[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A fast-moving fire disrupts business for a Bedford mobile home dealer--
The main office at Fleetwood Homes on Route 460 caught fire yesterday evening.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Meanwhile, the situation is improving for residents in Northern California, as firefighters starting making headway against a brush fire.
[ANCHOR=Leo]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Wake up with us-- News 7 Mornin is straight ahead.
[Wildfires]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wildfires]
Firefighters are making progress against a blaze that drove hundreds of people out of their homes in a northern California community.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Weaverville, CA;]
The smoke is still thick.
But as of last night, the fire was 65- percent contained.
Fire officials are allowing residents to return home to survey the damage.
But they're still concerned about high winds.
[SUPER=03-Hopland, CA;]
Meanwhile, the man accused of starting a wildfire that led to the deaths of two pilots was arraigned yesterday.
Frank Brady is charged with two counts of murder.
(------------)
[11Bedford-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-38]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
A Bedford mobile home dealer has suffered a set- back.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/Yesterday;]
The main office at Fleetwood Homes on Route 460 caught fire around five thirty last night.
Fire officials say a gas grill caught fire on the deck-- the blaze then quickly spread.
Last night-- officials said they weren't sure what caused the grill to ignite.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:33:52]
[IN Q=The general manager]
((THE GENERAL MANAGER HE SEEN IT.... WHOLE WORKS WAS ON FIRE.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Hale/Bedford Fire Department;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=was on fire.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Fleetwood official says they managed to get most of their files out, but expect many were damaged by water and smoke.
But that same official said he didn't expect it to affect customers.
(------------)
[11Amherst-Mold]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=501-09 TC1:00:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A school in Amherst County is battling a mold problem.
Officials say a visual inspection of
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]
(ma-NEL-i-son) Monelison Middle School revealed mold in one classroom and in a number of partitions separating rooms.
That after several staff members expressed concern.
Southern Air Services cleaned the room and removed the partitions last night.
It will wipe down surfaces throughout the school today.
Air quality will continue to be monitored when school begins next week.
(-------------)
[11Warren]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC1:42:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A woman will serve 10 years in prison for killing her boyfriend.
Brenda Warren doesn't contest the fact that she stabbed her boyfriend with a steak knife last December.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
In court yesterday, though, she hoped to convince the judge she was a victim of "battered woman" syndrome."
At least three times she'd called police. Assault and battery warrants were filed against Edward Anderson. But she never followed through in court.
Last December, the couple had another fight and she stabbed him, though she says she doesn't remember that.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:04:45]
[IN Q=He just sat down and stared]
((HE JUST SAT DOWN AND STARED AT ME AND KEPT STARING AT ME. HOW LONG WAS HE ALIVE? NOT LONG. A MINUTE OR SO. DID YOU CALL 911? NO.))
[SUPER=01-Brenda Warren/Defendant; :00]
[SUPER=02-Greg Phillips/Warren's Attorney; :07 QUICK!!!!]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=call 911? No.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The judge avoided ruling on whether Warren was a battered woman, noting Warren pled "no contest" to murder with malice.
The judge stuck to the 10- year sentence worked out in an earlier plea agreement.
(------------)
[Rivas]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A jury in Dallas has sentenced the leader of the so- called "Texas Seven" to death for the murder of a police officer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX;]
George Rivas led a group of inmates in an escape from a South Texas prison.
Officer Aubrey Hawkins was killed when the group tried to rob a sporting goods store.
Rivas was the first in the group to face murder charges.
He'd asked jurors to give him the death sentence, instead of life in prison.
It took the jury less than two hours of deliberation yesterday to grant his wish.
Rivas will die by lethal injection.
(------------)
[Aaliyah]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
There's another report that the plane carrying R-and-B singer Aaliyah and eight others MAY have been over-loaded when it crashed last Saturday.
Sources say the Cessna was up to 15- hundred pounds over its take-off weight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
Meanwhile, the first victim of the plane crash, Aaliyah's bodyguard Scott Gallin, was buried yesterday in Miami.
As the investigation continues, the F-A-A says the plane's pilot did NOT have federal authorization to fly the aircraft.
(------------)
[11Westvaco]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-34 TC50:44]
[GRAPHIC=Westvaco]
In business news, paper and chemical manufacturer Westvaco is merging with Ohio based Meade Corporation.
That could mean layoffs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington]
But, Westvaco officials say no workers from its Covington mill should be affected.
Yesterday, the two companies announced the three billion dollar stock swap that will create the fifth largest pulp and paper company in the nation.
Westvaco has spent nearly a billion dollars on its Covington mill in the past 15 years.
That should make the site a valuable part of the new company's fleet.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It creates a stronger...]
((TOM JEWELL;WESTVACO SPOKESMAN; IT CREATES A STRONGER PACKAGING COMPANY. WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON PACKAGING PAPER AND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, AND BOTH COMPANIES BRING STRENGTHS IN THOSE MARKETS.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Jewell/Westvaco Spokesman]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=strengths in those markets.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jewell adds that the merger will help the two mid-sized companies compete in the global market.
(------------)
[11NS-Fiber]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]
People who live along Norfolk-Southern's tracks could get a little extra cash.
That's because an N-S subsidiary wants to lay fiber optic cable along certain routes.
Yesterday, a federal judge said the company will have to pay landowners who have cable on their sides of the tracks.
The settlement gives landowners in 15 states -- including Virginia -- six thousand dollars per mile when fiber optic lines are installed.
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In other business news, Corning announces more layoffs.
And high-tech giant Sun Microsystems says it will probably lose money this quarter.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=your local stocks.]
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[11Common-Cause]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC1:43:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
"Common Cause is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen's lobbying organization promoting open, honest, and accountable government." That's according to its website.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12 ]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
But, the group has closed its Virginia office.
The former director says it was a national office budget decision, which he calls "nuts."
Now, he's fundraising to form a new watchdog group.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:43:06 ]
[IN Q=Really it would be the same role]
((STEVE CALOS/FORMER COMMON CAUSE DIRECTOR: REALLY IT WOULD BE THE SAME ROLE.... TAXPAYER ISSUES FOR EXAMPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Calos/Former Common Cause Director;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=taxpayer issues for example.]
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[SS=None]
Calos (KAY-loce) points out Virginia is one of only two states in the nation electing a governor this fall.
And, the General Assembly is in the middle of attempting campaign finance and tax code reform.
[11College-Hill]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC58:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Ten run-down homes in Lynchburg will soon undergo major renovations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Nearly three million dollars worth of tax credits and grants will help transform houses in the city's College Hill neighborhood into low- income apartments.
Officials say downtown needs more affordable housing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:28:07]
[IN Q=There's not only]
((LAURA DUPUY/NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: THERE'S NOT ONLY DEMAND IN LYNCHBURG FOR DOWNTOWN APARTMENTS AND THAT THESE APARTMENTS WILL BE AT A VERY AFFORDABLE RENT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE. WE HAD TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME AND WE'RE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN INCOME PEOPLE AS WELL, BUT IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE RENTS.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Dupuy/Neighborhood Development Foundation]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=very affordable rents.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The homes will be converted into 28 apartments.
Construction should start next month and be completed in about a year.
(------------)
[11Brownlee]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Western Virginia has a new U-S Attorney.
Though John Brownlee has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, he was sworn in as ACTING U-S Attorney yesterday in a private ceremony in the chief judge's chambers.
Brownlee was appointed by U-S Attorney General John Ashcroft to fill the position until the Senate gets around to confirming Brownlee.
The U-S attorney in Roanoke is the chief federal prosecutor, overseeing offices in Roanoke, Abingdon, and Charlottesville.
[5-Urinary-Control]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-14 49:42]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]
In this morning's Health Check, more than 13 million people, mainly women, suffer with the discomfort and embarrassment of urinary control problems.
It's a condition that has many people scared to leave their homes for fear of having an accident.
But as Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton tells us, a new center is offering hope to people in our area.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For years Betty Hambrick]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;00]
[SUPER=07-Betty Hambrick;07]
[SUPER=03-Salem;25]
[SUPER=01-Kate Briody/Center for Urinary Control;30]
[SUPER=@Joy2; :]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin'.]
((
For years Betty Hambrick suffered with a bladder control problem -- she describes the experience as awful.
(///// SOT /////)
[4:57:01]
[IN Q=I had to use so many pads]
((I HAD TO USE SO MANY PADS -- URINE JUST RAN OUT --AND THIS OPERATION REALLY STOPPED IT -- I HAVE NO LEAKAGE AT ALL NOW))
[RUNS18]
[OUT Q=leakage at all]
That's because Hambrick to turned to the Lewis-Gale Clinic for help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:33:45]
[IN Q=Women after menopause]
((WOMEN AFTER MENOPAUSE WITH THE LACK OF ESTROGEN WILL START HAVING LEAKAGE PROBLEMS SO IT'S ENORMOUS PROBLEM))
[RUNS8]
[OUT Q=it's an enormous problem]
Lewis-Gale says the need for a Urinary Control Center was great --and that's why it combined resources from Urology and Gynecology to open such a place.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:37:07]
[IN Q=We can never say we can offer]
((WE CAN NEVER SAY WE CAN OFFER A TOTAL CURE BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION AND GET THEM TO DO THE THINGS THE ALWAYS ENJOYED DOING))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=always enjoyed doing]
There are four types of Urinary Control Problems.
Stress Incontinence is the most common. It's caused by pressure on the bladder which can may happen during laughing, sneezing or heavy lifting.
Urge Incontinence is often referred to as an overactive bladder -- an uncontrollable need to urinate because of involuntary muscle contractions.
Function Incontinence --mainly affects the elderly who suffer from various conditions.The person either doesn't have the ability to communicate or remember the need to urinate.
Lastly, there is Overflow Incontinence. This condition is more common among men. It causes the bladder to be continually full --because it doesn't empty properly.
Hambrick says for the first time in many years she has finally found relief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT4:59:26]
[IN Q=It's wonderful,]
((IT'S WONDERFUL. IT FEELS WONDERFUL))
[RUNS05]
[OUT Q=feel wonderful]))
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE FS PINNACLE]
If you would like more information
Lewis-Gale Clinic will be holding an Open House today from 10 am to 3 in Building B. You can call 772-3690 for more details.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
Stay with us...News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[bump-chyron]
[Streaming-Video]
[comm #3]
[2-HEADLINES]
[Kim at Desk]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Comedian Bob Hope is recovering from pneumonia in a California hospital.
The 98- year- old performer began complaining of breathing difficulty over the weekend.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic appeared today before the international war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands.
He says he wants to represent himself in court, but the tribunal doesn't honor his wishes.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And some students at V-M-I and Washington and Lee University are getting the chance to relive history this week.
The schools are the backdrop for several scenes in the civil war movie "Gods and Generals."
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Thursday, August 30th .
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[Hope]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Entertainer Bob Hope is in a California hospital, recovering from mild case of pneumonia.
Hope's doctor says the 98-year-old comedian seems to be improving, and could go home in a matter of days.
David Dow reports from Los Angeles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Lee Kagan/Hope's Private Physician; :09]
[SUPER=01-David Dow/Reporting; :52]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=Dow, CBS News, Los Angeles.]
((
Bob Hope was admitted to Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center..not far
from his home..Sunday evening, after complaining of breathing difficulty.
SOT: Dr. Lee Kagan/Internist, Hope's private physician
"Fortunately the problems were picked up very early....very quickly..."
Dr. Lee Kagan says Hope was in "serious condition," but after treatment
with potent antibiotics and respiratory therapy, he offers a cautiously
upbeat prognosis for the 98-year-old entertainer...
SOT: Kagan
"Baring an unforseen circumstances, we anticipate him going home in a
few days."
Hope is not exactly cracking jokes yet, but he's not silent either..
SOT: Kagan
"He responds to us by some talking and by some hand gestures."
Hope was hospitalized a year ago..in Palm Springs..for gastro-intestinal
bleeding. He recovered, and according to his spokesman, has enjoyed
relatively good health since then....
David Dow, CbS News, Los Angeles..
))[Milosevic]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The international war crimes tribunal says it's going to appoint an attorney to help former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, whether he wants one or not.
Milosevic appeared at a hearing today, again insisting
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-The Hague, Netherlands;]
he'll represent himself on charges of crimes against humanity.
He's accused of leading the vicious crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
Milosevic refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the court.
He also complained about the court keeping him in isolation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:38:35 ]
[IN Q=By the order of]
[SUPER=01-Slobodan Milosevic/Former Yugoslav President;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=from my family.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Milosevic's trial should get under way early next year.
(------------)
[11Warner]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-30 TC1:35:06]
[GRAPHIC=John Warner]
Senator John Warner will visit the Lynchburg area today.
It's part of a four-day trip across Southwest Virginia.
He spent yesterday in the New River Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13.5]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
As keynote speaker at the NRV-Montgomery County Republican luncheon, Warner addressed national budget concerns.
A recent federal report says the government will have to dip into Social Security funds to make ends meet.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:06:51]
[IN Q=our economy]
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/(R) VIRGINIA; OUR ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SOFTEN I WANT TO TRY AND REASSURE THIS AUDIENCE AND ALL AMERICANS DON'T GIVE UP ON SOCIAL SECURITY IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE AND I SAY THAT NOT AS A POLITICIAN OR FACETIOUSLY.))
[SUPER=@JohnWarner;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=A POLITICIAN OR FACETIOUSLY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Congress goes back into session Tuesday at which time Warner says specific questions about social security will be answered.
(------------)
[11McEachin-Seniors]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-20]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
Attorney General candidate Donald McEachin wants to crack down more harshly on criminals who prey on senior citizens.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :09]
[SUPER=403-Richmond;]
Democrat McEachin is proposing adding two years in prison to the sentence of a violent offender with an elderly victim.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I believe that ultimately any society]
[sot tape 11:29:52 ]
((DONALD MCEACHIN: I BELIEVE THAT ULTIMATELY, ANY SOCIETY IS JUDGED BY TWO THINGS, HOW THEY TREAT THEIR YOUNG, AND HOW THEY TREAT THEIR ELDERLY. AND IN OUR CASE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT OUR WARS, FARMED OUR FARMLAND, REALLY BUILT THIS COUNTRY INTO THE GREAT NATION THAT IT IS TODAY. AND I THINK THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THEIR GOLDEN YEARS THE BEST YEARS.))
[SUPER=@McEachin;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=golden years the best years.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
But the American Civil Liberties Union says it's approaching crimes against seniors from the wrong angle.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=But we should not treat]
[sot tape 14:55:47 ]
((KENT WILLIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: BUT WE SHOULD NOT TREAT VICTIMS DIFFERENTLY. IF YOU ARE RAPED, AND YOU ARE 18 OR 30 OR 65, YOU'RE STILL RAPED. AND THE PENALTY FOR THAT SHOULD BE INDIVIDUAL... THE AGE OF THE PERSON SHOULD NOT MATTER.))
[SUPER=401-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=the person should NOT matter.]
(----------------)
[TALENT=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
A spokesman for Republican Jerry Kilgore says, quoting now: "Jerry's always for increasing penalties for crimes of ANY kind," but McEachin's proposal is clearly "pandering to seniors to cover up his 'soft on crime' record."
[11Cox-Cable]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC21:20]
[GRAPHIC=Cox Cable]
Cox Cable says four thousand high-speed Internet Service Customers in our area won't notice a thing when "Excite at Home" goes off-line.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The cash-crunched Internet company is edging closer to bankruptcy or a possible buyout since its lender demanded a 50 million dollar payment by Friday.
Cox, "Excite at Home's" local provider, says its been aware of the situation for months.
Cox says it is working to make sure customers will be switched to another provider if the payment isn't made by Friday.
No word yet on who that provider may be.
(------------)
[VOB-Cops-Bikes]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-32]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some Roanoke children are able to hop back on their bikes, thanks to a little help from the community.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 15 before bite]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Yesterday, several Roanoke police officers spent the afternoon repairing bikes "free of charge".
The children live in Jamestown Place-- which is a low income housing community.
For the officers-- it was a chance to show the children they can be trusted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:54:18]
[IN Q=No doubt]
[SUPER=01-James Fazio/Roanoke Police Department;]
((NO DOUBT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER. WE WANT THESE KIDS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE APPROACHING A POLICE OFFICER SAND SEEING OFFICERS IN A ONE ON ONE SITUATION HERE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.))
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=it's all about.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 11.5 plus bite]
Cardinal Bicycle and the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority also pitched in.
Officers say they never expected such a large crowd... and definitely plan to hold another bike repair event.
(------------)
[6-Counts]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-35 TC55:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Salem officials have announced the selection of Pat Counts as the city's new fire chief.
Counts is a twenty-six year veteran of the department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/1994;]
He joined the fire department in 1974, and has served as Assistant Chief for the last seven years.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Counts will succeed Danny Hall, who recently announced his plan to retire at the end of the year.
[6-Gods-Generals]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-31 TC56:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some students at V-M-I and Washington and Lee University have stepped back in time.
The schools are the backdrop for several scenes in the civil war movie "Gods and Generals."
It's a prequel to the movie "Gettysburg."
As Marya Jones reports, reliving its history on the Big Screen is an honor for VMI.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS drumroll]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Rossi/VMI First Classman; :35]
[SUPER=01-Frankie Faison/Actor; 1:08]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=MJ News 7, Lexington.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[NATSOUND]
((NATS: DRUM ROLL))
[RUNS:03]
This time, the cameras were rolling as General Stonewall Jackson's body returned to VMI... the school he taught at before the Civil War.
But if it looked like 1863 on film, everywhere else, it was 2001.
(///// SOT /////)
[NATS: LADY WITH MOVIE CLAPBOARD 19:00:17]
((NATS: MARK. (CLICK.)))
[RUNS:02]
The school turned back the clock for just one day, supplying the backdrop for the Civil War movie "Gods and Generals."
The film chronicles the early years of the Civil War.
It also gave students like David Rossi a chance to re-enact his school's history.
He was one of about two-dozen V-M-I cadets who took leave to spend the day as an extra.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:14:57 - 19:15:03]
((DAVID ROSSI/VMI 1ST CLASSMAN: THE OTHER EXTRAS WERE MAKING COMMENT BECAUSE WE WERE THE ONES THAT COULD STAY IN STEP AND OUR UNIFORMS FIT, SO WE COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE. ))
[RUNS:06]
The film, shot in Virginia and Maryland, has 230 extras and 300 re-enactors.
Lead actors, like Robert Duvall, who plays Robert E. Lee, and Jeff Daniels and Mira Sorvino, were NOT in any of the scenes.
For actor and native Virginian Frankie Faison, who plays Stonewall Jackson's cook, this was a return to the area.
He played a freed slave in the movie "Sommersby."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:11:25 - :42]
((FRANKIE FAISON/ACTOR: IT'S JUST AWESOME AND AWE-INSPIRING BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE EVENTS TOOK PLACE AND AS WE RE-CREATE IT, SOMETHING'S TELLING YOU THE GHOST, THE SPIRIT, IS HERE IN YOU, GIVING YOU A BIT OF ADDED ENERGY AND COMMITMENT.))
[RUNS:17]
(///// SOT /////)
[SU 19:20:12 - :25]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: THE FILMMAKERS CAN GET EVERYTHING THEY NEED HERE IN LEXINGTON IN JUST ONE DAY. BUT THEY PLAN TO STAY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER SHOOTING TWO BATTLE SCENES. THEY EXPECT TO RELEASE THE FILM LATE NEXT YEAR. MJN7, LEXINGTON.))
[RUNS:13]))
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Kmc/LHI]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Western Virginia has a new U-S Attorney.
John Brownlee was sworn in as ACTING U-S Attorney yesterday in a private ceremony in the chief judge's chambers.
Brownlee was appointed by U-S Attorney General John Ashcroft to fill the position until the Senate gets around to confirming Brownlee.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Fire broke out at the main office of Fleetwood Homes on Route 460 in Bedford around five thirty last night.
Officials say a gas grill caught fire on the deck and the blaze then quickly spread.
They aren't sure what caused the grill to ignite.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Officials say a visual inspection of (ma-NEL-i-son) Monelison Middle School in Amherst County revealed mold in one classroom and in a number of partitions separating rooms.
Southern Air Services cleaned the room and removed the partitions last night.
It'll wipe down surfaces throughout the school today.
Air quality will continue to be monitored when school begins next week.
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[ANCHOR=Leo]
(Leo mic hot)
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(Leo ad lib weather)
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[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's Shannon Young with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Medical helicopter]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=on News 7 at 6.]
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[Desk=Kimberly/Leo and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye)
[Desk=Kimberly/Leo and Steve]
by SS