Presidential hopefuls George W. Bush and John McCain bring their battle for the GOP nomination to Virginia tomorrow.
Polls for the Republican primary open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.
Citizens voting in Clover will vote at the old Town Hall located at 212 Short Street, rather than at the fire station.
On the ballot are George W. Bush, John McCain and Alan Keyes. Although the names of Gary Bauer and Steve Forbes will be on the ballot, they have dropped out of the race.

Republican Pledge
Those participating in the Republican primary on Tuesday must sign the following pledge in order to vote:
I, the undersigned, state that I do not intend to participate in the nomination process of any party other than the Republican Party.
A voter refusing to sign the pledge cannot vote in the Tuesday GOP presidential primary.
Since Democrats in Virginia will select their presidential candidate by convention, not by primary, only those citizens seeking delegate status to the Democratic convention would be affected by the Republican pledge, explained Halifax County Registrar Judy Meeler.

The Polls
In the Mason-Dixon poll, Texas Governor George W. Bush is leading U.S. Sen. McCain in Virginia 48 percent to 37 percent.
Alan Keyes was supported by 3 percent in Virginia, and 12 percent were undecided among voters likely to participate in the primary.
The statewide poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
A poll released February 17 showed Bush with 54 percent to 31 percent for McCain. That poll was conducted Feb. 3-10.
Bush enters the Old Dominion with the backing of Gov. Jim Gilmore, U.S. Sen. John Warner, Rep. Tom Davis and former governor and U.S. senate candidate George Allen.
Bush was in Richmond on Friday to attend a rally in Newport News and make a speech at a state GOP gala in Richmond.
U.S. Sen. John McCain will hold a "town-hall" meeting in Virginia Beach this morning. The event will be covered live by C-SPAN.
The Mason-Dixon poll found Bush's support strongest among traditional GOP voters, who favored Bush 65 percent to 24 percent for McCain.
McCain led among voters identifying themselves as independents or Democrats, 54 percent to 25 percent for Bush. Those who have served in the military favored McCain 44 percent to Bush's 40 percent.
The presidential primary was requested by the Republican Party of Virginia to nominate its candidate.
For additional information, call (800) 552-9745 and ask for Cameron Quinn, secretary of the state Board of Elections, or Hugh Key, deputy secretary.

Ralph Murray Jr. was honored for nearly 30 years of service to the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department at its annual Family Night , on Saturday. Murray, a Virgilina native, was awarded a custom- made oak plaque recognizing his work with the department.
John Youngk, president of the department, said "He has really poured himself into this job. For 29 years he has given himself to the department. I think he is an excellent example of a public servant."
Youngk added, "It shouldn't go without a thank you. He has really put himself out."
Other plaques honoringMurray were presented by Lottie Nunn and C.W. "Corky" Rorrer, representing the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and the Fire Commission, and by Annette Myers, chairperson of the Granville, N.C. County Commissioners.
Julia Moss, assistant Halifax County administrator, was also present to honor Murray, as were many of the fire chiefs from Halifax and Granville counties.
Public service comes naturally to the Murray family. Murray's father, Ralph Murray Sr., is a former chief and charter member of the Virgilina Fire Department. His wife, Beverly, a teacher at the Virgilina elementary school, is also an emergency medical technician.
Chad Loftis, a captain with the department, said "He really takes you under his wing and shows you what you need to know. You feel like a part of the family when you are around him. I don't think he knows a stranger. He is so kind to everyone that you feel like you have been his friend for so long."
According to Youngk, Murray has chaired Virgilina Summerfest at least 10 years. "Most of our members are up for about 40 hours straight, working on Summerfest. This includes all night stew cooking and preparation. Then they clean up the streets. It is a big deal," he added.
Other awards presented to fire department members included Keith Jones, First Responder Award; Waverly Morris, Chief's Award; Ralph Murray, Firefighter of the Year; Melissa Loftis, Rookie of the Year and Donald Chandler, EMS Captain's Award.
The Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1951. It serves Granville County, N.C., the northern and western portions of Mecklenburg County, as well as the Virgilina area.

South Boston and county officials will discuss the status of their progress with the Department of Environmental Quality in their joint effort to transfer county trash to South Boston's landfill during tonight's joint session.
The session meets at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax at 6 p.m.
Supervisors also are expected to enter into a closed meeting to discuss the appointment of an interim county administrator.
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper begins his duties as Pittsylvania County administrator on March 1. He served as administrator in Halifax County seven years.
Also on the agenda, South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel will discuss town water/sewer issues.
A discussion on the change of hours of operations at the county landfill is also scheduled.
Under new business, the South Boston Speedway schedule will be presented, and the schedule of Virginia Department of Transportation Pre-allocation Primary Road Hearings will be discussed.
DEQ/Landfills
As a result of a Memorandum of Understanding previously passed by supervisors and South Boston Town Councilmen, county and town officials are seeking waivers to allow them to begin depositing the county's solid waste at the town's landfill facility.
"They are being positive," said South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel of talks with DEQ.
"We think that we are in agreement that it is best for the state, county and the town," added the town manager.
Daniel said that South Boston is working with Joyce, the town's landfill consultant, to develop procedures for the transfer.
"So, we are continuing with our plan, and the county is moving forward," added Daniel.
County and town landfills face increasing pressure from the General Assembly and DEQ to close classification 1205 unlined landfills.
To cap the South Boston landfill, more trash is needed or town officials will have to buy dirt to fill the landfill to the proper height for closure, according to Daniel.
The county also needs to close part of its landfill.
The decision to work together has been described by both town and county officials as "a win-win" situation.

Halifax County High School's practice of "freezing" the school as opposed to evacuating the building in the face of bomb threats has drawn criticism in some corners.
But School Superintendent Dennis Witt staunchly defends the procedure, which was approved by the Halifax County School Board last year.
"The procedure we are using is one that has been developed in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies," Witt pointed out.
"Evacuation is not a 100 percent guarantee of safety. There is no foolproof answer including evacuating the building. I don't think there is a perfect answer."
"We think the safest thing to do is stay put and search the building," Witt added.
South Boston police have arrested a 16-year-old Halifax County High School student in connection with a pair of telephoned bomb threats that were made February 14 against Halifax County High School.
When the bomb threats were received, the school system and school officials immediately enacted its standing procedure of "freezing" the school building.
"We froze everything in place," Witt explained.
"We had all of the teachers search their rooms. The authorities (police) searched all of the stairwells, the halls, the restrooms, all of the areas we know to search.
"Had we found anything at all suspicious we'd have isolated that area of the building immediately," added Witt.
Halifax County School Board Chairman D.H. McDowell Jr. says the decision to evacuate or not evacuate "is a tough call."
"You've got to evaluate the information you receive when the call comes in," McDowell explained.
"You seek input from the law enforcement agencies that handle these things more frequently than we do and then make the decision what to do."
Halifax County High School student Todd Eakes has been an outspoken critic of the school system's procedures.
In a Letter to the Editor that appeared in The Gazette Virginian last week, Eakes stated he was upset when he was made to stay in the classroom with his teacher and fellow classmates until school administrators gave the okay to resume normal activities.
Eakes called the school system "unethical, immoral and plain ignorant" in its handling of the situation.
And, he called upon parents and citizens of the community to demand that the school system change its policy to make evacuation mandatory.
Criticism has come from other corners as well, especially after officials at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg evacuated the students and staff from the school in the wake of a bomb threat there three days later.
"We know what E.C. Glass has done," Witt said.
"I know that in Petersburg they evacuate on every occasion."
Witt points out, however, that the more a full evacuation is implemented, the more the school, and in the case of Halifax County, the entire school system, is held hostage.
"Halifax County High School has one third of the students in the entire school system," Witt pointed out.
"All of the buses and bus routes are tied together. If we shut the school down and send students home, we would have to shut down the entire school system because the buses are all tied together.
"The question is," continued Witt, "are we going to do that?"
"We don't take these things lightly," Witt pointed out.
"We don't want to take a chance any more than anybody else. But, are we going to have the whole school system held hostage by a bomb threat? I don't have the perfect answer for that."
As far as the event at E.C. Glass High School was concerned, the evacuation for the bomb threat occurred on a day when the sun was shining and temperatures were above freezing.
Witt pointed out that the very next day Lynchburg, Halifax County, and many areas of the state were hit with bad weather.
Witt questions whether or not E.C. Glass would have evacuated the building and left students and faculty standing outside for a couple of hours that day.
"We had sleet, rain and 35 degree temperatures," Witt pointed out.
"I would question what they would do on a foul weather day like that. Would they evacuate and have kids standing outside for two hours?"
McDowell reiterated that the decision as to whether or not to evacuate the building, not withstanding good weather or bad weather, is tough.
"How do you write a rule for every situation," McDowell queried.
"You can't. All you can do is take the information you have, seek input from the law enforcement authorities and make the best decision you can. You've just got to use common sense."
Witt says he believes the primary intent of those individuals who communicate bomb threats against the school is to disrupt the school day and school routine.
"We feel like the purpose of the bomb threats is to disrupt the educational process as much as possible," Witt remarked.
"Evacuating the building is more disruptive than "freezing" the building."
Both Witt and McDowell say the school system's procedure for handling bomb threats will be reviewed at the March school board meeting, which is slated for March 13.
"We're going to review it at the next board meeting," McDowell said.
"We'll look at it and talk about it and see if it needs any changes. Up to now, we've made the right call."

