Monday, August 9, 2004

Advanced Technology Lab To Offer Cutting-Edge Training
Area Dignitaries Were On Hand For Dedication Ceremony Friday

This fall area students and employers will have a powerful new tool at their disposal.

Not long ago it was an empty room in the old Export Leaf warehouse. Now, with much effort, the Advanced Technology Learning Lab in the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) in South Boston is open for business.

Dignitaries were on hand Friday to celebrate the lab's opening and learn about the innovative programs the lab will offer.

"The Advanced Technology Lab will help to create a workforce that is qualified to meet the employer's needs, both now and in the future, and hopefully, will engage the employee in a life long learning process," said John Cannon, a member of the State Workforce Council and the chairman of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.

What is so innovative about the lab is that programs offered there can be tailored to the current needs of area employers. The lab will offer training for young students entering the workforce and for incumbent employees seeking to update their skills.

The lab can simulate the whole production line used by industry on a smaller scale, according to Michael E. Jones, one of the lab's instructors from Danville Community College (DCC).

"We are working to better serve industry," Jones said. "We can simulate almost anything in a plant.

"We have worked with companies from Goodyear to Corning Glass," he added.

This lab with its extensive technology was not cheap. It required several organizations coming together to make it a reality.

The Education Committee of the Tobacco Commission provided $175,000 towards the lab.

Senator Frank Ruff, chairman of the Education Committee, said that this lab was the result of the community college system stepping forward and working with the Tobacco Commission.

DCC and Southside Virginia Community College have given approximately $103,000 in equipment for use in the new lab.

Dr. Ramsey, president of DCC, made the case that an available, educated workforce is the top priority when companies consider relocating.

"This is going to be a tremendous asset to our existing industries," he said. "When companies look at places to locate, infrastructure and transportation are important, but the availability of a skilled workforce is the number one factor."

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supplied a grant for $50,000 for equipment and the Halifax Education Foundation Board has allocated $43,000 for the project.

John Newbill, state director of USDA Rural Development, said a facility like this in a rural community makes affordable education available.

"A student can receive training for $150 that would normally cost $1,500," he said. "You can take a great deal of satisfaction in what you've accomplished here."

But to bring the facility to its full potential the lab stills needs an additional $400,000 in funding for more equipment, according to Cannon.

When fully operational the lab will allow anyone from high school students to mechanical engineers to receive specific training that will allow them to remain competitive in an ever evolving global workforce.

The lab will allow employers to have input about skills they need in the workforce, and students will have a program available to teach them those skills.

Lab supporters see this as an asset that will make Halifax County more attractive to companies that are considering moving or opening a plant here, especially as Southside focuses on moving toward a technology based economy.

"The Advanced Technology Lab is a great example of how the educational community is responding to the economic development needs of the region," Cannon said.

Tobacco Sales Begin Tomorrow In SoBo
Buyers, Sellers Alike Hope That Optimal Growing Season Will Mean Good Prices This Season

A time-honored Southside tradition will get underway tomorrow when South Boston's lone warehouse opens its doors for the 2004 tobacco marketing season.

Buyers from Dimon, Export Leaf and Universal leaf will be at the New Brick Planter's Warehouse this year, owner Charlie Payne said.

This year, like last, buyers will be making their purchases via hand-held computers, making the rhythmic chant of the auctioneer a thing of the past.
The South Boston warehouse has been designated to sell a total of 2.3 million pounds of tobacco this year.

According to Kevin Bohon of the U.S.D.A. office in Halifax, 169 Halifax County farmers have designated Planter's Warehouse to sell 1,658,233 pounds of leaf.

Around 20,000 pounds of leaf from last season's sale has been carried over to this year's marketing season, according to Payne.

With last season too wet and the 2002 season too dry, the warehouseman said he is optimistic about this year's sale.

The warehouseman said he is hopeful that this season's optimal growing weather will translate into better quality tobacco and better prices than last year's.

"We didn't make anything last year because of the weather, but this season has been a perfect growing season.

"Anytime there is better weather, it's going to produce a better grade of tobacco and sell better," Payne said shortly before the warehouse began accepting this year's tobacco.

And that seems to be the case, at least for buyers from Export Leaf who were in town Thursday getting a look at this year's crop.

"From what I've seen so far, it looks good this year," buyer Harrison Inge said as he looked over the piles of leaf. "This year has been a really good season."

SoBo Council Expected To Take Action On Delinquent Tax List

Action on the town finance director's request to publish the delinquent real estate tax list is expected when South Boston Council meets tonight.

Council will meet at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.

In 2003, $27,987 in real estate taxes remain unpaid, Town Finance Director Vandie Saunders told councilmen during the July work session.

Also on tonight's agenda, a request to charge off unpaid water/sewer/landfill bills.

Saunders reported a total of $6,244.46 considered uncollectible final bills.
"I need authorization to charge these bills off my books but will continue collection efforts," he told Council committees last month.

The treasurer said the town's collection rate for 03-04 was 99.75 percent.

Tonight Council is also expected to address a request to carry over funding for three projects to FY04-05.

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

An estimated $180,500 of the $347,000 total is earmarked for storm water work on Westmoreland Street and the Balmoral Subdivision, according to the treasurer.

Approximately $11,470 of the total was allocated for equipment replacement at the South Boston Fire Department last year.

The remainder of the funds were slated for upgrades to the town's traffic signals.

Lewis Is Having A Ball
County Native Anna Lewis A Four-Year Volleyball Player At Lynchburg College

BY DOUG FORD
G-V STAFF WRITER

Former Halifax County High School sports standout Anna Michelle Lewis is having a ball - literally - at Lynchburg College, entering her fourth year as a member of the Hornets volleyball squad.

Lewis, the daughter of E.C. Lewis Jr. and Annette Lewis of South Boston, is one of three seniors on this year's team, but volleyball is a sport she learned to love.

Lewis was a two-sport standout in high school, making all-district in volleyball, but also all-region as a pitcher in a more recognized sport locally, softball.

Her perspective on the two sports changed after her junior year in high school, and even more after she arrived at Lynchburg College for her freshman year.
Lewis started playing volleyball as a 12-year-old, after a high school coach noticed her playing with her mother in a local recreation league, and asked her to try out for the jayvees.

"I started in the eighth grade on the jayvee team," said Lewis, who added she played three or four matches varsity matches her freshman year before moving on to the varsity permanently her sophomore season.

Meanwhile, she played continued to play softball throughout high school, as well as basketball her freshman and sophomore years.

"My junior year, I started playing Junior Olympic Volleyball, with a team out of North Carolina.

"That sparked my interest in college volleyball, and without that (Junior Olympics), I never would have made the Lynchburg team."

Lewis was actually recruited for softball at Lynchburg College, and she walked onto the volleyball team.

She continued to play both sports as a freshman, hurling a combined no hitter in softball, but had a change of heart toward volleyball, devoting her time exclusively to it the last three years.

"I began to get more into volleyball," Lewis recalled.

"I enjoyed playing it, enjoyed the people I was with, as well as the coaches. I was more comfortable."

Lewis has played a variety of positions on the Lynchburg volleyball team.
She was a back row defender her freshman year, a front row player in her sophomore year, and was an outside hitter her junior year.

"Everything but the middle and center," she added.

Lewis noted the difference between preparing for a volleyball match as opposed to a softball game.

"Mentally, it's completely different, volleyball has such a quick tempo," she said.

"Volleyball is fast paced, whereas softball has a slower pace to it. A lot of it is reaction.

"You don't have a chance to think ahead, but react when a play breaks down. You have to rework everything."

Lewis and her Lynchburg teammates are facing a tough 2004 schedule as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, after a 17-13 overall record last season.

Conference opponents include Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Virginia Wesleyan, Washington & Lee University and Bridgewater College.
Lewis, who has assisted in several volleyball camps here this summer, feels her college experience will encourage growth in the volleyball programs in Halifax County.

"I think volleyball is on the rise in Halifax County," said Lewis.

"It's getting bigger. I helped with the high school camps this summer and there's a lot of talent."

The key, like other sports, is to start early, rather than later, according to Lewis.

"I was the only eighth grader on my team, but I've seen others start much earlier, she added, noting the formation of a volleyball team at Halifax County Middle School.

"You can't compete with experience, and I think that my playing at the collegiate level will have younger players saying, 'Look, she's playing on a college team...I can do that, too.'"

That's certainly an attitude Lewis can relate to as she embarks on her senior campaign at Lynchburg College.

Obituaries

Mildred Crawley Williams Barksdale

Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Crawley Williams Barksdale will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. with services at the Owens Grove Baptist Church.
The Rev. John Leigh will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery.

Mrs. Barksdale, of Cherry Hill Church Road in South Boston, died Friday at Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was 100.

The family is receiving friends at the Cherry Hill Church Road residence.
Mrs. Barksdale was born in Halifax County, on August 26, 1903 and was the daughter of the late Mr. Sam Crawley and Mrs. Martha Jane Traynham Crawley.

She was first married to the late Mr. Robert Edward Williams and later married to the late Mr. Samuel Barksdale.

Mrs. Barksdale was a member of the Owens Grove Baptist
Church.

