WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 10/20/98

[Hospital-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#98-59 TC1:35:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's been a slow recovery but Carillion Roanoke Community Hospital is getting back to normal.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Kimberly/Microwave]

Kimberly McBroom joins us now from outside the hospital.
Kim how are things progressing.
[Live=Kimberly Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:Their regular areas.)
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[SOT]
[IN Q=this is the]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=01-Cindy Hodges/Medical-Surgical Units;]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=at seven AM tomorrow]

[Live=Kimberly Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Melanie and Kimberly/Microwave]
(Question: Besides patients, are some employees being transferred today also?)

[Worch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

One of the Tech fraternity members accused of holding an exotic dancer against her will is facing a new charge.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/October 5;]

Virginia Tech police this morning charged 20 year old Ryan Worch with grand larceny in connection with last month's incident at the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.
An exotic dancer told police Worch and several other fraternity members refused to let her and her boyfriend leave the fraternity unless she agreed to perform a strip tease.
Police say Michelle Russell was paid 325-dollars to perform in lingerie.
The young woman's boyfriend says Ryan Worch took the money from his pocket after Russell refused to strip.
Worch was taken before a magistrate this morning.
(------------)

[Reyes-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=98-38 TC1:04:41]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]

A federal judge has thown out a lawsuit over Lynchburg's parade ordinance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

John Reyes was one of three people protestors charged with violating the parade ordinance during an anti-abortion demonstration at E-C Glass high school last November.
None of the men arrested were ever convicted and city officials repealed the parade permit ordinance in March.
Reyes was convicted of trespassing but also sued the city.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

U-S district judge Norman Moon ruled that since Reyes was not prevented from protesting and was never convicted under the parade ordinance, his claim for damages was not valid.

[NC-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An accident near Stoneville, North Carolina yesterday afternoon killed two Southside men.
Johnny Shelton of Martinsville and passenger Richard Merriman of Patrick Springs were killed when their tractor-trailer was hit by another.
The accident reportedly began when a car driven by David Gouge of Thomasville, North Carolina crossed the center line and hit a tractor-trailer.
That truck then hit Shelton's truck which ran through a guard rail and down an embankment.
David Gouge-- the driver of the car and also a V-M-I cadet-- is charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle.

[VA-Power]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you get your electricity from Virginia Power, you could be getting a more expensive bill.
The company has proposed a $55-million dollar hike in its fuel rate.
For the average customer, that means paying a dollar more each month.
The rate hike needs to be approved by the State Corporation Commission.
If it passes, it would take effect December first.

[Cellphone-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-55 TC1:47:37]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]

Botetourt County has settled a lawsuit with Ohio State Cellular by letting the phone company lease a spot on its new radio tower.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Officials plan to start building a new tower tomorrow -- right next to the one on Route 606.
Ohio State Cellular sued Botetourt County last June because county supervisors would not let the cell phone company build a tower.
Officials said the proposed tower would have been too high and too close to nearby homes.
But they have agreed to let Ohio State Cellular lease a spot on the county's new tower for a thousand dollars a month.
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[SOT 21:30:06]
[IN Q=We're very pleased]
((BUCK HEARTWELL/BOTETOURT CO. ATTORNEY: WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO GET TEH LAWSUIT SETTLED .... E911 OPERATION.))
[SUPER=01-Buck Heartwell/Botetourt Co. Attorney;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=E911 operation]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new tower will carry an E-9-1-1 system that connects all rescue personnel in the county.
(------------)

[TOBACCO-TRIAL]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire]

Big tobacco is making opening statements today in a landmark court case.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; ]
[4:32:36]
It's the first ever class- action lawsuit brought by SMOKERS against the TOBACCO INDUSTRY.
As many as half a million sick Florida smokers are seeking 200 billion dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[4:33:32-49]
[IN Q=]
((STANLEY ROSENBLATT, PLANTIFF'S ATTORNEY: THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAS SAID THIS PRODUCT KILLS OVER 400-THOUSAND AMERICANS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. ))
[SUPER=01-Stanley Rosenblatt/Plantiff's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=EVERY SINGLE YEAR.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Philip Morris, R-J Reynolds and Liggett Group are among the tobacco companies named in the lawsuit.
The cigarette makers contend smokers knew the health risks when they chose to light-up.
(----------------)

