[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The First Street Bridge will serve as Roanoke's tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And local snow plow drivers are barely scraping by, thanks to a layer of hard-to-remove ice.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on news 7 Sports - a carbon monoxide from the NASCAR circuit, plus UVa plays on Your Hometown Station tonight -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the combination of bad weather and good coin flip gives Alleghany the top seed in the Blue Ridge basketball tournament.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]
Hoping for some serious melting tomorrow. Temperatures in the 40s should so the trick. Details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]
News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Let's do ]
[RUNS=:04 ]
[OUT Q=in honor of Doctor King]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=shannon 2-Shot]
It's seen years of controversy and created more criticism today.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
But Roanoke City Council has approved a memorial to Martin Luther King, Junior.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And I'm Shannon Young.
[City-Council]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#03-07 TC23:18]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Late this afternoon, City Council voted to rename the First Street Bridge in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Council members were unaniomous in their support,
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]
But Joe Dashiell reports the vote did raise some objections.
Joe?
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@JOe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:made the motion to honor Dr. King.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Carder; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :11]
[SUPER=01-Helen Davis/Gainsboro Resident; :20]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Edward Mitchell/SCLC Vice-President; :35]
[RUNS=:51]
[OUT Q=bridge that gap.]
(-------------)
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]
[National-Guard]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
More area National Guard troops are being called to active duty, but there's no word yet on where they're headed.
About 125 soldiers of a Roanoke-based unit will enter federal service on February 24th.
The 229th Chemical Company will be on active duty for at least a year.
Virginia's Adjutant General would not comment on the soldiers' mission or deployment location.
[Roanoke-Jobs]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC1:29:07]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]
Governor Warner will announce new jobs in Roanoke City and County at two press conferences tomorrow.
The news involves two different companies and means 400 new jobs and a 30-million dollar investment in the region.
Local economic development officials say it'll be a turning point in our struggling economy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:49:11]
[IN Q=right now]
((PHIL SPARKS/RKE VALLEY ECONOMIC DEV. PARTNERSHIP; RIGHT NOW, I'LL TELL YOU IN JANUARY WE HAD MORE PROSPECT VISITS THEN ANY TIME SINCE JANUARY 1994 WHEN WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE RECESSION AND WE THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.))
[SUPER=01-Phil Sparks/Roanoke Valley Econ. Dev. Partnership; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=THINK THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A state source says Vidette Group is opening in the City of Roanoke and that the technology sales firm will hire up to one-hundred people within five months.
The announcement for the County is expected to provide three-hundred manufacturing jobs.
More details on the companies and jobs will be released tomorrow.
[XGR-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:23:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia's public school teachers are getting a raise... under a tentative agreement reached by General Assembly budget negotiators.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Legislators have until midnight tonight to come up with a compromise budget.
Lawmakers had already agreed to give state workers a two percent pay increase.
Now that raise will also apply to teachers.
But HOW the state will pay for it remains in question.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:44:53]
[IN Q=THE BUDGET IS STRETCHED]
((SEN. WALTER STOSCH/BUDGET NEGOTIATOR: THE BUDGET IS STRETCHED SO THINLY THAT WE'RE JUST STRUGGLING TO FIND A WAY OF PAYING FOR IT BUT WE WILL, I BELIEVE, IN THE END, DO SO.))
((DEL. VIC THOMAS/BUDGET NEGOTIATOR: IT WOULD BE AWFUL NICE TO GIVE A RAISE, A TWO PERCENT RAISE. THAT'S NOT MUCH BUT MAYBE IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Walter Stosch/(R) Glen Allen; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Vic Thomas/(D) Roanoke; :09]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
If the pay agreement remains intact, it would be the first time in three years that the state has given teachers a pay increase.
Negotiators have also agreed to restore D-M-V service on Wednesdays.
AND budget conferees are expected to restore money for meat and poultry inspections and local litter control programs.
(------------)
[Bryant]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:02:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Lynchburg Delegate Preston Bryant is back at work in Richmond after being hospitalized for blood clots.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Bryant returned to the House of Delegates today after a seven day absence.
He says he is still taking blood-thinning medication to help dissolve two clots in his lungs.
Bryant says his doctors are not sure what caused the clots to form, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
The 38-year-old lawmaker spent most of last week resting at home.
(------------)
[Bedford-Fall]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc/mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Bedford Police say a teenager fell from a bridge this afternoon.
The 16-year-old boy was found on Blue Ridge Avenue, about 30 feet under an overpass.
He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial; no word on his condition.
Police found some ID at the scene, so they believe they know who he is. But they're not releasing his name.
In Franklin County, a 12-year-old boy was airlifted to the hospital after a sledding accident.
Rescue officials say he ran head-first into a tree in the Snow Creek section of the county.
There's no word on his condition at this time ... but officials say he was alert and talking.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
This year's winter weather has left the Roanoke Rescue Mission snowed under... with people in need of help.
More on that when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And as snow plow drivers try to catch up on clearing the roads, they'd like to catch up on some sleep too.
(----------------)
[Plowing]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:25:01]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The main roads are clear ... but it may take a few days and warmer weather to thaw out residential streets.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Marya Jones spent some time today with some plow drivers and learned why clearing the road is an uphill battle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well into his]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Randall Coleman/VDOT Driver; :08]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :46]
[SUPER=@Marya2; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=MJN7.]
(( Well into his fourth straight day of plowing snow for VDOT, Randall Coleman is ready for spring.
(///// SOT /////)
[COVER first part of SOT with shot of him getting into truck 15:27:35]
((QUITE TIRING.))
[RUNS:01]
(///// SOT /////)
[BUTT BUTT BUTT WITH SOT 15:27:56]
((RANDALL COLEMAN: I DON'T GUESS ANY OF US HAVE HAD A WEEKEND OFF IN I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, SINCE IT'S SNOWED EVERY WEEK. IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT -- THE MOST I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.))
[RUNS:10]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: PLOW SCRAPING.))
[RUNS:02]
And the most difficult to get rid of.
Even the plows can't scrape it off, so Coleman and other drivers are dropping plenty of gravel as they tackle the ice-covered backroads.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:27:03]
((YOU KNOW THERE'S ICE UNDERNEATH IT. IT'S JUST SO HARD TO PUSH IT, REALLY YOUR BLADE JUST RUNS ON TOP OF IT, BUT WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF CHEMICAL DOWN. IF WE CAN MELT IT, AT LEAST GIVE YOU SOME TRACTION TO GET OUT OF THERE.))
[RUNS:13]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: CITY PLOW))
[RUNS:02]
Roanoke City is just getting started on its secondary roads, too.
Like VDOT, city officials say it will take several days and warmer temperatures before residents see black pavement again in their neighborhoods.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:27:20]
((JUST TRYING TO KEEP AT IT, YOU KNOW. ... MELT SOME OF THIS STUFF OFF.))
[RUNS:07]
VDOT's drivers have already cleared 118 miles of interstate and one-thousand miles of primary road.
But bear with them... they have just 72-hundred miles of secondary road to go before they sleep.
Marya Jones, News-7.))
[Rescue-Mission]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC17:07]
[SS=Winter Weather]
The Roanoke Rescue Mission says the number of people needing shelter or assistance is up 28-percent from last year.
And the winter weather is only making things worse.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
In fact, all of the Rescue Mission's beds were filled last night, so some people had to sleep on mats on the floor.
That's why the mission says it needs the public's help to build an additional facility.
( ///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:38:35]
[IN Q=We have a whole in the ground]
((JOY SYLVESTER-JOHNSON/ROANOKE RESCUE MISSION; WE HAVE A HOLE IN THE GROUND ACROSS THE STREET WHICH WOULD ENABLE US TO HAVE 130 MORE BEDS AND IT SURE WOULD BE A SHAME FOR NEXT WINTER TO HAVE THIS SAME STORY WITH PEOPLE IN THE FLOOR BECAUSE WE COULD NOT BUILD THAT BUILDING))
[SUPER=01-Joy Sylvester-Johnson/Roanoke Rescue Mission]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=couldn't build that building]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Rescue Mission says it wants to continue to help people like Charles Oberdorfer. He suffered frostbite while living in his car for 16 days.
He says because of the shelter's health care center he was able to get treatment and has only minor nerve damage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:45:03]
[IN Q=I can only imagine it was probably]
((CHARLES OBERDORFER; I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT WAS PROBABLY IN THE TEENS AT TIMES. IT WAS COLD))
[SUPER=01-Charles Oberdorfer]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=it was cold]
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Rescue Mission says any donations from the public would be helpful, most importantly winter clothing and over-the-counter cold and flu medications.
[EBay-Scam]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC53:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Lynchburg teenager faces a lengthy prison term for using the Internet to sell tens of thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment that never existed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
19-year-old Jermal A. Word today plead guilty to a twelve-count federal indictment in U-S District Court.
Authorities say Word would scan pictures of high-dollar camera equipment and list it for sale on the Internet auction site E-Bay.
Prosecutors say Word's victims lost an average of three thousand dollars each... money they likely will never see again.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:36:00]
[IN Q=It doesn't appear]
((RANDY RAMSEYER/ASST. U.S. ATTORNEY: IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THERE'S MUCH MONEY LEFT. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY PRETTY MUCH JUST SPENT THE MONEY ON HOTEL BILLS, PARTIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Randy Ramseyer/Asst. U. S. Attorney]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=things like that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
21-year-old Steven Carter and 19-year-old Jermaine Anderson also pled guilty to a single fraud count today.
A fourth suspect.. Raymond Saunders.. has yet to stand trial.
(------------)
[Truck-Fraud]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC2:01:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The owners and dispatcher of a central Virginia trucking company have pled not guilty to federal fraud charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co./October 1998; ]
It's been more than four years since federal agents raided the Campbell County offices of K-and-C Trucking.
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; ]
In December, owners Norvell Preston and James Sanders and dispatcher David Martin were named in an 18-count indictment for allegedly falsifying drivers logs.
Seven of the company's truck drivers have also been charged.
Preston, Sanders and Martin and driver Wayne Crawley made their first court appearance today.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The bulls were running on Wall Street, pushing stocks sharply higher.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/132.35/8041.15/x/36.37/1346.54;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The DOW jumped 132 points.
NASDAQ rose 36.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.08/40.38/h/0.34/20.94/h/1.73/56.11/h/0.94/69.81/h/0.50/9.65;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.04/6.39/h/0.52/55.02/h/0.63/40.80/h/0.43/22.91/h/0.22/4.25;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.38/40.27/i/0.10/14.08/h/0.49/19.14/h/0.09/3.04/i/0.16/37.98;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.07/9.53/h/0.51/56.22/h/0.56/37.90/h/0.65/35.65/i/0.07/49.08;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Franklin-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC1:48:52]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
A Rocky Mount man is in critical condition after his truck collided with a big rig this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :32]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
State Police say 80-year old William Carl Hewlitt pulled out of a driveway onto southbound Route 220 on Fork Mountain around 10:20, and got in the left lane.
Hewlitt went about 50-yards before switching into the right lane, right in front of a tractor trailer.
The impact knocked off the camper shell and crumpled the cab of Hewlitt's 2000 Chevy pickup.
Hewlitt was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the big rig, Frank Neal, was treated for an injured leg.
Neal, who was driving for Piper Transportation out of Ohio, has been cleared of any fault.
(------------)
[Graham]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC2:02:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He says he wants to bring new jobs to Southwest Virginia, and with Congressman Rick Boucher in his corner, he believes he can.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hillsville;]
Democratic candidate Thomas Graham announced today his bid for the 5th-district House of Delegates.
The 41-year-old investment broker grew up in Marion, and says he understands the need for jobs in that area.
Graham criticizes programs like the Virginia Employment Commission, which he says has been more of a problem, than a solution to the state's economic situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I HAVE TALKED WITH]
((TOM GRAHAM/(D) 5TH HOUSE DIST. CANDIDATE: I HAVE TALKED WITH EMPLOYERS WHO NO LONGER USE THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION BECAUSE IT IS INEFFECTIVE OR THEY DON'T GET QUALIFIED APPLICANTS 50:24))
[SUPER=01-Tom Graham/(D) 5th House Dist. Candidate;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=QUALIFIED APPLICANTS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Graham also criticizes the S-O-L's, saying they place no value on vocational or technology education.
Graham will challenge his ideas against Republican incumbent Bill Carrico.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - a coin flip decides the top seed in the Blue Ridge hoop tournament.
Radford U's bizarre hoop season continues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And with the Cup circuit heading to the friendly confines of Rockingham this week - we'll have an update on the carbon monoxide issue in NASCAR.
(------------)
[S-Blue]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-140 5144tc]
[GRAPHIC=BASKETBALL]
A coin flip finally had to decide the top seed for the upcoming Blue Ridge district basketball tournament.
Alleghany and Blacksburg tried to play Saturday, Monday and again today - but all three dates were postponed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./February 4; :00]
So, a coin flip this afternoon landed in favor of the Mountaineers giving them the number one seed for the Blue Ridge tourney that opens tomorrow at the Salem Civic Center with four straight games beginning at 3pm.
The district has been ultra-competitive this season - but by winning the coin flip - Alleghany avoids a bracket that includes Cave Spring, Pulaski and Fleming along with Blacksburg.
(------------)
[S-Radford]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-141 5009tc]
[GRAPHIC=radford hoops]
The Radford University men's basketball team is experiencing the ultimate highs and lows these days.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Last Night; :00]
Last night the team again suited up just seven players. Four- including senior Peanut Arrington sat in street clothes suspended for third straight game. Arrington will sit five games in all before returning.
Despite playing shorthanded - RU was able to win its second straight game beating Charleston Southern 59 to 57.
Whit Holcomb-Faye led the way with 20 points last night.
He now has 61 points in his last three games and he is again the Big South freshman of the week.
(------------)
[S-UVa]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC 50TH]
Tonight - the focus shifts from Lexington to Charlottesville as the Virginia Cavaliers face what is really a must win situation against Clemson.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[GO TO PINNACLE 12998]
The Cavs and Tigers play here on WDBJ-7 tonight at 8.
UVa already is a game under 500 in the ACC standings and a loss tonight with give the team 10 overall setbacks on the season.
Clemson has lost five straight at U-Hall.
(--------------)
[S-Carbon]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-134 10052TC]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA 500]
After mother nature rained on the Daytona 500 parade Sunday- and NASCAR decided to cut it's super bowl short - and not wait for another break in the weather - anything is possible the rest of this year.
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]
One thing is certain.
Now that the circuit has left the high banked ovals of Daytona for the sandhills of North Carolina - the carbon monoxide issue will no doubt sneak back into driver's cockpits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham, NC/February 22, 2002; :00]
[SUPER=01-Richard Petty/Petty Enterprises - Owner; :19]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/UPS Ford Driver; :53]
[SUPER=01-Rick Mast/364 Career Winston Cup Starts; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Burton/CITGO Ford Driver; 1:32]
[SUPER=01-Tony Stewart/2002 Winston Cup Champion; 1:50]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=...something I ate, I don't know."]
(( It's called the Rock - the North Carolina Speedway - and later this week NASCAR's finest will be making rounds on the one mile oval. The racing will be tight - the track will be smaller and the deadly gas that forced Rick Mast to exit the sport will be hanging in the air.
((RICHARD PETTY:))
((DALE JARRETT:))
While that's likely the sad reality of this situation - Mast says there are ways to make sure the problem isn't made worse.
((RICK MAST:))
((JEFF BURTON:))
That exposure has gotten Tony Stewart on several occasions - although he didn't seem overly concerned when we asked hi((TONY STEWART:))
m about it.))
by SS