[7-Road-Conditions]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Road Conditions]


In most areas, today's commute will be a lot easier than yesterday.
V-Dot is reporting mostly minor problems across the viewing area, but says some trouble spots remain.
Interstates 81 and 5-81 in Roanoke and Botetourt counties have some icy spots.
Interstates 81 and 77 in Wythe, Carroll, Bland and Smyth Counties are still snow covered in portions.
State Police say they're also concerned about high winds on Fancy Gap Mountain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carroll Co.]


Yesterday, that part of Interstate 77 saw a deadly combination of snow, ice and fog.
The mountain was littered with dozens of wrecked cars and trucks.
A couple from Waynesboro was killed when their car was crushed between two trucks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=if i was]
[SUPER=07-Matthew Fiebig]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=been dead, so.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


It took hours to get the 11-mile traffic backup moving again.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)

[WIPE TO FULL SCREEN BOARD]
If you'd like more detailed road information you can call V-Dot's hotline at 1-800-367-ROAD.
(------------)



[7-Andrew-Lewis]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


The future of Andrew Lewis Middle School continues to be debated, but the discussions are mostly one sided.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


Less than a dozen people signed up to speak before the school board at a public hearing last night, but those who did were opposed to renovating the aging middle school.
Those who spoke believe a NEW middle school would be in Salem's best interest.
(///// SOT ///// 00:56:23)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The kids]

(( MIKE CHIGLINSKY/OPPOSES RENOVATION: THE KIDS NEED A STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENCY AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY, A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND IF YOU HAVE A TRANSITIONAL RENOVATION PROCESS THAT DISRUPTS A LOT OF THE NORMAL SOCIAL CONTEXT THAT KIDS HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Chiglinsky/Opposes Renovation; ]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q= kids have.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Superintendent Wayne Tripp expects the board to hold two more public hearings before possibly making a decision... as early as this summer.
(------------)





[7-E-City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-59 13:40]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal]


Roanoke City Council face a number of concerns from city residents.
Residents packed a series of public hearings yesterday, and raised concerns about planned development, neighborhood zoning, and crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Representatives of several neighborhood watch groups held a rally in Lee Plaza before the meeting.
They're calling on city officials to use existing public nuisance ordinances to crack down on illegal drug activity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You have no life]

((KATHY EL-ATTAR: YOU HAVE NO LIFE. YOU'RE BARRICADED IN YOUR HOME AND YOU HOPE THAT THEY DON'T COME IN THERE.)) ((SEAN ARJOMANDINIA: AND IF WE DON'T WORK QUICK AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW, THEN IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.))
[SUPER=01-Kathy El-Attar/Roanoke Resident; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sean Arjomandinia/Roanoke Resident; :07]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=then it might be too late in the very near future.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Members of council asked city manager Darlene Burcham to review the residents' concerns, and report back to council at its next meeting in early February.
(------------)



[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Here's a look at your mid week forecast. Mostly sunny today withs winds reaching 10 to 20 miles per hour. Highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. Snow developing tonight, heavy at times. Low temperatures in the mid to upper 20s. The extended forecast...

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[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-20/38-42/Snow Developing/Heavy at Times/25-29;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]




[45-E-PCBs]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-60 48:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Officials are getting closer to pinpointing the the source and the extent of P-C-B contamination in the Staunton River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]


Concerned citizens met with state and federal officials last night to discuss the problem.
Authorities say much of the cancer-causing chemical is seeping into the river from property owned by B-G-F Industries.
B-G-F says clean-up could cost more than a quarter-million dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Herman Rogers/BGF Plant Manager]
[super=01-Shelton Miles/Concerned Citizens Committee]
[RUNS=26]
[OUT Q=the problem less severe.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A 79-mile stretch of the Staunton River remains under a state health advisory.
Residents are asked to limit their consumption of fish caught there.
Six species have been shown to contain serious levels of P-C-B contamination.
(------------)



[45-E-Andrew-Lewis]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01 11:07]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


In Salem last night a public hearing was held on the future of Andrew Lewis Middle School.
Up for debate, whether the school should be renovated or construction should begin on a brand new middle school.
Teresa Hamilton was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The public]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Chiglinsky/Opposes Renovation; :22 ]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Tripp/Salem Schools Superintendent; :54]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Salem.]


(( The public hearing to discuss the future of Andrew Lewis Middle school drew a small but one sided group of speakers.
Only five people signed up to voice their opinion before the Salem school board, but all echoed the same theme that the aging middle school should NOT be renovated that a NEW middle school would be in Salem's best interest.
(////sot//// 00:56:23)
[in q= The kids]

(( MIKE CHIGLINSKY/OPPOSES RENOVATION: THE KIDS NEED A STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENCY AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY, A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND IF YOU HAVE A TRANSITIONAL RENOVATION PROCESS THAT DISRUPTS A LOT OF THE NORMAL SOCIAL ONTEXT THAT KIDS HAVE.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q= kids have.]


This won't be the last time the board will gather input from residents.
Superintendent Wayne Tripp expects another public hearing once the school board gathers information on possible sites should the decision, down the road, be one in favor of a new school.
(///sot/// 00:57:16)
[in q=Then I ]

((WAYNE TRIPP/SALEM SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: THEN I WOULDN'T BE AT ALL SURPRISED, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD SUSPECT THAT A FIFTH PUBLIC HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE WHEN THE BOARD HAS A PREFERENCE IT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PLACE.))
[runs= 11]
[out q= take place.]


Tripp expects the board will make a decision on which path to pursue this summer-- with construction not beginning for several years. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Salem.))


[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Let's take a break from the news to check today's weather...
Mostly sunny and breezy with highs near 40.
As another storm system approaches, we can expect snow showers to develop after midnight.
Lows tonight in the upper 20s.
The extended forecast keeps snow showers around until tomorrow morning...then some sunshine will return.
Highs in the 30s...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-20/38-42/Snow Developing/Heavy at Times/25-29;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]




[8-E-Lee-Mural]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-51 45:42]
[GRAPHIC=Lee Mural Vandalism]


Confederate supporters are calling Monday's burning of the Lee Mural on Richmond's flood wall a hate crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


Now, they're calling for the F-B-I to investigate the vandalism.
Governor Gilmore and even Sa'ad (SOD) El-Amin - who opposed including Lee's portrait on the floodwall - are condemning the act of vandalism.
But El-Amin says the mural should NOT go back up, because it would invite more violence.
(------------)



[8-E-City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-59 13:40]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal]


Roanoke citizens brought their neighborhood's concerns to members of Roanoke City Council last night.
Residents packed a series of public hearings to voice their concerns about planned development, zoning, and crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Representatives of several neighborhood watch groups held a rally in Lee Plaza before the meeting.
They're calling on city officials to use existing public nuisance ordinances to crack down on illegal drug activity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You have no life]

((KATHY EL-ATTAR: YOU HAVE NO LIFE. YOU'RE BARRICADED IN YOUR HOME AND YOU HOPE THAT THEY DON'T COME IN THERE.)) ((SEAN ARJOMANDINIA: AND IF WE DON'T WORK QUICK AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW, THEN IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.))
[SUPER=01-Kathy El-Attar/Roanoke Resident; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sean Arjomandinia/Roanoke Resident; :07]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=then it might be too late in the very near future.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Members of council asked city manager Darlene Burcham to review the residents' concerns, and report back to council at its next meeting in early February.
(------------)



[8-S-Fireboat]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-52 53:09]
[GRAPHIC=SML]


Last week's winds may be to blame for a set back for Smith Mountain Lake firefighters.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./January 5;]


The community had just bought a new 170-thousand-dollar fireboat when it sank last week.
[SUPER=04-January 14;]


Now fire officials are saying the heavy wind is to blame - it either tilted the boat or swept so much water onto it that the bilge pump could not keep up.
The volunteer firefighters say their earlier guess was wrong: a valve did NOT lock open.
Only the radios and a couple windows were broken.
(------------)



[8-E-Rowe-Furniture]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-56 30:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Perfect or "near perfect" attendance isn't just for school aged children anymore...one local business is celebrating its dedicated employees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


Last night, Rowe Furniture threw a party at the Salem Civic Center to honor its employees with perfect or "near perfect" attendance.
Those who made it through 1999 without missing more than three days were eligible to win a year two- thousand Chevy Blazer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 41:29:17]
[IN Q=We just]

(( STEVE SHELOR/SR. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: WE JUST DECIDED TO PUT A RETURN INTO OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO OUR COMPANY THAT WHY NOT MAKE IT FUN AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK. ))
[SUPER=01-Steve Shelor/Senior VP of Operations; :00]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=something back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Mark Wood, who's been with Rowe for 14- years, walked away with the keys to the blazer.
By the way... Rowe also gave away other gifts including televisions, home stereos, cash, furniture and gift certificates.
(------------)



[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Time again to look at the mid- week forecast...
Mostly sunny today with winds out of the northwest and highs arond 40.
We'll see more snow developing overnight, some of it could be heavy at times.
Looks for lows in the upper 20s.
The extended forecast keeps snow showers around until tomorrow morning...then some sunshine will return.
Highs in the 30s...

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[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-20/38-42/Snow Developing/Heavy at Times/25-29;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

by SS