[7-Pendleton]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The man who last year gave a Roanoke area charity hundreds of bicycles bought with worthless checks briefly escaped from a federal prison in North Carolina.
Jody Pendleton was arrested during the weekend at a grocery store not far from Roanoke.
He vanished last Friday from a minimum-security prison where he was serving a two and a half year sentence for writing more than 140-thousand dollars in worthless checks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Last December, Pendleton bought
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]
340 bikes from a local Wal-Mart, but the check bounced.
He donated them to the annual Bikes or Bust campaign.
(------------)
[7-E-Barfield]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-48 23:54]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
He escaped from Roanoke County deputies this summer and was later caught in North Carolina.
Now he admits to burning a cross in Virginia Beach.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[99-25 1:01:50]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Edgar Barfield - seen here in a jail house interview - admitted that he burned a cross on an interracial couple's lawn.
He pleaded guilty to wearing a mask in public and burning a cross to intimidate.
[99-35 TC09:05]
[super=03-Botetourt Co./July]
Barfield was being transported by Roanoke County authorities in July on separate assault charges when he escaped after going to use a restroom at a Montvale convenience store.
(------------)
[7-Farmville-Fires]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Arson]
State troopers are investigating a series of arsons in the area around Longwood college they believe are related.
Three fires were set early yesterday within a 90-minute period-- one of them was inside a Longwood dorm.
Other recent fires have hit the Hampden-Sydney College fire department, two mobile homes and three cars.
[7-E-Road-Taxes]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-46 26:54]
[GRAPHIC=highway Improvements]
Business leaders from all over the state say raising taxes may be necessary because of the need for new roads.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:50:13]
[IN Q=We all believe]
((ED HALL/ROANOKE CHAMBER: WE ALL BELIEVE IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE THAT TRANSPORTATION IS IMPORTANT TO EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE POPULATION. AND WE'RE HERE TOGETHER.))
[SUPER=01-Ed Hall/Roanoke Chamber;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=here together.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Leaders of chambers of commerce from around Virginia say voters should decide in each region if new taxes or tolls are needed to pay for roads.
[SUPER=04-VDOT;]
The news conference followed a vote by the Governor's own roads commission to support a regional tax referendum idea.
But the Governor says NO way.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09:12]
[IN Q=They're not]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT WILL BE PAYING FOR THE TAX INCREASES. INDIVIDUAL WORKING MEN AND WOMEN ARE. AND I'M LOATH TO THROW THEM INTO THE HANDS OF A REFERENDUM WHERE THEY ARE RELATIVELY POWERLESS COMPARED TO LARGE, MONIED INTERESTS THAT WANT TO SEE MONEY COME OUT OF TAXPAYERS' POCKETS AND NOT THEIR OWN.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; ]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=not their own.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Governor says tobacco settlement money should pay for roads.
(------------)
[7-E-Golf-Carts]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A new transportation service at Montgomery Regional Hospital is the first of its kind in Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; ]
A new golf cart started cruising the parking lot yesterday picking up patients at their car and taking them to the hospital entrance.
15 volunteers split shifts driving the cart, affectionately known as the Gopher, from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon.
The hospital's official mascot, Monty the Gopher, cut the ribbon on the new wheels.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Here now is a look at your Tuesday forecast.
Expect a cloudy, breezy, and cold day with some snow flurries.
Highs in the upper 30s.
Tonight, mostly clear with some winds.
Lows in the upper teens to low 20s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Variably Cloudy/Breezy, with Flurries/35-39/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/18-22;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-E-Tech-Tickets]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-38 1:25:17]
[GRAPHIC=VT Sugar Bowl]
The B-C-S standings are out and there are happy faces in Blacksburg.
(+++++++)
[TAKE PINNACLE FULL]
Second-ranked Virginia Tech has more than a point and a-half lead over number-three Nebraska.
That should be enough of an edge for the Hokies to earn a Sugar Bowl invitation to play top-ranked Florida State for the national championship.
(-------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
Even though it's not official yet, Hokie fans are making their plans for New Orleans.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:00]
[SUPER=01-Jason Eye/Virginia Tech Student;:18]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Smith/Virginia Tech Ticket Office;:39]
[SUPER=01-Julie Wheeler/Better Business Bureau;1:25]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:40]
[RUNS=1:54]
[OUT Q=N7 Blacksburg]
(([NAT SOUND HOKIE FANS]
[RUNS= 5]
These fans have their sights set on the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
Tickets are not cheap and for college students a large price tag may mean spending the big night in front of the t.v. at home.
[SOT 4:58:47]
[INQ=]
((JASON EYE/VA TECH STUDENT: BETTER SEATS THAT WAY, I CAN BE AS ROWDY AS I WANT TO BE AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING THROWN OUT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]
But for those Hokie fans who want to see the game in person finding tickets might be difficult. Members of the Tech Hokie Club get first dibs on any bowl tickets allotted to the university. Order forms were sent out to members and the response has been enormous.
[SOT 13:48:58 TERESA'S TAPE SOT USED AT 6]
[INQ=]
((SANDY SMITH /TECH TICKET OFFICE: THE DEADLINE WAS THE 23RD TO MAIL THEM IN AND WE'RE GETTING MAIL IN TODAY AND WE'VE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT IN AND WE'RE GETTING THAT IN THE COMPUTER TODAY AND TOMORROW TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]
So if you're not a Hokie Club member plan on finding a travel agent to purchase a ticket. World Travel is one agency that will sell you the gold ticket for about 300 dollars - if you also buy a one thousand dollar hotel and air travel package.
[pre-pro from Scott's package]
You can also check out the internet and dozens of classified ads in the news paper offering tickets for 250 to 950 dollars a piece. Officials at the Better Business Bureau say fans need to check around before buying a ticket, make sure the broker's been in the business for a while, and if the ad looks to good to be true it probably is.
[SOT 4:42:47 SCOTT'S PACKAGE FROM 6]
[INQ=]
((JULIE WHEELER/BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU: GO HOKIES TICKETS AND PACKAGES AVAILABLE. WE'LL BEAT ANY PRICE. YOU HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THAT ONE. AND TYPICALLY IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE THEY WANT TO CHECK YOU OUT BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CHECK THEM OUT. SO WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, WHAT KIND OF THINGS THEY OPERATE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 13]
So whether you're a college student, a long time fan, or someone jumping on the Hokie bandwagon keep in mind buying tickets for the Sugar Bowl may leave a hole in your wallet but a smile on your face. Kate Weidaw News 7 Blacksburg.))
[45-Farmville-Fires]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Arson]
A series of suspicious fires in the Farmville area have officials on alert.
State troopers are patrolling the area around Longwood College.
Three fires were set early yesterday within a 90-minute period-- one of them was inside a Longwood dorm.
Other recent fires have hit the Hampden-Sydney College fire department, two mobile homes and three cars.
Investigators believe the fires are connected.
[45weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news to check the weather...
Variable cloudiness today, with snow flurries likely.
Chilly highs this afternoon in the upper 30s.
Skies will turn mostly clear overnight, with lows near 20.
The five day forecast gradually warms up into the 40s and 50s....with rain possible by the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Variably Cloudy/Breezy, with Flurries/35-39/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/18-22;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[8-E-Halifax-Dolls]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Teenage pregnancy is a problem that many school systems are trying to combat.
But Halifax County's program, called "Baby, Think It Over," is drawing fire from one parent.
Marya Jones explains why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Halifax Co. uses these dolls]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :09]
[SUPER=07-Teresita Plautz; :17]
[SUPER=01-Larry Clark/Halifax Co. H.S. Principal; 42]
[SUPER=01-Marcy Durling/11th Grade; 58]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Halifax Co.]
(( Halifax County uses these dolls to introduce students to the difficulties of parenting...
[NAT SOUND:CRYING]
((NATSOUND: CRYING))
[RUNS= :01]
... and discourage teen pregnancy.
But Teresita Plautz, the mother of a tenth-grade girl, says that when the school required ONLY girls to bring the dolls home, it sent the wrong message.
[SOT 15:38:35]
((TERESITA PLAUTZ: I FEEL LIKE IT'S SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE GIRLS THAT YOU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND A MESSAGE TO THE BOYS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE.))
[RUNS= :09]
The American Civil Liberties Union agreed.
In a November 16th letter, attorneys for the A-C-L-U told the school board that the policy violates federal law.
And to avoid legal action, they're telling the board to get rid of the dolls OR make boys take them home, too.
[SOT 15:48:06 - :10]
((LARRY CLARK/PRINCIPAL: I THINK THAT THERE ARE REASONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.))
[RUNS= :04]
Principal Larry Clark says the school system is already working on it. His solution may be to make the dolls optional for all students.
That makes sense to students like Marcy Durling, who took the class last year.
[SOT 15:53:32 - :38]
((MARCY DURLING/11TH GRADER: I THINK IF WE HAVE TO DO IT, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING BABIES AND THEY DO TOO. ))
[RUNS= :06]
"Baby Think It Over" is giving students AND administrators two very different lessons to think over. Marya Jones, News 7, Halifax County.))
[8-E-BV-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:18:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Will they stick with an old favorite, or find something new?
That's the question facing school board members in Buena Vista who will name the city's new high school in January.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista]
Yesterday, local dignitaries and city residents broke ground for the building.
The facility will replace Parry McCluer High School, and officials are still working on the name.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:34:36]
[IN Q=We're going to give all the citizens]
((WE'RE GOING TO GIVE ALL THE CITIZENS INPUT INTO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT. I WOULD GUESS THAT'S GOING TO REMAIN WHAT IT IS, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.))
[SUPER=01-Sandra Manuel/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we'll have to wait and see.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Construction could begin this week, and the building should be ready for the start of the school year in the fall of 2001.
(------------)
[8-Bell-GTE]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Bell Atlantic]
The Bell Atlantic and G-T-E merger has received approval from the State Corporation Commission.
In April, the S-C-C opposed the merger, but changed its position after the companies agreed to cap rates for basic telephone service through 2003.
That means some GTE customers in southwest Virginia would get a three dollar rate reduction and have their local calling areas expanded.
The merger still needs to be approved by the FEDERAL Communications Commission.
[8weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Let's take moment now to look at today's chilly forecast...
Variably cloudy and breezy, with snow flurries.
Highs in the upper 30s.
Tonight should turn mostly clear, with lows near 20.
The five day forecast gradually warms up into the 40s and 50s....with rain possible by the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Variably Cloudy/Breezy, with Flurries/35-39/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/18-22;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS