WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/20/01

[7-11Deer-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC1:06:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A severed deer head has Lynchburg police asking questions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

On Tuesday night, a woman returned to her car in the parking lot of the Candler's Station shopping center to find a freshly- cut deer head on the hood.
The woman.. who lives in Charlottesville.. tells police she has no idea her vehicle was targeted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:13:06]
[IN Q=Usually when you]
((CAPT. EUGENE WINGFIELD/LYNCHBURG POLICE: USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU CAN SOMETIMES RELATE IT TO MAYBE SOMEONE IS UPSET AT SOMEBODY FOR MAYBE DOMESTIC- TYPE REASONS, OR SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING ALONG. BUT WE CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT RELATES TO THIS ONE. SHE ASSURES US THAT'S NOT THE CASE AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE ANYTHING OTHERWISE.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Eugene Wingfield/Lynchburg Police Dept.]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=believe anything otherwise.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Without knowing more about a possible motive, Wingfield says he's not even sure any laws have been broken.
(------------)

[7-11Tech-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=0-14 TC27:40]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
Virginia Tech's President gives his opinion on the controversy over two professors and race relations at the University.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

In a letter published in the school's newspaper, Charles Steger (Stee-ger) calls the March incident when a black and a white professor fought over the use of a classroom, avoidable, regrettable and unfortunate.
Although Steger does not agree with those who say race played a factor in the dispute, he does acknowledge those feelings.
He writes "I will not disparage or disrespect the feelings and opinions of those who see racism in this issue. However, I do not."
Steger goes on to talk about University efforts to increase diversity on campus.
(------------)

[7-11Switched-Babies]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-16 TC29:36]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]
The state and one of the mothers in the switched babies case have reached an agreement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

The Attorney General's office says Paula Johnson has agreed to a settelement of two-point-three million dollars.
The settlement comes one day before the state Supreme Court was scheduled to rule on whether to revive Johnson's 31 million dollar lawsuit against the state-run University of Virginia Medical Center.
Under the settlement, Johnson will receive a 475-thousand dollar cash settlement.
200-thousand dollars will be placed in a trust fund for the child she is raising, Callie Conley.
(------------)

[7-11Enchanted-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-17 TC14:36]
[GRAPHIC=Enchanted Castle Fire]
Survivors of a fire at Natural Bridge have moved to thier new home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake]

These four fiberglass dinosaurs are all that's left of the Enchanted Castle.
They're being kept at Safari Gold at Smith Mountain Lake until their old home is brought back to life.
Their creator Mark Cline says they'll be safer at the Lake --
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge/Last Week]

he believes last week's fire was set deliberately.
Cline says he discovered hate mail in his mailbox the morning of the fire.
Cline sells creatures like the dinosaurs... to theme parks and restaurants worldwide.
(------------)

[45-11Bedford-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-06 TC1:52:30]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A juvenile was killed after his truck ran off a bridge and landed in a creek last night in Bedford County -according to State Police.
The accident happened a little after eight on Hawkins Mill Road in Forest.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

State Police say they don't know why, but it appears the driver locked up his brakes going down a hill.
His vehicle hit a wooden bridge railing, went off the road and landed upside down in a creek.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released his name.
(------------)

[45-11Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-18 TC18:00]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
A Bedford County teen was trying to kill a ground hog when he started a brush fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

It happened in the Goodview section of the county around three yesterday.
More then 30 fire fighters tried to extinguish the fire that spread quickly up the mountain.
The teenager that started it says he tried to put it out.
(///// SOT//////)
[SOT 14:16:20]
[IN Q=I was trying]
((JARRED PITURA: I WAS TRYING TO KILL A GROUND HOG WITH GASOLINE BECAUSE MY DOG KEPT TRYING TO DIG IT OUT OF THE HOLE.)) [BUTT, BUTT,BUTT]
[SOT 14:16:42]
((I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS A LITTLE FIRE AND THEN IT JUST TOOK OFF.))
[SUPER=07-Jarred Pitura]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=just took off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The fire was contained around 6 yesterday evening.
There's no word if charges will be pressed against the teen.
(------------)

[45-11NRF-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:34:55]
[GRAPHIC=NRF Layoffs]
More than 50 employees at Radford's New River Foundry plant will be jobless after they clock out today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape;]

The company announced yesterday that 50-hourly and 15-salaried workers will be let go at the end of their shifts today.
The production cuts are being determined by seniority.
A spokesman blames the economic slowdown and a reduction in orders.
The iron castings plant normally operates on a three shift schedule, three days a week, it will now run with two-shifts, two-days a week.
(------------)

[45-6-First-Union]

[ANCHOR=SHANNON]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=01-19 20:14]
[GRAPHIC=FU/Wachovia Merger]
Banks may run into some difficulty if they try to buy Wachovia -due to a merger agreement between First Union and Wachovia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Investment bankers and industry analysts say several banks could make a more attractive offer for Wachovia than First Union.
But the merger agreement allows each bank to buy almost 20 per cent of the other's shares.
So if another bank offers to buy Wachovia, First Union could own a big chunk of the shares, and therefore be more likely to fend off any rival.
(------------)

[45-11Rail-retirement]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC08:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Railroad retirees are hoping Congress will pass new legislation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Joe Sailor worked for the railroad for more than 30 years.
He says the Railroad Retiree Improvement Act will give widows and widowers of retirees more money after their spouses die.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He just came back and put]
((JOE SAILOR/RAILROAD RETIREE: IF I SHOULD DIE, SHE'D GET 100 PERCENT INSTEAD OF 50 PERCENT OF MY PENSION. THAT'S OUR BENEFIT.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Sailor/Railroad Retiree]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=that's our benefit.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sailor says the bill has been introduced to both the House and the Senate.
The fate of the bill will be decided by the end of May.
(------------)

[8-11Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-18 TC18:00]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]

A Bedford County teenager says he didn't mean to spark a brush fire while trying to kill a groundhog.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

It happened in the Goodview section of the county around three yesterday.
More then 30 fire fighters tried to extinguish the fire that spread quickly up the mountain.
The teenager who started it says he tried to put it out.
(///// SOT//////)
[SOT 14:16:20]
[IN Q=I was trying]
((JARRED PITURA: I WAS TRYING TO KILL A GROUND HOG WITH GASOLINE BECAUSE MY DOG KEPT TRYING TO DIG IT OUT OF THE HOLE.)) [BUTT, BUTT,BUTT]
[SOT 14:16:42]
((I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS A LITTLE FIRE AND THEN IT JUST TOOK OFF.))
[SUPER=07-Jarred Pitura]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=just took off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The fire was contained around 6 yesterday evening.
There's no word if charges will be pressed against the teen.
(------------)

[8-11Rail-retirement]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC08:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Railroad retirees are asking Congress for help in pumping up retirement benefits.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Joe Sailor worked for the railroad for more than 30 years.
He says the Railroad Retiree Improvement Act will give widows and widowers of retirees more money after their spouses die.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He just came back and put]
((JOE SAILOR/RAILROAD RETIREE: IF I SHOULD DIE, SHE'D GET 100 PERCENT INSTEAD OF 50 PERCENT OF MY PENSION. THAT'S OUR BENEFIT.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Sailor/Railroad Retiree]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=that's our benefit.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sailor says the bill has been introduced to both the House and the Senate.
The fate of the bill will be decided by the end of May.
(------------)

[8-11Canadian-Lottery]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Scam]
An 87-year old retired school teacher in Martinsville is helping authorities investigate a Canadian Lottery scam.
U-S Postal Inspectors say Mary Travis has lost more than 64-thousand dollars she's sent to phony mail drops.
The feds say Travis was told she'd won 140-thousand dollars, but that she had to send in a processing fee to collect her winnings. She is now cooperating with U-S authorities as they continue their investigation.

[8-11Roanoke-College]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPRHIC=Roanoke]
Roanoke College is wading through more freshman applications than ever before.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
The college has received a record number of freshman applications for the third straight year. College officials say the boom in interest comes from the people, and the programs the school offers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - TC-2:58:38]
[IN Q=I think it goes back...]
[SUPER=01-Rita Ditwiler/Director of Admissions]
((RITA DITWILER/DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS: I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THE INSTITUTION, FACULTY, CURRICULUM, PROGRAMS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. I THINK IT'S AN ARRAY OF CAMPUS WIDE PROGRAMS.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=of campus wide programs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The college received nearly 27-hundred applications for just about 4-hundred-fifty openings in next year's freshman class. Nearly 60-percent of those spots have already been claimed.
(------------)

[8-6Furniture-Market]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-05 1:59:21]
[GRAPHIC=Furniture Industry]

Virginia furniture makers are pushing their wares despite a lull in the economy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-High Point, NC]

Several of them are at the International Home Furnishings Market in North Carolina this week.
They're promoting programs to help their retailers sell more products. (------------) And they're showing off new lines that they hope will attract consumers.