WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/08/99

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

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

Vinton residents continue to rally behind former police chief Ricky Foutz.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And a homeless couple faces charges in connection with last week's deadly warehouse fire in Massachusetts.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Partly to mostly clear skies out there, with a light coating of frost on cars and other surfaces.
But we'll be in store for a warming trend by the afternoon, with unseasonably mild highs in the low to mid 60s.
Stay tuned for the forecast, coming up.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[Vinton-Police]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC17:12]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Protest]

Another emotional night in the Vinton Municipal Building as residents took on town council-- saying they think Ricky Foutz was forced to resign.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think this]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :08]
[SUPER=01-Beth Obaugh/Foutz's Stepdaughter; :58]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=kw news 7 Vinton]
(([SOT 7:36:13 #1]
[INQ=]
((I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ACTED ON YOUR HEMMING AND HOLLERING AND TRYING TO DODGE THE BULLET THE BULLET HAS BEEN SHOT ANSWER IT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]

Tempers flared as Foutz supporters voiced their opinions. A petition with 250 names on it was given to council stating Foutz's salary should be paid until he can collect his full retirement package in three years. Many residents couldn't understand the reasoning behind council's decision.

[SOT 8:20:15 #2]
[INQ=]
((WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT RICK FOUTZ OUT HERE WHY WASN'T THE DECISION MADE TO PAY HIM UNTIL YOU GOT THE REPORT BACK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

The mayor says officials had been briefed by the special prosecutor on some details of the investigation.
But citizens want to know why they know secret information, and if it's not secret - why they're not sharing it.

[NAT SOUND]
[RUNS= :03]
[8:03:10 #1]

Foutz's daughter was visibly upset but says her dad is doing fine amid all the controversy.

[SOT 8:29:00 #2]
[INQ=]
((BETH OBAUGH/FOUTZ'S DAUGHTER: WE'RE ALL BE STRONG WE KNOW SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS IN THE END.)) [OUTQ]
[RUNS= 6]

And after an hour of residents and council going in circles -- council decided to vote on the petition at its next meeting.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: ONE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID WHEN THE SPECIAL GRAND JURY REPORT COMES OUT SOME TIME NEXT YEAR, IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE MEN ARE CLEARED OF ANY WRONG DOING THEY WILL BE GIVEN FULL RESTITUTION. RESIDENTS SAY THEY WILL BE BACK FOR THE NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7 VINTON.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]
))

[School-Prayer]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]

The Lynchburg City School board has a decision to make-- either drop a long tradition of praying before meetings or go to court to protect it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

But the American Civil Liberties Union says that prayer violates the separation of church and state.
It's willing to represent for free any student who opposes the prayer and wants to take the school board to court.

Three different conservative legal groups have offered to defend the board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we are all]
((ELLEN NYGAARD/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE ARE ALL VERY THOUGHTFUL INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE OUR OWN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. WHAT WE HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH NOW AS A BODY IS DECIDE HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO OUR ROLE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND, AS YOU INDICATED, HOW FAR WE WANT TO GO AS FAR AS PROMOTING THIS, IS IT PART OF OUR MISSION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.))
[SUPER=01-Ellen Nygaard/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=missions of public schools.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The A-C-L-U is giving the board time to make up its mind, but a decision on whether to keep praying could still be weeks away.
(------------)

[SOL]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=SOLs]

The President of Virginia's Board of Education says he's open to specific suggestions on how the SOL test scores should be used.
Kirk Schroder has sent out a letter to the organizations that represent teachers, superintendents, principals and parents across the state.
The groups said last week they don't want SOL tests to be the single factor that determines state accreditation or graduation.
Schroder says he's open to ideas-- but the tests aren't going away.

