[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Let the games begin.
Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are no longer tied in the homerun race.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the man convicted of murdering his wife and child on Mother's Day 7 years ago wants to die by electrocution.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Some clouds and haze lingering over the viewing area as you wake up this morning.
Get ready for another day in the 90s.
But our forecast makes the transition to milder temperatures by tomorrow...
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[Stewart-Execution]
[ANCHOR=mELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-45 tc 50:52]
[GRAPHIC=Kenneth Stewart]
He's scheduled to die one week from today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/May 1992]
Kenneth Manuel Stewart Jr. says he wants to die in the electric chair.
Stewart shot and killed his estranged wife and infant son in Bedford 7 years ago.
If his wishes for electrocution are carried out, it would be the first death sentence by a means other than lethal injection carried out in VIrginia since 1994.
Stewart's lawyer questions whether his client is mentally fit to make that decision.
(------------)
[E-Connex]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-53 1:07:36]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]
Asia's economic crisis hit too close to home yesterday -- as over a hundred Southwest Virginia workers learned they'll soon be out of a job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville;]
Connex Pipe Systems announced it's closing in two months, laying off 133-workers.
Connex sells almost 80-percent of its heavy-duty pipes to Asia, the place that's been hit hardest by the global economic problems we've heard so much about.
The result is: Companies like Connex can't afford to stay in business ... because their customers can't afford to buy American pipe.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 5:56:02 tc]
[IN Q=i don't think]
((BETH DOUGHTY/RKE VALLEY EC. DEV. PARTNERSHIP: I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE SEEN ANYTHING AS TANGIBLE AS THAT, THAT YOU CAN REALLY SAY: HERE'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WARNING YOU ABOUT FOR ALL THESE MONTHS, THAT THE U-S AND THE ROANOKE VALLEY ARE GOING TO SEE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN ASIA.))
[SUPER=01-Beth Doughty/Roanoke Econ. Dev. Partnership;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=in asia]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
One bright spot is the people who worked at Connex are highly skilled.
And there's a big demand in the job market for people with their experience.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 5:47:14 tc]
[IN Q=somebody that's]
((TIM WOOD/LAID-OFF WELDER: SOMEBODY THAT'S SKILLED IN THIS TYPE OF WELDING IS IN DEMAND. IT'S FEW AND FAR BETWEEN THAT YOU FIND A GOOD PIPE WELDER.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Wood/Laid-Off Worker;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=pipe welder]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Connex will shut its doors for good on November 12th.
(------------)
[E-Pitts-Supervisors]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-69 1:00]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
Several clients of Pittsylvania County Community Action say their needs are NOT being met.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
News 7 has learned more than a dozen P-C-C-A clients have issued complaints about unfinished and faulty repairs to their homes.
These clients say they believed the work was supposed to be completed by the agency.
[SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night;]
Last night, a spokesperson for some of the clients attempted to address the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
Vivian Anderson is a former P-C-C-A volunteer who says she doesn't understand why low-income families aren't getting the help they need.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 8:54:37-:50]
[IN Q=Now something is going]
((VIVIAN ANDERSON/FORMER PCCA VOLUNTEER: NOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON HERE AND I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, I'M A TAXPAYER, I'M A CONCERNED ADVOCATE OF THE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT BEING SERVICED.))
[SUPER=01-Vivian Anderson/Former PCCA Volunteer;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=not being serviced.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Board of Supervisors told Anderson she needs to air her grievences with the Community Action Board of Directors.
The executive director of P-C-C-A says the agency has met all of its obligations with its clients.
The complaints are now being investigated by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development which provides funding to the agency.
(----------------)
[Clinton]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-B]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]
Lawmakers are getting ready to debate the release of President Clinton's videotaped grand jury testimony.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill;]
Republicans say it's important for Americans to judge for themselves whether the President lied.
The issue is expected to come up
today at party caucuses on Capitol Hill.
Some argue the tape could be damaging to Mister Clinton's defense.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You have]
(( REP. STEVE BUYER/R-IN:
"YOU HAVE WITNESSES THAT BEGIN TO PLAY MIND GAMES AND BEGIN TO TOY WITH
THE QUESTIONERS...AND YOU KNOW THAT THERE LACKS SOME SINCERITY WITH
REGARD TO THOSE ANSWERS."
))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Steve Buyer/(R) Indiana;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=REGARD TO THOSE ANSWERS.]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]
Meantime, investors will be keeping close watch on Capitol Hill today.
That's because Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan will
be testifying to the House Banking Committee.
Greenspan is expected to expand on earlier remarks when he raised the possibility of an interest rate cut.
[ramsey]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-d]
[GRAPHIC=Jonbenet Ramsey]
In Colorado, prosecutors hope a grand jury can do what police haven't been able to do -- find evidence to make an arrest in the Jonbenet Ramsey murder.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boulder, CO;]
The panel convened in Boulder yesterday, to look into the 21-month old case.
[SUPER=@File;]
The six- year- old beauty queen was found in the basement of her
family's home the day after Christmas, 19-96.
Her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, have always maintained their innocence, despite speculation they are somehow involved.
(----------------)
[E-Forest-Fires]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-56 40:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Forest service officials say the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest is threatened by the summer's early and lengthy stretch of hot dry weather.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Forest officials say the dry, wilting leaves along the Appalachain Trail are an indication of how dry it is.
The dry season usually doesn't arrive until fall.
And officials say the current drought is twice as bad as usual.
Forest service spokesman Dave Olson says such a dry index creates big problems when a fire breaks out in the forest.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=17:21:27]
[IN Q=THEY MAY NOT]
((DAVE OLSON/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER; THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY GET TO BE VERY LARGE FIRES BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE SOME LEAF COVER THAT'S HELPING TO SHADE AND MAYBE MODERATE THE WINDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE FOREST FLOOR. BUT TO MOP UP AND TO COOL ANY NEW FIRE STARTED AND TO GET THEM TOTALLY OUT IS BECOMING MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO GET THAT JOB DONE.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Olson/Public Affairs Officer;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=THAT JOB DONE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Olson says hikers can help reduce the risk of forest fires by building campfires in established sites only.
He says smokers should make sure their cigarettes are thouroughly extinguished and says it would probably be best to smoke in a vehicle rather than on a trail.
(------------)
[E-School-Closings]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
The continued hot weather leaves many schools in the area closing early again today.
(------------)
[Pinnacle Pages]
Danville schools will run on a half-day schedule.
Henry County will close elementary schools at noon; middle schools at 12:45pm and high schools at 1pm.
In Martinsville, Patrick Henry Elementary school will close at 12:30pm, and Albert Harris Elementary at 1pm.
Pittsylvania County schools will close at 1pm today.
And Patrick County schools will also close at 1pm.
The schedule in Lynchburg: high schools close at noon, middle schools at 12:30pm and elementary schools close at 1pm.
(----------)
[MCGWIRE]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#SP-12]
[GRAPHIC=Mark McGwire]
Mark McGwire ended a six game homerun drought last night, and pulled ahead of Sammy Sosa in the historic race for the record.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO;]
McGwire came up as a pinch-hitter in game one of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh and sent a ball high and deep to left-center, just over the wall, for home run number 63.
St. Louis lost the game 8-6.
(----------------)
[1-Sports]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In other sports news, the Martinsville Speedway gears up for Sunday's Taco Bell 300.
Steve Mason has more.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hey everybody]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=great Wednesday.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)
[One-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=13-Jay Burnett/Wood Carver;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
(toss to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[E-Bomb-warrant]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-59 40:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A South Roanoke man whose car was damaged by a pipe bomb is considerered the prime suspect in the incident by federal agents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September 4]
The blast dazed Norvell West, the Third, and did some damage to his father's truck.
It was the fifth such incident he's reported to police in a month.
Now A-T-F agents have seized items from West that could have been used to make a bomb.... materials anyone might have in their garage: wire, nails, drill bits, caulking.
West's lawyer dismisses the idea that West set the bomb himself, calling it "ludicrous."
(-----------)
[S-Bryant]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-60]
[GRAPHIC=None]
No bond was set for antique-dealer Clyde Bryant yesterday, even though he spent the day in court trying to get it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount/1996]
The man reputed to be a master con artist- -now charged with money laundering, wire and mail fraud- -says he has about three thousand dollars to his name.
He's lost his home and three businesses, a horse farm, the lake house with 100-acres waterfront property, boats, cars and antiques.
By his own estimate he'd lost a million dollars gambling in Atlantic City... another 3-quarters of a million dollars at Caesar's Palace.
(------------)
[Health-Check]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]
To medical news now, Harvard researchers say a certain type of radiation treatment may be backfiring on some prostate-cancer patients.
Rick Jackson has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=GM]
[SUPER=01-Rick Jackson/Reporting; :00 ]
[SUPER=@file; ]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((ONCAM=RICK
((on camera))
GOOD MORNING.
A NEW STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT MEN WITH FAST-GROWING PROSTATE CANCER
AVOID
A CERTAIN KIND OF RADIATION TREATMENT... IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR
CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.
VT=VO
((vo))
HARVARD RESEARCHERS EXAMINED MORE THAN 18-HUNDRED MEN WITH THE
DISEASE.
THEY FOUND THAT HIGH-RISK PATIENTS TREATED WITH RADIOACTIVE SEEDS
IMPLANTED IN THEIR GLANDS...
WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE THEIR CANCER SPREAD THAN THOSE WHO SOUGHT
MORE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENTS.
THE STUDY RECOMMENDS SURGERY AND TRADITIONAL RADIATION THERAPIES FOR
PATIENTS IN THIS HIGH-RISK GROUP.//
VT=VO
((vo))
AN EXPERIMENTAL DRUG IS HELPING ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS LEAD NORMAL LIVES.
DOCTORS SAY A MEDICATION CALLED ENBREL HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AT EASING
THE PAIN OFTEN EXPERIENCED BY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS.
IT WORKS BY NEUTRALIZING PROTEINS THAT CAUSE JOINTS TO BECOME
INFLAMED--AND DAMAGED.
ENBREL STILL NEEDS F-D-A APPROVAL.//
VT=VO
((vo))
AND THE DRUG THAT TOOK AMERICA BY STORM IS GETTING A HEARTY WELCOME
IN EUROPE!
AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED THE SALE OF VIAGRA IN 15
EUROPEAN NATIONS.
THE ANTI-IMPOTENCY PILL WILL BE AVAILABLE BY PRESCRIPTION... STARTING
IN OCTOBER.
BUT MANY OF THE COUNTRIES WON'T BE SUBSIDIZING THE DRUGS THROUGH
THEIR GOVERNMENT HEALTH PLANS.//
AND THAT IS OUR LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.
I'M RICK JACKSON, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)
[Two-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=13-Jay Burnett/Wood Carver;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4050; Headline Banner]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
House Republicans want to give Americans a look at President Clinton's grand jury testimony, possibly as early as this week.
Sources say it shows an angry and uncomfortable President struggling with questions about Monica Lewinsky.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
While business appears to be booming in Botetourt County, there may not be enough places to house potential new employees.
County supervisors have cut the number of apartments per acre.
They say developers can build only six apartment or condo units per acre, not twelve.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]
The home run race continues with Mark McGwire
again taking the lead.
The St. Louis slugger registered his 63rd homer last night, putting him one-up on Chicago Cub Sammy Sosa.
(----------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Wednesday September 16th.
[anchor=Melanie]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[2-Stewart-Execution]
[ANCHOR=mELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-45 tc 50:52]
[GRAPHIC=Kenneth Stewart]
Kenneth Manuel Stewart has just one week to live.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/May 1992]
The death row inmate says he wants to die in the electric chair.
Stewart shot and killed his estranged wife and infant son in Bedford 7 years ago.
If his wishes for electrocution are carried out, it would be the first death sentence by a means other than lethal injection carried out in VIrginia since 1994.
Stewart's lawyer questions whether his client is mentally fit to make that decision.
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=none]
He has a history of depression and has been found incompetent to drop appeals in the past, though he tried several ti
mes.[E-Bank-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-55 1:00:13]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]
A Blacksburg man has been arrested for last month's robbery of a Dublin bank.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/August 18;]
F-B-I agents arrested 18-year old Christian David (Ka-hars) Cahours Monday in Lynchburg.
He's accused of robbing the First American Bank in Dublin, August 18th.
[SUPER=03-Dublin/July 28;]
At the time, authorities said it appeared the suspect in that robbery was the same man who robbed the bank two weeks earlier.
Yesterday-- they would only say- that investigation is continuing.
(----------------)
[E-Power-Line]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=598-35 22:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Another hold-up in American Electric Power's fight for a new high-voltage power line in Southwest Virginia, thanks to the State Corporation Commission.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
The S-C-C staff wants a complete study of an alternative route for the 765-thousand volt transmission line.
That route would not end in Cloverdale, but at the Jackson Ferry substation in Pulaski County.
The staff report says this route would let A-E-P meet its projected power needs, and cause less environmental damage.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Another round of studies will cost A-E-P an estimated 700-thousand dollars.
Spokesman Todd Burns says the utility is confident that new studies will show A-E-P's preferred route is still going to turn out to be the best one.
[con-closing]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-A; from 98-53]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]
Botetourt County is losing one of its biggest employers.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville;]
Connex Pipe Systems is closing November 12th, putting 133 people out of work.
Connex sells almost 80 percent of its heavy duty pipes to Asia and the economic turmoil in that region makes buying from connex too expensive.
(----------------)
[E-Growth-Botetourt]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-54 1:36:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Botetourt County officials expect accelerated growth in the county, despite word of the closing of the Connex plant.
While they believe businesses will soon flock to the area, there's question now of whether employees of those businesses will be able to live in Botetourt.
Yesterday County supervisors cut the number of apartments allowed per acre.
Tina Tenret reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Greenfield Industrial Park]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kate Campbell/Second Grade; :23]
[SUPER=01-Lois Faddis/Breckinridge Elem. School; :32]
[SUPER=01-David Hale/Homebuilders' Association; :50]
[SUPER=@Tina2; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Botetourt County]
(( Greenfield Industrial Park is still in its infancy, but it will soon be milked as a cash cow.
Greenfield is designed to pull in thousands of new jobs, with a high-tech training center and recreational complex.
A new elementary school will also be built at Greenfield to catch the overflow from jam-packed classrooms.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT tape 1 12:06:44]
[IN Q=Sometimes]
((KATE CAMPBELL/SECOND GRADE: SOMETIMES THE FOLDERS GOT OVERFLOWED AND YOU HAD TO PUT YOUR FOLDERS ON THE FLOOR AND YOUR DESKS WERE ALWAYS SQUOOSHED TOGETHER.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=squooshed together]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:59:38]
[IN Q=We do have]
((WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW RESIDENTS BRINGING MORE CHILDREN.))
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=BRINGING MORE CHILDREN]
But county officials refuse to let growth crowd their rural hills.
They say developers can now build only six apartment or condo units per acre, not twelve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:06:44]
[IN Q=It just simply]
((DAVID HALE/ROANOKE REGIONAL HOMEBUILDERS' ASSOCIATION: IT JUST SIMPLY PUTS THE PRICE OF HOUSING FOR THE LOW INCOME AND MEDIUM INCOME OUT OF REACH. THER'ES NO WAY THEY WILL HAVE A NEW PLACE TO STAY.))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=NEW PLACE TO STAY]
Very few apartments exist in Botetourt now.
The county administrator says big companies do not ask about housing.
But builders ask -- if newcomers buy elsewhere, what will happen to Botetourt's other cashpot -- property taxes?
Tina Tenret News7 Botetourt County.))[2-Clinton]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=Clinton]
President Clinton faces questions from reporters today for the first time since the release of the Kenneth Starr report.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill;]
[4:04:14]
Mr. Clinton is holding a joint news conference with Czech President
Vaclav Havel (VAHTS'-lahv HAH'-vel).
The news conference comes as a House committee is considering whether Kenneth Starr has supplied enough evidence to prompt an impeachment inquiry.
Top DEMOCRATS are now seriously discussing whether the President should resign.
And Republicans appear divided about whether censuring the President would be a workable alternative to impeachment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((
SEN. TRENT LOTT, MAJORITY LEADER:
I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ... IS NOT TO
INJECT OURSELVES INTO THE SITUATION ... THE HOUSE HAS TO MAKE. ))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=House has to make.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The status of President Clinton's taped grand jury testimony could be
decided as early as today -- when the house judiciary committee meets to vote on its release.
(----------------)
[FERRARO]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=None]
She was the first woman to run as a major party's candidate for vice president.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
But now, long-time New York politician Geraldine Ferraro is calling it quits.
Ferraro bid farewell to her career in elected office last night
after losing the Democratic Senate primary.
Congressman Charles Schumer easily defeated Ferraro and will face Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato in November.
Ferraro says she will never again seek office.
(----------------)
[Dry-Season]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-56 41:35]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fires]
About 33 acres of Massanutten Mountain near New Market will be lost to forest fires before the end of the week.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest officials say an early dry season has fueled the fire that was started by lightning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Dave Olson is with the forest service.
He says such droughts are always a potential hazard for long burning brush fires.
Olson has advice for hikers heading out into the woods this time of year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=17:22:03]
[IN Q=PARTICULARLY IF]
((DAVE OLSON/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER; PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE SMOKING, JUST BE SURE YOUR CIGARETTE IS EXTINGUISHED. MAYBE IT'S BEST TO SMOKE IN THE CAR INSTEAD OF ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING A CAMPFIRE PARTICULARLY THIS WEEKEND, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO AVOID THAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN A DEVELOPED CAMPGROUND SITE ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Olson/Public Affairs Officer;]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=SITE ITSELF.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Olson says this year's drought season is months ahead of schedule and is twice as dry as normal.
He says forest fires under such conditions are much more difficult and expensive to contain.
(------------)
[2-E-School-Closings]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
The hot conditions continue to cause schedule changes for area schools.
(------------)
[Pinnacle Pages]
Danville schools will run on a half-day schedule today.
Henry County will close elementary schools at noon; middle schools at 12:45pm and high schools at 1pm.
In Martinsville, Patrick Henry Elementary school will close at 12:30pm, and Albert Harris Elementary at 1pm.
Pittsylvania County schools will close at 1pm today.
And Patrick County schools will also close at 1pm.
The schedule in Lynchburg: high schools close at noon, middle schools at 12:30pm and elementary schools close at 1pm.
(----------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=Hold]
Giles County schools will close 2 hours early today.
[Birthdays]
[SS=none]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ]
[in-Q=Wed.]
[RUNS=:48]
[out=back to you.]
[Three-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=13-Jay Burnett/Wood Carver;]
[SUPER=11-Roanoke;]
[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
[2-e-Pitts-Supervisors]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-69 1:00]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is investigating complaints against Pittsylvania County Community Action.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
News 7 has learned more than a dozen P-C-C-A clients have issued complaints about unfinished and faulty repairs to their homes.
The clients say they believed the work was supposed to be completed by the agency.
[SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night;]
Last night, a spokesperson for some of the clients attempted to address the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
Vivian Anderson is a former P-C-C-A volunteer who says she doesn't understand why low- income families aren't getting the help they need.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 8:54:37-:50]
[IN Q=Now something is going]
((VIVIAN ANDERSON/FORMER PCCA VOLUNTEER: NOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON HERE AND I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, I'M A TAXPAYER, I'M A CONCERNED ADVOCATE OF THE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT BEING SERVICED.))
[SUPER=01-Vivian Anderson/Former PCCA Volunteer;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=not being serviced.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Board of Supervisors told Anderson she needs to air her grievences with the Community Action Board of Directors.
The executive director of P-C-C-A says the agency has met all of its obligations with its clients.
(----------------)
[E-L'burg-Council]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-68 00:48]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg]
Improvement plans for some Lynchburg soccer fields are kicking into high gear.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
City council learned yesterday that most of the recreational enhancements are on schedule.. and Lynchburg should have eight new soccer fields ready by next spring.
But a local group says that's not enough.
Lynchburg United Soccer wants to raise two million dollars to build a ten- field soccer complex just outside the city limits.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:55:03]
[IN Q=The city is]
((DAVID BICE/LYNCHBURG UNITED SOCCER: THE CITY IS LANDLOCKED, THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LAND IS SO HILLY WITHIN THE CITY, THE EXPENSE IS SO GREAT AND WE'VE JUST TAKEN IT UPON OURSELVES TO GO AHEAD AND LEAD THE EFFORT.))
[SUPER=01-David Bice/Lynchburg United Soccer; :00]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=lead the effort.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The soccer group wants the city to kick in 500-thousand dollars to get the project started.
The rest will come from private donations.
(----------------)
[3-Sports]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports news, the Radford men use some fancy footwork, but can't pull past the Demon Deacons.
Steve Mason has details.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hello again]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=great Wednesday.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Kenneth Manuel Stewart Jr. wants to die by electrocution.
Stewart, who killed his estranged wife and infant son in Bedford in 1991, is scheduled to die in one week.
His attorney questions whether Stewart is mentally competent to determine his own means of execution.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
The latest action by the State Corporation Commission is putting American Electric Power's plans for a new high-voltage power line in Southwest Virginia on hold.
The S-C-C wants a complete study of an alternative route for the 765-thousand volt transmission line.
The S-C-C report says this route would let A-E-P meet its projected power needs, and cause less environmental damage.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Botetourt County officials are reeling from news that the Connex plant will soon close its doors, leaving 133 workers without jobs.
Nonetheless the County still expects accelerated business growth in the county.
Despite that, Botetourt County's Board of Supervisors yesterday cut the number of apartments allowed per acre from twelve to six.
Builders complain that newcomers attracted by new business will be forced to buy elsewhere -- leaving a hole in the County's property taxes.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(ad lib bye)
by SS