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[ANCHOR=Eric]
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[LIVE Microwave Full]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
It came later than expected... but the first winter storm of the year is spreading a layer of ice and snow across western Virginia.
The latest on area road conditions coming up.
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[ANCHOR=ERIC]
And we'll show you what the storm is doing to the rest of the nation...
[open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Eric1;]
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[Andrew]
[ANCHOR=Eric]
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[LIVE HARDWIRE]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
Traveling is getting treacherous across the News 7 viewing area as a mixed bag of precipitation covers the area.
A mix of sleet and freezing rain is falling throughout the region.
Parts of the region could see significant amounts of ice before the morning.
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[ANCHOR=Eric]
[GRAPHIC=WInter WX]
Andrew Freiden has been monitoring the situation. Andrew what should we expect from this storm.
[Road-Conditions]
[ANCHOR=Eric]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-1 7:16]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
Driving conditions started getting bad about an hour ago, and are steadily getting worse.
State police report a few accidents on Interstate 77 near Fancy Gap in Carroll County.
So far, no major tie-ups though.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
Most of the main roads and side streets throughout the region are slick and getting covered with ice.
Authorities are advising you to stay off the road tonight, unless it's an emergency.
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[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE]
In Roanoke, Valley Metro buses will be running on snow routes.
For the latest road conditions, you can call VDOT at 1-800-367-ROAD.
[NRV-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Eric]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE# 99-7 :55]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Wx]
In and around the New River Valley the precipitation is falling...
There a combination of sleet and freezing rain has been coming down since mid-afternoon.
[DOUBLE BOXES=TERESA/ERIC]
Teresa Hamilton joins us live from outside our New River Valley Newsroom in Blacksburg with an update on the situation.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Eric, the roads here are extremely slick-- even the primary roads like Interstate 81 and Route 460 are treacherous.
And-- it doesn't look like Old Man winter plans to let up anytime soon.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=The mix]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]
[RUNS=:20 approx.]
[OUT Q=cover the roads.]
(( The mix of freezing rain and sleet began coming down in the New River Valley around 3- this afternoon...
Causing windshields to freeze and the roads to ice over.
V-DOT crews are currently out across the New River Valley spreading chemicals but caution salt is slow to act in cold temperatures like we have right now.
))
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Again, the roads are extremely slick even the main roads...
[DOUBLE BOX=TERESA/ERIC]
The precipitation is simply falling quicker than road crews can handle.
(QUESTION--IS LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALSO VERY WINDY?)[Weather-Preparation]
[ANCHOR=Eric]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-79 29:52]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
The delayed arrival of the weekend winter blast permitted several people to get some last minute supplies.
David Johnson has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=People braved]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :01]
[SUPER=01-Myles Jackson/Roanoke Co. Resident; :17]
[SUPER=01-Ed Preston/Lowe's; :29]
[SUPER=03-Bent Mountain/February; :33]
[SUPER=01-Dr. LaBron Chambers/New Roanoke Resident; 1:00]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Tracy Thompson/Bent Mtn. Resident; 1:15]
[SUPER=03-Bent Mountain; 1:29]
[SUPER=01-Ed Witt/Bent Mtn. Resident; 1:37]
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[OUT Q=Djo, News 7.]
(( People braved the cold weather to gather goods that might get them through the long haul.
Some stopped first at the grocery store.
[NAT-SOUND/15:13:50]
[RUNS06]
Then on to a home improvement store for items to keep their dwellings warm and to make slippery surfaces safe.
[SOT=15:00:54]
[IN Q=GOT MY WOOD]
((MYLES JACKSON/ROANOKE CO. RESIDENT; GOT MY WOOD FOR MY FIREPLACE, ROCK SALT FOR THE GROUND, I GOT CHAINS FOR MY CARS.))
[RUNS08]
[OUT Q=FOR MY CARS.]
Folks were having a hard time finding what they needed--and with good reason.
[SOT=15:07:17]
[IN Q=BASICALLY, EVERYTHING]
((ED PRESTON/LOWE'S; BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT DEALS WITH THE WINTER, ICE MELT AND EVERYTHING IS ALREADY GONE.))
[RUNS05]
[OUT Q=ALREADY GONE.]
After last winter's ice storm and the power outages it caused, Lowe's ordered an additional two truckloads of portable generators.
But it was still unable to keep them on the shelves.
[SOT=15:07:50]
[IN Q=WE'VE HAD PEOPLE]
((ED PRESTON/LOWE'S; WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN FROM PETERSBURG, RICHMOND AND THAT PART OF THE STATE TO GET GENERATORS FROM US.))
[RUNS05]
[OUT Q=FROM US.]
For one man, the essentials included a four wheel drive vehicle.
Dr. Labron Chambers recently moved to Roanoke.
The Memorial Hospital physician says he was warned about the local weather.
[SOT=15:04:22]
[IN Q=A LOT OF]
((DR. LABRON CHAMBERS/NEW ROANOKE RESIDENT; A LOT OF MY COLLEGUES SUGGESTED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL, YOU'LL NEED A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE EVENTUALLY, SO.))
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[OUT Q=EVENTUALLY, SO.]
[STAND-UP/00:09:44]
[IN Q=MEANWHILE, ON]
((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; MEANWHILE ON BENT MOUNTAIN, THERE ARE STILL SIGNS OF LAST YEAR'S ICE STORM. SO RESIDENTS LIKE TRACY THOMPSON ARE PREPARING FOR THE WORST AND HOPING FOR THE BEST.))
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[OUT Q=FOR THE BEST.]
[SOT=15:27:08]
[IN Q=WE HAVE TWO]
((TRACY THOMPSON/BENT MTN. RESIDENT; WE HAVE TWO WOOD STOVES IN THIS HOUSE, SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE. WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE WE HAVE PLENTY OF WOOD AND KEEP BOTH OF THEM GOING. WE HAVE A LOT OF CANDLES AROUND BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST.))
[RUNS12]
[OUT Q=TO LAST.]
The mountain has barely recovered from last year's ice storm--as evidenced by the remaining broken tree limbs.
Still, others will sit the weather out and play it by ear.
[SOT=15:21:19]
[IN Q=I DON'T PREPARE]
((ED WITT/BENT MTN. RESIDENT; I DON'T PREPARE FOR IT. If it comes? IF IT COMES, IT COMES.))
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[OUT Q=IF IT COMES, IT COMES.]
[NAT-SOUND/Vdot truck engine]
[RUNS06]
As for the road leading up to Bent Mountain and others, V-Dot crews are on standby.
Trucks are strategically placed throughout the area, ready to clear the roads, trying to make them safe for travel.
But motorists are advised to steer clear of the roads until the weather improves.
David Johnson, News 7.))[Tease#1]
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[ANCHOR=Eric]
[SS=NONE]
Next on news 7, we'll see what the winter weather is doing in other parts of the country, Stay with us.
[ANCHOR=ANDREW]
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[Roll]
[Lake Level]
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[COMM#1]
[National-WX]
[ANCHOR=Eric]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eea]
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Near-blizzard conditions in the midwest are closing roads and grounding airplanes.
People in Chicago were braced for the worst, and as Drew Levinson reports, they got it.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It is the first storm]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News;]
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[OUT Q=CBS News, Chicago]
((
IT IS THE FIRST STORM OF THE LAST YEAR OF THE FINAL DECADE OF THE
CENTURY--IT HAS HIT WITH A VENGENCE.
(SOT)
"To me it's a winter wonderland, to some people it might be a winter
horror."
THIS MASSIVE WINTER STORM REACHES FROM THE GULF COAST TO THE UPPER
MIDWEST...THOUSANDS ARE WITHOUT POWER.
IN CHICAGO SATURDAY--SNOW FELL AT AN AVERAGE OF UP TO TWO INCHES
AN HOUR.
TRYING TO SHOVEL IT WAS JUST AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.
(SOT)
"You take a shovel of snow, throw it out there and by the time you
get back it seems like there are two more."
WITH WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO--THE HOMELESS ARE USING ANY MEANS
POSSIBLE TO STAY WARM.
STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 40 MILES PER HOUR ARE CAUSING
NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS--ROADS ARE CLOGGED WITH DRIFTING SNOW. THE
WINDY CITY'S FAMOUS LAKE SHORE DRIVE ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN IS CLOSED.
(NATSOUND PLOWS)
AT CHICAGO'S TWO AIRPORTS--INCLUDING O'HARE--WORLD'S BUSIEST--UNITED
AND AMERICAN AIRLINES HAVE CANCELLED ALL FLIGHTS AND HAVE ADVISED
PASSENGERS TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO GET OUT...MANY WILL SPEND THEIR
WEEKEND RIGHT HERE.
(ST. LOUIS)
(DE-ICING PLANE)
AT LAMBERT FIELD IN ST. LOUIS--WHAT'S NOT CANCELLED IS DELAYED. THE
EASIEST WAY TO GET AROUND ON THE HIGHWAYS IN MISSOURI IS TO
FOLLOW THE SNOWPLOWS.
(SOT)
"If you get behind the plows, it's ok, but if you don't, it's not
good."
THE STORM IS ALSO CAUSING HEADACHES FOR THOSE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO AND
DETROIT.
(TERREBONNE PARISH, LA)
ALONG THE GULF COAST NEAR NEW ORLEANS--POSSIBLE TORNADOES ARE TO
BLAME FOR DAMAGING A NUMBER OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND KNOCKING OUT
POWER.
(DREW LEVINSON/CBS NEWS)
"It may be just the second day of the year, but in Illinois this
has already been dubbed the blizzard of '99.
And if the snow continues to fall, it could top the famed blizzard
of '79.
That storm buried much of Illinois with about 19 inches of snow. Not
even 48 hours old and 1999 has already made its presence felt. Drew
Levinson, CBS News, Chicago.))
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]
And coming up, The Dolphins open the playoffs with a win
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[VO-NAT]
But a tough loss for the Men Hokies on the road at Massachusetts.
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[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-26]
[GRAPHIC=Atlantic 10]
Virginia Tech had a big conference game this afternoon against Massachusetts.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst, MA/Atlantic 10; :]
The Hokies taking on the Minutemen on their home court.
Tech fell behind but when andre Rayy hits the double clutch jumper Tech trailed 15 to 13.
But the Minutemen went on a rally using their power game inside to take a 5 point 18 to 13 lead.
Then Charlton Clarke hits Chris Kirkland with the pass inside and the Minutemen took the 27 to 18 lead at the half.
Tech's Roland Roberts spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. His second basket of the game made it 28 to 22 U-Mass.
The Hokies would cut the lead to 6 late in the game
[SUPER=33-Massachusetts/55/Virginia Tech/40/;] but U-Mass goes on to win the game 55 to 40.
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[TALENT=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]
The Hokies are now 5 and 5 overall and they suffer their first loss in the Atlantic 10.
[S-UVA]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-29]
[GRAPHIC=ACC LOGO]
The Virginia Cavaliers hit the road today for an A-c-C showdown with The Demon Deacons of Wake Forest in Winston Salem.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Winston-Salem, NC/HTS; :]
Dave Odom and the Deacons out to even their A-C-C record at 1 and 1.
Virginia trailed at the half then Adam Hall hits the three to make it 43 to 34 Wake Forest.
The Deacons held U-V-A at bay by going to the boards hard like on this play which ups the Deacons lead to 45 to 34.
Virginia could trim the lead to 10 when Chezley Wattson steps up and hits the jumper with 10 minutes left in the game.
But again the Deacons go inside to Darius Sangrola who hits the easy basket giving Wake Forest a 51 to 39 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
Virginia could cut the lead to 8 points late in
[SUPER=33-Wake Forest/69/Virginia/53/;]
second half but the Deacons hold on for the 69 to 53 win.
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[TALENT=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold ACC]
Virginia is now 9 and 5 overall and 0 and 22 in the conference.
[S-NFL]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=sp-32]
[GRAPHIC=NFL LOGO]
The Miami Dolphins opened the playoffs today with a quick 10 points and a timely fumble recovery in a 24 to 17 win over Buffalo.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/ABC SPORTS; :]
Jimmy Johnson checking the action from the sideline.
Trailing 6 to nothing in the second quarter Thurman Thomas scores on the onw yard run to make the score 7 to 6 Buffalo at the half.
Miami opened the scoring in the second half when Karim Abdul-Jabbar takes the handoff and scores on the three yard run to make it 14 to 7 Dolphins.
The Bills would answer tieing the score in the third period when flutie goes to the air and hits Eric Moulds on the 33 yard touchdown pass play to make it 14 to 14.
But Marino puts the Dolphins ahead to stay in the
[SUPER=32-Miami/24/Buffalo/17/;]
fourth quarter with this 12 yard T-D pass to Lamar Thomas Miami wins it 24 to 17.
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[TALENT=ROY]
[GRAPIHC=HOLD LOGO]
In the seocnd game in the third quarter Arizona leads Dallas 17 to nothing.
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]
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[Forecasts]
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[SUPER=330-Freezing Rain/Icing Likely/26-30/Rain Likely/Clearing Late/36-40;]
[SUPER=331-Freezing Rain/Dangerous Icing/26-30/Rain Ending/Partly Sunny/36-40;]
[SUPER=332-Freezing Rain/And Sleet/26-30/Rain Ending/Flurries Late/35-39]
[SUPER=333-Freezing Rain/Signicant Icing/26-30/Freezing Rain/Partial Clearing/35-39;]
[SUPER=334-Sleet And/Freezing Rain/26-30/Partial Clearing/Snow Showers/34-38;]
[SUPER=X5001;][Close]
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(Weekday 6 only)
SUPER=x4032; e-mail/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
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(Weekend 6 only)
SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS
[SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS]
by SS