12:00-01
NOON-HEADLINES
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None
(----------------)
VO-NAT
Oregon residents are stuffing sandbags and moving to higher ground in the
wake of the worst flooding in decades.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
And President Clinton is set to sign a landmark bill that will have a
massive impact on consumers.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick
SS=None
No ice last night makes things easier this morning, and we continue to warm
up and thaw out.
The forecast shows more of that trend, I'll have it for you
shortly.(////////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE
Don't go away, the news is next.
OREGON-FLOODING
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=flooding
Oregon residents are bracing for the worst flooding in 30 years, forcing
many to flee their homes.
Virtually every river and stream in northwestern Oregon is above or near
flood stage, and it continues to rain. Reed Galin has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=NAT SOUND
SUPER=03-Northwestern Oregon;
SUPER=01-Reed Galin/Reporting; 1:02
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=cbs news Portland.
CRASH-SITE
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Plane Crash/Commercial
Search crews continue to find bodies at the site of yesterday's jetliner
crash in the Atlantic.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
As of this morning, searchers have recovered corpses and body parts of at
least 128 people.
There were 189 on the Boeing 7-57 that crashed Tuesday night, some 13 miles
off the coast of the Domican Republic.
Most of them were German tourists.
(----------------)
TELE-BILL
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none
It's signing time for the telecommunications overhaul bill.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;
Just moments ago, President Clinton signed into law the largest overhaul of
the telecommunications industry in 62 years.
It removes long-standing monopoly protections -- so that long-distance
companies can get into the local telephone company business and local phone
companies can get into the cable T-V business.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none
It also requires television makers to install chips that will let parents
screen out violent shows.
Bell-Atlantic
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=Bell Atlantic
Perhaps as a result of the long-awaited legislation, Bell Atlantic and Nynex
continue to discuss some kind of joint venture.
The Wall Street Journal reports merger talks have cooled between the two
Baby Bells, but the pair IS discussing a joint venture to enter the
long-distance business.
Virginia-Rubber
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=12
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE# edit
GRAPHIC=fire aftermath
Officials of the tire shredding plant that burned to the ground last
summer now face charges of storing too many tires in the facility.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rocky Mount/July 1995;
The Virginia Rubber Recycling plant was destroyed by fire in July.
Investigators believe an electrical problem with a piece of equipment
sparked the blaze.
Now a grand jury in Rocky Mount has indicted four officers of the company.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=legal scales
Facing charges are Rufe Bynum the third, Marcus Haley and Raymond Bishop,
all listed as company presidents... and Larry Boyd, Virginia Rubber's general
manager.
Smyth-Fatal
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=train accident
A Smyth County man is dead after his car was struck by an oncoming train.
State police say 48-year-old Danny Jones of Atkins was pronounced dead at
Smyth County Community Hospital yesterday afternoon.
A spokseman says Jones's pickup went over the crossing on Route 6-85 despite
the train engineer's attempts to warn him with his horn.
The impact dragged Jones' vehicle 120 feet before the train could stop.
81-Wreck
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-110
GRAPHIC=none
Traffic was tied up for two hours this morning when a tractor trailer loaded
with candy overturned on Interstate 81 in Wythe County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;
State police say the driver, Margie Youngblood lost control of her rig when
she reached for her coffee cup.
Youngblood is charged with reckless driving.
She and her husband were injured and taken to a hospital.
State police say one of the southbound lanes near mile marker 68 will be
closed most of the day.
(----------------)
tease#1
HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE
When News 7 returns,
State police will investigate an alleged rape involving two Virginia Tech
football players,
(---------------)
VO-NAT
and we'll tell you how students in Salem feel about hitting the books, now that
their snow days are over, at least for now.
Now here's Patrick to tell us what kind of weather to expect in the
immediate future.
(----------------)
music up full
comm1
Deputy
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none
Prosecutors say they plan to charge a former Roanoke County sheriff's deputy
with stealing a jail inmate's credit cards.
Inmate Robert Dallas says someone ran up more than 900 dollars in charges --
and it wasn't him because he's been in jail since last March.
Authorities are not releasing the former deputy's name until he's formally
charged.
Va-Tech
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=khu
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=state police investigation
State police will investigate Christy Brzonkala's (Bron-calla's) rape
charges.
She's the former Virginia Tech student who says two Tech football players
raped her and then, got preferential treatment.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
The state police investigation was actually the State Attorney General's
idea.
A letter to Brzonkala's attorney last month notes that Brzonkala chose NOT
to seek police involvement.
Deputy A-G Gary Aronhalt wrote, "I hope she will reconsider."
He added if Brzonkala requests it, the Attorney General is prepared to ask
the State police to conduct an immediate and thorough criminal investigation.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold
Brzonkala's lawyer and Tech officials say they WELCOME the criminal
investigation.
Henry-Administrator
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-15
GRAPHIC=NONE
Henry County Administrator Robert Lawler is out of a job.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;
The county board of supervisors voted unanimously yesterday to release
Lawler from his contract.
The board named "philosophical differences" as the reason.
SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :14
County officials added that Lawler's termination had nothing to do with his
job performance-- nor was there any misconduct.
Some say the three newly- elected board members may have played a role.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:19:08
IN Q=this is the
((VERONICA VENABLE/ACTING HENRY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
NEW BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. AND BEYOND THAT, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT SPECIFIC
DIFFERENCES OF PHILOSOPHY THEY MAY HAVE HAD, BUT THIS IS A NEWLY- CONSTITUTED
BOARD.))
SUPER=01-Veronica Venable/Acting Henry Co. Administrator;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=constituted board
(----------------)
VO-NA
Lawler could not be reached for comment--
But in a written statement to the board, he praised the county's staff.
(----------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=NONE
Lawler will receive monthly severance pay through May 27th.
He's worked as county administrator for the last two and a half years.
Wythe-Administrator
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=tho
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=None
And another county administrator will soon be out of the picture.
Wythe County Administrator Billy Branson is resigning effective September
first.
Former county board of supervisor member James Crosswell says Branson was
FORCED to resign because of his support FOR the proposed prison in Wythe
County.
Branson would not comment.
Helems
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=spr
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE
Meantime, Craig County's school superintendent is being asked to resign.
This week, school board members voted three to two to oust Dallas Helems.
The decision comes on the heels of a recent fuel leak at Craig County High
School.
Board members are said to be upset with the way Helems' handled the
situation.
Helems says he was disappointed with the board's decision, and that he had
no idea this decision was coming.
Helems still has about a year and a half left on his contract and says he
wants to honor it.
Schools
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-4
GRAPHIC=Education
The temperatures have warmed up some since the big freeze, but not enough to
thaw out all the schools.
In Salem, school officials defied the ice and opened anyway.
Ron Jones has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=When the snow
SUPER=03-Salem/Yesterday; :16
SUPER=01-Chris Foutz/Salem High School Student; :23
SUPER=01-Jamie Helms/Salem High School Student; :30
SUPER=01-Joyce Noell/Salem High School Teacher; :39
SUPER=01-Dana Dudley/Salem High School Student; :47
RUNS=1:00
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.
((
When the snow pounded our area this winter some students, and few teachers,
were elated!
No more school, no more books no more teachers...well for a while at least.
But now there are classes to make up because of the snow... about a dozen
days in some localities.
Salem City schools are back in session.
But some students say let it snow, let it snow let it...
SOT 12:09:44
((CHRIS FOUTZ/SALEM HIGH STUDENT: SNOW... I LIKE BEING OUT OF SCHOOL. BUT I
LIKE SCHOOL BUT I LIKE TO BE OUT SOMETIMES AND VACATION.))
RUNS=:07
BUTT, BUTT, BUTT
SOT 12:13:19
((JAMIE HELM/SALEM HIGH STUDENT: SNOW MOST DEFINITELY.. WHY BE AT SCHOOL WHEN
YOU COULD BE AT HOME.))
Some say the school delays are even worse.
SOT 12:17:56
((JOYCE NOELL/SALEM HIGH TEACHER: GET THE BOOKS OUT, GET THE DISKS OUT, BOOT UP
THE COMPUTERS AND IT WAS TIME TO PUT THEM AWAY AND GO HOME.))
But some just want to get back to business and get it over with.
SOT 12:08:43
((DANA DUDLEY/SALEM HIGH STUDENT: I THINK I'D RATHER HAVE SCHOOL BEING IN...
BECAUSE I'M GETTING READY TO GRADUATE SO I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.))
But whatever the view of students or faculty they're going to have to make
up their time... one day or another.
Ron Jones, News Seven.))
School-Watch
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=School Info
Due to remaining snow and ice, we have some school announcements.
(mel ad libs schoolwatch)
Tease#2
SOFT MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE
And speaking of the winter weather --
Still to come on News 7 --
(----------------)
VO-NAT
if you're tired of the white stuff, there's more on the way - at least that's
what the Farmer's Almanac predicts.
(-------------)
music up full
comm2
MUSHROOM-GIRL
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=medical news
In San Francisco this afternoon a thirteen- year- old girl is undergoing an
emergency liver transplant after eating poisonous mushrooms.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-San Francisco;
The girl, her mother and two brothers picked wild mushrooms while on a family
outing and then ate them in spaghetti sauce.
They turned out to be death cap mushrooms, the world's most dangerous
mushroom.
The other family members are in serious condition.
(----------------)
baboon-man
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=aids
In other medical news from the bay city, a doctor and his patient say
they'll make another attempt at an experimental AIDS procedure.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;
Jeff Getty received a historic baboon bone marrow transplant, but he still
doesn't have a baboon- produced immune system.
Getty talked to a California radio station yesterday and said he did not
expect the baboon cells to ingraft into his sytem and begin producing AIDS
resistant cells.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=it doesn't
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=a long shot.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
But Getty, says he is feeling better than he did before the surgery two
months ago.
Doctors say his surprising improvement may be as important as the experiment
itself.
(----------------)
Old-Farmers
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-3
GRAPHIC=Winter Wx
If you're a faithful reader of the Farmer's Almanac you may be expecting
another snowstorm.
It's not what meteorologists predict, but more folks ARE turning to the
Almanac since it's been on the mark for the last two blasts of winter.
Tracy Altizer takes a closer look.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The Almanac has hit
SUPER=01-Clyde Morris/Farmer; :00
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape; :44
SUPER=01-Mike Emlaw/N.W.S. Meteorologist; :54
SUPER=@Tracy2; 1:09
RUNS=1:19
OUT Q=Altizer, NEws 7.
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:21:50
IN Q=
((CLYDE MORRIS/FARMER: THE ALMANAC HAS HIT IT ALMOST WITHIN ONE DAY A YEAR OR A
YEAR AND A HALF IN ADVANCE, THAT OUR LOCAL FORECASTERS CAN'T HIT A WEEK AHEAD.
))
RUNS=:11
Morris really is a fan of Robin Reed, and watches the News-7 weatherman
nightly for the next day's forecast.
But when it comes to long- range planning, this potato farmer has relied on
Blum's Farmer's and Planter's Almanac for 40 years.
It has him worried about more snowstorms this month.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:29:57
((THE 16TH THROUGH THE 19TH AND THE 24TH THROUGH THE 29TH. I HOPE WE MISS
THOSE. ))
RUNS=:06
But it also depends on which almanac you depend on.
The Old Farmers Almanac was on the money last week, but it's not calling for
anymore snow until the 19th thru the 21st of this month.
At the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg, meteorologists say
it's all a matter of interpretation.
And even with all the latest computer models, they don't stick their necks
out past a week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:02:29
((MIKE EMLAW/N.W.S. METEOROLOGIST: WE CAN PREDICT FAIRLY WELL MOST OF THE TIME
OUT TO ABOUT TWO DAYS. WE CAN DO REASONABLY WELL, KIND OF GET A GENERAL IDEA
WHAT THE WEATHER'S GOING TO BE OUT TO PERHAPS SEVEN DAYS DEPENDING ON THE TIME
OF THE YEAR, AND THEN ANYTHING REALLY BEYOND THAT IS GUESSWORK. ))
RUNS=:15
But whether you subscribe to high- tech or down- home, only one person
really knows what's in store, and we all know better than to mess with Mother
Nature. Tracy Altizer, News 7.))
ITT
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#95-113
GRAPHIC=ITT
The I-T-T plant in Roanoke County has come a LONG WAY toward establishing
commercial uses for its night vision devices.
But so far, that has NOT brought more job security for its 650 workers.
Len Besthoff reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Last week
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Week; :00
SUPER=01-Elaine Tuttle/ITT Night Vision; :55
SUPER=@File;
SUPER=@Len1; 1:24
RUNS=1:58
OUT Q=LB, News-7.
(( Last week we visited I-T-T Night Vision to do a story about its positive
efforts in selling night vision goggles to consumers.
Up until 1993, the focus was on military applications.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE TWO 03:16:45
IN Q=The response
((SANDRA COAN/ITT NIGHT VISION: THE RESPONSE TO NIGHT VISION HAS BEEN
INCREDIBLE.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=has been incredible.
