WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/03/00

[7-School-Watch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

We have one school announcement to pass along this morning.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN]
Roanoke County Schools will operate on a two hour delay today.
Again, Roanoke County Schools will be on a two hour delay.

[7-Y2K-Monday]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Y2K]

The year 2000 is here and so far, the Y-2-K related problems are few.
This morning, many schools and businesses will be returning to see if the New Year's bug affected their computer systems.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Joe/Microwave]

Joe Dashiell has more on the situation... and the expectation that all will go smoothly.
[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Melanie, industry experts say that some problems might not appear for weeks or months... but this morning the financial markets are up and running in other time zones... and we aren't expecting any serious problems here.
(adlib)

[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]

[7-E-Pitts-Y2K]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-49 42:06]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

Pittsylvania County didn't escape the Y-2-K bug... 9-1-1 dispatchers had to contend with a minor computer glitch this weekend.
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham/January 1997;]

The county's emergency services coordinator says when the computer saw the first call come in with double zeroes for the year, it concluded that it came before calls in 1996.
That was the year the system was installed.
The problem was NOT considered serious because the data was in the system, - just out of order.
(---------------)

[7-E-Y2k-Leftovers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-53 26:36]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

The threat of the Y2K emergencies led many people to the grocery stores.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Bell Hall has been storing canned foods and other non perishable items for more than a month.
In fact, she says she has enough food to feed her family for about two months.
And even though the Y2k bug didn't cause any serious problems -- Hall says she doesn't regret stocking-up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT57:16]
[IN Q=I think it is still a good]
((BELL HALL:I THINK IT IS STILL A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT STILL COULD HAPPEN YOU NEVER KNOW THIS IS JUST THE 2ND AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AND WE'RE READY FOR WHATEVER))
[SUPER=07-Bell Hall; :00]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=for whatever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hall says if nothing happens -- she'll store the food for a possible winter storm.
Meanwhile officials at the Salvation Army say you can always donate some of your additional food to a charitable organization.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT52:37]
[IN Q=We do give out]
((CAPTAIN STEPHEN LONG/ROANOKE SALVATION ARMY: WE DO GIVE OUT FOOD ORDERS HERE EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK AND WE ALSO SERVED 70-THOUSAND MEALS LAST YEARS.SO WE'LL PUT THAT FOOD TO GOOD USE.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Stephen Long/Roanoke Salvation Army]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=to good use.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Salvation Army will accept any nonperishable food items.
(----------)

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Here's a look at your Monday forecast.
Partly sunny and warm today.
Highs reach near record levels in the upper 60s to low 70s.
Tonight mostly cloudy with winds.
Lows in the low 50s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Near Record Heat/68-73/Mostly Cloudy/Winds S 10-20/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[7BIRTHDAYS!] 1/4/00
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-10/Anne McQuail/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-10/Brandon Brubaker/Rocky Mount]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/Charlie Mitchell/Sontag]

[45-School-Watch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

We have one school announcement to pass along this morning.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN]
Roanoke County Schools will open two hours late.
Again, Roanoke County Schools will open two hours late.

[45-E-Airport-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-57 18:34]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl]

More than a dozen chartered flights left yesterday from Roanoke for New Orleans as Virginia Tech fans flew to see the Hokies face Florida State in tomorrow's Sugar Bowl.
Joy Sutton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=a sea of]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Taylor Thornhill/Hokie Fan; :09]
[SUPER=@Joy1; :17]
[SUPER=01-Skeezix Coles/Virginia Tech Alumnus; :29]
[SUPER=01-Rod Fringer/Virginia Tech Alumnus; :39]
[SUPER=01-Sara Ortega/University Travel; :55]
[SUPER=01-Jim Haney/US Airways; 1:05]
[SUPER=01-Tom Watkins/Virginia Tech Alumnus; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=js news 7]
(( A sea of orange and maroon filled Roanoke Regional Regional Airport as thousands headed to New Orleans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:43:32]
[IN Q=Hokie spirit]
((TAYLOR THORNHILL/HOKIE FAN: HOKIE SPIRIT IS IN THE AIRPORT THAT'S FOR SURE. GO HOKIES YES INDEED:37))
[RUNS= 5]
[OUT Q=yes indeed]
[nat sound w of cheering people:5:52:14] ((NAT SOUND OF CHEERING FANS))
[RUNS= 5]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:56:00]
[IN Q=Most of the hokie]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTING: MOST OF THE HOKIE FANS HERE HAVE PAID AROUND 11 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR AN ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE WHICH DOES INCLUDE A SUGAR BOWL TICKET. BUT MANY SAY IT'S WELL WORTH IT TO BE A PART OF HOKIE HISTORY))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=history]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:49:33]
[IN Q=This only happens]
((SKEEZIX COLES/TECH ALUMNUS: THIS ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME AND I'M THANKFUL I LIVED THIS LONG))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=this long]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:49:44]
[IN Q=It's a dream(cover first part of bite 5:38:55 shot of sign that says sugar bowl bound)]
((ROD FRINGER/TECH ALUMNUS: IT'S A DREAM. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE TECH GET IN THIS POSITION AND I'M SO GLAD. LIKE A DREAM I WANT TO ENJOY AND DON'T WAKE ME UP))
[RUNS= 8]
[OUT Q=wake me up]

