WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/21/03

[7-AM-National-Guard]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Homecoming #4370]
The 229th is haeding home today, and much earlier than originally expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 02-48 2:00:10 ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 28;]

When the 125 men and women left Roanoke in late February, they figured to be on active duty for at least a year.
But the Army National Guard's 229th Chemical Company is scheduled to return to the Roanoke armory this afternoon. Members remain listed as active duty until early next month, but they won't have to wait that long to see their loved ones. A ceremony today will welcome them home.
(------------)

[7-11Suicide-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC1:58:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Over the years, a bridge in Lynchburg has been the scene of numerous suicides. Now some residents are pressuring the city to do something about it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The last suicide on the Rivermont Bridge came in August, 2001, when 38-year-old Theresa Wilkerson jumped to her death off the 100-foot high span.
Supporters want the city to install higher railings on the bridge.. a project that would cost almost a quarter million dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:45:27]
[IN Q=There is no]
((ROBERT POIGNANT/VIRGINIA ORGANIZING PROJECT: THERE IS NO PRICE TO BE PUT UPON A HUMAN LIFE. I AM SURE THAT MANY OF OUR COUNCILMEN HAVE INSURANCE POLICIES IN EXCESS OF THE 226-THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT'S INVOLVED HERE. THE LIFE OF A HUMAN BEING IS WORTH MORE THAN 226-THOUSAND DOLLARS.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Poignant/Virginia Organizing Project]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=226-thousand dollars.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Poignant (POYN-yent) says a higher railing would provide an immediate barrier to suicidal persons who might then seek counseling for their problems.
(------------)

[7-11Labor-Talks]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC1:33:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
This week marks the beginning of contract talks for General Electric workers around the country.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;]
Employees at Salem's G-E Plant are among those whose contract expires next month. They walked the picket line in January hoping for some leverage in negotiations. The major issues are affordable health insurance and job security. A local union president is in New York as a member of the bargaining committee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:06:15]
[IN Q=IF WE CAN'T]
((ROY ROGERS/IUE-CWA LOCAL PRESIDENT; IF WE CAN'T REACH A HEALTH CARE POSITION THAT COULD VERY WELL MEAN ANOTHER STRIKE I THINK THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT I THINK WE'RE AWARE OF IT ALSO THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SOMETHING OUT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape;]
Meanwhile, labor talks are also underway for Goodyear employees in Danville. Day to day operations remain normal at the plant while discussions continue in Cincinnati. Local union officials say a negotiating committee has already rejected an initial offer made by Goodyear.
(------------)

[45-Betterton-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Frankie Betterton #2004]
A new highway bridge will be dedicated later today in honor of a fallen Pittsylvania County sheriff's deputy. The Frankie Lynn Betterton bridge will carry the new US-58 westbound bypass over the present route 58, about one mile west of Danville city limits.
That is just a short distance from where he was shot to death a year ago. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 AM.

[45-11Big-East]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC17:25]
[GRAPHIC=ACC/Big East]

The Big East meetings have come to end.
Now, the conference can only wait to see what its future holds.
Mike Stevens has more from Ponte Vedra (Ponta VEE-dra), Florida.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="The meetings..]
[SUPER=@mike1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Tranghese/Big East Commissioner; :17]
[SUPER=03-Ponte Vedra, FL; :41]
[SUPER=01-Paul Dee/Miami Athletic Director; :56]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(-----------------)

[8-AM-Cable-Rates]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Adelphia has announced that it will raise its rates for the fourth time in three years.
That means Danville residents will be paying more for cable service.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Beginning June first, basic cable service will go up 2 dollars and 76 cents bringing the monthly cost to nearly 47 dollars.
[SUPER=03-Danville]

That is more than ten dollars higher than it was two years ago.
Adelphia Cable says it has no choice since program fees continue to rise.
But the latest increase has prompted city officials to look into the possibility of getting into the cable business.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:20:10; 11:12:32]
[IN Q=Somewhere down the road]
((JOHN HAMLIN/DANVILLE MAYOR: SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD WE MAY BE APPLYING AND LOOKING AT THE STATE AND ASKING FOR THAT PERMISSION. THEY'RE ONLY TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA THAT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. THAT'S BRISTOL AND ABINGDON AT THIS POINT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD BUT RIGHT NOW OUR HANDS ARE PRETTY MUCH TIED.)) ((JEAN ELKINS/DANVILLE RESIDENT: I THINK IT'S TOO MUCH OF AN INCREASE. I CAN SEE MAYBE A DOLLAR OR A DOLLAR QUARTER BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THREE DOLLARS.))
[SUPER=01-John Hamlin/Danville Mayor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jean Elkins/Danville Resident; :16]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=as three dollars]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

To help offset the increase, Adelphia will discontinue charging customers a monthly fee for an extra outlet.
The cable company also points out it has recently spent more than 17-million dollars to provide customers with high speed internet access and digital cable.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Currently, Adelphia is the only cable provider in Danville.
However, the contract is up and the city is in talks about renewing that contract.
The mayor says the latest increase will play a role in negotiations.

[8-11Tresky]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC1:46:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In the mid- 90's, Bill Tresky could not find a teaching job. So, he opened a pizza resturant instead.
(---------------)
[V/O-NAT ] Chico and Billy's was a successful venture. But Tresky got tired of working 90 hours a week, AND he still wanted to teach. So he sold his interest in the restaurant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:02:51]
[IN Q=Do you know]
((DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS PRESIDENT IN THE 60'S? ASK NOT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY... KENNEDY. ))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=Kennedy.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
In his first year of teaching history at Cave Spring High School, the students have voted him "Teacher of the Year."

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:29:45]
[IN Q=I think the Lord]
((WILLIAM TRESKY/CAVE SPRING HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: I THINK THE LORD GIVES PEOPLE GIFTS AND ONE OF MY GIFTS IS COMMUNICATING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. RYAN POLLOCK/STUDENT: HE MAKES THINGS FUN. MORE INTERACTIVE AND STUFF, INSTEAD OF JUST COPYING NOTES, STUDYING, TAKE THE TEST.))
[SUPER=01-William Tresky/Cave Spring High School Teacher; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Pollock/Student; :05]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=take the test.]
(---------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
Now that he's finally gotten to use his teaching certificate, Tresky says he wishes he could call HIS high school teachers and apologize. (---------------)