00:00-01

7Schoolwatch

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# schoolwatch
GRAPHIC=none


Heavy rainfall this morning in southwest Virginia and the chance of flooding has prompted a number of school districts to cancel classes today.
Here's a look at who is closed.
(mel reads schoolwatch)


7Storm


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none


All of our wet weather is coming from Tropical storm Opal.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pensacola, FL;


The storm was downgraded from a Hurricane earlier this morning after slamming into the FLorida panhandle With 144 MILE an hour winds and plowing through Alabama.
This storm is bringing plenty of rain to our area.
It's racing to the north through the Appalachians and the Ohio Valley region.
Flash flood watches extend throughout Southwest Virginia and North Carolina.
Heavy rainfall is expected this afternoon.
(----------------)



7Hospital


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=6am
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#edit of 95-80
GRAPHIC=Healthcare


Despite opposition, the Southwest Virginia Health Systems Agency last night recommended Radford Community Hospital be allowed to build a new facility.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :00


H-S-A's board of directors approved Radford Community Hospital's plan to build a new facility--replacing its current out-dated one.
The decision came as no surprise to hospital officials, but Skip Lamb didn't expect all the controversy surrounding the decision to build a new hospital in the New River Valley.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 20:21:41
IN Q=Originally, we thought

((SKIP LAMB/RADFORD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: ORIGINALLY, WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME OPPOSITION. WE DIDN'T EXPECT A COMPETING APPLICATION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANY RATIONALE FOR IT-- AND WE STILL DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY RATIONALE FOR IT. ))
SUPER=01-Skip Lamb/Radford Community Hospital;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=rationale for it (double out)
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The board voted down Montgomery Regional and Pulaski Community Hospitals' counter proposal to build a smaller facility in Radford.
Meanwhile, opponents still don't believe there's a need for a new facility.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 20:26:05
IN Q=It appears that

((CHRIS DUX/PULASKI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: IT APPEARS THAT THE STAFF BELIEVES THAT A HOSPITAL HAS AN INHERENT RIGHT TO REPLACE THE FACILITY THAT DID NOT DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. ))
SUPER=01-Chris Dux/Pulaski Community Hospital;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=for replacement
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Pulaski Community hospital officials say they plan to discuss their case again before a fact finding hearing officer in more detailed presentation.
The board's recommendation next goes to the state health commissioner. his decision is due December eighth.
(-------------)


7Shoney's-Robbery


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# 95-67
GRAPHIC=none


Police are looking for a couple of suspects in the robbery of a Lynchburg restaurant.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;


At about ten last night, two men tossed a brick through the window of the Shoney's on Langhorne Road, and held a knife to the cashier's throat.
Police say the men made off with an underdetermined amount of cash.
No one was injured.
(-------------)


7Retirees


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Attorney General James Gilmore says the state will ``NOT'' appeal a Virginia Supreme Court ruling ordering full refunds for illegally taxed federal retirees.
The announcement follows the September 15th court ruling that the state must pay the more than 14,000 federal military and civilian retirees whose pensions were illegally taxed by the state.
They are due nearly 80 (m) million dollars.
Another 153,000 pensioners agreed to a settlement with the state last year.
That settlement will pay them or their survivors refunds totaling 308 million dollars.
That settlement works out to about 76 cents on the dollar.

7WEATHER


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Taking another look at weather.
There's a flash flood watch in effect for portions of southwest virginia and the Greebrier valley.
Today expect rainy and windy conditions with highs in the upper 60's and low 70's/
Tonight the rain should tapper off late.
lows will be in the 50's. ((Closed captioning is brought to you by WDBJ-7 and Carilion Health System.))
SUPER=#D-57



55Schoolwatch


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# schoolwatch
GRAPHIC=none


The rain is not only pounding the deep south this morning but portions of southwest Virginia, creating the the possibility of flooding.
In ancipation of flooding a number of school districts will be closed today.
Here's a look at the list.
(mel reads schoolwatch)


55Motor-Voter


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#95-84
GRAPHIC=none


Earlier this week a federal judge rejected the state's challenge to of "Motor Voter" law.
That means the state must move ahead with plans to register voters at the Department of Motor Vehicles, other public offices and by mail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


Roanoke registrar Shelva Painter says she hopes the change will encourage more Virginians to register and vote.
She says her office is in for some major changes.
SOT
IN Q=So now you'll be able to pick

((SHELVA PAINTER/ROANOKE REGISTRAR: SO NOW YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PICK UP A POST CARD AND SEND IT IN. YOU WILL BE REGISTERING AT THE D-M-V AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=to be quite different.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


More than 75- thousand Roanokers are old enough to vote, but only 39- thousand have actually registered.
Whether the motor voter law is worth the added expense is still a subject of some debate.
(////////////////)
SOT
IN Q=I was glad to see the voters

((AL WILSON/ROANOKE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE VOTERS OF VIRGINIA APPROVE IT LAST YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS RECENT COURT DECISION IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE TOO LONG.)) ((GILBERT BUTLER/ROANOKE BOARD OF ELECTIONS: IT'S JUST A HUGE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK, OF TIME CONSUMPTION, HOURS, ETC, THAT THE TAXPAYERS OF VIRGINIA ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR BECAUSE OF THIS FEDERAL LAW. IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF FEDERAL INTERVENTION ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.))
SUPER=01-Al Wilson/Roanoke Democratic Chairman; :00
SUPER=01-Gilbert Butler/Roanoke Board of Elections; :10
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=and local level.
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=NONE


The Roanoke registrar says her office will adjust to the changes, but it will probably be about six months before the motor voter law shifts into gear.

55Greg-Brady


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=edit of 95-79
GRAPHIC=none


More than twenty years after "The Brady Bunch" died its sitcom death, America's favorite television family lives on in re-runs and hit movies.
So too does Greg Brady.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;


41- year- old actor Barry Williams has spent his life on the stage from T-V to Broadway, but he always will best be remembered for his role as the oldest Brady son.
Unlike some actors, Williams doesn't shun his alter- ego Greg...and in fact has turned his Brady past into a popular standup routine that is making the tour of college campuses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:03:14
IN Q=I'm not convinced

((BARRY WILLIAMS/"GREG BRADY": I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THE OBJECT IS TO RUN FROM YOUR PAST. I THINK THE OBJECT IS MORE TO INCLUDE IT AND INCORPORATE IT, EMBRACE IT EVEN, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=then move forward.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Why have the Brady's remained so popular over the years?
Maybe Greg has the answer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:57:13
IN Q=It could be

((WILLIAMS: IT COULD BE JUST THE SUPER- GROOVY FASHIONS THAT WE HAD.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=that we had.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none


By the way, filming of "The Brady Bunch Movie Part Two" begins in January.

55WEATHER


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Taking another look at weather.
A flash flood watch is in effect for portions of Southwest Virginia and the Greebrier Valley.
Today expect rainy and windy conditions with highs in the upper 60's and low 70's.
Tonight the rain should tapper off late.
lows will be in the 60's.
Looking ahead the skies should clear, with partly sunny conditions.
The highs' will be in the upper 70's to the mid 60's by Sunday with nightime temperatures ranging from the 60's to the mid 40's.
((Closed captioning is brought to you by WDBJ-7 and Carilion Health System.))
SUPER=#D-57



8schoolwatch


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# schoolwatch
GRAPHIC=none


Heavy rainfall this morning in southwest Virginia has creating the chance for flooding.
In anticipation of possible flooding number of school districts to cancel classes today.
Here's a look at who is closed.
(mel reads schoolwatch)


8Rain


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none


All of this rain is coming from Tropical storm Opal.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pensacola, FL;


The storm was dowgraded from a Hurricane at about five this morning.
It pounded the florida panhandle with 144 mile per hour winds.
This storm is now racing to the north, bringing plenty of rain up and down the east coast.
Flash flood watches are in effect throughout Southwest Virginia today. Heavy rainfall is expected this afternoon.
And there could be sharp rises in small streams and creeks.
(----------------)



8Craig-Folo


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=Melanie
TAPE#95-72
GRAPHIC=2 shot


A rebirth for the some Craig County land badly charred last year by a forest fire.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Craig Co./April 10;


Firefighters battled the blaze for days.
In places, the fire burned so hot that it killed the tree canopy.
But even those areas are turning green again.
Ecologist Steve Croy is studying selected areas to see how the plant and animal life is returning.
(/////SOT/////)

9 59 32 00 - 9 59 43 00
SOT
IN Q=wE'RE FINDING

((STEVE CROY/FOREST ECOLOGIST: WE'RE FINDING IN ALL AREAS THAT THERE'S A BIT OF REGROWTH OF NEW SEEDLINGS AND SPROUTS FROM THE ROOTS OF THE TOP KILLED TREES. ))
SUPER=01-Steve Croy/Forest Ecologist;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=top killed trees.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Pine cones from the Table Mountain Pine tree crack open when heated by fire.
The seeds germinate quickly after falling into a burned area.
These spring seedlings are already 4 to 6-inches tall.
That rapid growth makes it hard to see some of the fire lines that were bulldozed to keep the fire from spreading.
The forestry department also did its part to reseed shortly after the fire in order to prevent erosion.
(----------------)



8Radford-Hospital


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#95-80
GRAPHIC=Healthcare


A Radford Hospital's fight to build a replacement facility appears to be over.
But opponents still plan to do battle.
Kimberely Mcbroom has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=H-S-A's board
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :00
SUPER=@File; :07
SUPER=01-Skip Lamb/Radford Community Hospital; :13
SUPER=01-Chris Dux/Pulaski Community Hospital; :37
SUPER=@Kimberly1; :53
RUNS=1:03
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7


(( H-S-A's board of directors approved Radford Community Hospital's plan to build a new facility--replacing its current out-dated one.
The decision came as no surprise to hospital officials.
(////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 2 20:20:31

((SKIP LAMB/RADFORD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: WE EXPECTED IT BECAUSE WE THINK THAT WE HAVE A VERY VALID AND STRONG CASE. AND WE THINK THAT A REPLACEMENT HOSPITAL IS APPROPRIATE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A COST- EFFECTIVE MANNER.))
RUNS=:11


The final price tag would run close to 80-million dollars-- which opponents argue is too much.
But the board voted down Montgomery Regional and Pulaski Community Hospitals' counter proposal to build a smaller facility in Radford.
SOT tape 2 20:24:52

((CHRIS DUX/PULASKI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION-- IT'S NOT A FINAL STEP IN THE PROCESS. ))
RUNS=:10


Dux says they plan to discuss their case again before a fact finding hearing officer in more detailed presentation.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 2 20:31:39

((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: THIS STILL ISN'T THE OFFICIAL END OF THE HOSPITAL BATTLE. THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION NEXT GOES TO THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER. HIS DECISION HIS DUE DECEMBER EIGHTH. KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7. ))
RUNS=:10

))

8WEATHER


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Taking another look at weather.
There's a flash flood watch in effect for portions of southwest virginia and the Greebrier valley.
Today expect rainy and windy conditions with highs in the upper 60's and low 70's/
Tonight the rain should tapper off late.
lows will be in the 60's. ((Closed captioning is brought to you by WDBJ-7 and Carilion Health System.)) SUPER=#D-57
by SS