10 YEARS AGO | 2010

Halifax County is in line to receive $1,572,136 in additional federal aid for the school system from the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. As a whole, the 5th District will receive approximately $23.8 million from the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, a full paid-for package of aid to states, according to a release from the 5th District Congressional office. Funds are designed to support elementary and secondary teachers, school-level administrator and other essential school level staff salaries and related costs, the release states.

South Boston Town Council got doses of good and sobering news at its biannual retreat over the weekend at Berry Hill Conference Center. Town finance officer Erie Scott said in his estimation the town is in pretty good shape compared to other towns and cities, despite the recent economic downturn. A review of FY 2009-2010 revealed the Cash Operating Fund grew from $2,523,817 to $3,077,369, with total revenues 104.9% of the budget goal, Scott reported, with a program for collection of delinquent real estate taxes and the DMS Stop Program as a means of collecting delinquent personal property taxes responsible for much of that increase.

Injured Halifax County High School running back Dominic Henderson had to watch from the sidelines while the Comets played their first two games of the season. Henderson returned to the Comets lineup in Friday nights annual border clash with Person (N.C.) High School. His season debut was a big one. The Comets junior scored a touchdown and ran for 103 yards on 32 carries to help lead the Comets to a 14-9 win over the Rockets n Roxboro, North Carolina.

20 YEARS AGO | 2000

Halifax County School Board members and other school and construction officials broke ground yesterday for renovation and expansion work at Clays Mill Elementary School. The Clays Mill work will cost $1.9 million and is expected to be completed by next summer. Other work going on simultaneously includes additions and renovations at Scottsburg and Sydnor Jennings Elementary Schools at a cost of $3.3 million and $3 millions respectively. Trustee Allen Gravitt; superintendent Dennis Witt; trustees Mac McDowell, G.C. Ratliff and Wanda McDowell; supervisor Tom West; Trustees Patty Nelson, Steve Anderson, Carl Furches and Jason Parker; supervisor Dickie Abbott and Robert W. Lee participated in a groundbreaking ceremony.

Since she was 8 years old, Katherine Williams Austin has been joyfully careening through the woods aboard her favorite steed. It is an abiding love. Now, the Halifax native has sealed a bid to complete individually in the three-day combined driving event during the U.S.-hosted World Championships in October. Twenty-two countries will compete at Hamilton Farms in Gladstone, New Jersey, headquarters of the U.S. Equestrian Team.

It has been a fun past few days for the Halifax County High School gridders. For the first time this season and for the first time in a while, the Comets have had the opportunity to relish the sweet taste of victory. The 35-6 win, the teams first win of the season and the second career win for the Comets head coach James Hodges, was a much needed morale booster. It came just in time. The Comets, who will be in the middle of a three-game road trip, will travel south of the border Friday night to face the Person High School Rockets.

40 YEARS AGO | 1980

Last Christmas, Union Ruritan Club members surprised Ethel P. Perkins when they named her the first woman honorary member of the club. Perkins was honored for her many hours of service to the club. She is one of the most dedicated people we have in our club, and she is the only honorary woman member. She works from sunup to sundown, and she has never missed a stew, Union Ruritan Club President Irvin Oakes explained yesterday. The 70-year-old great grandmother who has been helping the Union Ruritans with various club projects for the past eight years recalled her special of moment of recognition from club members with pride as she took a brief respite from her chores Saturday.

Governor John N. Dalton Saturday urged the Small Business Administration to declare 29 additional Virginia counties as drought disaster areas, among them Halifax County. The requested, if granted, would enable farmers to apply for low-interest loans in order to tide them over until their next cash crop was harvested. According to Daltons request, the total crop loss in those localities already exceeds $131 million. Halifax County has already been designated as a disaster area by the Farmers Home Administration.

This was probably the most rewarding coaching experience ever! Those were the words from H.C.A. volleyball coach Joe Farnitano after his kiddie korps upset Vance Academy on Thursday. Starting a squad, which included four sixth graders and two eighth graders, the Patriettes jumped off to a 13-3 lead and rolled to a two game sweep, 15-5; 15-8. We just played our game good services and keep the mistakes to a minimum. This was reflected in the stats: Mary Tucker Thrift nine serves, nine points; Mary Susan Llyod 13 serves, 10 points; Winnie Evans 10 serves, six points; Kelly Long four serves and two points; Millie Bennett six serves, three points.

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