WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/05/01

[War-Update]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Enduring Freedom]

After nine days of talks, Afghan factions have agreed on an interim prime minister and Cabinet.
The groups approved anti-Taliban commander Hamid Karzai to lead Afghanistan for 6 months, as the groundwork is laid for a more permanent government.
Meanwhile, amidst fierce fighting, the Taliban continue to hang on to their last stronghold of Kandahar.
But a Taliban commander admits U-S airstrikes are taking a toll.
Several high-ranking Al-Qaida members are said to have died in recent bombings.
And a U-S soldier who was shot during fighting with the Taliban near Kandahar is in stable condition.
Cindy Pena has the latest now from Washington.
[LIVE= Pena/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Cindy Pena/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington, D.C.;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As the search]
[SUPER=03-Afghanistan;]
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/U. S. Secretary of Defense;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]
((AS THE SEARCH FOR OSAMA BIN LADEN INTENSIFIES, THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM ARE PAYING A HEAVY PRICE.
ANTI-TALIBAN COMMANDERS SAY AT LEAST 10 SENIOR LIEUTENANT'S IN BIN LADEN'S AL-QAIDA NETWORK WERE KILLED BY RECENT U.S. AIRSTRIKES ... NEAR A COMPLEX OF CAVES AND TUNNELS IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN KNOWN AS TORA BORA. THAT'S WHERE BIN LADEN IS BELIEVED TO BE HIDING.
U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE ALSO RECEIVED CREDIBLE REPORTS THAT THE WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS OF BIN LADEN'S TOP STRATEGIST WERE KILLED IN BOMBINGS TO THE SOUTH -- ALONG WITH RELATIVES OF OTHER AL-QAIDA LEADERS.

(NAT)

ANTI-TALIBAN FORCES ARE HELPING TO FLUSH OUT BIN LADEN'S FOLLOWERS FROM THE RUGGED AFGHAN COUNTRYSIDE.
OPPOSITION TROOPS CLASHED WITH AL-QAIDA FIGHTERS AGAIN TODAY ... NEAR THEIR MOUNTAIN HIDEOUTS ALONG THE PAKISTANI BORDER.

(NAT)

MEANWHILE, IN KANDAHAR, TRIBAL FACTIONS CONTINUE TO BATTLE FOR CONTROL OVER THE LAST TALIBAN STRONGHOLD.
A U.S. SOLDIER WAS ALSO SHOT AND WOUNDED DURING FIGHTING AROUND THE CITY.
DEFENSE SECRETARY, DONALD RUMSFELD, HAS NOT RULED OUT SENDING THE MARINES INTO KANDAHAR. HE SAYS THE TALIBAN ARE MAKING IT TOUGH FOR U.S. WARPLANES TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALITIES.

(SOT: DONALD RUMSFELD/ DEFENSE SECRETARY)
"They are using the civilians in Kandahar as shields in effect, and hiding in there. My hope is that we'll be able to resolve it by their surrendering."

(STANDUP)

AFGHAN LEADERS STRIKE AN HISTORIC AGREEMENT IN GERMANY ....
IN WASHINGTON, I'M CINDY PENA FOR CBS NEWS.))

[LIVE= Pena/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Washington, D.C.;]

[Mideast-Violence]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Another apparent suicide bombing in Israel this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]

A central Jerusalem street was covered in blood after an explosion outside a hotel.
Police said three bystanders were injured.
The attack followed two days of Israeli bomb and missile strikes aimed at pressuring Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to move against militants.
Two Palestinians were killed Tuesday and the strikes hit a security station just yards from an office where Arafat was working.
(------------)

[11Henry-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-39 TC2:01:17]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Investigators in Southside want to talk with a potential witness in a murder case.
They believe a person spotted on a surveillance tape at the FasMart on King's Mountain Road near the Martinsville-Henry County line may know something about the murder of Ralph Alvin Hubbard.
(------------)
[VO-NAT ]
The 72-year old had been killed apparently by a gun shot to the head Sunday night.
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Moments later, Hubbard's Toyota pickup truck was found burning in a ravine about a mile away. Investigators say they have a tentative motive for the crime but still need more information.
(///// SOT at :23 /////)
[SOT 2:11-2:17]
[IN Q=Mr. Hubbard is a well-known person.]
((KIMMY NESTER/HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: MR. HUBBARD IS A WELL-KNOWN PERSON. WE BELIEVE AT THIS TIME HE MAY BE THE VICTIM OF A ROBBERY.)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 2:27-2:33 ***** UNDER VIDEO *****]
((THE BIGGEST THING THE PUBLIC CAN DO IS TRY TO HELP US IN TIMELINE... WHERE MR. HUBBARD WAS LAST SEEN.))
[SUPER=01-Kimmy Nester/Henry Co. Sheriff's Department;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=Mr. Hubbard was last seen.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
An autopsy is scheduled for today. If you have any information you're asked to contact Martinsville police or the Henry County Sheriff's Department.
(------------)

[11RC-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Fire and rescue service sparked controversy in Roanoke County last year after paid employees were NOT assigned in certain areas. But the tide has changed. This week-- paid employees began answering rescue calls in some of those communities. Teresa Hamilton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For folks in ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Colin Gee/Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Fire Chief; :16]
[SUPER=01-David Hafey/Career Firefighter-Paramedic; :46 it's 2nd time he speaks]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; :58]
[SUPER=01-Rick Burch/Roanoke Co. Fire & Rescue Chief; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS7, Roanoke Co.]
(( For folks in Mount Pleasant the additional staff is welcome. Many in the Roanoke County community-- including the volunteer fire chief, strongly argued that PAID fire and rescue personnel were needed.
(/////sot///////)
[sot 04:56:52]
[in q=The community]
((COLIN GEE/MT. PLEASANT VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF: THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE YEARS AND WITH THIS GROWTH MORE CALL VOLUME... VOLUNTEERS JUST CAN'T HANDLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STAFFING.)) [runs08]
[OUT Q= HAVE THE STAFFING.]
This week-- the community's request became a reality.
(///sot////)
[sot ]
[in q= I enjoy working ]
((I ENJOY WORKING IN STATIONS LIKE THIS.)) [runs05]
[out q= stations like this.]
From now on-- two paid fire and rescue personnel will help volunteers answer calls in Mount Pleasant. The career staff will both work from six in the morning until six at night Monday through Friday.
(///sot////)
[sot 04:53:47]
[in q= We have had ]
((DAVID HAFEY/CAREER PARAMEDIC/FIREFIGHTER: WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING IN SORT OF ON A MEET AND GREET BASIS WELCOMING US TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE VERY GLAD TO SEE US WE'RE GLAD WE'RE HERE.)) [RUNS10]
[OUTQ= we're here.]
[take su 05:55:42] Mount Pleasant isn't the only community to benefit from career staff... The same set-up also went into effect here at Bent Mountain. [end stand up] Roanoke County's fire and rescue chief says a detailed study showed there was a need for career staff in both locations.
(////sot////)
[sot 04:51:26]
[IN Q=WE LOOKED AT ]
((RICK BURCH/ROANOKE CO. FIRE AND RESCUE CHIEF: WE LOOKED AT REACTION TIME, RESPONSE TIME, AND AVAILABLE STAFFING AND MADE OUR DETERMINATION OF WHERE TO PLACE THE ADDITIONAL CAREER PERSONNEL.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q= CAREER PERSONNEL.]
Burch says over the past year--- 35 new fire and rescue positions have been created and says credit goes to the Board
of Supervisors and County administrator for supporting the plan. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Roanoke County.))

[11Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-56 TC18:04]
[GRAPHIC=Optical Cable]

In business news this morning, the loss of Optical Cable's President also means the loss of an important business contact for Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape]

The county says it supports Optical Cable's business decision to fire Bob Kopstein, but also recognizes the efforts Kopstein made to bring high-tech industry to the Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Bob Kopstein has]
((DOUG CHITTUM: BOB KOPSTEIN HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THIS VALLEY, PEOPLE IN MY FIELD KNOW WHAT BOB HAS DONE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FIELD, I'M SURE ROANOKE WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF KOPSTEIN AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Doug Chittum/Roanoke Co. Economic Development Dir.]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=as well.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[SS=HOLD]

Roanoke County says it believes Optical Cable will continue to be a key business player in the area.

[1st-Business]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ckor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

U-S Steel announces a consolidation plan for the industry.
Here's Barton Eckert with a look at the morning's top business stories..
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Barton Eckert/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=in Washington.]
(( GOOD MORNING THIS WEDNESDAY THE 5TH OF DECEMBER.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING.
--------------------------

BIG STEEL IS GETTING BIGGER WITH A CONSOLIDATION PLAN FOR U.S. STEEL CORP. TO BUY BANKRUPT BETHLEHEM AND COMBINE IT WITH WHEELING PITTSBURGH STEEL.
THE IDEA PUT FORTH BY U.S. STEEL'S PRESIDENT WAS PART OF A STATEMENT TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT BUSH'S GLOBAL ANTI DUMPING PLAN...
IF THAT PLAN GOES AHEAD, FOREIGN SUBSIDIES SLACKEN, AND TARRIFS DIP-- AND U.S. STEEL WOULD PRESS ON WITH TALKS THAT IT'S ALREADY STARTED WITH BETHLEHEM, AND WHEELING PITTSBURGH.
--------------------------

WALL STREET SEEMS TO BE BETTING ON EMBATTLED TECH COMPANIES.. AND THE NATION'S ECONOMY.. ARE POISED FOR AN UPSWING. BUT THINSGS ARE STILL QUITE VOLATILE.
ON ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT .. A POSITIVE NIGHT IN TOKYO.. AS TECHS WERE HIGH FLIERS,..
--------------------------

BUSINESS PACKAGES MIGHT BE CHEAPER TO SEND SOON.U-P-S IS FOLLOWING FED EX'S LEAD AND DUMPING THE STATIC FUEL SURCHARGE. NOW, JUST LIKE IT'S RIVAL, THE EXTRA FEE AT U-P-S WILL BE CUT DOWN FROM A $1.25 AND STARTING IN FEBRUARY WILL FLOAT WITH THE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF DIESEL FUEL.
--------------------------

THE AFL-CIO WANTS IT'S MEMBER UNIONS TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP 10 PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND.. TO DO IT, THEY'RE ASKING FOR EACH UNION TO DEVOTE AT LEAST 30 PERCENT OF THEIR BUDGETS TO ORGANIZING.
THE PUSH COMES AS UNION MEMBERSHIP HAS DECLINED TO A RECORD LOW 13 PERCENT.. STANDING FIRM AT 1955 LEVELS
--------------------------

AND THAT'S YOUR FIRST BUSINESS CHECK ON THE MORNING'S TOP BUSINESS HAPPENINGS..
I'M BARTON ECKERT IN WASHINGTON.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[6-WL-Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:46:07]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some local student-investors at Washington and Lee University made an appearance on C-NBC's "Power Lunch" yesterday.
Their management of a million-dollar school portfolio caught national attention, as did their top stock picks.
As Business Reporter Jennifer Miele found out, the students are turning out to be top picks themselves.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nick Sayers/W&L Investment Club;:18]
[SUPER=01-Hall Shaw/W&L Investment Club;:35]
[SUPER=01-Samantha McLemore/W&L Investment Club;1:08]
[SUPER=@jennifer1;1:15]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=JM News 7 LEXINGTON.]
(([NAT SOUND] [RUNS04]
Say hello to your future broker, soon-to-be investment banker, or, maybe your company's up-and-coming CEO.
CNBC is so sure these W&L students can talk stocks, they sent a camera crew to Lexington to get their picks.
[SOT]
[TC:02:04:30] ((NICK SAYERS/W&L INVESTMENT CLUB: I THINK IT WENT PRETTY WELL, IT WAS FUN. THEY TOLD US TO HAVE FUN WITH IT AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.)) [RUNS04]
Thirty five students in the William's Investment Society manage a million dollar account for the school.
Students say diversity in their portfolio and in their club are keys to success.
[SOT]
((HALL SHAW/W&L INVESTMENT CLUB: YOU'LL HAVE ART HISTORY STUDENTS IN THERE, AND BIOLOGY STUDENTS, IT ALLOWS FOR DIVERSE OPTIONS.)) [RUNS04] [NAT] [RUNS05]
The entire club and its advisors got a good laugh from the appearance on CNBC's Power Lunch.
Their advice today... HOLD Royal Caribbean, BUY VeriSign. [NAT] [RUNS07]
It seems the time these kids have invested in the club is about to pay off.
[SOT]
((SAMANTHA MCLEMORE/INVESTMENT CLUB: I HAVE A FEW OFFERS IN INVESTMENT BANKING IN NEW YORK, OR WORKING FOR BILL MILLER IN BALTIMORE FOR THE VALUE TRUST FUND.)) [RUNS06] [STAND UP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: WASHINGTON AND LEE IS RANKED 13TH AMONG LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS. ITS BUSINESS SCHOOL IS NOT RANKED, BUT ITS A TOP PICK FOR THESE STUDENTS. JENNIFER MIELE, NEWS 7, LEXINGTON.)) [RUNS07]))

(Marya tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Kilgore]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC18:54]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Kilgore]

Virginia's new attorney general wants the death penalty for some terrorists.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :09]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Jerry Kilgore says terrorists convicted of orchestrating a major incident should pay with their lives.
And he believes most lawmakers support the idea.
(///// SOT at :09 /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think they'll be receptive]
((JERRY KILGORE/ATTORNEY GENERAL-ELECT: I THINK THEY'LL BE RECEPTIVE TO ANY BILL IN THIS SESSION THAT DEALS WITH TERRORISM OR TERRORIST ACTS TO MAKE IF YOU WILL OUR LAWS TOUGHER AND CERTAINLY TO MODERNIZE OUR LAWS TO DEAL WITH THREATS WE KNOW WILL COME.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Kilgore/Attorney General-Elect;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=we know will come.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Among Kilgore's proposals: making it a felony to possess biological, chemical or nuclear substances, and increasing the penalties for using computers in terrorist acts.
(------------)

[VOB-RC-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mor]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
This week signaled change for fire and rescue in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
On Monday, paid fire and rescue personnel began helping volunteers answering calls in Mount Pleasant. Two employees are stationed there 12- hours a day... five days a week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:55:01]
[IN Q=Mount Pleasant has ]
[SUPER=01-David Hafey/Career Firefighter-Paramedic;]
((MOUNT PLEASANT HAS A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THEY ALWAYS HAVE SO WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T LIVE HERE THE COMMUNITY TAKES YOU IN. I ENJOY WORKING IN STATIONS LIKE THIS.))
[RUNS=15 approx.]
[OUT Q=stations like this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Two paid fire and rescue workers are also in place at Roanoke County's Bent Mountain station.
(------------)

[11County-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-48 TC1:38:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Officials in Roanoke County are not anticipating any painful cuts, but they ARE watching closely as the national recession and the state's budget woes come into focus.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

State funding has a major impact on schools, law enforcement and other local services.
Like other local governments in western Virginia, Roanoke County is now trying to assess how the state's budget problems will affect revenues.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:57:15]
[IN Q=The new Governor of Virginia]
[SUPER=01-Bob Johnson/Hollins Supervisor]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=as best is possible.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=None]

County officials expect to weather this downturn without severe cutbacks.... but they are keeping some vacant positions open to save money.

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, things are looking up for the airline industry, but how long will it last?
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((THERE IS A SILVER LINING AROUND THE CLOUDS HOVERING OVER THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY. NOVEMBER AIRLINE TRAFFIC SHOWED SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. BUT ANALYSTS CAUTION THAT AIRLINE TRAFFIC COULD DIP AGAIN AFTER THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON. KEEP YOUR EYE ON STEELMAKERS. THE TOP STEEL COMPANIES ARE AIMING TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMNET AND SHAREHOLDERS THAT FEWER COMPANIES WOULD MAKE FOR A BETTER INDUSTRY.
(graphic)
U-S STEEL, THE NATION'S LARGEST STEEL PRODUCER IS DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT WOULD CALL FOR SIGNFICANT CONSOLIDATION IN THE INDUSTRY. Inexpensive, imported steel and what U.S. steelmakers say are illegal subsidies have forced 17 U.S. steel companies into bankruptcy protection since 1998.
(on cam)
ON WALL STREET, THE MARKET FOUND ITS FOOTING LATE IN THE DAY
(graphic)
DOW ROCKETED ABOUT 130 POINTS
(graphic)
NASDAQ WAS HIGHER FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE DAYS, P 58. HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE AUGUST 14TH.
(graphic)
G-E WAS AMONG THE WINNERS , HOME DEPOT RALLIED AFTER BEING ADDED TO THE FOCUS LIST AT MERRILL LYNCH. AND CISCO SYSTEM'S CEO SAID SALES FOR NOVEMBER WERE ON TARGET AND HE'S CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GAINING MARKET SHARE IN THE CURRENT QTR.
(on cam)
ONE DAY AFTER FILING THE BIGGEST BANKRUPTCY IN U-S HISTORY INVESTORS PLUGGED BACK INTO ENRON..
(graphic)
THE STOCK RALLIED MORE THAN 100 PERCENT AFTER THE EMBATTLED ENERGY GIANT RECEIVED 1.5 BLN DOLLARS IN NEW FINANCING FROM CITIGROUP AND JP MORGAN CHASE.
(graphic)
TRACK ALL THE AFTER BELL ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM. AT THE NASDAQ
(ON CAM)
I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS IN NEW YORK.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM#7]

[11Bus-Pedestrian]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=501-08 TC1:18:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A pedestrian was hit by a Valley Metro bus near the Roanoke City Market.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The accident happened around 12:15 yesterday on Salem Avenue, between Jefferson and First Streets.
55-year-old Stephen Sheets of Meadowcrest Drive was hit after he entered a crosswalk.
He had injuries to his head and face, and was taken to Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Police closed off the street and spent most of the afternoon investigating the accident.
(------------)

[11C'Burg-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
An elderly Blacksburg woman died after a Christiansburg accident. Officials say 71-year-old Panzie Elmore Dennis was involved in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Laurel and Sycamore Streets on Sunday.
She later died at Montgomery Regional Hospital.

[11Monty-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Today's tax deadline for some Montgomery County residents may be tough to meet.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
County Treasurer Ellis Meredith says the problem is with the administration's computer system. Meredith says since the introduction of the MUNIS (Mew-ness) program in 19-99, bills have been wrong, addresses incorrect and tax tickets missing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:17:08]
[IN Q=I would say ]
((ELLIS MEREDITH/MONTGOMERY CO. TREASURER; I WOULD SAY IN AN EXCESS OF 2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S OUT THERE AND THEY'RE DELINQUENT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAIL A DELINQUENT TAX NOTE TO A TAXPAYER SINCE 98.))
[SUPER=01-Ellis Meredith/Montgomery Co. Treasurer;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=since 98.]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
Meredith says there's approximately 75-thousand real estate and personal property tax bills being affected. Meanwhile, the county spokesman says other administrators are using (Mew-ness) MUNIS successfully.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:29:50]
[IN Q=it is implemented]
((ROBERT PARKER/MONTGOMERY CO. SPOKESMAN; IT IS IMPLEMENTED AND WORKING IN THE FINANCE OFFICE ITS IMPLEMENTED AND WORKING IN THE PAYROLL OFFICE ITS 90-PERCENT IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S OF REVENUE OFFICE NOW IN THE TREASURERS OFFICE OF COURSE THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Parker/Montgomery Co. Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=A DIFFERENT STORY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Parker says they will continue to work through the problems. If residents have a question about a tax bill or lack of one, they can call the county.
(------------)

[11WL-Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:48:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Washington and Lee University's student investment club got a taste of national exposure on CNBC's "Power Lunch."

(////////SOT////////)
[TC:01:58:39] ((IT ALSO CONTROLS..... GROWTH PROSPECT THERE.))
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
[RUNS=06]
[OUTQ=growth prospect there.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The thirty five students involved in the William's Investment Society manage a million dollar portfolio for the school.
CNBC asked for their top stock picks yesterday... which included holding Royal Caribbean and buying Verisign.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[TC:02:05:00]
[IN Q=Sophomore year I knew]
((NICK SAYERS/W&L INVESTMENT CLUB; SOPHOMORE YEAR I KNEW I HAD AN INTEREST IN FINANCE AND I WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT MORE AND THAT'S WHY I GOT INVOLVED IN THE SOCIETY.))
[SUPER=01-Nick Sayers/W&L Investment Club]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=the society.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

These soon-to-be brokers, investment bankers and C-E-O's are becoming top picks of their own...
Many have already been recruited for positions at major financial firms. (------------)