Law enforcement officials closed down a portion of Wilborn Avenue and evacuated several buildings early Saturday morning after what appeared to be a bomb was found at a local car wash.
South Boston Lt. Rick Loftis said a passerby walking along Wilborn Avenue shortly before 4 a.m. noticed what appeared to be some type of explosive device at the Southern Pride Car Wash and notified police.
"It was out near the vacuum, just laying there," Loftis said.
Officials closed Wilborn Avenue between Chalmers and Edmonds streets and evacuated the neighboring Express Mart and two houses located behind the car wash while Special Agent Larry Bishop rendered the object safe.
"It will be sent to the crime lab in Richmond to determine exactly what it is," Loftis said.
While the two houses behind the car wash were evacuated for approximately one hour, the Express Mart stayed closed until 7:30 a.m. while Bishop and South Boston Investigator B.K. Lovelace scoured the area for clues.

Firefighters discovered a man's body while battling a blaze in South Boston late Saturday night.
South Boston Police Lt. Rick Loftis said the body of a 46-year-old male was found in the kitchen of a burning mobile home at 715 Lincoln Drive.

Officials are withholding the victim's name pending notification of his family.
According to Loftis, a neighbor spotted the blaze and called it in shortly before 11 p.m., but fire fighters were unable to save the structure.
The body was found approximately an hour later at 11:50 p.m., Loftis said.
Special Agent Larry Bishop and South Boston Investigator B.K. Lovelace were on the scene sifting through the ashes for clues, and several pieces of evidence were collected and sent off to the state crime lab in Richmond.
However, at this time, the origin of the fire has not been determined.

Fire broke out Sunday morning at the J.M. Huber Corporation near Crystal Hill for the third time this year.
Halifax Fire Chief Wayne King estimated that the early morning fire in a piece of machinery at the pressboard manufacturing plant located off of Route 626 caused between $25,000 and $30,000.
King said plant employees were fighting the blaze with extinguishers when units from the Halifax Fire Department, Triangle Volunteer Fire Department, and South Boston Fire Department arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m.
"Usually it's the press that catches fire, but this time it was in the blendifier, where they blend all the chips to make pressboard," King said.
According to King, the blaze started on top of the blender and fell into the reservoir.
"When we arrived, heavy smoke was running out of the side of the building, but the fire was contained to the blender. It didn't take long to knock it out once we got access in the door to get to it, but the resin and the chips in the blender were burning."
King said this was the third fire this year at the plant.
Last month, fire fighters responded to a fire that damaged the company's press.
"They've had several this year, and it's getting worse," he said.

Virginia Tobacco Growers Association President Donnie Anderson has been named to serve on the National Tobacco Certification Corporation.
Anderson, a Halifax County tobacco grower, was one of seven citizens chosen by Governor Jim Gilmore III to serve on the board that will regulate the dispersal of Virginia's share of the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust.
Serving with him will be Concerned Friends for Tobacco Chairman C.D. Bryant; Gladys tobacco farmer Walter B. Bass Jr.; Clarksville resident J.T. Taylor; Pennington Gap resident and Dryden Elementary School Principal Fred M. Fields; Ararat resident and Patrick County United Way Board of Directors President Jonathan Andrew Large; and Nickelsville resident and Allies for Tobacco Vice-President John M. Stallard.
"I appreciate the governor appointing myself, as well as others that I have a lot of confidence in, to serve on this commission," Anderson said Sunday. "I know most of the others, and I know them to be highly qualified."
Friday, Gilmore, who will serve as chairman of the corporation's board of directors, announced that Virginia's tobacco growers and quota holders will receive up to $340 million over the next 12 years in direct aid as a result of the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust. Gilmore, Attorney General Mark Earley and Commissioner of Agriculture Carlton Courter, on behalf of Virginia's tobacco communities, signed documents agreeing to the provisions of the trust.
The aid is in addition to funds due Virginia from the Master Settlement Agreement, and Gilmore projected that farmers should see their first round of relief payments later in the year.
However, Anderson commented, there is a great deal of work to be done between now and that point.
"The key thing for all growers to remember now is that a lot of work remains to be done between now and when the relief payments are distributed," he said. "Currently, there is no system in place for dispersal of funds and we must establish this. And we will have to gather certain information from the Farm Service Agency as far as production records and ownership history where quotas are concerned. The key will be to keep it simple. We need to devise the simplest system possible for distributing the money"
"We are going to do an unbelievable amount of work between now and the end of year, if we are indeed going to get the funds out by end of the year, and that is our goal."
The $5.15 billion National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust was established between tobacco growing states and the major cigarette manufacturers - Phillip Morris Inc., Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Lorrillard Tobacco Company, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - to create a pool of money separate from the Master Settlement Agreement.
Together, Gilmore and Earley promoted the idea of establishing a trust for Virginia's tobacco growers and quota holders during meetings with the tobacco companies held in North Carolina last January.
"Throughout these intense negotiations, my priority has been to protect Virginia's tobacco growers and quota holders," Gilmore said. "Thanks to the efforts of Attorney General Earley and Agriculture Commissioner Courter, Virginia tobacco growers and quota holders will soon see their first round of relief payments later this year."
The National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust establishes a state certification entity, the National Tobacco Certification Corporation, to administer the relief money as it comes to Virginia. Serving on the board in addition to the seven citizens and the governor will be Agriculture Commissioner Courter as vice chairman and Attorney General Earley as secretary.
The board of directors will also consist of a state senator, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and two members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation.
Anderson said the members of the commission will meet later this month to further develop ideas concerning information gathering through the FSA and to develop a distribution formula.
"I appreciate the governor moving forward in such a timely manner and appointing the commission so that we can see that the growers receive payments as quickly as possible," Anderson said. "I will do the best job I can do, and think all members of the commission will look at this program in a very fair and equitable manner as they attempt to distribute the money for the purpose that the fund was established. And as these decisions are made, we will keep the grower community informed as to how the funds will be dispersed and what they can expect."

