[7Wx-Headline]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Partly cloudy and warmer today, with highs reaching the lower 60s.
But look for even milder weather tomorrow.
Brent Watts has your full forecast, coming up.
But first we do have one school announcement to pass along to you this morning.
(+++++++++++)
[Take FS School Touch]
Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke is closed today because of an electrical problem.
All other Roanoke City schools are open.
(+++++++++++)
[7-11-I-73]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=I-73]
Almost three years ago a state panel selected the path of Interstate 73.
But it now appears a change may be under consideration for the route.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN PINNACLE 4550]
As it stands now, the highway would follow Interstate 581 then branch off Route 220, go through Southeast Roanoke and the Mount Pleasant area of Roanoke County before generally following U-S Route 220.
[TAKE NEXT PAGE 1025]
But Roanoke County officials say they were notified Monday that VDOT is considering a change that would keep the Interstate along Route 220 all the way through the Clearbrook area.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=I-73]
Supervisors were briefed by county community development staff about the possibility yesterday afternoon.
Staff members say they've been asked by VDOT to provide information on how the change could affect the Clearbrook community.
Supervisors asked some questions, but the board has so far not taken a position on the proposal.
A V-DOT spokeswoman said there has been no change to the route of I-73, but she added V-DOT would have information to release later in the week.
[7-1181-Safety]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC1:55:00]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Safety]
[ENG#=1]
Interstate 81 may not have many crashes, but speeding is still a major concern.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
That's the word from State Police about Virginia's only highway safety corridor.
The fifteen mile stretch of Interstate 81-between Ironto and Salem was designated as a safety enforcement zone in mid-January.
Since then troopers, including three on motorcycles, have issued 385-tickets.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 1:40 - 1:53]
[IN Q=We've had about five DUI arrests...]
((TOM FOSTER/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: WE'VE HAD ABOUT 5 DUI ARRESTS AND SOME RECKLESS DRIVING BUT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE GONNA BE FOR SPEEDING.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Foster/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=vast majority of those are gonna be for speeding.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
The number of crashes in the area has dropped 20-percent from the same period last year.
No one died in any of the 70-wrecks.
Foster says the number of deadly crashes has been going down since 1997.
(------------)
[7-AM-Honts-Died]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=George Honts 2151]
[ENG#=2]
A local judge is being remembered as a good friend, and an all-round wonderful guy.
Judge George Honts, the Third, died yesterday morning at the age of 64.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/File Tape]
Honts succumbed to the massive brain hemorrhage he suffered Monday.
The judge announced his retirement in January after suffering what doctors first thought was an aneurysm.
He's remembered by his friends and colleagues as a fair man with an amazing work-ethic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@14:2656:02]
[IN Q=He was slow...]
((CLIFFORD WECKSTEIN/ROANOKE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE: HE WAS SLOW TO ANGER, QUICK WITH A QUIP, QUICK TO FORGIVE AND A PRINCE OF A MAN.))
[SUPER=01-Clifford Weckstein/Roanoke Circuit Court Judge]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=a prince of a man (reflective pause.)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A viewing for Honts will be held this afternoon at Rader's Funeral Home from two to four and later from seven to nine.
The funeral will be Thursday afternoon at two o'clock at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Fincastle.
(------------)
[55-WXHeads]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
A mix of clouds and sun, but you'll notice milder temperatures, especially during the afternoon.
Brent Watts has the mid- week forecast, in just a few minutes.
But first, we do have one school announcement to pass along to you this morning.
(+++++++++++)
[Take FS School Touch]
Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke is closed today because of an electrical problem.
All other Roanoke City schools are open.
(+++++++++++)
[55-11Harris]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:18:58]
[GRAPHIC=Wayne Harris]
[ENG#=1]
Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith says school superintendent Wayne Harris is being rewarded for "a job poorly done" by agreeing to pay Harris for six months after he steps down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday;]
Harris announced his retirement on Monday. He will leave his post at the end of the school year, but remain on paid leave through December.
Smith says six months of severance is unwarranted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The good part of it]
((THE GOOD PART OF IT IS, WE KNOW AT THE END OF JUNE WE CAN START THE REBUILDING PROCESS, REBUILDING THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE NEED TO START TODAY SETTING THAT COURSE.))
[SUPER=01-Ralph Smith/Roanoke Mayor]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=start today setting that course.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
School board members praised Harris for rising test scores, declining dropout rates, improvements in teacher salaries and other accomplishments.
Harris gave up an early retirement benefit that would have paid him approximately 150 -thousand dollars over five years.
(---------------)
[55-5-City-Stadium]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=504-00 1:11:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Lynchburg Hillcats fans will have a new stadium to watch baseball in for the first time in 65 years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Yesterday, city leaders got a sneak preview of the newly-renovated City Stadium.
Lynchburg has spent about five million dollars overhauling its minor league ballpark.. adding new restrooms, concessions and skyboxes.
Crews are still putting the finishing touches on the park, but officials figure it will be mostly ready by Opening Day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:13:33//11:39:02]
[IN Q=But again]
((PAUL SUNWALL/HILLCATS GENERAL MANAGER: BUT AGAIN, THE CONCESSIONS ARE READY, THE RESTROOMS ARE READY.. THE SEATS, THEY'RE STILL PUTTING IN A FEW SEATS, SO THERE'S A FEW LITTLE ODDS AND ENDS THAT MAKE YOU A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO BE READY, BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.))
((ED BARKSDALE/LYNCHBURG COUNCIL MEMBER: I AM DELIGHTED AT WHAT I SEE HERE TODAY, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED TO LYNCHBURG. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS PARK.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Sunwall/Hillcats General Manager; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed Barksdale/Lynchburg Council Member; :12]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=proud of this park.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The outfield fence remains the biggest project to be finished.
Opening Day is April 9th, but fans can get a sneak preview this Saturday from 12 to 3.
(------------)
[55-11Russians]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Montgomery County will have a chance to trade secrets with ten small businessmen from Russia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
They're in town for the next three weeks, staying with families in the county.
They'll be visiting area timber, furniture and wood- making plants to learn how private businesses are run in the U-S.
Those involved say, not only could the trip lead to some new business deals for the county, but it could open the door for better U-S/Russian relations.
(------------)
[8Wx-Headline]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
The mercury is on the rise, and it'll finally feel like springtime.
High this afternoon will soar into the 60s.
Brent Watts has your full forecast, coming up.
But first, we do have one school announcement to pass along to you this morning.
(+++++++++++)
[Take FS School Touch]
Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke is closed today because of an electrical problem.
All other Roanoke City schools are open.
(+++++++++++)
[8-11Hubbell-Lighting]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC1:37:36]
[GRAPHIC=Hubbell Negotiations]
[ENG#=1]
Employees at Hubbell Lighting have agreed to a new four year contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/March 8;]
The contract is retro-active to March 8th, the day the old contract ran out.
Employees have been working on good faith since then.
Details of the contract have not been made public, but workers had been holding out for salary increases and better benefits.
Hubbell employs 330 people at the Christiansburg facility.
(------------)
[8-11Home-Shopping]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC2:02:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
An announcement in Salem has some employees in the market for a new job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Yesterday, the Home Shopping Network announced plans to move part of its Salem fulfillment center to Piney Flats, Tennessee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:35]
[IN Q=When we found the]
((JOY PERKINS: WHEN WE FOUND THE FACILITY IN TENNESSEE WE DIDN'T STOP LOOKING IN VIRGINIA. WE CONTINUED AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA HELPED US, BUT THERE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING EXISTING - WE'D HAVE TO BUILD AND THERE WASN'T EVEN ANY LAND IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Joy Perkins/HSN Fulfillment Vice-President;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=the immediate area]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The television and Internet retailer employs 450 people at it's Salem facility.
About half of those jobs will be transferred to the company's Roanoke County facility.
The other half will be lost.
Laid- off employees will be given severance.
Home Shopping Network plans to start moving in August.
(------------)
[8-6-XGR-budget]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC59:20]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=3]
Budget negotiations will resume today between House and Senate conferees.
Meanwhile, citizens are getting a chance this week to voice their opinions on the matter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Williamsburg]
Lawmakers across the state are holding town hall meetings.
The House of Delegates voted to recess until Saturday so that members could talk to their constituents.
Delegate Phil Hamilton says the break has been helpful.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 56:08]
[IN Q=I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GET BACK]
((DELEGATE PHIL HAMILTON/R-NEWPORT NEWS: I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO WORK. I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE THIS GATHERING TODAY IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GET EVEN MORE FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Phil Hamilton/(R) Newport News;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=TO GET EVEN MORE FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The two houses remain divided on sales and income tax increases.
Senator Tommy Norment says he doesn't think taking a week off will make any difference.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:58:10]
[IN Q=I'M NOT SURE THAT ITS CHANGED ANY]
((SENATOR TOMMY NORMENT/R-WILLIAMSBURG: I'M NOT SURE THAT ITS CHANGED ANY MINDS ALTER THE MINDS OF ANYBODY THAT'S INFORMED VERY FRANKLY I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE CITIZENS I REPRESENT AND GIVE THEM SOME DETAILS ON IT. :26))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tommy Norment/(R) Williamsburg;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=AND GIVE THEM SOME DETAILS ON IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The budget conferees are scheduled to meet again today to try to break the impasse.
(------------)
by SS