[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Georges is now a tropical depression but continues to pound the Gulf Coast with heavy rain and tornados.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And You may want to hold off a bit before taking out a mortgage or a car loan.
The Fed is expected to cut interest rates at today.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
(ad lib)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Noon-open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[SUPER=@Patrick1; ]
[GEORGES]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Georges Aftermath]
Flood Warnings and watches remain in effect in coastal areas of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle as the remnants of Tropical Storm Georges dump more rain.
Meanwhile the storm spawned three tornadoes this morning in southern Alabama, leaving some damage but no injuries.
Drew Levinson has the latest on storm damage.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[11:30UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=Hurricane Georges]
[SUPER=03-Biloxi, MS; :00]
[SUPER=01-C. T. Switzer/Harrison Co. Board of Supervisors;]
[SUPER=03-Mobile, AL;]
[SUPER=01-Jay van Hook/Mobile Emergency Managment Agency;]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q= ]
((HURRICANE GEORGES IS JUST A SHADOW OF THE MONSTER STORM THAT HE ONCE
WAS. DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORM GEORGES IS CREEPING ALONG AT ABOUT
EIGHT MILES AN HOUR..DUMPING A LOT OF RAIN ON ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
(SOT/C.T. SWITZER/HARRISON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS)
OUR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS STARTING OUR RECOVERY PERIOD. WE ARE
ORGANIZING OUR LOGISTICS TO BRING IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM FROM
FEMA AND MEMA WHICH IS OUR MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY AGENCY..THEY HAVE BEEN
STANDING BY, NOW THAT THE WINDS HAVE DIED DOWN THEY WILL BE MOVING IN TO
START THEIR RECOVERY EFFORT.
BILOXI WAS HIT HARDEST BY GEORGES. BLASTED BY WINDS OF UP TO 105 MILES
AN HOUR..TREES AND POWER LINES WERE KNOCKED DOWN CUTTING POWER TO
THOUSANDS.
(LOCATOR: MOBILE, AL)
HIGH WINDS FORCED MOBILE BAY OVER THE EDGE FLOODING THE DOWNTOWN AREA
TURNING ROADS INTO RIVERS. MANY CARS SAT IN ROOF HIGH WATER.
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DECIDED TO STAY COULD ONLY WATCH AS THE WATER ROSE.
NOW THAT GEORGES IS GONE IT'S TIME TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE.
(SOT/JAY VAN HOOK/DIR. MOBILE EMERGENCY MGMT. AGENCY)
THE FEDERAL, LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS WILL ALL GET TOGETHER AND WE
WILL GO OUT AND DO A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND GET ADDITIONAL FEMA HELP IN
HERE.
PRESIDENT CLINTON DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN SEVERAL COUNTIES IN
ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. BECAUSE GEORGES IS MOVING SO SLOWLY FORECASTERS
PREDICT THAT SOME PARTS OF ALABAMA COULD GET UP TO 30 INCHES OF RAIN
BEFORE IT EVAPORATES.))
[INTEREST-RATES]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Non]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Interest Rates]
Will they or won't they?
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[10:14:42]
Federal Reserve chairman is on Capitol Hill today where the Fed is expected to announce its first interest rate cut since January 19-96.
The announcement is expected at about Two P-M.
If rates are reduced more money will be available for Foreign nations
and businesses to borrow to help their failing economies.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[10:13:47]
[IN Q=]
((CHIEF ECONOMIST GAIL FOSLER, THE CONFERENCE BOARD
"THE FED ALMOST HAS TO CUT INTEREST RATES IN ORDER TO
JUSTIFY THE MARKET LEVELS AT THE PRESENT TIME. ))
[SUPER=01-Gail Fosler/Economist;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=at the present time.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York;]
[10:13:47]
Ahead of that comes word of the biggest drop in consumer confidence since January.
The Conference Board says it fell for the third straight month in September, as Americans fear the economy will slow.
(----------------)
[Truck-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-53 TC1:28:39]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
An accident in southeast Roanoke cut a gas line and closed a road for about 40 minutes this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
It happened about 11:15.
A dump truck came around a corner at the intersection of Primose and Riverland Road and ran into a gas valve.
The road had to be closed while they controlled the gas leak.
No one was hurt.
(------------)
[Protest-Suit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-60]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]
A Lynchburg man who was arrested for picketing outside the local Y-M-C-A has settled his dispute with the city.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]
Bill Connelly was arrested in September of last year for protesting perceived anti- gay policies at the Y-M-C-A.
Connelly had a permit but was still picketing after the time limit expired.
Police arrested him, but the charges were later dropped when city attorney Walter Erwin decided a lone protestor did "not" need a permit.
The A-C-L-U threatened to sue Lynchburg on Connelly's behalf, but a settlement was reached.
Terms were not disclosed.
(----------------)
[Bomb-Threat]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threat]
A 15- year- old Bedford County student has been charged with phoning in a bomb threat to his school yesterday.
Sheriff's authorities say the threat was called in to Staunton River High School around 1 p-m yesterday.
A short investigation revealed the call was placed by a student who had been suspended from school for other reasons.
Threatening to bomb is a Class 5 felony which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
[Elizabeth-Campus]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=netH]
[GRAPHIC=Salem City Seal]
Salem City Council has endorsed the idea of developing the Elizabeth Campus, a site many residents say should be left as it is.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
The city planning commission has recommended mixed-use development for the 52 acres near the Salem Civic Center.
That would include light, high-tech industry.
But dozens of people told council last night that using this place to raise tax revenue would lower their quality of life.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Once it's developed]
((VALERIE MANN: ONCE IT'S DEVELOPED YOU CAN'T KNOCK DOWN BUILDINGS AND PLANT TREES AND GRASS AND ENJOY IT. I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT OTHER SITES THAT CAN BE REFURBISHED AND RENEWED AND KEEP THIS AS GREEN SPACES THERE.))
[SUPER=07-Valerie Mann]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=spaces there.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Council asked the planning commission to draw up a master plan for the site, which would include commercial development.
They said the city needs to build its tax base, as well as preserve treasured views.
(------------)
[GE-Layoffs]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=98-]
[GRAPHIC=General Electric]
A hundred G-E employees are looking for new jobs this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
Yesterday, G-E laid off the salaried workers to boost the company's bottom line.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 31 22]
[IN Q=I ... I]
((MARSHA ROBINSON: I...I...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN GE'S A GOOD COMPANY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BUSINESS.))
[SUPER=01-Marsha Robinson/Laid-Off Worker; ]
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=of business]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The laid-off workers will get severance pay and benefits for a year, as well as help finding new jobs.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
This round of layoffs brings the year's total to 345 people, 20-percent of the Salem workforce.
[S-Wilderness-Academy]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-63; 49:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
State education officials are considering the fate of the Wilderness Leadership Academy.
Yesterday, they heard evidence dealing with the troubled Botetourt County school.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Colonel Gene Nervo declined to discuss the allegations against his school.
He also insisted reporters be banned from the hearing on allegations of student violence, staff negligence, and boys who say they were sexually assaulted by each other.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:06:38]
[IN Q=We are]
((ROBERT WHYTAL/STATE HEARING EXAMINER: WE ARE JUST HEARING EVIDENCE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO COMMENT FURTHER ABOUT THAT. And so you would then make a recommendation? THAT IS CORRECT. And who does that recommendation go to? THAT RECOMMENDATION WOULD GO TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Whytal/State Hearing Examiner;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=Public Instruction.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./File Tape;]
If the state superintendent decides NOT to renew the Wilderness Leadership Academy's license, state officials say that will be a first in Virginia.
(-------0---------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Will the Supreme Court spare Tommy David Strickler from the death sentence?
That story is still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Danville kids get a lesson in bike safety before so they don't have to learn it the hard way.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[CLINTON-ARAFAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Mideast Peace]
Yasser Arafat has agreed to an Israeli proposal that will give the Palestians 13 percent more of the West Bank.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
The proposal was announced today after Arafat meet with President Clinton for a second day.
Three percent of the land that Israel yields back would be turned into a nature preserve -- under the
oversight of Israel and the Palestinians.]
Arafat and President also discussed Arafat's plans to crack down on terrorism.
Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu could be back in Washington next month for a mideast peace summit.
(----------------)
[E-Strickler]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=98-69;5:28]
[GRAPHIC=Tommy David Strickler]
There's still no word on Tommy David Strickler's appeal to the U-S Supreme Court.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Strickler was scheduled to die September 16th for the 1990 murder of Roanoke native Le-ann Whitlock.
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./File Tape]
But the Supreme Court delayed his execution to decide whether he received a fair trial.
The case was scheduled for conference yesterday.
A ruling could be issued today.
(------------)
[S-Appomattox-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-56 52:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A man from Lynchburg will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars-- for his part in a murder in Appomattox County.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/File Tape]
20-year old Trevor Jones was given two life terms plus 35 years for the murder of Lisa Yvonne Crider in May, 1997.
Jones and his accomplice.. Brandon Wayne Hedrick kidnapped, robbed and sodomized Crider.. then shot her in the head and dumped her body in the James River.
Jones told a jury that Hedrick was the one who fired the fatal shot.. Hedrick got the death penalty.
Prosecutor Tommy Lawson says both sentences were "proper".
(----------------)
[Missing-Student]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#NetQ]
[GRAPHIC=None]
24- year old Robert Kovack disappeared more than a week ago.
The search continues today in West Virginia.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fayette Co., WV/Yesterday;]
On Monday, authorities concentrated their efforts on Fayette County, West Virginia.
They were especially interested in combing the area around the New River Gorge Bridge.
That's the general area where Kovack's red geo tracker was discovered last week.
Kovack's friends told police the 24- year old left his Blacksburg apartment on Friday, September 18th, en route to West Virginia to attend a college football game.
His car was discovered four days later.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We found]
((BRAD MANKINS/WV STATE TROOPER:HE'S YOUR AVERAGE 24- YEAR OLD KID, EVERYONE WE'VE SPOKE TO, SPOKE HIGHLY OF HI, EVERYONE SAYS HE'S BEEN IN GOOD SPIRITS, HAS NO IDEA WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO HIM. ))
[SUPER=01-Brad Mankins/WV State Trooper; :00]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=happened to him.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities say they found no evidence that a struggle took place inside Kovack's vehicle or around it.
At this point, they suspect he MAY have left his car and gotten into someone's else's vehicle.
(----------------)
[S-Bike-Rodeo]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=98-62; 33:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The 12-year old boy hit by a car last week in Danville remains in critical condition.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Tuesday;]
Antone (AN-TWAN) Green was riding his bike near Gibson Middle School when the accident happened.
He was flown to Duke University Medical Center with serious head injuries.
[SUPER=03-Danville/Yesterday;]
That accident is a vivid example why it's so important to teach bicycle safety to kids.
At Schoolfield Elementary in Danville yesterday afternoon, 130-students took part in a bike rodeo.
With helmets on, the children practiced their riding skills.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:02:39-:54]
[IN Q=The bicycles are considered]
((STEVE ANDERSON/DANVILLE POLICE: THE BICYCLES ARE CONSIDERED VEHICLES LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WE MUST TEACH THEM AND PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND SUPPORT THAT AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS OF COURSE PUTTING THE HELMETS ON.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Anderson/Danville Police;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=putting the helmets on.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A local State Farm Insurance agency has sponsored this bike rodeo for the last three years.
(----------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The Clinton administration is planning to expand a controversial treatment for heroin addiction.
That story is up next on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And they're trying to set a world record by playing 100 concerts in 50 days-- last night they made a stop in Roanoke.
More on the band Jackyl when the news continues.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[METHADONE]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Drug Addiction]
Methadone has been used for three decades to help addicts kick the heroin habit.
The Clinton administration today plans to unveil a plan to make the drug more widely available to drug addicts.
Under the plan doctors would be allowed to give methadone at their offices rather than sending addicts to special clinics.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[11:05:52-11:06:04]
[IN Q=]
((BARRY MCCAFFREY/DRUG CZAR: HEROIN ADDICTION:HERROIN ADDICTION....T APPEARS TO BE THE SINGLE MOST AFFECTIVE TREATMENT WE CAN BRING TO BEAR. ))
[SUPER=01-Barry McCaffrey;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=we can bring to bear.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
But opponents, like New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, say it simply substitutes one drug for another.
More than 100-thousand Americans are currently getting methadone.
(----------------)
[5-Cleft-Palate]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=NetP]
[GRAPHIC=Cleft Palate]
Patients of Roanoke Plastic Surgeon Enrique Silberblatt are sad to see him go, but he's not gone for good.
His committment to a specialty clinic that serves children with cleft lips and palates has him dividing his career between an aesetic surgery center in Tampa Bay and volunteering his time to children's services in Roanoke.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Many of Docotr Silberblatt's Roanoke patients are flying to Tampa Bay for sugery.
Doctor Silberblatt says it's actually cheaper in the long run.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ub 22 34 56]
[IN Q=We can put]
((ENRIQUE SILBERBLATT/PLASTIC SURGEON: THE ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE IS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE SO THAT MANY OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PLASTIC SURGERY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE DOWN THERE THAN THEY ARE UP HERE TO THE POINNT THAT FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE TRAVEL AND THE LODGING IS EVEN LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HAVING IT DONE UP HERE BECAUSE OF THE MORE COMPETITIVE RATES THEY HAVE FOR ANESTHESIA AND OPERATING ROOMS.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Enrique Silberblatt/Plastic Surgeon;]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=operating rooms]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Virginia Department of Health program and volunteer physicians work with 170 patients from birth to 21.
(-------------)
[Record-Concert]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=NetI]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke Concert could become part of the Guiness Book of World Records.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The rock band Jackyl performed for more than a thousand people last night.
The band is trying to set a record by playing 100 concerts in 50-days.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We got a new]
((JESSIE JAMES DUPREE/JACKYL'S LEAD SINGER:WE GOT A NEW ALBUM THAT JUST CAME OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO CALLED CHOICE CUTS. AND WE THOUGHT WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE THE NEW ALBUM THAN TO CREATE AN EVENT ANE GO OUT AND SET A GUINESS WORLD RECORD OF 100 CONCERTS IN 50 DAYS))
[SUPER=01-Jessie James Dupree/Jackyl Lead Singer]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=in 50 days]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Roanoke was the 30-th stop for the group.
They're scheduled to play in Richmond and Petersburg today.
(------------)
[MLB]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-25 tc 1:07:50- Sosa @07:07:16]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
It was sudden death in the National League last night, as the Giants and the Cubbies met up in a one-game playoff for the N-L's Wild Card spot.
The Cubs Steve Trachsel(TRAK-sul), who is perhaps best known for giving up number 62 to Mark McGwire, didn't allow the Giants a hit until the seventh inning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL/ESPN;]
The Giants used good defense to keep the game close.
Stan Javier makes the catch in the ivy.
But in the bottom of the fifth, Gary Gaetti smacks a homer over the left field wall.
Then in the sixth, Sammy Sosa and Lance Johnson score to put Chicago up 4- nothing and the Cubs go on to beat the Giants 5 to 3. Chicago will play at Atlanta tonight.
(------------)
[wipe wipe wipe][NFL]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-15 tc 1:25:06]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
Monday Night Football moved on to Detroit this week.
It was the Lions playing host to the Buccaneers, who provided some heart-stopping moments.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pontiac, MI;]
Tampa Bay's Brice Hunter goes up for the catch and is smashed by a duo of Lions.
Hunter lay motionless for several minutes. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
The previously oh- and- three Lions converted on turnovers. Here, Bryant
[SUPER=36-Detroit/27/Tampa Bay/6/;]
Westbrook makes the interception and returns it 34 yards for the score. Detriot gets win number one on the season 27 to 6.
(------------)[Express]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=cwh]
[TAPE#=SP-14 tc 47:22]
[GRAPHIC=express]
The Roanoke Express starts training camp this weekend, and the team will be without one of its veteran players.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Season; :00]
The ECHL's Wheeling Nailers announced the signing of the 22-year old Jeff Loder.
Loder played briefly in the AHL and IHL, but spent the last two seasons with the Express. Last season he collected 42 points on 16 goals and 26 assists.
(------------)
[MCGWIRE-gas]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=NEK]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Noon]
Many say Mark McGwire made people feel good about baseball again.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO;]
[7:11:49]
In St. Louis he also made it cheaper to fill up your gas tanks.
After Mark McGwire hit his 70th homer a gas station owner slashed his prices to 70 cents a gallon.
But you had to act fast, the deal was good for just three hours.
(----------------)
Other gas stations around the country sliced prices in honor of McGwire's record runs.
by SS