The Halifax County Rescue Squad announced Friday that it will no longer be considered a member of the United Way, and a vote tomorrow will determine if the Halifax County Cancer Association remains a member agency.
"As a result of the United Way's decision to cut funding to the Rescue Squad, without notice, a decision was made to withdraw from the agency," a press release from the Rescue Squad stated.
(The entire text of the press release, along with a response from the United Way, appear at the end of the story.)
These actions come as a response to cuts in funding due to the lack of contributions the United Way received in their last campaign, according to spokesmen for the two organizations.
According to the release from the Rescue Squad, the only funding received was $1,893 that was specifically designated to the agency.
"In the past, the Rescue Squad received a percentage of the overall annual contributions to the United Way for the county," the press release said.
According to the Rescue Squad, there could be repercussions from the United Way's decision.
"The United Way's decision will likely have a dramatic impact on our ability to serve the community," they wrote. "Our efforts to maintain a high level of training, as well as our participation in many special projects and events, will be severely limited."
Because allocation decisions were made before she took the job, United Way Director Beth Hochstein declined to comment.
Rhonda Reese, director of the Halifax Cancer Association, said her group met with board members of the United Way last Monday.
"I felt like we didn't get any answers to our critical questions," Reese said.
"We used to be notified each year what our allocation would be.
"We knew for the year what we would receive each quarter," she added.
Each agency funded by the United Way received different amounts, Reese noted.
"As of a few months ago, the Rescue Squad and the Cancer Association received a letter saying we wouldn't be funded this year," Reese said. "It knocked us for a loop."
She added that she expected her agency to end its association as of the Tuesday meeting.
"Without a definite 'yes,' (regarding funding the agency) most of our board have suggested we end our association," she added.
According to Ryan Garrett, Halifax County United Way board President, the decision to fund certain agencies was purely pragmatic.
"The bottom line is we simply ran out of money," Garrett said.
"It was heartbreaking for the committee to have to choose which worthy cause would be funded," he added in a press release issued in response to the Rescue Squad's decision.
Garrett said the United Way based their funding decisions on the financial needs of its member agencies.
"Volunteers representing our community and serving as the allocation decision-makers took a long, hard look at all of the agency budget requests.
"We had to look for the healthiest agencies and fund them last," he said.
"The less financially secure agencies were funded first.
"We simply ran out of money," he observed.
Garrett admitted the situation could have been handled more delicately.
"I'm not sure the communication (with the member agencies) was done effectively," he said.
"We are trying to help people understand our predicament now," he added.
The Halifax County has 13 member agencies, including the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Association for Retarded Citizens, Mental Health Association, The Volunteer Literacy Program, The Halifax County 4-H Club, YMCA, Salvation Army, Community Action Agency, The Mentor-Role Model Program, The Halifax County Rescue Squad and the Halifax County Cancer Association.
Garrett said each of the agencies got some funding, although the Rescue Squad and Cancer Association only received funds specifically designated for those groups.
"The only agencies that weren't funded beyond (the designated funds) were those two agencies," he said.

Recent controversy surrounding the South Boston-Halifax County Museum's annual powwow was not in evidence Saturday.
About 24 tribes gathered to share their culture during the event.
"We're here to share our culture with the public, and in the Native American events I'm involved with, there are three things we don't tolerate," said John "Blackfeather" Jeffries, who organized and ran the event.
"We don't tolerate attitude, politics and competition. We don't do these things for money," added Jeffries, a member of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Indian Tribe.
"There are so many misconceptions about Native American people," said Jeffries. "We come in many different sizes, shapes and colors.
"We have very different opinions," he noted, just as any other organization.
A High Plains Indian representative had challenged the museum's annual powwow last week, asking that it be stopped.
During a Halifax County Board of Supervisors, Dante Desiderio, executive director of the Sappony Indians living in the High Plains Indian Community, asked supervisors to stop the powwow.
Desiderio charged the museum, a private organization, with "blatant attempts to exclude us."
"We Sappony have never been consulted about the powwow in our backyard," he claimed.
"We invited the High Plains Indians of Person County, N.C., both years" to the powwow, Barbara Bass, museum president, said following the supervisors' meeting.
"We invited them to participate and share their culture with the community."
"I have no time for negativity, I put forth all my energy toward positive things," Jeffries said during the weekend powwow at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.
"Like reconstructing a village at Hillsborough and reconstructing a village a Occoneechee."
The Occoneechee plan is part of his tribe's five-year plan.
"It will be as close as possible to the actual village that was on the island," Jeffries explained. He said it would be very similar to the one in Hillsborough.
"I'm not a politician," said Jeffries. "We just became state recognized in North Carolina this year. We traced our heritage back to Occoneeche Island to the early 1600s and 1700s. We have extensive documentation."
Jeffries said he emcees powwows for Monocan, Nansemond and Mattoponi Indians.
"I don't go anywhere where we're not wanted," he said.
Museum Powwow
"We come here to dance for the creator of the earth," Jeffries said. "We dance for our elders who have gone on before us. We dance for our mothers, our young babies, our children and babies yet to be born.
"We dance for our peers and for ourselves," added Jeffries.
He welcomed "everybody and anybody."
"One thing I ask is that people dancing in the area wear regalia for the occasion," added Jeffries.
"My daddy said, 'You're in my house, you must abide by my rules. Be nice to people.'"
Jeffries said he plans to emcee a Virginia Museum of Natural History powwow in Martinsville this year.
He also participates in powwows in North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.

Christopher Deon Easley, 19, of Pine Ridge Trail in Vernon Hill was arrested Saturday and charged with one count of distribution of crack cocaine.
Members of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force conducted a buy/bust operation at a convenience store on Wilborn Avenue in South Boston.
The operation was carried out at approximately 9 p.m.
"An undercover agent purchased crack cocaine in the parking lot of the convenience store," said Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Task Force.
Following the buy, Pulliam said members of the South Boston Police Department, Halifax County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police and the Task Force immediately arrested Easley.
"The operation was conducted in response to concerns of numerous citizens regarding the increased drug activity in the area," Pulliam said.
After the arrest, the scene was secured by the Task Force, and law enforcement seized a quantity of crack cocaine, cash and a vehicle.
Pulliam said the investigation is continuing into drug activity in the area, and more arrests are anticipated.
"We would like to express thanks to the area residents for their assistance in information provided in this investigation," he said.

A 31-year-old Nathalie resident was arrested Saturday and charged with abduction and two other offenses, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Douglas A. Faulkner, of Lower Liberty Rd., was arrested by Deputy D.H. Barksdale and charged with the abduction of Michael Clay, the misdemeanor assault and battery of Clay, and the grand larceny of stereo equipment and clothing belonging to Clay.
The alleged offenses occurred on Friday.
· An 18-year-old Scottsburg resident was charged Wednesday with the assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, and two other offenses.
Nannie Elizabeth Harris, of Drybridge Rd. was charged by Deputy C.S. Yeatts with the assault and battery of C.S. Yeatts, a law enforcement officer, with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and with misdemeanor obstruction of justice.
The alleged offenses occurred last Wednesday.
· Jill Marie Cabler, 38, of Gygax Ave. in South Boston, was charged Friday by Deputy S. Mocarsky with misdemeanor assault and battery of a family or household member.
The alleged offense occurred last Wednesday.
· Charlie Lee Harris Jr., 51, of Ball Park Loop in Halifax, was arrested Saturday by Deputy T.C. Spencer and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery of a family or household member.
The alleged offense occurred on Saturday.
· Dennis Eugene Martin, 38, of Mt. Laurel Rd. in Clover, was charged Saturday by Deputy T.C. Spencer with misdemeanor assault and battery of a family or household member.
The alleged offense occurred on Friday.
· Eldee Annette Martin, 33, of Piney Creek Rd. in Clover, was charged Saturday by Deputy T.C. Spencer with misdemeanor assault and battery of a family or household member.
The alleged offense occurred on Friday.
· Darrell L. Cash, 30, of H.P. Anderson Highway in Halifax, was charged Wednesday by Deputy T.C. Spencer with public intoxication, a misdemeanor.
The alleged offense occurred on Wednesday.

Comets coach James Hodges said he and his team accomplished everything they wanted to do in Friday night's Benefit Game here against Dan River High School.
The scoreboard showed it.
So did the stats sheets.
Halifax County scored a dominating 48-18 win, rolling up 485 yards of offense in the process, 416 of which came on the ground.
Comets tailback Alonzo Coleman, showing he hasn't lost a step since last year, scored four touchdowns and rolled up 163 yards on the ground in seven carries.
Adding the 13 yards he gained as a result of a 13-yard catch on a throw from quarterback Karl Staten, Coleman finished the night with 176 yards in total offense.
However, Coleman wasn't the only Comets runner that had a big night.
Starting fullback Dante Roberts had 61 yards in five carries and Staten had 17 yards in three carries.
Charles Barnes had 39 yards in six carries including a five-yarder for a touchdown in the second quarter and a catch on pass from Staten for a two-point conversion after his touchdown.
Brandon Richardson had 82 yards in five carries, one of them a 63-yard run for a touchdown.
And, William Bulerin netted 88 yards in six carries, one of which was a 60-yard touchdown run.
That was all well and good for Hodges.
Perhaps, most importantly, Hodges accomplished his mission of getting all of his players into the game for good amounts of playing time.
"There's no question I'm happy with the results," said Hodges.
"We executed. We have 55 kids and four or five didn't dress out. All 50 kids played extensive time. We'll be able to look at the video and do some evaluating and teaching from it."
One of the big things that Hodges was pleased with was his team's running game.
Thirteen of the 35 rushing plays run by the Comets were in double -digit figures.
"Most of our running plays went for big yardage," he pointed out.
"We ran the ball decently last year. We're picking up from there. Alonzo is a good back, Dante Roberts has added a dimension of running the ball in our backfield."
Halifax County had a super first half,
Although the Comets ran only 11 offensive plays in the first half, they picked up four touchdowns and held at 28-0 lead at the break.
Dan River's opening series of the game was the only one that really gave Hodges any major concern.
Dan River, with the help of a holding penalty against one of the Comets' defensive ends and a miscue on a punt in which the ball landed, brushed B.J. Pearce on the leg and was recovered by the Wildcats, kept possession of the ball for all but 34 seconds of the first quarter.
The Wildcats ran 16 plays and made five first downs. However, they were penalized four times for 30 yards, and netted 39 yards of offense in the series.
"We bent but didn't break," Hodges said.
"After that, the defense stepped up and did a good job."
When Halifax County got the ball for the first time on the night at its own 5-yard line with 33.8 seconds left in the first quarter, it quickly became show time.
Roberts exploded for a 27-yard run and a first down at the Comets' 32-yard line.
Coleman followed it with his first scoring run, a 68-yarder that came as the quarter ended. Adam Reeves' kick on the point-after attempt failed, leaving the Comets with a 6-0 edge.
A Dan River fumble on its second possession gave the Comets the ball at the Wildcats' 20-yard line.
Staten picked up 15 yards on the first play on a quarterback keeper and Barnes punched it in from the 5-yard line on the next play to put the Comets up 12-0 with 9:52 left in the half. A pass from Staten to Barnes netted a two-point conversion and gave the Comets a 14-0 lead.
Halifax County's defense held Dan River at bay in the third offensive series for the Wildcats.
A poor punt by the Wildcats gave the Comets the ball at the Wildcats' 39-yard line.
Roberts gained eight yards on the first play to the 31-yard line and Coleman took it the rest of the way on the next play. Reeves' kick put the Comets up 21-0 with 7:13 left in the half.
An interception by the Comets stifled Dan River on its next possession and gave the Comets the ball at their own 15-yard line with 3:36 left in the half.
Staten hit Brent Long with a 54-yard pass for a first down at the Wildcats' 31-yard line.
Runs by Roberts and Barnes got the ball down to the Wildcats' 17-yard line.
That set the stage for a 17-yard touchdown run by Coleman on what was the fourth play of the 85-yard drive. Reeves' kick put the Comets up 28-0 at the half.
The second half was basically a mop-up operation with the coaches on both sides substituting liberally throughout the final two quarters.
Dan River got on the board after recovering a fumble by Coleman, driving 39 yards in six plays and scoring on a 12-yard pass to make it a 28-6 score.
Halifax County responded by scoring on a 10-play, 66-yard drive with Coleman scoring from seven yards out with 3:36 left in the third quarter. Kevin Reynolds' kick was good, giving the Comets a 34-6 lead.
Both teams scored twice in the final stanza with the Comets scoring on a 63-yard run by Richardson with 8:44 left in the game.
The Comets, leading 41-18, tacked on their final score when Bulerin scampered 60 yards for a score with 47.1 seconds left in the contest and Reynolds added the conversion to make the final 48-18 score.
Hodges, pointing out that Dan River is a week behind his team in terms of preseason preparations, said Dan River had a pretty good team.
"Dan River was better than what I thought they would be," Hodges said.
"I thought they had lost some kids. They're going to be a good team."

