WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/23/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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[VO-NAT]

Citizens in parts of Virginia are getting their say about a proposed A-E-P powerline. We'll have the latest in the decade long controversy.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Plus, Virginia's Attorney General hopes a task force here will help put a stop to prescription drug abuse nationwide.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, Our Friday Football Extra preseason special is tomorrow, a news from Cave Spring and Rustburg today, two Hokies are making national waves
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[VO-NAT]

and Bridgewater is running away with preseason division III honors.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Heavy storms continue to roll through the area in a hit or miss variety. We will check out the latest on the radar in a moment.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
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(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:54:25-11:54:33]
[IN Q=It's interesting to see the progress...]
((RANDOLPH A. BEALES/VA ATTORNEY GENERAL: IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE BUT IT CERTAINLY IS THE RIGHT TIME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST ACROSS VIRGINIA.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=not just across Virginia.]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Efforts to stop oxycontin abuse are working in parts of the Commonwealth.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]
Now a state task force hopes to make more recommendations that can be put to work nationwide.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Oxycontin]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-35 TC51:36]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
How to keep a strong painkiller on the market without letting it fall into the wrong hands.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
That's the question being tackled by Virginia's Prescription Drug task force.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=Oxycontin]
[***ANCHOR TAG***] Members of the panel met in Roanoke for their second gathering today. Their focus: Oxycontin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Across the country...]
[SUPER=04-May 2001;:08]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:18]
[SUPER=01-Randolph Beales/VA Attorney General;:22]
[SUPER=01-Dr. David Haddox/Purdue Pharma;:49]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=the possibility of people abusing it.]
((Oxycontin is blamed for the deaths of more than 120 people nationwide. 55 of those fatalities were in Virginia. The Commonwealth joins West Virginia, Kentucky and Maine in having the worst problems with illegal use of the painkiller. But the trend is spreading and prompting lawmakers, school officials, the medical industry and police to take action.

[SOT 11:53:47-11:54:04]
[IN Q=We certainly want to look at any prescription drug abuse.]
((The ingredient in Oxycontin, oxycodone, is in a number of drugs, but because Oxycontin has been such a problem in Southwestern Virginia and is frankly the reason the task force was created, that's the major focus of what we're looking at today.)) [RUNS:17]
[OUT Q=what we're looking at today.]
The group last met in May, and today, was able to report some progress. Even Purdue Pharma, the company that makes the drug is getting in on the act.
[SOT 11:55:58-11:56:09]
[IN Q=We have a program right now that...]
((We have a program right now that we are pilot testing in Virginia aimed at youth to teach them how to avoid the dangers of prescriptioon abuse as opposed to illicit abuse which there are other programs for.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=which there are other programs for.]
Purdue Pharma is also distributing tamper-resistant prescription pads to cut down on prescription fraud. The efforts appear to be working Officials from Tazewell and Lee County say cracking down on the few doctors who illegally prescribed Oxycontin lowered supply and increased the cost. The result has been a levelling off of crimes associated with the drug. But those are small victories in a war that's long from over.
[SOT 11:56:54-11:57:05]
[IN Q=Unfortunately, there's no way right now...]
((Unfortunately, there's no way right now to seperate good pain control with abuse liability. So, any strong medication, whether it be Oxycontin or something else, is going to have the possibility of people abusing it.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=the possibility of people abusing it.]))
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]
The task force expects to release its report in October.
Attorney General Beales says recommendations will be made to his office and will be shared nationwide with anyone who has the ability to help stop the spread of oxycontin abuse.

[Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
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[TAPE#01-31 TC 46:15 ]
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It's a project that's electified parts of Virginia for more than a decade.
The debate centers aroun A-E-P's plan to build a new 90-mile powerline from West Virginia to Jackson's Ferry in Wythe County.
The state has already approved the line, now the federal government is the final hurdle.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Justin/Starlink]

Justin McLeod is in Bland County tonight where the U-S Forest Service is holding a series of public hearings this week.
Justin?
[Live=Justin Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Justin1;]
[SUPER=06-Bland Co.;]
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[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ken Landgraf/U. S. Forest Service;]
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[OUT Q=this line is needed.]
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[SUPER=06-Bland Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Justin/Starlink]

[Shawsville-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
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[TAPE#=01-24 TC1:36:38]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

An accident in a Montgomery County work area seriously injured a mother and daughter.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
Authorities say 37-year-old Cyretha (Sir-reetha) Capuldo-Ross was driving this Chrysler when it hit an arrow board head-on. Her mother, Sue Capuldo was a passenger. Both women were airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for their injuries. A State Trooper says the board was parked and illuminated to alert drivers of a lane closure for crews repairing telephone lines and that it appears the driver may not have been paying attention. The driver of the truck holding the arrow sign was taken to Lewis Gale Medical Center for non life threatening injuries.
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[Discrimination]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-32 TC1:11:18]
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A Montgomery County man says he was fired because he's disabled.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pilot]
Garland Conner lost his right hand in a hunting accident when he was 16. After two days on the job as a courier- company driver for Willcar, he says he got fired. A complaint filed in federal court today seeks compensation for Conner, including punitive damages for what it says is the company's "unlawful conduct."
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I'd like to see]
[SUPER=07-Garland Conner]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT=do the right thing.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says when Willcar's president learned of Conner's disability he "expressed concern over the impression that Conner's physical appearance would have on clientele." Willcar has not returned our calls.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Who's more cop friendly?
That's the debate raging between democrats and Republicans as the election approaches.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And find out how living on the line between two counties could put two kids' education on the line too.
That story when we return.
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[Monty-Schools]
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[TAPE#=01-20 TC21:53]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Living on the border of the Montgomery County and Floyd County line is making the start of a new school year difficult for one family.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Just days before classes were to start, two-kids got the news they would have to attend a different school district.

[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[GRAPHIC=None]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon has more on why technology may have played a role in the change.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=For six years the]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-M. G. Dabagahi/Concerned Parent; :26 QUICK]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; :40]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Floyd County.]
((Nats For six years the De-bagees have lived in Floyd County. Just on the line, their kids attended Montgomery Schools without a problem, that is until this year.
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[SOT 49:18:15] ((COVER))
[IN Q=Monica and alex]
((MONICA AND ALEX BOTH WERE IN TEARS.))
[OUT Q=BOTH IN TEARS]
Upset, because just days before classes, their 8th and 10th grader were told they had to switch to Floyd County High School, a district already in session a week.
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[SOT 44:51:12]
[IN Q=THE THING IS THE]
((MG DABAGAHI/CONCERNED PARENT; THE THING IS THE SHORT NOTICE, NO CONSIDERATION FOR THE KIDS AND WHAT THEY PUT THE KIDS THROUGH.))
[OUT Q=THE KIDS THROUGH.]
The Montgomery County School Superintendent declined an interview. But he says a new computerized busing system just recently showed the family out of district.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:11:34]
[IN Q=the dabagahis are using busing]
((RACHEL CANNON/NEWS 7, THE DABAGAHIS ARE USING BUSING TO ARGUE THEIR POSITION AS WELL. ONE, THEY SAY THAT A MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUS PASSES THEIR HOME EVERYDAY ON ITS NORMAL ROUTE. SECOND, THAT THE TRIP HERE TO FLOYD COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IS DOUBLE THE DISTANCE FROM THEIR HOUSE.))
[OUT Q=FROM THEIR HOUSE.]
In a matter of months, the family will be moving out of state. Another reason they hoped Alex and Monica could stay where they were established. Debagee says he's willing to pay tuition, the offer was rejected.
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[SOT 53:09:17]
[IN Q=I hurt because ]
((I HURT BECAUSE MY CHILDREN HURT, I CAN LIVE WITH THE BOARD'S DECISION I CAN GO ON WITH MY LIFE IM AN ADULT I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS BUT ITS HARD TO EXPLAIN THEM TO A KID.))
[OUT Q=EXPLAIN THEM TO A KID.]
Rachel Cannon, News 7, Floyd County.))

[Bank-robbery]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
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[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]

An unusually thin man held up a bank in South Boston three years ago. It wasn't until today that authorities announced two arrests in the case.
They've indicted 25-year old Kent Randall Bowman of Nelson and 22-year old Eric Allen Tollerson of Boydton. The pair allegedly made off with about 36-hundred dollars from the One Valley Bank branch in South Boston June 29th, 1998.
The gunman carried a sawed-off shotgun and was covered from head to toe. The tellers said he might have stood 6-feet tall but weighed no more than about 110 pounds.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The rally on Wall Street was short-lived. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/48.58/10228.32/y/17.04/1842.97;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW dropped 49 points today.
NASDAQ fell 17.
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[VO]
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[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Martin]

[ANCHOR=SHannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC1:33:31]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
A Democratic businessman who has never been elected to office is challenging Republican Morgan Griffith for the eighth district House of Delegates seat.
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[VO-NAT 9.5]
[SUPER=403-Salem]
Self described as a conservative democrat, Dana Martin says the Republican leadership in Richmond has put politics before people in this year's budget battle.
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[SOT-17:07:39/17:01:47]
[IN Q=They made an effort to...]
((DANA MARTIN/(D) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES; THEY MADE AN EFFORT TO AND OFTEN DID A GOOD JOB OF SERVING THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN GO MISSING HERE... OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH ITS LIKE THEY HAVE AN EXTRA DELEGATE AT OUR EXPENSE.)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT] ((MARK WARNER/D- CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR; ALL THE HOUSE OF DELEGATE SEATS ARE UP, IT DOES APPEARWITH RETIREMENTS AND REDISTRICTING THE REPUBLICANS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE THEIR MAJORITIES. ALTHOUGH I THINK WE'LL SEE A NUMBER OF SPIRITED CONTESTS, THIS BEING ONE OF THEM.))
[SUPER=401-Dana Martin/(D) Candidate for House of Delegates; :00]
[SUPER=@markwarner; :15]
[RUNS=27]
[OUTQ=this being one of them.]
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[VO-NAT ]
Martin said Barney Fife has done more for law enforcement than Griffith and Governor Gilmore. He says the budget battle has eliminated countless positions at Sheriff's departments statewide.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=Griffith]
Meanwhile, Morgan Griffith says he's disapointed Martin would start his campaign with negative personal attacks. Griffith says Republicans have done more for law enforcement than when Democrats held the majority.

[McEachin]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[TAPE#=01-30 TC1:25:00]
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In Richmond, Democrats also pressed the attack on similar issues-- NO new state troopers, personnel cuts in Virginia prisons and NO pay raises for sheriff's deputies.
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[VO-NAT :14]
[SUPER=403-Richmond;]

Those are just some of the threats to public safety Democrat Donald McEachin says have happened under Republican leaders this year in Richmond.
McEachin serves in the House of Delegates -- but is running for Attorney General.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 05:54:41]
[IN Q=Well you know I was]
((DONALD MCEACHIN/D-CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GEN.: WELL YOU KNOW, I WAS DOING ALL THAT I COULD... RUNNING IN SILENCE ON THESE ISSUES.))
[SUPER=@McEachin;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=running in silence on these issues.]
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[VO-NAT :31]

A Kilgore campaign spokesman says Kilgore is the only one in the race endorsed by 50 sheriffs and 30 Commonwealth's Attorneys.
He's also the one turning 40 today, according to an e-mail from his wife and children, to campaign supporters.
The letter encourages e-mailed birthday greetings to Kilgore -- along with a suggested birthday donation.
Wife Marty writes "If each of his supporters contributes just 40 dollars, Jerry would have enough funds to purchase all the important television ads that will be so critical...."
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[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
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Virginia tech's Ronyell Whitaker and Ben Taylor have made two preseason football watch lists, Bridgewater should rule the ODAC and maybe the nation,
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[VO-NAT]

and we will continue our Friday Football extra preseason reports with a look at Rustburg.
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[S-Cave]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-105]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Friday Football Extra kicks off our 18th season tomorrow night. Cave Spring will begin this season with a new quarterback.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]

Tom Hagan, an all state punter last year, caught 6 touchdown passes as a receiver, now he's the quarterback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we]
[SUPER=01-Ben Foutz/Cave Spring Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=.....along with our team"]
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[S-Rustburg]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-97 (55:02)]
[GRAPHIC=FFE Logo]
Rustburg will defend it's Group Two A state Championship from a season ago.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rustburg; :]

The Red Devils entered the preseason with a lot of positions to fill on both sides of the ball.
Head coach Mike Scharnus says the state championship was sweet but this is a new season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We lost...]
[SUPER=01-Mike Scharnus/Rustburg Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=......we have to fill.]
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[VO-NAT]

Filling those positions should present a challenge for the young Red Devils.
But on a positive note, Rustburg has senior leadership on both sides of the ball.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We're going....]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Mills/Senior Quarterback; :23]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=.....under their belt."]
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[S-VT]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-98]
[GRAPHIC=Tech football]
College football fans can add two Virginia Tech Hokies to their players to watch list.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
Defensive back Ronyell Whitaker has been named to the preseason Jim Thorpe Award watch list. He's one of 38 DB's gunning for the award for the nation's best cover man. Senior Ben Taylor is one of 69 candidates for this year's Butkus award, an honor that goes to the country's best linebacker.
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[S-ODAC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-100 10207tc]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]
Former Tech defensive coordinator Michael Clark has the Bridgewater Eagles soaring. Mike Stevens paid a visit to the home of the preseason favorites to win the ODAC championship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Bridgewater; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Clark/Bridgewater Head Coach; :26]
[SUPER=@mike1; :37]
[SUPER=01-Henry Eggleston/Bridgewater Defensive Back; :55]
[SUPER=01-Brad McCrady/Bridgewater Defensive Back; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Marcus Richardson/1005 Receiving Yards Last Season; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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(( The Eagles of Bridgewater College are flat out loaded with talent this preseason. 10 starters are back on offense and eight more return on the defensive side of the ball. And these aren't just any returning letterman. Bridgewater set an earth shaking 52 different school records a year ago. And this preseason the Eagles are ranked in every single Division Three top 10 poll. ((MICHAEL CLARK/BRIDGWATER HEAD COACH:)) ((MIKE STEVENS:)) ((HENRY EGGLESTON/BRIDGEWATER DEFENSIVE BACK:)) Eggleston, who is from Franklin County is a captain on this year's team and one of just several local products including Northside product Brad McCrady, a junior defensive back who has had a front row seat for the Eagles ride to prominence. ((BRAD MCCRADY:)) Another local kid leading by example is Halifax County's Marcus Richardson, who is back for his fifth season. When he's through he'll have almost all of the school's receiving records and two degrees. ((MARCUS RICHARDSON:)) While this group has turned Bridgewater football completely around it hasn't won an ODAC title in 20 years. In Bridgewater, Mike Stevens News 7 sports.))[Promo]
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[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The chairman of the Bedford County school board is coming under fire.. from his colleagues on the board. [***NEWS 7 GENERIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jean/MB SET]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Jean Jadhon is here with more on that.
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]

On the agenda for tonight's meeting is a discussion of removing Jim Fields as school board chairman.
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[VO-NAT]

The item was brought up at the request of board member Betty Earle, who also wants Fields removed from the committee that selects students to attend the Governor's School.
Also up for dicussion-- a controversial closed meeting the school board held in July.
In other business, the board is expected to pick an architect who will recommend whether Jefferson Forest High School should be closed or renovated.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]

We'll have more on all this tonight on News7 at 11. [DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jean]