A young South Boston man seriously injured in a Monday night fight with a man police described as a friend and co-worker was listed in critical condition by a spokesman at Duke University Medical Center.
Twenty-year-old Travis Monroe Abbitt of South Boston sustained head injuries when police said he was allegedly thrown to the pavement by 18-year-old William Clark Griesbauer of South Boston during a fight in Riverdale.
South Boston Police Lt. R.D. Loftis said yesterday afternoon that the incident is still under investigation.
No charges have been filed against Griesbauer.
Loftis said the incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday in the parking lot behind Shoney's Restaurant in the Riverdale Plaza Shopping Center.
The pair, who were co-workers in construction work, had become involved in a fight earlier in the evening.
According to Loftis, the two men were at the Riverdale Plaza Shopping Center when a second fight broke out.
Loftis said Abbitt was thrown to the pavement during the altercation and rendered unconscious.
The police officer said a citizen reported the incident to police and that some individuals had placed Abbitt into a vehicle by the time police officers arrived.
Abbitt, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Abbitt of Friend Avenue, South Boston, was transported by rescue squad to Halifax Regional Hospital for treatment and then transferred to Duke University Medical Center.
Loftis said Griesbauer was at the scene when police officers arrived and gave a statement.
No weapons were involved in the fight, Loftis said.
In other matters:
Ronald Junior "Rudy" Barksdale, 28, of 310 Willow Oaks Apartments, South Boston was apprehended by South Boston Police Monday night following a foot chase and arrested on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.
Lt. Loftis explained that police officers involved in surveillance work attempted to apprehend Barksdale and unidentified individual at the Willow Oaks Apartments.
Barksdale and the other man fled on foot. Police officers managed to nab Barksdale after a foot pursuit at a site just behind the Jiffy Store on Wilborn Avenue.
The other individual eluded officers and was still at large yesterday afternoon.
The arrest of Barksdale occurred at 9:16 p.m.
South Boston Police apprehended two juveniles, one a 13-year-old and the other a 14-year-old, on Vaughan Street Saturday in connection with an alleged auto theft that occurred in Christiansburg.
Lt. H.B. Rice said the police department received a teletype message from Christiansburg authorities requesting officers be on the lookout for a black 2000 model Toyota belonging to Virginia Mountain Housing Inc. of Christiansburg that was being driven by a pair of juveniles.
Officer W.E. Fallen spotted the car parked on Vaughan Street with the two youths standing nearby.
The youths were apprehended and held for Christiansburg authorities.
One of the youths, Lt. Rice said, was believed to have had relatives living here.

Kenneth Hancock had a close encounter of shocking proportions with lightning last Saturday - and lived to tell about it.
The South Boston resident and home improvement contractor is recovering from the ultimate hot foot, courtesy of a lightning strike during Saturday's intense thunderstorm.
According to Hancock, he and his wife Linda were at her parents' farm on Union Church Road to check on a brand-new foal.
"We were standing on a grated-metal ramp under a shed when lightning struck in the field," recalled Hancock.
"You could see the lightning strike the field, then turn and come right for us."
Before the Hancocks could react, the lightning had severed a barbed- wire fence in front of them and zapped him in the left foot.
Although Linda Hancock experienced only a slight tingling in her fingers, lightning penetrated Kenneth's foot near his big toe and exited near the base of his little toe, leaving a large burn mark. It also reduced his tennis shoe to tatters.
Hancock's first reaction was to find a convenient puddle of water to cool off his foot, still smoking from the lightning strike. The fact that a severe thunderstorm was still raging around him was of secondary importance.
Hancock said the attending physicians at the hospital really didn't know how to treat him except for infection.
"Linda said that they told her every other lightning victim they had seen was killed," added Kenneth.
"It was rather discomforting to hear that," smiled Hancock, who added that he's already been the recipient of several new nicknames.
"My brother calls me 'Sparky' now," Hancock said.
Hancock said attending physicians were not sure of permanent damage to Hancock's foot. He suffered no broken bones in the incident, and has all the feeling in his foot that he had before.
His wife, although not struck, learned a valuable lesson from her husband's experience.
"I was the type to take showers and talk on the phone during a thunderstorm, but I've reconsidered since last Saturday," she said.
"I've heard that you stand a better chance of hitting the lottery than you have of getting struck by lightning," she added.
"Well, we might as well play the lottery, she laughed."
Joking aside, Kenneth Hancock considers himself unlucky to be hit by lightning and lucky to still be alive. He's anxious to get back to work and get the incident behind him.
And he intends to take lightning a lot more seriously.

