[7-Vinton-Chief]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Investigation]


Ricky Foutz says he has received tremendous community support since he announced he was taking early retirement from the Vinton Police Department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


The decision came in the midst of a special grand jury investigation of the department.
Foutz says the support means a lot to him -- especially since he believes he hasn't done anything criminal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't feel]

(( I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG. IF I HAD I WISH THEY'D PLEASE LET ME KNOW. LIKE I SAID IF I MADE A MISTAKE, I'LL ADMIT IT. BUT TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY WRONG NO I HAVE NOT AND NOR DO I THINK LIEUTENANT BROWN HAS ))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=Lt. Brown has.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Foutz says even if it is proven he has done nothing wrong -- it would be almost impossible for him to return to the Vinton Police Department.
(------------)



[7-E-Car-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-37 1:53:09]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]


An accident last night sent two people to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


It happened when the driver of this car swerved to miss a deer on Back Creek Circle in Roanoke County.
The driver ended up hitting a ditch and flipping the car on its side.
The passenger was thrown through the windshield but was not seriously hurt.
Both were taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
(------------)



[7-S-Lynchburg-Shooting]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-36 2:03:32]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]


A Lynchburg woman remains in critical condition this morning after being shot yesterday outside a Lynchburg restaurant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


It happened around two A-M at Pisces Restaurant.
36 year old Tammy Smith of Lynchburg-- was shot in the head.
She was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.
37 year old Bruce Johnson, also of Lynchburg, has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
He's charged with malicious wounding.
No word on a motive.
(------------)



[7-Drowning-Update]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-53 12:11]
[GRAPHIC=Drowning]


Authorities say alcohol may have contributed to this weekend's drowning at Smith Mountain Lake.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Saturday]


27 year old Scott Allen Carr of Roanoke drowned Saturday while fishing with a friend in the Glenville Creek Area of Franklin County.
Authorities say Carr fell overboard when his friend snagged a fishing lure and tipped the boat over, while trying to free the line.
Carr was underwater for about 30 minutes before dive teams found his body in 19- feet of water.
His friend was able to make it to safety.
Authorities say both men had been drinking but are continuing their investigation.
(------------)



[7-Roanoke-Census]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]



The city of Roanoke is getting smaller.
The latest census estimates indicate that Roanoke lost population over the past decade while several counties around it saw double-digit growth.
The big gainers were Bedford, Botetourt and Franklin counties.
The population grew only two percent in Roanoke County.
But the city's population has dropped by more than three-thousand since the 1990 census.

[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Here's a look at your Monday forecast.
Today looks to be cloudy with a chance of scattered showers.
High temperatures in the low to mid 60s.
Tonight, mostly cloudy with light winds.
Low temperatures in the 50s.
And for the rest of the holiday week...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy, Chance of/Scattered Showers/60-65/Mostly Cloudy/Light Wind/50-54;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[45-E-Foutz]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-45 48:16]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Investigation]

[****ANCHOR TAG****]
For the first time, former Vinton police chief Ricky Foutz is speaking out about his recent resignation and the ongoing grand jury probe of the police department.
Joy Sutton reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's four]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief; :14]
[SUPER=@Joy1; 1:47]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=JS News 7]
(((///// SOT /////)

[nat sound 10:36]
[IN Q=there's four]

((NAT SOUND: THERE'S FOUR AND FIVE EVERYDAY))
[RUNS= 3]
[OUT Q=five everyday]


Ricky Foutz says the letters and phone calls have been pouring in-- since he announced he was taking early retirement in the midst of special grand jury investigation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:18]
[IN Q=It's just ]

((IT'S JUST PEOPLE LETTING ME KNOW THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING ME AND IT REALLY FEELS GOOD))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=feels good]


And Foutz says that kind of support means a lot to him -- especially since he believes he hasn't done anything criminal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:37]
[IN Q=I don't feel like ]

(( I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG. IF I HAD I WISH THEY'D PLEASE LET ME KNOW. LIKE I SAID IF I MADE A MISTAKE, I'LL ADMIT IT. BUT TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY WRONG NO I HAVE NOT AND NOR DO I THINK LIEUTENANT BROWN HAS ))
[RUNS= 20]
[OUT Q=brown has]


Foutz says he was given few options other than to retire -- saying, at this point, he hasn't even been briefed on all of the allegations.
Vinton Town Council convinced Foutz and Lieutenant William Brown Junior, to quit -- and that has upset many town residents -- who made their views known at the last town council meeting .
(///// SOT /////)
[ nat sound vinton council #2 1:33:27]
[IN Q=Why was any]

((NAT SOUND: WHY WAS ANY ACTION TAKEN BEFORE THE STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION WAS FINISHED.))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=was finished]


Some town residents have even protested outside town hall -- saying they want Foutz back in office.
But Foutz says even if it is proven he has done nothing wrong -- it would be almost impossible for him to return to the Vinton Police Department.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:54]
[IN Q=Just the way things]

((JUST THE WAY THINGS HAVE DEVELOPED AND THE WAY THINGS HAVE GONE. YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND TRUST YOU CAN'T SURVIVE IN THAT POSITION))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=that position]


In fact, Foutz says he will NOT be looking for a job in law enforcement.
As far as the investigation, officials say it may be next year before its complete. Joy Sutton News 7.))
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


One aspect of the investigation-- deals with allegations of missing evidence.
Foutz says most of it has been located.


[45-Roanoke-Census]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]


New Census numbers indicate that Roanoke lost population over the past decade while several counties around it saw double-digit growth.
The big gainers were Bedford, Botetourt and Franklin counties.
The population grew only two percent in Roanoke County.
But the city's population has dropped by more than three-thousand since the 1990 census.

[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a moment now to check the Monday forecast...
Cloudy, with a chance of scattered showers today and highs in the low to mid 60s.
Tonight should stay mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 50s.
The extended outlook is calling for some lingering clouds tomorrow, then turning partly sunny.
Highs this week in the 60s...lows in the 40s and low 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy, Chance of/Scattered Showers/60-65/Mostly Cloudy/Light Wind/50-54;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[8-E-Car-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-37 1:53:09]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]


A single vehicle accident in Roanoke County sent two people to the hospital last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


It happened when the driver of this car swerved to miss a deer on Back Creek Circle.
The driver ended up hitting a ditch and flipping the car on its side.
The passenger was thrown through the windshield but was not seriously hurt.
Both were taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
(------------)



[8-Vinton-Chief]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton PD Investigation]


Since announcing his retirement, former Vinton police chief Ricky Foutz says letters and phone calls of support have been pouring in.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


The decision came in the midst of a special grand jury investigation of the department.
Foutz says that kind of support means a lot to him -- especially since he believes he hasn't done anything criminal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't feel]

(( I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG. IF I HAD I WISH THEY'D PLEASE LET ME KNOW. LIKE I SAID IF I MADE A MISTAKE, I'LL ADMIT IT. BUT TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY WRONG NO I HAVE NOT AND NOR DO I THINK LIEUTENANT BROWN HAS ))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Foutz/Former Vinton Police Chief]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=Lt. Brown has.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Foutz says even if it is proven he has done nothing wrong -- it would be almost impossible for him to return to the Vinton Police Department.
(------------)



[8-Roanoke-Census]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke City's population is decreasing.
The latest census estimates indicate that Roanoke lost population over the past decade while several counties around it saw double-digit growth.
The big gainers were Bedford, Botetourt and Franklin counties.
The population grew only two percent in Roanoke County.
But the city's population has dropped by more than three-thousand since the 1990 census.

[8-S-Lynchburg-Shooting]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-36 2:03:32]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]


The Lynchburg woman who was shot outside a restaurant yesterday remains in critical condition this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


It happened around two A-M yesterday at Pisces Restaurant.
36 year old Tammy Smith of Lynchburg-- was shot in the head.
She was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.
37 year old Bruce Johnson, also of Lynchburg, has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
He's charged with malicious wounding.
No word on a motive.
(------------)




[8-E-Santa-Express]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


It's a 55 year old tradition that has brought smiles and holiday cheer to residents in rural parts of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dante]


The Santa Train Express made it's way down the Clinchfield railroad this weekend, bringing tens of thousands of toys to children of Appalachia.
The Santa train passed through small towns like (Hay-sigh) Haysi, Elkhorn City Kentucky, and ultimately Kingsport Tennessee handing out presents to those less fortunate.
(------------)




[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Now here's one more look at your Monday forecast...
Cloudy today, with a chance of more scattered showers and highs of 60 to 65.
Mostly cloudy tonight with light winds and lows near 52.
The five day forecast includes a mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Highs this week in the 60s...lows in the 40s and low 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy, Chance of/Scattered Showers/60-65/Mostly Cloudy/Light Wind/50-54;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]


by SS