[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
An arrest is made in the Tara Munsey murder case.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the details of the grand jury probe of the Vinton Police Department are made public.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Munsey-Arrest]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#00-02 TC47:15]
[GRAPHIC=Tara Munsey]
A family friend is now charged with the murder of Tara Rose Munsey.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Marya/Microwave]
Marya Jones is outside the courthouse in Pulaski with details on the suspect and his arrest.
[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Pulaski;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: behind them.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jim Davis/Pulaski Co. Sheriff; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=gotten to this point.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[****Marya's Mike HOT****]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUTQ=near Parrott.]
(-------------)
[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Pulaski;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Marya/Microwave]
[Vinton-Police]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-08 TC45:17]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Invest.]
The top two officers in the Vinton Police Department maintained a "personal slush fund" and admitted handling of evidence was "a joke."
That's just a couple of a long list of things the grand jury calls "grave problems at the Vinton Police Department," involving guns, drugs and money.
[2-SHOT]
Keith Humphry has read the report and is here with more.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=none]
[SUPER=@keith1;]
The 24-page report starts out with money.
Vinton police charged people for fingerprints. They took only cash... money that supposedly went into the "coffee fund."
While some of it went for coffee and flowers,
(--------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]
the grand jury concluded Chief Ricky Foutz and Lieutenant Bill Brown used it as a personal slush fund.
Of the 965 dollars they took in over the last five years, 524 dollars remain unaccounted for, according to the report.
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The department also kept a "Needy Families Fund." While it was held in as many as six different bank accounts, Bill Brown kept cash in a money bag in his locker, and turned over 48-hundred dollars when the investigation began.
More than three thousand dollars from the Needy Families Fund remains unaccounted for.
The report says The Marines and "Bikes or Bust" gave the department bicycles for Needy Families in Vinton one year. The report says a number of those bikes were given to Police Department employees and/or their friends.
Shortly after State Police began investigating, 40 guns appeared in the evidence room- -without any explanation of what they were doing there.
Of the 120 weapons in the evidence room, only 30 of them bore evidence tags. Among them were two stolen guns and two others that had supposedly been destroyed under court order.
When Chief Foutz left last November, the report says Foutz turned in a weapon later determined to have been stolen 10 years ago.
Drug evidence was another problem. Lieutenant Brown told the grand jurors that once the drugs were no longer needed in court, "some of it was flushed, some burned, some sent to the wind."
State Police found two partially burned joints in Brown's desk- -one with lipstick on it. Brown said he would light them in the office to show parents what marijuana smells like.
While Grand Jurors concluded Foutz and Brown are "unsuitable and unqualified" to hold the positions they held, they said they couldn't find enough evidence to initiate criminal charges. The jurors did find Brown's actions created what the report calls: "a climate of SUSPICION of criminal, unethical or illegal behavior on his part."
[2-SHOT]
[sc-primary]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
It's the final day of campaigning before tomorrow's critical Republican Presidential primary in South Carolina.
The race between George W. Bush and John McCain.. is too close to call.
The latest tracking poll finds 43-percent in favor of Bush.. and 42-percent say they'll vote for McCain.. a statistical dead heat.
Bill Whitaker has the last from the candidates.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:03;31]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Charleston, SC; :00]
[SUPER=01-George W. Bush/(R) Presidential Candidate; :32 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=01-John McCain/(R) Presidential Candidate; :48]
[SUPER=01-Bill Whitaker/Reporting; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=South Carolina.]
((With the clock ticking down, George W. Bush is all pumped up, energized and optimistic at these final campaign events.
SOT: George W. Bush/ I LIKE WHAT I FEEL IN SOUTH CAROLINA
NARR: Now it's all about motivating supporters to go to the polls. So, he's hitting core issues of core GOP conservatives ... like cutting taxes.
SOT: George W. Bush/ IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY, IT'S YOUR MONEY.
NARR: And a strong defense.
SOT: George W. Bush/ A DANGEROUS WORLD REQUIRES A SHARPENED SWORD.
NARR: To counter Bush's conservative forces, John McCain is marshaling independent voters and Democrats to join him
SOT: John McCain/I'M PROUD IF INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS BECOME REPUBLICANS AND FLOCK TO OUR BANNER. I'M PROUD IF THEY
WILL VOTE FOR ME ON SATURDAY.
NARR: Such talk, Bush aids believe, will only inspire Republican voters to turn out for the Texas governor.
SOT: George W. Bush/ IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE CLINTON ERA. ))
[WINTER-WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
Another reminder that winter is far from over.
A winter storm is moving through the midwest and northeast, making it a rough day for motorists and air travelers.
Drew Levinson reports from Michigan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Birmingham, MI; ]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS BIRMINGHAM, MI.]
((WINTER IS BLASTING ITS WAY ACROSS THE MIDWEST. IT BEGAN BLANKETING PARTS OF NEBRASKA YESTERDAY. FORECASTERS ARE PREDICTING UP TO 7 INCHES IN LINCOLN, IN OMAHA. IOWA IS ALSO GETTING HIT HARD.
(LOCATOR: BIRMINGHAM, MI)
EVEN THOUGH WINTER IS BEARING DOWN, SOME PEOPLE ARE BRAVING ELEMENTS. IN
THE DETROIT SUBURB OF BIRMINGHAM, A FEW PEOPLE AREN'T AFRAID OF A LITTLE SNOW. SALT TRUCKS BEGAN PREPARING THE ROADS EARLY. THEY PLAN TO BE OUT HERE ALL DAY.
(LOCATOR: CHICAGO, IL)
IN CHICAGO, WEATHER IS BEING DEALT WITH IN DIFFERENT WAYS. TRAVELERS AT O'HARE EXPECTING TO FLY FOUND THEMSELVES SLEEPING INSTEAD. AT WRIGLEY FIELD, DREAMS OF THE BOYS OF SUMMER ATTRACTED DIE HARD FANS TO THE STADIUM. THEY WERE GIVEN WRIST BANDS SO THEY COULD BUY INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS.
(SOT)
(LEVINSON STANDUP CLOSE)))
[WX-One]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
We had an icy morning in some places.
Let's check in with Patrick Evans and see how the weekend is shaping up
[Patrick in WXCenter]
(adlib)
[WXPro=Full]
(toss back to Melanie)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Neighbors speak out about a proposed Wal-Mart Super Center in Roanoke County.
Find out what they had to say when News 7 at Noon returns.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Florida's public colleges and universities end affirmative action-- amidst a storm of protest.
(---------------)
[music up full]
[comm1]
[One-Florida]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The face of Florida's public universities may soon be changing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL;]
[3:05]
The state university system's board of regents approved rules eliminating race and gender as considerations for college admissions.
Its a big win for Governor Jeb Bush and his "One Florida Plan."
He and others believe it will increase diversity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:06;10]
[IN Q=We've not ended a program....]
[SUPER=01-Adam Herbert/Univ. of Central Florida;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=what they have done with their lives.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But not everyone is applauding the vote.
Several hundred students protested it.
They believe "One Florida" will mean fewer minority students.
The state's cabinet will vote on the plan next week.
(------------)
[cuba-spy]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Also in Florida, a high ranking U-S immigration official appears in court today to face charges that he spied for Cuba.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[3:05;01]
Fifty four year old Mariano Faget (fah-HAY') is a native of Havana.
In his job at the I-N-S, he makes decisions affecting the fate of immigrants and people seeking political asylum.
He is accused of making unauthorized contacts with Cuban intelligence officers.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[Graphic=Elian Gonzalez]
A Cuban exile group says Faget's (fah-Hay's) arrest raises the possibility of bias in the Elian Gonzalez case.
The I-N-S has said Elian should be sent back to Cuba.
[s-First-Union]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-57]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Roanoke County police have identified the man who committed suicide yesterday in a First Union parking lot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Yesterday;]
Police say 32-year-old James Michael Greer shot himself inside his vehicle at the Plantation Road Customer Service Center.
Authorities say Greer used a small caliber handgun, and was still alive when they found him.
Greer was NOT an employee at the bank, and did NOT enter the building prior to the shooting.
(------------)
[E-Bonsack-Walmart]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-03 16:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[****ANCHOR TAG****]
A planned Wal-Mart store in the Bonsack area of Roanoke County has neighbors concerned.
Last night, they met with Wal-Mart representatives and county officials.
Joy Sutton was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Kessler/Roanoke Co. Resident; :12]
[SUPER=01-David Oliverio/Roanoke Co. Resident; :32]
[SUPER=01-Elmer Hodge/Roanoke Co. Adminstrator; :55]
[SUPER=01-Chris Gregory/Walmart Real Estate Mgr.; 1:08]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=N7 Roanoke Co.]
((More than a hundred people packed inside Bonsack Baptist Church to listen and voice their concern about a Walmart Superstore coming to the Bonsack community.
From property value decreases to neighborhood traffic, noise and crime, dozens of residents voiced concerns about their soon-to-be neighbor.
But some residents say the commercial development should come as no surprise.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:23:25]
[IN Q=To me building]
((DAVID OLIVERIO/ROANOKE CO. RESIDENT: TO ME BUILDING A WALMART ONLY FIVE MILES FROM DOWNTOWN ROANOKE ON A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN ZONED THAT WAY FOR 20 YEARS. IT'S NO SHOCK TO ME IN FACT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN SINCE I MOVED HERE 9 YEARS AGO))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=9 years ago]
Wal-Mart says there's no question the Superstore WILL be built... so county officials say the focus now should be on ways to make it an easy adjustment for the community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:25:36]
[IN Q=I think be ivolving]
((ELMER HODGE/ROANOKE CO. ADM.: I THINK BE INVOLVING THE CITIZENS THAT WE CAN A MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, THE DEVELOPER HAS SHOWN A LOT OF WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AND I'M PLEASED WITH THAT))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUT Q=pleased with that]
A Wal-mart Representative says residents' concerns will NOT go unnoticed.
County officials also plan to set-up a resident group -- to work with the county, the developer, and Walmart to make sure the community continues to be heard.
Joy Sutton, News 7, Roanoke Co.))
(-------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=None]
Wal-Mart says the earliest it would move in is spring of 2001.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Meals on Wheels is in desperate need of volunteers.
Find out how you can help when News 7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a heavenly restoration is complete-- get an inside look at the new and improved Hayden Planetarium.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Volunteer-Shortage]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Meals on Wheels program in Roanoke is in need of volunteers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The program depends on volunteers to deliver meals to home-bound senior five days a week.
And the shortage of volunteers could soon affect how many seniors will be able to take advantage of the service.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 37:30]
[IN Q=We're at a point]
((MICHELE DALEY: WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE OUT SITE SUPERVISORS HAVE TO DELIVER. WE DO WHAT WE CAN. IF IT GETS MUCH BIGGER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW THEN WE'LL HAVE TO PUT PEOPLE ON A WAITING LIST))
[SUPER=07-Michele Daley;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=on a waiting list]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But that could have serious consequences because many seniors rely on this meal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 37:46]
[IN Q=Some of the people]
((SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE HIGH RISK AS FAR AS THEIR NUTRITION GOES. IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=a problem]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
The League of Older Americans is hoping more volunteers will come aboard-- so no person in need goes without a nutritious meal.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
If you'd like to help out, you can call the L-O-A at 345-0451.
(-------------)
[Planetarium-NY]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Big Apple is once again "Big Sky country"...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
New York City's Hayden Planetarium is re- opening after a major renovation.
It's an out-of-this-world experience.
The sphere gives the illusion that it's floating, offering visitors an idea of what it's like to be an astronaut.
The state-of-the-art facility also explores phenomena like quasars and black holes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:23:02]
[IN Q=we've got]
((NEIL TYSON/HAYDEN PLANETARIUM DIR.: WE'VE GOT THE CAPACITY TO GIVE YOU THE BEST JOURNEY THROUGH THE GALAXY YOU'LL EVER TAKE. ))
[SUPER=01-Neil Tyson/Hayden Planetarium Dir.;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=you'll ever take]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The planetarium also has some "earth- friendly" benefits.
It's expected to generate 76- million dollars in retail sales, and another six- million in tax revenue for the city.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 121 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the Virginia Tech and U-V-A women better their records as the college hoops season winds down,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
but the Tech men can't pick up a win in the nation's capital, losing a close one to George Washington.
Patrick returns with the highlights.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-61 44:15]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Trenton]
The Express is getting set for a visit from the Trenton Titans this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;]
The Express beat Charlotte 5-1 Tuesday night.
Paul (dee-fran-Chess-ko) Di Francesco is now Roanoke's second leading goal scorer with 17, 10 of those coming in the last 15 games.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="the pucks]
((PAUL DI FRANCESCO/17 GOALS THIS SEASON: THE PUCK IS BOUNCING IN BASICALLY. I'M GETTING SOME CHEMISTRY WITH SOME OF THE PLAYERS I'M PLAYING WITH AND A LOT OF THE TIME IT'S BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME"))
[SUPER=01-Paul Di Francesco/17 Goals this Season; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=at the right time"]
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
Express all star defenseman Calvin Elfring was called up to the Utah Grizzlies in the IHL yesterday.
Elfring is Roanoke's fifth leading scorer. It's his second call up to Utah.
(-------------)
[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-54 1:30:05]
[GRAPHIC=A-10]
The Virginia Tech men's basketball team traveled to the nations capitol last night to take on George Washington. But the Colonials got the best of the Hokies, winning 71-68.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC/HTS; :00]
Ricky Stokes had his Hokies fired up for most of the game.
Watch Roland Roberts finish with the nice move in the paint for Tech, his 12th point on the evening in the second half.
But the Hokies could not stop Val Brown. He goes baseline, burning the Tech defender for the basket.
It's 57-55 Tech with eight minutes to play.
[SUPER=33-George Washington/71/Virginia Tech/68;]
Dennis Mims lead the way for the Hokies, with 17 points and 13 boards. This slam put Tech up by 1, 61-60.
Chris Monroe iced G-W's second half comeback with the three. Tech loses by 3, 71 to 68.
(------------)
[S-Hokies]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-55 1:18:57]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The Virginia Tech women put their 14 and 9 record on the line last night against St. Bonaventure.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Bonnies vs. Hokies; :00]
Bonnie Henrickson had her Lady Hokies focused last night. The Hokies had only four games left in the regular season going into this one.
The Lady Bonnies draw first blood. Shannon O'Connell cans the nice jumper from the left side.
But the Lady Hokies come right back. Crystal Starling dishes to Tere Williams,
[SUPER=33-Virginia Tech/73/St. Bonaventure/56;]
she goes right by her defender for two.
Tech took their game to the perimeter. Sarah Hicks nails the three point shot from the corner.
Amy Wetzel gets the assist when she finds Williams for two. Tech wins 73-56.
(------------)
by SS