[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Competition in the eye- surgery business... or a lack of it... another round in the debate over the cost of eye care tops news 7 at SIX.
(------------)
And the rest of the report on the criminal investigation of V-M-I's General Bunting.
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, Frank Beamer and teh Hokies take over the Hotel Roanoke this afternoon.
The jury has the Antoine Womack case,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Stagg Bowl participants strike a pose in Salem as they start tuning up for Saturday's national title game.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Cold weather for a change. That story and your weekend forecast just ahead.
[Vistar]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:33]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
Carilion is fighting back ... amid more charges from a group of eye doctors that the health-care giant is gouging prices.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]
Scott Goldberg has more on the accusations ... and Carilion's response tonight ... in our newsroom.
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Scott1]
Keith the Vistar Eye Center is now saying that Carilion broke a promise it made a year ago to lower its prices for eye surgery.
This comes as the Vistar doctors continue what's so far been a losing battle... against Carilion and the state health department ... to build their own surgery center independent of Carilion hospitals.
That's where most surgeries are performed now --- for what Vistar says is too high a price.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=01-Donald Martindale/Former Cataract Patient]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Frank Cotter/Vistar Eye Center]
[SUPER=01-Don Lorton/Carilion Vice President]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=kinds of complications]
When Donald Martindale had a cataract removed earlier this year . the surgery at a Carilion hospital cost 23-hundred dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:48:38]
[IN Q=on my income]
((DONALD MARTINDALE: ON MY INCOME, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, QUITE FRANKLY.))
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=QUITE FRANKLY]
His insurance and Medicare paid most of the bill . but his doctors still say the price was too high.
They're the same doctors who unsuccessfully fought Carilion in Richmond - trying to open their own independent surgery center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:44:08]
[IN Q=if there's no]
((DR FRANK COTTER/VISTAR EYE CENTER: IF THERE'S NO COMPETITION, PRICES GO HIGH NOT JUST IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT ANY BUSINESS.))
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=ANY BUSINESS]
Vistar doctor Frank Cotter says his group was denied, in part, because of this affidavit Carilion filed in 1998.
It promised the state health department that Carilion would lower the average fee to 950-dollars for a cataract surgery.
But Vistar says bills like Martindale's prove Carilion isn't keeping its promise.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:42:24]
[IN Q=when you make]
((COTTER: WHEN YOU MAKE A PROMISE AND DO NOT FULFILL THAT PROMISE, HOW YOU DEFINE THAT? IT'S A LIE.))
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=IT'S A LIE]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:04:43]
[IN Q=WE'RE VERY]
((DON LORTON/CARILION VP: WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO GETTING TO A 950 AVERAGE. BUT IT SEEMS EASIER THAN IT IS. AND I GUESS THAT'S JUST SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE OUR WORD ON.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=OUR WORD ON]
Carilion Vice President Don Lorton says the average cataract surgery has come down from more than two-thousand dollars to about 11-hundred.
But he says different people need different types of surgeries - and there's no formula for bringing down every individual's cost.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:54:10]
[IN Q=you might be]
((DON LORTON: YOU MIGHT BE THE 570-DOLLAR PATIENT. MY 80-YEAR-OLD MOTHER COULD COME IN AND HAVE IT DONE AND SHE COULD BE THE 27-HUNDRED DOLLAR PATIENT BECAUSE SHE'S A DIABETIC WITH ALL KINDS OF COMPLICATIONS.))
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=COMPLICATIONS]
(------------)
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]
Carilion says it doesn't make more money when the surgery costs more ... because its reimbursement from Medicare is always the same.
Still, Vistar says this is further proof it could perform these surgeries for less.
And it's appealing to the state health department ... trying again to win permission to open its own surgery center.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]
Keith.[Verna-Lewis]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-38 1:56:11]
[GRAPHIC=Verna Lewis]
The government has filed an answer to the claim of racism in the prosecution of Doctor Verna Lewis.
The Daleville psychiatrist is about to be sentenced for filing false tax returns.