[E-BentMtn-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-54 30:54]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

For the second time in less than three months, a tractor trailer
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
careened off Bent Mountain Road in Roanoke County while traveling down the mountain.
The truck - carrying frozen hams - went off the same curve last night where a truck crashed in September.
The driver was taken to the hospital.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[2:13:56 - :04]
[IN Q=He is]
[SUPER=01-C. M. Viar/Roanoke Co. Police]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=not sure yet]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The driver's injuries are NOT believed to be life-threatening.
(-------------)

[worcester-fire]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]

A Massachusetts homeless couple is being held on a million dollars cash bail this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Worcester, MA;]

The pair were arraigned on six counts of involuntary manslaughter.
They're accused of starting a warehouse blaze in (WUS'-tur) Worcester that left 6 firefighters dead.
[SUPER=04-Friday;]

Prosecutors say the pair, who lived in the warehouse, accidentally started the fire and then failed to report it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=tHIS HAS BEEN A...]
[SUPER=01-Steve Coan/State Fire Marshall;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=TO THIS HORRIFIC EVENT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile the search continues for the bodies of five missing fireman.
(------------)

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Denise Allen has high school boys basketball highlights and the Roanoke College men's team makes national hoops polls.
Good Morning Denise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=see you then]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)

[One-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M99-7]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was founded]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Keener/Virginia School of the Arts; :20]
[SUPER=01-Katrina Molnar/Dance Student; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Faith Sidebottom/Dance Student; 2:18]
[RUNS=2:59]
[OUT Q=quite a bit on that]

[Steve Live]

(Steve tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM] ((Archive: virginia school of the arts ballet))

[E-Richwood]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-46 35:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

One of the owners of a Botetourt County adult home says her mother would never have taken money from residents' accounts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Richwood Acres Adult Home has 23 elderly and handicapped residents.
Sheriff's deputies say at least two thousand dollars never showed up in residents' accounts over the past two months.
According to search warrants, the home's owner (Careen) Caren Simpson was responsible for the money.
But Simpson's daughter, who also owns the home, chalks it up to sloppy bookkeeping.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:45:32]
[SOT 10:48:41]
[IN Q=THEY HAVE THE MONEY]
((THEY HAVE THE MONEY IN THE SAFE OR IT'S BEEN IN THE BANK. COULD SHE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE MONEY ALL THE TIME? NO SHE HASN'T.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Housman/Co-Owner;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=no she hasn't]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Detectives say they'll decide within the next two weeks whether to file criminal charges.
(------------)

[E-Gatekeeper]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:20:44]
[GRAPHIC=medical News]

A New York doctor found passed out, with a needle in his arm, went on to give anesthesia to patients in Virginia for three weeks this summer.
Yesterday, Dr. Peter Lipsius (LIP-see-us) inspired a joint state and federal task force.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

Operation Gatekeeper will investigate and prosecute medical practitioners who engage in fraud to get licenses or jobs in Virginia.
The gross example is a New York anesthesiologist, nabbed this summer in Richmond after showing up for an operation with slurred speech and an unsteady gait.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Dr. Lipsius]
((DR. LIPSIUS CAME IN AND PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND TO PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN VIRGINIA. HE WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER STATE. AND AS A RESULT, A NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN VIRGINIA WERE POTENTIALLY PUT IN DANGER BY HIS ACTIONS. HE HAD A DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM AND IT WAS OCCURRING WITHIN THE MEDICAL SETTING.))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=medical setting.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]

The New York doctor now faces 15 federal counts in Virginia, and has prior convictions in New York.

[medical-mistakes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Meanwhile, President Clinton wants new safeguards to avoid medical mistakes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[3:15:53]
The President yesterday cited a study from the Institute of Medicine that found as many as 98-thousand Americans lose their lives each year as a result of preventable medical errors.
And, he says the cost of the mistakes add as much as 29 billion dollars to medical bills.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((PRESIDENT CLINTON: WE HAVE THE FINEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, THE BEST PROFESSIONALS TO DELIVER THAT CARE. BUT TOO MANY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF MEDICAL ERRORS THAT ARE AVOIDABLE; MISTAKES THAT ARE PREVENTABLE))
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=ARE PREVENTABLE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

President Clinton has now ordered a federal task force to analyze the report and come up with life-saving recommendations in the next 60 days.
Mr. Clinton also authorized 25-million dollars for research to improve care and reduce mistakes.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, the oral polio vaccine may be on its way out.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
I((f one child gets ear infections easily, there's a good chance any brothers or sisters will get them as well.
VT=VO
A new study in the JAMA says heredity accounts for 73% of susceptibility to ear infections in kids under age 2. What researchers did was follow identical twins who have the exact same genes and non-identical twins who don't, and watched to see who were more prone to ear infections. The identical twins were more prone by far, suggesting there are some genes responsible for ear infections running in families. With more research, its possible within 10 years, there will be gene therapy to prevent ear infections that run in families. ON CAM Also today, good bye oral polio drops, hello a couple of more shots. The American Academy of Pediatrics now say all polio vaccines should be given in shot form rather then the oral drops. The reason, the oral drops contain live polio, so there is a very small chance a youngster could get polio from the vaccine.
VT=VO
And finally today, those few pounds can add up quickly and make everyday life a chore. On the other-hand, losing just a few pounds can make everyday activities easier and lead to fewer aches and pains. A study in the JAMA followed more than forty thousand women and found as little as 5 pounds in either direction can make the difference between a good day and a miserable day when it comes to everyday activities. Its like wearing a backpack filled with weights. ON CAM That's a look at today's top health stories. I'm Dr. Dave Hnida for CBS News.))

(ad lib to weather)

[Two-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

(I'll call for supers)
[SUPER=04-Holiday Celebration of Dance;]
[SUPER=03-Saturday 8 PM;]
[SUPER=03-Sunday 2 PM;]
[SUPER=16-(804) 847-8688/Virginia School of the Arts;]

[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A homeless couple is charged with manslaughter in connection with last week's warehouse fire that killed six firefighters.
Prosecutors say they were living on the second floor of the abandoned warehouse, and started the fire when they knocked over a candle during an argument.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

The tradition of prayer at Lynchburg school board meetings could lead to a legal challenge.
The American Civil Liberties Union says it violates the separation of church and state and its willing to represent any student who opposes the prayer.
Three different conservative legal groups have offered to defend the board.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And Vinton residents continue to rally behind former police chief Ricky Foutz.
A petition with 250 names on it was presented to town council last night.
It stated that Foutz's salary should be paid until he can collect his full retirement package in three years.
Many believe Foutz was forced to resign.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Wednesday December 8.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[L'burg-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-44 1:10:55]
[GRAPHIC=Lyncburg Seal]

A fight is brewing over prayer- in- school in Lynchburg..
The school board must decide whether it's willing to go to court to preserve a long tradition of praying before its meetings.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For now]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sterling Wilder/School Board Member; :10]
[SUPER=01-Walter Erwin/Lynchburg City Attorney; :34]
[SUPER=01-Ellen Nygaard/School Board Chairman; :52]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( For now, they're simply calling it the "opening comment".. this time, school board member Sterling Wilder read a poem.. then finished with a short prayer.
[natsot 16:38:00]
((STERLING WILDER/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: GIVE US THE WISDOM TO KNOW HOW TO LEAD THEM EDUCATIONALLY, RECREATIONALLY AND MENTALLY. AMEN.))
[RUNS= 05]

But the American Civil Liberties Union says that prayer violates the separation of church and state.. it's willing to represent for free any student who opposes the prayer and wants to take the school board to court.
Three different conservative legal groups.. including the Rutherford Institute.. have offered to defend the board.

[SOT 10:52:02]
((WALTER ERWIN/LYNCHBURG CITY ATTORNEY: THE ATTORNEYS ARE GIVING THEM THEIR OPINIONS, THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE THOSE OPINIONS AND MAKE A DECISION.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=make a decision.]

