[11Tire-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC1:02:33]
[SS=Tire Fire]
Specialized firefighting crews may begin their work as soon as today .. at the Roanoke County tire dump fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Williams Fire and Hazard Control is a Texas-based company that specializes in fighting oil fires.
The company is now hauling in the heavy equipment .. and plans to extinguish some of the hottest tire piles using a combination of foam and water.
The E-P-A has contracted several other companies to help with air and water monitoring.
A meeting with local residents to discuss smoke and runoff is being set up for later this week.
(------------)
[VOB-Clower]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-021:32:05]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]
Henry County Administrator Sid Clower is out of a paycheck from both of his jobs pending the outcome of the charges against him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 26 before bite]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Yesterday, County Supervisors voted to suspend Clower WITHOUT pay as county administrator.
The county's Public Service Authority also took the same action-- suspending Clower without pay as the agency's General Manager.
The actions are in response to Clower's indictment this week on charges of embezzlement.
County spokesman Tim Hall says he wasn't surprised that the P-S-A's board publicly expressed sympathy for Clower's family.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A serious ]
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry Co. Spokesman;]
((A SERIOUS SITUATION, CORRECT, BUT INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS WORKED WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS SEEN WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW HE'S DONE SOME GOOD FOR THESE PEOPLE AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS A FRIEND OF HIS.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=is a friend of his.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 8.5 plus pad]
Clower is accused of embezzling 200- thousand dollars from the county's \ over a two year period.
A bond hearing is scheduled for later this morning.
(------------)
[11Monty-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC2:02:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Montgomery County residents should prepare for the likelihood of higher real estate taxes, but before it happens, there's a chance to tell Supervisors what you think.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17.5]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
This year's budget calls for a rate hike of six and half cents.
Spokesman Robert Parker says the revenue will make up for state funding cuts, and allow the county to meet debt payments while keeping services.
The Board of Supervisors is set to adopt the budget on or before April 19th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:19]
[IN Q=where can we]
((ROBERT PARKER/COUNTY SPOKESMAN; WHERE CAN WE GO GET THE MONEY, THE ONLY ANSWER IS THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE THE CAR TAX HAS BEEN ELIMINATED VIRTUALLY SO WE HAVE NO ABILITY NOW TO RAISE SIGNIFICANT REVENUES THROUGH THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY ON VEHICLES SO ALL WE'RE LEFT WITH IS REAL ESTATE AND WHEN WE HAVE COSTS SHIFTING BACK TO THE COUNTY AND REVENUES BEING ELIMINATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Parker/Montgomery Co. Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=AT THE STATE LEVEL.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Parker says the budget this year is challenging.
If you have a comment- a public hearing is set for this evening at Blacksburg Middle School .. starting at Seven.
(------------)
[Middle-East]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Even Holy places aren't immune to the escalating violence in the Middle East.
Four Palestinians lay dead just off the square, where tradition says Jesus was born.
Dozens of others are still hiding out in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Drew Levinson has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bethlehem; :00]
[SUPER=03-Ramallah, West Bank; :21]
[SUPER=01-Ariel Sharon/Israeli Prime Minister; :39]
[SUPER=01-Hanan Ashrawi/Palestinian Legislative Council; :47]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=Levinson, CBS News, Washington.]
((
(TAKE PACKAGE)
ONE OF CHRISTIANITY'S HOLIEST SITES TURNED INTO A BLOODY BATTLEFIELD.
FOR SEVERAL HOURS, ISRAELI TROOPS CLASHED WITH ARMED PALESTINIANS ...
AROUND BETHLEHEM'S MANGER SQUARE -- CONSIDERED THE BIRTH PLACE OF JESUS
CHRIST. AT ONE POINT, DOZENS OF PALESTINIANS MADE THEIR WAY INSIDE THE
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, AND FORCED THE PRIESTS TO GRANT THEM SAFE HAVEN.
(NAT)
NEAR THE WEST BANK CITY OF RAMALLAH, ISRAELI HELICOPTERS BLASTED THE
HEADQUARTERS OF A PALESTINIAN SECURITY CHIEF ... WHILE HIS BOSS, YASSER
ARAFAT, REMAINED HOLED UP IN ANOTHER COMPOUND -- HIS OWN.
ON TUESDAY ... ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, ARIEL SHARON, OFFERED TO HAVE
ARAFAT FLOWN ELSEWHERE ... BUT WITH THIS STIPULATION.
(SOT: ARIEL SHARON/ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER)
"It's going to be a one-way ticket. Won't be able to return."
PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS BALKED AT THE IDEA.
(SOT: HANAN ASHRAWI/PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER)
"Arafat is a person who has been elected by his people as the president
of the PA. It is not up to Sharon to either imprision him, to hold him
hostage, to terrorize him, to try to humiliate him, or try to exile him."
(NAT)
UNDETERRED, ISRAEL CONTINUED TO ROUND-UP YOUNG PALESTINIAN MEN IN THE
WEST BANK ... AND IT WARNED NEIGHBORING MUSLIM COUNTRIES NOT TO
INTERFERE.
(STANDUP)
HERE IN WASHINGTON ... SECRETARY OF STATE, COLIN POWELL ONCE AGAIN URGED
ISRAEL TO END THE CAMPAIGN QUICKLY -- BUT HE STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING
FOR AN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL.
DREW LEVINSON, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.
))
[Unemployment]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VA Unemployment]
Virginia's unemployment rate fell slightly in February to four-point-two percent.
But some cities and counties in our area reported double-digit unemployment... among them: the city of Martinsville as well as Henry, Halifax, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski and Wythe counties.
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news,
Wall Street hopes for a big bounceback today.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 03:33:48]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=at your local stocks]
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[Moxley]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It'll likely take a MONTH to seat the jury in the murder case involving the nephew of the late Senator Robert Kennedy.
Michael Skakel is accused of killing his teenage neighbor in 19-75.
Gretchen Carlson has details about the first day of jury selection.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Norwalk, CT; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Sherman/Defense Attorney; :20 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Dominick Dunne/Writer; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Gretchen Carlson/CBS News; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=Carlson, CBS News, Norwalk, CT.]
((
LOCATOR: NORWALK, CT
KENNEDY COUSIN MICHAEL SKAKEL HAD LITTLE TO SAY AS HE ARRIVED FOR THE
OPENING DAY OF JURY SELECTION. MOST OF THE TALKING TOOK PLACE INSIDE..
WITH ABOUT 24 PROSPECTIVE JURORS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROFILE
MURDER CASE. SEVERAL WERE QUICKLY EXCUSED... INCLUDING FINANCIAL
ANALYST LOUIS RUKEYSER.
SOT: MICHAEL SHERMAN/DEFENSE ATTORNEY
"WE JUST WANT PEOPLE WHO CAN BE FAIR TO BOTH SIDES, PEOPLE WHO WILL WAIT
UNTIL THE END OF THE CASE BEFORE THEY MAKE UP THEIR MIND."
THE 41- YEAR-OLD NEPHEW OF ROBERT KENNEDY IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME THAT
HAPPENED MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY AGO, .. THE VIOLENT DEATH OF HIS
NEIGHBOR MARTHA MOXLEY IN EXCLUSIVE GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT. BOTH WERE
15 AT THE TIME. THE VICTIM WAS BEATEN TO DEATH WITH A GOLF CLUB.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE MURDER WEAPON WAS PART OF A SET OF CLUBS OWNED BY
THE SKAKEL FAMILY.... AND THEY SAY SKAKEL EVEN CONFESSED TO THE CRIME
WHILE AT A SUBSTANCE ABUSE FACILITY IN THE LATE 19-70-S.
THIS CASE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOR YEARS....
WITH SOME SUGGESTING THAT SKAKEL'S KENNEDY CONNECTIONS AND SOCIAL STATUS
HELPED HIM AVOID PROSECUTION FOR MANY YEARS.
SOT: DOMINICK DUNNE/WRITER
"THEY ARE A VERY POWERFUL FAMILY, RECOGNIZABLE FAMILY, THEIR FACES ARE
ALL WELL KNOWN AND THEY ARE A LOVED FAMILY FOR THE MOST PART."
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE TRIAL
TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.
(STANDUP)
LAWYERS ARE USING A 15 PAGE QUESTIONNAIRE TO HELP THEM SEAT THE 12
PERSON JURY. THE PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT A MONTH. THE TRIAL
COULD BE EVEN LONGER.
))
[2Zirkle]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VA Death Penalty]
A man who killed two girls is the second person executed this year in Virginia.
33-year-old Daniel Lee Zirkle asked a judge for the death penalty at both of his trials and refused to appeal his sentence.
Zirkle killed his four-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old half-sister on the same day in 1999.
He was executed by injection at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt.
[11Pulaski-Body]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC1:34:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Pulaski Police have identified a body found near railroad tracks Tuesday, but they still have other questions to answer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]
Authorities say the body of 69 year old Cecil D. Martin was discovered off Route 99.
Detectives believe he died from natural causes, but they're treating the area as a crime scene until the medical examiner can confirm that.
According to police he has a history of medical problems and alcohol may be a factor.
A friend made the initial discovery - friends and family say the man had been missing for days.
(------------)
[11Peace-Protestor]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC31:50]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Lynchburg judge has delayed a ruling on whether the city's "protest permit law" infringes on a person's First Amendment right to free speech. He has told attorneys he wants more time to study the issues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/November 9;]
Peace activist Jack Payden-Travers was fined 50 dollars for not getting a permit when he organized this anti-war rally last November.
Lynchburg requires groups of more than five to get a police permit before holding any kind of public rally.
Payden-Travers.. with the help of the A-C-L-U- appealed his conviction to Circuit Court judge Mosby Perrow.
A decision is now expected by May 6th.
(------------)
[2VOB-Clower]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-02 1:32:05]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]
Henry County Administrator Sid Clower is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing later this morning. Clower is already out of a paycheck from both of his county jobs, pending the outcome of the charges against him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 26 before bite]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Yesterday-- the Henry County Board of Supervisors voted to suspend him WITHOUT pay as county administrator.
The county's Public Service Authority also took the same action-- suspending Clower without pay as the agency's General Manager.
The actions are in response to Clower's indictment this week on charges of embezzlement.
County spokesman Tim Hall says he wasn't surprised that the P-S-A's board publicly expressed sympathy for Clower's family.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A serious ]
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry Co. Spokesman;]
((A SERIOUS SITUATION, CORRECT, BUT INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS WORKED WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS SEEN WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW HE'S DONE SOME GOOD FOR THESE PEOPLE AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS A FRIEND OF HIS.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=is a friend of his.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 8.5 plus pad]
Clower is accused of embezzling 200- thousand dollars from the county's P-S-A over a two year period.
(------------)
[2-11Tire-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC1:02:33]
[SS=Tire Fire]
Specialized crews and equipment are getting ready to battle Roanoke County's massive tire fire, and their work could begin as soon as today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Williams Fire and Hazard Control is a Texas-based company that specializes in fighting oil fires.
Yesterday, it started hauling in heavy equipment.
The company plans to extinguish some of the hottest tire piles using a combination of foam and water.
The E-P-A has contracted several other companies to help with air and water monitoring.
A meeting with local residents to discuss smoke and runoff is being set up for later this week.
(------------)
[2-11Monty-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC2:02:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Montgomery County residents have a chance tonight to tell Supervisors what they think of a proposed tax hike.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17.5]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
This year's budget calls for a rate hike of six and half cents.
