A block of Riverdale residents and a section of South Boston, which includes the new Continuing Education Center area and runs along Main and Wilborn, were moved into Election District 8 during a supervisors' session Monday night.
Supervisors approved the plan which increases the minority/majority ED-8's black population to 62 percent.
The change also will create a minority/majority District 3, one reflecting a 55 percent black population.
The revised ND redistricting proposal will now be forwarded to the U.S. Justice Department for its approval.
The changes came as a result of recommendations by South Boston Councilman Ed Owens.
Concern about the census count at prison Camp 23 and its possible impact on the "political reality" of ED-8's minority/majority status initiated debate during the redistricting public hearing last month.
The count in that census block was still unclear Monday night, with Camp 23 an important variable since prisoners cannot vote. Looking at the census count in the block, ED-4 Supervisor David Martin wondered aloud if the prison camp had been counted.
However, a solution to the ED-8 question was proposed by Owens and accepted by supervisors.
By tapping a section of Riverdale, the majority/minority ED-8 will reflect the voter "political reality" its advocates had sought.
In adding the Riverdale block, residents were pulled from ED-6, which is served by Supervisor Page Wilkerson.
"I believe this does meet the spirit (of the redistricting process)", observed Joe Morgan, county administrator.
Supervisors also clipped off the new Continuing Education Center area from ED-5, served by Supervisor James Edmunds.
"It is mainly buildings with some people behind Mineral," Owens said.
Before that change, ED-5 extended from the Staunton River State Park to the CEC in South Boston.
The councilman noted the configuration of the existing ED-5 and said that it seemed logical to include the island of buildings and residents in ED-8, which is served by Corky Rorrer.
"It makes a cleaner map," observed Owens.
Raising South Boston Council's earlier request, Rorrer reminded supervisors that the town wanted to try to see that District 5 would have 50 percent of its voting-age residents as town citizens.
However, the final proposal did not include that change.
Commenting on the final plan approved by supervisors Monday night, Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott said, "This (plan) makes more sense than the one 10 years ago."
"The committee did an extremely good job," added Rorrer. "Computers make a big difference."
Following the 2000 census, which reflects shifts in the population nationwide, redistricting is mandated.
The ideal population in each of Halifax County's eight districts is 4,669.
The U.S. Justice Department must approve Halifax County's ND plan and the register must prepare for a summer primary.
Since its inception, the county' Redistricting Advisory Committee has faced a short time line in preparing a redistricting plan.
"I think they did a good job," Owens said in closing.

Finance committee members appear ready to take a 10 percent real estate tax hike to the full Board.
Facing a projected $4.5 million deficit in a pared down budget, the real estate tax hike would add $800,000 to the county treasury the first year.
Back-to-back increases over a six-year span would produce an additional $6,096,555, according to a draft budget prepared by the county administrator.
Halifax County's current real estate tax rate is 36 cents per assessed $100.
The finance committee continued a line-by-line examination of budget proposals during its long Wednesday work session.
Although the real estate tax hike is the only one the committee appears to be considering for the upcoming budget, supervisors continue to seek information on future proposals, including a $75 per year household garbage collection fee - projected to add $600,000 - and a merchant's capital tax rather than a retail business license tax.
The administrator estimated a merchant's capital tax would produce $200,000 in additional revenue. However, Morgan recommended that implementation, if recommended, not come before the 2002 tax year.
Supervisors are hoping that revised state funding for schools might offer the county substantial financial relief. But because of the state budget impasse in Richmond, that question remains unanswered.
Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott is one willing "to wait and see what Richmond is going to do" with school funding before contemplating garbage fees.
Abbott advocates borrowing until counties know what the state is going to do. "We have done it in the past," he said. "When you put a tax on it never comes off. Everyone knows that."
Jail, juvenile detention, employee health insurance and solid waste collection funding have been named as the most significant increases in the general government expenses, according to Morgan.

