WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/20/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended if you're going to be spending much time outdoors today.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the complete forecast, coming up.

[7-2-11Radford-Streets]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC1:12:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Construction in the New River Valley could cause some problems for returning college students.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
East Main Street in Radford has been closed because of construction since May. But Radford University officials say they plan to TEMPORARILY reopen the road this Friday and Saturday, while students move in. The work is meant to improve safety- the parking lot is being rebuilt so students won't have to cross the street to get to class.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Near Virginia Tech, V-Dot officials say bridge work along Prices Fork in Blacksburg should be finished in time for student move-in there lastr today. Although they do warn drivers to expect delays.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1956]
[IN Q=if you could]
((DAVID CLARKE/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: IF YOU COULD AVOID 81 AT LEAST SOUTHBOUND FOR A LOT OF THE TIME OR JUST LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE CONGESTED ON 81.))
[SUPER=01-David Clarke/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=congested on 81]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Classes at both Radford and Tech begin Monday.
(------------)

[7-11Horse-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-27 TC1:12:29]
[GRAPHIC=West nile Virus]
West-Nile Virus hit a Botetourt County farm this summer, but the ranch owners are taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Two weeks ago, Slocum's Appaloosa Ranch lost a 22-year-old mare named Hope.
It was Southwest Virginia's first case of West Nile in a horse this year.
The ranch's owners quickly vaccinated all 108 remaining horses.
(///// SOT /////)
[BUTT SOTS]
[IN Q=Hope gave her]
[SOT 2:40:35 cover first part of bite]
(( HOPE GAVE HER LIFE FOR THE REST OF THE HORSES. ))
[SOT 2:40:45 on camera]
(( AND IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, NOBODY WOULD HAVE KNOWN ANYTHING AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. ))
[SUPER=01-Marilyn Slocum/Slocum's Appaloosa Ranch; :03 QUICK!]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=a lot worse.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Donations from students, boarders and employees are helping pay the 45-hundred dollar cost of vaccinating the horses.
The Slocums are also following the health department's recommendations -- trying to change trough water more often and using larvicide in standing pools of water, where mosquitos breed.
So far, 13 horses in Virginia have contracted West Nile.
(------------)

[7-6-Edwards]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-21 TC1:42:54]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards says he understands southside's economic problems more than the CURRENT President and would do a better job protecting factory workers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Edwards campaigned in Virginia yesterday.
The North Carolina Senator says he grew up in a textile family.
And has seen first-hand the effect of plant closings on families and communities.
Edwards says U-S trade agreements need stronger labor standards to stop unfair overseas competition.
He also supports creating a national venture- capital fund to help induce companies such as Pillowtex to stay in small towns.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :11:45]
[IN Q=WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Edwards/(D) North Carolina]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=LIVED IN ALL THEIR LIVES.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]
Edwards says Virginia is an important state to him and he plans to campaign hard here.

[55-11Radford-Streets]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC1:12:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
V-DOT says college students who are returning to the New River Valley this week should expect some delays.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
East Main Street in Radford has been closed because of construction since May. But Radford University officials say they plan to TEMPORARILY reopen the road this Friday and Saturday, while students move in. The work is meant to improve safety. The parking lot is being rebuilt so students won't have to cross the street to get to class.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Near Virginia Tech, V-Dot officials say bridge work along Prices Fork in Blacksburg should be finished in time for student move-in. Although they do warn drivers to expect delays.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1956]
[IN Q=if you could]
((DAVID CLARKE/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: IF YOU COULD AVOID 81 AT LEAST SOUTHBOUND FOR A LOT OF THE TIME OR JUST LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE CONGESTED ON 81.))
[SUPER=01-David Clarke/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=congested on 81]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Classes at both Radford and Tech begin Monday.
(------------)

