WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 02/04/98

12:00

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Another winter storm on the heels of last week's weather pushes already swollen rivers even higher.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Meantime, the storm brought freezing rain, ice and power outages to folks on Bent Mountain.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

The snow-turned-rain is creating flood situations in many localities. The Roanoke River is already above Floodstage, we'll update you on the entire situation momentarily.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.[EARLY-WX]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=pev]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Melanie, as Joe just said, flooding is the major concern for the rest of the day, and we would have been better with snow than the heavy rain we are currently getting.
[STORMWATCH/FULL=]WATCH/WARN

Currently, the counties shaded in red are under a flood warning, and that includes Roanoke for both stream flooding, and River flooding along the Roanoke River, which is expected to crest about 3 to 4 feet above Flood Stage, and is already over it's banks.
The Dan River, especially at South Boston and Paces, will create moderate to serious flooding. At South Boston, the River will reach 28 feet late Friday.
Other counties included: Botetourt, Rockbridge, Montgomery, Franklin, Patrick, Nelson, Pittsylvania, and Campbell
[WX-PRO/FULL=]REGIONAL RADAR

On the radar loop, we see bands of heavy continuing to move up from the south as this slow moving storm funnels heavy moisture into the region. Rain is likely continue through the evening hours, and taper off gradually tomorrow.
Coming up I'll have an update on flooding, and your complete forecast.

[Roanoke-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#97-]
[GRAPHIC=winter storm]

The threat of a major snowstorm has given way to the prospect of significant flooding in western Virginia.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and JoeD/Microwave]

Joe Dashiell has been checking the creeks and streams in our area today. Joe, how serious is the situation this afternoon?
[Live=joeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Melanie, the Roanoke River was expected to reach flood stage at the Walnut Street Guage around noon. The national weather service is promising crest information later in the day... but it appears that we're in for some minor flooding... and now waiting to see if it will be any worse than that. [Rollcue:worse than that]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Throughout the Roanoke Valley]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sunny Shah/Hotel Manager; :13]
[SUPER=07-Chuck Walton; :31]
[SUPER=07-James & Darlene Elliott; :46]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=headed for higher ground.]

((Throughout the Roanoke Valley, creeks and rivers are rising and residents are watching with a wary eye.
At the Ramada Inn on Franklin Road, hotel employees were spurred into action as water knocked on the doors of some first floor guest rooms....
[SOT 09:55:32]
[IN Q=It's really scary]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=taking it to a safer place.]
Along Tinker Creek in Roanoke County, Chuck Walton was moving equipment out of harm's way, and hoping for the best.

[SOT 09:29:13]
[IN Q=These days with all]
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=pay for progress.]
And in Bonsack, James and Darlene Elliott were remembering other occasions when Glade Creek has left its banks.
[SOT 10:14:44]
[IN Q=Guess you all have]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=kind of panicky for us.]

They aren't hanging around to see what this day brings. With the water covering their back yard, the Elliotts headed for higher ground.))
[Live=Roanoke Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
(adlib)

[Double Boxes=Melanie and JoeD/Microwave]

(toss to Melanie)[Morning-snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=97-99]
[GRAPHIC=winter storm]

It was a quiet night for most Department of Transportation crews.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

They braced for the worst.
Snow plows waited on the roadside, other trucks spread gravel on possible trouble spots.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

But the only severe winter weather in the Roanoke area appeared to be on top of Bent Mountain, where wind gusts and freezing rain caused a power outage.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:39:41]
[IN Q=In higher elevations]
((JAMES SHELOR/VDOT; IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS IT'S BEEN A MIX AND SLIGHT ACCUMULATION OF SLUSH. IN LOWER ELEVATIONS IT'S MOSTLY RAIN, IT'S NOT BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENCIES SO FAR.))
[SUPER=01-James Shelor/VDOT;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=so far]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

V-DOT crews remain on standby, in case the rain changes to snow later today. They're also keeping an eye on roads that are prone to flooding.
(------------)
[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A local lawmaker is pushing his cut on the food tax.
That's still to come,
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And
The U-S is catching some criticism following a cable car tragedy in Italy.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=lfi]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq conflict]

The U.S. and Russia continue to disagree over whether to use force in dealing with Saddam Hussein.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Moscow]
[6:09:12]
An aide to Boris Yeltsin is dismissing suggestions that Moscow might retaliate should the U-S decide to attack Iraq.

His comments follow critical remarks made by the Russian leader, in which he said President Clinton might provoke a world war if he uses force against Iraq.
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq]
[6:31:52]
Meantime a French official met with the Russian Deputy Foreign minister in Baghdad today to press on with negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis.
(----------------)

[clinton]

[ANCHOR=Melane]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=Mel]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Clinton]

The White House is considering using its executive privilege to narrow the scope of questioning in the Monica Lewinsky investigation.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[4:16:31]
The executive privilege protects the president's communications on military, diplomatic or sensitive national secrets.
The grand jury, which is meeting again today, heard yesterday from former Clinton senior adviser George Stephanopoulos.
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[4:15:31]
Meantime, the White House is not commenting on reports that Lewinsky entered the White House as many as three dozen times after being transferred to the Pentagon.
(----------------)

[fAYE-EXECUTION]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Convicted killer Karla Faye Tucker has been put to death, but the worldwide debate over capital punishment rages on.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Huntsville, TX;]

Last night's execution in Texas is the lead story today in many European countries where the death penalty is banned.
Tucker was executed for killing two people with a pickax in 19-83.
[SUPER=@file;]

In a final statement, Tucker apologized to her victims' families.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[7:01:19-32]
[IN Q=]
((RICHARD THORNTON/VICTIM'S HUSBAND: 14 AND A HALF YEARS AGO KARLA FAYE TUCKER EXPLODED MY FAMILY APART, 14 AND A HALF YEARS LATER SHE BROUGHT MY FAMILY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. ))
[SUPER=01-Richard Thornton/Victim's Husband;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=back together again.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Tucker was the first woman to be executed in Texas since the Civil War.
(----------------)

[ITALY-AX]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Calling American military pilots "Rambos," some angry Italians today are urging the closing of U-S bases after a marine jet yesterday sliced the cable on a ski gondola, sending the car's 20 riders plunging to their deaths.
Scott Pelley has more on the investigation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cavalese, Italy;:00]
[SUPER=01-Paolo Sartori/Italian Police;:24]
[SUPER=01-Scott Pelley/Reporting;1:09 ]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q= CBS NEWS, Caratese, Italy.]
(( The twisted remains of the cable car, a few pieces of ski gear, some personal belongings, a fadding blood stain on the crisp snow, guarded by Italian police, stood as silent witness to the tragedy. A US military investigation team will join Italian authorities to find out how and why the American war plane cut the cable and sent twenty people plunging to thier deaths. Italian police say the plane should not have been that low.

SOT:
(Chief Commissioner Paolo Sartori, Italian Police)
The tail of the plane cut the cable of the lift..etc.
TRACK
(Village, poster re previous Cermis accident)
In the village of Cavalese from where the cable car took skiers to the high runs of the Dolomites, the tragedy is being calle the curse of Cermis. A reference to the worst cable car accident that happened here twenty two years ago. But the tourist chief says the curse is American planes.

NAT SOT in ITALIAN

TRACK TRANSLATION: We've complained to Rome about them Guido Travaglia says all we got were dilpomatic answers not solutions.
TRACK
(Scene of accident)
Italy's coalition government is already under pressure from a communist block which is demanding that NATO and US bases in Italy be shut down.
O/C close Criminal charges could be brought against the American airmen. A police official said it would depend on how the agreements for bases and flights are interpreted. The US team coming here includes several lawyers

AP, CBSN, Cavalese.))[E-Boty-Suicide]

himself in the head.[E-Boty-Suicide]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A Roanoke man took his own life during a confrontation with police yesterday.
The Botetourt County Sheriff's Department says 20 year old Kevin Leigh Ponting was allowed into the house of an acquaintance early yesterday morning.
Other residents weren't aware he was there and called police to report a burglary in progress.
Sheriff Reed Kelly says when an officer arrived and tried to search the suspect, Ponting produced a handgun and shot himself in the head.[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Coming up,
Patrick will have the latest on what weather conditions to expect for the rest of the day and into the night.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And
it wasn't a pageant that brought out the tiara last night, but a birthday celebration.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[E-Cruz]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=KHu]
[TAPE#98-8]
[GRAPHIC=J. Cruz]

The government has rested its case against Floyd County realtor Earl Frith, giving Frith's attorneys a chance to mount their defense.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
] PAMELA Cruz, the 40-year drug smuggler's ex-wife continued HER testimony yesterday- -primarily to relate the conversation she secretly recorded when she gave Frith 40-thousand dollars in cash... following her husband's arrest in Miami.

The jury will have to decide whether Frith knew it was drug money.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:13:05 -audio w/ pre-pro]
[IN Q=I know]
((I KNOW THAT THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT YOU KNOW, IF THEY KNEW I HAD SOME CONCEPT OF THE SOURCE. BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO KNOW THAT.)) ((I KNEW THAT HE'D BEEN ARRESTED. IT WAS THE TALK OF FLOYD COUNTY THAT HE WAS A BIG-TIME DRUG DEALER AND HE'D KILLED PEOPLE. AND WE WERE PRETTY FRIGHTENED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. ))
[SUPER=01-Earl Frith/Auctioneer; :10]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=was going on.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=J. Cruz]

Pam Cruz herself admitted she was terrified of Javier at times.

[Snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=afr]
[TAPE#98-6]
[GRAPHIC=Winter storm]

The New River Valley is breathing a collective sigh of relief this afternoon--
The anticipating heavy snow hasn't yet arrived--
But that doesn't mean there isn't a LOT falling from the sky.
Andrew Freiden has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Paul Johnson/Montgomery Co. Resident; :00]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :07]
[SUPER=@andrew2;]
[SUPER=02-Martha Spencer/Montgomery Co. Dispatcher; :17]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=AF N7]
(((/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:46:47]
[IN Q=]
((JOHNSON: SOME OF THEM...LOVE SNOW ))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=]

[SOT 59:45]
[IN Q=]
((HANSHEW: IT WAS SNOWING....UPSET WITH THE WEATHERMAN. ))
[RUNS=:18]

[OUT Q=))[TAG]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]

Authorities across the New river valley are waiting for the worst to hit-- accidents are few and far between, and there are no major backups on I81 to report.

There is some minor creek flooding in Montgomery county-- but it's in all the usual places.[E-Cox]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-9]
[GRAPHIC=Cox]

Watching cable television will soon cost more for cox cable customers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Basic cable service rates will go up 55 cents, preferred service will rise by a dollar-seventy.
Those amounts could vary by a few cents depending on where you live.
The cost of converters and remotes will be shifted to a national price structure.
A converter box will cost 2-seventy a month, a remote, 18 cents. That amounts to a rate DECREASE for people using newer converters.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 48 points.[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Next up in sports,
The magic was up for grabs in the last seconds of the Orlando/Atlanta game last night.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Plus
it took a Blizzard to thaw out an Express three point lead and push the game into a shootout.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[Express]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=Dal]
[TAPE#net (edit of ICE98-2)]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Huntington]

The Express blew a big lead in the third period before putting the freeze on the Blizzard with a 4-3 win.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT #eng]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Blizzard vs Express;]

The Express had a three-nothing lead over Huntington.
Daniel Berthiaume had 23 saves on the night and it looked pretty good for Roanoke.
[SUPER=34-Roanoke/4/Huntington/3;]

But in the third period the Blizzard blew in and Jake Deadmarsh makes it 3-to-2.
Huntington's Derek Smith ties things up at three.
But Roanoke prevails in the shoot out for the 4-to-3 win.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="You]
((DANIEL BERTHIAUME/YOU GOT TO PLAY LIKE YOU'RE FIRST PLACE. YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE THE LABEL AND LOOK IN THE PAPER AND THINK YOU'RE GREAT BECAUSE THIS THING CAN'T GO LIKE THAT.BUTT/BUTT/BUTT/FRANK ANZALONE/THEY'RE BEHIND THREE-NOTHING. THEY'VE ONLY GOT 13 SKATERS AND THERE'S NOTHING FOR THEM TO LOSE SO THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT IT TO US AND EVERYTHING THEY DID WORKED AND EVERYTHING WE DID DIDN'T WORK AND BASICALLY WE GAVE UP ANOTHER VERY BIG POINT TONIGHT AND WE HAVE TO HOPE THAT THAT POINT DOWN THE ROAD DOESN'T HAUNT US.))
[SUPER=01-Daniel Berthiaume/Express Goalie 23 Saves;]
[SUPER=01-Frank Anzalone/Express Head Coach; : ]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=..doesn't haunt us"]
(----------------)

[Cavs]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#net (edit of BB98-1)]
[GRAPHIC=Hometown Hoops weekly]

Hometown Hoops Weekly will return tomorrow. Many games were postponed last night due to weather. Salem and Lord Botetourt did play in Daleville last night.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT #eng]
[SUPER=03-Daleville/Spartans vs Cavaliers; :00]

Salem would play tough on the boards. Hershel Thomas grabs the rock and goes back for 2.
Michael Yates launches this bomb that tickles the twine for the Cavaliers.
[SUPER=34-Salem/60/Lord Botetourt/52;]

The Spartans Adam Rutledge scoops up the loose ball and goes in for the easy bucket for a 6 point lead.
Jack Patterson gets this rebound and put back.
Salem wins it 60-52.
(-------------)

[NBA]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=S8-4]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

In the NBA,
Orlando made the magic work as the team pulled off a single point victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT #eng]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/FOX; :00]

In the fourth quarter; Orlando's Bo Outlaw slams over Atlanta's Dikembe Motumbo. 86-82 Magic.
But with less than 10 seconds left in the game; the Hawks Tyrone Corbin snaps the nylon to give Atlanta a 90-89 advantage.
[SUPER=32-Orlando/91/Atlanta/90;]
The magic's mark Price is then blocked, but Outlaw is there with the hoop with one second left;
Orlando wins 91-89.

(-------------)[Hornets]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=net (edit of BB98-3)]
[GRAPHIC=Hornets]

The Charlotte Hornets signed guard Vernon Maxwell to a 10 day contract.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT #eng]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/Celtics vs Hornets; :00]

Dave Cowan's teams hosted the Boston Celtics.
Watch the celts Dee Brown fire this long bomb from treyland.
Charlotte's David Wesley with the no [SUPER=32-Charlotte/93/Boston/89;]
look to Travis Williams for the bucket and to tied it at 77.
Charlotte goes on to win 93-89.

(-------------)[Baker-Birthday]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=97-97]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

And finally today...
it was a night of recognition and birthday wishes for the Roanoke County woman responsible for bringing the Miss Virginia Pageant to the Valley.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Margaret Baker was honored for all she has done.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-01:16:31]
[IN Q=I WOULD SAY]
((MAYOR DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE CITY; I WOULD SAY THERE'S BEEN FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IN DOWNTOWN, IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IN THE MISS VIRGINIA PAGEANT IN LEADERSHIP ROANOKE VALLEY. THERE'S BEEN FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS THAT MARGARET BAKER HASN'T HAD SOME IMPACT ON IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.))
[SUPER=@Bowers]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=POSITIVE WAY.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

After 21-years as the pageant's executive director and business manager Baker will now serve as C-E-O.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-00:33:27]
[IN Q=I'M GOING TO BE]
((MARGARET BAKER/MISS VA PAGEANT DIRECTOR; I'M GOING TO BE THERE TO ADVISE AND I'LL HELP THEM WITH THE WORK BUT THE WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY WILL NOT BE ON ME. I THINK IT'S JUST TIME FOR SOME YOUNG BLOOD TO GET IN THERE.))
[SUPER=01-Margaret Baker/Miss Va. Pageant Director;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=IN THERE.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Baker's birthday, February 7th is now recognized in Roanoke for her name's sake.
(----------------)
[REPRS&CL] SUPER=X4031; Fax/Copyright Noon/Weekends [SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]