WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/26/02

[7-Narrows-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities are investigating an armed robbery in Narrows.
Deputies say a man entered the Super Value convenience store on Route 460 , showed a gun to the clerk and got away with an undetermined amount of money.
He's described as a white male in his 20s, wearing a dark green hooded jacket and jeans.
Police say a woman entered the storeand paid for gas right before him.
They want to question her, but aren't sure if she was involved.
(+++++++++++)
[TAKE FS DESCRIPTION BOARD]
They're also looking for a 1998 blue, 4-door Chevy Prism with a white pin stripe.
It has West Virginia tag 4-Z-8-4-9-9.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE FS PHONE NUMBER BOARD]
If you have any information, you're asked to call the Giles County Sheriff's Office at 540- 921 - 3842.
(+++++++++++)

[7-Power-Outages]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
More than 3-thousand people in the Roanoke area are still without power this morning. Last night, high winds winds knocked trees into power lines or knocked them over, disrupting power to about 55-hundred customers. The hardest hit areas have been in Roanoke County and Roanoke City. Officials say it could be later today before power is restored. A-E-P has brought in extra crews to deal with the disruptions.

[7-Powerball]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

It was a very GREEN Christmas for the person who purchased the winning Powerball ticket in West Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

One person matched all the numbers in last night's Powerball drawing... but we don't know WHO yet.
It's the biggest lottery jackpot ever won by a single ticket.
The winner opted for a cash prize, which will come to a lump-sum payment of about 170-million dollars -- before taxes.
(------------)

[7-11Salvation-Army]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC-59:21]
[GRAPHIC=none]

It appears to be a difficult year for the Salvation Army.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The charity saw more hungry families turning out this year for the annual Christmas dinner at its facilities on Salem Avenue.
Its annual campaign to raise money in the Roanoke Valley also failed to meet expectations.
Giving was down by nearly 20-percent and the Salvation Army collected only about 130-thousand dollars.
Officials blame the reduction on a late Thanksgiving, tough ECONOMIC times...and new rules at some businesses that restricted where the Salvation Army bell ringers could set up.
(------------)

[45-11Charities]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC-40:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Charitable donations were down this year -- making it difficult for area charities that work to make sure no one goes hungry or without a gift on Christmas.
Justin McLeod has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:39:04]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF SERVING]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joy Sylvester-Johnson/Rescue Mission; :23]
[SUPER=@justin1; :44]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Meadows/Samaritan's Inn; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Carter/RAM House; 1:29]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]
((((NAT SOUND OF SERVING AT 15:39:04))
Roanoke's Rescue Mission opens it's doors to feed the homeless every day of the year.
One of it's largest meals is usually on Christmas.
It attracts nearly 900-people.
[SOT 15:29:54]
[IN Q=We just try to make]
((JOY SYLVESTER JOHNSON/RESCUE MISSION: WE JUST TRY TO MAKE IT FAMILY FOR EVERYBODY.))
[Runs= 02]
[OUT Q=for everybody]

That is proving quite difficult this year.
Charitable giving is down nearly 12-percent while the need here in Roanoke is up by 35-percent.
[SOT 15:31:46]
[IN Q=I think we're still]
((JOY SYLVESTER JOHNSON/RESCUE MISSION: I THINK WE'RE STILL SUFFERING FROM WHAT HAPPENED SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE STILL HAVE A POOR ECONOMY, AND WE HAVE A HEALTHCARE CRISIS.))
[Runs= 06]
[OUT Q=healthcare crisis]

