WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/28/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
We're under a wind advisory today, and you'll see why when you walk outside.
Expect winds anywhere from 15 to 30 miles an hour, with highs in the 30s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the complete forecast, coming up.

[7-11County-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC37:44]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

[ENG#=1]

A fire at a Roanoke County home caused traffic delays yesterday as firefighters faced several challenges trying to extinguish it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

The fire broke out just after 7:30 at this home in the Clearbrook section of Route 220.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from the back of the house.
The owner reportedly had just left after experiencing problems with his power.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:34:27]
[IN Q=The power did go]
((CAPT. DARELL SEXTON/ROANOKE CO. FIRE DEPARTMENT: THE POWER DID GO ON AND OFF ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE TIMES AND THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND THE OWNER HAD LEFT. HE DID ADVISE US THAT HE HAD TWO KEROSENE HEATERS IN THE HOUSE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AT THIS POINT IS.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Darell Sexton/Roanoke Co. Fire Department;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=at this point is]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It would take more than ninety minutes to get the fire under control.
Crews from all over the county and nearby Franklin County had to be called in to help.
Trucks had to come and go several times to get more water since there was no fire hydrant.
Firefighters even had to pump water from a nearby creek.
Weather conditions also played a factor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:36:22]
[IN Q=Anytime you got a]
((KURT KIPLEY/ROANOKE CO. FIREFIGHTER: ANYTIME YOU GOT A SNOWY ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE TRUCKS CAN'T GET AS CLOSE AS YOU WANT TO THEM GET OR YOU ARE TRYING TO DRAG A LINE AND YOU ARE SLIPPING AND SLIDDING FALLING DOWN THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS.))
[SUPER=01-Kurt Kipley/Roanoke Co. Firefighter;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=can cause problems]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It also caused problems for motorists.
Northbound traffic on Route 220 was stopped for nearly an hour. Southbound lanes were also closed several times.
The owner of the home stayed with friends last night. The Red Cross has been called in to provide assistance.
(------------)

[7-11Power-Outtage]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC1:26:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Ice may have played a factor in a power outage that affected about five thousand customers yesterday evening.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Police were directing traffic on 419 near Tanglewood Mall after either ice or a frozen tree fell on power lines. American Electric Power officials say lights flickered for most customers from seven to a quarter after in Roanoke city and Roanoke and Montgomery Counties.
(------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[Graphic=None]
Only parts of south Roanoke County and Montgomery County went completely dark but power was restored shortly after 7:30.

[7-11Robbery-Danville]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC13:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Danville police are asking for help- hoping someone will recognize a suspected bank robber.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police say this man walked into the American National Bank on NorDan Drive about 11:40 yesterday morning.
He gave a teller a note demanding money and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police say the circumstances of the robbery are very similar to a robbery at the Virginia Bank and Trust on Friday.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE FULL]
Anyone with information is asked to call Danville Crimestoppers at 434-793- 0000.
(-------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Partly cloudy today with some flurries.
Wind Chills are down to below zero in some areas, so bundle up.

Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your mid- week forecast, coming up.[55-11Edwards-bill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC25:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

A local lawmaker's bill that would have helped supporters of Victory Stadium was revoked yesterday by the Senate Local Governments Committee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]

The Committee refused to approve Senator John Edwards' bill to change Roanoke City's Charter in order to allow advisory referendums on important issues.
Instead, the Committee agreed to give Roanoke City Council a year to study the issue.
Edwards says he introduced the bill to give voters more say in decisions affecting Victory Stadium.
The Roanoke Democrat says his measure was intended as a shot across the bow and that the matter is not over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 33:16]
[IN Q=THERE ARE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS]
((SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS/D-ROANOKE: THERE ARE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MAY AND THE CITIZENS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.))
[SUPER=@Edwards;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Committee members say they postponed action on the bill to avoid making an endrun around City Council.
(------------)

[55-11L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

One Lynchburg City council member is waiting to hear whether federal "conflict of interest rules" may force her to resign her post.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Joan Foster heads up the Alliance for Families and Children, a community services group that receives block grant money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
But guidelines prevent any elected official from working for an agency that gets HUD money.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:14:33]
[IN Q=That doesn't mean]
((WALTER ERWIN/LYNCHBURG CITY ATTORNEY: THAT DOESN'T MEAN IF THEY DECIDE THERE IS A CONFLICT HERE THEY WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO CONSIDER AN EXCEPTION IN THIS SITUATION. I THINK EVERY FACTUAL SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.))
[SUPER=01-Walter Erwin/Lynchburg City Attorney]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=situation is different.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The ruling also could affect potential council candidate James Mundy, whose LYN-CAG agency receives HUD grants.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Two weeks ago, a Richmond city councilwoman was forced to step down because of the HUD restrictions.

[55-11Augusta-Dam]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC05:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

The impasse over draining a privately-owned dam in Augusta county remains unresolved.
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co.]
At first, property owner Bill Fauber (FAW-brrr) refused to drain the pond, then said he planned to "knock a hole" in the dam and let the water run out. Yesterday afternoon, he explained to Keith Humphry how part of the earthen dam had eroded.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:00]
[IN Q=See, the spillway]
((BILL FAUBER/PROPERTY OWNER; SEE THE SPILLWAY IS OVER IN THAT CORNER AND IT GOT CLOGGED UP WITH SOME DEBRIS AND THAT WHY WATER RUN OVER HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Fauber/Property Owner]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=run over here.]
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
Local public safety officials say the dam endangers property below the dam. Since they issued their evacuation order and Flash Flood Watch Friday, the railroad has ordered engineers to slow to five miles an hour through here.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:50]
[IN Q=I can't see]
((FRANKIE COYNER/FAUBER'S ATTORNEY; I CAN'T SEE THE DANGER TO THE HOMESTEADERS DOWN THE ROAD, MUCH LESS TO THE RAILROAD.))
[SUPER=01-Frankie Coyner/Fauber's Attorney]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=to the railroad.]
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
Fauber's attorney told him not to do anything until he speaks to local authorities.
(----------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
The winter precipitation is winding down, but now the cold winds are picking up.
We're under a wind advisory today.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the seven day outlook, right after the news. We are also running all school closings at the top of your screen.

[8-6-Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC16:23]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=1]

The cause of an apartment fire that killed a Roanoke boy has been ruled an accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :30]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January 18;]
3-year old Keontae (Kee-ONN-tay) Harris, also known as Kiante (kee-ONN-tay) Poindexter, died after his family's Tinker Creek Manor home ignited January 18th. Roanoke Fire and Police investigators say children in the residence caused the fire while playing with a lighter. Neighbors and the boy's mother blame his death on the apartment's windows which were sealed shut. Police say the building's smoke detectors were also faulty. Two days after the fire maintenance crews searched the complex, looking for safety hazards.
(------------)

[8-11Danville-jobs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC45:08]
[SS=Layoffs]

[ENG#=2]

A Southside company will close soon putting more than 150 people will be out of work.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996;]

The Masonite Plant in Danville announced yesterday it will close March 26th.
The company blames the closing on a lack of demand for its wood fiber products.
All 172 employees will receive severance packages and possibly extended benefits.
Masonite has been in Danville for more than thirty years.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[8-11Atlantic-Mutual]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC1:33:21]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[ENG#=3]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(-------------)
[VO-NAT :30]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Atlantic Mutual in Roanoke confirms there will be layoffs today but won't specify how many.
Dave Mitchell says the company sent letters notifying employees about the impending cuts on Monday. In early December, Atlantic Mutual announced it would sell its subsidiary, Atlantic Specialty Insurance, to OneBeacon Insurance. At the time it was unclear how the 450-million dollar transaction would affect staff. More than 500 people work at Atlantic Mutual's building in Roanoke County.
(------------)

[8-11Beheler]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC07:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

As head of Franklin County's A-B-C office, he spent decades busting the area's biggest moonshiners--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Jimmy Beheler retired this month after nearly 30-years on the job. Beheler headed Virginia's only Liquor Task Force, taking down some of the state's most notorious bootleggers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:02:52]
[IN Q=namely lightning strike]
((JIMMY BEHELER/RETIRED ABC RESIDENT AGENT: NAMELY LIGHTNING STRIKE, OBVIOUSLY THAT RECEIVED THE MOST PUBLICITY. BUT THERE WERE OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT WEREN'T THAT PUBLICIZED BUT IT REQUIRED A LOT OF WORK.))
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Beheler/Retired ABC Resident Agent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=a lot of work]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Rocky Mount office closed in September because of budget cuts, but the closing has NOT affected operations. Task force members now work out of their homes, and the A-B-C board is currently in the process of finding Beheler's replacement. (------------)