WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/07/97

08:25-01

cutopen

SUPER=@Kimberly1

7E-Rockbridge-Fire

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=none

A weekend wild fire in Rockbridge County has firefighters working to eliminate threats the blaze will start up again.
The fire started Saturday night and officials estimate more than 250 acres in a remote section of The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests went up in smoke.
Investigators are still searching for a cause.
Denise Allen has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :04
SUPER=01-David Olson/National Forest Public Affairs; :18
SUPER=01-Chris Thomsen/District Forester; 1:14
SUPER=@Denise2; 1:26
RUNS=1:43
OUT Q=News 7
(((/////SOT/////)
SOT fire shots 10:20:40
IN Q=
((SOUND OF FIRE CRACKLING.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=

Flames fueled by fallen trees swept over the mountain.
The blaze seems to have started in the middle of no where--far from the nearest trails or homes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 11:39:18
IN Q=THE REAL DIFFICULTY
((DAVID OLSON/NATIONAL FOREST PUBLIC AFFAIRS: THE REAL DIFFICULTY IN THIS FIRE IS THE IN-ACCESSIBILITY. THERE'S REALLY NO ROADS THAT GO UP TO IT. IT'S JUST A WALK UP SITUATION. IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THE FIRE. WHEN YOU GET THERE IT'S A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE OF ALL THE DEAD TREES DOWN ON THE GROUND.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=ON THE GROUND

Many of those dead trees are pines.
Three years ago a beetle killed most of the pine trees in the Rockbridge County forest.
Those trees are now dry and ready to burn.
Foresters call them "Snag" trees and say they're a hazard to fire fighters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 11:38:17
IN Q=ONE OF THE
((ONE OF THE REAL CONCERNS WITH THESE DEAD PINES IS THAT THEY'RE ROTTED IN SOME CASES AT THE BASE. THEY ARE EASY TO CATCH FIRE. THEY CARRY FIRE TO THE TOP OF THE TREE AND THEY COULD FALL OVER ON A FIRE FIGHTER VERY QUICKLY WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS SAFETY OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS UP THERE.))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=FIRE FIGHTERS UP THERE
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 1 12:15:55
IN Q=SOUND OF CHAINSAW
((SOUND OF CHAINSAW.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=

The showers and the humid climate have helped fire fighters by giving this crew of V-M-I Keydets a chance to create a fire line.
But officials say it would take a soaking rain to douse the blaze and that just isn't in the forecast.
The past week has been a busy one for forestry workers, but they say that's normal for this time of year.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 12:25:53
IN Q=PROBABLY THE FIRST
((CHRIS THOMSEN/DISTRICT FORESTER: PROBABLY THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IN APRIL TEND TO BE THE WORSE WHEN THINGS GET WARM, HUMIDITY GETS LOW AND WINDS GET STRONG. THE END OF APRIL AND THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE LEAVES COME OUT AND THINGS GREEN UP AND THE FIRES WILL GO AWAY.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=WILL GO AWAY

This fire in the Pedlar Ranger District is not threatening any homes.
And as fire fighters continue to battle the blaze they'll keep one eye on the weather.
If high winds and low humidity return as forecasted, the battle could rage on for some time.
Denise Allen News 7.))

7Shuttle

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=space shuttle

Space Shuttle Columbia will return home earlier than scheduled.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Kennedy Space Ctr.;

The seven crew members, including a Virginia Tech graduate, shut down a faulty fuel cell that's forcing them to cut short their mission.
They'll return home tomorrow-- 12 days earlier than scheduled.
Among the astronauts is payload specialist and the first Hokie in space, Roger Crouch.
This is the third time in shuttle history that equipment failure has shortened a mission.
(----------------)

7E-Tobacco

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sly
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Tobacco

A study says in Virginia, the financial benefits of tobacco are higher than its costs.
The commonwealth is one of only four states where tobacco's economic revenues are greater than its health-related expenses.
That's according to a "Richmond Times-Dispatch" analysis of federal government data.
The state reaps about five billion dollars a year from tobacco while spending less than one-fifth that amount on smoking-related health expenses.
North Carolina, Kentucky and Georgia are the only other states with a similar ratio.