Halifax County supervisors plan to meet with their Charlotte County counterparts as soon as mutually convenient to review options on historic Clarkton Bridge's fate.
VDOT advertised the 1901 Camelback bridge this spring, seeking new owners for the 100-year-old structure that spans the Staunton River.
Replies are in and Joe Barkley II, VDOT resident engineer, told Charlotte County supervisors earlier this week that about five were received, according to Russell B. Clark, county administrator.
But some are already worried that it's a done deal, with the bridge destined to be cut in sections for use at a Farmville golf course.
Charlotte County resident William B. Devin, president of the Friends of Clarkton Bridge Preservation, is calling on citizens to rally on behalf of the bridge.
Devin, in an ad placed in newspapers in both counties, said his goal is to acquire the bridge for public use as a walking or bicycle trail at its current Route 620 location.
He suggested that the bridge and public boat landing could be used to draw tourism into the area, with visitors enjoying the historic bridge or possibly canoeing or boating down the river to Randolph to Staunton River Battlefield State Park.
"Clarkton Bridge at some time in the future could become a part of the Staunton River State Battlefield Park as an off-site place of interest to visit, with possible use of the public boat landing and picnic area.," added Devin.
The Charlotte County resident is proposing that general liability insurance be carried on the bridge by the Preservation organization in order to free VDOT and both counties from liability.
Charlotte County Administrator Russell Clark said yesterday that the board is awaiting a reply from the state Attorney General's office regarding the liability issue.
In his proposal, Devin offered a preliminary legal analysis of the liability issue from attorney Ben Lacy IV of Sands, Anderson, Marks & Miller, suggesting that the counties and VDOT could be protected.
VDOT, in its ad, said it would give the new bridge owner $225,000, the estimated cost of the demolition of the bridge. The money could be used to help with repair and maintenance or to assist in moving and re-erecting the structure.
"Hopefully I can awaken the citizens of our counties to its (the bridge's) value and for our need to contact our elected officials by phone and sign petitions that are currently circulating in the two counties. Let not this be one man's struggle but rather everyone's crusade," wrote Devin.
"What will be next?" Devin asked, if this valuable resource is lost.
"We are fortunate to have good decent, honorable men and women representing us that want to serve the wishes of the citizens," he continued.
Devin urged citizens to contact board members.
The Halifax County Board of Supervisors will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday night at Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.

State Senator Frank Ruff Jr., R-Clarksville, emphasized the theme of basin-wide unity through increased communication in his remarks to a small but energized group at Wednesday's meeting of the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA).
The current redistricting in Virginia will present new opportunites for the RRBA to inform state legislators of the threats facing the basin, explained Ruff, who used the restructuring of his district as an example.
"I'm very keen on meeting folks in Fluvanna and Amherst and places like that. It's a good opportunity for the association to reach out to those legilastors who may be picking up part of the basin," he said.
Ruff also mentioned it would be a good idea to approach announced candidates for this fall's House of Delegates elections to ask their stance on riparian issues throughout the basin.
Addressing the ongoing Virginia General Assembly study concerning a potential Roanoke River Basin Commission, Ruff urged a grassroots, bi-state approach.
When the idea of such a commission was first proposed in 1999, Ruff said it was not respectful to move ahead with something in Richmond without the support and participation of long-time basin advocates in both Virginia and North Carolina.
"I thought it would be far wiser to try and bring along with that legislation a proposal to bring along North Carolina and make it a joint-state advisory committee," said Ruff.
Regarding environmental issues in the basin, Ruff urged the RRBA to be careful.
"I would caution the basin association - each individual can do as they wish - to allow themselves as a body to get involved with environmental issues unless they totally understand what those issues are," said Ruff.
Ruff also addressed future issues of possible concern for the RRBA, including the potential for a power shortage in Virginia like that currently being experienced in California.
"We have to be careful and look at what will happen if we have a drought like we had a couple of years ago...what would happen if we had a major obstruction of supply - would we be in the same situation as California?
"One thing that I think we need to look at (from a conservation point of view) is to try to figure out how we can restructure how we use power to be more efficient."
"In California, at 4 p.m. in the afternoon, the peak price of energy is 3,000 times higher than the wholesale price at 2 a.m," said the Senator.
If power plants placed themselves on a meter to determine low and higher demand periods, they could adjust power usage throughout the day in order to bring that ratio more in line and lower the cost of energy, according to Ruff.
Questions posed by the audinence to Ruff centered around making the fight for a cleaner basin one of principle, not of politics, one of energizing more and perhaps younger segments of the basin's residents.
The comparatively sparse population of the basin stands in sharp contrast to that of the urbanized areas to the south that are expressing an interest in "sticking a straw into basin waters."
A denser population means more political clout, a fact that was not lost in last night's discussions, and not lost on the RRBA executive committee, which met prior to the meeting.
It was agreed Wednesday that the RRBA needs all the support it can garner, to fend off attempts of more localities to tap basin waters.
"Ruff takes a common sense approach to problem solving and to protecting the water resources of this basin," said Tom Brawner, RRBA executive director.
Brawner said that Ruff shares RRBA's fundamental views.
Those views are that interbasin transfer is wrong as a matter of principle; that any effort to get the stakeholders in the basin to come together, such as the Roanoke Commission effort, requires us to look at the entire basin, both Virginia and North Carolina, and to include all stakeholders; and that we should pick our battles carefully and come to the table prepared.
"Frank also emphasized an important point - that we should pay attention to the legislature, because much of what they do can impact our issues greatly," added Brawner.
Although admittedly a little disappointed with the turnout, Brawner said that many key representatives from throughout the basin were there, including representatives from the Cities of Roanoke and Danville, the Rockingham County, N.C. Watershed Protection Coalition, Northampton County, Henry County and the Lake Gaston Association.

Teachers at Washington-Coleman Elementary School will vote May 23 on whether or not a form of year-round education should be implemented at the school.
The May 23 vote will be taken during the teachers' final meeting of the year on year-round education.
Washington-Coleman Principal Biddie Plaster indicated during a parent information session Tuesday night that if the majority of the school staff votes in favor of implementing a year-round education program, the issue will be presented to the Halifax County School Board for approval.
If, however, the majority of the staff votes against implementing a year-round education program, the issue of year-round education will likely be dropped.
Plaster said she hopes that if the School Board decides to implement a year-round education program they will give the two schools in the Town of South Boston a year to prepare for the implementation.
The principal also said she feels that a program coordinator should also be appointed to handle such things as securing teachers for special intersessions.
Washington-Coleman Elementary School teachers were commissioned by School Superintendent Dennis Witt in late October to study year-round education.
Year-round education does not mean that students go to school on a year-round basis.
What year-round education does is reorganizes the school year to provide more continuous learning by organizing the year into instructional blocks and vacation periods that are evenly distributed across 12 months.
As part of the task, Witt requested the school staff to make a decision either for or against implementing year-round education this month.
Four members of the Halifax County School Board, Carl Furches, Steve Anderson, Patricia Nelson and Jason Parker attended the meeting.
However, only about a half dozen or so parents were on hand to hear reports on a series of topics related to year-round education that were presented by Washington-Coleman teachers.
"Change is very difficult for most people," said Washington-Coleman Principal Biddie Plaster.
"Change is not always bad. Change is not always good."
Acknowledging that there are differences of opinion on the issue among the school's teachers, Plaster said she is very pleased with the work that has been done to date.
"I am extremely proud of my teachers and parents of how they have handled this subject," Plaster told the audience.
"My teachers have acted very professionally and we have treated each other with respect as we went about our study."
The teachers that presented the information touched on a number of topics and provided numerous points both for and against year-round education.
They also told parents about the findings they incurred when they visited schools operating on a year-round education program.
Packets containing information about the Washington-Coleman year-round education study complete with a listing of the pros and cons of such a program and the findings of the schools that were visited, were made available to those attending the meeting.
The Halifax County School Board has had the issue of year-round education on its back burner for several months.
C.H. Friend Elementary School teacher Linda Owen appeared before the School Board last July to ask the body for permission to implement a pilot year-round education program at the school in the 2001-2002 school year.
However, since that time, the Halifax County School Board has adopted a school calendar for the next two school years.
Owen's proposal, a Calendar for Alternative Teaching, or CAT, featured nine weeks of regular classroom-time followed by one-two and three- week "intersessions."
Those intersessions, which would run daily from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., would be used to provide remediation for the those students who need it and enrichment activities for those students who have mastered the Standards of Learning (SOLs) and seek additional challenges.
Students would be recommended by teachers for remediation or enrichment intersessions based upon SOL test results, classroom performance and nine weeks grades.
Those students found to be in need of remediation would be strongly encouraged to attend the intersessions.
While those students who have mastered the SOLs would be encouraged to take advantage of the enrichment intersession programs, they and their parents will have the option of "opting out" of attending enrichment programs.
Students that did not attend the intersessions would gain additional vacation time.
That's because under the proposal, students would have the same Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and other holidays that the rest of the school system would observe.
The estimated cost of implementing the program, Owen said, would be approximately $150,000.
School system officials noted, however, that if C.H. Friend were to implement a pilot year-round education program, Washington Coleman Elementary School would have to implement the same schedule due to transportation and other concerns.
Because the Washington-Coleman administrators and staff were not involved in Owen's study at C.H. Friend, school system officials put the matter on the back burner until the faculty at the paired school could study the matter and reach a conclusion.
Based on Owen's initial cost estimates that are now almost a year-old, it will cost an estimated $300,000 to implement a pilot year-round program at both schools.
The issue of year-round education in Halifax County has divided parents at both schools.
Factions on both sides have been busy for months preparing their respective arguments and viewpoints with the hope they will be allowed to address the Halifax County School Board on the issue prior to a final vote.

Anything that can happen usually does when Halifax County and GW square off.
That's what fans can expect tonight when GW comes to town to face the Comets in tonight's 7 p.m. contest at Halifax County High School.
The Comets downed GW 2-0 in Danville a little over a week ago, putting themselves in the driver's seat in the Western District standings.
Halifax County comes into tonight's game with a 9-1 overall slate and a perfect 3-0 slate in Western District play.
The Comets are also in the lofty position of having a two-game lead over GW and Albemarle in the district standings.
A win tonight will assure the Comets of no worse than a tie for the district's regular season crown.
Then, all the Comets would have to do to win the district title is defeat either E.C. Glass here next Friday night or Albemarle in Charlottesville in the regular season finale on May 18.
With that in mind, tonight's game against GW is another big one for the Comets.
But, Comets coach Kelvin Davis says every Western District game is big.
"I consider every game in the Western District a big game," Davis pointed out yesterday.
"There are so few games. And, we know what every team in the Western District is capable of doing.
"We've got three more Western District games to go," continued Davis.
"We know that any team is capable of beating any other team in the district on any given night."
While Davis likes where his team is right now, he is emphasizing to the players that they must continue to take the season one game at a time and take care of business each day.
"Just because we're up 3-0 in the Western District doesn't mean anything right now," Davis said.
"We've still got three district games to play. We've got to go out there and finish what we've started."
Tonight's Comets-GW game will likely feature a rematch of the two teams' top hurlers, Justin Tubb for GW and Scott Adams for Halifax County.
The pair staged a dandy of a pitching battle in their earlier meeting in Danville.
Adams allowed five hits, one walk and fanned eight GW batters in the first meeting between the two teams.
Tubb, by contrast, gave up 10 hits, struck out 10 Comets batters and allowed one walk.
The noteworthy item here is that the Comets tagged Tubb for 10 hits.
That, Davis said, should help give his team a big boost of confidence tonight.
"The biggest thing I was concerned with was Tubb," Davis said of their first game between the two teams.
"I had heard so much about him and how well he was doing. He's a good pitcher, no doubt about it. I think that with the 10 hits we got off of him in the first game, the guys know now they can hit him. We know we can hit the kid."
The big thing, Davis said, is for his team to go out onto the field and play its game.
"We've just got to come out and do the things we need to do," Davis said.
"We need to come out and play good defense behind our pitcher, manufacture some runs and just play good, solid fundamental Comets baseball."

