WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/05/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Today is cloudy and cold with temperatures only reaching the upper 30's.
Brent Watts will have you weather details after the news.

[7-Road-Conditions]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

This morning's commute is going pretty smoothly for the most part. Steve Pardon is checking things out by the Roanoke Civic Center.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[LIVE=Steve Pardon /FULL]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Salem;]

(Steve adlib)

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[7-VOBNight-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

[ENG#=1]

There were some minor fender benders last night as people made their way home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
State Police say they responded to minor accidents across the region, but no major injuries were reported.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:31:56]
[IN Q=A lot of them are]
((SGT. MICHAEL BAILEY/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: A LOT OF THEM ARE NON REPORTABLE MEANING THERE'S NO INJURIES AND THERE'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SO WE'RE ADVISING THE DRIVERS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND REPORT TO THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Michael Bailey/Virginia State Police; :15]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=their insurance companies]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Tractor- trailers had a hard time traveling up Christiansburg Mountain on Interstate 81. South bound traffic was backed up for more than an hour. Police say the slope was too steep and slick for the trucks to get any traction. V-Dot hauled in sand to get traffic moving.
(------------)

[7-11Civic-Center]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC17:52]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

[ENG#=2]

The snow didn't stop some people from
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

venturing out to the Roanoke Civic Center.
Two shows were scheduled and went on despite the nasty weather.
The Gaither Homecoming Concert and the musical Saturday Night Fever filled the civic center parking lot and sent many patrons to satellite parking lots.
(------------)

[7-5-Clower]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=503-00 1:18:29]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]

[ENG#=3]

Former Henry County Administrator Sid Clower has been indicted... again.
This time he faces federal charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15 Max]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Clower was just released from a half-way house Monday- -after serving a year in prison for embezzling about 800-thousand dollars in County funds. A federal Grand Jury in Charlottesville
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[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
returned the indictment on Wednesday, but it was under seal until yesterday.
Clower was allowed to self-report for his initial appearance and was released on a "personal recognizance bond."
He's charged with six counts of tax evasion and fraud.

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Be sure to bundle up as you head out this morning, today will be cold with temperatures in the 30's.
Brent Watts will have your weekend forecast coming up in just a bit.

[55-Road-Conditions]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]

There's plenty of snow and slush, but traffic seems to be running smoothly out on the roads this morning. Steve Pardon is checking things out by the Roanoke Civic Center.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[LIVE=Steve Pardon /FULL]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

(Steve adlib)
(++++++++++)
[Take Valley Metro Board FS]
(+++++++++)

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[55-11New-members]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:40:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

It's back to school time for the new legislators elected for the Roanoke Valley.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

The incoming freshmen are in Richmond for a two day orientation.
They are getting to know each other and the rules and procedures of the General Assembly.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:15:31]
[IN Q=WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE OPERATES]
((DELEGATE ELECT WILLIAM FRALIN: WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE OPERATES AND HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS INSTEAD OF WHERE ARE DESKS ARE GOING TO BE, THOSE THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN DECIDED. )) ((SENATOR-ELECT BRANDON BELL: JUST THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS FAR AS YOUR OPERATION AS A LEGISLATOR NOT ONLY LEARNING HOW TO SET UP YOUR OFFICE LEARNING HOW TO RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS HOW YOUR LEGISLATIVE AIDE CAN WORK OR NOT WORK, THAT TYPE THING. )) ((DELEGATE-ELECT ONZLEE WARE: IT IS ALOT OF STUFF TO LEARN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I'VE ENJOYED MOST OF ALL IS MEETING ALL THE OTHER NEW FRESHMEN.))
[SUPER=01-William Fralin/(R) Delegate-Elect; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Bell/(R) Senator-Elect; :09]
[SUPER=01-Onzlee Ware/(D) Delegate-Elect; :23]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=MOST OF ALL IS MEETING ALL THE OTHER NEW FRESHMEN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new members also drew lots to determine their seniority.
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[55-11Floyd-Standoff]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC1:17:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

The Floyd County man who held police on a 10-hour standoff last month is now charged with manufacturing an explosive device.
This week, a grand jury indicted 48 year old Jerry Lee Noakes on the charge.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co./November;]
Police were trying to serve Noakes with a warrant in November when he refused to leave his home on Good Neighbors Road. Police say as they tried to enter, they found a small explosive device lying near the back door. Noakes also faces a felony abduction charge from a domestic dispute.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Today will bring freezing rain and temperatures in the 30's.
Brent Watts will have your Friday forecast coming up after the news.

[8-Road-Conditions]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Traffic seems to be moving smoothly in this morning's commute to work. Steve Pardon is checking things out by the Roanoke Civic Center seeing how traffic is flowing.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[LIVE=Steve Pardon /FULL]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

(Steve adlib)
(+++++++++)
[Take Valley Metro Board FS]
(+++++++++)

[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya /Steve Microwave;]

[8-11School-Audit]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC2:00:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Roanoke City school officials say they are addressing new concerns that have been raised in a follow-up audit of the school system.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The school system made changes to fix the most serious problems, allegations that maintenance department employees fabricated quotes when they awarded small construction projects.
But the follow-up also identified new concerns that some contractors did not hold proper licenses, or failed to obtain appropriate building permits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Again the school board]
((DICK KELLEY/ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF OPERATIONS: AGAIN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ITS CONTRACTORS WANT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND THE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, SO WE'VE TAKEN INTERNAL ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED, SO THAT WE AREN'T EMPLOYING CONTRACTORS THAT AREN'T GOING THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS TO GET A LICENSE OR TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT.))
[SUPER=01-Dick Kelley/Assistant Superintendent of Operations;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=get a building permit.]
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE WDBJ WEBPAGE FULL]
School board members will review the audits next week, and the full reports have been posted on-line. You can find a link on our website at WDBJ-seven-dot-com. (-------------)