[7-Travel]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-53 5:14:38]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday travel]
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and people are hitting the roads and taking to the air today for the holiday.
Kate Weidaw has some travel tips.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Many folks]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jacqueline Shuck/Airport Manager; :21]
[SUPER=01-Trooper Kevin Harth/State Police; :37]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :49]
[SUPER=01-Shelly Alley/Roanoke City Police; 1:04]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=Kate Weidaw News 7 Roanoke.]
(([NAT SOUND 2:07:50]
[INQ=]
((LAST CALL FOR FLIGHTS....))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]
Many folks were getting out of Roanoke early before holiday crowds pack into the Roanoke Regional Airport. The airport will have extra staffing to handle the large number of people expected to walk through the security gate. And with limited parking space, management has one request.
[SOT 2:00:36]
[INQ=]
((JACQUELINE L. SHUCK/AIRPORT MANAGER: HAVE YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY DROP YOU OFF IF AT ALL POSSIBLE THAT WAY WE WILL HAVE PARKING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME 60 MILES.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]
If you're planning on driving to your destination watch your speed. State police plan to be out in full force this holiday.
[SOT 4:18]
[INQ=]
((TROOPER KEVIN HARTH/SALEM STATE POLICE: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS EVERYONE IS IN TOO BIG OF A HURRY THEY ARE DRIVING TOO FAST AND TOO CLOSELY YOU GET TO THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 11]
Roanoke City police will not only be cracking down on speeders, but also on parents who don't buckle up their children.
The department is joining a nation wide effort to make sure kids are wearing seatbelts. Check points will be set up around the city.
[SOT 2:40]
[INQ=]
((SHELLY ALLEY/EDUC. AND INFO. SPECIALIST: MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CHILDREN 5 TO 14 YEARS OLD AND SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILD IS BUCKLED UP AND BUCKLED UP CORRECTLY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]
The best tip from officials: no matter what your destination, allow plenty of time to get there.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON FLYING OUT OF THE AIRPORT TODAY SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER ARE A PHOTO ID, PACK LIGHTLY, AND IF YOU ARE BRINGING WRAPPED GIFTS PLACE THEM IN YOUR CHECKED BAGS. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7 ROANOKE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]))
[7-81-Fatal]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=81-Deadly Accident]
An accident on Interstate 81 has left a 16-year-old dead after the jeep she was riding in went off highway. It happened shortly after noon yesterday north of Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County.
Apparently the driver, Lucy Smith of Newport News, lost control of the vehicle and ended up 150 feet beyond the guard rail.
Her passenger was pronounced dead at Roanoke Memorial Hospital yesterday afternoon.
Authorities say the teen was not wearing a seat belt.
[7-E-Vinton-Collapse]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-45 52:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Roanoke County Health Department won't open its new location in Vinton until Monday, but nurses are already seeing some patients.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; ]
Flu shots are administered in the old teacher lounge, and environmental health managers are becoming carpenters to adjust to using the old Roland E-Cook elementary school as a temporary health department.
Health workers plan to keep shop at the school for about three to six months.
The public is asked to use the Jefferson Street entrance.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Here's a look at your mid week forecast...
Clouds and fog today with a chance of showers.
Temperatures in the low to mid 60s.
Tonight, rain likely with light winds.
Lows around 50.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Clouds & Fog/Chance of Showers/60-65/Rain Likely/Light Wind/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-Ramdass]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He was set to become the 14th person executed this year in Virginia.
(+++++++)
[TAKE FS GRAPHIC]
But yesterday the U-S Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for Bobby Lee Ramdass (RAM-dass).
It will remain in effect until the court decides whether to hear his appeal.
Ramdass shot and killed a Fairfax store clerk in 1992.
His execution WAS set for last night.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
His appeal is based partly on the fact that the jury didn't know the only alternative to the death sentence would have been life in prison without the possibility of parole.
[45-E-Carroll-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:04:29]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
In Carroll County, a 15-year old girl will be tried as an adult for allegedly shooting her grandfather as he slept.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Galax/July 9;]
A judge made the decision yesterday-- after listening to the state's evidence which included Robin Martin's confession.
The teen told authorities she shot her grandfather in the head with a 12- gauge shotgun back in July because he was keeping her away from one of her friends.
Prosecutor Greg Goad will seek a first degree murder indictment-- when the case goes before a grand jury next month.
(------------)
[45-E-Lee-County]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-40 1:46:33]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A former hospital administrator in southwest Virginia is accused of helping swindle Lee County Community hospital out of seven MILLION dollars.
Authorities say James Davis received kickbacks for hospital contracts and used employees at the facility to work on his house.
He also allegedly handed out prescription painkillers to girlfriends.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Abingdon;]
Federal authorities say they started investigating Davis-- after receiving information that he'd embezzled 30-thousand dollars from a local doctor.
(/////SOT///// 13:28:33)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We began]
((TOM BONDURANT/ASSISTANT U.S. ATTY.: WE BEGAN THE CASE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN WORKING PRETTY SOLID ON IT EVER SINCE, SO, LIKE WE DISCOVERED ONE SCHEME AND WOULD LEAD TO ANOTHER AND KIND OF SNOWBALL TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Bondurant/Assistant U. S. Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=are today.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Three other men-- including former hospital board member Charles (few-gut) Fugate were also named in a federal indictment.
Today Fugate pleaded guilty to mail fraud.
Authorities say he and Davis leased equipment to the hospital without telling the hospital board they owned the company and then charged the hospital up to 300- percent in interest.
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[45-E-County-Supervisors]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:10:01]
[GRAPHIC=Ft. Lewis Mtn. Fire]
The fire on on Fort Lewis Mountain has been under control since last Thursday- but there are still hot spots- and crews are still on the mountain mopping up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Week;]
The fire burned more than 13 hundred acres before it was contained-.
And officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry say if dry conditions continue, last week's fire may just be a preview.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:13:58]
[IN Q=We've gone through]
((RICHARD MILES/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY: WE'VE GONE THROUGH A VERY LONG EXTENDED DROUGHT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK THEY CAN HAVE THE PROBLEMS LIKE THEY HAD IN FLORIDA OR IN CALIFORNIA. AND WE CAN AND I THINK WE CAME REAL CLOSE TO HAVING THAT IN THIS AREA AND THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Miles/Virginia Department of Forestry]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=need to be aware of.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
There's no word yet on the cause of the fire. Investigators are still working on that.
(------------)
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Turning your attention now to weather...
Lingering clouds and patchy dense fog in areas today, with a chance of showers later on.
Highs of 60 to 65.
Rain likely by tonight, with lows around 50.
The holiday weekend forecast is calling for showers tomorrow and Friday, with drier weather for the weekend.
Cooler highs in the 50s...lows in the 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Clouds & Fog/Chance of Showers/60-65/Rain Likely/Light Wind/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[Bedford-Accident]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cut-in]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
State police are at the scene of an accident this morning in Bedford County involving a school bus.
It happened shortly before 8 off Hardy Road in the Barrington Court subdivision.
Few details have been released at this time.
We do know there are some injuries, but we haven't confirmed if those injured are children.
A news crew is on route to the scene and we'll have more information for you as it becomes available.
[8-E-Kroger]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-46 23:43]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger]
Kroger has joined in on the grocery discount card trend, but not without some customer concerns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Kroger has been touting its new Shopper's Card in the last couple of weeks.
It gives you discounts on food ... but also gives Kroger a list of what you like ... information Kroger says is confidential.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:28:31 //// 19:19:23:59]
[****bump sots*****]
[IN Q=the tradeoff]
((KROGER CUSTOMER: THE TRADEOFF IS THEY KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING THAT I'M DOING IN THE STORE. AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN INVASION OF YOUR PRIVACY. //////////ARCHIE FRALIN/KROGER: WE ABSOLUTELY AS WE SAY ON THE APPLICATION WON'T SHARE THE INFORMATION OR RELEASE THE CUSTOMER'S NAME TO ANYBODY.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Barbour/Kroger Customer; :00]
[SUPER=01-Archie Fralin/Kroger; :10]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=TO ANYBODY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Kroger says it's keeping other discounts on top of the card -- like double coupons.
The store says it can afford the promotions because it keeps attracting more customers.
(------------)
[8-E-Tobacco-Commission]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-37]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]
It was the beginning of a long labor of love in Southside yesterday...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
as the group that will decide how to spend two-billion dollars of Virginia's tobacco settlement money met for the first time.
The 31 lawmakers, farmers and residents have to figure out how to compensate farmers who are losing their livelihood ... because of shrinking tobacco demand and lawsuits.
They'll also propose ways of reviving tobacco-dependent economies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:09:58 - 16:10:10]
[IN Q=What we have is]
((SEN. CHARLES HAWKINS/(R) CHATHAM: WHAT WE HAVE IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS COMES ONCE. BECAUSE IT'S OUR CHARGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE PROPERLY. WITHOUT THE PROPER LEADERSHIP AND THE PROPER DECISIONS MADE BY THIS BODY, IT WILL BE NOTHING BUT CHAOS.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Charles Hawkins/(R) Chatham;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=nothing but chaos.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The commission expects Virginia to receive 185-million of the settlement money this year.
Officials say losses to state tobacco farmers and the economy already exceed one-billion dollars.
(------------)
[8-E-VA-Prisons]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-44 1:01:07]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Prisons]
Too many prison beds, but not enough prisoners...
But the governor who oversaw Virginia's prison building boom says not to worry-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co.;]
George Allen made the comment.
It came a day after House budget analysts said 44 hundred empty prison beds and the end of several contracts to house out-of-state prisoners mean the state could see a 74 million dollar shortfall in its prison budget.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:28:47]
[IN Q=You can]
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: YOU CAN WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THAT. MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN VIRGINIA IS DOWN TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IT'S BEEN IN 24 YEARS. AND VIRGINIANS ARE LEADING SAFER LIVES.))
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) Former Governor; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=safer lives.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
The out-of-state prisoner contracts had helped fund the new prisons at Sussex II and Wallen's Ridge, as well as an older prison in Chesapeake.
The Gilmore adminstration says the beds will be filled and the budget gap made up.
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Shifting gears now to weather...
Clouds and patchy dense fog throughout the day, with highs in the low to mid 60s.
Rain likely overnight, with lows around 50.
The extended forecast stays wet for Thanksgiving and the day after....highs in the 50s...lows in the 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Clouds & Fog/Chance of Showers/60-65/Rain Likely/Light Wind/48-52;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS