would be at the high school."
The new school photo ID system is just a part of an effort that Halifax County High School officials are making to enhance safety at the school.
Clark said that the school system's Code of Student Conduct will be enforced with a zero tolerance policy toward guns, drugs, and physical violence at school during school hours, on school property, and during school related activities.
"There is an escalation in this country of violence relating to young people," Clark told the school board.
"I think the position you have taken is the correct position to take. In response to our critics who say someone is going to get hurt at our school, we're doing everything in our power to prevent that. But, there are no guarantees."
Clark said that school officials and staff will continue to work with the local law enforcement agencies and that a deputy, Deputy Steve Moore will be assigned to duty at the school.
The high school principal also pointed out that with the implementation of the 4x4 Block Schedule at the high school, the number of class changes and the amount of time that students will be spending in the school corridors, stair towers, and restrooms will be reduced.
Also, Clark stated that school administrators will continue the practice of using metal detectors and search dogs at the school during the school day and at school related activities.
In another related move, Clark said that school administrators will be focusing more attention this year on decreasing the high school dropout rate. As part of that initiative, Clark said that immediate contact will be made with those students who are not enrolled on the very first day of school.
Daily school attendance will be more strictly monitored, he added, and those students who do not enroll and start attending school by the end of the first week of school will be referred to the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for non-compliance with the state's compulsory school attendance law which requires school attendance to age 18.
In a prepared statement, Clark said "our motto for 1998-99 of 'every student in every class every day' is not just a slogan, but, more importantly, it represents our goal to maintain a safe school, improve attendance, decrease dropouts, and protect instructional time-four ambitious objectives which we must attain if we are to successfully meet the challenges presented to us by the new standards and ones which must be met if we are to maintain our credibility with our community."
Halifax County school system officials will create four new bus routes and purchase two additional buses to implement a dual transportation system for the Clays Mill-Scottsburg school attendance zone which serves between 500 and 800 students.
With the implementation of the dual transportation system, the Clays Mill-Scottsburg school zone, the largest of the county's school attendance zones at 191 square miles, will be the second school zone in the county to utilize the system that employs separate buses for elementary and secondary students.
The Clover school attendance zone had already been utilizing a dual transportation system.
Other changes in the bus routes for that attendance zone will also result from the move that is designed to alleviate problems of extremely early arrivals at school and late departures from the schools in the afternoon.
"This is the first step toward a dual bus system," county school superintendent Dennis Witt told school trustees earlier this week.
Witt said that the two new buses and two buses that remain in the current fleet that are still fit for road duty will be used to canvas the four additional routes that will be created in the new routing system.
And, he said that the school board could operational savings from other areas to finance the purchase of the two additional buses.
"We can manage that through operational savings," Witt said.
The school superintendent noted that monies were set aside in the county school board budget for the employment of several teachers that were anticipated to be needed this year. However, because school system officials have recently concluded that they won't need as many of those additional teachers as they had anticipated, those monies could be used to purchase the two buses.
School trustees voted unanimously to implement the dual transportation system in the Clays Mill-Scottsburg attendance zone and, like Witt, felt it was a good opportunity to give a dual transportation system a trial run.
"I'm sure others (parents of students in other school zones) would like to have it," Witt said.
"This way, we're doing it one step at a time based on rational, logical reason - this being the largest school zone."
With the new dual transportation system, the Clays Mill-Scottsburg school zone, which previously had 16 buses canvassing it, will now have 20 buses. And, where the duration of the routes during the 1997-98 school year ranged from a low of 46 minutes to a high of one hour and 25 minutes, the new system of routes that have been created for the upcoming 1998-99 school year will range from a low of 40 minutes to a high of one hour and 20 minutes.
Last year, where 10 of the 16 bus routes in that school zone had route durations of an hour or more, this year, with the changes, only seven of the routes will have a duration of an hour or more.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bobby R. Hall told the school board this week that in examining ways to help alleviate some of the problems with the earliest arrival times for some students at some school, it became apparent that changes in the Clays Mill-Scottsburg zone would help ease the problem.
"The two schools are the farthest apart when you look at the paired schools," Hall noted.
"It's the largest school zone in the county and therefore has some of the longest routes."
Dr. J.O. Crews pointed out that at 191 square miles, the Clays Mill-Scottsburg zone is just a few square miles shy of being a quarter of the size of the entire county. And, with 10 of the 16 buses that had been operating in that zone having to make transfers, students were facing lengthy rides and early arrivals at their respective schools.
In looking at some of the other school zones in the county, Virgilina has some transfer situations that occur away from the school, Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend in South Boston have double routes but do not have transfer routes. And, the Cluster Springs-South of Dan zone has three transfer situations involving six buses.
Phyllis Foss Lehmkuhl of 2049 Union Church Road, Halifax died Wednesday, August 12, 1998 at her home. She was 81 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Lehmkuhl was born in Beverly, MA on July 9, 1917 the daughter of Charles Henry Snell and Ruth Ward Snell and was married to Ernest J. Lehmkuhl. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband of the home; one daughter, Carole King of Cookville, TN; two granddaughters; four step-sons; one step-daughter; eight step-grandchildren; one sister, Gerry Ettling of Sunnyville, CA.
Graveside services for Mrs. Lehmkuhl will be held Saturday, August 15 at 11 a.m. in Halifax Memorial Gardens with Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, August 14 from 7 until 8:30.
Marie Bates Sydnor died Monday, August 10, 1998 at the Booth Silvercrest Nursing Home in Jamaica, NY.
Mrs. Sydnor was born in Halifax County on February 23, 1913 the daughter of Jordan and Lelia Banks-Bates and was married to James Sydnor.
Survivors include one daughter, Julia Wilson Ferrell of Jamaica; one brother, Lazarus Bates of South Boston, and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Sydnor will be held today, August 14 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Kent, Ballou and Crowder Funeral Service with Rev. James Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Bates' Family Cemetery.
Marshall Thomas Davidson, 60, of Wilson Avenue, Lynchburg died Wednesday, August 12, 1998 at Virginia Baptist Hospital.
Mr. Davidson was born in Campbell County on March 6, 1938 the son of Lula Tucker Davidson and Jessie Walker Davidson and was married to Mae Shaw Davidson. He was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church, a Navy veteran and a retired employee of Babock and Wilcox.
Survivors include his wife and mother; two sons, Michael W. Rushing of Atlanta, GA, James T. Rushing of Richmond; one daughter, Patricia R. DeJarnette of Gladys; one brother, Jimmy M. Davidson of Gladys; two sisters, Dale D. Carwile of Evington, Dianne D. Padgett of Concord; seven grandchildren, Louis C. DeJarnette III and Dustin S. DeJarnette, both of Gladys, Derrek T. DeJarnette of Brookneal, Kimberly Bitzer of Roswell, GA, Stephanie Anderson of Marietta, GA, Mary Elizabeth Rushing and Melanie Rushing, both of Atlanta; four nephews, Brock Davidson of Alaska, Chet Carwile and Travis Carwile, both of Evington, Joshua Padgett of Concord; one niece, Jessica Padgett of Concord; and five great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, August 14 at Falling River Baptist Church by Rev. Elton McDowell with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Edward Allen Gregory of Drakes Branch died Sunday, August 9, 1998 at Southside Community Hospital in Farmville.
Mr. Gregory was born in Charlotte County on June 8, 1932 the son of Hillary Allen Gregory Sr. and Lucille E. Gregory and was married to Rosetta McGill Gregory. He was a member of St. Michael Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of the home; four sisters, Ruby Gee of Drakes Branch, Elaine Williams of Philadelphia, PA, Mable Johnson of Norfolk and Linda Collins of New Carrolton, MD; three brothers, Louis Gregory of Dale City, James K. Gregory of Richmond and Steve Gregory of South Boston; a devoted niece, Denise Pridgen of Drakes Branch.
Funeral services for Mr. Gregory were held Thursday, August 12 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Baptist Church in Drakes Branch with Rev. David Fitzgerald conducting the service. Burial followed in the Gregory Family Cemetery.
Ronald Edward Rice of San Jose, CA died Monday, August 10, 1998 at Reno, NV. He was 36 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Rice was born October 23, 1961 in Halifax County the son of Carroll E. Rice and Margaret Marie Lloyd Rice Seamster. He was a member of Swan Creek Baptist Church.
Graveside services will be held today, August 14 at 2 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie. Rev. Don Cox will officiate.
Survivors include his father of Nathalie; two sons, Ronald Edward Rice Jr. and Phyllip Edward Rice, both of San Jose; one daughter, Erica Melissa of San Jose; three brothers, Russell Allen Rice of Danville, Donald Bruce Seamster of Nathalie, and Carroll Billy Seamster Sr. of Gladys; step-father, Carroll Bruce Seamster of Gladys; step-grandparents, Jerry and Elsie Holly of Gladys; step-grandfather, Edward Bruce Seamster of Gladys; two sisters-in-law, Hopie Seamster and Mandy Seamster; and a special friend, Nellie. He was preceded in death by his mother and grandparents, Dewey W and Florence T. Lloyd and Louis and Lona Rice.
Mr. Leroy Foster of Clover died Monday, August 10 in White Plains, N.Y. at the age of 22.
He was born in Halifax County on December 24, 1975 and was the son of Mr. Ira Foster, Sr. and Mrs. Bernice Crawley Foster.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by one son, Mr. Quamel Leroy Foster of Clover; one sister, Mrs. Denise Wylie of Clover; three brothers, Mr. Steven Foster of Bland, Mr. Ira Foster, Jr. and Mr. Jeremy Foster, both of Clover; and one brother-in-law, Mr. Chris Wylie.
Funeral services for Mr. Foster will be held tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Lacks family cemetery in Clover.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased, 1099 Lackstown Road, Clover.