12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
SS=None
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Snow, sleet, and rain hit our area overnight, creating hazardous road conditions.
(----------------)
Talent=Melanie


And,
Bedford county authorities arrest more than 20 alleged drug dealers in a sting operation.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick


Snow, sleet and a lot of freezing rain still creating havoc outside, and bitter cold is headed in this direction for the weekend. I'll have all the details coming up from the News 7 Weather Center.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None


Stay with us, News 7 at Noon is next.

Snow


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=winter storm


The year's first winter storm packed a potent punch, forcing many schools and businesses to close.
For the past 12 hours, a mixture of snow and ice has fallen on our region, making it slow-going for nearly everyone.
Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/Microwave


Scott Prince has spent the majority of that time braving the elements and he now joins us from Salem with the latest.
Live=Scott Full/Microwave
SUPER=@Scott1;
SUPER=05-Salem;
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: earlier today)
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=During the
SUPER=03-Salem; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :10
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :19
SUPER=01-Sina Sostmann/Stranded Passenger; :25
RUNS=:50
OUT Q=being repaired
Live=Scott Full/Microwave
SUPER=05-Salem
(Scott ad libs live interview)
SUPER=01-Fred Altizer/Virginia Dept. of Transportation;



Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/Microwave
(Scott ad libs toss back to Melanie)



PATRICK


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=pev
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE


(Patrick Ad Lib)
STORMWATCH/FULL=WINTER STORM WARNING
WX PRO/FULL=REGIONAL TEMPS.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Patrick
SS=NONE



D'ville-Ice


ANCHOR=Mel
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=THa
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=winter storm


In Danville emergency crews are breathing a sigh of relief.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;


The city was bracing for the worst, but it seems rain and a small mixture of ice were all Mother Nature had in store.
Some sporadic outages have been reported on the East and West ends of Danville, but city officials admit it could've been worse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We knew

((DOUG YOUNG/EMERGENCY SERVICES DIR.:WE KNEW GOING INTO THIS THAT WE WAS RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF, OR THE LINE OF GETTING, A LOT OF SOMETHING, OR MAYBE JUST RAIN, SO, BUT WE PREPARED FOR THE WORST, BUT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE WE COULD JUST GET RAIN, BUT WE HAD TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT OTHER SIDE, AND FORTUNATELY WE CAME OUT ON THE WEAKER SIDE. ))
SUPER=01-Doug Young/Danville Emergency Services Dir.; :00
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=weaker side.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Emergency officials will remain on alert through the weekend when temperatures are expected to drop.
(----------------)



Drug-Raids


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-108
GRAPHIC=none


A drug bust in Bedford County last night ended with more than two dozen suspected drug dealers in custody.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The night started
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night; :00
SUPER=01-John McCane/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :07 (quick!)
SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff; :32
SUPER=@ssm2; :46
RUNS=1:17
OUT Q=News7, Bedford County.


(( The night started with a briefing for the forty or so officers taking part in Phase Three of "Operation Crackdown".
natsot briefing 8:07:19

((WE'LL COME BACK IN BEFORE WE HEAD ON OUT TO START ROUNDING FOLKS UP.))
RUNS=:04


Six months of undercover work had produced 63 charges against 41 suspected drug dealers with connections to Miami, New York and points across the U.S.
Sheriff Mike Brown characterized them as middle and upper- level dealers who have been importing and selling millions of dollars worth of crack cocaine in Bedford County.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:48:10
IN Q=In one instance

((SHERIFF MIKE BROWN/BEDFORD COUNTY: IN ONE INSTANCE WE HAD A MOTHER COME IN WITH AN INFANT TO CONDUCT A DRUG DEAL, ANOTHER INSTANCE WE HAD A JANITOR OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHO WE HAVE ARRESTED TONIGHT.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=arrested tonight.
natsot cars pull out 9:27:36
RUNS=:01


Arrest teams began fanning out around 9:30, and met with almost immediate success.
Near Body Camp, a raid on this cabin turned up two arrests, and the seizure of cocaine and marijuana.
A few miles away, DEA agents rounded up a half- dozen suspects, and near Johnson's Mountain, two more names were scratched from the list.
By night's end more than two dozen people were behind bars.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:48:29
IN Q=We haven't erased

((MIKE BROWN: WE HAVEN'T ERASED IT, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN RID OF IT COMPLETELY, BUT I CAN ASSURE THE PEOPLE OF BEDFORD COUNTY, WE'VE MADE A BIG DENT IN IT IN THE LAST THREE, THREE AND A HALF, FOUR HOURS.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=four hours.


Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County.))

AMP


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-103
GRAPHIC=Business closing


A local company is closing and taking roughly 400 jobs with it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;


AMP Incorporated says it will close its Roanoke Valley operations in March.
A smaller plant in the city of Roanoke will also scale down its operations.
The company makes connectors for computers.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


It calls the layoffs a streamlining move.
One employee says most production workers average about 10 to 11 dollars an hour.

Yeltsin


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=yeltsin


In Russia, President Boris Yeltsin is back in the hospital today.
Kremlin officials say he has pneumonia and his rivals say he is still too weak to run the country.
Jonathan Sanders has more from Moscow.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT

10:06:54
IN Q=
SUPER=@File; :00
SUPER=01-Jonathan Sanders/Reporting; :59
RUNS=1:18
OUT Q=CBS NEWS MOSCOW.

((
When Boris Yeltsin was shown meeting with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, this past Saturday, Russia's leader clearly looked less than well--much less.

(Dr.Renat Akchurin speaks in Russian)

This morning Yeltsin's heart surgeon explained the President had caught the flu that's going around Moscow, a virus infected his lung, but he said Yeltsin's condition was "SATISFACTORY"... the medical team was treating early pneumonia without problems. The doctor as well as Kremlin officials insist Yeltsin's latest illness has NOT affected his recovery from open heart surgery, 2 months ago.
After convalescing from a quintuple-BY PASS operation, the the 65 year old President return to the Kremlin in late December...
He announced himself "ready to battle" the dire economic problems that accumulated during his prolonged absence.
and the President ho was told to take it easy at first, plunged back into a very Yeltsin-ite series of staged events.
But during his TWO WEEKS back at work, notably in a New Year's address to the nation, Yeltsin appeared less than a healthy, fully recovered man.
: The latest setback again raises question about Yeltsin's capacity to govern...it gives his enemies and would be successors another opening to call on the leader they " the SICK Man of Russia" to resign and schedule new elections for President of Russia.
js cbsn moscow.))

XGR


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-98
GRAPHIC=general assembly 97


The kickoff of the 19-97 General Assembly was marked by polite bickering over how to spend the fruits of a good economy.
And Governor George Allen declared the state of the Commonwealth to be "strong, vibrant, and thriving."
Ellen Qualls files this report.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The world knows
SUPER=@ellen1; 1:19
RUNS=1:31
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.



((sot 19:28:50

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: THE WORLD NOW KNOWS THAT VIRGINIA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.))
runs=:05


It's probably his most oft- repeated public phrase.
And with 600 new businesses or business expansions in 3 years, he's earned the right to say it.
sot 19:30:43

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: THE NUMBER OF VIRGINIANS WORKING TODAY IS MORE THAN ITS EVER BEEN IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH -- NEARLY 3-POINT-2 MILLION PEOPLE.))
runs=:10


That means more employers paying more unemployment taxes than ever into a well- stocked fund.
So that's the justification for a tax cut -- a campaign promise the General Assembly has NOT helped Allen keep.
sot 19:34:25

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: WE SHOULD NOT BE UNNECESSARILY COLLECTING TAXES FROM BUSINESSES WHEN THEY COULD BETTER USE THAT MONEY TO MADE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS AND CREATE MORE JOBS.))
runs=:09



sot 09:31:16

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER: I THINK EVERYONE HERE WILL LOOK AT IT ON THE MERITS OF THE BILL. WHICH IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP BUSINESS BY REDUCING THEIR TAX BURDEN. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE SYSTEM IS THERE TO SERVE WORKERS WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS. BOTH GOALS HAVE TO BE MET.))
runs=:13


So the Governor outlined a specific agenda for this General Assembly that also includes prosecuting drug gangs in one trial, reading help for first graders, and a call again for parental notification for minor abortions.
SOT 19:48:11

((LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT OUR COMMONWEALTH'S FUTURE IS WHAT WE DARE TO MAKE IT.))
sot tack standup on here

