WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/01/00

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=nkr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

[roll cold out of the open]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=@Denise1;]
[SUPER=@Andrew1;]
Despite the scare and hype of Y-2-K...the command center here in Roanoke closed up shop early...not reporting any serious problems.

(------------)
No problems on land or in the air. Roanoke Airport's flight schedule and plane operations are not effected by Y-2-K.

(-------------)

[2-shot toss to Hello][Emergency-Services]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-46 1:00:57]
[GRAPHIC=2000]

If the night provided a surprise for local officials, it was that things went much better than expected.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke Co.]

Like other local governments in western Virginia, Roanoke County opened its emergency operations center... but there were few phone calls and no reports of trouble related to the Y2K bug.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:39:38]
[IN Q=We are having a few rescue calls]
((DONALD GILLISPIE/EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR: WE ARE HAVING A FEW RESCUE CALLS. I THINK SOME OF THE PARTIES ARE PROBABLY BREAKING UP. AND RESCUE ACTIVITY HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE ACTIVE, BUT THAT'S RELATED TO THE PARTYING NOT NECESSARILY Y2K. IS THIS WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING FROM THE EVENING? I ANTICIPATED WE WOULD HAVE SOME GLITCHES, BUT NOTHING OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE, BUT IT'S BEEN LESS THAN WHAT I ANTICIPATED.))
[SUPER=201-Donald Gillispie/Emergency Services Coordinator]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=less than what I anticipated.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Roanoke County officials reported no serious problems to authorities in Richmond, and they closed up the emergency operations center earlier than expected.
(------------)

[Airport-Live]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-56]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Y2k bug also didn't have an impact on air travel in the Roanoke Valley. Air lines are reporting no problems this morning.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

Joy Sutton is at Roanoke Regional Airport with more.
[Live= Full/Microwave]

Denise,
Flights began leaving as early as 6 -30 this morning. Most airlines are operating on a holiday schedule.
And some airlines say although they were prepared for potential problems -- there systems turned out to be Y2 k compliant.
[SUPER=219-Joy/Sutton]
[SUPER=205-Roanoke]
(rollcue... y2 k compliant )
(/////SOT/////)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:41]
[IN Q=Everything was perfect]
((BOB WAMPLER/US AIRWAYS: EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT ALL SYSTEMS WERE ON LINE, AIR TRAFFIC WAS FINE, NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER MARY ATKINS/PASSENGER: IT'S ALMOST A LET DOWN. WE GOT REAL EARLY WITH CONCERNS. WE CAME AN HOUR IN ADVANCE TO THE AIRPORT BUT NOBODY WAS HERE.))
[SUPER=201-Bob Wampler/US Airways;:00]
[SUPER=201-Mary Atkins/Passenger;:08]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=nobody was here]

(30 seconds of video)

[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=205-Roanoke]
(ad lib)

[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

[Wrap-Millennium]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Year 2000]

There were few problems around the rest of the country.
Fireworks seemed to be the choice way to ring in the new year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Las Vegas, NV;]

Tons of confetti rained down on The Strip ... as tens of thousands of people celebrated the turn of the century in Las Vegas.
State officials report no Y-2-k computer problems.
[super=203-Los Angeles, CA;]

In Los Angeles, the famous Hollywood sign was juiced up with nearly three million watts of colored lights to mark the occasion.
This is the first time since 1984 the famous landmark has been lit.
[super=203-Washington DC;]

In the nation's capital, the president addressed the country saying the torch has been passed to a new century of young Americans.
Clinton called on Americans to stand against the forces of hatred and bigotry, terror and destruction.
(------------)

[First-Night]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-47 51:48]
[GRAPHIC=2000]

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Roanoke to see the new year arrive.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke]

Fireworks lit up the sky at midnight to mark the beginning of the year 2000.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=should old]
((NAt Sound))
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=be forgot]

The pyrotechnics were just part of the party at the annual First Night festivities in the Star City.
People who came also enjoyed musicians, games and carriage rides.
Hope and happiness filled the faces of the young and the old who came to celebrate life in Roanoke in the new year.
(------------)

[Danville]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-52 28:03]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

New Years celebrations were also underway in downtown Danville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Danville]

More than 5-hundred people ushered in the year 2-thousand at the Danville Community Market--an event sponsored by WAKG radio and several businesses.
(///////////sot/////////)
[in q= We have]
((CAROL METZ/WAKG MORNING ANNOUNCER: WE HAVE TWO DANCE FLOORS, TWO BANDS PERFORMING AND I THINK EVERYONE IS REALLY READY TO PARTY AND WELCOME 2 THOUSAND.))
[Super=201-Carol Metz/WAKG Morning Announcer;]
[runs07]
[out q= two thousand.]