[TX-WX]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

Texas towns along the swollen Guadalupe River are bracing for more flooding.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Braunfels, TX;]

The River is expected to crest today southeast of San Antonio.
The River is normally 150 feet across.
Yesterday, it was three miles wide in some areas.
[SUPER=03-Seguin;]

The storms that began Saturday are blamed for at least 15 deaths.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'VE SEEN THE DAMAGE]
((I'VE SEEN THE DAMAGE FROM THE AIR AND NO FIRST HAND, OBVIOUSLY A DEVISTATING SITUATION, HELP IS ON ITS WAY. ))
[SUPER=01-Gov. George W. Bush/(R) Texas;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=Help is on its way.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed in about 60 counties.
Forecasters blame it all on two Pacific Hurricanes.
(----------------)

[budget]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Budget]

The House today is scheduled to vote on the 500- billion dollar federal spending package.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[4:04:53]
Last night lawmakers approved another stopgap measure to keep the government running until tomorrow.
That should give the Senate time to vote on the budget bill.
If both houses of Congress approve the spending package, President Clinton's signature will make it a done deal and the 105th Congress will be history.
(----------------)

[CLINTON-JONES]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Paula Jones]

Paula Jones will try again today to breathe new life into her sexual harassment case against President Clinton.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[10:07:24]
Her lawyers will be in a Minnesota court trying to reinstate the suit.

Attempts to reach an out of court settlement were still going on as of last night.
Meantime, President Clinton's former spokesman, Mike McCurry, is now sharing his personal feelings about the Lewinsky scandal.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[7:08:35-47]
[IN Q=]
(( MIKE MCCURRY:HE MISLED ME JUST LIKE...REGRET IT THAT HE MISLEAD SO MANY PEOPLE. ))
[SUPER=01-Mike McCurry/Former White House Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=SO MANY PEOPLE.]
(-------------)
[wipe/wipe/wipe]

[MIDEAST-SUMMIT]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=wipe/wipe/wipe]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC/Last Night;]
[7:01;45]
President Clinton canceled a fundraising trip and instead will be back at the Mideast Summit in Maryland later today.
The talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders have been extended at least one more day with the addition of Jordan's King Hussein.
[SUPER=03-Beersheba, Israel/Yesterday;]

Yesterday Israel said it would talk only about SECURITY after the grenade attack at an Israeli bus station that left 64 injured.
(----------------)

[Dead-Deer]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=vga]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries believes it knows what's causing the deaths of dozens of white-tailed deer statewide.
Wildlife biologists say they're suffering from Deer Hemorrhagic Disease -- a common infectious disease usually found this time of year. Similar outbreaks have been reported across the Southeast. Officials say the viral disease poses no threat to humans or domestic pets.

[E-Danville-Fall]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-65 29:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A fall from a three story building left a Danville salvage worker with serious injuries.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Juan (Con-treras) Contreras was on a clean-up job yesterday at an old Dan River Mills building on River Street.
He was dumping a wheelbarrow full of debris out of a window when something caught his arm.
Contreras fell out of the window to the ground below.
He broke his pelvis in several places and is hospitalized at the Duke Universtiy Medical Center.
(----------------)

[S-Roxane-Website]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-58 1:24:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It will be ten years before Standards of Learning tests determine which schools keep state accreditation.
But teachers can get help in implementing those standards now.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

First Lady Roxane Gilmore unveiled her new Commonwealth of Knowledge web site yesterday.
It's designed for teachers to share lesson plans and teaching hints for the three year old Standards of Learning.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:21:42]
[IN Q=Perhaps that's]
((ROXANE GILMORE/FIRST LADY OF VIRGINIA: PERHAPS THAT'S NOT THEIR AREA OF STRENGTH. OR THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY.
THE WAY THEY TRIED DIDN'T WORK. DID SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE ANOTHER IDEA FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT S-O-L? THEY CAN GO TO THIS SITE AND FIND WHAT OTHER TEACHERS HAVE FOUND SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM.))
[SUPER=01-Roxane Gilmore/First Lady of Virginia; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=the classroom.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The only problem?
The state's still NOT sure how many schools have access to the Internet.
(----------------)
[Take HOMEPAGE FULL]
If you have access at home, you can look at the new site. Just call up our own home page at WDBJ7-dot-COM. We have a link that takes you right there.
(-------------)

[E-Highlands-Grant]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-57 1:27:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More good news for the Alleghany Highlands.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Alleghany Co.;]

In Alleghany County yesterday, Congressman Bob Goodlatte and other federal officials gave local authorities a check for one million, 25-thousand dollars.
It's grant that goes to areas the government deems "economically distressed."
Former Governor George Allen, who was campaigning with Goodlatte yesterday, said Alleghany developers are working hard to pull the area out of its ecomonic hard times.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16 28 04]
[IN Q=the people]
((FORMER VA. GOVERNOR GEORGE ALLEN: THE PEOPLE HERE ARE CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE. THEY WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO GET LKM INDUSTRIES INTO THIS AREA.))
[SUPER=01-George Allen/Former Va. Governor;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=THIS AREA]
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[VO-NAT]

L-K-M is the Massachusetts company that announced last week it's moving to the Highlands.
They officially broke ground on that project today.
When it opens next spring, L-K-M plans to hire 125-people.
(------------)

[TYSON-REINSTATEMENT]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Mike Tyson]

Mike Tyson hit the jackpot yesterday in Las Vegas- and now he's heading back to the ring.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Las Vegas;]
[4:15:38]
The Nevada Athletic Commission granted Tyson a new boxing license in the state by a vote of 4 to 1.
It's been 15 months since Tyson lost his license for biting Evander Holyfield's ear during a title fight.
In yesterday's hearing, Tyson testified that he's made mistakes and begged for another chance.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( MIKE TYSON, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME, I'M NOT GOING TO BITE ANYBODY'S EARS, YOU SEE THAT I'M DEVASTATED FROM THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED. I'M AT YOUR GUY'S MERCY, PLEASE DON'T TORTURE ME ANY LONGER SIR. " ))
[SUPER=07-Mike Tyson;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=me any longer sir.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Holyfield says he holds no resentment toward Tyson and adds he's happy he has his license back.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=PATRICK]
[SS=MAGIC JOHNSON]

Tyson also announced yesterday that former L-A Lakers gaurd Magic Johnson will act as his new promoter, replacing the controversial Don King.

[NFL]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-15]
[GRAPHIC=JETS/PATRIOTS]

Patriots rookie Robert Edwards became the first player to rush for touchdowns in his first six games, but it wasn't enough for New England, as they lose to the Jets 24- 14.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Foxboro, MA/ABC; :00]

Bill Parcells and the Pats were on top early. Drew Bledsoe's T-D pass to Lovett Purnell put New England on top 14-to-7 in the second quarter.
But Vinny Testverde threw two short TD passes to his
[SUPER=30-N.Y. Jets/24/New England/14;]
main tight end Kyle Brady and another one to Dedric Ward, and New York wins it 24 to 14.
(------------)

[Tech]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-14]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FOOTBALL]

On to college action, where Virginia Tech is still paying for Saturday's loss to previously winless Temple.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Saturday; :00]

Before the big loss, the Hokies had a date for a nationally televised game with West Virginia on Halloween.
But now CBS has cut the game all together and will show the Georgia-Florida game nationwide.
The Hokies-West Virginia game will now be a noon kickoff on the Big East network.
That will likely cost Tech about 200- thousand dollars.
(------------)

[Becky]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Sp-25 tc 1:25:42]
[GRAPHIC=Golf]

There's a lone female on the links this week at the group Double-A state golf championship.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

Becky Poindexter is the only girl on the Martinsville Bulldogs' golf team.
But don't count her out- she's coming off a medal winning performance at regionals.
And she doesn't mind golfing with the guys.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Becky Poindexter/Martinsville Bulldogs Golfer;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=during the winter.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The William Byrd Terriers are looking for a repeat, but at the end of the first day the Terriers are sixth.
Martinsville is second behind Sherando. And Lord Botetourt is third.
William Byrd's coach says this is a challenging course.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The greens]
[SUPER=01-Tim Chocklett/William Byrd Golf Coach;:00]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=due to the weather]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=Hold]

At the Group-Three A state tournament in Chesapeake, Cave Spring is tied for first with host Great Bridge.
Patrick Henry's team is 8 shots back, in second place. Both tournaments wrap up today. The individual leader is Alam Pearce of GW Danville. He shot a 73 yesterday.