To make do, the Rescue Mission has had to cut five positions.
Programs so far remain intact but it won't be adding any new ones this year.
The Rescue Mission also needs to raise another million dollars for its new women's shelter.
[SOT 15:58:45]
[IN Q=Some organizations run]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: SOME ORGANIZATIONS RUN ENTIRELY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS, MEANING THEY RECEIVE NO LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDREAL GRANTS. ONE SUCH PLACE IS THE SAMARTIAN'S INN HERE IN ROANOKE. IT TYPICALLY TAKES 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO RUN THIS PLACE EVER YEAR BUT THIS YEAR IT ONLY RAISED ABOUT 36-THOUSAND.))
[Runs= 15]
[OUT Q=about 36-thousand]
((NAT SOUND INSIDE SAMARITAN'S INN))
The Christmas dinner here at the Samaritan's Inn attracted nearly two hundred people.
That is slighty up from last year.
And since donations are down, the organization has to put its capital imporvement projects on hold.
[SOT 15:47:09]
[IN Q=I just put it in the hands]
((WAYNE MEADOWS/SAMARITAN'S INN: I JUST LEFT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN WELL. WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT DAY BY DAY AND SEE WHAT GOES ON.))
[Runs= 08]
[OUT Q=what goes on]

Also taking it day by day is the RAM House in Roanoke.
Workers saw more families seeking help this Christmas.
[SOT 15:53:34]
[IN Q=Please give because we]
((RONNIE CARTER/SHELTER MANAGER: PLEASE GIVE BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOUR HELP HERE. WE TRY TO KEEP THE PLACE RUNNING, I KNOW THE DIRECTORS UPSTAIRS WORK HARD TO KEEP THIS PLACE GOING, WE JUST HOPE PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED HELP HERE.))
[Runs= 16]
[OUT Q=need help here]

Help that is needed because many of these places don't turn anyone away.
But that is proving more difficult as charities try to do more with less.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))

[8-Narrows-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities are investigating an armed robbery in Narrows.
Deputies say a man entered the Super Value convenience store on Route 460 , showed a gun to the clerk and got away with an undetermined amount of money.
He's described as a white male in his 20's, wearing a dark green hooded jacket and jeans.
Police say a woman entered the storeand paid for gas right before him.
They want to question her, but aren't sure if she was involved.
(+++++++++++)
[TAKE FS DESCRIPTION BOARD]
They're also looking for a 1998 blue, 4-door Chevy Prism with a white pin stripe.
It has West Virginia tag 4-Z-8-4-9-9.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE FS PHONE NUMBER BOARD]
If you have any information, you're asked to call the Giles County Sheriff's Office at 540- 921 - 3842.
(+++++++++++)

[8-Power-Outages]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
More than 3-thousand people in the Roanoke area are still without power this morning. Last night, high winds knocked trees into power lines or knocked them over, disrupting power to about 55-hundred customers. The hardest-hit areas have been in Roanoke County and Roanoke City. Officials say it could be later today before power is restored. A-E-P has brought in extra crews to deal with the disruptions.

[8-11Fire-House]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-44 TC-1:37:01]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]

Christmas Day was business as usual for firefighters and other emergency personnel in our area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The men and women who serve and protect have to work 365 days a year.
To show their appreciation, fire captains in Roanoke buy the main course for Christmas dinner at the fire station.
Several area grocery stores and some nearby neighbors also donate food and baked goods.
Many of the firefighter's families also stop by.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 52:18]
[IN Q=You'll have your families]
((DALE BARKER/ROANOKE FIRE DEPARTMENT: YOU'LL HAVE YOUR FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE KIDS WILL USUALLY COME BY AND VISIT. A LOT OF THEM COME AND EAT SOMETIMES, IF IT WORKS OUT, SOMETIMES IT DON'T. YOU MAY BE SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR FAMILY AND GET A CALL.))
[SUPER=01-Dale Barker/Roanoke Fire Department;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=and get a call]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Firefighters say Christmas Day is usually pretty routine when it comes to answering calls.
Station Seven in Roanoke handles 12-hundred calls a year on average.
(------------)

[8-Powerball]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Hurricane, West Virginia, ended up having a very GREEN Christmas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

One person matched all the numbers in last night's drawing... but we don't know WHO yet.
It's the biggest lottery jackpot ever won by a single ticket.
The winner opted for a cash prize, which will come to a lump-sum payment of about 170-million dollars -- before t(------------) axes.