[7-E-Radford-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-09 57:04]
[GRAPHIC=New River Castings Explosion]


Medical examiners are trying to identify the remains of the New River Castings plant employees found yesterday.
Marya Jones has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As the sun set over]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lois Love/Debra Sheppard's Aunt; :08]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Sunday Night; :20]
[SUPER=01-Kenny Ford/Radford Police Detective; :30]
[SUPER=01-Greg Rupe/Plant Employee; :52 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Edward Anderson/Karen Hamilton's Father; 1:04]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Radford.]

(( As the sun set over New River Castings, it marked the end to four days of waiting for the family members of Karen Hamilton and Debra Sheppard.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 48:48 - :56]

((LOIS LOVE/DEBRA SHEPPARD'S AUNT: I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T SUFFER, BUT I NEVER GAVE UP HOPE THAT THEY WOULD FIND THEM ALIVE.))
[RUNS= :08]


The two women's remains were found buried under layers of wreckage. They, along with fellow employee Curtis Grooms, were killed Sunday night in a blast that shook all of Radford.
The effort to recover their bodies took dozens of people working around the clock.
It also took an emotional toll on families and searchers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 46:38 - :51]

((KENNY FORD/RADFORD POLICE DETECTIVE: WE'RE JUST REAL PLEASED AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD. IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE. NOT TO KNOW WHERE SOMEONE'S LOVED ONE WAS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND.))
[RUNS= :13]


With the women's bodies soon to be returned to their families, many of the 500 New River Castings employees are now wondering what the fate of the plant -- and their jobs -- will be.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:40:17 - :20]

((GREG RUPE/PLANT EMPLOYEE: I HATE TO SEE THEM GO ... IT WOULD REALLY HURT US.))
[RUNS= :03]


Karen Hamilton's father, also an Intermet employee, says that if the company rebuilds, he hopes it's learned a lesson from his daughter's death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 42:22 - :38]

((EDWARD ANDERSON: IF THEY DECIDE TO BUILD BACK HERE, AS LONG AS THEY DO IT SAFELY AND WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM BUILD BACK UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.))
[RUNS= :16]
(///// SOT /////)

[SU 50:55 - 51:09] ((MARYA JONES/NEWS 7: KAREN HAMILTON'S FAMILY HAS RETAINED AN ATTORNEY, BUT WON'T SAY WHAT THEIR LEGAL COURSE OF ACTION MIGHT BE. BOTH WOMEN'S FAMILIES SAY THEY HOPE THEIR LEGACY IS ONE THAT PROMOTES WORKPLACE SAFETY ... WHETHER HERE OR ELSEWHERE. MARYA JONES, NEWS 7, RADFORD.))
[RUNS= :14]))



[7-E-Marye-Radford]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-60 1:25:38]
[GRAPHIC=NR Castings]


The company's NOT officially talking about the long term ramifications of Sunday's explosion.
Union leaders tell us the company indicates it plans to rebuild.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


But on the floor of the state Senate yesterday:
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 40:42]
[IN Q=Mr. President]

((SEN. MADISON MARYE/D-MONTGOMERY CO.: MR. PRESIDENT, I RECEIVED THIS MORNING A VERY DISTURBING PHONE CALL FROM MY DISTRICT AND SENATOR TRUMBO'S DISTRICT. AND IT WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED IN RADFORD.))
[SUPER=@Marye;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=in Radford.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=Hold]


Marye says HE's been told by local union members that 600 to 900 workers could be laid off for at least six months.


[7-E-Bomb-Threats]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:22:56]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The two girls who made bomb threats to a Lynchburg school last month could face jail time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/February 24]


The threats forced the evacuation of Heritage High School on February 24th.
Police tracked the calls and arrested a 12-year old and a 17- year- old the same day.
Both pleaded guilty Wednesday.
A judge has ordered both girls to undergo psychological testing before they're sentenced in April.
(------------)



[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Here's a look at your Friday forecast.
Mostly sunny today with light winds.
Highs in the low to mid 70s.
Cloudy with a chance of rain late tonight.
Lows around 50.
The weekend forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 5-15/70-74/Clouding Up/Chance of Rain Late/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[45-E-Council-Forum]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-54 1:45:32]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]


The two-month long race for Roanoke City council is underway.
There are lots of candidates, and as evidenced last night, lots of citizen interest.
Joe Dashiell reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A dozen candidates]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/(D) Candidate for Mayor; :17]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Smith/(R) Candidate for Mayor; :25]
[SUPER=01-Mac McCadden/(I) Candidate for Mayor; :34]
[SUPER=01-Duane Howard/(I) Candidate for Mayor; :41]
[SUPER=01-Kathleen Ratliff/Raleigh Court Resident; :56]
[SUPER=@Joe1; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]

((A dozen candidates and a roomful of Roanokers came together for the traditional start of the city council campaign.
It was a large crowd, even for an active neighborhood group like the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League.
The four men running for mayor provided a preview of the themes they'll be emphasizing.
[SOT]
[IN Q=Every day]

((DAVID BOWERS/D- CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR:EVERY DAY A MAYOR NEEDS TO BE A GOOD LISTENER TO OUR CITIZENS AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO. AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO AFTER ELECTION DAY.)) ((RALPH SMITH/R- CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: WHO CAN DO THE BEST JOB RUNNING THIS CITY, BEING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. THAT'S WHAT I CLAIM I CAN DO AND DO WELL.)) ((MAC MCCADDEN/I- CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: WE WANT TO BUILD A BETTER ROANOKE. I THINK WE CAN BUILD A BETTER ROANOKE AND I THINK CONSENSUS BUILDING IS THE WAY TO DO THAT.)) ((DUANE HOWARD/I- CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: BY OPENING THE DOORS TO CITY HALL, BEING A FULL TIME MAYOR, BRINGING TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THE CITIZENS HAVE MORE CONTACT.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


There were no fireworks, few disagreements...
But the candidates played to favorable reviews.
[SOT]
[IN Q=and I think most of them]

((KATHLEEN RATLIFF/RALEIGH COURT RESIDENT: AND I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE PRETTY WELL QUALIFIED, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT GENERALLY I THINK WE'LL GET A PRETTY GOOD CROP OF THEM, I HOPE.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=pretty good crop of them, I hope.]

[STAND-UP CLOSE]
This forum with the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League is just the opening exchange in a two- month campaign.
These candidates will face off ten to twelve more times before election day.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

[45-E-School-Bus]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-03 50:12]
[GRAPHIC=School Bus Accident]


A January 14th bus accident in Rockingham County that left one child critically wounded has resulted in a conviction against the bus driver.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mount Crawford/WHSV - January 14]


30-year-old Kathy Miller was found guilty of failing to yield the right of way when she pulled into the path of a semi truck without its trailer.
Miller's attorney argued that the truck still had its blinker on, so Miller was NOT at fault.
But two witnesses were not able to offer further details.
The school Superintendent says the 9-year-old boy who was critically injured is progressing at a Rehabilitation Center.
(------------)



[45-5-Death-Penalty]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=599-16 1:33:24]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Death Penalty]


An effort to lengthen Virginia's 21-day rule for death row inmates to submit new evidence of innocence has failed for this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt/File Tape;]

Legislation to extend the deadline to 45 days was sent back to committee yesterday in the Senate.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday; ]

Instead, the proposal will be studied for a year.
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=Hold]

The move was requested by the bill's sponsor, who originally wanted a three-year deadline.

[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a break from the news to check weather...
Mostly sunny today with mild highs in the lower 70s.
Clouding up by this evening, with a chance of rain after midnight.
Lows around 50.
The five day forecast includes rain and storms tomorrow with cooler temperatures over the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 5-15/70-74/Clouding Up/Chance of Rain Late/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[8-Blast-Search]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Castings Explosion]


A medical examiner will determine the identities of the two bodies pulled from the collapsed New River Castings Plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford]


The bodies of Karen Hamilton and Debra Sheppard were recovered yesterday.
The effort to recover their bodies took dozens of people working around the clock.
It also took an emotional toll on families and searchers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we're just real]

((KENNY FORD/RADFORD POLICE DETECTIVE: WE'RE JUST REAL PLEASED AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD. IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE. NOT TO KNOW WHERE SOMEONE'S LOVED ONE WAS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND.))
[SUPER=01-Kenny Ford/Radford Police Detective; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=going to end.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Karen Hamilton's father, also an Intermet employee, says that if the company rebuilds, he hopes it's learned a lesson from his daughter's death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If they decide]

((EDWARD ANDERSON: IF THEY DECIDE TO BUILD BACK HERE, AS LONG AS THEY DO IT SAFELY AND WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM BUILD BACK UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.))
[SUPER=01-Edward Anderson/Karen Hamilton's Father; ]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=under those circumstances.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Hamilton's family has retained an attorney, but won't say if they'll file a lawsuit.
(-------------)



[8-E-Marye-Radford]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-60 1:25:38]
[GRAPHIC=NR Castings]


New River Castings is NOT officially talking about the long term ramifications of Sunday's explosion.
But union leaders say the company indicates it plans to rebuild.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


But on the floor of the state Senate yesterday:
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 40:42]
[IN Q=Mr. President]

((SEN. MADISON MARYE/D-MONTGOMERY CO.: MR. PRESIDENT, I RECEIVED THIS MORNING A VERY DISTURBING PHONE CALL FROM MY DISTRICT AND SENATOR TRUMBO'S DISTRICT. AND IT WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE EXPLOSION THAT OCCURRED IN RADFORD.))
[SUPER=@Marye;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=in Radford.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=Hold]


Marye says HE's been told by local union members that 600 to 900 workers could be laid off for at least six months.


[8-E-D-Day-Memorial]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-04 36:45]
[GRAPHIC=State Capitol]


Leaders in the General Assembly are urging a quick end to the 2000 session.
In fact, they say it could wrap up today-- a full day early.
To do that, lawmakers would have to finish work on 60 bills, including the two year state budget.
[SS=D-Day Memorial]


One of the bill passed earlier in the week will keep the D-Day Memorial in Bedford on schedule.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]


The General Assembly voted to appropriate an additional four- point- four million dollars for the monument honoring those who died in the invasion of Normandy.
The money will help fund construction of an education center, and virtually guarantees the memorial will open on June 6th, 2001.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:17:01]
[IN Q=This memorial needs]

((RICHARD BURROW/D-DAY MEMORIAL DIRECTOR: THIS MEMORIAL NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THAT AS WE ALL KNOW, A LITTLE BETTER THAN AN AVERAGE OF A THOUSAND WORLD WAR TWO VETS IS DYING PER DAY AND WE NEED TO COMPLETE THIS MEMORIAL SO THAT THEY'LL KNOW THAT THIS WAS DONE.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Burrow/D-Day Memorial Director]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=this was done.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The state has contributed nearly eight million dollars to the D-Day memorial.
All of that is being matched by private donations.
(------------)



[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Let's take one more look at the forecast before we wrap up this morning...
Mostly sunny with highs today in the lower 70s.
Clouding up tonight with a chance of rain late.
Lows near 50.
The five day forecast includes rain and storms tomorrow with cooler temperatures over the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 5-15/70-74/Clouding Up/Chance of Rain Late/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]


by SS