[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
News 7 begins tonight with the dreaded word: SNOW, with a look at whether we're ready for another big one... where
all the salt comes from and, of course, what we can expect this time.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
And we'll attend W-and-L's Mock Political Convention... to see whether the students can accurately predict the G-O-P nominee.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11m]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, The Express is back at the Roundhouse tonight for a game with Greensboro and the teams leading scorer Dion Del Monte returns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the top wrestlers in this part of the state are at William Byrd for the Big Orange Wrestling Tournament.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Another cold night is on tap and the weekend promises to provide a healthy dose of winter weather.
The latest snow forecast is coming.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:02:36]
[IN Q=What we've got]
((WHAT WE'VE GOT TO GO BY IS THE ACCU- WEATHER YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF A STORM..))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=chance of a storm.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Road crews across central and southwest Virginia are gearing up for yet another winter storm..
Exactly what we'll get and how much is still up in the air.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=News7 At Six.]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Storm-Preps]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-46 TC1:53:20]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
Much of our area is still recovering from Tuesday's surprise snowstorm.. now it appears more snow is on the way.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Lynchburg Bureau]
That's not exactly welcome news for the people who're supposed to keep our roadways clear of snow and ice.
Steve Smallshaw talked with some of them today..
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
Keith, it's been a long week for area road crews and their equipment, but to a person, they're determined not to get caught off guard again.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Wiles/VDOT Maintenance Engineer; :19]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Reynolds/Lynchburg Public Works; :44]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=preparing for the worst.]
(( [natsot VDOT plow]
[RUNS= 02]
Some V-DOT plows and spreaders are gassed up and ready to go.. others are getting last- minute mechanical touchups before they hit the streets.
This has been a winter that has already taken its toll on snow equipment and the drivers.
[SOT 17:48:01]
((TIM WILES/VDOT MAINTENANCE ENGINEER: IT BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES EQUIPMENT BREAK DOWN BUT ALSO THE MEN CAN GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN'T BE AS EFFECTIVE ON THE JOB.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=on the job.]
[natsot 18:03:03]
((COMMENTS FROM ACCU- WEATHER 107 WE'VE GOT IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN..))
[RUNS= 05]
In Lynchburg, public works officials held an afternoon meeting to discuss their battle plan for this weekend.
They'll be fully staffed starting Saturday afternoon.. and despite the long week, crews say they're ready to go.
[SOT 18:17:53]
((DENNIS REYNOLDS/LYNCHBURG PUBLIC WORKS: PEOPLE AROUND HERE LIKE SNOW, THEY LIKE WORKING. IT'S A JOB.. I SAID BEFORE.. AROUND HERE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR TO DO IT.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=to do it.]
A sense of humor also helps for residents who have, well, had it up to here with the snow that's already fallen.
Some were still digging out even today.. others continue to have difficulty navigating the snow- covered side streets.
[natsot city plow 17:58:29]
[RUNS= 02]
The city's trying to get those cleared before more precipitation arrives.
[SOT 18:07:08]
((DENNIS REYNOLDS: YOU PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE THAT YOU DON'T GET IT. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE ALL DAY, WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE WORST.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=preparing for the worst.]))
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
(ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Steve and Robin/Lynchburg Bureau]
(toss to Robin)
[State-Weather]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-53 TC49:30]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Virginia is spending about a million dollars a day cleaning roads from Monday night's storm.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
And as the road condition hotline center gears up for another round, V-DOT says it will have enough salt and sand for whatever happens.
(/////SOT/////)
[NAT SOT 14:06:05]
[IN Q=Salt on ]
((SALT ON ROUTE 600?))
[SOT 14:08:00]
((ANDY FARMER/VDOT SPOKESMAN: WE HAVE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE OBLIGATED BY THE CONTRACT TO SUPPLY US WITH THE SALT. THEY HAVE THE TRUCKS AND THEY ARE SENDING IT AROUND AS WE SPEAK.))
[SUPER=01-Andy Farmer/VDOT Spokesman; :04]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=as we speak.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=None]
Some of the salt is shipped from the Caribbean.
It's picked up in tractor trailer trucks, operating 24 hours a day, and distributed throughout the Commonwealth.
[Wandering]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-48 TC1:25:22]
[GRAPHIC=Alzheimer's]
This week, an 86-year old Danville man suffering from Alzheimer's died from exposure after wandering away from his house.
He was found just a hundred yards from his door, but authorities say a blanket of snow may have disguised familiar surroundings.
Now the Alzheimer's Association is giving advice on how to prevent it from happening again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Houses can be secured by following some techniques used by retirement communities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 00:03:37]
[IN Q=You can put]
((JULIE MCHUGH/ALTERRA: YOU CAN PUT ITEMS AWAY THAT MAY TRIGGER THAT PERSON FROM WANTING TO GO OUT SUCH AS THEIR COAT, CAR KEYS, SHOES, A COAT RACK.))
[SUPER=01-Julie McHugh/Alterra; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=coat rack.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Association also recommends putting locks and alarms on doors.
(------------)
[Volvo]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-50 TC1:34:58]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo Layoffs]
Volvo workers got the final word today: 915 of them will be laid off.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]
That number includes workers told in December and January that they were being cut loose.
The layoffs affect workers who started at Volvo after January 1998.
The last day for most will be February fourth. The rest will leave on the 18th.
Volvo says the layoffs were a result of reduced demand for new trucks and that operations at the plant had to be cut back accordingly.
The Virginia Employment Commission has been meeting with the workers this week to help them with their options.
(------------)
[Smart-Road]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-49 TC1:05:58]
[GRAPHIC=Smart Road]
It's survived lawsuits and criticism for being a waste of money...
And now Virginia Tech's "Smart Road" is about one month away from opening for business.
Marya Jones has a look at what makes the Smart Road so "clever."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This two-mile]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ray Pethtel/Center for Trans. Research; :10]
[SUPER=@Marya1; :52]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Blacksburg.]
(( This two-mile, 35-million-dollar stretch of road leads nowhere... yet.
But it's an asphalt and concrete research lab that Smart Road officials say will more than pay off down the road.
[SOT 10:46:21 - :28]
((RAY PETHTEL/CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH: I THINK THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE WILL GET THEIR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF THIS PROJECT. ))
[RUNS:07]
Residents will have to wait 10 years to drive on the road, which will connect I-81 to Blacksburg.
But 20 research projects on it are already rolling ahead.
3-M is testing magnetic strips in the road that tell drivers if they're veering off course.
These weather towers can simulate four inches of snow in an hour...at a cost of 700-dollars an hour.
Underneath the road, more than 600 sensors and miles of fiber optic cable relay data back to the control center.
And this bridge being built with it's own de-icing and heating system, will be the highest in the state when it's completed late this year.
Smart Road officials say all of it will be a draw to new industries.
[SOT 10:56:53 - 10:54:03]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS 7: EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS ALONG THIS 2-MILE STRETCH OF ROAD COMES BACK HERE TO THE CONTROL CENTER TO BE PROCESSED AND ANALYZED. AND OFFICIALS SAY THE INFORMATION GATHERED HERE WILL MAKE THE ROADS SAFER FOR EVERYONE. ))
[RUNS:10]
Off the road, researchers are experimenting on the quality of truck drivers' sleep. These trucks are specially rigged to record how much sleep drivers' get and how it impacts driving.
And then there's the Human Factors lab, where researchers watch hours of tape, counting traffic at intersections and observing common problems.
[SOT 10:53:58 - :04]
((ERIK OLSEN/ENGINEERING GRADUATE STUDENT: YOU KIND OF GO CRAZY IF YOU SIT HERE TOO LONG. ))
[RUNS:02]
Officials say the road behind them may be an expensive, high tech learning tool ... but that the road ahead will prove it's well worth it. Marya Jones, News 7, Blacksburg.))
[Bank-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC1:00:13]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]
Police in Danville are looking for a man who robbed a downtown bank this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
Just before noon, a man jumped over the counter at the Peoples Bank on Market Street, grabbed some money from a teller's drawer, and ran off.
The suspect is about five-ten, stocky, and was wearing a green stocking cap and a dark or plaid coat.
He did not display a weapon; no one was hurt.
(------------)
[Parker]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A criminal case against a Blacksburg firm has been resolved with a guilty plea.
Environmental Systems and Technologies today admitted it failed to pay time- and- a- half on a federal contract worth more than 100-thousand dollars.
'C-E-O Jack Parker was indicted last April but the charges against him, personally, were dropped.
His company will have to pay 75-thousand dollars in fines and restitution to the E-P-A.
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Some flights from the Roanoke Regional Airport will be a little louder and a little slower.
We'll find out why later on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And a decades old tradition gets fired up again in Lexington-- a little earlier than usual.
(----------------)
[Commercial]
[Mock-Convention]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-47 TC1:39:00]
[GRAPHIC=mock Convention]
On Tuesday, the eyes of the nation will be on New Hampshire, as the candidates meet in the next presidential primary.
But this weekend, Lexington will have a share of the spotlight as students from Washington and Lee University predict the eventual Republican nominee.
Joe Dashiell reports from the opening session of the Mock Convention.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OPENS ON NAT SOUND]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mark Schweppe/Convention Chairman; :10]
[SUPER=@Joe1; :30]
[SUPER=01-Juliet Bickford/Convention Co-Chairman; :38]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Lexington]
((OPENS ON NAT SOUND
The Mock convention is always a high-spirited celebration of the political process, but more often than not it also produces a reliable prediction.
[SOT 31:52]
[IN Q=People across America]
((MARK SCHWEPPE/CONVENTION CHAIRMAN: PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA WANT TO KNOW WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE, AND BY GOD THEY'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE TO FIND OUT.))
[RUNS= :07]
[OUT Q=the right place to find out.]
Since 1908, Washington and Lee students have done their research and delivered their prediction for the political party currently out of power.
In the last 50 years, they've only missed once. That was in 1972, when the convention tapped Ted Kennedy.
[STAND-UP BRIDGE]
This year the Mock Convention made one break with tradition, moving the event forward to a point in the primary season where there is still some suspense.
[SOT 04:30]
[IN Q=The convention really isn't a big surprize]
(( THE CONVENTION REALLY ISN'T A BIG SURPRISE, WHEN IT COMES AROUND. THERE'S SO MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION ON EVERYONE. AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THE PERSON'S GOING TO BE. SO I THINK WE'RE MORE RELEVANT BECAUSE WE CAN ACTUALLY PREDICT IT.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=can actually predict it.]
The day began with a parade through downtown Lexington, a rolling party that provided an often irreverent view of the political landscape.
But the main act arrives on Saturday morning, with a speech by the '96 nominee Bob Dole, and the students' latest effort to extend their impressive streak.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Lexington))
[Lewis-Gale]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=500-11 TC02:06]
[GRAPHIC=Lewis Gale]
High level corporate talks between parent company Phycor and Lewis-Gale Clinic this weekend will attempt to end weeks of negotiations.
28 doctors have resigned from the Clinic this month blaming poor management for their departure.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Clinic Board President Doctor Larry Patton responded today to last night's board meeting.
He said, "It is our goal to stabilize the Clinic for our patients and employees. The Clinic has served the community's medical needs for over 90 years, and we still have a strong core who is committed to preserving Lewis-Gale Clinic as a group."
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
The economy grew at a faster than expected rate last quarter. The news led to a broad-based sell-off on Wall Street.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/289.15/10738.87/y/152.49/3887.07;]
The DOW lost 289 points, closing at 10-thousand- 740.
NASDAQ lost 152 points.
[SUPER=431-i%/33/i1f/48d/i2b/45g/ic/57c/h!/27$;]
[SUPER=432-ig/24%/i!/2&/i1*/40c/i1g/32/i&/36c;]
[SUPER=433-i7a/134c/ib/16%/ie/17e/i4d/38/ie/20g;]
[SUPER=434-ia/16g/i1r/57@/h*/30g/i1b/62c/i4/55a;]
[ASA]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-45 TC1:57:00]
[GRAPHIC=Air Travel]
A-S-A is cooling its jets.
Two weeks from today jet service to Atlanta will be down to just two flights a day out of Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Delta's regional carrier currently operates four jet flights and five turbo-props to Atlanta every day.
As of February 11th, they'll be down to two jet flights a day ...one at 8:50 in the morning, the other at 7:40 in the evening.
They weren't going anywhere today, for fear of running into bad weather this weekend in Atlanta.
(------------)
[Bill-Trout]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-54 TC54:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A valiant effort to protect the official state fish from becoming fertilizer has failed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Paint Bank/August;]
Current Virginia law says farm-raised trout may be sold only for human consumption.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT house 11:50:56]
[IN Q=This expands]
((DEL. PHIL LARRABEE/R-HAMPTON: THIS EXPANDS THAT MARKET TO HAVE THIS TROUT USED FOR BAIT. SPECIFICALLY BASS BAIT.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Phil Larrabee/(R) Hampton;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=bass bait.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Bait is NO problem says Patrick County Delegate Barnie Day-- who calls it a "fish eat fish" world.
