WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/15/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
It's going to be sunny and hot today with temperatures possibly reaching the 90's.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your weekend forecast coming up a little bit later.

[7-11Bedford-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC2:04:32]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Bedford County accident that killed a man yesterday has some residents calling for renewed safety improvements at the intersection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :32.5]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
Police say 55 year old Harold David Jennings was driving a delivery truck North on Route 122. 72 year old Harry Leigh Peters pulled out from Route 24, striking the truck, causing it to spin out of control, and flip over. Jennings was pronounced dead at the scene, and police say he was NOT wearing his seatbelt. Peters was not hurt. Police are consulting with the Commonwealth's Attorney to determine if charges should be filed. Meanwhile, residents say that they're tired of seeing these accidents, and want VDOT to rebuild the intersection or put in a stoplight.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 11:20/5:54]
[INQ=Everybody...]
((NANCY LAURENT/LANCER MART OWNER; EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. WE JUST REALLY NEED SOMETHING DONE.)) ((RICKY TUCK/MONETA FIRE CHIEF; THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC SO I THINK IT'S GETTING MORE ATTENTION, AND IT'S MORE OF A PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Laurent/Lancer Mart Owner; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Tuck/Moneta Fire Chief; :05]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=something that's happened overnight.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :10+]
A VDOT engineer says that they have been working on a solution for about 3 years. State money has been earmarked for the project, but it will not be available until July.
(------------)

[7-Vob-Goodyear]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Goodyear Negotiations 4358]

Goodyear has set a deadline of noon today to reach a tentative agreement with its union.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape;]
If an agreement is not reached by this afternoon, the company says it'll move forward with a plan to ensure Goodyear's future success. Union officials in Danville say they don't know what to expect.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 43:50:23]
[IN Q=All along that's been]
((DANA DIXON/LOCAL 831 SPOKESMAN: ALL ALONG THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS. THE COMPANY HAS SUPPOSEDLY HAD A PLAN TO SAVE GOODYEAR, BUT WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY ONE PIECE OF THAT PLAN.))
[SUPER=01-Dana Dixon/Local 831 Spokesman;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=of that plan]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Union employees have been working under their old contract, which expired in April. Leaders say they won't make any moves until they learn more about the company's plan.
(------------)

[7-Echols]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The part-owner of Duncan Ford in Rocky Mount is on probation for transporting moonshine.
Officials say 49 year old Ronnie Dean Echols was sentenced to probation yesterday in exchange for his guilty plea in May.
After receiving a tip, police pulled Echols over on Route 220 in Boones Mill and found 20 gallons of moonshine in t

he back of his S-U-V. [55-WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
It will be hot and muggy today with temperatures soaring toward 90.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast a little bit later.

[55-VOB-Resource-Officer]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Butch Lewis 2085]

School Resource Officer Butch Lewis says he's pleased to be returning to the job at Patrick Henry High School.
Though his assignment may be temporary, Lewis says he's keeping an open mind and hoping for the best.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Lewis was transferred in June, after sharing his concerns about school safety with a newspaper reporter.
He agreed to suspend his grievances, and the city allowed him to return to P-H while a new task force takes a closer look at the Resource Officer Program.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'd like to thank]
((I'D LIKE TO THANK MRS. BURCHAM FOR MAKING THE DECISION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE SPENT TEN YEARS DOING AND I THINK THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, 03:48 AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THREE FOUR MONTHS WHEN THE TASK FORCE MAKES A DECISION IT'LL BE THE RIGHT DECISION. THEY CAN LOOK AT THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE AND MAYBE THEY WON'T CHANGE THE PROGRAM. MAYBE THEY'LL LEAVE IT AS IS.))
[SUPER=01-Butch Lewis/School Resource Officer]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=leave it as is.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Lewis is expected to return to his job on the Patrick Henry campus on Tuesday.

[55-11Suspect-Search]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-28 TC52:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An Elliston man is in custody after allegedly trying to jump bond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Bail bondsman Jeff Trout says he went to 30-year-old Eugene Ezell's home Wednesday night to collect bond, when Ezell took off. After chasing him for several hours, Trout says he arrested Ezell yesterday morning, but it wasn't long before he got away again. After a nearly three-hour search, authorities arrested Ezell near some bushes next to Cooks Cleaners. Trout says incidents like this are just part of the job.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1631]
[IN Q=i'm a weightlifter]
((JEFF TROUT/BAIL BONDSMAN: I'M A WEIGHTLIFTER. I'M GOING HAVE TO START RUNNING SOME MORE I KNOW THAT (LAUGHS.)))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Trout/Bail Bondsman;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=i know that (laughs)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ezell was out on a six-thousand dollars bond for assault and battery. Authorities say he could face more charges.
(------------)

[55-11Grandin-Theatre]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC1:40:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

You can now walk among the stars on Grandin Road.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

630 of them were unveiled on the sidewalk in front of the Grandin Theatre.
Each star represents a supporter who donated one-thousand dollars to help restore the Roanoke landmark.
130 are still up for grabs.
The Grandin's also kicking off a campaign rewarding a 250-dollar contribution with a theatre seat engraved with the donor's name.
The whole neighborhood is reaping the benefits.
Since the theatre reopened, three new restaurants have come to the area.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
You'll need your sunglasses and air conditioning today, as temperatures rise well into the 80s to near 90.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your forecast coming up shortly.

[8-11Onzlee-Ware]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Democrat Onzlee Ware's campaign for the House of Delegates is still on-- despite an impending divorce and allegations of abuse.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=04-June 11;]
[***** ON TAPE 03-13 AT 1:28:44******] The documents were filed six days after Ware took out a suit requesting the court divide property he and Rena (Ruh-NAY) Berry share. The divorce papers accuse Ware of physical and drug abuse, larceny and adultery. His attorney says Ware denies the charges and that his campaign will continue unchanged.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 10:11:59-10:12:15]
[IN Q=I don't think it's gonna hurt...]
((ERIC SPENCER/WARE'S ATTORNEY: I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA HURT HIS CAMPAIGN ESPECIALLY SINCE HE'S RUNNING UNOPPOSED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS RENA'S INTENT IN FILING AT THIS TIME. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TIMING FOR THAT TO MAKE YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.))
[SUPER=01-Eric Spencer/Ware's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=to make your own conclusions.]
(-------------)
[VO NAT] Ware is poised to become the first African American from Western Virginia elected to the House.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
He and Berry, a Roanoke attorney and substitute judge, were married last September. Berry's lawyer, Thomas Wray, says they'll be asking for a jurisdiction change. He did not want to go on camera but says Berry stands by the charges.

[8-11Richardson]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC1:29:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Community activists say someone is trying to unfairly influence V-DOT concerning a highway project in Bedford County by FORGING comment sheets.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]
Now, that discovery has led to a full-blown criminal investigation. The intersection at Routes 608 and 626 remains unchanged, while a Special Grand Jury tries to find out who's forged the forms. Supervisor Kirby Richardson signed one of the comment sheets. There are 38 suspiciously like it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:18:25]
[IN Q=Get on out]
((GET ON OUT OF HERE WITH THAT. YOU'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. GET ON OUT OF HERE WITH THAT CAMERA. You're a public servant. Is that correct, an elected official? I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, BUT THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHT HERE.))
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=property right here]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
While V-DOT always seeks public comment on proposed highway projects, the department says support or opposition to a project does not make or break it.
(------------)

[8-11Pitts-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC17:44]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

It wasn't a hit and run-- but Pittsylvania County authorities are searching for two people who fled the scene of a single- car crash.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
Police say this Oldsmobile was traveling West on Route 58 around three yesterday afternoon when it lost control and wrecked in the median. But when police responded, they only found the car- Witnesses say they saw both the driver and passenger walking west toward Martinsville. Authorities aren't sure who the occupants are or why they took off. (------------)