Friday, August 22, 2003

Traffic On Route 58 Diverted After Spill
Three Vehicle Collision Causes 100 Gallons Of Diesel Fuel to Spill

An accident on U.S. 58 yesterday morning resulted in westbound traffic being rerouted for more than two hours and state hazardous materials teams being deployed for cleanup, according to Virginia State Police Trooper P.W. Leath.

Leath said that at approximately 8:50 a.m., two 2003 Mack tractor-trailers owned by Hilco Transport, Inc., in Greensboro, N.C., were stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Routes 58 and 931.

One of the trucks was operated by Anthony Ray Roach, 46, of Danville and the other was operated by Owen Tyler Roach Jr., 49, of Providence, N.C. The two men are not related, according to Leath.

As the two were waiting at the light, the vehicle operated by Anthony Roach was struck in the rear by a 1999 GMC flatbed operated by David Wayne Worley, 26, of South Boston.

The impact knocked the Anthony Roach vehicle into the truck operated by Owen Roach Jr., Leath said.

"Worley said he was making a cell phone call and he looked up and saw the stopped trucks in front of him," the trooper said.

As he tried to avoid the stopped vehicles, he lost control and skidded to a stop in the left lane of the highway, according to Leath.

"During the collision, a 750-gallon diesel tank on the flatbed was dislodged and ruptured," he said.

The ruptured tank spilled approximately 100 gallons of fuel onto the highway, the trooper reported.

"A state hazardous materials team responded to the call to assist with cleanup," he said.

The hazardous materials team was assisted by the South Boston fire and rescue departments.

During the cleanup of the accident, westbound traffic was diverted through nearby Bojangles' parking lot.

Leath said that the total cost of the accident, including cleanup, could exceed $50,000.

Worley was charged with reckless driving and the improper securement of the oil tank, the trooper said.

Leath was assisted in the investigation of the accident by Trooper Val Conner of the motor carrier unit of the Virginia State Police.

• Iva Jones, 50, of Alton, was charged with failure to yield right of way following a two vehicle accident on Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Route 58 and Route 751.

Trooper J. L. Crowder said that Jones pulled out of the crossroads in her 2001 Dodge striking a 1991 Chevrolet driven by Angela Loveless, 51, of Danville, in the side.

Loveless was injured in the accident, according to Crowder.

He estimated that the Dodge sustained $2,000 in damages and the Chevrolet sustained $4,000 in damages.

SoBo Man Sentenced 20 Years for Robbery
Will Serve Only 90 Days

A 22-year-old South Boston man, Hakeem Kasim Patrick, was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison, with all but 90 days suspended, for the robbery of Lamont B. Miller.

Patrick's sentencing took place in Halifax County Circuit Court, with Judge William L. Wellons presiding.

Judge Wellons ordered the suspended portion of Patrick's sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for 20 years, and ordered him to be placed on probation for two years, both conditions to take effect immediately.

The court directed that Patrick's sentence be served on weekends, that Patrick have no contact with his victim, and that Patrick pay $75 restitution.

• Warren Lewis Majors, 47, of Halifax, was convicted Wednesday of passing two forged checks.

Majors' convictions came as the result of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth, the terms of which called for two check forging charges to be nol prossed.

Judge Wellons sentenced Majors to five years in prison for each conviction, with all suspended, conditioned on Majors' good behavior for five years, including his abstinence from drug use.

The court additionally ordered Majors to be placed on probation for six months, to pay $1,055 restitution, and to undergo random drug testing.

• Linda Marie Tucker, 26, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of passing four forged checks.

The Commonwealth nol prossed eight other conspiracy, forging and uttering charges against Tucker during the trial.

The court sentenced Tucker to one year in jail for each conviction, suspending all to time already served, conditioned on Tucker's good behavior for four years.

The court additionally ordered Tucker to be placed on probation for one year through Halifax-Pittsylvania Court Services, and to pay restitution on all checks.

• Eddie Francis Dunkley, 24, of South Boston, was convicted Wednesday of an amended indictment charging him with the unlawful wounding of Dwayne Lawson.

Judge Wellons sentenced Dunkley to five years in prison, suspending all to time served, conditioned on Dunkley's good behavior for five years.

The court additionally ordered Dunkley to be placed on probation for one year, to abstain from illegal drugs, to submit to random drug tests, and to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the probation department.

• Robert Alphonso Fountain, 40, of Virgilina, was convicted Wednesday of an amended indictment charging him with the unlawful and improper use of a criminal background check to purchase or attempt the purchase a firearm, a misdemeanor offense.

Fountain's conviction came as the result of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.

An additional indictment charging Fountain with assisting another person in the purchase of a firearm while being ineligible was nol prossed by the Commonwealth under terms of the plea agreement.

The court sentenced Fountain to 30 days in jail, suspending all, conditioned on his good behavior for one year, and ordered Fountain to pay a $250 fine.

• Senora Betts Fountain, 39, of Virgilina, entered an Alford plea Wednesday to an amended indictment charging her with unlawfully and improperly using a criminal background check to purchase or attempt to purchase a firearm, a misdemeanor offense.

