WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/23/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
We'll see highs today only warming into the 50s.
But warmer weather is on the horizon for the weekend.
Brent Watts explains, up next in the forecast.

[7-2-11NR-Industries]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC33:18]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]

More area textile workers will soon be out of a job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fairlawn;]
Between 50 and 100 people are expected to lose their jobs at New River Industries in Fairlawn. The company weaves fabrics for apparels and outdoor furniture. Officials say the layoffs are part of a restructuring plan to prepare for the elimination of quotas on imported textiles in 2004.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2452]
[IN Q=this isn't]
((KEN EHRHARDT/NEW RIVER INDUSTRIES: THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S JUST IMPACTING NEW RIVER INDUSTRIES THIS IS IMPACTING THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.))
[SUPER=01-Ken Ehrhardt/New River Industries Senior Vice-President;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=states of america]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
New River Industries has been operating at its Fairlawn plant since 1992 and currently employs about 360-people. Several of the employees transferred from the company's Radford plant, which shut-down about three years ago.
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[7-6-Giles-Sheriff]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC32:41]
[GRAPHIC=Larry Falls]

More legal problems for the Sheriff of Giles County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./File Tape;]
Sheriff Larry Falls is now being sued by one of his deputies. Deputy Henry Journell filed a civil suit against Falls. According to court documents, Falls borrowed 25-thousand dollars from Journell back in September of 1994. Documents show Falls paid back nine-thousand dollars in 2000. Journell, however, is now suing him for the rest. A hearing is scheduled for this Friday.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIM]
[SS=HOLD]
Last year, Falls was convicted of assault and battery for an incident involving his wife and sister-in-law. He was sentenced to 30-days in jail, which was suspended.

[7-11Roanoke-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC57:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Gas bills for customers of Roanoke Gas will be higher this winter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :18+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January;]
The State Corporation Commission has authorized a temporary rate hike of slightly more than 2 percent. The rates are subject to final approval, and a public hearing about the increase is scheduled for late February in Richmond. The last increase for the company was in December of last year.
(------------)

[7-11TEch-WVU]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC1:07:14]
[GRAPHIC=Tech/WVU]
Last year West Virginia beat the Hokies in Blacksburg. Last night they did it again, but this time it was on the Mountaineers' home turf.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Morgantown, WV/ESPN;]

W-V-U scored twice in the first quarter and never let up.
Tech was plagued from the start by turnovers and penalties.
The Hokies put just 7 points on the board and those came on a fumble return for a touchdown.
W-V-U's 28 to 7 victory sent fans pouring onto the field.
(------------)

[7-11Tinker-Day]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC1:58:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Hollins University celebrated an annual tradition yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :24+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The school celebrated Tinker Day like it has done since the 1880's. Traditionally held after the first frost in October, the day is a surprise for the student body. After the president declares Tinker Day, classes are canceled and students, faculty, and staff trudge up Tinker Mountain dressed in costume. While they are at the top of the mountain, students take in the view, and a traditional picnic of fried chicken and cake.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Becoming partly sunny with highs in the mid 50s.
Brent Watts has details in the forecast, coming up.

[55-Forest-Fire]

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

Firefighters are busy this morning battling a forest fire on the Giles-Pulaski County line.
Authorities say between 30 and 40 acres have burned so far, and firefighters are still trying to bring the blaze under control.
They add that no homes are in danger yet.
There's no word yet on how the fire started.
Crews from Giles, Pulaski,and Dublin are all out working the blaze.

[55-AMKnox]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Cecil Knox]

Jurors will begin deliberating today in the trial of Dr. Cecil Knox. The jury received the case around 5 yesterday afternoon and decided to continue this morning.
(-------------------)
[V/O-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Over the course of the seven-week trial, many of Knox's patients have gone to the federal courthouse to demonstrate their support for him.
Yesterday, Rick Dudding arrived, sporting a prescription signed by the Doctor two years ago.
It's the real thing- -except that Knox drew a Cupid's Heart in the space usually reserved for instructions to the pharmacist.
(///////SOT///////////)
[IN Q=I guess what ]
((RICK DUDDING/FORMER KNOX PATIENT; I GUESS WHAT YOU CALL AN ADRENALINE SHOT. THE MEANT IT FROM THE HEART. HE GAVE ME A HUG AND SHOOK MY HAND THE DAY HE WROTE IT. ))
[SUPER=01-Rick Dudding/Former Knox Patient; :06]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=day he wrote it. ]
(--------------)

As the jury got the case last night, three alternate jurors were excused, including Mark Harless.
Though the judge did not identify him by name, he said there were indications Harless had been discussing the case before it went to the jury.
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Three more alternate jurors remain- -in case any of the 12 jurors become ill during deliberations.

[55-11Red-Cross]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC1:37:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some Lynchburg-area pastors are ready to assist a local charity by spreading the word about its good work.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg;]

A half-dozen ministers from around central Virginia are teaming up with the American Red Cross for a program called "Pillars of Faith".
The pastors will help educate their congregations about how they can help the Red Cross make a difference in their community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:31:52]
[IN Q=We hope that]
((JAMES COLEMAN/PROVIDENCE MINISTRIES: WE HOPE THAT EACH CHURCH IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CHURCHES, WILL RESPOND IN SOME WAY AND WE ARE GOING TO BRING ALL OF THOSE GIFTS ON NOVEMBER 23RD TO TIMBERLAKE BAPTIST CHURCH AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A GOOD SUM THAT WILL DIRECTLY GO TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO LIVE IN THIS JURISDICTION HERE IN LYNCHBURG AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.))
[SUPER=01-James Coleman/Providence Ministries;]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=the surrounding areas.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Red Cross hopes the effort will generate both financial and volunteer support.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Temperatures will be in the 50s for highs today, but temperatures will rebound into the 60s this wekeend.
Brent Watts has the Thursday forecast, in just a few minutes.

[8-Forest-Fire]

[8-11Stadium-Barrels]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-47 TC13:18]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
The City of Roanoke may end up in a federal court if it doesn't halt construcion on the new stadium.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Yesterday, two neighborhood groups announced they intend to sue the city over construction at the site near the Roanoke Civic Center. That after the recent discovery of hazardous waste on the property.
The notice alleges Roanoke failed to adequately check the site for contamination. Residents of Lincoln Congress and Historic Gainsboro want construction halted and a full environmental assessment conducted.
(///// SOT AT :25 /////)
[SOT 10:37:27-10:37:35]
[IN Q=They say they've already done one.]
((REV. JOHNNY STONE/NEIGHBORDOOD SPOKESMAN: THEY SAY THEY'VE ALREADY DONE ONE SO THEY SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH US DOING ANOTHER ONE 'CAUSE WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS THAT'S PAYING FOR THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Johnny Stone/Neighborhood Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=taxpayers that's paying for this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :10]
City Councilman Bill Bestpitch said Monday he thinks the ball is now in DEQ's court and that the agency needs to let Roanoke know what the city should do.
(------------)

[8-11Trooper-Killed]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC36:40]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

An arrest has been made in the murder investigation of a state trooper.
Yesterday, trooper Taylor Blanton's wife was arrested and charged with murder.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Caroline Co./Last Week]

Trooper Blanton was found shot to death in his home near Richmond last week.
Only days before the murder, Donna Blanton reported an invasion at the home.
She's being held without bond.
Authorities would not reveal a motive.
(------------)

[8-11Altizer-Drewery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC26:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Three Roanoke police officers who sued for reverse discrimination has lost an appeal against the police department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]

Scott Altizer and Rick Drewery had sued the police department along with Susan Camper, complaining that they'd been passed over for promotion.
They said another, less qualified, black woman made the Sergeant's list,
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
when each of the plaintiffs had out-scored her on the placement exam.
A federal District judge threw out the case in March.
The officers appealed to the Fourth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the lower court's ruling yesterday .