[7E-Drowning-Follow]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-11 1:04:16]
[GRAPHIC=River Survivor]
The Blacksburg high school student who nearly drowned in the New River spoke publicly today about the man she will always consider a hero.
Jimmy Gilmore lost his life trying to save her.
Teresa Hamilton has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=18- year old]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./Monday; :08]
[SUPER=07-Jennie Preston; :30]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. D. W. Bolejack/Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Dept.; 1:11]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7.]
((
18- year old Jennie Preston and her friends never knew Jimmy Gilmore or his friends, prior to hanging out Monday afternoon at McCoy Falls.
But it's unlikely she'll ever forget any of them.
She says they were all sitting on the edge of the water talking when several people suggested venturing out to the falls.
When Preston mentioned she couldn't swim-- she says Gilmore offered to give her a piggyback.
But once they entered the river Gilmore slipped.
At first, nothing seemed wrong as the two looked for her sandal.
[sot 13:23:40]
[in q=It was ]
((JENNIE PRESTON: IT WAS ONLY UP TO MY KNEES AND IT JUST CAME AND IT TOOK ME AWAY AND THE RAPIDS WAS GOING SO FAST AND HE HAD HIS ARMS OUT TRYING TO GET ME BUT I WAS GOING SO FAST AND THEN OUR HANDS WERE JUST THIS FAR APART, WE COULD ALMOST TOUCH, AND I WAS JUST GOING SO FAST AND A HUGE WAVE CAME OVER.))
[OUT Q=came over.]
[runs= 20]
In a matter of seconds-- Preston and Gilmore had completely separated.
And, while several men would eventually pull Preston out of the river.
It was too late for bystanders to reach Gilmore-- who friends say was good swimmer.
Sgt. David Bolejack says folks need to realize the danger.
[sot 13:43:35]
[in q=Any water]
((SGT. D. W. BOLEJACK/MONTGOMERY CO. SHERIFF'S DPT.: ANY BODY OF WATER YOU HAVE TO RESPECT IT AND BE AWARE THAT SINK HOLES CAN BE A HAZARD, BE AWARE OF THE WATER YOU'RE IN.))
[OUT Q=you're in.]
[RUNS= 10]
It's a lesson-- Preston says she hopes everyone takes to heart.
A memorial fund has been established for Jimmy Gilmore-- at the First National Bank of Christiansburg.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7.))
[7E-Roanoke-Soldier]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-18 19:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The assignment is Albania for one Roanoke soldier.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Albania/US Army Video]
And from the looks of things there, her biggest enemy may be mud.
The Army distributed video from the base near Tirana, in western Albania.
The soldiers are supporting Apache attack helicopters and artillery rocket systems to be deployed against Serbia.
Specialist Christel Key of Roanoke is among the American troops on this muddy mission
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I wish..]
[SUPER=01-Spec. Christel Key/Army Cook]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=...all the mud."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Specialist Key is a cook for the Fifth Corps, which has helped build this camp from what was an empty field a month ago.
(------------)
[7E-Job-Fair]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-12 1:10:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Scores of laid off textiles workers filled a Franklin County job fair today --
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
sifting through listed openings at local furniture, health and building companies.
Most pay about eight dollars an hour to start.
Many people lost their jobs in the past year when the three local textiles plants closed.
One was Pluma.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:46:04]
[IN Q=I still hope]
((NORMA JONES/JOB HUNTER: I STILL HOPE SOMEONE WILL COME IN AND BUY THE PLANT AND START SOMETHING UP BECAUSE THIS IS TOO GOOD A COMPANY TO LOSE ALL THE GOOD EMPLOYEES WE HAD.))
[SUPER=01-Norma Jones/Former Pluma Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=EMPLOYEES WE HAD]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Franklin Co. Video;]
Consultants have developed a new video to recruit high-tech Northern Virginia companies to Franklin County --
they say free job training is also available for former textiles workers.
(------------)
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
A beautiful day in store for us today. Your Thursday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs ranging from 70 to 75 degrees.
Clear and chilly tonight with lows in the low to mid 40's
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds N 10-15/70-75/Clear &/Chilly/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45E-Zoo-Overnight]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-22 36:15]
[GRAPHIC=Mill Mtn. Zoo]
Want to add a little adventure to your camping trip?
How about setting up your tent next to wild animals.
Eric Earnhart explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It puts a visit to]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Jobe/Program Specialist; :12]
[SUPER=@Eric1; :37]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
(( It puts a visit to the zoo in a whole new light... As the sun goes down... Program Specialist David Jobe says things begin to change here.
[SOT 07:10:26]
[IN Q=we are open ten to]
(( DAVID JOBE/PROGRAM SPECIALISTS; WE ARE OPEN TEN TO FIVE, WHICH IS DURING THE DAY BUT A GOOD NUMBER OF OUR ANIMALS ARE MORE ACTIVE DURING THE NIGHT SO TO INTRODUCE THE RESIDENTS OF ROANOKE TO THE NIGHT TIME LIFE OF ANIMALS, WE DECIDED TO START A NEW PROGRAM CALLED "NICHE AT NIGHT". ))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=nich at night]
[standup]
This little guy is a good example. If you've visited the zoo during the day, the Red Panda is probably asleep.
It's just about sundown here now, his eyes are open and he's ready to play.
And he's not alone, a number of animals are at their best in the dark... So from April through October, parents and children can bring a tent, camp out with the night creatures, and learn a few things.
[SOT 07:10:43]
[IN Q=we talk a lot ]
(( DAVID JOBE/PROGRAM SPECIALISTS; WE TALK A LOT ABOUT NOCTURNAL ANIMALS AND THE ANIMALS THAT ARE OUT DURING THE NIGHT, THE KIDS COME UP AND THEY DO CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE AFTER DARK. THE SENSES THAT YOU NEED AND THE ADAPTATIONS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO SURVIVE DURING THE NIGHT))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=survive during the night]
Jobe himself is developing some new nocturnal habits, hosting an animal chat on AOL every Wednesday night at seven o'clock...
But while you can learn a lot on the internet,nothing compares to standing eye-to-eye with a tiger at sunset.
Eric Earnhart, News 7.))
[45E-Henry-Drugs]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-19 13:40]
[GRAPHIC=Henry Co. Drug Arrests]
A joint effort by Henry County and Martsinville authorities has resulted in a major drug bust.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]
64 people have been indicted on drug charges, including selling crack cocaine and marijuana.
The arrests are the result of a 14-month investigation.
Police say some of the people charged were making as much as 3-thousand dollars a day selling crack.
They could face a penalty ranging from 5 to 40 years in prison.
(------------)
[45E-Missing-Woman]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-21 16:00]
[GRAPHIC=Pulley $50,000 Reward]
A 50-thousand reward is being offered for the safe return of a missing Pittsylvania County woman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Thirty-seven year old Patty Jo Pulley disappeared almost five days ago.
[SUPER=03-Caswell Co., NC/Yesteday]
Her truck was found Saturday across the state line in North Carolina.
Police are continuing to search the area for Pulley, but so far they say they've uncovered few leads.
There's also a 10-thousand dollar reward for information on her whereabouts.
(------------)
[45E-Kroger]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-25 14:36]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger Opening Day]
Some former Harriss Teeter customers are doing a little Krogering these days. (------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Yesterday, Kroger opened four new stores inside old Harris Teeter stores... including two in the Roanoke area.
The big Brambleton Avenue store looks a lot like it used to.
Kroger employees pledged to go out of their way to make loyal Harris Teeter shoppers feel like they're at home.
A total of nine former Harris Teeters will have reopened as Kroger by the end of the week.
(------------)
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Turning now to the forecast...
Mostly sunny skies today and rather breezy, with highs in the low to mid 70s.
Clear overnight and chilly, with lows cooling into the low to mid 40s.
Looking ahead to the next five days...staying sunny through Saturday with rain possible by Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds N 10-15/70-75/Clear &/Chilly/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[8E-Racetrack-Folo]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-13 1:05:38]
[GRAPHIC=Horse Racing]
A full-scale review is in the works for Virginia's only parimutuel horse racing track.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co./File Tape]
Commission members say they have very serious concerns about Colonial Downs' attitude toward live horse racing in the Commonwealth.
The Commission held off yesterday on sanctions against the track.
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
That was to allow time for a contract to be mediated between Colonial Downs and the horsemen's association.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:18:18]
[IN Q=That is ]
((ROBIN TRAYWICK-WILLIAMS/VIRGINIA RACING COMMISSION: THAT IS EVERYONE'S GOAL, TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL LIVE RACING. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY HOPEFUL THAT MR. SCHOENEFIELD CAN MEDIATE THAT AGREEMENT. PERHAPS THEY WILL REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THEIR OWN IN THE MEANTIME. SO WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO DO THAT, WITH THESE VERY SERIOUS SANCTIONS HANGING OVER THEIR HEAD. Would you call that a last chance? IT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS SANCTION FOR A PRETTY SERIOUS PROBLEM.))
[sot 14:24:12]
((IAN STEWART/COLONIAL DOWNS: I THINK THAT RACING IN VIRGINIA CAN WORK...GROWING PAINS.))
[SUPER=01-Robin Traywick Williams/Virginia Racing Commission; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ian Stewart/Colonial Downs; :34]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=growing pains.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Colonial Downs says it can only offer as many days of live racing in New Kent County as it can fund through its four off track betting parlors around the state.
No date's been set yet for the review of Colonial Downs' license to operate.
(------------)
[8E-BV-Taxes]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-15 29:56]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]
A tax break is in the cards for you, if you own a home in Buena Vista...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista;]
Beginning July first real estate taxes will fall from 92 to 89 cents.
The tax is applied towards every 100 dollars of assessed value.
The decrease equals out to a three point three percent reduction across-the-board.
Most of the revenue collected from the tax will go towards funding of the city's flood protection projects and its new high school.
(------------)
[8E-Danville-FF]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-10 1:52:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Dozens of Danville firefighters will get nearly 700- thousand dollars in backpay for unpaid overtime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
Last year, more than 80 firefighters sued the city and won. A federal judge found that the city violated fair labor laws because it required the firefighters to perform tasks during meal breaks without pay.
Firefighters who did not join in the lawsuit will also be compensated.
Mayor Ruby Archie says the money is MOSTLY coming from the city's insurance and NOT the taxpayers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:11:56 - 1:11:15]
[IN Q=WE AS COUNCIL PEOPLE]
((MAYOR RUBY ARCHIE/DANVILLE: WE AS COUNCIL PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO SEE OURSELVES PAYING OUT LARGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR SUITS. BUT, AS I INDICATED TO YOU EARLIER, WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT MATTER BASICALLY SETTLED, WE CAN ALL GET BACK TO OUR NORMAL ROUTINE. ))
[SUPER=01-Ruby Archie/Danville Mayor]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=NORMAL ROUTINE.]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The checks will go out next month.
[8E-Kroger]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-25 14:36]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger Opening Day]
Kroger is trying to keep faithful Harris Teeter shoppers returning to their stores...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Kroger opened four new stores yesterday inside OLD Harris Teeter stores... including two in the Roanoke area.
The big Brambleton Avenue store looks a lot like it used to.
Kroger employees pledged to go out of their way to make loyal Harris Teeter shoppers feel like they're at home.
A total of nine former Harris Teeters will have reopened as Kroger by the end of the week.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news to check the forecast...
Mostly sunny today, with fairly strong winds out of the north.
Highs of 70 to 75.
Clear and chilly tonight, with lows in the lower 40s.
The extended outlook is partly to mostly sunny into the weekend....with showers possible by Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds N 10-15/70-75/Clear &/Chilly/40-45;]
by SS