[7-E-Dead-cats]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-28]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The couple who kept dozens of cats in their Salem home have been convicted of criminal animal neglect.
Cheryl and Michael Boyd will spend eight days in jail and pay a fine for abusing dozens of cats.
Keith Humphry has the details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The facts were]
[SUPER=03-Salem/July; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cheryl Boyd/Cat Owner; :18 -- QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Michael Boyd/Cat Owner; :29 -- QUICK!!!]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=Humphry, NEWS 7.]
(( The facts were plain enough: 57 cats in one house- -not including the dead ones- -23 stashed in the freezer, two more carcasses under the couch.
But the Boyds couldn't see they'd done anything wrong.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:21:05]
[IN Q=No, I could]
((NO, I COULD NEVER HURT AN ANIMAL.))
[RUNS= 02]
[OUT Q=hurt an animal.]
The prosecutor wanted to know how anyone could LIVE in a house with that many cats- -dead or alive.
"We eat out 'most every night," Michael Boyd said.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:13:20]
[IN Q= I guess we]
((I GUESS WE JUST LOVED THEM TOO MUCH TO GET RID OF THEM.))
[RUNS= 02]
[OUT Q=rid of them.]
Now they'll have to get rid of the three cats- -they HAD been allowed to keep... one of the conditions of their suspended sentence.
When asked if he'd sought counseling, Boyd said he doesn't need it now. "All my cats are gone," he said.
In a plaintive moment inside the clerk's office, Boyd said "we're not bad people."
The couple will be evaluated by the community corrections program. They must pay fines totaling 700 dollars, serve four weekends in jail and stay away from domestic animals for two years... and perform 100 hours of community service work at the S-P-C-A.
Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))
[7-E-Waterworks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-31 1:30:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A man who wants to be a Franklin County supervisor will be in court today on assault charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
David Talbott admits he pushed the owner of his local water company at Smith Mountain Lake.
For more than a month Robert Winney of Waterworks refused to fix a broken pipe near Talbott's yard.
The health department says the pipe leaked two to four gallons of water every minute.
When residents finally fixed it, Winney shoveled gravel over the pipe.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:29:57]
[IN Q=No I pushed]
((NO I PUSHED HIM BACK. IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET HIS ATTENTION. I DO NOT THINK THAT CONSTITUTES ASSAULT.))
[SUPER=01-David Talbott/Candidate for Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=constitutes assault]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Robert Winney has been at odds with residents for years.
Last April the State Corporation Commission fined Winney 25-hundred dollars for overcharging his customers.
(------------)
[7-E-L'burg-Council]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-39 16:18]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg]
A controversial strip mall proposed for the Boonsboro section of Lynchburg has been given the go ahead.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Last night, city council voted 5- to- 1 to rezone a small patch of land off Boonsboro Road to allow for the construction of a stormwater retention pond.
The pond will serve a development that will include a gas station, car wash and strip mall.
More than 900 nearby residents had signed a petition opposing the project.
They're worried about run-off from the site and the increase in traffic the stores would generate.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
For today's weather, look for clouds and fog this morning with periods of rain and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon.
Highs today in the mid 70s, lows in the mid 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Afternoon Storms/72-76/Showers & Storms/Clearing Late/52-56;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-E-VA-Drought]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-37]
[GRAPHIC=Drought of 99]
It's been too much rain or too little in Virginia this year.
The drought and floods have caused an estimated 200- million dollars in damages to agriculture alone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
But a steady rain at the State Fair yesterday NOT only made the fair a little less fun-- It's only done surface renewal of drought-stricken fields and waterways.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:57:58]
[IN Q=It's really]
((CARLTON COURTER/VIRGINIA AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER: IT'S REALLY BEEN ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS IN A SAD WAY. THE DROUGHT OF THIS SUMMER WAS NOT REALLY THIS SUMMER. IT WAS 12 AND 14 MONTHS IN THE MAKING. ACTUALLY IT STARTED IN JUNE OF '98. SO WE WENT THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT RAIN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EFFECTS OF A 15 MONTH DROUGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Carlton Courter/Va. Agriculture Commissioner; ]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=15 month drought.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=none]
Despite the floods, a winter of regular rainfall will be needed throughout the state to get the groundwater back to healthy levels.
[45-City-Water]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-30 1:41:40]
[GRAPHIC=Water Supply]
But the recent showers have helped Carvins Cove.
The most recent measurement puts it at 22- point- eight feet below the spillway.
That's up more than six feet in the last month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]
Normally at this time of year, the water level is about 15 feet below full pond.
So even though the situation has improved dramatically, city officials say the water emergency isn't over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:31:42]
[IN Q=We hope ]
((DIANE AKERS/ACTING ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER: WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO CONSERVE WATER. EVEN THOUGH IT'S RAINING, WE'RE STILL WELL BELOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE.))
[SUPER=01-Diane Akers/Acting Assistant City Manager]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=where we need to be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday morning, Catawba Creek was up... and water was flowing into one of the tunnels that feeds Carvins Cove.
Since tropical storm Dennis moved through the region early this month, the ground has become saturated and more run- off is reaching the reservoir.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Mandatory water restrictions will remain in effect until the water level rises to at least eighteen feet below the spillway.
[45-S-Buoys]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-34 56:44]
[GRAPHIC=SML Buoy Battle]
It's victory for Smith Mountain Lake residents in the fight over boat speed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
No-wake buoys force boaters to proceed only at "idle speed."
The lake's policy advisory board wanted the power to remove old no-wake buoys in private coves.
But Bedford County supervisors say they approved those buoys years ago, and there is no reason to change them now.
(------------)
[45-E-Citizens-First]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-35 1:01:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If you plan on taking on city hall, the biggest battle may be just finding the right department to launch your complaint.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
That's why Lynchburg has launched its own customer service number to handle every kind of citizen request or complaint.
By dialing 856- CITY, residents can talk directly with a customer service representative who takes down the information, forwards it to the proper department and makes sure that action is taken.
Officials say it's worked well so far.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:06:28]
[IN Q=We've gotten a]
((JOANN MARTIN/PUBLIC INFORMATION: WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS FROM CITIZENS WHO'VE SAID `FINALLY, I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE, I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING UP PHONE NUMBERS', AND THEY REALLY SEEM TO LIKE THE SETUP.))
[SUPER=01-Joann Martin/Public Information Officer]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=like the setup.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Martin says the new system also makes sure city staff are held accountable for doing their jobs right and serving the public.
(------------)
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Checking the mid- week outlook.... periods of rain continuing today with thunderstorms likely this afternoon.
Highs in the mid 70s.
Showers and storms will linger through this evening...but should clear out overnight with lows near 55.
The five day outlook is cooler and windy tomorrow...with sunshine lasting through the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Afternoon Storms/72-76/Showers & Storms/Clearing Late/52-56;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[81-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
One lane of Interstate 81 in Botetourt County is closed this morning because of an accident.
(XXXXXXX)
[Take Full Screen Map]
A tractor-trailer turned over in the median near Mile Marker 164-- that's in the Buchanan area.
One southbound lane is closed while crews clean up the wreck.
State Police say it could be a few hours before the lane re-opens.
(-------------)
[8-Red-Cross]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Relief]
[***ANCHOR TAG****]
Rain continues to fall in already-saturated eastern North Carolina.
Up to six inches of rain has fallen in areas already hit hard by
Hurricane Floyd -- and more rain is in today's forecast.
And that means even more money will be needed for recovery efforts.
The Roanoke Red Cross chapter hopes to raise 53-thousand dollars.
And their more than halfway there, with 31-thousand in contributions.
Kate Weidaw has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=everyday stacks of]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tom Brown/Roanoke Chapter Manager; :12]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
((Everyday stacks of 40 to 50 envelopes with donations ranging from five dollars to five hundred dollars come into the Roanoke Red Cross.
[SOT 2:20:21]
[INQ=]
((TOM BROWN/ROANOKE CHAPTER MANAGER: IT'S JUST HEART WARMING TO KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO CAN RESPOND FINANCIALLY TO THESE DISASTERS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :9]
And with damages estimated in the billions for North Carolina - any contribution helps.
Especially since farms, as well as homes and businesses, are still under water.
Many are still in shelters.
[SOT 2:16:08]
[INQ=]
((TOM BROWN/ROANOKE CHAPTER MANAGER: WE HAVE 24 SHELTERS OPEN AND OVER 2000 PEOPLE IN THE SHELTERS WHICH IS KIND OF UNUSUAL TO HAVE SHELTERS OPEN THIS LONG AFTER A DISASTER.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :15]
Once residents begin to return home, new supplies will be in demand. That's when donation money is needed the most.
[SOT 2:17:15]
[INQ=]
((TOM BROWN/ROANOKE CHAPTER MANAGER: WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH FOOD CLOTHING WHEN THEY CAN GO BACK INTO A LIVING SPACE, SOME FURNITURE TO GO INTO THEIR NEW LIVING AREA.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= :15]
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: IF YOU ARE WANTING TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION YOU BRING IT INTO THE RED CROSS OR YOU CAN MAIL IT TO YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7.))
[OUTQ]
[RUNS=]))
(XXXXXXXX)
[WIPE to Full Screen Address]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The address for the Roanoke Chapter of the American Red Cross is 352 Church Avenue Southwest, Roanoke. The zip code is 24016.
(-------------)
[8-S-Brzonkala]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-36 41:30]
[GRAPHIC=Supreme Court]
This winter the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Violence Against Women Act is constitutional.
A local case will factor into the high court's decision.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Christy Brzonkala's legal fight against Virginia Tech and two former athletes hinges on the law that allows rape victims to sue their attackers and ask for damages.
Brzonkala says she was raped by two former Tech football players.
And she maintains that Tech officials mishandled the internal investigation.
A federal appeals court threw out her case, but she appealed to the Supreme Court.
(------------)
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news for one last look at the forecast...
Periods of rain today, storms developing by afternoon.
Highs in the mid 70s.
Showers and storms will last through tonight, and will likely clear out late tonight.
Lows in the mid 50s.
The extended forecast is calling for lots of sunshine tomorrow...but cooler... and mostly sunny skies through the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Afternoon Storms/72-76/Showers & Storms/Clearing Late/52-56;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS