WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/04/98

18:00-01

[1-News-head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

It was a relief to see nothing more than heavy rain in the Roanoke Valley this morning- -but all that water's got people worried about flooding now.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Also coming up on NEWS 7 at SIX, we'll take you to the higher elevations- -places that were NOT spared the frozen precipitation.
(----------------)

[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Roy]

In sports--It's the first day of signing for high school football players, Tech and Virginia are at home for games tonight--
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ENG#]

And the Express is trying to get their skates back under them and fight off fatigue after a shoot out win last night.
(-------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

This large winter storm in not quite finished with us. You will feel the effects with strong winds, snow showers and rivers that are still rising.

[Roanoke-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#97-98]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
Western Virginia is facing significant flooding tonight, following a day of heavy rain and run-off. Families have been evacuated from some low- lying areas, and a regional shelter is opening in the Roanoke Valley.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Joe/Microwave]

Joe Dashiell has been keeping tabs on the rising water. Tonight he's reporting from the Roanoke River, which reached flood stage early this afternoon. Joe, how high is the river now?
[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Keith, the river has moved above 11 feet on its way to a predicted crest around fourteen feet later tonight. That should bring moderate flooding for Roanoke Valley residents who've seen it all before.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Usually tame]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Steve Cuddy/Palm Valley Road Resident; :11]
[SUPER=01-Chuck Walton/Roanoke Co. Resident; :39]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=just the way it is.]
(( Usually tame, gentle creeks and rivers became torrents on this day. The high water closed roads, threatened businesses, and flooded basements throughout western Virginia.
[SOT 14:54:32]
[IN Q=How do you all deal]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=getting it back down.]

For Colleen and Don Huffman the weather provided a rude surprize. Water rolling off Lockridge Road sent a wall of mud sliding into their back yard... and almost into their home.
Others watched the water rise, made what preparations they could, and hoped for the best.
[SOT 09:29:47]
[IN Q=Just pray to the good lord]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=just the way it is.] ))
[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Heavy rain, snow and high winds in the last 24 hours caused additional outages for customers of American Electric Power. Late this afternoon, the utility said more than eight- thousand customers in central, and western Virginia and southern West Virginia were without power.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Joe/Microwave]

New outages in Roanoke and Lynchburg are making it difficult to preduict when power will be restored. But Keith, AEP customers in Bluefield, Grundy and Tazewell... as well as southern West Virginia may have to wait a few more days.

[Shelter]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#97-100]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

The American Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter at the W.E. Cundiff Elementary School in Vinton.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton;]

Some roads in Vinton have been closed.
Residents feared the high water would trap them in their homes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-04:08:18]
[IN Q=ONCE THE WATER]
((MIKE STEPHENS/SHELTER MANAGER; ONCE THE WATER GETS UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL THEN IT GETS DANGEROUS. OF COURSE, WE ALL HAVE SEEN THAT. SO WE SET UP A SHELTER HOPING THAT ANYONE WHO FEELS THREATENED BY THE FLOOD OR WANTS A PLACE TO STAY WOULD COME HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Stephens/Shelter Manager;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=come here.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Since the shelter opened about four hours ago, a handful of residents have taken refuge there.
Another shelter has been set up at the Salem Civic Center.
Both sites offer food, medical services and a warm place to set up camp.
(----------------)

[Highlands-Storm]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#97-92 **Rolled from StarLink**]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

The weather was more severe farther north, in parts of Rockbridge County, where snow and ice blanketed the area.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Stacey/StarLink]

Stacey Martin joins us with the latest.
[Live=Stacey Full/StarLink]
[SUPER=@Stacey1;]
[SUPER=06-Rockbridge Co.;]
(ad lib)
[rollcue: the alarmed signaled ]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT **Rolled from StarLink]
[IN Q=nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co; :08]
[SUPER=01-Chief Richard Spangler/Glasgow Volunteer Fire Dept.; :21]
[SUPER=01-Randolph Johnson/Glasgow Resident; :41]
[SUPER=01-Rufus Phenis/Trucker; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=you was OK]
[Live=Stacey Full/StarLink]
[SUPER=06-Rockbridge Co.;]
(ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Stacey/StarLink]

[Robin-Update]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

How much more rain could we get? Let's ask Meterologist Robin Reed.

[Live=Robin Full]
[SUPER=@Robin1; ]

Keith, we couldn't take much more in Roanoke or Botetourt counties where totals have passed three inches since midnight.
[WXPRO/FULL] DOPPLER RADAR LOOP

[Roll] [Lake Levels]
[SUPER=80-37/34/2.39''/37/34/1.46''/35/32/0.55''/36/33/1.20'';]
[SUPER=81-40/38/1.22''/39/37/1.60'''/36/34/0.20''';]
[SUPER=82-3.15''/plus 2.85''/11.12''/plus 8.20'';]
[SUPER=83-Down 0.75 foot/Down 4.94 feet;Lake levels]

[Double Boxes=Robin and Andrew/Newsroom]
(Robin tosses to Andrew in Roanoke newsroom)

[NRV-Storm]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=afr]
[TAPE#98-6]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(Robin tosses to Andrew)

[Live=Andrew Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Andrew1;]
(Andrew ad lib)

On the whole, the New River Valley has been holding up well.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=It's been about]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;:00]
[SUPER=02-Martha Spencer/Montgomery Co. Dispatcher; :11]
[SUPER=02-C.J. Kincer/Wythe Co. Dispatcher; :20]
[SUPER=01-Buzz Scanland/Mountain Lake Manager; 1:00]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=never know what to expect]
(( It's been about 24 hours of a wintry mix-- but that mix has been mostly rain-- And that's kept the roads wet, and not slippery-- and it's kept emergency crews nervous, but not busy.
[SOT 1:07:14]
((MARTHA SPENCER/MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISPATCHER: i've been up...nothing's happening. ))
[RUNS=:07]
[BUTT/BUTT/BUTT]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((CJ KINCER/WYTHER CO. DISPATCHER: WE HAD OUR....WITH THAT ))
[RUNS=:12]

The usual spots got minor flooding in Montgomery County, and a few back roads were closed due to high water.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((ANDREW FREIDEN/REPORTER: IF YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE THE WINTER WEATHER WENT... ))
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]

That's because the resort closes in the winter....
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((BUZZ /MOUNTAIN LAKE MGR: ))
[SUPER=]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
))))

[Live=Andrew Full/Newsroom]
(Andrew ad lib and toss back to keith)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Andrew/Newsroom]

[Charter-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#97-97]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Some say it's a new beginning for public schools in Virginia.
Some say it's the beginning of the end.
After five years of debate, the State Senate approved charter schools today.
The House of Delegates has the votes in place for final approval tomorrow.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/Satellite]

Ellen Qualls is at the State Capitol.
What was debate like today?
[Live=Ellen Full/Satellite]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Keith, in the past, it's been a mostly partisan battle: Democrats opposing, Republicans supporting.
Not anymore.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Black Senators]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Maxwell/(D) Newport News; :08]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Yvonne Miller/(D) Norfolk; :20]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Marsh/(D) Richmond; :38]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Joe Gartlan/(D) Fairfax; :48 QUICK!!]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Warren Barry/(R) Fairfax; :50]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Dick Saslaw/(D) Fairfax; :57]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=do nothing.]

(( Black senators who lived through the days of segregated schools and massive resistance saw it as a question of race.
[sot 12:38:45 BRUCE]
((SEN. HENRY MAXWELL: MAYBE NONE OF YOU HERE TODAY REMEMBER THOSE DAYS BUT I DO VERY WELL. I DO NOT NEED A RESEARCH TEXTBOOK TO FIND OUT INFORMATION BECAUSE I LIVED IT.))
[runs=:11]

[sot bruce 12:54:09]
((SEN. YVONNE MILLER/D-NORFOLK: WE ARE LOOKING FOR A QUICK FIX. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SOUNDBITE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME EXCUSE TO SAY THAT SOME OF VIRGINIA'S CHILDREN ARE WORTHY OF EDUCATION AND OTHERS ARE NOT.))
[runs=:16]

[sot BRUCE 12:31:31]
((SEN. HENRY MARSH/D-RICHMOND: CAN WE AFFORD TO EXPERIMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN?))
[runs=:05]

[sot ROXANE ]
((SEN. JOE GARTLAN/D-FAIRFAX: WHAT THIS REPRESENTS IS THE WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER.))
[runs=:07]

[sot ROXANE 14:22:14]
((SEN. WARREN BARRY/R-FAIRFAX: I SAY IT'S NOT A WHITE FLAG. I THINK IT'S A BATTLE FLAG. IT'S A BATTLE FLAG THAT SAYS WE'RE GONNA TRY A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.))
[runs=:07]

[sot ROXANE 13:16:13]
((SEN. DICK SASLAW/D-SPRINGFIELD: CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT GONNA SAVE AMERICA. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT. BUT--))
[runs=:05]

[SOT ROXANE 13:16]
((SASLAW: YOU CAN'T SIT HERE YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT AND DO NOTHING.))
[RUNS=:04]))

[Live=Ellen Full/Satellite]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Under these bills, which Governor Jim Gilmore will surely sign, only two charter schools can be created per district.
They'd be approved by the local school boards.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/Satellite]

And they'd have virtually NO regulations and rules beyond the new academic standards. ((Keith Q&A: So the House will approve it tomorrow?
Right Keith, the preliminary vote was 63-35... not even close.))

[Williams]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#597-56]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Montgomery County circuit court judge has found a woman NOT guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Virginia Tech student.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/January 12, 1997;]

48-year old Evelyn Williams of Blacksburg hit 20-year old Daniel Kelly a year ago, as he and his girlfriend walked by the side of the road.
Williams says she drank two double vodka tonics with dinner, which she finished about an hour before the accident.
Police waited six hours after the accident to give her a blood test.
Experts clashed sharply in court today on whether she was under the influence when she struck Kelly.
Police reports show her car never left the travel lane.
(----------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sly]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

It was a mixed day on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/30.64/8129.71/x/14.12/1680.46;]

The Dow dropped 31 points to close at 81 hundred 30.
NASDAQ climbed 14 points.
[SUPER=431-ib/48*/h1/64/i1e/92e/ha/26c/u/54f;]
[SUPER=432-i*/52e/h!/20d/h@/40a/ia/48/ia/47e;]
[SUPER=433-i'/76d/h&/41'/hf/62*/hb/33@/h@/13!;]
[SUPER=434-i'/42b/hb/23d/h!/25@/i'/78$/h1e/43e;]
[a= 1/8 e= 1/4]
b= 3/8 f= 1/2
c= 5/8 g= 3/4
d= 7/8

!=1/16 %=9/16
@=3/16 ^=11/16
#=5/16 &=13/16
$=7/16 *=15/16

h= UP (Local Stocks only!)
i= DOWN (Local Stocks only!)
u= UNCHANGED (Local Stocks only!)

(You must use lowercase letters)]

SUPER=465-**/###/**/###/**/###;
[ Bassett Fur/ Bedford Bancshares/Dimon]
SUPER=466-**/###/**/###/**/###;
[ ETS /Main Bankshares/ Optical Cable]
SUPER=467-**/###/**/###/**/###;
[Pulaski Furn./ Roanoke Electric Steel/Roanoke Gas]
SUPER=468-**/###/**/###/**/###;
[ Stanley Furniture/ Tultex/Valley Bank]

[GE]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#97-96]
[GRAPHIC=General Electric]

General Electric workers in Salem were frustrated about getting laid off.
Tonight, Scott Goldberg has more on the story he started last night... Tonight: why the out-of-work employees say it will be tough to find another job.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Reginald Berry/Laid-Off Worker; :10 --quick!!]
[SUPER=01-Judy Scheder/Laid-Off Worker; :28]
[SUPER=01-Marjorie Skidmore/Virginia Employment Commission; :42]
[SUPER=@Scott1; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=News 7]
(( It's their first week off the job.
And some of the 245-workers let go from one of the area's biggest employers are wondering what to do now.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:33:31]
[IN Q=most people]
((REGINALD BERRY/LAID-OFF WORKER: MOST PEOPLE, IF THEY KNOW YOU WORK FOR GE, THEY WON'T HIRE YOU BECAUSE THEY KNOW YOU'RE GOING BACK WHEN THEY CALL YOU.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=CALL YOU]
[GE file on tape 97-94]
General Electric's plant in Salem has a history of laying off workers, then calling them back when production picks up.
Judy Scheder has worked at G-E for four years.
She's been laid off twice.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:39:50]
[IN Q= why do you keep]
((SCOTT GOLDBERG/REPORTER: Why do you keep doing this? JUDY SCHEDER/LAID-OFF EMPLOYEE: IF YOU HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE OF WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE VALLEY FOR MINIMUM WAGE OR A LITTLE ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE, OR YOU CAN GO TO GE AND HAVE AN EXCELLENT SALARY AND EXCELLENT BENEFITS, WHAT CHOICE WOULD YOU MAKE?))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=what choice would you make?]
[butt sots]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:24:29]
[IN Q=the particular]
((MARJORIE SKIDMORE/VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION: THE PARTICULAR SITUATION OF THESE EMPLOYEES IS THAT THEY WERE VERY HIGH-SALARIED, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND JOBS AT A SIMILAR SALARY.))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=SIMILAR SALARY]

Making the job search even more difficult is G-E's prediction that MOST workers will be recalled by this summer.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09:45]
["GE Standup" tape]
[IN Q=WE REALLY DON'T KNOW]
((JUDY SCHEDER: WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT TO BE CALLED BACK. INFORMALLY WE'VE HEARD JUNE. BUT WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE. SO THAT'S FRUSTRATING.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=THAT'S FRUSTRATING]
(/////SOT/////)
[standup]
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((SCOTT GOLDBERG/REPORTER: LAST YEAR GENERAL ELECTRIC LAID OFF 450-PEOPLE FROM THE SALEM PLANT, BECAUSE, LIKE THIS YEAR, THE COMPANY SAID THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TO WORK TO KEEP EVERYONE BUSY. BUT PRODUCTION PICKED UP AND MOST OF THOSE WORKERS WERE RECALLED. THAT'S THE SAME OUTCOME G-E SAID IT'S HOPING FOR THIS YEAR. SCOTT GOLDBERG, NEWS-7.))
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=news-7]
(-------------)
))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=Roy]
[TAPE#Tease]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

And coming up, We're hear from the Roanoke Express after last night's shootout win at the Roundhouse.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ENG#]

And Three football players from Jefferson Forest sign letter of intents with three different in state teams.
(-------------)

[S-College]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=Roy]
[TAPE#FB97-5]
[GRAPHIC=FFE Logo]

Today marks the start for high school seniors to sign letter of intents with the colleges where they plan to continue their football careers.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ENG#]
[SUPER=03-Forest; :]

Virginia Tech, Virginia and V-M-I hit the jackpot this afternoon as three Friday Football extra players at Jefferson Forest held a news conference today and signed with those respective schools.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Well he said]
((JAKE GROVE/SIGNS WITH VIRGINIA TECH: )) ((BUTCH JEFFERSON/SIGNS WITH VIRGINIA: )) ((MICHAEL BRADLEY/SIGNS WITH VMI: ))
[SUPER=01-Jake Grove/Signs With Virginia Tech; :]
[SUPER=01-Butch Jefferson/Signs With Virginia; :]
[SUPER=01-Michael Bradley/Signs With VMI; :]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=..........main goal."]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT (cont.)]
[SUPER=04-File]

Meantime, Danville quarterback Chanson Rodgers committed to Virginia but today he signed a letter of intent to play at Marshall University. He will get a chance to play quarterback for the Thundering Herd.
(-------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=ICE98-2]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

Chesapeake, Toledo and Wheeling are on the Express menu this Friday, saturday and Sunday. Roanoke is still atop the Northeast division with a 25-14 and 5 record after escaping a Blizzard last night.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT #eng]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Blizzard vs. Express; :00]

Under manned Huntington erased a 3 goal deficit before falling to the Express 4-3 in a shootout.
Daniel Berthiaume proved why he is the ECHL leader in goals against average by stopping 23 shots.
Roanoke dominated the shootout in a game that never should have gone that far.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="well']
((WAYNE STRACHAN/EXPRESS FORWARD:)) ((DANIEL BERTHIAUME/REGISTERED 23 SAVES LAST NIGHT:)) ((FRANK ANZALONE/EXPRESS HEAD COACH:))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Strachan/Express Forward; :00]
[SUPER=01-Daniel Berthiaume/23 Saves Last Night; :13]
[SUPER=01-Frank Anzalone/Express Head Coach; 27]
[RUNS=:52]
[OUT Q=...go from there"]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[SS=express/chesapeake]

Roanoke's three game swing begins friday at the Round House against Chesapeake.

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=Mike]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NEWS 7 SPORTS HOOPS]

If you can't make it out tonight or like most folks have no desire to get out in the rain this evening, Your Hometown Station has both hoops and high drama for you tonight.
(-------------)
[pinnacle page ( )]
At nine o'clock this evening join WDBJ-7 for LIVE coverage of the Wake Forest - N.C. State game.
And right before that at a special eight o'clock time you can catch tonight's episode of "Chicago Hope."
(-------------)
[pinnacle page ( )]
And then clear you calendars for tomorrow night as we bring you the much anticipated Duke at North Carolina showdown from Chapel Hill.
The game tips-off at nine o'clock.
And it marks just the third time in ACC history that the number one and two teams in the country have met in ACC play.
(-------------)
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=305-37/34/73/1962/1/1970;]
[SUPER=306-37/35/92/NE-17mph/29.43r/7:20am/5:48pm;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=335-In order to be/classified a "hailstone",/it must be at least:/A) 0.20 of an inch/B) 0.25 of an inch/C) 0.33
of an inch;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX]

[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#568;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=330-Rain-Snow Mix/Wind N-25/32-34/Snow Showers/Wind N-25/36-38;]
[SUPER=331-Flood Watch/Rain & Windy/33-35/Rain-Sleet/Wind N-25/38-40;]
[SUPER=332-Rain Changing/To Snow/30-32/Light Snow/Wind N-20/32-34;]
[SUPER=333-Windy With/Rain & Snow/30-34/Light Snow/Wind N-25/34-36;]
[SUPER=334-Storm Warning/More Snow/28-32/Cloudy & Windy/Light Snow/34-36;]
[SUPER=335-In order to be/classified a "hailstone",/it must be at least:/A) 0.20 of an inch/B) 0.25 of an inch/C) 0.33
of an inch;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=335-In order to be/classified a "hailstone",/it must be at least:/A) 0.20 of an inch/To be a severe storm/ it mu
st be 0.75";] [SUPER=X5001; Clears FX] [SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer]