WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 11/05/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Grab the umbrellas as you head out the door.
Showers are moving into the weather picture.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details, up next in the forecast.

[7-2-6th-House]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

With more than 16 thousand votes cast, the 6-th district house race is still too close to call.
(+++++++)
[Take Leader 210]
If the numbers hold up, Benny Keister will return to Richmond for a third term from the 6th district.
But right now, with all precincts reporting, he has just a 37 vote margin over Republican challenger Morgan Morris, Junior -- eight thousand 77 votes to eight thousand 40.
(------------)

[7-11Western-Races]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-42 47:54]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

If the final margin is less than one percent after official tallies are entered, Morris says he'll ask for a recount.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Dublin;]
At his campaign headquarters in Dublin, Morris said he fought a tough fight and has his supporters to thank for the close turnout.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2313]
[IN Q=we've run]
[SUPER=201-Morgan Morris/(R) House of Delegates Candidate;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=i cannot say enough about the support that we've had]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Morris says he was not surprised by the closeness of the race.
(-------------)

[7-Roanoke-Republicans]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

Republicans in the Roanoke Valley celebrated the election of a General Assembly veteran and a newcomer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]

Brandon Bell said his victory was "a touch sweeter" than his first election to the state senate 12 years ago.
William Fralin said he was humbled by the support that allowed him to win his first term in the House of Delegates.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We had a great organization]
((WE HAD A GREAT ORGANIZATION. WE KEPT RUNNING OUR GAME PLAN REGARDLES OF WHAT THE OPPOSITION DOD. WE SAID THIS IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT, KEPT TALKING TO THE VOTERS, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH VOTERS IN ALL PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.)) ((WILLIAM FRALIN: I THINK WE HAD GOOD IDEAS. I THINK THE PEOPLE REALLY PAID ATTENTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND AS I SAID I'M REALLY HUMBLED BY THE RESPONSE AND GOING TO TRY TO WORK HARD AND DO A GOOD JOB FOR THE PEOPLE IN RICHMOND.))
[SUPER=201-Brandon Bell/State Senator Elect; :00]
[SUPER=201-William Fralin/Delegate Elect; :14]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=for the people in Richmond.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Both candidates said they were pleased with the level of support throughout their districts.
(------------)

[7-3-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
In other news, The southbound lanes of Interstate 81 just outside Christiansburg reopened early this morning. They were closed overnight as a result of a tractor trailer accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
It happened around eleven o'clock last night near milemarker 116 in Montgomery County . State police say the driver, 47-year-old Daniel Callis of Colerain, North Carolina was traveling northbound when he crossed the median, losing all eight-wheels of his trailer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2715]
[IN Q=it is a possibility]
((TED PHIPPS/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: IT IS A POSSIBILITY HE MAY HAVE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, DRIVER'S NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE MAY HAVE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.))
[SUPER=01-Ted Phipps/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=at the wheel. (DOUBLE OUT!!!!)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The southbound lane was closed for about two hours, before police opened up the right shoulder. No one was hurt in the accident. Callis was charged with reckless driving.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Temperatures will stay rather mild today, with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s.
But rain is moving in.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has more about that, coming up in the forecast.

[55-3-Vinton-Betting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

It was a close vote in Vinton as residents barely approved off-track betting.
(++++++)
[Take Leader 640] With all the votes counted, more than 16 hundred in all, Vinton residents said "yes" to the proposal by just 20 votes.

(------------)

[55-11Betting-Reaction]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC1:16:49]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

Supporters for the referendum on para-mutuel betting gathered at Vinton's War Memorial to celebrate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Vinton;]
Town Council plans to renovate the structure with tax revenues generated by the company, but a Colonial Downs spokesman says Vinton isn't the only locality that will benefit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:27:16]
[IN Q=Part of the para- mutual]
((JERRY MONAHAN/COLONIAL DOWNS VICE PRESIDENT: PART OF THE PARA MUTUAL THEY CALL TAX THAT GOES TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ALSO IT GOES TO VIRGINIA TECH EQUINE RESEARCH, TO THE LEXINGTON HORSE PARK AND THE MARY ANN DUPONT HORSE CENTER.))
[SUPER=201-Jerry Monahan/Colonial Downs Vice-President;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=DuPont horse center]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A group of Vinton pastors spoke out against pari-mutuel betting in the Town, but the pastor of Vinton Baptist Church says he's not discouraged and doesn't see the results as a win or lose situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:19:53]
[IN Q=I see it as a positive]
((BILL BOOTH/VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH: I SEE IT AS A POSITIVE THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF FOLKS TOOK IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO COME OUT AND VOTE, WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL. AND IN THE END THE MARGIN WAS VERY CLOSE AND SO IT DOES SHOW THAT REALLY THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTION IN PEOPLE'S MIND ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S HOW IT HAS TURNED OUT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH.))
[SUPER=201-Bill Booth/Vinton Baptist Church;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=have to live with]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Colonial Downs has not yet decided where to locate, but whether the company renovates or builds, Monahan says it will be up and running in less than one year.
(------------)

[55-3-Henry-Board]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]
The Henry County School Board will have three new members. This comes at a time when many county residents are still unhappy over school consolidation plans.
(+++++++)
[Take 496 FS]
Milton Kendall upset the incumbent and three other challengers for the At-Large seat. [Take 497 FS]
Terri Flanagan will join Kendall on the board representing the Horsepasture district. She got nearly two-third of the vote. [Take 498 FS]
Jim Franklin Junior held on to the Reed Creek district with 56 percent of the vote. [Take 499 FS]
And Mary Martin beat out two others to gain a seat from the Ridgeway district.
(-------------)

[55-6-Knox]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC07:30]
[GRAPHIC=Cecil Knox]
In other news, The government filed a formal request yesterday to retry Doctor Cecil Knox.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Friday]
In a conference call with the attorneys, the judge made it clear he does not intend to endure another eight-week trial. He's urging the government to streamline its case against Dr. Knox and two co-defendants. Though Judge Samuel Wilson has yet to issue a formal change of venue, he indicated it would be impossible to try the case again in Roanoke because of all the publicity engendered by the first trial. The jurors acquitted Doctor Knox on more than half the charges. The Roanoke-based jury was deadlocked on the rest. Knox still faces a couple of illegal drug distribution counts, plus charges of racketeering and fraud.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Say goodbye to the sunshine for a while, as clouds start rolling in.
Showers are a good possibility today.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details, up next in the forecast.

[8-Rke-Clerk]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]
Two long-time employees battled it out to become Roanoke's next Clerk of Court.
(+++++++)
[Take Leader 560]
Democrat Brenda Hamilton wins the position with 55 per cent of the vote. She's worked in the office for 27 years.
(------------)

[8-11Hamilton]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC00:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke]

And with that victory, Hamilton becomes the first African-American elected to the position in Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT4:17]
[IN Q=First of all I was the first black]
((BRENDA HAMILTON/ROANOKE CIRCUIT COURT CLERK ELECT; FIRST OF ALL I WAS THE FIRST BLACK TO WORK IN THE CLERKS OFFICE IN 1976. SO I'M MAKING HISTORY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. AND TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK CLERK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS WONDERFUL. ANY WOMAN CAN DO IT))
[SUPER=201-Brenda Hamilton/Roanoke Circuit Court Clerk Elect;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=any woman can do it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hamilton says she believes her years of service to the clerk's office and her positive attitude are what led to the win.
She says at one point she considered dropping out of the race because her mother became ill. But she says her mother encouraged her to stick it out.
(------------)

[8-11Griffith]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC37:47]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2003]

A well-known Republican is going back to Richmond for a sixth term.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :12]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]
Morgan Griffith watched the returns at his campaign headquarters in Salem before joining fellow Republicans in Roanoke once his victory became clear. He says his mission won't change in his sixth term in the General Assembly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 8:54:41]
[IN Q=Very pleased to...]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/(R) HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER; VERY PLEASED TO HAVE WON, HUMBLED THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE 8TH DISTRICT KNOW THAT I WORK VERY HARD FOR THEM NO MATTER WHAT'S BEEN SAID THEY KNOW I'M IN THERE HUSTLING AND WORKING FOR THE ROANOKE VALLEY. ))
[SUPER=201-Del. Morgan Griffith/(R) House Majority Leader;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=for the Roanoke Valley.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :09+]
In the next General Assembly session, Griffith says he's committed to securing federal money for Interstate 81, and continuing to work against cyber- crime.
(------------)

[8-6-Hurley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC21:15]
[GRAPHIC=Soldier Killed]

A soldier from Clifton Forge is being remembered as a role model.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]

First Lieutenant Joshua C. Hurley was killed in Iraq this weekend when his vehicle was hit by an explosive device.
[SUPER=03-Alleghany Co.;]

The 24 year old graduated from Alleghany High School and the Virginia Military Institute. He was known for being active in sports and setting a good example.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 16:12:07-16:12:23]
[IN Q=Josh was just a good student...]
((DONNA VAUGHN/DIR. OF GUIDANCE: JOSH WAS JUST A GOOD STUDENT, A GOOD ATHLETE, A GOOD CITIZEN. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER HE WANTED TO GO INTO THE MILITARY. JUST A REALLY GOOD YOUNG MAN.)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 16:15:18-16:15:32]
((JOHN HUTCHISON/GUIDANCE COUNSELOR: VERY QUIET, STUDIOUS, HE WRESTLED. NICE, POLITE YOUNG MAN. ALWAYS KNEW WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. HAD HIS MIND SET FROM HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR ON GOING TO VMI.))
[SUPER=01-Donna Vaughn/Director of Guidance; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Hutchison/Guidance Counselor; :17]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=from his sophomore year on going to VMI.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
Lt. Hurley joined the Army in 2001 and was assigned to the 326th Engineer Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division. He is survived by a wife who also served Operation Iraqi Freedom, a sister and his parents.