WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/31/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Look for partly sunny skies today and high temperatures around 80.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your outlook for the rest of the week, coming up.

[7-11Richmond-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-34 TC11:56]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

[ENG#=1]

Governor Warner will tour flood-ravaged Richmond today.
He has declared a state of emercency in the area and has put the National Guard on standby.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The remnants of Gaston dumped heavy rain around the capitol. Areas northeast of the city registered up to 14 inches of rain in ten hours.
Many streets, including parts of Interstate 95 and other highways are under water.
Emergency shelters are open and some neighborhoods in Chesterfield County are under mandatory evacuation orders because a dam may break.
Even the state's emergency operations center is flooded.
[SUPER=03-James City Co.]

Some 63-thousand customers have lost power due to strong winds and possible tornadoes.
A fire chief in James City County, near Williamsburg, reported seeing two tornados yesterday afternoon.
The damage from those suspected tornadoes was light.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Thank the lord.]
((THANK THE LORD. WE'RE VERY THANKFUL. ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE FINE. MY WIFE IS FINE. THERE'S DAMAGE INSIDE THE HOUSE. BUT IT'S MINIMAL COMPARED TO WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT.)) [NO SUPER]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=we're thankful for that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials from the National Weather Service will visit the sites today to determine whether twisters did touch down.
(------------)

[7-Schrock]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Ed Schrock]

Republicans are expected to name a replacement candidate today for U-S Representative Ed Schrock -- who resigned amid allegations about his sexual orientation. Schrock's announcement came days after an Internet Web log ``outed'' him as being gay. Schrock is married and a conservative who has voted for legislation to ban gay marriages.
Schrock represents the Second Congressional District which includes Virginia Beach and Norfolk.

[7-6Radford-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC1:36:14]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

[ENG#=2]

A grand jury will hear Radford's first capitol murder case in more than two decades.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
Aamir Darrin Lewis Brown is accused of shooting two men, one of them fatally, in a drug robbery. In May, 25 year old Brian Keith Gray died from three gunshot wounds, including one to the face. 26 year old Forest Hart was shot once and survived. Yesterday in court he pointed to Brown and said: "He's absolutely the man who shot me." Brown's lawyers painted Hart as a lying drug dealer who singled out Brown, so *he* wouldn't be charged with dealing drugs. The judge found probable cause and sent the case to a Radford Grand Jury.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
A mix of sunshine and clouds today-- we'll keep the dry weather around for the next few days.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your seven day outlook, coming up.

[55-VOBHenry-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC 15:55]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=1]

Students in Henry County will have to get used to going to very different schools from last year, thanks to consolodation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bassett]

Dwindling enrollment and less state aid forced the school system to close five schools over the summer.
As a result, some like the high schools have now doubled in size.
Students we talked to say they're already putting aside old rivalry's and beginning to think of each other as classmates.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:25; 15:18]
[IN Q=It's great, it's]
((CATILIN DILLON/BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: IT'S GREAT. IT'S A LOT MORE FUN. WE HAVE A BIGGER TEAM THIS YEAR SO IT'S JUST A LOT MORE FUN TO HAVE THEM OVER HERE.)) ((DEAN RANDALL/BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: THOUGH WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO MONITOR THOSE STUDENTS SO I DON'T REALLY SEE IT BEING THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.))
[SUPER=01-Catilin Dillon/Bassett High School Senior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dean Randall/Bassett High School Principal; :06]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=done in the past]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The school system believes closing the schools will save the county more than a million dollars a year.
Classes begin tomorrow.
(------------)

[55-VORichmond-Flooding]

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

[ENG#=2]

Governor Mark Warner will visit water logged Richmond today as the clean-up from Tropical Storm Gaston begins.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Warner has already delcared a state of emergency and put the National Guard on standby. Parts of Richmond registered up to 14 inches of rain in ten hours.
Emergency shelters are open and some neighborhoods in Chesterfield County are under mandatory evacuation orders because a dam may break.
[SUPER=03-James City Co.]
Some 63-thousand customers have lost power due to strong winds and possible tornadoes.
A fire chief in James City County, near Williamsburg, reported seeing two tornados yesterday afternoon.
(------------)

[55-6Fertility-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC1:20:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

They've been trying for a dozen years, and now, finally, a local couple has a new baby girl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Sophie McCulley was conceived through in-vitro fertilization. She is one of the first babies born with the help of the new Southwest Virginia Fertility Center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15;10:51]
[IN Q=It's a chance you take it's not a guarantee]
((DEBBIE MCCULLEY/FERTILITY PATIENT: IT'S A CHANCE YOU TAKE. IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE. SHE'S WORTH THE CHANCE. I'D NEVER HAVE HER TODAY IF WE WOULDN'T' HAVE DONE IT))
[SUPER=01-Debbie McCulley/Fertility Patient]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=HAVE DONE IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The center opened last year in the Salem as part of Lewis-Gale Medical Center. It offers a variety of technologies to help couples conceive.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:04:25]
[IN Q=The only obstacle that we have is always]
((DR. MARWAN SHAYKH/SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA FERTILITY CENTER; THE ONLY OBSTACLE WE HAVE IS ALWAYS THE COST. SINCE A LOT OF INSURANCE COMPANIES DO NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY HURDLE THAT COUPLES HAVE))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Marwan Shaykh/Southwest Virginia Fertility Center]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=that couples have.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Treatment can range from 10 to 15 thousand dollars. The McCulleys say it was worth every penny.
(--------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Partly sunny and pleasant today-- with highs around 80 this afternoon.
The rest of the work week looks much the same.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has more on that, coming up.

[8-11Mateen]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:29:17]
[GRAPHIC=Sentencing]

[ENG#=1]

Yesterday a judge sentenced Kalif Abdul-Mateen to life in prison plus 33 years for shooting his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. He was convicted of the crimes in June.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
For the first time the court heard about Abdul-Mateen's violent criminal history. It's starts with grand larceny at 12, a rape at 13, and assault and drug charges. That information, plus pleas from the family were factored into yesterday's sentencing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@2:33:21.24]
[IN Q=I ask that justice...]
((LARHONDA EDWARDS/VICTIM'S MOTHER: I ASK THAT JUSTICE BE DONE, IT CAN NOT BRING HER BACK TO US, BUT IT WILL HELP TO KNOW THAT HER YOUNG LIFE WAS NOT TAKEN WITHOUT A PRICE. NEESHA IS NOW ONLY A PART OF OUR LIFE THROUGH PICTURES AND MEMORIES.))
[SUPER=01-LaRhonda Edwards/Victim's Mother]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=... pictures and memories.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Mateen murdered Neesha Edwards and shot her new boyfriend in the neck last December. His lawyer told the court that Mateen will appeal his conviction.
(------------)

[8-11Church-Vandals]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC52:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Two Bedford County congregations are cleaning up the destruction left by vandals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

The Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church in Goode were hit sometime over the weekend.
Vandals broke windows, tried to start a fire and spray-painted profanities on doors, windows and tables.
Church leaders say they're saddened by the crimes, but forgive those responsible ... the police are determined to catch them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:47:37]
[IN Q=And I commend]
((MIKE BROWN/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF: AND I COMMEND REVEREND MOODY, HE'S A LOT MORE FORGIVING THAN I WOULD BE. AND HE'S CORRECT, BUT PERSONALLY I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN AROUND THE CORNER WITH A BIG STICK WHEN THEY WERE SPRAYING BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE DOING THIS TO A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=a house of worship.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Brown says whoever's caught will be charged under state hate crime laws.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[8-11Cemetery-Vandalism]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-27 TC1:15:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
More vandalism.... this time in Radford at one of the city's oldest cemeteries. Family members found at least 14 overturned grave stones at Central Cemetery. Some of the headstones were even taken out of the ground. The cemetery along Lawrence and 6th Avenue and is still in use. Family members are hoping for donations and volunteers to help fix the grave sites. Radford Police are also stepping up patrols in the area. (------------)