[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Governor Warner wants to make adjustments to the state's mental health institutions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And, a mistrial in the D-Day Memorial fraud case makes for a shaky Foundation.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 Sports - The UVa men's roundballers return to U-Hall tonight to battle ETSU. The Braves pick up a couple of pitchers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Florida State quarterback Chris Rix is out for the Sugar Bowl after failing to take a final exam.
(------------)


[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]


Some passing rain showers and the clouds will hang tough for tomorrow. The latest outlook coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]


News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=Video Open]



(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 02:54:14]
[IN Q=FINALLY VIRGINIA MAY MOVE]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=OUT OF THE BRONZE AGE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Virginia's mental health care policy may be headed for a big change.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


The governor tries to shift care from state hospitals to communities.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


And I'm Shannon Young.
[Mental-health]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC2:02:36]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Governor Mark Warner wants to shut down some wings at several of the state's mental hospitals.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


It's a change he says will actually improve mental health care in the state.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Meghan/State Microwave;]


Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon joins us now with more on the governor's policy shift.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]


The governor says this is about moving patients from institutions back into their communities.
And mental health advocates say that its a change that is long overdue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WARNER VISITED A MENTAL.]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@file; :07]
[SUPER=@markWarner; :]
[SUPER=01-MaryAnn Bergeron/VA Assoc. of Comm. Service Boards; :]
[SUPER=01-Valerie Marsh/Nat. Alliance of the Mentally Ill; ]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=DAMAGED PEOPLE NOW.]

(( Warner visited a mental health care center in Richmond, which provides the community-based services he wants to see more of.
He says shifting existing resources from state mental wards to community service boards means more Virginians will be getting better care.
[SOT 02:28:16]
[IN Q=COMMUNITY-BASED CARE IS OFTEN]

[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=FULL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.]


Warner is proposing the elimination of 261 beds at five of the state's mental hospitals including the Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute in Smyth County.
Virginia has moved slower than other states in moving patients from institutional care to community-based services.
Mental health care advocates say it is a revolutionary change for the state.
[SOT 02:51:15]
[IN Q=MOST PEOPLE CAN BE SERVED]

[RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS.]


Warner also announced today that he is not proposing any additional cuts in state funding for mental health services.
Still, mental health advocates say that's not good enough.
They want him to restore the previous budget cuts that they say left 12-thousand Virginians without the mental health services they need.
[SOT 02:55:19]
[IN Q=WE'RE GETTING THE CALLS FOR SUICIDES]

[RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=DAMAGED PEOPLE NOW.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]


Warner says his plan does not entail any closings of any hospitals or any layoffs.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]


Which means that it has a very good chance of getting the necessary support from the General Assembly.

[Alleghany-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A student at Covington High School died in a traffic accident this morning.
State Police say 17-year-old Adam Jones was driving a Jeep Wrangler on Potts Creek road when it ran off the right shoulder.
It struck a culvert and threw Jones from the vehicle.
He died at the scene.
Police say he was not wearing a seat belt.

[Parks]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC33:36]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Blacksburg man convicted of murder today says he didn't mean to do it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]


27-year-old Michael Parks was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Marika Cooper, a woman he was dating.
Cooper was found strangled in her Clayton Estates home July 12th.
Parks told the court he choked Cooper following a heated argument, but, he did not mean to kill her.
A jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, a lesser charge, after deliberating for more than three hours last night and today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:33]
[IN Q=as i said]

((CHRISTOPHER TUCK/PARK'S ATTY.: AS I SAID NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE COURTROOM HE UNDERSTOOD HE DID SOMETHING WRONG. HE NEVER TRIED TO SLIP AWAY FROM THAT I HOPE THIS PROVIDES SOME HEALING FOR MARIKA COOPER'S FAMILY BUT I THINK THE JURY DID THEIR JOB.))
[SUPER=01-Christopher Tuck/Park's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=did their job]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Parks was given the maximum punishment for voluntary manslaughter, 10-years in jail, and placed on three years probation.
(------------)



[Washington]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A former Roanoke Parks and Rec crew member denies raping a co-worker on the job. Michael Washington filed a formal declaration in federal court today stating he did not rape the woman who filed a two million dollar complaint against him last May. Washington says any activity between them was "consensual." He also says he was NOT her supervisor.

[McIntosh]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC58:54]
[GRAPHIC=Richard Burrow]


As former D-Day president Richard Burrow waits to hear what the government might have in store for him,
[SS=D-Day Memorial]

the people who now operate the Bedford war memorial are trying to put the events of the past few months behind them.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]


Steve Smallshaw is in our Lynchburg newsroom, Steve, given all that's happened how easy can that be?
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]


Not easy at all... when you combine a criminal investigation, a federal fraud trial and a declaration of bankruptcy, the D-Day memorial has been living through a public relations nightmare.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=For more than]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :03]
[SUPER=01-William McIntosh/D-Day Foundation President; :26]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=when the time comes.]

(( For more than a week, this federal court has been the face of D-Day.. much more so than the Overlord arch.
Just eighteen months removed from its spectacular grand opening, the monument has taken a back seat to the legal wranglings involving its former director Richard Burrow.
A jury Monday failed to reach a verdict in Burrow's fraud case and he may yet stand trial again.
Through it all, the memorial has quietly gone about its business.
[SOT 14:20:57]

((BILL MCINTOSH/D-DAY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT: THIS FOUNDATION IS DOING WHAT IT WAS DOING ON THE DAY AFTER THE MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED AND THAT IS IT'S PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE VALOR, FIDELITY AND SACRIFICE OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE ALLIED FORCES WHO TOOK PART IN THAT LANDING ON THE 6TH OF JUNE, 1944.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=June, 1944.]


Visitation is down from last year's record numbers, but officials say that's to be expected.
As for the bankruptcy, they're hoping donations will help settle nearly four million dollars in debt.
But all the headlines and soundbites have scared off some donors, at least temporarily.
[SOT 14:19:31]

((BILL MCINTOSH/D-DAY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT: WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN TO ATTRACT THEM AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF OUR NEED. THEY'RE SENSITIVE TO IT, THEY'RE ALSO SENSITIVE TO THEIR OWN NEEDS AND WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN THE TIME COMES.))

[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=the time comes.] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]


Because Burrow may yet stand trial again and because he is a potential witness, Bill McIntosh couldn't say much about those legal proceedings.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]


He does hope that, whatever happens, the end comes sooner rather than later.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]


Jet Service is picking up speed at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
Find out which airline's adding jet flights when News 7 at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


And the malls aren't the only hectic holiday sites.
We'll check in on one of the busiest days of the year at a Southside toy distribution center.
(----------------)


[KB-Toys]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:30:00]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Many Southside Virginia residents are working as Santa's helpers this time of year at a facility in Blairs.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It's there that toy giant K-B Toys fills internet orders from all over the world.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]

Business Reporter Rachel Cannon takes a look at the warehouse at work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Blairs; :00]
[SUPER=01-Juanita Spainhour/KB Kids.com; :15 QUICK!!]
[SUPER=01-Patricia Walton/Seasonal Employee; :41 QUICK!!]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; :48]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=Rachel Cannon, News 7, Blairs]

((NATS Inside the K-B fulfillment center, you can see Christmas wishes in the making. As the clock ticks down to the big morning, this location works to get everything packed and delivered on time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:52:07]
[IN Q=we are]

((JUANITA SPAINHOUR/KB KIDS.COM; WE ARE BOOMING, HAVE A LOT OF FUN, A LOT OF WORK LONG DAYS BUT A LOT OF FUN. ))
[OUT Q=FUN.]

You could say it's organized fun. The facility uses state of the art technology and many helpers to get the job done.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:53:]
[IN Q=DO AN]

((DO AN OVER SHOT OR OVERVIEW OF THE WAREHOUSE AND IT REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE A LOT OF LITTLE ELVES WORKING.))
[OUT Q=ELVES WORKING.]

NATS 16:50:12 "Patricia scanning" Patricia Walton works as a "picker." It's her job to find the toys for an order.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:47:48]
[IN Q=you have]

((PATRICIA WALTON/SEASONAL EMPLOYEE; YOU HAVE A PICK LIST AND YOU PICK EXACTLY WHAT'S ON THEIR LIST AND YOU PUT IN INSIDE A TUB, LIKE THIS. ))
[OUT Q=THIS.]

This is the second year Walton has come to K-B for a seasonal position. On average, the location hires about 15-hundred temporary employees to help meet demand. Officials say they get thousands of applications.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:54:00]
[IN Q=YOU LOOK]

((YOU LOOK AT THE MERE VOLUMES OF HOW WE GO UP IN NUMBERS OF PEOPLE I MEAN IT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE MONTHS THAT THEY'RE HERE. ))
[OUT Q=HERE.]

Walton says right now it's real hectic, but that she couldn't ask for a more convenient and rewarding job this time of year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:48:28]
[IN Q=i look]

((I LOOK FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE THE HOURS ARE GOOD AND LIKE I SAY YOU'RE MAKING KIDS FEEL GOOD BY GETTING TOYS OUT. ))
[OUT Q=TOYS OUT.]

and under the tree by Christmas morning. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Blairs.))

[Northwest]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Northwest Jet Service]


More jets will fly into and out of Roanoke starting next Spring. Starting in April, Northwest Airlines will replace two of its four turbo-prop planes with Regional jets. The jets hold 50-passengers, 16-more than the prop planes. The upgraded service will apply to flights between Roanoke and Detroit only. Pinnacle Airlines, an affiliate of Northwest Airlink, will operate the flights. Currently, 11 jets provide departure flights from Roanoke each day. The additional jet service will take off April 6th.

[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A dismal profit forecast from McDonald's set the tone for Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/92.01/8535.39/y/8.29/1392.04;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


The DOW fell 92 points.
NASDAQ lost eight.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.11/49.86/h/0.53/27.37/i/0.55/62.85/i/0.87/69.41/i/0.12/12.00;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.10/6.44/i/0.34/53.66/i/0.35/37.22/i/0.43/26.00/i/0.15/7.33;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.03/41.51/i/0.11/15.39/i/0.05/19.70/h/0.03/2.44/i/0.29/41.20;]
[SUPER=274- /Unchg/9.75/i/0.77/57.98/i/0.78/39.16/i/0.12/36.30/i/1.00/50.94;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[County-Supervisors]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC1:33:41]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Roanoke County officials say they're confident better coordination will minimize problems like the major backup on US 220 that stranded motorists for hours during a recent snow storm.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Officials say they're encouraged by yesterday's meeting with representatives of Franklin County and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /Newsroom Pod;]


But today as the supervisors received a report on the storm, they also warned that some problems may simply be unavoidable. Joe Dashiell is here with more on that.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom Pod]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]


Keith and Shannon, the supervisors and the county's top appointed officials have been catching criticism for the last two weeks.
Today, they said they're doing what they can... but also argued that some problems are beyond their control.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Clearly the recent snow]
[SUPER=@Hodge; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./December 4; :17]
[SUPER=@Flora; :46]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=just have to sit back and live with it.]
(([SOT]
[IN Q=Clearly the recent snow]

((ELMER HODGE/COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: CLEARLY THE RECENT SNOW AND ICE STORM REMINDED US HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO TRAVEL IN TIMES OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE WE HAD A STORM OF THIS SIZE AND IT WAS THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, SO IT TOOK US ALL A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=by surprize.]


When the storm hit on the afternoon of December 4th, the volume of calls to the county's dispatch center tripled. Police and Rescue personnel focused first on accidents with serious injury.
County officials say they regret the injuries, accidents and delays... and understand the frustration of drivers who were stuck on 220 for five or six hours... but they say citizens must also recognize the difficult task V-DOT faces in clearing the roads, and the challenge that public safety employees find as they field calls for assistance.
[SOT 08:06:58]
[IN Q=I don't care]

((RICHARD FLORA/HOLLINS SUPERVISOR: I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH PLANNING WE DO. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER EVENT LIKE THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. SOMETIMES NATURE DEALS US A HAND THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. AND WE JUST HAVE TO SIT BACK AND LIVE WITH IT.))
[RUNS= :17]
[OUT Q=and live with it.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom Pod]


That said, County Administrator Elmer Hodge says better coordination will help, and not just with VDOT and Franklin County. He says he hopes the discussions will include other local governments in the region.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /Newsroom Pod;]


Keith and Shannon, Hodge also made another request, asking employers to consider sending their workers home in shifts, so that on a day like December 4th, they don't all hit the highway at the same time.