Her lawyer pointed to ONE word the prosecutor had used in her closing argument:
(--------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
Karen Peters told the jury Doctor Lewis had been "hoodooing" her accountant, a comment Lewis' attorney said had racial overtones.
Prosecutor Peters says that's a "desperate, last- ditch claim of racism,.. false, frivolous, even malicious."
She says the verb to "hoodoo" means simply to fool, deceive, hoodwink or take advantage of.
Her 50- page response has eight exhibits including information on the Hoodoo Blues Band and the Hoodoo Ski Resort in Oregon.
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=Verna Lewis]
Doctor Lewis could get anywhere from a year and a half to two years in prison when she's sentenced tomorrow.[Toys-
R-Us]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-52 21:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Toys R Us employee who'd been accused of assaulting a young girl in a Lynchburg store has been cleared of all charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Sept. 1999]
In September, the parents of 7- year- old Amanda Artutis called police after she was accosted in a store bathroom and accused of shoplifting.
55- year- old Charlene Rappleyea (RAP-ul-yay) was charged with assault and battery on a minor.
That charge was dismissed yesterday due to a lack of evidence and conflicting testimony.
(------------)
[Beaumont]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-46 42:11]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Should the state pay to staff and open a new juvenile prison that's already been built?
Or are there cheaper ways to deal with overcrowding and alleged abuse at Virginia's largest juvenile facility?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Powhatan Co.;]
Governor Jim Gilmore seems to think there are cheaper options.
That's after his own juvenile justice board "de-certified" Beaumont last month, based on reports of abuse board members described as "chilling."
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Today]
Today, a spokesman for the Governor told lawmakers that it would be cheaper to move juvenile inmates into private facilities than to open the new prison in Culpeper.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:48:30]
[IN Q=Culpeper is ]
((RON JORDAN/DEPUTY PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY: CULPEPER IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FACILITY TO OPERATE. TO OPEN THOSE HUNDRED BEDS AT CULPEPER WILL COST YOU SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.))
[SOT 11:22:57 ]
((LT. CHIP HARDING/JUVENILE JUSTICE BOARD: SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS, IN THE ECONOMY WE'RE IN TODAY, IF WE DON'T GET IT NOW, WHEN ARE WE EVER GONNA GET IT? NO, YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT. AND THAT'S WHY I SAY I WOULD FLEE THE COUNTRY WITH MY OWN SON BEFORE HE WOULD GO IN BEAUMONT. BECAUSE I DON'T WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THOSE CLOSED DOORS IN THE NIGHT TIME WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKED EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES. THERE'S A CLIMATE OF FEAR, AND I THINK THERE'S ABUSE, AND I THINK THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE.))
[SOT 11:11:40 ]
((DEL. PHIL HAMILTON/R-NEWPORT NEWS: I'M GONNA LOOK ANXIOUSLY AT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS HE'S MAKING TO THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Ron Jordan/Deputy Public Safety Secretary; : ]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Chip Harding/Juvenile Justice Board; :10 ]
[SUPER=01-Del. Phil Hamilton/(R) Newport News; :29 ]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=to that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Governor is also looking at legislation that would allow some juvenile inmates to be set free early-- freeing up more bed space.
(------------)
[Wilkins]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-47 32:03]
[GRAPHIC=budget]
Don't expect any new tax cuts in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Amherst Republican Vance Wilkins is just a month away from taking over as Speaker of the House.
He says Virginia's "no car tax" plan and food tax cut should continue to be phased in-- without any new tax cuts on the table.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:41:19]
[IN Q=Well I think]
((DEL. VANCE WILKINS/R-AMHERST CO.: WELL I THINK WE OUGHT TO DIGEST THESE BEFORE WE GET TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH SOMETHING ELSE. THESE STILL HAVE A COUPLE YEARS TO GO ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.))
[SUPER=@Wilkins;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=the implementation.]
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=budget]
Sources in the Gilmore administration say Wilkins' comments are fine with them.
