WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 11/21/00

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[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[7-Monty-Shooting]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
A shooting in the New River Valley sends one man to the hospital and another behind bars. It happened on Clay Street just outside Blacksburg.
Montgomery County deputies say Elton Hoyt Davis of Shawsville was arguing with Bobby Joe Kanode of Blacksburg when a shotgun went off.
Davis was wounded in the neck and scalp. It's believed his wounds are not life threatening.
Kanode was arrested and charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm.

[7-School-Retirees]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC44:02]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]
Teachers and retirees are raising concerns about Roanoke County's early retirement incentive program.
But yesterday, the school board chairman said he's hopeful the changes won't be as drastic as some rumors have suggested.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape]

The school system has been re-evaluating the early retirement program because of its rising cost.
Recent court rulings in other states and changing federal guidelines have also complicated the issue.
While changes are on the horizon, School Board Chairman Jerry Canada says officials are doing their best to come up with a plan that's both affordable and fair.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:09]
[IN Q=We have something we think]
((WE HAVE SOMETHING WE THINK SHOULD WORK OUT TO MOST PEOPLE'S SATISFACTION. BUT WE'RE STILL CRUNCHING NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE IT FITS WITH OUR BUDGET.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Canada/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=with out budget.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Canada and other school officials are promising more specifics at a meeting with teachers, now scheduled for November 28th.

[7-Heating-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-42]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A rough winter could mean some homeowners will see above average heating bills. The cost of natural gas is roughly 35-percent more than it was this time last year...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, according to the State Corporation Commission, any change in the cost of natural gas will immediately be reflected in consumers' bills.
[SUPER=03-Salem]
But Roanoke Gas says there are some ways homeowners can offset those rising costs .. Clean your furnace filters and have your heating system inspected to ensure it's working efficiently.. Set your thermostat at 68-degrees. And make minor adjustments to your home to avoid drafts ..
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They can add]
((RICK PERVARSKI/ROANOKE GAS VICE PRESIDENT: THEY CAN ADD INSULATION UP IN THEIR ROOF - UP IN THEIR FLOOR JOIST...SEAL AND CAULK AROUND WINDOWS TO MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T AN AIR FILTRATION...AND ALSO THEY CAN ADD HEATING JACKETS TO THEIR WATER HEATERS.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Pervarski/Roanoke Gas Vice-President]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=heaters.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Roanoke Gas also provides heating assistance to low-income families through their "Heat Share Program." Funds are distributed through the Salvation Army .. They will begin taking applications for the heat share program after Thanksgiving.

[7WEATHER]

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

TAking a moment now to check the forecast--
Variable clouds today with scattered flurries...
Highs in the low to mid 30s...

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[45-City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC1:11:32]
[WRITER=jda]
[Graphic=none]

Yesterday, Roanoke City Council urged the Virginia gas to give more consideration to the possibility of co-locating a proposed pipeline on existing easements.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Virginia Gas plans to build the new gas pipeline through the New River Valley into Roanoke and Franklin Counties.

[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The resolution approved yesterday is similar to one council sent to the State Corporation Commission earlier this month.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:13]
[IN Q=We appreciate very much]
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Opponent]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=beauty of our area.]
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The gas line extension into the city of Roanoke would cross public rights of way and city owned property. About 50 parcels of private property could also be affected.

[45-Missing-Plane]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC1:32:06]
[GRAPHIC=Crash Invest.]

Federal officials examined the scene of a plane crash in Patrick County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co.]

Yesterday, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board hiked through rough terrain on Bull Mountain to get to the site.
The wreckage of the single-engine Piper was spotted Saturday, a week after the Civil Air Patrol began looking for it.
Authorities still aren't able to release the identity of the pilot; they say they'll have to wait for dental records.
The plane was on a flight from College Park, Maryland to South Carolina.
(------------)

[45-Seat-Belts]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=500-14 TC1:15:02]
[GRAPHIC=Seat Belts]
At a stop yesterday, Roanoke Police issued 16 driving violations in just one hour. Three of those tickets went to drivers whose children were not wearing seat belts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Operation A-B-C -- America Buckles UP Children started yesterday. Police set up a road block looking for drivers who aren't strapping in their children.
Police also helped several drivers who wanted to learn how to secure their kids properly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You don't want]
((OFFICER D.E. HARTMAN: YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT A CHILD IN THE FRONT SEAT WHERE THERE IS AN AIRBAG BECAUSE AIRBAGS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO THE CHILD. THE SAFEST SPOT FOR THE CHILD TO BE IS IN THE REAR MIDDLE BACK OF THE CAR.))
[SUPER=01-D. E. Hartman/Roanoke Police Department]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=back of the car.]
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[VO-NAT]

Roanoke Police will be helping more parents with car seat installation on tomorrow morning outside of Toys-R-Us at Valley View Mall.
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[45-Fatal-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=500-18 TC1:13:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
An accident in Buchanan killed one woman and injured two others.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
58-year old Barbara Newbill of Hardy died yesterday when she drove out of a gas station and crossed in front of Danny Coffey's vehicle that was headed north on Route 11. Coffey is being treated for injuries at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Newbill's passenger was treated then released. State police say they will not file charges.
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[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
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Turning our attention now to weather--
Expect to see scattered flurries today with temperatures not climbing out of the 30s for highs.

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[8-SCV-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=SCV Plate Lawsuit]

A Federal judge will determine whether Virginia must produce a special license for the Sons of Confederate Veterans... one that displays the Confederate battle flag.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Members of the organization packed a small federal courtroom yesterday for what promised to be the final hearing on the issue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:03:35]
[IN Q=This symbol is]
((THIS SYMBOL IS A SYMBOL OF THE CONFEDERACY AND HAS THE BLOOD OF OUR ANCESTORS ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Henry Kidd/Sons of Confederate Veterans]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=ancestors on it.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Rutherford Institute is backing the Sons of Confederate Veterans, saying their argument parallels the debate over respect for the stars and STRIPES.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:00:23]
[IN Q=You can't force]
((YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO SALUTE IT. YOU CAN'T PROHIBIT THEM FROM BURNING IT. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG. YOU CAN'T FORCE IT OFF THE LICENSE PLATE, BECAUSE SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE OFFENDED.))
[SUPER=01-Steven Aden/Rutherford Institute]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=are offended.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=none]

The Commonwealth argues it must be allowed to limit it's own "speech" on state-issued license plates.

[8-School-Retirees]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC44:02]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]

Roanoke County's school board chairman is hoping to ease the worries of teachers and retirees about possible changes in the early retirement incentive program.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape]

The school system has been re-evaluating the early retirement program because of its rising cost.
Recent court rulings in other states and changing federal guidelines have also complicated the issue.
While changes are on the horizon, School Board Chairman Jerry Canada says officials are doing their best to come up with a plan that's both affordable and fair.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:09]
[IN Q=We have something we think]
((WE HAVE SOMETHING WE THINK SHOULD WORK OUT TO MOST PEOPLE'S SATISFACTION. BUT WE'RE STILL CRUNCHING NUMBERS TO MAKE SURE IT FITS WITH OUR BUDGET.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Canada/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=with out budget.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Canada and other school officials are promising more specifics at a meeting with teachers, now scheduled for November 28th.

[8-Botetourt-Explosion]

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

An explosive device killed a Fincastle man over the weekend.
His father says it was only a firecracker. 20-year-old Michael Henry died when he detonated a homemade explosive device made with a carbon dioxide canister, black powder and a makeshift fuse. A piece of metal hit him in the back and lodged in his heart. Henry and his friends had just finished hunting near Eagle Rock. Investigators say they may charge the man who helped Henry make the explosive device.

[8WEATHER]

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

Let's turn to the forecast once again--
Be sure to bundle up today.
Variable clouds and scattered flurries with highs in the low to mid 30s.

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