A man wanted for indecent liberties with a child was caught Tuesday hiding in a closet, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Roy Rooks said in a press release Deputies J. Sealey and T. Clark went to 119 Ward Drive in Roanoke Rapids trying to locate Grady Jefferson Jr . Jefferson, 41, was wanted for indecent liberties with a minor following a recent investigation by Rooks. Sealey and Clark located Jefferson hiding in a closet. He was taken in custody and placed in jail under a $100,000 bond. Jefferson was convicted in 1998 with attempted taking indecent liberties with minor.

The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the run away of a 16-year-old. Detective Doug Pilgreen said Jessica Kathleen Driver was last seen Monday at approximately 2:25 p.m. running away from the Halifax County Courthouse. Jessica is 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs between 112 to 115 pounds. She has brown eyes, a slim build and has long, brown hair below the shoulders. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, blue shorts with “Duke” written on it and white tennis shoes. She has family in the Roanoke Rapids and Halifax area and in the Louisa, Va., area. Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at 252-583-8521 or Halifax County Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

The man wanted in an Aug. 29 fatal car crash appears to be “running and hiding” the Weldon Police Department said this morning. “I don’t know if he is fleeing,” Sgt. Will Shaw said, but officers have been looking for Jonathan James Brown, 21, since more charges were lodged against him two weeks ago.

Weldon town board members tonight approved North Carolin Small Town Economic Prosperity plan presented by Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott.

Phyllis Lee came out of retirement tonight and accepted the job of town administrator and finance officer for Weldon.

A four-year-old girl died this evening from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Welcome to the new rrspin.com.

Mary Eugene Eason Moore, 80, of 815 E. 13^th Street, Roanoke Rapids, died Thursday, August 5, 2010, at her home.

She was a loving, caring, dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who cared more about others than herself.  She loved doing for others and loved her pets.  She was a member of Lake View Park Baptist Church for 40 years.

Mrs. Moore was born January 13, 1930, to the late William Eason and Jennie Carter Eason, and was also preceded in death by her sisters: Annie Freuler, Pat Bland, and Sally Workman.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Willie Moore; her children: Gary Moore and wife, Elaine, Steven Moore and wife, Susan, and Jennifer Moore and fiance, Roy Brown, Jr.,  of Roanoke Rapids, her brother, William  Eason, of Roanoke Rapids, her sisters: Dolly Dever and husband Robert,  of Louisville, Kentucky, and Ruby Weiss,of Roanoke Rapids; her grandchildren: Heather Acree and husband, Jonathan, Kevin and fiancé, Samantha, and Brandon Moore; great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Chloe, and Skylar, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Sunday, August 8, 2010, in the chapel of Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service at 2:00 P.M. conducted by Rev. Randy Martin. Burial followed in Cedarwood Cemetery.

The family would like to express their special thanks to Becky Pittman, caregiver of Mrs. Moore.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home Health & Hospice of Halifax, 1229 Julian R. Allsbrook Highway, Roanoke Rapids, N. C. 27870.

Online condolences may be made to www.hockadayfs.com.

From school system news releases

Halifax County Schools announced gains in student achievement and the graduation rate in conjunction with the release of the state’s ABCs Accountability report approved earlier in the day by the NC Board of Education.