WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 06/16/00

[7-11Lee-Funeral]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=500-11 TC50:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Funeral services were held yesterday for a local police officer who died Sunday morning following a motorcycle accident on Brambleton Avenue.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Mourners spilled out of High Street Baptist Church where Connie Ray Lee Junior was remembered yesterday afternoon.
The crowd included police officers from all over Virginia, family, friends,and members of the motorcycle club to which Lee belonged.
Lee joined the Roanoke Police Department in 1991. He was 31 years old.
(------------)

[7-Lermond]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Roanoke man has been convicted of child pornography - although the image he posted on the Internet showed the nude body of a woman.
31-year-old David Lermond electronically merged the face of a 14-year-old girl onto the photo of the woman's body.

Prosecutors say he was angry at the teen's mom - whom he had dated.
Lermond's attorney says his client didn't take either of the altered photos - and that his client isn't involved in child pornography.
Lermond pleaded no contest last week and he's been sentenced to a 5-year suspended prison term.

[7-Wallens-Ridge]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Southwest Virginia prison is being investigated by a human rights commission for claims of racism and mistreatment .
Some inmates at Wallens Ridge state prison in Wise County say the overwhelmingly white prison staff is making racial remarks, beating them, and denying them access to attorneys and religious services.
The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has now voted to look into the allegations.
The investigation may include a visit to the correctional facility.
The commission also wants to make sure that - if Connecticut continues to transfer inmates to Wallens Ridge - Virginia officials will comply with Connecticut's contract compliance laws.

[7-11Eagle-Rock]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-08 TC1:59:25]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Even though Botetourt County supervisors say money was already tight, they are now borrowing an additional 710- THOUSAND dollars.
The hundreds of thousands are being borrowed to put walls in elementary schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Some parents and teachers are frustrated because they say the walls are a waste of money.
At Eagle Rock Elementary School the additions will cost 73-thousand-dollars.
The superintendent says walls will muffle noise -- but teachers call them unnecessary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:47:15]
[IN Q=There's going]
((THERE'S GOING TO BE NOISE. WE HAVE KIDS. YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BE QUIET. YOU WANT THEM TO VOICE OPINIONS, SHARE AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS.))
[SUPER=01-Doris Lowe/Teacher;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=INTERACT WITH OTHERS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Teachers and parents say children are lucky to NOT have walls because without them they have more open learning space.
They say walls will only create storage rooms.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[SS=None]
But the superintendent says parents countywide want walls -- and that the ones in Eagle Rock Elementary School will probably be portable.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=don]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Now, let's take a break from the news to check the forecast... Today will be partly sunny with some afternoon storms possible....highs are to reach the mid to upper 80's-- Tonight will be partly cloudy with more rain possible... Lows will in the upper 60's to low 70's..

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Afternoon Storms/83-88/Partly Cloudy/Rain Possible/65-72;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[45-11AEP-Merger]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=500-19 TC01:00]
[GRAPHIC=Power Deregulation]

American Electric Power will begin a pilot program in October, allowing 8-thousand Virginia customers to choose their electricity provider.
The program is set to go statewide in 2002.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-AEP Video]

A-E-P also completed a buyout of Central and South West Corporation yesterday.
The company's spokesperson says A-E-P is now an industry leader that will provide less expensive and more efficient energy to customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[TAPE:13:00:45]
[IN Q=I think it will be]
((I THINK IT WILL BE TERRIFIC FOR CONSUMERS. WE ARE READY TO BE LOW-COST PRODUCERS BOTH WE AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST. THE COMBINATION WILL PRODUCE AT LEAST $2 BILLION WORTH OF MERGER SAVING IN THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF OPERATION, 55% OF WHICH WILL FLOW TO THE CONSUMERS.))
[SUPER=01-E. Linn Draper, Jr./AEP Chairman]
[RUNS=16]
(-------------)
[VO NAT]
[GRAPHIC=AEP]

A-E-P will now serve five million customers in 11 states.
(------------)

[45-11Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-05 TC2:03:45]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chapter 11]

Everything at Tultex is gone, only the memories remain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :00]

Auctioneers sold the last items from the South Boston Tultex plant.
This was the last of a series of three auctions that took place this week.
Thousands of sewing and knitting machines went to the highest bidder.
Veronna Barksdale came to bid on an item. She also used to work at the plant.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:19:33]
[IN Q=I can remember]
((VERONNA BARKSDALE/BIDDER: I CAN REMEMBER THE PLENTY OF HOURS OF GETTING UP EARLY TO GET TO WORK. I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON BUT THIS WAS THE ONE PLACE THAT I KIND OF ENJOYED.))
[SOT 23:24:51]
((ED KING/AUCTIONEER: IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY PLANTS ACROSS AMERICA THAT ARE GOING BANKRUPT AND LOSING BUSINESS TO OVERSEAS. IT'S A SHAME BUT IT HELPS MY BUSINESS.))
[SUPER=01-Veronna Barksdale/Bidder; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed King/Auctioneer; :10]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=helps my business.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

