08:25-01

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SUPER=@Melanie1

7p-rail-merger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=amo
TAPE#597-15
GRAPHIC=rail merger


It appears the two Virginia railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX will be SHARING Conrail's most important routes.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Neither railroad will confirm it, but according to several published reports, Conrail's most valuable northeastern routes will be split up.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It appears

((GEORGE BRAMMER/STOCKBROKER-A.G. EDWARDS: IT APPEARS THAT CONRAIL IS GOING TO BE BOUGHT BY CSX, BUT NORFOLK SOUTHERN IS GOING TO GET A GOOD CHUNK OF CONRAIL.))
SUPER=01-George Brammer/A.G. Edwards Stockbroker;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=of Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

pre-pro
N-S will get Conrail's Pennsylvania Railroad route from the Midwest to Pittsburgh to New York, and also Conrail's Erie route from Buffalo to New York.
C-S-X gets Conrail's New York Central route from Chicago to Buffalo to New York, and a link from its Philadelphia hub to New York.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=They'll provide

((LOUIS NEWTON/FORMER NS EMPLOYEE: THEY'LL PROVIDE COMPETITION FOR THE SHIPPERS AND THEY'LL BE EFFICIENT ROUTES FOR BOTH COMPANIES TO MOVE TRAFFIC OVER.))
SUPER=01-Louis Newton/Former NS Employee;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=traffic over.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


This comes after the federal government told the railroads to come up with a solution or it would do it for them.
The deal has not been finalized...
(----------------)



7E-Train-Shooting


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


A search is on in Pittsylvania County for the suspect who shot a train conductor over the weekend.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Sunday;


Authorities say a B-B gun was used to shoot 40- year- old Robin Lynn
(SAY-FRIT) Safrit once in the upper back.


It happened Sunday afternoon near Chatham.
The pellet did NOT penetrate the skin but did cause a bruise and bleeding.
State police say the shooting was NOT an accident because more than one shot was fired.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Any information

((M. B. ELLIOTT/VA. STATE POLICE:ANY INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE AS FAR AS RUMORS THEY'VE HEARD FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THEY COULD CALL IN. ))
SUPER=01-M. B. Elliott/Virginia State Police; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=call in.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


State police interviewed two teens in the area but say both had an alibi.
The Norfolk-Southern train was on its way to Crewe, Virginia.
(----------------)



7E-Stranded-Students


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=spring break


The Raleigh airport is a lot less crowded today.
Several Virginia Tech students who were camping out in the airport waiting for their flights finally took off for Mexico for spring break.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC


The students were part of a group left stranded at the Raleigh airport, when three of the charter airline's planes had mechanical trouble.
The flight that was supposed to leave Saturday morning, finally got off the ground last night.
SOT 00:02:54
IN Q=frustrating?

((JAKE GOMOKE/STRANDED STUDENT; FRUSTRATING? ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS MY LAST SPRING BREAK OF MY COLLEGE CAREER AND THEY'VE KIND OF DESTROYED IT FOR ME, I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT THOUGH, I'LL GIVE 'EM THAT.))
SUPER=01-Jake Gomoke/Stranded Student;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=give 'em that.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


While the students are finally on their way to a good time, some of the parents haven't stopped worrying.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:28:43
IN Q=I don't know

((JANE LAWSON/STUDENT'S MOTHER; I DON'T KNOW IF I'M EXCITED ABOUT THEM GOING NOW OR NOT, NOW I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING HOME, SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEKEND.))
SUPER=01-Jane Lawson/Student's Mother;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=a long weekend
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Sun and Surf travel agency, which sold the vacation packages, said the students will get a third of their money back.
(----------------)



7Pot-Bust


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#net (edit of 96-108)
GRAPHIC=NONE


Botetourt County lawmen found some lost property in a parking lot yesterday, but its owner isn't likely to step forward to claim it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;


About 220 pounds of marijuana were found at the Mountain View Plaza parking lot in Daleville.
Authorities staked out the area for a few hours after the discovery... but no arrests were made.
The pot was wrapped in plastic, dryer sheets and newspapers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:15:40
IN Q=The newspaper

((B. REED KELLY/BOTETOURT COUNTY SHERIFF: THE NEWSPAPER, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS FROM MCALLEN, TEXAS WHICH IS THE REAL SOUTHERN PART OF TEXAS. SO PROBABLY SOUTHERN TEXAS OR MEXICO. ONE OF THE TWO. ))
SUPER=01-Reed Kelly/Botetourt Co. Sheriff;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=one of the two
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Officials say if the marijuana had been split up into smaller quantities, it's street value would have been estimated at 900- thousand dollars.
(----------------)



