WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/28/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Clouds will break apart and give way to some sunshine later today.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your mid- week forecast, coming up.

[7-Prostitution-Bust]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Roanoke City police busted 14 people for prostitution and solicitation last Wednesday. Undercover officers worked Southwest Roanoke throughout the day and into the night, with help from officers from neighboring jurisdictions. More than 90 arrests have been made for prostitution and solicitation in Southwest over the last three months.

[7-VOBGolf-Course]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-30 TC12:00]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=1]

A county planner's mistake means Roanoke County will have to take a new course of action on a proposed golf course.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Golf course designer Lester George wants to build a 250 acre course on the old Saul Farm located on Pitzer Road in Mt. Pleasant.
At first, county leaders thought the entire land was already zoned for agricultural and residential. As a result the golf course only needed a special use permit.
But the county now says 115 acres is zoned just agricultural therefore it needs to be rezoned.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:17:31]
[IN Q=We just didn't know it]
((JANET SCHEID/ROANOKE CO. CHIEF PLANNER: WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT. IT WAS A MISTAKE A STAFF PERSON MADE. NO ONE ELSE CAUGHT IT WHEN I SAT DOWN LATE LAST WEEK TO START PUTTING TOGETHER THE STAFF REPORT FOR THE GOLF COURSE IS WHEN I FOUND THE MISTAKE.))
[SUPER=01-Janet Scheid/Roanoke Co. Chief Planner;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=found the mistake]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

That mistake was found after a public meeting was held with nearby residents last week.
Some expressed concern over increased traffic but the majority who came out supported the golf course and county leaders believe that won't change.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:18:39]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((JANET SCHEID/ROANOKE COUNTY'S CHIEF PLANNER: I DON'T THINK THIS REZONING WILL MAKE TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE TO THEM. IF APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IT STILL GOING TO BE A GOLF COURSE.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=be a golf course]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It will make a difference to the man who wants to build the golf course.
To make amends, the county has agreed to push back the Planning Commission's public hearing from August 3rd to August 10th. But a vote by the Board of Supervisors is still scheduled for August 24th.
(-------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[7-11Keagy-Village]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-27 TC38:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Month]

Meantime, a controversial development in Roanoke County is now a done deal.
Last month, the Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 in favor of the Keagy Village Project.
It's an upscale shopping center planned for the corner of Route 419 and Keagy Road next to Allstate Insurance.
Opponents had 30 days to file an appeal in circuit court but that deadline has now passed.
Kahn Development hopes to begin construction by the end of the year.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
We're getting a break from the wet weather.
Skies will be turning partly cloudy today.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the seven day outlook, coming up.

[55-11Electronic-Voting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC41:07]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2004]

[ENG#=1]

This November will be the first time many voters will use a computer to cast their ballots.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
But election officials like those in Roanoke County, say voters have nothing to worry about. In fact, they say the electronic voting machines are not only more accurate, but also easier to use.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5248]
[IN Q=and it gives you]
((DIANE HENSON/ROANOKE CO. REGISTRAR; AND IT GIVES YOU A SUMMARY SCREEN THAT YOU NEVER HAD BEFORE THAT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY WHO YOU VOTED FOR.))
[SUPER=01-Diane Henson/Roanoke Co. Registrar;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=voted for]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But critics say the machines certified in Virginia don't come with a paper back up system -- which is their biggest concern.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1803]
[IN Q=one of the]
((CRAIG BRIANS/VIRGINIA TECH POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR; ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS IS THAT THE MACHINES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE. THE PAPER BACK UP COST ABOUT 15-HUNDRED DOLLARS EXTRA PER MACHINE, BASED ON THE CURRENT MARKET PRICES.))

[SUPER=01-Craig Brians/Virginia Tech Political Science Professor;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=on the current prices]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Right now, there are FIVE "E-voting machines" certified in Virginia. However, the state wants to certify THREE more -- two of which WILL have paper back-up systems.
(------------)

[55-11Blacksburg-Construction]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-19 TC1:36:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Downtown Blacksburg's new facelift is taking longer than expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The town is ripping up the sidewalk and cutting down trees to change the look of main street. By the first home football game the downtown is supposed to have new brick sidewalks, lighting, trash cans, trees and benches.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:2:20:06:00 ]
[IN Q=You're starting]
((MARK VERNIEL: YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE IT UNFOLD BEFORE US AND I THINK A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TO TOWN IN A WHILE COMING BACK FOR A FOOTBALL GAME. HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR SO THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY COME BACK TO TOWN AND SEE HOW NICE IT LOOKS.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Verniel/Blacksburg Assistant Town Manager;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=nice it looks.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials are going to double the number of crews working on the project to try and get everything finished by the first week of September. Next week, new trees will be planted. The town is also still planning to hold it's annual "Stepping Out" festival next Friday.
(------------)

[55-6Resource-Officer]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC55:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Montgomery County has decided to hire new resource officers for several middle schools this coming year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/File Tape;]
The county will set aside 30-thousand dollars to fund a school resource officer at Auburn, Christiansburg and Shawsville middle schools. The county has already committed money for resource officers in the *high* schools. The positions will have to be renewed each year, and that concerns some supervisors. It's estimated that three years from now the positions will cost about 200-thousand dollars a year.
(------------)

[55-11Bedford-Arts]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC51:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

Bedford may have a creative arts center before the end of the year, thanks to the help of some generous donors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Bedford;]
The Wharton Memorial Foundation will announce this week that a donation will allow the group to buy the Bedford Christian Church. The church will be renovated to accommodate the newly formed Bedford Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, a community school focusing on education and entertainment. Weekend workshops and satellite music lessons could begin as soon as this fall. The funds were donated by former Bedford resident Dr. John Bower.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Sunshine makes a return appearance, with high temperatures reaching the mid 80s.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the forecast for the rest of the week, coming up.

[8-Prostitution-Bust]

[8-11Minorities-Crime]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-18 TC1:46:15]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=1]

It was a brainstorming session designed to curb crime in minority neighborhoods.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Local officials offered suggestions yesterday to members of Governor Warner's "Preventing Crime in Minority Communities" Task Force. The group has traveled across the Commonwealth listening to problems and solutions within each region. Suggestions include programs which would build trust between citizens and law enforcement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@10:00:08.09]
[IN Q=Even though our community...]
((JOE GASKINS/ROANOKE CITY POLICE CHIEF : EVEN THOUGH OUR COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED, I THINK IT HAS TO BE MORE INVOLVED. MORE INVOLVED IN THE POLICE, AND THEY HAVE TO BE MORE WILLING TO GET INVOLVED IN THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND, NUMBER TWO, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE RECRUITING FROM THE MINORITY COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Gaskins/Roanoke City Police Chief;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=.. the minority community.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The task force will present a report to the Governor by the end of this year outlining its findings.
(------------)

[8-11Northside-Windows]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC24:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

A gang of vandals in Roanoke County have moved on to destroy higher profile targets -- now they're committing felonies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The latest incident happened at Northside Middle School.
Someone shot out 19 windows with a B-B gun sometime Tuesday morning.
This in addition to a brick that was thrown through a window the night before.
Police say they have several leads but admit this has been a tricky case to solve.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:05:26]
[IN Q=It's late at night]
((R. G. CROSIER/ROANOKE CO. POLICE OFFICER: IT'S LATE AT NIGHT. EVERYONE IS ASLEEP WITH AIR CONDITIONERS RUNNING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT OCCASIONALLY DURING THE NIGHT AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN SEE.))
[SUPER=01-R. G. Crosier/Roanoke Co. Police Officer;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=what you can see]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Charges will be elevated to a felony because damage estimates at the school top one thousand dollars.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Police believe these are the same vandals who have shot out 43 car windows in the county in the last several weeks.

[8-6Shell]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC56:00]
[GRAPHIC=Shell, Robert]

[ENG#=3]

Bob Shell, the professional photographer and murder suspect, is filing a suit against the Radford Police.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape]
Three weeks ago, a state judge gave the Commonwealth's Attorney 21 days to account for computers and camera equipment police seized from Shell. Yesterday Shell's attorney filed a copyright infringement claim against Radford Police in federal court. Among the photos Shell is seeking is at least one image of Marion Franklin, the woman he's accused of killing. (------------)