[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Blacksburg Apartment building goes up in flames
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And, the family of murder suspect Jeffrey Alan Thomas is speaking publically for the first time.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Apartment-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC1:26:39]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Firefighters are still on the scene of a blaze at Fox Ridge Apartments in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
The fire started just around 10-45 on a third floor balcony of the 29-hundred building.
It quickly spread to the building's attic-- then collapsed the roof.
It took firefighters about an hour to get the blaze under control.
Several residents were inside, but firefighters believe everyone got out safely.
There's no word on damage to the first and second floors of the building.
Firefighters were able to save the adjoining 28-hundred building.
(------------)
[Thomas]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#99-57 TC58:13]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas]
The murder of Tara Munsey has left a community stunned and two grieving families trying to figure out what happened.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
In an exclusive interview, the family of Jeffrey Thomas spoke to News 7 this morning.
The 30-year-old friend of the Munsey family was arrested last week and charged with capital murder. He had lived for almost a year with the mother of Tara's boyfriend.
Thomas' sister, Lisa Davis, spoke of him today as a loving brother and a good father to his five-year-old daughter.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:33:40 - 2:33:06]
[IN Q=He had a very loving]
((LISA DAVIS/JEFF THOMAS' SISTER: HE HAD A VERY LOVING FAMILY, MY MOTHER WAS A VERY WONDERFUL MOTHER...AND WE ALL LOVE HIM. MY HEART BREAKS FOR THE MUNSEY FAMILY AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THEY MAY FEEL, BUT I DO LOVE MY BROTHER AND I PRAY IN THE END THAT THIS IS NOT THE TRUTH.))
[SUPER=01-Lisa Davis/Jeff Thomas' Sister;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=not the truth.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Davis says Thomas told his family he was a suspect in the investigation several weeks ago.
Tara Munsey's body was found in a ravine in the Parrott section of Pulaski County more than a week ago... nearly two and a half weeks after she disappeared from the Taco Bell where she worked.
To hear more from Jeff Thomas' family, tune in to News 7 at 5, 6 and 11.
(------------)
[Carvins-Cove]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-59 TC30:56]
[GRAPHIC=Water Supply]
The recent rains have helped boost Roanoke's water supply.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]
The water level at Carvins Cove is 10-point-eight feet below the spillway.
That's well above normal for this time of the year, and more than seven feet above the point that forced the city to impose mandatory water conservation last summer.
The cove still has a way to go before it's at full pond.
It hasn't been at that level since May of 1998.
(------------)
[Bomb-Scare]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-50 TC1:53:11]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threat]
Another bomb scare at a Lynchburg high school this morning..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
This one was called in to Heritage High School around 7:30.
School officials say most of the students had not arrived yet and many were advised to stay home until the building was searched.
Others were evacuated to nearby Heritage Elementary.
"No" bomb was found, and police do not know who called in the threat.
A similar threat delayed classes at E.C. Glass High School last Friday.
(------------)
[Witcher]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A well-known Franklin County woman survived a car wreck last night, but died from a heart attack only moments later.
Elsie Witcher was also known as Bishop Witcher because she built and led a church in Snow Creek.
She crashed her car last night on Route 6-19.
The sheriff says she then walked to a neighbor's house to call police, fell on the floor and died from a heart attack.
Elsie Witcher was 76.
[Iran-reformists]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The face of Iran's parliament is changing, and the U-S government likes what it sees.
Preliminary results from Friday's elections show reformers capturing more than two thirds of the vote.
It's a big change for a country dominated by hardliners since the overthrow of the Shah more than 2 decades ago.
Tom Fenton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:01:02]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Tehran, Iran; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ibrahim Yazdi/Reform Politician; :23]
[SUPER=01-Tom Fenton/Reporting; :43]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Tehran.]
((Although votes are still being counted it is clear tonight that the right wing clergy men who have run Iran since the revolution have suffered an overwhelming defeat.
Even the most hard line cities are reported to have embraced reform.
The turnout was a record -- almost 85 %...although there were reports of violence a t some polling stations and isolated charges of fraud in the vote counting Iranians believe it is now inevitable that the way they
live is about to change.
sot: Ibrahim Yazdi/reform politician (in english)
"oh the future belongs to us no question about that, and all evidence indicates there is no way for the extremists left or right. The future belongs to the moderates.
Even the merchants in the bizaars who are traditionally conservative have seen the way the wind is blowing. One jeweler admitted that most of them now realize they must now accept reform.
And in what appears to have been a backlash against the clergy many of them have lost their seats in parliament. Years of bad government by corrupt and incompetent mullahs have given religion a bad name in Iran.
OC: FENTON
WHAT THIS ELECTION HAS CONFIRMED ABOVE ALL IS THAT AFTER 21 YEARS OF BEING RULED BY THE HARDLINE CLERGY THE MAJORITY OF IRANIANS ARE READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT SOMETHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
TF, CBSN, TEHRAN>))
[First-Union]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
A partial victory for First Union in the legal battle over a former Virginia bank's 401-k plan.
A federal judge ruled yesterday that First Union had the proper approval to merge the 401-k plans from Signet into a similar First Union plan.
The judge still must rule on the lawsuit's claim that First Union breached its duties by investing the Signet 401-k holdings in mutual funds owned and operated by First Union.
The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of nine former Signet employees.
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The shuttle Endeavour has finished its ultra-precise mapping mission but now there are other problems.
Details are still ahead on News 7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And more than a dozen West Virginia counties are under a state of emergency today.
First, let's talk to Patrick Evans about our weather.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Flooding]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
19 West Virginia counties are under a state of emergency today.
That's after heavy rains flooded homes and businesses across the state this weekend.
A body pulled from the Ohio River yesterday afternoon may be that of a third flooding victim from West Virginia.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sissonville, WV/Saturday;]
The woman's identity has NOT been confirmed.
But officials say it may be that of Betty Huffman.
The 56- year old was swept away during a failed rescue attempt Friday near Charleston.
Two others also died during the rescue attempt.
(------------)
[shuttle]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Shuttle Endeavour]
A problem aboard the space shuttle Endeavor this morning has been solved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NASA;]
[10:05:14]
After three tries, astronauts were able to successfully reel in the shuttle's nearly 200 foot mast and fimrly latch it into place.
The mast was used in mapping 43 million square miles of the Earth's terrain during the mission.
Endeavour is scheduled to return home tomorrow.
(------------)
[GOP-Primaries]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
With the Michigan and Arizona G-O-P primaries just a day away, rivals John McCain and George W. Bush are spending President's Day on the campaign trail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Livonia, MI;]
[3:00:36]
In Michigan, the latest poll says the race is too close to call.
McCain's lead in his home state over Bush is somewhere around 20 points, depending on the poll.
But both the McCain and Bush camps acknowledge that Michigan's primary is much more important.
Fifty-eight delegates are up for grabs.
And the stakes are high for McCain.
He lost this weekend's primary in South Carolina.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JOHN MCCAIN/GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE:"WE WON ROUND ONE, GOVERNOR BUSH WON ROUND TWO, NOW WE ARE IN ROUND THREE AND ITS GOING TO BE HERE IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, WE'LL WIN ARIZONA FINE."
GEORGE W. BUSH/GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: "THERE ARE 260 DAYS MORE FOR NO MORE CLINTON/GORE"))
[SUPER=01-John McCain/(R) Presidential Candidate;]
[SUPER=01-George W. Bush/(R) Presidential Candidate; :09]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=no more Clinton-Gore.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Bush apparently isn't coming to Arizona again before tomorrow's vote.
He's choosing to let his heavy t-v campaign speak for him in Arizona, while doing his last-minute in-person campaigning in Michigan.
And McCain is staying in Michigan for most of today, as well.
(------------)
[Bush]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
John McCain may not pay much attention to Virginia before its February 29th primary.
Polls show Texas Governor George W. Bush comfortably ahead in Virginia, where he has overwhelming support from the state's G-O-P leaders.
Former President George Bush is expected to make a campaign appearance in our area on behalf of his son.
Bush is expected to speak at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday.
[S-Tattoo-Parlor]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:04:01]
[GRAPHIC=Voting]
The old line that politics makes strange bed-fellows rings true at one Roanoke business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Joe Hagerty not only offers tattoos at his shop-- but also voter registration forms.
Hagerty owns Alex's New Tattoo in Roanoke and says since so many young adults come to get tattoos -- why not make it easier for them to register to vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:33]
[IN Q=Well orginally]
((JOE HAGERTY/OWNER: WELL ORIGINALLY I HAD CALLED THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE DMV OR A THE LIBRARY OR SOMETHING AND I THOUGHT YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY HANGING OUT AT THE DMV LIKE THEY SHOULD. WHY NOT HAVE THEM REGISTER AT THE TATTOO STORE))
[SUPER=01-Joe Hagerty/Owner]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=tatoo store]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
While Hagerty says he doesn't push his political thoughts onto anybody-- he believes young adults could really make a difference in this country if they just participated in the electoral process.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:13]
[IN Q=If all the kids]
((JOE HAGERTY: OWNER: IF ALL THE KIDS THAT I'VE TATTOOED GOT UP AND VOTED THIS YEAR. IT WILL MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE AS FAR AS THE OUTCOME OF THE NEXT ELECTION))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=next election]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hagerty says he just started offering the forms a few weeks ago-- and says a few clients have already registered.
(-------------)
[Cable-Rates]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Cable TV]
Roanoke Valley cable rates are on the way up again.
Cox Communications says it's raising the standard-service rate by a dollar-59.
That means your bill for the popular basic-and-standard package goes up to 33-dollars a month.
Cox also is adding two channels to the standard package: the Discovery Health Network and the Cartoon Network.
The rate hike starts next month.
[cuba-boy]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]
A Florida newspaper reports there's a secret deal in the works to bring the father of Elian Gonzalez on a visit to the U-S.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/Yesterday;]
[3:10:28]
Elian, seen her yesterday at a Miami Zoo, has been at the center of an international custody battle involving his relatives in Florida and his father in Cuba, who wants him returned.
A Fort Lauderdale newspaper reports U-S and Cuban officials are negotiating a plan for Juan Gonzalez to travel to Washington, where he would meet his son.
Meantime, tomorrow a Miami judge will hear arguments to decide whether the court has jurisdiction in the case.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead on News 7 at Noon, Patrick Evans will be here with the work-week forecast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And get a sneek-peek at David Letterman's return to late-night T-V.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Robot-Competition]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Time is running out for local high school and college students to work together.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
A national robotics competition is challenging them to build their own robot..
Everyday for the past 6 weeks these Blacksburg High School students have been designing and constructing a robot -- to compete in a national robotics competition.
They're not alone-- Virginia Tech students are helping them out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((ALISHA WALLENTSTEIN/TECH STUDENT: IT'S BEEN A HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS LIKE HOW YOU LEAD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, HOW YOU LEAD THEM IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND DESIGN PROCESS AND TO GET THEM TO WORK AS A TEAM))
[SUPER=01-Alisha Wallenstein/Virginia Tech Student; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=work as a team]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Altogether there are 15 college and high school students involved in the project.
They have until four this afternoon to turn in their project.
250 teams will compete in the national competition in April.
(------------)
[letterman]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Letterman]
David Letterman returns network T-V tonight after a five week absence.
The late night comedian has been recovering from emergency quintuple by-pass surgery.
Jane Clayson reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:19:28]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/Friday; :00]
[SUPER=04-Late Show with David Letterman; :16 HOT CHANGE TO]
[SUPER=04-January 13;]
[SUPER=01-Rupert G/The Hello Deli; :33]
[SUPER=04-Late Show-Worldwide Pants, Inc.; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Jane Clayson/Reporting;1:05]
[SUPER=01-Paul Shaffer/Late Show Music Director; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Thurman/Audience Member; 1:27 quick!!!]
[SUPER=01-Eric Carroll/Audience Member; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=is feeling strong.]
((Late Show fans huddled under umbrellas, but didn't seem to mind the miserable cold -- perhaps because they had the hottest tickets on Broadway.
(Nat sound fans...we love you Dave!)
This is the first Late Show taping since January 13, (nat sound show) The next day, Letterman underwent emergency quintuple bypass surgery.
Just five weeks later, he was being eagerly welcomed back, from the neighborhood merchants who have become minor celebrities....
(SOT Rupert G, Hello Deli...Oh were very happy...weve missed him.)
...to the shows first post-op guests.
Tonight's line-up includes Philbin, along with Jerry Seinfeld, and Robin Williams whose schtick was in overdrive a full hour before show time.
Williams: (he wipes soggy camera lenses ala squeeggie man.... Do your windows, man? Hey, what does an elephant proctologist see?)
And what happens on the show? Well, we've been sworn to secrecy and cant show you what Dave looks like, but we DO know he got a huge ovation...and that Dave choked up a bit when he brought out his medical
staff to thank them.
It was a special night for his friends and colleagues.
(SOT Paul Shaffer, Musical Director: This guy is phenomenal, David Letterman. //He looks terrific, but he was
funny and just a bit edgy, but just as gracious and thrilled to be back.)
And the show got rave reviews from both sides of the stage.
: Regis: very funny...he's got a little edge on tonight...the big man is feeling strong!))
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
Wall Street is closed today in observance of President's Day.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Coming up in sports, the title game is set in the O-DAC tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers stun North Carolina in Chapel Hill,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and Dale Jarret cruises to victory in Daytona.
Patrick returns with the highlights.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[S-Daytona]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-56 (1:26:32)]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona 500]
Dale Jarrett made a move with 4 laps left and coasted to victory winning his third Daytona 500.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/CBS Sports; :]
Dale Earnhardt had a strong car early in the race. He works his way to the front running 9-th after 16 laps.
But the strongest car belonged to Dale Jarrett. He started on the pole and was the leader after 19 laps with an average speed of 188 miles per hour.
Defending champion Jeff Gordon was forced to pit because of an oil leak on lap 33. He went several laps down to the field.
Mark Martin overcame an early pit stop and to lead the race at the halfway point.
During a caution, Tony Stewart hits a crew member while leaving the pits with just over 40 laps to go.
Johnny Benson was the leader. Then with under 10 laps to go Michael Waltrip gets lose in a pack collects several other cars bringing out the caution.
Jarrett took the lead on the restart, but another caution slowed the field.
Jarrett takes the checkered flag under caution, winning the Daytona 500 and giving the credit to his crew.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="They worked...]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/Daytona 500 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=....good job."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Jeff Burton finished second, Bill Elliott third, Rusty Wallace fourth and Mark Martin finished fifth.
[S-Roanoke]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-49 (1:40:55)]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]
Roanoke College advances to the O-DAC championship tomorrrow night.
Jason Strickland scored 20 as the Maroons beat Washington and Lee 66 to 60 in the semi-finals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Maroons vs. Generals; :]
Page Moir and the team get focused before the tip-off.
W & L's Chad Brailey takes the outside play, he drains the three pointer.
Then at the other end of the wood, Roanoke's Brad Dunleavy takes on Brailey.
The backboard gets the assist, and Roanoke led 10 to 7.
The Generals continue to knock down the three's as Will Cotter sinks it from downtown.
[SUPER=33-Roanoke/66/Washington & Lee/60/;]
But the Maroons work it down low to Jason Strickland. He shoots for two and Roanoke wins it 66 to 60.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[S-ODAC]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-46 (2:03:08)]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Tigers vs. Marlins; :]
Hampden-Sydney advances to the title game after beating Virginia-Wesleyan.
T-J Grimes pulls up and hits the three pointer as the Tigers take control.
Then Jack Jirak works it down low to Jeremy Harris who lays it in for the score and the Tigers led 9 to nothing.
But The Marlins wouldn't give up. Carl Lentz pulls up and hits the three and the Marlins led 11 to 9.
[SUPER=33-Hampden-Sydney/80/Va. Wesleyan/63/;]
The Tigers blew it open in the second half. Grimes hits another three of his game high 26 for the 80 to 63 win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I thought....]
[SUPER=01-Tony Shaver/Tigers Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...for us tonight."]
(------------)
[S-UVA]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-45 (1:54:24)]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
The place, Chapel Hill. The teams, U-V-A and U-N-C. The winner, U-V-A.
For the first time, the Cavs get a victory in Chapel Hill beating the Tar Heels 90 to 76.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chapel Hill, NC/RAYCOM; :]
The Cavaliers were oh and 14 in the Dean Dome.
But Donald Hand gives Virginia the early lead when he hit this three pointer.
The Tar Heels come right back. Jason Capel knocks it down off the glass to make it 31-22 Wahoos.
Virginia's Travis Watson had the hot hand hitting his first 5 shots in a row.
The Tar Heels opened the second half with Capel pulling up and hitting the three to cut the lead to 10.
[SUPER=33-Virginia/90/North Carolina/76/;]
But the Cavs answer, Chris Williams drives to the hoop for the score and Virginia wins it 90 to 76.
(------------)
by SS