WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/28/00

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[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[7-SchoolWatch]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

We do have one school closing to report to you this morning.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[Take FS Pinnacle]
Only Bland School is closed today in Bland County.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)

[7-11Foutz-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#99-59 TC1:49:56]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Lawsuit]

Former Vinton Police Chief Ricky Foutz is suing the town for 10-point-4 million dollars.
There are six counts of action -- including defamation of character, intentional infliction of emotional stress, breach of contract, and illegal search and seizure.
Foutz resigned from the Vinton Police Department last fall during a special grand jury investigation.
No charges were filed -- and Foutz says he wants his reputation restored.
Joy Sutton has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't know]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :12]
[Super=01-Joy Sutton/Reporting; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=JS N7]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:31:05]
[IN Q=I don't know that you can ever]
((I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN EVER FULLY RESTORE A MANS REPUTATION THAT'S BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM. BUT I'VE GOT TO TRY.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=I've got to try]

That's why Former Vinton Police Chief Ricky Foutz says he is suing the town of Vinton.
He 's hoping that through a trial evidence will come out that willclear his name once and for all.
In his 27 page complaint -- Foutz holds the town manager, the mayor, the town attorney, and each member of town council responsible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:35:29]
[IN Q=Because of the inuendo's]
((BECAUSE OF THE INUENDO'S THEY HAVE MADE. THEY HAVE LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT I'VE DONE ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=haven't done]

Foutz says he was asked to resign -- even before he was told what the allegation were against him
Included in the suit is a copy of the hand-written resignation letter the town attorney drafted and Foutz signed on November 10th.
Foutz says the special grand jury's report was misleading.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:39:27]
[IN Q=A lot of things]
((A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT OR THEY TAKEN HALF SENTENCE AND MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF IT)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=out of it]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTING: FOUTZ MAINTAINS HE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. TOWN MANAGER CLAY GOODMAN IS OUT OF TOWN -- AND NO OTHER TOWN OFFICIALS OR ANY OF THE ATTORNEYS WANTED TO COMMENT. JOY SUTTON, NEWS 7, ))
[SUPER=01-]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=JS N7]))

[7-11RADAR-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC26:11]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

A driver for the RADAR transportation service has been charged with reckless driving after yesterday's accident.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

A van carrying nine passengers hit the back of a truck, at the intersection of Fourth and Market Streets in Salem.

Seven of the people on board were taken to the hospital.
Most of them were just shaken up-- police say there were no critical injuries.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[7-11Bedford-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-09 TC1:43:24]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

A two car crash in Bedford County sent two women to the hospital yesterday.
State police say the driver of this Subaru was headed north on Route 8-11 near the New London airport when another vehicle turned in front of her.
The Subaru tee-boned the other car, pushing it into the ditch.
The driver of the second vehicle was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial.
Charges are pending.
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[7Weather]

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

Here's a look at your Friday forecast.
Clouding up today witha chance of light rain.
Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
Tonight, partial clearing and some patchy fog.
Lows in the low to mid 40s.
The weekend forecast...

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[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[45-SchoolWatch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

We do have one school closing to report to you this morning.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[Take FS Pinnacle]
Bland School in Bland County is closed today.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)

[45-11Foutz]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Investigation]

Former Vinton Police Chief Ricky Foutz files a ten million dollar lawsuit against the town following his forced resignation last year.
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[V/O-NAT-SOT]

The 27-year veteran of the town police department has filed suit in federal court, citing conspiracy, defamation, and breach of contract among his causes of action.
Foutz say hoping a trial will help to clear his name.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:30:51]
[IN Q=This is the only avenue]
((THIS IS THE ONLY AVENUE I HAVE. I HOPING THE FEDERAL COURTS CAN HELP ME RESTORE AT LEAST SOME OF THAT))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=some of that]
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[VO-NAT]

Foutz was given a hand-written letter of resignation to sign November 10th. That was shortly after the grand jury started hearing evidence of mishandling of funds, guns and drugs at the Police Department.
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[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

Neither the attorneys nor town officials wanted to discuss the details of the 10-point-four million dollar complaint.

[45-11Census-Takers]

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

A warning if you didn't fill out a census form, the Census Bureau is now out looking for you.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Enumerators began going door to door yesterday.
They're visiting the households that didn't mail back their forms.
Census officials say the enumerators will have a tough task, since many of the people they're looking for don't want to be counted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:19:19]
[IN Q=People don't realize]
((LARRY HOLLOWAY/CENSUS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE GOING FROM DOOR TO DOOR AND CONTINUOUSLY GETTING THIS INFORMATION IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. AND ENUMERATORS ARE A SPECIAL BREED, SO WE'RE PROUD OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S OUT THERE DOING THAT FOR US.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Holloway/Census Committee Chairman]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=that for us.]
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[VO-NAT]

Holloway says Lynchburg lost out on ten million dollars in federal funding because not enough people responded to the 1990 census.
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[45-11Radford-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-10 TC41:40]
[GRAPHIC=Radford Univ.]

