WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 06/19/03

[7-AM-D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day memorial]
The National D-Day Memorial should take a big step today in efforts to pay off its creditors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 02-09 TC2:02:53]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/June 2002;]
A bankruptcy court hearing may clear the way for the memorial's repayment plan, one that would fully repay all creditors within five years. The memorial owes about four million dollars, almost half of it due to the builder, Coleman-Adams Construction. All parties must give the final approval to the repayment plan, and that is expected later today.
(------------)

[7-11Tech-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC28:14]
[GRAPHIC=Big-East ACC]

According to the Associated Press, the presidents of the A-C-C schools will invite Virginia Tech to join the conference.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

The decision to include Virginia Tech was made during a three-hour conference call yesterday.
One source says they made the decision after it appeared the original expansion plan involving Miami, Boston College and Syracuse would not get the required votes.
The Washington Post says the conference is desperately seeking a way to get the seven necessary votes to move its expansion plans forward.
A move to add Virginia Tech to the expansion could remove the political pressure on U-V-A and allow it to vote yes.
Tech President Charles Steger will meet with the Board of Visitors later today, to ask its opinion on what to do next.
(------------)

[7-11Roanoke-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-27 TC09:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A police chase in Roanoke ends with the suspect getting away.
Officers attempted to pull a car over yesterday afternoon near Highland Park for a drug violation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

One of the people fled the scene and eventually jumped into the Roanoke River near the 5-81 bridge in Smyth Park.
Officers pursued the suspect but could not catch him.
It is believed he got out of the river near the Pizza Hut behind Towers Mall.
Police are not releasing any other details.
They say the suspect is still on the loose.
(------------)

[7-11Craig-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-28 TC05:54]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
As much as two inches of rain fell in Craig County last night, causing widespread problems.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Craig Co.]

The flooding prompted authorities to evacuate Camp Easter Seal near New Castle.
35 campers and several counselors were taken by bus to the Craig County Elementary School.
The camp is located in a valley and witnesses say the rain was coming down in buckets.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:27]
[IN Q=It was just coming off]
((MEHAL SHAH/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: IT WAS JUST COMING OFF THE MOUNTAIN REAL FAST, IT WAS JUST COMING OFF REAL FAST AND THE CREEK IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD, IT HASN'T COME UP AS MUCH AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COMING UP A FEW DAYS AGO BUT IT WAS JUST COMING OFF THE MOUNTAIN REALLY FAST.))
[SUPER=01-Mehal Shah/Assistant Director;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=off the mountain really fast]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The campers will spend the night in the gym at the school.
Today is the last day of the camp.
Parents are asked to pick up their kids at the elementary school.
(------------)

[45-11GE-Contract]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC44:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Nearly 400 union workers at General Electric in Salem will vote on a tentative contract proposal next Tuesday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/January 14;]
The agreement affects about 5 percent of the total G-E workforce. G-E workers went on strike in January to put pressure on the company leading up to contract negotiations. I-U-E/C-W-A Union officials say that strike won the contract battle, and now is recommending union workers approve the contract. They add the new contract essentially freezes health care costs that workers pay, and raises pension benefits for retirees. The tentative agreement was reached just hours before the old contract was set to expire this past Sunday. If approved, the new contract would run through 2007.
(------------)

[45-11Animal-House]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC22:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Complaints from neighbors about a Roanoke woman with 57 dogs has prompted the city to issue an ultimatum.
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week;]

Caroline Laprad got a letter from the city attorney's office yesterday telling her she has 30 days to "remedy the problem."
Laprad's neighbors have complained for years about the smells and noise.
City laws limit homeowners to four dogs.
Laprad says she plans to take her dogs and move, but she hasn't been able to find a new place that will accept them.
The city says if Laprad doesn't comply with the law OR move in 30 days, it will take "whatever action" is necessary.
(------------)

[45-11Police-Sculpture]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-12 TC1:48:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A sculpture honoring a fallen police officer is beginning to take shape.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Lawrence Bechtel (beck-Tel) designed "Officer Down," which depicts a wounded officer and his comrade kneeling by his side. Bechtel worked with actual police officers to create this scale model of what it will look like once it's done. The model will be digitized to create a life-size bronzed statue, that will stand outside of the new Roanoke Police Building on Campbell Avenue. It's scheduled to be unveiled in May of 2004 during National Police Memorial week.
(------------)

[45-11Civil-War]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Civil War event at Virginia Tech is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
"Campaigning with Lee" is the oldest summer Civil War event in the U-S. More than 130 Civil War buffs from all over the country participate in the week long event, attending seminars and visiting historical sites across the area. Director for the Virginia Center of Civil War Studies Bud Robertson, says each year just gets better.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5929]
[IN Q=they come from]
((BUD ROBERTSON/HEAD ORGANIZER: THEY COME FROM 30-STATES. THEY FACETIOUSLY CALL THEMSELVES BUD'S BRIGADE BUT IT'S JUST A BIG HAPPY FAMILY. JUST THE FINEST GROUP OF CIVIL WAR BUFFS I'VE EVER KNOWN 38))
[SUPER=01-James "Bud" Robertson, Jr./Head Organizer;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=ever known]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In addition to the summer event, the group also holds a Civil War weekend in March. Campaigning with Lee wraps up tomorrow.
(------------)

[8-AM-D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day memorial]
The National D-Day Memorial should take a big step today in efforts to pay off its creditors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 02-09 TC2:02:53]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/June 2002;]
A bankruptcy court hearing may clear the way for the memorial's repayment plan, one that would fully repay all creditors within five years. The memorial owes about four million dollars, almost half of it due to the builder, Coleman-Adams Construction. All parties must give the final approval to the repayment plan, and that is expected later today.
(------------)

[8-11Tech-ACC]

[8-11Hunters-Hungry]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC1:40:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Hunters for the Hungry program has donated thousands of pounds of venison to needy Virginians over the past twelve years.
Each year, the program yields plenty of deer, but lacks the money to process the meat.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Help is on the way.
Yesterday, Governor Mark Warner signed the David Horne Hunger Relief bill.
It'll allow hunters to donate two dollars to the charity every time they buy a new hunting license.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:54:16]
[IN Q=The need for]
((LAURA NEWELL-FURNISS/HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY: THE NEED FOR THIS GOOD FOOD CURRENTLY EXCEEDS WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE. THANKS TO THE SKILLED MANAGEMENT EFFORTS OF THE GAME DEPARTMENT THERE IS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF DEER. THIS RENEWABLE, NATURAL RESOURCE IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE HUNGRY.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Newell-Furniss/Hunters for the Hungry]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=needs of the hungry.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The bill is named for David Horne, founder of the Hunters for the Hungry program, who died last year of cancer.
The charity distributes more than 200-thousand pounds of venison each year. (------------)