[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - Florida State Chris Rix will miss the Sugar Bowl. The UVa men's basketball team swings back into action tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the last time Tech and Air Force met - distraction and the option did Tech in - way back in 1984.
(------------)


[S-Rix]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-127 15608TC]
[GRAPHIC=acc]

Bizarre bowl news tonight involving Florida State and the quarterback of the ACC-champion Seminoles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL/Rix Wearing Number 16; :00]

This afternoon FSU quarterback Chris Rix was declared ineligible for the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
It seem that Rix failed to take a final exam. That means the team will be without both of its top quarterbacks. Adrian McPherson was kicked off the team after being arrested on a felony charge in November after he allegedly stole a check from and forged it. Bobby Bowden will now have to go with Sophomore Fabian Walker at quarterback. He attempted just 8 passes this season. Bowden says there is no chance Rix will be reinstated for the game.
(-----------)



[S-Stagg]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-131 15106TC]
[GRAPHIC=stagg]


No decision has been made concerning Trinity Quarterback Roy Hampton's eligibility in this Saturday's Stagg Bowl.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bridgewater/National Quarterfinals; :00]

The record setting quarterback was arrested Sunday and charged with public intoxication on the River Walk in San Antonio. This afternoon the school's sports information office confirmed that the decision on whether or not to allow him to play will be determined by the University's administration. That word should come tomorrow at the latest. The team leaves for Salem on Thursday with or without Hampton. Tickets for Saturday's Noon kickoff are just $10 for adults and $5 bucks for high school aged kids and younger.
(----------)



[S-Groh]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-1:39]
[GRAPHIC=Tire bowl]


The Virginia football team has 11 days before the December 28th Continental Tire Bowl showdown with West Virginia. Al Groh had some time at his first bowl news conference yesterday to reflect on his team's 8 and 5 season that included wins over N.C. State. Maryland and South Carolina, all ranked teams.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=......that we did have"]
(---------------)



[S-Tire]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]



(xxxxxxxxxxx)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE 6158] The Continental Tire Bowl announced this afternoon that this year game that has attracted 73,258 ticket buyers will rank as the second-highest attended first-year bowl game. The NCAA record for an inaugural bowl game belongs to the now-defunct Blockbuster Bowl, on Dec. 28, 1990, when 74,021 watched Florida State defeat Penn State 24-17 in Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium.
(--------------)



[S-1984]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-125]
[GRAPHIC=WALNUT BOWL]


The last time Tech and Air Force hooked up - the Falcons ran away with a 23-to-17 win in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport in 1984.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Shreveport, LA/1984; :00]

The GAME itself was almost a side show compared to the week-long wrangling that took place in the courts to make sure Bruce Smith was eligible to play in the game. The only survivor from that year still on the coaching staff is of course Billy Hite.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=01-Billy Hite/VT Associate Head Coach; ;00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...playing against them."]
(-----------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=WALNUT BOWL]

Tech is favored by 11 and half points.

[S-UVA]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-133 1:55:45]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]


The 3 and 2 Virginia men's basketball team battles 3 and 3 East Tennessee State tonight at 7:30 at University Hall. The Buccaneers were a solid 18 and 10 last season and will hopefully help UVa prepare for the ACC schedule. ETSU represents one of a dozen out of conference games the Cavaliers will play this season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Head Men's Basketball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=......us ready for ACC play"]
(-------------)



[S-MLB]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]

The Braves' pitching staff if going to look a little different next season. Today the team signed Paul Byrd to a two-year $10 million dollar contract. Before signing Byrd today the Braves traded with the Giants to get pitcher Russ Ortiz. All signs indicate that Greg Maddux will remain in Atlanta.
[Caroling]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-40 TC1:58:13]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


All the world's a stage, wrote Shakespeare.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Even a hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


That was the case today at Carilion-Community in Roanoke.
The players who brought the sounds of the season to the children's wing were from Mill Mountain Theater's latest production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
(//////SOT/////)
[NAT SOT Silent Night TC 02:10-02:28]
[IN Q=Silent Night]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=all is bright]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Broadway's version of the Old Testament story of Joseph is playing at Mill Mountain Theater through Sunday. (------------)
by SS