WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/20/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich in for Kimberly McBroom.
Don't forget your umbrella as you head out today.
Temperatures will reach the 80's with a slight chance for an afternoon shower.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your detailed forecast coming up in just a bit.

[7-M'ville-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A North Carolina man is in jail this morning after robbing a Henry County woman. 51 year old Cynthia Adkins Hairston was at Leatherwood Wash and Dry around 2 o-clock yesterday afternoon when 23 year old Gerald Lamont Whittington entered the laundry mat with his 4 month old daughter. Whittington struck Hairston several times in the head, took her purse then fled the scene in her car. Police later stopped the vehicle and arrested him. Whittington has been charged with three felonies.
Hairston was transported to the hospital for treatment.

[7-11State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

The state Senate will NOT vote on any tax proposal today.
A Senate counterproposal to a House tax plan will *NOT* be ready as intially expected.
Senate leaders worked the telephones over the weekend and yesterday tried to draft a tax package favorable to middle-of-the road Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate.
Full afternoon Senate and House sessions were scheduled for today, but late yesterday they were reduced to ``pro forma'' sessions.
No business will be conducted at the sessions, which involve only a handful of legislators.

[7-11Gun-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tzi]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Franklin County man is in custody after police say he took a rifle into a convenience store.
57-year old George Oscar Hodges allegedly entered the Redwood Minute Market yesterday and walked around the store briefly before another customer asked him why he had the gun.
Deputies say Hodges then hit the customer with the butt of the gun and left the store.
Less than ten minutes later, Hodges was apprehended when deputies spotted his vehicle.
He was arrested and charged with DUI, felonius assault, and other gun charges.

[7-VOB-Deputy-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC 6:31]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=1]

Sheriff's deputies in one county are working paycheck to paycheck, some are even on food stamps.
They've asked for a raise, but it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

The starting pay in Pittsylvania County is just under 24-thousand dollars.
Last night, deputies asked the Board of Supervisors for a nine percent raise.
They pointed out other law enforcement agencies in the area pay at least three thousand dollars more. As a result, the department has lost 12 deputies in the last three years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:48:27]
[IN Q=We've had probably]
((HAROLD PLASTER/PITTSYLVANIA CO. SHERIFF: WE'VE HAD PROBABLY 74 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT HAS LEFT US IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND YOU DON'T GET THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE NEW.))
[SUPER=01-Harold Plaster/Pittsylvania Co. Sheriff; ]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=hire someone new]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The proposed 118 million dollar county budget currently calls for no raises.
The chairman of the Board of Supervisors says unless Richmond increases funding, raises for deputies are unlikely this year.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich.
You'll need your sunglasses today as temperatures reach the 80's with a possible chance for an afternoon shower.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your Tuesday forecast coming up.

[55-11Ericsson]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC17:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

An Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby crafts store is keeping its promise to donate Lynchburg's former Ericsson building to Jerry Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Church leaders expect the title for the property to be handed over to them this week.
Falwell will use the 800-thousand square foot building to expand his church and Liberty University.
Another deal to turn 35 nearby acres into a shopping center has fallen through.
Developers say the city wasn't receptive to another strip-mall type project.
The land is now up for sale.
(------------)

[55-11Voting-Machines]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:26:38]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]

[ENG#=2]

Roanoke City voters will have new way to mark their ballots in this year's presidental election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Voters will begin using new, touch-screen voting machines in November. Officials say a demonstration will be set up during the city's May election, but even if you don't vote then, they assure you you won't be left out in the cold.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:06:18]
[IN Q=there will be]
((BERYL BROOKS/ROANOKE CITY REGISTRAR; THERE WILL BE STAFF FROM THE COMPANY THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE IN EACH PRECINCT. OUR MAINTENANCE MEN WILL ALSO BE TRAINED TO DO EASIER MAINTENANCE, MORE SIMPLE MAINTENANCE ON THE MACHINES. SO ANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE ENOUGH STAFF IN THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF ANY OF THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Beryl Brooks/Roanoke City Registrar;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=take care of any of them]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials say the machines are safer and easier than the mechanical ones used now. They say they're also more reliable, because voters can actually review their selections BEFORE submitting them.
(------------)

[55-11Marathon-Runner]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:28:54]
[Graphic=None]

[ENG#=3]

