By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON- The Environmental Protection Agency proposed guidelines to states Friday on pollution control requirements for large factory farms to increase protection of lakes and streams from harmful runoff.
Under the rules, which are expected to be made final later this year, large hog farms and cattle feedlots will be required to get pollution permits from states similar to permits already required for industrial plants.
EPA officials characterized the new regulations as a significant step to curtail nitrogen and phosphorous releases in to lakes, streams and other waterways from highly concentrated factory-like hog, cattle and poultry operations.

EPA Assistant Administrator J. Charles Fox said he expects the first general permits to be issued by states within a year and site-specific permits phased in over the next six years.
Currently fewer than 2,000 livestock operations are covered by state water pollution control permits. The new requirement would bring an additional 18,000 facilities, mostly large hog, poultry and dairy operations, under the permit system.

"These large facilities are generally significant contributors to water quality impairment," the EPA said in a statement.
But many environmentalists complained the EPA isn't going far enough to ensure that waterways nationwide are protected from pollution from factory farms. They want tougher uniform federal standards under the new permit program because they fear some states will not follow up with strong pollution control requirements.
"There's a tremendous amount of variability among the states," said Robbin Marks of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group. "We'd like to see some firm measurable standards for pollution controls set across the country."
Marks and other environmentalists also complained that the Agriculture Department, traditionally an ally of agribusiness, is being given too much say in crafting the federal guidelines.
Fox dismisses such criticism and said that while the EPA will establish the basic guidelines and leave it for states to develop permits, the states will have an obligation to issue permits in a way that protects waterways.
The EPA will take comments on the draft guidelines for 60 days, with rules expected before the end of the year.

For more than a century, opening day on the Old Belt Market has been a focal point in the lives of southside tobacco growers.
This year sales will kick off at 8 a.m. in the Star Warehouse located on Parker Avenue off Hamilton Boulevard behind the Department of Motor Vehicles office.
In years past, the atmosphere opening day was circus-like, as people packed the warehouses to hear the sing-song chant of the auctioneer and soak in the smoky, honey-rich aroma emanating from the golden leaves.

This year, the Good Time Band will continue the tradition of celebration from the Star Tobacco Warehouse floor by providing bluegrass entertainment. Joining them will be the Triple Springs Baptist Quartet.
Auctioneer Carlton Gravitt will lead the sales, which, after opening at the Star Warehouse, will continue at Victory Warehouse on Highway 501 south. The opening day sales in South Boston will conclude at the Planters Warehouse located on Wilborn Avenue.
Refreshments will be provided, and local officials will be on hand during the opening ceremonies.
South Boston tobacco sales will resume Wednesday, August 11, starting at the Victory Warehouse. Graders will arrive around 8 a.m.
Following sales at the Victory, bidding will resume at the Planters Warehouse, and then proceed at The Star.

In a season of uncertainty, auctioneer Carlton Gravitt will call farmers and buyers to the certainty of opening day Old Belt sales early Tuesday morning at Star Warehouse.
Last week, the warehouse already was filling with man-sized bales of tobacco, weighing in at up to 850 pounds, nestled row-by-row to traditional sheets of Halifax County tobacco.
The warehouse scene is as familiar as family to Gravitt.
A Virgilina native, the auctioneer has strong family ties to tobacco and to the land here.
A son of the late tobacco grader Dallas Gravitt, the auctioneer has worked markets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia, and this year marks his fifth or sixth working with Star Warehouse.
Mergers this season have reduced the number of local warehouses to three, The Star, Victory and Planters, all of which Gravitt will lead in sales this season.
"I am looking forward to it," said the seasoned auctioneer.
In his own rhythmic chant, Gravitt said he counts backward most of the time as he moves down the warehouse aisles.
The work demands focus. "Catching bids, watching the ticket marker, trying to get it sold," he added with a smile.
Leaning against a deep brown and gold tobacco bale at Star Warehouse, Gravitt talked about the excellent tobacco crop he is expecting on local warehouse floors this season, as well as the problems sister tobacco growing states to the south have been experiencing.
He is also seeing the changes tobacco baling is bringing.
With more tobacco bales on the warehouse floor, baling is changing not only the look of the floor but the amount of tobacco a warehouse may move in a day. Traditional tobacco sheets hold up to almost 300 pounds and are more time consuming to move.
The 850-pound bales are more easily moved off the warehouse floor, loaded and moved to storage, explained Gravitt.
However, some tobacco companies prefer the traditional sheets of tobacco, he added.
Uncertainty in the tobacco business also includes questions about the auction system itself. But whatever the outcome, Gravitt expects "to still be in the tobacco business" someway.
Taxes, the quota system, tobacco settlements, all hang heavy over the industry, but Gravitt has his own take on the problems.
"Tobacco farmers are like the plant itself, they are tough," said the auctioneer. "They will survive."

Next week local officials and the public are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and to tour the new Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax.
The ceremony begins on Thursday, August 19, at 2 p.m. at the detention facility located behind Halifax Town Hall in Halifax.
All citizens of Halifax County are encouraged to take advantage of the 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. open house and tour.
The Halifax County Adult Detention Center is operated by the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority.
The 3 1/2 story facility will house 104 inmates and will use a combination of direct and indirect supervision, a system of periodic checks and camera surveillance of controlled recreaton areas.
There is room for additional expansion and other dormitories in the lower level of this facility.

The woods between College and Dyer streets in South Boston erupted with activity Thursday, as drug agents chased down and apprehended a long-term fugitive of the law.
Shawn Demetrius Faulkner, 21, of South Boston, is being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Adult Detention Center in Halifax on multiple drug charges following his arrest Thursday, August 4. Another man, Marque L. Medley, 20, of Alton, was also arrested during the pursuit and charged with possession of marijuana.
According to reports from the Halifax/South Boston Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, agents received information that led them to Faulkner, who was wanted on cocaine distribution charges.
Reports indicated that when agents approached Faulkner, he ran into the woods between College and Dyer streets, where agents chased him down.
At the time of his arrest, agents reportedly seized a quantity of marijuana off of Faulkner and charged him with possession of marijuana in addition to the three counts of distribution of crack cocaine.
South Boston Police officers arrived on the scene and helped secure the area, while the Halifax County Sheriff's Department drug canine, Pete, and his handler, Sgt. S.T. Moser, searched the area for drugs and located approximately three grams of crack cocaine.
Agents also seized marijuana that was separated into 15 plastic bags, apparently for resale, reports stated.
"Faulkner has been evading law enforcement, and his arrest represents a positive impact to the College Street community in South Boston," said Sgt. Richard S.B. Pulliam, narcotics task force coordinator, who added that the investigation is continuing and the task force anticipates making additional arrests for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Faulkner is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on the marijuana charge August 30. No court date has been set for the distribution charges.
Medley, who was released on a personal recognizance bond, is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court August 11.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Environmental Quality will conduct a joint low-flow study of the Roanoke River.
The study came about as a result of a request of Del. W.W. (Ted ) Bennett and the river's Citizen Advisory Committee.
The study will provide baseline data for determining critical minimum flows needed for the river and its resources out of Smith Mountain Lake.
The severe and extended drought the area is presently going through will help in determining the low water baseline figures to be used in responding to requests from AEP for reduced flows from Smith Mountain Lake and the Clover Power Plant for withdrawals during a drought, said Bennett.
The study will allow for a better match of their commercial needs with the natural resource needs of the river, Bennett continued.
"Without baseline river data in drought conditions to guide us-to make sure the rivers needs and critical flows are being maintained- it is hard to meet AEP's request and Clover Power Plant's request without knowing whether we are doing long-term harm to the river," Bennett said.
The survey will be conducted monthly until November at five sites along the river.
Fish population surveys will also be conducted during the same time period at eight points along the river.
A report outlining the results of the study will be prepared by April of next year.=

Raymond Marcellous Richardson, 47, of Virginia Beach, formerly of Halifax, died Tuesday, August 3, 1999, in Virginia Beach.
Mr. Richardson was born on August 3, 1952 the son of James Richardson Sr. and Viola Wood Richardson and was married to Charlene Fieldon Richardson. He was a member of Faith Deliverance Church.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jamie Richardson and Gracie Richardson, both of the home; his mother of South Boston; and one brother, Melvin Richardson of South Boston.

Funeral services for Mr. Richardson were held Saturday, August 7, at 1:00 at New Light Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

Thomas Lee Wilson, 75, of 1056 Virgie Cole Road, South Boston, died Sunday, August 8, 1999, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Wilson was born on September 30, 1923 the son of James "Jim Bob" Wilson and Dora Tuck Wilson and was married to Mary Blount Wilson. He was a member of North Fork Baptist Church Virgilina and the Woodman of the World Camp 106 South Boston.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Cheryl W. Clark of South Boston; two granddaughters Christy Clark and Cari Clark both of South Boston; and one sister Hilda W. Roller of Clover. He was proceeded in death by two brothers and six sisters.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilson will be held Wednesday, August 11, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Bill LaWall and Rev. Russell Pedigo officiating. Burial will take place in the North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Brooks Funeral Home Tuesday night from 7 until 8:30, and at other times at his home.

The family request that those wishing to give memorials please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association P.O. Box 875 South Boston, VA 24592.

Rev. George William Mitchell, 86, of 1152 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg died Friday, August 6, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on April 19, 1913 and was the son of James Mitchell and Maggie Stroud Mitchell. He was married to Bettie Green Mitchell and was a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; nine daughters, Carrie Ford of Scottsburg, Bettie Stanfield of South Boston, Mattie Muse of Halifax, Rebecca Carter of Ft. Washington, Md., Martha Mitchell of Temple Hill Md., Ester Mitchell of Durham, NC, Naomi Carden of South Boston, Elizabeth Carter of Scottsburg and Lena Arrington of South Boston; four sons, George W. Mitchell, Jr. of Merridan, CT, Gordon D. Mitchell of Burlington, NC, Vine N. Mitchell of Scottsburg and Moses Mitchell of Randallstown, Md.; fifty-five grandchildren; fifty-five great-grandchildren; one sister, Ramona Dickerson of Brooklyn, NY; and one brother, Elijah Mitchell of Scottsburg.
Funeral Services for Rev. George William Mitchell will be held Tuesday, August 10 at 2 p.m. with services at St. Matthew Baptist Church with Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Matthew Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.

Mary Beatrice Judkins Ricks, 66, of 1012 Tucker Road, Halifax, died Tuesday, August 3, at Durham Regional Hospital in Durham, NC.
She was born in Halifax County, on October 14, 1932 and was the daughter of Thomas Marshall and Mary Bailey Marshall. She was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Deloris Judkins of Ellington, CT, Tabitha Chandler of Baltimore, Md. and Alice Womack of Halifax; four sons, Edward Judkins of Hartford, CT, Herman Womack of Nathalie, Willie Judkins and Ronnie Ricks, both of Halifax; twelve grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one sister, Cornelia Jones of Mebane, NC.

Private funeral services for Ms. Ricks were held Sunday, August 8 at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Andrew Powell officiating. Burial followed in the Crystal Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.