WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/16/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
A pleasant day is on the way with high temperatures soaring into the 50s... but we'll see clouds and rain moving in tonight.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your Tuesday forecast, up next.

[7-VOBCity-Zoning]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Roanoke City officials passed an ordiance that will make it more difficult for methadone clinics to move into the area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Last night, the planning comission and city council met in joint session.
They voted on an ordinace that would restrict future clinics from moving in the city.
This is in response to the recent news that a methadone clinic may open on Hersberger Road in Northwest Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:52]
[IN Q=We do know]
((PERNELLER WILSON/SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE DO NEED THAT TREATMENT BUT NOT THERE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE OUR CHILDREN AREA. IN THAT AREA, IN A TWO MILE RADIUS IS SEVEN SCHOOLS AND WE DON'T WANT IT THERE.))
[SUPER=01-Perneller Wilson/Southern Christian Leadership Conference;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=want it there]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The ordinance passed last night will not affect the proposed clinic for Hershberger Road.
It will restrict future outpatient mental and substance abuse clinics to the General Commercial District.
That is basically retail areas of the city.
(------------)

[7-6-Short-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC1:13:56]
[GRAPHIC=Jennifer Short]

[ENG#=2]
Henry County investigators are back from Canada, but they didn't find the person they were looking for.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kamloops, Canada;]

Last week, two Henry County investigators made their fourth trip to Canada.
They met with authorities ... and checked out a small airstrip where they believe a "person of interest" in the case met with a woman in August last year.
So far, they haven't located the woman, but they say they DID get some "helpful information."
To this day, the only "person of interest" has been Gary Bowman, a carpenter from North Carolina who was in Canada during August 2002.
(------------)

[7-11Zoo-Bear]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC57:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

The search for a missing bear that escaped a zoo ended over the weekend.
The animal was shot and killed in Rockbridge County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Doug Carnera (car-NAIR-uh) was checking out property that a friend had recently acquired, when the two men encountered the bear.
Carnera had not heard about the bear's escape, and says it did not act like a tame animal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:50:39]
[IN Q=I personally have never been to the zoo]
((DOUG CARNERA: I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE ZOO. MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES. AND THERE WERE SOME EXPLANATIONS WHEN I GOT HOME TO MY CHILDREN, BUT ONCE I FOUND OUT THAT THE ANIMAL HAD BEEN WOUNDED, I WAS AT EASE WITH IT. WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT AN ANIMAL RUNNING WOUNDED.))
[SUPER=01-Doug Carnera;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=don't want an animal running wounded.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

On Thursday two Asiatic Black Bears similar to these animals, escaped from their enclosure on property near the Natural Bridge Zoo.
One of them broke into a nearby home. It was shot and killed after efforts to tranquilize the animal failed.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAHIC=None]

The second bear was also wounded, but hadn't been seen since it ran into the woods Thursday night.

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
One more day of quiet weather...then rain showers move in late tonight and tomorrow.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details, coming up in the Tuesday forecast.

[55-11Warner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC34:23]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]

[ENG#=1]
Governor Mark Warner visited Christiansburg yesterday, as he continues to lay out his tax reform plan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Warner claims 65-percent of Virginians will pay less, while the plan still generates money for education, health care and transportation.
The plan includes a cigarette and sales tax hike, an end to the car tax and a cut in the food tax.
Warner says he's had a lot of feedback in the last few weeks, both good and bad.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 23:14:16:00]
[IN Q=This is a good plan]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: THIS IS A GOOD PLAN, THE PROBLEM IS WHEN PEOPLE START TO CHERRY PICK IT AND THEY SAY OKAY, I WANT ALL THE TAX RELIEF AND NONE OF THE REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS THEN YOU BREAK THE PLAN APART. YOU'VE GOT TO END UP RAISING ENOUGH REVENUE TO ALLOW US TO TO MEET OUR COMMITTMENTS.))
[SUPER=@markwarner;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=our committments.]
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE WDBJ WEBSITE FS]
Warner unveiled a new web site yesterday to help you see how his plan will affect your taxes. You can log onto our web site at WDBJ7.com and click on Websites in the News.
(XXXXXXXX)
(------------)

[55-11Travel-cards]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Virginia Tech officials wants to remind its employees with state issued credit cards- they're for travel only. The reminder comes after a recent state audit showed several state employees are abusing the cards by charging things like massages, liquor and lingerie.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

