WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/26/98

[Hurricane-George]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Georges]

Hurricane George is ripping through the South.
So far no one has been killed but there is a big clean up job ahead.
Drew Levinson reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Mobile, AL; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Fahey/Key West Fire Chief; :27]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=Naples, Florida]
(( MOBILE IS ON ALERT. HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE BEING BOARDED UP...LIVES UPROOTED, AS HURRICANE GEORGES CONTINUES HIS MARCH THROUGH THE GULF OF MEXICO.
(Nats)
GEORGES SMASHED HIS WAY THROUGH THE FLORIDA KEYS EARLIER IN THE DAY. IN KEY WEST, STREETS WERE FLOODED, ROADS BLOCKED, POWER LINES DOWN.
BUT THE DAMAGE WAS NOTHING LIKE WHAT THE STORM HAD CAUSED IN THE REST OF THE CARIBBEAN.

(sot: Tim Fahey, Key West Fire Chief) Goldberg PM News
"No fatalities, no injuries."
TO THE NORTH, NAPLES, FLORIDA, WAS READY FOR THE STORM. WHEN OFFICIALS POSTED HURRICANE WARNINGS, THE RED CROSS SERVED LUNCH TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE AT ONE SHELTER. SOME PEOPLE HERE WERE LITERALLY DRAGGED FROM THEIR HOMES TO SAFE GROUND. BUT GEORGES SPARRED THIS CITY AND MIAMI, SIMPLY SLIPPING BY.

(NATS)
PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, MAKING FLORIDA ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. AND MORE DAMAGE IS SURE TO COME, AS GEORGES EYES THE GULF COAST.

(MOS SOT) Goldberg
"Another day in paradise."

(standup)

))

[Tax-Cut]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]

An 80 billion dollar tax cut goes up for a vote before the House today, but President Clinton has already nixed the idea.
The president says he doesn't want to go tapping into the budget surplus until Social Security is on solid ground.

The tax cut is expected to pass, but not by the margin needed to override a veto.

[11-Dominos-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-64 TC 17:51]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Roanoke police are on the lookout for a suspect who plowed into a restaurant building then drove off.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night;]

2 people were injured at the Domino's Pizza on Peters Creek Road when the car slammed into the building.
According to witness statements, a woman was apparently at the wheel of the car that ran into the building.
She reportedly had a child in the passenger's seat.
Authorities are still investigating the accident.
(------------)

[11-Fatal-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Buchanan woman lost her life on Interstate 81 near Troutville yesterday.
State police suspect that 32-year-old Kathie Lynne Black fell asleep at the wheel of her car before reportedly careening into a tractor trailer that was parked along the side of the road.
Black was pronounced dead at the scene.
No one else was injured in the accident.

[Sports]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. Morning]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE SATURDAY]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

In sports, Salem stays on top of the Super 7 poll and Lord Botetourt beats William Byrd.
Mike Stevens is here with all the games and highlights.
Good morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[RUNS=2:34]
[OUT Q=...A LITTLE BIT."]
(-------------)
(( Our number one team in the Super 7 hosted unbeaten Blacksburg last night. Make that previously unbeaten Blacksburg. The Spartans roll to the 36-to-nothing win.
Rockbridge County knocked Alleghany from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 35-to-14 win.
Lord Botetourt stayed perfect on the season and handed Byrd it's first loss with a 27-to-20 win.
Christiansburg is still unbeaten. The Blue Demons slowed down Northside 28-to-7.
Amherst might be as good as Salem. The Lancers stayed unbeaten last night with a 62-to-nothing drubbing of Franklin County.
George Wythe is still striving for and achieving perfection. The Maroons beat Rural Retreat 28-to-20.
Tunstall pulled out a come from behind win over Bassett, dropping the Bengals 17-to-14.
Va. Episcopal shutout North Cross 20-to-0 to keep the Raiders winless.
Floyd County pitched a shutout against Shawsville winning 39-to-nothing.
Giles topped Fort Chiswell 26-to-7. The Spartans have won four in a row.
EC Glass put the wood on Cave Spring and stayed unbeaten by posting a 28-to-7 win.
Magna Vista blanked William Campbell 19-to-nothing last night at home.
Patrick Henry got its first victory of the season with 28-to-18 victory over Halifax.
Fleming topped Danville in a defensive struggle 7-to-6.
Glenvar had a happy homecoming with a 31-to-13 win over James River.
Heritage got a Seminole win over Liberty 26-to-10 at City Stadium.
And Radford got a nice non-district win last night with a back and forth 23-to-14 win over Covington.))
(--------------)

[Alzheimers]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Eye on Virginia]

One local charity has its Eye on helping Southwest Virginians cope with the disease of Alzheimer's.
The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association offers a help line for anyone with questions.
Here to tell us about it are Betsy Coles and Sylvia Long.

[SUPER=01-Betsy Coles/Alzheimer's Assoc. Help Line;]
[SUPER=01-Sylvia Long/Alzheimer's Assoc. Help Line;]

[full screen pinnacle with phone number 1077]

[11-Wreck-Folo]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-69 47:19]
[GRAPHIC=Accident Investigation]

State Police are still investigating Thursday's pile up on Interstate-81.
Investigators say the tractor- trailer involved in the most serious collision DID have working brakes, but they may not have been adjusted properly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

The driver of the tractor-trailer suffered the most serious injuries.
He was airlifted to the burn center at the University of Virginia, where he was listed in critical condition.
Police have not released his name, because they are still trying to notify his relatives.
Meanwhile, investigators found that three of the truck's ten brakes appeared to be out of adjustment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT FINDLEY UB 16:48:55]
[IN Q=Possibly his speed]
((POSSIBLY HIS SPEED MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. WE DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HIS SPEED. I'M NOT SAYING HE WAS EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT, BUT EVEN IF HE WAS GOING 65 WITH THE TRAFFIC AS HEAVY AS IT WAS, COMING UP ON TRAFFIC AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD FOR HIM TO STOP, HAD HE EVEN HAD TEN BRAKES.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. L. W. Findley/Virginia State Police]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=had he even had ten brakes.]

[11-Truckers]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-62 TC 28:54]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Could Thursday's pileup been avoided?
Truckers say probably not.
As Scott Goldberg reports, truck drivers blame a growing number of distractions for making highways dangerous places to drive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=honking]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :15]
[SUPER=01-Frank Major/Truck Driver; :27]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Vern Jones/Va. State Police; :47]
[SUPER=@Scott1; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Homer Barrix/Truck Driver; 1:12--QUICK]
[SUPER=01-John Edwards/Truck Driver; 1:22--QUICK]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=sg, news-7]
[NATSOUND HORN HONKING AT 12 46 29]
((As they barrel down Interstate-81, truck drivers battle steep grades, car drivers that aren't paying attention and...other truckers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10 40 56]
[IN Q=the worst]
((FRANK MAJOR/TRUCK DRIVER: THE WORST ENEMY OUT THERE IS ANOHTER TRUCKER. THERE'S A LOT OF ROAD RAGE.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=ROAD RAGE]

Frank Major has been trucking for 24-years and says so many of his colleagues spend so much time gabbing on the radio, it's hard to hear important information-- like: is there an accident on the road ahead?
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10 50 28]
[IN Q=when you're]
((FRANK MAJOR: WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, 80-THOUSAND POUND LOAD, AND SOMETHING IS BREAKING DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU AND NO ONE IS COMMUNICATING WHAT'S GOING ON, IT MAKES IT DANGEROUS.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=DANGEROUS]
[SOME QUICK NAT SOUND HERE OF CARS ON THE ROAD]
Another danger is I-81's steep grades, which make it even harder for big rigs to slow down.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12 29 12]
[IN Q=if the driver's not]
((SGT. VERN JONES: IF THE DRIVER'S NOT AWARE, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT GEAR HE'S IN AND THEN TRYING TO DISSIPATE HIS SPEED BY GETTING ON HIS BRAKES, THEY'LL OVERHEAT AND FAIL.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=AND FAIL]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13 24 41]
[IN Q=it's much]
((SCOTT GOLDBERG/REPORTER: IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR A FOUR-WHEEL CAR TO HIT THE BREAKS THAN AN 18-WHEEL TRUCK, WHICH, DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOUR, NEEDS THE LENGTH OF THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS TO COME TO A STOP.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=(sound of car whizzing by)]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 03 16]
[IN Q=traffic is]
((HOMER BARRIX/TRUCK DRIVER: TRAFFIC'S GETTING THICKER AND THICKER AND PEOPLE JUST AREN'T BEING COURTEOUS.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=being courteous]

And truckers find themsleves hitting the brakes more and more often...and they blame people driving four-wheelers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 20 20]
[IN Q=i've seen]
((JOHN EDWARDS/TRUCK DRIVER: I'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE USING CELLULAR PHONES, READING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES...)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=MAGAZINES]
[SHOT OF GUY ON CELL PHONE]
People not watching the road are accidents waiting to happen.
Add them to the other obstacles on I-81, and you get a highway that's turining into a danger zone.
Scott Goldberg, News-7.))

[DinerOpen]

[ANCHOR=Denise 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Diner Open]
(Toss to Andrew for Weekend Diner)
[ANCHOR=Andrew 2-Shot]

Apple season is in full swing, so we're headed back to Johnson's Orchards.
[ANCHOR=Andrew Full]
[GRAPHIC=Weekend Diner]
Nancy Johnson lets us in on a trade secret for this week's weekend diner-- We're cooking apple butter.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=animation]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=stop animation]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[Butter-Diner]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=afr]
[TAPE#=Wknd Diner TC 1:03:24]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT WKND DINER2 1:03:24 ]
[IN Q=Today we've]
[RUNS=2:54]
[OUT Q=Weekend diner]
(( Today we've dusted off the old crockpots and we're going to make apple butter in the crockpot. OKAY SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR QUARTS HERE? So we're putting in about two quarts. TWO QUARTS. We've got about eight cups of applesauce. TELL ME WHEN YOU WANT ME TO STOP. IS THAT ENOUGH? Yeah. Let's just put it all in there. And to that we're going to add one cup of fresh cider. OKAY, HERE WE GO. And we're going to add two cups of sugar and that's the pretty relative thing about taste--a lot of people, some people say you can add about twice that much but that kind of makes it sweet. WHILE I'M DOING THIS WHY DON'T YOU START STIRRING IT UP FOR US. Okay. And also I've measured out for you two teaspoons of ground cinnamon and one teaspoon of ground cloves. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT ALMOST SMELLS LIKE APPLE BUTTER ALREADY. And we're just going to put this all in here and stir it up really really well. Set the crock pot on low and just go away and forget about it. Go off to work. Come home and find the house smelling wonderful. And while we're waiting, my apple butter jar was empty but there's something neat to do with that. OKAY. YOU GUYS ARE COMING UP WITH ALL SORTS OF IDEAS AND THINGS TO DO WITH APPLES HERE. TELL US ABOUT THIS IDEA YOU'VE GOT. Well, when your apple butter jar is just about empty, you have a little bit in it, you would make an apple butter milkshake. We'll just pour a little milk in here, put the top back on the jar, shake it up really really good and we're going to have us an apple butter milkshake. VERY COOL. WHAT A NEAT IDEA. It's really really good for you. Okay try that. VERY NICE. ON A SUMMER'S DAY NOTHING QUITE HITS THE SPOT. THAT'S VERY GOOD. COOL IDEA. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEED UP TIME HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE APPLE BUTTER TO BE FINISHED. Now we'll see what the finished product looks like. Now I think it looks wonderful and I just wish everybody could smell this. Now I'm going to take up some for you. Now if the consistency is too thin after it's spent the time on the crockpot on low what you want to do is take the top and turn it up on high for an hour or so. JUST TO GET SOME OF THAT WATER TO EVAPORATE OFF. But I think the consistency is good on that right there. YEAH, THIS IS ACTUALLY AND IT'S COOLING OFF QUITE GOOD. And you can use apple butter, everybody knows you can put it on biscuits and toast and bagels. I particularly like it with cream cheese on toast. But may favorite lunch is to get a big bowl of non-fat plain yogurt and put a dollup of apple butter on it and a banana. That's really good. A GREAT IDEA. THIS IS REALLY GOOD. Or you could just eat it with a spoon out of a bowl as you seem to be enjoying it. GREAT. HEY, NANCY THANKS AGAIN. APPLE BUTTER. You're absolutely welcome. AND YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER IDEAS THAT WE'LL PUT ON THE RECIPE IF ANYBODY WRITES IN FOR THE RECIPE. Whatever. We're full of ideas here at Johnson's Orchards. JOHNSON'S ORCHARDS, BEDFORD COUNTY. AND THAT'S NANCY JOHNSON. SHE WAS ON THE WEEKEND DINER.))
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[Dissolve to Chyron 7153]
If you drop in a self-addressed, stamped envelope, we'll send you this recipe.
You can see the address there on the screen. You can also check out our web site under the weekend mornings section.
And, don't forget if you'd like to cook your family recipe on the weekend diner, send in a note with your recipe, name, address and phone number.
(----------------)

[HEADLINES]
[ANCHOR=Denise 2 shot]
[Music Under]
Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]

A state of emergency has been declared in Florida, in the wake of Hurricane Georges.
After leaving more than three hundred dead in the Caribbean, no one was seriously injured when Georges plowed through Southern Florida yesterday.
Georges now has his sights set on the Eastern Gulf Coast.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Denise]

A car smashed into a Domino's Pizza restarurant in Roanoke last night, leaving two people injured.
Witnesses say a woman was drove into the building on Peters Creek Road, and then fled the scene.
Police are still investigating.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Denise]

A reduced sentence for a former Sweetbriar College student accused of shaving the pubic area of a Washington and Lee student.
19- year- old Jessica Saveall will serve seven days in jail and 80 hours of community service.
That's after Saveall appealed a sentence of 60 days in jail.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise **FULL**]

And that's what's making news on this Saturday September 26.
We'll be right back.

[COMM#4]

[2-Hurricane-Georges]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Georges]

Residents who evacuated their homes before the arrival of hurricane Georges are expected back today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Key West, FL;]

When they return many of them will find flooded out roads and buildings blown apart by a fierce storm.
Many people are without electricity and tap water and trees are down everywhere.
But luckily no one has died.
President Clinton has declared a state of emergency and is authorizing federal assistance. He may go to South Florida early next week.
(------------)

[11-Lexington-Alcohol]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-65 14:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lexington is lifting a law that has been on the books for years. Blue laws may be a thing of the past for many people, but Lexington's law banning beer and wine sales Sunday mornings, remained on the books until now.
Stacey Martin has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Isaac Lewis, like most adults]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :01]
[SUPER=07-Isaac Lewis; :11]
[SUPER=07-Chad Reynolds; :21]
[SUPER=01-Jim Gianniny/Lexington City Council; :48]
[SUPER=01-Rev. LaVert Taylor/Lexington City Council; 1:06]
[SUPER=@Stacey1; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=SM, News 7, Lexington.]
((Isaac Lewis, like a lot of adults, enjoys a good beer on occasion.
But, unlike some other residents, he draws the line Sunday mornings.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.05.51 - 18.06.03]
[IN Q=After church--yes]
((ISAAC LEWIS:AFTER CHURCH--YES 12 O'CLOCK IS FINE. I THINK. What do you think about the new ordinance to repeal it then? I KIND OF DISAGREE WITH IT. IT'S CONTROVERSIAL AS I SAID BEFORE.)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=as I said before.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.14.42 - 18.14.51]
[IN Q=That's sort of an old notion]
((CHAD REYNOLDS: THAT'S SORT OF AN OLD NOTION. I RESPECT IT, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW BEER WOULD DETRACT FROM WHAT'S SACRED AND WHAT'S NOT.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=and what's not.]

For Christians, Sunday is the Lord's Day and local legislators once served to protect it-- by passing Blue Laws, that in part banned the sell of beer or wine Sundays from 6 a-m to 12 noon.
But, at least one councilmember says times have changed --socially and legally.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17.36.17 - 17.36.30]
[IN Q=Our feeling was that]
((JIM GIANNINY/CITY COUNCILMEMBER: OUR FEELING WAS THAT IS WAS LEGISLATING RELIGION AND TODAY WITH THE CHANGES AND INTERPRETATIONS WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SUPREME COURT, THAT THAT WAS NOT THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=of city government.]

The only opposition on council came from a member with a --vested interest.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16.39.53 - 16.40.02]
[IN Q=I'm of the opinion]
((REVEREND LAVERT TAYLOR: I'M OF THE OPINION THAT IF ONE NEEDS A BUD LIGHT WITH THEIR CEREAL IN THE MORING THAT THAT SPEAKS TO A FAR GREATER PROBLEM.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=far greater problem.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.45.25 - 18.45.35]
[IN Q=Resident will feel]
((STACEY MARTIN/REPORTING:RESIDENTS WILL FEEL THE EFFECT OF THE NEW LAW THIS COMING SUNDAY MORNING WHEN SHELVED STOCKED WITH WINE OR BEER ARE NO LONGER OFF LIMITS TO SHOPPERS. STACEY MARTIN, NEWS 7, LEXINGTON.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=SM, News 7, Lexington.]))

[11-Missing-Student]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-59 57:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities are still looking for a missing Virginia Tech student.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

24- year old Robert Leroy Kovack was last seen a week ago leaving his Blacksburg apartment.
Police believe Kovack was en route to West Virginia for a football game.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

His abandoned Geo Tracker was located Tuesday along Route 19 near Oak Hill, West Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've ]
((SGT. DONNIE GOODMAN/BLACKSBURG POLICE:WE'VE YOU KNOW FOLLOWED UP EVERY LEAD THAT HAS COME IN TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WE HAVEN'T RULED OUT ANYTHING. ))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Donnie Goodman/Blacksburg Police Dept.; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=out anything.]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[SS=none]

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blacksburg police and you may remain anonymous.

[Tech-Building]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-56 50:32]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

It would be easy to overlook Virginia Tech's newest academic building.
The 42- thousand square foot structure was built completely underground.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

Burchard Hall provides much-needed space for the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.
It's named in honor of the former Charles Burchard, founding dean of the College of Architecture and Urban studies.

Colleagues say Burchard was fond of saying the ideal place to teach architecture would be an empty box, with high ceilings and lots of light...
Which is a good way to describe the campus' newest building.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are]
((HENRY SHRIVER/ARCHITECT:THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS BUILT TODAY BELOW GRADE AND ACTUALLY IN HISTORY THERE HAS BEEN BUT THEY'RE REALLY THE RESULT OF AN URBANIZATION AND NOW WE SEE IT ON A CAMPUS LEVEL. ))
[SUPER=01-Henry Shriver/Architect; :00]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=campus level.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The upper portion of the building is also unusual.
That's where you'll find four pyramid shaped skylights which illuminate a large studio below.
The top of the building is also a popular place for students and faculty to congregate.
(----------------)

[Hot-Air-Balloon]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Saturday AM]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]

Riding in a hot air balloon is a childhood fantasy that many of us never outgrow.
You might have noticed the colorful balloons at state fairs or other events.
Or maybe, just looking up at the sky in Franklin county.
In this week's "Time Off", Kimberly McBroom takes us "UP, UP AND AWAY" with the Gorgeous Darlin' Balloon Team.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the view]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Tommy Alouf/Gorgeous Darlin' Balloon Team;]
[SUPER=@Kimberly2;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=KM, News 7, Franklin County.]

THIS is the view seldom seen by most of us--
On a clear day, riders in a hot air balloon can see for miles.
And while they're at the mercy of the winds, passengers are usually at ease as they float across the sky.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:19:01 *B-roll some of this if you like]
((TOMMY ALOUF/GORGEOUS DARLIN' BALLOON TEAM: MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE APPREHENSIVE ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. I COULD GET UP ON THAT LITTLE ROOF AND BE SCARED TO DEATH. BUT WHEN PEOPLE GET IN THE BALLOON, IT'S JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT SENSATION. IT'S JUST A NICE, EASY LIFTOFF AND A NICE, EASY LANDING. YOU JUST REALLY DON'T NOTICE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU LOOK DOWN AND YOU'RE A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR OR A THOUSAND FEET. PEOPLE JUST DON'T NOTICE BEING AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.))
[RUNS=:22]

Tommy Alouf is a U-S Air pilot.
He and his wife, Laurie along with partners Steve and Misty Sprague created the Gorgeous Darlin' Balloon Team about two years ago.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:20:29]
((TOMMY ALOUF/GORGEOUS DARLIN' BALLOON TEAM: THIS IS A HOBBY. WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE A JOB OR A LIVING OUT OF THIS. WE ENJOY THE HOBBY. WE DO A LOT OF BALLOON RACING, KIND OF AN OXYMORON-- WE GO TO A LOT OF RACES, RALLIES, AND EVENTS AND WHEN WE TAKE PEOPLE UP FOR RIDES. WE ENJOY SHARING THAT WITH THEM AND IT ALSO HELPS OFFSET SOME OF OUR COSTS SO WE CAN ENJOY FLYING THE BALLOON.))
[RUNS=:21]

Although it's a hobby, it takes a lot of flight knowledge AND elbow grease to get the giant balloon in the air.
The balloon crew connects a series of cables, which hold everything together.
And of course, INFLATING the balloon also takes a team effort.
Once everything is checked, the pilot can bring along four people to ride in the basket or, gondola.
And, away they go--
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:19:57]
((TOMMY ALOUF/GORGEOUS DARLIN' BALLOON TEAM: EARLY MORNING TRIPS WILL BE JUST SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE AND WE DO A LITTLE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST FOR THE FOLKS. AFTER THE RIDE, WE DO A CHAMPAGNE TOAST, FIRST RIDE CERTIFICATES AND THAT KIND OF THING.))
[RUNS=:14]

Morning rides cost 150 dollars per person-- evening excursions, 175 dollars a person.
The team also VOLUNTEERS its special skills for the community, by teaching school children about ballooning and helping out with the annual Toys for Tots Campaign.
For them, it's all about sharing their love of flying and adventure.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:22:02]
((TOMMY ALOUF/GORGEOUS DARLIN' BALLOON TEAM: I CAN GET AWAY FROM IT ALL AND NEVER LEAVE FRANKLIN COUNTY.))
[RUNS=:03]

But he DOES leave the ground.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7, Franklin County.

[Race-Tax]

[ANCHOR=dENISE]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-51 2:01:24]
[GRAPHIC=Martinsville Speedway]

Martinvsille Speedway is the place to be this weekend if you're a NASCAR fan.
Tickets at the gate for Sunday's big race will cost you 30-bucks.
But in the future, speedway visitors may have to shell out a few extra dollars to support Henry County.
Christy Hubley tells us why.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=(NATS of racing)]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sid Clower/Henry Co. Administrator; :18]
[SUPER=01-Tim Fielder/Lynch Station, VA; :45]
[SUPER=01-Brian Glass/Ashland, KY; (quick) :50]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Stephenson/Harrisburg, PA; :57]
[SUPER=@Christy2; :]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville.]
(([NATS (of race cars)]
[RUNS=:03]

Blurred Fords and Chevys roar around the 1/2 mile track.
Race weekends at the Martinsville Speedway draw thousands of fans.
Before long, speedway visitors could become a new source of cash to boost Henry County's dwindling revenues.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:17:25-:39]
[IN Q=The source of our]
((SID CLOWER/HENRY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: THE SOURCE OF OUR PROBLEM DEALS WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE DUPONT PLANT. THE COUNTY WILL LOSE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND ONE-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=dollars in tax revenue.]

Sid Clower hopes the county can make up most of that lost money with a meals tax.
But a tax on speedway tickets might help raise the rest.
As it's proposed, spectators would pay an extra two-to-three dollars per ticket.
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[SOT 37:15-:20]
[IN Q=I wouldn't want to ]
((TIM FIELDER/LYNCH STATION, VA: I WOULDN'T WANT TO PAY ANY. IF YOU HAD TO DO IT, IT WOULDN'T STOP ME FROM COMING TO THE RACE.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=coming to the race.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 38:27-:30]
[IN Q=They cost enough]
((BRIAN GLASS/ASHLAND, KY: THEY COST ENOUGH THE WAY THEY ARE.)) [RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=way they are.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 40:39-:50]
[IN Q=If it was a 2-3 dollar]
((REPORTER: IF IT WAS A 2-3 DOLLAR TAX WOULD YOU STILL PAY? ARE YOU A BIG ENOUGH RACE FAN? SANDY STEPHENSON/HARRISBURG, PA: YEAH, PROBABLY, SURE. I MEAN THE TRACKS RAISE THE PRICE EVERY YEAR SO IT'D JUST BE ANOTHER ONE ON TOP OF THAT.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=on top of that.]

If Henry County decides to pursue a speedway admissions tax, it will need approval from Virginia's General Assembly.

Race fans shouldn't expect to see a tax until at least the year 2000.
Christy Hubley, News 7, Martinsville.))
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[Did-You-See-That]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Did you see that 5:01]
[GRAPHIC=Did you see that?]

Did you see that? A huge replacement turbine made its
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Last Night;]

way down 220 south through Franklin County on its way to the dam at Smith Mountain Lake. Because of its size it was escorted by 6 police cars.
Although it did back up traffic, State Police say they moved it late at night to create as little inconvienance as possible. (------------) The turbine was built in Pennsylvania and it will be used to generate power at the dam.