But for nine people who routinely make choices affecting thousands of students and millions of dollars.. this may be their toughest decision yet.
[SOT 10:54:12]
((ELLEN NYGAARD/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE ARE ALL VERY THOUGHTFUL INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE OUR OWN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. WHAT WE HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH NOW AS A BODY IS DECIDE HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO OUR ROLE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND, AS YOU INDICATED, HOW FAR WE WANT TO GO AS FAR AS PROMOTING THIS, IS IT PART OF OUR MISSION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=of public schools.]
[Standup ] ((A representative from the A-C-L-U was at last night's meeting.. he says the poem that was read may be an acceptable alternative, but any prayer still creates a problem.
The A-C-L-U is giving the board time to make up its mind.. but a decision on whether to keep praying could still be weeks away.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]))

[E-Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:26:13]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chpt. 11]

Twenty-six hundred laid off Tultex workers are getting some job search help from their former employer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

Tultex called in career advisors to meet with displaced workers from its five area plants this week.
Eleven-hundred in Martinsville and Henry County lost their jobs.
More than 250 of them showed up yesterday in Martinsville for some career counseling.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:20:22 - :29]
[IN Q=It really looks grim]
((WENDY AMOS: IT REALLY LOOKS GRIM FOR EVERYBODY HERE AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH AND I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING ON. ))
[SUPER=01-Wendy Amos/Former Tultex Worker;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=keep going on.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Since last week's layoffs, several furniture companies and another textile plant have announced they're expanding.

That will create more than 600 new jobs.
(------------)

[S-M'ville-Taxes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-49 23:57]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Martinsville city officials are trying to figure out what Tultex's troubles will mean to the city's future.
City taxpayers soon may be feeling the results.
Tultex WAS the city's largest employer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It produced roughly nine percent of the city's real estate and property tax revenue.
Tultex still owes the city more than 650-thousand dollars in real estate and property taxes for THIS year.

It was also the city's biggest water customer-- accounting for about half of all Martinsville water and sewage use.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Martinsville doesn't know yet if it will ever get the money Tultex owes.
Any hole in the city budget could have an impact on taxes city residents pay.

[2-Vinton-Police]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC17:12]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Protest]

It was round two in the fight between Vinton town council and supporters of former police chief Ricky Foutz.
Kate Weidaw has more on last night's meeting.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think this]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :08]
[SUPER=01-Beth Obaugh/Foutz's Stepdaughter; :58]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=kw news 7 Vinton]
(([SOT 7:36:13 #1]
[INQ=]
((I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ACTED ON YOUR HEMMING AND HOLLERING AND TRYING TO DODGE THE BULLET THE BULLET HAS BEEN SHOT ANSWER IT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]

Tempers flared as Foutz supporters voiced their opinions. A petition with 250 names on it was given to council stating Foutz's salary should be paid until he can collect his full retirement package in three years. Many residents couldn't understand the reasoning behind council's decision.

[SOT 8:20:15 #2]
[INQ=]
((WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT RICK FOUTZ OUT HERE WHY WASN'T THE DECISION MADE TO PAY HIM UNTIL YOU GOT THE REPORT BACK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

The mayor says officials had been briefed by the special prosecutor on some details of the investigation.
But citizens want to know why they know secret information, and if it's not secret - why they're not sharing it.

[school-shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=school Shooting]

Authorities still don't know what caused thirteen year old Seth Trickey to go on a shooting spree at his middle school Monday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Gibson, OK;]
[3:09:27]
But they do know the nine millimeter gun he used was purchased by his father in 19-93.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[2 sot 3:10:58]
[IN Q=]
((QUESTION: (WHAT WERE YOU THINKING)MICHAEL: I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
(QUESTION: SO YOU WENT TO A B-DAY PARTY AT HIS HOUSE...TELL ME ABOUT IT)
WE JUST DID NORMAL STUFF PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, VIDEO GAMES. TINA:HE'S SUCH A SWEET KID. I STILL CAN SAY THAT AFTER WHAT HE DONE. I CAN STILL SIT HERE AND HONESTLY SAY HE'S A SWEET CHILD.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Mayo/Seth Trickey's Friend;]
[SUPER=01-Tina Mayo/Michael's Mother; :16]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=he's a sweet child.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Trickey will be arraigned next week.
Still to be decided... what charges to file against him and whether or not to take legal action against his parents.
(------------)

[Three-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M99-7]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=(music)]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Keener/Virginia School of the Arts; :12]
[SUPER=01-Blair Waugh/Dance Student; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Krutzkamp/Dance Student; 2:09]
[SUPER=04-Virginia School of the Arts;]
[RUNS=3:10]
[OUT Q=in the family]

[Steve Live]

(I'll call for supers)
[SUPER=04-Holiday Celebration of Dance;]
[SUPER=03-Saturday 8 PM;]
[SUPER=03-Sunday 2 PM;]
[SUPER=16-(804) 847-8688/Virginia School of the Arts;]

[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive: virginia school of the arts ballet))

[2-worcester-fire]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]

In Massachusetts, the search continues for five firefighters still missing in the rubble of a warehouse fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Worcester, MA;]
[3:00:59]
A homeless couple was arraigned yesterday on six counts of involuntary manslaughter.
They're accused of starting the blaze.
They're being held on one million dollars bail.
[SUPER=04-Friday;]

Prosecutors say the pair, who lived in the warehouse, failed to report the fire.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:01:09]
[IN Q=tHIS HAS BEEN A...]
[SUPER=01-Steve Coan/State Fire Marshall;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=TO THIS HORRIFIC EVENT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Two firefighters went into the building Friday night after hearing that there were squatters inside.
When they did not return, four others went in to look for them.
All six died.
(------------)

[E-Villarini]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-40 TC1:59:49]
[GRAPHIC=Villarini]

A former head teller- -who skipped town with 83-thousand dollars of the bank's money-- will spend more than three years in prison.
Karen Villarini was senteced yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The 47-year old banker never admitted anything, implying that the shortage bank examiners found on her last day was somebody else's fault.
Once she got to Florida, she started depositing cash in small amounts. That got her convicted of money laundering, though the judge said it was a weak case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:23:25]
[IN Q=Miss Villarini had many]
[SUPER=01-Jennie Waering/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=overwhelming.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[graphic=None]

Villarini will be allowed to report to prison after the holidays.

[Abbott]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Abbott]

Roanoke's so-called Godfather of crime has died.
Joe Abbott was serving a 10-year sentence for racketeering.
He had pancreatic cancer and had been moved from the federal penitentiary in Petersburg to a hospital in Hopewell. He died Saturday at a prison hospital in Springfield, Missouri.
Joe Abbott was believed to be 61.

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
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In sports, the A-P player of the year Ron Dayne has local connections, and Michael Vick has become a national media darling.
Denise Allen has the details.
Good Morning Denise.
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[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)

[Local-Recap]
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[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
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[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Vinton town council was confronted by more residents angry about the town's treatment of former police chief Ricky Foutz.
Last night, residents presented a petition with 250 names stating Foutz's salary should be paid until he can collect his full retirement package in three years.
Council will vote on the petition at its next meeting.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Lynchburg's school board must decide if it's willing to go to court to preserve the tradition of opening meetings with a prayer.
The A-C-L-U says it's willing to represent for free any student who opposes the prayer and wants to take the school board to court.
Three different conservative legal groups have offered to defend the board.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

One of the owners of a Botetourt County adult home says it's just a case of sloppy bookkeeping.
Sheriff's deputies say at least two thousand dollars are missing from residents' accounts at Richwood Acres.
Detectives say they'll decide within the next two weeks whether to file criminal charges.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
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(Kimberly ad lib weather)
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[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]