[11Jefferson-Forest]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-21]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Debate is still swirling over what to do with Jefferson Forest high school.
Last night, a group of paid experts weighed in on the Bedford county issue.
Teresa Hamilton was there and has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Jefferson Forest ]
[SUPER=03-Forest/File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Wes Gordon/School Board Chairman; :22 ]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :29]
[SUPER=01-Nan Carmack/Parent; :44 ]
[SUPER=01-Talbot Huff/School Board Member; 1:05 ]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7, Bedford. ]
(( Jefferson Forest High school was built in the 1970's... and has recently endured its share of problems-- most notably when the stachybotrys bacteria was found inside the building.
Since then, debate over what to do with the aging school has widened...
But deciding whether to renovate Jefferson Forest or build a new school has been challenging.
(///sot///)
[sot 00:48:03]
[in q= It's a lot of money]
((WES GORDON/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND SERIOUS DECISIONS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE, I HAVE TO SAY I HAVEN'T MADE MY MIND UP YET.))
[RUNS06]
[OUT Q = made up my mind yet.]
To help with the decision-- the Bedford County school board and Board of Supervisors heard from a group of architects and engineers.
The firm Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern recommend constructing a new building... an idea supported by many in the audience.
(///sot///)
[sot 00:49:39]
[i nq= A lot of the ]
((NAN CARMACK/PARENT: A LOT OF THE ELEMENTARY PARENTS MADE AN EFFORT TO GET OUT TONIGHT TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT AND KNOW THAT WE'RE THE ONES TO REAP THE BENEFIT OF THE CURRENT HARD WORK.))
[runs10]
[out q= current hard work.]
Renovating Jefferson Forest would cost about 37- million dollars....
While it would cost about 43- million to construct a new building.
But those who have to make the decision say it won't be easy.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:47:17]
[in q= You have to ]
(( TALBOT HUFF/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: YOU HAVE TO THINK OF THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND ALSO WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PUTTING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO BRICK AND MORTAR WHEN WE NEED TO PUT MONEY INTO TEACHER'S SALARIES, SUPPLIES AND THINK HAVING DO WITH EDUCATION.))
[runs13]
[out q= with education.]
The school board will meet again on May 23rd to discuss the firm's recommendation in greater detail. But a date for a final decision has NOT yet been determined.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Bedford. ))
[11Switch-OK]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC44:39]
[GRAPHIC=Building for the Future]
WDBJ-DT is on the air.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
We started broadcasting a digital signal on Channel 18 at about 8:15 last night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the deadline]
[SUPER=01-Carl Guffey/WDBJ Director of Operations & Engineering]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=getting it done.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
About 70 percent of the nation's t-v stations will miss the deadline mandated by the Federal Communications Commission .
(------------)
[11Echostar]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC1:00:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A satellite television company in the New River Valley is celebrating an anniversary with new jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20.5]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Today marks Echostar's second year in Christiansburg.
They will hold a job fair today from 7 am to 7 pm at the facility in the Falling Branch Industrial Park.
Echostar wants to hire 3-hundred customer service representatives to its call center.
Workers would provide technical support to satellite customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:30:17]
[IN Q=we continue]
((SHADD RING/ECHOSTAR DIR. OF OPERATIONS; WE CONTINUE TO GROW WE HAVE A 100-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY HERE RIGHT OFF OF 81 AND WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD EAGER PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A CAREER AND SO YEAH WERE CONSTANTLY HIRING UNTIL WE GET 2-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES IN THIS BUILDING.))
[SUPER=01-Shadd Ring/Echostar Director of Operations;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=IN THIS BUILDING.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
12-hundred work at the facility.
To apply at Echostar you must be at least 18 and have a high school equivalency degree.
Ring says shifts are flexible and pay begins at 8-50 an hour.
(------------)
[Islamic-Charity]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The F-B-I says the head of an Islamic charity in Chicago has ties to terrorist leader Osama bin laden-- and LIED about it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
(EE'-nam) ENAMM (ahr-NAHT') ARNAUT is charged with perjury.
Arnaut and the Benevolence International Foundation is also accused of supporting terrorists who tried to obtain nuclear weapons for bin Laden.
Meanwhile, the group denies having anything to do with terrorism.
(------------)
[Pilots-Guns]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The effort to let pilots carry guns in the cockpit continues on Capitol Hill.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The heads of two house committees are proposing a voluntary program that would train pilots to use those guns.
Pilots in support of the program say they are the last line of defense against a hijacking.
Meanwhile, top Bush administration officials oppose arming pilots.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta says the reinforced cockpit doors will keep intruders away from the pilots.[1
1Unemployment]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In business news, Virginia's unemployment rate fell to four percent last month, the lowest level since last September.
The Virginia Employment Commission attributes the drop to fewer temporary and permanent factory layoffs- along with mild weather that allowed outdoor work to resume earlier than usual.
Fairfax City had the lowest unemployment.
Seven communities reported double-digit jobless rates including Halifax, Henry and Patrick counties and the city of Martinsville.
[6-Dan-River]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=20-13 TC32:22]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Sales are down. Earnings per share are down. Nevertheless, Dan River is being labled a "strong buy."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Year]
[TAPE#=01-32 TC1:46:55]
Over the last four years, the textile maker's stock plummeted from 20 dollars a share to just under a dollar. Overseas competition was blamed for lagging sales.
But in April, the stock jumped to nearly four dollars a share almost over night.
The investment community quickly took notice. CL King even labeled Dan River a strong buy -- saying beds in bags are back in demand.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Still, the King report says Dan River may be vulnerable to its dependence on K-Mart -- which is having financial trouble of its own.
The report also predicts if the economy lapses back into recession, Dan River stock will likely revisit its lows.
[11SCV-Plates]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-10 TC58:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Still no word from Attorney General Jerry Kilgore- when it comes to Confederate license plates.
Kilgore's considering an appeal to the federal ruling that allows a plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
He was expected to announce his decision last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The General Assembly approved the plate three years ago...but specifically said NO Confederate flag logo could go on it.
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling yesterday declaring the restriction unconstitutional.
(------------)
[11Storm-Cleanup]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC1:26:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
One and half million dollars- That's how much damage the city of Bedford had from Sunday's tornado.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]
A total of 23 homes and 58 businesses were hit as the storm tore through the center of town Sunday night.
The local Ford dealership had one of the biggest losses- Cars were flipped and windows smashed.
Other businesses had their roofs peeled back or facades ripped off.. but things are returning to normal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:08:02]
[IN Q=These old buildings]
((SCOTT SMITH/DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: THESE OLD BUILDINGS WEATHERED IT PRETTY WELL... READY FOR BUSINESS.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Smith/Downtown Development Director]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=ready for business.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities say "a half dozen" buildings were destroyed or suffered enough major damage that they may have to be condemned.
(------------)
[6-Franklin-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Franklin County residents will see some tax increases next year.
That's after the Board of Supervisors passed the 2002-2003 budget in a vote of 6 to 1.
The board approved a 9 percent increase in the real estate tax... which will go from 55 to 60 cents on each 100-dollars of assessed property.
County decals will go up 5 dollars AND the Emergency 911 tax is going up one dollar a month.
Supervisors said the tax increases were needed to avoid borrowing money to balance the budget.
[11K-9]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:38:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke City Police are celebrating another successful K-9 training program.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Yesterday, the department graduated six officer-dog teams from Basic Police K-9 school.
Included in the 12 week program are lessons in K-9 investigation techniques, patrol work, handler protection and health and legal issues.
(///// SOT at :13 /////)
[SOT 15:11:20-15:11:32]
[IN Q=Each dog's trained a little bit different...]
((OFFICER JOHN HOOVER/ROANOKE POLICE DEPT.: EACH DOG'S TRAINED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SOME ARE TRAINED IN PATROL WORK, NARCOTICS, SOME JUST DETECTION. WE HAVE ONE STRICTLY A NARCOTICS DETECTOR AND ONE'S STRICTLY AN EXPLOSIVE DETECTOR DOG.))
((DEPUTY MICHAEL R. GARRETT/CAMPBELL CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: SHE'S A STRICTLY NARCOTICS DOG. SHE'S TRAINED IN DETECTION OF NARCOTICS SO SHE SMELLS OUT THE ODOR OF DRUGS. SHE'S AN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE DOG. SHE SCRATCHES TRYING TO GET TO THE ODOR.))
[SUPER=01-John Hoover/Roanoke Police Department;]
[SUPER=01-Michael Garrett and Onyx/Campbell Co. Sheriff's Department;]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=trying to get to the odor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :14]
The graduating teams are from Radford City, Virginia Tech, and Wise, Bedford and Campbell Counties.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[comm #3]
[Blake]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Robert Blake will be back in court today, asking to be released on bail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
The actor is reportedly offering to pay two million dollars, and wear an electronic monitoring device.
The district attorney's office says the special circumstance allegation in the case does NOT allow for bail to be granted.
But Blake's attorney says his client is not a threat to the public.
Harland Braun says Blake is dyslexic, and needs to be let out of jail so that someone can read to him the thousands of pages of evidence turned over by prosecutors.
Evidence that Braun says is insufficient--
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:26:58]
[IN Q=I haven't seen any]
((HARLAND BRAUN/BLAKE'S ATTORNEY: "I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT HE IS THE ACTUAL KILLER OR ANY WITNESSES SO HOW CAN YOU HAVE A LYING AND WAIT UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES?" ))
[SUPER=01-Harland Braun/Blake's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=under those circumstances?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
68- year- old Blake faces murder charges in the death of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley nearly a year ago.
(------------)
[5-Leyva]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=501-07 1:46:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Pentecostal minister Tony (LAY-va) Leyva got out of prison yesterday morning and returned to Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
It's been 14 years since he was convicted of sodomizing young boys.
He served the maximum sentenced under the old rules-- before parole was abolished.
Leyva had been tried in state and federal courts in the Roanoke Valley.
He was released from Brunswick Prison, this morning, where state parole officers met the pastor and escorted him back to Roanoke.
The case dates back to the mid- 1980's when Leyva was leading revivals in Virginia and running a child prostitution ring on the side.
State probation and parole officials say he'll be under intensive supervision, wearing an electronic monitoring device. He plans to live at the Jefferson Lodge in downtown Roanoke, until he can find a job and a permanent home.
(------------)
[6-Jones]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A man accused of raping at least one girl at a center for troubled teens will remain in jail WITHOUT bond.
A Botetourt County Circuit judge denied bond for 30-year-old Jimmy Lee Jones yesterday.
Prosecutors say that while Jones was working as a night security guard at the Sanctuary Crisis Intervention Center, he had sex with a 14-year-old girl. They say they're investigating similar allegations from other girls, ranging in age from 14 to 16.
Jones faces charges of rape, sodomy and child abuse.
[AZ-Wildfires]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Winds continue to fan the flames of a wildfire burning in southern Arizona.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sonoita, AZ;]
The blaze has charred 25-thousand acres of dry grass and
brush.
One home and two barns are destroyed, and at least 100 other buildings are threatened.
Wind gusts of up to 30 miles-an-hour are fanning the fire, which is only about five percent contained.
More than 350 firefighters and support staff are working the blaze.
The fire started Monday.
Its cause is unknown.
(------------)
[6-Avian-Flu]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Avian flu has spread to a sixth Virginia county.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case in Highland County.
The virus had already shown up on poultry farms in Rockingham, Shenandoah, Augusta, Page and Greene counties.
119 farms have been quarantined and nearly three million chickens and turkeys have been destroyed.
Federal agriculture employees working out of Harrisonburg are trying to figure out how the virus is spreading.
[2-Plant-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Firefighters in the Houston area are having trouble battling an enormous blaze this morning at a chemical packing
plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pearland, TX/This Morning]
Several explosions were heard at the Third Coast Packaging plant
early this morning.
Residents say the blasts shook their windows.
Officials say that a lack of fire hydrants nearby is forcing firefighters to let the fire burn itself
out and that could take a day.
About 100 people have been evacuated from their homes.
There are no reports of injuries.
(------------)
[11Trigon]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-11 TC56:08]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Trigon Health Care says its customers won't notice a thing when it merges with another insurance company.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Month]
[TAPE#=501-07 1:34:09]
Trigon plans to partner with Indianapolis-based Anthem Health Care sometime this year.
Trigon said yesterday most members will receive a new insurance card in the mail, but not for at least another year.
Other than that, they likely won't see much difference.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
If the merger is approved, the combined companies will serve 10 million people.
by SS