[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Firfighters are winning the battle on Fort Lewis Mountain.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And Roanoke could become a center for high-tech medicine thanks to Carilion, U-V-A and Virginia Tech.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Brush-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#99-40 TC1:36:23]
[GRAPHIC=Ft. Lewis Mountain]


It's been a grueling battle but now firefighters have the edge.
They've contained the forest fire on Fort Lewis Mountain.
Today they're cooling hot spots hoping to take total control by this afternoon.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/Microwave]


Scott Goldberg is in the Hanging Rock area of Roanoke County with the latest.
Scott Goldberg is in the Hanging Rock area of Roanoke County with the latest.
[Live=Scott Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:unglamorous grunt work)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Chris Thomsen/Va. Department of Forestry]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=Dangerous Work]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

[***SCOTT's Mike Hot***]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUTQ=plants to grow]
(-------------)




[Live=Scott Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/Microwave]



[Carilion]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#99-51 TC06:34]
[GRAPHIC=Carilion]

Roanoke is on its way to becoming a high tech medical center. An official announcement came just about an hour ago that Carilion Health System, the University of Virgnia and Virginia Tech are creating a Biomedical Institute.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tonya/Microwave]

Tonya Flory is at the Hotel Roanoke where the annoucement was made. Tonya, what does this mean for the community?
[Live=Tonya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Tonya1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: a lot of jobs.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Paul Torgersen/Va. Tech President; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tom Robertson/Carilion Health Systems President; :15]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=new jobs.]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]

[***TONYA'S MIKE HOT***]
[RUNS=:20]
(----------------)



[Live=tonya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tonya/Microwave]



[bonfire-collapse]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


An annual tradition at Texas A&M University has turned into a disaster, leaving at least five students dead and more than two dozen injured, some critically.
The building the giant tower of logs for their annual bonfire when the logs collapsed.
Dan Garcia reports from the scene in Bryan, Texas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[update window 11:30]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bryan, TX; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bart Humphries/College Station Fire Dept.; :21]
[SUPER=04-1998; :26]
[SUPER=01-Jenny Calloway/Student; :46]
[SUPER=01-Rusty Thompson/Bonfire Advisor; :51]
[SUPER=01-Dan Garcia/Reporting; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=DAN GARCIA FOR CBS NEWS, BRYAN, TEXAS]

(( WITH DOZENS OF STUDENTS STANDING ON TOP OF A HUGE MOUNTAIN OF LOGS... THE PILE GAVE WAY....SENDING PEOPLE AND LOGS TUMBLING.
RESCUE TEAMS WERE ON THE SCENE IN MINUTES, BUT HAVE BEEN FORCED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION TO REMOVE VICTIMS AND SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE SURVIVORS TRAPPED UNDER AN UNSTABLE JUMBLE OF HEAVY LOGS.
SOT: BART HUMPHRIES/COLLEGE STATION FIRE SEPT. "EVERY PIECE OF LUMBER EFFECTS OTHER PIECES THAT'S WHY IT'S SUCH A TEDIO

US TASK."
(SUPER: 1998)

THE STUDENTS WERE STACKING LOGS FOR WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE WORLD'D BIGGEST BONFIRE. IT'S A 90 YEAR TRADITION AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY INTENDED TO RALLY STUDENTS FOR A FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN WITH ARCH RIVAL UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. OFFICIALS SAY 60 TO 70 PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO STAND ON THE PILE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SPECIALLY TRAINED STUDENTS AND ADVISORS.
SOT: JENNY CALLOWAY/STUDENT

"WE WERE JUST DOING A STACK LIKE WE NORMALLY DO AND IT JUST FELL."
SOT: RUSTY THOMPSON/BONFIRE ADVISOR

"THINGS WERE GOING WELL STUDENTS WERE WORKING ON THE STACK AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN MOVEMENT AND 7 SECONDS LATER IT WAS AT THE STATE WE SEE NOW." AT LEAST 24 STUDENTS WERE TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS... SEVERAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE UNIVERSITY WILL HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE THIS EVENING TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD AND INJURED. DAN GARCIA FOR CBS NEWS, BRYAN, TEXAS.))

[Egyptair-crash]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Egyptair Crash]


It could several days before experts fully analyze the cockpit voice recorder from EgyptAir Flight 9-90's cockpit voice recorder continues.
Safety experts and translators began work today on what they describe as a ``a literal, factual transcript of all conversations and sounds.''
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Home Video;]


Without any known mechanical or weather problems, attention remains focused on a cryptic prayer believed to have been spoken by co-pilot Gamil Al-Batouty (guh-MEEL' el-bah-TOO'-tee) seen here in a home video.
Somewhere between the autopilot being disconnected, and the beginning of the fatal dive, El Batouty ( el-bah-TOO'-tee) utters: I have made my decision.
I put my fate in Gods hands.
[SUPER=03-Cairo, Egypt;]


But in Cairo, El Batouty's family is outraged, accusing the US of a cover up.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