Halifax County's students made some significant gains on the Standards of Learning tests administered this past spring.
"The results are really good news," said Ann C. Conner, the director of Instruction for the county school system.
While school system officials are excited over the improvement in student performance, they are also excited about the prospect of several county schools being fully accredited by the state.
Seventy percent of a school's students must have passed the SOL tests in order for a school to receive full accreditation from the state.
"We think we're in pretty good shape," Conner said.
"We expect several schools to be fully accredited and several others to be very close."
Another exciting aspect to this year's test results is that the school system now has enough data to track the performance of several groups of students.
"We have at least three groups of students we can compare," Conner noted.
"For instance, the 2001 fifth graders of 2001 are the third graders of 1999 and the eleventh-grade students are the eighth-grade students of 1998.
"We can look at trends within the (school) division, the trends of the students and the trends of the teachers."
One thing that cannot be done as yet, however, is compare the local scores to the state's scores and those of neighboring school divisions.
State officials have yet to release that data.
Halifax County High School's scores showed some significant gains over last year, particularly when it came to Algebra II where 99.06 percent of the students passed the test.
That was a big gain when compared to the 63.89 percent figure from the Spring 2000 tests.
"We think that is particularly interesting because we have more students taking Algebra II and we have achieved higher scores," Conner said.
There was also a nice hike in the numbers for U.S. History where 40.24 percent passed the test as opposed to 23.38 percent that passed the Spring 2000 test.
Halifax County High School also showed improvement in its science scores with gains occurring in earth science, biology and chemistry.
There were improvements in all of the other areas of the social studies arena as well.
While, in some cases, the numbers aren't what school system officials like, it is believed that the performance of the local students is on par with that of the overall state figures.
Conner said it is difficult for social studies teachers to determine what areas to hone in on because of the wide breath of topics that are dealt with.
Halifax County Middle School's eighth-grade students also did themselves proud with 100 percent of the students taking the Algebra I test for the second year in a row.
The eighth-grade students also made gains this year in English, writing, math and history and social science.
Halifax County's fifth-grade students showed significant gains in English, history/social science and science.
Writing and technology were also strong areas for the fifth-graders.
The weak spot was math where 55.31 percent of the students passed the SOL test. That compared to 56.37 percent the previous year.
"Math is the area that needs the most attention," Conner pointed out.
"The students should be doing better in math and we know this. Students are still having trouble with area, perimeter, fractions, decimals and comparison of metric units with standard units."
Halifax County's third-grade students shined their best light in math where 75.69 percent passed the SOL test as compared to 68.86 percent the previous year and in history/social science where 69.75 percent passed, a gain of over 11 percent from the previous year.
English numbers were stable and there was a slight decrease of less than one percent in science.
A series of charts showing Halifax County's numbers accompanies this story.

A $2,110,000 bid by Michael Fox International for the JPS Apparel plant here was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Raleigh yesterday.
The buyer is a liquidator.
Carter Field, a baseball/softball facility located on Vaughan Street, also was approved for sale at $15,000, according to Raleigh attorney Gerald Jeutter.
The field is home to the South Boston-Halifax County Dixie Softball League and the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball.
League officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The plant transaction is expected to close within the next two weeks, according to Ken Mann of Equity Partners, a firm seeking a buyer or investors for JPS Apparel.
JPS is also in "the late stages" of negotiations to sell its two plants located in Laurens and Greenville, S.C., according to Jeutter of Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP.
"We are in negotiations to sell those as going concerns," Jeutter said yesterday.
The South Boston JPS plant employed 346 workers before it closed this month. The plant is over 261,000 square feet and contains 262 looms.
Yesterday, there was active bidding between Fox and Gibbs International of Spartanburg, N.C. for the plant, according to Jeutter. Gibbs was also described as a liquidator.
JPS Apparel has focused on higher margin niche markets in rayon, acetate and Tencel fabrics.

