WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/10/00

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

A minimum wage increase for American workers has been passed by the House but President Clinton is threatening a veto.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And the bodies of two of the workers killed in Sunday's plant explosion in Radford have been recovered.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

One more day of basking in the sunshine and warm temperatures... a developing storm to our south promises rain for at least part of the weekend.
And COOLER, more seasonable temperatures will slide in by tomorrow.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[Blast-Search]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[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]

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

[E-Marye-Radford]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[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=None]

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

[minimum-wage]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Minimum Wage]

President Clinton is threatening to veto something he's been working hard for...a dollar increase in the minimum wage.
The reason?
It's attached to a tax cut.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[3:02:46]
Yesterday, The Republican controlled House passed the wage increase and a one hundred and twenty two BILLION dollar tax cut over ten years.
Aimed at businesses, its meant to soften the impact the wage increase will have on companies.
Mr. Clinton accuses congress of being in the pocket of special interest and asked the body to send him a new bill without the cuts.
(------------)

[E-Bomb-Threats]

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

Two girls are facing jail time for calling in bomb threats to a Lynchburg school last month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/February 24]

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

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, U-V-A prepares for it's A-C-C tournament game against N-C State.
Mike Stevens has more.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:11]
[OUT Q=this morning]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)

[One-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M00-1]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the name of]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Fitzgerald/Transportation Museum; 1:45]
[RUNS=2:01]
[OUT Q=science of speed exhibit]

[Steve Live]

(I'll call for board)
[essc#8700]

(Steve tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM] ((Archive: transportation museum))

[usair]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Clinton Administration wants to ease gridlock on the nation's airport runways.
Later today, the F-A-A will announce its giving air traffic planners more authority to keep planes taking off during bad weather.
Last summer, was the worst on record for delays.
Meantime, there is a new development in the standoff between U-S Airways and a group of employees.
In the next week the two sides will try again to agree on a new contract.
Without one, flight attendants say they'll strike at midnight, March 25th.
Edward Lawrence has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3;18:12]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Steve Hearn/Flight Attendant President; :04]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC; :10]
[SUPER=04-US Airways; :20]
[SUPER=01-Bertha Dawson/Traveler; :39]
[SUPER=01-Edward Lawrence/Reporting; :50]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q=FOR CBS NEWS.]

[E-School-Bus]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-03 50:12]
[GRAPHIC=School Bus Accident]

A bus driver was convicted yesterday for her role in an accident that injured eleven children - one critically - in Rockingham County.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)

[E-D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[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.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, night lights may not cause near-sightedness.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((WHAT ARE THE PEAK YEARS FOR THE BRAIN TO DEVELOP? FOR A LONG TIME, SCIENTISTS BELIEVED IT WAS AGES ONE TO THREE. BUT NEW RESEARCH IN THE JOURNAL SAYS OTHERWISE. GRFX AGES 3 TO 6 MEGA BRAIN GROWTH IN THE FRONT OF THE BRAIN. THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PERSONALITY DEVELOPS. AGES 6 TO 12 GROWTH IN AN AREA OF THE BRAIN THAT MAKES THIS THE BEST TIME FOR A CHILD TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. AGES 13 TO 16 GROWTH IN THE AREAS THAT MAKE THIS THE BEST TIME FOR A CHILD TO DEVELOP IN SPORTS OR MUSIC.
VT=VO
SINCE LAST MAY, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PARENTS STUMBLING AROUND THE DARKNESS OF THEIR KIDS ROOM. THAT'S AFTER A REPORT WHICH SAID NIGHT LIGHTS WOULD MAKE A CHILD BECOME NEAR SIGHTED. WELL, A STUDY FROM THE NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY SAYS DON'T BELIEVE IT. THE PROBLEM, MOST KIDS WHO USED NIGHT LIGHTS AND LATER WENT ON TO BECOME NEARSIGHTED HAD PARENTS WHO BECAME NEAR SIGHTED, MEANING THE CAUSE OF THEIR VISION PROBLEMS WAS MOST LIKELY INHERITED. ON CAM AND FINALLY, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SUCK ON A BALLOON FILLED WITH HELIUM? YOUR VOICE SOUNDS LIKE A MUNCHKIN. HOWEVER, A NEW REPORT IN THE JOURNAL ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE SAYS SUCKING ON HELIUM CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS, PARALYSIS AND STROKES. A HEAVY PRICE FOR A FEW MINUTES OF A FUNNY VOICE. ON CAM THATS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAY'S TOP HEALTH STORIES. IM DR DH FOR CBS NEWS))

(ad lib to weather)

[Two-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

(I'll call for boards)
[essC#8700]
[essC#8701]

[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

The bodies of Debbie Sheppard and Karen Hamilton were located yesterday in the debris left from Sunday's explosion at New River Castings.
The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office in Roanoke to confirm the identities.
A third worker, Curtis Grooms, was also killed in the explosion, which caused about 30 million dollars in damage.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

The F-A-A is hoping to unsnarl the nation's skies.
Officials are outlining a new plan today to help ease air traffic delays during severe spring and summer thunderstorms.
It will give the national command center in Virginia more authority to make decisions to keep traffic moving.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A one-dollar increase in the minimum wage faces a presidential veto.
The House last night approved an increase in the minimum wage from five- dollars-15 cents an hour to six- 15 spread out over two years.
But President Clinton doesn't like the tax-cut plan it's tied to.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Friday, March 10.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[E-Radford-Explosion]

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

The remianes of two employees killed in the explosion at New River Castings are in the hands of the medical examiner today.
They were recovered yesterday afternoon.
Marya Jones reports.
(///// 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]))

[2-E-Marye-Radford]

[5-Death-Penalty]

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

One of the laws that makes Virginia's death penalty one of the toughest in the nation will NOT be changed this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt/File Tape;]

A bill in Richmond would have allowed new evidence of innocence to be presented beyond 21 days after the original trial.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday; ]

The state Senate yesterday put the bill off until next year.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=None]

The bill would have allowed three years -- instead of three weeks -- for new evidence.
It passed the House, before dying in the Senate.

[E-Council-Forum]

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

There is no shortage of candidates in the Roanoke City Council race.
And last night there was no shortage of citizens interested in the outcome.
Joe Dashiell has more on the opening words in a two- month campaign.
(///// 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))

[2-minimum-wage]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Minimum Wage]

It may be a rough ride for the House version of a minimum wage increase.
President Clinton has promised a veto because the one-dollar an hour increase is coupled with a tax cut.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]
[3:02:46]
Yesterday, The Republican controlled House passed the wage increase and a 122 BILLION dollar tax cut over ten years.
Aimed at businesses, its meant to soften the impact the wage increase will have on companies.
Mr. Clinton accuses congress of being in the pocket of special interest and asked the body to send him a new bill without the cuts.
(------------)

[Three-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M00-1]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I"ll intro)

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was incredible]
[SUPER=01-Chris McBride/Transportation Museum; :03]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :14]
[RUNS=2:14]
[OUT Q= the oxydation away]

[Steve Live]

(I'll call for boards)
[essC#8701]
[essC#8700]

[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive:transportation museum))

[Flight-plan]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Air Travel]

Does the thought of flying make you air sick?
If so, you're not alone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[3:32:39]
Last summer, thousands of passengers were packed into planes only to sit on the runway for an hour or so.
But that all could change.
Later today, the Federal Aviation Administration will announce its giving air traffic planners more authority to keep planes taking off during bad weather.
Last summer, was the worst on record for delays.
Between April and August delays were up thirty six percent over the same time in 19-98.
(------------)

[E-Franklin-Cattle]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-53 1:46:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
A Franklin County farmer could face criminal charges and fines if he does not start burying his cows.
Experts say that by letting dead cows rot, Tommy Robertson has endangered people's and animals' health.
Robertson denies that.
But as Tina Tenret shows us, his neighbor captured the wrongdoing on tape.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Eight dead cows]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Connie Lee/Neighbor; :15]
[SUPER=01-Tommy Robertson/Farmer; :45]
[SUPER=@Tina2; ]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Franklin County]
(( Eight dead cows that farmer Tommy Robertson let rot. Some of the carcasses are surrounded by hay for other animals to eat. Earl Arrington made the tape -- his girlfriend used to work for a veterinarian.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:33:20]
[IN Q=One of our]
((ONE OF OUR DOGS GOT VERY SICK WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN AND I HAD TO TAKE HIM TO WORK WITH ME AND CHECKING A FECAL SAMPLE, IT WAS LOADED WITH THE WORMS SPECIFIC TO COWS.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=specific to cows]
Tommy Robertson drags some of the corpses next to a creek. Extension agents say that can make people and animals sick. Robertson says he has a bad back, and burying the animals takes time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:31:21]
[IN Q=We really need]
((WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A PIECE OF MACHINERY TO USE TO BURY EM. PROBABLY NEED A BACKHOE OF OUR OWN, BUT WHO CAN AFFORD IT?))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=AFFORD IT]
Animal control officers found another dead cow on the farm just last Friday. They say next time -- they will charge Tommy Robertson and he could face fines up to 500 dollars. Robertson used to work for the Department of Agriculture. Tina Tenret News7 Franklin County))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
The Robertson family says the man taped the dead cows as revenge, because the Robertsons plan to evict him.

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, highlights from the A-C-C tournament and notes from the track.
Mike Stevens has more.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well folks]
[RUNS=1:53]
[OUT Q=take care]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)

[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A medical examiner will determine the identities of the two bodies pulled from the collapsed New River Castings Plant.
The bodies of Karen Hamilton and Debra Sheppard were recovered yesterday.
Karen Hamilton's family has retained an attorney, but won't say if they'll file a lawsuit.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

General Assembly leaders say the 2000 session could wrap up a day early-- a move that's almost unheard of.
House Speaker Vance Wilkins said if the conferees work hard, there's a chance of adjourning today.
Lawmakers still have to decide on 60 bills, including the two-year state budget.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

One bill passed earlier this week will keep the D-Day Memorial in Bedford on schedule.
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.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Kimberly reads Time Off Promo]

[Time-Off-Promo]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]

It's often called the "Birthplace of the American Agricultural Revolution"...
But to many Virginia Tech students,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]
the Cyrus McCormick Farm is a place for modern day field work.
McCormick unveiled his landmark invention here, the mechanical grain reaper.
Later, in 19-54, his heirs gave the property to Virginia Tech for agricultural studies.
It not only offers glimpses of farm life in the 1800's...but serves as a home base for groundbreaking research.
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[SOT 11:09:07]
[IN Q=It impacts machinery]
((DAVID FISKE/AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SUPT.: IT IMPACTS MACHINERY, EVEN TODAY. THE CUTTER BAR'S STILL USED IN MODERN HARVESTING EQUIPMENT. THE PADDLER OR THE REEL IS STILL USED IN MODERN EQUIPMENT. SO, THE INVENTIONS OF THE TIME ARE ACTUALLY INCORPORATED IN TODAY'S MACHINERY.))
[SUPER=01-David Fiske/Agricultural Research Supt.;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=today's machinery.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Learn more about this farm that's making strides in plant and animal research...
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE TIME OFF FULL SCREEN]
That's this week's "Time Off" segment, coming up tomorrow on News 7 Saturday Morning.
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It's the oldest]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=on News 7 at Six.]
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[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(ad lib bye)