Auditors say the worst offenders were employees at state universities, with Virginia Tech at the top of the list.
The Unviersity says it's handling the issue and is asking cardholders to pay their bills promptly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:22:46:44:00 ]
[IN Q=We will]
((LARRY HINCKER: WE WILL UNDER ADVISE AND GUIDANCE OF COUNCIL TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE THEMSELVES ON THE INDIVIDUAL CREDIT CARDS TO ENSURE THEY ARE INDEED FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ONLY.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Va. Tech Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=travel only.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Virginia hasn't lost any money because of the cards. Auditors say they haven't found any workers being re-imbursed for improper charges.
(------------)

[55-11Hickey]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC45:36]
[GRAPHIC=Saddam Captured]

[ENG#=3]
Many V-M-I grads knew it would only be a matter of time before Saddam was taken into custody. That's because they knew one of the officers leading the search near Tikrit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ad Dawr, Iraq;]
Colonel Jim Hickey is a member of the V-M-I Class of '82. He's been leading a Brigade of the Army's Fourth Infantry Division since early Summer. They'd searched the same general area last August and thought they'd come close. Saturday night Hickey's men hit the right hole in the ground.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two hands appeared]
((COL. JIM HICKEY/VMI CLASS OF '82; TWO HANDS APPEARED. THE INDIVIDUAL CLEARLY WANTED TO SURRENDER. THE INDIVIDUAL WAS REMOVED FROM THE HOLE.))
[SUPER=01-Col. Jim Hickey/VMI Class of '82; ]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=removed from the hole.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hickey is a native of the Chicago area. He had complete Ranger training and had his Airborne wings by the time he graduated from V-M-I. The 43-year old Army officer also has a Master's Degree in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Sunshine and highs in the 50s today...but we'll see wet weather return to the forecast tonight.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner explains, coming up after the news.

[8-11GOP-DUI]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC1:11:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Last year 375 Virginians were killed by drunk drivers. In hopes to reduce the number state lawmakers have proposed 15 bills that would toughen the states DUI laws.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Yesterday, Republican legislators announced they will introduce more than a dozen bills aimed at increasing the penalties for drunk drivers.
One would allow a court to permanently confiscate the vehicle of a repeat offender.
Another would increase the sanction for refusing a breath test.
Lawmakers say the rising number of drunk driving fatalities indicates that stronger penalties are needed.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:18:26]
[IN Q=last year we had 375 drunk driving]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob McDonnell/(R) Virginia Beach]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=it's a growing problem.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Most of the proposed legislation targets repeat offenders.
(------------)

[8-11Cerxon]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC22:52]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

[ENG#=2]
Almost two years ago Cerxon (SERKS-on) promised high-tech jobs for a struggling economy, but now Henry County's finances are in even worse shape.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./February 2002;]

Saddled with debt and citing poor management, the company's only remaining shareholder said he was left with no option but to close the business.
Henry County is now taking back possession of the old DuPont building it leased to Cerxon almost two years ago.
The company still owes Henry County 325-thousand dollars it received in start-up loans.
The county says it probably won't receive any more than a third of that.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The company employed fewer than 25 people.

[8-11FLU]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC29:44]
[GRAPHIC=Flu Season]

[ENG#=3]

With the peak of flu season fastly approaching how do you know if what you have may be the flu?
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A widespread outbreak of the flu has prompted many people, like these at a Lewis Gale flu-shot clinic yesterday, to seek out preventative medicine. Virginia's Health Department says so far this year the state has racked up 88-confirmed cases of Type-A flu.
(///// SOT AT :15 /////)
[SOT 2:54:21 - 2:54:29]
[IN Q=I think it's because we've...]
((DEBBIE BOOTH/LEWIS GALE: I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN EARLIER FLU CASE. WE'VE NOT NORMALLY SEEN THIS MANY FLU CASES THIS TIME OF YEAR.))
[SUPER=01-Debbie Booth/Lewis Gale;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=this time of year.]
(------------)
[VO NAT :09] Other illnesses can share similar symptoms. Experts say the key to knowing you have the flu is the length of time you feel sick.
(///// SOT AT :09 /////)
[SOT 2:55:00-2:55:11]
[IN Q=You go into flu you get shaking...]
((MARTHA POFF/LEWIS GALE: YOU GO INTO FLU YOU GET SHAKING, CHILLS, YOUR FEVER'S HIGH, IT LASTS MORE THAN ONE OR TWO DAYS, IT'S LIKE 3 TO 5 DAYS IN BED FEELING LIKE SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE.))
[SUPER=01-Martha Poff/Lewis Gale;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=like something's got to give here.]
(-------------)
[VO NAT] While the flu vaccine is in short supply Poff says your doctor can prescribe *pills* that won't keep you from getting (-------------) the flu but will help decrease its intensity.