More than two thousand items were sold this week.
(-----------------)

[45-11Celanese]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-21 TC28:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Celanese employees finish voting today on a new, unpopular contract.
The vote could result in a strike.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Narrows;]

About half of the one-thousand union members cast their votes yesterday on a three-year contract that Celanese calls its "last, best offer."
Union leaders encouraged members to reject it.
They don't like the wages, pensions or mandatory overtime.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:48]
[IN Q=We're more than willing]
((JIMMY MULLINS/UNION PRESIDENT: WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK. ANYTIME, NIGHT, DAY, WEEKEND TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND WE'RE STILL HOPEFUL THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED, SHORT OF A STRIKE.))
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Mullins/Union President;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=short of a strike.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Celanese makes acetate fibers used in clothes and cigarettes.
It's the New River Valley's eighth-largest employer.
Workers have until Friday night to vote on the contract.
They say if they can't re-open talks with Celco by the end of their current contract Monday night, they'll strike.

(------------)

[45Weather]

[8-11Pitts-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-11 TC1:33:57]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Four people were in a jeep that crashed last night...and slippery roads may have been to blame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

The accident happened near the intersection of Route 58 and Barry Hill Road.
The jeep apparently hydroplaned and flipped into a ravine.
The four passengers were taken to the hospital.
No word yet on their identities or conditions.
(------------)

[8-Lermond]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Roanoke man has been found guilty of child pornography. however-- the image he posted on the Internet showed the nude body of a woman.
31-year-old David Lermond electronically merged the face of a 14-year-old girl onto the photo of the woman's body.

Prosecutors say he was angry at the teen's mom - whom he had dated.
Lermond's attorney says his client didn't take either of the altered photos - and that his client isn't involved in child pornography.
Lermond pleaded no contest last week
He's been sentenced to a 5-year suspended prison term.

[8-11AEP-Merger]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=500-19 TC01:00]
[GRAPHIC=Power Deregulation]

8 thousand Virginians will be able to choose their electricity provider when American Electric Power begins a pilot program in October.
The program is set to go statewide in 2002.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-AEP Video]

A-E-P also completed a buyout of Central and South West Corporation yesterday.
The company's spokesperson says A-E-P is now an industry leader that will provide less expensive and more efficient energy to customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[TAPE:13:00:45]
[IN Q=I think it will be]
((I THINK IT WILL BE TERRIFIC FOR CONSUMERS. WE ARE READY TO BE LOW-COST PRODUCERS BOTH WE AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH WEST. THE COMBINATION WILL PRODUCE AT LEAST $2 BILLION WORTH OF MERGER SAVING IN THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF OPERATION, 55% OF WHICH WILL FLOW TO THE CONSUMERS.))
[SUPER=01-E. Linn Draper, Jr./AEP Chairman]
[RUNS=16]
(-------------)
[VO NAT]

A-E-P will now serves five million customers in 11 states.
(------------)

[8-11Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-05 TC2:03:45]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chapter 11]

Only memories remain at Tultex.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :00]

Auctioneers sold the last items from the South Boston Tultex plant.
This was the last of a series of three auctions that took place this week.
Thousands of sewing and knitting machines went to the highest bidder.
Veronna Barksdale came to bid on an item. She also used to work at the plant.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:19:33]
[IN Q=I can remember]
((VERONNA BARKSDALE/BIDDER: I CAN REMEMBER THE PLENTY OF HOURS OF GETTING UP EARLY TO GET TO WORK. I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON BUT THIS WAS THE ONE PLACE THAT I KIND OF ENJOYED.))
[SOT 23:24:51]
((ED KING/AUCTIONEER: IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY PLANTS ACROSS AMERICA THAT ARE GOING BANKRUPT AND LOSING BUSINESS TO OVERSEAS. IT'S A SHAME BUT IT HELPS MY BUSINESS.))
[SUPER=01-Veronna Barksdale/Bidder; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed King/Auctioneer; :10]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=helps my business.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

More than two thousand items were sold this week.
(-----------------)

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=don]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Before you start your Friday here's a look at the forecast... Today will be partly sunny with some afternoon storms likely....highs are to reach the mid to upper 80's-- Tonight will be partly cloudy with more rain possible... Lows will in the upper 60's to low 70's..

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Afternoon Storms/83-88/Partly Cloudy/Rain Possible/65-72;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]