WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/23/02

[7-11Murder-Pitts]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
Southside authorities are investigating a murder. 30- year Jonathan Edward Neal of Hurt was discovered dead yesterday morning at a location known as the old Quarry, near Danville. Authorities say an unidentified witness notified the sheriff's office that a man had shot Neal and stolen his car. No charges have been filed and authorities say a motive has not been determined.

[7-11Roanoke-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A train struck and killed one man and wounded another Saturday afternoon in Roanoke. The accident happened shortly before five o'clock on a stretch of tracks in the northeastern area of the city. Police say the two men were sitting on the tracks, apparently intoxicated. Authorities have yet to release the identity of the man killed. The other man was struck in the shoulder, but refused treatment.

[7-11Salvation-Army]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC-39:05]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Salvation army says bells are ringing, but are you listening?
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[SOT 00:23:41]
[IN Q=RINGING]
((BELL RINGING))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=RINGING]
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[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Salvation Army's well-known "kettle" collections continue through tomorrow. Captain Erik Nickell says donations at 31-locations in the Roanoke and Salem area are about 20-percent behind this year. He hopes people will be generous during the last push.
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[SOT 00:12:40 // 00:12:25]
[IN Q=OUR MONIES]
((CAPT. ERIK NICKELL/SALVATION ARMY; OUR MONIES HELP FUND THIS IT WILL HELP FUND OUR YEAR AHEAD IT MIGHT EVEN HELP FUND WHAT WE DIDN'T GET PAID IN THE PAST SO IT GOES TO WHEREVER WE NEED IT SO WE KEEP ON PUSHING ON. BRING THOSE QUARTERS, JUST DROP A QUARTER IN THERE THAT'S ALL WE ASK IT WILL HELP MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Erik Nickell/Salvation Army;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=PEOPLE'S LIVES]
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[VO-NAT]
Nickell says on average 150-thousand dollars is collected but that he hopes for about 130-thousand this year. He says the reduction can be attributed to a late Thanksgiving and tough economic times.
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[7-11Gods-Generals]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The time and place are now set for Lexington's big Hollywood premiere.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/August 2001]

More than a year ago, the campuses of V-M-I and Washington and Lee were used as backdrops for several scenes in the civil war movie "Gods and Generals."
It's a prequel to the movie "Gettysburg."
The city of Lexington will host the premiere February 13th, in Jackson Memorial Hall at Virginia Military Institute.

The director, author, and cast all plan to attend the event.
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Tickets for the public will be limited.
However, there will be a red carpet arrival that will be open to everyone.

[45-11Camera-Pitts]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC-1:40:41]
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The Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department has installed extra security measures in hopes of deterring criminals.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

The Department recently installed cameras in all fifty of its marked patrol cars.
The move comes more than seven months after Deputy Frankie Betterton was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop.
Deputies hope with the new cameras criminals will think twice.
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[SOT 1:16:45]
[IN Q=By having the cameras]
((MAJ. GARY GOODSON/PITTSYLVANIA CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: BY HAVING THE CAMERAS INSTALLED IT'S ALL RECORDED SO EVEN IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN THERE'S A RECORD THAT'S THERE THAT WE COULD ALWAYS GO BACK TO.))
[SUPER=01-Maj. Gary Goodson/Pittsylvania Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=GO BACK TO]
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[VO-NAT]

The cameras cost more than 187-thousand dollars.
Community donations paid for a good chunk of it, totaling nearly 150-thousand.
Deputies say the cameras provide a lasting legacy to Frankie Betterton.
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[SOT 1:18:43]
[IN Q=It will always]
((MAJ. GARY GOODSON/PITTSYLVANIA CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: IT WILL ALWAYS SERVE AS A REMINDER WHENEVER THE OFFICER GETS IN AND HE GOES TO MAKE A TRAFFIC STOP HE WILL REMEMBER MAY THE 17TH AND WHY THOSE CAMERAS ARE IN THE CARS.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=in the cars]
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[VO-NAT]

There's very little chance of an officer altering the tape.
It is locked up in the trunk of the patrol car and only a supervisor has the key.
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[45-11911-Cell]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC-31:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Technology is making it easier to track 9-11 calls from cell phones.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

When you make an emergency call on your cell phone, most dispatchers can only track you to the nearest cell tower.
But newer technology will help pinpoint the exact location of certain cell phone users.
Pittsylvania County just recently installed the new mapping system with help from a 70-thousand dollar state grant.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:49]
[IN Q=What you're looking]
((JAMES DAVIS/EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR: WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AND HEARING ABOUT IS TECHNOLOGY IS IN THE FOREFRONT FOR THE CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY WHERE IF THEY DIAL 9-1-1 AND THEY HAVE THE PHONE WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT IT'S GOING TO TRACK THEM IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY FOR THE DISPATCHER TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AND KNOW WITHIN SO MANY METERS WHERE THEY'RE AT IN PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY WHERE WE CAN START SENDING HELP.))
[SUPER=01-James Davis/Emergency Services Director; :08]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=WE CAN START SENDING HELP]
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[VO-NAT]

Right now, only Nextel cell phone users with a G-P-S chip can use the technology in Pittsylvania County.
The F-C-C has mandated that all cell phone providers have the chip in place for 95-percent of their customer base by 2005.
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[8-11Murder-Pitts]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
A murder investigation in Southside-- 30- year Jonathan Edward Neal of Hurt was discovered dead yesterday morning at a location known as the old Quarry, near Danville. Authorities say an unidentified witness notified the sheriff's office that a man had shot Neal and stolen his car. No charges have been filed and authorities say a motive has not been determined.

[8-11Pitts-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC-25:49]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The new year will bring plenty of additions to the Pittsylvania County school system.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

Construction on the county's four new middle schools is currently on or slightly ahead of schedule.
The new schools will be located near Gretna, Chatham, Dan River, and Tunstall.
Voters passed a forty million dollar referendum in November of 2000 to fund the project.
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[SOT 1:27:30]
[IN Q=The buildings themselves]
((JERRY WEBB/SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS: THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES ARE ALL CONSISTENTLY CONFIGURED. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WILL BE FROM ONE SCHOOL TO ANOTHER MAYBE A DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED SIZE OF THEM BUT ALL OF THE FEATURES THAT WE WILL HAVE WILL BE STATE OF THE ART, THEY WILL BE THE THINGS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Webb/Superintendent of Schools]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=needs of students today]
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[VO-NAT]

The four middle schools will open this fall.
Meantime, the county is also looking for a new school superintendent.
Jerry Webb plans to step down from that position by July first.
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The application deadline for potential candidates expired on Wednesday.

[8-11Salvation-Army]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC-39:05]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The bell ringers are out in force, but the Salvation Army says donations are falling behind this holiday season.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:23:41]
[IN Q=RINGING]
((BELL RINGING))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=RINGING]
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[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Salvation Army's well-known "kettle" collections continue through tomorrow. Captain Erik Nickell says donations at 31-locations in the Roanoke and Salem area are about 20-percent behind this year. He hopes people will be generous during the last push.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:12:40 // 00:12:25]
[IN Q=OUR MONIES]
((CAPT. ERIK NICKELL/SALVATION ARMY; OUR MONIES HELP FUND THIS IT WILL HELP FUND OUR YEAR AHEAD IT MIGHT EVEN HELP FUND WHAT WE DIDN'T GET PAID IN THE PAST SO IT GOES TO WHEREVER WE NEED IT SO WE KEEP ON PUSHING ON. BRING THOSE QUARTERS, JUST DROP A QUARTER IN THERE THAT'S ALL WE ASK IT WILL HELP MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Erik Nickell/Salvation Army;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=PEOPLE'S LIVES]
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[VO-NAT]
Nickell says on average 150-thousand dollars is collected but that he hopes for about 130-thousand this year. He says the reduction can be attributed to a late Thanksgiving and tough economic times.
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[Mornin' Promo]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Tomorrow on]
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=News 7 Mornin']
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[VO-NAT]
Add AIBO (eye-bo) to the list of dog breeds. He's a metal mutt that offers companionship much like a real dog. But future versions might be capable of much more. We'll explain
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[Closing Animation] [Kim AT DESK] (------------) Tomorrow on News 7 Mornin'.