[7Narrows]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-29 26:32]
[GRAPHIC=none]
More than 75- Narrows community members took part in an informal meeting.
At issue-- whether residents can continue to afford to remain a town or if it's time to let Giles County provide services.
Teresa Hamilton has more from last night's meeting.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Ed Gilbert; ]
[SUPER=03-Narrows; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed Gilbert/Narrows Businessman; :37]
[SUPER=01-Larry Wilburn/Narrows Resident; 1:02]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:33]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Narrows.]
(( Ed Gilbert is one of several men who help organize the meeting to find out what Narrows residents are thinking.
The majority on hand were indeed interested in learning more about the possibility of saving money-- by losing town status.
There are a number of issues that have led to this point-- but the main one revolves around increasing water and sewer rates.
Last year, the town increased the rate thirty percent.
This year, the rate jumped 52- percent.
Gilbert, who owns a Laundromat, says the increase is driving him out of business.
[////sot////]
[in q= My average]
((ED GILBERT/NARROWS BUSINESSMAN: MY AVERAGE BILL WAS AROUND 270- TO 290 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR ROUGHLY 68-THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER, MY LAST, MY NEWEST BILL WAS 492 DOLLAR, I CAN NOT LIVE WITH IT.))
[runs= 15]
[out q=with it.]
Gilbert says he's also disturbed by the 10- percent increase in property taxes.
He, and others at the meeting, were also concerned by the fact the town is 2-point six million dollars in debt.
[/////sot//////]
[in q= Like Ed]
((LARRY WILBURN/TOWN RESIDENT: LIKE ED SAID, THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. NEXT YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME THING YEARS TO COME, AS THE COST GOES UP FOR POLICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, TAXES ARE GOING TO RISE. ))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=to rise.]
Those pushing the issue do have support on their side.
There are a little more than a thousand homes within town limits.
A petition that's been circulating asking people if they were considering the possibility of losing town status-- contained more than 500- signatures.
[stand up]
Although the group will meet again a month from now, the date they're most looking forward to is Monday's Town Council meeting-- when they hope to get as many people as possible to officially voice their concerns.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Narrows.
))
[7E-L'burg-Water]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#=99-27 1:20:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
While Roanoke continues to suffer from the dry weather, so does Lynchburg, except they do NOT anticipate any plans for water restrictions .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Officials in the Hill City say that's because Lynchburg can also draw water from the James River when needed.
Right now about 25 percent of the city's daily water supply comes from the James.
That could grow to 50 percent if the hot, dry weather continues.
Lynchburg's main water source.. the Pedlar Reservoir in Amherst County.. is about 15 feet below normal.
(------------)
[7Farm-Aid]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-24]
[GRAPHIC=]
Mother nature might not be showing Virginia farmers any relief. But country music star Willie Nelson is showing it in form of 20-thousand dollars..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-1996;]
Nelson created the annual Farm Aid benefit concert; the next will be held in Northern Virginia next month.
Now Nelson's starting a drought recovery fund.
His first gift will be a 20-thousand-dollar grant to the Virginia Council of Churches.
Farm Aid gives money to church groups and rural organizations to save farming families.
To contribute call 1-800-FARM AID.
(------------)
[7WEATHER]
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[WRITER=KMC]
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[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your Friday forecast... there will be sunny skies, but no rain in sight. With Light winds out of the north west the temps will continue to be seasonable with high's in the upper 80's. For tonight it will stay clear and pleasant temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50's.
The extended forecast...
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[SUPER=314-Sunny Skies/Light NW Winds/85-89/Staying Clear/& Pleasant/55-60;]
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[7BIRTHDAYS]
8/7/99
Saturday:
[SUPER=130-3/Jacob Herrell/Fincastle]
[SUPER=130-9/Ashlee Dunbar/Blue Ridge]
[SUPER=130-2/Abigail Meeks/Rocky Mount]
[SUPER=130-48/Carrie Donevan/Danville]
[SUPER=130-8/Tabitha Whittlock/Christiansburg]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-5/Jessica Walker/Ferrum][cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[45Carvins-Cove]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]
The Water level continues to drop at Carvins cove and that means the next level of water restrictions is getting closer.
(++++++++)
[Take Pinnacle 1004]
At last check yesterday morning, Roanoke's main water supply was down 26-and- a- half feet below full pond. That means the tougher restrictions are now less than three and a half feet away.
(++++++++)
[ANCHOR=]
[SS=Hold]
If the decline continues at its current rate, higher fees and penalties for excessive use could take effect next month.
[45E-L'burg-Water]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-27 1:20:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Lynchburg isn't getting any more rain than Roanoke, but so far the Hill City isn't facing water restrictions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Officials say that's because Lynchburg can also draw water from the James River when needed.
Right now about 25 percent of the city's daily water supply comes from the James.
That could grow to 50 percent if the hot, dry weather continues.
Lynchburg's main water source.. the Pedlar Reservoir in Amherst County.. is about 15 feet below normal.
(------------)
[45Tobacco]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-25 1:03:19]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco]
Tobacco farmers will benefit from the farm aid package moving through Congress, but it's not
not because their crop is suffering.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/June]
The 328 million dollars is for growers whose tobacco quotas have been cut back.
Virginia senator Chuck Robb pushed for the money to be added to the drought bill.
Growers won't see the cash, though, until later this year. It will be distributed along with money from the national tobacco settlement.
(------------)
[45Bassett]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-40 3:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He may be 93, but it's not quite ready to give up his job at Bassett Furniture.
So to reward him for his year's of dedicated employment , Norris Hatcher was the quest of honor at a ballgame last night in Martinsville.
Marya Jones has his story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Norris Hatcher]
[SUPER=07-Norris Hatcher; :07]
[SUPER=01-Ron Spivey/Bassett Human Resources Mgr.; :42]
[SUPER=@Marya2; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Martinsville.]
(( Norris Hatcher has spent 73 years of his life making furniture.
But he hasn't found much time for sitting down.
[SOT 3:33:29]
((NORRIS HATCHER: CAN'T SIT DOWN. YOU HAVE ONE BREAK IN THE MORNING, ONE BREAK IN THE AFTERNOON AND 30 MINUTES FOR LUNCH.))
[RUNS:06]
The 93-year-old began working at a furniture plant at the age of 20.
He retired after 43 years, but quickly found that retirement didn't suit him.
[SOT 3:28:26]
((NORRIS HATCHER: I KIND OF GOT BORED. I GOT ALL MY HOUSEWORK DONE AND THE YARDWORK AND THE HOUSEPAINTING AND HOUSECLEANING AND I HAD A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS.))
[RUNS:10]
At 63, Hatcher went back to work at Bassett, where he's stayed for 30 years, making cabinets on an assembly line.
[SOT 3:37:03]
((RON SPIVEY: TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, NORRIS CAN HOLD HIS OWN WITH ANY EMPLOYEE WE'VE GOT. IN A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK, NORRIS WILL PUT OUT AS MUCH FURNITURE AS ANYBODY THAT WORKS DOWN THERE.))
[RUNS:12]
Hatcher has a few secrets to staying young that help him do that:
[SOT 3:30:12]
(( KEEP BUSY AND ANOTHER THING IS STAY AWAY FROM DOCTORS AND GARAGES.))
[RUNS:04]
And does the man who calls working his "hobby" plan to ever retire?
[SOT 3:31:37]
(( NORRIS HATCHER: I WORK ONE DAY AT A TIME. ))
[RUNS:03]
For now, Bassett's oldest employee says he'll stay in the ballgame.
Marya Jones, News 7, Martinsville.))
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
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[WRITER=KMC]
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[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a moment now to check the forecast...
Lots of sunshine and comfortable humidity levels.
Highs in the upper 80s.
Staying clear overnight, with pleasant lows in the mid and upper 50s.
The five day forecast stays partly cloudy...with increasing humidity and scattered thunderstorms possible over the weekend.
Highs in the upper 80s...lows in the mid 60s.
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[SUPER=314-Sunny Skies/Light NW Winds/85-89/Staying Clear/& Pleasant/55-60;]
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[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[8Accident]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[WRITER=rsp]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=accident]
Two juveniles are in the hospital after crashing a stolen vehicle this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania County;]
Authorities say the juveniles were driving the stolen car on Route 41 in Pittsylvania County when the driver ran off the right side of the road, then off to the left.
The driver then managed to maneuver the car back on the road only to flip it several times.
One of the juveniles was found 40 feet from the car and the other was found in the middle of the street.
No word yet on their names or conditions
(------------)
[85-M'ville-Deputies]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=599-5 1:47:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two Martinsville deputies have been suspended for engaging in horseplay that resulted in an accidental shooting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
Deputy Bobby Branch has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm in the incident after he shot another deputy in City Hall.
Sheriff Steve Draper said that Branch jokingly pointed his gun toward David Floyd and hit his shoulder against the wall, causing the gun to go off.
Floyd was shot in the hip.
Both men were suspended for 20 days without pay and placed on 12 months probation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:23:57]
[IN Q=David needs to thank the Lord]
[SUPER=01-Steve Draper/Martinsville City Sheriff;]
((STEVE DRAPER/MARTINSVILLE CITY SHERIFF: DAVID NEEDS TO THANK THE LORD THAT HE'S ALIVE. THAT HE DIDN'T GET HURT ANY WORSE THAN HE DID WHEN HE GOT SHOT. THIS INCIDENT WAS BAD AND IT WAS TRAGIC AND IT WAS EMBARRASSING TO MY DEPARTMENT, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT WORSE. ))
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[OUT Q=a whole lot worse.]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Sheriff Draper says that neither of the men was fired because of their good work history and the fact that they're each less than four years away from retirement.
[8college-drinking]
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[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=College Drinking]
The crack down on binge drinking at Virginia colleges appears to be working.
One published report shows there has been a sharp increase in arrests.
A Norfolk newspaper reports arrests at VirginiaTech last year increased 104 percent.
Officials say that doesn't mean that drinking is on the rise.
Instead, they said, the schools are strictly enforcing tough new policies to curb alcohol abuse.
[8County-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-22 1:53:20]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]
The prices for renovations to Glenvar Middle School have gone up, causing Roanoke County School Board members
to seek advice on cost saving changes. Joy Sutton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The projected]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Stovall/School Board Member; :28]
[SUPER=01-Michael Crowder/Principal Glenvar Middle School; 1:13]
[super=@Joy2;1:13]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=N7 Roanoke County.]
(( The projected cost to renovate Glenvar Middle school has risen from 6 million dollars to 7-point-9 million dollars.
And this has many Roanoke County school board members saying the cost is too high...something has to be cut.
Now an independent engineering firm is advising the board on ways to change the plans to save money.
And for Mike Stovall saving tax payers money without jeopardizing school quality is the key.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:41:20]
[IN Q=Now some]
((MIKE STOVALL/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: NOW SOME OF THE CUTS JUST MEET STATE STANDARDS. THEY'RE AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE THE STATE STANDARD, THAT FOR US TO DO OUR JOBS FOR TAX PAYERS. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE CUTS))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=those cuts]
The proposed plan by the original architect calls for several improvements including: a new lecture facility, physical education lockers, new music, special education, and physical education classrooms, a new auxiliary gym, library, and middle school entrance.
For Glenvar Middle School Principal Michael Crowder this is an ideal plan and he says the cuts that the independent firm suggests are not in the school's best interest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:38:59]
[IN Q=Just chopping]
((MICHAEL CROWDER/PRINCIPAL GLENVAR MIDDLE SCHOOL: JUST CHOPPING OFF A GYM, CHOPPING A LECTURE HALL OFF, USE THE LECTURE HALL YOU'VE GOT.. THEY'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH THOSE BUT THEY'RE NOT VERY REALISTIC SUGGESTIONS))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=realistic suggestion]
But both the School Board and the principal agree compromises will have to be made if there is going to be any progress made on this project.
Joy Sutton, News 7, Roanoke County.))
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Shifting gears now to weather...
Sunny and pleasant today, with seasonable temperatures climbing into the upper 80s.
Tonight should stay clear with lows in the upper 50s.
The extended forecast is calling for higher humidity and scattered thunderstorms once we head into the weekend.
Highs in the upper 80s...lows in the mid 60s.
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[SUPER=314-Sunny Skies/Light NW Winds/85-89/Staying Clear/& Pleasant/55-60;]
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by SS