WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/08/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

To work or not to work?
That's the question faced by locked-out Magnox employees who today voted on whether to return to their jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And, Scott Memorial Elementary school is in session but not all classrooms are full. We'll show you why 10-rooms are off limits.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on the Big 7, some big name teams get caught cheating at Daytona. We'll meet a mom with MS who is racing at the track tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Scott Abell leaves Liberty high school to take over as the new head football coach at Amherst County.
(------------)

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

Plan your outdoor stuff for tomorrow and make a big pot of chili on Sunday as the weather does a big flip flop this weekend. Details just ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=KEith 4-Shot]

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

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 27:58:25]
[IN Q=the first concern]
((SID CROCKETT/SCHOOL PRINCIPAL; THE FIRST CONCERN IS SAFETY AND NO STUDENT IS GOING ANYWHERE WHERE THERE IS ANY DOUBTS ABOUT AIR QUALITY.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=ABOUT AIR QUALITY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Asbestos is in the air in one local elementary school.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Officials say cleanup is underway in half of the building and that the other is safe for students.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Wythe-School]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC19:04]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Students are back in school at Scott Memorial Elementary in Wytheville today but it's in no way back to normal.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The building shut down for four days because of a combination of snow and a broken heating pipe.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]
While the weather has cleared...the steam pipe that burst left behind some real problems. Officials say excessive moisture caused some asbestos to leak from the school's ceiling tiles. New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sara Williamson/Teacher; :17]
[SUPER=01-Sid Crockett/School Principal; :44]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Wytheville.]
((NATS TC 37:38:13 "WERE BORROWING FROM 6TH GRADE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OUR BOOKS." 5th grade teacher Sara Wiliamson is making the best of a bad situation. Her classroom is one of the 10 off-limits for fear of asbestos and likely a mess looking like this.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 38:54:18]
[IN Q=I've been]
((SARA WILLIAMSON/TEACHER; I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR A LONG TIME SO I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF AND ALL MY SUPPLIES IM TEACHING ROCKS RIGHT NOW SO ACTUALLY MY ROCK SET IS DOWN THERE.))
[OUT Q=DOWN THERE.]
She and no one else can enter about 50-percent of the school. Principal Sid Crockett says to help accommodate its 350-students...7th graders are being bused to another location. NATS TC 31:29:05 "YOU GETTING ALONG ALRIGHT NEED ANYTHING?" And the gym is serving as a make-shift classroom.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:42:06]
[IN Q=they have]
((SID CROCKETT/SCHOOL PRINCIPAL; THEY HAVE DETECTED NO ASBESTOS MATERIAL AT ALL NO FIBERS IN THE PART OF THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE USING NOW.))
[OUT Q=NOW.]
He says parents are concerned, but that safety is the school's top priority. An independent company is already cleaning-up damaged parts, estimating it will take 2 to 3 weeks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 29:12:15]
[IN Q=once we]
((ONCE WE GET INTO THOSE CLASSROOMS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO LOK AT THE CONDITION AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GO BACK TO CLASS IN THERE OR WHETHER WE HAVE TO KEEP ROOMS RELOCATED.))
[OUT Q=RELOCATED]
Crockett says it's to soon for a cost estimate on damages. Rachel Cannon. News 7, Wytheville.))
(----------)

[Whooping-Cough]

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

Health officials say two people in Bedford County have contracted whooping cough... a highly contagious disease that's spread during sneezing and coughing.
The first case involves a 13 year old boy--the other a 77 year old woman.
They both had a connection to a small private school.
(XXXXXXX)
[Take Pinnacle Page One]
The symptoms start out like a cold with a runny nose, fever and a persistent cough that can last for weeks. [Take Pinnacle Page Two]
While it can be treated with antibiotics and bed rest, Whooping Cough can have some serious complications including pneumonia and emphysema.
In very serious cases, it can lead to death.
(--------------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Health officials say most children are immunized against the disease. They are most concerned about children under 12 months who have not had their DPT shots.
The Health Department is not releasing the name of the school. But did say it had only 11 students and all of them have been contacted.

[Fulcher]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC16:34]
[GRAPHIC=Mike Fulcher]
Government informant Michael Fulcher WILL get a new trial and his lawyers will be allowed to call a Drug Enforcement Agent in his DEFENSE.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Fulcher was convicted in federal court two and a half years ago as the kingpin in a ring of inmates who sold marijuana at Bland Correctional Center. Before sentencing D-E-A Agent Don Lincoln wrote the judge indicating the Agent may have mistakenly let Fulcher believe he had government approval to investigate drug peddling by prison guards. The Government argued Fulcher doesn't deserve a new trial and that- -even if he does- -Agent Lincoln should not testify.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
Judge Jackson Kiser cited the government's "long course of dealings" with Fulcher in which the feds accepted the benefits of Fulcher's unauthorized uncover work in the past.

[Magnox]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#01-56 TC1:24:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Picketing workers at the New River Valley's Magnox plant have turned down the company's latest offer.
The workers say the company locked them out a week ago, after they rejected an earlier offer that would have cut vacation time and raised workers' medical premiums.
[Double Boxes=Shannon and Justin/Microwave]

Justin McLeod is live outside the Pulaski plant with more on the latest offer and vote.
[Live=Justin Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Justin1;]
[SUPER=05-Pulaski;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: workers say they haven't come far enough.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=(NAT SOT)]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :03]
[SUPER=01-L. J. Rose/PACE Union Representative; :13]
[SUPER=01-Rob Thorne/Magnox Worker; :57]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=as long as they can]
(-------------)
[Live=Justin Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Pulaski;]

The company did release a statement this afternoon. It says, quote: "The company is very disappointed in the vote, and this can only lead to much poorer prospects in the long term."
[Double Boxes=Shannon and Justin/Microwave]

One other note, Shannon, this is still considered a lockout, but tonight at 12-01, it officially becomes a strike.

[Goodyear]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-62 TC1:13:00]
[GRAPHIC=Goodyear]
More layoffs could be in store for the Goodyear factory in Danville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/February 2001;]
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company says it'll cut 35-hundred jobs this year after posting a more than 203-million dollar loss for 2001. The loss is the company's first since 1992. The world's largest tire maker says its efforts to reduce costs could not overcome a weakened economy. The cuts will include about 13-hundred workers at an Australian joint venture. The rest will come from Goodyear facilities. It's unclear how the plant in Southside will fare. Last year, the Danville factory let go close to 500-workers.
(------------)

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

The federal government wants to give you more places to put your greenbacks.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

We'll explain how that could even help you make more money when News 7 returns.
(XXXXXX)
[LIVE=JoeD Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
(JoeD adlibs live Tease)
(---------------)

[Senate]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC45:33]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

It was a busy day in the State Senate, as lawmakers dealt with the Death Penalty, Terrorism, and Tobacco.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /State Microwave;]

Joe Dashiell is at the state capitol tonight with those stories and the day's other developments.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Keith and Shannon, we're bearing down on crossover day, the deadline for each house to act on its own legislation.

And that meant plenty of action on the floor of the Senate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A bill that was dead on the vine]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Hawkins; :19]
[SUPER=@Edwards; :37]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Marsh/(D) Richmond; 1:03]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Ken Stolle/(R) Virginia Beach; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=for Virginians or anybody else.]
((A bill that was dead on the vine one year ago, won unanimous support in 2002. Chatham Senator Charles Hawkins asked his Senate colleagues to support legislation that will help rural Virginia make the transition from the tobacco economy.
The legislation would commit future revenues from the Tobacco Settlement to raise money for immediate improvements.
[SOT 12:41:22]
[IN Q=What we gain out of this]
((WHAT WE GAIN OUT OF THIS IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE TO DO SOME THINGS THAT NEVER COULD BE DONE BEFORE IN OUR AREA OF THE STATE.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=in our area of the state.]

Roanoke Senator John Edwards was also surprised by a unanimous vote... as the senate supported legislation that prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on the mentally retarded.
[SOT 12:55:40]
[IN Q=We do not execute six year olds]
((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: WE DO NOT EXECUTE SIX YEAR OLDS. WHY WOULD WE EXECUTE SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE MIND OF A SIX YEAR OLD. AND WHEN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THEN THEY REALIZE THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AS A MATTER OF BASIC HUMANITY TO SUBJECT THE MENTALLY RETARDED TO THE DEATH PENALTY.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUT Q=to the death penalty.]

The vote on anti-terrorism legislation wasn't unanimous but it came close.
The General Assembly is updating state law to deal with terrorist acts. Richmond Senator Henry Marsh warned that civil liberties will suffer.
[SOT]
[IN Q=All of us oppose]
((SEN. HENRY MARSH: ALL OF US OPPOSE TERRORISM, BUT THIS BILL GOES TOO FAR AND NEEDS MORE WORK.)) ((SEN. KEN STOLLE: THIS IS NOT A RETREAT OF CIVIL RIGHTS. WE ARE NOT CREATING GAPING HOLES IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR VIRGINIANS OR ANYBODY ELSE.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=or anybody else.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=JOeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

The day also brought an end to the stand-off between the House and Senate. In a dispute that was reminiscent of last year's budget battle, the two could not agree on appointments that Governor Gilmore made before leaving office.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon, of two dozen appointees the senate initially rejected, eight were restored this afternoon.

[D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC23:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Bedford County Sheriff's Department and the National D-Day Memorial received the attention of lawmakers this morning in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Sheriff Mike Brown was recognized on the floor of the House of Delegates.
His department is hosting a national tribute to law enforcement officers who lost their lives at the World Trade Center September 11th.
The service will be held Monday at the D-Day Memorial.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:43:30]
[IN Q=Mr. Speaker]
((DEL. LACEY PUTNEY/(I) BEDFORD; AND MR. SPEAKER, I THINK IT IS FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMEND SHERIFF BROWN, AND WE ALSO COMMEND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE THAT WE DEPEND ON TO PROTECT US EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Lacey Putney/(I) Bedford;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=every day of our lives.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape]

Both the House and the Senate have now approved legislation that would provide a tax check-off on Virginia income tax forms for the memorial . The legislation would allow taxpayers to contribute a portion of their state refund to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation.
(------------)

[Credit-Union]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-57 TC1:16:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Federal Legislation has paved the way for Credit Unions to take on more members.
One in our area has taken advantage... and several others are considering doing so. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jennifer /MB Set;]

Business Reporter Jennifer Miele joins us now. So what does this mean for consumers Jen?
[LIVE= Jennifer /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]

Shannon, up until recently, you had to be employed at a certain company or be a family member of a company employee to belong to a credit union.
That's not the case any more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It looks like]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Tatti Harlow/Roanoke Valley Federal Credit Union;:10]
[RUNS=51]
[OUT Q=expanding membership as well.]
(( It looks like a bank. It works like a bank. But it's not a bank. IT is the Roanoke Valley Federal Credit Union.
[SOT]
((TATTI HARLOW/ROANOKE VALLEY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND A BANK IS THAT WE'RE NON-PROFIT, AND OUR BOARD IS ALL VOLUNTEER, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BE DRIVEN BY HUGE PROFIT GOALS.)) [RUNS13]
The Roanoke Valley Federal Credit Union was originally established to serve teachers in Roanoke, then expanded to about 20 employee groups in the Valley. [PRE PRO]
But thanks to federal legislation and national board approval, anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Roanoke, Roanoke County, Botetourt County and Salem can join. [END PRE PRO]
Other credit unions -- like Member One -- say they are considering expanding membership as well.
Credit Unions usually offer better deals on savings accounts and loans.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Jennifer /FULL MB SET]

Small banks could consider Federal Credit Unions competition.
But Member One says all of the assets of all of America's federal credit Unions don't even compare with those of, say, Suntrust Bank.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer & Shannon /MB Set;]

Shannon.

[Stocks]