Clarence William Coates

A graveside service for Clarence William Coates, 77, of South Boston will be held today at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The Rev. Dr. Tony Brooks will conduct the service.
Mr. Coates died Saturday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on March 28, 1925, a son of Clem Edward Coates and Elsie Mae Shelton Coates. He was married to Dora Bane Coates.
Mr. Coates is survived by two sisters, Frances Coates Conner of Halifax and Peggy Coates Clarke of Nathalie, and one brother, Lee Roy Coates of Halifax.

Lloyd Belt Franklin

Lloyd Belt "Chief" Franklin died Saturday at his home in South Boston. He was 79.
Graveside services for Mr. Franklin were held Sunday at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, with the Rev. Don Bryant conducting the services.
Mr. Franklin was born on April 28, 1923, in Halifax County to the late Archer Thomas Franklin and Ida Thaxton Franklin.
He was the owner/operator of Franklin's Garage in South Boston.
Mr. Franklin was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was a member of the Southside Baptist Church, a lifetime member of the South Boston Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Woodman of the World.
He is survived by his wife, Eloise Seaman Franklin of South Boston, one son, David Belt Franklin and his wife, Priscilla, of South Boston, two daughters, Carolyn Franklin Hayes and her husband, Pete, of Lynchburg, and Deborah Franklin Ellington and her husband, Donnie, of South Boston, one brother, Charlie Franklin and his wife, Elsie, of South Boston, one sister, Augusta Franklin Dobson and her husband, Bill, of Salisbury N.C., five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Franklin was preceded in death by three brothers, Thomas Eugene Franklin, Benjamin Franklin and Archer Thomas Franklin Jr., and one grandson, Robert Lloyd Ellington.
The family requests that anyone wishing to give memorials please consider the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantations, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, Va., 24528 or Southside Baptist Church, 2140 Alphonse Dairy Rd., South Boston, Va., 24592.

Willie Anderson Mason

Willie Anderson Mason, 83, of 5083 Halifax Road, Halifax, died August 22 at her home.
Mrs. Mason was born in Halifax County on July 18, 1919, the daughter of Robert Harvey Anderson and Emma Lucille Anderson and was married to J. Lacy Mason. She was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church, and was a retired assistant to the clerk of Halifax County Circuit Court.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Emmy Mason Bass and husband, John Bass Jr. of Halifax; two sisters, Irma Hudson of Halifax and Hannah Moore of Arlington; one grandchild, Mandy Hudson and husband, Geoff Hudson of Durham, NC; two great-grandchildren, John Geoffery Hudson and Emma Winfield Hudson, both of Durham.
Graveside services for Mrs. Mason were held August 24 at Halifax Cemetery at 2 p.m with the Rev. Lewis Wall officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston 24592.

Raymond Norris Smith Jr.

Raymond Norris Smith Jr., 55, of Brookneal died August 21 at his home.
Mr. Smith was born in South Boston on February 15, 1947, the son of Raymond N. Smith Jr. of Whiteville, NC and the late Ruth Brincefield Smith, and was married to Carolyn Womack Smith. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church; an employee of Burlington Industries, Halifax, and formerly served as a police sergeant for the Town of Brookneal.
In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by one daughter, Anna Michelle Smith of Richmond; two sisters, Ruth Anne Stone of Lewisburg, WVA and Betty Jane Reynolds of Hill Air Force Base, Utah; and a grandmother, Louise Hartzell of Lewisburg. He was preceded in death by a sister, Kathryn Smith Rane.
A funeral service for Mr. Smith was held August 25 at 2 p.m. at Henderson Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Larry Martin with burial at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to your local Humane Society.