WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/02/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Turning partly cloudy today with pleasant high temperatures around 80.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has our local forecast, plus the latest on Hurricane Frances, coming up.

[7-11Boones-Mill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:37:11]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=1]

There are renewed calls for safety improvements in Boone's Mill after a car accident earlier this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boones Mill;]
Phil Randolph and his neighbor Brenda McManaway (Mack-man-uh-way) say they've been trying for years to get a traffic light installed at Route-220 and Bethlehem Road.
[SUPER=04-Monday;]
And Monday's crash crash involving several teenagers only renewed their efforts. Now, after years of petitioning, the two may finally get what they want.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3042]
[IN Q=it's carefully]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT: IT'S CAREFULLY STUDIED, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF FUNDING OR A MATTER OF DRAWING UP CONSTRUCTION PLANS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AN APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR THE SITUATION NOW WE THINK THAT IT IS. ))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=think that it is]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But, V-Dot says it's not sure WHEN the signal will be installed. Officials say they still need to draw up plans and acquire a right of way before construction can begin.
(------------)

[7-6Roanoke-Assault]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-27 TC1:24:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

A man faces murder and abduction charges after allegedly dragging a woman into an alley and beating her outside of Macadoo's in Downtown Roanoke Tuesday night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities say 48 year old Reuben Charles Jones started beating a woman for no apparent reason shortly before midnight Tuesday night.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The woman told authorities that Jones then dragged her into an alley and continued to beat her. After Macado's employees and customers heard screams, they ran outside and called police. Witnesses pointed out Jones as he was walking away. He was arrested, and is being held at the Roanoke City Jail Jones faces attempted murder and abduction charges. The victim was treated at the scene for her injuries.
(------------)

[7-VOBDrug-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC 21:09]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]

Some call it an invasion of privacy -- others a safety issue. Every time it's brought up, it causes controversy -- and Roanoke County is no exception.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The school system is considering random drug testing for any student who takes part in extracuricular activities.
Public forums were held last March, but since that time, very little has been said publicly, leaving many to wonder if the the proposal has been dropped.
The school system says a coalition is studying the issue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:53:27]
[IN Q=You have to keep]
((LINDA WEBER/ROANOKE CO. SUPERINTENDENT: YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY COALITION SO IT'S NOT RUN BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS A GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND IS LOOKING AT IT. THEY'RE CONTINUALLY TO LOOK AT IT AND I THINK THEY FEEL STRONGLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SEE THIS HAPPEN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The coalition is still working on a final report before making a recommendation to the school board.
The Superintendent says board members will most likely vote on this issue sometime this school year.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Starting off cool with some patchy fog this morning.
Skies will turn partly cloudy today.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your seven day forecast, coming up.

[55-VOBDrug-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC 21:09]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

[ENG#=1]

It's a new school year, but some of the same old -- and controversial -- questions have risin in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The school system is considering random drug testing for any student who takes part in extracuricular activities.
Public forums were held last March, but since that time, very little has been said publicly, leaving many to wonder if the the proposal has been dropped.
The school system says a coalition is studying the issue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:53:27]
[IN Q=You have to keep]
((LINDA WEBER/ROANOKE CO. SUPERINTENDENT: YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY COALITION SO IT'S NOT RUN BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS A GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND IS LOOKING AT IT. THEY'RE CONTINUALLY TO LOOK AT IT AND I THINK THEY FEEL STRONGLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SEE THIS HAPPEN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The coalition is still working on a final report before making a recommendation to the school board.
The Superintendent says board members will most likely vote on this issue sometime this school year.
(------------)

[55-11Fire-Update]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC54:37]
[SS=Fire Invest.]

[ENG#=2]

Fire investigators say they found out what caused a fatal fraternity house fire that killed a student from Martinsville.
Officials now say the fire at the University of Mississippi may have been electrical.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Oxford, MS/Friday]

The fire swept through a fraternity house early Friday morning, killing three students, including sophomore, Howard Stone, from Martinsville.
A university spokesman says the fire had "multiple points of origin" corresponding with electrical outlets in a basement bedroom.
(------------)

[55-11Fraternity-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC1:40:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

The U-S Fire Administration says around 150 fraternity and sorority houses catch fire each year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Virginia Tech officials say they take the threat of fire seriously. The 17 fraternity and sorority houses on the campus are inspected once a year by the state Fire Marshall and twice more by university fire officials.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 3:17:00]
[IN Q=I think]
((EDWARD SPENCER/VA TECH STUDENT AFFAIRS: I THINK THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS WITH THE OFF CAMPUS GROUP BECAUSE THEY ARE TYPICALLY PRIVATE HOUSES THAT ARE OWNED BY HOUSE CORPORATIONS OR SOMETIMES RENTED FRATERNITY AND HOUSE CORPORATIONS. THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE REGULAR INSPECTIONS THAT OUR ON CAMPUS HOUSES ARE.))
[SUPER=01-Edward Spencer/Virginia Tech Student Affairs;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=houses are.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Less than half of Virginia Tech's sorority and fraternity houses are on campus. But some of those buildings are voluntarily signed up for inspections with the town of Blacksburg. Tech officials say they wish more houses would get fire code inspections.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Another nice summer day on the way-- with highs near 80.
Metereologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the extended outlook-- including the latest on Hurricane Frances-- coming up.

[8-Vaughan-Closing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

More than 200 people will lose their jobs when Vaughan Furniture closes its plant in Patrick County.
The company made the announcement yesterday, citing increased competition from makers of imported bedroom furniture.
Employees will receive severance and employment counseling. They are also eligible for federal assistance with health insurance premiums.
When the Patrick County facility closes, the company will operate two plants and a distribution center in Galax.

[8-VOBDrug-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC 21:09]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=1]

Another school year means renewed calls for a controversial method of monitoring students in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The school system is considering random drug testing for any student who takes part in extracuricular activities.
Public forums were held last March, but since that time, very little has been said publicly, leaving many to wonder if the the proposal has been dropped.
The school system says a coalition is studying the issue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:53:27]
[IN Q=You have to keep]
((LINDA WEBER/ROANOKE CO. SUPERINTENDENT: YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY COALITION SO IT'S NOT RUN BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS A GROUP THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION AND IS LOOKING AT IT. THEY'RE CONTINUALLY TO LOOK AT IT AND I THINK THEY FEEL STRONGLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SEE THIS HAPPEN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The coalition is still working on a final report before making a recommendation to the school board.
The Superintendent says board members will most likely vote on this issue sometime this school year.
(------------)

[8-11Boones-Mill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:37:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]

Safety imrovements are called on in Boone's Mill after a car accident earlier this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boones Mill;]
Phil Randolph and his neighbor Brenda McManaway (Mack-man-uh-way) say they've been trying for years to get a traffic light installed at Route-220 and Bethlehem Road.
[SUPER=04-Monday;]
And Monday's crash crash involving several teenagers only renewed their efforts. Now, after years of petitioning, the two may finally get what they want.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3042]
[IN Q=it's carefully]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT: IT'S CAREFULLY STUDIED, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF FUNDING OR A MATTER OF DRAWING UP CONSTRUCTION PLANS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AN APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR THE SITUATION NOW WE THINK THAT IT IS. ))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=think that it is]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But, V-Dot says it's not sure WHEN the signal will be installed. Officials say they still need to draw up plans and acquire a right of way before construction can begin.
(------------)