WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/15/03

[Isabel-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Isabel]

If hurricane Isabel makes landfall on the East Coast, it's not going to be pretty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wilmington, NC]

Residents living along the North Carolina coast are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
It was a perfect beach day Sunday, but people were already busy sandbagging and boarding up their homes.
Residents are also stocking up on water and groceries.
Emergency operations personnel say if people DON'T prepare now, there's potential for disaster.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ :41 in pkg]
[IN Q=I dread]
(( "I dread to think what beaches might look like if this comes in shore with the same strength it has now." ))
[SUPER=01-Warren Lee/New Hanover Co. Emergency Mgmt. Dir.;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=strength it has now.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Forecasters say Isabel will likely land somewhere between North Carolina and New Jersey by Thursday or Friday.
(------------)

[Williams-Sister]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A man has been arrested in the fatal shooting of the sister of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Compton, CA;]

Authorities haven't said what led them to 24-year-old Aaron Michael Hammer.
He's charged with killing 31-year-old Yetunde (yeh-TUNE-day) Price yesterday, after a dispute in the family's former hometown of Compton.
Price was a registered nurse and personal assistant to her sisters.
Just two months ago, she attended the ESPY awards alongside her little sister Serena, as she was named Female Athlete of the Year.
(------------)

[11Floyd-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

One person was killed in a motorcycle accident in Floyd County . State police say the northbound Harley-Davidson ran off route 221 just north of Floyd Sunday evening, went down an embankment and hit a fence. 55 year old Alisa Marie Duncan of Floyd was killed. Investigators say charges are pending against the driver, 55 year old Lehman Leroy Horne of Pilot. He's in critical condition this morning at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

[11Homeland-Security]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-38 10:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
"Operation First Responder" teamed Army Reserves with local emergency personnel yesterday.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Salem, Roanoke and Franklin County E-M-S personnel, along with firefighters, got some tips from the Army on how to respond in the case of a major attack on the U-S.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:23:08]
[IN Q=The United States Army]
((WILLIAM WAMPLER/DEPUTY BRIGADE COMMANDER: THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE IS PARTICIPATING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, TO GIVE THEM THE SKILLS SO THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO MEET AN INCIDENT OF A NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, OR CHEMICAL EVENT.))
[SUPER=01-William Wampler/Army Reserves Deputy Brigade Commander;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=or chemical event]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
In one training exercise, members of the Army donned chemical protection suits and masks as they demonstrated how to decontaminate a vehicle. Army officials say this type of training is new so everyone is on the same playing field.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:41:01]
[IN Q=I'm just glad to see]
((CHRIS SLEMP/FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR: I'M JUST GLAD TO SEE OUR TRAINING IS SO SIMILAR. THAT IF WE HAD A SITUATION WE COULD INTERMINGLE EASILY. AS FAR AS THE EQUIPMENT THE EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO BE THE BASICALLY THE SAME.
THE NEWER MASKS THAT THEY JUST PURCHASED, WE JUST PURCHASED.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Slemp/Franklin County Public Safety Director;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=we just purchased]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Both groups agree training together will make working together easier should they ever have to use their knowledge.
(-------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Members of the New York Stock Exchange will meet on Thursday to discuss the future of chairman Dick Grasso.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=i'm A.C.]
((GOOD MORNING... > > DICK GRASSO MAY HAVE NO INTENTION OF RESIGNING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW YORK > STOCK EXCHANGE.. BUT IF SOME MEMBERS GET THEIR WAY HE MAY BE FORCED OUT... > THREE FLOOR DIRECTORS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING WITH NYSEMEMBERS > THURSDAY TO DISCUSS GRASSO'S FUTURE WITH THE WORLD'S LARGEST STOCK > EXCHANGE. GRASSO HAS COME UNDER INTENSE CRITICISM FOR HIS 140 MILLION > DOLLAR COMPENSATION PACKAGE. SOME BROKERS CALL HIS PAYOUT EXCESSIVE AND A > DISTRACTION. GRASSO HAS HEADED THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE SINCE 1995. > > Bank of America confirms that three executives were asked to leave the > firm after they were named in a complaint from New York Attorney General > Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer is investigating the mutual fund industry. > Spitzer has alleged that Bank of America allowed the a hedge fund to > engrage in trading that gave it access to prices that weren't available to > other investors. > > ON WALL STREET FRIDAY, IT WAS A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE AS SOME LATE DAY > BUYERS PUSHED STOCKS HIGHER. > > THE DOW ADDED NEARLY 12 POINTS UP XX FOR THE WEEK > > THE NASDAQ MOVED UP NEARLYL 9, AND GAINED FOR THE WEEK. > > IT WILL BE A BUSY WEEK ON WALL STREET WITH REPORTS ON NEW HOME > CONSTRUCTION, AND INFLATION AT THE CONSUMER LEVEL AND BUT ONE OF THE > WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE TUESDAY'S MEETING OF FEDERAL RESERVE TO DISCUSS > THE FATE OF INTEREST RATES. > > TRACK THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM IN NEW YORK I'M AC.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

U-S troops have arrested five men in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, after an early morning raid.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tikrit, Iraq;]

The military says the men are susptected of helping bankroll attacks against U-S troops.
Another American soldier was killed in an attack over the weekend.
Visiting Iraq for the first time since the regime toppled, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the country is making progress toward self-rule, despite attempts to sabotage it.
(------------)

[11Fire-Academy]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-29 1:44:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia's fall wildfire season is still a month away, but local firefighters want to make sure they're prepared.
Jennifer Wishon takes us through a Wildland Fire Academy that's becoming a hot learning ground for firefighters.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF PEOPLE WALKING]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pete Schula/Firefighter Instructor; :18]
[SUPER=01-Richard Miles/Wildland Coordinator Bedford County; :34]
[SUPER=01-Brad Bradfield/U.S. Forest Service; :58]
[SUPER=01-Mike Kesling/Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department; 1:20]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2; 1:33]
[SUPER=01-Randy Sutton/Public Information Officer; 1:48]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Bedford County]
((((NATS OF FIREFIGHTERS WALKING)) Many of these firefighters are used to saving structures, but they're attending a Bedford County Academy in hopes of protecting America's wildlands.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:49:03]
[IN Q=This gives them a]
((PETE SCHULA: THIS GIVES THEM A BACKGROUND IN WHERE WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING COMES IN AND WHERE THE TWO MERGE AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE BECAUSE WE WORK WITH RURAL FIREFIGHTERS A LOT.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=firefighters a lot]
That's because there's a specific problem in this corner of the Commonwealth, where many homes are built in the woods. Fire officials have their own lingo for it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:37:18]
[IN Q=We have a lot of]
((RICHARD MILES: WE HAVE A LOT OF WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THIS PART OF THE STATE. BEDFORD COUNTY AND JOINING COUNTIES ARE ALL FACED WITH PEOPLE MOVING INTO A RURAL SETTING WHICH CREATES OUR LIKELIHOOD OF URBAN INTERFACE FIRES.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=urban interface fires]
And these firefighters are learning that it takes a different set of skills to fight a raging forest fire. That's because wildland fire fighters have to carry their gear with them, sometimes uphill for miles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:18:00]
[IN Q=These pumpkins we]
((BRAD BRADFIELD: THESE PUMPKINS WE USE THESE FOR REMOTE FIRE LOCATIONS WHEN WE A WATER SOURCE. THEY CAN TAKE THESE AND USE A HELICOPTER AND DROP THEM ON A MOUNTAIN TOP. WE CAN GRAVITY OUT OF THEM OR PUMP OUT OF THEM, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=we need to do]
Mike Kesling's learning the nuts and bolts of basic firefighting. He has some experience with the Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department, but he's still learning about things like "snags."

