[7-81-accident]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
One northbound lane of Interstate 81 is closed in Rockbridge County this morning.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL SCREEN]
Last night, a tractor-trailer hit a bridge railing at Exit 180.
That's the northern-most Natural Bridge exit.
State Police did not estimate when the lane would re-open.
No one was injured in the accident.
(-------------)
[7-E-L'burg-School]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-45 17:02]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]
Parents and students of two Lynchburg elementary schools made an emotional plea to the city's school board last night to save their small schools.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It is the]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Webster Trant/Parent; :25]
[SUPER=01-Rick Holland/Parent; :33]
[SUPER=01-Nathan Schweikart/Kizer E. S. Student; :45]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :52]
[SUPER=01-Ellen Nygaard/School Board Chairman; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( It is the smallest of Lynchburg's twelve elementary schools.. squeezed onto a five- acre plot, Kizer Elementary uses three trailers for classrooms and has little, if any, room to expand.
But its small size is also exactly what has drawn many families to Kizer over the years.. they see the school as a place where their children flourish in an academic setting that offers close personal attention.
[SOT 18:33:21]
((WEBSTER TRANT/PARENT: I SEE KIZER AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG, PEOPLE COME TO KIZER AND FEEL WELCOME, THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY IMMEDIATELY.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=community immediately.]
[SOT 18:51:19]
((RICK HOLLAND/PARENT: I PLEAD EACH OF YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER BEFORE TEARING APART A GREAT SCHOOL TO CHOOSE A PLAN THAT WOULD NOT DISRUPT THE 206 STUDENTS AT KIZER.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=at Kizer.]
[SOT 19:03:06]
((NATHAN SCHWEIKART/KIZER E.S. STUDENT: WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION, REMEMBER ME.. I'M ONE WHO IS AFFECTED. PLEASE KEEP KIZER OPEN.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=keep Kizer open.]
The school board has several options: add on to both Kizer and Dearington Elementary, redistrict some of their students to other elementary schools, or close Kizer and Dearington and build a new, bigger school altogether.
The decision will be just a small part of the school system's overall capital improvement plan.
[SOT 19:57:30 tape #2]
((ELLEN NYGAARD/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE HAVE TO WEIGH BOTH SIDES, WE HAVE TO WEIGH THE EMOTIONAL SIDE AND WHAT IS BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC MONIES.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=public monies.]
A decision will be made next week.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[7-E-Norfolk-Southern]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-32 1:25:01]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]
The railroad that carries freight all over the eastern half of the country ... now wants to carry loads of data.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./May]
Norfolk Southern is putting pieces of its communication network up for sale.
The railroad has lots of fiber-optic cable ... more than 21-thousand-miles of track connecting cities ... and 400 microwave towers.
N-S alone has used this communications network for years ... now it wants outside firms to lease some of the space.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:19:21]
[IN Q=since the]
((RHONDA BROOM/NORFOLK SOUTHERN: SINCE THE ASSETS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE .. IT'S JUST A MARKETING OPPORTUNITY THAT'S UNDERUTILIZED AT THIS POINT.))
[SUPER=01-Rhonda Broom/Norfolk Southern]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=AT THIS POINT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
N-S has created a subsidiary to sell network space -- called "Thoroughbred Technology and Telecommunications."
T-cubed, as it's called, will broker deals with phone companies, cable-TV companies and other information technology firms.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look at your mid week forecast...
Mostly cloudy this morning with light rain possible.
Expect highs today in the low to mid 60s.
Clouds will linger this evening with a chance of showers and possibly thunderstorms.
Lows tonight in the low to mid 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Lt. Rain Possible/60-65/Lingering Clouds/& Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 10/14/99
Thursday:
[SUPER=130-67/Bertha Lawson/Martinsville]
[SUPER=130-16/Erin Colwell/Salem]
[SUPER=130-12/Amanda Richardson/Salem]
[SUPER=130-50/Charles Patterson/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-2/Amanda Nakdimer/Roanoke] (pronounced - Nak - Demon')
[SUPER=130-6/D. J. Welch/Stewartsville]
Couple celebrates both birthdays and Anniversary on same day!
[SUPER=130-86/Horton Hall/Galax]
[SUPER=130-82/Ella Hall/Galax]
[SUPER=130-66th/Horton & Ella Hall/Galax]
No Pictures:
Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-16th/Ivan & Sherry Plank/Roanoke]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-/David & Karleen Leffur/Snow Creek]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-/Duck & Brenda Akers/Snow Creek]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[45-E-Clinton-Forests]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-35 1:26:51]
[GRAPHIC= Bill Clinton]
President Clinton visits Augusta County's George Washington National Forest today to announce a plan to preserve large sections of wild forest land.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Craig Co.]
National forest land fits into a variety of different categories.
Some areas support heavy recreational traffic, while others have no access roads and are currently undeveloped.
The new policy is reportedly designed to protect tens of millions of wild forest land acres from development and environmentally destructive activities.
(------------)
[45-E-County-Supers]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-37 1:00:49]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Seal]
Roanoke County's Boards of Supervisors chairman says a North Carolina protype high school could save the county up to two million dollars on its construction project.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When bricks in a building facade]
((BOB JOHNSON/SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN: WHEN BRICKS IN A BUILDING FACADE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM INTERIOR TO THE BUILDING, WE ARE ON THE WRONG TRACK.))
[SUPER=@Johnson;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=on the wrong track.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Supervisors Chairman Bob Johnson has offered to take over the high school construction, and promises to bring the project in on time and under budget.
