WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/19/02

[11GOP]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC1:30:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]

House Republicans say they will choose the next House Speaker before the end of the summer.
Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has more from the capitol.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The full Republican caucus will be meeting]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Leo Wardrup/(R) Virginia Beach; :26]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob McDonnell/(R) Virginia Beach; :53]
[SUPER=@Putney; 1:13]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; 1:50]
[RUNS=2:04]
[OUT Q=MM, News 7, Richmond]

((The full Republican caucus will be meeting soon for the specific purpose of naming a permanent replacement to Speaker Vance Wilkins.
Wilkins submitted his resignation last week in the wake of a sexual harassment controversy.
As chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, Delegate Lacey Putney automatically became Acting Speaker.
GOP leaders said that Putney will likely remain Speaker until the General Assembly convenes in January.
[SOT 17:54:40]
[IN Q=I don't sense that]
[RUNS=:]
[OUT Q=Commonwealth of Virginia.]

No member has officially announced their candidacy for the Speaker post. Delegate Bob McDonnell, who has been mentioned as a likely candidate for Speaker, says that Members are seriously weighing the time commitment involved.
[SOT 18:03:29]
[IN Q=It's a great honor]
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=very carefully.]

After the controversies of the past year, Republicans say its important that they elect a new Speaker whose background won't become a liability for the Party.
[SOT 17:46:06]
[IN Q=All members, particularly]
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=will be well taken care of.]

Republican leaders admit they're still hurting following the abrupt departure of Wilkins who delivered the first modern day majority for their party.
Electing a new Speaker is a task they wish they didn't have to do.
[SOT 17:49:15]
[IN Q=I think the caucus is in many ways]
[RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=somewhat in mourning from the loss of a very good man.]
[SOT 17:55:09]
[IN Q=This is viewed by all of us]
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=in the history of Virginia.]

Wardrup declined to give the specific date of the next caucus meeting, saying he has to notify members first.
But he did say the meeting will be held in the very near future, indicating that Republicans want to close out this chapter of their leadership as quickly as possible.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[VOB-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-24 TC 12:48]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Roanoke County school board is faced with a dilemma.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Overcrowding is a problem at Back Creek Elementary, so the board is considering redistricting. The proposal calls for shifting some students in the Back Creek district to Penn Forest Elementary-- and part of Penn Forest to Clearbrook elementary. But at a public hearing last night, parents voiced strong opposition, saying they want their children to remain in their current school as well as any younger siblings.
(///// SOT /////)
[sot 01:29:13 tape two]
((JUST THINK IF YOU HAVE TO TELL YOUR CHILD WHO'S ONLY GOING INTO SECOND GRADE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOSE YOUR FRIENDS AT BACKCREEK AND THE TEACHERS TO THAT YOU COULD STAY WITH YOUR BROTHER OR ARE YOU WILLING TO BE SEPARATED FROM YOUR BROTHER AND NOT GOING TOGETHER.))
[SUPER=01-Alise Culbertson/Parent;]
[runs=16]
[out q= not going together.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Parents were hoping the board would make a decision last night, but that did NOT happen. The board will meet again tommorow. At that meeting they could decide whether to scrap plans for redistricting this fall, and to pursue the proposal a year from now.
(------------)

[11City-Water]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC1:53:08]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]

Voluntary water conservation gave way to mandatory restrictions in Roanoke yesterday as the level of the city's main reservoir fell to 26 feet below the spillway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

Officials estimate that Carvins Cove is now at about 36 percent of its usable capacity.
The city is purchasing water from Roanoke County and Salem, and banning all non-essential uses of water.
That leaves many residents and businesses looking for alternate sources... such as the city's New Hope well on Welcome Valley Road.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:35]
[IN Q=we've got quite a bit]
((RANDY STUMP: WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT OF FLOWERS ON OUR PROPERTY AND THEY NEED TO BE WATERED QUITE A BIT AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. IT'S GOING TO TAKE QUITE A LOT OF WATER. SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL BE SPENDING SOME TIME UP HERE AT THE WELL. YEAH IT LOOKS THAT WAY.))
[SUPER=01-Randy Stump/Apartment Maintenance Worker;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=yeah it looks that way.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Roanoke Elks Lodge has shut down slides that use city water... but like other public and community pools, it will be allowed to use city water to maintain proper levels.
That's not the case with residential pools and hot tubs. The new restrictions prohibit filling, re-filling or topping off those.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The plan calls for civil penalties of 100 dollars for residential violations, and 500 dollars for commercial violations, but city officials say at this point they are emphasizing education not enforcement.

[11Forest-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-04 TC1:20:58]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A forest fire in Rockbridge County is now up to about 3-thousand acres ... but thanks to some air support, it should spread no further.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

Helicopters launched the final attack on the fire yesterday ...
One doused the hottest spots with water.
Another dropped two-thousand combustible ping pong balls to burn the last bits of dry brush inside the fire containment lines.
The effort blanketed the area in heavy smoke -- but forestry officials say it's doing more good than harm.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:19 - :30]
[IN Q=Used to be]
((LEA WOFFORD/U.S. FOREST SERVICE: USED TO BE BEFORE WE USED HELICOPTERS, FOLKS WOULD WALK IN THERE. BUT IT'S TOO STEEP AND BY AIR IT'S A LOT QUICKER AND A LOT CHEAPER.))
[SUPER=01-Lea Wofford/U. S. Forest Service;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=a lot cheaper.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lightning started the fire near the Devil's Marbleyard two weeks ago.
It closed down a 10-mile section of the Appalachian Trail.
Officials say a four-year drought, combined with winds and low humidity made the fire tough to put out.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Neighbor-Reax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=csc]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC1:01:07]
[GRAPHIC=wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Glasgow]

Smoke from that fire -- and yesterday's firefighting efforts -- could be seen for miles.
A large plume rose into the sky as crews completed the aerial ignition process.
A steady breeze drove some of that smoke into the nearby town of Glasgow.
People who live there say they understand the smoke isn't going to cause any serious trouble for them, but it's still a nuisance.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=1:01:11]
((BARBARA PETERSON/GLASGOW RESIDENT; THE POLLUTION IS REALLY BAD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T BREATHE IN THIS SMOKE DOWN HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ASTHMA, SO WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Barbara Peterson/Glasgow Resident]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q="worried about that"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Forestry officials say they still expect the fire to be fully contained by this evening.
(------------)

[CO-Wildfires]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

In Colorado, firefighters are now also battling hot, windy weather--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Colorado;]

The massive wildfire that's destroyed over 113- thousand acres is partially under control, but the winds are keeping the flames going.
A second major fire in the Southwestern part of Colorado forced the evacuation of 17- hundred homes.
Meanwhile, all five remaining C-130 air tankers under contract to the Forest Service have been grounded, following Monday's fatal crash in California.
(------------)

[Mideast]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Israel is playing hardball with terrorists after the latest suicide bombing on a bus that killed 19 people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-West Bank;]

The Israeli military is heading back into the West Bank.
During the overnight incursion, soldiers made three arrests.
It's part of Israel's latest plan to fight back against terrorism.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=From now on]
((ARIEH MECKEL/FOREIGN MINISTRY POKESMAN:FROM NOW ON THERE IS A CHANGE IN OUR POLICY, FROM NOW ON ANYTIME THERE WILL BE AN ACT OF TERROR AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL WILL RESPOND BY CAPTURING A PART OF THE PALESTINIAN HELD TERRITORY.
))
[SUPER=01-Arieh Meckel/Foreign Ministry Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=Palestinian held territory.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the White House says the latest attacks will not deter President Bush, who's pushing for Palestinian statehood.
Officials say the President will announce his Mideast plan either tomorrow or Friday.
(------------)

[5-Swimming]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=502-10 4;22]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]

In this morning's Health Check, Every year approximately 15-hundred children drown. That's why many parents start teaching their children to swim at a young age. As Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton found out, a child does not even have to know how to walk to start learning the basics.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For two and half year old]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;00]
[SUPER=01-Woody Howard/Grandparent;12]
[SUPER=01-Scott McCoy/YMCA;34]
[SUPER=01-Tammy Young/Parent;56]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin'.]
((
For two and half year old Trinity Saltz this swimming class is about having fun and playing in the water. But to her grandfather it's also chance to teach her some basic skills that could one day save her life.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT13:20]
[IN Q=First of all for all children]
((WOODY HOWARD/GRANDPARENT: FIRST OF ALL FOR ALL CHILDREN I THINK THEY SHOULD KNOW HOW TO SWIM. WE LIVE AT THE LAKE AND AT THE END OF OUR DOCK IT'S VERY DEEP SO I WANT HER TO BE ABLE TO SWIM OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE THERE, SO IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN AND SHE ACCIDENTALLY FELL IN OR WHATEVER)) [RUNS17]
[OUT Q=or whatever]
[NAT SOUND]
[RUNS=03]

This aquatics programs at the YMCA in Roanoke is for children six months up to three years of age.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:48]
[IN Q=Having the children start out this young]
((SCOTT MCCOY/YMCA: HAVING THE CHILDREN START OUT THIS YOUNG HAVING THEM EXPOSED TO THE WATER IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY ALLOWS THEM TO DEVELOP THAT LIFE LONG APPRECIATION FOR AQUATIC ACTIVITY IN THE WATER)) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=in the water]

While many of the kids won't actually learn how to swim, they will learn skills like how to climb out the pool and how to float and move around in the water.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT11:50]
[IN Q=We wanted to get him]
((TAMMY YOUNG:WE WANTED TO GET HIM ACCLIMATED TO THE WATER BEFORE WE GO TO THE BEACH SO HE WOULDN'T BE SCARED OF IT AND WOULD LEARN SOME FUN THING TO DO IN THE WATER TO HELP HIM HAVE FUN)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=help him have fun]

And the parents learn just as much as the kids, like the importance of constant supervision and how to rescue a child.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT7:19]
[IN Q=Having parents hold onto the side]
((HAVING PARENTS HOLD ONTO THE SIDE OF THE POOL WHILE THEY REACH OUT FOR THE CHILD OR ENCOURAGING THE CHILD TO SWIM BACK TO THEM, REACHING OUT WITH SOME SORT OF OBJECT, EVEN THEIR SHIRT CAN BE USED TO REACH OUT)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=to reach out]

While no aquatic program alone can prevent a drowning --it's kick in right direction for these parents. ))
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Drownings are the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4.
For more information about child and parent swim classes you can contact your local YMCA.
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Arsenal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-23 TC25:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A part of the New River is closer to be being closed off to public use...
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape;]
The Radford Arsenal is going forward with plans to shut down four and a half miles of the New River. They want to restrict river access for security concerns related to terrorism. Many fisherman spoke out against the idea at a meeting in April... saying it would take away recreation options.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:05:06]
[IN Q=i believe]
((REX GEARHEART/FISHERMAN; I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE PRESENCE OF A LOT OF COUNTRY BOYS ON THE RIVER WOULD PROBABLY DETER TERRORISM MORE THAN ANYTHING THEY COULD DO CERTAINLY MORE THAN CLOSING THE RIVER BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR COMING FROM ALSO IT IS A HAZARD, LIVING JUST A MILE DOWN THE ROAD IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN HERE I WOULD BE PLACED IN HARM'S WAY.))
[SUPER=01-Rex Gearheart/Fisherman;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=HARM'S WAY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
That's why Arsenal officials propose installing two rows of permanent pylons at two points on the river and mount floating buoys between them. A public hearing on the matter is expected at the end of July.
(------------)

[2-Mideast]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Making national news--
After the latest suicide bombing attack that killed more than dozen people, Israel is launching a new offensive against terrorism.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-West Bank;]

The Israeli military is heading back into the West Bank.
During the overnight incursion, soldiers made three arrests.
It's part of Israel's latest plan to fight back against terrorism.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=From now on]
((ARIEH MECKEL/FOREIGN MINISTRY POKESMAN:FROM NOW ON THERE IS A CHANGE IN OUR POLICY, FROM NOW ON ANYTIME THERE WILL BE AN ACT OF TERROR AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL. ISRAEL WILL RESPOND BY CAPTURING A PART OF THE PALESTINIAN HELD TERRITORY.
))
[SUPER=01-Arieh Meckel/Foreign Ministry Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=Palestinian held territory.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the White House says the latest attacks will not deter President Bush, who's pushing for Palestinian statehood.
Officials say the President will announce his Mideast plan either tomorrow or Friday.
(------------)

[Buck]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Veteran Sportscaster Jack Buck has died--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Buck died late last night after battling several illnesses, including lung cancer.
His career spanned nearly 50 years, earning him a spot in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
It all began in 19-54, when he became the voice of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Buck's distinctive voice made its way outside St. Louis and onto the national airwaves, eventually working for all three major networks..
Jack Buck was 77.
(------------)

[11Narroflex]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC1:39:53]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

205 new jobs are coming to Patrick County and 245 existing ones have been saved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Stuart/File Tape]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC31:41]

Yesterday, Governor Mark Warner said Narroflex decided to stay in Stuart and expand.
The textile maker almost moved to North Carolina, but chose- -instead- -to invest nine million dollars in its existing facility.
Governor Warner approved a 200 thousand dollar grant from his Opportunity Fund to assist Patrick County with the project.
(------------)

[11Atlantic-Mutual]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]

25 employees will be affected by layoffs at Atlantic Mutual Insurance's Roanoke Processing Center.
Technology changes reportedly led to eliminations in the customer service and Information Technology departments.

Those losing their jobs will receive severance packages and job placement support.
At the same time, new jobs will be added to the claims processing department.
Layoffs there in January affected fewer than 20 people.