Halifax County High School will have a new basketball team this winter.
The Halifax County School Board gave the nod to school officials Monday night to create a ninth-grade boys basketball team.
This move will bring Halifax County High School into line with the rest of the Western Valley District schools, all of which field a ninth-grade team.
"We feel that as we continue to grow we need to increase our programs," said Halifax County High School Principal Albert T. Randolph.
"We know all of the schools in the Western Valley District offer ninth-grade basketball. We don't want to leave our children at a loss."
With the formation of the ninth-grade team, the Halifax County High School jayvee basketball team, which had been composed of both ninth-grade and tenth-grade students, will become a majority tenth-grade team with possibly a sprinkling of some of the better ninth-graders included.
The ninth-grade team will be composed entirely of freshman players, thus opening up opportunities for more younger players to become involved in high school basketball.
Halifax County High School Athletic Director Don Thompson said a schedule of approximately 10 games is being eyed for the team.
There will be 10 games involving the five Western Valley District schools. He also noted that Heritage High School in Lynchburg fields a ninth-grade team and that it may be possible to schedule games with Heritage or some other area teams to increase the schedule.
With the formation of the ninth-grade team, Halifax County's Western Valley District contests will become tripleheader events.
A tentative plan would have the ninth-grade team playing at 4 p.m., the jayvees playing at their usual 6 p.m. time and the varsity teams playing their normal 7:30 p.m. contests.
The creation of the new team will result in an increased cost to the Halifax County High School basketball program.
Thompson told the School Board Monday night that it will cost approximately $2,000 to field the team.
He cited the cost as being $1,400 for a coach and approximately $600 for travel.
The travel cost comes into play because the school will have to use an additional bus.
With the team having to play its games at 4 p.m., the team will need to leave the school earlier than the varsity and jayvee teams when it has to travel for away games.
"When they have to go to Roanoke, they will have to leave school at 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. in order to get there in time to play," Thompson pointed out.
Thompson said he didn't feel there would be a cost for uniforms because he feels the school can work with the uniforms it has in stock.
The school will, however, have the added financial burden of paying referees to officiate the games.
While there are some down sides such as the added expense and the fact that the students on the freshman team will have to leave school early in order to play, Randolph said there appears to be enough interest to justify creating the team.
He pointed out that over 200 youths participated in the summer basketball camp and that approximately 80 students participated in an intramural basketball program offered at the school in April and May.
School Board members G.C. Ratliff and Wanda McDowell said they support the move.
"The good thing about it is that it allows more children to have an opportunity to play," McDowell pointed out.
Ratliff supported the move by saying that creating a ninth-grade team would help Halifax County keep abreast in the district.
"Since all of the other schools in the Western Valley are fielding a team, it gives them an advantage," Ratliff noted.
This is not the first time Halifax County High School has fielded a ninth-grade basketball team.
The school had a ninth grade team prior to the time when the school system made the switch from a middle school program to a junior high school program.
Thompson noted that an increasing number of high schools are adding ninth-grade teams because their local school system does not offer interscholastic competition on the middle school or junior high school level.

