WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/03/99

[1-News-Head]

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[V/O-NAT SOT]

A significant snowfall in parts of Southwest Virginia.... First thing on NEWS 7 at SIX tonight, we'll go straight to the New River Valley for a LIVE report.
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[TALENT=Keith]

And the first pink slips have begun to arrive in Roanoke... part of First Union's 10-percent reduction in its workforce.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Tonight on News 7 sports, the Hokies rock the old Spectrum in Philly today at the A-10 tournament.
Hampden-Sydney is anxious to make a run in the D-III event.
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[VO-NAT]

And warm up the Bus - Gus is now a member of the Detroit Lions.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Thunder, very high wind, rain and snow. We got it all today and the wind continues through the night.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
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[VO-NAT]

Here it comes ... a return of winter weather, and winter storm warnings.
And Roanoke bank workers wonder if they'll be hit by a big layoff.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.[First-Wx]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Snow Returns]

Let's find out what's ahead for tonight and tomorrow from Meteorologist Robin Read. [Robin Adlibs]
(++++++++)
[TAKE LIVE SHOT]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]

[EFFECT TO:] [WXPRO/FULL] SNOW RADAR SNOW TOTALS [ROLL] [LAKE LEVELS] [TOSS BACK TO KEITH]

[Roll]
[TALENT=Robin]
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[SUPER=82-0.33''/plus 0.09''/6.17''/plus 0.27'';]

[SUPER=83-Down 0.90 foot/Down 0.12 foot;Lake levels][Snow-Returns]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#99-6 29:17]
[GRAPHIC=Snow Returns]

We'll start with the snow.
It's heaviest to the south and west of Roanoke, including the New River Valley.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Teresa/Microwave]

Teresa Hamilton joins us live from outside our Blacksburg newsroom with an update on conditions there.
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Keith, the snow began falling here in the Blacksburg area around one'o clock.
Only recently did the heavy precipitation let up.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=This latest]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Dan Brugh/VDOT Resident Engineer; :27]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=ready for it.]
((
This latest batch of winter winter is beautiful to look at--- sticking to nearly everything in its path creating som
ewhat of a winter wonderland.
But it's also been a headache for some motorists.
State police and law enforcement in the New River Valley have been working numerous accidents for hours.
V-DOT officials in the N-R-V say they were prepared for this latest storm-- but were amazed it made such an early appearance.
[inq=15:28:45]
(( DAN BRUGH/VDOT RESIDENT ENGINEER:WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT, IT'S STARTING A LITTLE QUICKER BUT WE WERE READY FOR IT.))

[RUNS=5]
[OUTQ=for it.]
))
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Teresa Full/Microwave][School-Closing]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

The bad weather is causing some colleges to cancel classes tonight and one school to close for tomorrow.
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[TAKE SCHOOL WATCH]
Grayson County will be CLOSED tomorrow.
And there will be no Night CLASSES at Greenbrier Community College, New River Community College, Radford University, Virginia Tech, and Wytheville Community College.
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[First-Union]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#99-5 30:23]
[GRAPHIC=First Union Layoffs]

The country's sixth biggest bank is getting ready to make its workforce a lot smaller.
Nearly two-thousand First Union employees work in the Roanoke Valley, and many are wondering if their names will be on the list of company layoffs.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]

Scott Goldberg is in our newsroom tonight.
Scott when is the ax going to drop?
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]

Keith, there's a feeling among bank employees that it could happen anytime.
But First Union said it may not decide exactly how many people will be laid off -- or where those layoffs will happen -- until the middle of March.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

In the last couple of weeks, workers at First Union's call center in Roanoke County got a memo from corporate headquarters in Charlotte.
It said the bank WILL slash its workforce by as much as 10-percent.
That's more than seven-thousand people nationwide.
Sources tell News-7 the layoffs have already started here, with the company notifying a few employees their jobs will be terminated.
First Union told us this is part of a huge cost-cutting measure.
But the bank said it's still looking at its operations to see what it can cut besides people.
(--------------)
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]

There are reports that First Union employees at the company headquarters in Charlotte will know THIS WEEK if they're losing their jobs.
A spokeswoman told us she wasn't aware of any big announcement coming this week in Roanoke.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott /Newsroom]

Keith.[Strickler]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:27:40]
[GRAPHIC=Strickler]

Did prosecutors withhold key evidence that might have cleared convicted killer Tommy David Strickler, or at least have kept him off Death Row?
That's the question the United States Supreme Court must decide after hearing oral arguments in the 9- year- old murder case this morning.
Steve Smallshaw reports from Washington.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=The dispute centers]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Hartung/Strickler Defense Attorney; :34]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=News7, Washington.]

The dispute centers on the testimony of star witness Anne Stoltzfus, who positively identified Tommy David Strickler as one of the men she saw abduct Salem native Leann Whitlock from a Harrisonburg mall in 1990.
On the strength of Stoltzfus' testimony, an Augusta County jury sentenced Strickler to die for Whitlock's murder.
But defense attorneys were never told that Stoltzfus at first didn't even remember being at the mall that day.. and even had trouble picking Strickler out of a police lineup.
At least one Supreme Court justice felt those conflicting statements would have had an impact at trial.
[SOT 11:02:27]
((BARBARA HARTUNG/STRICKLER DEFENSE ATTORNEY: THEY CLEARLY.. ..THEIR DECISION.))
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=their decision.]
[SOT 11:03:33]
((HARTUNG: IT WAS OBVIOUSLY.. .. KNEW ABOUT THE MATERIAL.))
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=about the material.]

But state attorneys argued that Strickler's lawyers never asked for those police notes when they should have.. during the appeal process.. and that even without Anne Stoltzfus, there was plenty of other evidence to convict Tommy Strickler. [Standup 11:16:19] ((So the case could come down to how big a role the court feels Anne Stoltzfus' testimony played in sending Tommy David Strickler to death row. A decision is expected in June. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Washington.))
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[OUT Q=News7, Washington.]
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
What are Roanoke students learning from the Amazon rain forest? Still ahead, Patrick Evans has a live report from South America.
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[VO-NAT]

Next ... Virginia tornadoes. They may be rare, but you don't have to travel far to see the damage.
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[COMMERCIAL BREAK 1]

[2-Virginia-Tornadoes]

[ANCHOR=Robin]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=afr]
[TAPE#=98-82 1:07:38]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tornadoes]

They may be rare, but they're real.
Tornadoes that strike our area can be tough to catch on radar.
[TWO SHOT=Keith & Andrew]

As severe weather season nears, Andrew Frieden has an up-close look at Virginia Tornadoes. [ANDREW FULL]
[SUPER=@Andrew1;]

Keith, today's rapidly changing weather is a great example of why we need to stay on our toes around here. The majority of tornadoes in Southwest Virginia aren't killers. But that doesn't mean we should let our guard down, because they can create plenty of damage. (+++++++++++) [Take FS GFX] And you don't have to travel far from Roanoke to see it for yourself.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=norman quesenberry]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.; :01]
[SUPER=07-Norman Quesenberry; :15]
[SUPER=01-Mike Emlaw/National Weather Service; :29]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=sturdy building]
Norman Quesenberry has seen a lot during his 82 years in Floyd County. But on January 23rd, he couldn't believe his eyes.
A powerful storm destroyed his hay barn, and snapped more than 200 of his pine trees in half like matchsticks.
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[SOT 2:29]
((NORMAN QUESENBERRY: I COULDN'T HARDLY BELIEVE IT HIT HERE, BUT IT DID.))
[RUNS=:03]
Norman was pretty sure a tornado caused the damage.
It didn't. It was a microburst-- a powerful gust of wind within a severe thunderstorm.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:58:33 MIKE EMLAW TAPE]
((MIKE EMLAW/NWS: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS WIND SPEEDS OF 58 MILES PER HOUR OR GREATER. AND CAN PRODUCE WIND SPEEDS UP TO 120 MILES AN HOUR. NOW THAT'S MORE -- THAT'S A STRONGER WIND SPEED THAN MOST TORNADOS THAT OCCUR IN VIRGINIA.))

[RUNS=:12]

Just a mile away on the same day, a tornado DID touch down in Floyd County. It was an F1-- a weak tornado-- and was on the ground for less than a minute.
It was so small and short lived, that it did not show up well on radar. So no warning was issued for Floyd County. [screen video of a tornado warning] But when a tornado warning is issued for a county, you may think there's a 100 percent chance a tornado will strike.
That's not the case.
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[SOT 19:02:15]
((MIKE EMLAW/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: WE CAN'T GENERALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS GOING TO GO, SO WE HAVE TO COVER A WIDER AREA THAN WHERE THE DAMAGE IS GOING TO OCCUR.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=GOING TO OCCUR]

[five pages of pre pro] Here's what you should do when a tornado is near. 1. Go to the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Find an interior room. 2. Stay away from windows. Most severe weather injuries are from flying glass and debris. 3. Get out of your car. 4. If caught outside lie flat in a ditch. 5. Leave your mobile home and seek shelter in a nearby sturdy building.
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[ANCHOR=Andrew Full]

If you happen to see a funnel cloud and you are out of harm's way, you might want to call local law enforcement to pass along the information.
[TWO SHOT=Keith & Andrew]

[Advance-Auto]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Advance Auto]

Advance Auto has withdrawn it's Trademark Infringement complaint in federal court.
Last November the Roanoke-based auto parts store sued a California firm that was doing business on the Internet as Advance Auto Accessories.
Advance Auto PARTS settled out of court withOUT revealing the terms of the settlement, except to say it was "satisfactory."

[Sweepstakes]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-7 33:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It took more than a month for Roanoke's Warren Burch to believe he was the winner of a quarter-million dollar sweepstake prize.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

While looking for a house last year, Burch entered a contest on the website "Realtor-dot-com"
In December, the company sent him an e-mail saying he'd won 250-thousand dollars toward the purchase of a new home.
Burch deleted it.
After some persistance, the company finally convinced him he was indeed a winner.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:57:11]
[IN Q=one of the first]
((WARREN BURCH/SWEEPSTAKES WINNER; ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU, NOBODY WANTS TO BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY'S LUCKY ENOUGH TO WIN, I'M CERTAINLY LIKE THAT, I HAD NO IDEA I WAS THE REAL WINNER AND I WAS IN DISBELIEF FOR A LONG TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Warren Burch/Sweepstakes Winner;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=a long time]
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[VO-NAT]

Burch said he's not sure when he'll buy the house.
Getting free money makes the transaction a lot more complicated.
But he's not complaining.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A mixed day on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/21.73/9275.88/x/6.17/2265.20;]

The Dow fell 22 points, to 92-76. But NASDAQ GAINED six.
[SUPER=431-h%/42@/h1$/83#/i#/66*/h#/54&/hg/18@;]
[SUPER=432-i!/38#/h%/4r/h#/39e/i$/52$/id/48$;]
[SUPER=433-ib/98*/ia/61f/h!/27g/u/10d/he/39#;]

[SUPER=434-u/13/ha/66&/u/36!/h1g/85!/h1*/87b;][S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-36 2043TC]
[GRAPHIC=A-10 LOGO]

The Virginia Tech Hokies have advanced to the second round of the Atlantic 10 tournament in Philadelphia, and they can credit their 74-to-63 win over Fordham to tough defense and solid shooting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/Fordham vs. Va. Tech; :00]

The Fordham Rams thought they had a shot at upsetting the Hokies, but Rolan Roberts rejected those plans in the first half. The block will trigger a transition break that will eventually be finished off by a viscious tow handed jam by Dennis Mims.
The Hokies shot 50 percent for the game and got a big effort from Roberts who scored a team high 19 points and grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
Brendan Dunlop and Eddie Lucas also hit in double figures for the Hokies. Lucas had 14 and Dumlop dropped in 15.
Andre Ray finished off the Rams with the slam.
[super=33-Virginia Tech/74/Fordham/63;]

Tech now plays Temple in the second round tomorrow at Noon.
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[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
(----------------)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE BOARD]
And don't forget, tomorrow night the 46th annual ACC tournament tips off in Charlotte. You can watch the number one ranked Duke Blue Devils battle Virginia tomorrow night at nine LIVE right here on Your Hometown Station.
The Cavs are practicing at the Coliseum in Charlotte at this hour.
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[S-Tigers]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-29( 44:51 )]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA TOURNEY LOGO]

Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon will represent the ODAC in the NCAA Division three basketball tournament.
The Yellow Jackets play Christopher Newport tomorrow and The Tigers play the winner of that game on Saturday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/ODAC Finals]

Over in Salem two weeks ago, The Tigers celebrated a three-peat in the ODAC championship.
The Tigers and Yellow Jackets are both in the South Region and they knowmaking it to the final four in Salem from region will not be an easy task.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Tradionally the...]
[SUPER=01-Tony Shaver/Hampden-Sydney Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=.....what we can do."]
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[Jason-Project]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#99-4 54:04]
[GRAPHIC=Jason Project]

Hundreds of local students have an opportunity to learn about the Amazon rain forest this week, thanks to an ambitious project and satellite technology.
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[VO-NAT]
[NO SUPER]
It's called the "Jason Project" providing live, interactive education to students in several American cities, including Roanoke.
(+++++++++)
[Take FS MAP]
It broadcasts from an education center set up in Eastern Peru that is surrounded by a rain forest.
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[Patrick full/Satellite]
Patrick Evans is at the project site in South America.
Patrick, it's pitch dark down there.

[Live=Patrick full/Satellite]
[SUPER=@Patrick1;]
[SUPER=05-Napo Camp, Peru;]

[Live interview]
[SUPER=01-William Lake/Argonaut;]
(-------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Courtesy: Jason Project]
(-------------------)

[Live=Patrick Full/Satellite]
[SUPER=05-Napo Camp, Peru;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Keith & Patrick/Satellite][S-VHSL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]

The Virginia High School state basketball playoffs tip-off later this week at various sites around the state. Six area teams are still in the hunt for VHSL titles.
(---------------)
[pinnacle group aaa]
In the triple-A ranks defending champ George Washington High school will take on Maury Saturday night at 8. The game is being played at Halifax County high school.
The Cave Spring girls play Deep Creek Saturday at 4 at Northside high school.
(---------------)
[go to pinnacle 99002]
In the Group Two A quarterfinals, Salem takes on Grundy at Roanoke College at seven, while Gretna travels to Bristol to play Virginia High Saturday at 7.
(----------------)
[go to pinnacle 99003]
And in Group-a - Auburn plays Pound on Saturday night at seven down in Lebanon.
And Friday night at 7, Glenvar hosts Clintwood at Northside high school.
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[S-Gus]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-39]
[GRAPHIC=REDSKINS]

The Washington Redskins, who cleaned house in their quarterback ranks before signing veteran Brad Johnson, picked up former Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon today and re-signed him to a two year deal.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Frostburg/Last July;:00]

Meanwhile, former Skin Gus Frerotte signed with the Detroit Lions this afternoon.
Gus was cut less than a month ago by the Skins, and Bobby Ross says he is thrilled to have him in Detroit as a backup for Charlie Batch.
Gus is just 27 years old with 48 career TD passes.
(------------)

[S-Loren]

[ANCHOR=MIke]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-43 15:46]
[GRAPHIC=Tech football]

Virginia Tech All-Big East defensive back Loren Johnson has been doing a little lecturing in the valley this week.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :00]

Yesterday, he spoke to William Byrd's marketing team, which recently won district honors. Johnson touched on how leadership and encouragement are key parts to success. Loren is also trying out for various NFL teams at Tech.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="The]
[SUPER=01-Loren Johnson/All-Big East Cornerback; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=wednesday evening"]
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[vo-nat con't]
Johnson is having a busy time on and off the practice field this month. Besides working out for various scouts he also is student teaching in Roanoke County at Cave Sspring high school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Well, the people...]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=...and great."]
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[vo-nat con't]
Johnson is telling students at both Cave and Byrd that the business world and the sports world really aren't that different.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="You gotta...]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...marketing programs."]
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[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-55/35/84/1976/10/1980;]
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[SUPER=335-The record monthly/snowfall in the U.S./totaled about:/A. 22 feet/B. 32 feet/C. 52 feet;]
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[Forecasts]
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[SUPER=331-Wind Advisory/Snow Showers/30-34/Very Windy/But Sunny/46-49;]
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[SUPER=333-Snow Advisory/1-4" Total/26-28/Partly Sunny/And Windy/40-44;]
[SUPER=334-Storm Warning/4-8" Total/22-26/Snow Showers/And Windy/34-38;]
[SUPER=335-The record monthly/snowfall in the U.S./totaled about:/A. 22 feet/B. 32 feet/C. 52 feet;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=335-The record monthly/snowfall in the U.S./totaled about://B. 32 feet/Tamarack, CA. January 1911;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer]

[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX][77-Buses]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Traffic has come to a standstill on Interstate 77 in Southwest Virginia... and it's been that way for about 2 hours -- in the Southbound Lanes.
Several Carroll County school buses ARE among the vehicles stranded.
The buses are apparently transporting high school and intermediate students.
State Police say parents have been calling wondering where their children are --
There have been several minor accidents on the interstate but authorities say there HAVE NOT been any accidents involving school buses on the interstate.
And more school closings to report.
Patrick County and Tazewell County schools will be closed tomorrow.

[Close]

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(Weekday 6 only)
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SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS