WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/17/98

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[7Train-Derailment]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
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[TAPE#98-17]
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Traffic was slowed and debris spread along Route 460 in Montgomery County when a train derailed last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Elliston/Last Night;]

The train, which was pulling 96- cars, derailed in Elliston around eight- thirty.
A Norfolk Southern official says TEN of the cars actually flipped on their side.
No one was hurt.
The derailed cars were carrying seed, lumber and some type of paper product.
Members of the Elliston fire department were among the first on the scene-- helping to clear the road and determine what the train was carrying.
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[20:01:01]
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[IN Q=I believe]
((PUG WELLS/ELLISTON FIRE CHIEF: I BELIE WE'VE GOT 16 FIRE FIGHTERS ON THE SCENE AND ALSO SOME SHAWSVILLE RESCUE PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE. ))
[SUPER=01-Pug Wells/Elliston Fire Chief; :00]
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[OUT Q=on the scene. (double out).]
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[VO-NAT]

The train was travelling from Detroit to Winston Salem and also contained automobiles-- although the box car did NOT tip over.
One Norfolk Southern official said approximately 50- trains travel on that same track, as many as seven days a week.

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[ANCHOR=MEL]

It could take months to determine what caused last night's derailment.

[7Rezoning-Approved]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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The future of a Roanoke neighborhood was one focus of City Council last night.
The issue of whether Southern Hills residents who were offered money for their homes in the name of commercial development has turned to questions of what's next for the rest of the community.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The city has proposed a comprehensive neighborhood improvement plan that would include 800-thousand dollars in storm drainage, traffic lights and other renovations. But the neighborhhod association says that won't begin to address their needs.
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[SOT=08:48:52]
[IN Q=NOT THAT WE]
((LINC BARRETT III/SOUTHERN HILLS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT; NOT THAT WE DON'T APPRECIATE THE OFFER, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THAT TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL. AND SINCE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING DONE IN THE LAST 25- YEARS IN SOUTHERN HILLS, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE ASKING TOO MUCH.))
[SUPER=01-Linc Barrett, III/Improvement Assoc. President;]
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[OUT Q=ASKING TOO MUCH.]
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[VO-NAT]
Southern Hills residents unsuccessfully asked Roanoke city council last night to table a rezoning request until more definitive neighborhood improvements could be put in writing. The city plans to do follow-up renovations after its initial 800-thousand dollar plan.
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[7Boucher]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[TAPE#=98-7]
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Local reaction to President Clinton's latest problems -- Ninth District Congressman Rick Boucher says he's concerned with what he's hearing from the president's accusers, but remains uncertain where the allegations will lead.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

The Democratic Congressman says he's hopeful the investigation of the special counsel will be concluded quickly.

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[SOT]
[IN Q=I do not know]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/D- NINTH DISTRICT: I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PLANS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WILL BE OR INDEED WHETHER ANYTHING WILL BE PRESENTED TO US. OBVIOUSLY UNTIL THAT HAPPPENS NOTHING CAN BE SAID THAT'S DEFINITIVE, BUT WE'LL WATCH AND WE'LL WAIT AND IN THE MEANTIME DO OUR WORK.))
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[ANCHOR=mel]
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Boucher was in Blacksburg for the release of a report on the future of Southwest Virginia. [7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Light rain is falling on this St. Patrick's Day morning. The rest of Tuesday's weather holds light rain and sleet in some areas...Temperatures only reaching the upper 30s today...
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[7BIRTHDAYS!]3/18/98
Wednesday:

[SUPER=130-36/Bobby Saunders/Hardy;]

[SUPER=130-9/Jarrod Burton/Pearisburg;]

[SUPER=130-96/Gilvia Grubb/Salem;]

[SUPER=130-21/Tracy Mabes/Roanoke;]

[SUPER=130-41/Deborah Breedlove/Axton;]

[SUPER=130-5/Alisha McManus/Plum Creek;]

[SUPER=130-2/Sydney Lafon/Mt. Tabor;]

[SUPER=130-/Ernest Gibson/Roanoke;]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/Victoria Bolden/Brookneal;]

[SUPER=131-/Kermit Walker/Snow Creek;]

[SUPER=131-/Phyllis French/Roanoke;]

[SUPER=131-/Betty Pendleton/Sontag;]

[SUPER=131-/Bobby Saunders/Hardy;]

[SUPER=131-50/Wanda Wingo/Roanoke;]

[SUPER=131-/George Thompson/Buchanan;]

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[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[452-E-VMI]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#net]
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The first co-ed class at Virginia Military Institute has sucessfully made it through months of tough training.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
[from 98-19]
Yesterday was ``breakout'' day for the freshmen, known as ``rats.''
Of 30 women who enrolled last August, 23 climbed a muddy hill with male freshmen to join the school's upperclassmen as full-fledged cadets.
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[IN Q=]
(( ANGELA MYERS/FRESHMAN;IT'S OVER WITH. IT'S GOOD. IT WAS TOUGH, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. IT WAS WORTH IT. DOUBLE OUT JOSIAH BUNTING:NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THESE WOMEN TREAT THE FIRST FEMALE RATS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BEING UPPERCLASS WOMEN. Will they be harder on them, do you think? I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THEY'RE EXTREMELY DEMANDING ON MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN GENDER. ))
[SUPER=01-Angela Myers/Freshman Cadet from Va. Beach; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Maj. Gen. Josiah Bunting/VMI Superintendent; 1:30]
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[OUT Q=of their own genderr]
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[VO-NAT]

Six women dropped out of V-M-I since the school year began, and one was suspended for striking an upperclassman.
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[45S-Abortion-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
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[TAPE#98-9]
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Anti- abortion protesters continue their demonstrations in Lynchburg.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Supporters of jailed Operation Rescue director Flip Benham held more rallies yesterday across the Hill City, including one at E-C Glass high school.
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[SOT 9:31:18]
[IN Q=We are like]
((REV. RUSTY THOMAS/OPERATION RESCUE: WE ARE LIKE THE ALIEN INVADERS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN FRAMED, THESE KIDS VIEW US AS THE ENEMY. Reporter: Why do you think that is? WELL, THE WAY THE SPIN ON THE STORY HAS PROGRESSED, WE'VE LOST THE FOCUS, WE'VE LOST THE VISION OF WHAT ALL THIS IS ABOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Rusty Thomas/Operation Rescue; :00]
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[OUT Q=this is about.]
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[VO-NAT]

Thomas says their REAL message is about bringing God back into the schools.
They plan more rallies all this week, outside other Lynchburg school buildings.
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[45Trial-Date]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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A trial date has been set in a high profile Grayson county murder trial.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[tape 98-7]
May 27th is the date Louis Ceparano will stand trial for allegedly killing a black man by setting him on fire and then beheading the corpse.
A Grayson County Circuit Court clerk said the date was moved up from June tenth because at least one witness was unavailable at the later date.
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[45E-Boty-Bus]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#=98-3]
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Assigned seats on the school bus are the source of some trouble in Botetourt County --- A bus driver has filed charg
es against two parents and a student.
Bus Driver Mary Sue Lester also faces charges in the case. She was was involved in a confrontation with
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle;]

13 year old Jennifer Martin, when Martin tried to leave the bus. Martin and Lester have charged each other with assault.
Lester charged Martin's mother, Wosum (WHOA-som) Martin with disorderly conduct after she pounded on the bus doors, trying to take her daughter off.
Dewayne Long, whose daughter is a witness in the case, was charged with stalking by the bus driver, after he allegedly followed the bus for several miles.
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[SOT 6:34:08]
[IN Q=it was handled]
((RONNIE CLAY/ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; IT WAS HANDLED THROUGH PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION, AND ALLEGED THREATS AND STALKING. THESE THINGS ARE SERIOUS AND BETTER TO ADDRESS THEM SERIOUSLY THAN TO ASSUME THEY'LL FADE AWAY.))
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Clay/Assistant Commonwealth's Atty.]
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[VO-NAT]

The parent, Wosum(WHOA-sum) Martin's case was settled yesterday when she agreed to stay 50 feet away from the bus for the rest of the year.
The rest of the cases go to court today.
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[45Weather]

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Turning to the St. Patrick's Day forecast--
Light rain is likely today, with periods of sleet or freezing rain in some areas.
Highs in the mid to upper 30s.
Temperatures will hold steady tonight, with more rain on the way.
In the extended outlook, Wednesday looks warmer, with more wet weather...
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[8Boucher]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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It seems almost everyone has an opinion about the latest allegations against President Clinton.
Close to home, ninth district democratic Congressman Rick Boucher says he's concerned, but still uncertain as to what will become of the accusations.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

The Democratic Congressman says he's hopeful the investigation of the special counsel will be concluded quickly.

mmendations, it's billed as a blueprint for regional progress in the next century.[8Internet-Porn]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-2]
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A local internet service provider is making some changes after News 7 did a story last week about child pornography.
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[VO-NAT]

Roanoke-based Rev-Net was one of the I-S-P's that allowed newsgroups dedicated to child pornography on their service.
After our story aired, the company told subscribers they felt they needed to do something about the problem, and RevNet is now blocking groups that specifically deal with child pornography.
But they add, there's no way to block all illegal material, and users should exercise caution, especially when children are online.

(------------)[8Blacksburg]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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On the same subject--
A Blacksburg man allegedly sent 30 computer images of naked boys to an undercover investigator.
He's now charged with five counts of misdemeanor child pornography.
Thomas Jenkins is accused of offering an investigator in Bedford County the electronic images. Officers confiscated computer equipment, sex paraphernalia and film from Jenkins' apartment.

[8L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
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[TAPE#98-8]
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There is now one less candidate running for a seat on Lynchburg City Council.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]

Kevin Clauson was one of three Republicans seeking an at- large seat on council in May.
But Clauson stepped down yesterday, saying family commitments stemming from his father's poor health prevent him from conducting an effective campaign.
Clauson's withdrawal leaves seven candidates in the mix for three at- large seats.
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[8E-Fruit-Freeze]

[ANCHOR=mel]
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[TAPE#98-6]
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Mother Nature's last blast of winter weather wasn't enough to damage the crops of area fruit farmers...
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co.;]

Extension agents say last week's hard freeze did NOT have a significant impact on Southwest Virginia.
More than 300 acres of peaches are grown in Carroll and Patrick Counties.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It's not]
((GARY LARROWE/VA EXTENSION AGENT: IT'S NOT AS MUCH DAMAGE AS WHAT WE'D ANTICIPATED AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT-- NOW ON THE OTHER HAND, SOUTH OF US, IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY'RE NOT FARING AS WELL AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW. ))
[SUPER=01-Gary Larrowe/Virginia Extension Agent; :00]
[RUNS=:12 approx.]
[OUT Q=right now.]
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[VO-NAT]

Unlike Southwest Virginia-- the peaches farther south had already begun to bloom-- which left the fruit more vulnerable.
Harry Harold and his family own an orchard in Patrick County.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Oh, yeah]
((HARRY HAROLD/PATRICK CO. FARMER:OH, YEAH, IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN THREE TO FOUR DAYS LATER THEN WE PROBABLY COULD'VE HAD A WHOLE LOT MORE DAMAGE MAYBE EVEN A TOTAL WIPE OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Harry Harold/Patrick Co. Farmer; :00]
[RUNS=:10 approx.]
[OUT Q=wipe out.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Harold's also grow apples, cherries and plums.
The plums, they say, were the only crop they lost because they'd already begun to bloom.
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[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[WRITER=lfi]
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Let's now check to see how St. Patrick's Day shapes up weatherwise--
Look for light sleet or freezing rain in some areas, otherwise just rainy conditions today.
Highs in the mid to upper 30s.
Rain likely tonight, with temperatures staying in the 30s.
The extended forecast is calling for the wet weather to linger for the next several days...
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