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March 10, 2010
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News Town needs $4.6 mil for Washington-Coleman plans
The News & Record / July 02, 2009
South Boston Council members got a close-up look at plans for the renovation and expansion of the old Washington-Coleman Elementary school property during their work session on Monday evening. Town Manager Ted Daniel advised members that the projected cost of the upgrades would run about $4.6 million. “While that is a lot of money,” Daniel said, “we need to invest in the buildings we have and the community is excited about plans for Washington-Coleman.” Daniel said he is asking Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello for help in funding the project, which is being divided into three stages. The first of those, Phase I, includes upgrading the Pre-K classrooms which have already been in use by the local school system. Phase II involves development of a community center for activities for senior citizens, as well as other age groups, arts and crafts, etc. and Phase III calls for a new gymnasium and additional parking. Daniel wasn’t the only one excited about plans for the historic old building, which was constructed in the 1930s and which is one of four local sites on the 300 mile driving Civil Rights Heritage Trail which passes through Petersburg and 13 Southern Virginia counties. South Boston Recreation Director Matt McCargo told Council members that “we desperately need a new gym.” He went on to enumerate the current usage of the former Armory where youth leagues, along with senior citizen activities, are carried out almost every day of the year. McCargo told Council members his programs “are crying out for space.” He said in the fall he has 48 basketball teams which play 292 games with 585 participants. When the leagues start their play in November, McCargo said there is no time for any of them to practice, consequently he allows them to start practice in October, a month prior to the season opening. But even with that, each team only has time for several practices. Senior citizen participation has been so great that McCargo has to begin some of the programs at 5:30 a.m. in order to work in all the number of participants, he told Council members. Laurietta Faulkner, executive director of the Mentor Role Model program, also voiced her excitement over the potential for the site. She currently operates her program from an office where she has no space for hands-on activities which she would like to conduct in a safe, drug free place — a place where monthly fun day activities could be held for the youth, thereby teaching them life skills and allowing for social interaction and cultural exposure. Daniel stressed the need for providing a modern and updated classroom environment for the education of pre-kindergarten children participating in the Halifax County Schools program, pointing out that parents find the location very convenient. He said the Pre-K program is very important to the center and that along with the other activities, will provide intergenerational opportunities that will be good for all the participants. In other business Monday evening, Council heard a report from members of the Board of Viewers named to examine the requested closure of the unopened northern extension of Owens Avenue. Viewers reported they saw no inconvenience to the public in closing the unopened street. Adjoining land owners were advised they could purchase the land at fair market value of $5,600. Council also passed a resolution conveying Lots 3 and 4 of the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park to Halifax Regional Properties (HRP). HRP has completed the construction of its Primary Care medical center on the lots as agreed to with the Town in October of 2008. Council also approved its upcoming year’s budget and voted to appropriate funds to support it. Council heard from Leslie E. Schneider, Regional Drug Prosecutor for the Counties of Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg and Pittsylvania along with VSP Special Agent Mark Campbell who reported on the recent rash of drug arrests. Schneider said it is her hope that the recent arrests will help to stem the number of drug deals which take place, since most of these people are “smart folks who we hope will get the message” that dealing in drugs doesn’t pay. Members of the Current Issues Committee agreed to place an amendment to an agreement with Full Circle Solutions on its agenda for its July meeting. The amendment calls for Full Circle to convey its interest in certain lots in the Houghton Industrial Park to the Town’s IDA as payment for structural fill material. Tell-a-Friend | Submit a Comment |
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School board members on Thursday night began the arduous task of crafting a budget for the upcoming school year. With conflicting information coming out of the General Assembly in Richmond, trustees face a complex situation…
Tobacco Commission spurns request for school funding aid03/08/10 - 8:33 am
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School Board to meet at CSELC03/08/10 - 8:31 am
School trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting tonight beginning at 7 p.m. at the Cluster Springs Early Learning Center following their tour of the facility.
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