7weather


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


Turning now to the Tuesday forecast--
Turning Partly Sunny today, with highs warming into the low 60s.
Clouds will be on the increase tonight, with lows around 50.
And showers on the way tomorrow.
Expect highs again in the 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Early Fog/Then Partly Sunny/60-65/Increasing Clouds/Light

Wind/48-52;
SUPER=#555; reset

7BIRTHDAYS! 3/5/97

SUPER=130-17/Danielle Wright/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-18/Minnie Galyean/Rocky Mount;



SUPER=130-11/Allen Fain/Collinsville;



SUPER=130-3/Christopher Buttner/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-78/Loretta Bonds/Moneta;



SUPER=130-/Lisa Southers/Richmond;



SUPER=130-11/Lance Gallimore/Bent Mountain;



SUPER=130-11/Matthew Cook/Draper;



SUPER=130-7/Danielle Akers/Elliston;



SUPER=130-17/Felicia Alls/Troutville;



SUPER=130-85/Ella Wilson/Radford;



SUPER=130-85/Thomas Taylor/Hardy;



SUPER=130-14/Lara Rogers/Goodview;


No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Leola Hoback/Bent Mountain;

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SUPER=@Melanie1


55P-Train-Shooting


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#597-02
GRAPHIC=shooting


Pittslyvania County authorities are on the lookout for the shooter who injured a Norfolk Southern train conductor Sunday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Sunday;


Authorities say it appears a b-b gun was used to shoot 40- year- old Robin Lynn Safrit (say-fritt) once in the upper back.
Safrit was riding in the front of the train when he was struck near Chatham.
State police believe the shooting was not an accident-- but so far don't have a suspect.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We did

((M. B. ELLIOTT/VA. STATE POLICE:WE DID INTERVIEW TWO JUVENILES THAT WERE WALKING ON THE TRACKS NEAR THE SCENE AND, AT THIS POINT, THEY'VE BEEN CLEARED AS SUSPECTS IN THE CASE. ))
SUPER=01-M. B. Elliott/Virginia State Police; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=in the case.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Elliott says the bullet did NOT penetrate the skin but did cause a bruise and bleeding.
The train was on the way to Crewe.
(----------------)



55E-Low-Jets


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=None


In a fight with the U-S Air Force, Highland County residents came out on top.
Yesterday, Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte said he believes they have won more than just a temporary victory.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Langley AFB;


Goodlatte says he was concerned the Air Force would merely extend the public comment period on its plan for a dramatic increase in low- level training flights.
But with last week's announcement, the Air Force agreed to re-evaluate its training needs,
SUPER=03-Highland Co.;and the impact on the areas where the training takes

place.
More importantly, Goodlatte says, the Air Force will look for ways to spread out the impact of the low-level flights.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=First of all

((REP. BOB GOODLATTE/R- 6TH DISTRICT: FIRST OF ALL I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO COME BACK UP AGAIN THIS YEAR. EVENTUALLY THEY MAY COME FORWARD WITH ANOTHER PROPOSAL, BUT I BET IT WILL BE ONE THAT IS MORE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS LIKE HIGHLAND COUNTY AND WESTERN AUGUSTA COUNTY.))
SUPER=@Goodlatte;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=and Western Augusta County.
(-------------)


55Court-Clerk


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=aje
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=drug bust


A deputy Circuit Court clerk in Roanoke will soon have her day in court.
Tierney Monroe and her 19- year- old son were indicted yesterday on charges of possessing cocaine and marijuana.
Her son is also accused of running a crack house.
Tierney has worked in the court clerk's office for about four years. She was responsible for record-keeping at the court and occasionally appeared in court to call cases, swear in witnesses and record testimony.

55weather


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


Time to check the forecast--
Expect partly sunny skies later today.
Highs will reach the low 60s.
Increasing clouds by tonight, with a low near 50.
And rain returns by tomorrow, with highs again in the 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Early Fog/Then Partly Sunny/60-65/Increasing Clouds/Light

Wind/48-52;
SUPER=#555; reset

cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1


8p-rail-merger


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=amo
TAPE#597-15
GRAPHIC=rail merger


After a long haul, it may be full steam ahead for a deal between Norfolk southern and C-S-X in their efforts to acquire Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Neither railroad will confirm it, but according to several published reports, Conrail's most valuable northeastern routes will be split up.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It appears

((GEORGE BRAMMER/STOCKBROKER-A.G. EDWARDS: IT APPEARS THAT CONRAIL IS GOING TO BE BOUGHT BY CSX, BUT NORFOLK SOUTHERN IS GOING TO GET A GOOD CHUNK OF CONRAIL.))
SUPER=01-George Brammer/A.G. Edwards Stockbroker;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=of Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

pre-pro
N-S will get Conrail's Pennsylvania Railroad route from the Midwest to Pittsburgh to New York, and also Conrail's Erie route from Buffalo to New York.
C-S-X gets Conrail's New York Central route from Chicago to Buffalo to New York, and a link from its Philadelphia hub to New York.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=They'll provide

((LOUIS NEWTON/FORMER NS EMPLOYEE: THEY'LL PROVIDE COMPETITION FOR THE SHIPPERS AND THEY'LL BE EFFICIENT ROUTES FOR BOTH COMPANIES TO MOVE TRAFFIC OVER.))
SUPER=01-Louis Newton/Former NS Employee;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=traffic over.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


This comes after the federal government told the railroads to come up with a solution or it would do it for them.
The deal has not been finalized...
(----------------)



8S-Roanoke-Gas


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-106
GRAPHIC=Roanoke Gas


Residential gas rates in Roanoke are going down for the second time in a month.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Roanoke Gas says its billing rate for homeowners will go down 11- percent.
That's on top of a six- percent cut LAST month.
The new rate will be effective for bills distributed after March first.
Roanoke Gas says the reduction is due to further declines in natural gas prices.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


The company is also studying ways to prevent price increases like the ones experienced this winter.


8p-virginia-guns


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=amo
TAPE#597-06
GRAPHIC=va state seal


Statistics show many who commit crimes in New York City are getting their guns from Virginia.
But some are questioning the accuracy of those numbers.
A New York Congressman and New Jersey Senator fired the first round of debate,
(----------------)
VO-NAT from 97-5
SUPER=03-New York, NY/February 23;

just one week after the shooting rampage at New York City's Empire State building. The gun used there came from Florida.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=

((SEN. BOB TORRICELLI/D- NEW JERSEY: NO ONE IN FLORIDA, THE CAROLINAS OR VIRGINIA SHOULD WANT TO PROFIT BY THE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.))
SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Torricelli/(D) New Jersey;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=new jersey.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The politicians pulled up some numbers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms...where Virginia emerged the NEW number one provider of guns used in New York City crimes.
But Governor George Allen's office and the A-T-F say those statistics are not complete-- and are lacking the "street age" of the guns.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
sot 05:51:57

((BILL DUNHAM/ATF AGENT: A LARGE NUMBER OF GUNS THAT WERE TRAFFICKED EARLY ON IN THE '90s PRIOR TO ONE GUN A MONTH LEGISLATION IN VIRGINIA MAY STILL BE ON THE STREETS IN NEW YORK. AND AS THEY'RE RECOVERED AND TRACED, IT'S SHOWING VIRGINIA AS A SOURCE STATE.))
SUPER=01-Bill Dunham/ATF Agent;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=source state.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The average age of a gun seized in a crime is six- years- old.
Virginia's one gun a month law is only four years old.
The A-T-F suggests gun-runners may visit West Virginia, where sales are still unrestricted.
(----------------)



8Armed-Robbery


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


Two men are being sought by police after allegedly robbing the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Peppers Ferry Road.
Christiansburg police say one of the men brandished a semi-automatic handgun.
They both fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

8Court-Clerk


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=aje
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=drug bust


A deputy Circuit Court clerk in Roanoke will soon have her day in court.
Tierney Monroe and her 19- year- old son were indicted yesterday on charges of possessing cocaine and marijuana.
Her son is also accused of running a crack house.
Monroe has worked in the court clerk's office for about four years. She was responsible for record-keeping at the court.

8weather


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


Shifting gears to weather--
Partly sunny and pleasant today, with warm highs in the low 60s.
Tonight's lows will drop to around 50, with increasing clouds.
And some showers ahead for tomorrow.
Highs will be in the 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Early Fog/Then Partly Sunny/60-65/Increasing Clouds/Light

SUPER=#555; reset Wind/48-52;
by SS