Spokesman Robert Parker says the revenue will make up for state funding cuts, and allow the county to meet debt payments while keeping services.
The Board of Supervisors is set to adopt the budget on or before April 19th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:19]
[IN Q=where can we]
((ROBERT PARKER/COUNTY SPOKESMAN; WHERE CAN WE GO GET THE MONEY, THE ONLY ANSWER IS THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE THE CAR TAX HAS BEEN ELIMINATED VIRTUALLY SO WE HAVE NO ABILITY NOW TO RAISE SIGNIFICANT REVENUES THROUGH THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY ON VEHICLES SO ALL WE'RE LEFT WITH IS REAL ESTATE AND WHEN WE HAVE COSTS SHIFTING BACK TO THE COUNTY AND REVENUES BEING ELIMINATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Parker/Montgomery Co. Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=AT THE STATE LEVEL.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Parker says the budget this year is challenging.
If you have a comment- a public hearing is set for this evening at Blacksburg Middle School .. starting at Seven.
(------------)
[11Franklin-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Real estate taxes could be going up in Franklin county as well.
Some County Supervisors say that may be the only way to give county employees and teachers the raises they want.
Other supervisors say they won't raise taxes on the 17-hundred residents who lost their jobs last year.
The county's real estate tax is the lowest in the region at 55 cents per 100 dollars of property.
[1st-Business]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ckor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news this morning, the "Dot-coms" take more hits, and the stock market looks for a rebound.
Here's Barton Eckert with a look at the morning's top business stories..
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 04:35:40 (Approx)]
[IN Q=Good morning this Wednesday]
[SUPER=01-Barton Eckert/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=in Washington.]
((GOOD MORNING THIS WEDNESDAY THE 3RD OF APRIL.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING.
--------------------------
PYRAMID SCHEMES, PHONY CANCER CURES AND
AUCTION SCAMS HAVE BEEN TARGETED IN AN INTERNATIONAL SWEEP OF
ONLINE FRAUD.
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION SAYS LEGAL ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN
AGAINST FOUR OUTFITS THAT IT SAYS WERE RIPPING OFF WEB USERS.
ALSO, THE F-T-C HAS JOINED SIX NORTHWESTERN
STATES AND CANADA TO SEND WARNING LETTERS TO MORE THAN 500 SPAMMERS
CLAIMING THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING ILLEGAL CHAIN LETTERS.
AND IT'S CHECKING TO SEE IF UNSUBSCRIBE'' OPTIONS IN SPAM
MESSAGES ARE BEING HONORED.
--------------------------
MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED DOT COMS' SLASHED JOBS IN MARCH.
ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM CHALLENGER, GRAY AND CHRISTMAS.
THE MARCH LAYOFFS BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF JOBS LOST THIS YEAR TO
MORE THAN 4-THOUSAND.
CHALLENGER SAYS THE CUTS ARE INDICATING A SHIFT...AND CAME FROM
OLD ECONOMY COMPANIES, NOT THOSE WHO FALTERED OR GREW TOO FAST.
--------------------------
STOCKS LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THE CELLAR AMID WORRIES ABOUT
SOARING OIL PRICES.. AND THE MIDDLE EAST FLAREUP.
ON ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT .. IN JAPAN.. STOCKS UP.. LED BY THE
LIKES OF TOYOTA.
--------------------------
IF SLUMPING MARCH SALES WASN'T ENOUGH.. CHRYSLER WILL RECALL
645,000 VEHICLES, INCLUDING 545,000 DODGE, PLYMOUTH AND CHRYSLER
MINIVANS AND 95,000 JEEP WRANGLERS.
THE MINIVANS WERE BUILT BETWEEN JUNE 1996 AND OCTOBER 1998. A
PIECE OF SOUND INSULATION CAN FALL INTO THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY
AND JAM IT.
WRANGLERS BUILT BETWEEN JUNE 2000 AND DECEMBER 2001. HAVE
IGNITION SWITCHES THAT CAN SHORT OUT AND START A FIRE.
--------------------------
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]
[Med-Day]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]
In medical news, renewed efforts to reduce the number of teen smokers....and the IRS says that losing weight can SAVE you money on your taxes.
Randall Pinkston has those stories and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Randall Pinkston/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((EVERY DAY, MORE THAN 22-HUNDRED YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 BECOME
DAILY SMOKERS.
(TAKE VO)
TODAY, KIDS ACROSS THE NATION ARE HOPING TO SMOKE OUT THOSE STATISTICS,
BY TAKING PART IN KICK BUTTS DAY.
IT'S AN ANNUAL INITIATIVE FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
KIDS LEARN WHAT'S REALLY IN A CIGARETTE -- AND HEAR FROM EX-SMOKERS WHO
WARN, IT'S A DEADLY HABIT.
(WIPE VO)
WOMEN WHO USE SOME FORMS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ARE AT AN
INCREASED RISK FOR OVARIAN CANCER.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY OUT THIS WEEK IN THE JOURNAL OF THE
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.
SWEDISH RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT WOMEN USING ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY
UPPED THEIR RISK OF OVARIAN CANCER BY 43 PERCENT.
BUT DOCTORS SAY THE FINDINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RECOMMEND CHANGES.
(WIPE VO)
LOSE WEIGHT, AND GAIN A DEDUCTION.
THE I-R-S SAYS THE COST OF WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF
TREATMENT FOR OBESITY ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
TAXPAYERS WHO QUALIFY WILL NOW BE ABLE TO DEDUCT AMOUNTS ABOVE 7 POINT 5
PERCENT OF THEIR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.
A TAXPAYER'S SPOUSE AND DEPENDENTS WOULD ALSO BE COVERED.
(BACK ON CAM)
THOSE ARE SOME OF TODAY'S TOP HEALTH STORIES.
I'M RANDALL PINKSTON, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
[3-11Tire-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC1:02:33]
[SS=Tire Fire]
Specialized firefighting crews and equipment could begin their work later today .. at Roanoke County's massive tire fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Williams Fire and Hazard Control is a Texas-based company that specializes in fighting oil fires.
Yesterday, it started hauling in heavy equipment.
The company plans to extinguish some of the hottest tire piles using a combination of foam and water.
The E-P-A has contracted several other companies to help with air and water monitoring.
A meeting with local residents to discuss smoke and runoff is being set up for later this week.
(------------)
[3VOB-Clower]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-021:32:05]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]
Henry County Administrator Sid Clower has a scheduled court appearance later today for a bond hearing.
As Clower seeks to be released from jail, he is out of a paycheck from both of his county jobs, pending the outcome of the charges against him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 26 before bite]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Yesterday-- the Henry County Board of Supervisors voted to suspend Clower WITHOUT pay as county administrator.
The county's Public Service Authority also took the same action-- suspending Clower without pay as the agency's General Manager.
The actions are in response to Clower's indictment this week on charges of embezzlement.
County spokesman Tim Hall says he wasn't surprised that the P-S-A's board publicly expressed sympathy for Clower's family.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A serious ]
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry Co. Spokesman;]
((A SERIOUS SITUATION, CORRECT, BUT INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS WORKED WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS SEEN WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW HE'S DONE SOME GOOD FOR THESE PEOPLE AND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS A FRIEND OF HIS.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=is a friend of his.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 8.5 plus pad]
Clower is accused of embezzling 200- thousand dollars from the county's P-S-A over a two year period.
(------------)
[Zirkle]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VA Death Penalty]
Virginia has carried out its second execution of the year .. a man who literally got what he asked for.
33-year-old Daniel Lee Zirkle told a judge he wanted the death penalty at both of his trials and refused to appeal his sentence.
Zirkle killed his four-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old half-sister on the same day in 1999.
[2-11Pulaski-Body]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC1:34:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Pulaski Police have identified a body found near railroad tracks Tuesday. For now they are treating the area as a crime scene, but that could change.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]
Authorities say the body of 69 year old Cecil D. Martin was discovered off Route 99.
Detectives believe he died from natural causes, but they are awaiting confirmation from the medical examiner.
According to police he has a history of medical problems and alcohol may be a factor.
A friend made the initial discovery - friends and family say the man had been missing for days.
(------------)
[11Carilion-Grant]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC08:48]
[GRAPHIC=Carilion Biomedical]
Virginia Tech and U-V-A are receiving health care research grants provided by Carilion Biomedical Institute.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15.5]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/December;]
C-B-I announced yesterday it would award the two universities
one million dollars apiece.
The partnership has the Institute giving the schools five million dollars each over a five year period.
The goal is to create products that CBI can then help market.
(///// SOT at :15.5 /////)
[SOT 59:33-59:48]
[IN Q=By providing management, by providing money...]
((GEORGE BLANAR/CARILION BIOMEDICAL INSTITUTE: BY PROVIDING MANAGEMENT, BY PROVIDING EXTRA MONEY, PROVIDING MARKETING PERSPECTIVE AND, BY DOING THAT WE ACTUALLY THEN CAN BRING SOME OF THOSE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES BACK TO ROANOKE, BACK TO BLACKSBURG, BACK TO CHARLOTTESVILLE.))
[SUPER=01-George Blanar/Carilion Biomedical Institute;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=back to Charlottesville.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The 2002 grants are expected to fund 35 projects.
Blanar (Bluh-NARR) says the research focuses on eldercare, patient monitoring, therapeutics and laboratory and hospital automation.
[2VO-Middle-East]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Palestinian activist says hundreds of gunmen and dozens of militiamen strapped with explosives are ready to fight in the West Bank.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ramallah, West Bank;]
Meanwhile, Israeli troops still surround Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters.
Arafat rejected Israel's offer to end the siege, in exchange for his exile.
He says he'd rather die a martyr than leave his people.
[SUPER=03-Bethlehem;]
And in Bethlehem, Israeli troops yesterday clashed with Palestinian near Manger Square.
Dozens of Palestinians made their way into the Church of the Nativity, where they're taking refuge.
(------------)
[Cruise-Rescue]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A luxury cruise ship comes to the rescue of an Indonesian tanker that was stranded for more than two weeks off the coast of Hawaii.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Honolulu, HI;]
11- crew members were on board.
The U-S Coast Guard says the cruise ship, the Norwegian Star noticed a signal flare from the tanker.
The vessel had been adrift since March 13th because of a major fire, and crew members were not able to contact anyone for help.
Authorities say one man died in the fire, and another suffered burns over 50- percent of his body.
The rest of the crew was turned over to U-S Immigration and
Naturalization Service officials.
(------------)
[DeMary]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Governor Warner has re-appointed the state Education Department's top official.
Jo Lynne DeMary has been Superintendent of Public Instruction since December 1999 .. orginally appointed by the Democratic governor's Republican predecessor, Jim Gilmore.
Officials who have worked with DeMary praised her nonpartisan, professional approach to running the state's public schools.
[11US-Airways]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-08 TC59:07]
[GRAPHIC=US Airways]
Some former U-S Airways employees have filed a class action not just against the airline, but also the union that represented them.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September;]
Gary Jeffreys of Salem and 15 other U-S Airways workers are challenging the way the company went about laying off airline employees last Fall.
In Jeffreys' case, U-S Airways transferred the 32-year veteran Customer Service Agent to Charlotte, but was furloughed by the union. The lawsuit says other employees who'd been with the company for as little as two years kept their jobs in Charlotte.
The complaint claims union representatives played favorites with Charlotte- based employees at the expense of those based in Roanoke and similar- sized markets.
(------------)
by SS