Scottie Lawrence is also excited about the New Year-- but for a different reason, she just found out she's pregnant.
(/////sot//////)
[IN q= Too bad]
((SCOTTIE LAWRENCE: TOO BAD IT'S NOT THE FIRST BABY OF THE MILLENNIUM BUT AT LEAST IT WILL BE IN THE MILLENNIUM, SO BUT AT LEAST I CAN KEEP UP WITH HOW OLD IT IS, BORN IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND.))
[Super=207-Scottie Lawrence;]
[RUN 10]
[out q= two thousand.]
(------------)
[anchor=denise]
[ss=hold]
Party goers paid 50- dollars each to ring in the new year at the community market....and there was another reason for the festive spirit. Organizers also gave a way a new car shortly after midnight.

[Bowers-Phoner]

[ANCHOR=Andrew and Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[2-shot] [both mics hot] [denise]
Roanoke made a smooth transition into the new year. [andrew]
Joining us now by phone to talk about the success is Roanoke Mayor David Bowers.
Good Morning. [PHONE INTERVIEW]

[Y2K-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=???]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:21:44]
[GRAPHIC=Y2K Bug]

A lingering Y2K concern will be personal computers -- are they fully compliant?
One consultant says there's a good chance people using PCs at home or in the office could still get bitten by some Y2K bugs.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:15:31]
[IN Q=i think]
((BILL WARD/COMPUTER CONSULTANT: I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT NEXT WEEK. PEOPLE ARE UNPREPARED FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=201-Bill Ward/Computer Consultant;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Salem]

Computer technician Bill Ward says they're not major problems.
And if you haven't tested your personal computer yet, that's OK.
But unless you're running the second edition of Windows 98 .. Ward says your system will need a check-up.
You can download a test from Microsoft's website.
And it's O-K if you wait until next week.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:16:01]
[IN Q=they won't]
((BILL WARD/COMPUTER CONSULTANT: THEY WON'T LOSE ANY DATA .... JUST MINOR INCONVENIENCES.))
[Super=201-Bill Ward/Computer Consultant;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=minor inconveniences ]
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[ss=none]

The downloadable tests will tell you how to update your operating system and your software.

[11Police-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:55:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Roanoke City Police Officer shot a suspect yesterday morning,
And now Officer G. W Boucher (boo-SHAY) is on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The incident happened on Patton Avenue Northwest.
Officials say it started as a pursuit when the suspect refused to stop as the officer tried to pull him over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:25:06]
[IN Q=The driver reached back]
((SHELLY ALLEY/POLICE SPOKESPERSON: THE DRIVER THEN REACHED BACK INTO THE CAR AND WOULD NOT SHOW HIS HANDS TO THE OFFICERS AND THE OFFICER TOLD HIM TO SHOW HIS HANDS. THE OFFICER SHOT HIM IN THE ABDOMEN))
[SUPER=01-Shelly Alley/Police Spokesperson]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=the abdomen]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=denise]
[GRAPHIC=None]

38 year old Wilbert Wesley Lewis is in fair condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

[Yeltsin]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Yeltsin stepping down]

A new leader is at the helm of the Russian government this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Moscow/Russian Television;]

President Boris Yeltsin resigned yesterday after eight years in office.
The 68 year old has been dogged by poor health in recent years and appeared pale during the nationally televised speech.
During his tenure US-Russian relations have greatly improved.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=to President Yeltsin]
((BILL CLINTON: TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN, LET ME CONVEY MY APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER. ))
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=have done together]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

47 year old Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is taking Yeltsin's place.
He'll remain in office until the presidential elections in March.
(------------)

[Panama-Canal]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Panama Canal is now in the possession of the people of Panama.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Panama City, Panama;]

In a jubilant ceremony the US signed a document formalizing Panama's possession of the canal.
Until recently the land was home to U.S. military and civilian installations.
Thousands of Panamanians marched towards the Canal Commission Headquarters.
They were chanting "the gringos are out".
Panamanian officials say they will consult the US on security issues if necessary but they are proud that for the first time since 1914 Panama's flag is waiving over the canal alone.
(------------)

[Sports-Plays]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sports plays]
[GRAPHIC=nhl]

