WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/06/96

08:25-01

7Roanoke-Garbage

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-52
GRAPHIC=City Seal
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

A war of words between non-residential trash haulers and the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority over tipping fees.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The Resource Authority, which serves taxpayers in Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Vinton, is worried one of its largest revenue sources may be in jeopardy.
Non- residential haulers are threatening to take their trash elsewhere because of tipping fees they claim are too high.
But authority members have a threat of their own.
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;

During a Roanoke City Council meeting, the idea of having the Authority COMPETE with the non- residential haulers was presented.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It is a
((BOB HERBERT/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: IT IS A ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR DEFICIT ITEM IF WE DO NOTHING, SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT COUNCIL WOULD BE LOOKING TO US AND SAYING, GIVE US SOME OPTIONS.)) ((KAREN FREELAND/BFI: CITY STAFF IS PRESENTING, IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE THAT CITY STAFF AND THE RESOURCE AUTHORITY HAVE IS TO THREATEN TO PUT THE PRIVATE COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE WASTE IN THE VALLEY. WELL THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT.))
SUPER=@Herbert; :01
SUPER=01-Karen Freeland/BFI; :11
RUNS=:26
OUT Q=to that point.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Non-residential haulers say there wouldn't be a problem if the Authority would just lower its tipping fees.

75Trigon

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#596-19
GRAPHIC=Trigon

In just a little over a month the Public hearings begin over wether state's largest health insurer should be able to go private.
The Virginia Citizens' Consumer Council has renewed its call for close public scrutiny of Trigon's plan.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;

The State Corporation Commission must approve Trigon's request to become a for- profit company.
Consumer Council spokeswoman Jean Ann Fox warns there's NO guarantee Trigon will continue to take folks who can't get insurance anywhere else.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 05:43;29
IN Q=We think
((JEAN ANN FOX/CONSUMER ADVOCATE: WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE AN INSURER OF LAST RESORT PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AND THAT'S AFFORDABLE SO WE DON'T HAVE A HOLE IN THE SAFETY NET -- IF AFTER TRIGON GETS ITS WAY, IT DECIDES THAT IT NO LONGER WANTS TO BE THE INSURER OF LAST RESORT.))
SUPER=01-Jean Ann Fox/Consumer Advocate;
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=last resort.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Trigon

Trigon must give two years notice if it plans to stop providing the so-called "open enrollment" insurance.
Fox says NO other private company gets the cut rate on taxes which Trigon receives-- to be the insurer of last resort.
The Attorney General's office says it's satisfied with the 24- month notice Trigon must give.

7Fleetwood

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-53
GRAPHIC=Business News

America's largest builder of mobile homes is getting even bigger thanks to a second manufacturing plant in Franklin County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Yesterday;

At a ribbon- cutting ceremony yesterday, Fleetwood showed off its new 85- thousand square foot facility at the Franklin County/Rocky Mount Industrial Park.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:09:15
IN Q=We will
((GARY CLARK/FLEETWOOD GENERAL MANAGER: WE WILL MOVE OUR WORKFORCE TO THIS NEW BUILDING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE 60 HOUSES A WEEK. WE'LL GO BACK AND RETROFIT THE OLD FACILITY AND BUILD A NEW DOUBLEWIDE PRODUCT OUT OF THERE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY AND HIT 120 HOUSES A WEEK. ))
SUPER=01-Gary Clark/Fleetwood General Manager;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=houses a week
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Along with an increase in production... the California- based company will also expand its Rocky Mount workforce.
By mid- October, Fleetwood will have hired a total of 175 new workers.
The new plant will start churning out the houses next week.
(----------------)

7Unemployment

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-61
GRAPHIC=Virginia Unemployment

The unemployment numbers in Virginia in June are slightly UP.
But that's not the complete picture.
The Virginia Employment Commission says the summer flood of students into the labor force played a big role in the jobless numbers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The V-E-C also points out that statewide, June unemployment is the lowest it has been in six years.
Roanoke's jobless rate for June was two- point- eight- percent, up two tenths of a percent compared to May.
Lynchburg's unemployment came in at four- percent.
That's up about a half percent.
(-------------)

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Partly/Sunny/85-89/Partly Cloudy/Patchy Fog/65-69;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the forecast -
The morning will start off foggy, then burning off and becoming partly sunny.
Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
Tonight will be partly cloudy with patchy fog.
Lows will be in the mid to upper 60s. 7BIRTHDAYS ! 8/7/96

