WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/07/97

08:25-01

cutopen

SUPER=@Melanie1

7E-Yokohama

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=Yokohama

Major financial problems at Yokohama tire in Salem threaten to put the plant out of business.
Company officials say the plant has just two years to turn things around.
Scott Prince has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The 900
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape; :00
SUPER=@Scott1; :54
RUNS=1:03
OUT Q=S.P., N-7, Salem

((The 900- or- so factory workers were not invited to a close door meeting at the Yokohama Tire plant a few weeks ago.
But News- 7 obtained a transcript of the speech by (yah-SOO-oh) Yasuo Tominaga given to plant managers and supervisors.
It reads... "If Yokohama Tire fails to return to the black ink within 2 years, Yokohama Rubber will be forced from supporting the tire operation."
It continues... "If such a situation comes true, all employees are out of a job."
So, how far in debt is Yokohama Tire?
Try 100- millions dollars.
That's more than 22- percent of all of the money pumped into the U-S market.
A spokesperson from Yokohama's California offices says that workers need to ban together to make this 2- year deadline work.
But Tominaga is quoted in the transcript as saying "I am afraid probably this plan will be short of the target by my business experience." STAND UP CLOSE 18:05:50
At this point, company officials have not released a detailed plan of action.
It is clear, however, they have their work cut out for them.
Scott Prince, News- 7, Salem.))

7E-GE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#596-08
GRAPHIC=General Electric

Meantime, some good news for another major Salem Employer.
General Electric has issued a back to work order for all employees laid off last month.
They'll return to the job Monday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/January 24;

More than 180 employees were laid off because of a slow work schedule.
Some of those workers returned after only one week off the job.
Officials say the rest are coming back because the work-load increase seems to be happening earlier this year.
(----------------)

7P-Tax-Protester

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#597-04
GRAPHIC=taxes

A number of folks around the region say they're the victims of a tax scheme that's costing them up to 15- hundred- dollars in fines from the Internal Revenue Service.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;

Among them, Fletcher Burks.
Burks says a man convinced him and some of his co- workers in Rockbridge County that they did not have to pay federal income taxes on their wages.
Burks explains that for 150- dollars Randall Breeden of Bedford County "educated" him about how he could do this, and even filled out tax forms for him.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:15:39
IN Q=Mister Breeden
((FLETCHER BURKS: MISTER BREEDEN SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY LEGAL, EVERYTHING THAT HE TOLD US AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DID.))
SUPER=07-Fletcher Burks;
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=he did.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Burks and others are now getting fines from the I-R-S.
Randall Breeden refused to discuss this in an on- camera interview.
He denies doing anything other than "educating" people, and says Burks and others got carried away with the information he provided.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:48:39
IN Q=They're
((VOICE OF RANDALL BREEDEN: THEY'RE APPROACH WAS THEY WANTED TO GET OUT OF PAYING TAXES.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=paying taxes.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But according to some of Breeden's alleged victims, the I-R-S is now investigating this situation.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The I-R-S will not confirm or deny that it's looking into the matter.
(----------------)
dissolve to pinnacle
But it did volunteer a Tax Fraud Hotline for anyone who believes they're a victim of a tax scheme.
That number is 800-8-2-9 0-4-0-9.
(----------------)

7Execution

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

A death row inmate's sentence was carried out last night, marking the commonwealth's first execution of 19-97.
Thirty-nine year old Michael Carl George was convicted of killing a 15- year- old boy in Woodbridge in 19-90.
George did not make a final statement.

