[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
A threatened job action over the elimination of 18 positions at Norfolk Southern.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And don't hold your breath, waiting for Fries Middle School to re-open.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Tonight on News 7 sports -
The Express is home tonight - and the league's commissioner is in town.
VMI's senior captains are in the hardwood spotlight
(------------)
[ENG#=2]
[VO-NAT]
and the Martinsville Astros are pulling up stakes and taking their APPY league team to Greenville, Tennessee.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]
The holiday song should read, let it snow, let it snow, let it be very cold. We will explain.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The railroad closes the last of its signal repair shops. N-S fears union reaction could shut down all rail traffic and have a nationwide impact
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon has the night off.
[NS-Closing]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC1:18:27]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]
[ENG#=4]
The company gave notice to the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen only yesterday. All 18 positions in the signal shop were eliminated as of today.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The shop was closed and the union says workers were escorted off the property.
Those 18 employees each have enough seniority to be eligible for field positions.
If they transfer, however, less senior workers could be furloughed.
N-S calls this a "business decision," designed to cut costs.
The company has gone to court, seeking a preliminary injunction, claiming the union is threatening to strike.
If a work stoppage were honored by other N-S employees, the company predicts immediate shut down of all rail traffic.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
A hearing on the injunction is set for January 28th.
[Snow]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC03:45]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
[ENG#=1]
An accident involving several vehicles is blocking the US 460 bypass westbound near Blacksburg. Many emergency vehicles have been called in. The accident is at the Cambria Street exit.
This follows a relatively quiet day on the highways, but V-DOT is warning about slick road conditions tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
V-DOT officials say right now major roads are in good shape with few slippery areas, but many secondary roads that have been plowed may be covered with slush or ice.
That could mean some very slick spots tonight. As temperatures drop, those roads may freeze over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The temperature's not supposed...]
((JASON BOND/VDOT SPOKESPERSON; THE TEMPERATURE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO RISE UNTIL SUNDAY, SO WHEN WE GET TO THOSE SECONDARY ROADS THERE MAY BE GOOD PORTIONS OF THE PAVEMENT STILL HAVING THAT FROZEN, PACKED DOWN SNOW A LAYER REMAINING ON THE ROADWAY.))
[SUPER=01-Jason Bond/VDOT Spokesperson; ]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=remaining on the roadway.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Bond also says bridges and overpasses are particularly prone to freezing, and adds anyone who doesn't have to drive should simply stay at home.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[NRV-Snow]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC01:44]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
A similar story in the New River Valley .
V-DOT officials say the Interstates are wet but clear. Primary roads still have snowy patches and side roads are mostly likely still covered with snow.
Police have been handling a lot of minor accidents around the New River Valley.
They're asking drivers to be careful tonight and to watch out for icy roads.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[L'burg-Snow]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC52:21]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=3]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
About three inches of snow has fallen on the Lynchburg area over the last 24 hours, making the morning commute somewhat unpredictable.
Local and state police say they handled dozens of minor wrecks, none of them involving any serious injuries.
For the most part, road crews in Central Virginia kept the main highways clear but secondaries and side streets are still a little slick.
(------------)
(Toss to Robin)
[Fries-School]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC1:41:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
[ENG#=4]
It's not cold weather or snow that will keep one school in Grayson County closed for the rest of the school year.
Mold is the culprit.
Students and parents at Fries Middle School were originally told the school would re-open this month.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa has some new developments on the situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A lot more]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.;00]
[SUPER=01-Reginald Garner/Fries Middle School Principal;:11]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;:29]
[SUPER=01-DeAnna Hash/Fries Teacher;:54]
[SUPER=01-Kester Green/Grayson Co. Superintendent;1:11]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=that money]
((NATS-STUDENTS WALKING OUTSIDE
A lot more students are rushing to class at Independence Middle school these days.
That's because 130 wildcats have made a temporary home here.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:1:40:35:00]
[IN Q=I think it's]
((REGINALD GARNER: I THINK IT'S COOPERATION BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF AND THE FRIES MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF AND THE NECESSITY TO MAKE IT WORK. EVERYBODY PITCHES IN AND SAYS WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK. iT'S GONNA WORK. AND IT HAS WORKED.))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=and it has worked!]
Fries Middle had to shut down this school year after several parents complained their children developed breathing problems.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:49:34:00 ]
[IN Q=This is the problem.]
((RACHEL DEPOMPA:THIS IS THE PROBLEM. THIS FINISH ON THE OUTSIDE WALL ON THE SCHOOL ACTUALLY RETAINS WATER AND THAT HOLDS THE MOISTURE IN THE BUILDING AND CREATES A HUGE MOLD PROBLEM))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=mold problem.]
For now, students from both schools are sharing the gym.
NATS GYM 1:48:46:00
and eating lunch together.
NATS- LUNCH- 1:47:15:00
Classes are held in mobile units...
NATS CLASS-WIDE SHOT 1:42:58:00
every empty space in the building is being used.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:1:46:36:00 ]
[IN Q=As middle school]
((DeAnna Hash:AS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS YOU ALL HAVE TO LEARN TO BE FLEXIBLE. WE ALL HAVE THE GIFT OF FLEXIBILITY. SO IT'S WORKING OUT JUST FINE.))
[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=out just fine.]
Renovations to Fries are estimated to cost 750-thousand. An ARCHEITECT is finished with plans, the school board's sent them to the state.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:1:34:27:00 ]
[IN Q=They already have]
((DR. KESTER GREEN:THEY ALREADY HAVE US ON THE LIST ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND WE'RE ONE OF THE TWO TOP SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT ARE THERE. SO I THINK IF THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=that money.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The project could be out to bid by February first.
And if all goes well with the renovations students could be filling the halls of Fries Middle School again by next fall.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Preservationists lose their fight with VMI overa century old building.
That's still ahaed on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus almost six years after fire destroyed it, Lynchburg Masons are back home again.
(----------------)
[COMMERCIAL]
[Water-Authority]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC1:15:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke city and Roanoke county set the stage for a regional water authority with a year of quiet negotiations.
But now the countdown is on.
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD / Newsroom;]
And tonight Joe Dashiell reports the water authority board has some critical decisions ahead.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
Keith, the authority is set to begin operation on July first and there are many issues still to be ironed out... not the least of which is the rate structure for city and county water customers.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OPENS ON NAT SOUND]
[SUPER=01-Bob Shepherd/Water Works Operator; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :10]
[SUPER=01-Rupert Cutler/Authority Board Co-Chairman; :24]
[SUPER=01-Mike Altizer/Authority Board Co-Chairman; :54]
[SUPER=01-Elmer Hodge/Roanoke Co. Administrator; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=it looks good.]
(( [OPENS ON NAT SOUND OF BOB SHEPHERD]
[IN Q=these filters here are capable]
((THESE FILTERS HERE ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SIX MILLION GALLONS OF WATER A DAY. THESE SIX FILTERS BACK HERE.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUT Q=these filters back here.]
Bob Shepherd served as tour guide, as the Western Virginia Water Authority board met at the Carvins Cove Water Filtration Plant.
Members will have a steep learning curve as they work to integrate the operation of two water systems and many different facilities.
[SOT CUTLER ]
[IN Q=275-million dollars]
((275-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS,OR SOMETHING OF THAT SORT. AND THAT WAS MY ROUGH ADDITION FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY REPORTS AND THERE MAY BE SOME DOUBLE COUNTING THERE , BUT IT'S IMPRESSIVE. AND A 40-MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR BUDGET IS A BIG ORGANIZATION.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=a big organization.]
As board members sat down to consider their articles of incorporation, by-laws and other basic decisions, they were also looking ahead to next month.
That's when they'll hear recommendations for equalizing rates between city and county water customers.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=the first 75 percent of the work]
((MIKE ALTIZER: THE FIRST 75 PERCENT OF THE WORK'S BEEN DONE. THE NEXT 25 PERCENT IS THE HARDEST, BUT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE RATE STUDY, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO QUICKEN THE PROCESS.))
((ELMER HODGE: WE'VE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. CONSIDERING WE'VE GOT A LOT OF VARIABLES GOING INTO IT. IT LOOKS GOOD.))
[RUNS= :16]
[OUT Q=looks good.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]
That proposal for equalizing rates will be crucial to winning broad public support for the water authority.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD /Newsroom;]
Keith, Elmer Hodge says he's confident the plan that's revealed on February 10th will satisfy both the city and the county, while it creates a strong financial base for the regional authority.
[Radio-Stations]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC01:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Your favorite station on the radio dial may soon be changing hands.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford]
The nation's second largest radio company is buying the seven New River Valley Partners stations.
Cumulus Media Incorporated inked a 7-million dollar deal this week that includes stations like W-F-N-R, "The Bear" and Bubba Classic Country.
Cumulus will take over operations next week, but company officials say they aren't planning any immediate changes to station formats or personnel.
Cumulus won't officially assume ownership of the stations until after the F-C-C's 90-day comment period.
(------------)
[Snipes]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Henry County officials are still looking for a woman missing for more than a year.
(+++++++)
[TAKE SNIPES PAGE FS #4240]
Sarah Ann Snipes was 54 when she was last seen sitting on a guardrail on the side of Route 58 in January 2003.
Searches of the area where she was last seen have come up empty.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Henry County Sheriff's Office.
(-------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Slower than anticipated job growth sent Wall Street lower.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/133.55/10458.89/y/13.33/2086.92;]
The DOW tumbled 134 points.
NASDAQ fell 13.
[SUPER=271-i/0.05/41.18/i/0.30/52.80/i/0.22/31.02/i/0.76/73.51/i/0.70/78.35;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.02/37.78/h/0.01/19.50/i/0.10/6.74/i/0.23/61.77/i/0.45/31.80;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.55/8.92/i/0.63/42.51/h/0.04/18.71/i/0.29/22.92/i/0.06/6.96;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.20/12.60/h/0.14/70.97/i/1.08/36.04/i/0.10/47.15/i/0.86/52.40;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]
[VMI-Building]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-47 TC1:22:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
Despite outcries from preservationists, the state's architectural review board today approved Virginia Military Institute's plan to demolish a century old home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
V-M-I wants to tear town the Post Surgeon's residence to make way for an addition to the dining hall.
Three preservation groups oppose the project and say they'll continue to fight it.
V-M-I plans to demolish the home in early March.
(------------)
[Marshall-Lodge]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC1:40:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
More than six years after they lost their meeting hall to a fire, members of Lynchburg's Marshall Lodge have reason to celebrate.
The area's oldest group of Masons now has the newest lodge building in the state.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=04-July 21, 1997; :00]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :06]
[SUPER=01-John Wingfield/Marshall Lodge Worshipful Master; :24]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Dawson/Lodge Member; 1:07]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( [natsot fire ]
[RUNS= 02]
It took Marshall Lodge Number 39 six years to go from this... to this.
It took them less than four months to get to this.
Six and a half years ago, fire destroyed their downtown headquarters, but it did not destroy the group's will to survive and rebuild.
Last summer's muddy patch of ground is now the area's newest Masonic Lodge.. and members couldn't be happier.
[SOT 19:06:35]
((JOHN WINGFIELD/MARSHALL LODGE WORSHIPFUL MASTER: IT TOOK US APPROXIMATELY NINETY DAYS TO GET FROM GROUND ZERO WHERE WE BROKE GROUND AND INTO THE LODGE. OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO GET INTO HERE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING IN HERE ON THE 27TH OF DECEMBER.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=of December.]
But Tuesday night was the first full meeting of the entire membership.
While the building may be brand-new, many features looked familiar.. from the doorknobs salvaged from the old building that burned to the furniture that members were able to save from the fire that fateful night.
[SOT 19:10:04]
((WINGFIELD: THE MASONS, THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THEIR HISTORY..))
[RUNS= 04]
[OUT Q=their history.]
In fact, all of the lodge's records, including an 18th-century Bible were recovered and are now safely stored in the new building.
[SOT 19:18:58]
((WAYNE DAWSON/LODGE MEMBER: OF COURSE YOU CAN'T REPLACE THAT AT ALL, BUT TO BE IN A NEW LODGE AND BE BACK TO OUR OLD SELVES AGAIN IS REALLY WONDERFUL.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=really wonderful.]
Marshall Lodge has more than 200 members, but only 30 or 40 actively participate.
Leaders hope their new high-profile location, right next to the Lynchburg Expressway, will spur new interest in their organization.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg. ))
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SPORTS TEASE]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - the Express is home tonight for a 7:30 skate.
The Astros are leaving Martinsville,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and we'll check in with two VMI captains - who are trying to play big in this first year in the Big South.
(------------)
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-164 49:05]
[GRAPHIC=express]
[ENG#=1]
The Express battles Atlantic City tonight at the Roanoke Civic Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna is visiting Roanoke today and tonight and meeting with Express ownership as part of his mid winter tour of league teams. He is tackling each league challenge one by one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Brian McKenna/ECHL Commissioner; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...........as seemless as possible"]
(-----------------)
[S-Keydets]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-155 TC13716]
[GRAPHIC=VMI logo]
[ENG#=2]
The VMI Keydets won their first ever Big South game last night over Radford and their first win over a Division One opponent this season. Bart Bellairs has used five different starting lineups this season because of injuries, but Travis Wells says two guys he's been able to count on through thick and thin are seniors Richard Little and Radee Skipworth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/Radford vs. VMI; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bart Bellairs/Keydets 3 and 9 This Season; :30]
[SUPER=@travis1; :48]
[SUPER=01-Radee Skipworth/Averaging 15 Points Per Game; :57]
[SUPER=01-Richard Little/Over 500 Career Assists; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(-----------------)
((Richard Little and Radee Skipworth are Keydet team captains. Skipworth has been the team's leading scorer the past two seasons averaging 15 points a contest this year. The Keydets went just 1 and 4 during a recent stretch in which the Hershey, PA native was sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Little is the all-time assists leader in Lexington with over 500 career dimes. The duo's worth to Bart Bellairs is priceless, despite the Keydets 3 and 9 record.
Bart:
Travis: Both Little and Skipworth are psychology majors. But neither has used any psych jobs on their younger teammates, in the locker room or on the court.
Radee:
Richard:
VMI plays three of its next four games on the road, starting Saturday at Winthrop. In Lexington, Travis Wells, News 7
Sports.))[S-NASCAR]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-154 13345TC]
[GRAPHIC=PRESEASON THUNDER]
[ENG#=4]
NASCAR's preseason thunder moved away from the testing at Daytona and back to Charlotte area this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Harrisburg, NC; :00]
Hendrick Motorsports announced that Lowe's is stepping up to sponsor a Hendrick's car on the Busch series this year, and it will be driven by a Busch.
18 year-old Kyle Busch, who posted two runner-up finishes and five top-10 qualifying efforts in seven Busch Series starts last season will drive the car that is officially owned by Ricky Hendrick.
(------------)
[S-Stros]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-165 TC]
[GRAPHIC=Appy League]
[ENG#=1]
There's bad news for baseball fans in Southside tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/2003 Season; :00]
The Houston Astros have announced that they will move their Appalachian League affiliate from Martinsville to Greenville, Tennessee.
The Astros completed a 5 year run at Hooker Field this past season. The team won the Appy League title in 1999, but will now compete on the campus of Tusculum College in a brand, spanking new facility.
(------------)
[Monty-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC23:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=]
An update now to an earlier story: the U-S 460 bypass westbound in Christiansburg is expected to remain closed for at least one more hour.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Three cars and pickup truck were involved in an accident at the Cambria Street exit. We know of at least three people taken to area hospitals.
The roadway will not be re-opened until V-DOT crews can spread road salt onto the icy pavement around the accident scene.
(------------)
by SS