[3:04:26] ((SHERIF EL-BATUTY, COUSIN; "HE'S A GREAT PERSON, HE'S A FUNNY PERSON, HE'S A FRIEND TO HIS CHILDREN, HE'S VERY WELL OFF, HE INHERITED SO MUCH LAND, SO MUCH MONEY." ))
[SUPER=01-Sherif el-Batouty/Cousin;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=so much money.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Egypt's ambassador requested a more extensive review of the evidence, trying to diffuse any perception that the U-S was rushing to judgment.
(------------)



[Dragging-death]


[ANCHOR=mela]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The third suspect in the dragging death of a Texas man has been convicted.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jasper, TX;]


A jury in Jasper has found Shawn Berry guilty of Capital murder.
The only question now is whether Berry will be sentenced to death like the two other men charged in the crime, or be given life in prison.
(------------)


[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still ahead on News-7 at Noon, find out why Mark Earley thinks he should be Virginia's next governor.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And Lenny continues to tear across the Caribbean.
For more on the storm, let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[Lenny]


[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Lenny]


Hurricane Lenny continues on it's path of destruction.
The eye is expected to pass over a string of Dutch and British islands sometime today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Juan, PR;]

[3:00:43]
Yesterday it slammed the U-S Virgin Islands, landing a knockout blow on Saint Croix.... where wind speeds reached as high as one hundred and fifty miles an hour.
Nearby Puerto Rico avoided the worst.
Still.... thousands of residents there are without running water and electricity.
Lenny's winds have died down a bit to 135 miles per hour.
(------------)



[Turkey-Meeting]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]
President Clinton and Russian leader Boris Yeltsin---clash at a Summit of European leaders.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Istanbul, Turkey;]

[10:13:52]
In a public statement in Turkey today before their meeting, Mr. Clinton warned Yeltsin, that Russia's military campaign in the breakaway region of Chechnya may be taking too heavy a toll on innocent people.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[6;01:38-52]
[IN Q=The extremism that Russia is trying to...]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=or the resistance.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


But Yeltsin vigorously defended the fighting against rebels in the region and said world leaders have no right to criticize Russia on Chechnya.
(------------)



[E-Earley]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-46 TC20:42]
[GRAPHIC=Earley]


Election Day '99 is just past us.
The U-S Senate race between Chuck Robb and George Allen is next in line.
But Attorney General Mark Earley is living up to his name as the first candidate for governor in the year 2001 to form an exploratory committee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


We asked him why he'd make a better governor than his fellow Republican, Lieutenant Governor John Hager.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:44:02]
[IN Q=Well I think]

((WELL I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE IS HAVING SERVED IN THE STATE SENATE FOR TEN YEARS. I THINK SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF THE REAL REFORMS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, IS VERY HELPFUL. AND THEN, HAVING SERVED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE REALLY ALLOWS YOU TO INTERFACE WITH ALMOST EVERY STATE AGENCY AND EVERY MAJOR ISSUE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=state government.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Earley says the exploratory committee will help him raise money and do some mailings two years before the general election.
Neither Hager, nor Democrats Mark Warner, L-F Payne, or Jerry Baliles have taken that step... despite possible interest in the job.

[Henry-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]


State police have picked up the driver involved in a fiery accident early this morning in Henry County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]


The accident happened on South Daniels Creek Road in Collinsville.
Police say the driver was going too fast, lost control of the car and hit a utility pole.
The car then burst into flames.
Neighbors helped the driver get out, but the passenger, 21-year old John W. Tunnell of Martinsville, was trapped inside.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:54:16 - :29]
[IN Q=I can only imagine]

((DONALD DALTON: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN THAT THE BOY WAS IN. I WAS TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I COULDN'T GET THE FIRE OUT AND JUST SITTING THERE AND WATCHING HIM BURN. IT'S SOMETHING I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN. ))
[SUPER=07-Donald Dalton;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=don't ever want to see again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


It took more than 45 minutes to get Tunnell out.
He was flown to the U-VA Medical Center with third degree burns over the lower half of his body.
He's in critical condition.
Authorities have not released the name of the driver but say he will probably face criminal charges.
(------------)



[Kirkland]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Bedford man who took part in the beating death of his disabled brother will spend 25 years in prison.
William Henry Kirkland said at his sentencing yesterday that it was his nephew who bullied Jeffrey O'Neill Kirkland.
But he said he thought the men were only playing.
He pleaded no contest in December to second-degree murder.
The nephew, Robert Wright Junior, pleaded guilty in September to first-degree murder.

