[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
World leaders prepare to celebrate the handover of the Panama Canal...
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
and Roanoke City pulls the plug on mandatory water restrictions.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[City-Water]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#99-47 TC27:58]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]
The city of Roanoke has lifted mandatory water restrictions.
City officials delivered that news just a short while ago.
[Double Boxes=Kimberly and joeD/Microwave]
Joe Dashiell is at the City Municipal building with the details.
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: has made a big difference.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=great kickoff to this.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***JOE'S MIKE HOT***]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove/File Tape;]
[RUNS=:30]
(adlib)
(----------------)
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Kimberly and joeD/Microwave]
[Panama-Canal]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Former President Jimmy Carter is among the leaders gathering in Panama City for today's official handover of the Panama Canal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Panama City, Panama;]
It was Carter who signed the treaty in 19-77, in which the U-S promised to give control of the Canal back to Panama.
While the ceremonies are happening today, the actual handover isn't until December 31st.
Security was tight at the Panama airport as a number of world leaders arrived in the tiny Central American country.
The gathering will attract some U-S officials, but not President Clinton.
A Panama Canal Commission member says this begins a new chapter in U-S-Latin American relations.
(------------)
[Cuban-Boy]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The international custody battle over six- year- old Elian Gonzalez appears to be closer to a resolution.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
The matter is now in the hands of U-S immigration officials, and sources say it could be resolved in a few days.
Gonzalez's father spoke with them yesterday, provinding some needed documentation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:05:54]
[IN Q=I gave]
((JUAN GONZALEZ/ELIAN'S FATHER: I GAVE THEM BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND DOCUMENTS FROM MY WORK. HE MISSES HIS FAMILY IN CUBA. HE CRIES. HE WANTS TO SEE ME.))
[SUPER=01-Juan Miguel Gonzalez/Elian's Father;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=to see me]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Juan Gonzalez says he has no interest in coming to the U-S himself, he just wants his son back home in Cuba.
Meanwhile, the boy is being taken care of by relatives in Miami, who want to keep him there.
(------------)
[Prison-Hostages]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A stand-off continues in a Louisiana jail...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Martinville, LA;]
Five Cuban inmates are demanding that they be released to another country before they'll free a warden and two deputies they're holding hostage.
The inmates are frustrated with their incarceration and captured their hostages at knifepoint yesterday.
A third deputy was released earlier on Monday.
No injuries have been reported.
The F-B-I has been called, a SWAT team has the building surrounded.
(------------)
[Terrorism-Arrests]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Anti- terrorists efforts have been stepped up after the state department issued a warning to Americans that they could become targets if they travel abroad this holiday season.
Members of a terrorist group were reportedly arrested just last week in the Middle East-- accused of plotting a Millennium massacre.
Bill Plante has details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Sources say]
[SUPER=01-James Foley/State Dept. Spokesperson; :28]
[SUPER=01-Bill Plante/Reporting; :38]
[RUNS=:52]
[OUT Q=Bill Plante, CBS News.]
((SOURCES SAY THE TERRORIST GROUP WAS PART OF THE OSAMA BIN LADEN NETWORK.
BIN LADEN, A SAUDI EXILE IN AFGHANISTAN, IS ACCUSED OF THE BOMBING OF TWO U.S. EMBASSIES IN AFRICA IN 1998.
VO/GRAPHIC
THE ARREST OF THIS GROUP AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS GROUPS PROMPTED THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE A WORLDWIDE CAUTION TO U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING ABROAD. THEY'RE BEING URGED TO "AVOID LARGE CROWDS AND GATHERINGS AND KEEP A LOW PROFILE."
SOT
JAMES FOLEY
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON
"The information we have does indicate that the potential attacks are related to end of year celebrations during the New Year and the Ramadan period. I can't be more specific than that.
VO
OFFICIALS WON'T SAY, BUT THERE'S PARTICULAR CONCERN OVER TWO POSSIBLE TARGET CITIES --- JERUSALEM AND ROME, BOTH AR
E EXPECTING THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL VISITORS, AMERICAN CHRISTIANS PARTICULARLY, FOR THE MILLENIUM.
BP, CBSN.))
[Tripp]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Linda Tripp will have to face trial on wire tapping charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ellicott City, MD;]
A judge has ruled that Tripp did not have federal immunity when she turned over her secret tapes of Monica Lewinsky to Kenneth Starr's office.
The ruling goes on to say Tripp's immunity didn't begin until February 19th, 1998, when a federal judge signed an immunity order.
Tripp's lawyers had argued that she had immunity starting January 16th, 1998, the day she turned over the tapes to Starr's prosecutors.
The judge's order appears to clear the way for the state to use the tapes against Tripp.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is not]
[SUPER=01-Joseph Murtha/Tripp's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=far from over]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Maryland law forbids recording a phone conversation without the other party's consent.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Some changes to Virginia's medicaid reimbursement amounts may be on the way.
Find out what they are when News-7 at Noon returns.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And find out how to make sure that Christmas card or package gets there on time.
First let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Mideast-Peace]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=MidEast Peace Talks]
U-S brokered peace talks between Israel and Syria open tomorrow in Washington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;]
It was a brass band send- off for Israeli Prime Minister Barak this morning as he prepares for a mission to negotiate peace with Syria.
The talks will be the highest- level meetings ever held between the two adversaries.
At the center of the talks will likely be the disputed Golan Heights, which was captured from Syria in 19-67.
But for many Israelis, withdrawing from the area would be too high a price for peace.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:10:52]
[IN Q=It's a very importatnt]
((ARIEL SHARON/OPPOSITION LEADER: IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S GOING TO STAY IN OUR HANDS.))
[SUPER=01-Ariel Sharon/Opposition Leader;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=IN OUR HANDS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Barak is said to believe that peace with Syria would eventually bring peace with most of the Arab world.
(------------)
[Medicaid-Reimbursement]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Medicaid]
A legislative watchdog agency says Virginia's state nursing homes should get more money from Medicaid.
Virginia's average Medicaid reimbursement rate of 78-dollars a day is well below the U-S average of nearly 99- dollars a day.
But Governor Gilmore plans to include 20- million dollars in the next budget to increase reimbursements
to 85 dollars a day.
Despite that proposal, the nursing home industry is seeking another 104-million dollars a year.
[Mail-Delivery]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Postal Service]
Postal Service employees just finished with the busiest mail day of the year... but they say it's just the beginning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
More than 700-thousand pieces of mail were sorted, stacked, and tossed into piles yesterday-- three times the normal amount.
And it's more then just letters being placed in the mail, this years on line shopping craze is adding some weight to mail bags.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:33:10]
[IN Q=We're seeing]
((BILLY MARTIN/ROANOKE POSTMASTER: WE'RE SEEING AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS JUST HERE IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY OF ADDITIONAL PARCELS COMING THROUGH.))
[SUPER=01-Billy Martin/Roanoke Postmaster]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=parcels coming through.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
December 20th is the deadline to make sure your letters and packages arrive on time for Christmas.
(------------)
[Monty-Prosecutor]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 99]
It took more than a month, but it's official.
Joey (show-walter) Showalter will become Montgomery County's next prosecutor.
Showalter beat incumbent Phil Keith by just 50- votes in the November election.
Keith then petitioned the court for a recount.
Yesterday-- the votes were counted again with the same outcome.
[Swartz]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A man serving a life sentence for a Rockbridge County murder died after a weekend fight with another inmate.
48- year- old John Stephen Swartz was taken to the Sussex One state prison infirmary after the incident Saturday night.
Swartz died about an hour later.
An autopsy was scheduled.
Corrections officials say the investigation is ongoing, and didn't release the name of the other inmate involved.
[E-Torgersen]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:42:04]
[GRAPHIC=Torgersen Stepping Down]
He's a college professor who's also a president.
That's the way Paul Torgersen has described himself for the past six years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
But in less than three weeks-- Virginia Tech's 14th president will retire.
Torgersen has served as president since 1994 and while he says it's been an interesting and rewarding job it's also been tiring.
Torgersen typically works seven days a week to get the job done-- because he also teaches in the engineering department.
As far as his replacement-- Torgersen says Charles (stee-ger) Steiger was an excellent choice.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We both]
((PAUL TORGERSEN/VIRGINIA TECH PRESIDENT: WE BOTH COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF WORKING WITH FACULTY AND I THINK THAT WILL BE AN ASSET IN IS CASE AS IT WAS IN MINE, I THINK CHARLES IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PRESIDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Torgersen/Virginia Tech President; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=great president.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
After he retires at the end of the year, Torgersen will continue teaching at Tech.
As far as slowing down-- Torgersen says he plans to play a lot more tennis.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
The opera community is losing a big outlet in Southwest Virginia.
That's one story still ahead on News-7 at noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And the Henry County community pulls together to help keep Christmas bright for the families of laid-off textile workers.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[E-Met-Opera]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:19:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Opera lovers hope a local radio station will reconsider its decision to drop a weekly opera broadcast from its line-up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Metropolitan Opera]
The Metropolitan Opera began its 60th season of radio broadcasts two weeks ago, but the Saturday afternoon shows are NOT airing on W-V-T-F.
That's prompted complaints from loyal listeners, who say the MET performances were the only opera broadcasts in a large part of western Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:38:58]
[IN Q=I just think it's far too important]
((I JUST THINK IT'S FAR TOO IMPORTANT FOR THEM NOT TO SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER IT. IF THEY THEMSELVES DON'T RECONSIDER THEIR THOUGHTS ON IT. I HOPE THAT VIRGINIA TECH WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Tyler Pugh/Opera Supporter]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=encourage them to do that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]
W-V-T-F station manager Steve Mills says the station loses too many listeners when it carries the opera live on Saturday afternoons.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=None]
He says the station offered to carry the event, taped, on Sunday evenings, but that the Met said no.
[E-Tultex]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-50 46:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Thousands of textile workers in Henry County are entering the holiday season without jobs.