But hours after our visit workers called saying the company planned to cut
jobs.
Our attempts to reach I-T-T failed, but we confirmed the story from an
outside source.
We reported I-T-T would cut 90 positions-it turned out 12 people got pink
slips.
We regret the error.
When we tried to get the correct figure from I-T-T, we did not get a
response after four separate calls.
A release arrived TWO DAYS later, and 24 HOURS after the rest of the media
got a copy.
It says the layoffs partly resulted from slower than anticipated growth in
its commercial/consumer products segment.
But two days before, growth prospects in that division sounded pretty rosy.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE TWO 02:55:01
IN Q=The second
((ELAINE TUTTLE/ITT NIGHT VISION: THE SECOND YEAR WE WERE ABOUT 400-PERCENT
GROWTH RATE AND WE HAVEN'T MAINTAINED THAT KIND OF GROWTH RATE, BUT WE DOUBLED
LAST YEAR AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA ALMOST DOUBLE THIS YEAR IN OUR
COMMERCIAL SALES.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=commercial sales.
Workers who called us also expressed doubt about I-T-T's other statement in
the release, that "...no further workforce reductions are anticipated".
They pointed out, and News-7 confirmed, that I-T-T is awaiting the award of
a large night vision contract from the U-S military probably worth tens of
millions of dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT STANDUP
IN Q=The last
(( The last contract awarded was split by I-T-T and its main competitor,
Litton Industries of Arizona.
But workers say Litton took the matter to court because it had the lower
bid.
This time around, employees speculate only one company will get the
contract. ))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=will get the contract.
But even if I-T-T doesn't win it, it MAY have an ace in the hole.
Workers also say it's bidding on two big foreign night vision contracts.
I-T-T told its employees it will hear about the U-S military contract in a
few weeks, and the foreign work will not be awarded until later this year.
Len Besthoff, News-7.))
Tetra
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=Business News
The owner of the Tetra- Secondnature plant in Blacksburg has put the company
on the selling block.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;
Warner Lambert of New Jersey says the company is exploring the sale of its
Tetra division, which makes a variety of aquarium products.
Tetra employs about 100 people.
In the past few years it has gone through two small expansions.
(-------------)
Stocks
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE#none
SS=Stocks
Stocks are pulling back today,
after three days of record highs.
On Wall Street at noon the Dow was
DOWN six and a half points.
tease#3
SPORTS MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
Stick around,
Just ahead on News 7, Dave Winfield is out, while Don Shula may be in,
(----------------)
VO-NAT
and Radford's basketball team causes a big upset at the Dedmon Center last
night.
Patrick Evans will have the highlights.
(----------------)
MUSIC UP FULL
comm4
Winfield
ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=mlb logo
Dave Winfield is hanging up his glove.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;
The 44-year-old outfielder retired today after 23 seasons in the majors.
Winfield played last season for the Cleveland Indians, he also played for San
Diego, the New York Yankees, California, Toronto and Minnesota.
The 12-time All-Star batted .283 and clubbed 465 homers.
(-------------)
wipe wipe wipe
Shula
ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=cro
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;
Don Shula may be on his way back to the sidelines.
Today's "Washington Post" reports Cleveland Browns Owner Art Modell may ask
Shula to head the Browns if the team moves to Baltimore.
The N-F-L's all-time winningest coach retired from the Miami Dolphins last
month after 33 seasons in the league.
(----------------)
Radford
ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#BB96-1
GRAPHIC=RADFORD LOGO
A big upset in Radford last night as the Highlanders hand UNC-Greensboro its
first conference loss of the season.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Radford/Spartans vs. Highlanders; :00
The Spartans started with a perfect 7-and-0 record.
But Radford opened up its game and took a 36-to-32 halftime lead, thanks in
part to Eric Bowens.
In the second half, Jason Lansdown hits for two of his 12 with this basket.
SUPER=33-Radford/=81/UNC Greensboro/=67;
Five minutes later, the Highlanders went on an 8-to-nothing run led by Kevin
Robinson.
He finished with 18 and RU slam dunks the Spartans 81-to-67.
(----------------)
Wrap
ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cst
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none
(***********patrick toss to mel**********)
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot
Coming up today on our Health Check Report-- More from Heart-Score '96
today-- with the focus on AGE and strokes.
Join us for the story, on News 7 at FIVE.
And thanks for watching News 7 at NOON.
Have a good day.
by SS