Survivors include one son, Albert Williams and his wife Elizabeth of South Boston; a daughter, Kathryn Boxley of South Boston; two sisters, Susie Oliver Clay and Mildred Rogers, both of South Boston; one stepdaughter, Lake Hill of Hopewell; ten grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Samuel Earl Barksdale Sr.

Samuel Earl Barksdale Sr., 49, of 3241 Ball Park Loop, Halifax, died August 5 in Halifax.

He was born in Halifax County on June 8, 1955, the son of Emma Lee Womack Barksdale and the late Harvey Lee Barksdale. He was a member of Mayo Grove Baptist Church and New Bethel Baptist Church and was a U.S. Army Veteran.

Survivors include one son, Samuel E. Barksdale Jr. of Richmond; one sister, Stacy Barksdale of South Boston; six brothers, Robbin Barksdale of Danville, Harvey Barksdale of Greensboro, N.C., Alfred Barksdale of Lynchburg, Daniel Barksdale and Johnnie Barksdale, both of Halifax, and Sandy Barksdale of Hampton.

Funeral services for Mr. Barksdale will be held today, August 9 at 2 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church in Halifax with the Rev. Deane Clarke officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Essie Maude Crews Carter

Funeral services for Mrs. Essie Maude Crews Carter will be held Tuesday, August 10, at 11 a.m., with services at the Banister Hill Baptist Church.
The Rev. William Carr will officiate.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Carter , of Cowford Road in Halifax, died August 6, at the Berry Hill Nursing Home.

She was 88.

Mrs. Carter was born in Halifax County on June 3, 1916, the daughter of the late Clem Crews and Martha Ann Davis Crews.

She was married to the late Otis James Carter Sr., and was a member of the Banister Hill Baptist Church.

Mrs. Carter is survived by two daughters, Linda Carter of Charlotte, N.C., and Marian Stamps of Danville; two sons, Otis J. Carter Jr., of Halifax, and Lawrence Crews Carter of Lincolnton, N.C.; four sisters, Lucy Freeman of Nathalie, Betty Hamlett of Brookneal, Nannie Certer of Albany, N.Y., and Beatrice Williams of Bronx, N.Y.; one brother, DeRoy Crews of Albany, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one son-in-law; two daughters-in-law and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will be receiving friends at the residence.

Floyd Woody Cole

Floyd Woody Cole, 89, of Nelson, husband of Mary Sue Slaughter Cole, died August 5 in South Boston.

He was born in Halifax County and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. A retired mechanic, Mr. Cole operated a gun business and clock repair service.

Funeral services for Mr. Cole were held August 7 at 11 a.m. at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial followed in the Newton family cemetery.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Cole is survived by a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Donne and Ray Matthews of Bullock, N.C.; one stepson and daughter-in-law, Buck and Darlene Slaughter of Nelson.

Bettie Conner Lowery

Funeral services for Mrs. Bettie Conner Lowery of Sandy Beach Road, South Boston, were held Sunday at Glenwood United Methodist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

The Rev. Karen Sandervall and the Rev. Melvin Bradshaw conducted the service.

Mrs. Lowery, 84, died Thursday at Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was born March 7, 1920 in Halifax County, a daughter of the late Lennie Bruce Conner and Alice Lane Reagan Conner, and was married to the late Fred Hardy Lowery.

Mrs. Lowery was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Mike Lowery, and wife Kim of Scottsburg; one daughter, Sheila L. Vaughan, and husband Billy of South Boston; a grandson and two granddaughters, Christopher Lowery, Amanda Lowery and Mary Snead; two step-grandsons, Christopher Fisher and Jonathan Fisher; and one great-grandson, Dirik Allen Snead Jr.

Mrs. Lowery was predeceased by four brothers and four sisters.

The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592.

Connie Oakes McDowell

Funeral services for Mrs. Connie Oakes McDowell of Jones Ferry Road will be held today at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Christian Church.

The Rev. Issac Mooneyham will conduct the service, with burial at Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. McDowell, 67, died Friday at Duke University Hospital.

She was born October 13, 1936, a daughter of Joseph C. Oakes and Blanche Crews Oakes, and was married to Frank T. McDowell.

She was a member of Pleasant Grove Christian Church and was an avid gardener.

She is survived by her husband, Frank McDowell of Jones Ferry Road; two daughters, Wanda Odom and her husband, Steve, of The Woodlands, Texas, and JoAnn McWilliams and her husband, Danny, of Atlanta; four grandchildren, Stephen and Cody Odom of The Woodlands, Texas, and Samantha and Keith McWilliams of Atlanta; four sisters, Clara O. Lloyd of Burlington, N.C., Evelyn O. Webb, Martha O. Webb and Peggy Womack, all of Halifax; one brother, J. C. Oakes of Danville.