WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/24/03

[7-11Matricardi]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC1:26:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The former head of Virginia's Republican Party- Ed Matricardi- has been indicted on five counts of illegal wiretapping.
And Claudia Tucker, a former aide to ex-Speaker Vance Wilkins, has admitted guilt in the Republican eavesdropping controversy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

U-S Attorney Paul McNulty announced an indictment against Matricardi after an eight month investigation.
He now faces a maximum of 25-years in prison and over one million dollars in fines.
Claudia Tucker, once Wilkins' chief-of-staff, pleaded guilty yesterday to a misdeameanor and admitted to secretly listening in on one of the calls.
She was sentenced to one year of probation and a one-thousand dollar fine.
Republican lawmakers say Matricardi's indictment puts the matter to rest.
But some Democrats disagree.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:20:41]
[IN Q=THIS IS ALL BEHIND US]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hall/(D) Richmond; :07]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Matricardi is expected to be arraigned in Richmond within the next two weeks.
(------------)

[7-Elliston-Fire]

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

Two people were taken to the hospital following a fire in Elliston this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Elliston/This Morning]
Their conditions are unknown.
Authorities say the mobile home fire was fully involved, when they arrived around 4 o-clock. It was located in a trailer park on Homer Lane.
There's no word yet on what started the blaze.
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[7-6-House-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC51:40]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A fire that damaged a Lynchburg home is being blamed on a faulty extension cord.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Firefighters were called to 710 Madison Street a little after noon yesterday for a blaze in an upstairs bedroom.
It took crews just a few minutes to knock the fire down, and contain the fire damage to that one room.
The rest of the house suffered major smoke and water damage.
Four people were at home when the fire broke out, but they all got out uninjured.
Authorities say the house is not safe for them to return.
(------------)

[7-11County-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC1:32:15]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
A woman was forced out of her home in Roanoke County when a fire broke out just before eight o'clock last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Flames destroyed the home on Starlite Lane.
Firefighters say a woman was home at the time and made it outside safely with her dog.
Firefighters had to deal with downed powerlines, the cold and water problems.
No word on what started the blaze.
(------------)

[45-Elliston-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Two people were taken to the hospital following a fire in Elliston this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Elliston/This Morning]
Their conditions are unknown.
Authorities say the mobile home was engulfed when they arrived around 4 o-clock. It was located in a trailer park on Homer Lane.
There's no word yet on what started the blaze.
(------------)

[45-1181-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=81 Fatal Accident]

The weather may have contributed to an accident that killed 3 people from our area.
It happened on Interstate 81 in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Officers say a driver of a van lost control on a patch of snow and ice, and while regaining control, pulled into the path of a tractor trailer.
All four people in the van were ejected.
None was wearing a seatbelt.
The driver, Joyce Puff and passenger Joey Mendez, both of Shawsville, were killed. As was Brad Dickerson of Elliston.
Another passenger Travis Puff is being treated for injuries.

[45-11Outdoors-Cold]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC1:43:32]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
It's hard enough just having to go outside in the cold for a few minutes, but imagine working in it all day.
For many people, braving the bitter temperatures is just part of the job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Mail carriers like David Hubbard say the frigid weather can be uncomfortable, but not unbearable.
Hubbard says he's learned to deal with the cold by wearing a face mask and dressing in layers.
But, he says he usually only wears one glove, to keep his other hand free to sort the mail.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 33:52]
[IN Q=I GUESS]
((DAVID HUBBARD/MAIL CARRIER: I GUESS THE WIND IS THE WORST THING. WHEN YOU GET OUT DELIVER AT THE HOUSE AND THE SNOW COMES OFF THE HOUSE AND GETS IN YOUR FACE AND YOUR COLLAR BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT'S NOT TOO BAD REALLY 34:00))
[SUPER=01-David Hubbard/Mail Carrier;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=TOO BAD REALLY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Cold weather can be good business for many tow truck drivers.
Workers at Robert's Towing in Christiansburg say the number of calls they get can triple in bad weather.
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[45-11L'burg-Homeless]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:07:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some local police departments are keeping an eye on the homeless, as well as others who may not have adequate heat during the extremely cold weather.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

In Lynchburg, officers have been told to be on the lookout for people with nowhere to go and make sure they're brought inside.
Police are also keeping tabs on the elderly and poor whose homes have heat, but not enough for these extreme temperatures.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:33:35]
[IN Q=And we're discussing]
((COL. CHARLES BENNETT/LYNCHBURG POLICE CHIEF: AND WE'RE DISCUSSING THAT WITH OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT'S THE CASE. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS LETTING OUR OFFICERS KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY DILIGENT IN ASSISTING PEOPLE TO GET ADEQUATE SHELTER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.))
[SUPER=01-Charles Bennett/Lynchburg Police Chief]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=one way or another.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bennett says he's also reminding his own staff to protect themselves against the cold while they're out on the streets.
(------------)

[8-Elliston-Fire]

[8-11Matricardi]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC1:26:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The former head of Virginia's Republican Party- Ed Matricardi- has been indicted on five counts of illegal wiretapping.
And Claudia Tucker, a former aide to ex-Speaker Vance Wilkins, has admitted guilt in the Republican eavesdropping controversy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

U-S Attorney Paul McNulty announced an indictment against Matricardi after an eight month investigation.
He now faces a maximum of 25-years in prison and over one million dollars in fines.
Claudia Tucker, once Wilkins' chief-of-staff, pleaded guilty yesterday to a misdeameanor and admitted to secretly listening in on one of the calls.
She was sentenced to one year of probation and a one-thousand dollar fine.
Republican lawmakers say Matricardi's indictment puts the matter to rest.
But some Democrats disagree.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:20:41]
[IN Q=THIS IS ALL BEHIND US]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hall/(D) Richmond; :07]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Matricardi is expected to be arraigned in Richmond within the next two weeks.
(------------)

[8-11Pulaski-Death]

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

Pulaski police say a man died yesterday from a combination of exposure and natural causes.
They identify him as William Cecil Rigney.
And they say an autopsy shows no evidence of foul play.
The Pulaski police department release did not give any other details.

[8-11Church-Demolition]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC22:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An aging church is being torn down to make way for a new medical building.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[INQ=NAT SOUND]
((NAT DEMOLITION))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUTQ=NAT SOUND]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :20+]
Yesterday, workers started demolishing the Family Worship Center building on the corner of Jefferson Street and Albemarle Avenue. The church is being demolished to make way for an orthopedic and ear nose and throat outpatient surgery clinic run by Carilion . Site preparation work on the new building is already under construction and it should be open later this year. (------------)