WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 11/29/00

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Up Next on News 7--
Lynchburg has a new city manager.
We'll tell you who's stepping into the big job.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And Norfolk Southern makes another buyout offer to employees.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]

It's sunny outside now but there is a chance for showers later on today and through the night. We'll talk about the falling temperatures in the forecast.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]

Stay tuned-- News 7 at noon is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A Lynchburg native comes home to take over the reins of city government... as Hill City leaders announce their choice for their next city manager.
(------------)

[L'Burg-Manager]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-35]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]

After a four- month search, Spotsylvania County administrator Kimball Payne was introduced as the seventh city manager in Lynchburg history.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Steve Microwave Lynchburg Bureau;]

Steve Smallshaw is in our Lynchburg newsroom with more on this morning's announcement..
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

Kimberly, Kimball Payne was actually born in Lynchburg but left at the age of 10.. he comes from Spotsylvania County which has three times as many people and a budget twice the size of Lynchburg's..
But after seventeen years there, Payne says he's ready for something different.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It took four]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
[SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Mayor;]
[SUPER=01-Kimball Payne/New Lynchburg City Manager;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=everyone that's here.]

(( It took four months and 95 resumes before Lynchburg city council settled on a replacement for the retiring Charles Church.
Church announced last spring he was stepping down after learning his prostate cancer was terminal.. council spent the next several months interviewing for his replacement, before deciding on Kimball Payne.
[SOT 13:35:39]
((CARL HUTCHERSON/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: I GUESS SOMETIMES YOU GO WITH A GUT FEELING AND THE GUT FEELING OF ALL OF COUNCIL AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS THAT THIS WAS THE PERSON THAT WE WANTED TO BE OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=next city manager.]

The job will be a challenge.. Lynchburg is in the midst of a 200-million dollar sewer overhaul and also needs to find another hundred million to repair its schools over the next ten years.
Payne says he's ready to take on those challenges, with the help and vision of city council.
[SOT 13:34:23]
((KIMBALL PAYNE/NEW LYNCHBURG CITY MANAGER: I TOLD EVERYBODY TODAY THAT MY PRINICPLES ARE PRINCIPLES OF HONESTY, PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION AND PRINCIPLES OF INCLUSIVENESS. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT WITH EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=that's here.]))
[LIVE=Steve /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

Payne met with a number of city employees this morning.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim/Steve Microwave;]

He'll officially take over in February. Kimberly?

[Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=fatal accident]
A 16-year-old girl was killed this morning when her car ran off the road in Henry County. Police say Amy Shupe was driving on Route 58 when she hit the median. Her car flipped over, throwing her from the vehicle.

Police say she died there, and they don't know why she veered off the road.[Botetourt-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-42]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
An 88-year-old woman died in a car crash in Botetourt County this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
Police say Neatie Gish turned left out of the Route 220 Minute Market and pulled right into the path of a Ford pickup.
The driver of the pickup, 35-year-old Sharon Coleman of Montvale, could not stop in time and hit Gish's car. Both women were wearing seatbelts -- Coleman was only slightly injured. Police do NOT plan to file any charges.

(------------)[NS-Buyouts]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]

18 percent of Norfolk Southern's non-union employees will be eligible for the company's latest buyout plan.
That means 870 workers will be eligible for an early retirement at age 53.
The buyout offer is part of the company's effort to increase efficiency and reduce operating expenses.
The program allows eligible employees to add three years of service and three years to their age when calculating their pension plan.

[Earley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-47]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]

Republican Attorney General Mark Earley kicked off a campaign for governor next year last night in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

But Earley's first stop was the Virginia Farm Bureau annual meeting in Roanoke.
Afterwards, he picked up the endorsement of local Republican leaders from Roanoke, Roanoke County, Botetourt County.

Earley is a member of the N-double-A-C-P, and has made racial reconciliation a major campaign theme.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:47:27]
[IN Q=Virginia was the great]
((ATTORNEY GEN. MARK EARLEY: VIRGINIA WAS THE GREAT ENTRY POINT OF THE TRIUMPH OF SELF-GOVERNMENT. THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES BECAME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY MEETING BODY IN THE FREE WORLD. JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA WAS ALSO THE ENTRY POINT OF THE TRAGEDY OF HUMAN BONDAGE. SO MY POINT IS VIRGINIA AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A VERY CLEAR STATEMENT TO THE WORLD ABOUT RECONCILIATION.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Earley/Virginia Attorney General;]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=about reconciliation.]
(----------)
[VO-NAT]

A two week bus tour will take Earley's new campaign across Virginia.
He faces off against Lieutenant Governor John Hager for the Republican nomination.
(------------)

[Recount]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]

Thousands of ballots will hit the road, headed to Tallahassee, Florida.
Meanwhile, the fight for the Presidency continues playing out in the courts, where it may be decided who will finally get the state's 25 electoral votes.
Drew Levinson reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=701-Lois Frankel/(D) West Palm Beach;]
[SUPER=703-Tallahassee, FL;]
[SUPER=704-NBC News - "Today"; hot change!]
[SUPER=701-Al Gore/(D) Presidential Candidate;]
[SUPER=701-George Bush/Former President;]
[SUPER=701-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Levinson, CBS News, Tallhassee.]