[55-6-Vinton-Betting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC18:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An off-track betting parlor proposal is drawing mixed reaction in the town of Vinton.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]
Republican Senate candidate Brandon Bell learned about it this week and wants residents to also be aware. Colonial Downs operates off- track betting facilities in four locations around the state and wants to add southwest Virginia to the list. Supporters say the facilities are essentially sports bars where patrons can wager on live horse races simulcast from all over the country-- But opponents see trouble.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:27:34 -- 48]
[IN Q=It brings in ]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Bell/(R) State Senate Candidate; :00]
((BRANDON BELL/(R) STATE SENATE CANDIDATE; IT BRINGS IN AN ELEMENT THAT WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO GOOD COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, THE WHOLE IDEA OF GAMBLING BRINGS IN A LOT OF ABUSE, A LOT OF ADDICTION... GAMBLING TYPE INTERESTS. ))
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=type interests.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In order to locate in Vinton- the town's voters would have to approve the facility through a referendum. Right now, Colonial Downs is trying to gather the necessary signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. The company would need about 225 signatures to make that happen.
(------------)

[55-11Jazz-Festival]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Organizers of a popular event in Roanoke are getting jazzed up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September]

The Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues and Jazz Festival lost several thousand dollars last year because bad weather prompted lower than expected crowds.
Yesterday, organizers said the losses were minimal and therefore believe this year's event will be the best ever.
New this year, you can buy tickets in advance and the Kick-Off Gala at the Hotel Roanoke will be open to the public.

The festival takes place Friday September 12th through Sunday the 14th.
(------------)

[8-Goodyear]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am-cutin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Goodyear Negotiations]

Goodyear could have an answer from union negotiators on its latest contract offer as early as today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Negotiators for employees at Goodyear's 14 factories are looking over the contract proposal.
The United Steelworkers union asked Goodyear yesterday for more information about the latest offer to come out of five months of bargaining.
The union represents 19- thousand Goodyear workers at plants in Virginia and ten other states.
Also included are 22- thousand retired workers.
(------------)

[8-6-Henry-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC1:49:43]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The impact of the Pillowtex plant closing won't hurt Henry County schools as much as officials originally thought.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape]

The county will lose 915-thousand dollars in tax revenue with the closing of the Fieldale plant.
Because of that, county leaders ordered the school system to make 650-thousand dollars in cuts for the upcoming school budget.
The school board then met and agreed to 470-thousand dollars in cuts.
News 7 has now learned the county administrator and Superintendent have come up with a compromise.
If it's approved, the school system will not have to make additional cuts.
(------------)

[8-11Horse-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-27 TC1:12:29]
[GRAPHIC=West nile Virus]
West-Nile Virus hit a Botetourt County farm this summer, but its owners are taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Two weeks ago, Slocum's Appaloosa Ranch lost a 22-year-old mare named Hope.
It was Southwest Virginia's first case of West Nile in a horse this year.
The ranch's owners quickly vaccinated all 108 remaining horses.
(///// SOT /////)
[BUTT SOTS]
[IN Q=Hope gave her]
[SOT 2:40:35 cover first part of bite]
(( HOPE GAVE HER LIFE FOR THE REST OF THE HORSES. ))
[SOT 2:40:45 on camera]
(( AND IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, NOBODY WOULD HAVE KNOWN ANYTHING AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. ))
[SUPER=01-Marilyn Slocum/Slocum's Appaloosa Ranch; :03 QUICK!]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=a lot worse.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Donations from students, boarders and employees are helping pay the 45-hundred dollar cost of vaccinating the horses.
The Slocums are also following the health department's recommendations -- trying to change trough water more often and using larvicide in standing pools of water, where mosquitos breed.
So far, 13 horses in Virginia have contracted West Nile.
(------------)

[8-VDOT-Mosquitoes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=West Nile Virus]
The state Department of Transportation is doing its part to fight the West Nile virus.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
70 members of V-DOT's roadside maintenance staff received training this spring on mosquito biology, larva identification, sampling and applying larvacide.
The workers will keep an eye on standing water on state-maintained property.
They'll make sure ditches are properly drained and treat them with larvacide. The next phase of the VDOT training program will teach roadside managers to identify mosquito species, including those that could carry West Nile virus.
(------------)
[Mornin' Promo] [ANCHOR-Kim] [Animation]
(///////SOT///////)
((Tomorrow on News 7 Mornin'.))
[RUNS=03]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
There's nothing CORNY about this aMAZEing F-F-A project in Wytheville. Lend Steve Pardon and EAR and he'll tell you all about it.....
(------------)
Tomorrow on News 7 Mornin' beginning at 5:30.[Kim on Camera]