Fountain's Alford plea came as the result of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.

Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but realizes prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.

An additional indictment charging Fountain with purchasing a firearm with the intent to resell or for an ineligible person was nol prossed by the Commonwealth, under terms of the plea agreement.

The court sentenced Fountain to 30 days in jail, with all suspended, and ordered her to pay a $250 fine.

• Justin Johnson Hamlett, 20, of Halifax, was convicted Wednesday of breaking and entering the storehouse and shop of Warren Penick.

Hamlett was also convicted of the theft of a .16 gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, a leaf blower, battery charger, nailer, four saws and a roofing gun from Penick.

Judge Wellons ordered Hamlett to be evaluated for the Detention and Diversion programs before revoking his prior bond and remanding him to custody to await sentencing in the September court term.

• Christopher Alan Loftis, 27, of Alton, was convicted Wednesday of an amended indictment charging him with attempting to possess a firearm after convicted of a felony.

Loftis' conviction came as the result of a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.

The court sentenced Loftis to five years in prison, with all but one year suspended, conditioned on his good behavior for five years, and ordered him to be placed on probation for one year following his release.

The court authorized work release for Loftis if he qualified.

• Roscoe Junior Waller, 34, of Nathalie, was convicted Wednesday of passing a check bearing the forged signature of Carter M. Clay.

The court ordered Waller to be evaluated for the Detention and Diversion programs, before remanding him to custody to await sentencing in the September court term.

• Sean Aubrey Thomas, 35, of Bassett, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

Judge Wellons revoked one year of Thomas' previously suspended prison sentence, and extended Thomas' probation for one year following his release, with counseling and treatment through the probation department.

• Sarah Wylie Powell, 47, of Clover, was convicted Wednesday of a probation violation.

The court deferred imposition of its sentence and continued the case until the opening day of the March 2004 court term, ordering Powell to make back payments of $100 per month until then.

• Jeffrey Dwight Douglas, 41, of Halifax, had indictments charging him with breaking and entering the dwelling of Pamyla Tillman and the theft of items from Pamyla Tillman nol prossed Wednesday by the Commonwealth.

• Mark Anthony Graves, 31, of Nathalie, had an indictment charging him with failing to re-register for the Sex Offender Registry dismissed Wednesday.

'Just When You think You've Seen It All...'
Criminals Keep South Boston Police Busy with Thefts, Break-Ins

"This was definitely one of the boldest crimes we've seen around here in a long time," South Boston investigator T.M. VanAernem said yesterday.

At approximately 6:48 p.m. Wednesday, members of the South Boston Police Department were dispatched to the MaxWay on Halifax Road on a robbery call.

"When Officer Fisher arrived, he discovered a larceny had occurred rather than a robbery," VanAernem said.

According to police reports, a slender white male approximately six feet tall and wearing a black baseball cap, white t-shirt and black shorts entered the store shortly before officers were called.

"The subject proceeded to the rear of the store and gained entry into the store office," VanAernem said.

Police report that the suspect was able to remove a safe from the office into a nearby restroom, where the safe was opened.

"An undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the safe," VanAernem said.

As he was leaving the restroom area, the subject was confronted by store personnel.

"The subject fled the store on foot in an unknown direction," VanAernem said.

"You know, just when you think you've seen it all, something like this happens," he added.

Thieves Target Three More
SoBo Businesses
The South Boston Police Department is investigating three more break-ins, bringing the total to four businesses victimized in three days.

Investigator T.M. VanAernem said yesterday that officers from the department responded to a 7:45 a.m. call yesterday at B & B Consulting on Seymore Drive reporting a breaking and entering.

The investigator said the subject(s) gained access to the business sometime during the night Wednesday through a basement window.

"It's undetermined at this time whether anything was taken from the business," he said.

VanAernem said yesterday that Officers C. Jones and F. Daniel responded to an alarm activation at SouthFax Insurance on Halifax Road at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

"(Our) investigation revealed that the business had been broken into through a rear door," VanAernem said.

The thief or thieves had cut the phone lines to the business prior to entering, but the alarm system was still functioning and police were able to be notified, according to the investigator.

Once inside, the suspects were able to gain access to SouthFax Pawn Shop, where they were able to take an undetermined amount of merchandise from both businesses, VanAernem said.

At approximately 7:54 a.m. Wednesday, officers from the department responded to a report of a breaking and entering at Duval's Grocery on College Street.

VanAernem said that when the owner arrived at the store, she discovered that a side window and screen had been removed and an undetermined amount of merchandise and money had been stolen.

While the investigator pointed out that there is no indication that the two crimes are related, he added that there have been three break-ins in the town in two days.

Early Tuesday morning, officer W. Ozmec answered an alarm at the Amoco Food Shop in Centerville.

According to Inv. B.K. Lovelace, a thief or thieves smashed the front door to the business and stole nearly $300 in cash and a cash register.

The investigators ask that anyone with information about these or any other crimes call Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.

