Customers of the Town of Scottsburg's water system will have to put off any plans to water the lawn or wash the car, as mandatory water restrictions are being imposed effective immediately.
"Residents should discontinue watering lawns, flowers, washing cars or any other activities that require unnecessary water usage," said Scottsburg Mayor Ricky Gordon.
The extended drought conditions gripping the Southside have begun to take a toll on local lake levels, and after battling water problems last year, Scottsburg officials decided to take pro-active, rather than reactive, measures.
"At the current time, water levels are adequate. This is precautionary. We don't want to take a chance and run out of water," Gordon said.
The mayor told council members during their regular meeting Tuesday that beginning Friday, August 27, residents violating this order will be issued a warning for the first offense, a $100 fine for the second offense, and a $100 fine and disconnection of their water service until restrictions are lifted for subsequent violations.
"Last year we had serious water problems with wells getting very low, and with this extended drought, we don't want to take the chance and run out of water," Gordon said. "That is why we are demanding mandatory water restrictions. We don't want to get in the situation we were in last year when we actually burned up a pump on one of our primary wells.
"We need to ensure sufficient water for residents' consumption and, with the looming threat of fire, to ensure water is available to fight any fires that may occur," Gordon continued.
Because a number of residents who are connected to the town water system also have private wells, Gordon anticipates some false alarms regarding excessive water usage.
However, Gordon said each report will be investigated. Should the water customer prove to be using water from his own well, this will be noted and the individual who reported the violation will be notified.
The towns of South Boston and Halifax have cast anxious glances to the rapidly diminishing Dan and Banister rivers, that respectively supply each town with water, but at this time, officials feel the situation does not merit emergency measures.
"So far we've been getting a good supply of water and have never not had enough water," commented South Boston Water Plant Superintendent Mark Wilkerson. "We've just had to move the sand around a little bit so the water can reach the intake. We're actually quite fortunate compared to other localities around us."
According to Wilkerson, the Dan River, which supplies the Town of South Boston with water, fluctuates as much as six to eight inches in a 24-hour period.
"(Wednesday) it was exceptionally low. (Thursday) it was a little higher. It fluctuates, even without rain," he said.
Wilkerson said the river's width also affects the water level, making it appear deceptively low.
"There's a lot of water in the river. It's just so wide where we're drawing from that it doesn't look very deep," he said. "But the water is going by so fast, and there is a strong current. We may have to scoop out a little sand if gets any worse, but I don't expect any restrictions."
Although the Banister River and Banister Lake have begun to resemble mud flats, Halifax officials say their water supply is not threatened.
"Right now we are not overly concerned. We have an adequate supply of water," said Halifax Town Manager Bob Greene. "To consider restricting water usage is just so far down the road from now. If in the next couple of months or six weeks we don't have any rain, we are certainly going to be concerned."
He explained that the lake level is currently being maintained by balancing the river flow and the amount going through the dam.
"The lake level has not fluctuated at all in the last week since we began to restrict flow to what is actually coming into the lake," Greene said.

Staunton River State Park's boat ramps currently launch into either a sea of healthy green grass or a field of dangerous stumps.
Islands continue to surface in the middle of both the Staunton and Dan rivers due to the drought and state parks are closing their boat ramps.
Staunton River State Park has closed both of their boat ramps until further notice.
A canoe owner is permitted to launch by carrying his craft to the water at Staunton River State Park.
Occoneechee State Park's boat ramps were closed yesterday.
Mud, yes, but at least one Staunton River park official thinks a person "could almost walk across the Staunton River" in places because the water is so low.
"Already, several boats have run aground in the Dan River," said Staunton River State Park Manager Tim Vest yesterday. "People had to get out and push the boats off the sandbar. So it is a very critical situation," said the park manager.
"Everyone has to be careful since a huge island has formed in the Dan and large stumps are showing . Some stumps are just under water level and those you really have to watch for," emphasized Vest.
Water levels are the lowest the park manager has seen since he moved to the park in 1993.
"We could be heading toward historic lows," added Vest yesterday as a determined heron fished shallow Staunton River waters beyond the splendid grass crop flourishing off the boat landing.
Due to the drought, Vest said park officials have already made some refunds to campers who had booked last weekend at the park's cabins and campgrounds.
"They came with the expectation they could launch boats in the lake, and they couldn't," explained Vest.
The park official also is notifying by letter those with park reservations through December of current conditions at the park.
Richard Carroll, superintendent at John H. Kerr Reservoir Power House, said the lake level should be at 299.5 mean sea level now, but on Thursday morning the level was 293.5 MSL.
"We could go to 289.0 if we don't start getting some rain in the coming months," said Carroll, who has not seen the lake that low in his 17 years at Kerr Reservoir.
The bottom of the power pool is elevation 268 (MSL), according to Carroll. "And after that we could not generate. It would be too low."
There have been only three months since July 1998 when the rainfall over the Kerr watershed has been at or above normal, according Terry Brown of the Hydraulics Office in Wilmington, N.C.
Carroll said there are commitments to two power companies, Virginia Power and Carolina Power and Light, and that power is marketed through Southeastern Power Administration in Georgia.

By PAUL TOLME
Associated Press Writer
Like a virus that refuses to die, the drought continues to creep across Virginia and into areas where water supplies previously had been unaffected.
More communities are considering water restrictions. Well owners are getting nervous. State officials are beginning to collect more data from dry areas to prepare for the worst.
''We're seeing an intensifying of drought conditions,'' said Bob Taylor, a water supply engineer with the Department of Health. ''It's broadening to cover larger areas of the state.''
A task force of officials from various state agencies and the federal government has begun to hold regular teleconferences to keep Gov. Jim Gilmore and agency heads appraised about water problems, said Taylor, who participated in such a call Wednesday.
The drought initially was felt in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, where corn and crops began to wither early this summer, and where Loudoun County became the first community in the state to impose mandatory water restrictions. Now, the only area that remains largely unaffected is along the southeastern shore, Taylor said.
''We're seeing more impacts in central Virginia and we're starting to get more reports from southwest Virginia,'' Taylor said.
Richmond on Friday joined communities around the state that have imposed voluntary water restrictions.
The James River in Richmond is flowing at about a quarter of its normal volume, but the Department of Public Utilities has not considered mandatory restrictions because it wants time to analyze the effect of the voluntary cutbacks, spokeswoman Anne Paschke said.
Normally, about 2,000 cubic feet of water per second flow down the James in Richmond in August. Wednesday, the flow was 480 cubic feet per second, according to a U.S. Geological Survey Web site.
The Bedford City Council authorized mandatory water restrictions Tuesday that could begin as early as Friday.
City officials say daily consumption is at 1.4 million gallons despite requests for voluntary conservation. Officials there expected Stoney Creek Reservoir, the city's primary water source, to drop to 5 feet below full by Friday.
As the drought stretches on, homeowners with wells are beginning to worry.
Water had to be delivered by truck recently to the Wagner Farm housing development in Tazewell County when wells there ran dry, state health inspector Roger Krouse said. Residents had to carry buckets of water into their homes, he said.
John Milgrim, environmental health supervisor for Fairfax County, said he has been flooded with calls from concerned homeowners, although he knows of no wells in the county that have dried up.
''I'm surprised we haven't seen any,'' he said.
As flowers and grass wilt and fry because of mandatory or voluntary water restrictions, neighbors have begun to look suspiciously at one another's lawns for signs of covert watering. In Roanoke, colorful flowers outside the federal courthouse led to the discovery that illegal watering was taking place.
Courthouse security guards said the garden's sprinkler system - which carries water from Roanoke's drought-depleted Carvins Cove reservoir - had been coming on at 3 a.m. despite mandatory restrictions in place since July 7.
Building manager Phyllis Gray said the watering was an oversight that has since been stopped.

