WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/19/96

08:25-01

7Fatal-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#96-80
GRAPHIC=Fatal Ax
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon

An elderly Vermont man died last night in a two vehicle accident on Interstate 81.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

78-year old Marshall G. Hutchins was parked on the side of the road, and was attempting to drived back onto the Interstate when another car hit his, killing him.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It appears..
(( ))
SUPER=01-C. L. Bailey/Va. State Police; quick
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=other vehicle.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Three people in the mans car were taken to the hospitals with serious injuries.
The driver of the other vehicle also injured.
The accident is still under investigation.
(----------------)

7Allen-VMI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-65
GRAPHIC=VMI

V-M-I'S board of visitors is expected to rule on the fate of women at the school this weekend.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

But now Governor George Allen -- who fielded a student question on V-M-I on a school tour yesterday -- is casting doubt on the deadline.
Allen spoke of a "dual track" the board might pursue for a while.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:07:14
IN Q=And there's
((AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE STILL NOT CLEAR AS FAR AS THE PRIVATIZATION OPTION. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD COMPLY WITH THE ORDER OR THE DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=Supreme Court.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

That means admit women or stop accepting public funds.
So which is the Governor's preference?
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I'm hopeful
((I'M HOPEFUL THEY'LL MAKE THE CORRECT DECISION. Which is? ONE THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO VMI.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=to VMI
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But in his comments to students, Allen said he'd like to see women admitted, without major changes to the school.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 01:57:43
IN Q=Personally
((PERSONALLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A FEMALE WOULD WANT TO GO TO VMI. I HARDLY UNDERSTAND WHY A MALE WOULD WANT TO VOLUNTARILY GO DO THAT. I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND THOUGHT YOU OUGHT TO HAVE SOME FUN WHILE IN COLLEGE.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=in college.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Meanwhile, the state Attorney General has filed a response to the Justice Department motion that accused V-M-I of dragging its feet.
The motion says V-M-I's "careful and thoughtful approach" is best for any female applicants it might consider admitting.

7Henry-Merger

ANCHOR=melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-79
GRAPHIC=NONE

Many feel local government consolidation can save money by streamlining administration costs.
Martinsville and Henry County are looking into the idea as a way to ease recent economic disappointments.
As Kimberly McBroom tells us, local officials are exploring the possibility.

(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Over the last
SUPER=01-Earl Reynolds/Martinsville City Manager; :00
SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape; :12 quick!!!
SUPER=01-Sid Clower/Henry Co. Administrator; :18
SUPER=03-Martinsville; :28
SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :53
SUPER=@Kimberly1; :59
RUNS=1:10
OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 6:39:42
((EARL REYNOLDS/MARTINSVILLE CITY MANAGER: OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF BAD NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS. ))
RUNS=:06

Bad economic news, like the closing of Martinsville's Sara Lee plant-- and more recently, Dupont's announcement to close up shop in two years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 4:49:35
((SID CLOWER/HENRY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: I THINK THE DUPONT THING HAS BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME RADICAL CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE COMPETITIVE. ))
RUNS=:11

Consolidation could be one of those radical changes.
The idea was resurrected by a group of citizens and business leaders, who wrote a letter asking both localities to consider a merger.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 6:42:23
IN Q=It came somewhat
((EARL REYNOLDS/MARTINSVILLE CITY MANAGER: IT CAME SOMEWHAT AS A SURPRISE, TO ALL OF US. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE MATTER BE TESTED, TO SEE HOW MUCH INTEREST IT DOES HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. ))
RUNS=:13

Should the city and county decide to merge, it would be across the board-- including utilities, law enforcement, and schools.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 5:34:55
((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: THE WHOLE MERGER PROCESS COULD TAKE AS LONG AS FIVE YEARS-- BEGINNING WITH A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE FIRST OF THOSE IS SET FOR OCTOBER FIRST AT BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL. KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7, MARTINSVILLE. ))
RUNS=:12
))

