WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 11/03/00

[7-NC-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC00:20]
[GRAPHIC=Forest Fire]
Eight homes have been evacuated and one school has closed because of brush fires that have spread from North Carolina into Virginia.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Classes at Fairview Elementary School in Grayson County are canceled today, due to smoke in the area.
All others schools will be open and buses will run on their regular routes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Surry Co., NC;]

Firefighters have battled the blaze in North Carolina since last weekend.
They now estimate that it has claimed at least 400 acres in Surry County, North Carolina, and at least 150 to 175 acres in Virginia.
A Virginia Department of Forestry spokesperson said this morning the Virginia fire is contained.
(------------)

[7-Roanoke-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-32 TC2:01:17]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A woman has died after being hit by a car on Brandon Avenue.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

76-year old Jeraldine Lee Funck of Roanoke stepped out into traffic around 4-40 yesterday afternoon.
She was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and died a short time later.
Police are still investigating the accident.
(------------)

[7-Chase-fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC1:50:01]
[GRAPHIC=Police Chase]
A high speed collision with a Roanoke police car claimed the life of a Vinton man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

It happened on Melrose Avenue, just east of Lafayette Boulevard around 2 yesterday morning.
Twenty- four year old Richie Barton was driving the Acura he'd recently bought. The title and tags had not been changed, according to a fianc� of the passenger in the car.
An officer spotted the car with expired tags and tried to pull the vehicle over.
Barton took off, reaching speeds of 80 to 85 miles an hour, before jumping the median on Melrose and totaling K-D Assenat's (Ass-a-nay's) police car.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

Officer Assenat was treated and released. Timothy Hundley- -the passenger in Barton's car- -is listed in very serious condition this morning.

[7-Lincoln-Terrace]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC59:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A fifteen million dollar federal grant is giving Lincoln Terrace a new look.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

155 units in Lincoln Terrace Public Housing Project will be revitalized.
60 will be newly constructed.
The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority unveiled the first of the renovated houses yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The overall plan]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: THE OVERALL HOPE SIX PLAN HAS WONDERFUL IDEAS ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP THAT I THINK ARE REALLY EXCITING. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM PROGRESSING THROUGH THE VARIOUS STAGES AND BECOMING HOMEOWNER IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S REALLY GREAT.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=that's really great.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new units feature new windows, doors, siting porches, air conditioning, cable television and new appliances.
The Housing authority is also working out a deal with Cox Cable to provide Internet access to all Lincoln Terrace residents.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

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

Taking a break from the news now to check the Friday forecast..
Partly sunny with highs soaring to near 80..

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[45-NC-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC00:20]
[GRAPHIC=Forest Fire]

Brush fires from North Carolina spread into Virginia, causing eight homes here to be evacuated and one school to close.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Classes at Fairview Elementary School in Grayson County are canceled today, due to smoke in the area.
All others schools will be open and buses will run on their regular routes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Surry Co., NC;]

Firefighters have battled the blaze in North Carolina since last weekend.
They now estimate that it has claimed at least 400 acres in Surry County, North Carolina, and at least 150 to 175 acres in Virginia.
A Virginia Department of Forestry spokesperson said this morning the Virginia fire is contained.
(------------)

[45-Senate-Money]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-34 TC1:22:46]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
The candidates for the Senate will spend more than 20 million dollars on the campaign, but the contest is also generating unprecedented spending on the part of independent interest groups.
Joe Dashiell has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke/October 19; :00]
[SUPER=241-Joe/Dashiell/jdashiell*wdbj7.com; :39]
[SUPER=201-Harry Wilson/Roanoke College Professor; :53]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]

((In Western Virginia, The National Rifle Association leads the way, with Charlton Heston on the stump and on the air with a message promoting George Allen and the national Republican ticket.
But across the state, other interest groups are also weighing in on the Senate race.
[SOT 18:36]
[IN Q=For years,]
((FOR YEARS, SENBATOR CHUCK ROBB HAS BEEN TRYING TO FOOL VIRGINIANS INTO THINKING HE SUPPORTS VIRGINIA'S RIGHT TO WORK LAW.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUT Q=right to work law.]

The National Right to Work Committee believes its supporters could make a difference in a close contest... so does the Sierra Club.
[SOT 00:49]
[IN Q=The Environmental Protection Agency]
((THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS VIRGINIA'S RIVERS NEED PROTECTION FROM POLLUTION, BUT AS GOVERNOR, GEORGE ALLEN HAD A DISMAL RECORD.))
[RUNS= :07]
[OUT Q=had a dismal record.]

With the Democratic and Republican parties fighting for control of Congress, competitive races are receiving national attention.
Roanoke College Professor Harry Wilson says the Robb/Allen contest is one of a handful of Senate races that remain in play.
[SOT]
[IN Q=And this is a very competitive race]
((AND THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE, SO ALL OF THE RESOURCES FOR THE PARTIES FOR INTEREST GROUPS WHOEVER, ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE RACES THAT REALLY ARE COMPETITIVE.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=really are competitive.]

The list of interest groups running ads now includes the NAACP, the NRA, the National Right to Work Committee, the Sierra Club, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Voters for Choice.
And by election day, their combined spending should easily exceed one million dollars.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke.))

[45WEATHER]

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

Shifting gears now to weather--
A beautiful Fall day ahead with partly sunny skies and warm highs reaching the upper 70s.

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[8-NC-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC00:20]
[GRAPHIC=Forest Fire]

Residents were forced out of several homes as brush fires crossed the state line from North Carolina--
The fires have also closed one school today--
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Classes at Fairview Elementary School in Grayson County are canceled today, due to smoke in the area.
All others schools will be open and buses will run on their regular routes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Surry Co., NC;]

Firefighters have battled the blaze in North Carolina since last weekend.
They now estimate that it has claimed at least 400 acres in Surry County, North Carolina, and at least 150 to 175 acres in Virginia.
A Virginia Department of Forestry spokesperson said this morning the Virginia fire is contained.
(------------)

[8-Mason-Dixon]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=500-1 1:51:47]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

The latest News-7 Mason-Dixon poll shows George Allen is holding onto his lead over Chuck Robb.
(------------)
[vo-nat]
The Republican challenger has opened a five point lead over the Democratic incumbent.
Seven percent of the people who said they were likely to vote haven't made up their minds yet.
Allen continues to show strength in the western part of the state.
Robb still holds a big lead in northern Virginia and Tidewater
(------------)

[8-Pitts-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]

Pittsylvania county authorities are still on the look-out for two bank robbers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Authorities released photos of the suspects yesterday.
The pair allegedly stole some money from the Chatham branch of the American National Bank Wednesday afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Wednesday]

They may be driving a sport utility vehicle, like a Toyota Forerunner or Nissan Pathfinder.
One of the men had a handgun.
(------------)

[8-Breeden]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC17:00]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

After trying to fool the I-R-S, a Bedford county man may have to spend three years behind bars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Jeffrey Randall Breeden was convicted in September of tax evasion and failure to file a federal tax return.
Authorities say Breeden defrauded dozens of people by convincing them they could report "zero" income and avoid paying federal income taxes.
A federal judge sentenced Breeden to three years in prison yesterday. Breeden says he'll appeal.
(------------)

[8-Wythe-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC28:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Middle and high school students in Wythe County may have to attend classes in the SAME building.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;]

School officials been trying for years to get a new middle school built next to Fort Chiswell High.
The school board asked the county for 60-million dollars to build the new middle school AND improve five others.
They only GOT 20-million... so, yesterday, they presented plans to ADD a middle school ONTO the high school.
It would put grades six and seven in the high school.
Many residents say throwing grades six through 12 under one roof will make things worse.
But school administrators say they'll try to keep the middle schoolers separate.
The school's population would increase from 630 to more than 900.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

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

Time again to check the forecast as we wrap up the work week--
Partly sunny wit highs in the mid and upper 70s...
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