[7-Fire-Fighters]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-43]
[GRAPHIC=Ft. Lewis Mountain Fire]
Fire fighters have contained the fire on Fort Lewis Mountain in Roanoke County, but it is still not under control this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Fire fighters were able to get a line around the blaze that has destroyed nearly 800 acres.
Residents living in homes near the fire returned yesterday knowing it was no longer a threat.
Fire fighters say wind was still playing a factor in getting the fire contained.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:22]
[IN Q=our fire lines]
((PHILLIP BURKS: OUR FIRE LINES WE'VE PUT IN IT'S JUMPED TWO OR THREE TIMES AND JUST THE WIND GUSTS COMING DOWN ON US ITS TERRIBLE UP THERE IN SOME PLACES.))
[SUPER=01-Phillip Burks/Firefighter]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=in some places]
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE POOR MTN. CAMERA LIVE]
[Super=05-Roanoke Co.]
Here's a look at the situation this morning.
This if a live picture of Fort Lewis Mountain taken from Poor Mountain.
You can see lots of smoke still billowing.
Forestry officials will start a clean up process by bringing in hot shot crews.
(------------)
[7-State-Fires]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Brush Fires]
Experts say the dry summer and a long period without soaking rain are making conditions ripe for brush fires across the state.
Since September 138 fires have burned nearly 25-hundred acres.
(++++++++++)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN MAP]
Right now, brush fires are burning in Page, Shenandoah, and Madison Counties - as well as the fire in Roanoke County.
(-------------)
[7-B'burg-Explosion]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-42 59:52]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]
An explosion that blew out the windows in a Blacksburg home last night has left the home's owner severely burned.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
It happened around 5:45 at this home on Dehart Street.
A neighbor heard glass breaking and ran outside to see what happened.
That's when she realized Johnnie Layman was trapped inside with severe burns.
After calling 9-1-1, Lisa Hurst grabbed a blanket and helped him out a broken window.
(/////SOT///// 18:34:14)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He was ]
((LISA HURST/NEIGHBOR: HE WAS HYSTERICAL ABOUT HIS FACE AND HANDS THAT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT ALL THAT AND FINALLY WHEN THE EMT WALKED UP HE GOT HIM CALMED DOWN ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN IT WAS A PROPANE TANK AND HE WAS LIGHTING A BUNSEN BURNER OF SOME SORT AND HE KEPT SAYING THE MISTAKE HE MADE WAS OPENING A WINDOW.))
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hurst/Neighbor;]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=a window.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Layman was blinded and was badly burned on his face and hands.
(------------)
[7-E-Bassett-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-41 43:59]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
A Bassett family's home burned to the ground last night while they were away.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Firefighters say when they got to the house on Sunset Drive, it was already fully engulfed.
55 firefighters worked to keep the two neighboring houses and nearby brush from going up in flames.
No one was hurt.
Firefighters say the cause of the fire is under investigation, but that it looks suspicious.
They say it's the second fire at that house in two years.
(------------)
[7-Wine-Lawsuit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
Two Virginia wine lovers and several out-of-state wineries have brought a lawsuit challenging state restrictions on wines made in other states.
Under state law, wineries and breweries outside Virginia must have Virginia-licensed distributors to sell in the state.
The lawsuit filed yesterday in a Richmond federal court contends that the state's regulations violate the Constitution by restricting interstate commerce.
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Now, here's a look at your mid week forecast...
The day starts out cold, but warms up to the lower 50s with mostly sunny skies and some winds.
Tonight, clear and cold with calm winds.
Lows tonight will drop into the mid 20s.
[SUPER=X5000;set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/50-55/Clear & Cold/Calm Winds/23-28;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-E-Vinton-Council]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-46 18:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some Vinton residents are outraged at the recent resignation of Police Chief Rick Foutz.
They vented their frustation last night to City Council.
Joe McKean reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They wore homemade]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :07]
[SUPER=01-Terry Obenchain/Foutz Supporter; 22]
[SUPER=01-John Sutphin/Foutz Supporter; 37]
[SUPER=01-Dave Edwards/Former Martinsville Chief; 1:16]
[SUPER=20-Joe/McKean; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=McKean, News-7.]
(( They wore homemade badges, for the former chief who took his off last week amid a special grand jury investigation of his department.
And friends and relatives spent more than an hour telling council members that the town's treatment of Ricky Foutz is unfair.
They believe he quit under pressure...facing no formal charges...and could at the very least have been suspended with pay.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT OBENCHAIN]
[IN Q=If you can't]
((TERRY OBENCHAIN/FOUTZ SUPPORTER: IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION'S OVER, THEN SOMEBODY JUMPED THE GUN ON THIS BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE WAITED BEFORE YOU GAVE THEM THIS OPTION.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=this option.]
The town's attorney and town manager were singled out, too.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT SUTPHIN]
[IN Q=Those two over there]
((JOHN SUTPHIN/FOUTZ SUPPORTER: THOSE TWO OVER THERE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THE CHIEF. THEY TOOK IT ON THEIR OWN. THOSE TWO OVER THERE SHOULD BE FIRED.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=should be fired.]
Council and town officials said it was Foutz's decision to quit...that he got a severance package...and that they've acted in the best interest of the town.
And they said there's a lot they can't talk about, until the special grand jury completes its work.
But two councilmen said if the report clears Foutz and former lieutenant Bill Brown, they'll fight to get them just compensation.
The interim chief, hired at a thousand dollars a week, knows he's going to earn his pay.
