WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/21/99

[7Agreement-Water]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Am CutIn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Water Rate Hike]

Roanoke city residents will begin paying for this summer's drought, and a new water agreement, on January First.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Last night, city council unanimously approved a water-buying contract with Roanoke County.
Because of the contract, the city will lose 1 point 6 million dollars in revenue from water sales to the county.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER: AS A RESULT OF THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES BY 18 PERCENT EFFECTIVE OF JANUARY FIRST OF NEXT YEAR AND THEN A YEAR FROM THEN ANOTHER 10 PERCENT.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=another 10 percent.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

That means by 2001 - water bills will have gone up by about 2 dollars and 30 cents per month.
If city residents city are unhappy about it, it wasn't evident at the city council meeting--no one spoke against it.
Officials say the water share contract will provide a long term solution to the drought.
(------------)

[7S-Floyd-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-45 9:41]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Aftermath]

More rain looks to be heading for eastern Virginia, a region still recovering from Hurricane Floyd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin]

Franklin and surrounding Southampton County remain largely flooded and shut off from the rest of the state. The Blackwater River dropped a couple of feet yesterday in downtown Franklin, but it's still too high and too contaminated to assess damage.
About 200 Franklin residents are still in a shelter.
The downtown area is still under as much as 15 feet of water.
(------------)

[7E-L'burg-Students]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-38 16:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A controversial proposal to uproot a group of pre-kindergarten students and bus them across town to a new school is off the table in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Because of increased enrollment this year there was no room for 14 pre-K students at Sheffield Elementary School.

A plan to send the children to another school miles away was scrapped in favor of using nearby Heritage Elementary.
Parents say the whole problem could have been avoided if students were registered earlier.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:26:53//22:26:09]
[IN Q=I think however]
((ANGELA HEHIR/CONCERNED PARENT: I THINK HOWEVER THAT WE HAVE CURED A SYMPTOM AND WE HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM YET. SO I HOPE THAT PARENTS IN THIS CITY WILL STAND UP AND JOIN WITH THE LYNCHBURG CITY SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE SOME CHANGES WITHIN HOW WE HANDLE PRE- REGISTRATION.)) ((JIM MCCORMICK/SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR, WE CAN'T COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN IF YOU WILL.. ESSENTIALLY THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. SO WE BACK OFF TO ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE CLASS STARTS.))
[SUPER=01-Angela Hehir/Parent; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim McCormick/Lynchburg School Supt.; :18]
[RUNS=28]
[OUT Q=before class starts.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Parents say they'd like to see a spring registration to give educators more time to decide where the students will go.
(------------)

[7E-Gilmore-Drugs]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-32 59:36]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 99]

Governor Gilmore is making drug laws the centerpiece of his party's campaign effort this fall. He wants to make Virginia's drug laws the toughest in the nation-- and the harshest on drug dealers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13;12:41 ]
[IN Q=No more]
((GILMORE: NO MORE FANCY CARS, RESORT LIFESTYLES, AND GUNS.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=and guns.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The Governor's proposing a 60-million dollar program to lower the threshold at which drug kingpins could be put away for life, add 210 state police troopers, and increase substance abuse treatment for convicts.
Virginia Democrats, meanwhile, say the Governor's picked the wrong crime issue.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:15:43 ]
[IN Q=We're talking]
((LESLIE BYRNE/D-HOUSE CANDIDATE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCE FOR GUNS.))
[SUPER=01-Leslie Byrne/(D) House Candidate; ]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=for guns.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=Hold]

Democratic party executive Craig Bieber says he thinks more voters are concerned about school safety.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

We may see more rain from time-to-time today and tonight.
Here's your Tuesday forecast.
Cloudy and breezy today, with a chance of showers, highs only in the upper 60's.
For tonight, mostly cloudy skies and cool. Lows in the 40's.
But looking at the extended forecast, we do expect clearing and warmer temperatures as we head toward the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy & Breezy/Chance of Showers/65-69/Mostly Cloudy/Winds NE 10-20/40-45;]

[SUPER=#555; reset][45E-Water-Rates]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99]
[GRAPHIC=Water Rate Hike]

Despite the overnight rainfall, Roanoke City residents are still under mandatory water restrictions.
But help is on the way from Roanoke County.
Last night city council passed a water purchasing contract with the county.
But city residents will be footing the bill.
Kate Weidaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=starting january]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager; :20]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :31]
[SUPER=01-Kit Kiser/Roanoke Utilities Director; 1:01]
[SUPER=@Kate1;1:15]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
((Starting January first Roanoke City residents will be paying a higher water bill thanks to the summer's drought.
City Council's approval of the water share contract with the county means the city will be losing 1 point 6 million dollars in revenues from water sales to the county.
[SOT 7:26:30]
[INQ=]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER: AS A RESULT OF THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES BY 18 PERCENT EFFECTIVE OF JANUARY FIRST OF NEXT YEAR AND THEN A YEAR FROM THEN ANOTHER 10 PERCENT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :11]
That means in 2001 - water bills will have gone up by about 2 dollars and 30 cents per month. If residents from the city are unhappy about it, it wasn't evident at the city council meeting--no one opposed it. Officials say the water share contract will provide a long term solution to the drought.
[SOT 7:27:59]
[INQ=]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER: THIS CONTRACT WILL ALMOST DROUGHT PROOF US SO WE CAN GET WATER FROM THE COUNTY EARLY ON SO WE CAN AVOID DROUGHT SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :10]
[SOT 7:32:41]
[INQ=]
((KIT KISER/ROANOKE UTILITIES DIRECTOR: WE CAN'T SOLVE THE DROUGHT PROBLEM BUT WITH THEIR HELP WE CAN MANAGE IT, I CAN ONLY SAY THAT RAINFALL SOLVES THE DROUGHT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :9]
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING:UNDER THE WATER SHARE CONTRACT ROANOKE CITY CAN PURCHASE UP TO 4 MILLION GALLONS A DAY FROM THE COUNTY AT A PRICE OF 2 DOLLARS AND 75 CENTS PER THOUSAND GALLON. PLUS ROANOKE CITY CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL WATER SOURCES BY DRILLING WELLS. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7.))))

[45Bedford-Outbreak]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Health Check]

Last year there were only 100 documented cases of measles in the United States.
Now there are 9 reported cases of the illness in Bedford County alone.
Health Officials said the outbreak started with a man who was infected during a visit to Africa.
He and his three children were the first patients, and the other five all had contact with the family.
School authorities were notified, even though the infected children aren't enrolled in public schools.

[45E-Appox-School]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-36 34:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It was a fight to maintain a piece of history but in the end Appomattox County officials have opted to build a new elementary school rather than renovate the existing facility.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox]

The county's minority residents fought to keep the current school open, because it is built around the old Carver- Price School.. which served as the black high school in Appomattox County before desegregation.
But the board of supervisors last night voted 3- to- 2 to build a new school.. the Carver- Price building will be turned into a community center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:14:53]
[IN Q=It's very important]
((GARET BOSIGER/BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE THE HERITAGE AND WITH THE SCHOOL BEING USED IN THE FUTURE TO BENEFIT THE COUNTY FROM A CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL STANDPOINT AND MAYBE EVEN EDUCATIONAL, WE FEEL THAT IT CAN STILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTY.))
[SUPER=01-Garet Bosiger/Board of Supervisors Chairman]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=to the county.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Supervisors set a 9- million dollar price limit on the new school.. they expect to have it built within two years.

(------------)

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Turning our focus now to the forecast... cloudy and very breezy by this afternoon with northerly winds up to 20 miles an hour.
Showers are possible throughout the day with highs in the upper 60s.
Mostly cloudy tonight, with chilly lows in the 40s.
The extended forecast calls for more sunshine by tomorrow...highs gradually warming up into the 70s...lows in the 40s and 50s.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy & Breezy/Chance of Showers/65-69/Mostly Cloudy/Winds NE 10-20/40-45;]

[SUPER=#555; reset][8S-Floyd-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-45 9:41]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Aftermath]

Rain is falling on the commonwealth today and that's bad news for flood ravaged eastern Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin]

Franklin and surrounding Southampton County remain largely flooded and shut off from the rest of the state. The Blackwater River dropped a couple of feet yesterday in downtown Franklin, but it's still too high and too contaminated to assess damage.
(------------)

[8Agreement-Water]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Am CutIn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Water Rate Hike]

Despite the rain, Roanoke residents are still conserving water.
But city council has found a solution, however it will cost residents beginning the first of the year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Last night, city council unanimously approved a water-buying contract with Roanoke County.
Because of the contract, the city will lose 1 point 6 million dollars in revenue from water sales to the county.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER: AS A RESULT OF THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES BY 18 PERCENT EFFECTIVE OF JANUARY FIRST OF NEXT YEAR AND THEN A YEAR FROM THEN ANOTHER 10 PERCENT.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=another 10 percent.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

That means by 2001 - water bills will have gone up by about 2 dollars and 30 cents per month.
If city residents are unhappy about it, it wasn't evident at the city council meeting--no one spoke against it.

Officials say the water share contract will provide a long term solution to the drought.
(------------)

[8E-L'burg-Students]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-38 16:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some Lynchburg parents no longer have to worry about seeing their pre-kidergarten age children bused across town.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Because of increased enrollment this year there was no room for 14 pre-K students at Sheffield Elementary School.

[8E-Radio-Change]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-31 1:10:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Competition on the airwaves forces the owners of a Roanoke radio station to look for an alternative to Alternative Rock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

After only seven months on the air, Z-101 has given up on modern rock.
Listeners now hear soft rock simulcast from the owners' Lynchburg station.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:50:54]
[IN Q=We had]
((WE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE TO THE MODERN ROCK FORMAT, JUST AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM LISTENERS. WE WERE SAD TO SEE IT GO. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE ADVERTISING RESPONSE WASN'T AS GREAT AS WE HAD HOPED.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Travis/Owner;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=nat radio sot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Station owners say they could not compete against larger broadcasters.
In a related matter, the owner of four other stations, including Q99 and K92, and wants to buy WFIR and the Arrow.
If it goes through, two companies will own nine of the top ten stations in the market.
(------------)

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Time once more to check today's forecast...
Lingering clouds with a chance of more showers today and highs in the upper 60s.
It'll also be breezy with north-northeasterly winds up to 20 miles an hour.
Mostly cloudy overnight, with lows dropping into the 40s.
Meanwhile, the next five days should be drier and warmer...with highs in the 60s and 70s..lows in the 40s and 50s.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset][SUPER=314-Cloudy & Breezy/Chance of Showers/65-69/Mostly Cloudy/Winds NE 10-20/40-45;]