WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/26/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Another chance of showers and storms today, with highs reaching the mid 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the forecast, coming up.

[7-11Tazewell-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ecu]
[TAPE#=04-18 TC31:26]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

[ENG#=1]

Tazewell and Russell counties are expected to get more rain today to add more insult to injury.
In addition to a flood watch, both counties are under a state of emergency.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tazewell Co.]
The governor made the declaration yesterday afternoon. This mandate tells all "disaster-response" state agencies to assist in any recovery efforts. Many people had to be rescued from vehicles and homes after they found themselves stranded by flash flooding Monday night. More than 200 homes in the area were damaged in the two counties.
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[7-11Methadone-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC1:32:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

The experience of a clinic in one California city should serve as a warning to Roanoke, according to opponents of a methadone clinic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Yesterday, members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference showed reporters a video produced by the police department in Santa Ana, California.
[SUPER=04-Santa Ana Police Department Video;]

The video documents drug dealing and other crimes that occured outside a methadone clinic there, and the two- year effort that forced the clinic to move.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:05:09]
[IN Q=This is a huge mistake]
((JEFF ARTIS/ROANOKE SCLC CHAIRMAN: THIS IS A HUGE MISTAKE FOR THE CITY TO HAVE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN, AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO SCLC TO SHUT THIS CLINIC DOWN. ))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Artis/Roanoke SCLC Chairman;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=shut this clinic down.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

C-R-C Health Corporation aquired the California clinic, but Vice President Joe Pritchard says the police video was shot before the company took over, and moved the clinic to a new location.
C-R-C is still seeking state approval to open the clinic on Hershberger Road, but that could come in the next 90 days.
(------------)

[7-11L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC1:17:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

9-1-1 dispatchers in Lynchburg will get a pay raise.
The money is coming from extra state funds the city wasn't expecting this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Meanwhile, city council was supposed to finalize its 141-million dollar budget last night, but a last-minute problem with the school board's budget has put that on hold.
Council took 700-thousand dollars out of the school system's money because of savings in the state retirement system.
But educators say that leaves them in the red.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:45:08]
[IN Q=The way the]
((KIMBALL PAYNE/LYNCHBURG CITY MANAGER: THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS COUNCIL GIVES THEM WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO GIVE THEM AND THEY HAVE TO SPEND IT. SO TO SAY THERE'S A HALF MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT DOESN'T GET DONE, WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO OR WOULDN'T DO OR COULDN'T DO IF THEY HAVE A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.))
[SUPER=01-Kimball Payne/Lynchburg City Manager]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=half a million dollar deficit. (2ND TIME)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Council voted in work session to use that money to reduce the proposed hike in the personal property tax rate and eliminate any real estate tax rate increase.
The two sides will crunch the numbers and the budget will come up for a vote again on June 8th.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
More rain and storms in areas that don't need it today--
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the forecast, coming up.

[55-6-Boty-Supers]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC1:16:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

A new comprehensive plan in Botetourt County includes new business, lush acreage and smart growth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle]
After 14-public input meetings and hearings, supervisors adopted the 2004 Comprehensive Plan. Botetourt County continues to grow as more people and businesses move into the area. The board wants the plan to reflect what the county is already doing right- so it can guide the future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@4:15:01:23]
[IN Q=Taking a look...]
((NED MCELWAINE/DEPUTY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: TAKING A LOOK AT VARIOUS DISTRICTS' LAND USE PATTERNS IN THE PAST AND TRIED TO PROJECT THOSE INTO THE FUTURE TO ACCOMODATE GROWTH AND MAXIMIZE THE TYPE OF GROWTH IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COUNTY.))
[SUPER=01-Ned McElwaine/Deputy Botetourt Co. Administrator]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q= SECTORS OF THE COUNTY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The board of supervisors uses the Comprehensive Plan as a guide when making decisions concerning development and building.
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[55-11Quarry]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC17:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Opponents for the quarry in Botetourt County will have to wait even longer for a resolution about the project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
Timber Ridge Properties had petitioned to have its proposal to rezone 300-acres of land removed. Yesterday, the board of supervisors heard from representatives from each side before it decided in a 3-2 vote to accept Timber Ridge's petition. It was a decision that didn't sit well with the nearly 100 people who came out against the project.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@4:56:01:22/quarry interview tape]
[IN Q=We're not...]
((JONNIE SPEIGHT/QUARRY OPPONENT: WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT, JUST AS I SAID IN PRESENTATION, 90-DAYS, 6-MONTHS, 12-MONTHS, WE'LL BE BACK TOGETHER AS CITIZENS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE TO OPPOSE WHAT WE FEEL IS A VERY ILL CONCEIVED PROJECT.))
[SUPER=01-Jonnie Speight/Quarry Opponent]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=... ill conceived project.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Supervisors say this decision gives the company the time they need to address geological and environmental concerns.
(------------)

[55-11Hurricane-preparedness]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC1:06:00]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather]

[ENG#=3]

Hurricane season is a week away and forecastors are predicting an active season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach/Last Summer]

Last year Hurricane Isabel, a Category one storm, hit Virginia.
She caused 36 deaths and nearly two billion dollars in damages in the state.
Officials are warning Virginians to prepare for a Category two or Category three hurricane this year.
They say Isabel is NOT the most severe storm that could strike the state.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:45:36]
[IN Q=IT WAS A BENCHMARK. IT WAS LARGER]
((JANET CLEMENTS/VA DEPT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: IT WAS A BENCHMARK. IT WAS LARGER THAN ANY STORM WE'VE HAD SINCE 1933 BUT IT COULD BE WORSE. AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD LOSS OF LIFE, 36 PEOPLE DIED FROM THIS STORM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.))
[SUPER=01-Janet Clements/Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

State officials say inland residents are affected by hurricanes as much as those living on the coast- because of flooding.
In fact, they say floods cause more damage and loss of life than any other natural disaster.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Partly cloudy today with more scattered thunderstorms.
Highs in the mid 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the mid- week forecast.

[8-VOBSlate-Hill]

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

[ENG#=1]

Roanoke County Supervisors have once again delayed voting on the rezoning for the Slate Hill project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The Board of Supervisors suggested a 30 day delay before the debate even started, but the developer's attorney shot that idea down.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=My client is...]
((ED NATT/DEVELOPER'S ATTORNEY: MY CLIENT IS OF THE OPINION THAT WE HAVE HAD MADE GREAT STRIDES AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE AND GOING AHEAD AND HAVE A DECISION MADE TONIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Ed Natt/Developer's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=...decision made tonight.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
James Smith, the developer; laid out his plans for the hillside at the intersections of Route 419 and 220. Smith wants to develop the hillside as a 35 acre office and retail park that would bring jobs to the area. But many want to know who go in there and what exactly will it look like?
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It baffles me...]
((RALPH DAVIS/OPPOSES PROJECT: IT BAFFLES ME HOW THE COUNTY CAN TOLERATE THE LACK OF SPECIFICITY.))
[SUPER=01-Ralph Davis/Opposes Project;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=...lack of specificity.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
County planners also have concerns about increased traffic in the area and possible erosion to the hillside. When it became apparent a majority of the supervisors would vote against the project, the developer agreed to another 30 day delay. The Board of Supervisors will revisit the issue at its June 22nd meeting.
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[8-11Quarry]

[8-11Resource-Officer]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC1:18:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Colonial Elementary School in Botetourt County is looking for a new school resource officer.
According to the Sheriff, Deputy Crystal J. Dickerson was let go Monday after he twisted a child's arm behind his back.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Last Wednesday]
Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle tells News 7, more claims against Dickerson have now come from parents at Read Mountain Middle School. Sprinkle is meeting with them and says his office will investigate the charges. He says the deputy's termination does *NOT* have anything to do with last Wednesday's incident in which five- 8th graders were taken to the hospital after taking prescription medicine. (------------)