By BOB LEWIS
Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - When the 100 delegates and 40 senators of the General Assembly finished work a day early and left Richmond last March, the state coffers were flush with cash, a robust economy fueling unprecedented budget surpluses.
When they return Wednesday, they will find a considerably weaker economy, revenues that - while still growing - are far below those they forecast in last year's budget and a popular car-tax phaseout that demands more than $1 billion a year.
Usually, amendments to the two-year budget are only an afterthought in the 46-day legislative sessions that meet in odd-numbered years. The heavy budget work is done in the 60-day sessions like last year's.
But bringing the second year of the current spending blueprint into line with lowered income will be Issue No. 1 this session. Because of that, other issues, especially those requiring money, face a difficult time winning passage.
Transportation is perhaps the most notable example. The issue, driven by the plight of commuters in gridlocked northern Virginia, was the most hotly debated capital spending initiative a year ago. This year, Gov. Jim Gilmore's proposed amendments call for taking away $135 million from transportation spending statewide.
''It looks like he's sucked every penny out of the new transportation program but hasn't reduced any of the high expectations that were created when we passed that legislation,'' said Del. John A. ''Jack'' Rollison III, R-Prince William.
''This means we will have cash-flow problems and may have to make some tough decisions on transportation,'' said Rollison, co-chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
Rollison and other northern Virginia legislators will try again to win approval for a referendum that would allow voters in their districts to decide whether their fuel taxes should be increased to finance regional highway improvements. That measure has met determined opposition in the past from Gilmore.
Health care is another issue that could be affected. State Sen. Bill Bolling, R-Hanover, plans to introduce a long-debated bill that would phase out state regulation over many hospitals and clinics. The measure would end the state's Certificate of Public Need program for authorizing specialized medical facilities, but it hinges on the state providing $135 million for medical schools, Medicaid reimbursement and indigent care at not-for-profit hospitals.
Bolling conceded Monday that such money is a long shot at best this year, and without the money, the bill likely will have to wait.
Money would also eventually come into play in legislation that would allow inmates to test DNA evidence that could exonerate them after the state's present limit of 21 days for submitting new evidence to courts. Under the legislation, the state would store all DNA evidence and allow convicts in some cases to petition directly to the state Supreme Court for a review of the evidence.
Legislators will also consider a proposal from Gilmore to close three mental health facilities and restructure Eastern State Hospital near Williamsburg. The governor proposes moving more services from large hospitals to new community-based services.
The assembly also will consider bills to:
-increase the age for teen-agers to obtain drivers' licenses and to restrict people 18 and younger from driving at night;
-outlaw using a mobile phone while driving;
-require a 24-hour waiting period for abortions; and
-study whether Virginia should offer private school vouchers and tuition tax credits and deductions to families to use to send their children to private schools.

Two suspects are still at large after the Friday afternoon bank robbery of the BB&T in Centerville.
Two black males entered the BB&T at 1:40 p.m. armed with a handgun, took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled out the rear door.
One customer was in the bank at the time of the robbery, however no one was harmed, nor were there any threats of harm, according to Lt. Rick Loftis of the South Boston Police Department.
Following the robbery, a tracking dog led State Trooper L.G. Perkins through the Green's Folly Golf Course toward Sinai Road.
The two suspects, recorded on security cameras, are described as follows:
· A black man standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 160 to 175 pounds and 25 to 30 years old, was clean shaven and wearing a jean jacket, blue jeans and a ball cap.
· An accomplice, a black male standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, 17 to 25 years old, with a mustache and goatee, was wearing a green fleece warmup jacket with a hood and the word "STARTER" written in large letters on the front.
Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 575-8477 or investigating officers Lt. Loftis or Sgt. B. K. Lovelace at 575-4271.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A state panel that distributes money from the national tobacco settlement has endorsed Gov. Jim Gilmore's plan to sell much of Virginia's share of the money upfront.
Gilmore has proposed turning a 20-year, $3 billion flow of tobacco cash into a single lump sum worth an estimated $1.18 billion by selling bonds to investors. Annual payments from tobacco companies to the state over the next 20 years would repay the bonded debt.
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, comprised of lawmakers and residents of tobacco communities, endorsed the Gilmore administration bond proposal on Monday.
Sen Charles R. Hawkins, R-Pittsylvania, said getting the money upfront would protect the state from changing circumstances, such as further tobacco lawsuits, that might reduce or eliminate tobacco settlement funds in the future.
''Without securitization, there's always the possibility the monies may not be there when we need them,'' Hawkins told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Money from the bonds also would allow Gilmore to meet the revenue targets needed to continue phasing out the personal property tax on cars.
If the legislature approves selling the bonds, the $1.18 billion would be used to establish an endowment to help leaf growers and tobacco dependent communities. The remaining uncommitted funds from the settlement would be used to set-up a trust fund to support capital projects for higher education and economic development.
Interest payments on the commission's half of the payments alone are projected at up to $60 million annually.
The idea of securing tobacco settlement money is not unique to Virginia. Bonds have been sold or are planned in several other states. Administration officials argue Virginia must act now because the market for tobacco-settlement bonds is limited.

The Rev. Dr. Roscoe D. Cooper Jr. will be the guest speaker at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 14, sponsored by the Halifax County Business and Professional Council.
Dr. Cooper is the pastor of the Metropolitan African-American Baptist Church of Richmond.
The celebration will begin at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 14, at Banister Hill Baptist Church in Halifax. The New Zion Baptist Church Mixed Choir , along with Pastor Willie N. Yancey, will provide music.
Dr. Cooper professed faith in Christ in Philadelphia, where he grew up.
He received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Cheyney, Pennsylvania, and a master's in divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. He earned his doctrate in divinity from Virginia Union University in Richmond.
Dr. Cooper was called and licensed to preach the gospel in September 1966 and was ordained in March 1969.
He has held pastorates at Calvary Baptist Church, Harverhill, Massachusetts, 1969-1971; Western Avenue Baptist Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971-1973; and Fifth Street Baptist Church, Richmond, 1974-1992.
In 1993 he organized the Metropolitan African-American Baptist Church in Richmond, where he serves as pastor. The church has a membership of over 300.
Active in church-related work, Dr. Cooper has served as a lecturer of the Church School/BTU Directors Division Congress of Christian Education, National Baptist Convention 1986 to present; editor of the African-American Baptist Heritage Series, 1991-1995; president of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia; 1991-1993; moderator of Shiloh Baptist Association, 1995-1999; and general secretary of National Baptist Convention, USA, 1994-1999.
He serves on various boards and committees in Richmond, including the board of trustees, Virginia Union University; board of directors of the Greater Richmond Chapter/American Red Cross; board of directors of Richmond Daily Planet, Social Service Center for the Homeless.
Dr. Cooper is married to the former Christa Williams of Philadelphia. The Coopers are the parents of three children, Alexis, Roscoe III and Chadwick.
Dr. Cooper is a native of Camden, New Jersey, and the son of the late Roscoe Cooper Sr. and Virginia Cooper.

South Boston Town Council voted unanimously after a public hearing on Monday night to rezone a section of Ned Evans Park for a subdivision proposed by the Habitat for Humanity.
The Rev. Dr. Russell Lee of the Tri-Rivers Habitat for Humanity spoke in favor of the petition to rezone approximately 5.5 acres south of Berry Hill Road and west of Wickham Street from R-1 low Density Residential to R-2 Medium Density Residential.
That would allow for the smaller-sized lots proposed for Habitat's 3.1-acre subdivision, with lots ranging in size from 13,600 to 30,370 square feet.
"We hope to put six houses there in the next few years in order to serve low-income families who can then buy their own homes and become homeowners," said Lee.
"This would be keeping with the subdivisions on either side," Lee added.
Special Use Permit Approved
After a second public hearing during Monday's meeting, council unanimously approved by voice vote a request for a Special Use Permit to allow the South Boston Police Department to operate in its new location on Hamilton Boulevard.
The South Boston Zoning Ordinance,by special use permit in B-1, allows uses operated by governmental agencies and necessary for the provision of government services to adjacent neighborhoods.
South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall spoke in favor of the issuance of the permit, specifically citing the additional space at the building on Hamilton Boulevard as a major advantage for his department.
The building on Hamilton Boulevard has approximately 11,000 square feet of space as opposed to 1,600 square feet of space in the old facility.
According to Hall, the increased space will result in the local department being certified in the criminal justice community, thus allowing training classes to be held for police students from other areas of the state.
That, Hall stated, would result in increased spending for food, lodging and other services, with the end benefit being increased revenue for the area.
Commission Appointments
In final action on Monday, council unanimously appointed George Leonard, of 605 Forest Drive, and Mrs. Lee Edwards, of 1047 Papa Moores Trail, to the South Boston Planning Commission.
Leonard and Edwards would replace Charles Edwards and Jimmy Popek on the seven-person commission.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
The Halifax County Middle School boys' basketball team remained undefeated in conference play Monday night after a 53-34 win over E. W. Wyatt Middle School.
In a physical game between two excellent teams, the Lions (5-0) and (8-1) overall, outmatched their opponents in toughness and in ball handling to go two games up in their conference standings.
"We did what we wanted to do," said coach Mike Hailey, after facing Wyatt's triangle-and-two defense and making the adjustments that allowed Halifax to take control in the second quarter.
After pouncing on the boards first with Craig McCargo's slice to the basket, Wyatt answered with a field goal and from the line to take a 3-2 lead.
However, the Lions responded with Corey Bailey hitting a short jumper to put Halifax up 4-3 and reclaiming a lead that was never relinguished.
After the Lions closed the first quarter with a 11-6 lead, the team adjusted to Wyatt's defense and raised their level of play to what was intense physical action of body slamming and emotional collisions.
Vulnerable to the spreadout on the floor by an excellent ball handler in a previous game, the Lions shut down that strategy by closing in the middle and leaving Wyatt to outside shots.
A three pointer by Quinton Brown opened a nine-point run in the second quarter that elevated the Lions to a 26-12 lead at the end of the first half.
The Lions continued to extend that lead in the second half by posting up an 18-point lead before Wyatt went on a 10-point run of their own, including two three-pointers.
"We had them on the ropes before they made that run and I was very tense about that," Hailey said.
Brooks and McCargo had back-to-back baskets to end Wyatt's momentum and the Lions sustained an eight-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
The physical play continued to heat up the court with several key Lions slamming into foul trouble.
Brown fouled out of the game in the fourth quarter while Dion Ferrell and Clyde Brooks eached picked up a fourth foul.
McCargo led the team in scoring with 20 points, while Clyde Brooks added 12 points and Brown added nine points.
"All in all, they did an excellent job.
"Bailey's short jumpers made it the best game he's played all year and he did a good job on the boards," Hailey said.
"McCargo showed patience with the defensive coverage and he was able to go to the block to score," Hailey said.
The Lions were also effective on the free-throw line with McCargo shooting six for eight while Brown and Willie Stephens each were two for two.
Halifax is on the road today with a 6 p.m. game against Bluestone Middle School.
Two more conference wins will seal the conference title for Halifax.

James Spencer Crews, born November 17, 1917, died January 7 at the age of 83.
Mr. Crews is survived by one son, James 'Jimmy R. Crews; his stepmother, Isabelle Crews of Madison Heights; one sister, Louise C. Daubert of White Plains, NY; and six half sisters, Betty Carwile, Edith Duffield, Phyllis Evers, Dorothy Freeman, Jean Thorp and Joann Woody, all of Madison Heights. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Epps Crews.
He was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church, was a member of Knockdown Hunt Club and was formerly a member and on the Board of Directors of York Hunt Club in New Kent County. He was retired from Dupont Corporation.
Funeral services for Mr. Crews will be held at Crystal Hill Baptist Church today, January 10 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Charlotte County Rescue Squad.

James Nathaniel Nichols Jr., age 73, of 5219 Clover Road, Saxe, died January 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Nichols was born in Halifax County on November 16, 1927, the son of James N. Nichols Sr. and Ella Conner Nichols and was married to Thelma Hazelwood Nichols. He was a member of Clover Baptist Church and was a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, James III and Barbara Nichols and Kenneth and Pat Nichols, all of Saxe and Ralph and Vicky Nichols of Clover; three daughters, Nancy Nichols, Carol and Rex Culley and Sharon and Davis Bass, all of Saxe; nine grandchildren, James Jamie Nichols IV and Casey, Stacy Nichols, Jennifer Nichols, Jodie Nichols, Daniel Nichols, Jessica Newby, Justin Nichols, Rachael Bass, and Glen Nichols; two step-grandchildren, John and Candi Snead and one great-grandson, James Nathan Nichols V.
Graveside services for Mr. Nichols were held January 8 at 11 a.m. at Clover Cemetery with the Revs. H.V. Conner and Tim Golding conducting the service.

Lucile Myra Orr, age 92, of Dryden, died January 8 at her home.
Born in Lee County on July 15, 1908, she was the daughter of the late Morgan Simpson and Emma Cecil Orr.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Cecil Orr and Clyde Wilson Orr and by one sister, Bernice Orr.
Mrs. Orr was a teacher in the Lee County System for over 40 years, a member of the Lee County retired Teachers Association and District 0 Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of Dryden United Methodist Church, the Dryden United Methodist Women, and was a former member of the UDC, DAR and Southwest Virginia Historical Society.
As a charter member of the Lee County Community Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, she served as president for two terms and held other offices as well. Under her leadership, the auxiliary established a chapel, initiated televisions in patient rooms, and provided funding for the heliport. Additionally, Mrs. Orr had over 12,000 volunteer hours at Lee County Community Hospital.
Survivors of Mrs. Orr include one sister, Pauline Orr Martin of Clover and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends this evening, January 10, from 5:30 until 7:00 at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Pennington Gap.
Funeral services will be held at 7:00 this evening in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Charles Ledger officiating.
Burial will be held at 10 a.m. January 11 at the Powell Valley Cemetery in Dryden.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider either the Dryden United Methodist Church at PO Box 57, Dryden, Va 24263 or Lee County Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 70, Pennington Gap, Va. 24277.

Ruth Estelle Morris Crews, age 81, of 2224 Paradise Road, Alton, died January 7 at her home.
Mrs. Crews was born in Halifax County on November 20, 1919, the daughter of James Anderson Morris and Mary Alice Bowes Morris and was married to Harrell Lee Crews. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, James E. Crews of Fort Mill, SC and Reggie E. Crews of Alton; three daughters, Brenda C. Trammell of South Boston, Shelby C. Elliott and Berniece C. Perkins, both of Alton; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three great-stepchildren; and two sisters, Willie Puryear and Doris Gordon, both of South Boston. She was preceded in death by one grandchild, Rhonda B. Stone.
A funeral service for Mrs. Crews will be held today, January 10 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Grover Stevens conducting the service. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

James Arthur Puryear, age 70, of Gladstone, died January 6 in Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mr. Puryear was born December 3, 1930, in South Boston, the son of Mary Morris Puryear and Roy Walter Puryear and was married to Edith Coleman Puryear. He was a Marine Veteran of WWII and attended Bethel Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by three stepsons, James S. Campbell and wife, Teri of Brunswick, Maine, Jerry W. Campbell of Lynchburg and Kevin Mays of Buena Vista; one stepdaughter, Sharon A. Lippard and husband, Stephen of Clearwater, Fla.; four sisters, Maryland Matthews and husband, Luther of South Boston, Janie Perkins and husband, Neil of Nathalie, JoAnn Smith and husband, Bernard and Roberta Coleman and husband, Edward, both of Red Oak; one brother, George E. Puryear and wife, Cecil of Volens; and seven step grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Puryear were held January 9 at 11 a.m. at Driskill Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dave Peters officiating. Burial was in the Oronoco Church of the Brethren Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Bethel Baptist Church or Gladstone Rescue Squad.