Comets Ready For Final Test
HCHS Faces Bluestone Here Tonight At 6 P.M. In Final Preseason Scrimmage

By JOE CHANDLER| G-V Staff Writer

The Halifax County High School varsity football team will face its final preseason test tonight when it scrimmages Bluestone here at 6 p.m. at Tuck Dillard Stadium.

Tonight's scrimmage is big for Comets coach James Hodges and his team as questions are still floating about as to who will fill some vacant positions.

Not only that, tonight's scrimmage is the final opportunity to assess the progress of the team.

"This is our last chance to see where we are and to iron out game-type mistakes," Hodges pointed out.

"I plan to put our first team defense and first team offense on the field for at least a couple of series of 10-play drives.

"I want to try to run as much of the stuff we have in on both offense and defense as I can and see if the kids can execute it. We need to take a good look and evaluate where we are."

Hodges will be looking to assess the progress of quarterback candidates David Baskervill, Bobby Owens and Charles Barnes.

He will also take another look at Marcus Coleman at fullback and, if tailback Brandon Richardson cannot play, Hodges will take another look at Ricky Petty at tailback.

That's not all.

"Coach Palmore needs to look at the interior defensive linemen, defensive end and linebackers," noted Hodges.

"Coach Day is still looking at the outside linebackers and our new assistant coach, Ralph Robinson, who is working with the defensive secondary, will be evaluating his players and seeing what adjustments he can bring to help us improve."

Hodges says tonight's scrimmage against Bluestone will offer a better test for his team that the one his team faced last week against Gretna High School when Gretna spread the field and unleashed a wide-open passing attack.

"This will be more of a traditional scrimmage," Hodges said.

"I feel Bluestone will run more of a traditional offense and defense - something that the kids will likely see the most of during the season.

"I think the kids will get a little more out of it," added Hodges.

"I feel like this will give us a better learning situation for the kids."

One of the big things Hodges says his team will focus on is correcting mistakes it made during last week's scrimmage.

"We're going to work hard," Hodges said.

"We're going to be looking to correct mistakes we made in the first scrimmage and see if the kids can take what they have learned and do things better."

Hodges pointed out that he is not sure of what to expect out of Bluestone tonight.

He said Bluestone has a new coach this season and that he has heard that Bluestone will run an I-formation and veer offense.

"I really don't know what to expect," Hodges said.

"I know they've had an excellent team the past couple of years but I don't know how many players they have returning from last year or what their talent level is this year."

Hodges says his team is ready for its final test.

"Our last couple of practices have been pretty good," Hodges said.

"The kids are getting a little worn down. I think they're ready to face somebody other than each other."

Obituaries

Illustrious Lee Adams

Illustrious Lee Adams of Albany, N.Y. and formerly of Nathalie, 62, died August 15 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr. Adams was the son of Audrey Patrick Adams and the late Presley Adams.

His survivors include his mother; son: Robert Terrance Adams; granddaughter: Ajahdee’ Adams of Brooklyn; sister: Eloise Adams of Nathalie; six brothers: William, Roger and Larry Adams of Alexandria, Preston Adams of Newport News and Earl and Curtis Adams of Nathalie.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Millstone Baptist Church, Nathalie, with the Rev. Chester Spruill officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of Audrey Adams, 1220 Tobacco Rd., Nathalie.

John Wesley Wilson

John Wesley Wilson, 77, of 202 Terry Road, Brookneal, died August 19 at Lynchburg General Hospital.

Mr. Wilson was born in Halifax County on January 9, 1926, son of the late Alexander C. and Ella Burton Wilson. He was a member of the Brookneal Baptist Church, a Navy veteran of WWII, and founder/former owner of Wilson Electric, Brookneal.

His survivors include his wife: Naomi (Bobby) Scates Wilson; two sons: Johnny A. and Norma Wilson and Timothy W. and Kim Wilson of Brookneal; six grandchildren: Danny Wilson, Laura Wilson, Katherine Wilson and Andrea Wilson of Brookneal and Kevin Wilson and Patrick Wilson of Amherst, and a sister: Hilda Stepp of Newport News. He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 23 at 11 a.m. at Brookneal Baptist Church with the Rev. Patrick Collins officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be held at Wickliffe Cemetery.

The family will receive friends tonight, August 22, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Henderson Funeral Home and at the residence.

Betty Williams

Betty Williams, 62, died August 19 at the Hospice Clinic in Winston-Salem, N.C. She was born December 4, 1940.

Her survivors include her husband: Monroe E. Williams of Pinacle, N.C.;
daughter: Susan and Ricky Lawson of Pilot Mountain, N.C.; brother: Bobby L. and Rachel Thomas of Ararat, N.C.; sister: Dorothy and R.C. Moss of East Bend, N.C.; two step-daughters: Jennifer Clay of Scottsburg and Cynthia Lindsay of Lynchburg; two step-sons: Christopher E. Williams of Madison, N.C. and Jeffrey Williams of Scottsburg and 12 grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held today, August 22, at 11 a.m. at the Cox-Needham Funeral Home, Pilot Mountain.