"Tobacco saved this country one time...and it might save this part of the country again."
Extension Agent Larry McPeters, despite the gloom and doom presently hanging over tobacco farmers, is upbeat on the golden leaf and the future it holds for Southside Virginia.
"We grow a quality crop, have a good package and chemically it is as good, or better than anything grown in the U.S.," McPeters said.
And as long as the Flue-Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation is operating, growers can expect to continue to sell their leaf competitively.
But, he continued, if the program fails, tobacco will move further south, where large contract farms will take over production.
On another front that holds even greater promise, tobacco may soon be moving into the pharmaceutical field where, if successful, growers will be able to maintain the same price per acre, but at potentially a smaller labor cost.
Multiple uses of transgenic tobacco are now being studied at Virginia Tech, said McPeters, where the plant is genetically altered and can be used in the pharmaceutical field for everything from blood pathogens to drugs, soaps, perfumes and other items.
"There is an interest in transgenic tobacco," he said, and although he doesn't know what the cost would be on the consumer side, from early reports farmers can expect about the same price per acre for tobacco grown this way.
The leaf would be planted in a higher population density, he added, with plants running about waist high.
And harvest is something that could be handled mechanically.
But all this points to one thing, that up until now Halifax County hasn't had...full-time marketing.
Marketing is the key and with that in mind the Halifax County Board of Supervisors authorized the hiring of an agriculture development specialist.
A person who would be on the front lines of marketing agriculture, pulling in complementary industries and helping farmers develop new markets beyond the golden leaf.
Suzanne Heflin is on the job now, making Halifax the fourth locality in the state to fund such a position.
Presently Loudon and Fauquier Counties, along with the City of Virginia Beach have fulltime ag development coordinators.
Heflin's goal for the immediate future is to work with timber, helping landowners better manage their timber stands and work with them in their replanting and reforestation efforts.
Working with the supervisors' Agriculture Development Committee, Heflin has been directed to work with federal, state and local agencies to develop incentives to encourage the reforestation of timberland and to encourage the replanting of hardwoods, in addition to pine.
With three chip mills in the area, the timber industry plays a major role in the county's agriculture scene, said McPeters. From the cutters to the truck drivers who deliver the pulp wood, it helps generate farm income for the county, he said, but someone was needed to coordinate all the farm agencies in the county and help present Halifax County agriculture to other areas.
A middle line needs to be drawn between clearcut and the reforestation of woodlands to help maintain wildlife.
And landowners need to be shown how it can be profitable 30 years down the road, he said.
It needs to be a cooperative effort of all the agencies involved.
Her job will be to help increase markets that farmers are already involved in and to create new ones, McPeters said.
Tobacco is going through changes, but if the tobacco program stays in place and transgenic production takes off, growers could see an increase in production.
Where Heflin can help is in the marketing of transgenic tobacco and the possible location of a processing facility here, McPeters said.
Another area that marketing will help is in livestock, where producers have always had quality herds, but need some help marketing their product.
"Cattle production needs to diversify," said Heflin. Markets need to be found in other states for feeding cattle or seed stock.
The Livestock Producers Association is planning for Spring 2001 a heifer sale, said McPeters, where it is hoped some of the quality heifers will remain in the county to produce for years to come.
"We need to approach the sale in a scientific way," said McPeters, to produce genetically better livestock.
And in her search for other markets, Heflin said both corn and hay are possibilities.
Sunshine Mills presently buys all the local corn it can get, McPeters said, but prices aren't such that it is profitable for local producers to get into corn production.
Hay production is another possible direction, Heflin added.
There is a lot of hay produced in the county, but no real marketing effort has ever been done to get it out of the county.
"It is a valuable resource," she said.
"The extension office can show farmers how to grow it," she continued.
"But without a way to market it, there's no reason to grow it," she added.

Halifax County High School's Fred Price has been named Western District Player of the Year.
Price was one of four members of the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team to be named to the All Western District Team.

Two members of the Halifax County High School varsity girls basketball team, were named to the girls All Western District Team.

Price and teammate William Jennings were named to the First Team of the All Western District Team.
They will be eligible for consideration for the All Northwest Region Team which will be voted upon later.

Also named to the All Western District Team were GW's top player, Brian Gunn, Albemarle standout Marcus Wilson and E.C. Glass' top player, Carlos Waller.
The Second Team included Antonio Fitzgerald and Jerrod Harris from GW, Ian Johnson and Ryan Pehanick from Albemarle, and A.G. Robinson from E.C. Glass.
Two other Comets players, Cardell Mosley and Teddy Bradley, received Honorable Mention status on the boys All Western District Team.
Joining them on that list were Anthony Wiles and Milton Perkins from GW and Jermale Abbott from E.C. Glass.
Halifax County's Lateisha Chambers and Branda Best were named the girls Second Team All Western District Team.
Making the First Team were three GW starters, Ravin Yancey who was named Player of the Year, Raynisha Johnson, and Tokisha Burton, Megan McDade of Albemarle and Nikia Wynn of E.C. Glass.
Joining Best and Chambers on the Second Team are Kristen Brown of GW, Rachel Hanley and Annie Johnson of Albemarle and Melinda Carpenter of E.C. Glass.
Honorable Mention Status went to Kris Morrison of GW, Vanesa Cannon and Meghan Austin of E.C. Glass and Jessica Turner of Albemarle.

Nathan Thomas Walker, age 60, of 1213 Friend Avenue, South Boston, died February 24, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Walker was born in Halifax County on July 26, 1939, the son of Johnny Seamster and Ethel Walker Seamster and was married to Sharon Rose Walker.
Funeral services were held February 27 at 3 p.m. at Centerville Baptist Church with Revs. Ralph Neal and Richard Saunders conducting the service. Burial was in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Survivors of Mr. Walker include his wife; three sons, Nathan "Tony" Walker of Chatham, Jan Walker of Alton and Michael Walker of Nathalie; one daughter, Lisa W. Conner of Halifax; one step daughter, Tami Kornbau of Halifax; nine grandchildren; four sisters, Carol Gordon of South Boston, Jean Drake of Buena Vista, Shirley Crews of Nathalie and Debra Pryor of Drakes Branch.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Justin Walker Scholarship Fund, 1006 Evans Trail, Alton, 24520.

Rubye Hall Bell, age 86, of 2304 North Main Street, South Boston, died February 23, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Bell was born in Newton, Ga. on October 20, 1913, the daughter of Walter Hall Sr. and Bessie Mae Hall and was married to Bishop William Y. Bell. She was a member of Ebenezer CME Church and served as a member of the church's Missionary Society, Board of Christian education and was very active with community youth activities. She was also co-founder and past president of Rose Garden Club and was a member of the Cystics Fibrosis Foundation.
Survivors include two daughters, Esther B. Coleman of Virginia Beach and Beverly Bell of South Boston; one son-in-law, Leon Coleman Sr.; three grandchildren; and five step grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bell were held February 27 at 3 p.m. at Ebenezer CME Church with Rev. John Ghee officiating. Burial was in Rose Garden Cemetery.

Adele Arthur Blanks, age 84, formerly of Leda Grove Road, Nathalie, died February 25, 2000, at Medical Care Center in Lynchburg.
Mrs. Blanks was born in Halifax County on January 28, 1916, the daughter of Edward Lee Arthur and Dora DeJarnette Arthur and was married to Luther Clements Blanks. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Scott Guthrie and husband, Douglas of Lynchburg; one son and daughter-in-law, Wiley Clements Blanks and wife, Brenda of Chester; two grandsons, Michael Blanks and Kevin Blanks, both of Chester; two granddaughters, Karen Guthrie Rosenblum and husband, Lenny of Oak Hill and Brynn Guthrie of Thousand Oaks, Ca.; two great grandchildren, Jacob and Lindsay Rosenblum of Oak Hill; one sister and brother-in-law, Frances Blanks and husband Ryland of Nathalie; two sisters-in-law, Frances Arthur of Richmond and Evelyn Arthur of Lynchburg. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Labon Arthur and Robert "Jack" Arthur and one sister, Estelle Wisecarver.
Funeral services for Mrs. Blanks will be held February 28 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with Rev. Shelton Miles conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Republican Grove Building Fund, Leda Grove Road, Nathalie 24577 or North Halifax Volunteer Fire Department, Leda Grove Road, Nathalie.

Eunice Davis Letterman, age 59, of 1034 Epperson Lane, Nathalie, died February 25, 2000, at her home. She was the wife of Jackie Letterman.
Mrs. Letterman was born in Halifax County on September 10, 1920, the daughter of Julian Davis and Lennis Davis. She was a member of Childrey Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband, survivors include one daughter, Wanda L. Hodnett of Brookneal; three sons, Jackie Letterman Jr. and wife, Patricia of Nathalie, Gene Letterman of Altavista and William Dale Letterman of Nathalie; two sisters, Virginia Walker of Nathalie and Betty Smith of Sugar Hill; and two grandchildren.
A funeral service was held for Mrs. Letterman February 27 at 3 p.m. at Childrey Baptist Church with Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.