WDBJ 7 morning news for 11/29/03

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[VO-NAT]

Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning....... A fire destroys a hunting cabin near Amherst.
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And several notable names are considering a run for Roanoke mayor. We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to Hello]

[Turkey-Arrest]

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Police in Turkey have arrested a man suspected of ordering one of the suicide attacks on a synagogue earlier this month .
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The man was apprehended as he tried to flee the country into Iran.
A total of 20 people have been charged so far in connection with the four truck bombings.
61 people were killed and more than 7-hundred injured in the attacks.
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[11Amherst-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-38 1:57:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=4]

Fire destroyed an Amherst County man's hunting cabin Friday.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]

Crews were called to 809 North Fork Road around noon yesterday after neighbors reported seeing a house on fire.
Smoke and flames were billowing from the roof when firefighters arrived.. it took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Authorities say the owner was inside when he smelled smoke.
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[SOT 13:07:19]
[IN Q=One hunter was]
((BILLY CLARK/PEDLAR FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF: ONE HUNTER WAS INSIDE, HE SMELLED SMOKE, DIDN'T HAVE A TELEPHONE, CAME OUTSIDE AND FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS THAT ATTRACTED SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED.))
[SUPER=01-Billy Clark/Pedlar Fire Department Chief]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=department was called.]
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[VO-NAT]

Clark says it appears the fire started near a woodstove in the attic of the two-story building.
The cabin is believed to have been built in the mid-19th century.
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[11Roanoke-Mayor]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-36 1:54:55]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]

David Bowers isn't the only person expressing interest in running for Roanoke's mayor.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Current city council member Bev Fitzpatrick says his family and his job will factor in his decision whether to enter the race.
Another potential candidate is vice-mayor Nelson Harris who was considering running even before Ralph Smith decided not to seek re-election.
Mac McCadden, who ran against Smith as an independent four years ago may also be on the ballot.
All three men believe they have what it takes to be mayor.
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[SOT 22:22:27; 22:04:16; 22:17:19]
[IN Q=I think it certainly]
((NELSON HARRIS/ROANOKE CITY VICE-MAYOR: I THINK IT CERTAINLY BRINGS SOME CONTINUITY AS WELL AS SOME EXPERIENCE TO THE OFFICE OF MAYOR IN TERMS OF HAVING SOMEBODY THAT IS EITHER ON THE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN ON COUNCIL.)) ((BEV FITPATRICK/ROANOKE CITY COUNCILMAN: IT'S NOT RIBBON CUTTING. IT'S STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SETTING IN MOTION KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND MOVING ROANOKE FORWARD AS THE CAPITAL MAYBE THE WRONG WORD BUT THE REGIONAL CENTER OF WESTERN VIRGINIA.)) ((MAC McCADDEN/FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE: WHAT COUNCIL NEEDS IN ITS MAYOR NOW IS THE PERSON WHO CAN FORGE COALITIONS AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING AND I THINK THAT MY ABILITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND FOR PEOPLE WOULD MAKE ME A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE.))
[SUPER=01-Nelson Harris/Roanoke City Vice-Mayor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bev Fitzpatrick/Roanoke City Councilman; :14]
[SUPER=01-Mac McCadden/Former Mayoral Candidate; :27]
[RUNS=:41]
[OUT Q=very strong candidate]
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[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

All three are expected to make their decision whether to run by the first of the year. The election is in May.

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[ANCHOR=Joy]
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[VO-NAT]
[ENG#1]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning....... Police in Columbus Ohio fear that several shootings around the state capital are related.
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[VO-NAT]
[ENG#2]
And some of the smaller stores in our area welcome this weekend's influx of holiday shoppers. We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to Hello]

[6Horse-Center]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC-1:33:44]
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[ENG#=1]

The uncertainty of funds for the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County is causing some fundraising problems.
Richard Lesko explains.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Scott/Horse Center Executive Director; :27]
[SUPER=@richard1; 1:25]
[SUPER=01-Lethia Hammond/Horse Center Public Affairs Director; 1:35]
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[OUT Q=STD]