Nellie Buckner Murray

Nellie Buckner Murray, 81, of Danville, died August 13 at her home.
Mrs. Murray was born on August 24, 1919, the daughter of Charlie Meeks Buckner and Mary Williamson Buckner and was married to William Owen Murray. She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in the Delia community of Halifax County, but she had attended Lakewood Evangelical Methodist Church for several years. She served as secretary for Murrays Signs, her husbands business.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Jerry Bryant Murray of Danville; one sister, Evelyn B. Wilkie of Hot Springs, Ark.; and one grandchild. She was preceded in death by a brother, James Buckner.
Funeral services for Mrs. Murray will be held today, August 15 at Calvary United Methodist Church with the Revs. David Lefon and Jimmy Burks conducting the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Humie D. Ballowe

Humie D. Ballowe, 82, of South Boston, died August 11 at The Woodview.
He was survived by his wife, Virginia; one daughter, Wanda B. Williams of Clarksville; two brothers; three sisters; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Ballowe were held August 13 at Byrum-Parr Funeral Home in Roseland.

Rev. Ashby Louis Lazenby

Rev. Ashby Louis Lazenby, 72, of Bedford, died August 11 at his home.
He was born September 2, 1928, in Bedford County, the son of Robert Luther Lazenby and Eddie Garrett Lazenby and was married to Royale Prevette Lazenby. He was a graduate of Lynchburg College and Duke University.
Rev. Lazenby was a member of Main Street Methodist Church in Bedford, where he was a member of the Methodist Men and the Welcome Class. He pastored locally at McCanless Memorial Methodist Church in South Boston.
Survivors include his wife; one sister, Rebecca Vest and her husband, Clarence of Bedford; two nephews, a niece, a great niece; and one sister-in-law, Frances Watts Lazenby of Lynchburg, formerly of Halifax County.
Graveside services for Rev. Lazenby will be held at 2 p.m. August 16 at Oakwood Cemetery in Bedford.

Valerie Barley Mansour

Valerie Barley Mansour, 42, of Nathalie, died August 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was the daughter of William Barley and the late Mary Strange Barley.
Mrs. Mansour is survived by two daughters, Tia and Deona Mansour of Brookneal; one son, Ramon Roman of Halifax; her father and stepmother, William and Magaline Barley of Brookneal; three sisters, Nakita Barley and Tracie Price, both of Brookneal and Sharon Tucker of Halifax.
Funeral services will be held August 16 at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home, Brookneal, with burial in Rose Garden Cemetery in South Boston.
The family will receive friends this evening from 7:00 until 8:00 at the funeral home.

Ansel Lawrence Hooks

Ansel Lawrence Hooks, 62, of Marion, SC, died August 14 at Marion County Medical Center.
Mr. Hooks was born in Marion County, a son of Gladys Jewell Shelley Hooks and Ansel B. Hooks and was married to Opal Honeycutt Hooks. He was a truck driver, retired from the US Army, and was a member of Open Door Independent Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held August 16 at 3 p.m. from the chapel of Richardson Funeral Home in Marion. Burial with full military honors will follow at Devotion Gardens.
Mr. Hooks is survived by his wife; a son, William Ansel 'Butch' Hooks of Marion; a daughter, Margaret Karen Turner of Marion; four brothers, Bobby Hooks of Cheraw, SC, Stanley Hooks of Columbia, SC, Hubert Hooks of Marion and Jerry Hooks of Forks, SC; a sister, Betsy Boney of Columbia; and two grandsons.
The family will receive friends this evening, August 15, from 7 until 9 at Richardson Funeral Home.

Willie Calvin Cook

Willie Calvin Cook, 80, died Monday in Leesburg.
Mr. Cook is survived by his wife, Ola Alice Jean Cook of Leesburg; two sisters, Francis Woosley and Maxine Anderson of South Boston; a brother, Leslie Cook of Berryville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, August 16, at 1 p.m. in Union Cemetery in Leesburg, with the Rev. Jim Greene officiating.
Mr. Cook was born Dec. 3, 1920, in Drakes Branch, a son of the late John Archer Cook and the late Ola Childress Cook.
He served his country in the United States Army for four years. He was an electrician and the owner of Cook Electrical in Middleburg, Virginia.
Mr Cook and his wife moved to Leesburg in 1997 from South Boston.
Those considering memorials may remember the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1178, Leesburg, Va. 20175.