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

After five straight days of selling investors were tempted back to Wall Street, pushing stocks higher. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/118.80/9744.24/x/36.77/1818.88;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW climbed 119 points.
NASDAQ gained 37.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.10/44.80/h/0.31/40.31/h/1.65/60.60/h/0.67/14.69/h/0.93/7.95;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.07/57.51/h/0.87/50.90/i/0.02/37.18/h/2.06/23.46/i/0.06/42.35;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.36/20.57/h/0.32/21.22/h/0.06/0.92/h/0.48/50.07/h/0.75/12.80;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.91/60.61/i/1.23/76.00/h/0.70/45.20/h/0.76/31.26/h/0.76/59.15;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Bedford-Courthouse]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-58 TC1:13:10]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It's on time and under budget.. and the public will get a chance to see Bedford County's new courthouse sometime this spring.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the 15-point-7 million dollar project that essentially doubled the size of the old court facility.
It's a building that will be much more secure for courthouse personnel and more user- friendly for the public.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:51:59]
[IN Q=It's accomodating]
((BILL ROLFE/BEDFORD CO. ADMINISTRATOR: IT'S ACCOMMODATING EVERYTHING, AND WE THINK WE DID A PLAN THAT LOOKED AT WHAT DO WE REALLY EXPECT OUR NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND WE BUILT THE FACILITY FOR 20 YEARS FROM NOW, NOT JUST TO MEET OUR NEEDS TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Rolfe/Bedford Co. Administrator]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=our needs today.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Rolfe says court personnel will start moving back into the building in early April, and it should be open to the public sometime in May.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7, Amherst has a new head football coach. The Olympics get bashed by Mother nature.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll head to Daytona to check in with a woman who beating the competition and the odds by racing with Multiple Sclerosis.
(------------)

[S-Amherst]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-107 10337tc]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
One of Friday Football Extra's most sought after head football coaching vacancies has been filled. More than 20 individuals applied for the Amherst County job that has been awarded to Scott Abell.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Football Extra; :00]
Abell had been the head coach at Liberty high school since 1997, leading the Minutemen to the division three semi-finals this past year. The past two years his Liberty teams were a combined 20-and-5. He replaces Mickey Crouch.
(------------)

[S-Pugh]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-113 4834tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FOOTBALL]
Speaking of Amherst, one of the top players ever to come out of that high school, former Hokie David Pugh is hearing his name a lot these days. One of Tech's recently signed recruits - Chris Burnett - one of Scott Abell's former players at Liberty is being mentioned in the same light as the all-Big East lineman.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Chris Burnett/Virginia Tech Recruit; :07]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :17]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...excited about him."]
(------------)

[S-Kelly]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-111 4944TC]
[GRAPHIC=COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA]

The world center of speed in Daytona Beach, Florida will fire up tomorrow with qualifying for the row of the Daytona 500. The Bud Shootout participants also will get in their final practice laps, and a Goody's Dash series race will be thrown in for good measure.
[GRAPHIC=KELLY SUTTON]
That 200 mile event will feature female driver Kelly Sutton, a candidate for rookie of the year honors. Kelly is also a wife, a mother and every day she battles "MS" Multiple Sclerosis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IT...]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Sutton/Goody's Dash Series Driver; :00]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/Last May; :13]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=...OTHER PEOPLE."]
(----------------)
((KELLY SUTTON:)) (( The Maryland native was first diagnosed with the disease at the age of 16, she raced part-time last year including this Dash series event in Charlotte at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. She says in reality her gender has been more of a hindrance than her disease. ((KELLY SUTTON:)) Her sponsor is perhaps the best matched of any driver in any of NASCAR's divisions. ((KELLY SUTTON:)) Her goal is also to educate and inspire. She will race in 15 different cities this season and share her experiences with the more 300 hundred thousand Americans who also have MS.)) ((KELLY SUTTON:))

[S-Olympics]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-112]
[GRAPHIC=OLYMPICS]
The Olympic opening ceremonies are set to go tonight - that is if Mother Nature cooperates.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT; :00]
Today's snowstorm with high winds in Salt lake City forced the cancellation of the ski jumping qualifying on the 90 meter hill as well as all of today's downhill racing and luge practice.
(------------)

[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE OF SUNDAY EVENTS] And if you're looking ahead to the latter part of the weekend. Your Hometown Station has a ACC doubleheader for you on Sunday. N.C. State tangles with Florida State at one, and then Virginia will try to get back on track as it battles Clemson at 3:30 on Sunday.
(----------------)

[Farm-Bureau]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:42:04]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-SHot]

Local farmers are showing their support for a home away from home for families of sick children.
[ANCHOR=KEith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :19.5]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A van full of canned goods from The Farm Bureau in Richmond arrived at the Ronald McDonald House today. This is the third year of the program, which falls on the day the average american family has earned enough to pay for their food for the year. The Ronald McDonald House depends on private and corporate donations like these to feed their guests. (------------)