[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
Tonight we'll focus on a dispute between Trigon and one prominent hospital, check on the Presidential vote count..
.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and then see what's going on at Norfolk Southern's car shops.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports.
Lee Suggs gets an honor, while Frank Beamer is on the road in Alabama tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, Steve Mason checks in from Charlottesville where quarterback Dan Ellis is doubtful for the N.C. State game.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Apparently we've had it too warm for too long. Nature turns on the northwest wind flow and produces a cold forecast. Details ahead.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT22:24:33]
[IN Q=It's in neither of our best]
((IT'S IN NEITHER OF OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE A CONTRACT CANCELLED))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=contract cancelled.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A local hospital and insurance company battle it out -- the future of patient care is in limbo.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Trigon]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC1:25:09]
[GRAPHIC=Trigon]
Memorial Hospital says Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield is impeding its ability to provide care to patients.
And now it's considering leaving the Trigon network.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Joy/Newsroom;]
Joy Sutton has details.
[LIVE=Joy FULL/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@joy1;]
Keith,
If Memorial Hospital in Martinsville leaves the network -- hundreds of patients will be affected -- because it's the only hospital in the city.
But the two parties have until December 31 to work out their differences and agree on a new contract.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Blue Cross]
[SUPER=01-Joseph Roach/Memorial Health System CEO; 00]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; 15]
[SUPER=01-Ira Trollinger/Martinsville School Super.; 25]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=to that point]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT22:18:56]
[IN Q=Blue cross represents]
((JO ROACH/CEO MEMORIAL HEALTHSYSTEM: BLUE CROSS REPRESENTS LESS THAN 15 PERCENT OF THE ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL AND YET THE THEY REPRESENT 76 PERCENT OF THE DENIALS FOR CARE AT THE HOSPITAL))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=care at the hospital]
And Hospital C-E-O Joe Roach says that's left the hospital footing much of the bill -- and right now Memorial has no recourse available in the current contract.
That's just one of the issues the hospital wants changed in a new contract.
(//// SOT /////)
[SOT13:38]
[IN Q=Naturally our employees]
((DR. IRA TROLLINGER/MARTINSVILLE SUPERINTENDENT: NATURALLY OUR EMPLOYEES AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH CONDITIONS ARE REALLY CONCERNED THEY REALLY HOPE SOME SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND TO SOME OF THESE DISAGREEMENTS))
[RUNS16]
[OUT Q=these disagreements]
Caught in the middle of all this are more than 300 school employees -- and more than 400 Martinsville City employees and retirees including police officers and firefighters.
If the Memorial leaves the network, Trollinger says the nearest network hospital is at least 18 miles away.
Those who choose to use Memorial will be billed differently for care.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT22:26:22]
[IN Q=There's a process that goes into place]
((JO ROACH/CEO MARTINSVILLE HEALTHSYSTEM: THERE'S PROCESS THAT GOES INTO PLACE CALLED NO PAR, I'LL BE THE PATIENTS FOR THE SERVICES AND THE PATIENTS WILL HAVE TO BILL BLUE CROSS ON THEIR OWN. THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD PROCESS OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT IT TO GET TO THAT POINT.))
[RUNS14]
[OUT Q=that point]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Joy FULL/Newsroom]
Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield issued a press release today saying it has submitted a proposal to the hospital and is waiting for a response.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and joy/Newsroom;]
And it hopes a new agreement that's in the best interest of its members can be reached.
Keith,
[Boucher]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-35 TC1:38:48]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]
Still no resolution to the presidential election--
A federal judge has blocked George W. Bush's effort to stop the manual recount in Florida, saying the matter belongs in state court.
Meanwhile, Florida's Secretary of State says the process of recounting the vote must end by five p-m tomorrow.
[SS=Rick Boucher]
A Virginia Congressman says the stalemate justifies scrapping the electoral college.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=703-Christiansburg;]
Rick Boucher vows to introduce legislation in January to abolish it.
Boucher says candidates will pay more attention to smaller states if they have to secure the POPULAR vote.
But he acknowledges that amending the Constitution for that purpose is no easy task.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:33 - :52]
[IN Q=It requires]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D) 9th DISTRICT: IT REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF BOTH HOUSES OF THE CONGRESS. IT REQUIRES RATIFICATION BY THE LEGISLATURES OF THREE-FOURTHS OF THE STATES. IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS AND IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN EASY PROCESS. BUT I THINK THE TIME HAS COME TO HAVE A NATIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST.))
[SUPER=701-Rep. Rick Boucher/(D) 9th District;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=the national interest.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Boucher made the remarks after delivering 300-thousand dollars in federal funding to revovate the Christiansburg Institute.
It opened in 1866 as the first high school for African-American students in Southwest Virginia.
Alumni of the school plan to reopen it as a museum and community learning center.
(------------)
[Death-Penalty]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC1:05:52]
[GRAPHIC=VA Death Penalty]
Virginia's legislative watchdog agency says it will study the death penalty next year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission will begin a year-long study.
Everything's on the table, from D-N-A evidence to the 21-day rule.
The study will kick off sometime in the spring.
That means the 2001 General Assembly is likely to table any discussion of death penalty issues, pending the study's report.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
Today's also the deadline for legal comments to be filed with the Virginia Supreme Court.
In a surprise move, the Court announced last month it's considering changes to the state's toughest in the nation 21- day rule.
That rule bans new evidence from being introduced later than three weeks after the original trial.
[JLARC-Graveyards ]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC1:04:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
65- thousand Virginians are believed to have served in the Revolutionary War.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
But the state Department of Historic Resources can only find grave listings for 22- hundred.
And they are fast being lost to development, neglect, or fading memories.
A Virginia lawmaker wants to change that.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:52:29]
[IN Q=These are]
((DEL. JACK ROLLISON/R-WOODBRIDGE: THESE ARE THE MEN THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE... FREE ELECTION AND DEMOCRACY.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Jack Rollison/(R) Woodbridge;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=democracy.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
There is already federal money to preserve Civil War grave sites.
Virginia lawmakers would have to approve up to 108-thousand dollars a year to help maintain 705 of the graves that can be most easily preserved.
(------------)
[NS-layoffs]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC1:57:53]
[GRAPHIC=NS Layoffs]
Norfolk Southern announced today it will close its Roanoke foundry. Fourteen workers were given on sixty days notice.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Jennifer /Microwave;]
Jennifer Miele is at Norfolk Southern's car shop tonight with today's developments and the bigger picture.
[LIVE= Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
Keith, we got word on Saturday that 13 car shop workers would be let go this Friday. Sources say many of the carshop workers did not show up for work today.
This morning, News 7 learned that the foundry in Roanoke would also close, 14 more will lose their jobs in January.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In its glory days]
[SUPER=04-Norfolk Southern Video; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :51]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q= 10% since January.]
(( In its glory days, Norfolk Southern's foundry was an integral part of rail car part production.
But over the past few years, the company found it to be much more cost efficient to buy parts from outside manufacturers.
That, along with a decrease in rail car traffic has forced Norfolk Southern to close the foundry, and furlough 14 employees.
But this isn't the first of the N-S cutbacks.
[PRE-PRO page 1]
On January 26, the company offered 1,200 of its employees an early retirement. Three days later, NS cut 550 union workers system-wide.
Then in April, 400 more employees were let go.
[PRE-PRO page 2]
On August 8, Norfolk Southern fired 228 Roanoke Car Shop workers.
And just ten days later, the company offered another non-union buyout.
Finally, back in September, 215 rail team members furloughed, many of which live in Roanoke.
[END Pre-pro]
To date, 2,844 workers have been let go system wide.
That means the company has reduced its workforce by just under 10% since January.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
The company blames a decrease in coal exports for the furloughs.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer and Keith /Microwave;]
But Keith, union members say the furloughs are a direct result of the Conrail merger.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Danville's new main post office is open for business.
Get an inside-look when News 7 at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll take you to an island paradise-- for goats-- that's right here in Virginia.
(----------------)
[Homeless]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC37:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke homeless shelter is expanding.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
At the end of the month, the TRUST shelter on Elm Avenue will have more bed space available.
Right now, the shelter can house 16 people.
But will eventually have room for 38.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:14:35]
[IN Q=This Friday]
((COLLEEN CARRELL/TRUST INTERIM EXEC. DIR.: THIS FRIDAY WE'RE COLLECTING SUPPLIES FOR THE HOMELESS AND WE'RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF BLANKETS AND PILLOWS TO HELP OPEN THIS FACILITY, SO ANYTHING PEOPLE CAN CONTRIBUTE THIS YEAR WOULD REALLY BE OF HELP.))
[SUPER=01-Colleen Carrell/TRUST Interim Exec. Dir.;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=be of help.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The expansion is the result of a major fundraiser that's been underway for the past five years.
(------------)
[Cherry-Hill]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=500-2 TC1:33:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Despite a pending hearing to stop construction, the fourth floor of the Cherry Hill Condominium project is near completion.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Neighbors in South Roanoke filed an injunction last month. They want construction of the condos to stop at three floors, instead of the proposed five.
While the injunction hearing is set to happen before Thanksgiving, the fourth floor is well on its way to completion.
Cherry Hill builders say they they're thrilled with how well construction is going. They say they have no immediate plans to stop construction.
(------------)
[Pitts-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC00:57]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]
Two people are under arrest ... charged with the armed robbery of a Pittsylvania County bank.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Bank Photos;]
The county Sheriff's office say 20 year old Kion Davis of Chatham .. and a 17 year old .. held up the American National Bank's Chatham office November first.
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./November 1;]
Both are charged with robbery .. and weapons counts.
Still no word on how much money was taken.
(------------)
[Post-Office]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC59:55]
[GRAPHIC=Postal Service]
Just in time for the holidays, Danville's new Main Post Office has opened for business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
The new facility is located near Piedmont Mall at the corner of Westover and Piedmont Drive.
The main post office will offer a full service window, and 24 hour access to post office boxes, mail drops and postage vending machines.
The Bulk Mail Entry Unit will also move to the new facility, but postal officials say the downtown station will remain open.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
The election standstill and a dissapointing earnings report from Hewlett-Packard sent stocks lower again.
[TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=270-y/85.70/10517.25/y/62.27/2966.72/y/0.18/115.45;]
The DOW dropped 86 points. NASDAQ lost 62, falling below the three-thousand mark for the first time in more than a year.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.06/41.94/h/0.63/21.00/i/0.94/47.44/h/0.25/20.50/h/0.06/3.56;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.69/59.69/i/0.25/30.06/i/0.31/42.13/i/2.44/51.44/i/0.13/41.38;]
[SUPER=273-h/1.25/25.75/h/0.38/14.94/h/0.38/15.50/i/2.25/34.63//Unchg/10.63;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.63/51.31/i/1.19/76.88/h/0.50/56.94/i/0.56/53.13/h/1.63/45.31;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Goat-Island]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC26:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
As people build lavish homes on Leesville Lake, two residents keep to themselves on a deserted island.
Mother and son rely on charity for food and each other for company.
Tina Tenret takes us to Goat Island.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Charlie Hunt is]
[SUPER=01-Charlie Hunt/Goat Owner; L18]
[SUPER=@Tina2; 2:16]
[RUNS=2:19]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Pittsylvania County]
(( Charlie Hunt has come to an island to feed his kids.
[nat sot boat getting beached]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:08:00]
[IN Q=Hey guys]
((NAT SOT: HEY GUYS. LOOK. WHATCHA DOING? COME HERE. RATTLES FOOD.))
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=RATTLES FOOD]
Meet Billy and his mother, Jenny.
Friends gave Hunt the goats as wedding presents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:26:14]
[IN Q=It's a helpful]
((CHARLIE HUNT/GOAT OWNER: THEY CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME I WORKED OUT AT 29 AUTO SALES. BROUGHT A PICKUP TRUCK WITH A CATTLE BODY ON IT WITH NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT SIX GOATS! THEY HAD EM IN THERE AS MANY AS THEY COULD GET IN. THEY USED TO BE MY BEST FRIENDS. THEY'RE JUST GOOD FRIENDS NOW. LAUGHS.))
[RUNS:20]
[OUT Q=LAUGHS]
Billy and Jenny live alone on Goat Island, keeping an otherwise overgrown two acres, neat and trim.
They step over the garbage left behind by human guests, who stop by unannounced, out of curiosity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:20:44]
[IN Q=Billy can be]
((CHARLIE HUNT/GOAT OWNER: BILLY CAN BE FEROCIOUS WHEN HE WANTS TO BE WITH THOSE HORNS.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
THEY'RE USUALLY VERY PROTECTIVE OF EACH OTHER AND FAIRLY SHY OF PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW. NOW IF YOU'VE GOT FOOD THEY'LL COME OVER AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. BUT TO GRAB THEM, THEY'LL TAKE OFF AND SCUTTLE OFF.))
[RUNS:17]
[OUT Q=SCUTTLE OFF]
Billy & Jenny could show rich lake residents a thing or two about the lap of luxury.
Who else savors a feast, while being pampered and prettied?