Earl Rayford Pool, age 76, of Brookneal, died January 9 at his home.
Mr. Pool was born in Campbell County on July 20, 1924, the son of John B. Pool Sr. and Audrey King Pool and was married to Rozell Martin Pool. He was a member of Falling River Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of the Gideons International and Hospice of the Hills, and was a retired contractor.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Brenda Pool of Gladys; three daughters and sons-in-law, Nora and Pete Greenway, Judy and Barry Williams, all of Gladys, and Jane and Marshall Ware of Richmond; nine grandchildren, Eddie Greenway, Amy Sprouse and husband, Doug, Donnie Pool and wife, Lisa, Sherry Miller and husband, Shane, Cyndal Williams, Landon Williams, Galen Ware, Maitlin Ware and Omri Ware; one great-grandchild, Victoria Miller; two brothers, Frank Pool of Brookneal and Norris Pool of Lynchburg; four sisters, Annie Cardwell of Concord, Katherine Conner of South Boston, Christine Talley of Chesterfield and Patricia Burnham of Ellenwood, Ga.
A funeral service for Mr. Pool will be held at 3 p.m. January 11 at Falling River Baptist Church by the Revs. Gene Strickland and W.D. Mills. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 this evening, January 10 at Henderson Funeral Home, Brookneal and other times at the home.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Gideons International or Hospice of the Hills.

Carlie C. Watkins, age 92, died January 8 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mr. Watkins was born in Halifax County on April 28, 1908, the son of James D. and Ferry B. Lester Watkins and was married to Alice Louise Watkins.
Survivors include one son, Ray Michael Watkins of Roanoke; two step children, Shirley M. Hill and Edna M. Jennings; three grandchildren, Brian Ray Watkins, Brandy Rae Watkins and D.J.; two sisters, Nettie Pierce of Newport News and Marion Howerton of Buffalo Junction; three step sisters and one step brother.
Funeral services for Mr. Watkins will be held January 11 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Kent, Ballou and Crowder Funeral Service, Inc. Burial will follow in the Watkins Cemetery, White Oak.
The family will receive friends this evening, January 10 from 7:00 until 9:00 in the chapel at Kent, Ballou and Crowder.

Sarah Elizabeth Wetherington, infant daughter of the Rev. Mike and Sheri Wetherington of Virginia Beach, was born and passed away on January 4 at Va. Beach General Hospital.
Survivors include a sister, Shera Wetherington; one brother, Jaron Wetherington, both of the home; maternal grandparents, George and Sheryle Glascock of Halifax; paternal grandparents, Ronald Wetherington of Alexandria and Wallace and Carolyn Wazeka of South Boston; maternal great-grandparents, Reba Lunsford and Rosa Glascock, both of Halifax and Howard and Ester Glascock of Virgilina; paternal great-grandparents, Teddy and Lillian Wazeka of South Boston.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on January 6 at Peoples Baptist Church in Chesapeake with the Rev. John Godfrey officiating. Burial was in Meadow Brook Memorial Gardens in Suffolk.

James Coley Glass, 80, of 708 Grove Ave., South Boston died Tues., Jan. 9 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

He was born in Halifax County July 25, 1920, a son of J. Coley and Annie Clay Glass and was married to Ruby Rickman Glass.

Survivors include his wife, one daughter, Nancy Glass Powell of Midlothian, and two grandchildren, Elizabeth Powell of Oak Island, N.C. and Kathryn Osterhout of Midlothian.

A funeral service for Mr. Glass will be held Thurs., Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Fox and the Rev. Frank Riley conducting. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Wed. from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at at other times at the home.