WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/09/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Scattered showers are the rule across the region, with mild temperatures continuing.
Brent Watts has the forecast details, up next.

[7-3-Camp-Counselors]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=4H Invest.]

Four teenage counselors accused of arranging fights between campers at a 4- H camp near Smith Mountain Lake are making another court appearance court today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./July 7;]

They're also accused of charging admission to the fights and taking bets.
There's a chance the case, which has drawn national attention, will be resolved with plea agreements.
Meanwhile, Franklin County's top prosecutor has told the parents of children who'd been called to testify that they do NOT need to come to court today.
(------------)

[7-Job-Fair]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]

New Roads in Martinsville is looking to fill 400 part-time and full-time seasonal positions. The hirings will make the company the largest employer in Martinsville, with more than 16-hundred employees. It's holding a job fair today at the old Tultex plant. Also, applications will be accepted at the Danville office of the Virginia Employment Commission starting next week.[7

-11RMH]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC41:45]
[GRAPHIC=RMH]

Carilion officials say operating both Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospital a mile apart is costly and inefficient. They hope by consolidating services, they will save more than four and a half million dollars a year and improve patient care.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The plan will require major construction at Roanoke Memorial... adding five floors to the the top of the south pavilion.. and additional space at the base of the building.
The plan includes a new traffic pattern and new entrances to allow better access around the complex.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's an exciting time]
((DR. ROBERT KEELEY: IT'S AN EXCITING TIME. IT CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.)) ((NANCY AGEE/CARILION CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: WE'RE REALLY DEVELOPING SOMETHING HERE THAT'S REALLY ON PAR WITH ANYTHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE PUTTING ALL OUR SERVICES TOGETHER IN A VERY HIGH TECH NEW BUILDING, BUT A BUILDING THAT PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Robert Keeley/Carilion Vice-Chief of Medical Staff; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nancy Agee/Carilion Chief Operating Officer; :07]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=pays attention to the needs of the patients.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Carilion says it will apply for a certificate of public need by January.
Construction could begin next summer.
(------------)

[7-2-11Knox]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC07:33]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Some of the charges against pain specialist Cecil Knox and his staff have been dismissed.
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]
All the charges against Katy O'Gee (KAY-tee OH-gee) were dropped. The government rested its case yesterday morning, and the lawyers spent the rest of the day arguing motions to strike the evidence. Judge Sam Wilson dismissed all 15 counts against O'Gee on a judgment of acquittal in her case. He also dismissed three of the fraud counts against Doctor Knox and his office manager.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Hold]
Judge Wilson reserved the option to make additional rulings in the case today ...before the defense begins putting on evidence. Knox still faces 83 criminal counts growing out of what the government claims is the distribution of OxyContin without a legitimate medical purpose.

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
You'll want to keep the umbrella on hand over the next couple of days, as showers move across the region.
Brent Watts is up next with the Thursday forecast.

[55-Grandin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

We have some traffic information to pass along to you.
Authorities are on the scene of an accident this morning between a dump truck and a cherry picker at the intersection of Grandin Road and Memorial Avenue in Roanoke.
Police say it's not causing any major delays at this time, and there's no word yet on any injuries.

[55-11L'burg-Planning]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC21:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg's planning commission heard more from citizens yesterday on why a Lynchburg bridge should revenovated sooner.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

Some local residents want the city to speed up renovations to the Rivermont bridge, including the installation of a higher railing to prevent suicide attempts.
The bridge is scheduled for work starting in 2006, but some feel that's too long to wait.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:27:06]
[IN Q=It is horrifying]
((DON WILKERSON/SUICIDE VICTIM'S FATHER: IT IS HORRIFYING AND VERY PAINFUL, VERY PAINFUL TO THINK ABOUT HOW ONE BRIDGE COULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF SO MANY FAMILIES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS VERY SHOCKING TO SAY THE LEAST.))
[SUPER=01-Don Wilkerson/Suicide Victim's Father;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=to say the least.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The planning commission also heard from Liberty University officials seeking to rezone the old Ericsson factory to expand the school's campus and relocate Thomas Road Baptist Church.
A traffic study has yet to be completed. The commission likely won't vote until mid-November.
(------------)

[55-11Card-Theft]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC17:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Blacksburg police say a woman posing as a patient has been taking credit cards from medical offices.
So far, police say she's racked up about 2-thousand dollars in charges on the cards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Surveillance Video]

Police are hoping someone will recognize the suspect from this surveillance tape.
They say she's used the cards at stores in Roanoke and the New River Valley.
(------------)

[55-2-11Joan-Baez]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC16:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A sold-out crowd listened to the music of a folk legend last night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=rain got wet.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Singer/songwriter Joan Baez played to a full house at the Jefferson Center. Her current tour is promoting her new album, her first studio recording in six years. The night also featured a homecoming. The group east-mountain-south is finishing up a five city tour opening for Baez. Vocalist Kat Maslich (MAZ-litch) is a Roanoke native, and a former Cave Spring student.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 16:20:05]
[IN Q=We're just so happy...]
((KAT MASLICH/EASTMOUNTAINSOUTH; WE'RE JUST SO HAPPY AND BLESSED TO BE DOING THIS, THIS HAS BEEN MY DREAM TO GO OUT AND PLAY FOR PEOPLE. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ROANOKE KNEW THAT I WAS A SINGER. I WAS IN THE HARD-CORE SCENE SORTA. I WOULD LOCK MYSELF IN MY ROOM AND WRITE. I TOLD MYSELF THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING.))
[SUPER=01-Kat Maslich/eastmountainsouth;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=what I need to be doing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
East-mountain-south recently toured with Tracy Chapman, and is scheduled to go on tour with Lucinda Williams next month.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Look for highs today in the mid 60s with light rain off and on.
Brent Watts has the Thursday forecast, after the news.

[8-Grandin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

We have some traffic information to pass along to you this morning.
Police are on the scene of an accident between a dump truck and a cherry picker at the intersection of Grandin Road and Memorial Avenue in Roanoke.
Authorities say it's not causing any major delays at this time, and there's no word yet on any injuries.

[8-3-Camp-Counselors]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=4H Invest.]

They're accused of setting up fights between campers at a 4-H camp near Smith Mountain Lake--
Today four teenage counselors will face those charges in court.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./July 7;]

They're also accused of charging admission to the fights and taking bets.
There's a chance the case, which has drawn national attention, will be resolved with plea agreements.
Meanwhile, Franklin County's top prosecutor has told the parents of children who'd been called to testify that they do NOT need to come to court today.
(------------)

[8-Job-Fair]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]

New Roads in Martinsville is hoping to make INROADS in trimming the number of unemployed workers in the city.

The company is looking to fill 400 part-time and full-time seasonal positions. The hirings will make the company the largest employer in Martinsville, with more than 16-hundred employees. It's holding a job fair today at the old Tultex plant. Also, applications will be accepted at the Danville office of the Virginia Employment Commission starting next week.[8

-5-Community]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=503-02 TC-7:38]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A three- year 105- million dollar construction project will bring big changes to both Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Community Hospitals.
(------------)
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Carilion wants to consolidate all in-patient services at Roanoke Memorial.
Women's services, pediatrics and in-patient clinical services will be moving out of Community, and the College of Health Sciences, nursing programs and other training programs will be moving in.
The plan will mean major construction at Roanoke Memorial...including new obstetrical (ob- STEH- tri- cal) and pediatric facilities, additional entrances and a new access road around the complex.
Carilion officials say the changes will save close to five million dollars a year in operating expenses while improving the quality of care.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We're putting all...]
((WE'RE PUTTING ALL OF OUR SERVICE TOGETHER IN A VERY HIGH TECH, NEW BUILDING , BUT A BUILDING THAT PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS, THAT'S WARM IN A HEALING ENVIRONMENT, DESIGNED AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, DESIGNED BY OUR STAFF AND OUR PHSYCIANS TO BE THE KIND OF PLACE THEY WANT TO WORK IN AND LIVE IN SO TO SPEAK WHILE THEY'RE CARING FOR PATIENTS.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Agee/Chief Operating Officer; :20]
[RUNS= :22]
[OUT Q=while they're caring for patients.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Once services are consolidated, Community Hospital will house the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, nursing p(------------) rograms as well as a "fast track" emergency room.