WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/13/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
More rain in the forecast today, but temperatures will be warmer.
Highs will be in the 60s.
Steve Pardon has your Tuesday forecast, coming up.

[7-11Propane-Tank]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC47:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

A propane tank at a Salem hardware store has been stabilized.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Firefighters say the newly installed tank at the True Value Hardware store on Main Street tipped over last night.

They believe this week's rain weakened the foundation.
The tank was emptied and removed.
Officials say there was never any danger.
(------------)

[7-11Richardson]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC14:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

A Craig County family wants answers--mainly why a 22 year old would beat a man confined to a wheelchair.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
65-year-old Richard Sarver died Sunday from injuries he received in the attack last week.
[SUPER=03-Craig Co.]
According to police, 22-year-old William Riley Richardson attacked Sarver when he threatened to call police after Richardson beat a 17-year-old girl. Family and friends say they want to know why the 22-year-old would ever go after a man in a wheelchair.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@6:10:33:20]
[IN Q=IF I COULD HAVE...]
((RICHARD SARVER, JR., SON: IF I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING I COULD TO HAVE PROTECT MY FATHER AND SAM. AFTER THE FACT, I HAVE TO TELL MYSELF IT'S UP TO THE LAW TO HANDLE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Sarver, Jr./Son]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=... HANDLE IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Charges against Richardson have been upgraded from attempted murder to first degree murder. He also faces several other charges including malicious wounding and attempted arson.
(------------)

[7-11Toms-Creek]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC02:30]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]

Opponnets of the new sewer line in Blacksburg won't need a court order to slow down the project. Blackburg's town council has decided to hold off the project until next month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]

Two Blacksburg residents are suing the town over the "12 mile long" sewer line that would run along Toms Creek.

They asked a judge to prevent town council from awarding contracts until a May 13th court hearing on the validity of the bond issue which would pay for it.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Council planned to award those contracts Tuesday night, but the town manager now says they won't be awarded until after the hearing.
Gary Huff says town council could still move forward with the project afterward because the bids are good for 60 days.
Opponents hope the makeup of town council will change after the May elections and the new council will reverse course on the project.

[7-11Fisherman]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC24:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

Carroll County officials are looking into two deaths that happened over the weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fries;]
A body was found on Saturday by three fishermen in the New River near the Low Water Bridge in Fries (Freeze). Investigators say it's 25 year old James Wray Lawson of Woodlawn. He was last seen several months ago by his parents. Investigators say it appears the body had been in the water for some time. His body was sent to Roanoke for an autopsy.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Don't forget the umbrella today, with rain likely again today, but things will dry out later in the week.
Steve Pardon has forecast details, coming up.

[55-VOBJudge-Book]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC 20:06]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=1]

A local judge is picking up the pen again to bring another book to the public.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Stuart]

Patrick County Judge Martin Clark made national headlines four years ago with his book titled "The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living."
It took him two decades to write and more than a dozen rejection letters before it was actually published.
The book ended up on several bestseller lists which totally surprised Clark.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:51]
[IN Q=Yes, yes, especially]
((JUDGE MARTIN CLARK/AUTHOR: YES, YES, ESPECIALLY AFTER STRUGGLING SO LONG. I WAS HAPPY TO JUST NOT TO BE SELLING IT OUT OF THE TRUNK OF MY CAR.))
[SUPER=01-Judge Martin Clark/Author]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=trunk of my car]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

His latest book is titled "Plain Heathen Mischief."
It takes place in Roanoke and involves a disgraced minister, an insurance scam, and even a jewel heist.
It will be released April 27th.
(------------)

[55-11Southside-University]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC1:32:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Plans to build a four-year college in Southside are moving forward.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
The General Assembly recently passed a resolution ordering the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to begin a study into the idea. Developer Bill Adkins offered to donate a hundred acres of land to build the college, and the Harvest Foundation says it will donate 50-million dollars for the project, under an appropriate deadline.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2726]
[IN Q=so we put]
((HARRY CERINO/THE HARVEST FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: SO WE PUT THE DATE OF 2006 THINKING THAT WAS FAIR FOR BOTH THE STATE AND THE FOUNDATION, OBVIOUSLY IF IT DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD WE'D MOVE ON AND LOOK AT OTHER LARGE SCALE PROJECTS FOR THE COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Harry Cerino/The Harvest Foundation Executive Director;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=for the community]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia plans to conduct the study in July, and present its findings to the General Assembly in January.
(------------)

[55-6-NASCAR-Ballet]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC18:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

A local theatre company will be doing two performances of an innovative production instead of three.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week;]
Tickets sales for NASCAR Ballet have been slow to pick up speed. The Jefferson Center says it's sold just 185 of the more than 27-hundred seats available. The production is set to debut this Thursday. Two performances had been scheduled for Saturday but the matinee has now been cancelled. Dancers will simulate a stock-car race with each performance ending with a different "winner." The creation was born of the ballet company's desire to attract a new audience through popular culture.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
Highs will be milder today, reaching the 60s, but we'll be in the 70s by the weekend.
Steve Pardon has the seven day forecast, coming up.

[8-11XGR-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=504-05 TC23:37]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

[ENG#=1]

It all comes down to today for state lawmakers in Richmond. The General Assembly will vote on a nearly one billion dollar tax bill. The house is
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

set to vote on the controversial proposal that would increase the sales tax by a half-cent.
Last week, the bill had the backing of 17 Republican delegates who plan to join Democrats in passing the measure.
But the House majority leader says it is a fluid situation and there are still undecided members.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:05:04]
[IN Q=IF WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS THAT THE]
((HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: IF WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS THAT THE SENATE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS BILL AND MAKE JUST A COUPLE OF LITTLE CHANGES THEN IT PROBABLY PASSES. IF WHAT THEY'RE HEARING IS THAT THE SENATE WANTS EVEN MORE TAX INCREASES, THEN THE BILL MAY FAIL.)) ((SENATOR JOHN WATKINS/R-CHESTERFIELD CO.: ITS VERY UNUSUAL TO BE ASKED IF WE WOULD VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN VOTED ON SO I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO SAY ABSOLUTELY.))
[SUPER=@Griffith; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Watkins/(R) Chesterfield Co.; :15]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO SAY ABSOLUTELY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The compromise measure is being offered as a way to break the month-long budget impasse.
(------------)

[8-11Fralin]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC35:13]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=2]

One local delegate says the budget is in "such a state of disarray," he won't guess what the possible vote outcome will be.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :10]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Roanoke Republican William Fralin says, at this point, he just wants a budget and that he's willing to raise the sales tax by half a cent to solve the impasse.
(///// SOT AT :10 /////)
[SOT 12:49:37 - 12:49:53]
[IN Q=Hopefully the Senate and Governor...]
((DELEGATE WILLIAM FRALIN/R-ROANOKE: HOPEFULLY THE SENATE AND GOVORNER WILL COME ALONG. THE GOVERNOR HAS SPOKEN TO THE PLAN SAYING HE'S IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH IT. HOPEFULLY THE SENATE WILL COME ALONG AND WE CAN GET A BUDGET THIS WEEK. THAT'S MY GOAL. THA'S WHY I'M HEADING TO RICHMOND AGAIN THIS WEEK.))
[SUPER=@Fralin]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=why I'm heading to Richmond again this week.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

The House compromise bill would also raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes to 30 cents, but would eliminate the estate tax and marriage penalty.
The Senate has agreed to drop its push for an income tax hike if the House passes the plan.

[8-6-Bowman]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:11:43]
[GRAPHIC=Logan Bowman]

[ENG#=3]

The disappearance of a Grayson County boy still remains a mystery and continues to plague his family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Five year old Logan Bowman disappeared more than a year ago. His body has never been found.
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./File Tape;]
On Friday the boy's mother, Cynthia Davis, entered a guilty plea to felony murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. A relative of Logan Bowman's told News 7 that the conviction doesn't bring any closure to the family. She went on to say, the family still hopes Davis or someone else will come forward in the next few weeks and tell them where to find Logan. (------------)