((
(NATZ)

KEY MEMBERS OF FLORIDA'S LEGISLATURE ARE MEETING AGAIN TODAY. THEY'RE EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION IN WHICH THEY WOULD NAME THE STATE'S 25 ELECTORS IF THE MATTER GETS HUNG UP IN THE COURTS.

SOT: REP. LOIS FRANKEL/D-WEST PALM BEACH
"THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS ON A MISSION TO WRITE AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR GEORGE BUSH, TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS THE WINNER OF FLORIDA'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS IN FLORIDA."
WHILE THE LEGISLATORS DEBATE, NUMEOUS COURT BATTLES ARE PLAYING OUT.
-IN CIRCUIT COURT, WHERE AL GORE IS CONTESTING FLORIDA ELECTION RESULTS.. A HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY. A JUDGE IS YET TO DECIDE WHETHER DISPUTED BALLOTS IN PALM BEACH AND MIAMI DADE COUNTIES WILL BE COUNTED.
AND IN TALLAHASSE, THERE'S STILL NO WORD FROM THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT WHETHER THEY'LL HEAR THE CASE OVER THE CONTROVERSIAL BUTTERFLY BALLOTS.
IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE IS ONCE AGAIN PLEADING HIS CASE TO THE AMERICA PEOPLE.

SOT: GORE: MANDATORY FONT: NBC NEWS/TODAY (note this is required even
thought the Today show "bug" is on the tape)
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WHILE GOVERNOR BUSH PONDERS POSSIBLE CABINET APPOINTMENTS... HIS FATHER TOOK TIME OUT FROM A FISHING TRIP TO DISCUSS FAMILY MATTERS.

SOT: FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH

(STANDUP)
IN WASHINGTON, THE U-S SUPREME COURT IS NOW REVIEWING BRIEFS. ON FRIDAY, THE COURT WILL CONSIDER AN APPEAL FROM THE BUSH CAMP THAT FLORIDA'S SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTING RECOUNTS. ))

[Israel-Election]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

It's also election season in the Middle East--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem;]

Representatives of Prime Minister Ehud Barak's party and the opposition (lee-KOOD) party met briefly today to try to agree on a date for an early Election Day.
Officials are discussing dates in May.
Many say Barak's re- election hinges on reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians within the next few months.
Recent polls show without a peace agreement, opposition leader (ah-ree-EL shah-ROHN) would defeat Barak.
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=none]

There's also word that former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might run again.
If so, the pundits say he too would defeat Barak.

[Franklin-Dog]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC50:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Authorities want people in Franklin County to be careful with their pets after investigators found a dog they think was tortured to death.
The following story contains video that some people may find disturbing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
This purebred deerhound was found on a neighbor's property in the rural Redwood community yesterday morning. Her owner, Jeffrey Davis, keeps several hunting dogs here even though he lives at Smith Mountain Lake. Davis says he thinks his dog was hit by a car then dragged into the yard by another animal. But investigators say she was mutilated.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:09:14]
[IN Q=I see a dog]
((TAMMY JAVIER/INVESTIGATOR: I SEE A DOG OBVIOUSLY SKINNED. WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER IT WAS BEFORE OR AFTER THE DOG'S DEATH.))
[SUPER=01-Tammy Javier/Investigator;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=after its death.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Autopsy results show a blunt trauma to the left side killed the dog. Investigators say people should keep their pets inside when they cannot watch them.
(------------)

[County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-43]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]
Hundreds of current and retired Roanoke County teachers are not happy with changes the school board made to their Early Retirement Incentive Plan. They heard the changes for the first time last night.
Some teachers could see an increase in benefits, but others will see an immediate reduction. Meredyth Censullo has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the...]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Canada/School Board Chairman;:00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:20]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Dyer/Retired Teacher;1:35]
[Super=@Meredyth1;]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=Censullo, News 7.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the...]
((THIS IS THE RESULT OF SEVERAL HOURS OF NUMBER CRUNCHING AND SOME SOUL SEARCHING TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT IS STILL VALUED BY YOU...))

[RUNS= :18]
[OUT Q=by you.]

The school board says they decided revamp the Early Retirement plan, because changing federal guidelines would've forced them to anyway. That excuse isn't satisfying some teachers.
Under the current Early Retirement Incentive Plan, a county teacher with 10 years experience in the system can retire at 55 - receiving 30-percent of their salary for 7 years, provided they work 20-24 days a year .. Teachers aged 56-62 earn 20-percent a year. All the retirees are enrolled in the school division's health insurance program.
The New Plan for Current Retirees would pay 30-percent salary to all participants 55 and older for 5 years.. But it caps health insurance benefits at 25-hundred dollars for five years.
Future Retirees would be eligible for 20-percent of their salary for 5 years...Their health insurance would be capped at 25-hundred dollars.
The changes mean teachers who are currently taking part in the Early Retirement program will have their pay cut after five years, although they'll keep their insurance benefits the full seven years.
Many teachers say the changes will lead a number of their colleagues to return to the classroom...

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They basically...]
((THEY BASICALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT DO IT..THEY CAN'T LIVE ON WHAT THE VIRGINIA RETIREMENT IS OFFERING...UNTIL THEY GET TO SOCIAL SECURITY AGE WHICH IS 62.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=is 62.]
MEREDYTH CENSULLO: The school board is giving retired teachers until January 15th to decide if they'll return to teaching full time....But then, the question is, will they be required to teach another 10 years before retiring a second time? That question will be decided by the school board next month. Meredyth Censullo. News7.))

[Community-Services]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC1:27:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Montgomery County's board of Supervisors is looking into a budget crisis at a human service agency.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]

The Board passed a resolution asking New River Valley Community Services to explain its 407-thousand dollar deficit.
The shortfall prompted the agency to enact a two-week unpaid furlough for its 300 employees last month.
N-R-V-C-S helps people with substance abuse problems and mental retardation.
Officials there said the deficit was partly caused by unreceived Medicaid payments from the state.
They'll have to reply to the Board of Supervisors by December 11th.
(------------)

[Pan-Am]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One of the Libyans accused of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 has lost his bid to have the case against him dismissed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Camp Zeist, Netherlands;]

270 people died in the explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland 12 years ago.
The judge ruled today that there's enough evidence against the defendant to warrant continued testimony in the trial.
Defense attorneys, meanwhile, are expected to blame the bombing on Palestinian terrorists when they present their case next week.
(------------)

[Thermal-Imaging]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke County firefighters have a new tool that could save lives.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The department demonstrated its new thermal imaging camera at the Roanoke Valley Regional Training Center.
The device detects infrared radiation. Even in thick smoke firefighters can "see" where the blaze is burning, and where victims may be located.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 06:20:53]
[IN Q=The main benefit]
((THE MAIN BENEFIT WILL BE IT WILL ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS TO SEE IN AN ENVIRONMENT TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE NOT USED TO. IT WILL CUT OUR SEARCH TIME IN HALF IF NOT MORE THAN THAT, BY 75 PERCENT.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Poff/Battalion Chief;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=by 75 percent.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Initially, Roanoke County plans to put one of the cameras on each of its ladder trucks... and fire officials are hopeful businesses and civic groups will help with that effort.
(------------)

[Safety-Seats]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-34]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Lynchburg store owners are in the spirit of giving this holiday season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The Retail Merchants Association yesterday presented the Lynchburg police with two thousand dollars to buy child safety seats for parents who can't afford them.
The program had nearly exhausted its original grant and was about to start turning away needy families.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:55:49]
[IN Q=We are promoters]
((ROLAND PETERS/RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION: WE ARE PROMOTERS OF "BUY IT IN THE 'BURG" AND WE CERTAINLY WANT THE CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AS OUR PARENTS GO OUT SHOPPING THIS CHRISTMAS IN THE 'BURG. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE RETAIL MERCHANTS ARE PROUD TO TAKE PART IN THE NECESSARY PURCHASE OF CAR SEATS.))
[SUPER=01-Roland Peters/Retail Merchants Association]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=of car seats.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials say the donation will buy about twenty new car seats.
(------------)

[Elton-John]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

And finally this afternoon--
Pop music legend Elton John makes his network television concert debut Friday night on C-B-S.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:20:21]
((SINGING))
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/October 20;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=so much fun..]
(-------------------)
[VO-NAT]

"Elton John: Greatest Hits Live, One Night Only" was taped in October at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The concert also features guest singers performing duets with Elton John, including Billy Joel, Mary J- Blige, and Kiki Dee.
It showcases music from Elton John's career that's spanned more than 30 years. (------------) The concert is the basis of his new album, "One Night Only", which is in stores in time for the holiday season.