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:44:26]
[IN Q=Does that feel]
((NAT SOT: DOES THAT FEEL BETTER? DOES THAT FEEL BETTER GIRL?))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=FEEL BETTER GIRL]
Charlie stocks their shed with food -- crossing Leesville Lake every two weeks, braving even the most bitter cold.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:19:44]
[IN Q=The wind was]
((CHARLIE HUNT/GOAT OWNER: THE WIND WAS BLOWING SO HARD I HAD TO PADDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DAY'S MARINA, AND THEN POINT IT BACK UP HERE AND PADDLE BACK UP. IT WAS PROBABLY 20 DEGREES AND THE CHILL FACTOR WAS DOWN AROUND ZERO AND I WAS SWEATING AS I PADDLED THAT CANOE. I GOT UP HERE, THEY HAD 3 BAGS OF FEED AND 4 BAGS OF HAY. LAUGHS.))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=laughs]
Hunt says as Leesville Lake develops, he'll be forced to pull mother and son off the island, back to his farm.
Then, what makes Goat Island special will be gone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:23:31]
[IN Q=I can come]
((HUNT: I CAN COME OUT HERE AND MAYBE WHEN I LEAVE I'M WAIST DEEP IN MUD AND I'M IN A LITTLE BITTY FISHING BOAT BUT I'M HAPPY. WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THIS OLD PLACE AND SEE IT'S ONE OF A KIND, AND IT'S OURS.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=it's ours]
Tina Tenret News7 Pittsylvania County ))
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7.
Turmoil in Charlottesville, as quarterback Dan Ellis is likely out this Saturday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, the Tech 2000 report tonight will tell you among other things what Frank Beamer is doing in Alabama tonight. The answer may surprise you.
(------------)
[S-Tech2000]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-83 1307tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2000]
Tonight's Tech 2000 report is talking about much needed time off, more injury woes, the beginning of an end and why Frank Beamer won't leave Blacksburg.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/Last Saturday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Goforth/VT Head Athletic Trainer; :14]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :54]
[SUPER=01-Nathaniel Adibi/VT Defensive End; 1:25]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/97 Wins at Virginia Tech; 2:02]
[RUNS=2:11]
[OUT Q=...TO LEAVE TECH]
(-----------------)
(( The Hokies are off this week before closing out the regular season against UVa. And with a number of key players beaten and bruised the break couldn't have come at a better time.
((MIKE GOFORTH:))
Beasley will remain in fiberglass glass until Wednesday, but he does not have a fracture.
Dave Meyer's ribs are much better. He'll have an MRI on Wednesday.
Michael Vick's new custom made Nike made it to Orlando, and while the new cleat helped, he may not use anything on the leg against UVa.
((MIKE GOFORTH:))
Goforth says at this point Andre Davis is actually ahead of Vick in the healing process. However, neither offensive star will do much of anything contact wise until next Monday.
Speaking of contact, followers of Hokie football have been waiting all season for redshirt freshman Nathaniel Adibi to live up to his preseason hype. Saturday night he did just that with 2 sacks and fumble return for a touchdown.
((NATHANIEL ADIBI:))
Some are fearful the rollercoaster, as in Frank Beamer, is about to leave the track. Reports of his departure for Alabama have been flying for weeks. Forget the rumors and forget the money, but keep in mind Beamer's unyielding loyalty.
Above all else in his 14 years at Tech, he has been a man of his word.))
((FRANK BEAMER:))
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[GRAPHIC=BEAMER]
Rest assured that the rumor mill and the internet chat rooms will be smoking this evening.
Tonight, Frank Beamer is in of all place, Birmingham, Alabama - serving as guest speaker for the Birmingham Touchdown Club. However, he did not all of a sudden plan this trip. He was asked to make this appearance back on January 18th, right after the Sugar Bowl.
[GRAPHIC=SUGGS]
This just in - Lee Suggs is good. He's also the Big East offensive player of the week.
[S-UVa]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-81 827TC]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]
Virginia Tech and N.C. State stand in the way of Virginia's 13th straight seven win season. But after getting spanked by Ga. Tech, streaks are the least of the Cavs worries.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/This Past Thursday; :00]
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/Most Wins as ACC Coach; :18]
[SUPER=@steve1; :25]
[SUPER=01-Dan Ellis/Doubtful for N.C. State; :39]
[SUPER=01-Brad Barnes/UVa Offensive Tackle; :56]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(---------------)
by SS