WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/18/03

[7-11Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC04:01]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fires]
Local forestry workers are still battling several blazes around the area, and hoping that showers in the forecast will provide a little relief.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
About 30 acres have burned on Read Mountain near the Botetourt-Roanoke County line.
The fire is under control at this time.
A skeleton crew has been fighting the fire all night and a full crew will return this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

Foresters say a fire on Poor Mountain in Montgomery County is only about 20 percent contained.
They fought it with a helicopter but later had to stop because of mechanical problems.
Crews had to hike miles on foot.
Their work was slow-going because of the steep incline and rocky terrain.
Foresters say no homes or other structures are in danger.
A downed power line ignited the fire Wednesday evening.
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[7-11Draper-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC1:23:15]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT :18 + ]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.]
About 65 acres are burning out of control on Draper Mountain in Pulaski County, and forestry officials expect more than one hundred to be on fire today.
High winds caused the flames to jump fire lines throughout the day yesterday... only 20 percent of the blaze is contained right now. Crews are fighting the blaze from the air and the ground, and more have been called in from surrounding departments in the mid-atlantic.
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[7-11Goshen-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC1:28:35]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

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[VO-NAT - :24+]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

A prescribed burn went out of control in Rockbridge County.
Hundreds of acres of the wildlife management area near Goshen have burned, and officials say the fire could burn up to eleven-hundred acres before it's contained.
The fire is on Department of Game and Inland Fisheries land, and no private lands or homes are threatened.
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[7-11Kilgore]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Kilgore]
Virginia's Attorney General says it IS possible for the state's colleges and universities to attract a diverse student body WITHOUT affirmative action.
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[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
While in Roanoke for a law-enforcement conference yesterday, Jerry Kilgore commented on
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/April 6;]
Virginia Tech's recent decisions first to eliminate, and then restore discrimination protection. He says schools don't need to consider race or gender to meet their diversity goals.
(///// SOT at :15 /////)
[SOT 3:49-4:04]
[IN Q=Nothing prohibits us from...]
((ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY KILGORE: NOTHING PROHIBITS US FROM USING URBAN AND RURAL CRITERIA IN OUR ADMISSIONS POLICIES. . NOTHING PREVENTS US FROM TAKING THE TOP 10-PERCENT FROM EVERY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS LIKE SOME STATES DO AND YOU'RE STILL GONNA GET A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.))
[SUPER=@Kilgore;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=still gonna get a diverse student body.]
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Regardless, Kilgore says both Tech decisions complied with advice given by his office.

[45-VOB-Jefferson-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Eight months ago, the Bedford County school board made the controversial decision to renovate rather than build a new Jefferson Forest High School. The school board has now voted on the funding to pay for the renovations.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; 28.5]

At a special meeting last night, the board voted to approve a 24 point six million dollar budget to pay for renovations to the high school.
They agreed to move forward with a plan called concept "D"
That would include adding among other things a math and science wing, a band and chorale facility, and relocating the cafeteria to accomodate more people.
Last night's vote was 6 to 2 with the opposition coming from the two members who represent the Forest district.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:25; 8:23]
[IN Q=We've got a school]
((JIM FIELDS/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL THAT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND 25 MILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE AND ESSENTIALLY END UP WITH A BUILDING THAT IS INADEQUATE WHEN IT OPENS AND THAT'S REALLY MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TAX PAYER MONEY FOR VERY LITTLE.)) ((JIM BLEVINS/SUPERINTENDENT: I BELIEVE WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER I BELIEVE ONE STEP THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN SO WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING FORWARD. WE WILL BE SENDING OUR NUMBERS OVER TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SO OUR PROJECT CAN NOW START.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Fields/School Board Member; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Blevins/Bedford Co. Superintendent; :13]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=can now start]
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[VO-NAT]

Before the project can officially start, the Board of Supervisors must approve the funding and they could do it at its next meeting in May.
But that could be an uphill battle.
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

School Board member Jim Fields says he plans to advocate that the Board of Supervisors vote down the funding for renovating Jefferson Forest.
If however the project moves forward, construction would probably begin next spring and it would take about three years to complete.

[45-Matricardi]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

More troubles for former state Republican Party executive director Ed Matricardi.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]

A Virginia State Bar panel has suspended Matricardi's law license.
The Bar's Web site says the Disciplinary Board suspended his license on April third,
Matricardi resigned amid allegations that that he eavesdropped on a conference call among Democratic state legislators.
Under last month's plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend three years of probation and a 10- thousand- dollar fine.
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[8-11Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC04:01]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fires]
Local forestry workers are still battling several blazes around the area, and hoping that showers in the forecast will provide a little relief.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
About 30 acres have burned on Read Mountain near the Botetourt-Roanoke County line.
The fire is under control at this time.
A skeleton crew has been fighting the fire all night and a full crew will return this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

Foresters say a fire on Poor Mountain in Montgomery County is only about 20 percent contained.
They fought it with a helicopter but later had to stop because of mechanical problems.
Crews had to hike miles on foot.
Their work was slow-going because of the steep incline and rocky terrain.
Foresters say no homes or other structures are in danger.
A downed power line ignited the fire Wednesday evening.
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[8-11Draper-Fire]

[8-11Goshen-Fire]

[8-11Billings]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC1:09:38]
[SS=None]
Yesterday, the senior class at Galax High School remembered one of their own who is no longer with them.
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[VO-NAT]
Senior Brandon Billings will not be a part of the 74-member class that will graduate this June. He was murdered last October, just hours after his 18th birthday.
[SUPER=03-Galax;]
Yesterday, Brandon's parents spoke to his classmates during senior picture day and gave them each a token to remember him by.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:21]
[IN Q=WE FIXED THE CARDS]
((SHERRY BILLINGS/BRANDON'S MOTHER: 1621 WE FIXED THE CARDS AND PUT BRANDON'S PICTURES IN THEM AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO GIVE THE KIDS FOR REMEMORY OF HIM 1630))
[SUPER=01-Sherry Billings/Brandon's Mother;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=REMEMORY OF HIM]
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[VO-NAT]
Authorities say they still have no suspects into Brandon's murder. His family, however, is hoping to change that. They've created a website where people can go to learn more about Brandon and the investigation.
(XXXXXX)
[WIPE TO WDBJ WEBPAGE FS] You can find a link to Brandon's website on our homepage at WDBJ7-dot-com. (-------------)