[E-Adams]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:02:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]


One prosecutor calls him one of the most dangerous men he's ever dealt with.. but now 49-year old Elmer Adams will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rustburg]


Adams was sentenced yesterday on a total of 29 drug and firearms charges, but it was his PAST criminal history that made the difference.
Adams killed his wife in 1975, another man in 1994 and had threatened to kill a number of police officers six years ago.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:01:24]
[IN Q=He didn't change]

((NEIL VENER/CAMPBELL CO. PROSECUTOR: HE DIDN'T CHANGE HIS WAYS, HE WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO KILL PEOPLE AS YOU HEARD FROM THE TESTIMONY TODAY, SO I THINK THE JUDGE BY HIS VERDICT HAS ASSURED THAT IT'S UNLIKELY HE'LL EVER GET A CHANCE TO HURT ANOTHER INNOCENT PERSON AGAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Neil Vener/Campbell Co. Prosecutor]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=innocent person again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Adams was sentenced to a total of 523 years in prison.
He'll be eligible for parole when he turns 65.
(------------)


[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


If you couldn't drag yourself out of bed last night-- stay tuned.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


We'll have a look at last night's heavenly event.
It's still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[E-Tobacco-Money]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:01:30]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]


A new survey shows more Virginians want tobacco settlement money spent on health initiatives than either a tax cut or building new roads.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


A coalition of doctors and health advocates called "Spend Tobacco Money" on People announced the results of the VCU study yesterday.
It's part of a lobbying effort against Governor Jim Gilmore's plan to build roads with 40 percent of the four BILLION dollars.
Tobacco communities are already promised 50 percent.
That left 10 percent for anti-smoking efforts.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:10:56]
[IN Q=And so we]

((DONNA REYNOLDS/AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION; AND SO WE FELT VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT, BUT WE ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO COME BACK. ))
[SUPER=01-Donna Reynolds/American Lung Association; ]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=to come back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The poll says most Virginians surveyed would prefer to use the tobacco windfall to keep kids from smoking, pay uninsured smokers' medical bills, and do medical research.
(------------)



[E-Creech]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-47 17:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A minister who conducted marriage ceremonies for a gay couple in North Carolina has lost his ministerial credentials in the United Methodist Church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 7]


Reverend Jimmy Creech ministered in Roanoke shortly after performing the controversial ceremony.
He said there is nothing in scripture that condemns a loving relationship between two people of the same gender.
But today a jury of Nebraska United Methodist ministers unanimously found that Creech broke church rules.
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=none]


Creech says he's not surprised by the outcome - but says he's disappointed that it was a unanimous vote.

[Meteor-shower]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon ]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Those who saw it called it a canopy of shooting stars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The middle east was the best place to view the Leonid meteor shower.
It forms from dust and ice pellets shed by the orbiting comet Tempel-Tuttle.
They streak into the Earth's atmosphere at 40 miles a second and burn up.
The shooting stars and fireballs can dart anywhere overhead, but all appear to come from the direction of the constellation Leo, which gives the shower its name.
It was the heaviest storm of shooting stars in 33 years.
(------------)



[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]


On Wall Street just after Noon, the Dow was UP 124 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still to come in sports, racing fans celebrate the life of Clay Earles this afternoon,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and the Lady Hokies run into some stiff competition last night in the second round of the preseason N-I-T.
Patrick has the highlights, next.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]



[S-Earles]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-53]
[GRAPHIC=EARLES]


Funeral services for Martinsville Speedway founder Clay Earles began around 11 this morning.
The 86 year old racing pioneer died Tuesday.
Earles was known as a man who took care of people from all walks of life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/1989; :00]


He'll alway be remembered as a man who took care of his geese and his ducks.
When Clay Earles talked to the animals, they, like people, listened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=10-Clay Earles//1997; :12]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...feed em you know."]
(---------------)





[S-Tech]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-44 TC15704]
[GRAPHIC=TECH HOOPS]


The Virginia Tech women returned to Cassell last hight in the second round of the preseason N-I-T, but they were met by a bunch of talented Bulldogs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Georgia vs. Virginia Tech; :00]


Tech went into last night's game knowing they would have to step it up against the third ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

One half of Georgia's talented twins, Kelly Miller hits the deep two pointer and Georgia goes on top 12-to-6.
But Tech would rally as Sarah Hicks, the former Botetourt star, hits the three pointer. The Hokies regained the lead at the 12:35 mark of the first.
Kelly Miller would hit another jumper to end the first half. But Tech hits the break with a 33-to-30 advantage.
Amy Wetzel would keep Tech in front most of the second half this driving hoop makes it a 35-to-30 game.
[SUPER=33-Georgia #3/65/Va. Tech #18/60;]


Wetzel would finish with 14 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds, but Georgia got the lead back with under six minutes to go. Tech falls last night 65-to-60.
(------------)





[S-UVa]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-46 11119tc]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]


Pete Gillen's Cavaliers open the season tomorrow night against Elon and then play VMI at home on Sunday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]


Yesterday the team members elected Donald Hand as one of their captains for the upcoming season.
The 5-11 guard who started all 30 games last season was also a captain last year.
His co-captain is Willie Dersch, the only senior on the Cavaliers' roster. Dersch averaged 10 points a game last year. (------------)
by SS