WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/15/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom... It's going to be another nice one outside. Party sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast in just a few moments.

[7-11Clement]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=nne]
[GRAPHIC=Whitt Clement]

Danville Delegate Whitt Clement says he will NOT run for re-election.
Although he enjoyed campaigning, Clement said he did not look forward to returning to Richmond if re-elected.
He's looking forward to spending more time with his family and practicing law. Clement has represented Southside for 14 years.

[7-Danville-Fires]

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

Firefighters in Danville were busy with two fires this morning ...
They responded to a house fire at 404 Bryant Avenue around 1:30.
The first units reported heavy fire in the rear of the home.
The blaze was brought under control in 15 minutes.
Officials say the fire is under investigation. They say no one was home at the time. Moments later, firefighters responded to a second fire at an apartment at 614 Holbrook Avenue.
That fire was quickly put out.
Officials say an electrical short is to blame.
The occupant was not home at the time of that fire.

[7-11Missing-Woman]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Botetourt County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help with one of its missing persons' cases.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE] The agency's trying to locate 45- year old Betty Jo McNeil who's been missing since Monday. Family members say the last time they talked to McNeil she was on her way to the Fincastle Library.
(--------)
[anchor=Kim]
[ss=None]
The sheriff says there is no evidence of foul play but adds that "leaving without telling someone" is out of character for McNeil who did not take along any extra money or clothing.

[7-11Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-25]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A Roanoke County company's connections overseas may help boost its sales.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

A Chinese company called World Best visited Optical Cable Corporation in hopes of helping to market fiber optics to Asia.
The meeting gave Joe Robinson and Yang Hong a chance to network...
The two have similar jobs, but in different countries.
They're hopeful that knowing each other will help them problem-solve in the future, if Optical Cable should team up with World Best.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Obviously exporting is ver important to ]
((JOSEPH ROBINSON/VA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP: OBVIOUSLY EXPORTING ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO OPTICAL CABLE. CHINA IS A VERY LARGE MARKET. AND AS WE EXPORT, WE STABILIZE THE JOBS WE HAVE HERE, AND WE CREATE NEW JOBS.)) [butt butt butt] ((YANG HONG/SHANGHAI FOREIGN INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT BOARD: I ALSO HAVE INVITED HIM TO PAY A VISIT TO SHANGHAI BECAUSE ACTUALLY, SHANGHAI IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC CITIES IN CHINA.))
[SUPER=01-Joseph A. Robinson/Virginia Economic Development Partnership; :00]
[SUPER=01-Yang Hong/Shanghai Investment Development Board; :14]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=cities in China.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

If the two companies begin to sell fiber optics to China, Optical Cable says its sales with increase TENFOLD in the next few years.
(------------)

[WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Look for sunshine and warm weather today. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast details in just a few moments.

[45-11Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An assistant commonwealth's attorney in Franklin County was killed in a traffic accident yesterday.
State police say Hubert Ruff, Junior died at the scene of the crash early yesterday morning.
Ruff was heading north on Route 220 near Rocky Mount, when he ran off the road, crossed four lanes of traffic, and overturned.
The 54-year-old attorney had been with the Franklin prosecutor's office for 12 years.

[45-11Keister-Shuler]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC44:26]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
Two Democratic Delegates plan to return to Richmond, but this time they'll have new districts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=403-Dublin;]
Jim Shuler says he'll run in the 7th House of Delegates District after serving eight years in the 12th. Democrat Benny Keister, who's recovering from a recent stroke, is in the process of moving so he can run for re-election in the 6th District. Both candidates are eager for economic development in the New River Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 28:55 / 34:01]
[IN Q= A LOT OF CHALLENGES]
(( JIM SHULER/(D) 7TH DISTRICT DELEGATE CANDIDATE; A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO BALANCE UNMET EDUCATION NEEDS HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS WITH LIMITED STATE RESOURCES BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO RETURN TO RICHMOND TO REPRESENT ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS REDRAWN DISTRICT.)) ((BENNY KEISTER/(D) 6TH DISTRICT DELEGATE CANDIDATE; EDUCATION IS ALWAYS NEAR AND DEAR TO ME BECAUSE I'M A RETIRED TEACHER BUT AT THE SAME TIME I LOOK AT HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.))
[SUPER=401-Jim Shuler/(D) 7th District Delegate Candidate; :00]
[SUPER=401-Benny Keister/(D) 6th District Delegate Candidate; :15]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Keister is up against Republican Billy Ashworth, a Wytheville businessman. Shuler will face the G-O-P's Dave Nutter, a spokesman at Virginia Tech.
(-----------)

[45-6-Nickens]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-23 TC1:37:25]
[GRAPHIC=Harry Nickens]
A longtime Roanoke County Supervisor is running for re-election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=403-Roanoke Co.;]
Yesterday, Harry Nickens announced his candidacy for the November election. After being appointed to the board of supervisors in 1982, Nickens was elected to represent the Vinton district for four consecutive terms. He says his top priorities include education and public safety. He's also determined to boost support for Explore Park. The board recently agreed to spend more than three million dollars over five years to keep the attraction afloat.
(///// SOT at :25 /////)
[SOT 14:36:59-14:37:14]
[IN Q=In years past we supported Explorer Park from the beginning...]
((HARRY NICKENS/ROANOKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR: IN YEARS PAST WE SUPPORTED EXPLORER PARK FROM THE BEGINNING. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT FOR OVER 15 YEARS... WHEN WE WERE MEETING IN HOMES FOR POTLUCK LUNCHES TO EXPLAIN EXPLORE TO THE PEOPLE. THEY WEREN'T EMBRACING IT AT THAT TIME. THEY EMBRACE IT NOW IN THAT COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=401-Harry Nickens/Roanoke Co. Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=embrace it now in that community.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Campaign 2001]
For the first time, Nickens has competition for the seat. He's running against Mike Altizer, a district manager for Monroe Muffler and former vice president of the Mount Pleasant Civic League.

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... A beautiful day today. Look for sunshine and light winds to help out with the warm temperatures.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast after the news.

[8-11Roanoke-Times]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC16:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Roanoke Times says a new printing plant will not only enhance the central city BUT also keep 400 employees downtown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Yesterday, the newspaper outlined the proposal for members of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Attorney Stan Barnhill said the new plant would have less impact on the neighborhood, than other projects that are allowed under current zoning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In fact, I would contend]
((STAN BARNHILL/ROANOKE TIMES ATTORNEY: IN FACT I WOULD CONTEND AND HOPEFULLY THE BOARD WILL AGREE THAT YOU WILL NOT AS I GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE OF A MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH LESS IMPACT ON ITS SURROUNDINGS THAN THIS BUILDING WILL HAVE.)) ((DAVID BOWERS/OPPONENTS ATTORNEY: WE THINK THAT AS A MATTER OF LAW, THE ROANOKE TIMES CANNOT PREVAIL ON THIS SITE.))

[SUPER=01-Stan Barnhill/Roanoke Times Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/Opponents Attorney; :18]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=cannot prevail on this site.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Two members of the board were absent, so the newspaper asked for a delay on its petition.
The board will consider the proposal again next month.
(------------)

[8-11Warner-Education]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-29 TC1:10:03]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]

The plan Mark Earley unveiled Monday in Roanoke has made one teacher's group unhappy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=403-Roanoke/Monday;]

The Republican candidate for governor is proposing a new set of teacher competency tests.
The Virginia Education Association says it's the latest fallout of a "test-crazed environment."
Virginia teachers already have hurdles to leap.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:29:34]
[IN Q=Before they can be certified]
((JEAN BANKOS/VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOC.: BEFORE THEY CAN BE CERTIFIED OR LICENSED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THEY HAVE TO PASS PRAXIS ONE AND PRAXIS TWO. PRAXIS TWO HAS THE HIGHEST CUT SCORES IN THE COUNTRY. SO WE'RE ALREADY SETTING A HIGH STANDARD FOR THE BEGINNING TEACHERS COMING INTO THE PROFESSION. AND THEN STILL TEACHERS HAVE TO RECERTIFY EVERY FIVE YEARS, DO THE COLLEGE CREDIT, OR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.))
[SUPER=401-Jean Bankos/Virginia Education Association;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=college credit, or continuing professional development.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :09]

The Virginia Education Association has already endorsed Democrat Mark Warner -- who unveiled an ad this week featuring a Floyd County math teacher.
(------------)

[8-11Clement]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=nne]
[GRAPHIC=Whitt Clement]
Danville Delegate Whitt Clement has represented SOuthside for 14 years. Now he says he's had enough.
Clement says he will NOT run for re-election.
Although he enjoyed campaigning, Clement said he did not look forward to returning to Richmond if re-elected. He's looking forward to spending more time with his family and practicing law.