WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/05/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

Which decisions will make dollars and which simply *don't* make sense.
Two communities address their budgets.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :06]
And, emergency crews in Vinton say problems with their building can't be fixed with a band-aid.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
Tonight in sports - points leader Kurt Busch was in town today. The Express will be in town for some time to come,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Emeka Okafor looks to lead the U-Conn Huskies against Ga. Tech tonight at 9 on WDBJ-7.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

The weather is very dry, very windy and very cold. For now. Hopes for a warmer forecast just ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The area's two biggest cities try to plot courses for their budgets... amid the continuing uncertainty in Richmond and disapproval of groups closer to home.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=2-Shot]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon is off tonight.

[Budget-Cuts]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC1:58:28]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 @ 6]

With budget cuts and tax hikes looming in Lynchburg, some disabled advocates say the city shouldn't be balancing its budget on the backs of the poor.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Steve/Microwave;]

They spoke out today on the eve of the city's big public hearing on the budget. Steve Smallshaw is in Lynchburg tonight.. Steve, how DO they suggest the city balance its books?
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

, the folks at the Lynchburg-Area Center for Independent Living say the city could use an efficiency review of all its departments.. by just examining one, they claim they could save Lynchburg close to 900-thousand dollars.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With a twelve]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Rob Jarvis/LACIL; :26]
[SUPER=01-Dana Jackson/Former IRS Efficiency Expert; :54]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=Department of Social Services.]
(( With a 12-million dollar hole to patch, Lynchburg will either have to raise taxes or cut services or BOTH to balance its budget.
[natsot bus ]
[RUNS02]
One of the more controversial cost-cutting measures would eliminate night-time bus service which costs about ten times as much money as it takes in.
But disabled advocates say lower-income residents.. especially those who need specialized transportation.. would suffer disproportionately.
[SOT 14:20:10]
((ROB JARVIS/LACIL: THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT'S MUSCLE. IT'S NOT FAT THAT WE'RE CUTTING THERE. PEOPLE NEED THEIR JOBS AND NEED TRANSPORTATION. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE NUMBER IS, MUSCLE IS MUSCLE.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=muscle is muscle.]

Instead, Jarvis says, the city should learn to live more efficiently.
Dana Jackson is a former efficiency expert for the I-R-S.. she looked at the makeup of Lynchburg's Human Services department and found the city could save close to 900-thousand dollars by cutting 21 positions without sacrificing customer service.
[SOT 14:15:18]
((DANA JACKSON/FORMER I-R-S EFFICIENCY EXPERT: AS AN EFFICIENCY EXPERT I WOULD GO INTO WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, WANT TO FOLLOW THESE PEOPLE AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO DO ON THE JOB. AND I WOULD PARTICULARLY BE INTERESTED IN WHAT SIX ACCOUNTANTS DO AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=of Social Services.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

Jarvis and his supporters plan to be out in full force at tomorrow night's public hearing on the budget..
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Steve/Microwave;]

City leaders are expecting a large turnout.

[City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC1:01:15]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=1]
Roanoke lawmakers are chomping at the bit waiting for their peers in Richmond to come up with a budget.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS - BAGPIPES))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUTQ=NAT BAGPIPES]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
City Council launched into its meeting today with fanfare as Mayor Ralph Smith declared April as Scottish American History and Heritage Month. City manager Darlene Burcham says she'd like to hear something out of Richmond, where state lawmakers have yet to decide on a budget.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 9:52:06 - 9:52:23]
[IN Q=Which means that we can't even count on the typical funds...]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER; WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN COUNT ON THE TYPICAL FUNDS THAT WOULD COME INTO PLAY. WE'VE HAD TO DEVELOP TWO OR THREE DIFFFERENT SCENARIOS, NONE OF WHICH IS VERY SATISFACTORY.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=none of which is very satisfactory.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
Burcham says the House and Senate plans differ by as much as 16-million dollars in education funding alone. Also today, council approved an amendment to the city's fee scale at Carvins Cove Natural Reserve. As of April 15th, residents of Roanoke County and city will be charged the same amount to use the recreation area.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
In executive session, council discussed which applicants to the Roanoke School Board will be granted interviews. A public hearing on the candidates will be held April 19th.

[Vinton-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:06:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Vinton's rescue squad responded to more than two-thousand calls and logged more than 33-thousand miles last year. Susan Bahorich says now the squad's looking for a new home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=From the outside...]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :00]
[SUPER=01-Doug Adams/Vinton First Aid Crew; :46]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1; :58]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Boggess/Vinton Town Manager; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q= SB, News 7, Vinton]
((From the outside - the rescue squad building looks like it's in "stable condition," but inside members say the situation is "critical."
[NATS@2:36:00:16]
[INQ=THIS BUILDING...]
((DOUG ADAMS, VINTON FIRST AID CREW: THIS BUILDING BACK HERE THERE'S LOTS OF STORAGE. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS SITTING OUT WHERE WE HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT IT.))
[OUTQ=.. TO PUT IT.]
[RUNS:06]
Space is at a premium at this former jail turned rescue squad building. Every available spot is in use- boxes are piled high, ladders lean precariously and even cleaners are serving "a sentence."
[NATS@2:40:31:24]
[INQ=The jail...]
((DOUG ADAMS, VINTON FIRST AID CREW: THE JAIL IS USED FOR STORAGE, BUT I CAN REMEMBER DAYS WHEN PRISONERS WERE KEPT IN THIS CELL..))
[OUTQ=.. THIS CELL.]
[RUNS:07]
Getting a new facility won't be a hard "sell" to town officials- already a study was commissioned and the results were what Adams and the other volunteers expected- the building needs to be replaced.

[SOT@2:41:18:21]
[INQ=With this...]
((ADAMS, VINTON FIRST AID CREW: WITH THIS NEW BUILDING, THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO ADD THE BUILDING RIGHT BESIDE IT AT THE AREA BETWEEN THE TWO AND PUT AN ELEVATOR IN, WHICH COULD BE USED BY BOTH BUILDINGS.))
[OUTQ=.. BOTH BUILDINGS.]
[RUNS:12]

[SOT@2:47:52:13]
[INQ=BUT A BUILDING.. ]
((SUSAN BAHORICH, REPORTING: BUT A BUILDING LIKE THIS DOESN'T COME CHEAP. IT'S ESTIMATED A NEW FACILITY WOULD COST UPWARDS OF ONE-MILLION DOLLARS, AND WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION IN RICHMOND, TOWN OFFICIALS DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM ..))
[OUTQ=.. COME FROM.]
[RUNS:12]

[SOT@2:44:10:20]
[INQ=THIS IS GOING...]
((KEVIN BOGGESS, VINTON TOWN MANAGER: THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE BUILDING, IN ORDER TO BUILD A BUILDING- AN ADEQUATE BUILDING FOR THE FIRST AID CREW. BUT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE USUAL THINGS- INCREASING REVENUE AND DECREASING EXPENSES.))
[OUTQ=.... DECREASING EXPENSES.]
[RUNS:16]
Boggess admits funding will be challenge, but while details may still be up in the air, Adams and his crew are confident they'll have somewhere new to hang their hats in the not too distant future.
SB, News 7, Vinton.))

[Grand-jury]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC1:15:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Two men were indicted today for allegedly ransacking a Roanoke church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January]
They were each charged with breaking and entering and intentionally defacing property worth more than 1-thousand dollars. The amount of damage was significantly more than that. Twenty-two year old Zachary Lee Bryant and 35-year old Christopher Frank Martin had been apprehended within days of the break in at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Federal investigators are still considering whether they could be charged with hate crimes.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

100 Virginia National Guard soldiers get an early morning wakeup call they won't soon forget.
More on their homecoming when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus two local wrestlers grapple with the idea of competing in the Olympics.
(----------------)
[1st-Wx]
[Ferrum-College]

(MINI OPEN)

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:02:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Ferrum College is in for some major improvements.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials announced today plans to build a new 120-bed residence hall that will feature apartment-style living spaces and community areas. Aside from providing students with better living facilities, officials hope to attract new students as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3458]
[IN Q=when students]
((JENNIFER BRAATEN/FERRUM COLLEGE PRESIDENT:WHEN STUDENTS COME TO A CAMPUS WE KNOW THAT'S A BIG PART OF THEIR DECISION. AND IF THEY COME ON A CAMPUS AND THEY SAY WOW THERE'S GREAT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS HERE, WONDERFUL ATHELTIC PROGRAMS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES AND THEY HAVE THE NICE PLACE TO LIVE, WHERE I SLEEP, WHERE I EAT, WHERE I RECREATE, WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT.))
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Braaten/Ferrum College President;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=that's important]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Other projects include expanding the student center to add a new alumni conference center, as well as renovating two halls for more classroom and office space.
[SUPER=03-Ferrum;]
Construction is slated to begin this Fall and completed by 2006.
(------------)

[Jet-Service]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:36:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Regional jet service at the Lynchburg airport appears ready to take off on its own, without any help from the federal government.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Delta Airlines Video; :00]

Delta Airlines introduced jet service last year, thanks to a half million dollar federal grant that ensured the airline would at least break even.
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :08]

Delta also cut ticket prices to make Lynchburg more competitive with surrounding airports.
The result is ridership has nearly doubled.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:28:26]
[IN Q=Now you have]
((GREG EDDY/DELTA AIRLINES: NOW YOU HAVE THE BEST REGIONAL JET YOU CAN GET, LEATHER SEATING, TWO BY TWO CONFIGURATION, FLIES AT 530 MILES PER HOUR. SO THE EQUIPMENT IS ONE THING BUT I'M SURE THE PRICING HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT AS WELL. BUT WE WENT FROM 40 PERCENT LOAD FACTORS TO 60 PERCENT WHICH WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH.))
[SUPER=01-Greg Eddy/Delta Airlines]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=really happy with.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Delta says it will continue to review its Lynchburg operations, but jet service will continue indefinitely.
(------------)

[Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A Lynchburg man is behind bars today on charges related to a shooting in Blacksburg.
Officers say 19-year-old Christopher J. Evans fled last night, after firing several rounds into an apartment at Hill Top Terrace.
According to police, Evans had a disagreement with a resident of the apartment prior to the shooting.
He is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail on attempted murder and firearms charges.
There were no injuries reported.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Stocks moved higher for the third straight trading day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/87.78/10558.37/x/21.94/2079.11;]

The DOW rose 88 points.
NASDAQ gained 22.
[SUPER=271-h/1.18/41.13/h/0.42/55.29/i/0.22/32.78/h/2.13/93.62/h/0.74/81.25;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.01/35.20/h/0.33/21.25/h/0.04/7.01/i/0.06/64.25/h/0.52/31.58;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.07/8.94/h/0.77/42.50/h/0.20/16.75/i/0.04/22.31/i/0.17/5.79;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.08/14.32/i/0.04/69.56/h/0.41/37.65//Unchg/46.42/h/0.04/58.64;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[National-Guard]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tzi]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC56:28]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Homecoming]
[ENG#=1]

It was an early morning at Fort Eustis, as more than 100 Virginia National Guard troops returned home to the cheers of their loved ones.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Newport News]

Around 1 a-m, soldiers of the 10-32nd Transportation Company were reunited with their families after a year-long deployment to the middle east.
Some said the safe return of unit was the answer to many prayers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:05:58]
[IN Q=Proud. You live...]
((EVELYN JOHNSON/MOTHER OF SOLDIER: PROUD. YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH ANTICIPATION BUT YOU HAVE FAITH TO KNOW THAT GOD WILL GET HIM THROUGH.))
[SUPER=01-Evelyn Johnson/Mother of Soldier]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUTQ=get them through]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Members of the Gate City- based unit said they had been looking forward to this day since they left.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:06:12]
[IN Q=I can't believe]
((SPC JONATHAN FANNON/NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. IT'S BEEN A YEAR. IT'S OVER, AND I AIN'T GOING BACK.))
[SUPER=01-Spc. Jonathan Fannon/National Guard Member]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=ain't going back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The unit ferried supplies to and from the troops in combat.
(------------)

[Olympics]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC1:18:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Olympic dreams never die -- at least that's the case for two area wrestlers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Keno Shepherd and Isreal Gilbert will compete this week in the U-S Nationals in Las Vegas. If they make the top eight, they'll move on the Olympic trials.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:34:52]
[IN Q=This is something I really want it's not]
((KENO SHEPHERD/WRESTLER: THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY WANT IT'S NOT ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS, ABOUTMONEY, IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE WITHIN YOURSELF YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO))
[SUPER=01-Keno Shepherd/Wrestler]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=you know you can do]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Both competitors are former high school champions --but they say even at the age of 30, they still have what it takes to win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:25:26]
[IN Q=I have a love for wrestling]
((ISREAL GILBERT/WRESTLER: I HAVE A LOVE FOR WRESTLING. SO I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD GO AHEAD AND COMPETE FOR MYSELF AND THE COMMUNITY ))
[SUPER=01-Isreal Gilbert/Wrestler]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=myself and the community.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While the two like to spar against each other --they won't have to actually compete against one other because they're in different weight clases.
If they make it to the Olympic trials --we'll let you know.
(-------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - the final four is down to the final two tonight in Alamodome. The Express will officially be back in the Roundhouse next season -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Kurt Busch was in town today helping hype the Nextel Cup circuit's upcoming stop in Martinsville in a couple of weeks.
(------------)

[S-NCAA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-164 ]
[GRAPHIC=MEN'S FINAL FOUR NCAA]
The NCAA champ will be crowned tonight here on WDBJ-7.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[GO TO PINNACLE 12998] Ga. Tech takes on U-Conn here on Your Hometown Station. Coverage begins at nine, with the tip-off set for 9:21pm. U-Conn is favored by 5, but remember earlier this season the Jackets stung the Huskies by 16.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE PLAYED WELL...]
[SUPER=01-Paul Hewitt/Georgia Tech Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Calhoun/Connecticut Head Coach; :27]
[RUNS=:46]
[OUT Q=...FOR OUR PROGRAM."]
(------------)

[S-Coach]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Beth Dunkenberger]
The women's championship is tomorrow night and the Hokies may have their new coach in place soon after. Several sources are telling News 7 Sports tonight that Beth Dunkenberger is the top choice to replace Bonnie Henrickson. There is no confirmation from Tech at this time, but that could come by Wednesday. Dunkenberger is currently the coach at Western Carolina, she was a Tech assistant for 8 seasons and she is a Shawsville native.

[S-Kelly]

[ANCHOR=miek]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-19 50:31]
[GRAPHIC=express]
[ENG#=2]

The Express and Florida Everblades battle in round one of the ECHL Southern Division Semifinals tomorrow night at the Roanoke Civic Center at seven PM. Today also served as the deadline the Express had to let the league know its' plans for next season.
(-----------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
The Roanoke front office told the ECHL board of governors today that it intends for the Express to play in the Star City next season and work out a lease with the Roanoke Civic Center while in the process seek new ownership according to general manager Chris Pollock. Pollock said he had not heard back from civic center director Mina Boyd on the lease, after calling her today. The decision on the lease is in the hands of Boyd and the city.
(------------------)

[S-Busch]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-170 32:32]
[GRAPHIC=Advance Aoutoparts 500]
[ENG#=3]

Martinsville Speedway hosts the Advance Autoparts 500 April 18th. Nextel Cup drivers will take a much needed Easter break this week but points leader Kurt Busch made a stop in Roanoke today at Corned Beef and Company to promote Clay Campbell's spring classic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bristol; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kurt Busch/13.5 Average Start This Season; :15]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(--------------)

((Just days away from Easter and Kurt Busch is the king of the Nextel Cup series. Busch finds himself a top the points standings with just one win at Bristol, But finishing no worse that 16th in the first seven races has been good enough. ((:))
Busch's average finish is 8.6. A Performance that resemble is ultra consistent Roush teammate Matt Kenseth, who is right on Kurt's coat tails. ((:)) One of Busch's 8 career victories came at Martinsville in the fall of 2002 where he started 36th only to reach the winners circle.)) ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:BUSCH SAYS HE'S NEVER BEEN A STRONG QUALIFIER AT MARTINSVILLE. HIS AVERAGE START WAS 32ND LAST SEASON. HE FINISHED 13TH AND 39TH IN BOTH RACES AT THE HALF MILE TRACK LAST YEAR. STEVE MASON NEWS 7 SPORTS ))

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-161 14532tc]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
[ENG#=4]

It's the full day action in the major leagues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Toronto, Canada/FOX-MLB; :00]
The Detroit Tigers the worst team in the big leagues last season, and one of the worst teams ever opened the season with 7-and-0 win over the Blue Jays. The newest Tiger Ivan Rodriguez hit a homer in his Tigers' debut.
[super=03-Cincinnati, OH/ESPN-MLB;]
And Corey Patterson is healthy once again and so too is his bat. He turned his first at bat into a homer hitting the fourth pitch of the game out of the yard as the Cubs beat the Reds 7 to 4. (------------)