WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/07/03

[7-11NRV-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC10:59]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Some parts of the viewing area were hit hard by yesterday's snow showers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

The hardest hit areas are in far Southwest Virginia, the New River Valley and the Alleghany Highlands.
This was the scene in the town of Pulaski yesterday, but other areas such as Wythe, Bland, Grayson and Smyth Counties got even more snow.
If your traveling this morning, VDOT reports I-77 in Bland County is snow-covered.
State Police say most primary roads are clear or wet, but many secondary roads are snow-covered or icy.
(------------)

[7-11Water-conservation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC08:19]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]
Roanoke has put an end to water restrictions, thanks to recent steady rain and snow-fall, and a record wet October.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
City officials have declared an end to water conservation, even going so far as to declare an official end of the drought. With Carvins Cove at 74-percent capacity- -about normal for this time of year- -Roanoke quit paying Roanoke COUNTY for water yesterday. It was more than just a rainy autumn that filled the pond. The city's utilities director says the rest of the story is spelled out in just two words: Crystal Spring.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:17:02]
[IN Q=That certainly had ]
((MIKE MCEVOY/UTILITIES DIRECTOR; THAT CERTAINLY HAD A BIG IMPACT. TRADITIONALLY CRYSTAL SPRING HAS BEEN ABOUT 20% OF OUR WATER SUPPLY HERE IN THE VALLEY.))
[SUPER=01-Mike McEvoy/Utilities Director; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=in the Valley]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
New wells on city property will also help. As of today Carvins Cove stands at 9-point-2 feet below the spillway.
(------------)

[7-11Family-Foundation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC1:04:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Do you want to know exactly where your state tax dollars go?
If a group of Republican lawmakers get its way, you may be able to access all of that information with just the click of a mouse.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Yesterday, some Republican lawmakers said they're introducing legislation to require state agencies to post their budgets on the Internet.
They say much of the waste in Virginia's budget is currently hidden from taxpayers.
Supporters of the bill say providing the general public with access to all of the budget numbers will help curb wasteful spending.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:25:56]
[IN Q=it's going to make agencies]
[SUPER=01-Del. Allen Louderback/(R) Luray]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=taxpayers' money.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The lawmakers say that the bill should cost very little since agencies already have detailed budgets and operating web sites.
(------------)

[45-11Falls]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC33:23]
[GRAPHIC=Larry Falls]

The Sheriff of Giles County is in the hospital, recovering from a stroke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./File Tape;]

Close friends of Sheriff Larry Falls say he was with family early New Year's Day when it happened.
The 57-year-old was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital, and then later transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he is in guarded condition.
Falls has served as Sheriff of Giles County for more than 15-years.
(------------)

[45-11Horton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rre]
[TAPE#=02-44 TC2:01:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Roanoke Valley lost a longtime weather forecaster over the weekend.
While many ham radio operators knew him by his call sign, K-Z-4-Y, Fred Horton was also the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service at Woodrum Field for more than 30 years.
He delighted in the changing weather patterns of the valley....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1978]

...and was always thinking happy thoughts. This was his assesment of a winter storm in 1978.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First let's say....]
[SUPER=01-Fred Horton/Roanoke Meteorologist 1950-1983]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=was a nice fluffy snow.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Fred also provided emergency radio communications during the flood of 85. A member of the Roanoke-Hollins Rotary Club, Fred had perfect attendence for 46 years. Horton died after a short illness, he was 84.

[45-11SOL]

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

More Virginia students will have to take the Standards of Learning tests.
The state Board of Education has given preliminary approval to its plan complying with the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act.
The public school accountability law will require Virginia to add S-O-L tests in grades four, six and seven.
The tests are already given in grades three, five and eight.

[45-11United-Way]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC1:16:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Next time you buy your groceries, you could be helping someone less fortunate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

For the next three weeks, 12 Kroger stores throughout the Roanoke valley will be asking customers at the checkout to donate a few dollars to the United Way.
The group is 250-thousand dollars short of its fundraising goal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:42:25]
[IN Q=The food banks]
((FRANK ROGAN/UNITED WAY PRESIDENT: THE FOOD BANKS ARE SEEING A LOT MORE PEOPLE SHOWING UP THAT ARE REALLY GOING HUNGRY, THAT DO RELY UPON THE FOOD BANK FOR THEIR DAILY FOOD. WE ALSO SEE AN OVERWHELMING NEED AT THE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING SHELTERS AND I THINK THIS IS THE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND TO BE COMPASSIONATE.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Rogan/United Way President;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=be compassionate.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Customers can donate as much or as little as they like.
The United Way hopes Kroger shoppers will help it meet its campaign goal by the end of the month.
(------------)

[8-11NRV-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC10:59]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Some parts of the viewing area saw significant snowfall yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

The hardest hit areas are in far Southwest Virginia, the New River Valley and the Alleghany Highlands.
This was the scene in the town of Pulaski yesterday, but other areas such as Wythe, Bland, Grayson and Smyth Counties got even more snow.
State Police say most primary roads are clear or wet, but many secondary roads are snow-covered or icy.
(------------)

[8-11Water-conservation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC08:19]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]
Roanoke has put an end to water restrictions, thanks to all the recent precipitation, as well as a record wet month of October.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
City officials have declared an end to water conservation, even going so far as to declare an official end of the drought. With Carvins Cove at 74-percent capacity- -about normal for this time of year- -Roanoke quit paying Roanoke COUNTY for water yesterday. It was more than just a rainy autumn that filled the pond. The city's utilities director says the rest of the story is spelled out in just two words: Crystal Spring.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:17:02]
[IN Q=That certainly had ]
((MIKE MCEVOY/UTILITIES DIRECTOR; THAT CERTAINLY HAD A BIG IMPACT. TRADITIONALLY CRYSTAL SPRING HAS BEEN ABOUT 20% OF OUR WATER SUPPLY HERE IN THE VALLEY.))
[SUPER=01-Mike McEvoy/Utilities Director; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=in the Valley]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
New wells on city property will also help. As of today Carvins Cove stands at 9-point-2 feet below the spillway.
(------------)

[8-Ward-Burton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC1:12:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

NASCAR driver Ward Burton will soon be in a promotional campaign for Virginia's state parks.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Yesterday, Governor Mark Warner announced that Burton, a native of South Boston, will serve as spokesperson for the Commonwealth's award-winning park system.
Burton, who is also an avid outdoorsman, say he is proud to do what he can to protect Virginia's natural resources, especially during tight fiscal times.
(/////SOT/////)
[NAT SOUND]
[IN Q=NO MATTER WHAT YOU]
((WARD BURTON/NASCAR DRIVER AND STATE PARK SPOKESMAN:THERE'S ONE THING THAT ALWAYS STAYS THE SAME IN VIRGINIA AND THAT'S VIRGINIA'S PRISTINE OUTDOORS. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE ACCESS THAT WE DO AS VIRGINIANS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS.))
[SUPER=04-Virginia State Parks PSA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ward Burton/State Park Spokesperson; :05]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The spots featuring Burton will begin airing February first. (------------)