[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School info]


Before we get to the news--here's a list of school announcements... [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS]

[7-County-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]


Last night, the Roanoke County School Board, elected a new chairman, selected a name for the new south county high school, moved the testing schedule for the standards of learning, raised substitute teacher pay and floated a new proposal for the early retirement incentive plan.
Mike Stovall is the new chairman, and board members chose Hidden Valley High as the name for the new school. They moved S-O-L testing dates by about two weeks to give teachers and students more time to review material. And they raised substitute teacher pay to 75 dollars a day.
The new early retirement proposal would offer current retirees a 20 percent supplement for seven years. The board will vote on that compromise at its next meeting in two weeks.

[7-Henry-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:12:36]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The Henry County school board has decided to delay a plan to consolidating high schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./Monday]


This week, hundreds turned out for two public hearings on the plan.
It involves consolidating four of the high schools into two.
But there's a lot of opposition to the plan, including a fear that some kids will be on the school bus for more than an hour.
So Board members plan to actually ride the bus routes to see first-hand if that's true.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=none]


The School board hopes to finish further study on the plan by the end of the school year.

[7-Air-Cable]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC10:27]
[GRAPHIC=Air Cable]


After not seeing paycheck for at least a month, some 40 Air Cable workers have received their paychecks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]


Paychecks for this pay period did arrive yesterday -- but the company still owes many of its workers AND its landlord thousands of dollars in back pay.
The local digital cable company services about a thousand customers in the Roanoke Valley.
Air Cable says all of its debts will be taken care of by Friday or Monday.
(------------)



[7-Vick]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC1:01:39]
[GRAPHIC=Michael Vick]

The Hokie in all those highlights has announced he's entering th N-F-L draft in April.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You know]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Will Enter NFL Draft; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Va. Tech Head Coach; :17]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=always support him]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]


Frank Beamer was tearful at times during yesterday's news conference.


[7WEATHER]


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


Turning our attention now to weather--
Variable clouds today, with a few sprinkles.
Highs will reach the mid and upper 40s.


[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Variable Clouds/Few Sprinkles/43-47/Partly/Cloudy/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-School-Info]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School info]


We do have some school announcements... [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS]

[45-81-Speed]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-46]
[GRAPHIC=I 81 Safety]

Starting next Friday, part Interstate 81 will see a slowdown. The speed limit along
(++++++++)

[TAKE FULL SCREEN MAP 4933Essc] a 14 mile stretch between Salem and Cloverdale in Botetourt County will drop by 5 miles an hour.
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[SS=Hold]

Kate Weidaw explains why the change is happening and tells us some drivers aren't to happy about the speed reduction.


(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson; :23]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Arthur/Driver; :41]
[SUPER=@Kate1;1:04]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=kw news7 Roanoke co.]

((Traffic on interstate 81 can get backed up quickly between Salem and Botetourt County.
[NAT SOUND TRAFFIC]
[RUNS= 3]



[SOT 3:04:00]
[INQ=]

((LAURA BULLOCK: IN THE ROANOKE AREA WE HAVE INTERCHANGES THAT ARE REAL CLOSE TO EACH OTHER THERE IS A LOT OF MERGING AND WEAVING GOING ON.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]


So in order to make the interstate safer VDOT has decided to lower the speed limit from 65 to 60 miles per hour.

[SOT 3:04:40]
[INQ=]

((LAURA BULLOCK: WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THE TRUCKS THE COMMUTERS THE THROUGH TRAFFIC IT JUST SEEMS TO BE THE BEST THING TO DO IS LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT A BIT AND HAVE A BIT MORE CONTROL WITH THEIR VEHICLES WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING THROUGH.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 14]


But not everyone is excited about the change. Lisa Arthur drives the interstate everyday to get to and from work.

[SOT 3:47:43]
[INQ=]

((LISA ARTHUR: I THINK IT WILL BE JUST AS BAD BECAUSE EVERYBODY TRAVELS AT A DIFFERENT RATE OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE ANYWAY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]


Others are asking what will a reduction of five miles per hour do?

