WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/03/04

[Hurricane-Alex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]

The National Hurricane center is warning people along North Carolina's Outer Banks to get ready for a brush with what's now Hurricane Alex.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hatteras Island, NC;]

Alex is approaching the Outer Banks, and the state's coast is under a hurricane warning.
Officials recommend Hatteras Island residents stay off the roads, as wind gusts reach hurricane force.
Swimmers are warned to look out for strong currents, but many surfers ventured out to ride the storm swell.
(------------)

[AM-Bridge-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-34 TC 5:04]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Roanoke County Police have identified the man whose body was found below the Blue Ridge Parkway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
A preliminary investigation indicates 62 year old Ronald Wayne Carter jumped to his death from the Roanoke River Bridge. Hikers discovered the body around 7-o-clock last night. Police and rescue squads were called to the overlook, but Carter was pronounced dead at the scene.

(------------)[Terror-Security]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Security is tighter in three U-S cities following the latest terror warnings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Heavily armed police secured New York's Citigroup complex, and guards searched bags at the New York Stock Exchange.
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

In Washington, SWAT teams patrolled the subway near the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Officials expect the new security measures to stay in place for at least the near future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're in a period]
((CHARLES RAMSEY/WASHINGTON, DC POLICE CHIEF: WE'RE IN A PERIOD OF TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE OUR AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE HEIGHTENED BECAUSE OF THE IMPENDING ELECTIONS. IT COULD GO TO THE ELECTION; IT COULD AS LONG AS THE INAUGURATION OR BEYOND. ))
[SUPER=01-Charles Ramsey/Washington, DC Police Chief;]
[RUNS=:10] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=inauguration or beyond.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Meanwhile, the Statue of Liberty is scheduled to re-open to visitors today for the first time since 9-11.
Visitors will have to pass through airport- type security checks before boarding a ferry, then face new security measures at the statue.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=4]

The Army reservist at the center of the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal gets her day in court today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

A hearing at Fort Bragg, North Carolina will determine if Private Lynndie England should face court martial on charges she abused Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison.
England's attorneys say their client was following orders, and they hope the hearing will allow them to question military higher- ups they feel are responsible.
She could receive up to 38 years in prison.
(------------)

[D'ville-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Robbery]

Big Al's Citgo on Riverside Drive in Danville was robbed again last night. The same clerk that was working last week when the place was robbed was on duty again. The clerk called police shortly beforel ten last night to report two men with dark clothes holding rags over their faces came in and pulled a pistol. They took money from the register and left on foot towards Old Riverside Drive.

[11Resource-Officer]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=None]
The Botetourt County school resource officer accused of inappropriate conduct with a child will NOT face criminal charges -- that's the word from the Commonwealth's Attorney office. Deputy Crystal Dickerson was fired after she admitted twisting a boy's arm behind his back at Colonial Elementary school, after he tried to hug her.

[VOBSchool-Merger]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC 3:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

Some area school systems are asking whether two really is better than one.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

The Martinsville and Henry County school boards have until the end of August to agree in principle to a merger.
A seven member committee recommended in June that the two localities join forces and have one school system.
The Martinsville School Board took up the issue yesterday afternoon and while no one seemed opposed outright, some have several concerns.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:48:33]
[IN Q=if you look at what happened]
((BERNIE GRAY/MARTINSVILLE BOARD MEMBER: IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A MERGER OF THE HENRY COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AND MARTINSVILLE SOCIAL SERVICES, THAT WASN'T A MERGER, THAT WAS A TAKEOVER.))
[SUPER=01-Bernie Gray/Martinsville Board Member; :]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=WAS A TAKEOVER]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Martinsville School Board voted to hold off a vote until August 24th.
The Henry County School Board will take up the issue Thursday on whether to endorse the concept of merger and continue studying the issue.
(------------)

[11Victory-Stadium]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-20 1:48:26]
[GRAPHIC=Victory Stadium]
[ENG#=2]

Roanoke City Council has appointed the committee that will consider the future of Victory Stadium, and council members say they want the panel's report within nine months.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Council members crafted a mission statement that includes considering the feasibility of renovating Victory Stadium.
But the committee will review the need for other athletic facilities as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's lots of room]
((BRIAN WISHNEFF/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: THERE'S LOTS OF ROOM IN THERE FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEM HAVING THE ABILITY, THE COMMITTEE HAVING THE ABILITY TO HIRE AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT TO STAY.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Wishneff/Roanoke City Council]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=able to get that to stay.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Fourteen men and women were chosen for the group. None are current council members.

[11Vinton-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=None]
Cardinal Glass needs to fill almost 50 jobs when it starts up in Vinton, and the company is looking for people to fill them.
(+++++++)
[Take Job Fair FS] The company will hold a job fair Thursday afternoon from noon to seven at the War Memorial. Cardinal Glass is looking for production employees.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, Investors shake off terrorism concerns. And, Cox Communications could become a private company.
Jean Lee has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jean Lee/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((The Dow could try to make it six for six when the markets open Tuesday. Stocks staged a comeback on MOnday, shaking off terrorism concerns and closing with gains.