7VA-Lottery

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=va lottery

No new millionaires in Virginia this weekend.
The Virginia Lottery announced yesterday that no winning tickets were sold for Saturday's eight- point- three- million dollar Lotto game.
No one matched all six numbers.
That means that Wednesday's jackpot will be in the neighborhood of ten- million dollars.
The winning Cash Five game ticket -- which was sold in Lynchburg -- is worth 100-thousand dollars.

7weather

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

Time now to take a look at the Monday forecast--
Mostly sunny as you head back to work and school today, with highs in the low to mid 60s.
Clear and colder tonight, with lows dropping in to the mid 30s.
Sunny again for tomorrow, with temperatures in the low 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set disssolve
SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Breezy/63-66/Clear &/Cooler/33-36;
SUPER=#555; reset
7BIRTHDAYS!4/8/97

SUPER=130-3/Danielle Beckner/Union Hall;

SUPER=130-38/Rickey Early/Elliston;

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-58th/Charlie & Myra Davis/Naola;(Ed Allen's In-Laws)

(anniversary)
SUPER=130-8th/Jeff & Anita Pendleton/Troutville;

SUPER=130-14/Adria Mannon/Floyd;

SUPER=130-33/Lennie Smith/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-16/Eric Cartner/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-27/Shannon Anderson/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-8/Kristen Pullen/Clifton Forge;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/James Giles/Roanoke;
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SUPER=@Kimberly1

55E-New-Ordinance

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-12
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

A proposed new ordinance could make sure Roanoke contractors are on the up- and- up.
City planner John Marlles says his office plans to present the proposal to city lawmakers at a meeting later this month.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;

Residents and city officials say this construction site on Autumn Lane is an example of a trouble spot.
Marlles says the proposed new Erosion and Sediment Control ordinance will give the city some new tools to fight non-compliance.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:42:27
IN Q=UNDER THE NEW
((JOHN MARLLES/ROANOKE CITY PLANNER: UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FINE DEVELOPERS FOR EACH DAY A PARTICULAR VIOLATION EXISTS ON SITE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TAKE THEM INTO COURT AND GET A JUDGE TO MAKE A RULING.))
SUPER=01-John Marlles/Roanoke Planning & Econ. Dev.;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q= MAKE A RULING
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Marlles says this type of ordinance is a growing trend but it's still not used in many localities.
Residents of Autumn Lane say it's a start.
They've been living with this construction site for almost two years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:43:14
IN Q=HOPEFULLY WE'LL
((HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET FASTER ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE HAVE VIOLATIONS OF THE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THAT'S REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=THE BOTTOM LINE
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=hold

Marlles says they've been working on this ordinance for a couple of years.

55E-VMI-Admissions

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=VMI

V-M-I has not seen any reduction in the number of applications coming in from students eager to enter the ranks in Lexington.
More than one thousand young people have expressed an interest in being part of the co-ed class of 2001.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lexington/File Tape

Included in that number are 80 women who have applied for a spot in this fall's freshman class.
Fifty have been accepted, and 10 of those have put down a deposit.
Most of the applicants are from out-of-state.
(----------------)

55S-Child-Care

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=sly
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Welfare in Virginia

Critic's of the state's plan to give free child care to welfare recipients who get jobs say the plan is incentive for people to remain on public assistance.
The state Department of Social Services has proposed the free child care for welfare recipients as part of its plan for spending a federal block grant.
Non-welfare families earning the same income would have to pay a small portion of their child-care bills.
But several social workers and child-care professionals have said subsidies should be the same for welfare recipients and the working poor.

55weather

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

Turning to weather--
It's shaping up to be a mostly sunny and breezy day around the region.
Look for highs in the low to mid 60s.
Tonight will be sharply colder, with lows falling into the mid 30s.
More sunshine ahead tomorrow, with highs in the low 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set disssolve
SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Breezy/63-66/Clear &/Cooler/33-36;
SUPER=#555; reset
cutopen
SUPER=@Kimberly1

8E-Rockbridge-Fire

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=none

A weekend wild fire in the mountains of Rockbridge County has fire fighters working to stiffle threats the blaze will start up again.
The fire started Saturday night and officials estimate more than 250 acres in a remote section of The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests went up in smoke.
Investigators are still searching for a cause.
Denise Allen has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :04
SUPER=01-David Olson/National Forest Public Affairs; :18
SUPER=01-Chris Thomsen/District Forester; 1:14
SUPER=@Denise2; 1:26
RUNS=1:43
OUT Q=News 7
(((/////SOT/////)
SOT fire shots 10:20:40
IN Q=
((SOUND OF FIRE CRACKLING.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=

Flames fueled by fallen trees swept over the mountain.
The blaze seems to have started in the middle of no where--far from the nearest trails or homes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 11:39:18
IN Q=THE REAL DIFFICULTY
((DAVID OLSON/NATIONAL FOREST PUBLIC AFFAIRS: THE REAL DIFFICULTY IN THIS FIRE IS THE IN-ACCESSIBILITY. THERE'S REALLY NO ROADS THAT GO UP TO IT. IT'S JUST A WALK UP SITUATION. IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THE FIRE. WHEN YOU GET THERE IT'S A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE OF ALL THE DEAD TREES DOWN ON THE GROUND.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=ON THE GROUND

Many of those dead trees are pines.
Three years ago a beetle killed most of the pine trees in the Rockbridge County forest.
Those trees are now dry and ready to burn.
Foresters call them "Snag" trees and say they're a hazard to fire fighters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 11:38:17
IN Q=ONE OF THE
((ONE OF THE REAL CONCERNS WITH THESE DEAD PINES IS THAT THEY'RE ROTTED IN SOME CASES AT THE BASE. THEY ARE EASY TO CATCH FIRE. THEY CARRY FIRE TO THE TOP OF THE TREE AND THEY COULD FALL OVER ON A FIRE FIGHTER VERY QUICKLY WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE FOCUSING ON IS SAFETY OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS UP THERE.))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=FIRE FIGHTERS UP THERE
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 1 12:15:55
IN Q=SOUND OF CHAINSAW
((SOUND OF CHAINSAW.))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=

The showers and the humid climate have helped fire fighters by giving this crew of V-M-I Keydets a chance to create a fire line.
But officials say it would take a soaking rain to douse the blaze and that just isn't in the forecast.
The past week has been a busy one for forestry workers, but they say that's normal for this time of year.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 12:25:53
IN Q=PROBABLY THE FIRST
((CHRIS THOMSEN/DISTRICT FORESTER: PROBABLY THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IN APRIL TEND TO BE THE WORSE WHEN THINGS GET WARM, HUMIDITY GETS LOW AND WINDS GET STRONG. THE END OF APRIL AND THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE LEAVES COME OUT AND THINGS GREEN UP AND THE FIRES WILL GO AWAY.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=WILL GO AWAY

This fire in the Pedlar Ranger District is not threatening any homes.
And as fire fighters continue to battle the blaze they'll keep one eye on the weather.
If high winds and low humidity return as forecasted, the battle could rage on for some time.
Denise Allen News 7.))

8Shuttle

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=space shuttle

A shorter- than- expected journey into space for the crew aboard Shuttle Columbia.
A Virginia Tech graduate is among those astronauts.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Kennedy Space Ctr.;

The seven crew members shut down a faulty fuel cell that's forcing them to cut short their mission.
They'll return home tomorrow-- 12 days earlier than scheduled.
Among the astronauts is payload specialist and the first Hokie in space, Roger Crouch.
This is the third time in shuttle history that equipment failure has shortened a mission.
(----------------)

8E-Council-Preview

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-11
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Pot- bellied- pigs as pets are among the items on the agenda at today's
Roanoke city council meeting. (----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

This afternoon, council members are scheduled to hear from the owner of "Porky."
Pat Earls has been told that Porky's got to go, because of an ordinance against keeping swine within the city limits.
She is trying to persuade council to allow vietnamese pot-bellied pigs as household pets.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=hold

City Council is also wrestling with the prospect of a real estate tax cut.
Some members have raised the possibility of a modest reduction in the tax rate, and today city administrators will outline the financial impact.

8weather

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

Time now to check the Monday outlook--
Expect mostly sunny skies, with northwesterly winds 15 to 25 miles an hour.
Highs will be in the low 60s.
Clear and cooler tonight, with lows in the mid 30s.
Mostly sunny again tomorrow, highs in the low to mid 60s.
SUPER=X5000; set disssolve
SUPER=#555; reset SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Breezy/63-66/Clear &/Cooler/33-36;