WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/25/02

[11Water-Restrictions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-38 TC23:55]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]

Residents of Roanoke County will soon face mandatory water restrictions. Yesterday, the board of supervisors gave preliminary approval to a new water conservation ordinance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The Spring Hollow Reservoir is currently just a few feet below normal, but lingering drought conditions have prompted the county to act.
Violations of the new ordinance will carry civil penalties, and the possibility of criminal charges.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The water restrictions won't take effect until the board takes a final vote on the ordinance at its next meeting October 8th.

[6-Carilion]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Carilion Health System has announced it's getting out of the health insurance business.
It will no longer own Carilion Health Plans. That division owns and manages employer sponsored health plans affecting more than 21-thousand patients in Southwest Virginia.
That's just one of several changes the company plans to make in light of rising health care costs.
Carilion says it'll eliminate 43 positions- most of which are already vacant.
The company says very few people will actually lose their jobs. Also, selected capital improvement projects will be delayed, but the expansion at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital will continue as scheduled.
In the meantime, Carilion Health Plans says it will generally continue to operate as usual, as it looks for a new buyer.

[11County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC18:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Five school construction projects in Roanoke County are moving forward, following a meeting between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

County officials estimate they'll have about 20- million dollars for the second phase of the school construction program.
Last night, the school board voted to authorize architectural and engineering work on five projects-- including Mountain View Elementary, Herman L. Horn Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, South County stadium proposals, and Northside High.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've got]
((BILL IRVIN/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE'VE GOT COST ESTIMATES FROM OUR OWN CONSTRUCTION FOLKS AND WE FEEL THEY'RE FAIRLY ACCURATE, BUT UNTIL WE GET THEM FROM ARCHITECTS WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. SO, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, COME BACK TO THE SUPERVISORS AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AT THAT TIME, BUT THAT WILL BE SOME MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Irvin/Roanoke Co. School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=some months down the road.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The board is considering renovations to Bogle Field for Cave Spring High School, and construction of a new stadium for Hidden Valley High on Merriman Road, or at some other site.
Officials want to see cost estimates before approving one or both of those proposals.
(------------)

[Iraq]

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

A U-S written resolution on Iraq could be in the hands of U-N Security Council members today, but U-S diplomats say it may take longer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

The U-S and Great Britain want to tighten the timetable Iraq has to comply with previous resolutions.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

But France, Russia, and China aren't going along.
The U-S has indicated it wants to get a resolution through the council by Monday, when the chief U-N weapons inspector meets with Iraqi officials.
(------------)

[War-Poll]

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

Meanwhile, a new poll shows that Americans are more willing to support military action against Iraq IF U-S allies go along with it.
By a two- to- one margin, those surveyed by CBS News say the U-S should wait to get the backing of its allies before taking action against Iraq.

[Isidore]

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

Hurricane watches are up for the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

That, as residents along the Gulf Coast continue preparing for Isidore.
Forecasters say the storm could pick up to hurricane speed and hit Louisiana by tomorrow, moving inland by the weekend.
The tropical storm continues to soak Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where it's blamed for two deaths.
More than 300- thousand people have been left homeless.
(------------)

[11Murals]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC42:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Opponents of some controversial artwork in two of Lynchburg's court buildings have won a partial victory to get the artwork taken down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

For years, minorities and others have described these brass figures in the lobby of Lynchburg circuit court as being racist and offensive.
City council yesterday voted to remove the figures after first getting an estimate on how much it will cost.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:58:30]
[IN Q=You've got to]
((ED BARKSDALE/LYNCHBURG COUNCIL MEMBER: YOU'VE GOT TO WALK A MILE IN A MAN'S BOOTS BEFORE YOU REALIZE, BEFORE YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU REALLY THINK. I KNOW HOW OFFENSIVE THAT CHARACTERIZATION IS TO ME AND TO MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN THIS CITY.))
[SUPER=01-Ed Barksdale/Lynchburg Council Member]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=in this city.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

No action was taken on this mural in the juvenile court building.
Opponents say they'll continue to pressure council to remove it or cover it up.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, The Dow Jones industrial average is now at a four-year low.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((NO RELIEF FROM THE FED..STOCKS WERE SLAMMED, AFTER THE FEDERAL RESERVE LEFT INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED AT A 40 YEAR LOW.
THE DOW SANK 189 POINTS TO A FOUR YEAR LOW
THE SP 500 LOST 14
AND THE NASDAQ SLIPPED 3 TO FINISH AT A SIX YEAR LOW...
GROWING WORRIES ABOUT WAR WITH IRAQ AND A STRUGGLING GLOBAL ECONOMY KEPT THE BUYERS AT BAY... ALL THIS TALK OF WAR PUSHED THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL ABOVE 31 DOLLARS A BARREL AND GOLD PAST 329 DOLLARS AN OUNCE..
THE SELLING PICKED UP STEAM AFTER FED CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN AND FELLOW POLICYMAKERS LEFT INTEREST RATS UNCHANGED. SOME ECONOMISTS SAY THE FED MAY BE SAVING SOME AMMUNITIONS IN CASE THE U-S GOES TO WAR WITH IRAQ.. LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR A RATE CUT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD...
THE FED SLASHED RATES 11 TIMES LAST YEAR IN AN EFFORT TO JUMPSTART THE ECONOMY.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY.. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SLIPPED TO A 10 MONTH LOW IN SEPTEMBER AS THE GLOOMY JOB MARKET AND DECLINING STOCK MARKET HURT CONSUMER SENTIMENT.
COMPANIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT.. XEROX SAID ITS ACCOUNTING PRACTICES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN CONNECTICUT. XEROX SETTLED SIMILAR CLAIMS WITH THE SEC A FEW MONTHS AGO.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[CA-Wildfire]

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

A wildfire has closed a national forest, just northeast of Los Angeles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-La Verne, CA;]

Some parts of the Angeles National Forest haven't burned in 40yaers, and authorities say they can't afford another fire.
The blaze jumped from eight thousand acres to 12- thousand in just a afew hours yesterday.
It's destroyed dozens of cabins, and threatens million- dollar homes on the edge of surburban L-A.
Residents say the flames tower 50 feet in the air, and are jumping from ridge to ridge.
(------------)

[India-Siege]

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

A siege lasting more than 14- hours at a Hindu temple in India has ended--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gandhinagar, India;]

Officials say commandos stormed the temple compound and killed two gunmen, who fatally shot 30 people and took dozens of hostages yesterday.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Indian government is blaming Pakistan.
(------------)

[AM-Drug-Bust]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-37]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Police are investigating what they call a highly-sophisticated drug operation in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

The New River Drug Task Force says it got a tip Friday night about a drug operation inside one of the Foxridge apartments.
When police searched the unit, they found over 150-thousand dollars worth of marijuana and equipment used to grow it.
Police say the plants are healthier and more potent than those you find on the street.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 26:32]
[IN Q=for this type]
((BARRY O'ROURKE/CHRISTIANSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: FOR THIS TYPE OF MARIJUANA, IT'S A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE. YOU CAN FIND IT FOR A HUNDRED FIFTY TO FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS, IT DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY AND THIS IS VERY HIGH QUALITY))
[SUPER=01-Barry O'Rourke/Christiansburg Police Department;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=high quality]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police say it appears the operation has been going on for some time now.
So far, no arrests have been made.
(------------)

[11Protest-Permit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC1:53:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg city council is still trying to re-work its protest permit ordinance so it'll pass Constitutional muster.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

Under the old law, peace activist Jack Payden-Travers was convicted of organizing this anti-war protest last fall without getting the proper permit.
Payden-Travers appealed his conviction and a judge later declared the law unconstitutional.
Council is now working on a new ordinance that more clearly defines what type of demonstration, parade or assembly needs a police permit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:21:21]
[IN Q=Common sense]
((WALTER ERWIN/LYNCHBURG CITY ATTORNEY: COMMON SENSE, PUTTING IN WHAT EVERYBODY HAD THOUGHT WAS COMMON SENSE AND NOBODY HAD EVER THOUGHT THE ORDINANCE HAD APPLIED TO, JUST MAKING IT CLEAR SINCE THE ISSUE HAS COME UP THAT IT COULD BE APPLIED TO THOSE GROUPS, THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS INTENDED TO COVER.))
[SUPER=01-Walter Erwin/Lynchburg City Attorney]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=intended to cover.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Under the new ordinance- a protest involving ten people would need a permit- now the number is five.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Catholic-Priest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-32 TC1:58:26]
[SS=None]

A priest who served in Bedford has been forced to step down for sexual misconduct involving minors.
Father Eugene Teslovic (TESS-lo-vic) served at the Holy Name of Mary church-
He was being investigated by the diocese about a sexual incident that took place 25 years ago in Portsmouth.
Church officials say Bishop Walter Sullivan found enough evidence of sexual abuse of minors to ask Father Teslovic to step down immediately.
Meghan Muldoon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=56-year-old Father Eugene Teslovic]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :08]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Pat Apuzzo/Richmond Diocese Spokesman; :21]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :50]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.]
(( 56 year-old Father Eugene Teslovic, pastor of St. Luke's in Virginia Beach for the past twelve years was removed from active ministry as a priest.
Church officials say an investigation uncovered several incidences of sexual misconduct with minors during the late 70s and mid-80s.
Church officials say none of those victims have come forward and they offered no details of the evidence they found.
[SOT 16:06:17]
[IN Q=I KNOW THAT THE MERE FACT]
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=FOUND FIRE.]

Church officials say that there had been rumors and speculation about Father Teslovic in the past.
The say an inquiry into the rumors was made ten years ago but nothing turned up.
[SOT 16:05:58]
[IN Q=WAS THERE A LACK OF VIGILANCE]
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=LOOKED THE OTHER WAY]

Father Teslovic served for two years as pastor of Holy Name of Mary in Bedford during the time in which evidence was found of past sexual misconduct.
Church officials are hopeful that any victims will now come forward.
[SOT 16:00:54-14]
[IN Q=WHETHER THEY WERE PARISHONERS]
[RUNS:20]
[OUT Q=BISHOP ACTING ON.]

This is the third Catholic priest in the Richmond diocese to be removed in as many months. This is also the first case of repeated incidences of abuse and also the first one handled under the diocese's new sexual abuse review board.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))
(-------------)

[2-Marketwatch]

[11Price]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-33 TC1:06:20]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales ]

A 16-year-old Roanoke girl will spend three years in juvenile detention for the shooting death of a teenage friend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Rebecca Price fell to the floor and sobbed as the judge told her he was sentencing her to 10 years in prison -- but that she would only have to serve three in juvenile detention.
She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for shooting 16-year-old Neville Swain last November.
Price said she did not know the gun was loaded when she pointed it and fired after Swain broke her fingernail.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:42:06]
[IN Q=I just want]
((REBECCA PRICE/DEFENDANT: I JUST WANT TO GO HOME. I'LL TAKE MY MEDICATION. I'LL DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO. I'LL GO TO SCHOOL. 'CAUSE I JUST CAN'T BE LOCKED UP. I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S HURTING ME INSIDE. IT'S KILLING ME 'CAUSE I CAN'T SEE MY FAMILY. ))
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Price/Defendant;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=see my family.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

When she's released from juvenile detention at 19, Price will still have 12 years of probation.
She has to continue treatment for depression and repay Neville Swain's family for half of his funeral expenses.
His sisters told News-7 they forgive Price and believe the punishment was just.
(------------)

[11Cornwell]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal scales]
A judge has certified charges against a Botetourt County school resource officer accused of sexually abusing a child.
39- year old Tracey Alan Cornwell -- worked at at Read Mountain Middle School --He's charged with aggravated sexual battery of an eleven year old girl. The girl was not a student at the school.

[6-Workman]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-31 TC1:02:20]
[GRAPHIC=Workman]
The prosecutor in the case of D-E-A Agent Timothy Workman opposes moving the trial out of Roanoke. Workman is still on bond- -on administrative leave withOUT pay, and was NOT in court yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Wanda Dewease said the defense must show there's "widespread prejudice in the community against Workman," and they haven't done that yet. Tony Anderson did submit a collection of newspaper articles. The defense also subpoenaed videotapes from the three local television stations. W-D-B-J complied with the subpoena. The other two stations have not. The hearing was continued until Monday, so the judge can review news accounts of the case before the attorneys argue whether it should be moved elsewhere.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Workman is charged with murder in the shooting death of Keith Bailey last February.

[6-Holden]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-26 TC1:53:02]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Nelson County man will not go be locked up for embezzling from his granddaughter's memorial fund.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co./July 23]

57-year-old James Holden was convicted in July of misappropriating more than 17-thousand dollars from the Jackie Holden fund.
Eight-year-old Jackie died in February of 2000 after getting lost in the woods near her home in Shipman.
Her grandfather was given ten years probation yesterday, and he must repay 11-thousand dollars to people who bought 100-dollar raffle tickets as part of a fundraiser. (------------)