But their friends and neighbors are working to make sure they DON'T go without a Christmas holiday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
The city, county and local charities are pitching in with more than 600 bikes and thousands of toys to help families of laid off workers.
Former workers at Tultex, Pluma and Ashworth can pick up toys and food for the holidays at The Salvation Army's Toy Store.
The Salvation Army is even helping some families with their bills.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:36:36 - :51]
[IN Q=We're having to pay]
((LT. ERIK NICKELL/SALVATION ARMY: WE'RE HAVING TO PAY ELECTRIC BILLS, MORTGAGES AND WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO GET THESE PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET, WE DON'T JUST WANT TO PAY THEIR BILLS...WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PAYING THAT MANY BILLS, SO WE NEED THEM TO FIND SOME JOBS.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Erik Nickell/Salvation Army;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=find some jobs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Salvation Army expects to provide toys for as many as two-thousand kids in the area.
The Toy Store will be open for parents Tuesday through Thursday of next week at the Dutch Inn Plaza in Collinsville.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 12-and a half points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the high school hardwood season heats up.
We'll have highlights of the Patrick Henry-Liberty matchup,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and the Jacksonville Jaguars improve to 12 and 1 with a last second win over Denver last night.
Patrick has the highlights, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Jags-Broncos]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
It took Mike Hollis' boot in the final seconds of the game, but the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled out the 27 to 24 victory over Denver last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL/NFL - ABC;]
Denver controlled the game early taking a 14 to nothing in the second.
But Jacksonville rallied late in that quarter ending the half with the 17 to 14 lead.
After a hard fought third quarter, the Jags took the lead again in the fourth with Fred Taylor's 38-yard T-D run. Its 24 to 17.
Denver didn't die. Brian Griese hits Bryon Chamberlain, he scrambles 37 yards for the score. The game is tied at 24 a piece.
But Jacksonville's offense didn't let up.
[SUPER=30-Denver/24/Jacksonville/27//;]
They move the ball down the field, setting up Mike Hollis' 23-yard game winning field goal. And the Jaguars get the 27 to 24 victory.
(------------)
[S-Beamer]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-47 12434tc]
[GRAPHIC=FRANK BEAMER]
Michael Vick and Corey Moore aren't the only Hokies picking up national awards...so is their coach.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
Frank Beamer has been named the Walter Camp Football Foundation's coach of the year.
The winningest coach in Tech history led the Hokies to their first ever 11-and-0 season this year, and of course that upcoming trip to the Sugar Bowl.
Last night he delivered the keynote speech for the Heisman trophy awards dinner at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City.
(--------------)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD BEAMER]
Beamer, who is 53, is in his 13th season as Tech's head coach.
He will receive the honor on February 5th at Yale.
[S-Fleming]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-52 5349TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE LOGO]
A local Friday Football Extra standout is making waves statewide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Wednesday;]
William Fleming's Jermaine Hardy, has been named Group Three A's defensive player of the year by the Virginia High School Coaches Association.
Hardy, who is a senior, has now made all-district, all-region, and all-state.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
((JERMAINE HARDY/GROUP AAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:))
[SUPER=01-Jermaine Hardy/AAA Def. Player of Year; :00]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=...MY OPTIONS."]
(--------------)
[S-Hoops]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-49 tc 1:09:21]
[GRAPHIC=high school hoops]
The high school basketball season is in full swing, and last night Liberty traveled to Roanoke to take on Patrick Henry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Liberty vs. Patrick Henry;]
Jack Esworthy tried to light a fire under his Patrick Henry team and it seemed to work as the Patriots went on the offensive.
Pary fakes the shot and steps back behind the three point line and gets the sweet shooters roll. And it was 46 to 40 PH at the half.
But Liberty kept it close in the second, the big man Caleb Buchanan, goes up and under and draws the foul.
[super=33-Liberty/78/Patrick Henry/87;]
But the Patriots would take control of the game, Tyson Hawkins wraps the ball around his back and flips it to a streaking Nick Clements and PH goes on to beat the Minutemen 87 to 78.
(------------)
[S-Trades]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-46 tc 1:27:44]
[GRAPHIC=AVALANCHE]
Some former Salem Avalanche players are moving around the majors this off-season.
Pitcher Jamey Wright was traded from the Rockies to the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, while Justin Miller, who was in Salem last season was traded to the A's.
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
The Devil Rays, Brewers, A's, and Rockies make up the clubs in baseball's first four team deal in 22 years.
The big player moving the deal is third baseman Vinny Castilla who ends up in Tampa Bay.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[super=04-MLB;]
Ken Griffey Junior says the only trade offer he'll accept is one to Cincinnati.
But the Reds say he's too expensive.
Junior may still be on his way to Cincinnati though, speculation has it that the Reds will make current bench coach Ken Griffey Senior the manager in conjunction with Junior's arrival.
(------------------)
[anchor=Patrick]
[ss=HOLD]
And former Hokie and Patrick County native Brad Clontz is on the move.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are trading the reliever to Arizona.
by SS