They say there are NO plans for the Governor to announce a new tax cut tomorrow in his new two year budget.
[Bunting-Book]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-50 50:17]
[GRAPHIC=Josiah Bunting]
General Bunting's off the hook. Nearly six months after State Police and the Commonwealth's Attorney began investigating the V-M-I Superintendent, Prosecutor Gordon Saunders has concluded Josiah Bunting did not commit a crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/August, 1998]
Bunting got 50-thousand dollars in royalties for his book, "An Education for our Time."
Prosecutor Saunders estimates V-M-I employees spent eight to ten thousand dollars worth of time helping to type and edit the book. Saunders found V-M-I received no part of the royalties.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[ss=hold]
The president of V-M-I's Board of Visitors says the board was "aware of General Bunting's writings and wholehearte
dly approves of these endeavors."[Chip-Family]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-48 30:07]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A group that helps provide healthcare to needy children in the Roanoke Valley went a step further today.
The Child Health Investment Partnership found a new home for one of its clients.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The single mother and her two sons had been living in a condemned apartment on Rorer Avenue.
Her rent included broken windows in all but one room, and space for plenty of cockroaches.
A CHIP volunteer heard about her situation this morning.
So, this afternoon he and the agency moved the family to a safe, clean apartment, until she can find more permanent housing.
But another family in the same building is still there, still waiting to get into public housing.
(------------)
[Homeless-Survey]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:08:17]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Families like this one are not alone. There are dozens of families in our area that do not have decent housing or any housing at all. The Roanoke Valley task Force on the homeless released a report this afternoon and the numbers show the homeless population is on the rise.
[Double Boxes=Keith ANCHOR/Joy Microwave]
Joy Sutton joins us with more.
Joy, what can you tell us about the numbers released this afternoon
[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joy1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
(rollcue...many are families )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The big misconception]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=01-Janice Dinkins/TRUST; :00]
[Super=01-Frank Feather/Roanoke Homeless Task Force; :12]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=way you look at it]
[plus 35 seconds of video]
[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
(ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith ANCHOR/Joy Microwave]
[SB-Workers]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-41 1:32:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Local leaders and churches in South Boston are joining forces to help laid-off Tultex workers through the holidays.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-South Boston;]
They're collecting donations of food and money for more than 400 workers who lost their jobs at South Boston's Tultex plant almost two weeks ago.
Organizers say the donations will be divided equally and given to each of the displaced workers on December 22 in downtown South Boston.
So far, local businesses have pledged 10-thousand dollars.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[Take Full Screen Graphic]
For information, you can call Operation Care at 8-0-4 5-7-2 1-9-4-8.[Rescue-Daycare]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=tape 99-49 26:13]
[GRAPHIC=]
They're looking for a few good women.. OR men.. in Amherst County to help with the county's volunteer fire departments and rescue squads.
You won't be putting out fires or helping the injured.. this is a need for a different kind of volunteer.
Steve Smallshaw explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=01-Jack Ball/Public Safety Director; :00]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.; :07]
[SUPER=@ssm1; :35]
[SUPER=01-Shannon Davis/Rescue Squad Volunteer; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=News7, Amherst County.]
(([SOT 21:25:12]
((JACK BALL/AMHERST CO. PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR: THIS IS KIND OF A UNIQUE APPROACH TO AN OLD PROBLEM..))
[RUNS= 04]
[OUT Q=an old problem.]
The problem is finding daytime volunteers for Amherst County's fire and rescue squads.
The people are out there, says public safety director Jack Ball, but many can't donate their time because they have small children at home.
So now the county is looking for volunteers who can provide daycare for those families.
[SOT 21:26:07]
((BALL: IF THERE WAS A WAY OF PROVIDING SOME RELIEF FOR THEIR FAMILY IN THE WAY OF GOOD CHILD CARE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.. IT'S KIND OF A WIN- WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYONE.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=for everyone.]
