WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/29/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor gloom of night..." can stop the mail.
But suspicious substance can, and did in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Plus, the lights may be on but nobody will be "At Home" tomorrow. We'll show you how the internet service provider's bankruptcy problems could affect your service.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, We'll have full coverage of the state football playoffs plus previews on Friday Football Extra Friday night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Steve Mason will sit down with former Virginia Head Football coach George Welsh.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

The weather is holding for the Vinton Christmas parade but showers will move in later tonight. The latest radar pictures are coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 45:27:04]
[IN Q=IT MAKES ME]
((KAREN MOST/POSTAL CUSTOMER; IT MAKES ME KINDA MAD, THAT YOU KNOW, EVEN IN SMALL TOWN BLACKSBURG WERE GOING THROUGH THIS, WHICH I DIDN'T EXPECT.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=I DIDN'T EXPECT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
A suspicious substance shuts down postal delivery service in Blacksburg.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Officials say test results show letter carriers can once again make their rounds.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Post-Office]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC14:55]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Test results just back from the state forensic lab show it's not anthrax and not harmful.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The beige, granular substance was found in two separate areas of the University City Boulevard post office and caused more than 50-thousand people to go without their mail.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]
News 7's New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon is live in Blacksburg with more... Keith, Shannon... The location is a main sorting facility.
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
It serves all of Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech campus and some Montgomery County residents. At this time it's being cleaned so business can resume as usual. Officials say mail held there today...will go out tomorrow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nats cars]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Karen Most/Postal Customer; :08]
[SUPER=01-Heather Browning/Town of Blacksburg Spokeswoman; :30]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q=BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING.]
((Nats TC It's been stop...and then go all day for postal customers in Blacksburg. Karen Most came to mail a gift.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 44:47:20]
[IN Q=it's inconveinant]
((KAREN MOST/POSTAL CUSTOMER; IT'S INCONVENIENT CAUSE I DROVE TO THIS SIDE OF TOWN BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE IS SO MUCH HARDER TO GET INTO AND ITS CROWDED USUALLY SO I CAME HERE FOR THE CONVENIENCE FACTOR AND NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK DOWNTOWN.))
[OUT Q=BACK DOWNTOWN.]
The location was evacuated and closed just after 4 a-m. An employee first found the substance on a mail sorting machine. When more was discovered, a State Hazmat official was called in.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 42:55:21]
[IN Q=HE'LL MAKE]
((HEATHER BROWNING/TOWN OF BLACKSBURG SPOKESWOMAN; HE'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO BRING A HAZMAT TEAM IN TO FINISH CLEANING UP THE MATERIAL THAT'S HERE TODAY.))
[OUT Q=HERE TODAY.]
Because test results show the substance NOT to be harmful, the building is being cleaned. Officials believe, better safe than sorry.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 43:09:29]
[IN Q=WERE JUST TRYING]
((WERE JUST TRYING TO TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND EVERYONE FEELS SECURE))
[OUT Q=FEELS SECURE.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 45:17:23]
[IN Q=i think its]
(( I THINK IT'S GETTING EXCESSIVE BUT I GUESS ITS FOR THE GOOD OF I GUESS ITS IMPORTANT ENOUGH BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING.))
[OUT Q=ITS FRUSTRATING.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
The test results don't identify exactly what the beige substance is, but
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
Keith Shannon, officials say a U-S Postal Inspector and the FBI will investigate the possibility that someone may have placed the substance as a hoax.

[Anthrax-Hoax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-56 TC13:44]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax Scare]

One of the F-B-I's ten most wanted fugitives is suspected of sending Anthrax Hoax letters to abortion clinics around the country.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[*** NO SUPER ***]
Attorney General John Ashcroft says Clayton Lee Waagner claimed responsibility for sending the letters in October and November.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

Planned Parenthood clinics in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Charlottesville all received similar hoaxes.
Ashcroft says such hoaxes and threats are considered ''serious violations of federal law.''

[Bank-Electrocution]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A man was electrocuted in downtown Roanoke this afternoon.
Authorities say 49-year-old David E. Simmons was working on the electrical system inside First Citizens Bank.
A co-worker found him unconscious and called for help.
Simmons was pronounced dead at Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

[Westvaco]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-39 TC1:55:49]
[GRAPHIC=Westvaco]
Nearly 90 percent of hourly workers at Westvaco's Covington mill have rejected the company's latest contract offer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :13]
[SUPER=03-Covington;]
The current six year contract for more than a thousand hourly employees expires Saturday. The union wants more retirement benefits, an increase in pension benefits and higher wages than Westvaco offered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 19:55:02WED]
[IN Q=We feel like...]
((TOM JEWELL/WESTVACO; WE FEEL LIKE WE EXTENDED A VERY FAIR OFFER TO OUR EMPLOYEES, ONE THAT IS COMPETITIVE. WE'VE MADE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN THEIR PENSION BENEFITS, WHICH IS SOMETHING OUR EMPLOYEES ASKED FOR.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Jewell/Westvaco; ]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=something our employees asked for.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :7.5]
Union officials say the two sides are close on some issues, but more talks are needed to hammer out the differences.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 20:35:22]
[IN Q=I think we're close enough...]
((RON BROWN/PACE LOCAL 675 PRESIDENT; I THINK WE'RE CLOSE ENOUGH ON THE PENSION ISSUE IF THEY ARE READY TO MOVE ON IT, AND IF THEY ARE WILLING TO MOVE ON THE INSURANCE ISSUES, THEN I THINK WE CAN MOVE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION FOR AN AGREEMENT BOTH PARTIES CAN LIVE WITH.))
[SUPER=01-Ron Brown/PACE Local 675 President; ]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT - :10+]
So far, no date has been set for the sides to resume contract talks. Union officials say, for now, the employees will work past Saturday's deadline on their existing contract.
(-------------)

[Cox-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-57 TC19:56]
[GRAPHIC=The Internet]

If creditors have their way, a federal bankruptcy court judge will pull the plug on Internet Service Provider "At Home" tomorrow at midnight.
That means hundreds of Roanoke customers could lose their high-speed Internet access... at least temporarily.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Jennifer /Newsroom;]

Business Reporter Jennifer Miele joins us now.
So Jen what does Cox-At-Home plan to do about it?
[LIVE=Jennifer /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]

Keith what Cox promises to do is replace that high-speed cable Internet access with regular dial up service.
That would only be temporary because Cox plans to have its own high-speed network up and running by mid-December.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Joel Sink is a]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Joel Sink/Cox*home Customer;:12]
[SUPER=01-Mike Pedelty/Cox Cable;:44]
[RUNS=51]
[OUT Q=calling here.]
(( Joel Sink is a Cox-At-Home customer.
He pays $105 ... and he's not happy about the possibility of a service interruption.
[SOT]
[tc:00:55:41] ((JOEL SINK: MY E-MAIL WILL BE GONE. I BOUGHT A LOT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ON THE INTERNET. A LOT HAVEN'T HAVEN'T SHIPPED YET. THEY WAY THEY ARE GOING TO CONTACT ME IS THROUGH THE INTERNET. I'LL LOSE A THE ABILITY TO TRACK THAT.)) [RUNS12]
Cox is betting that the bankruptcy judge will allow a transition period... two weeks would give Cox enough time to switch all its customers over to its own network.
Roanoke will be the first area in the country to hop on the new Cox High Speed Internet Network.
Cox should be sending all customers e-mail instructions.
Call them if you've got a problem.
[SOT]
[tc:01:02:01] ((MIKE PEDELTY/COX: ONE ON THE NICE THINGS ABOUT ROANOKE IS THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN THEIR-ONE CALL CENTER. WHEN YOU CALL IN ABOUT YOUR SERVICE YOU ARE CALLING HERE.)) [RUNS06]))
(----------------)
[LIVE=Keith /FULL Newsroom]

Cox officials realize that dial-up service is much slower than high-speed, so they plan to provide dial-up service free of charge until all its customers are switched to the new network AND Cox will re-imburse customers for a majority of their dial-up expenses.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Jennifer /Newsroom;]

Keith.

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

The National D-Day Memorial has brought thousands of visitors to Bedford.
Next on News 7, see how the city's working on ways to keep them coming back.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And it's not just another trip to the mall for these students...
They're learning how the toysyou buy can affect your child's development
(----------------)

[581-Ax]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A multi-car collision is blocking traffic on 581 in Roanoke.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(XXXXXXXXXXXXX)
[MILL Mt. Camera LIVE]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

The accident is blocking all three lanes of southbound traffic, just north of Elm Avenue.
Officials do not know how long it will take to clear the scene.
(-------------)

[Foreign-Students]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:41:24]
[ANCHOR=Keith]

America's international student visa procedure is changing.
That's having a significant effect at Virginia Tech.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18.5]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Longer background checks will start immediately says Tech's Graduate School Dean Joe Merola. He says prospective foreign students are being encouraged to apply early because of the wait for a visa. Merola says the University's international population has been climbing steadily since 1997.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 48:58:07]
[IN Q=from the number]
((JOSEPH MEROLA/VT GRADUATE SCHOOL ACTING DEAN; FROM THE NUMBERS OF INQUIRIES WE ARE STILL RECEIVING AS WELL AS THE INTEREST WE HAVE HAD IN YEARS PAST IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS I DON'T EXPECT TO SEE A DECREASE.))
[SUPER=01-Joseph Merola/VT Graduate School Acting Dean; ]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=to see a decrease.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Tech Enrollment numbers for Fall 2001 show a total of two- thousand -87 international students representing 118 countries. A majority are in graduate programs.
(------------)

[Resk]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=501-11 TC52:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The state Board of Medicine is challenging a Roanoke-area doctor's professional conduct.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./April 2000]
The Board alleges Dr. Joan Resk obtains TWO blood and serum profiles on most new patients. She admitted to the Health Professions' investigator that that costs about 860-dollars. A doctor of osteopathy in the Clearbrook area for about three years, Dr. Resk's license is now listed on the state Health Professions web site as subject to disciplinary proceedings.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Citing the records of one un-named patient, the report says Resk prescribed chromium, zinc and magnesium supplements and a "Zoloft starter kit" without noting the strength, dosage or quantity. Under follow up, she'd written: "Take care of yourself, or suffer the consequences." Dr. Resk will get to tell her side at a public hearing that had been set for next month but was postponed at her lawyer's request.

[Visitors-Center]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-45 TC1:55:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Now that the D-Day Memorial has helped put Bedford on the map, tourism officials hope visitors check out that map for more attractions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

To help them along, the city and county today dedicated a new visitors center at the intersection of Routes 460 and 122.
Inside, tourists can get information about sites to visit, hotels to stay in and the best places to eat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:16:49//14:18:42]
[IN Q=So we'll be]
((NANCI DRAKE/TOURISM DIRECTOR: SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA, NOT ONLY HERE IN BEDFORD BUT HERE IN THE REGION. SO WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM TO SAY A DAY OR TWO LONGER THAN THEY MIGHT WOULD HAVE OR MAKE A RETURN TRIP.)) ((BILL ROLFE/BEDFORD CO. ADMINISTRATOR: WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, VDOT'S GOT THE SIGNS UP TELLING PEOPLE OUT ON 460 THAT THERE'S A VISITORS CENTER HERE AND EVERYTHING, AND I JUST THINK WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE ORGANIZED IN BEING ABLE TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE ATTRACTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.))
[SUPER=01-Nanci Drake/Tourism Director; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bill Rolfe/Bedford Co. Administrator; :17]
[RUNS=31]
[OUT Q=and the county.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The center cost about 180-thousand dollars to construct.
It's only temporary.. another, much larger facility will be built next door in 2002.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

You'll notice a new listing on our local stocks report tonight.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Advance Auto began trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol A-A-P. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/117.56/9829.42/x/45.29/1933.26;]

Meanwhile, the DOW climbed 117 and a half points.
NASDAQ gained 45.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271- //41.70/h/0.14/40.58/h/1.89/63.60/h/0.01/13.27/h/0.15/6.07;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.30/58.85/h/0.44/48.19/h/0.38/39.73/i/0.01/22.00//Unchg/39.01;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.45/25.50/i/0.07/19.37/i/0.07/1.24/h/2.05/46.98/h/1.16/14.34;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.26/63.66/h/0.26/65.39/i/0.39/47.46/h/0.43/30.92/i/0.35/54.65;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Toys]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-53 TC40:55]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The hottest toys aren't always the best option for children.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

That's the lesson some local college students learned as part of a class assignment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT:13]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]

These Virginia Tech students were required to pick-out the best toys.
The criteria -- that the toys be safe and help with the child's development.
One student says she found that many toys don't challenge kids.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:29:59]
[IN Q=I think it opened my mind]
((AMY WOODFIELD/VIRGINIA TECH STUDENT:I THINK IT OPENED MY MIND TO GETTING SOMETHING TO HELP THE CHILD LATER ON))
[SUPER=01-Amy Woodfield/Virginia Tech Student]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=child later on]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT:12]

Associate Professor Cosby Rogers says parents should realize that toys are very important.
She says play is the most effective way to learn and greatly impacts the child's development.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:23:15]
[IN Q=Look past the hype for cool toys]
((COSBY ROGERS/HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOC. PROFESSOR: LOOK PAST THE HYPE FOR COOL TOYS. LOOK FOR THE BASICS AND THEY OFTEN START WITH THE B'S --BLOCKS-BALLS, BABY DOLLS AND BUILDING MATERIALS))
[SUPER=01-Cosby Rogers/Assoc. Professor of Human Development ]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=and building materials]
(------------)
[VO-NAT:11]

The students did have a chance to put their classwork to good use.
They purchased more than 500-dollars worth of toys and donated them to the Montgomery County Christmas store.
(------------)

[Vinton-Parade]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=pev]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures, the Vinton Christmas Parade steps off tonight.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Patrick/Microwave;]

Patrick Evans joins us from the parade's staging area, and Patrick, has the warm weather detracted from the Holiday atmosphere?
[LIVE=Patrick Full]

[SUPER=@Patrick1;]
[SUPER=05-Vinton;]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Parks/Poppin' Country Kettle Korn;]
[SUPER=05-Vinton;]

[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Patrick/Microwave;]

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]

And coming up in sports, What's George Welsh doing now that he's away from football the state high school football playoffs continue this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And South Lakes distance runner Alan Webb is track and fields top high school athlete.
(------------)

[S-Welsh]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-113 5:56]
[GRAPHIC=UVa/Penn State]

Virginia and Penn State meet Saturday in a make up game.
[graphic=george welsh]
Former UVa coach George Welsh coached 10 years at Penn State as an assistant. Part of that time he worked under Joe Paterno. Steve Mason updates us on UVa's winningest coach.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :12]
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/Coached 19 Seasons at UVa; :18]
[SUPER=@steve2; :31]
[SUPER=04-November 10 - Georgia Tech vs. Virginia; 1:08]
[RUNS=2:07]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(-----------------)

[S-FFE]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-114 304TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

The high school football season has reached the State Semi-Finals. Here's a look at the list of Friday Football Extra Final Four contests statewide
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FFE LOGO AND MUSIC]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=...logo returns full.]
(-----------)

[S-Glenn]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-112 (5:54)]
[GRAPHIC=NFL Logo]

The relationship between Terry Glenn and the New England Patriots could be over.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :]

The wide receiver's locker was cleared out today and his nameplate was removed.
Yesterday, The Patriots suspended Glenn for one game in what the team will only call a disciplinary matter.
Glenn has missed the last six games for what he says is a hamstring injury but the Patriot coaching staff say the hamstring is better.
(------------)

[S-Webb]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-101 (1:42:00)]
[GRAPHIC=Sports Logo]

Reston distance runner Alan Webb receives more honors today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :]

Verizon has named the track and field star its Youth Athlete of the year. The U-S-A track and field awards the honor to the country's top high school track and field athlete.
Webb, of South Lakes high school, won national recognition this year after breaking the high school mile record held by legendary runner Jim Ryun for 36 years.
Webb now runs for Michigan State. (------------)