[7-11Bird]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Murder ]

Police are treating a Roanoke man's death as a homicide. He was found dead in his Myrtle Beach hotel room.
Police say it was housekeepers at the Poindexter hotel who found the body of John Milton Bird early yesterday morning. The Poindexter is an ocean front resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
An autopsy will be performed today in Charleston, South Carolina.

[7-11County-Supers]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC39:36]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Seal]
An urgent review of staffing problems in the county's Fire and E-M-S squads is pending, after the Roanoke County Supervisors ordered the study. Board members say that all options, including a controversial proposal to charge for ambulance service, are back on the table.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, board members were briefed on some immediate steps including a mutual aid agreement with the city of Roanoke.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Under that proposal, the city would provide weekday coverage in the Mount Pleasant area, in exchange for help from the county along the route 220 corridor.
But the rising number of calls, and the difficulty of recruiting new volunteers have created serious staffing problems in other areas as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:01:15]
[IN Q=So yes I would say]
((BOB JOHNSON/HOLLINS SUPERVISOR: SO YES I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING FROM FEE FOR SERVICE TO MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFFING THAT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SIX, EIGHT, TEN MONTH PERIOD. WE CAN'T AFFORD EIGHT MINUTES.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Johnson/Hollins Supervisor]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=afford eight minutes.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The supervisors asked Chief Rick Burch and other county officials to come up with a staffing proposal within 30 days.

[7-11Radford-Police]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-30 TC1:26:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In an effort to cut down on turnover, new Radford police officers are being asked to put in three years of service... or repay the city up to 36-thousand dollars in training costs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

That's the department's answer to high turnover.
It's lost more than 40 percent of its officers in the last three years.
Many go to area police and sheriff's departments that pay more ... after Radford invests 36-thousand dollars to train them.
City Council estimates that the turnover has cost the city half a million dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:51:23 - :43]
[IN Q=I just think it's]
((GUY GENTRY/RADFORD CITY COUNCILMAN: I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR THE POLICE OFFICER TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THEM ... OVER AND ABOVE THE COST, THAT'S A GOOD REASON TO SLOW THE TURNOVER.))
[SUPER=01-Guy Gentry/Radford City Councilman;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=slow the turnover.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Radford's City Council has appointed a blue ribbon panel to study the high turnover rate and how salaries compare to others in the area.
The study should be completed in November.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast...
A chance of showers this morning, otherwise partly sunny today with highs in the 80s...
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-A.M. Showers?/Partly Sunny/80-84/Partly Cloudy/Calm Wind/55-60;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-11Cherry-Hill]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC05:00]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some members of Roanoke City's zoning board say one decision about the Cherry Hill Condo project was a BIG mistake, but they didn't take any action on the issue.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

More than eight months ago, the board approved construction of this five million dollar project.
When developers ran into trouble with rock and tree removal, the zoning administrator, NOT the board, approved a 90 degree rotation in construction.
Some board members say that decision was a big mistake.
A work stoppage order was issued, but developers continued construction while the decision was appealed.
They say there was too much at stake to stop.
(///// SOT /////)
[tape #1 tc:00:22:09]
[SOT]
[IN Q=Contractors were committed]
((BILL TERRY/DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY: CONTRACTORS WERE COMMITTED, MATERIALS HAD BEEN PURCHASED, SUBCONTRACTORS WERE ON THE JOB. A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE DEVELOPER WERE THE MANY GOOD PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY COMMITTED.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Terry/Developer's Attorney]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=were already committed.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Board could not take a vote to continue construction or to stop it because all the members were not present.

Another meeting will be held on October third.
(-------------)

[45-11Lewis-Gale]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lewis Gale Clinic]


Lewis Gale Clinic now has a total of 40 doctors who have resigned in the last year, with the resignations of three more physicians. Lewis Gale says these recent resignations are routine, and are not related to previous management problems.
Doctors Tim Hormel, Preston Waldrop and Gregory Reibel (REE-bell) did not want to discuss their resignations.
Since regaining independence from parent company PhyCor, 11 new physicians have joined the Lewis Gale Clinic Staff.

[45-11Leonard]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-32 TC46:03]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Halifax County murder trial continues today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./February;]

Joseph Eric Leonard is accused of shooting 21 year old William Joseph (Fan-kur) Fancher to death.
The defense is expected to finish today and the jury will then decide Leonard's fate.
Authorities say the shooting happened after an argument at a party on Chapel Trail last February.
(------------)

[45-11Underwood]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]


They ran a lingerie shop out of the Wasena area in Roanoke fir a while...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 10]

Yesterday, one of the women who worked there was convicted of prostitution.
Dorothy Underwood had gone to court, protesting her innocence, but struck a deal with the prosecutor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:43:10]
[IN Q=So you're out]
((Keith Humphry/NEWS 7: So you're out of the business? DOROTHY UNDERWOOD/FORMER PROSTITUTE: YOU RIGHT. YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. I MAKE BETTER MONEY, AND I'M NOT IN AS MUCH TROUBLE. Doing what? IT'S LEGAL. You're flying straight? YOU GOT THAT RIGHT, TRYING TO ANYWAY.))
[SUPER=01-Dorothy Underwood/Former Prostitute]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=trying to anyway.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

She pled guilty in exchange for a suspended sentence, meaning she won't have to serve any jail time.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Let's turn once again to the mid- week forecast...
Some scattered showers this morning.... then partly sunny with highs in the 80s...

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-A.M. Showers?/Partly Sunny/80-84/Partly Cloudy/Calm Wind/55-60;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-Fatal-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=fatal accident]

A single- car accident on Interstate 81 left a woman dead.
It happened around 3:30 yesterday afternoon in the southbound lanes at the 177 mile marker in Rockbridge County near Natural Bridge. State Police say the driver, Kara Ann Shirley lost control of the car and it overturned several times. Her passenger, Peyton Elizabeth Floyd of Austin Texas, was thrown from the vehicle. Floyd was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she later died.

No word on the condition of the driver.[8-11Forestry-Board]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC2:00:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An area watchdog group is accusing the state forestry board allowing illegal logging.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Madison Co.;]

Wytheville-based Virginia Forest Watch is asking two state Forestry Board members to resign -- alleging conflicts of interest with their own logging operations.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I come to you]
[sot tape ONE 09:57:36 ]
((RUPERT CUTLER/VIRGINIA FOREST WATCH: I COME TO YOU TODAY IN SORROW WITH WHAT I REGARD AS SERIOUSLY DISTURBING INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FORESTS AND WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.))
[sot tape ONE 10:29:25 ]
((STEVE HOFFMAN/VIRGINIA FORESTRY BOARD: I AM A PERSONALITY MUCH LIKE YOURS. I INVENTED BEING RUDE.))
[sot tape ONE 10:29:50 ]
((HOFFMAN: BUT IF I TOOK BOTH YOUR PRESENTATIONS LITERALLY, I SWEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY'S NOT DOING ANYTHING CORRECT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Rupert Cutler/Virginia Forest Watch; :00]
[SUPER=01-Steve Hoffman/Virginia Forestry Board; :11]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=true statement.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Board member Bill Rilee (riley) says he'll resign if the Governor asks.
But he says his logging company has always taken steps to comply, after getting citations from the Forestry Department.
Board member John Root of Blue Ridge Lumber says only that Virginia Forest Watch ought to be ridden out of town on a rail... and says he'll furnish the rail.
(------------)

[8-11Mobile-Clinic]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

A new clinic on wheels will help minorities get health care in Southside.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

The clinic is a BUS that's being transformed into two examining rooms. Local church members in Danville wanted to help the growing populations of minorities who have no health care.
It's being called the HOPE Bus which stands for Healing Oppressed People Everywhere. The bus was donated and volunteers will help run it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :40]
[IN Q=Even though we]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Orlando Alvarez/HOPE Bus Volunteer Doctor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Woodard/HOPE Bus Co-Founder; :12]
((DR. ORLANDO ALVAREZ/HOPE BUS VOLUNTEER DOCTOR: EVEN THOUGH WE GOTO CENTRAL AMERICA TO HELP THE NEEDY, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF NEED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CHURCH.))
[SOT 5:34]
((KEVIN WOODARD/HOPE BUS CO-FOUNDER: I THOUGHT IT WAS A FABULOUS IDEA AND A GREAT WAY TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND HISPANICS NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY BUT SPIRITUALLY AS WELL.))
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=spiritually as well.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The bus will provide eye exams, screening, dental care and other medical needs. The HOPE Bus should be ready by the end of the month. [Pinnacle Page]
If you would like to donate your time or money you can contact the organization at 804-835-0070.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Once more, here's a look at today's forecast....
Partly sunny, with some morning showers...highs in the 80s...


[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-A.M. Showers?/Partly Sunny/80-84/Partly Cloudy/Calm Wind/55-60;]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED) [SUPER=#555;RESET]
by SS