WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/11/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Beautiful weather today with sunny skies and warm temperatures.
Meteorolgist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast details coming up after the news.

[7-11Grant]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-30 TC1:48:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The former secretary of the Lynchburg electoral boards is fighting to clear his name as he faces allegations of financial misconduct.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/1992]

Al Grant officially resigned his position yesterday after a week of scrutiny over his use of a city credit card for electoral board expenses.
Grant's attorney.. former state G-O-P chairman Patrick McSweeney.. says his client resigned because the "blizzard of false accusations" has made it impossible for the electoral board to conduct its business.
Grant also plans to present evidence that will refute claims he ran up improper charges for travel and other expenses.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

The state electoral board has asked Grant to appear at its meeting today in Richmond.

[7-11Moonshine]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC1:58:04]
[GRAPHIC=Moonshine]
A federal jury could hear opening statements today in the trial of seven southwest Virginia residents accused of moonshining.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Ralph Hale, his son, wife and sister, along with William Helms and two others- -seven defendants all told- -are all that's left of 28 people indicted under Operation Lightning Strike.
Most of the rest have pled guilty... and some of those may be called as witnesses against the Hales.
The jury will hear opening statements today.
(------------)

[7-11Natural-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-23 TC1:50:40]
[GRAPHIC=Heating Prices]
With winter right around the corner ... gas prices are looking just right.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Year]

Roanoke Gas company says an increase in natural gas supply will drive prices down 15 to 20 percent this season.
That means the average customer will pay 150 to 200 dollars less to heat a home.
The company has 15-hundred customers who still haven't paid their bills from last year and urges them to do so soon. [tc:11:51:18]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our biggest worry]
((JOHN WILLIAMSON: OUR BIGGEST WORRY IS THAT OCTOBER 5TH OR 6TH WE GET A COLD STORM AND EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THEIR PAST DUES AND CLEAR THEM UP, BUT WE'D MUCH RATHER HAVE THEM DO IT OVER A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.))
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/Roanoke Gas Co.]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=period of time.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Although prices are expected to drop this season, they are still about 30 percent higher than two years ago.

[7-11Rabies]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A rabies scare in Bedford has urging city residents to avoid stray animals and keep their own pets' vaccinations up to date.
A Bedford man is undergoing treatment, because he was scratched by a stray cat over the weekend.
The animal later tested positive for rabies.
It's the second case in Bedford since July, and the tenth in the Lynchburg district this year.

[WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.... Get out and enjoy the weather today. Look for sunny skies with temperatures near 80. Meteorolgist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast coming up in just a few moments.

[45-VOB-Avalanche]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche Carolina League Champs]
The Salem Avalanche scored a major victory last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 13 BEFORE BITE]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Night; ]
For the first time in 14- years-- Salem has clinched the Carolina League Championship Series. The team beat Wilmington six to four at Salem Memorial Stadium. For Avalanche fans-- it was a victory long overdue.
(///// SOT ///// 01:01:54 ........ 00:38:02)
[SOT-- NO SUPER ON THE FIRST BITE]
[IN Q=IT'S WONDERFUL]
((IT'S WONDERFUL. THESE GUYS DESERVE IT. THEY PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT. IT'S PERFECT. WATCHING BASEBALL IN SEPTEMBER. IT'S INCREDIBLE.)) ((DONNA PLATTER/AVALANCHE FAN: WE'RE REAL HAPPY FOR THEM, GOING TO HATE TO SEE THE SEASON END BUT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO TO WIN IT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Donna Platter/Avalanche Fan; :10]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=win it all.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 5 PLUS PAD]
An estimated 35- hundred people were on hand to watch the Avalanche take the title.
(------------)

[45-11Franklin-Bank]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Banking]

Salem Avalanche owner Kelvin Bowles is doing more than celebrating his team's new title... he's helping to start a new bank.
Bowles and about a dozen Franklin County residents put their heads together to create the new Franklin Community Bank which will make a public offering tomorrow.
The bank will be located at the CATCE Center in Rocky Mount and is expected to open early next year.
Virginia Home Furnishings owner Joel Shepherd is also one of the organizers.

[45-11Va-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC1:56:55]
[GRAPHIC=Tech]
Virginia Tech has plans to turn University research into profit, and they're hoping to do it "quickly".
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Tech says it's joining forces with three national company creators to form a "business accelerator" called V-T Knowledge works. Based out of Tech's Corporate Research Center, officials say the initiative will commercialize research and boost the local economy. VT Knowledge works will help technology entrepreneurs develop models, plans, and funding.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:47:28 - :02]
[IN Q=designed to ]
((CHARLES STEGER/VT PRESIDENT; DESIGNED TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE CREATED AT VIRGINIA TECH LABORATORIES TO CREATE NEW COMPANIES AT A GREATLY ACCELERATED PACE IT WILL TAKE NEW COMPANIES FROM THE CONCEPT TO OPERATIONS IN A FRACTION OF THE USUAL TIME. ))
[SUPER=01-Charles Steger/VT President; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=FRACTION OF THE USUAL TIME.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials estimate the venture will develop 40-companies within five-years. Tech along with its three-partners... e-Incubator, Redleaf and Launchfuel have provided 2-million dollars to get VT Knowledgeworks up and running.
(------------)

[45-11RU-Pepsi]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-46 26:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Radford University and Pepsi are now partners.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
As part of the deal, the soda giant will provide just over one-million dollars to help with construction of a new student union. Pepsi representatives met with Radford officials today to present over 3-hundred thousand dollars for the project.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Earlier this month, Virginia Tech announced it's an exclusive Coke campus...with a 17-million dollar deal over 10-years.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... A beautiful sunny day today. Look for clear skies and warm temperatures.
Meteorolgist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast details coming up after the news.

[8-VOB-Avalanche]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche Carolina League Champs]

The Salem Avalanche get their biggest victory in over a decade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 13 BEFORE BITE]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Night; ]
For the first time in 14- years-- Salem has clinched the Carolina League Championship Series. The team beat Wilmington six to four at Salem Memorial Stadium. For Avalanche fans-- it was a victory long overdue.
(///// SOT ///// 01:01:54 ........ 00:38:02)
[SOT-- NO SUPER ON THE FIRST BITE]
[IN Q=IT'S WONDERFUL]
((IT'S WONDERFUL. THESE GUYS DESERVE IT. THEY PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT. IT'S PERFECT. WATCHING BASEBALL IN SEPTEMBER. IT'S INCREDIBLE.)) ((DONNA PLATTER/AVALANCHE FAN: WE'RE REAL HAPPY FOR THEM, GOING TO HATE TO SEE THE SEASON END BUT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO TO WIN IT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Donna Platter/Avalanche Fan; :10]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=win it all.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 5 PLUS PAD]
An estimated 35- hundred people were on hand to watch the Avalanche take the title.
(------------)

[8-11Fire-Station]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC32:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A protest against changes to Roanoke's fire stations had simmered down by mid morning yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Protesters from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference picketed city hall for about three hours..
They say the city's plan to close one fire station and consolidate several others is a cost-saving measure that targets the black community.
But city officials say the plan will actually REDUCE emergency response times, and bring state-of-the-art life saving equipment to Roanoke.
(------------)

[8-6Redistricting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-36 TC1:11:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Salem judge presided over a redistricting lawsuit case against the state filed by Virginia Democrats.
But court was held in Hilton Head, South Carolina where Circuit Judge Richard Pattisall is vacationing
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/July 27;]
Judge Pattisall was expected to hear motions on whether to step down from the case. He's also expected to rule on the Democrats' request to force the state to keep existing legislative districts in place when voters choose General Assembly members this November.
Attorneys for Governor Gilmore and legislators named in the lawsuit had fought to move the case to Richmond.
But Judge Richard Pattisall denied their request, saying that "irreparable harm outweighs convenience."
(------------)

[8-11Rabies]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A rabies scare in Bedford has officials there urging city residents to avoid stray animals and keep their own pets' vaccinations up to date.
A Bedford man is undergoing treatment, because he was scratched by a stray cat over the weekend.
The animal later tested positive for rabies. It's the second case in Bedford since July, and the tenth in the Lynchburg district this year.