WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 12/22/04

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

A fatal car accident in Pittsylvania County left an 83- year- old woman dead and two others injured.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]

And, dozens of wounded American soldiers arrive at a U-S air base in Germany after yesterday's deadly attack in Iraq.

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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
We'll sneak in one more gorgous afternoon before our next rain-maker moves in overnight. There's also talk of a major cool-down just in time for Christmas. The details coming up...
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
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[VO-NAT]

As the investigation into the deadly attack on a U-S base in Mosul continues, the injured are arriving in Germany for treatment.
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[Iraq]

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

[ENG#=3]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
The U- S military is investigating whether a bomb was planted at the base where yesterday's attack killed 22 people.
Initial reports said it was a rocket that ripped through the ceiling of a dining tent.
Susan Roberts has an update.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Mosul, Iraq;]
[SUPER=03-Ramstein Air Base, Germany;]
[SUPER=04-AP Photo - Richmond Times-Dispatch;]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz/U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=01-Michele Gibson/Soldier's Fiancee;]
[SUPER=01-Susan Roberts/CBS News;]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=Roberts, CBS News, Washington.]
(( TRACK: PARTS OF MOSUL ARE A GHOST TOWN...EMPTY STREETS, CLOSED BRIDGES, SHUTTERED SHOPS...AFTER U-S FORCES SEALED OFF ENTIRE DISTRICTS. IT'S PART OF A HUNT FOR SUSPECTS IN YESTERDAY'S DEADLY GUERRILLA ATTACK ON A MILITARY BASE THERE. MOSUL'S GOVERNOR SAYS ANYONE CAUGHT ON THE CLOSED BRIDGES WILL BE SHOT.

(Ramstein Air Base, Germany)
(nat: airbase)
TRACK: THE ASSAULT KILLED AT LEAST 22 AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE. SOME OF THE INJURED WERE BROUGHT TO GERMANY FOR TREATMENT.

(Stills: Courtesy: AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Dean Hoffmeyer)
TRACK: STILL UNKNOWN, EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE BLAST. THE MILITARY ORIGINALLY SAID A ROCKET RIPPED THROUGH THE MESS TENT. BUT A RADICAL SUNNI GROUP CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY SAID ON AN INTERNET WEBSITE THAT IT WAS THE WORK OF A SUICIDE BOMBER.
TRACK: THE BLAST RIPPED A HOLE THROUGH THE CANVAS AND METAL CEILING. A MORE FORTIFIED BUILDING WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

(SOT: Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz/US Army, Commanding General, Multi-National
Corps Iraq and III Corps: It was scheduled to be done in February. We recognized the threat. We began the concentration.)
TRACK: THE BLAST IS FURTHER FRAYING NERVES BACK HOME. MICHELE GIBSON'S FIANCEE, EVAN BYLER, IS STATIONED IN MOSUL. SHE WAS HYSTERICAL UNTIL SHE RECOGNIZED HIM IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH AND KNEW HE WAS ALIVE.

(SOT: Michele Gibson/Fiancee of Soldier) I feel very bad for the
families that lost whoever they lost, but i feel thankful that he's okay.
STAND-UP: to come: Not verbatim
( Dining halls - top target in Iraq...militants can easily identify
them and many troops gather at them at predictable times.) SUSAN ROBERTS, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON. ))

[Pitts-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
[ENG#=None]

A Dry Fork woman is dead and two people are sent to the hospital after a car accident yesterday in Pittsylvania County. 83-year-old Hettie Jefferson Waller was driving north on route 750, when she came to stopped traffic at the intersection of Mount Cross Road and Carter Farms Road. According to state police, Waller was unable to stop and crashed head- on into a S-U-V driven by 50-year-old Richard Dean Collie, also of Dry Fork. Waller died at a Danville hospital an hour later. Collie and a juvenile were transported with injuries.

