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WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/08/00
[7-11Verizon]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC1:36:31]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon Strike]
Workers are entering day three of a strike against communications giant Verizon, which includes 85 workers in Pulaski.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]
The picketers are 4-1-1 operators who say they are tired of forced overtime and the high stress level at work.
They also say the company has forced them to limit the time they spend with each customer, a cutback that has lowered their service standards.
Until an agreement is reached, they'll stay on the picket line.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There was an offer]
((DAVID LAYMAN/COMM. WORKERS OF AMERICA: THERE WAS AN OFFER MADE BY THE COMPANY. THE UNION ACCEPTED THAT PROPOSAL AND IS TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT IT. UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE THE COMPANY DID NOT RESPOND ON SATURDAY TO OUR ISSUES, THE CALL TO GO ON STRIKE WAS MADE.))
[SUPER=01-David Layman/Comm. Workers of America;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=strike was made.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Verizon customers are experiencing busy signals when attempting to dial information.
The company recommends that customers use a phone book or the Internet to find a telephone number instead of using 4-1-1.
Verizon is asking its customers to have patience if they have a problem, and check household wiring before calling customer support.
If you're thinking of ordering a new line, hold off. If you need a new line, be prepared to wait longer than usual.
Finally, call the business office on your phone bill, not 411.
(------------)
[7-11Economic-Development]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC2:03:17]
[GRAPHIC=Precision Technology]
Roanoke has gained an international manufacturing company which plans to set up it North American headquarters in the Star City.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Great Britain's Precision Technology Group makes mechanical equipment for a variety of industries.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
It currently operates divisions in Germany and Scotland.
The Roanoke headquarters will be located in the former Tultex building and will employ more than 100 people.
P-T's CEO says the Star City was chosen because of it's equal distance from major industrial cities like Chicago, Boston and Dallas - and because of the availability of skilled labor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We really need...]
((GERD HICKS/PRECISION TECHNOLOGY GROUP CEO: WE REALLY NEED ENGINEERING PEOPLE - AND OF COURSE HERE ARE GOOD SCHOOLS, GOOD GRADUATES WE CAN GET...THAT TOO WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT FOR US - LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO THIS BUSINESS.))
[SUPER=01-Gerd Icks/CEO, Precision Technology Group]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=do this business.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Precision Technology USA is expected to invest more than 2-Million dollars into the city in the next six years.
(------------)
It's time to take a look at your Tuesday forcast. Another partly sunny and HUMID day is ahead. Temperatures running between 92 and 94 degrees. Tonight Partly cloudy and muggy 71 to 73. In the extended...
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/and Humid/92-94/Partly Cloudy/and Muggy/71-73;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[45-11Pinion]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A former janitor at a Botetour County home for adults charged with sexually assaulting three women appeared in court yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle;]
An attempted rape charge involving one of the females was dismissed against 49- year old Jerry Pinion.
Charges involving the other two women were forwarded to a grand jury after Pinion waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Pinion is accused of rape and sexual assault.
He did plead guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse but immediately appealed the charges.
The incidents allegedly took place at Mountain View Two.
(------------)
[45-6Breeden]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:53:40]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A trial has begun for a Bedford County man accused of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Jeffrey Randall Breeden is named in a 42- count federal indictment charging him with failure to file a tax return, bank fraud and obstruction.
The government alleges Breeden made a living promoting a scheme to report zero income and avoid paying federal income taxes.
Several of Breeden's clients were subsequently fined by the I-R-S and had liens placed on their property.
The trial is expected to last at least a week.
(------------)
The owner of Franklin County Speedway has been charged for having a carnival without a permit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./October 1999;]
Whitey Taylor has been served with three misdemeanor warrants, and the sheriff plans to issue two more today.
Each count carries up to a year in jail and a 25-hundred-dollar fine, if Taylor's convicted.
The sheriff says Taylor had been warned that he needed a permit to hold the fair -- but Taylor says he wasn't told until it was too late to file the paperwork.
(------------)
[45-Train-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A pickup truck was struck by a train in Christiansburg.
Authorities say the accident happened around 9:45 last night in the Cambria section of town.
The vehicle owned by Gregory Scott Hollandsworth of Christianburg was unoccupied at the time of the accident.
No one was injured.
[45-6Damewood]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-27 TC21:43]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
The driver of a motorcycle that wrecked and killed a passenger last month has been chaged with driving under the influence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 1]
William David Damewood was indicted yesterday on a charge of aggravated manslaughter.
The 44-year old Roanoke man was headed east on Shenandoah Avenue when he swerved to avoid a car and hit a utility pole.
Twenty- eight year old Christy Mae Blankenship, a passenger on the bike, was killed.
(------------)
Your forcast today, is a partly sunny one and very humid. Highs in the 90's. Tonight partly cloudy and muggy lows in the 70's
The extended...
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/and Humid/92-94/Partly Cloudy/and Muggy/71-73;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
Day three of a strike against communications giant Verizon includes 85 workers in Pulaski who were under a Bell Atlantic contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]
The picketers are 4-1-1 operators who say they are tired of forced overtime and the high stress level at work.
They also say the company has forced them to limit the time they spend with each customer, a cutback that has lowered their service standards.
Until an agreement is reached, they'll stay on the picket line.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There was an offer]
((DAVID LAYMAN/COMM. WORKERS OF AMERICA: THERE WAS AN OFFER MADE BY THE COMPANY. THE UNION ACCEPTED THAT PROPOSAL AND IS TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT IT. UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE THE COMPANY DID NOT RESPOND ON SATURDAY TO OUR ISSUES, THE CALL TO GO ON STRIKE WAS MADE.))
[SUPER=01-David Layman/Comm. Workers of America;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=strike was made.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Verizon customers are experiencing busy signals when attempting to dial information.
The company recommends that customers use a phone book or the Internet to find a telephone number instead of using 4-1-1.
Verizon is asking its customers to have patience if they have a problem, and check household wiring before calling customer support.
If you're thinking of ordering a new line, hold off. If you need a new line, be prepared to wait longer than usual.
Finally, call the business office on your phone bill, not 411.
(------------)
A former janitor at a Botetourt County home for adults appeared in court yesterday on charges he sexually assaulted three women.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle;]
An attempted rape charge involving one of the females was dismissed against 49- year old Jerry Pinion.
Charges involving the other two women were forwarded to a grand jury after Pinion waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Pinion is accused of rape and sexual assault.
He did plead guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse but immediately appealed the charges.
The incidents allegedly took place at Mountain View Two.
(------------)
[8-6Breeden]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:53:40]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The case of Bedford County man accused of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service is now on trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Jeffrey Randall Breeden is named in a 42- count federal indictment charging him with failure to file a tax return, bank fraud and obstruction.
The government alleges Breeden made a living promoting a scheme to report zero income and avoid paying federal income taxes.
Several of Breeden's clients were subsequently fined by the I-R-S and had liens placed on their property.
The trial is expected to last at least a week.
(------------)
Checking your weather, a partly sunny and humid day is ahead, highs in the 90's. Tonight partly cloudy and muggy lows in the 70's.
Your extended outlook....
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/and Humid/92-94/Partly Cloudy/and Muggy/71-73;]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[SUPER=#555;RESET]