[7Train-Derailment]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Train Derailment]
A train derailment in Pulaski sent 2 cars off the track early this morning.
No one was hurt.
In the meantime, The derailment could cause some traffic problems.
Authorities say Randolph Ave is open, but Jefferson Ave., and Washington Ave could be closed for several more hours until it's cleared up.
If you are traveling into Pulaski on Northbound Interstate 81, authorities say take the second Pulaski exit.
There is no word at this time on what caused the derailment.
[7-Artis-Resignation]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Jeff Artis]
The Roanoke Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is losing Jeff Artis.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-18 58:57]
[SUPER=04-June 26]
Artis, who was the Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors, says he wants to devote more time to developing his web site, writing projects, and finishing his series of children's books.
In a press release Artis says,
" I leave the SCLC on good terms. I have nothing but love and respect for SCLC President Ms. Perneller Wilson and the organization. She and the organization have supported my efforts when others in the community ran away in fear. Ms. Wilson is an expert in the area of civil rights. She has been an outstanding teacher. Most important, she is a dear friend. "
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=none]
Artis also says out of respect for the organization, he will finish out the year to complete all SCLC business he i
s currently involved in.[7-11Byrd-Harden]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-29; TC 51:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The director of a state agency under investigation by state police has reportedly resigned.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/April 1998;]
Linda Byrd-Harden was hired a year ago by Governor Gilmore to head up the state Department of Minority Business Enterprise.
The deputy secretary of commerce and trade says the agency is under investigation by police and the target of critical audit reports.
(-------)
[anchor=]
[ss=none]
But Joshua Lief declined to give a specific reason for Byrd-Harden's departure.
Byrd-Harden is a former director of the Virginia N-Double-A-C-P.
[7-11Tech-Students]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-23; TC 1:25:17]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
It's back to school for thousands of Virginia Tech students today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
87-hundred Hokies checked into the dorms over the weekend.
Many students unloaded their cars Saturday and got settled in.
Yesterday, parents said good bye and headed back home.
John (Air-un-tate) Arrontate decided to move his belongings into the dorm by himself, now he thinks he brought too much stuff.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:39:06]
[IN Q=when i]
((JOHN ARRONTATE/FRESHMAN: WHEN I PUT IT ALL IN MY ROOM AND LOOKED AT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT DEFINITELY A LOT.))
[SUPER=01-John Arrontate/Virginia Tech Freshman]
[OUTQ=definatly a lot.]
[RUNS=8]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
There's a small overcrowding problem in the Tech dorms.
50 students will be rooming with their residential advisors.
(------------)
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Taking a break from the news to check weather...
Another gorgeous day out there with mostly sunny skies and temperatures staying in the upper 70s to near 80.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Becoming/Mostly Sunny/75-80/Clear/and Cool/52-56;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[45-Train-Derailment]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Train Derailment]
A train derailed in Pulaski early this morning. Authorities say 2 cars went off the track. No one was hurt.
The derailment could cause some traffic problems. Authorities say some streets in Pulaski could be closed for several more hours and also, if needed, take the second Pulaski exit off of northbound I-81. There is no word on what caused t
he derailment.[45-11Verizon]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-25; TC 1:03:17]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon Strike]
Its back to work for some striking Verizon workers, but none in our area will be punching the timecard.
A tentative agreement was reached with bargaining units that represent 50- thousand workers in New York and New England.
However, negotiations with the Communication Workers of America - which represent workers in Virginia and other Mid-Atlantic states - have not resulted in a deal.
As Kate Weidaw reports, both sides remain optimistic, even as managers assume the duties of the striking employees.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Rieley/Verizon Area Manager;:10]
[SUPER=01-David Layman/Local 2204 President;1:15]
[SUPER=@Kate1;1:27]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=kw news7 roanoke.]
(([NAT SOUND]
[RUNS= 5]
It's a job Mike Rieley hasn't done in 30 years.
[SOT 8:31:50]
[INQ=]
((MIKE RIELEY/VERIZON MANAGER: I'VE HAD SOME DAYS WHERE I'VE HAD TO CLIMB 5 OR 6 POLLS AND I SAID THEY'RE A LOT TALLER THEN THEY USED TO BE AND I'M A LOT OLDER AND FATTER THEN I USED TO BE AND I'VE GOTTEN HOME AND COLLAPSED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]
Rieley began his career with Bell Atlantic as a repairman and worked his way up to management.
Now he's one of 60 area managers filling in for the 500 striking workers.
[SOT 8:28:48]
[INQ=]
((MIKE RIELEY: WE'VE MOBILIZED ENGINEERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TYPES WHO ARE OUT DOING THIS WORK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]
And with the growing list of repairs workers are in demand, which means Rieley and other managers are working a minimum of 12 hours a day 7 days a week.
[SOT 8:34:41]
[INQ=]
((MIKE RIELEY: WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT REAL SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACT THAT MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 4]
The Union is hopeful as well. While talks are continuing between the company and the union the latest reports say progress is being made. Meanwhile the local union president says the support they're receiving from customers is overwhelming.
[SOT 8:44:25]
[INQ=]
((DAVID LAYMAN/LOCAL 2204 PRESIDENT: I'VE NEVER SEEN IN MY 33 YEARS IN THE UNION SO MANY PEOPLE BLOW HORNS, WAVE, THUMBS UP.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]
[STANDUP 8:48:22]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THESE STRIKERS SAY THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO BE GOING INTO THEIR THIRD WEEK ON THE PICKET LINE THE MORALE IS STILL HIGH. BOTH THE MANAGERS AND STRIKERS ARE EAGER TO GET BACK TO WORK BUT THESE STRIKERS SAY THEY'LL BE OUT HERE UNTIL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT. KATE WEIDAW NEWS7 ROANOKE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 15]))
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Focusing now on weather...
The forecast includes a lot of sunshine and pleasant highs near 80.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Becoming/Mostly Sunny/75-80/Clear/and Cool/52-56;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[8-Artis-Resignation]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Roanoke's Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conferance is losing its Vice President.
Jeff Artis is apparently changing his priorities-- he says he's recovering from a recent illness.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-18 58:57]
[SUPER=04-June 26]
Artis, who was the Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors, says he wants to devote more time to developing his web site, writing projects, and finishing his series of children's books.
(------------)
[Take FS Pre Pro]
In a press release Artis says,
" I leave the SCLC on good terms. I have nothing but love and respect for SCLC President Ms. Perneller Wilson and the organization. She and the organization have supported my efforts when others in the community ran away in fear. Ms. Wilson is an expert in the area of civil rights. She has been an outstanding teacher. Most important, she is a dear friend. "
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=none]
Artis also says out of repect for the organization, he will finish out the year to complete all SCLC business he is
currently involved in.[8-11Fire-Update]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-28; TC 57:26]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
In the wake of a weekend fire, Hancock Steel in Roanoke County is closed today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Yesterday morning, a Fire Marshal inspected the plant which caught fire Saturday afternoon.
Officials say the fire occurred in an area where roofing joists are manufactured.
At the time the fire broke out-- workers were performing maintenance in the area.
Assistant Fire Marshal Rodney Ferguson believes paint played a role in the fire.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:31:41]
[IN Q=these tanks]
((RODNEY FERGUSON: THESE TANKS ARE ACTUALLY PAINT THEY'RE CALLED DIP TANKS IN WHICH THE JOISTS ARE LIFTED DOWN IN THERE AND LIFTED OUT AND ALLOWED TO DRY.))
[SUPER=01-Rodney Ferguson/Assistant Fire Marshal]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=to dry.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
So far, no official cause of the fire has been established but Ferguson believes paint may have ignited the blaze.
Six people were transported to the hospital Saturday but have since been released.
The plant plans to reopen in phases beginning tomorrow.
(------------)
[8-Presidential-Heads]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-26; TC 1:09:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]
There's enough demand for historic theme parks in Virginia-- including the proposed park featuring huge busts of American Presidents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-York Co./March 17;]
That's according to some tourism experts who say, the more attractions the better.
Presidents Park would feature busts of all U-S presidents on eleven acres in York County.
Colonial Williamsburg officials are afraid the park will siphon visitors from established attractions.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[ss=none]
Buena Vista, however, is still very much interested in the project.
In fact, city leaders hope to sign a contract with the park's owner to bring FOUR of the giant busts to Buena Vista
by Labor Day.[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Once more-- let's look at your back to work forecast.
Becoming mostly sunny today with highs in the upper 70s to near 80.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Becoming/Mostly Sunny/75-80/Clear/and Cool/52-56;]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
by SS