08:25-01

cutopen

SUPER=@Melanie1

7SPRING-BREAK


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


Hundreds of area college students are spending part of their spring break camped out in airports.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC;


Virginia Tech and Appalachian State students are among those who have been stranded at airports in Raleigh and Baltimore waiting for flights to Cancun.
The students booked flights through two travel agents, Take a Break Travel and Surf N Sun.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=PEOPLE PAID...
SUPER=01-Jeanine Pierson/Stranded Traveler;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=NOT GOING TO CANCUN.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The students spent last night in hotels or at the airports and were told their flights would take off early this morning.
We contacted the Raleigh-Durham Airport and B-W-I this morning but neither could confirm whether the students had left yet.
(----------------)



7E-Inmate


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE# 97-4
GRAPHIC=Jail Break


A manhunt continues today in Martinsville for an escaped prisoner.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Issac Swanson escaped from the city jail yesterday.
Officials say he was hiding in a shower, and overpowered a deputy.
Swanson escaped with another inmate.
The other inmate was quickly recaptured, but Swanson remains at large.
He's described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds.
Officials say Swanson has a history of assaulting police officers and is considered dangerous.
Anyone with information should contact the Martinsville-Henry County Communications Center.
(----------------)



7E-Rail-Merger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-110
GRAPHIC=conrail


An end is in sight in the battle over Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Sources tell The Washington Post that Norfolk Southern and C-S-X will split up Conrail's rail lines under the proposed deal.
It says the agreement could be announced this week if it is approved by Conrail's board of directors.
The deal would end Conrail's Eastern monopoly and give C-S-X and Norfolk Southern direct access to New York.
C-S-X has offered to buy Conrail for 110-dollars a share in cash and stocks.
But Norfolk Southern proposed a hostile offer of 115-dollars a share in cash.
Conrail's board of directors supported the C-S-X deal.
But in January shareholders rejected a proposal to proceed with the C-S-X merger.
(----------------)



7E-D'Ville-Shooting


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tha
TAPE# 97-3
GRAPHIC=Shooting


A railroad conductor escaped with only minor injuries after he was shot yesterday while throught Pittsylvania County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;


Forty- year- old Robin Lynn Safrit was riding in the front of the train when a shot shattered a double pane window and struck him in his upper back.
It happened near Chatham.
Authorities believe it was either a pellet or b-b gun.
The train was hauling mixed freight on its way to Crew, Virginia.
(--------0--------)


7Fatal-Ax


ANCHOR=HMelanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=fatal accident


One woman died last night in a two car accident in Christiansburg.
Police it happened at the intersection of Roanoke Street and Simmons Road last night.
The woman killed was the driver of one of the vehicles.
The other driver and a passenger were not injured.
Police are not releasing any names.

7E-Roanoke-Fire


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=dse
TAPE# 97-6
GRAPHIC=Fire


Roanoke fire investigators are labeling a blaze at an abandoned house, suspicous.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


Fire crews were called to the two-thousand block of Rorer Avenue last night.
Flames had already overcome the house when they arrived.
Fire officials say the abandoned house has been set on fire several times before.
It is under investigation.
(----------------)


7weather


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


Time now to check the forecast--
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect today, expect heavy rain at times.
Temperatures will drop into the 40s today.
The rain will be ending by tonight, with a low of around 40.
Sunny and drier by tomorow, with highs in the 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Heavy Rain/Flash Flood Watch/42-46/Rain Ending/Light Variable

Wind/38-42;
SUPER=#555; reset

7BIRTHDAYS! 3/4/97

SUPER=130-44/Patricia Patterson/Huddleston;



SUPER=130-9/Jessica Miller/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-/Lynessa Newbill/Virginia Beach;



SUPER=130-87/Robert Gibbs/Floyd;



SUPER=130-5/Ryan Saville/Blacksburg;



SUPER=130-10/Jenna Dunn/Bland;



SUPER=130-10/Jayne Marshall/Salem;



SUPER=130-57/Leroy Carson/Bedford;



SUPER=130-40/Audrey Roberts/Shawsville;



SUPER=130-3/Emery Caldwell/Radford;

cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1


55E-Inmate


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE# 97-4
GRAPHIC=Jail Break


Officials in Martinsville are searching for an escape prisoner this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Issac Swanson escaped from the city jail yesterday.
Officials say he was hiding in a shower, and overpowered a deputy.
Swanson escaped with another inmate.
The other inmate was quickly recaptured, but Swanson remains at large.
He's described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds.
Officials say Swanson has a history of assaulting police officers and is considered dangerous.
Anyone with information should contact the Martinsville-Henry County Communications Center.
(----------------)



55E-Foster


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 96-106
GRAPHIC=Foster, Bill


It was an emotional day yesterday at Virginia Tech's Cassell Coliseum.
It was the last home game for coach Bill Foster.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;


When the smoke cleared Foster emerged to lead his Hokies against Xavier.
In his six years at Tech, Foster has won 100 games and an N-I-T Tournament Championship.
Fans say he's a class act.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:47:00
IN Q=i think he's

((KEVIN MEEHAN/HOKIE FAN: I THINK HE'S GOT A PRETTY GOOD TEAM. HE'S UPPED THE GRADUATION RATE HERE AT TECH. AND I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST.))
SUPER=01-Kevin Meehan/Hokie Fan;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=ALL THE BEST
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Fans and alumni gathered before the game at the coliseum for the 12th annual Hokie Celebration.
More than a thousand people came to the party which raised ten thousand dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:49:18
IN Q=THE MONEY WILL

((TERRY BOLT/HOKIE CELEBRATION: THE MONEY WILL GO TO ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS. WE'RE REAL EXCITED BECAUSE WE GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME GET AN EDUCATION WITH THAT MONIES.))
SUPER=01-Terry Bolt/Hokie Celebration;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=WITH THAT MONIES
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The Hokies lost to Xavier 81 to 72.
(----------------)



55E-DMV


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-108 ; 96-88 (car travel)
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal


Some changes are in place at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in connection with insurance.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


The D-M-V's computers are now linked up with insurance companies.
All motorists who have dropped or changed their policies since January First, have had their information sent electronically to the D-M-V.
Previously, D-M-V officials and insurance companies shared paperwork manually.
That meant the agency sent out 12-hundred random notices a day to drivers asking them to provide documentation that policy information provided on their registrations was correct.
(----------------)


55weather


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


Turning your attention to weather--
Rain will be heavy at times today. A flash flood watch is in effect.
Expect temperatures to drop into the 40s.
The rain will taper off tonight, with a low around 40.
Tomorrow looks partly sunny, with highs in the low 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Heavy Rain/Flash Flood Watch/42-46/Rain Ending/Light Variable

Wind/38-42;
SUPER=#555; reset

cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1


8STRANDED


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


What was going to be a spring break full of sand and surf, has turned into a travel nightmare for many college students.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC;


Virginia Tech and Appalachian State students are among those who have been stranded at airports in Raleigh and Baltimore waiting for flights to Cancun.
Their planes never showed up.
The students booked flights through two travel agents, Take a Break Travel and Surf N Sun.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT

20:51
IN Q=WHEN ARE PEOPLE
SUPER=01-Mandy Feldman/Stranded Traveler;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=WHERE IT GOES.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The students spent last night in hotels or at the airports and were told their flights would take off early this morning.
We contacted the Raleigh-Durham Airport and B-W-I this morning but neither could confirm whether the students had left yet.
(----------------)



8E-Inmate


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE# 97-4
GRAPHIC=Jail Break


Martinsville police are on the look-out for an escaped prisoner.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Issac Swanson escaped from the city jail yesterday.
Officials say he was hiding in a shower, and overpowered a deputy.
Swanson escaped with another inmate.
The other inmate was quickly recaptured, but Swanson remains at large.
He's described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds.
Officials say Swanson has a history of assaulting police officers and is considered dangerous.
Anyone with information should contact the Martinsville-Henry County Communications Center.
(----------------)



8E-Rail-Merger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-110
GRAPHIC=conrail


After a battle to out- bid each other, Norfolk- Southern and C-S-X may end up SHARING Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Sources tell The Washington Post that Norfolk Southern and C-S-X will split up Conrail's rail lines under the proposed deal.
It says the agreement could be announced this week if it is approved by Conrail's board of directors.
The deal would end Conrail's Eastern monopoly and give C-S-X and Norfolk Southern direct access to New York.
C-S-X has offered to buy Conrail for 110-dollars a share in cash and stocks.
But Norfolk Southern proposed a hostile offer of 115-dollars a share in cash.
Conrail's board of directors supported the C-S-X deal.
But in January shareholders rejected a proposal to proceed with the C-S-X merger.
(----------------)



8E-DMV


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-108 ; 96-88 (car travel)
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal


The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is now able to keep a better
track of Un-insured drivers. (----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Its computers are now linked up with insurance companies.
All motorists who have dropped or changed their policies since January First have had their information sent electronically to the D-M-V.
Previously, D-M-V officials and insurance companies shared paperwork manually.
That meant the agency sent out 12-hundred random notices a day to drivers asking them to provide documentation that policy information provided on their registrations was correct.
(----------------)


8S-Soup


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=dse
TAPE# 97-2
GRAPHIC=None


It may not have tasted very well-- but this can of soup may still have made your mouth water.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Centreville;


Jeanna Dodd picked up what looked like an ordinary can of soup from a Fairfax foodbank this week.
But when she opened it, it turned out to be a tiny safe containing seven- thousand dollars in jewelry.
The owners of the jewelry came forward Saturday to reclaim their goods.
Dodd was NOT left empty handed though.
The owners gave her a thousand- dollar reward for her honesty.
(----------------)



8weather


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


Today's forecast calls for heavy rain at times.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 5 this evening.
Temperatures will drop into the 40s today.
Meanwhile, the rain will end tonight, with a low near 40.
Tomorrow's outlook is partly sunny and warmer, highs in the 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Heavy Rain/Flash Flood Watch/42-46/Rain Ending/Light Variable

SUPER=#555; reset Wind/38-42;
by SS