[Hardy-Road]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-47 2:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
A judge in Bedford granted D-J Cooper and his lawyers more time before the court hears from residents upset at their impending eviction.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape;]
Residents affected by the closure of the septic lagoon at the Hardy Trailer park filed for the injunction today to allow them 120 days before they are evicted, rather than the 60 they have now. Cooper and his lawyers were not present today.
[SUPER=03-Bedford;]
The residents say they are ok with today's decision however, they will make sure the judge hears from them before their February 12th eviction date.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:44:41]
[IN Q=We just needed time.]
((ELIZABETH THRUSH:WE JUST NEEDED TIME. IT TAKES UP TO SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS TO GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND GET IT ALL HOOKED UP AND HAVE IT SET UP SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT DOES, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL IN SIXTY DAYS.))
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Thrush/Hardy Trailor Court Association]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=do it all in sixty days.]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The judge did say he would be available on January third, and would allow the residents to come an hour before the court opens if necessary to ensure they have their day in court.

[Shell]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly ]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

The trial of a well known photographer accused in the death of one of his models has been delayed again.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
Bob Shell faces ten charges, including felony murder in the death of 19 year old Marion Elizabeth Franklin. Today a judge continued the January trial because a defense expert will not be ready in time. Shell wants a digitial camera expert to review the evidence. The Commonwealth's case is largely based on pictures and videotapes.
Franklin died of an overdose of liquid morphine. A new trial date will be set in March.
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[Water-Problems]

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

Customers on the Price's Fork Water System in Montgomery County can expect problems. Officials say the cold temperatures make it hard to maintain capacity and water pressure.
(++++++++++++)
[TAKE FS Water Info] All water customers of the system on Merrimac Road, Price's Fork Road, Thomas Lane, and the communities of Phillips Acres, Montgomery Farms, and Price's Fork are asked to conserve water until further notice.
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[Anchor=Kim]
[SS=None]
The water is safe for drinking. There's no word on when repairs will be finished.

[Gas-Problems]

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

Federal officials say a mistake by a clerk at Dominion Transmission Incorporated may have cost American consumers hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars in excess energy charges.
Published reports say faulty information sent by a clerk to the Energy Information Administration last month wrongly indicated an unexpected large withdrawal from natural gas inventories.
The report is closely watched by energy traders.
It sparked a sharp increase in price for natural gas to be delivered this month.
The Federal Energy Regulation Commission says the mistake could cost U-S consumers between 200 (m) million and one
(b) billion dollars.

Dominion says it has changed its reporting procedures.
[WX-Tease] ((KIM TOSS TO BRENT)) [12/22/2004]
[SS=NONE]

BRENT in WX Center
[WeatherBug] Live Conditions 2 BOARDS
[WXPRO/FULL] RADAR TEMPS

[SS=NONE]

(LEO TOSS TO KIM)

[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

Still to come on the newscast, Arlington residents are startled by an explosion this morning.
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[VO-NAT ]

Plus dozens of people are killed after a bus runs off a mountain in Peru.
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[COMM BREAK #1]

[Peru-Bus]

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

[MINI-OPEN]

[ENG#=1]

Forty-nine people were killed in a jungle in Peru, when a passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plunged 165 feet into a river.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Aguaytia, Peru;]

15- others were injured.
Police say the bus was headed from Lima to a jungle town when it crashed.
All the passengers were Peruvian.
Newspaper reports say survivors told authorities the driver lost control of the bus in a heavy rainstorm, while speeding across a bridge.
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[Tanker-Explosion]

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

[ENG#=2]

A loud explosion rocked an Arlington neighborhood this morning
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Arlington;]

Police say the driver of a tanker truck apparently lost control, hit a guard rail and flipped the truck, causing it to explode not far from the Pentagon.
The blaze burned for more than three hours.
One person was killed in the crash, but police haven't confirmed whether it was the driver.
State police are still investigating.
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[WA-Governor]

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

[ENG#=3]

Just when it looked like the governor's race in Washington State couldn't get any closer, it has.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Seattle, WA;]

Democrats say their candidate, Christine Gregoire (GREG- wahr) is leading Republican Dino Rossi by eight votes after the latest hand recount.
That's out of two- point- nine million votes cast.
Republicans, who've claimed victory for weeks, say the race is too close to call.
It's all been a tedious process for election workers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We have seen]
((DOUG SATTERBURG/CANVASSING BOARD MEMBER:WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW OF THOSE VOTES WHERE THE VOTER HAS CIRCLED OR INKED IN THE D OR THE R THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE CANDIDATE'S NAME. WE HAVE COUNTED THAT AS A VOTE, BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO DETERMINE VOTER INTENT. ))
[SUPER=01-Doug Satterburg/Canvassing Board Member;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=determine voter intent. ]
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[VO-NAT]

Washington's supreme court is deciding today whether ballots from the latest recount should be considered.
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[PKGCitizens-Committee]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-54 TC 4:21]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=4]

Leaders in Roanoke County have said all along there's no way the current jail can be expanded.
But at last night citizen's advisory committee meeting, it was revealed that's not entirely true.
Justin McLeod has more on why residents in another part of the county are now entering the argument.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gary Peck/Hollins Resident; :12]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Fitzhugh/Hollins Resident; :34]
[SUPER=01-Dan Bolt/Architect; :55]
[SUPER=01-Gerald Holt/Roanoke Co. Sheriff; 1:12]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]

((((NAT SOUND OF GUY AT 1:21:09 SAYING "NO, THEN WHY NOT".))
It got pretty heated pretty quick.
Residents of the Hollins area showed up in large numbers to say no to a regional jail in their backyard.
[SOT 1:15:02]
[IN Q=We can't tolerate]
((GARY PECK/HOLLINS RESIDENT: WE CAN'T TOLERATE IT ANYWHERE NEAR OUR HOMES, OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, OUR PARKS.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=MIDDLE SCHOOLS, OUR PARKS]

They're angry over a jail study that ranks the top five sites for a regional jail.
It was revealed weeks ago two sites are in the Dixie Caverns area.
Now, three sites in the Hollins area are also seriously being considered and nearby residents are afraid for their safety.
[SOT 1:19:09]
[IN Q=I can't keep]
((BARBARA FITZHUGH/HOLLINS RESIDENT: I CAN'T KEEP THE COPS OUT OF MY YARD. I CANNOT KEEP THE DRUNKS OUT OF MY YARD, NOW I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INMATES OUT OF MY YARD.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=OUT OF MY YARD]

But the sheriff points out there has only been one escape since the jail opened in 1980.
Residents also question the need for a new jail when the current facility can be expanded.
That's the finding of a study commissioned by the county.
[SOT 1:47:14]
[IN Q=We can expand]
((DAN BOLT/ARCHITECT: WE CAN EXPAND IT TO HAVE A RATED BED CAPACITY OF 444 CELLS.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=OF 444 CELLS]

The currently jail only has 108 cells.
The study recommends adding a 7-floor addition to the existing jail on the east side.
But the sheriff argues expanding the jail will only be a short term fix.
[SOT 1:50:42]
[IN Q=If we did maximize]
((GERALD HOLT/ROANOKE CO. SHERIFF: IF WE DID MAXIMIZE THE 440 BEDS THAN ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE BACK IN A ROOM SOMEWHERE LIKE THIS WITHIN A VERY SHORT FEW YEARS TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO LOCATE A JAIL AGAIN.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=LOCATE A JAIL AGAIN]
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: LAST NIGHT, THE COMMITTEE NARROWED THE POTENTIAL SITES FROM 18 TO 8. ALL EXCEPT ONE ARE EITHER IN DIXIE CAVERNS OR THE HOLLINS AREA. THE COMMITTEE MEETS AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

Poker has been a hit on T-V with shows like "Celebrity Poker."
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Coming up after the break it's starting a trend among kids that some experts say could be a problem.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[Kids-Poker]

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

[ENG#=1]

Poker- related accessories are a pretty safe gamble if you're still shopping for gifts this holiday season.
But as Tracy Smith found out, they're not just for adults.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-ESPN, Inc.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Reid Coopersmith/Teen Poker Player; :52]
[SUPER=01-Keith Baguer/Teen Poker Player; :58]
[SUPER=04-Oxford Film Co.- Stone Dog Films; 1:21]
[SUPER=01-Nick Joy/Video Producer; 1:36]
[SUPER=01-Keith Whyte/National Council on Problem Gambling; 1:57]
[SUPER=01-Liz Coopersmith/Poker Player's Mom; 2:30]
[SUPER=01-Tracy Smith/CBS News; 2:43]
[RUNS=2:57]
[OUT Q=dust in my attic]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

That was Tracy Smith reporting.

[Weather] [NOON WEATHER] [12/22/04] [TWO SHOT]

[WEATHERBug/FULL] Look around the nation
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
[SKYTRACKER7] Radar Hand-Tracking
[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [WXPRO/FULL] FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was UP 47 points. The NASDAQ has gained seven.

[super=460-x/47/x/7;]

[Tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

Tech continues to prepare for the Sugar Bowl, and J-M-U gets ranked number one.
In Sports, we'll find out what both teams are doing to keep winning.
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[VO-NAT ]

And a big money maker has a little money maker, as Sea World gets ready for a killer new show.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-BCS-AP]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=BCS]

In sports, the Associated Press college football poll will no longer be used in the Bowl Championship Series formula. The A-P says it never gave the B-C-S permission to use its proprietary ranking of teams, calling the use of its poll unauthorized. B-C-S coordinator Kevin Weiberg says he respects the A-P decision. He says B-C-S officials will discuss alternatives at upcoming meetings.

[S-Champs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-183 13709TC]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA]

[ENG#=1]

The A-C-C pounded the Big East in the Champs Sports Bowl.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/ESPN;]
This is the game where UVa should have been and not Georgia Tech, but to give the Yellow Jackets credit - they destroyed Syracuse. The Jackets scored with their defense, blocked kicks with their special teams, and basically did everything they pleased on offense.
[super=36-Georgia Tech/51/Syracuse/14;]
Georgia Tech gets the ACC rolling in the postseason by hammering the Big East 51 to 14.
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[S-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-189]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL]

[ENG#=2]

The Hokies are aren't letting the A-C-C championship go to their head -- with practice and Sugar Bowl preparations taking up lots of time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Yesterday Afternoon;]
Frank Beamer said he wanted the practices for Auburn to be brisk heading up to the big game - but he was talking about the pace, not the temperature. Yesterday the weather in Blacksburg WAS brisk, with wind gusts up to 33 miles an hour. Tech has just one more practice in Blacksburg before taking a Christmas break and resuming workouts in New Orleans on the 29th at Tulane University.
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[S-Dukes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-186 2659TCtc]
[GRAPHIC=JMU]

[ENG#=3]

The James Madison Dukes are ranked number one in the nation in Division one double- A. Last Friday night the Dukes beat Montana to claim their first national championship. Head coach Mickey Matthews sat down with the media to talk about-- among other things - Montana's attitude heading into the game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Mickey Matthews/JMU Head Football Coach;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...WE WERE GONNA CHECK THEM OUT."]
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[vo-nat con't]
[super=03-Chattanooga, TN/Last Friday;]
Of course the Dukes not only checked them out, but took them out, rolling to a 31-to-21 win. Now comes the hard part... maintaining the high level of play and possibly repeating.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=...talk about getting better."]
(------------)
[TALENT=KIM]
[GRAPHIC=JMU]
One of the guys who got better was former Friday Football Extra player of the week and Pulaski product Frank Cobbs, who finished the season with 5 sacks, and team high 11 pass break- ups. He will be a senior next season.

[Baby-Whale]

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

[ENG#=4]

And finally- it was a BIG birthday in San Diego.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA;]

After two hours of labor, a killer whale at Sea World gave birth yesterday.
The Baby Shamu weighs between 300 and 500 p ounds, and is more than six feet long from tip to tail.
The new mom is 28- year- old Kasatka.
Zoologists say mother and baby appear to be healthy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=She's a great mom]
[SUPER=02-Robbin Sheets/Sea World Assistant Curator;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=so far.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The calf is the fifth one born at SeaWorld, bringing the park's total to eight killer whales.
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[Quickcast]
[WXPRO/FULL] QUICKCAST [REPRS@CL] SUPER=X4031; Fax/Copyright Noon/Weekends [SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]