7weather

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

SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE

(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Sunny and/Pleasant/75-80/Clear/Cool/43-47;

SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the weather on this thursday,
The day will end up with temperatures in the upper 70s-- tonight it should drop down to the mid 40s!
7BIRTHDAYS! 9/20/96

SUPER=130-44/Arlene Pounds/Axton;

SUPER=130-1/Jordan Claytor/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-7/Jessi Cline/Ridgeway;

SUPER=130-7/Natasha Cooper/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-50/Charlotte Alexander/Christiansburg;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-5/Brittany Bean/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-2/Travis Carter/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-4/Jonathan Isaacs/Hot Springs;

SUPER=130-6/Dale Inman/Ferrum;

SUPER=130-8/Amanda Trent/Troutville;

SUPER=130-10/Rebecca Necessary/Salem;

SUPER=130-19/James Royal/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-51/Butch Craghead/Rocky Mount;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-48/Leon Scruggs/Hurt;

SUPER=130-/Gail Jones/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/E. Leftwich/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Wade Craighead/Penhook;

SUPER=130-25/Angie Kress/Pulaski;

55School-Prayer

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-70
GRAPHIC=NONE

Throughout the nation yesterday, thousands of high school students gathered at their school's flag pole to pray.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

That number included dozens of teens at Liberty High School in Bedford County.
More than fifty of them gathered before classes yesterday morning to sing, read scripture and pray for their school, leaders and country.
They also wanted to share their faith with their peers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:54:31
IN Q=Just to take
((JEREMIAH HAMBRICK/STUDENT: JUST TO TAKE A STAND FOR JESUS CHRIST AND NOT TO BE ASHAMED. THE BIBLE SAYS NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL AND I'M NOT, SO I CAME OUT HERE JUST FOR OUR NATION, TO PRAY FOR IT.)) ((HENNA ST. CLAIR/STUDENT: IT TAKES SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR US TO SEE WHO'S A CHRISTIAN, BECAUSE DAY TO DAY LIFE YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT THEY ARE, BECAUSE IT'S HARD, IT'S VERY HARD TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST YOUR PEERS ALL AROUND YOU.))
SUPER=01-Jeremiah Hambrick/Student; :00
SUPER=01-Henna St. Clair/Student; :15
RUNS=:25
OUT Q=all around you.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The vigil was part of "See You at the Poles '96."
It was the second straight year that students at Liberty High School have taken part in the event.
(----------------)

55Smart-road

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-78
GRAPHIC=Smart Road

An attempt to stop the "smart highway" in federal court has hit a road-block.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/May 17;

Shireen Parsons filed suit in U-S District Court in May in an effort to prevent what she called "the threatened environmental degradation of Ellett Valley."
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Smart Road

But Roanoke's chief federal judge dismissed the claim, because Parsons failed to identify any specific injury SHE suffered personally.
Judge Jackson Kiser says "an allegation of injury to the general public does not suffice."

55Pitts-Fair

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-
GRAPHIC=

In Pittsylvania County, it's time to head to the fair.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

This is the sixth year for the county event, which organizers say is drawing a record number.
The fair includes 32- rides, lots of games and plenty of food.
There are also some unusual attractions.
(/////SOT/////)
14:09:51
SOT
IN Q=We've got
((LARRY BURNETT/FAIRGROUNDS OWNER:WE'VE GOT A REAL NICE, IT'S CALLED, PORK CHOP REVIEW. AND, IT A GUY THAT HE'S GOT A BUNCH OF TRAINED HOGS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THESE THINGS ARE, THEY DO ACTS LIKE WHAT YOU USUALLY SEE ELEPHANTS OR DOGS DO, OR SOMETHING OR OTHER, IT'S A REALLY NICE SHOW. ))
SUPER=01-Larry Burnett/Fairgrounds Owner; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=nice show.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The country group, Confederate Railroad, entertained the crowd last night.
The fair runs through Saturday.
(----------------)

55weather

8Contraception

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-71
GRAPHIC=None
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

The abortion pill RU-486 is in the national news-- it's nearing government approval.
In Virginia, after gaining insurance coverage for mammograms and pap smears, women's health activists are now pushing hard for insurance companies to pay for birth control.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=No matter
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=01-Darrel Tillar Mason/Women's Health Activist; :11
SUPER=@Allen; :39
SUPER=01-Brooke Taylor/Trigon; :57
SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:04
RUNS=1:18
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( No matter which birth control they use, even low income women who qualify for a subsidized prescription from Planned Parenthood, must spend more than 100 dollars a year.
sot TAPE TWO 06:54:56
((DARREL TILLAR MASON/WOMEN'S HEALTH ACTIVIST: I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES. BUT WITH NO HELP FROM INSURANCE COMPANY. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE BIRTH CONTROL THAT MY DOCTOR HAS PRESCRIBED AS MOST EFFECTIVE FOR ME.))
runs=:17

Not everyone can.
At least that's the point of a group of women's health activists who expect a commission appointed by Governor George Allen to reject their bill.
It would force insurance coverage of contraception.
sot 03;16;19
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET THAT SORT OF COVERAGE ON THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES, THEY CAN PAY FOR IT AND BUY IT THEMSELVES RATHER THAN HAVE THE GOVERNOR FORCE EVERYONE TO HAVE THAT SORT OF COVERAGE SPREAD OUT AMONGST EVERYONE ELSE.))
runs=:12

Trigon says it's already covering birth control for individuals and HMOs -- at a higher premium of course.
sot 04:48:35
((BROOKE TAYLOR/TRIGON: WE THINK THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS IT HAS IT NOW. AND THAT THE DECISION IS APPROPRIATELY THEIRS AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S.))
runs=:08

The bill's supporters say they'd hoped to win conservatives over with the argument that better birth control availability would prevent abortions.
sot 03;16:35
((GOV. ALLEN: I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE HOPING.))
runs=:02

The contraception question will end up with the General Assembly early next year.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

8Silver-Creek

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-69
GRAPHIC=New Jobs

A number of jobs are coming to Pulaski County, thanks to a German Company.
Silver Creek Technologies will market its pre-fabricated buildings and wood housing components primarily in Germany, where those products are in high demand.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;

But it will MANUFACTURE them in Pulaski, at a facility it plans to build at the New River Valley Airport Industrial Park.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:14:51
IN Q=It appears
((HANS HERRMANN/SILVER CREEK TECHNOLOGIES: IT APPEARS THE LABOR BASE IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT, MUCH MORE THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED. COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS VERY ADVANTAGEOUS TO US. PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY COMPARED TO WHERE WE COME FROM.))
SUPER=01-Hans Herrmann/Silver Creek Technologies;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=where we come from.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Silver Creek has also purchased an option on another 25 acres for possible expansion.
It will initially employ about 50 people when it starts up next Spring, and more than 300 within two years.
(----------------)

8United-Way

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-75
GRAPHIC=United Way

The United Way of the Roanoke Valley is reaching for new heights.
An Airplane, a parade, choirs and bands were all part of the pageantry yesterday...
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Its 1996 campaign was officially kicked off yesterday afternoon at Victory Stadium.
This year, officials hope to collect 5- point 5 million dollars... 500- thousand more than last year's goal.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:02:13
IN Q=The campaign
((HEIDI KRISCH/CAMPAIGN CHAIRPERSON: THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR IS GOING GREAT. WE ALREADY UNOFFICIALLY STARTED THE END OF JULY WITH OUR PACE SETTERS. THEY HAVE JUST FINISHED WITH A RECORD SETTING PACE. 25 OR 26- PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR.))
SUPER=01-Heidi Krisch/Campaign Chairperson;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=last year
(----------------)
VO-NAT

This year's campaign theme is "Reach for the Goal."
Fittingly, students from local elementary and middles schools performed "Reach" by Gloria Estefan.
And another highlight from the event-- a motivational speech from News- 7 Sports reporter, Steve Mason.
(----------------)