William 'Bill' Crews, 82, of 1159 Turkey Track Lane, Nathalie, died April 29 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Crews was born in Halifax County on May 3, 1918, the son of the late Frank Crews and Ellen Davis Crews and was married to Louise Davis Crews. He was a member of New Second Buffalo Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; nine children, Lorine Davis and Lorenzo Davis, both of the home, Franceen C. Roman and Vernester Boyd, both of Nathalie, Herman Crews of South Boston, Jerelean Waller of Long Island, Ernest Crews of Woodbridge, James Crews of Silver Spring, Md. and Clara Tucker of Washington, D.C.; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Queenie Jennings of Hyattsville, Md., Margaret Barbour of Nathalie and Bessie Garner of Washington; three brothers, Johnson Crews, Ezekial Crews and Sammy Crews, all of Nathalie; three daughters-in-law, Jerelene Crews, Gladys Crews and Gloria Crews; four sons-in-law, Rev. Jesse Waller, Thomas Boyd, Edward Junior Tucker and Clarence Davis.

A funeral service for Mr. Crews was held May 3 at 1 p.m. at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. William Yancey officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Jacquelin Page 'Jack' Allen, 71, of 3023 Allen's Trail, Scottsburg, died April 4 at his home.
Mr. Allen was born in Halifax County on April 23, 1929, the son of Valentine Conway Allen and Mary Moncure Nelson Allen. He was a banker with First & Merchants and National Bank, and was a Veteran of the Air Force.

A graveside memorial service will be held today, May 4 at 2 p.m. at the Allen Family Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Walker officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Allen include two brothers, Armistead Nelson Allen of Richmond and Randolph Allen of Chance; three sisters, Marcia A. Barlow and Mary Wylie Rhodes, both of Greenville, N.C., and Blanche A. Stephens of Richmond; two sisters-in-law, Gorgie Tiller Allen of Richmond and Jill M. Allen of Charlotte County. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Valentine Conway Allen, Marion M. Allen and William N. Allen.

Artie Puryear Wimberly, 77, of Marble Falls, Texas, died May 1 at Scott & White Hospital.
Mrs. Wimberly was born in Halifax County on January 8, 1924, the daughter of Robert Lewis Puryear and Robbie Upton Puryear and was married to Floyd Franklin Wimberly. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church, and retired from Burlington Industries.
Survivors include one son, Wade Wimberly and wife, Jean of Marble Falls; four sisters, Catherine Conner of Hampton, Sue Clark and Ida Simmons, both of South Boston and Renthis Thumm of Virginia Beach; two brothers, Robert Lewis Puryear of Annapolis, Md. and Claude Puryear of Newport News.
Funeral services for Mrs. Wimberly will be held May 5 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will take place in Black Walnut Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of her sister, Sue Clark, 3206 North Main Street, South Boston.

David Miles Overby, 48, of 3119 Cowford Road, Halifax, died April 30.
Mr. Overby was born in Halifax County on March 22, 1953, the son of Beatrice Chandler Overby and the late John Samuel Overby Sr. He was an employee of JPS Inc.
Survivors include his mother; one sister, Gloria Ann Hill of South Boston; two brothers, John S. Overby Jr. of Scottsburg and Dwight E. Overby of South Boston; and two sisters-in-law, Priscilla Overby and Cheryl Overby.
Funeral services will be held May 5 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul CME Church with Dr. Moses V. Goldmon officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of his mother, 2053 Maid Marion Lane, South Boston.

George Lewis Owen, 26, of 1320 Shepherd Street, South Boston, died May 2 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Owen was born in Halifax County on May 31, 1974, the son of Ella Marea Owen and was married to LeFaith Harwell Owen. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and an employee of Burlington Industries.
Survivors include his wife; his mother; one sister, Patricia Chambers of South Boston; his maternal grandmother, Jane Owen of South Boston; his mother-in-law, Virginia Taylor and husband, Anthony Taylor; and his father-in-law, Rod Harwell and wife, Catherine Harwell.
Funeral services for Mr. Owen will be held May 6 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Leonard Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, and at the home of his grandmother, 2005 Spring Avenue.

Lawrence Booker Henderson, 74, of 1206 Grubby Road, Halifax, died May 2 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Henderson was born in Halifax County on June 2, 1926, the son of William Kinsloving Henderson and Annie Kate Hastings Henderson. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Halifax.
He is survived by one sister, Helen Brahe of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Henderson will be held May 5 at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Booher conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:00, and other times at the home.