WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/05/00

[7-School]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]

Roanoke County School Board officials will soon make a decision about which students will attend the New South County High school.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Superintendent Linda Weber presented her proposal last night to the board.
In the proposal,students who attend Bent Mountain, Oak Grove and Cave Spring Elementaries-- will go to Hidden Valley Junior High-- which will feed the new high school.
Students at Back Creek, Clearbrook, Green Valley and Penn Forest Elementaries-- will got to Cave Spring Junior High -- and then on to Cave Spring High School.
The School Board Chairman say it will listen to parents before making a decision on May 25th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:53:00]
[IN Q=We want them]
((JERRY CANADA/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THE DECISION WHERE THEY'D LIKE THEIR CHILDREN TO GO AND WE'LL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT CERTAINLY EVERYTHING DEPEND ON TRYING TO KEEP SOME BALANCES IN PLACE))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Canada/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=in place]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The New School is scheduled to open in the fall of 2002.
(------------)

[7-11Bus-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ/jja]
[TAPE#=00-07 TC1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some Roanoke children got quite a scare when the bus they were riding during a field trip caught fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Goochland Co.]

The children made it out safely- thanks to a quick thinking bus driver- 36 Roanoke children and five adults escaped.
Bus driver David Allman, of Rocky Mount, pulled over in Goochland County because of the smell of burning rubber.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:00:13]
[IN Q=They probably]
((STEVE GRAINER/GOOCHLAND FIRE & RESCUE: THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T ABLE TO TELL THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT THAT POINT IN TIME. BUT AS SOON AS YOU STOP, IT BEGINS TO CONSUME EVERYTHING THAT IT CAN BURN ON. AND THAT'S WHEN IT BEGAN TO REALLY GET INTENSE.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Grainer/Goochland Fire & Rescue;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=get intense.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Several truck drivers stopped to help try to put out the fire and look after the children.
They had been on a field trip to Jamestown, from Oakland Intermediate School.
Goochland County sent a school bus to take the kids to a nearby middle school for counseling and lunch.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[7-11Kids-React]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=00-08 TC1:05:10]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

When the children returned to Roanoke, there was a range of emotions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:43]
[IN Q=I was]
((SAMANTHA THOMAS: I WAS SO SCARED I THOUGHT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT AND THEN WE WERE OUT. SOME OF US STARTED CRYING BECAUSE WERE SO SCARED.))
[SUPER=01-Samantha Thomas/Student]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=so scared]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

And while they were pretty shaken up and disappointed that the trip was cut short, most were just glad that no one was hurt.
School officials are not sure if the trip will be rescheduled.
Officials also say replacement of the children's belongings will have to be worked out with the Abbott Bus Company.
(------------)

[7-11Craft]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

In Danville, a judge has sentenced a man for prostituting his wife's 12 year old cousin.
Richard craft will spend 2 years in prison and serve one year probation.
In his trial last November, Craft testified that the girl was willing to have sex, so HE might as well make money from it.
Craft's wife, Marie Witcher Craft was also convicted in January of pandering.

[7Weather]

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

Taking a look at your Friday forecast...
Expect a mostly sunny and warm day with highs in the low 80s.
Tonight, mostly clear with light winds.
Lows in the upper 50s.
The weekend forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Very Warm/80-85/Mostly Clear/Light Winds/55-59;]
[SUPER=#555; RESET]

[45-11NS-Strike]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC10:01]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]

It was a short strike yesterday at Norfolk southern, but it lasted long enough to slow down business.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Maintenance of Way employees set up picket lines in Roanoke and five other cities.
Other union members honored the picket line, so the walk-out did have an impact... for a few hours.
The B-M-W-E says N-S isn't posting job openings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:09:45]
[IN Q=And we're hoping]
((AND WE'RE HOPING THAT NORFOLK SOUTHERN WILL CHANGE ITS POLICY OF REFUSING TO PUT ITS JOBS UP FOR BID WHEN VACANCIES EXIST.))
[SUPER=01-Chuck Burkindine/BMWE Member]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=vacancies exist.]
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
The company has been in discussions with the B-M-W-E on this issue and there's a lawsuit pending in Northern Ohio now.
An attorney for the railroad says the strike was simply a way of getting attention.
The strike was cut short by a Temporary Restraining Order issued about three hours after the strike began.
(------------)

[45-11Evans-Paint]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC34:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Government officials say an abandoned Roanoke business is full of hazardous materials.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

During an inspection of the old Evans Paint company the Environmental Protection Agency found more than 600 drums, pallets and containers in the building on Cleveland Avenue.
But Officials say there's no health risk to the southwest Roanoke neighborhood.
The E-P-A will use money from the Superfund program to get rid of the chemicals.
(------------)

[45-11Roanoke-Times]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC11:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A new leader for the Roanoke Times.
(------------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1996]

