WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/08/01

[7-Thomas-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Murder Trial]

The jury that will decide Jeffrey Thomas' guilt or innocence could get the case as soon as today.
Closing arguments begin today in his trial. Thomas is charged with murdering Tara Munsey in January of last year.

[7-11L'burg-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-49 1:56:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Lynchburg murder suspect is under hospital care. Police say he tried to take his own life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Police responded to the Deerwood Apartment complex Tuesday night, where Gracie Yvette Dillard had been shot in the head.
Her boyfriend, 29-year old Gregory Curtis Jones, has been charged with shooting her in a domestic dispute.
Jones is now at the U-V-A Medical Center, recovering from self-inflicted wounds to his wrists.
(------------)

[7-11Pledge]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cut-In]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-10 5:51]
[GRAPHIC=Fred Pledge]

Roanoke's police chief is defending his decision to keep former officer Fred Pledge on the payroll .. until Pledge pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday Night]

As far as the chief is concerned, the federal probe is complete.
Chief Joe Gaskins made the decision to place Pledge on leave WITH pay last year, pending the outcome of the case.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:13:15]
[IN Q=The ultimate goal]
((CHIEF JOE GASKINS/ROANOKE POLICE DEPARTMENT: THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO GET AT THE FACTS, TO DETERMINE WHETHER PLEDGE HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG. IF SO, WE WANTED JUSTICE TO RUN ITS COURSE.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Gaskins/Roanoke Police Department]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=wanted justice to run its course.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A federal judge still has to decide whether Pledge is guilty of bribery and extortion or simple robbery. Pledge will be sentenced accordingly.
(------------)

[7-11Fake-Checks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-04 37:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Con artists hoping to cash phony payroll checks may have a tougher time of it ... at least in the Lynchburg area.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Police say the criminals have been duplicating payroll checks from major corporations and cashing them at local banks and convenience stores.
But now some store owners will be asking for two forms of I-D.. including a thumbprint from the person cashing the check.
It's a procedure SunTrust Bank has been using for three years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:40:06]
[IN Q=It has]
((GORDON HOWELL/SUNTRUST BANK: IT HAS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE TIME WE HAVE TO SPEND PREPARING CASES AND GOING TO COURT AND GETTING CONVICTIONS AND THEN TRYING TO GET RESTITUTION OUT OF THE CRIMINALS. IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR SUNTRUST AND WE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE MERCHANTS IN TOWN WHO CHOOSE TO USE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Gordon Howell/SunTrust Bank;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=choose to use it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

SunTrust provided the inkpads police handed out yesterday to local merchants taking part in the program.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

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

Taking a look now at your forecast ... look for mostly sunny skies today and milder ... highs reaching back in the 50's.
But for tonight, mostly cloudy, a chance of rain or show .. lows in the 30's.

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[7BIRTHDAYS!] 3/9/01
Friday:
Twins:
[SUPER=130-7/April & Ashley Allen/Callands]

[SUPER=130-2/Rebekah Berry/Rockbridge Baths]

[SUPER=130-7/Christopher Roach/Huddleston]

[SUPER=130-7/Majorie Bower/Christiansburg]

[SUPER=130-74/Elmer Rhodes/Martinsville]

[SUPER=130-74/Hillard Shively/Wirtz]

[SUPER=130-6/Thomas Croteau/Snowville]

[SUPER=130-8/Ryan Smith/Martinsville]

[SUPER=130-2/Adrianna Eagle/Madison Heights]

[SUPER=130-8/Christopher Shelor/Blacksburg]

[SUPER=130-21/Dolly Trevey-Boitnott/Roanoke]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-8/Toni Wright/Rocky Mount]

[SUPER=131-/Cindy Tate/Danville]

[SUPER=131-/Harry Dalton/Indian Valley]

[SUPER=131-26/Terri Burris/Dublin]

[SUPER=131-/Cassandra Hart/Buena Vista]

Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-/Cody & Doris Lowe/Eagle Rock]

[SUPER=131-22/Chasity Rice/Naruna]

[SUPER=131-97/Bertha Johnson/Covington][cutopen]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[45-School-Announcements]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

A few school districts still have delays this morning, but only one school remains closed.
(+++++++)
[Schoolwatch announcements]
(-------------)

[45-Bedford-Threat]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

After allegedly threatening a classmate, a Bedford county middle school student is under arrest.
Investigators say the 12 year old boy allegedly made a threat by phone ... that he'd bring a gun to school to shoot a female classmate.
The boy later said is was just a joke, but the girl told school officials he had made the same threat before.

[45-Thomas-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Murder Trial]

Jurors in Jeffrey Thomas' capital murder trial could begin deliberating as early as today.
(---------------)
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

The defense rested its case yesterday, taking just one afternoon.
So closing arguments begin today. Thomas is charged with murdering Tara Munsey in January of last year.
(--------------)

[45-11Phoenix-Integration]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Montgomery county business is soaring to new heights thanks to a new partnership with NASA.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Blacksburg-based Phoenix Integration is a software design company.
Yesterday, it was announced NASA chose the company to be one of the vendors in a 20-million dollar contract to build the international space station and space transportation vehicles.
Because of the additional business, President and CEO Brett Malone expects his staff of sixteen to grow by 50-percent by the end of the year.
(------------)

[45-11Clifton-Forge]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Council met for the first time in Clifton Forge last night, since voters approved the reversion to TOWN status.
But the reversion issue came up only once, as the mayor encouraged council members to move forward.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Clifton Forge/Last Night;]
Interim City manager John Rowe says the first order of business will be financial matters. He says the city will have to close out existing bank accounts, open new ones and order new checks under the town of Clifton Forge. Rowe says Clifton Forge will also have to establish an office and hire staff to handle money collection now that the city will be losing its constitutional officers.
(////sot//////)
[sot 01:38:59]
[in q=That is a ]
((JOHN ROWE/INTERIM CITY MANAGER: THAT IS A JOB FOR A TREASURER WHICH IS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER SO WE'LL HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.))
[SUPER=01-John Rowe/Interim City Manager; ]
[runs=07]
[OUT Q= we'll have that responsibility.]
(-------------)
[vo-nat] Mayor Dusty Rhodes says there won't be any big changes in terms of city council. Council will simply become "town council". But the area WILL see a change on the county level. In the future-- Clifton Forge will be represented on the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.
(///sot///)
[sot 01:41:50]
[in q=Again, with ]
((AGAIN, WITH REDISTRICTING WE SHOULD GET TWO MEMBERS FROM THE CLIFTON FORGE AREA DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S ALL DIVIDED UP.))
[super=01-Dusty Rhodes/Clifton Forge Mayor;]
[runs=10]
[OUT Q= all divided up.]
(------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ss=None]
Both the mayor and city manager say they expect the city to make a smooth transition.

Clifton Forge will officially become a town on July first. [45WEATHER]

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

Taking a break from the news now to check your Thursday forecast...
We'll enjoy lots of sunshine today and warmer temperatures reaching the 50s...

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[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[8-School-Announcements]

[8-Thomas-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Murder Trial]

Deliberations COULD begin as early as today in the capital murder trial of Jeffrey Thomas.
(---------------)
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

The defense rested its case yesterday, taking just one afternoon.
So closing arguments begin today. Thomas is charged with murdering Tara Munsey in January of last year.
(--------------)

[8-Bedford-Threat]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A Bedford county middle school student is suspended AND under arrest for allegedly threatening to shoot a classmate.
Investigators say the 12 year old boy allegedly made a threat by phone ... that he'd bring a gun to school to shoot a female classmate.
The boy later said is was just a joke, but the girl told school officials he had made the same threat before.

[8-11Trade-Show]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-09 14:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some businesses in Martinsville and Henry County are hoping to get on the FAST TRACK after taking part in a trade show.
Business reporter Jennifer Miele has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What do an appliance]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;:10]
[SUPER=01-Steve Sheppard/Chamber President;:23]
[SUPER=01-H. G. Kolinski/Site Star;:39]
[SUPER=01-Chad Anderson/EMS Coordinator;1:08]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=JM News 7 Martinsville.]
(( What do an appliance store, a dinosaur, and a jacuzzi have in common?
Each made waves at this year's Fast Track trade show in Martinsville.
More than a hundred local companies strutted their high-tech stuff.
The chamber of commerce hopes these local companies will use each other's technology to help their businesses grow. [tc:00:04:25] ((STEVE SHEPPARD/CHAMBER PRESIDENT: ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SPUR AN IDEA, AND IT MAY BECOME THE NEXT BIGGEST BUSINESS IN HENRY COUNTY OR MARTINSVILLE.))
[RUNS= 06]

And partnerships ARE happening.
Bassett Furniture has teamed up with Site Star to bring locally made furniture to the world wide web. [TC:00:15:46] ((H.G. KOLINSKI/SITE STAR: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TODAY IS CALLED THE CONNECTED OFFICE. WHEREBY, IF YOU'VE GOT A BUSINESS WITH SEVERAL OFFICES LOCATED IN SEVERAL AREAS, WE'LL ACTUALLY HOOK THEM ALL TOGETHER, AND BRING ONE POINT OF CONTACT VIA THE INTERNET. ))
[RUNS= 15]

A local distributor is making high tech equipment a hot commodity for Martinsville Fire and Rescue services.
This heat sensor helps firemen find hot spots from outside a burning home, even in the dark of night.
[RUNS= 05]
[tc:00:10:21] ((CHAD ANDERSON/EMS COORDINATOR: THESE CAMERAS COST ABOUT 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS A PIECE, BUT THE PRICE ON A LIFE, IS WELL BEYOND THAT.))
[RUNS= 05]

Today we find Martinsville and Henry County businesses poised and ready for change.
Tomorrow, we may find them well aligned for the future.
Jennifer Miele, News 7, Martinsville.))

[8WEATHER]

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

Checking your weather outlook--
Mostly sunny with highs in the low to mid 50s...but the clouds will return by tonight..

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