University Travel in Blacksburg put together the charter planes and other travel arrangements for most of these hokies fans -- US Airways provided the ground transportation and other services.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:45:28]
[IN Q=We have 19 airplanes]
((SARA ORTEGA/UNIVERSITY TRAVEL: WE HAVE 19 AIRPLANES ABOUT 4-THOUSAND, 4-HUNDRED PEOPLE. IT TOOK US ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO GET IT TOGETHER BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT NOW FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=six weeks]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:46:53]
[IN Q=When we found]
((JIM HANEY/US AIRWAYS: WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO NEW ORLEANS, WE'RE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN WITH JET WAYS. WE HAVE ALL OUR EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERING TO WORK TODAY. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=work today]

Many fans say they are confident the Hokies will bring home the national title.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:53:10]
[IN Q=It feels great and]
((TOM WATKINS/TECH ALUMNUS: IT FEELS GREAT AND I'M NOT JUST GOING TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO WIN. THEY ARE GOING TO WIN))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=going to win]
[nat sound 5:40:38 nat sound of fans on plane cheering] ((NAT SOUND OF FANS ON PLANE CHEERING:))
[RUNS= 3]

And they're off to New Orleans -- to cheer on their team this Tuesday at the Superdome. Joy Sutton, News 7, Roanoke.))

[45-Fatal-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A single vehicle car accident in Ferrum leaves one person dead.
Gerald Hess was traveling west on route 6-40 shortly after 6-30 last night when he ran his pickup into the shoulder of the road, then hit a drain pipe and several trees.
Hess was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say alcohol was found in the pickup and Hess was not wearing a seat belt.

[45-Youth-Haven]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Roanoke County officials have closed a home for troubled girls because it failed to attract enough girls to survive financially.
No public announcement was made when Youth Haven Two closed on December 17th -- and the home's advisory board was notified only a week before the last five residents were sent elsewhere.
More than 260 girls had received care at the home since it opened in 19-87.

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news to check the forecast...
Partly sunny skies with near record highs in the upper 60s and low 70s this afternoon.
Mostly cloudy by tonight, and still breezy, lows in the low to mid 50s.
The five day forecast includes rain for tomorrow, with gradually more normal temperatures by mid- week.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Near Record Heat/68-73/Mostly Cloudy/Winds S 10-20/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-School-Watch]

[8-E-Pitts-Y2K]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-49 42:06]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

So far, so good when it comes to Y-2-K, but will it last?
The real test comes today as workers log onto computers that were shut down over the weekend, when the calendar rolled over to the year 2000.
9-1-1 dispatchers in Pittsylvania County had to contend with a minor Y-2-K problem.
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham/January 1997;]

The county's emergency services coordinator says when the computer saw the first call come in with double zeroes for the year, it concluded that it came before calls in 1996.
That was the year the system was installed.
The problem was NOT considered serious because the data was in the system, - just out of order.
(---------------)

[8-E-Y2k-Leftovers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-53 26:36]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

Many people in our area hit the grocery stores to stock up for any Y-2-K emergencies over the weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Bell Hall has been storing canned foods and other non perishable items for more than a month.
In fact, she says she has enough food to feed her family for about two months.
And even though the Y2k bug didn't cause any serious problems -- Hall says she doesn't regret stocking-up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT57:16]
[IN Q=I think it is still a good]
((BELL HALL:I THINK IT IS STILL A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT STILL COULD HAPPEN YOU NEVER KNOW THIS IS JUST THE 2ND AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AND WE'RE READY FOR WHATEVER))
[SUPER=07-Bell Hall; :00]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=for whatever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hall says if nothing happens -- she'll store the food for a possible winter storm.
Meanwhile officials at the Salvation Army say you can always donate some of your additional food to a charitable organization.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT52:37]
[IN Q=We do give out]
((CAPTAIN STEPHEN LONG/ROANOKE SALVATION ARMY: WE DO GIVE OUT FOOD ORDERS HERE EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK AND WE ALSO SERVED 70-THOUSAND MEALS LAST YEARS.SO WE'LL PUT THAT FOOD TO GOOD USE.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Stephen Long/Roanoke Salvation Army]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=to good use.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Salvation Army will accept any nonperishable food items.
(----------)

[8-Fatal-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Ferrum man is dead after a single vehicle accident last night.
Gerald Hess was traveling west on route 640 in Ferrum shortly after 6-30 yesterday, when his pickup ran onto the shoulder of the road, then hit a drain pipe and several trees.
Hess was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say alcohol was found in the pickup and Hess was not wearing a seat belt.

[8-Youth-Haven]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A home for troubled girls in Roanoke County has been closed.
Officials closed Youth Haven Two on December 17th -- and the home's advisory board was notified only a week before the last five residents were sent elsewhere.
Officials said the home failed to attract enough girls to survive financially.
More than 260 girls had received care at the home since it opened in 1987.

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Checking your Monday weather outlook now--
Partly sunny and unseasonably warm again today with near record highs around 70.
Mostly cloudy by tonight, with lows in the low to mdi 50s.
The five day forecast includes rain for tomorrow, with gradually more normal temperatures by mid- week.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Near Record Heat/68-73/Mostly Cloudy/Winds S 10-20/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]