School Board members are skeptical, and so are parents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:52]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((NANCY HUGHES/ROANOKE CO. PARENT: I DON'T THINK BRINGING IN ANOTHER PERSON AT THE 11TH HOUR IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WHERE WAS THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO?))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Hughes/Roanoke Co. Resident;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=several months ago.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The supervisors who favor the North Carolina prototype have invited the architects to make a presentation later this month.
And school board members have agreed to another meeting with the supervisors.
(------------)
[45-E-Hawkins]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-33 1:56:09]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The director of Roanoke's Youth Boxing Association was in court yesterday to answer to embezzlement charges against him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Rick Hawkins did it without admitting he did anything wrong.
In fact he turned the tables and insists city officials made him a scapegoat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:23:35]
[IN Q=What they did]
((WHAT THEY DID TO ME IS WRONG, AND I'M MAN ENOUGH TO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN. BUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY KIDS IS TO TURN THEIR BACK ON THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Hawkins/Former Boxing Assn. Dir.]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=back on them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hawkins pled "no contest" to interfering with the property rights of another- -a misdemeanor.
He has three years to pay back 47-hundred dollars- -plus court costs.
(------------)
[45-S-Hanna]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-27 1:42:45]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Other valley courtrooms yesterday were busy with murder for hire cases.
In two separate cases, the defendants tried to hire a hitman who actually an undercover officer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/July 12]
Peggy Hanna of Vinton was given a five year sentence yesterday.
She has to serve at least half of it.
Hanna was convicted of trying to do away with her husband of 12 years.
(------------)
[***WIPE***WIPE***]
[45-S-Gray]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-38 35:39]
[GRAPHIC=***WIPE***]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./April;]
And a Botetourt County man admitted in court yesterday he used a pay phone in jail to hire a hitman .. hoping to kill his girlfriend's husband.
Thomas Gray was already serving three years in jail for an earlier plot to do the same thing.
Now Gray may have to serve up to five years behind bars.
(------------)
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news to check the weather outlook--
Clouds are rolling in, and so will some light rain later today.
Highs will be in the lower 60s.
Lingering clouds and showers will likely continue tonight, with lows in the lower 50s.
In the five day forecast, we should see some sunshine breaking away from the clouds later tomorrow....with clouds returning to the forecast for the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Lt. Rain Possible/60-65/Lingering Clouds/& Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[8-81-accident]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
An overnight accident on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County has one northbound lane closed.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL SCREEN]
Around 1:30, a tractor-trailer hit a bridge railing at Exit 180.
That's the northern-most Natural Bridge exit.
State Police did not estimate when the lane would re-open.
No one was hurt in the accident.
(-------------)
[8-Vinton-Police]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
State police are investigating a complaint against a Vinton police officer.
Officials won't identify the officer, or the nature of the charges.
The state police in Salem are referring questions about the case to the Roanoke County commonwealth's attorney, Skip Burkart.
Burkart is refusing to comment at this point.
[8-Bedford-Farm]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-43 TC00:23]
[GRAPHIC=Bedford Co. Farm Dispute]
A peaceful ending may be near for Bedford County and the owners of a contaminated dairy farm.
Last night, the board of supervisors voted to buy the 150 acre farm that has been contiminated by a nearby landfill.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Wheeler/Bedford Co. Supervisor; :30]
[SUPER=01-Charles Williams/Adams' Attorney; :48 QUICK!!!!!]
[SUPER=@kate1; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=KW, News 7]
(( Last spring 8 acres of the Adams dairy farm was condemned. The landfill next to their property was closed in 1993 and later began leaking cancer-causing agents in the ground water.
In May the Adams filed a lawsuit against the county claiming they don't have the right to take the land to clean up the mess caused by the landfill.
One supervisor strongly disagreed, saying the county did nothing wrong and should not have to pay for the aftermath.
[SOT 2:12:44]
[INQ=]
((DALE WHEELER/BEFORD CO. SUPERVISOR: WE OPERATED THE LANDFILL LEGALLY WE CLOSED IT LEGALLY, AND NOW WE'RE BEING PUNISHED LEGALLY, I FEEL ILLEGALLY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]
The farmer's attorney had no comment on Wheeler's statement but said the offer will be discussed among the family before a transaction is made.
[SOT 37:50]
[INQ=]
((CHARLES WILLIAMS/ADAM'S ATTORNEY: WELL IT'S ACCEPTABLE NO BODY'S HAPPY ABOUT IT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 4]
If and when the county does purchase the land, it will build additional testing wells to stop ground water from being contaminated further.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: ADAM'S ATTORNEY DID NOT SAY WHEN HE WOULD DISCUSS THE OFFER WITH THE COUNTY. BUT IF THEY ACCEPT THE 1 POINT 3 MILLION THE ADAMS WILL HAVE 18 MONTHS TO MOVE OFF THE PROPERTY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]))
[8-E-Scooter-Law]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-44 8:39]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]
Lynchburg authorities are planning to closely monitor riders of motorized scooters.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
The surge in popularity of mopeds among young people has also resulted in a growing number of complaints about their use.
City council last night voted to require scooter owners to register their vehicles and wear a helmet while riding them.
The changes won't be enforced until January in order to educate the public about the new laws.
(------------)
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Time again to take a look at the forecast...
Mostly cloudy today with light rain possible..or maybe even some thunderstorms.
Highs in the lower 60s.
Lingering clouds and showers likely tonight, with lows in the 50s.
The extended forecast is calling for sunshine to return for the latter part of the week....with a few scattered showers returning to the forecast by Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Lt. Rain Possible/60-65/Lingering Clouds/& Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS