[7E-Johnson-obit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-11 7:44]
[GRAPHIC=Laban Johnson]
[****ANCHOR TAG****]
A man who showed off Roanoke to the rest of the world died yesterday.
Laban Johnson was a teacher, a city official, and co-host of the popular Public Television show "Cookin' Cheap."
Keith Humphry takes a look back.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When health]
[SUPER=04-June 1996; :00]
[SUPER=04-January 11, 1999; :10]
[SUPER=10-Laban Johnson/"Cookin' Cheap" Co-Host/January 11; :18]
[SUPER=01-Carol Jennings/"Cookin' Cheap" Producer; :33]
[SUPER=04-1968; :40]
[SUPER=04-February 4, 1997; :58]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=KH, News-7]
(( When health problems forced Johnson to retire as Roanoke's Special Events Co-ordinator three years ago, the mayor presented him- -not the KEY to the city- -but the LADLE.
His health improved. Johnson and Larry Bly- -his broadcast partner- -had just embarked on their 19th season of "Cookin' Cheap."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:42:10 - from Mornin' fieldtape]
[IN Q=]
((WE'RE NOW, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE LONGEST-RUNNING COOKING SHOW ON TELEVISION. ))
[RUNS 04]
[OUT Q=and say otherwise.]
At W-B-R-A, they were getting ready to tape another segment of the show. The producer knew there was something wrong when Johnson didn't appear by late afternoon.
She remembers him as an endless source of humor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT Carol Jennings (tonight)]
[IN Q=He could make anybody laugh]
((HE COULD MAKE ANYBODY LAUGH. HE COULD TAKE SOMETHING AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE YOU SMILE.))
[RUNS 07]
[OUT Q=make you smile.]
[NAT SOT-Johnson introduced - -back-to at podium]
[JOHNSON'S MY NAME; MONEY'S MY GAME]
But he could also be very serious... as he was when he pushed for teachers' pay raises.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @2:45 on Beta from film]
[IN Q=The teachers are]
((THE TEACHERS ARE IN A BAD WAY. ))
[RUNS 02]
[OUT Q=very small.]
In an interview just last year, Joe Dashiell asked Johnson whether he thought local folks were aware that he and Bly had achieved international fame through their syndicated show.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @14:21:53 Joe-D's Beta fieldtape]
[IN Q=In my former job]
((IN MY FORMER JOB IN SPECIAL EVENTS, IT USED TO IRRITATE ME GREATLY WHEN I WOULD GO TO MEETINGS AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GET THE NAME OF ROANOKE OUT AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AND HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO SPEND. AND LARRY AND I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR 17 YEARS.))
[RUNS 18]
[OUT Q=for 17 years.]
Laban Johnson dead at age 57.))
(-------------)
[Talent=Melanie]
[graphic=None]
We spoke with Larry Bly on the phone last night.
He says he's in shock over Johnson's death- and went on to say it's been a great 19 years.
[7E-460-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:24:36]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A single vehicle accident left one man dead and a child in the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
56 year old Earl Wimmer of Salem died after his minivan struck a tree off of Route 460 West in the Glenvar Heights section of Roanoke County.
Witnesses say Wimmer's vehicle was sideways in the 4-lane road before he swerved to miss a guardrail and then hit a tree.
His 11-year-old god-daughter is in Lewis-Gale hospital - the extent of her injuries is unknown.
Police are investigating the accident.
(------------)
[7S-Reading-Day]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=vvo]
[TAPE#=99-4]
[GRAPHIC=None]
VMI marched to a different drummer yesterday, as cadets helped local children celebrate what would have been the 95th birthday of Doctor Seuss.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
The cadets were dressed like the Cat in the Hat, with large red and white striped hats-- to show the children that reading can be fun. Children from Central Elementary School listened as they read from Doctor Seuss books.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 11:11:22]
[IN Q= I think being;]
((JULIE MORRIS/TEACHER, CENTRAL ELEMENTARY: I THINK BEING HERE TODAY THE KIDS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TO SEE JUST HOW FUN READING IS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE JUST IN THE CLASSROOM IT CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE: AT HOME, OUTSIDE, AND IT IS A FUN THING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CADETS BEING INVOLVED IN OUR READING CELEBRATION TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Julie Morris/Central Elementary Teacher;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q= reading celebration today.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Narrows;]
In Giles County, the principal at Narrows Elementary agreed to dress as Doctor Suess--- if students read more than t
wo-thousand books in the month of February.
They did-- reading close to 27- hundred.
(-----------------------)
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your midweek forecast..
Expect rain showers throughout the day, as winds return, and temperatures climb into the upper-50s for highs.
Snow overnight, with up to an inch possible. Lows will be around thirty degrees.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Rainy & Windy/Falling Temperatures/55-59/Snow Showers/An Inch Possible/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 3/4/99
Thursday:
[SUPER=130-4/Dannie Brizendine/Rocky Mount]
[SUPER=130-2/Brittany McBride/Ridgeway]
[SUPER=130-1/Keith Riley/Goshen]
[SUPER=130-5/Emery Caldwell/Radford]
[SUPER=130-7/Cassie Flinchum/Pulaski]
[SUPER=130-5/Travis Hawks/Check]
[SUPER=130-8/Amanda Hale/Floyd]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-34/Rick Scott/Christiansburg][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[45County-Planning]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#99-13]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Seal]
Over the objection of neighbors, the Roanoke planning commission last night approved a special use permit for the Woods End Property.
That means the county is one step closer to having a new southwest high school.
Eric Earnhart has details.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The strongest opposition]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Steve Jacobs/Pleasant Hill Dr. Resident; :09]
[SUPER=01-Craig Mitchell/Kingston Court Homeowners Assn.; :17]
[super=01-Tabitha Rand/Cave Spring Tenth Grader; :28]
[super=01-Al Thomason/Commission Member; :48]
[super=01-Martha Hooker/Commission Chair; 1:03]
[SUPER=@Eric1; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=Eric Earnhart, News 7]
[45Home-depot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-14]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Seal]
Meantime, the commission rejected a request to rezone property earmarked for the ill-fated Home Depot project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]
The owners, Springwood associates, want the site zoned commercial, and suggested they might put some fast food restaurants on the property.
The Commission rejected the proposal because there was no specific site plan.
Springwood's lawyer questioned why the commission would REJECT commercial development NOW, if it was willing to APPROVE a Home Depot store before.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:00:03]
[IN Q=I'm disappointed]
((ED NATT/ATTORNEY; I'M DISAPPOINTED, I DISAGREE WITH THEIR THOUGHTS AND PHILOSOPHY TO SOME DEGREE, I THINK THAT SPRINGWOOD DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO TRY AND GET THIS MATTER BROUGHT FORWARD IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY AND I'M JUST REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESS
[time code 03:00:45]
PATRICIA MEADOR/NEIGHBOR; THIS TIME THEY REALLY DID THEIR JOB, THEY'VE MADE MISTAKES BEFORE AND OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Ed Natt/Springwood Attorney;]
[SUPER=01-Patricia Meador/Neighbor; :18]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=do it again]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Commission members told Springwood they would consider a specific plan.
[45E-Clinton-Donor]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-83 1:04:27]
[GRAPHIC=Clinton Defense Donors]
Sixty-five people who live in our area came to President Clinton's defense - financially.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Warren Campbell was one of those people, giving a hundred dollars to help Clinton fend off what he called Republican-led attacks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 57:38]
[IN Q=THERE HAVE BEEN]
((WARREN CAMPBELL: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT TO GET THE PRESIDENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IF THEY COULDN'T BEAT HIM ON THE ISSUES, THEY'RE JUST OUT TO GET HIM FOR OTHER REASONS.))
[SUPER=01-Warren Campbell/Clinton Benefactor;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=OTHER REASONS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
President Clinton has legal bills totaling nine-million dollars.
So far, Americans have donated four-and-a-half million to the defense fund.
Friends of the president started the fund to pay for costs related to the Whitewater investigation, the Paula Jones lawsuit and the impeachment trial.
(------------)
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Time now to check the mid- week forecast... rainy and windy today, with highs climbing into the upper 50s early today, before colder air moves in.
Lows will drop to near 30 by tonight, with rain showers likely changing over to snow showers.
About an inch of snow is likely.
The extended forecast looks drier through Saturday, with rain likely again by Sunday.
Highs in the 50s...lows mainly in the 30s and 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Rainy & Windy/Falling Temperatures/55-59/Snow Showers/An Inch Possible/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[8E-Danville-Firefighters]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=99-12 3:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In an effort to cut costs and prevent un- needed overtime, Danville city council voted last night to change the work schedule for firefighters.
But the firefighters are not too happy about it.
Christy Hubley reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Danville firefighters packed]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ray Earp/Firefighter; :17]
[SUPER=01-Brian Alderson/Firefighter; :38]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Monday; :46]
[SUPER=01-B. G. Lewis/Fire Chief; 1:02]
[SUPER=@Christy2; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville.]
(( Danville firefighters packed the city council chambers, hoping to make it clear they didn't want their work schedules changed to a 19-day tour of duty developed by a consultant.
They made one final plea to keep their current 21-day cycle AS-IS.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:00-:08 ]
[IN Q=There are no hidden]
((RAY EARP/FIREFIGHTER: THERE ARE NO HIDDEN, ADDITIONAL OR LONG TERM COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PROPOSAL OVER THE CONSULTANT'S PROPOSAL.))
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=the consultant's proposal.]
With a narrow vote of 5-to-4, the "I"s had it.
[NATS of "I" at 12:07]
[RUNS:02]
And firefighters left the council chambers in disgust.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12-:15 ]
[IN Q=Everybody's disappointed]
((RAY EARP/FIREFIGHTER: EVERYBODY'S DISAPPOINTED BUT WE'LL GO ON. WE WON'T QUIT.))
[RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=won't quit.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:00-:08]
[IN Q=Disappointment. We worked]
((BRIAN ALDERSON/FIREFIGHTER: WE WORKED HARD I THINK TO GET OUR SCHEDULE ACROSS OF WHAT WE WANTED AND IT'S DISAPPOINTED FOR IT TO GO AGAINST US.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=go against us.]
Firefighters are most upset that the new schedule doesn't allow them to have a full weekend off and forces them to sacrifice family time.
Morale may have just taken a big hit, but the fire chief says his department won't let it have an impact of the job they do protecting the city.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:53-16:06]
[IN Q=Any time there's a change]
((B.G. LEWIS/FIRE CHIEF: ANY TIME THERE'S A CHANGE, THERE'S A TIME PERIOD OF GETTING USED TO A CHANGE BUT THIS IS A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR THE CITY OF DANVILLE AND I THINK THEY'LL RISE TO THE OCCASION.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=to the occasion.]
No word yet on when the new schedule will go into effect.
Christy Hubley, News 7, Danville.))
(-------------)
[8E-Executions]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-1 53:25]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capital Punishment]
Next month will likely be a record- breaker for executions in the Commonwealth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In 1995, Virginia executed five killers.
In 1996, eight.
In 1997, nine.
In 1998, 13... a new record.
In 1999, we have executed two so far -- and have seven more scheduled through the end of April... for a possible total of nine in just four months.
And the American Civil Liberties Union points out another new statistic, based on the total number of executions in modern times.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:40:48]
[IN Q=Virginia executes]
((KENT WILLIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: VIRGINIA EXECUTES 9-POINT-8 PEOPLE OUT OF EVERY MILLION CITIZENS. TEXAS 9-POINT-7. SO VIRGINIA BARELY NUDGES OUT TEXAS IN THAT CATEGORY. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS A MATTER OF PER CAPITA EXECUTIONS, VIRGINIA EXECUTES MORE CITIZENS THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION.))
[SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU; ]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=the nation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Virginia has executed 61 men in modern times, and has only 40 left on death row.
(------------)
[8E-Greenbrier-Casino]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-79 1:40:52]
[GRAPHIC=Greenbrier Casino]
The odds seem to be in favor of casino gambling at the Greenbrier.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wh. Sulphur Springs, WV/File Tape]
The West Virginia resort wants to build a Monte Carlo style casino to attract more overnight visitors.
Last night, the Senate Finance Committee aproved a bill that would allow Greenbrier County voters to decide the issue.
The bill now goes to the full Senate.
(------------)
[8E-Sweepstakes]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-5 29:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke man surfed the web, and ended up winning the home of his dreams..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Warren Burch of Roanoke hit the jackpot when he entered a contest on the realtor-dot-com website... Burch and his wife came away with 250-thousand dollars to put toward their dream home.
The couple entered the company's "Win Your Next Home" sweepstakes.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Taking another look at today's forecast...Rainy today, with gusty winds. Highs in the upper 50s.
Temperatures will fall throughout the afternoon, gradually turning rain into snow by tonight, when lows drop to near 30. An inch or so is likely by morning.
The extended forecast promises some sunshine for the next couple of days, with rain developing for the latter half of the weekend.
Highs staying in the 50s...lows in the 30s and 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Rainy & Windy/Falling Temperatures/55-59/Snow Showers/An Inch Possible/28-32;]
by SS