If you're familiar with the history of the Boston Marathon, then you may also have heard of the "Duel in the Sun".
(------------)
[VO NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA/April 1982; :00]
The 1982 race ended with the winner's title going to Alberto Salazar. Dick Beardsley crossed the finish line just 2-second later. The runners had battled for the lead for 9-miles. New Roanoke resident Dean Matthews was Beardsley's training partner and, in fact was running sub-five minute miles right along side Beardsley at Boston that year when he was injured.
(///// SOT at :21 /////)
[SOT :21:35:23 - 21:35:35]
[IN Q=Or, at that time we found out......]
((DEAN MATTHEWS/FORMER MARATHON RUNNER: OR, AT THAT TIME WE FOUND OUT THE SHEATH AROUND MY MUSCLE HAD LITERALLY TORN, ALMOST LIKE A SAUSAGE CASING JUST SPLITTING OPEN, IF YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE.))
[SUPER=01-Dean Matthews/Former Marathon Runner; :00]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=if you can only imagine.]
(------------)
[VO NAT :13] Matthews ran Boston three times, placed first in several *other* marathons and was an alternate for the US Olympic team. He no longer runs but is using his skills to help train runners at Hidden Valley High School.
(-------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich.
You'll need your sunblock and an umbrella today.
Temperatures will soar into the upper 70's with a chance of a shower this afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your 7 day outlook in just a few moments.

[8-M'ville-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A North Carolina man is in jail after robbing a Henry County woman. 51 year old Cynthia Adkins Hairston was at Leatherwood Wash and Dry around 2 o-clock yesterday afternoon when 23 year old Gerald Lamont Whittington entered the laundry mat with his 4 month old daughter. Whittington struck Hairston several times in the head, took her purse then fled the scene in her car. Police later stopped the vehicle and arrested him. Whittington is charged with three felonies and is held in the Danville City jail
Meanwhile, Hairston was transported to the hospital for treatment.

[8-11GOP-Cheney]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC2:00:38]
[GRAPHIC=Cheney]

[ENG#=1]

Ninth district congressional candidate Kevin Triplett got a huge endorsement yesterday. Vice President Dick Cheney made a return trip to Roanoke to pitch Triplett for 9th district.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

In his second visit to the valley in less than a year, Cheney spoke to Triplett supporters yesterday at the Wyndham Hotel.
Republicans believe the former NASCAR executive offers the best opportunity in years to unseat Democrat Rick Boucher. Yesterday, Triplett said the Vice President's visit has helped validate his campaign.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He's optimistic]
((DICK CHENEY/VICE-PRESIDENT: HE'S OPTIMISTIC AND FULL OF ENERGY AND ONCE HE'S IN CONGRESS HE'S GOING TO USE ALL OF IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NINTH DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.)) ((MIKE DENTON/WASHINGTON CO. GOP CHAIRMAN: I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD CANDIDATES IN THE PAST. SOMETIMES WE HAD GOOD CANDIDATES BUT NOT ENOUGH MONEY. I THINK THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MONEY AND A GOOD SOLID CANDIDATE WITH A GOOD WORK ETHIC, AND I THINK EVERYTHING'S COMING TOGETHER. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF OUR BETTER SHOTS IN QUITE A WHILE.))
[SUPER=@Cheney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Denton/Washington Co. GOP Chairman; :10]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=one of our better shots in quite a while.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Triplett trails Boucher in fundraising, but the campaign says the Vice President's visit brought in more than 100-thousand dollars.
(------------)

[8-11Dems-Cheney]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC21:46]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

[ENG#=2]

Virginia Democrates are confident that Ninth District voters won't be swayed by the Bush-Chaney campaign machine.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

They say people in Southwest Virginia aren't easily fooled by Washington rhetoric.
But Democrats are taking notice of the vice president's trip.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:02:34]
[IN Q=WHILE WE TAKE VERY CHALLENGER]
((LAURA BLAND/DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA: WHILE WE TAKE EVERY CHALLENGER SERIOUSLY I DON'T THINK ITS ANY SURPRISE THAT THE BUSH/CHENEY MACHINE WOULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON MANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bland/Democratic Party of Virginia]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=BECAUSE THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Democrat officials also criticized Cheney for taking money from Southwest Virginians while the Bush Administration is cutting programs that benefit the area. (------------)