On N-H-L ice, Brett Hull of the Dallas Stars became the 12th player to reach 600 goals when he scored twice in the third period of the Stars' 5-to-4 win over Anaheim.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX/NHL-Fox Southwest;]

Hull's goals came just two-13 apart--the record setter on a powerplay. This was Hull's 900th career game. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux reached the 600-goal plateau faster than Hull.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=1:23:04 It seemed]
(())
[SUPER=01-Brett Hull/600 Career Goal;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=dream come true]
(------------)

[2-Airport-Live]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-56]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Roanoke Regional Airport is up and running this morning -- and Airlines are reporting no problems.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

Joy Sutton is at the airport with details.
[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]

Denise, The airlines are saying their systems are y2 compliant. But this morning it's not just y2 k that airport officials are thinking about -- safety is also an issue especially with all of the hokie fans headed to New Orleans.
[SUPER=219-Joy/Sutton]
[SUPER=205-Roanoke]

(rollcue...it's also safety )

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 35:33]
[IN Q=We're checking more ]
((MARY MOUNTCASTLE/AIRPORT SECURITY: WE'RE CHECKING MORE CAREFULLY CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF HOKIE FANS COMING THROUGH. AND WE'RE BEEFING UP SECURITY JUST BEING VERY VERY CAREFUL. MARY ATKINS/PASSENGER: WE'RE GOING TO NEW ORLEANS DOWN TO THE SUGAR BOWL. WE WEREN'T CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT THE FLIGHT. WE WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OVER SLEEPING. I THINK THIS MORNING TO MAKE AN EARLY FLIGHT.))
[SUPER=201-Mary Mountcastle/Airport Security;:00]
[SUPER=201-Mary Atkins/Passenger;:08]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=an early flight]

(30 seconds of video)

[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=205-Roanoke]
(ad lib)

[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

[2-Emergency-Services]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-46]
[GRAPHIC=2000]

For local officials, the night went better went much better than expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke Co.]

Like other local governments in western Virginia, Roanoke County opened its emergency operations center... but there were few phone calls and no reports of trouble related to the Y2K bug.
Roanoke County officials reported no serious problems to authorities in Richmond, and they closed up the emergency operations center earlier than expected.
(------------)

[AEP-Phoner]

[ANCHOR=Andrew and Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[2-shot] [denise]
It's time now to check in with American Electric Power. They have reported no problems.
[Andrew]

Don Johnson who s the Corporate Communications Manager joins us live by phone this morning [PHONE INTERVIEW]
[FS Board Don Johnson AEP]

[VA-POWER]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=year 2000]

Virginia Power also experienced a smooth transition into the new year. They say there were no Y-2-K related service problems to its two million cutomers.

[World-Celebration]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Year 2000]

Fireworks thundered around the world as all cultures welcomed the year 2000.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Havana, Cuba;]

The cannons were fired at sundown from the walls of El Morro fortress overlooking Havana, Cuba.
The holiday always carries special weight in Cuba as they also mark national liberation day.
[super=203-Paris, France;]

France rocked in the New Year in much the same way as the rest of the world.
The skyline of Paris came alive as fireworks lit the sky.
[super=203-Apia, Somoa;]

Samoans were the last people to say hello to the new year. And they did it in a traditional way.
Samoa has been an independent nation since New Year's Day 1962 after being under German and New Zealand control. It was the first South Pacific nation to reach independence.
(------------)

[Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-]
[SS=Sugar Bowl]

In New Orleans, The Tech Players decided to stay away from Bourbon Street... But they were about the only ones in New Orleans who elected to stay home.
Our Sugar Bowl crew has a look at how they celebrated the the new year in New Orleans style.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=219-Mike/Stevens; :00]
[SUPER=201-Cory Newman/Virginia Tech Fan from Pulaski; :23]
[SUPER=203-New Orleans, LA; :35]
[SUPER=201-Dustin Bond/Radford Univ. Soccer Player; 1:00]
[SUPER=219-Steve/Mason; 1:18]
[SUPER=201-Brian Johnson/1994 Virginia Tech Graduate; 2:08]
[RUNS=2:22]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports]

[Lynchburg]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#99-51 22:26]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Not everyone was jammed into a big crowd, counting down to midnight.
Steve Smallshaw found a crowd in Lynchburg that got a five- hour head start on everyone else.
(/////SOT/////)
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=203-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=201-Elaine St. Vincent/Party Organizer; :30]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=music, singing fades out]
(([natsot conga line 21:36:10]
[RUNS= 03]

A retirement community may not be everyone's first choice for a party on New Year's Eve, but things were rocking tonight at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg.
[natsot band 21:37:10]
[RUNS= 02]

Organizers knew they wanted to do something to celebrate the Year 2000, but at a place where the average resident is 83 years old, staying up until midnight can be difficult.
[SOT 21:39:19]
((ELAINE ST. VINCENT/PARTY ORGANIZER: WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT WE SAID WELL, MOST PEOPLE HERE WOULD PROBABLY BE IN BED BY 12 O'CLOCK, SO WE GOT THE BRILLIANT IDEA OF CELEBRATING LONDON TIME, SO EVERYBODY COULD BE TUCKED SNUG AWAY IN THEIR BEDS BY TWELVE O'CLOCK.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=twelve o'clock.]

So instead they counted down to seven o'clock.. midnight in London.
Father Time and Baby New Year put in an appearance and the evening ended with a heartfelt wish and the traditional toast.
[natsot 21:44:14]
((THE TOAST IS FOR ALL HERE TONIGHT AND THOSE AROUND THE WORLD AS A NEW ERA DAWNS, WE PRAY FOR HEALTH AND EVERLASTING PEACE.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=everlasting peace.]
[natsot 21:45:27]
((FOR AULD LANG SYNE.. ))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=music, singing dies out.]

Downtown, they rang in the New Year more traditionally..
[natsot "3,2,1.."]

And the Y2K bug was nowhere to be seen.

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))[Bomb-threat]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threat]

The party was put on hold for about an hour in Anchorage, Alaska, last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Anchorage, AK;]

A man phoned police with a bomb threat.
Police evacuated 20-thousand people and searched the town square and a building.
Nothing was found and people in Alaska's largest city ushered in the New Year with fireworks.
Alaskans all over the state braved sub-zero temperatures to watch fireworks.
(------------)

[2-Y2K-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=???]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:21:44]
[GRAPHIC=Y2K Bug]

There is still a lingering Y-2-K concern with personal computers.
One consultant says there's a good chance people using PCs at home or in the office could still get bitten by some Y2K bugs.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:15:31]
[IN Q=i think]
((BILL WARD/COMPUTER CONSULTANT: I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT NEXT WEEK. PEOPLE ARE UNPREPARED FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=201-Bill Ward/Computer Consultant;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Salem]

Computer technician Bill Ward says they're not major problems.
And if you haven't tested your personal computer yet, that's OK.
But unless you're running the second edition of Windows 98 .. Ward says your system will need a check-up.
You can download a test from Microsoft's website.
And it's O-K if you wait until next week.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:16:01]
[IN Q=they won't]
((BILL WARD/COMPUTER CONSULTANT: THEY WON'T LOSE ANY DATA .... JUST MINOR INCONVENIENCES.))
[Super=201-Bill Ward/Computer Consultant;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=minor inconveniences ]
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[ss=none]

The downloadable tests will tell you how to update your operating system and your software.

[Red-Cross-Phoner]

[ANCHOR=Andrew and Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[2-shot] [denise]
Although we made it through the New year with no major problems, the Red Cross is still monitoring the situation. [andrew]
Joining us now by phone is Izzy Menchero with the American Red Cross. Good Morning
[PHONE INTERVIEW]

[11Police-Shooting]

[11Council-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-49]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Council Pay]

Roanoke City Council voted down a proposal for a pay increase in the year 2-thousand.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Council members voted on an emergency ordinance that would raise the mayor's salary by three thousand dollars, and council members pay by 2-thousand dollars.
But the ordinance failed -- getting four of the five votes needed to pass.
Yesterday was the last day council had to vote on the ordinance in order for it to take effect in the year 2-thousand.
(---------------)

[2-BIRTHDAYS!] 1/2/99
Sunday

[SUPER=130-98/Bonnie Burks/Glasgow]

[SUPER=130-44/Jerry Branscome/Hillsville]

[SUPER=130-9/Zachary Prillaman/Callaway]

[SUPER=130-5/Megan Bradley/New Castle]

[SUPER=130-86/Lucy Kessinger/McCoy]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/Amanda Amos/Snow Creek]

[SUPER=131-/Bobby Kirk/Roanoke]

Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-/Barry & Robyn Washburn/Snow Creek]

[SUPER=131-/Krystal Washburn/Snow Creek]