Morning news AM cutins on WDBJ 7 12/14/95

08:25-01

7SchoolDelay

ANCHOR=Melanie
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Good Morning, everyone I'm Melanie Moon.
A few schools are still affected by bad weather this morning.
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(take school list)
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7Water-Break

ANCHOR=Melanie
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And we have another school closing to make, but this one is not weather related.
Narrows Elementary and Narrows High School will both be closed today to because of a water main break.
Narrow's officials say the break is causing some big problems because the storage tanks are draining faster than they can be filled.
The town manager is asking residents to restrict water use until crews can repair the broken line.

7Pitts-Pursuit

ANCHOR=Melanie
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TAPE#95-93
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Pittslyvania County authorities have one man behind bars and are searching for two others following a high speed chase last night.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

The chase ended when the vehicle crashed near the intersection of Routes 40 and 6-40.
A sheriff's official says the vehicle was stolen from Washington D-C.
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ANCHOR=Melanie
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Authorities arrested one man but are still looking for two others who fled the scene shortly after the car crashed.

7401K

ANCHOR=Melanie
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TAPE#95-97
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A federal inquiry has raised concerns about the security of employee 401-K plans.
While experts say most of the funds are properly run, they do offer some tips on detecting foul play.
Len Besthoff reports.
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IN Q=A 401-k
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=01-Rachel Noel/401K Participant;:08
SUPER=01-George Brammer/A.G. Edwards & Sons;:39
SUPER=01-Tyler Pugh/Wheat First Butcher Singer;:58
SUPER=@Len1;1:06
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OUT Q=LB, News-7.
((
A 401-k is a popular way to save for your retirement.
It's a tax-deferred account built up through payroll deductions. ((RACHEL NOEL/401K PARTICIPANT: WITH THE 401-K IT HAS HELPED ME TO PUT ASIDE MONEY, THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO IN A REGULAR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.))
But financial advisors say it's important to make sure your employer is handling your savings properly.
They say be curious...ask questions, talk to fellow employees about it.
Study your check stub...see how much money is taken out, and trace it to your quarterly 401-k statement.
Call the firm that's handling your funds, if you don't want your employer to know your checking up on your account.
And when you call, ask for your balance. ((GEORGE BRAMMER/A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.: YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR OWN MONEY IN THE PLAN, SO ABSOLUTELY, BE INVOLVED, KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY'S GOING AND HOW IT'S PERFORMING.))
Financial advisors have some warning signs to look for if you suspect fraud.
Make sure you're getting quarterly statements and materials from the investment firm holding onto your money...if not, ask questions. ((TYLER PUGH/WHEAT FIRST BUTCHER SINGER: IF YOUR FUNDS ARE INVESTED IN A PUBLICLY HELD MUTUAL FUND YOU SHOULD RECEIVE PROSPECTUS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE WAY THESE FUNDS ARE INVESTED.)) Experts emphasize most 401-k plans are above board, and provide a great opportunity to build a retirement nest egg.
But they add keeping close track of them never hurts.
Len Besthoff, News-7.))

7Carroll-Bldg

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-99
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Carroll County officials are planning to merge their government services into one convenient location.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hillsville/Yesterday;

Officials broke ground yesterday for a new seven- and- a- half million dollar county office and court complex.
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SOT 11:47:08
IN Q=
((BILLY MITCHELL/CARROLL CO. ADMINISTRATOR: IT WILL CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS UNDER ONE ROOF. WE'RE CURRENTLY SPREAD OUT OVER ABOUT A THREE-MILE RADIUS IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF HILLSVILLE IN ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT FACILITIES. ))
SUPER=01-Billy Mitchell/Carroll Co. Administrator;
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OUT Q=different facilities.
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VO-NAT

The county will maintain its historic courthouse as a cultural center.
Mitchell says it'll take some study to determine the best use of the historic Carter building next door.
The county will probably sell its other facilities.
Grading is already under way on the new complex, with construction set to begin in the spring.
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7weather

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But weather conditions are slighlty improving.
Today will be mostly cloudy today with a chance of showers.
But slightly expect slightly warmer temperatures, in the 40s.
Tonight will be cloudy with lows in the upper 30's to low 40's.