SUPER=130-45/Connie Donevan/Danville;

SUPER=130-9/Stekeshia Craighead/Spencer;

SUPER=130-92/Mallie Hickman/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-6/Langley Hawkins/Goodview;

SUPER=130-7/Phillip McCullough II/Buchanan;

SUPER=130-5/Tabitha Whitlock/Christiansburg;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Donna Hodges/Bassett;

SUPER=130-/Geneva Worrell/Bassett;

SUPER=130-24/Traci Waldron/Roanoke;

55GOP-Convention

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-64
GRAPHIC=Republicans
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

San Diego authorities are beefing up security at all public gathering places for the upcoming Republican National Convention.
The city's mayor says the Olympic Park bombing prompted the move.
Meantime, presumptive Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole has selected a Virginian as the secretary of the convention.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;

Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Kay Coles James was the first major player to step down from Governor George Allen's administration.
James has since held a seat on the state Board of Education, and is now dean of Pat Robertson's Regent University Law School.
Meanwhile, former boss George Allen will play a lesser role -- as one of Dole's many caucus chairmen and media spokespeople.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 05:37:37
IN Q=I think
((KEN STROUPE/ALLEN SPOKESMAN: I THINK CRIME TO THE EXTENT THAT THE DOLE CAMPAIGN'S GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. JUVENILE JUSTICE IN PARTICULAR IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE THAT THEY'VE ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO TALK ABOUT. WELFARE REFORM. AND FEDERALISM. RETURNING AUTHORITY BACK TO THE STATES AND MOVING IT OUT OF WASHINGTON.))
SUPER=01-Ken Stroupe/Allen Spokesman;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=of Washington.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=allen

George Allen is infrequently mentioned as a possible Dole running mate.
The Governor himself says he'd pick a mid-westerner with more electoral college clout if he were Dole.

55Wheeler

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-63
GRAPHIC=NONE

Henry County's animal warden has been fired.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape;

County Administrator Sid Clower suspended Gerald Wheeler last week, and announced yesterday that he will NOT be reinstated.
Wheeler's 11-year-career has had its share of ups and downs.
Last year he was indicted for distributing drugs used to euthanize animals.
Those charges were later dropped.
(--------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=NONE

Clower's office would not discuss why Wheeler was let go.
Last week, Wheeler told News 7 he expected to be fired and won't fight it.

55Game

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=amo
TAPE#edit of 96-66 (new bites)
GRAPHIC=none

Using Bingo as a fundraiser is getting a little more difficult.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Collinsville;

The Virginia Charitable Gaming Commission has added some rules.
A permit is mandatory and the commission requires Bingo operators to pay up to six percent of the proceeds to a charity organization.
Bingo operators are concerned about the two- percent audit fee the commission is now charging to regulate them as well.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT Cooper tape 6:42:13
IN Q=Our concern is
((WAYNE COOPER/BINGO CHAIRMAN: OUR CONCERN IS STATEWIDE, TOO. YOU KNOW A LOT OF LOCALITIES ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF FUNDING CHARITY DOLLARS OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS COMMISSION. ))
SUPER=01-Wayne Cooper/Bingo Chairman;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=back to this commission
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Commissioners say the new rules will only last through next June.
As they work on more permanent regulations, they'll seek opinions from bingo operators.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT Bingo Jerry Rowe tape 20:39:08
IN Q=That will involve
((JERRY ROWE/VA CHARITABLE GAMING COMMISSION: THAT WILL INVOLVE CONTACTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE CONDUCTING CHARITABLE GAMING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING THESE REGULATIONS AND INVITING THEIR INPUT. ))
SUPER=01-Jerry Rowe/Va. Charitable Gaming Comm.;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=inviting their input
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Bingo operators fear the worthy projects such as volunteer rescue squads and fire departments will suffer the most.

55City-Council

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=am
WRITER=lbe
TAPE# edit of 96-53 (new bite)
GRAPHIC=NONE

The Orvis Corporation is growing and plans to break ground on a major expansion at its Roanoke distribution center by the end of the summer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The city has agreed to sell Orvis the land it needs in the Center for Industry and Technology.
Orvis vice president John Moticha (moh-TISH-uh) told city council that the company's surprising growth is forcing it to expand a lot sooner than it expected.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT FROM ORVIS/CITY COUNCIL TAPE 15:01:40
IN Q=We've been
((JOHN MOTICHA/ORVIS VICE PRESIDENT: WE'VE BEEN ON A TRACK OF INCREASING OUR EMPLOYMENT ABOUT 50 EMPLOYEES PER YEAR OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND THIS WILL ENABLE US TO CONTINUE ON THAT TRACK.))
SUPER=01-John Moticha/Orvis Vice President;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=that track.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Orvis expects the expansion will enable it to hire about 50 full time people every year.
Right now it has about 500 employees year round, 800 during the holiday season.
The company sells a variety of high quality outdoor sporting goods, including everything from fishing rods to hunting jackets.
The company moved its distribution operation to Roanoke in 1987.
The latest project will be Orvis' second expansion in two years.
(-------------)

55Weather

8Trash

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#596-18 slugged city council
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

A dispute over trash is getting pretty messy in the Roanoke area.
The disagreement between the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority and the companies collecting trash from area businesses is over tipping fees...
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Non- residential haulers have threatened to stop bringing their garbage to the regional landfill, complaining that the Authority's tipping fees are too high.
That could severely impact the Authority's budget.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:28:27
IN Q=If you
SUPER=@Herbert;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=and Vinton.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

So Authority members say they may have the Authority start COMPETING with the non-residential haulers for their business.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

The non-residential haulers say there wouldn't be a problem if the Authority would just lower its fees.

8First-Colony

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-62
GRAPHIC=Business News

One of Lynchburg's largest employers has been purchased by a General Eletric subsidiary.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg;

First Colony Life Insurance has announced it will be purchased by G-E Capital.
The pricetag: one- point- eight- BILLION- dollars.
In June, First Colony said it was considering alternatives to increase its stock value.
The company employs roughly 900 employees in Lynchburg.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:27:27
IN Q=We have a
((RONALD DOLAN/FIRST COLONY PRESIDENT: WE HAVE A PARENT NOW WHO OBVIOUSLY IS VERY COMMITTED TO THIS BUSINESS AND THEY'RE COMMITTED TO IT NOT JUST WITH WORDS, BUT WITH MONEY. WE HAVE A PARENT WHO BRINGS SOMETHING TO THE TABLE, THEY BRING VISIBILITY, THEY BRING FINANCIAL CREDIBILITY AND FINANCIAL STRENGTH.))
SUPER=01-Ronald Dolan/First Colony President;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=and financial strength.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

First Colony does not expect the buyout will effect the workers.
Nearly all of the company's operations take place in Lynchburg.
It's headquartered in Richmond.
(-------------)

8Back-School

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-58
GRAPHIC=Education

In just a few weeks students will be heading back to the classroom.
And for some the shopping frenzy has already begun for the hipest back-to-school fashions.
But as Ron Jones reports, being in style can be a strain on the checkbook as well on a student's self-esteem.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=School is just around
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=@Ron1; :17
SUPER=07-Ricky Watkins; :25
SUPER=01-Dr. Wally Scott/Roanoke Family Center; :57
SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape; 1:16
RUNS=1:32
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.

(( School is just around the corner and that means-- the fashion show begins.
Designer pants-- shoes-- and hats.
Things have changed quite a bit from good ole blue jeans and P-F Flyer tennis shoes of the 1960's. SU
SOT 14:37:03

((And these won't make you run faster or jump higher like P-F Flyers, but I was told they do make you look cooler and more phat... which means good.))
RUNS=:08
SOT 15:04:46
((RICKY WATKINS: I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS... WEARING THE SAME THING NOW.))
RUNS=:08

And what if you don't have the cool stuff?
SOT 15:06:32
((PROBABLY GET LAUGHED AT... BECAUSE YOU'LL LOOK PRETTY STUPID.))
RUNS=:04

These cool pants?... 28 dollars.
These phat shoes?... 140 dollars.
But what about children who can't afford to be part of the in crowd?
Experts believe it can distract from the learning experience.
SOT 13:45:22
((DR. WALLY SCOTT/ROANOKE FAMILY CENTER: WELL KIDS ARE MORE... HAVE'S AND THE HAVE NOTS.))
RUNS=:19

FILE FROM DANVILLE
A high school in Danville has already addressed this issue.
School officials are requiring standard uniforms this year.
But if you want your kids to be cool and phat this fall... be ready to pull out your designer check book and pay a designer price.
Ron Jones, News Seven.))