Publisher Walter (Roo-gayber) Rugaber confirmed for NEWS 7 that he plans to retire December 1st.
VICE President and General Manager Wendy Zomperelli will become President and Publisher of the Roanoke Times at that time.
Zomperelli has been with the paper for 16 years.
(-----------------)

[45-11Smith]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC08:24]
[GRAPHIC=Ralph Smith]

He doesn't official take office until July, but Roanoke mayor-elect Ralph Smith is already getting a taste of city government.
Yesterday he attended his first budget meeting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

And the CURRENT Mayor took time out to congratulate Smith.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:41:15]
[IN Q=it is a real]
((DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE MAYOR: IT IS A REAL HONOR TO BE ELECTED BY ALL THESE FOLKS HERE IN ROANOKE AND I SALUTE YOU, I CONGRATULATE YOU, AND I WANT TO PROMISE TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE OF ROANOKE THAT THERE WILL BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.))

[SUPER=@Bowers;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=a smooth transition.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

As council got to work on how to spend the 184- million- dollar general budget, Smith learned quickly how tricky city finances can be.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:22:59]
[IN Q=Busines doesn't operate]
((RALPH SMITH/ROANOKE MAYOR-ELECT: BUSINESS DOESN'T OPERATE THIS WAY TO CLOUD THE ISSUES. WE MUST SIMPLIFY THIS THING AND I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL GET THAT DONE.))
[SUPER=01-Ralph Smith/Roanoke Mayor-Elect;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=get that done]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]

This year's budget sets aside money for improvements in education and neighborhoods, as well as for a quarterly citizen newsletter.
(------------------)

[45Weather]

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

Let's take another look at the Friday forecast...
Mostly sunny and very warm with highs of 80 to 85.
Staying mostly clear tonight with lows in the upper 50s.
Looking ahead to the next five days.... partly to mostly sunny with unseasonably mild highs in the upper 80s...lows near 60.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Very Warm/80-85/Mostly Clear/Light Winds/55-59;]
[SUPER=#555; RESET]

[8-11Bus-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ/jja]
[TAPE#=00-07 TC1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A bus trip taking Roanoke children on a history field trip provided some frightening moments when the bus caught fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Goochland Co.]

The children made it out safely- thanks to a quick thinking bus driver- 36 Roanoke children and five adults escaped.
Bus driver David Allman, of Rocky Mount, pulled over in Goochland County because of the smell of burning rubber.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:00:13]
[IN Q=They probably]
((STEVE GRAINER/GOOCHLAND FIRE & RESCUE: THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T ABLE TO TELL THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT THAT POINT IN TIME. BUT AS SOON AS YOU STOP, IT BEGINS TO CONSUME EVERYTHING THAT IT CAN BURN ON. AND THAT'S WHEN IT BEGAN TO REALLY GET INTENSE.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Grainer/Goochland Fire & Rescue;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=get intense.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Several truck drivers stopped to help try to put out the fire and look after the children.
They had been on a field trip to Jamestown, from Oakland Intermediate School.
Goochland County sent a school bus to take the kids to a nearby middle school for counseling and lunch.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[8-11Kids-React]

[8-11Promisekeepers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-09 TC2:00:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

This summer, the city of Lynchburg will host a rally by the Christian organization the Promisekeepers.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Thousands of men are expected to converge on Liberty University's Vines Center June 2nd for the first Promisekeepers rally of the year.
Promisekeepers encourages men to recommit themselves to God, their families and their communities.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:29:18]
[IN Q=In my personal]
((FRED MCLEMORE/PROMISEKEEPERS: IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THE VENUE DOES NOT MATTER. IT'S WHETHER YOU'RE COMING IN AS A SEEKER, PREPARED TO LISTEN WHEN GOD SPEAKS, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT PROMISEKEEPERS ACCOMPLISHES AT EVERY CONFERENCE.. TO SET UP THE TEMPLE AND PREPARE IT SO MEN CAN COME IN AND MEET GOD AND LET GOD DEAL WITH THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Fred McLemore/Promisekeepers;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=deal with them.]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]

Event organizers have been scrambling to find space for everyone.
Churches, the local armory and several college dorms are being used.
(------------------)

[8-11Prayer-Day]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-06 TC1:14:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Yesterday, civic and religious leaders gathered in Lynchburg for ceremonies observing the National Day of Prayer.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

More than a half dozen speakers led the crowd in prayer for a variety of concerns: among them, families, schools and public servants.
Pastor Jerry Kroll said many of society's problems can be blamed on a lack of prayer in every day life.
A national day of prayer was first established in 1775 by the Continental Congress.
It became an official holiday in 1952.
(------------)

[8Weather]

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

Time once more to check your Friday forecast...
Mostly sunny and mild again today with highs in the low to mid 80s.
Staying mostly clear tonight with light winds and lows in the upper 50s.
Looking ahead to the next five days.... partly to mostly sunny with unseasonably mild highs in the upper 80s...lows near 60.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Very Warm/80-85/Mostly Clear/Light Winds/55-59;]
[SUPER=#555; RESET]