WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/26/02

[7-81-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=AM cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC26:34]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
A bridge over Interstate 81 remains closed this morning, after an accident left debris hanging from the overpass.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

A northbound tractor trailer carrying an oversized load struck the Route 6-23 overpass last night.
No one was hurt, but the crash left concrete and steel dangling from the overpass.
Rescue workers had to close one northbound lane of the interstate while they cut the debris with a torch.
Route 6-23 will remain closed until the bridge can be inspected.
(------------)

[7-11Drought-Outlook]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-16 TC2:00:23]
[GRAPHIC=Drought]
Experts say the recent rain is no where close to washing away our drought problems.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
A senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service says rainfall will be normal over the next 90-days. We can expect widely scattered evening showers and thunderstorms.... but not what we need.... which is organized areas of widespread light-to-moderate rain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:21:57]
[IN Q=WHAT WE]
((MIKE GILLEN/SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST; WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR THAT IS A LOT OF SNOW THIS COMING WINTER BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE WINTER TIME PRIMARILY THAT THE GROUND WATER LEVELS AND THE LOWER AQUIFER LEVELS ARE REPLENISHED BY THE SLOW MELTING OF THE SNOW PACK.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Gillen/Senior Service Hydrologist; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=SNOW PACK.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Gillen says its too early to predict what kind of snowfall we'll see this winter. He says rain would have to fall for weeks, probably months, to make a dent in the drought. Right now the National Weather Service is tracking tropical storms to see if they will provide any help.
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[45-11Ronile]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC1:08:48]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]

One man is still fighting for his life after being burned in a boiler explosion at a Rocky Mount yarn-dyeing plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]

Crews returned to the boiler room yesterday to clean up and investigate what caused Wednesday's blast.
The plant's owner says he estimates at least "half a million dollars" in damage.
John Gregory -- a 48-year-old contractor from Collinsville -- is in critical condition. He was burned on more than 85 percent of his body.
Jeff Jones -- a 38-year-old Ronile maintenance worker -- is expected to be released from the hospital as early as today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:33:30 - :47]
[IN Q=The number one]
((PHILLIP ESSIG/RONILE CEO: THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY SENDING OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.))
[SUPER=01-Phillip Essig/Ronile CEO;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=their families.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The boiler was less than a year old.
The plant's owner says workers were having trouble starting it.
It exploded as they tried to service it.
About 75 of the plant's 350 employees are back at work.
The company hopes it can bring the rest back tomorrow.
(------------)

[45-11Logan]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
A suspect in a weekend murder is now in the custody of the South Boston police.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Officers arrested 19-year old Antonio C. Logan of Halifax yesterday evening.
He's charged with the murder of a North Carolina man.
(-------------)

[45-Adelphia]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Some reassuring news for area Adelphia cable customers - The company promises uninterrupted service -- despite the recent troubles of indictments, bankruptcy and corporate fraud.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Adelphia officials in Lynchburg say financial problems on the corporate level have not trickled down to the local cable systems.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:48:15]
[IN Q=The revenue flow]
((JIM KITCHEN/LYNCHBURG ADELPHIA GENERAL MANAGER: THE REVENUE FLOW HERE IS VERY GOOD, IT'S A REALLY STABLE COMMUNITY. WE'RE SEEING CONSTANT GROWTH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BASED UPON THE PRODUCTS THAT WE'RE OFFERING AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE COMPANY WOULD CLOSE THE DOORS HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Kitchen/Lynchburg Adelphia General Manager]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=close the doors here.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[SS=HOLD]

The news is not as good for customers of Adelphia Business Solutions.. a separate entity that provides business telephone service throughout central and southwest Virginia.
A-B-S plans to discontinue service to all its local customers starting September 4th.

[8-81-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC26:34]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

A damaged bridge over Interstate 81 in Botetourt County is closed for inspection this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

A northbound tractor trailer carrying an oversized load struck the Route 623 overpass last night.
No one was hurt, but the crash left concrete and steel dangling from the overpass.
Rescue workers had to close one northbound lane of the interstate while they cut the debris with a torch.
Route 623 will remain closed until the bridge can be inspected.
(------------)

[8-11Cascades-Fall]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The woman who fell from the top of a waterfall last week at the Cascades has passed away.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./Friday]
31-year old Joyce Thompson of Peterstown, West Virginia died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital of severe head trauma and internal injuries. Thompson suffered those injuries Friday afternoon in the 70-foot fall. She was visiting Giles County with her two young daughters and a cousin when the accident happened.
(------------)

[8-11Conner]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-19 TC1:22:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An employee of Blacksburg is stepping down amid charges of a sexual relationship with a minor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Court documents say Phillip Conner was indicted on a felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child. The 41-year-old has not yet been arrested.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Conner has been working as supervisor of the Blacksburg Community Center since 19-92. His responsibilities included planning and supervising youth and adult classes, sports leagues and camps.
Town officials say they received an allegation of misconduct on Monday and that he officially resigned Tuesday. Conner also worked in the town on a part-time basis for three years beginning in 19-85.
Our efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. (------------)