WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/20/98

08:25-01

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[7Giles-Supervisor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#98-11]
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A show of support greeted embattled Giles County supervisor, Bobby Williams at last night's Board of supervisors meeting,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg; ]

It was Williams' first appearance since his suicide attempt last month.
Williams slashed his wrists inside his Ripplemead home following a grand jury indictment for his alleged role in the illegal taping of a phone conversation.
Just prior to the indictment-- board members had asked for Williams resignation.
But last night-- board chairman Jay Williams had only kind words.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I know]
((JAY WILLIAMS/GILES CO. BD. CHAIRMAN: I KNOW YOU AND I HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE BUT I JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENCE I STILL DON'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL VENDETTAS OR ANYTHING AGAINST YOU MR. WILLIAMS. BOBBY WILLIAMS/GILES CO. SUPERVISOR: WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. JAY WILLIAMS: AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE ON WITH BUSINESS. BOBBY WILLIAMS; MR. CHAIRMAN I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, ME AND YOU'VE PROBABLY AGREED AS MUCH AS WE'VE DISAGREED. ))

[SUPER=01-Jay Williams/Giles Co. Board Chairman; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Williams/Giles Co. Supervisor; :10]
[RUNS=:21 approx.]
[OUT Q=as we've disagreed.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Jay and Bobby Williams are NOT directly related.
A court date for Bobby Williams is expected to be set this spring.
(----------------)

[7E-Operation-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#97-100]
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There's no end in sight for Lynchburg's problems with anti- abortion protesters.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Wednesday, Operation Rescue director Flip Benham began serving a six- month jail term for trespassing at E.C. Glass High School this past fall.
Now, Benham's colleagues are rallying behind him.
Yesterday, they announced they're inviting Christian activists from across the country to come to Lynchburg next month for a series of protests.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 8:33:55]
[IN Q=This is a]
((KEITH TUCCI/LIFE COALITION INTERNATIONAL: THIS IS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS THING. AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ORCHESTRATED THIS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THINKING THEY WOULD JUST CRUSH ONE MANE, CRUSH ONE MAN'S FAMILY. THEY'VE MISCALCULATED VERY SERIOUSLY. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Keith Tucci/Life Coalition International; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=outraged about this.]
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[VO-NAT]

Tucci (TOO-see) wants the city to apologize for Benham's treatment and release him from jail.
The protests are scheduled to take place citywide, March 13th.
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[75-Bedford-Drugs]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#597-53]
[GRAPHIC=drug bust, cocaine]

Dozens of suspected drug dealers are behind bars this morning after "Operation Clean Sweep" made its way through Bedford County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Five months of undercover work resulted in charges against more than seventy people all across the area.
The housecleaning roundup began late Tuesday and continued Thursday morning, as authorities made arrests and seized property, including this auto repair shop in Big Island.
Sheriff Mike Brown says it's part of his "zero tolerance" for drugs.
(///////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:22:23//1:58:39]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((MIKE BROWN/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF: I DON'T THINK BEDFORD HAS ANY BIGGER PROBLEM THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY. I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE RECOGNIZING IT AND WE'RE ADDRESSING IT, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.)) ((TONY WARE/BEDFORD CO. SUPERVISOR: I THINK IT'S SAD TO THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, HOWEVER WE'RE REAL PROUD OF OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WILL COME AND TAKE AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE THAT'S NOT ONLY FACING BIG ISLAND BUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tony Ware/Bedford Co. Supervisor; :12]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=as a whole.]
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[VO-NAT]

Police also seized about 40-thousand dollars of illegal drugs, and destroyed a moonshine still.
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[7weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Time now to check the Friday forecast--
After some morning rain, expect skies to become partly to mostly cloudy across the region.
Daytime highs in the mid to upper 50s.
Variable cloudiness tonight, with lows near 40.
The extended outlook is calling for a pleasant weekend...
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[7BIRTHDAYS!]2/21/98
Saturday:

[SUPER=130-8/Deonata Hariston/Roanoke;]

[SUPER=130-8/Lindsay Dowdy/Narrows;]

[SUPER=130-55/John Allman, Jr./Roanoke;]

[SUPER=130-90/Susie Conner/Roanoke;]

No Pictures:

(Anniversary)
[SUPER=131-50th/Marvin & Jeanette Johnson/Roanoke;]

[SUPER=131-/Sandra Rakes/Figsboro;]

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[45E-Food-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
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[TAPE#98-10]
[GRAPHIC=Session 98]

A proposal to cut the food tax has died on the Senate floor.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Republicans sent sent Madison Marye's food tax cut back to committe for a year of study.
The maneuver allowed Republicans to kill the bill without actually voting against it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:33:25]
[IN Q=If you]
((SEN. MADISON MARYE/D-SHAWSVILLE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE INTERNAL FORTITUDE TO PUT IT UP ON THE BOARD HOW YOU STAND ON SOMETHING, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS.))
[SOT cranwell 18:38:25]
((SEN. MARTY WILLIAMS/R-NEWPORT NEWS: I BELIEVE IN TAX CUTS. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE I'D VOTE AGAINST. BUT THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE IT'S BROUGHT BACK UP ON THIS FLOOR.))
[SUPER=@Marye; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Marty Williams/(R) Newport News; :09]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=this floor.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

All the tax action yesterday in the Senate now faces the House.

[45E-Tax-Bills]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#98-5]
[GRAPHIC=Personal Property Tax]

But the Senate did approve a scaled down version of Governor Gilmore's car tax cut.
It's not the exact plan Gilmore proposed he's still praising the senate action that will provide tax relief to Virginia's working families.
Ellen Qualls reports.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It was a]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :19]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Ken Stolle/(R) Virginia Beach; :29]
[SUPER=@Hawkins; :38]
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[SUPER=@Cranwell; 1:09 QUICK!]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:13]
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[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond]
((
It was a Republican-- Senate Finance Committee Co-Chairman John Chichester-- who scaled back the Gilmore plan.
The Chichester alternative scales the per-car reimbursement back to 15- thousand dollars, from 20- thousand, until the massive cost falls under four percent of the General Fund budget.
It's NOT Gilmore's plan.
[sot GILMORE 17:09:48]
((SEN. BO TRUMBO/R-FINCASTLE: BUT THERE WERE ENOUGH ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT SAYS IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN THAT WAY. THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IS TO DO IT IN THE SAME FASHION WE'RE DOING IT NOW.))
[runs=:14]

[SOT 17:34:55 LONNIE]
((SEN. STOLLE: WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAD SENATOR CHICHESTER, THE SENATOR FROM STAFFORD, INTRODUCE THIS BILL, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE BILL.))
[RUNS=:08]

[sot GILMORE 16:19:24]
((SEN. CHARLES HAWKINS/R-CHATHAM: IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE AVERAGE VIRGINIAN, DAY AFTER DAY, THIS IS THE BILL TO PASS.))
[runs=:09]

With the admissions of Republicans that even they couldn't swallow Gilmore's massive plan, Democrats revelled.
[sot ROXANE ]
((SEN. MADISON MARYE/D-SHAWSVILLE: I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN MY UNCLE BILLY WHO SAID "OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE."))
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[sot 03:59:57]
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/D-VINTON: THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING IS CORRECT.))
[runs=:03]

[insert standup] ((SO THE 21 REPUBLICANS AND 19 DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE SENATE VOTED 31 TO 9 TO PASS THE CHICHESTER ALTERNATIVE TO THE GILMORE PLAN. NOW IT HEADS TO THE HOUSE. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.))
[runs=:13))]

[45Prostitution]

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A Roanoke woman was reportedly ready to use her daughter to raise money to support her cocaine habit.
Police say she tried to get her daughter to perform sex for money.
The 33 year old mother herself has been convicted of prostitution three times since 19-94.
She faces charges of pandering, assaulting a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon.
The girl is charged with prostitution.
No names are being released to protect the teenagers identity.

[45weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Shifting gears now to weather--
Showers early today, then skies will turn partly cloudy later on.
Highs in the upper 50s.
Tonight looks variably cloudy, with a low around 40.
The four day forecast looks sunny and mild through the weekend...
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[8Giles-Supervisor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
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[TAPE#98-11]
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Giles County Supervisor Bobby Williams was welcomed back to last night's board meeting by many supportive residents.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg; ]

It was Williams' first appearance since his suicide attempt last month.
Williams slashed his wrists inside his Ripplemead home following a grand jury indictment for his alleged role in the illegal taping of a phone conversation.
Just prior to the indictment-- board members had asked for Williams resignation.
But last night-- board chairman Jay Williams had only kind words.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I know]
((JAY WILLIAMS/GILES CO. BD. CHAIRMAN: I KNOW YOU AND I HAVEN'T ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE BUT I JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENCE I STILL DON'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL VENDETTAS OR ANYTHING AGAINST YOU MR. WILLIAMS. BOBBY WILLIAMS/GILES CO. SUPERVISOR: WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. JAY WILLIAMS: AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE ON WITH BUSINESS. BOBBY WILLIAMS; MR. CHAIRMAN I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH, ME AND YOU'VE PROBABLY AGREED AS MUCH AS WE'VE DISAGREED. ))

[8Henry-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#98-8]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Some Henry County parents are concerned about the future of their children's education.
That after the county announced plans to close nine schools and build four new ones.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Last night, concerned parents gathered at Laurel Park High School to hear what the Henry County school board had to say about the plan.
It's actually a recommendation from the Virginia Department of Education.. that will cost 71-million dollars by the time it's done.
The school board says the final restructuring plan won't look exactly like the draft proposal.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:28:11-:32]
[IN Q=I envision the board]
((J. DAVID MARTIN/SUPERINTENDENT: I ENVISION THE BOARD WILL WORK WITH STAFF ON THE INPUR THAT'S BEEN RECEIVED FROM THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WE WILL COME UP WITH A PLAN, COME BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND ASK THE QUESTION: IS THIS WHAT YOU TOLD US OR WE'VE DECIDED WE MAY WANT TO DO THIS. SO WE'LL GET MORE INPUT BEFORE SOMETHING'S ACTUALLY PUT TO BE SO TO SPEAK.))
[SUPER=01-J. David Martin/Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=so to speak.]
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[VO-NAT]

Last night's meeting was one in a series of public meetings.
The next and last meeting is set for Tuesday night at Drewry Mason Middle School.
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[8S-Mason-Dixon]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#97-98]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Poll]

The latest News 7/Mason- Dixon poll shows Virginia voters prefer President Clinton over Governor Jim Gilmore.
Mr. Clinton's favorable job rating is 17 points higher than Gilmore's.
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[VO-NAT]

The jury is still out on Governor Gilmore.
32-percent of those polled say Gilmore's doing an excellent or good job.
18- percent say fair.
Eight percent say poor.
And a full 42-percent have NO opinion yet on Gilmore's first month in office.
President Clinton is enjoying his highest ratings yet in Virginia --at 49-percent excellent or good ratings.
25-percent of Virginia voters polled say Clinton's doing a fair job.
26-percent say he's doing a poor job.
Looking ahead to the year 2000 U-S Senate race, Senator Chuck Robb faces a tough re-election battle.
If former Governor George Allen were to take him on today, the poll gives Allen a 48-38 victory over Robb.
(-------0---------)

[8weather]

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Turning your attention now to the Friday forecast--
The morning rain should end by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies on the way then.
Highs in the mid to upper 50s.
Variably cloudy tonight, with lows near 40.
The weekend features plenty of sunshine...meantime, showers are likely by Tuesday.
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