WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/10/96

08:25-01

7Gretna-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-70
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon

Three days after what was left of Hurricane Fran blew into Virginia, hundreds of roads remain closed and a few thousand people remain without eletricity.
The flooding claime one life in Gretna.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Gretna;

Sixty year old John Perkins Senior was reported missing by his family on Friday after he failed to arrive for a doctor's appointment in Lynchburg.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department says he was killed this weekend when flood waters swept his vehicle into a culvert near the intersection of route 29 and 3-64.
Perkins' body was found late Saturday night in a swollen stream about a mile from his car.
(----------------)

7Southside-Cleanup

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-62
GRAPHIC=Flooding aftermath

Southside residents are trying to pick up the pieces from Fran.
As Steve Smallshaw reports the water may have receded, but it's left behind an even bigger mess.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=With Route 58
SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Reid Tanksley/Furniture Mart; :19
SUPER=01-Bunny Ratliff/Grocery Store Owner; :48
SUPER=01-Sarah Wade Owen/Homeowner; 1:07
SUPER=@ssm1; 1:30
RUNS=1:44
OUT Q=News7, Halifax County.
(( With Route 58 finally re- opened, Southside residents could finally make the 30- mile trip between Danville and South Boston. The trouble is, whether you were in Danville or in Halifax county, there isn't much anyone would want to see, unless you were a fan of muddy water and damp storefronts. ((REID TANKSLEY/FURNITURE MART: IT WAS A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE HAVING TO LOAD ALL THAT FURNITURE UP. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK IN BUSINESS, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS THURSDAY.))
Tropical Storm Fran certainly inconvenienced this convenience store. The Dan River pushed its way in here Saturday morning, and didn't leave for almost 48 hours. Believe it or not, owner Bunny Ratliff says this is an improvement over what her store looked like a few hours before. ((BUNNY RATLIFF/GROCERY STORE OWNER: EVERYTHIN LOOKS LIKE THIS. EVERYTHING. WE'VE SET SOME OF THE STUFF BACK UP. WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN WALKWAYS NOW.))
The business owners weren't alone in their misery. Almost every resident could show you their own property damage, but most paled in comparison to Sara Wade Owen's front yard on Hodges Street. She came home to find this giant oak tree had toppled and taken a chunk out of her house. ((SARA WADE OWEN/HOMEOWNER: THE WAY IT HAD HIT THE ROOF WAS JUST OVERWHELMING-- HOW ON EARTH, WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT IS THE WAY YOU FEEL.))
T.J. Glasscock played under that old oak tree as a child. Today, 70 years later, he was watching power crews from Tennessee working to put the lights back on at his neighborhood. They'd been without electricity since early Friday. Standup
So, with the water gone, and the road re-opened, things are slowly returning to normal here in Riverdale and South Boston. But for businesses like the Ratliff Grocery, it will be a long time before the memories of this flood have washed away. Steve Smallshaw, News 7, Halifax County.))

7Pitts-Bus

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-66
GRAPHIC=NONE

A Pittsylvania County school bus driver has been place on administrative leade for allegedly dropping off some students on a flooded road.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

School officials say the incident happened last Tuesday at Blairs Middle School.
The driver reportedly picked up the children and took them to a drop-off point, but stopped because of a flooded road.
The children's parents say seven students were then told to exit the bus and cross the flooded area to get home.
School officials say the children's safety is their number one priority.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 06:12:43
IN Q=We understand what
((JERRY E. WEBB/PITTSYLVANIA CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO BE SURE THAT WE'VE GATHERED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE FEEL IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR MAKING THE DECISION ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THEN COMMUNICATING IN A WAY THAT IS ACCURATE AND DOES REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE RESULT OF OUR INVESTIGATION.))
SUPER=01-Jerry E. Webb/Pittsylvania Co. School Supt.;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=of our investigation.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Superintendent Webb met with the parents on Friday and says the investigation will probably continue for a few more weeks.
The bus driver's identity has NOT been released.
(----------------)

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=none
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE

SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE

(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Variably Cloudy/Possible Showers/83-87/Partly/Cloudy/63-67;

Taking a look at the weather.
Today we should see variable clouds with a 30 percent chance of rain this afternoon.
Highs in the mid 80s.
Tonight, it'll partly cloudy with lows in the 60s.
Tomorrow, it looks like more of the same with cloudy skies and a chance of showers. 7BIRTHDAYS! 9/11/96

SUPER=130-10/Steffan Roberts/Pulaski;

SUPER=130-31/Regina Dudley/Chamblissburg;

SUPER=130-2/Victoria Minnix/New Castle;

SUPER=130-20/Rrea Moon/Lynch Station;

SUPER=130-2/Jacob Ratcliff/Christiansburg;

55Bank-Robbery

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net (edit of 96-71)
GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery

It was a short run with the money for a Danville bank robber.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

30-year old David Ray Martin allegedly entered the Bank of Fincastle just after one o'clock.
Sheriff's deputies say he took some cash and fled on foot.
They chased and apprehended him-- but it took a while longer to track down the money.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT bank robbery bite tape 17:39:18
IN Q=It was found
((SGT. D.A. DUDDING/BOTETOURT CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: IT WAS FOUND, JUST IN SOME BRUSH. IT WAS PROBABLY UP TO YOUR SHOULDERS, AND IT WAS STUFFED UP IN SOME BRIARS. THE SUSPECT LOOKED LIKE HE'D LAID DOWN THERE A MOMENT AND JUST STUFFED IT UNDERNEATH THERE. ))
SUPER=01-Sgt. D.A. Dudding/Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Dept.;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=underneath there
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It had been 10 years since the bank's last robbery.
(-------------)

55Trigon

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-64
GRAPHIC=Trigon

The State Corporation Commission continues a hearing on Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield's request to a stock company.
The Richmond-based insurer says its SURVIVAL depends on the ability to sell stock to outside investors.
Trigon's policyholders approved the
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;
conversion last week, and the state insurance bureau and attorney general have endorsed the plan.
But some consumer groups testified yesterday that the conversion is a bad idea.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE ONE 08:49:17
IN Q=The 88
((JEAN ANN FOX/VA. CITIZENS CONSUMER COUNCIL: THE 88-POINT5 MILLION DOLLAR COST OF THE CO-PAY SCANDAL IS BY FAR THE LARGEST, BUT BY NO MEANS THE ONLY INSTANCE IN WHICH THIS COMMISSION AND OTHER AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT HAVE FOUND THAT TRIGON, LED BY THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT SHOWED A LACK OF WHAT CAN ONLY BE JUDGED AS INTEGRITY.))
sot TAPE TWO 09:26:04
((TOM BUEHLER/INDEPENDENT INSURANCE CONSULTANT: ALMOST ALL COMPANIES THAT DO ANY ... EQUITABLE WAYS TO THE POLICYHOLDERS.))
SUPER=01-Jean Ann Fox/Va. Citizens Consumer Council; :00
SUPER=01-Tom Buehler/Independent Insurance Consultant; :18
RUNS=:35
OUT Q=to the policyholders.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;

Trigon is the state's largest health insurer.
The hearing is scheduled to last several days.
(----------------)

55Pro-Air

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=New Jobs

Some new jobs, 300 to be exact, are coming to Buchanan County.
Pro-Air Incorporated plans to put its reservation center in Grundy.
Pending F-A-A approval, Pro-Air will initially begin serving the nation's upper Midwest and Northeast regions.
It could eventually offer air service to our region.

55weather

8Southside-Cleanup

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-62
GRAPHIC=Flooding aftermath

Southside residents are trying to pick up the pieces after the weekend's flooding.
Steve Smallshaw reports the water has finally receded, but it's left behind a devasting mark.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=With Route 58
SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Reid Tanksley/Furniture Mart; :19
SUPER=01-Bunny Ratliff/Grocery Store Owner; :48
SUPER=01-Sarah Wade Owen/Homeowner; 1:07
SUPER=@ssm1; 1:30
RUNS=1:44
OUT Q=News7, Halifax County.
(( With Route 58 finally re- opened, Southside residents could finally make the 30- mile trip between Danville and South Boston. The trouble is, whether you were in Danville or in Halifax county, there isn't much anyone would want to see, unless you were a fan of muddy water and damp storefronts. ((REID TANKSLEY/FURNITURE MART: IT WAS A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE HAVING TO LOAD ALL THAT FURNITURE UP. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK IN BUSINESS, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS THURSDAY.))
Tropical Storm Fran certainly inconvenienced this convenience store. The Dan River pushed its way in here Saturday morning, and didn't leave for almost 48 hours. Believe it or not, owner Bunny Ratliff says this is an improvement over what her store looked like a few hours before. ((BUNNY RATLIFF/GROCERY STORE OWNER: EVERYTHIN LOOKS LIKE THIS. EVERYTHING. WE'VE SET SOME OF THE STUFF BACK UP. WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN WALKWAYS NOW.))
The business owners weren't alone in their misery. Almost every resident could show you their own property damage, but most paled in comparison to Sara Wade Owen's front yard on Hodges Street. She came home to find this giant oak tree had toppled and taken a chunk out of her house. ((SARA WADE OWEN/HOMEOWNER: THE WAY IT HAD HIT THE ROOF WAS JUST OVERWHELMING-- HOW ON EARTH, WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT IS THE WAY YOU FEEL.))
T.J. Glasscock played under that old oak tree as a child. Today, 70 years later, he was watching power crews from Tennessee working to put the lights back on at his neighborhood. They'd been without electricity since early Friday. Standup
So, with the water gone, and the road re-opened, things are slowly returning to normal here in Riverdale and South Boston. But for businesses like the Ratliff Grocery, it will be a long time before the memories of this flood have washed away. Steve Smallshaw, News 7, Halifax County.))

8Jackson-School

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-65
GRAPHIC=Education

Construction, NOT flooding kept students at Stonewall Jackson Middle School from starting last week.
And while the construction project was controversial in the southeast Roanoke neighborhood, Joe Dashiell reports the new school received high marks on opening day.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=While Stonewall Jackson students
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=01-Helen Townsend/Jackson Principal; :16
SUPER=01-Carolyn Hoyt/Teacher; :36 quick
SUPER=01-Donna Dickerson/Parent; :45
SUPER=@Joe1; :56 quick
RUNS=1:06
OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke

((While Stonewall Jackson students were heading to class, Jack Waddell was putting the finishing touches on a segment of sidewalk.
While classes were taking up their first assignments, workmen were laying carpet.
For a few weeks at least, the construction and classwork will coexist.
SOT 12:41:43
IN Q=They're going to stay
((HELEN TOWNSEND/JACKSON PRINCIPAL: THEY'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF OUR WAY DURING THE DAY AND THEY WILL WORK AFTER HOURS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE OUR SCHOOL DAY RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=as smoothly as possible.

In 1995, demolition of the old Jackson Middle School angered some in the Southeast Roanoke neighborhood.
But the new building opened to favorable reviews from students, parents and teachers.
SOT 12:37:49
IN Q=I think the kids
((CAROLYN HOYT/TEACHER: I THINK THE KIDS IN THIS AREA NOW WILL BE READY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, WITH THE USE OF COMPUTERS AND I REALLY SEE THAT WE'VE UPGRADED EVERYTHING.)) ((DONNA DICKERSON/PARENT: IT IS A BIG CHANGE, BUT WE WENT INSIDE THIS MORNING AND THEY LET US LOOK THROUGH THE SCHOOL AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. I THINK THE KIDS ARE REALLY GOING TO ENJOY IT.))
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=going to enjoy it.
STAND-UP CLOSE
Stonewall Jackson is still a work in progress, but most of the construction should be complete in a few weeks, virtually all of it by the end of October.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))