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:07:12]
[IN Q=It's when a tree]
((MIKE KESLING: IT'S WHEN A TREE BURNS AND IT'S STILL STANDING, BUT AFTER IT GETS DONE IT WEAKENS IT AND IT FALLS, YOU DON'T HEAR IT FALLING OR NOTHING.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=falling or nothing]
Getting federal, state and volunteer firefighters from six states together was no easy task, but the groups pooled their money to create one of the largest Wildland Fire Academies on the East Coast. That many people together promoted healthy rivalries.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:01:28]
[IN Q=We have a lot]
((RANDY SUTTON: WE HAVE A LOT OF STRUCTURAL FOLKS HERE, ALONG WITH THE WILDLAND FIRES, AND WE LIKE TO SAY TO THEM THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED WITH THE HYDRANTS AND STUFF AND THEY TELL US WELL ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT THE BUSHES OUT.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=put the bushes out]
Instructors hope the weekend's training makes putting the bushes out a little easier. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Bedford County.))

[11Barn-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Firefighters extinguished a barn fire in Pittsylvania County.
Callands and Chatham volunteers responded yesterday to a log barn where tobacco was being cured. Fire officials say it started when the curing process got out of control. Damage is estimated at around 6-thousand dollars.
[Anchor=Marya]
[ss=none]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
(toss)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Retail sales rose in August. John Lisk has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Lisk/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=I'm John Lisk]

((STOCKS ENDED THE DAY AND THE WEEK LITTLE CHANGED ON FRIDAY.

THE DOW GAINED 11 POINTS ON THE DAY.
THE NASDAQ WAS UP ALMOST NINE.

U-S RETAIL SALES ROSE SIX-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN AUGUST, FALLING WELL SHORT OF ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS.
THEY'D EXPECTED AN INCREASE OF ONE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT.
AUTOMOBILE SALES ROSE HALF A PERCENT DURING THE MONTH... NO MATCH FOR THE TWO-POINT-FOUR PERCENT INCREASE IN JULY.

ORACLE POSTED EARNINGS OF EIGHT-CENTS A SHARE IN ITS FIRST QUARTER...THAT'S UP FROM SIX-CENTS A YEAR EARLIER.
THE SOFTWARE MAKER MET ANALYSTS EXPECTATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE COMPANY'S SOFTWARE LICENSE SALES WERE OFF BY SEVEN-PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO.

F-A-O, INCORPORATED WIDENED ITS SECOND QUARTER LOSS.
THE PARENT OF TOY RETAILER, F-A-O SCHWARTZ, POSTED A DEFICIT OF 18-POINT-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR. IN 2002 THE LOSS FOR THE QUARTER WAS 18-POINT-TWO MILLION.
THE SITUATION LOOKS LESS HARSH ON PAPER. APPLIED TO A GREATER NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES, THE CURRENT LOSS IS A BIT MORE THAN FOUR DOLLARS PER SHARE.
LAST YEAR'S LOSS-- APPLIED TO FEWER SHARES-- TOPPED EIGHT DOLLARS.
THE COMPANY IS RESTRUCTURING.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M JOHN LISK.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[2-Iraq]

[Healthy-Living]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=on kim o's desk, 9:39:06]
[GRAPHIC=Healthy Living]

The state is developing a plan to deal with health issues in rural communities, but it needs your help.
(+++++++++++)
[Take FS Healthy Living]
Joy Sutton explains in this week's Healthy Living.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For about a month]
[SUPER=@Joy1; :00 Quick]
[SUPER=01-Rene Cabral-Daniels/State Office of Rural Health; :22]
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Davis/Virginia Rural Health Association; :58]
[RUNS=2:53]
[OUT Q=with this week's Healthy Living.]
(++++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[TAKE FS 8700essc] The public hearing in our area will be on September 18th at the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and on October 15 at the Wise County Public Health office.
For more information or to register call 540-231-6866.
(++++++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[SS=none]
(toss)
News 7 Mornin' will be right back. [COMM]

[2-Retirement-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]

One person was killed in a fire at the Caregivers Assisted Living Facility on Greensboro Road in Henry County.
Two employees discovered the fire just before 10:45 last night near the laundry room. Authorities say 79 year old Cornelia S. Sink died as a result of the blaze. The facility's seven other residents were evacuated and taken to Memorial Hospital of Martinsville with non-life threa Authorities are investigating.tening injuries.