J.B. Wilborn, son of Jeff and Susan Wilborn of South Boston, is one lucky fella. He is one of four people across the nation to win a $12,000 Papa John’s Super Bowl XLVI Trip Giveaway that includes a trip for two to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, Ind.

We’ll have more on his winnings in an upcoming edition.

Congratulations J.B.

Also congratulations to Crowell Mortor Co.’s $5,000 winner, Bobby Oliver of Clarksville.

• • •

Some merchants and business owners in Halifax are upset with comments made by some members on Halifax Town Council who don’t think the town needs a chief of police.

And one councilman has not minced words declaring the town doesn’t even need a police department.

We expect to hear much more about this issue in the coming month.

We realize small towns police departments are a dying breed as more and more town councils tackle tight budgets, but the wishes of the community must be considered too.

Holding meetings at 9 a.m. on a working weekday to discuss restructuring a police department isn’t exactly the best time for business owners and merchants to express their opinions either.

After the story broke last week that Halifax Council was considering reducing its force with other possibilities also being discussed, a local television station talked with Town Mayor Dick Moore.

The mayor said council will decide if the three currently full-time officers will be reduced to part-time to handle separate shift schedules.

Councilman Jack Dunavant called the police force “redundant,” something he has been heard saying on more than one occasion.

And Councilman Bill Confroy made his feelings clear last week that the force doesn’t need a chief saying each officer serves as chief when they’re on duty.

Residents of Halifax, merchants, business owners and others who will be affected by the loss or reduction of a town police force without a police chief need to let council members know how they feel before they meet in February to make a final decision on the fate of the police department.

Some may agree the sheriff’s office and state police, both located in the town, can handle all of the town’s law enforcement needs.

Others will disagree.

Here’s how to let council know how you feel before they make their final decision next month.

The mayor can be reached at 476-7978 or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Confroy’s number is 476-6624, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .Dunavant can be reached at 476-6648 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tom Brown can be reached at 476-2440 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Phil Hammond’s number is listed as 476-1222, and his email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Holt Evans can be reached at 476-2650 and emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Terrie Lantor, the newest member on council, can be reached at 476-6561 or emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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On another somewhat controversial issue now in the news — Sunday hunting — a committee voted last week to allow hunting on Sunday on private land.

According to Sen. Frank Ruff Jr., this piece of legislation is being pushed by those who live in urban areas who want to be able to travel to rural communities and hunt all weekend.

The senator joins Del. James Edmunds and other legislators from rural regions in opposing the bill.

The opposition falls along three concerns.

The first — religious reasons.

The second — non-hunters should have one weekend day to enjoy the outdoors in the fall.

The third — landowners’ concerns about out-of-towners who do not know where one farm ends and another begins and will come onto their property.

According to our senator from Clarksville, the first two reasons are self-explanatory.

The third, however, is the one issue that will in the long run do major damage to hunting in Virginia, the senator believes.

Landowners who do not want hunters on their property on Sunday will not post their property on Saturday night and then remove the signs on Monday morning. They will more likely simply not allow hunters.  Over time, hunters will have fewer and fewer places in which they will be permitted to hunt.

This week the bill will go to the full Senate, and Sen. Ruff promises to try his best to stop it there.

To let the senator know how you feel about Sunday hunting and other issues of concern, email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call 804-698-7515, or write him at P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218.