WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/03/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Today will be cold with temperatures reaching the upper 30's and low 40's and clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your midweek forecast coming up after the news.

[7-VOB-Safety-Corridor]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=I-81]

[ENG#=1]

A new law may make one of the most dangerous parts of Interstate 81 safer, but it may cost you.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

V-Dot held a public hearing last night to explain the new law, which allows the state to create highway safety corridors on certain highways.
To meet the criteria, state officials have to review crash data, accident reports, and the volume of traffic.
The first proposed corridor stretches from Ironto to just south of 581 in Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:35:05]
[IN Q=It is one where we]
((SGT. TOM FOSTER/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: IT IS ONE WHERE WE EXPERIENCE HIGHER THAN NORMAL CRASH FREQUENCY AND THE CRASHES ARE OFTEN QUITE SEVERE.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Tom Foster/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=OFTEN QUITE SEVERE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In the last three years, this stretch of I-81 has seen more than 450 accidents, a third of which resulted in injuries.
If it's designated a highway safety corridor, the state can lower the speed limit and impose fines that are double what they are now.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:39:38]
[IN Q=The fines can be]
((CONNIE SORRELL/VDOT CHIEF OF POLICY: THE FINES CAN BE UP TO 500 DOLLARS FOR A MOVING VIOLATION WHICH IS SPEEDING AND THE MONEY DOESN'T GO TO THE STATE POLICE OR V-DOT IT GOES TO THE STATE LITERARY FUND.))
[SUPER=01-Connie Sorrell/VDOT Chief of Policy;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=state literary fund]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

If it's approved, it could be up and running by mid-January.
The state must first put up signs warning motorists they are about to enter a highway safety corridor.

(------------)[7-11School-Violence]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-53 TC03:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

She's been an outspoken critic of the school administration, but Alice Hincker says she'd have no problem working with it if she became a school board member.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Alice Hincker is founder of the Roanoke School Violence Protection Coalition, or RSVP for short.
It's a group made up of local citizens who meet to discuss ways to prevent violence in Roanoke schools.
In addition to that role, Hincker now wants to be on the school board.
She plans on applying for the seat left open by Melinda Payne's resignation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:54]
[IN Q=I've worked with Dr. Harris]
((ALICE HINCKER/RSVP COALITION FOUNDER: I'VE WORKED WITH DR. HARRIS FOR YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE. ONE OF MY KIDS IS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE OTHER IS A FRESHMEN AND OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISAGREED ON BUT I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND HE CONTINUES TO DO HIS JOB AS THE SUPERINTENDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/RSVP Coalition Founder;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=as the superintendent]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

More than 25 people showed up last night for R-S-V-P's second meeting.
Across town, the city's appointed school violence task force met again as well.
At that meeting some members expressed concerns that city council and school board may not implement their final recommendations.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
We have a winter storm watch for tomorrow, but for today, temperatures only get in the 30's and 40's.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your 7 day forecast coming up in just a bit.

[55-5-Dueling-Nutcrackers]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Audiences will be treated to TWO DIFFERENT verisons of the same Christmas classic this month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
That's because the traditional holiday ballet The Nutcracker is being performed by two local dance companies on the same weekend. December 12th, 13th and 14th will find Clara and her doll brought to life at the Jefferson Center by Roanoke City Ballet and the Radford University Dance Department.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Southwest Virginia Ballet will stage its own production that same weekend at the Roanoke Civic Center.
(///// SOT at :23 /////)
[SOT 9:2:22 - 9:2:29 on TAPE 1]
[SUPER=01-Terri Post/Southwest Virginia Ballet Executive Director;]
[IN Q=It's extremely important...]
((IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. FOR MANY COMPANIES IT'S THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=it's their bread and butter.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :10]
Terri Post says it's not uncommon for multiple companies to stage The Nutcracker, but that they usually work together to make sure the performances don't overlap.
(------------)

[55-6-Museum]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC1:15:02]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[ENG#=2]

The city of Martinsville is re-investing in it's past by building for the future.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
City and state leaders broke ground yesterday on the new Virginia Museum of Natural History. Officials say the new building will be nearly five-times the size of the old one, allowing the museum to increase its displays and improve its research abilities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 438]
[IN Q=we're already]
((BUD OAKEY/VMNH BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR:WE'RE ALREADY TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD DOING RESEARCH AND BRING THAT BACK HERE TO MARTINSVILLE, THIS WILL BRING A LOT MORE OF THAT TYPE, OR THAT CALIBUR OF RESEARCH HERE, AND PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH IT TO THE COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Bud Oakey/Board of Trustees Chairman;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=to the community]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Right now, the museum has more than 21-MILLION animal and plant specimens, but because of its limited space, it can only exhibit a few at a time. The new 15-million dollar facility will be located next to the Y-M-C-A on Starling Avenue and is scheduled to open in 2006.
(------------)

[55-11King-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC18:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

A new committee began molding the First Street Bridge into a memorial to Martin Luther King, Junior.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Committee members talked about making the century-old span a destination in itself, as well as a means of getting downtown from the Henry Street area. They discussed ways of identifying the bridge as a memorial to the late civil rights leader... whether by a sign, a plaque, or statue... and how to recognize LOCAL civil rights leaders. The committee gave itself six months to come up with specific recommendations.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Be prepared to bundle up today, it will be cold with clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have today's forecast coming up right after the news.

[8-11School-Violence]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-53 TC03:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

She is one of his harshest critics, but Alice Hincker says she could work with Roanoke's school superintendent if she becomes a school board member.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Alice Hincker is founder of the Roanoke School Violence Protection Coalition, or RSVP for short.
It's a group made up of local citizens who meet to discuss ways to prevent violence in Roanoke schools.
In addition to that role, Hincker now wants to be on the school board.
She plans on applying for the job left by the recent resignation of Melinda Payne.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:54]
[IN Q=I've worked with Dr. Harris]
((ALICE HINCKER/RSVP COALITION FOUNDER: I'VE WORKED WITH DR. HARRIS FOR YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE. ONE OF MY KIDS IS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE OTHER IS A FRESHMEN AND OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISAGREED ON BUT I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS AND HE CONTINUES TO DO HIS JOB AS THE SUPERINTENDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/RSVP Coalition Founder;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=as the superintendent]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

More than 25 people showed up tonight for R-S-V-P's second meeting.
Across town, the city's appointed school violence task force met again as well.
At that meeting some members expressed concerns that city council and school board may not implement their final recommendations.
(------------)

[8-11City-Audit]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC59:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

The Director of Maintenance for the Roanoke City Schools has been placed on leave -- just as a new city audit emerges showing problems haven't been fixed in his department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

School officials confirm that William Sharpe has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Assistant Superintendent for Operations Dick Kelley says the decision was the result of management issues, and does NOT involve any allegations of fraud.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Sharpe was hired about a year ago, AFTER a city audit revealed that maintenance department employees had falsified bid information.
The city auditor is expected to present a follow-up report next week.
Efforts to contact Sharpe yesterday were unsuccessful.

[8-6-Frito-Lay]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

The crunch of layoffs in Louisville may be Lynchburg's gain.
Pepsi is cutting 750 jobs and closing a Frito Lay plant in Kentucky.
The company is streamlining its snack food and beverage operations.
The plant in Louisville will close in the next few months.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape;]

Its production will be redirected to five other Frito-Lay factories including the one in Lynchburg.
The Hill City plant makes some types of Doritos, Tostitos and Lay's brand chips.
Pepsi employs 142 thousand people worldwide. (------------)