55Draper

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#595-39
GRAPHIC=Draper

The re-trial of a Martinsville man accused of trying to kill his former girlfriend's father will continue this morning.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville/Yesterday;

For Michael Draper this is the second trial for the same crime.
In July, the jury was split-- and the judge was forced to declare a mistrial.
Police say Draper shot at his girlfriend's father Roy Harriston in the Summer of '93.
Harriston was supposed to testify a few months later against Draper.
SUPER=04-October 22, 1993;

But, just days before the trial, a pipe-bomb exploded in the Sara Lee Knit products parking lot where Harriston worked.
Harriston was not injured, but shrapnel from the bomb severely hurt his friend James Harris.
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SOT 15:26:07
IN Q=Before I was
((JAMES HARRIS/VICTIM: BEFORE I WAS A 12 HOUR SHIFT WORKER. I WAS ACTIVE IN SPORTS BOWLING. I WAS AN ALL AROUND SPORTSMAN YOU KNOW. AND RIGHT NOW IT TOOK ALL OF THAT AWAY FROM ME.))
SUPER=01-James Harris/Victim
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OUT Q=away from me
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=HOLD

Closing arguments and jury deliberation begin this morning.

55CVACC

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#95-98
GRAPHIC=AIDS

A financial turn for the Lynchburg aids support group, three months after an audit shut it down.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
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SOT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00
SUPER=01-Tom Jividen/CVACC Executive Director; :18
SUPER=01-Carol Franklin/Office Manager; :45
SUPER=01-Junius Haskins/Lynchburg Community Action Group; :56
SUPER=@ssm1; 1:04
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OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.

(( Since its birth in 1992, the Central Virginia AIDS Coordinating Council had been a fairly loose- knit organization of volunteers.
The problem was many of the people charged with handling CVACC's federal grant money also were clients.
A September audit suggested that agency officials no longer write checks to themselves. ((TOM JIVIDEN/CVACC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: WE DECIDED THAT WE'D REORGANIZE THE BOARD AND ASK THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CLIENTS TO NOT BE ON THE BOARD, AND THEN IN THE FUTURE WE'LL ORGANIZE AN ADVISORY BOARD TO ALLOW CLIENTS TO HAVE SOME INPUT INTO THE AGENCY AND THE DIRECTION IT'S TAKING.))
Leading the way is office manager Carol Franklin who came on board three weeks ago.
An accountant has been hired to handle the books, and things are slowly returning to normal. ((CAROL FRANKLIN/OFFICE MANAGER: IT'S BASICALLY ALMOST THERE. BUT WE'RE STILL PLANNING, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MAKE THIS INTO A GOOD ORGANIZATION.)) ((JUNIUS HASKINS/LYNCHBURG COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP: THEY SHARE OUR INTAKE TELEPHONE SYSTEM, OUR WAITING AREA, AND IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.)) ((Junius Haskins says CVACC has a home in the LYNCAG building for as long as it wants.. there's even room next door for the group to expand. CVACC officials say the most important thing now is to restore clients' confidence in the agency.))
Clients say they're still waiting to see how the CVACC reorganization shakes out.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

55Hotel-Hockey

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#95-105
GRAPHIC=Roanoke Hockey

The Days Inn- Civic Center is offering free rooms to out of town hockey fans this weekend.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Officials at the inn are so confident the Roanoke Express will beat the Richmond Renegades Saturday night-- they're letting Richmond fans spend the night for free.
The catch - Richmond has to score eight goals and win the game.
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SOT 3:11:27
IN Q=We're a confident
((MICHAEL WARE/DAYS INN CIVIC CENTER: WE'RE A CONFIDENT TEAM AND THE GOAL TENDERS AREN'T GOING TO LET UP. BUT WE JUST SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO INSURE IT, WE FIGURE THAT WAY, IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE AND WE DO LOSE AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THE ROOMS UP-- ODDS ARE, IF THEY PLAY FOUR OR FIVE MORE TIMES AT HOME-- WE'LL GET THEM TO COME BACK. ))
SUPER=01-Michael Ware/Days Inn Civic Center;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=TO COME BACK
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TALENT=Melanie
SS=none

To qualify for the free rooms-- Richmond fans must make reservations at the 36 dollar East Coast Hockey League rate.

55SchoolDelay

ANCHOR=Melanie
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WRITER=nle
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A few schools are still affected by the bad weather.
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(take school list)
RUNS=:10

55weather

8Pursuit

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#95-93
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A high speed chase last night from Altavista to Pittsylvania County ended in an arrest.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

Authorities arrested one man after the vehicle crashed near the Intersection of Routes 40 and 6-40.
A sheriff's official says the vehicle was stolen from Washington D-C.
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ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none

Authorities are still looking for two individuals who jumped from the vehicle shortly before it crashed.

8Shiflet

ANCHOR=Melanie
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Earl Shiflet, who served as Virginia's first Secretary of Education and as Secretary of Commerce and Resources has died.
Shiflet served during the 19-70's under governors Linwood Holton and Mills Godwin.
He is an Augusta County native. Shiflet died yesterday at the age of 77.

8Snow-Business

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#95-106
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This year's winter weather could save you some money on your Christmas shopping bills.
Some stores are telling their customers, "If it snows, it's free."
Kimberly McBroom checked out what could be a shopper's dream come true.
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IN Q=
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00
SUPER=@File; :16
SUPER=01-Paula Amrhein/Amrhein's Jewelers; :23
SUPER=01-Walt McDearmon/Amrhein's Customer; :34
SUPER=01-Jeff Mills/Schewel Furniture Co.; :51
SUPER=@Robin1; 1:15
SUPER=@Kimberly2; 1:28 QUICK!!
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OUT Q=McBroom, News 7
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((
SOT tape 1 4:33:23
((OH. LET ME GET YOU A TOTAL THERE. THAT'S VERY PRETTY. ))
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Courteous customer service, along with a bet on Old Man Winter are boosting sales at Amrhein's Jewelers this Christmas season.
For the first time ever, the store will refund all purchases made between November 24th and Christmas Eve-- IF Roanoke gets a four- inch snowfall New Year's Eve.
For some customers, it's a concept too good to be true.
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SOT TAPE 1 4:06:16
((PAULA AMRHEIN/AMRHEIN'S JEWELERS: SOME OF THEM ARE SNICKERING AND SOME OF THEM ARE REALIZING THAT YES, IN FACT, IT COULD HAPPEN. SO, WE'RE JUST HOPING THAT IT DOES HAPPEN AND THAT IT IS A REAL SUCCESS. WE'D JUST LOVE TO GIVE ALL THE MONEY BACK TO THE CUSTOMERS. ))
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SOT TAPE 1 4:28:50
((WALT MCDEARMON/AMRHEIN'S CUSTOMER: I REALLY LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL AND I HOPE IT SNOWS. ))
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Schewel's Furniture is also getting in on the winter weather gamble.
It's promising a full refund on items purchased last Sunday-- provided Lynchburg gets the white stuff between midnight Christmas Eve and noon Christmas Day.
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SOT tape 1 5:08:35
((JEFF MILLS/SCHEWEL FURNITURE CO.: IT HAS TO SNOW WITHIN THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG TWO- POINT- ONE INCHES. IF THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THAT 12- HOUR PERIOD, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GET A LOT OF FREE FURNITURE.))
RUNS=:13

Both Amrhein's and Schewel's are insured in case they have to make good on their bets.
But just what are the chances for holiday snow?
We asked our own Robin Reed.
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SOT TAPE 2 7:14:41
((ROBIN REED/NEWS 7 CHIEF METEREOLOGIST: AS FAR AS NEW YEAR'S GOES, WE CHECKED BACK IN THE RECORD BOOKS ALMOST 20 YEARS-- AND ROANOKE HAS NOT HAD A FOUR INCH SNOWFALL IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. SO, IF YOU'RE BETTING ON SNOW ON EITHER OF THOSE DAYS, IN EITHER OF THOSE CITIES, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. ))
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But for now, many consumers are dreaming of a white Christmas.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7.))

8Water-MAIN

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=None

A water main break is causing some big problems for residents in the town of Narrows.
The town's storage tanks are draining faster than they can be filled.
The town manager is asking residents to restrict water use until crews can repair the broken line.
Narrows Elementary and Narrows High School will BOTH be closed today to help conserve water.

8School-Delay

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
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We have a couple more school announcements due to some bad weather.
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(take school list)
RUNS=:10

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
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WRITER=nle
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Turning now to the weather -
It'll be mostly cloudy today with a chance of showers.
Afternoon highs will be in the mid 40s.
Tonight will be cloudy with lows in the upper 30's and lowr 40's.
Tomorrow, cloudy skies and slightly warmer temperatures with highs in the 50s. Skies will be partly sunny. Weekend highs will stay in the 40's with overnight lows in the 30's.