Neither local nor corporate-level officials with Presto Products were available for comment yesterday following an announcement that Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) and Reynolds Metals Company (NYSE: RLM) had reached a definitive merger agreement under which Alcoa will acquire all outstanding shares of Reynolds in a tax=free stock-for-stock transaction.
Presto is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reynolds and provides employment for approximately 300 persons at its manufacturing facility in the Halifax County Industrial Park.
Presto owns and operates five manufacturing facilities including South Boston, Lewiston, Utah; Appleton, Little Chute and Weyauwega, Wisconsin.
Presto, makers of plastic wraps and resealable plastic bags and other similar products, was founded 1961 and from 1978-1985 was a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola. It was acquired by Reynolds in 1988.
Reynolds shareholders will receive 1.06 shares of Alcoa common stock for each share of Reynolds common stock. Based on the August 18, 1999,
closing price of Alcoa common stock, the equity value of the transaction is approximately $4.4 billion.
Reynolds Metals will be permitted to solicit or receive bids from third parties for 30 days under the agreement according to sources close to the transaction.
The transaction also calls for a $100 million breakup fee.
The combined company will have about 120,000 employees. It will operate in over 300 locations in 36 countries. Based on annualized first-half 1999 results, Alcoa and Reynolds together have $20.5 billion in revenues. Alcoa expects that the transaction will be attractive to Alcoa's earnings per share in the first year following completion of the transaction. The parties are hopeful that the transaction will close by year end.
"We are pleased to have reached a negotiated agreement with Reynolds that is consistent with the goals we established when we announced this strategic initiative just over a week ago," said Alain J. P. Belda, Alcoa president and chief executive officer. "There is an obvious complementary fit between our companies that will create benefits for our shareholders, customers and employees. The new company will be better positioned to address the ongoing globalization of the metals industry and the new competitive landscape this is creating. It will permit the greater efficiencies and cost reductions required by an environment that has seen the lowest prices in many years for our commodity products.
"As we move to combine the two companies," Belda continued, "we will seek to integrate Reynolds employees harmoniously and expeditiously into the Alcoa family and preserve the Reynolds brand name."
Jeremiah J. Sheehan, chairman and chief executive officer of Reynolds, said, "I am pleased that we were able to achieve such a favorable result for our shareholders in such a short period of time. Reynolds shareholders will receive an attractive price for their shares and still have the opportunity to participate in the upside potential of the combined company. Our employees will benefit from being part of a company with the size and resources that are increasingly important to compete in our consolidating industry. And with increased research and development and new product offerings, the combined company will be positioned to exceed customer expectations into the 21st century. We look forward to working with the Alcoa team to ensure a smooth transition."
Alcoa stated that it expects to achieve cost and efficiency savings of approximately $200 million (pre-tax) by the end of the second year after closing. It also said the projected cost synergies, approximately half of which are expected to be achieved in the first year after closing, will be in addition to Alcoa's ongoing $1.1 billion (pre-tax) cost-reduction program.
The Boards of Directors of both Alcoa and Reynolds approved the proposed merger, which is subject to customary conditions, including Reynolds stockholder approval and antitrust clearances.
Alcoa stated that it expects to file its pre-merger notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in the next several days and would make every appropriate resource available to assist the reviewing agency with its task of reviewing the transaction. Alcoa said that it would also be making the requisite competition notification filings with other appropriate international governmental authorities.
In light of the agreement, Alcoa withdrew its previously announced cash tender offer for all outstanding Reynolds shares and the related consent solicitation.
Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. It is active in all major segments of the industry: mining, refining, smelting, fabricating and recycling. Alcoa has 215 operating locations in 31 countries. Revenues for all of 1998 were $15.3 billion with record shipments of 3.95 million metric tons of aluminum.
Reynolds Metals Company is a fully integrated, global manufacturer, distributor and marketer of value-added aluminum products. Reynolds is the third-largest aluminum company in the world, with approximately 18,000 employees at more than 100 locations in 24 countries. Reynolds serves customers in the alumina and primary aluminum, packaging and consumer products, commercial construction, distribution and transportation markets. Revenues in 1998 were $5.9 billion.

A teenage boy was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night while waiting for a bus at the Greyhound Bus station on John Randolph Boulevard (Route 360).
According to Lt. Rick Loftis with the South Boston Police, a lone 16-year-old boy was waiting for a bus when a grey Nissan occupied by two black males pulled up at the station.
The passenger, described as standing approximately six feet tall and weighing between 200 and 250 pounds, got out of the vehicle and allegedly pointed what police believe was either a .45- or .380-caliber handgun.
The boy was made to empty his pockets, Loftis said, and the suspects drove away with an undetermined amount of cash.
Officer D.W. Barker is in charge of this investigation.
South Boston Police are also investigating a recent break-in at the Italian Delight Restaurant.
Loftis said that at 3:25 a.m. Wednesday, someone threw a cinder block through the plate-glass door to the business located at 3154 Halifax Road and stole an undetermined amount of cash.
Police believe the suspect(s) cut themselves entering through the broken glass in the door, as blood was found on the scene.
Officer G.D. Slaughter and Investigators B.K. Lovelace are conducting the investigation into the break-in.
A South Boston man accused of throwing human feces on the door of the Southern Pride Car Wash on multiple occasions was arrested Friday.
According to reports, Paul F. Carrington, 63, of Owens Avenue, was arrested and charged with defacing private property.
Loftis said Carrington allegedly threw his own feces at the car wash door on August 3, 5, 10 and 16.

A Nathalie man died Tuesday in Pittsylvania County, apparently of an accidental self-inflicted gun wound.
According to Pittsylvania County Sheriff G. Harold Plaster, on August 17, Clyde Stevenson Graves, 25, of Stagecoach Road, Nathalie, was driving along Northside Drive in the Gretna community around 11:15 p.m. when he attempted to remove a .44-caliber handgun from his beltline and shot himself one time in the stomach.
Members of the Gretna Life Saving Crew transported Graves to the Danville Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Plaster said although the shooting appeared to be accidental based on preliminary reports, the body will be sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke for an autopsy.