By GREG TOPPO
Associated Press Writer
Business is brisk these days at Delaware Cigarette & Tobacco in Bear, Del., seven miles east of the Maryland line.
Waiting on a steady stream of customers clutching cartons of Lucky Strikes, Camels and Newports, clerk June Alexander this week said sales clearly have increased since a Maryland law took effect July 1 raising the price of a pack there by 30 cents.
Maryland lawmakers voted in April to increase the state's cigarette tax to 66 cents a pack, higher than any neighboring state.
Supporters maintain the higher tax will reduce smoking by teen-agers. It is also expected to bring in an estimated $91 million over the next year.
The price of a carton of cigarettes in Maryland can be about $4 more than in Delaware, which has a 22-cent cigarette tax, and about $6 more than in Virginia, which has the lowest cigarette tax in the region at 2.5 cents.
Taxes are 17 cents per pack in West Virginia, 31 cents in Pennsylvania, and 65 cents in the District of Columbia.
Maryland law allows residents to import only two packs at a time, so all those folks buying a carton in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia are breaking the law, said Mike Golden, a spokesman for Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer. But authorities aren't after the casual cigarette buyer.
''We're mainly interested in those people who are bootlegging cigarettes,'' Golden said.
In July, agents from the comptroller's office arrested a 73-year-old Bethesda man and charged him with trying to sell more than 1,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes that he allegedly bought in Virginia. If convicted, Sidney Apple could be imprisoned for a year and fined $1,000.
While the evidence is largely anecdotal for now, several merchants in neighboring states said cigarette sales are on the rise because of Maryland's tax increase.
''It's a godsend,'' said Frank Speciale, who owns two discount tobacco stores in Newark, Del. ''We were doing OK before the Maryland tax, but when you're on the border like we are, that really helps.''
Sales in his two stores are up more than 17 percent. Since July 1, he said, sales have risen from 3,300 cartons a week to 4,000.
Mark Miller, a clerk at Baldini's Amoco in Newark, Del., has noticed several Maryland motorists crossing the border for smokes.
''I had one person from Maryland amazed that our prices are cheaper than theirs,'' he said. ''She said she'll come over more often.''
Donna Leake, a clerk at Seibert's Texaco in King George, Va., said Maryland cigarette buyers tell her the higher tax is ''a little outrageous and little stupid.''
Opponents of the Maryland tax insist the increase will do little or nothing to curb smoking by young people and will hurt Maryland merchants, especially those near the state line.
''I think it's crazy,'' Ms. Alexander said of the Maryland tax. ''I think if kids want to smoke, they're going to get the money any way they can - or they'll steal them. We have a problem with that.''
Advocates of the Maryland tax hike say it's too early to gauge its effectiveness, but they are confident that it will reduce teen smoking.
Michelle Byrnie, Gov. Parris Glendening's deputy press secretary, said the governor isn't surprised that smokers are crossing state lines to buy cigarettes.
''Short term, sure, we'll see people buying cigarettes out of state,'' she said. ''Long term, he believes that people will either pay the higher price or give up smoking, which is the objective of the tax.''
Michael Pretl of the Maryland Children's Initiative, which lobbied for the tax hike, agreed.
''People will go to other states, but after a while that gets old,'' he said.
Pretl said Smoke Free Maryland, which pushed legislators for the tax increase, plans to return to Annapolis next year with a bill to add a few more cents to the cigarette tax.
''Certainly people can tighten the belt and say, 'I'm going to keep smoking,''' he said, ''but eventually it's going to have an impact.''