And right now, he doesn't know what state police have found so far.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT EDWARDS]
[IN Q=Will you want]
((DAVE EDWARDS/FORMER MARTINSVILLE CHIEF: WILL YOU WANT TO BE BRIEFED ON THAT? YES. HOW COME? I NEED TO KNOW. IF THEY SAY THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=what it is.]
So do the people who know...and love Ricky Foutz...and were wearing those black and white badges.
Joe McKean, News-7.))
[45-E-Collapse]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-49 14:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In other news from Vinton, structural engineers are still assessing the damage from Monday's roof collapse at the Roanoke County Health Department office.
Yesterday town officials also took steps to stabilize the building and move forward with repairs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]
A powerful vaccum truck was called in to remove stone gravel from the roof and relieve pressure on the building.
Crews will shore up the structure, so the engineers can take a closer look at damage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What they'll do is look at]
((WHAT THEY'LL DO IS LOOK AT WHAT'S UP ON TOP OF THE ROOF RIGHT NOW AND DO SOME CALCULATIONS TO GET THE POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT OF PRESSURE THAT'S BEEN PUT ON THAT ROOF AND THEY'LL TRY TO DETERMINE WHERE THE WEAK POINT WAS AND WHAT CAUSED THAT TO HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Kevin Boggess/Assistant Town Manager;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=what caused that to happen.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some clinics could be back in business in alternate locations by week's end.
Pollard Street MAY reopen to traffic sometime tomorrow.
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a moment now to check the mid- week forecast.
Mostly sunny, not as windy today with highs in the low to mid 50s.
Clear and cold tonight, with lows in the mid 20s.
And the next five days promise warmer temperatures....with highs in the 60s.
[SUPER=X5000;set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/50-55/Clear & Cold/Calm Winds/23-28;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[8-E-Boty-Hunting]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-37]
[GRAPHIC=Hunting Season]
With hunting season underway, some Botetourt County residents have raised concerns about satety in their neighborhoods.
They want to make it a crime to hunt in subdivisions.
Tina Tenret has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Jerry Payne's neighbor]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Payne/Homeowner; :11]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Crowder/Hunter; :39]
[SUPER=@Tina1; :50]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Botetourt County]
((Jerry Payne's neighbor built a tree stand 180 feet from Payne's home.
Since then, Payne has been trying to ban hunting in subdivisions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:18:19]
[IN Q=I'm a hunter]
((I'M A HUNTER AND I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A RESPONSIBLE HUNTER. MANY HUNTERS ARE. BUT IT'S THAT INSTANT WHEN A DEER GOES ACROSS IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT'S BEHIND WHERE YOUR BULLET'S GOING.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=your bullet's going]
Try telling that to Dennis Crowder.
He just shot two bucks on his 75-acre plot in the middle of a neighborhood.
He says so long as hunters watch where they aim, they do NOT need more laws.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:30:05]
[IN Q=You can't prevent]
((YOU CAN'T PREVENT ACCIDENTS. MY BOY THIS YEAR ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, A GUY HIT HIM AND BROKE HIS ARM. THERE'S GOING TO BE NO MORE HITTING ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD?))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=on the football field]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:57:00]
[IN Q=County supervisors say]
((COUNTY SUPERVISORS SAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE THEY'VE TALKED TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING THEY WANT ON THEIR LAND AND THEY DO NOT WANT MORE LAWS. THE COUNTY HAS APPOINTED A GROUP TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE AND IT MEETS FRIDAY. TINA TENRET NEWS7 BOTETOURT COUNTY))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=NEWS7 BOTETOURT COUNTY]))
[8-E-501-Widening]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-36]
[GRAPHIC=Highway Improvements]
An end to the frustration could be on the way for motorists travelling along,
(+++++++)
[Take FS Map]
Route 501 through central Virginia.
The 120 miles of twisting, narrow road runs from the North Carolina border to Buena Vista-- and many motorists have found themselves caught behind a slow moving truck with no chance to pass.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Brookneal]
Now Halifax delegate Ted Bennett hopes to change that.
Yesterday, Bennett kicked off a petition drive where citizens can show their support for improvements to Route 501.
Bennett estimates widening the road to four lanes between South Boston and Rustburg would cost 160 million dollars.
He's hoping the petitions will help shake loose the necessary road money in next year's General Assembly.
(------------)
[8-E-Towing-Ordinance]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-33]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Tow trucks may be forced to arrive on the scene of Interstate 81 accidents more quickly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./February;]
State police allow wreckers an hour to reach the big accidents.
But a V-DOT representative wants Botetourt County to cut that time in half.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:25:20]
[IN Q=I do personally]
((I DO PERSONALLY BELIEVE AN HOUR IS TOO LONG. ESPECIALLY IN THIS COUNTY THEY'VE STATED THEY HAVE THREE COMPANIES THAT ARE CAPABLE AND CENTRALLY LOCATED. I THINK AN HOUR IS TOO LONG.))
[SUPER=01-Cindi Ward/VDOT;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=too long]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Botetourt County supervisors are considering V-DOT's proposal which includes new rules on tow truck equipment and insurance.
State police are also submitting new guidelines of their own to the attorney general's office.
(------------)
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Let's take one more look at your forecast this morning...
Mostly sunny skies today and not as windy, with highs of 50 to 55.
Clear and cold again tonight, with calm winds and lows in the mid 20s.
The five day forecast looks partly to mostly sunny, with showers likely by Sunday.
Highs in the 60s..lows in the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
[SUPER=X5000;set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/50-55/Clear & Cold/Calm Winds/23-28;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS