WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 01/28/99

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some Roanoke residents are returning home after a chemical spill.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And a key vote today by union members at the Volvo plant in Dublin.
(/////////////)
[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; ]

[Chemical-spill]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-4 TC28:23]
[GRAPHIC=Chemical Spill ]

Authorities are still trying to figure out how some dangerous chemicals turned up near a trailer park along the Roanoke River.
It was evacuated last night because of a chemical spill but is now open again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Hannah Circle Mobile Home park is just below Memorial Bridge- -near an abandoned warehouse... now owned by the city.
Yesterday Construction workers opened the lid to a 55-gallon drum of Sodium Hydro- sulfite.
[SUPER=04-Last Night;]

Noxious fumes coming from the drum prompted the evacuation of about 75 residents.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If there was]
((IF THERE WAS BARRELS UP THERE, IT SEEMS TO ME THEY SHOULD HAVE INSPECTED THAT BUILDING BEFORE THEY EVEN STARTED WORKING ON IT. IF THERE WAS BARRELS IN THERE AND THEY DID HAVE CHEMICALS IN THEM, WHY WASN'T HAZ-MAT CALLED IN BEFORE THEY STARTED WORKING AND HAD THEM TOOK OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Billy Arnold, Jr./Hannah Circle Resident]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=had them took out.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

The site WAS supposedly examined before the city bought the building.
Either the barrels of chemicals turned up later, or the inspectors missed them.
(--------------)

[E-Volvo-Vote]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=99-5 10:46]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo New Jobs]

Unionized workers at Volvo's Pulaski County truck plant are voting on a new contract today.
The outcome of that vote could make or break a proposal for an additional 13-hundred new jobs at the company's truck plant in the New River Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/File Tape]

The contract up for vote is similar to the one workers rejected ten days ago.
This one does have a revised policy on new employees health insurance.
Volvo's president says the 148-million dollar exapnsion announced by the governor two weeks ago depends on workers approving the contract.
Even if the workers vote yes, the 54-million dollar state incentive package that would bring new jobs- must still be approved by state lawmakers.
(------------)

[FORD-volvo]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo Generic]

Meantime Volvo will now have more time and money to invest in building its trucks, buses and airplane engines.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]
[10:07:23]
It's getting out of the passenger car business.
Ford is buying Volvo's passenger car unit for nearly six and a-half billion dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[10:05:14]
[IN Q=WE FEEL THAT THE]
[SUPER=01-Leif Johansson/Volvo CEO;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=MANAGED FROM GOSSENBURG]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dearborn, MI;]
[10:04:38]
The sale puts to rest months of speculation Volvo would be involved in a merger or takeover, which has driven up the share price by more than 50 percent since early October.
(----------------)

[IMPEACH]

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

The impeachment trial of President Clinton is about to enter the next phase, with the deposition of three witnesses the Senate Republicans believe are essential for them to get to the truth.
But no one seems to know when or where it will all happen.
Lee Cowan has the latest from Capitol Hill.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[11:30-]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader; :33]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tom Daschle/(D) Minority Leader; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Lockhart/White House Spokesman; 1:15]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting; 1:40]
[RUNS=1:54]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS WASHINGTON.]
((FOR SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE - THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS - THIS TIME, A TIMETABLE. COMING UP WITH A PROCEDURE TO QUESTION THE PROSECUTION'S THREE KEY WITNESSES IS TURNING OUT TO BE THE SINGLE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUE OF THE PROCEEDINGS SO FAR. UNDER A REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL, THE THREE WITNESSES -- MONICA LEWINSKY, CLINTON FRIEND VERNON JORDAN, AND WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR SYDNEY BLUMENTHAL-WOULD BE INTERVIEWED BY HOUSE MANGERS AS EARLY AS THIS WEEKEND. BUT THAT IS ONLY AN OUTLINE, AT BEST - BEYOND THE FACT THEY WILL BE QUESTIONED, EVERYTHING IS UP IN THE AIR.
(( SUPER: SEN TRENT LOTT//SENATE MAJORITY LEADER )) (( SOT AT 16:51:29 ))" We believe that we're continuing to move for
ward and make good progress that would lead us to an expeditious conclusion but one that will give us the facts that we need to determine what the truth is." WHILE THE EFFORT TO HAMMER OUT AN EFFFECTIVE PROPOSAL CONTINUES BEHIND THE SCENES -- DEMOCRATS INSIST IT'S SIMPLY A WASTE OF TIME. WITH YESTERDAY'S VOTE SEEMING TO PROVE THERE THE TWO THIRDS MAJORITY ISN'T THERE TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE, THE QUESTION REMAINS: WHAT'S THE POINT.
(( SUPER: SEN. TOM DASCHLE//SENATE MINORITY LEADER )) (( SOT AT 17:46:22))
"We now know that there are enough votes to acquit the President when the articles are voted upon, and So I think everyone understands that we've got to bring this to a close and I'm quite sure that will happen." (( NAT )) EVEN AS THE PRESIDENT MINGLED WITH HIS JURORS ON CAPITOL HILL AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR AND FORMER SENATOR LAWTON CHILES, HIS SPOKESMAN CONTINUED THE WHITE HOUSE'S VIGOROUS OPPOSITION TO WITNESSES, AND CONTINUED IT'S CHARGE THAT THE PROCEES JUST ISN'T FAIR.
(( SUPER: JOE LOCKHART//WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN )) (( SOT AT 10:39:15 ))
"We understand the arithmatic - unfair."))

[Colombia]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Earthquake]

In earthquake-ravaged Colombia today... food, medicine, shelter, and patience... are in short supply.
In parts of the country, desperate survivors have taken to looting.
John Blackstone has the latest.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:10:19]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Blackstone/Reporting; :00]
[SUPER=03-Armenia, Colombia; HOT CHANGE!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Calarca, Colombia; :55]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=Calarca, Colombia]

[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Bad news from Allen Greenspan-- he says a tax hike may be in store.
That story is next on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And Nato is a step closer to airstrikes in Kosovo.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[greenspan]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some unpleasant realties for taxpayers today from the Federal Reserve chairman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]

Alan Greenspan warned the Senate Budget Committee that any fix for Social Security will almost certainly mean either a tax hike or a cut in benefits.
Greenspan also repeated his dislike of President Clinton's call to invest billions of dollars in the stock market.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Even with herculean]
((ALAN GREENSPAN EVEN HERCULEAN EFFORTS ....MOST PRODUCTIVE USE.))
[SUPER=01-Alan Greenspan/Federal Reserve Chairman;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=most productive use.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Greensspan said with baby boomers on the verge of retirement and few workers left to pay the way Social Security will go broke unless some action is taken.

[kosovo]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The U-N chief says threatening force is the only way to end the conflict in Kosovo.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Brussels, Belgium;]

Secretary-General Kofi Annan says his NATO counterpart will make that threat today.
The two met this morning in Brussels.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( KOFI ANNAN:IF FORCE BECOMES NECESSARY THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE WILL LOOK AT AND THE THREAT IS ESSENTIAL AND IT IS THERE AND I REFER TO IT.))
[SUPER=01-Kofi Annan/U. N. Secretary General;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=and i refer to it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Even so, Annan is hoping both sides will ultimately negotiate a political settlement.
(------------)

[Hugh-Finn]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Right to Die]

Governor Gilmore is still fighting a judge's order to reimburse Hugh Finn's widow.
But a state Senate subcommittee has approved 48-thousand dollars to pay her legal bills.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Gilmore fought the comatose man's wife to keep doctors from removing his feeding tube.
Michelle Finn testified before the committee yesterday.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Public officials]
[SUPER=01-Michelle Finn/Hugh Finn's Widow]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=make and change laws.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But Michelle Finn's own sister says the feeding tube was prematurely pulled from her brother in law.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Those of us ]
[SUPER=01-Elaine Glazier/Michelle Finn's Sister;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=last wish: his life.]
(-------------)
[VO-Nat]
The subcommittee decided to keep the reimbursement in the bill, but removed any references that seemed to blame the Governor for his actions to keep Finn alive.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Everyone's heard jokes about hospital food--
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

But the work of this chef at Lewis-Gale is no laughing matter.
It's food fit for a President.
We'll tell you what we mean when News-7 at Noon continues.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[E-Hospital-Chef]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=98-77 TC1:00:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Chef Julius Wohl creates the menu at Lewis-Gale Medical Center --
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; ]
but before he was hired as the hospitals head chef, he had quite a resume. The Hungarian chef has made dishes at famous hotels and restaurants all over Europe and in the United States. His meals are fit for kings, or presidents anyway.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ub 10 49 24]
[IN Q=I did that]
((CHEF JULIUS WOHL/LEWIS GALE MEDICAL CENTER: I DID THE ELECTION FOR MR. BUSH, FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, THEN I WORKED AT NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY I DID DINNER FOR THE GOVERNOR, AND JIMMY CARTER, PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.))
[SUPER=01-Chef Julius Wohl/Lewis-Gale Medical Center; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=Jimmy Carter]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But Chef Julius says he's content to be the executive chef at the Salem hospital. He says the hours are better and he gets satisfaction from knowing he makes patients feel better.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 78 points
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still ahead in sports, Ferrum's women's basketball team takes a major hit.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

While in Richmond, Virginia Tech took a hit of it's own, at the hands of in-state rival Virginia.
We'll have those stories, coming up right after this break.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[Staples]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=EXTRA]
[GRAPHIC=Staples]

A setback for Roanoke native and NBA- hopeful Curtis Staples.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC/March;]

The Chicago Bulls cut the rookie free agent guard last night.
Staples was the odd man out after the Bulls signed Brent Barry and got good minutes early on from fellow rookie Corey Benjamin.
Barry, Benjamin, Ron Harper, Randy Brown and Rusty Larue will make up the backcourt for the new, but not necessarily improved, Bulls.
(------------)

[Ferrum-Women]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Ferrum]

Nine members of the women's basketball team at Ferrum College have quit, saying they're upset with the way their coach treated them.
Coach Donna Doonan has left for the season, as well.
She's taking a leave of absence for medical reasons.
That leaves Ferrum with just five active players, and one who's injured.
Ferrum's athletic director will take over as coach.
The team is 3 and 12 so far this season.

[UVA]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-29]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/UVA]

Very few basketball teams can win a game while shooting 27 percent from the field.
That's a lesson Virginia Tech learned last night, in losing to U-V-A at the Richmond Coliseum 64 to 55.
The two teams played in an arena that had more empty seats than fans.
Steve Mason reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[super=03-Richmond/Hokies vs. Cavaliers; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Hussey/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :12]
[SUPER=01-Donald Hand/13 Points for UVa; :38 (QUICK!!)]
[SUPER=01-Brendan Dunlop/8 Points for Virginia Tech; :59]
[super=01-Chris Williams/UVa Guard - 17 Points; 1:20]
[super=33-Virginia/64/Virginia Tech/55; 1:27]
[super=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Head Coach; 1 :41]
[SUPER=@steve1; 1:53 ]
[RUNS=2:11]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(--------------)

[Duke]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-23 20221TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

Thirty- three wins and counting for the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC/ESPN; :00]

Number- two Duke's biggest rival was in town, and the tenth- ranked Tarheels kept up for most of the game, leading by one with less than ten minutes to play.
But Carolina had a 5 and a half minute dry spell late in the second half, and Duke was able to pull away and win it 89 to 77.
(------------)

[VMI]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-30]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]

In the O-DAC, big victories for Roanoke College and Hampden- Sydney. The Maroons crushed Emory and Henry 99-76, while the Tigers beat W and L by 21.
[SS=VMI]

In Lexington, V-M-I took a break from Big South conference play to take on nearby Southern Virginia College.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/VMI vs Southern Virginia; :]

The Keydets were looking to bounce back after losing to Davidson on Monday night.
And they could do it with good passes like this. Here, they get it to Jason Bell, who hits the short jumper for two.

Then Southern gets the ball up the court to Brandon Wilson, who drives through traffic and passes it off to David Hancey. Hancey gets the bounce off the glass for the score.
V-M-I had an eighteen point lead heading into the second half.
[SUPER=33-VMI/85/Southern Va./67/;]

Watch Aaron Trombley hit the long three, as V-M-I goes on to win it 85 to 67.
(------------)

[Cave]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-32]
[GRAPHIC=hs hoops]

On to the high school ranks, where the Spartans lost their second straight at the hands of Cave Spring 57- 52.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Salem vs. Cave Spring;]

Freshman J-J Redick has been a surprise star for the Knights. Here he hits the jumper from the wing for three.
But Salem would answer that with a trey of its own. Andrae Via gets the pass from inside and puts it through the net.
But Jess Seamon continues to give Cave Spring great
[super=33-Salem/52/Cave Spring/57;]
senior leadership as he scores two.
Cave Spring wins it 57-to-52 for its 11th win of the season.
(------------)

[Express]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-31]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

Roanoke's new A-H-L affiliate has meant the loss of some of the Express's top players throughout the season, and that treand continued yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Defenseman Duane Harmer was recalled by the Lowell Lochmonsters.
He played in 28 games for the Express this season-- picking up 16 points and 41 penalty minutes. (------------) This is his second trip up to Massachusetts.