A possible second chance for two Radford University athletic teams slated to be dropped.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

Last month, the university said it couldn't afford to maintain the Division One lacrosse and women's gymnastics teams after this year.
But now university president Douglas Covington says he needs more time to explore options for keeping the programs.
While team members call the news encouraging, they say it doesn't secure their future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:48:11 - :22]
[IN Q=It's great news]
((CHRIS LAMONIA: IT'S GREAT NEWS BUT WE STILL REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS SUMMER THEY COULD SAY WE'VE LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO DROP IT.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Lamonia/Senior Lacrosse Captain;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=going to drop it.]
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[VO-NAT]

The lacrosse team lost half it's top recruits for next year because of the uncertainty.
No one is saying what prompted the university to reconsider OR when the final decision will come.
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[45Weather]

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

Let's turn to weather now...
Clouding up, with a good chance of light rain.
Highs near 60.
Partial clearing overnight, with patchy fog and lows near 45.
The extended forecast is calling for a pretty pleasant weekend...with a few showers possible tomorrow.
Highs in the 60s and 70s.

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[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[8-SchoolWatch]

[8-11Foutz]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Investigation]

Ricky Foutz has filed a ten million dollar lawsuit for being asked to resign as Vinton's police Chief.
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT-SOT]

The 27-year veteran of the town police department has filed suit in federal court, citing conspiracy, defamation, and breach of contract among his causes of action.
Foutz say hoping a trial will help to clear his name.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:30:51]
[IN Q=This is the only avenue]
((THIS IS THE ONLY AVENUE I HAVE. I HOPING THE FEDERAL COURTS CAN HELP ME RESTORE AT LEAST SOME OF THAT))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=some of that]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Foutz was given a hand-written letter of resignation to sign November 10th. That was shortly after the grand jury started hearing evidence of mishandling of funds, guns and drugs at the Police Department.
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

Neither the attorneys nor town officials wanted to discuss the details of the 10-point-four million dollar complaint.

[8-11Truck-Plant]

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

Martinsville may be the new home of a truck body plant.
North Carolina economic development officials say the W-F Mickey Body Company plans to build a new plant either in Martinsville or Denton, North Carolina.
The plant would bring 150 jobs that pay an average 14 dollars an hour.
A decision should be made in a week or so.

[8-11Mock-Disaster]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's a sobering message that some Cave Spring High School students sent out to their fellow classmates hoping to inform them of the dangers of prom night drunk driving.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The students in the Victory Stadium weren't told about the mock accident. They witnessed a realistic simulation of a drunk driving accidents complete with fire, rescue and police personnel.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 22:15:58]
[IN Q=We've been doing]
((AMY WHITTAKER/AMERICAN RED CROSS: WE'VE BEEN DOING MOCK ALCOHOL DISASTERS FOR 11 YEARS NOW AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOT HAD A DRINKING AND DRIVING ACCIDENT ON PROM NIGHT FOLLOWING A MOCK ALCOHOL DISASTER PRESENTATION, SO THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Amy Whittaker/American Red Cross; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=for itself.]
[VO NAT]
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[VO-NAT]

Well known athletes at Cave Spring took part in the act.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 22:36:37]
[IN Q=I thought that]
((RENEE GAGNIER/SENIOR: I THOUGHT THAT IF I PARTICIPATED IN THIS THEN IT WOULD EFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY THEY WERE IMPACTED BY THIS AND THEY'LL BE SMART ENOUGH NOT TO DO ANYTHING.)) ((MICHAEL HAMLER/SENIOR: IT FELT REAL. IT WAS KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN JUST LIKE THAT TO ANYBODY.))
[SUPER=01-Renee Gagnier/Senior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Hamler/Senior; :12]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=to anybody.]
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[VO-NAT]
Both the basketball and football player say pretending to be killed in the fake accident was a sobering message for everyone.
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[8Weather]

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

Taking a break from the news to check weather once more...
Skies are already clouding up, and there's a good chance of light rain.
Highs near 60.
Partial clearing tonight, with patchy fog developing.
Lows in the mid 40s.
The extended forecast is calling for a pretty pleasant weekend...with a few showers possible tomorrow.
Highs in the 60s and 70s.

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