WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/07/01

[7-Clifton-Forge]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Yesterday, nearly two-thirds of Clifton Forge voters decided to revert the city to town status.
(+++++++)
[TAKE ELECTION RESULTS FS] Here are the numbers .. one thousand 71, or 63 percent in favor reverting to town status ... 617 against. [Take FS Map] Yesterday's vote means Clifton Forge will now become a town within Alleghany County. Teresa Hamilton has reaction from residents.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Clifton Forge/Yesterday; 07]
[SUPER=01-Dusty Rhodes/Clifton Forge Mayor; :20]
[SUPER=01-Teresa Coffey/Clifton Forge Resident; :43]
[SUPER=01-Raymond Megginson/Clifton Forge Resident; :52]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; :58]
[RUNS=1:07]

[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Clifton Forge.][7-Drug-Bust]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Three people in Roanoke were arrested in a drug raid that started with a traffic stop Monday afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Police confiscated nearly 75- thousand dollars in illegal drugs and more than 22- thousand dollars in cash.
Those arrested include 23- year- old Richard Shine of Roanoke, 28- year- old Charmaine Crouse, also of Roanoke, and 31- year- old Shannon Cave of New York.
All are charged with possession, with intent to sell crack cocaine.
Shine was the suspect in a traffic chase on MONDAY afternoon.
When state police and Roanoke officers arrived at Shine's home to arrest him for parole violation, both he and Crouse struggled with the authorities.
Police found a pound and a half of crack cocaine and two pounds of marijuana.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Shine and Cave are being held in the Roanoke City jail without bond.
Crouse's bond is set at 20- thousand dollars.

All three will be arraigned later this morning. [45-Pledge]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-55 1:32:12]
[GRAPHIC=Pledge]
Former Roanoke police officer Fred Pledge has pleded guilty to racketeering, and resigned from the force.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Pledge was scheduled to go on trial in federal court Monday.
But he struck a deal with the government and changed his plea late yesterday afternoon.
He admits to 23 acts of racketeering .. and the government will drop the drug trafficking charges.
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[SOT 21:35]
[SUPER=01-Tom Bondurant/Prosecutor;]
[IN Q=The heart and soul]
[RUNS=:08 ]
[OUT Q=taking stuff from people.]
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[VO-NAT]

Pledge faces up to 20 years in prison. He remains on bond until he's sentenced in June.

(------------)[45-Thomas]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-11 05:56]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Murder Trial]
The trial of Jeffery Allen Thomas continues today, and the defense may start presenting its arguement.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

Thomas is charged with murder during what prosecutors say was a rape or attempted rape of 16 year old Tara Munsey last January.
Yesterday, forensic scientist Patricia Taylor testified that Thomas' sperm was on Munsey's thigh.
She said cells matching his D-N-A profile were also under the teenager's fingernails and on her clothes.
On cross examination, she told defense attorney Mike Barbour that at least one other person's D-N-A was on Munsey's body ... but that it was NOT sperm.
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[45-Academy-Beating]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-47 2:04:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A counselor at the Arcadia Leadership Academy was injured during an assault Monday night.
24-year old David Allen Hipes has been released from the University of Virginia Medical Center after receiving treatment for facial fractures, scratches and abrasions.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Hipes was assaulted as he drove four juveniles to a fast food restaurant in Buchanan. One of the students got out of the van at a rural intersection. When Hipes followed, he was beaten with the metal rod from a bunkbed.
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[45-Monty-School]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rca/jja]
[TAPE#=00-53 1:32:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The public isn't the only group divided by the Indian mascot controversy in Montgomery County,
it's even giving School Board members a tough time.... so tough that they've decided to send the controversial policy on to the board's attorney.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/January;]

At last night's school board meeting, members could not reach a consensus on Blacksburg High School's Indian mascot.
Some say it is a fair symbol and others believe it is offensive.
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]

Two board members presented their policy suggestions...but out of the seven-member board...four supported one and five supported the other.
An attorney will now write policies which will reviewed by the school board and read at an information session and meeting.
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[8-Lt-Governor]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=01-10 02:24]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]

For the first time, the public got to hear from all three Democrats running for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia at the SAME place.
Richmond Bureau Chief Ellen Qualls reports.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Not much blood or even sweat]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :03]
[SUPER=01-Mayor Tim Kaine/(D) Lt. Gov. Candidate; :17]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jerrauld Jones/(D) Lt. Gov. Candidate; :42]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Del. Alan Diamonstein/(D) Lt. Gov. Candidate; 1:29]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=Ellen Qualls, News 7, Charlottesville.]
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