For the second time in a week, County Planner Jerry Lovelace was charged Friday with trespassing on hog producers' farms in the Red Bank and Virgilina areas
James H. Wilson of Virgilina was the second hog producer to lodge a charge. Lovelace was arrested at 10:30 a.m. Friday, according to Capt. Larry Fears of the Sheriff's Department.
Earlier in the week, Lovelace was charged with trespassing without authority on hog producer Scott Hudson's farm on or about June 30.
Neither Wilson nor Hudson chose to comment on the issued warrants.
Both charges are Class I misdemeanors, according to Capt. Fears.
Arraignment on both charges is scheduled today in General District Court.
Following the first charge, Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper said Lovelace was just "doing his job."

Supervisors will receive the Planning Commission's recommendation on hog setbacks tonight, and continue their full agenda with boundary talks with the Town of Halifax on Tuesday night.
The Board's regular session opens tonight at 7 o'clock in the Conference Room at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
The Tuesday night session with the Town of Halifax on boundary adjustments is expected to be a closed session.
The Town of Halifax is seeking to extend its boundaries to include the Salishan and Golf Course Road areas, to meet South Boston's boundaries in the Centerville area and extend up Mountain Road in a westerly direction.
The Town is hoping to complete boundary adjustments by Dec. 31, 1999.
But first on the supervisors' platter is the proposed Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) ordinance amendments on tonight's agenda.
Supervisors will make the decision on CAFO ordinance amendments and will hold a public hearing before making their final decision.
The Planning Commission voted 4-3 following a public hearing held July 12 to increase setbacks for large swine herds and set a new swine trigger point for ordinance application.
Setback changes proposed by the Planning Commission included an increase from 700 ft. to 1,000 ft. from highway center lines, and from 500 ft. to 1,000 ft. from property lines and blue line streams.
Instead of a trigger point of 375 swine to initiate setback regulations, commissioners recommended 750.
Commissioners also recommended that with each increase of 500 hogs over an initial 750, that a 1,000-ft. setback be added in all categories for structure setbacks.
Southside Concerned Citizens Chairman Jack Dunavant has asked that members of SCC be allowed to speak tonight.
Tonight, supervisors also will hear a report from County Administrator Dan Sleeper regarding the Voting Rights bailout consideration, explore the Community Services Performance Contract and address a letter from Dr. Henry W. Poore regarding his purchase of a Virgilina building and his proposal to deed the property to the county.
Also, the Board will hear a request for a conditional use permit from Daniel J. McDuffie for an elderly care facility to be located in the former Spencer Lumber Building south of the Town of Halifax.

Planning commissioners in a 7-0 vote last week recommended approval of Daniel McDuffie's permit for an elderly care facility in the former Spencer Lumber building just south of Halifax.
The Board of Supervisors will hear the request at their regular session tonight at 7 o'clock in the Mary Bethune Complex.
Daniels proposes an adult residential adult care for about 50 residents with 24-hour care, as well as an adult day care for 40 participants at the Route 501 site.
The operator also plans to offer respite care for families in need of time away from an elderly family member. This service would include overnight accommodations.
Planning commissioners also heard an application for plat vacation in Election District 4 concerning an unopened portion of Hedderly Street at the northeast corporate limits of the Town of Halifax.
Commissioners set a Tuesday, August 24, public hearing on the issue, which will be during their regular meeting session.
In other business, County Planner Jerry Lovelace advised commissioners that tentative boundaries have been established for the major planning areas to be addressed within the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the tentative schedule for community meetings in each of the areas.
Although tentative, Lovelace suggested Wednesday meetings with two-week intervals, beginning around mid-September.
Suggested planning areas include Route 501 South planning area, the 360 East planning area, the North County planning area and the urban planning area, which includes the Town of Halifax, Centerville, South Boston and spills over into the county.
Lovelace told commissioners that residents in the planning areas would be asked what they considered their areas' strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they would like to see the area developed in the next 10 to 20 years.
Lovelace also discussed the job description for an Agricultural Development Agent. The county is seeking to promote the agriculture industry, including identifying existing marketing options for products and creating new markets.
Supervisors have endorsed the position with an intent of having an agent in place by the first of the year, according to Lovelace.
The new agent also would support and promote plans and regulatory measures for protecting agricultural areas while promoting the agricultural economy by working with the Agricultural Advisory Committee, Unit Coordinator/Agricultural Agents, county, state and federal agencies.
The agent also would seek to recruit ag-based industries/businesses, recruit local, state and federal resources to assist with marketing of local agricultural products.
The agent's job would be to assure that the county would have an agricultural and forestry production and marketing system that is highly competitive, environmentally sound and profitable, according to the prepared job description.

Mary Lillian Ewell, 92, of 1812 Jefferson Avenue, South Boston died Friday, July 30, 1999 at the Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Miss Ewell was born in Halifax County on April 18, 1907, the daughter of Richard Ewell and Nannie Williams Ewell and was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
Her survivors include one nephew: Richard Kent of South Boston; six great-nieces: Veroncia Hoffman and Marian Davis of South Boston and four of Baltimore, MD and five great-nephews: Joel Bowman of South Boston, one of Richmond and three of Baltimore.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 4 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. James Crowder officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. and at other times at the home of Marian Davis, 1812 Jefferson Ave., South Boston.

Elsie Mae Williams Battle, 60, of New York, NY died Thursday, July 29, 1999 at North General Hospital.
Mrs. Battle was born in Halifax County on April 27, 1939, the daughter of Joseph Williams and Lizzie Ragsdale Williams Younger. She was married to Samuel Battle and was a member of the Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church.
Her survivors include her husband; one daughter: Saundra Battle of Toledo, OH; two sisters: Doresa Lindsey of South Boston and Dorothy Carrington of New York, NY; three brothers: Robert Williams of Suitland, MD, and Jesse and Irving Williams of South Boston and three grandchildren.
A funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 3 at 11 a.m. at the Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church with the Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Doresa Lindsey, 800 Easley Street, South Boston.

Lila Elizabeth Carden Traynham, 82, of Chesterfield died Friday, July 30, 1999 at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond.
Mrs. Traynham was born in Durham, NC on December 12, 1916, the daughter of Leo Julian Carden, Sr. and Mabel Stebbins Carden. She was married to Armistead Barksdale Traynham and was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and the Henry W. Woodall Order of the Eastern Star.
Her survivors include two daughters: Judith Greene of Chesterfield and Anita Tetterton of Richmond; one son: Armistead Traynham, Jr. of Waynesboro; one sister: Helen Hayes of Nelson; one brother: Leo Carden of South Boston and four grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held today, August 2 at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Doug Martin officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Rescue Squad or the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Home.

Lucy Hall Leigh, 82, of 1141 Lee-Syd-Moore Road, Scottsburg died Saturday, July 31, 1999 at the Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Leigh was born in Halifax County on May 10, 1917, the daughter of Ellis E. Hall and Rosie Sutphin Hall. She was married to the late Rev. Daniel Louis Leigh and was a member of the St. James Baptist Church.
Her survivors include five daughters: Rosetta Sydnor and Roxie Senn of Scottsburg, Mary LaRoach of Forestville, MD, Lucy Bailey and Mildred Hayes of Scottsburg; three sons: Louis Leigh of Chester, Daniel Leigh of South Boston and Marshall Leigh of Scottsburg, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 4 at 3 p.m. at the St. James Baptist Church with the Rev. Byrd Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Rosetta Sydnor, 1101 Lee-Syd-Moore Road, Scottsburg.

Beatrice Ray Sadler, 70, of 2162 Huell Matthews Hwy., South Boston died July 31, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Sadler was born December 12, 1928 in Halifax County, the daughter of Kermit Ray and Margaret Gravitt Ray. She was married to Ellis Stover "Pete" Sadler and was a member of Second Baptist Church.
Her survivors include one son: Kent Sadler of South Boston; one daughter: Gina Cole of South Boston; one sister: Dianne Conner of Burlington, NC; three brothers: Ira Ray of Buffalo Junction, Douglas and Scott Ray of South Boston; two grandsons: Shane Cole and Nicholas Sadler of South Boston and one granddaughter: Brandi Sadler of South Boston. She was preceded in death by her husband, and a brother: Lucius Ray.

A graveside service will be held today, August 2 in the Halifax Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Jim Smith and Rev. Jack Stewart officiating.
The family requests those wishing to give memorials please consider Second Baptist Church.

Lucille E. Gregory, 90, of Drakes Branch died July 30, 1999 in Keysville.
Mrs. Gregory was married to the late Hillary Allen Gregory, Sr. She was a member of the St. Michael Baptist Church, Charlotte Chapter #147 Order of Eastern Star and the Harambee Senior Citizens Ministry.
Her survivors include four daughters: Ruby Gee of Drakes Branch, Elaine Williams of Philadelphia, PA, Mable Johnson of Norfolk and Linda Collins of Silver Spring, MD; three sons: Louise Gregory of Dale City, James Gregory of Richmond and Steve Gregory of South Boston; three sisters, one brother, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 3 at 12 noon at the St. Michael Baptist Church in Drakes Branch with interment in the Gregory Family Cemetery.