(( Business at the Virginia Horse Center is stronger than ever. Operating revenues are up 20 percent, and the facility is booking events years in advance. What is a concern is dwindling state funds to pay off the facility's debt service. Along with partial funding from the General Assembly this year, came an order to figure out a way to make the center self-sufficient by 2008.
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[SOT - 10:46:37]
[IN Q=It's impossible...]
((JOHN SCOTT/HORSE CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO RAISE YOUR FEES TO A LEVEL WHERE YOU COULD NOT COMPETE, AND MOST SHOWS WOULD VACATE TO NEIGHBORING STATES AND TAKE THE WHOLE TOURISM BUSINESS WITH THEM.))
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[OUT Q=business with them.]
Officials point to economic impact numbers that show more than 30-million dollars, and 700 jobs have been created because of the center.
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[IN Q=The sense...]
((JOHN SCOTT/HORSE CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS ESTABLISHING A COMFORT LEVEL WITH THE COMMONWEALTH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, AND WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON HERE.))
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[OUT Q=continue to go on here.]
However, one of the most vocal critics of the facility in last year's General Assembly session is yet to be convinced.
[INSERT PRE-PRO'D QUOTE]Senate Finance Committee chair John Chichester stated in a e-mail: "Although it is expensive, we would have but three more years of future payments and then this facility will be completely on its own. My position relative to the Horse Center remains unchanged."
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[SOT - 11:48:35]
[IN Q=The uncertainty...]
((RICHARD LESKO/RLESKO@WDBJ7.COM; THE UNCERTAINTY OVER STATE FUNDING HAS ALREADY COST THE HORSE CENTER. OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THE FACILITY HAS LOST NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN PRIVATE DONATIONS.))
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[OUT Q=in private donations.]
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[SOT - 11:06:29]
[IN Q=]
((LETHIA HAMMOND/VHC DIRECTOR OF MARKETING; PRIVATE DONORS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE HAD PLEDGES, WE HAD ONE MILLION DOLLAR DONOR WITHHOLD THEIR FINAL PLEDGE PAYMENT, AND WE ESTIMATE THAT WE'VE LOST 4 AND 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PRIVATE DONATIONS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE STATE'S SUPPORT FOR THE DEBT SERVICE. REPORTER: IN ONE YEAR? HAMMOND: IN ONE YEAR.))
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[OUT Q=in one year.]
The center has already kicked off a new 10 million dollar fundraising campaign, designed to keep the facility ahead of the pack, no matter what happens with state funding. Richard Lesko, News 7, Rockbridge County.))

[11Shopping]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
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[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-44 57:44]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Shopping]
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The sounds of Holiday shoppers are ringing in retailers ears - along with the registers.
And if Black Friday is any indication, this is going to be one happy holiday season for stores.
Meghan Muldoon has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF CASH REGISTERS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :03]
[SUPER=01-Jeanette Murphy/Belk Manager; ::08]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; :13]
[SUPER=01-Allan Boitnott/Marshalls' Manager; QUICK :21]
[SUPER=01-Lorrie Huff/Holiday Shopper; :24]
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[OUT Q=MM, News 7, Roanoke]

(( [NAT SOUND OF CASH REGISTERS]
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It is Black Friday at Tanglewood Mall but all that retailers are seeing is green.
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[IN Q=WE'VE HAD A GREAT DAY]
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[OUT Q=HAD GREAT DAY SO FAR.]

[SOT 12:32]
((MEGHAN MULDOON REPORTING: ECONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING HIGHER RETAIL SALES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. THERE ARE EARLY SIGNS THAT SHOPPERS IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ARE IN A SPENDING MOOD.))
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[IN Q=THEY'RE OUT IN ]
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[OUT Q=FULL FORCE]

[SOT 00:19:19]
[IN Q=I HAD TO WAIT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES]
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=IT'S NOT WORTH IT.]

And There were lines of cars trying to get in and out of the Valley View Mall parking lot.
But that is good news for retailers who are hoping that the improving economy will encourage shoppers to spend more.

[SOT 18:34]
[IN Q=I'LL SPEND MORE,]
[RUNS= :02]
[OUT Q=I DO EVERY YEAR.]

[SOT 06:46]
[IN Q=I ALWAYS SPEND ]
[RUNS= :02]
[OUT Q=A LOT OF MONEY.]
And that's what retailers are wishing for this Christmas season. Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Roanoke))

[11Small-Stores]

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[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-43]
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[ENG#=3]

Mom and pop shops weren't immune to Black Friday either.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Yesterday]

Though lines were non-existent in downtown Blacksburg this Friday morning, store owners say they, too, get a little busier the day after Thanksgiving. The shoppers we caught up with in the downtown area say they were happy to escape the crowds.
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[SOT:6:00:00, 9:19:00]
[IN Q=I was at the ]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Miller/Shopper]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Blankenship/Downtown Shopper]
((DEBBIE MILLER. I WAS AT THE MALL. IT WAS AWFUL. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CLERKS TO WAIT ON YOU, IF YOU'VE GOT COUPONS IT TAKES FOREVER. WE'RE HITTING THE SMALL STORES TODAY. WE CAME UP TO SEE THE EMPORIUM AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO UP THE STREET SOME SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP THERE. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE BIG STORES CAUSE THE LONG LINES AND ALL OF THAT.))
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=all of that.]
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[VO-NAT]

Store owners say they usually get crowds in the afternoon on Black Friday, but that their busiest day is Saturday.

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[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up - we have more Christmas music in store
[ANCHOR=Brent]
and in today's movie review
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Cate Blanchette and Tommy Lee Jones team up on the frontier for Ron Howard's latest psycological thriller.
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