((GEORGE ALLEN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT ONE WITH EVEN THE MOST MODEST TAX CUT. ONE THAT MIGHT JUST APPEAL TO VOTERS IN SAY, THE YEAR 2000, WHEN CHUCK ROBB'S SENATE SEAT IS UP FOR GRABS AGAIN. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.))
runs=:00

))

Apartment-Fire


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-107
GRAPHIC=Fire


An electrical problem sparked the fire at the Bent Creek Apartment complex in Roanoke County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;


That's the finding of fire county fire investigators.
They say Tuesday's fire started inside the wall between two units.
Apparently an electrical wire shorted out against a copper pipe.
SUPER=04-Tuesday;


The building burned for about two hours severely damaging six apartments.
Damage is estimated at around 150 thousand dollars.
No one was injured in the blaze.
(----------------)



GAS-LEAK


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


At least 18 people are dead and some 700 hospitalized following a massive gas leak in Pakistan.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lahore, Pakistan;

&;13:01
The leak came from two gas cylinders filled with chlorine gas that were being carried on a truck to a chemical company.
At least 200 people were lying unconscious on roads and in houses when ambulances and paramedics reached them.
Officials fear the number of casualties will rise as relief teams continue to search the area.
(----------------)



Sinatra


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=none


Frank Sinatra has suffered an apparent heart attack.
A spokeswoman says paramedics took the 81- year- old entertainer to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center this morning.
A doctor at the Los Angeles hospital says Sinatra is undergoing tests, and that his prognosis is good.

Social-Security


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-97
GRAPHIC=None


Millions of Americans worry that Social Security won't be there when they retire, but the federal government is at least CONSIDERING some solutions.
Len Besthoff reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Earlier
SUPER=03-Washington DC/Monday; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :06
SUPER=03-New York, NY; :24
SUPER=07-Lloyd Crenshaw; :30 (VERY QUICK!)
SUPER=01-Ben Hartman/Stockbroker-Edward D. Jones; :39 (VERY QUICK!)
SUPER=@Len1; 1:37
RUNS=1:47
OUT Q=LB, News-7.


(( Earlier this week a commission came out with recommendations on how to keep Social Security money, the backbone of millions of citizens retirement plans, safe for future generations.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:00:49
IN Q=I think

((SHIRLEY CROWDER: I THINK SOCIAL SECURITY IS A GOOD THING, AND I HOPE IT NEVER RUNS OUT.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=runs out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:05:15
IN Q=I'm

((ANGELA NOELL: I'M DESERVING, I WORK FOR IT.))
RUNS=:02
OUT Q=I work for it.


All of the ideas, to one degree or another, call for at least studying the idea of putting some of the fund into the stock market.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:06:42
IN Q=The stock

((LLOYD CRENSHAW: THE STOCK MARKET YOU ALWAYS HAVE MONEY COMING BACK IN, SO I THINK THAT'D BE A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=Social Security.


As you might guess, the stock market scenario sits well with stockbrokers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:14:54
IN Q=A lot

((BEN HARTMAN/STOCKBROKER-EDWARD D. JONES: A LOT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS ARE INVESTED IN LOW INTEREST PAYING GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. IT'S JUST NOT WORKING OUT.))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=working out.


So how do our elected representatives stand on the issue?
Congressman Bob Goodlatte prefers no changes.
He "strongly supports the current Social Security program", noting "it's a sacred contract."
Senator Chuck Robb advocates some change but he isn't siding with any of the new proposals yet.
He says "we have to look into personal security accounts and allow individuals to choose how they are to invest."
Senator John Warner, and Congressmen Virgil Goode and Rick Boucher remain undecided.
Boucher went a step further, saying that Social Security CAN pay its bills until 2030, and that "the potential to invest Social Security funds in other than government obligations is a recommendation that deserves serious consideration".
For their full comments check the business section of our homepage at www.wdbj7.com.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:13:40
IN Q=But our

((But our friends in Washington say Social Security will be on the back burner this year. That's because a balanced budget amendment and making Medicare solvent will come first. Len Besthoff, News-7.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=LB, News-7.))


Green


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=None


Valery Green says she's being unfairly tried in the media.
She's the woman charged in Franklin County with providing inadequate care to pets in her care.
In a phone interview Saturday, Green says the animal neglect charges are false and she did have someone to care for her animals while she's in the hospital.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


News 7 talked with Green yesterday in her hospital room.
She says some of the reports of events in her past have been wrong.
Green says for one thing she did not leave her Floyd County residence soiled with animal feces.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:41:22
IN Q=SO THERE WERE

((VALERY GREEN/ANIMAL BREEDER: SO THERE WERE LITTER BOXES THERE AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF PLACES ON THE FLOOR MAY BE WHERE THEY WERE MISSED. BUT THERE WASN'T ANY DOG FECES BECAUSE I DIDN'T KEEP DOGS IN THERE.))
SUPER=01-Valery Green/Animal Breeder;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=DOGS IN THERE
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Tuesday;


Green's Floyd County troubles followed her to Franklin County, where on Friday, officials found about 100 dogs and cats.
She says the latest problems stem from a personal vendetta of another breeder.
Green has a history of cancer and has been in and out of the hospital with complications since Christmas.
(----------------)



Australia-Rescue


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


Two separate and dramatic rescues today in stormy seas between Australia and Antarctica.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Australia;

7:17:14
A British yachtsman stunned Australian Navy rescuers when he swam unaided toward them from under his yacht which capsized four days ago.
A few hours earlier a French yachtsman was plucked from a life raft by a rescue helicopter.
Both men had been taking part in a a round the world yacht race when they hit rough seas.
(----------------)


WEATHER
SUPER=300-31/96/S 5mph/29.79f/66/1949/-1/1970;
SUPER=301-31/92/Calm/29.79f/74/1930/-1/1970;

Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Snow Showers/Partly Cloudy/24-28/Mostly Sunny/& Chilly/36-40;
SUPER=331-Snow Showers/Partly Cloudy/24-28/Mostly Sunny/& Chilly/36-40;
SUPER=332-Light Snow/Possible/26-30/Windy with/Snow Showers/34-38;
SUPER=333-Scattered Snow/Showers/20-24/Partly Sunny/& Brisk/32-36;
SUPER=334-Light Snow/Likely/26-30/Windy with/Snow Showers/34-38;
SUPER=X5001;



Parry


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#net (edit of BB97-1)
GRAPHIC=Sports Logo


Roanoke Catholic was at home last night for a non district game against the Fighting Blues of Parry McCluer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Roanoke Catholic vs Parry McCluer; :


The defense set up the Blues first two baskets. Chip Coleman steals the pass and takes it to the hoop for the score and a 2 to nothing lead.
Then Mike Clark steals the pass and passes it to David Downs for the layup as the Blues scored the first two baskets of the game.
Catholic's Brendan McCarthy drives hard to the basket but pulls up and nails the jumper Catholic trailed by 9.
The Fighting Blues push it outside SUPER=33-Parry McCluer/66/Roanoke

Catholic/43/;Damion Beverly makes the jumper and Parry McCluer wins the game 66 to 43.
(-------------)



UNC


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#BB97-2
GRAPHIC=College Hoops


At the Dean Dome last night, Maryland used a strong second half to come from behind and beat North Carolina 85 to 75.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Chapel Hill, NC/ESPN; :


The Terps were close early in the first half going inside to Keith Booth for the score and a 6 to 4 Carolina lead.
But the Tar Heels cranked it up. Shammond Williams hit for thee pointers in the first half as Carolina led by 5.
North Carolina had the complete inside outside game this time going to Serge Zwikker for the jumper. The Tar Heels led by 9.
But Maryland rallied in the second half Terrell Stokes goes inside for the easy layup and the Terps were back.
Maryland cranked up the defense SUPER=33-Maryland/85/UNC/75/;and the

Terps made their shots to come from behind and beat North Carolina 85 to 75.
(-------------)



ARMORED-TRUCK


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


In one of Miami's poorest neighborhoods yesterday it was raining pennies from heaven, well sort of.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Miami, FL;


An armored truck overturned on an overpass and its doors flew open.
Millions of dollars in bills and coins spilled out.
And before police could get control of the situation hundreds of people moved in and helped themselves to as much cash as they could grab.
Up to 400-thousand may be missing. (----------------)
by SS