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Time now to check the weekend forecast--
Today looks cloudy, with some sprinkles across the area.
Expect highs in the mid to upper 40s.
A mixture of light rain and snow is likely by tonight, as lows drop into the low 30s.
And more of the same on the way tomorrow, highs in the mid to upper 30s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Cloudy with/Sprinkles/45-49/Light Rain &/Snow Mixed/30-34;
SUPER=#555; reset
7BIRTHDAYS! 2/9/97

SUPER=130-1/Myles Wickham/Cloverdale;

SUPER=130-8/Derrick St. Clair/Narrows;

SUPER=130-40/Jerry Bryant/Vinton;

SUPER=130-4/Dusty Dalton/Draper;

SUPER=130-5/Casey Smith/Gladys;

SUPER=130-3/Chelsea Prillaman/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-50/Brenda Mann/Phenix;

SUPER=130-7/Amanda Powers/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Shelia Fitzgerald/Pittsville;

SUPER=130-2/Sammy Conner/Floyd;

Monday:

SUPER=130-5/Trevor Smith/Peterstown WV;

SUPER=130-55/Betty Bogan/Covington;

SUPER=130-3/Brandon Nunley/Bassett;

SUPER=130-3/Matthew Wurzburger/Willis;

SUPER=130-18/Chad Keith/Blacksburg;

SUPER=130-40/Dana Williams/Bedford;

SUPER=130-12/Whitney Hawkins/Riner;

SUPER=130-12/Laura Brumfield/Henry;

SUPER=130-10/Preston Turpin/Blacksburg;

SUPER=130-39/Linda Alberti/Bedford;

No Pictures:

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-7th/James & Alice Holland/Bedford;

SUPER=130-19/Diana McDaniel/Lynchburg;

SUPER=130-15/Jeremy Wolfe/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-31/Deborah Campbell/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-40/Jeff Dodd/Roanoke;

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SUPER=@Melanie1

55Salem-Yokohama

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net (edit of 96-101)
GRAPHIC=yokohama

Financial problems at Salem's Yokohama tire Plant put its future in jeopardy.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;

Management at the plant held a closed door meeting a few weeks ago.
News 7 obtained a copy of the speech given by the company's new president.
It reads... "If Yokohama Tire fails to return to the black ink within 2 years, Yokohama Rubber will be forced from supporting the tire operation."
It continues... "If such a situation comes true, all employees are out of a job."
At this point, company officials have not released a detailed plan of action.
(-------------)

55E-GE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#596-08
GRAPHIC=General Electric

Meantime, some bright news for another Salem employer.
The company has issued a back to work order for all employees laid off last month.
They'll return to work Monday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/January 24;

More than 180 employees were laid off because of a slow work schedule.
Some of those workers returned after only one week off the job.
Officials say the rest are coming back because the work-load increase seems to be happening earlier this year.
(----------------)

55P-XGR

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#597-01
GRAPHIC=Legal scales

A victory for George Allen in a legal battle with the federal government.
A federal appeals court in Richmond says Virginia does NOT have to provide alternative schooling for special education students who are kicked out of school for misbehaving.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Allen and Attorney General Jim Gilmore have been fighting the U.S. Department of Education for two years on the issue.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:05:16
IN Q=If a youngster
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: IF A YOUNGSTER HAS A DISABILITY, AND THAT DISABILITY OCCASSIONS THE DISRUPTIVE OR BAD BEHAVIOR, FINE. WE WANT TO PROVIDE SERVICES. BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS DYSLEXIA, THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO BEAT UP A TEACHER, SELL DRUGS, CARRY GUNS TO SCHOOL AND SO FORTH.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=so forth.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=education

In 19-94, Virginia risked 50-million dollars to prove its point.
But federal officials ended up NOT withholding that special education money.
In 19-94, 126 of Virginia's 128-thousand special education students were suspended for reasons NOT related to their disability.

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Let's check out the outlook for your Friday--
Overcast today, with some sprinkles falling over the region.
Expect a high in the mid to upper 40s.
Tonight, we'll see a mixed bag of wintry precipitation.
Overnight lows will fall into the low 30s.
Saturday's forecast calls for the mix of rain and snow to continue.
HIghs in the mid to upper 30s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Cloudy with/Sprinkles/45-49/Light Rain &/Snow Mixed/30-34;
SUPER=#555; reset
cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1

8E-Yokohama

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=Yokohama

In Salem, a major employer's future is looking dim.
Company officials at Yokohama Tire Plant are giving it two years to improve its financial problems or they might shut the plant down.
Scott Prince reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The 900
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape; :00
SUPER=@Scott1; :54
RUNS=1:03
OUT Q=S.P., N-7, Salem

((The 900- or- so factory workers were not invited to a close door meeting at the Yokohama Tire plant a few weeks ago.
But News- 7 obtained a transcript of the speech by (yah-SOO-oh) Yasuo Tominaga given to plant managers and supervisors.
It reads... "If Yokohama Tire fails to return to the black ink within 2 years, Yokohama Rubber will be forced from supporting the tire operation."
It continues... "If such a situation comes true, all employees are out of a job."
So, how far in debt is Yokohama Tire?
Try 100- millions dollars.
That's more than 22- percent of all of the money pumped into the U-S market.
A spokesperson from Yokohama's California offices says that workers need to ban together to make this 2- year deadline work.
But Tominaga is quoted in the transcript as saying "I am afraid probably this plan will be short of the target by my business experience." STAND UP CLOSE 18:05:50
At this point, company officials have not released a detailed plan of action.
It is clear, however, they have their work cut out for them.
Scott Prince, News- 7, Salem.))

8E-GE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#596-08
GRAPHIC=General Electric

About a month after employees were laid off at Salem's General Electric plant-- they're heading back to work.
The workers are expected to return on Monday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/January 24;

More than 180 employees were laid off because of a slow work schedule.
Some of those workers returned after only one week off the job.
Officials say the rest are coming back because the work-load increase seems to be happening earlier this year.
(----------------)

8P-Tax-Protester

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#597-04
GRAPHIC=taxes

Some local residents say they were taken advantage of in a tax scheme.
But now, THEY are in trouble with Uncle Sam.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;

Among them, Fletcher Burks.
Burks says a man convinced him and some of his co- workers in Rockbridge County that they did not have to pay federal income taxes on their wages.
Burks explains that for 150- dollars Randall Breeden of Bedford County "educated" him about how he could do this, and even filled out tax forms for him.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:15:39
IN Q=Mister Breeden
((FLETCHER BURKS: MISTER BREEDEN SAID IT WAS COMPLETELY LEGAL, EVERYTHING THAT HE TOLD US AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DID.))
SUPER=07-Fletcher Burks;
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=he did.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Burks and others are now getting fines from the I-R-S.
Randall Breeden refused to discuss this in an on- camera interview.
He denies doing anything other than "educating" people, and says Burks and others got carried away with the information he provided.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:48:39
IN Q=They're
((VOICE OF RANDALL BREEDEN: THEY'RE APPROACH WAS THEY WANTED TO GET OUT OF PAYING TAXES.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=paying taxes.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But according to some of Breeden's alleged victims, the I-R-S is now investigating this situation.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The I-R-S will not confirm or deny that it's looking into the matter.
(----------------)
dissolve to pinnacle
But it did volunteer a Tax Fraud Hotline for anyone who believes they're a victim of a tax scheme.
That number is 800-8-2-9 0-4-0-9.
(----------------)

8E-VWIL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=VMI/Mary Baldwin

The battle over single- sex education rages on in the Commonwealth.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Staunton/File Tape;

But now the fight is over V-WIL: the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:29:51
IN Q=We have
((DEL. VANCE WILKINS: WE HAVE A CHANCE HERE TO PUT YOUNG WOMEN IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS THEY CAN AT NO OTHER PLACE. THAT'S IN A SINGLE-SEX ENVIRONMENT.))
SUPER=@Wilkins;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=single-sex environment.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

The full House of Delegates voted to phase-out funding over four years -- in light of V-M-I's decision to admit women.
Now it's up to a budget conference committee and Governor Allen.
(--------0--------)

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning your attention to the weekend forecast--
Expect cloudy skies and drizzle today, with highs in the mid to upper 40s.
Meanwhile, a mixture of light rain and snow is on the way by tonight.
Lows in the low 30s.
And Saturday's outlook calls for more of the wintry mix, with high temperatures in the mid to upper 30s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=#555; reset SUPER=314-Cloudy with/Sprinkles/45-49/Light Rain &/Snow Mixed/30-34;