But fertilizer?
That called for an amendment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT house 11:51:29]
[IN Q=No regulation]
((NO REGULATION SHALL PERMIT THE USE OF THE NOBLE TROUT IN THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF FERTILIZER OR PET FOOD, SO LONG AS ANY SPECIES OF THE FISH SHALL CARRY THE OFFICIAL DESIGNATION AS THE OFFICIAL STATE FISH OF THE COMMONWEALTH. laughter))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=NAT laughter]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Day's attempt failed.
The official fish now faces a future of fertilizer, if the Senate and Governor agree.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]
And coming up, The Express returns to the Roundhouse tonight for a game against Greensboro the Big Orange wrestling tournament opened today at William Byrd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Titans and Rams held their final workouts outdoors for this Sunday's Superbowl.
(------------)
[S-Big]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-61 tc 29:33]
[GRAPHIC=wrestling]
[anchor tag anchor tag anchor tag]
Big Orange weekend has just begun but two team have an apparent advantage over the other 14 entrants.
Denise Allen has more on this weekend's wrestling tournament.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :00]
[SUPER=01-Aubrey Wright/Franklin Co. Assist. Coach; :12]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Dresser/Christiansburg Head Coach; :28]
[SUPER=@Denise2; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=News 7 sports]
(-----------------------)
((
The 24th annual Big Orange Wrestling Tournament lives up to its name, not only in the shear volume of wrestlers, but in the meaning of winning the championship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
The entrants are not only single and double A schools, but triple-A as well.
Among the 16 entrants Christiansburg and Franklin County are the teams to beat.
Christiansburg's coach Kevin Dresser says his team is solid through each weight class.
The Blue Demons had a poor showing last year and are back with something to prove.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
The Eagles are a perennial powerhouse, but enter this year's event with some obstacles of their own.
An injury and poor grades have sidelined two wrestlers.
A strong feeder program is helping the team pick up the slack.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
The Big Orange Tournament is a marathon on the mats. Physical conditioning plays a big role because the wrestlers have to make weight on two consecutive days and compete in four matches during that time.
Denise Allen News 7 Sports.
))
[anchor=Roy]
[ss=hold]
The Tournament is going on right now. And resumes tomorrow morning at 9:30.
[S-Bowl]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-47 (1:52:31)]
[GRAPHIC=Superbowl Logo]
The Titans and Rams are wrapping up their work heading into this weekends Superbowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :]
The two teams finally held their final practices outside and the coaches are working on the final game plan.
And that plan for both teams seems to be centered around a couple of running backs, Marshall Faulk and Eddie George.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I wanted...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Fisher/Titans Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dick Vermeil/Rams Head Coach; :17]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=.....to make a play."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold logo]
The two teams kick it off Sunday evening in Atlanta.
[S-ODAC]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-49 (1:29:50)]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC Logo]
A battle between the top two teams in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference is set for tomorrow at Hampden-Sydney when the Tigers host the Maroons of Roanoke College.
Sydney is the top ranked division 3 team in the country with a perfect 17 and 0 overall record and 11 and 0 in the conference.
Roanoke is in second place with 2 league losses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Tony Shaver/Tigers Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jeremy Harris/Tigers Center; :11]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=....right things."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]
Tip off tomorrow is 2 oclock at Fleet Gymnasium.
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-46 (1:53:49)]
[GRAPHIC=Express Logo]
The leading scorer for the Roanoke Express is back. Dion Del Monte returned today after one game with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey league.
Del Monte returns in time for a big weekend at the Roundhouse beginning with Greensboro tonight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q='I think...]
[SUPER=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=.....this opportunity."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Express Logo]
Face off tonight at the roundhouse is 7:30.
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-41/12/73/1975/4/1963]
[SUPER=306-34/-3/20/W-6mph/30.49f/7:26am/5:41pm]
[SUPER=83-Down 0.60 foot/Down 0.82 foot]
[SUPER=84-Down 13.2 feet/Voluntary conservation]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=335-In meteorology, the term/POP refers to:/A. Potential of pressure/B. Probability of/precipitation/C. Pressure
of poles]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX][SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
by SS