[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
They're fighting fire with fire in Southern California.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And Lynchburg's fire chief resigns.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Fire-Chief]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-35 TC38:08]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg City Seal]
What had been a rumor for weeks became fact today when Lynchburg fire chief Fred Mills announced his resignation.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Steve/Lynchburg Bureau]
Steve Smallshaw is in our Lynchburg newsroom.. Steve apparently this was not a surprise to most of the fire department there?
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
That's right Melanie.. the reason this was not a big surprise is because many of the rank and file within the fire department have been dissatisfied with Chief Mills' leadership.
Mills however says that had nothing to do with his decision.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=After three years]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Donna Mills/Wife; :14]
[SUPER=01-Charles Church/Lynchburg City Manager; :44]
[SUPER=01-Fred Mills/Lynchburg Fire Chief; :55]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=for this decision.]
(( After three years at the helm of Lynchburg's fire department, Chief Fred Mills announced today he is stepping down from his position.. Mills says the job had become too demanding and he was ready to devote more time to his family.
[SOT 21:08:22]
((DONNA MILLS/WIFE: WE DON'T REALLY SEE HIM AS STEPPING DOWN. WE SEE THIS REALLY AS A STEP UP FOR HIM, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AT HOME AND WE'VE SEEN THE LAST YEAR AND HOW STRESSFUL THE JOB HAS BEEN AND HOW MUCH HE HAS PUT INTO IT.))
[RUNS 13]
[OUT Q=put into it.]
But for several weeks, many firefighters have expressed concern about proposed changes Mills was making in the department.. including new requirements where firefighters and E-M-T's would be swapping jobs on a regular basis.
City manager Charles Church today defended those changes.. and Mills' ability to implement them.
[SOT 21:12:27]
((CHARLES CHURCH/LYNCHBURG CITY MANAGER: IF WE STOPPED DOING THE GOOD THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE BECAUSE THERE WAS A SMALL GROUP THAT HAD CONCERNS, WE WOULDN'T EVER DO ANYTHING.))
[RUNS 08]
[OUT Q=ever do anything.]
[SOT 21:11:30]
((FRED MILLS/LYNCHBURG FIRE CHIEF: ANY TIME YOU MAKE CHANGES THERE WILL BE PEOPLE, PROBABLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, THAT RESIST THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH CHANGE.. THAT IS NOT THE BASIS FOR THIS DECISION.))
[RUNS 13]
[OUT Q=for this decision.]))
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
Mills will stay on as fire chief until his replacement is named.. and then he'll assume his old duties as a battalion chief with more emphasis on field duty.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Steve/Lynchburg Bureau]
They hope to have a new chief on board by January.
[Connex]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-53 TC1:07:36]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
A Botetourt County factory that closed a year ago will soon re-open.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville/September 1998]
Connex Pipe Systems shut down last year, putting more than 130 people out of work.
The company at the time blamed economic conditions in Asia.
But now, Connex plans to re-start production sometime next month.
It will start by hiring 50 people.
(------------)
[fires]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wild Fires]
It's a desperate situation in the west where wild fires are burning out of control.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lucerne Valley, CA;]
[7:02]
It's gotten so bad that firefighters in California are torching selected forests in an attempt to stop the flames from engulfing resort towns in the San Bernadino mountains.
Residents have their belongings packed and around to evacuate if necessary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4:02:05-17]
[IN Q=They're safe for now....]
((THEY'RE SAFE FOR NOW BUT THE FIRE'S NOT OUT, I'VE SEEN THIS MT. BURN A LOT OF TIMES AND I CAN PICK UP AGAIN, IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL THE FIRE IS COMPLETELY OUT AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME.))
[SUPER=01-Kirk Zabriski/Homeowner;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=and that's what scares me.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The fire was sparked Saturday by an illegal camp fire.
So far it's burned 60-thousand acres from the Mojave Desert into the mountains 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
(-----------)
[waco]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
There are new developments regarding the 19-93 raid at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Waco, TX/1993;]
[4:06:08]
Federal marshals have taken custody of an F-B-I Infrared videotape recorded hours before the raid.
The tape picked up the voice of an agent seeking and receiving permission to fire incendiary tear gas grenades at a bunker next to the compound.
Meantime, Attorney General Janet Reno reportedly has decided on independent inquiry on the controversy.
But at least two U-S Senators are asking for her resignation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((SEN. PHIL GRAMM/(R) TEXAS; I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD STEP DOWN. I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE SHE HAS EITHER LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR ALLOWED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BE LIED TO.
SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON/(R) TEXAS; AND I THINK IF IN FACT SHE WASN'T ABLE TO HANDLE THIS, IF SHE IS AT FAULT FOR HAVING THE MISINFORMATION GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC, THEN I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Phil Gramm/(R) Texas; :02]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Kay Hutchison/(R) Texas; :12]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=there should be some accountability.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Also, a spokesman says a House committee will issue subpoenas today to the White House and several government agencies.
(------------)
[mideast-peace]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mid East Peace]
Fifty Palestinian prisoners are all that stand in the way of a peace deal that will end years of animosity between Israelis and Palestinians.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]
Both sides have been hold marathon negotiations.
They're trying to reach a deal that would have the Israelis gradually pull out of a portion of the West Bank in exchange for guarantees of security against Palestinian violence.
(------------)
[Sheinbein]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
An American teenager will be sentenced next month in Israel for a murder he committed in the U-S.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;]
Samuel Sheinbein pleaded guilty today to strangling another teen in Maryland in 19-97.
Based on a plea agreement, Sheinbein is expected to be sentenced to 24 years, but could be eligible for early release after 16 years.
He would also be eligible for weekend furloughs after six years.
(------------)
[E-Weeks]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=99-38 03:09]
[GRAPHIC=Weeks Execution Stayed]
The U-S Supreme Court will likely hear an appeal of Lonnie Weeks' capital murder conviction in December or January.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
The 27 year old North Carolina man was scheduled to die last night for the shooting death of a state trooper.
[Super=03-Dale City/1993;]
It was 1993 that Weeks was pulled over on Interstate 95 in Dale City-
A jury convicted him of fatally shooting Virginia State Trooper Jose (ka-VAH-zose) Cavazos six times-
But the court stayed the execution just two hours before it was to be carried out.
The Supreme Court will consider a question regarding a judge's instructions to the jury that sentenced Weeks to death.
There won't be a decision until next summer.
(------------)
[81-Sinkhole]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=81 Sinkhole]
Traffic should be getting back to normal soon on Interstate 81 near Harrisonburg.
V-Dot has filled in a six-foot deep sinkhole that opened up in the southbound lane yesterday afternoon.
The road was closed to truck traffic, which was diverted onto Route 11 and cars had to use the shoulder.
At one point, traffic was backed up for ten miles.
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Students at one Martinsville school have adopted a safety measure that also lightens their load.
Find out what it is in a moment on News 7 at noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And it's bon voyage and good luck to Miss Virginia as she leaves for Atlantic City.
That story when we return.
First let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Miss-Virginia]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-24 TC1:58:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Maybe TWO times will be the charm....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A farewell party was held this morning for Miss Virginia Crystal Lewis, as she prepares to compete in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City.
Lewis says she doesn't feel pressured to follow in Nicole Johnson's footsteps, but says HISTORY is on her side.
In 19-59, outgoing Miss America Mary Ann Mobley crowned her successor from her own home state...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:37:25 ]
[IN Q=1999, I think]
((CRYSTAL LEWIS/MISS VIRGINIA: 1999-- I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A PATTERN NOW. NICOLE JOHNSON WAS CROWNED MISS AMERICA AND WHAT PERFECT TIMING, ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY FOR NICOLE TO CROWN A SUCCESSOR FROM HER SAME STATE....SO...APPLAUSE.))
[SUPER=01-Crystal Lewis/Miss Virginia;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=same state...applause]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Lewis took off this morning to spend a week at Disney World in Orlando, Florida with fellow contestants.
She'll then head to Atlantic City to prepare for the pageant.
(------------)
[E-Well-Water]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-30 1:14:30]
[GRAPHIC=Drought of 99]
Water restrictions are still in place, but Roanoke residents now have a way to water their lawns and gardens.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The catch is, you have to go get the water and haul it home.
The city has a spigot available 24 hours a day at the New Hope well system on Welcome Valley Road.
You have to bring your own tank, and are limited to 300 gallons.
You can also fill water tanks at the Utility Line Services complex on Hollins Road between 7-AM and 3-PM.
The water is NOT suitable for drinking.
(------------)
[E-RMH-Smoke]
[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-31 19:54]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
A Botetourt County woman says when she went to the hospital to visit a relative, she never imagined she'd end up in the emergency room.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Pat Deel suffers from reactive airway disease -- life-threatening allergies to tobacco smoke.
15 minutes into visiting her sick mother at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital -- she had an allergic reaction to cigarette smoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 02:34:52]
[IN Q=That was the]
((PATRICIA DEEL/ALLERGIC TO SMOKE: THAT WAS THE END OF MY VISIT. I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO TELL HER BYE. AND WHEN SHE HAD THE STROKE, I THOUGHT SHE HAD DIED BECAUSE SHE WAS HERE AT HOME, AND I NEEDED THAT VISIT WITH HER AND SHE NEEDED IT WITH ME.))
[SUPER=01-Patricia Deel/Allergic to Smoke;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=with me.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hospital administration says R-M-H is a no smoking health care facility, but physicians can give certain patients special orders to smoke.
For example -- terminally ill patients are allowed to smoke in their rooms if they are unable to be moved to the designated outdoor smoking area.
(------------)
[E-Store-Assault]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-29 51:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Bedford County couple is considering a civil suit against the Toys R Us store in Lynchburg, after their 7-year old daughter was allegedly assaulted by a store employee there.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Richard and Tammy Artutis (are-TOO-tis) say the employee thought their daughter Amanda was trying to shoplift and confronted her in the women's restroom.
The woman allegedly stuck her hand in Amanda's pants to search for concealed merchandise, but found nothing.
The Artutises have sworn out a criminal warrant and may also sue the store.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:34:21]
[IN Q=To see that]
((RICHARD ARTUTIS/FATHER: TO SEE THAT THIS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE. THEY NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THE ACTIONS THEY TAKE WHEN THEY'RE IN THAT STORE. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX IT.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Artutis/Father]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=have to fix it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Toys R Us store manager told News7 that there was an incident Tuesday night but that "no" assault occurred.
(------------)
[Book-Bags]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-25 1:30:32]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Students at Martinsville Middle school had one less school supply to buy this year- a book bag.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]
It's part of a new school safety measure conceived by the students to ensure NO weapons are brought to school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:27:55]
[INQ=Ususally they]
((HUONG DOAN: USUALLY THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THEIR BOOK BAGS, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T JUST CARRY IT AROUND, PEOPLE WILL SEE, SO YEAH, I THINK IT ELIMINATES THAT PROBLEM. ))
[SUPER=01-Huong Doan/8th Grade]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUTQ=eliminates that problem]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Although there were NO reports of weapons brought into the school last year, administers agree this policy was a good idea.
(/////SOT//////)
[SOT 1:12:41]
[INQ=We're trying to]
((IRA TROLLINGER/SUPERINTENDENT: WE'RE TRYING TO BE PREVENTIVE. WE DON'T WANT AN INCIDENT TO OCCUR AND REACT TO IT. WE'D REALLY LIKE TO TO TAKE PREVENTIVE STEPS TO START WITH.))
[SUPER=01-Ira Trollinger/Martinsville Superintendent]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUTQ=to start with]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
In addition to the added security, students and teachers agree that the policy also lightens kids' loads.
Students are given two sets of books- one for home and one for school.
The only bag allowed is a purse that must be kept in lockers.
(-------------)
[recalls]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Recall]
Some recalls to tell you about this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[11:00:28]
Some 470-thousand stuffed toys from the Precious Moments Tender Tails line have been recalled.
Apparently the pomp-poms on these toys can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children.
[10:58:32]
And the government has ordered the recall of some sixty thousand acrobatic swings.
The trapeze swings have exposed bolts that could cause lacerations.
Backyard Products, the manufacturer, is offering a free repair kit.
[10;57:00]
And the government has also ordered the recall of more than 900 thousand cans of spray string sold under the names Crazy Ribbon and Crazy String because the propellant in the cans is highly flammable.
(------------)
[Dennis]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=TS Dennis]
National Guard troops are trying again today to get supplies onto Hatteras Island where thousands are stranded by tropical storm Dennis.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cape Hatteras, NC;]
The first trucks carrying food and water for more than 5 thousand could not make it yesterday because the main road along the thin island has been cut in half by the storm.
On aid convoy managed to get through last night.
Dennis is stalled 110 miles east of Cape Hatteras, but the 60-mile-an-hour winds extend past the shore, whipping up 14 foot waves.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
It's a little bit of Paris in the middle of the desert...it's the latest addition to the Vegas strip.
Get a glimpse of the glitz and glamour next on News-7 at noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And the first couple can send out some change of address cards-- they have a new home.
We'll take at peek when we return.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Vegas-casinos]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's the latest attempt by Las Vegas to go global.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Las Vegas, NV;]
[4:22;28]
Invited quests last night checked into the new Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
Some 4-thousand attended a black tie ball to get a first look at the 785 million dollar resort.
The evening's festivities wrapped up with a concert, fireworks and the lighting of a 50 story Eiffel Tower replica.
Paris hotel engineers obtained the Eiffel Tower's original architectural plans and followed them in minute detail, even bringing back paint chips to replicate the color.
(------------)
[Clinton-house]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It looks like President and Mrs. Clinton have found their next house.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chappaqua, NY;]
[10newspath na002]
Sources familiar with the first couple's New York house hunt say they've made an offer on a mansion about an hour outside New York City.
They've offered something less than the one-point-seven million-dollar asking price.
The Clintons need to have a New York address before Election Day 2-thousand in order for Mrs. Clinton to go ahead with her planned U-S Senate bid.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 145 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, some familiar local football faces will be on the field Saturday for the Tech- J-M-U game.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And They're out!!
22 major league umpires are looking for new jobs today.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[umps]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
22 major league umpires are out of a job this afternoon.
Last night baseball and the umpires reached an agreement in which nearly two-dozen umps lose their jobs and the umpires union withdraws its lawsuit.
The deal also calls for baseball to make a nearly one-and a half million-dollar post-season bonus payment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In mid-July 57 umpires announced they were quitting, in an attempt to start negotiations for a new labor
contract.
But days later the plan collapsed when 27 umps either failed to resign or quickly rescinded their resignations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:27:07]
[IN Q=It doens' take ]
[SUPER=01-Tom Hallion/Umpire]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=that's unfortunate]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But for many fans at the ball parks, there's little sympathy for the umps.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:27:33]
[IN Q=They signed a]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=against the umpire]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Baseball officials say all the umpires can be replaced without disturbing the season.
(-------------)
[US-Open]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=US Open]
Martina Hingis and Venus Williams both won their second-round matches in straight sets yesterday.
Third-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov also won at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Williams and Andre Agassi both play second-round matches during today's day session.
Lindsay Davenport plays tonight.
[S-JMU]
[ANCHOR=PAtrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-50]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Football]
It looks like the Virginia Tech season opener will be a sell-out.
And a number of former Friday Football Extra stars will be on the field when JMU rolls into Blacksburg this Saturday.
[GRAPHIC=JOYCE]
Mike Stevens says one Duke who is sure to make his mark on Worsham Field is Delvin Joyce, the former player of the week from Fieldale-Collinsville who walked on campus and ran his way into the record book.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Harrisonburg/Last Season; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Delvin Joyce/JMU Tailback & Returner;]
[SUPER=01-Robert Carson/JMU Fullback; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=MS, News-7 Sports]
(-------------)
((In each of the past two seasons, Joyce has set and then reset JMU's single season all-purpose yardage record.
As a diminutive freshman he garnered 15 hundred and 63 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks.
Last year while the Dukes were struggling through a 3-and-8 season, Joyce was again doing it all gaining over 17 hundred and 40 all-purpose yards.
And this Saturday his role on offense will expand ever farther.
((DELVIN JOYCE/JMU TAILBACK & RETURNER:))
Joyce is both elusive and explosive, but this year he hopes the offense as a whole will be more clock conscious and able to wear down the opposition.
((DELVIN JOYCE:))
Going against this Tech team is likely the biggest challenge any JMU squad has ever faced. But Joyce and his running buddy, former Liberty high school great Robert Carson say they're ready for the challenge.
((ROBERT CARSON:))
As for other local players look for Appomattox Lindsey Fleshman to start at wide receiver, Heritage product Antron Smith will get plenty of time at defensive tackle but Bassett's Cliff Wimbush and Cave Spring's Aaron Williams will not
play Saturday.))
by SS