The Dow rose 39 points - gaining for FIVE straight session...the first 5-day winning streak of this year.

The Nasdaq added more than 4.

Stocks ended the session higher despite news of the terror alert level being raised to orange over the weekend in Washington, D.C., and northern New Jersey. Though this warning was more unusual, in that it targets key financial sector buildings including the NYSE and the International Monetary Fund, Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer at First Albany, says Americans have learned to live with warnings.

Cox Communications (COX: ) could add to its gains from Monday. Shares added more than 5-dollars, after news that the cable TV operator's parent, Cox Enterprises, proposed paying nearly 8 Bilion dollars, take the company private.

Citigroup (C), is one of the targets indicated in the terror warning, but shares actually moved higher along with the broader market. Shares of another target, Prudential (PRU), finished slightly lower.

Find out about the latest news affecting Wall Street. Log on to out website. It's cbs.mw.com. I'm jl, cbs mw in ny.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[Missing-Woman]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

Searchers will return to a Salt Lake City landfill tomorrow to search for Lori Hacking's body.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT;]

Yesterday, police arrested her husband, Mark.
They believe he killed Hacking, and then reported her missing on July 19th.
Police believe the woman was killed in her apartment.
Authorities say they've identified a motive and have found the weapon allegedly used to kill her -- but aren't giving more details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=My family and I]
((SCOTT DUNAWAY/FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: MY FAMILY AND I ARE PROFOUNDLY ANGUISHED TO LOSE LORI, OUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER AND SISTER. OUR LIVES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. AND WE WILL MISS HER AND GRIEVE FOR HER UNTIL THE DAY WE DIE. ))
[SUPER=01-Scott Dunaway/Family Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=until the day we die.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mark Hacking is now in jail and on suicide watch.

(------------)[11Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=bda]
[TAPE#=04-28 43:55]
[GRAPHIC=F-15 Crash Investigation]
[ENG#=2]
A large black vulture - and human error.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./May 6;]
That's what Air Force officials blame for a fighter jet crash in Franklin County earlier this year. According to the report released yesterday, the bird got caght in the aircraft's right engine, causing a fire and forcing the F-15 down in a field near Callaway. The report blames the crews' flight leader, who directed the jet into a known bird-strike zone.
(------------)

[Burglaries]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Robbery]
[ENG#=none]

A rash of burglaries in Roanoke County and City ended after a burglary attempt was foiled by the homeowner. Three suspects apparently trying to force their way into a home on the 3700 block of Chesterson Street were caught by the homeowner on July 26th. When they fled, the homeowner got their descriptions and saw their vehicle. Police followed the car and found stolen goods and pawn tickets. 33 year old Kimberly Cox or Roanoke -- 29 year old Timothy R. Hicks or Salem -- and 23 year old Brandon S. Jordan are all three charged with several counts of burglary, and police say more charges are pending.

[11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-27 44:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The Roanoke City Police Department is focusing on geography, as it reorganizes its operations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The plan will divide the city into four zones, separated by the I-581, US 220 corridor, and the main rail line through the city.
Each zone will have its own commander and officers who will concentrate on problems in that area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It won't be ]
((LT. GREG STAPLES: IT WON'T BE "NOT MY JOB, NOT MY PROBLEM, I'M OFF DUTY I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT." THE OFFICERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS WHO ARE IN THE ZONES WHERE THEY'RE ASSIGNED.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Greg Staples/Roanoke City Police Department;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=where they are assigned.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Members of city council said they support the plan, but school safety activist Alice Hincker questioned how the changes will affect the School Resource Officer program.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If the police department]
((ALICE HINCKER: IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SO CONCERNED ABOUT EXPANDING THEIR COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVES, WHY WASN'T THE COMMUNITY ALLOWED TO GIVE COMMENT DURING THE PLANNING CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE BI WEEKLY SINCE JANUARY.))

[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/School Safety Activist;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=bi-weekly since January.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Police Department will begin implementing the Geographic Policing Initiative this month, and officials hope to have it in place by the end of September.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM][5-Warner-Terrorism]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=lmc]
[TAPE#=504-04 1:34:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
In Virginia, more than four thousand local, state, and federal personnel will conduct a counter-terrorism exercise later this week. It begins tomorrow and will run through next Tuesday. They'll respond to seven fictitious crisis scenarios sponsored by the federal government.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The exercise will take place in the Tidewater and Richmond areas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are pleased]
((MARK WARNER/GOVERNOR; WE ARE PLEASED THAT VIRGINIA WAS SELECTED AS A KEY SITE TO HOST THIS IMPORTANT DRILL. IT UNDERSCORES THE COMMONWEALTH'S LONG STANDING FOCUS ON PREPAREDNESS AND I THINK OUR LONG STANDING LEVEL OF COOPERATION WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE MILITARY. ))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=partners in the military.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Governor Warner says Virginia and California were chosen to execute the drills, which are not connected to the current elevated national terrorism threat level.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, New terror threats didn't scare investors yesterday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((
BLUE-CHIPS GAINED AND THE BROADER MARKET HELD THE UNCHANGED LINE MONDAY
THE DOW INDUSTRIALS GAINED 39-POINTS...
AS THE NASDAQ ADDED FOUR.

INVESTORS REACTED WITH CALM TO THE WEEKEND NEWS OF POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACKS ON FINANCIAL TARGETS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SAYS INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTED TERRORISTS MAY BE TARGETING THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE AND CITIGROUP HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK; PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL'S HEADQUARTERS IN NEWARK, AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK BUILDINGS IN WASHINGTON.
TREASURY SECRETARY JOHN SNOW SAID MONDAY "WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED AND PREVENTED FROM ENJOYING OUR LIVES AND EXERCISING OUR FREEDOMS."

THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDERS OF COX COMMUNICATIONS ARE OFFERING TO PRIVATIZE THE CABLE TV PROVIDER WITH A SEVEN-POINT-NINE BILLION DOLLAR BID TO BUY ALL THE SHARES THEY DON'T ALREADY OWN.
THE FAMILY OF COX ENTERPRISES' FOUNDER OWN ABOUT 62-PERCENT OF COX COMMUNICATIONS, THE FOURTH LARGEST CABLE COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY WITH SIX-POINT-THREE MILLION CUSTOMERS.

APPLE C-E-O STEVE JOB SAYS HIS SURGERY FOR A RARE FORM OF PANCREATIC CANCER OVER THE WEEKEND WAS SUCCESSFUL.
IN A COMPANY-WIDE EMAIL, HE SAYS HE WILL NOT NEED CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION, AND EXPECTS TO RETURN TO THE WORK IN SEPTEMBER.
JOBS NOTED THE FORM OF CANCER HE HAD REPRESENTS ONLY ONE PERCENT OF ALL CASES OF PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M STAN CASE.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[11Shooting-Follow]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-26 1:02:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Two men who survived Friday morning's convenience store gunfire in Roanoke are on the mend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Friday]
A man fired more than 30 rounds into a crowd outside the STOP-IN at Hershberger and Ferncliff around 2 a.m. Joey Lee Joyce was fatally wounded. Steven K. Jefferson was among the shooting victims, but he is now upgraded to "serious" condition. The third victim, Michael Wood, is also doing better, now listed in "good" condition.
(------------)

[11Wood]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-24 1:05:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=none]
[**WIPE**WIPE**]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April]
The Raleigh Court burglar will serve the next 22 years in prison. John Henson Wood pled guilty in April and was sentenced yesterday. He served eight years for a string of burglaries in 1991. Just this past December, he again terrorized the same Roanoke neighborhood.
(------------)

[Paws-Claws]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Paws and Claws]
[GRAPHIC=Paws and Claws]
[ENG#=3]

Giving your dog or cat a bath is often a dreaded and thankless job-- but now there's a new option.
PetSpa is a pet washing machine that's now available for use at Nature's Emporium in Roanoke.
(+++++++++)
[Take FS Paws and Claws]
In this week's "Paws and Claws" segment, we'll learn more about the device- which is the only one of its kind in Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was invented down in Miami...]
[SUPER=01-John Armshaw/Nature's Emporium; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=1:59]
[OUT Q=like a jacuzzi.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=HOLD]

By the way, Armshaw says that the machine uses tearless shampoo, so pet don't have to wear goggles-- Sandy just enjoys wearing them. [Kim tosses to bump]
Stay with us.
News 7 Mornin will be right back. [BUMP -Paws and Claws music under] [WINNER]

[11Shoot-House]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-19 1:47:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Police departments in central Virginia will soon have a new training facility.. one that's not costing the taxpayers a dime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

More than a dozen off-duty officers donated their time yesterday to lay out the foundation of a new "shoot house" at the police department's firing range.
The building will be made out of donated railroad ties and will allow officers to simulate live-fire situations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:17:11]
[IN Q=It's particularly good]
((MAJOR JACK LEWIS/LYNCHBURG POLICE DEPT.: IT'S PARTICULARLY GOOD THAT IT BRINGS OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER TO WORK ON SOMETHING AND HAVE A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT LONG TERM IT'S GOING TO BE A BENEFIT THAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL NEVER SEE THE EXACT DAY AND TIME WHEN THE TRAINING THAT PEOPLE GOT HERE PAID OFF IN OFFICER SAFETY OR SAFETY OF SOME CITIZEN.))
[SUPER=01-Major Jack Lewis/Lynchburg Police Dept.]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=safety of some citizen.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officers from around the region hope to finish the project this weekend.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[COMM] [BUMP]