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

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Lots of sunshine today with temperatues warming up quite a bit.
We'll see highs in the mid 60s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your complete forecast, coming up.

[7-11Missing-Man]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC27:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Montgomery County officials are still searching for a missing man.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Deputies say 83 year old Ralph Price wandered away from the Wheatland Retirement Community about six o-clock last night.
Price suffers from dementia and does not have any medication with him.
He's about six feet tall and weighs 170 pounds and was last seen wearing khaki pants and a tan polo shirt.
If you've seen him, you're asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
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[7-11Bus-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC31:36]
[GRAPHIC=ACCIDENT]

[ENG#=2]

Not one, but two accidents at the same location in Montgomery County. Both crashes happened along Camp Carrysbrook Road in Riner.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
A school bus carrying nine student and two teachers from Auburn High School slid off the road and onto its side around 8:15 yesterday morning. No one was seriously hurt, but the bus driver has been charged with reckless driving. 61 year old Bradford Charles Grems has also been suspended with pay.
And just hours later, a dump truck coming to fix Carrysbrook road overturned at the same spot. Residents say accidents like these happen all the time. V-DOT graded the road again yesterday and widened it slightly, but residents say more needs to be down with the edges of the road to prevent future accidents.
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[7-VOBCounty-Supers]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-19 TC 5:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]

Roanoke County's Board of Supervisors reviewed and tabled two controversial developments in the area.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Supervisors decided they needed more information before voting on the Slate Hill Project.
Developer James Smith wants to build a office and retail park on this hillside near the Tanglewood Mall.
Opponents and county leaders have concerns over increased traffic and erosion to the hill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:21:28]
[IN Q=The slope is]
((JAMES SMITH/SLATE HILL DEVELOPER: THE SLOPE IS SIMILAR TO THE SLOPE TO WHAT YOU HAVE ACROSS THE STREET AT PHESANT RIDGE AND YOU NEED TO BRING THE TOP DOWN AND THE BOTTOM UP AND NOW YOU ARE DEALING WITH 150 FOOT SLOPE INSTEAD OF 300 FOOT SLOPE.))
[SUPER=01-James Smith/Slate Hill Developer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=300 foot slope]
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[VO-NAT]

Supervisors also agreed to send the Keagy Road Village Project back to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Kahn Development wants to build village style shopping complex near Allstate Insurance but many nearby residents oppose it.
As a result, Kahn is about to acquire land that would shift the project away from Keagy Road.
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[7-6-Craig-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=503-04 TC1:45:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

Craig County Sheriff's office says the elderly man found dead in the woods near the Paint Bank Fish Hatchery died most likely of a heart attack.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Craig Co.]
Rescue workers responded to the area North of the hatchery just after nine o'clock Monday night to find the body of 74-year-old John Morgan Sweeney of Salem. Sheriff Clifford Davidson says Sweeney had a cabin in Craig County and would regularly visit the area to hunt and fish.
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[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
We're starting out windy and cool, but sunny skies will warm up temperatures nicely this afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the mid- week forecast, in just a few minutes.

[55-11Missing-Man]

[55-6-Boty-Water]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC40:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

After 15 years of no change in rates, Botetourt County is going to raise its water and sewer rates on certain properties.
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[VO-NAT]
Yesterday, the board of supervisors decided to raise the rates. For residential customers water rates will NOT increase, but sewer rates will by two-dollars a bill, while sewer connections for residents will go up 500-bucks. For commercial properties, the water rates will increase six-dollars for the first four-thousand gallons. And, the county will now charge a new rate of more than three-dollars for every thousand gallons over that. Sewer rates will increase by 20 to 25 percent depending on the size of the meters.
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[55-6-Monty-budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC51:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Montgotmery County is raising taxes also. The Board of Supervisor's has approved a 3-cent increase to the real estate tax. But the hike still won't raise enough money to cover the 115-million dollar budget. The board is still more than 450-thousand dollars short.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
The hike was largely needed to help cover the costs of renovations to the county courthouse and upgrades to several athletic fields.
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[55-6-Campaign-Spending]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC1:17:32]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]

[ENG#=4]

Election day isn't until next week, but...it looks like it will be a photo finish for some candidates when it comes to fundraising for Roanoke Mayor.
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[VO-NAT]

Counting loans of almost nine thousand dollars, Republican Alice Hincker has raised more than 28- thousand.

Democrat Nelson Harris has loaned his campaign one thousand dollars, and collected 25- thousand more from contributors.
Independent Mac McCadden has raised more than eight thousand seven hundred dollars.
While Independent George Sgouros (SCORE-us) has raised and spent just over two hundred.
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[55-11Lake-Cleanup]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:38:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Organizers for the annual "Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake" day are expanding the event this year, but not because there's more trash to pick up.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
They say it's because they want to take more time to properly thank the volunteers. So instead of having an appreciation party following Saturday's cleanup, the party will be held on Sunday. More than 700-volunteers took part last year. Organizers say they've almost reached that number already this year.
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[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Sunshine re- enters the forecast and should stick around through the end of the work week.
Look for highs today in the 60s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the seven day outlook, coming up.

[8-VA-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=tco]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

[ENG#=1]

The wait for a state budget may be over soon.
The House and Senate have agreed on a tax plan and that means the state could have a budget in the next few days.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The car tax relief is included in the 1.4 billion dollar tax plan, but not before it hit a few speed bumps in the House.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I dare say...]
[SUPER=01-Del. Robert Marshall/(R) Manassas;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=...car tax promise.]

[SOT]
[IN Q=Whose money is...]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jack Reid/(R) Henrico Co.;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=...it back to?]
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[VO-NAT]
Despite opposition, the majority of the House voted for the measure which also raises the state sales tax and cigarette tax. Governor Warner says he's proud of legislators and happy with the outcome but admits it wasn't easy getting there.
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[8-11Franklin-Budget]

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

Taxes are going up for Franklin County residents. Last night, the Board of Supervisors passed a new budget with a four- to- three vote. After "sharp" debate, supervisors voted to increase taxes by 53 cents - one cent lower than originally proposed. The Board also voted NOT to grant Franklin County Speedway owner Whitey Taylor a permit to operate his race- track. Supervisors say Taylor needs to fix the track's erosion problems.

[8-11Clearbrook]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC1:25:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

It's going to take a lot of work to get a volunteer rescue squad in Roanoke County back in business. That's according to the medical director for the state office of emergency services.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :27]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The Clearbrook squad recently had its license suspended after its operational medical director resigned. Dr. Cheryl Haas (Hoss) stepped down after learning the squad was under investigation for what one county official described as possibly "inappropriate" financial action. Trauma surgeon Dr. Carol Gilbert, who also serves as the medical director for the Virginia Office of EMS, says Clearbrook approached her about taking over for Dr. Haas.
(///// SOT at :27 /////)
[SOT 13:51:01 - 113:51:15]
[IN Q=AT THE PRESENT TIME THEY'D HAVE TO GO BACK...]
((DR. CAROL GILBERT/MEDICAL DIR., VA OFFICE OF EMS: AT THE PRESENT TIME THEY'D HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THE STATE TO GET THEIR LICENSURE BACK AND THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN ALOT MORE THAN JUST YOUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR. IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE IT'S JUST A LONG HARD ROAD TO RECOVER.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Carol Gilbert/SW Virginia EMS Medical Director;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=long hard road to recover.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
Ultimately, Gilbert did not take the position. She says the squad had concerns about her suggestions. The squad has a matter of days to find a new OMD or risk losing its license completely.