[7-E-Munsey-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01 47:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The father of the man charged with killing Tara Munsey says he was devastated when his son was arrested.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Link Thomas says his son, Jeff, is a devoted family man-- who's more interested in helping than hurting people.
It's a feeling echoed by Thomas' stepmother, Martha, who says Jeff told her he did NOT kill the Radford High School sophomore.
Whatever the case... the Thomas' say their heart and prayers go out to the Munseys.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I can]
((I CAN HONESTLY SAY IF IT WASN'T FOR SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND THE CLOSENESS THAT I FEEL WITH THE LORD, I DON'T THINK I COULD MAKE IT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Link Thomas/Jeff Thomas' Father;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=with you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Thomas' say they believe their son knows something about the crime but do NOT believe he's capable of murder.
(------------)
[7-E-Missing-Girl]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-03 37:50]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Now that the searching is over, the Nelson County community is mourning the death of eight year old Jackie Holden.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Just 24 hours]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co./Yesterday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Henry Conner/Holden Family Friend; :16]
[SUPER=01-Nina Garrett/Principal; :44]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :55]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=News7, Nelson County.]
(( Just 24 hours earlier, the road to the Holden family home had been a beehive of activity.. on Wednesday it was eerily quiet.
The scores of searchers and volunteers are gone, leaving family members alone with their grief.
[SOT 00:40:04]
((HENRY CONNER/HOLDEN FAMILY FRIEND: THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE FIVE OR SIX STAGES OF GRIEF AND THEY'RE STILL AT NUMBER ONE, DENIAL, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=type of thing.]
Jackie Holden had been a second- grader at Rockfish River Elementary School.
The flags there are at half- staff, but spirits are even lower.
Faculty and students already had been mourning the loss of an assistant principal, killed in a car accident over the weekend.
Jackie's death has brought another wave of flowers and a new set of ribbons.. pink this time, her favorite color.
[SOT 00:45:44]
((NINA GARRETT/ROCKFISH RIVER E.S. PRINCIPAL: BUT IT'S A VERY SAD SITUATION FOR US. MY FACULTY IS DEVASTATED BUT THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND THEY'RE VERY CHILD- ORIENTED AND SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.))
[RUNS= 11]
Garrett says students will plant a memorial garden in Jackie's honor this spring.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Nelson County.))
[7-E-Sodomy]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-52 1:32:24]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capitol]
A centuries old sodomy law remains intact in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
A Senate committee shot down the bill that's come the closest to modifying it this decade.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[sot 15:15:55]
((JACK KNAPP/VA. ASSEMBLY OF INDEP. BAPTISTS: IT'S A TIME FOR STRENGTHENING THE MORAL FIBER OF OUR COMMONWEALTH AND REDUCING THE PENALTY AGAINST THIS WILL NOT DO THAT. THANK YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Knapp/Va. Assembly of Ind. Baptists;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=Thank you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bill would have made oral or anal sex a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
A Richmond woman in a wheelchair argued that makes her a felon.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=People in wheelchairs]
[sot 15:14:27]
((LOREE ERICKSON/BILL SUPPORTER: PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS ARE TYPICALLY THOUGHT OF TO BE NON-SEXUAL. ALSO, CRIMES AGAINST NATURE LAWS CRIMINALIZE THE TYPE OF SEX I AM ABLE TO HAVE. IT DEMEANS MY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.))
[SUPER=01-Loree Erickson/Bill Supporter;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=intimate relationships.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bill's sponsor says she hopes the sodomy law will be shot down in court-- since it keeps failing in the General Assembly.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Here's a look at your Thursday forecast.
Mostly cloudy today with a chance of showers.
Highs reach the mid 60s.
Tonight, scattered showers and a light breeze.
Lows in the mid 40s.
The extended forecast...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Showers/62-66/Scattered Showers/Light Breeze/42-46;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-E-Area-Code]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-57]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Get ready for the possibility of another area code change.
That's because the 540 area code is filling up.
Kate Weidaw has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=by the fall]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ken Schrad/SCC Information Director; :14]
[SUPER=01-Barry Snidegrass/Chamber of Commerce; :47]
[SUPER=@Kate1; :59]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
((By the fall of 2001 the 540 area code will run out of available numbers. That's because businesses and residents are using more products that require a phone line.
[SOT 26:11]
[INQ=]
((KEN SCHRAD/SCC INFO. DIRECTOR: WE ENJOY BEING CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WE ENJOY SECOND LINES IN OUR HOME TO TALK TO OUR CHILDREN WE ENJOY HAVING CELL PHONES AND PAGERS TO BE IN CONTACT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AT WORK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 13]
So the State Corporation Commission held a public hearing in Roanoke County to see how residents and business owners think the area code problem should be resolved.
Four plans were displayed.
Three maps show how the Roanoke Valley would be geographically split -- giving each half a different area code. The fourth map displays an overlay approach that would give only new phones the different area code.
[SOT 20:10]
[INQ=]
((BARRY SNIDEGRASS/SALEM ROANOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: FROM AN OVERALL BUSINESS LOOK DISTRIBUTIVE OVERLAY SEEMS TO MAKE MUCH SENSE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]
And most businesses agree an overlay could cut back costs of having to change letter heads, business cards, and advertising.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING:The commission will be traveling across the state to hear public input before making its decision sometime this summer. Kate Weidaw News 7.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]))
[45-E-Dental-Program]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-05 3:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some 7-thousand Roanoke children from low income families are in jeopardy of losing their dental care.
Roanoke is the latest city to lose funding
(----------------)
[vo-nat]
for a pediatric dental program.
Child Health Investment Project, or CHIP, is working to get help from the city... because many private sector dentists will not treat low-income patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 15:02:59]
[IN Q=The Medicaid reimbursement]
((ROBIN HALDIMAN/CHIP EXEC. DIRECTOR: THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE STILL LOW. THE NATURE OF DENTAL CARE IS THAT IS TAKES LONGER FOR AN APPOINTMENT, SO WHEN THERE ARE BROKEN OR MISSED APPOINTMENTS, WHICH THERE FREQUENTLY ARE WITH THE MEDICAID OR LOW INCOME POPULATION.))
[super=01-Robin Haldiman/CHIP Executive Director]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=income population.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
At a city council meeting,
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday; ]
Vice-Mayor Nelson Harris said the issue is critical.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 15:11:21]
[IN Q=There is]
((NELSON HARRIS/VICE-MAYOR: THERE IS REALLY NO PLACE FOR THESE CHILDREN TO GO AND GET DENTAL CARE THAT A LOT OF US WOULD TAKE FOR GRANTED.))
[super=01-Nelson Harris/Roanoke Vice-Mayor]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=take for granted]
(-------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=None]
Dental problems are the second-leading cause of school absenteeism.
[45-E-Winning-Team]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=99-59 34:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An alleged pyramid scheme in Danville could involve some city police officers and their family members, that's what sources tell News 7.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
Chief Neal Morris will not comment about his department or family members accused of participating in the program that asks people to contribute money in the hopes of gaining more money in the end.
Yesterday he spoke out about the rumors that he is involved with this gifting program.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:21:26]
[IN Q=I think there]
((NEAL MORRIS/DANVILLE POLICE CHIEF: I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF RUMORS FLOATING AROUND I'VE SAID ALL ALONG ABOUT BEING INVOLVED I'M NOT.))
[SUPER=01-Neal Morris/Danville Police Chief;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=I am not.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Chief Morris called the State Police in to do an independent investigation.
(------------)
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Let's take a break from the news to check the forecast...
Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers.
Highs in the mid 60s.
Look for scattered showers to continue overnight, with lows around 45.
The extended forecast promises the warm weather to hold through the weekend...with more rain likely on Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Showers/62-66/Scattered Showers/Light Breeze/42-46;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[8-E-Munsey-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01 47:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Jeff Thomas' family members say they were devastated when Thomas was arrested for killing Tara Munsey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Link Thomas says his son is a devoted family man-- who's more interested in helping than hurting people.
It's a feeling echoed by Thomas' stepmother, Martha, who says Jeff told her he did NOT kill the Radford High School sophomore.
Whatever the case... the Thomas' say their heart and prayers go out to the Munseys.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I can]
((I CAN HONESTLY SAY IF IT WASN'T FOR SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND THE CLOSENESS THAT I FEEL WITH THE LORD, I DON'T THINK I COULD MAKE IT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Link Thomas/Jeff Thomas' Father;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=with you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Thomas' say they believe their son knows something about the crime but do NOT believe he's capable of murder.
(------------)
[8-E-President-Bush]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-53 1:22:06]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
As the presidential race heats up, the candidates are looking ahead to Super Tuesday.
But next week Virginia's Republican Primary will put the state in the national spotlight.
Former President George Bush visited the Roanoke Valley yesterday to campaign for his son.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Salem]
Bush acknowledged his disappointment with Tuesday's primary results, but said his son is a fighter who will ultimately prevail.
He discounted the potential crossover from Democrats and Independents, and predicted another Bush victory on Tuesday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 30:37]
[IN Q=It's the function]
((IT'S THE FUNCTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO PICK THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND I THINK IF WE GET SOME REPUBLICANS TO GO IN AND VOTE IN VIRGINIA, I BELIEVE GEORGE WILL WIN HERE, JUST AS HE DID IN SOUTH CAROLINA, JUST AS HE DID IN IOWA.))
[SUPER=201-George Bush/Former President;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=just as he did in Iowa.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Republican campaigns are focusing most of their attention on the March 7th primaries including California and New York, but Bush says Virginia could play an important role next week by shaping the direction the other states will follow.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[8-E-McCain]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-54 1:23:55]
[GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Spokane, WA]
Senator John McCain's supporters in Virginia are happy, following Tuesday's victories in Michigan and Arizona.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :52]
[IN Q=It is]
((PAUL GALANTI/MCCAIN'S VIRGINIA CHAIRMAN: IT IS A GREAT FEELING. I MEAN, IT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME. LAST TIME WE TALKED ... YOU DON'T STOP WORKING BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY.))
[SUPER=201-Paul Galanti/McCain's Virginia Chairman; ]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=too much money.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=Campaign 2000]
Tuesday's Virginia primary is considered a likely Bush victory.
But it is open to Democrats and Independents, and McCain supporters are encouraging them to vote. McCain is unlikely to visit Virginia this weekend-- choosing to concentrate on larger states.
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Let's check out the Thursday forecast once more this morning...
Mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers.
Highs in the mid 60s.
We'll keep scattered showers in the forecast overnight, with lows around 45.
The extended forecast promises the warm weather to hold through the weekend...with more rain likely on Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Showers/62-66/Scattered Showers/Light Breeze/42-46;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS