[7-Switched-Babies]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]


A new development in the case of the two little girls switched at birth.
The case is a little closer to resolution this morning.
The families raising the four-year olds have agreed to make NO change in their custody, but will allow regular visitation by each side.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Callie Conley and Rebecca Chittum were born in 1995 but it wasn't discovered until three years later that they had been sent home from the hospital with the wrong parents.
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape;]


Paula Johnson, the woman who's been raising Callie, had sought custody of both girls.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[SS=HOLD]


The visitation arrangement was disclosed by lawyers for the families and will be submitted to a judge at the end of the month.

[7-Shaken-Baby]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A Bedford County woman has been charged with abusing a seven-week old baby she was caring for in her home.
42-year-old Campbell Skuvalik (SKOO-vuh-lick) was arrested after doctors treated the baby for head injuries last week.
Police say Skuvalik was looking after the baby and several other children in her home.
She does "not" have a daycare license.

[7-Echostar]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-03 1:11:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Although it's not official, but there is new hope for Christiansburg's effort to bring in 12-hundred new jobs.

The main competitor for EchoStar's new customer service center says it's not actively pursuing the project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Economic development officials in McAllen, Texas, say Echostar is not what they're looking for.
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/February 9]


It IS what more than two thousand people in the New River Valley were looking for at this jobs expo last month.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A source tells us Echostar has narrowed down potential locations to two sites in Christiansburg.
Officials are hoping to announce a big new employer within a week, but again, nothing is certain yet.

[7-E-RV-Trash]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-53 2:03:11]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The trash is flowing into the Smith Gap landfill... and the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority remains on firm financial ground.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The amount of waste delivered to the transfer station is running about 12- thousand tons ahead of estimates for the current budget year.
Though the authority had to cut expenses a few years ago when some commercial haulers diverted trash to other landfills, revenues are now on the rise once again.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think our board's real pleased]

((JOHN HUBBARD/ROANOKE VALLEY RESOURCE AUTHORITY: I THINK OUR BOARD IS REAL PLEASED WITH OUR BUDGET. I THINK THE CITY, COUNTY AND TOWN WILL BE PLEASED WITH OUR BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WITH NO INCREASE, SO I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYONE.))
[SUPER=01-John Hubbard/Roanoke Valley Resource Auth.]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=good for everyone.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Landfill tipping fees will remain at 55 dollars a ton for private haulers, and officials say they hope to avoid any increases for the next few years.
(------------)



[7Weather]


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


Here's a look at your Thursday forecast.
Partly sunny today with highs in the low 60s.
Tonight, partly cloudy with light winds.
Lows in the low 40s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning Partly/Sunny/60-65/Partly Cloudy/Light E Wind/40-44;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[45-Smart-Road]


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


A test drive today on the new two mile electronic highway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./File Tape;]


Transportation officials and local leaders will get an up close look at Smart Road today.
The unique roadway offers realistic conditions on an actual highway, which will allow researchers to control weather and lighting conditions.
V-Dot officials say Smart Road has the potential to improve highway safety and possibly save lives.
Eventually, the roadway will serve as a link between Blacksburg and Interstate 81.
(------------)




[45-Switched-Babies]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]


The families caring for two girls who were switched at birth have reached what a lawyer in the case described as a status quo agreement.
If approved by a judge next week, it would keep the girls with the families that are now raising them and give both sides regular visitation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Callie Conley and Rebecca Chittum were born in 1995 but it wasn't discovered until three years later that they had been sent home from the hospital with the wrong parents.
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape;]


Paula Johnson, the woman who's been raising Callie, had sought custody of both girls.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[SS=HOLD]


The formal agreement faces court approval at the end of the month.

[45-E-Reform-Party]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:38:16]
[GRAPHIC=Reform Party]


Call it "Perot versus Ventura".
Supporters of both men will square off again today in Lynchburg federal court to see who's in charge of the Reform Party of America.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=03-Nashville, TN/Last Month; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pat Choate/Current Reform Party Chairman; :31]
[SUPER=01-Jack Gargan/Ousted Reform Party Chairman; :37]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :54]
[SUPER=01-Ray Chote/Reform Party Member; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( [natsot ]
[RUNS= 03]


The feud between the Perot and Ventura supporters culminated in this meeting in Nashville last month.. both sides trying to shout each other down as party chairman and Ventura ally Jack Gargan was voted out after less than two months as party chairman.
Gargan has refused to turn over the reins, however.. he says the meeting was illegal and therefore the vote to remove him doesn't count.
Pat Choate and other Perot supporters disagree.. they're asking a federal judge to settle it.
[SOT 2:59:33]

((PAT CHOATE/CURRENT REFORM PARTY CHAIRMAN: THE JUDGE HAS THE FINAL SAY IN THIS AND OF COURSE I'M PREPARED TO ACCEPT WHICHEVER DECISION THE JUDGE MAKES.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=the judge makes.]
[SOT 2:58:14]

((JACK GARGAN/OUSTED REFORM PARTY CHAIRMAN: AND I THINK WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER YOU WILL SEE OUR SIDE JUMP UP WITH THE THUMBS UP, BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING GOOD ALREADY, AND WE'VE HARDLY GOTTEN STARTED. THE RIGHT ANSWERS, I DON'T THINK ARE COMING OUT FROM THEIR SIDE.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=from their side.]


No matter who wins, most agree the Reform Party has been damaged by this ongoing feud.
Two and a half million dollars in federal money for the party's convention is being held by the court while this power struggle plays out.
[SOT 3:04:26]

((RAY CHOTE/REFORM PARTY MEMBER: I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF IS IT A GRASSROOTS PARTY OR IS IT A PARTY THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTROLLED UP AT THE TOP? AND JACK AND ALL OF HIS PEOPLE, I THINK, ARE OF THE IDEA THAT IT'S A GRASSROOTS AND IT WON'T GROWN AND BECOME SOMETHING MAJOR IF THAT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=be the case.]


The case is scheduled to run through Friday.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

[45Weather]


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


Taking a break from news now to check weather...
Turning partly sunny today with highs in the low to mid 60s.
Partly cloudy overnight, with light winds and lows near 42.
In the five day forecast.. partly to mostly sunny and warmer as we head into the weekend....meanwhile, showers are likely by Sunday.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning Partly/Sunny/60-65/Partly Cloudy/Light E Wind/40-44;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[8-Smart-Road]


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


A preview today of Virginia's new electronic highway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./File Tape;]


Transportation officials and local leaders will get an up close look at Smart Road today.
The unique roadway offers realistic conditions on an actual highway, which will allow researchers to control weather and lighting conditions.
V-Dot officials say Smart Road has the potential to improve highway safety and possibly save lives.
Eventually, the roadway will serve as a link between Blacksburg and Interstate 81.
(------------)




[8-Switched-Babies]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]


The case of two little girls switched at birth continues.
The families raising the four-year olds have agreed to make NO change in their custody, but will allow regular visitation by each side.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Callie Conley and Rebecca Chittum were born in 1995 but it wasn't discovered until three years later that they had been sent home from the hospital with the wrong parents.
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape;]


Paula Johnson, the woman who's been raising Callie, had sought custody of both girls.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[SS=HOLD]


The visitation arrangement was disclosed by lawyers for the families and will be submitted to a judge at the end of the month.

[8-E-Childrens-Health]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-04 46:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]


She's a friend and confidant to young patients and their parents at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital.
And doctors say she's one of a kind in Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


Janice Zack eases children into medical procedures by bringing them pictures and props.
Doctors say when a child is well-prepared, they need fewer drugs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:41:37]
[IN Q=Because they made]

((BECAUSE THEY MADE ME FEEL BETTER AND I SAW ALL THE THINGS THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO ME AND IT MADE ME BETTER.))
[SUPER=01-Lauren Dalton/Patient]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=MADE ME BETTER]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


But Zack also provides parents with a full library, refrigerator and social calendar.
She says they should ask questions too.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:10:08]
[IN Q=If they feel]

((IF THEY FEEL THEIR CHILD IS NOT GETTING THE CARE OR THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT EXPLAINING IT IN THE WAY THEY UNDERSTAND, TO SPEAK UP AND SAY I CAN TELL MY CHILD IS STILL FEARFUL.))
[SUPER=01-Janice Zack/Child Life Specialist;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=still fearful]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


After the surgery Zack checks with the child again to make sure there were no surprises.
(------------)



[8-E-Japan-Students]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-57 1:24:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A group of Japanese exchange students got a lesson in Easter customs during a visit to the Roanoke city market yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


These high school students are visiting from Sapporo, Japan.
They are staying with students from Botetourt County, who had to explain the meaning of Easter eggs.
They also chatted with Roanoke's mayor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:30:53]
[IN Q=Hi there]

((HI THERE. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE MAYOR? SO WOULD A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE I BELIEVE. THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=election coming up]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The students say the highlights of their trip include Burger King and laser tag.
A Japanese company in Botetourt County is sponsoring their trip.
(------------)



[8Weather]


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


Let's look at the Thursday forecast once more this morning...
Turning partly sunny with highs of 60 to 65.
Tonight should stay partly cloudy with lows in the lower 40s.
In the five day forecast.. partly to mostly sunny and warmer as we head into the weekend....meanwhile, showers are likely by Sunday.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning/Partly Sunny/60-65/Partly Cloudy/Light E Wind/40-44;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]


by SS