WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/29/01

[First-Night]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC-00:12]
[GRAPHIC=News7 at 6]

If you enjoy First Night in downtown Roanoke, you'll have to make alternate plans this New Years Eve.
The event is taking the year off.
And as Justin McLeod discovered--- the news has left many disappointed and wondering whether First Night will be ba
ck for 2002.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound of downtown Roanoke]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Archie Hodges/Roanoke Resident; :18]
[SUPER=01-Ray Baughman/Roanoke Resident; :35]
[SUPER=@justin1; :57]
[SUPER=01-Stu Israel/Festival Executive Director; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]
((((NAT SOUND OF DOWNTOWN))
On a Saturday afternoon, downtown Roanoke is bustling with activity.
Come New Years Eve, downtown will be quiet.
That's because there's no First Night celebration this year.
[SOT 19:47:55; 19:48:23]
[IN Q=Its a little disappointing]
((TAMMY BAUGHMAN/ROANOKE RESIDENT: IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING. DOWNTOWN ROANOKE IS A FUN PLACE TO BE FOR THE NEW YEAR.)) ((ARCHIE HODGES/ROANOKE RESIDENT: PERSONALLY, I THINK ROANOKE IS A VERY SMALL TOWN AND EVENTS LIKE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY ARE GOING TO MISS IT ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=especially the children]
((NAT SOUND OF FIRST NIGHT FROM FILE TAPE))
First Night is a family affair.
Its an alcohol free event that features a wide variety of entertainment and other cultural activities.
[SOT 19:51:28]
[IN Q=I think its good that]
((RAY BAUGHMAN/ROANOKE RESIDENT: I THINK ITS GOOD THAT FAMILIES THAT WANT TO BE SOBER AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT AND TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER AND THEIR COMMUNITY ETC., HAVE A PLACE TO DO THAT.))
[Runs= 11]
[OUT Q=place to do that]

But for this time in eleven years, that place won't be Roanoke.
A change of leadership over the summer forced Festival in the Park to cancel this year's event.
Other factors also played a part in that decision.
[SOT 19:57:09]
[IN Q=For one, its difficult to find]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: FOR ONE, ITS DIFFICULT TO FIND THE 200 OR SO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FIRST NIGHT. SECONDLY, ITS A MONEY ISSUE. IT COSTS MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PUT ON FIRST NIGHT AND THE LAST FEW YEARS THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN IN THE RED.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=in the red]
((NAT SOUND OF FIRST NIGHT))
The event typically draws up to 10-thousand people each year.
And although many would like to see First Night return to Roanoke, organizers won't say yet whether the event will be back next year.
[SOT 46:46]
[IN Q=As far as News Years Eve]
((STU ISRAEL/FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: AS FAR AS NEWS YEARS EVE AND FIRST NIGHT I REALLY CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION AT THIS TIME.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=at this time]

Organizers hope to make a decision by next spring.
Until then, people looking to do something on New Years Eve will have to paint the town (SHOT OF FACE PAINTING; TAPE 00-39, 2:07:03) another way.

Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))[Warner-Announcements]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC-53:22]
[GRAPHIC=Warner]
Former U-S Attorney Bob Crouch has been tapped for a spot in the Warner administration.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
Governor elect Mark Warner has chosen Crouch as deputy secretary of Public Safety. Crouch was appointed U-S Attorney for Virginia's western district in 1993-- by President Clinton. Some of Crouch's areas of expertise-- include the prosecution of cyber crime, child pornography, Oxycontin abuse and money laundering.
(-----------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[ss=hold]
Warner also named Robert Burnley to serve as director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Rita Henderson has also been tapped as director of constituent services.

[Henry-School]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-49 tc-1:45:45]
[GRAPHIC=Henry School Consol.]

An opponent to the controversial school reconfiguration plan in Henry County is seeking to oust the Superintendent of Schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Reverend Tyler Millner has sent a letter to the State Department of Education asking the department to remove Superintendent Sharon Dodson.
He alleges Dodson has deceived the public as well as been unresponsive to voters and parents.
The state code states that the recommendation to remove a division superintendent can be made for "sufficient cause" but it does not define the term.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:18:37]
[IN Q=If they look at all]
((REV. TYLER MILLNER/CONSOLIDATION OPPONENT: IF THEY LOOK AT ALL THE FACTS AND LOOK AT THE WAY IN WHICH THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PUT IN CRISIS IT OUGHT TO CONCERN THEM WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST LEADERSHIP AND THE BEST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT. I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Tyler Millner/Consolidation Opponent]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=thats the question]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Department of Education is preparing a response to Reverend Millner's letter.
A spokesperson for the Department says he cannot remember the department ever exercising its authority to remove a superintendent.
Doctor Sharon Dodson could not be reached for comment.
(------------)

[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER] [12/29/2001] [SS NONE]
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[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
[CK/CHYRON/VIEWERNET]
[SUPER=#579; Bent Mountain-Roanoke County]
LOAD VIEWERNET LOCATION
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[S-Live]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=Live]
[GRAPHIC=Gator Bowl]

Virginia Tech and Florida State are starting to get serious about their preparations for next Tuesday's Gator Bowl.
[DOUBLE BOXES=ROY / MIKE VIA STARLINK;]

Lets now check in with Mike Stevens at the Virginia Tech Team Hotel and see what's been happening today.
[LIVE=MIKE/FULL]
[SUPER=@Mike1]
[SUPER=06-Ponde Vedra, FL;]

((ROLLCUE: TAPE ROLLED FROM TRUCK: A part of the Tech Football Family.))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="First audio]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Rogers/Virginia Tech Quarterback Coach; :05]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL; :25]
[SUPER=01-Shawn Witten/Virginia Tech Receiver; :58]
[SUPER=01-Mike Goforth/VT Head Athletic Trainer; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Chris Rix/Florida State Quarterback; 1:27]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Bowden/25th Season at Florida St.; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=...fighting for right now."]

[LIVE=MIKE /FULL]
[SUPER=06-Jacksonville, FL;]

(MIKE AD LIBS)

[DOUBLE BOXES=ROY / MIKE VIA STARLINK;]

[Close]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
(Weekday 6 only)
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SUPER=x4033; Fax/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
(Weekend 6 only)
[SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS]
SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS

[Evening-ID]

[ANCHOR=T]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Six people have died
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
after a fifty-one car pile up on a Pennsylvania interstate.
(------------)
[CLOSING ANIMATION] The story tonight at Eleven.