The Town of South Boston recently hired Lee Pambid as the new, full-time Town Planning and Zoning Administrator.
Pambid, a native of South Boston and 1996 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BS degree in urban zoning and planning, was selected from a field of six candidates, according to South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel.
Daniel said Pambid's local ties and professional expertise in his field will be an asset to the town.
Pambid recently completed a contract with the town to do the mapping for South Boston's new zoning ordinance, which became effective August 1, 1999.
In addition to setting up his new office with an official web page, Pambid will be primarily responsible for handling zoning or rezoning issues and applying variances.

Rev. Claude Raymond Graham, 80, of Danville, died Tuesday, August 17, 1999, at Roman Eagle Memorial Home.
Born May 16, 1919, in Roanoke County, he was the son of Elbert William Graham and Telitha Fralin Graham, and was married to Dorothy Earles Graham. He was a veteran of the United States Navy Air Force during World War II.
Rev. Graham graduated from Wake Forest College, and was a former board member of Dan River Baptist Association, served as administrative assistant at Patrick Henry Boys Home at Brookneal, and was in the ministry for 45 years.
He last served at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Halifax County where he was a member and previously served at Second Baptist Church in South Boston.
Survivors include one sister, Eva Owen of Danville; two brothers, Walter Graham of Suffolk, and Lewis Graham of Danville. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathleen Carter, and Yevlee Mayhew, and one brother, Herman Graham.
A funeral for Rev. Graham will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Swicegood Funeral Home Chapel in Danville with Revs. Alden Hicks and Daryl Joyce officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Martinsville.
The family will receive friends 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and other times at the home of his niece, Trudi and Jerry Griffin, 189 Pineview Drive, Ringgold.

Hattie Chandler Moorman, 87, of Crystal Hill died Monday, August 16, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Moorman was born in Halifax County on March 12, 1912.
Survivors include two daughters, Helen Coles of Charlottesville, and Jean Cousins of Clover; four sons, Clinton Moorman of Nathalie, Howard Moorman, and Theodore Moorman, both of Crystal Hill, and Glen Moorman of Alexandria; four sisters, Bertha Womack, and Louise Miller, both of South Boston, Lucille Barksdale of Bridgeport, Ct., and Elizabeth Fallen of Albany, N.Y.
Memorial services for Mrs. Moorman will be held Friday, August 20, at 12:00 p.m. at Crawford, Garrett & Burton Funeral Home.

Lawrence Elmer Davis, 87, of South Boston, died August 16, 1999, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Davis was born in Halifax County the son of Johnny Buck Davis and Pattie Davis Coleman and was married to Esther Mae Lovelace. He was a member of County Line Baptist Church.
Survivors include six sons, William Davis of Dover, N.J., James Davis and Linroy Davis, both of Washington, D.C., Lawrence Davis Jr., of District Heights, Md., Samuel Davis of Dumfries, and Warren Davis of Temple Hill, Md.; one daughter, Dora E. Smith of Vienna; 27 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; five sisters, Belle Terry Coleman of Halifax, Bessie Carlers of Baltimore, Doris Dixon, and Sadie Warren, both of Woodbine, N.J., Rosa Caldwell of Philadelphia, Pa.; three brothers, John B. Davis and Israel Davis, both of Vernon Hill, and Leroy Davis of Halifax.

Services for Mr. Davis will be held Friday, August 20, at 1:00 p.m., at County Line Baptist Church with Rev. Otis Dillard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Maynard Lloyd Scribner of Newquay, Cornwall, England, died Wednesday, August 18, 1999.
Mr. Scribner was a 30 year veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, June Scribner; two daughters, Debra S. Ferguson and Susan S. Hall, both of South Boston; one son, Brett Scribner of England; four sisters; two brothers; three grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Burial will take place at sea aboard the Royal Navy Ship off the coast of Plymouth, England with full military rites.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, August 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church.

Luther Lee Bourne, 75, of 7183 McDonald Road, Scottsburg, died August 19, 1999, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bourne was born in Stony Fork on December 7, 1923, the son of Robert L. Bourne and Mrs. Gracie Brinkley, and was married to Dorothy Jackson Bourne. He was a member of Fork Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and on the Board of Trustees.
Survivors include his wife; one son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lee and Betty Bourne of Scottsburg; his mother-in-law, Flora Bell Jackson of Ivanhoe; three brothers, Robert L. Bourne of Max Meadows, Raymond Bourne and Danny Bourne, both of Augusta, Ga.; three sisters, Pauline Ingoe and Mary Lawrence, both of Wytheville, and Ruth Childress of Roanoke; four grandchildren, Kimberly Bourne Stephenson of Richmond, Bobbette Bourne Wilkerson, Brandy Leigh Bourne and Bobbie Lee Bourne, all of Scottsburg.
Funeral services for Mr. Bourne will be held Friday, August 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jack Stewart conducting the service. A service will also be held Sunday, August 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Hope United Methodist Church in Fries, with burial in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Friday from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m., and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Kidney Foundation or the American Heart Association.