WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/26/04

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

Coming up on News 7--

Half a dozen teenagers face charges after several drug overdoses last week at a middle school in Botetourt County.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]

While much of the country is coping with flooding-- the weather is especially deadly in the Caribbean where more than 500 people have died.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=LEO]
[SS=None]
Clouds are building across the region and we once again have a chance for showers and thunderstorms some of which maybe on the strong to severe side. I'll have your forecast.
[ANCHOR=Kim 2-Shot]

Stay with us. News 7 at noon, starts right now.

[Drug-Charges]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Noon]

[ENG#=2]

Six teenagers are facing drug charges after a group overdosed last week at a Botetourt County Middle School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Last Wednesday]
Petitions have been filed in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court stemming from the incident, where five 8th-grade students were taken to the hospital after complaining of dizziness. The three-boys and three-girls involved are 14 and 15 year-olds. The Sheriff's Office says a 15-year-old boy got the drug, Klonopin, and gave it to his classmates. The teens face a number of drug charges-- including possession and distribution of the seizure medication. Two of the teens also face marijuana charges. Hearing on the petitions is scheduled for July 6th.
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[Dominican-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

[ENG#=4]

The death toll from flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean has risen to over 500.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jimani, Dominican Republic;]

Authorities say many of the victims in Haiti and the Dominican Republic were killed when rain- swollen rivers went over their banks.
The flooding followed several days of torrential rain.
Thousands have been left homeless in both countries.
Power was cut off in many areas, and crops were waterlogged, but officials say it's still too early to give any damage estimates.
The Dominican weather service said that about 10 inches of rain fell in the last 24 hours.
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[WX-Tease] ((KIMBERLY TOSS TO LEO)) [5/26/2004]
[SS=NONE]

LEO in WX-CENTER
[SKYTRACKER/FULL] RADAR [WXPRO/FULL] SATELLITE STORY
[SS=NONE]

(LEO TOSS TO KIMBERLY)

[Midwest-WX]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

[ENG#=1]

Meanwhile, the rain- swollen rivers are starting to recede in some parts of the Midwest.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gurnee, IL;]

In Gurnee, Illinois, the river is receding from its highest level, more than four and a half- feet above flood stage.
It forced more than a dozen families from their homes.
Some schools and roads are still closed.
[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO;]

A quick, but vicious storm smacked St. Louis and parts of eastern Missouri.
High winds knocked out power and shattered windows.
The storm hit just before rush hour, unleashing heavy rain, high winds, and hail as large as golf balls.
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[Terrorism]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Highly credible, but NOT specific--
That's how the government describes information that warns about a possible terrorist attack in the U-S this summer.
Aleen Sirgany has the latest from Washington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Tom Ridge/U. S. Homeland Security Secretary; :20]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :28]
[SUPER=@Sirgany1;]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=Sirgany, CBS News, Washington.]

(( THE THREAT IS FAMILIAR. DESPITE NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION POINTING TO WHERE, WHEN OR HOW, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS WARNING THERE COULD BE NEW ATTACKS THIS SUMMER BY TERRORISTS ALREADY IN THE UNITED STATES. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TOM RIDGE SAYS HIS PEOPLE ARE TAKING NO CHANCES.

(SOT)TOM RIDGE/HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY
At some of the higher-profile events, you can better believe that there'll be additional security, not just from the federal level, but a lot of folks are going to see local law enforcement ramp up security over the next several months as well.
THOSE HIGH PROFILE EVENTS BEGIN WITH THIS WEEKENDS DEDICATION OF THE WORLD WAR TWO MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON. AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE G-8 SUMMIT IN GEORGIA. TWO OTHER HOT SPOTSJULY'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN BOSTON AND THE AUGUST GOP CONVENTION IN NEW YORK. THERE'S ALSO CONCERN ABOUT AN ATTACK TIED TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. THE MARCH 11TH TRAIN BOMBINGS IN SPAIN HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON ELECTIONS THERE.

(SOT)RIDGE. 00 On a day-to-day basis it's our job to get smarter and
more secure. We do that, but we need Americans to just go about living their lives and enjoying living in this country.
RIDGE SAYS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO RAISE THE COLOR-CODED TERROR ALERT LEVEL. RIGHT NOW, ITS SET AT YELLOW.AN ELEVATED RISK OF ATTACK.
STAND-UP: IT'S WIDELY KNOWN AL QAEDA IS INTERESTED IN CAUSING SPECTACULAR ATTACKS. THAT'S WHY OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED TERRORISTS MAY TRY TO USE A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO INFLICT MAXIMUM DAMAGE. ALEEN SIRGANY, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON. ))

[11Resource-Officer]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC1:18:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

A Botetourt County school resource officer has been fired.
Deputy Crystal J. Dickerson was let go Monday after an incident at Colonial Elementary School.
According to the Sheriff, Dickerson 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 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.
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[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ENG#=V10]

Still to come on the newscast, Roanoke County puts off a decision on a controversial building project.
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[VO-NAT ]
Plus as the violence continues in Iraq, American forces say they have capture a key enemy leader.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #1]

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

[ENG#=1]

Fighting overnight in Najaf has killed 24 people and injured nearly 50 others.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Najaf, Iraq;]

But U-S forces have also captured the brother-in-law of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr.
He's said to be a key lieutenant in al- Sadr's militia forces, which have fought with coalition forces over the last several weeks.
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

In Baghdad this morning, two Iraqi civilians were killed in a car bomb, as attacks in the capital city continue rising in the weeks leading up to the June 30th handover of power.
Also in Baghdad today, two Russians were killed and five others were injured when shots were fired at their bus.
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[11Methadone-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC1:32:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Opponents of a Roanoke methadone clinic say the experience of one California city should serve as a warning.
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[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.
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[Slate-Hill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC 8:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Roanoke County Supervisors have put off a decision on a controversial project. As, Justin McLeod tells us, the supervisors will revisit the Slate Hill issue in June.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed Natt/Developer's Attorney; :12]
[SUPER=01-James Smith/Slate Hill Developer; :33]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Davis/Opposes Project; :48 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Frances Boatman/Opposes Project; 1:08]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF THE MEETING))
Before the debate got underway, the Board of Supervisors suggested a 30 day delay.
But the developer's attorney quickly shot that down.
[SOT 6:36:01; tape 1]
[IN Q=My client is of the]
((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.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=decision made tonight]

With that developer got up and presented his plans for this hillside at the intersections of Routes 419 and 220.
It is called the Slate Hill Project and James Smith wants to develop it as a 35 acre office and retail park.
[SOT 3:54:41 Tape 2]
[IN Q=The number one]
((JAMES SMITH/SLATE HILL DEVELOPER: THE NUMBER ONE ATTRIBUTE OF THE PROJECT AS I HAVE PROPOSED IT IS JOBS.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=it is jobs]

Those jobs could be the result of a restaurant, grocery store, or even a hotel.
But many want to know who exactly will go in there and what exactly will it look like?
[SOT 4:00:17; tape 2]
[IN Q=It baffles me]
((RALPH DAVIS/OPPOSES PROJECT: IT BAFFLES ME HOW THE COUNTY CAN TOLERATE THE LACK OF SPECIFICITY.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=lack of specificity]
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]

Specifics such as the size of the buildings.
County planners also have concerns about increased traffic in the area and possible erosion to the hillside.
The developer has addressed many of these concerns but not all prompting some to blame the developer.
[SOT 4:13:13; tape 2]
[IN Q=You offered them another]
((FRANCES BOATMAN: YOU OFFERED THEM ANOTHER THIRTY DAYS YOU DIDN'T WANT TO KILL THIS PROJECT. BUT IN MY OPINION IF IT'S KILLED HERE TONIGHT YOU ARE NOT THE ONES WHO DID IT.)) [Runs08]
[OUT Q=who did it ]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=When it became]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT A MAJORITY OF THE SUPERVISORS WOULD VOTE AGAINS THE PROJECT, THE DEVELOPER GOT UP AND AGREED TO THE 30 DAY DELAY. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL ONCE AGAIN REVIST THE ISSUE AT ITS JUNE 22ND MEETING. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))

[11L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC1:17:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

The city of Lynchburg is giving its 9-1-1 dispatchers a pay raise.
The money is coming from extra state funds the city wasn't expecting this year.
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[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)]
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[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.
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[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ENG#=V10]

Coming up next on the newscast, Roanoke's Mayor-elect will join us.
(-----------------)
[Take Book FULL]
The Reverend Nelson Harris will tell us about his new book about the history of Downtown Roanoke.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[Harris-Book]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=Non]

Roanoke's next mayor is also an author-- having just released ANOTHER book tracing the roots of the Star City.
In 2002, Nelson Harris released a postcard book. [TAKE BOOK FULL]
Last month, he published his latest work, which focuses on the history of Downtown Roanoke. He joins us now to talk more about it..
Good Afternoon...
(----------------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly TWO SHOT]

(This is really fascinating...it goes all the way back to the earliest days of Roanoke...which sort of resembled the wi
ld west. How long did you spend doing research?)

[SUPER=01-Rev. Nelson Harris/Roanoke Mayor-Elect;]

(The photos are great-- most folks probably don't realize how much the downtown landscape has changed over the last 100
years....)

(And many of these photos have never been published before?)

(Now that you're going to be Roanoke's next mayor..do you think you'll still have time for other literary projects?)

(Are you also an avid photographer? Maybe some of your photos will end up in a book 100 years from now...)

(And we need to let folks know that you'll be doing a book signing this weekend at Ram's Head Bookshop at Towers Mall-
- Saturday from 1 to 3.)

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

Thanks for coming in today...
[Weather] [NOON WEATHER] [5/26/04] [TWO SHOT]

[WEATHERNET/FULL] CURRENTS TIMELAPSE
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]

[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [WXPRO/FULL] FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
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On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN 11 points. The NASDAQ has gained two.

[super=460-y/11/x/2;]

[Tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ENG#=V10]

Up next in sports, a former Friday Football Extra star may get jail time.
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[VO-NAT ]

And the Stanley Cup playoffs get underway as the Flames try to skate past Calgary.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-NHL]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-169 12538TC]
[GRAPHIC=NHL PLAYOFFS]

[ENG#=1]

The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs opened last night in a less than ideal way for the New Kids on the Block from Tampa.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tampa, FL/ESPN; :00]
The Lightning was hoping to strike the Flames early in game 1. But the Flames would get two goals from behind the net to set the tone.
Nikolai Khabibulin (HAV-AY-BOOLIN) makes the save, but the putback is in the net by Jarome Iginla (AGAIN- LUH,) 2-to-nothing.
[super=31-Calgary/4/Tampa Bay/1;]
Then, Stephane (STEFON) Yelle (YELL) just outworks the Lightning, and scores. Calgary wins game one 4-to-1.
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[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-172 11026tc]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

[ENG#=2]

The ECHL released its league- wide schedule for next season. The Express will open on the road against former coach Perry Florio and the Pee Dee Pride on October 22nd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Season; :00]
The first home game is a week later on October 29th. The Express plays 19 different opponents, including two it's never faced before in Texas and Mississippi. The new schedule includes 11 Friday night home games and 11 Saturday night home contests. The regular season doesn't end until April 9th. Season tickets are now on sale at the Roanoke Civic Center.
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[S-Tyler]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-171 1:12:33]
[GRAPHIC=ACC baseball tourney]
[ENG#=3]
The A-C-C baseball tournament is underway at Salem Memorial Field.
The Clemson Tigers are playing and they are counting heavily on a local lefty. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./2000 Season; :00]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :10]
[SUPER=01-Tyler Lumsden/71 Strikeouts This Season; :20]
[SUPER=01-Kevin O'Sullivan/Clemson Pitching Coach; :33]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :48]
[RUNS=1:38]

[OUT Q=..News 7 sports"][S-Keith]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-167 12318tc]
[GRAPHIC=nfl]

[ENG#=4]

Former Friday Football Extra star Keith Hamilton could be facing six months in jail when he is sentenced for drug possession.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]
The retired New York Giants defensive lineman, who was a standout at Heritage high school, pleaded guilty to possessing about a gram of cocaine.
Police say they found it inside a folded dollar bill during a traffic stop in Morristown, New Jersey in May of last year. Hamilton, who is now 33, retired in February after 12 NFL seasons - all with the Giants.
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