[SOT 3:46:46]
[INQ=]

((DAVID SPATH: I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO THEIR OWN SPEED AND IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]


But as of January 19-th the 65 mile per hour signs along the 14 mile stretch will be history.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]

((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: NEW SIGNS WILL GO UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WILL BE UNVEILED NEXT FRIDAY.
VDOT WILL REEVALUATE THE SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION IN A YEAR TO SEE IF FEWER ACCIDENTS OCCUR AND IF CONGESTION IS REDUCED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]

))


[45-Exit-150]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=bre]
[TAPE#=00-55TC43:14]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]

Exit 150 in Daleville will also get attention from V-DOT.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co. ]


V-Dot discussed a re-routing US 11 and 220 yesterday at the Courthouse in Fincastle.
No specific plans have been made yet, but many voiced concerns that the re-route would harm local businesses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 07:31:46.09]
[IN Q=WE WANTED TO]

((GERALD BURGESS/BOTETOURT CO. ADMINISTRATOR; WE WANTED TO MAKE A POINT TO THEM TODAY THAT WE STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF BUSINESSES AND THE RESULTING IMPACT ON BOTETOURT COUNTY'S TAX BASE))
[SUPER=01-Gerald Burgess/Botetourt Co. Administrator]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=COUNTY'S TAX BASE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


V-dot does not have a definite route for US 11 yet. They will consult land and business owners before they go further with the idea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 07:34:29.07]
[IN Q=WE ARE ATTEMPTING]

((PETE SENSABAUGH/VDOT; WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO TRY TO NOT ADVERSALLY IMPACT ANY OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPED PROPERTY OR ANY OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS NOT DEVELOPED))
[SUPER=01-Pete Sensabaugh/VDOT]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=THAT IS NOT DEVELOPED]
(----------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]

If the plan is approved, construction will begin around 2006.

[45WEATHER]


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


Shifting gears now to weather--
Expect some cloud cover today, along with a few sprinkles.
Highs near 45.


[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Variable Clouds/Few Sprinkles/43-47/Partly/Cloudy/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[School-Info]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School info]


Before we get to the news--here's a list of school announcements... [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS]

[8-XGR]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-47 TC1:01:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A Republican committee has effectively stalled Governor Gilmore's plan to cut the car tax.
It voted to kill a major funding source for Gilmore's budget, and that could freeze the tax cut plan for a year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


Southside Senator Charles Hawkins carried the bill for the Governor that would take tobacco settlement money up front in a one-time payment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:17:59]
[IN Q=At least]
[SUPER=@Hawkins;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=care part.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


But the lump sum would shrink the overall tobacco payout.
The committee voted 15 to 1 to kill the bill-- which could freeze the Governor's car tax cut for a year.
And the Senators were shocked to hear revenue growth is at just one and half percent.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17;41:32]
[IN Q=Even if you froze]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Stafford Co.; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=not swept.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


The Governor's tobacco borrowing scheme is still alive in the House... but would face the same Senate committee.

[8-Lewis-Gale]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:24:52]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Two former Lewis Gale Clinic physicians will face their former employer in court for allegedly violating their contracts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]


The clinic asked a judge to keep Doctors Gregory Reibel (Ree-bul) and Preston Waldrop from practicing in the area until a final ruling in the case.
But the judge denied that request.
The Clinic says the doctors violated the employment agreement after opening a new medical practice in direct competition with the clinic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT6:31:37]
[IN Q=We've invested]

((JON NESS/CEO LEWIS GALE CLINIC:WE'VE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES IN HELPING THEM DEVELOP A PRACTICE AND IT HAS HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CLINIC AND IS UNFAIR TO REST OF THE PHYSICIANS WHO ARE HONORING THEIR COMMITMENTS AND THEIR CONTRACTS ))
[SUPER=01-Jon Ness/Lewis Gale Clinic CEO;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=their contracts]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The judge also refused the doctors request to dismiss the case.
But the doctors' attorney says his clients are pleased with the ruling because they can continue to see their patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT6:35:47]
[IN Q=The fact of the matter is that]

((MIKE URBANSKI/DOCTORS' ATTORNEY:THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THESE DOCTORS ARE TAKING CARE OF SURGICAL PATIENTS AND I THINK FOR THE GOOD OF COMMUNITY AND THE GOOD OF THE PATIENTS THAT THIS MATTER BE RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ))

[SUPER=01-Mike Urbanski/Doctors' Attorney]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=quickly possible]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]


The clinic has 15 days to appeal the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court.
The clinic's board will make that determination.
(---------------------)



[8WEATHER]


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


Taking a break from the news now to check the Friday forecast...
Variable clouds and sprinkles today with highs in the mid 40s.


[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Variable Clouds/Few Sprinkles/43-47/Partly/Cloudy/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
by SS