WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/27/03

[7-11Giles-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC43:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities have found the body of one of the two fishermen who went missing earlier this month after their boat capsized in the New River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./March 8]

A railway engineer spotted the body of 36-year-old Ty Hodges yesterday afternoon in the river in Giles County.
An officer with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says the body was found about a mile upriver from the bridge near the Celanese Plant.
(------------)
[anchor= kim]
[ss= none]

Hodges and his friend, 50-year-old John Wagner of Roanoke, went fishing March 7th.
Witnesses saw their boat capsize and rescue crews searched the area, only to find some clothing and personal item

s.[7-VOB-Abbott-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Bus Accident]
A group of sixth grader's left for a school field trip, but some never quite made it to their original destination.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/Yesterday;]
About 20- students at Ben Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount were involved in an accident on their way to a science museum in North Carolina.
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
The students were traveling to the Discovery Place for a day of fun when one of the charter busses transporting the kids rear-ended a tractor trailer near Charlotte. Some nine hours later, the students arrived back home where they were re-united with their anxious parents.
(///// SOT /////)
[sot 14:37:15]
[in q=I WAS ]
[SUPER=01-Tina Myers/Parent; :00]
((TINA MYERS/PARENT: I WAS REALLY REALLY WORRIED AT FIRST BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND YOU WONDER HOW BAD ITS BEEN BUT SHE SAID SHE WAS OK AND THAT MY DAUGHTER WANTED TO TALK TO ME. ))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q= TALK TO ME.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The injured students mostly suffered scrapes and bruises and were treated at a North Carolina hospital before heading back home. Meanwhile, students on the other two busses continued on to Charlotte.
(------------)

[7-11-Patrick-Hospital]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC24:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A local hospital is out of bankruptcy, but it will only be for a short time according to its attorney.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co./File Tape;]
R-J Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital filed for Chapter 11 protection in 19-99 with tremendous losses and debts. Yesterday in a Danville Bankruptcy Court, a judge entered a final decree to release them from the re-organization plan. But the hospital's attorney says they will file different Chapter 11 paperwork along with a motion to sell the facility in the near future. Earlier this year, the company AgeMark signed a letter of intent to purchase the ailing hospital. The hospital's attorney says bankruptcy protection helps the purchases of assets by being free and clear.
(------------)

[45-11Estate-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:58:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia's estate tax is implemented when the assets of family owned farms or businesses worth one million dollars or more, are passed onto the next generation.
A Republican backed bill to get rid of the tax may die with Governor Mark Warner's veto.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Chilhowie;]
Andy Overbay's family dealt with the tax when his parents wanted to pass down the family farm. He says they were right on the edge where they would have to pay a huge sum in taxes or nothing. His parents decided to reduce their assets to avoid the burden. Overbay says it was like they were penalized for being successful.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:06:48]
[IN Q=WE HAD]
((ANDY OVERBAY/FARM OWNER; WE HAD A LOT OF ASSETS BUT YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING THAT FARMERS LIVE POOR AND DIE RICH IS VERY TRUE I MEAN MY WIFE AND I WERE LIVING ON 10-THOUSAND-4-HUNDERD DOLLARS A YEAR.))
[SUPER=01-Andy Overbay/Farm Owner;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=DOLLARS A YEAR.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Governor Warner says we need to protect farmers and small businesses but that given the budget shortfall, this is not the right time. Those who want to get rid of the tax say it's hurting small businesses and putting family farms out of business. The Governor believes he has enough Democratic support to sustain his veto.
(------------)

[45-11Ratcliff]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:49:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke woman underwent surgery five years ago to restore her sight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Yesterday, Judy Ratcliff celebrated the anniversary of the implantation of a tube to relieve pressure on her left eye.
The glaucoma patient also underwent a corneal transplant. She says adjusting to her restored vision was a struggle.
(///// SOT at :13 /////)
[SOT 17:18:14-17:18:25]
[IN Q=I was happy. I was scared.]
((JUDY RATCLIFF/EYE SURGERY PATIENT: I WAS HAPPY. I WAS SCARED. I WANTED TO CRY. I WANTED TO GET OUT OF IT. I ALSO WANTED TO STAY IN IT. I JUST HAD MIXED EMOTIONS. IT'S NOT LIKE A WHOOPITTY-DOO KIND OF THING.)) ((DR. FRANK COTTER/OPHTHALMOLOGIST: BY THE TIME JUDY GOT TO ME SHE WAS SO MUCH IN PAIN AND SO DEPRESSED THAT I FELT LIKE WE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE.))
[SUPER=01-Judy Ratcliff/Eye Surgery Patient; :02]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Frank Cotter/Ophthalmologist; :10]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=like we had nothing to lose.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12]
Cotter says the surgery worked out as well "as possibly could have been hoped for." Ratcliff says she's happy not only to have limited vision but to finally be off glaucoma medication.
(------------)

[8-11Giles-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC43:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities have found the body of one of the two fishermen who went missing earlier this month after their boat capsized in the New River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./March 8]

A railway engineer spotted the body of 36-year-old Ty Hodges yesterday afternoon in the river in Giles County.
An officer with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says the body was found about a mile upriver from the bridge near the Celanese Plant.
(------------)
[anchor= kim]
[ss= none]

Hodges and his friend, 50-year-old John Wagner of Roanoke, went fishing March 7th.
Witnesses saw their boat capsize and rescue crews searched the area, only to find some clothing and personal item

s.[8-11Homeland-security]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC1:32:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
New legislation has been signed into law making the state better prepared for a possible terrorist attack.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The bills create a database of medical workers and allow trained personnel who are NOT doctors to administer medications in a disaster.
The new law also protects from liability those providing medical care during a health emergency.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:37:18]
[IN Q=IF WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: IF WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY TAKING PLACE, WE NEED ALL OF THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL POSSIBLE OUT THERE, DOING THE RIGHT THING PROVIDING IMMEDIATE SERVICE. IT WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE AND THEY OUGHT TO NOT HAVE TO FEAR ABOUT FUTURE LAWSUITS COMING OUT OF IT.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=COMING OUT OF IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, Warner also signed an executive order to make up the salary difference for state workers called to active duty.
About 200 state employees serve in the National Guard.
The governor says he hopes it will encourage private sector employers to do the same.
(------------)

[8-11Civic-Center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC51:37]
[GRAPHIC=Alcohol Sales]
The Roanoke Civic Center has been pushing hard to be able to sell alcohol at more of its events, despite strong opposition. Yesterday, a state hearing officer issued a decision granting the city a new ABC license.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The civic center currently sells beer at professional sporting events, and officials argued that alcohol sales at concerts and other events would make the facility more attractive to patrons and promoters.
Opponents criticized the civic center's track record, and its ability to control alcohol sales in the future.
The hearing officer concluded that the objections were not substantiated.
He said that civic center management and staff have developed reasonable procedures to ensure that alcoholic beverages will be available in a controlled environment. (------------)