WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/01/03

[7-First-Night]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=New years]

It was a special night on the town for party- goers in Blacksburg last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 5 seconds]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The Town's third annual First Night celebration seemed to offer something for everyone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:23:13 TAPE 1]
[IN Q=From Middle Eastern]
((DEAN CRANE/PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR: FROM MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE TO BLUES SINGING TO IRISH STEP DANCE TO COMEDIANS TO MAGICIANS TO EVERYTHING. WE WANT TO MAKE IT SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO ONE PLACE FOR ONE FAMILY MEMBER AND ANOTHER PLACE FOR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER JUST MAKE IT A REAL NIGHT ON THE TOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Dean Crane/Parks and Recreation Director;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=on the town]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 16 + pad]
There was also a big screen T-V set up at the Community Center for Hokie fans to watch the Diamond Walnut Bowl. Parents said they enjoyed the event because it was entertaining for the entire family. The night was made complete with a fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.
(------------)

[7-11National-Guard]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More Virginia National Guard troops are being called to active duty.
About 600 soldiers will enter federal service next month, but they won't go far.
Their mission is to protect military installations around Washington DC for an initial period of one year.
Among the 11 units being activated is the Headquarters and Support Company of the 429th Forward Support Battalion, based in Staunton.

[7-11Unemployment]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The percentage of people without jobs in Virginia went down last month.
The unemployment rate fell to 3-point-6 percent, the lowest it's been in about 18 months.
The Virginia Employment Commission says merchants were adding workers for the holiday rush; builders completed projects ahead of winter and school system hiring was at a peak.
Roanoke's jobless rate held steady at 3-point-2 percent.
Every other metro region saw a decline.

[7-Walnut-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Walnut Bowl]

In sports, Virginia Tech felt right at home in California as it defeated Air Forcee 20-13 in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA/ESPN-2]
Air Force jumped to a 10-to-nothing lead in the opening eight minutes before Tech took control. The Falcons had a chance at the end of the game to catch up, but a drive of over 70 yards in the game's final four minutes ended inside the ten. Ronyell Whitaker hit scrambling quarterback Chance Harridge at the four-yard line and forced a fumble on the game's last play. Lee Suggs rushed for two touchdowns, extending his N-C-A-A record for touchdowns in consecutive games to 27. Quarterback Bryan Randall was 18-of-23 for 177 yards. The Hokies end the season 10-and-4. Air Force is 8-and-5 with losses in five of the last seven games.
(------------)

[45-11Drunk-Driving]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC1:04:33]
[GRAPHIC=New years ]

Every New Year's Eve, a Rocky Mount family observes a grim anniversary with the man who killed their loved one.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]

The family visits Charles Muse's gravesite, bringing flowers to remember the man who left behind six kids and 14 grandkids.
They're joined by the man who killed him in a drunk driving accident on New Year's Eve in 1998.
Aaron Mathis served eight months in jail for D-U-I and involuntary manslaughter -- and was sentenced to visit Muse's grave every December 31st for nine years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:06]
[IN Q=It's hard on the]
((DONNA MUSE/VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: IT'S HARD ON THE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THE GRANDKIDS, TO COME AND SEE HIM. HE DON'T HAVE ANY REMORSE FOR WHAT HE DONE. ))
[SUPER=01-Donna Muse/Victim's Daughter;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=for what he done.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mathis had no comment yesterday, but his wife said he's been deeply affected and has stopped drinking.
(------------)

[45-11D-Day-Bankruptcy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC28:03]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day Memorial]
Yesterday was the deadline lawyers set to reach a settlement with the creditors of the D-Day Memorial Foundation.
But it seems there isn't one.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/November]
They'd hoped to have a plan in place by the end of the year to pay the millions of dollars the Foundation owes the architect who designed the Memorial and the construction company that built it. The lawyers got together with a mediator in early December, and now say they are "close" to a settlement. But Foundation attorney Rich Maxwell said he's not at liberty to discuss the details.
(------------)

[45-11Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
American Electric Power has cleared another hurdle. The U-S Forest Service gave A-E-P final approval to cut through the Jefferson National Forest. A-E-P needed the path to build a 90- mile high voltage power line from West Virginia to Jacksons Ferry in Wythe County. As part of the agreement, forestry officials have instructed A-E-P to use darkened steel for its towers. They've also ordered the power company NOT to clear trees within a five-mile radius of the Indiana bat habitat during the summer. A-E-P is now waiting for a final permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to build across the New River near Jackson's Ferry.

[8-First-Night]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=New years]

It was a special night on the town for party- goers in Blacksburg last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 5 seconds]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The Town's third annual First Night celebration seemed to offer something for everyone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:23:13 TAPE 1]
[IN Q=From Middle Eastern]
((DEAN CRANE/PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR: FROM MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE TO BLUES SINGING TO IRISH STEP DANCE TO COMEDIANS TO MAGICIANS TO EVERYTHING. WE WANT TO MAKE IT SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO ONE PLACE FOR ONE FAMILY MEMBER AND ANOTHER PLACE FOR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER JUST MAKE IT A REAL NIGHT ON THE TOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Dean Crane/Parks and Recreation Director;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=on the town]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 16 + pad]
There was also a big screen T-V set up at the Community Center for Hokie fans to watch the Diamond Walnut Bowl. Parents said they enjoyed the event because it was entertaining for the entire family. The night was made complete with a fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.
(------------)

[8-11National-Guard]

[8-11Unemployment]

[8-Walnut-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Walnut Bowl]

In sports, Virginia Tech made its California dream come true. The Hokies defeated Air Force 20-13 in the inaugural Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA/ESPN-2]
Air Force jumped to a 10-to-nothing lead in the opening eight minutes before Tech took control. The Falcons had a chance at the end of the game to catch up, but a drive of over 70 yards in the game's final four minutes ended inside the ten. Ronyell Whitaker hit scrambling quarterback Chance Harridge at the four-yard line and forced a fumble on the game's last play. Lee Suggs rushed for two touchdowns, extending his N-C-A-A record for touchdowns in consecutive games to 27. Quarterback Bryan Randall was 18-of-23 for 177 yards. (------------) The Hokies end the season 10-and-4. Air Force is 8-and-5 with losses in five of the last seven games.