[Standup 21:46:30]
((The benefits of providing daycare are two-fold.. not only would it encourage more people to volunteer with their local fire departments and rescue squads.. it also would free up existing EMS personnel who can't leave their family to respond to a call.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=to a call.]
Shannon Davis is one such volunteer.
She's been with the Amherst Rescue Squad off and on for eight years.. she's also the mother of two young children.
[natsot tones]
[RUNS= 02]
Even as we talked with Shannon, an emergency call came into the squad building.. but with her 16- month- old son in tow, Shannon couldn't help out.
It was another situation where a daycare provider could have made the difference.
[SOT 21:35:38]
((SHANNON DAVIS/RESCUE SQUAD VOLUNTEER: IT WOULD FREE UP A LOT OF ANXIETY THAT PARENTS MAY HAVE LEAVING THEIR CHILDREN WITH SOMEONE, IT WOULD FREE UP A LOT OF TIME TO RUN DAYTIME RESCUE CALLS BECAUSE THE DAYTIME RESCUE CALLS ARE WHAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=concerned about.]
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact their local fire or rescue squad.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Amherst County.))
[Tech-Toasties]
[ANCHOR=Tech-Toasties]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:37:26]
[GRAPHIC=Hokie fever]
Virginia Tech's school colors are maroon and orange.
But a winning football team has a lot of businesses seeing green.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
The latest company trying to make some money is marketing breakfast cereal.
Sugar-frosted corn flakes, of course, called "Hokie Toasties".
The Hokie Bird dug right in at today's ceremonies.
The cereal inspired one man at the event to write a song about it.
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT SONG]
[RUNS=10]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hokie Toasties will be on sale at Tech bookstores, Kroger and Wal Mart for starters.
The cereal is supposed to make it into campus dining halls by next spring.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight in sports, the Stagg Bowl particiants have arrived in the valley.
We will hear from them, plus Frank Beamer
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
returns to the valley today and receives a hero's welcome at the Hotel Roanoke.
(------------)
[S-Beamer]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-52]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL MATCHUP]
Beamer Ball has been catching on nationwide this fall, but Frank Beamer's road show always plays to standing room only crowds in the star city.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Afternoon; :00]
The newly named Associated Press coach of the year received a standing ovation from the Roanoke Valley Hokie club members today at the Hotel Roanoke.
Beamer also received his second key to the city. To which he replied to the mayor - now I can get in the city's front door and back.
He was humbled by the fact that more than 600 backers showed up for the luncheon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="ISN'T THIS ...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=APPRECIATE THEM."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT CON'T]
Beamer was asked to sign autographs for some area elementary school students who happened to be at the Hotel.
He was greeted by Tech fans of all ages.
And he was accompanied by his boss, Jim Weaver who is already making plans for Tech's bowl heist.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
((JIM WEAVER:))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Va. Tech Athletic Director; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....HALF A MILLION THERE."]
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRPAHIC=SUGAR BOWL]
In all Tech will pocket $4 million bucks, but their travel expenses for the game will eat up over two million of that.
[GRAPHIC=TECH/UVA]
Also, as expected today the date for nest year's Tech-UVa game was announced. It is again at the end of the season on November 25th in Blacksburg.
[S-Stagg]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-57 (23:51)]
[GRAPHIC=Stagg Bowl Graphic]
This weekend at Salem Stadium the 1999 Division three champion will be crowned.
Rowan and Pacific Lutheran will kick it off in the Stagg Bowl. Roy Stanley has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="The activities...]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Daniel Ragsdale/Gagliardi Trophy Winner; :18]
[SUPER=01-K.C. Keeler/Rowan Head Coach; :40]
[SUPER=01-Frosty Westering/Pacific Luthern Head Coach; :56]
[SUPER=01-Carey Harveycutter/Stagg Bowl Director; 1:20]
[SUPER=@Roy1; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports."]
((The activities kicked off at the Salem Civic Center with the presentation of the Gagliardi Award.
This years winner is Daniel Ragsdale of the University of Redlands. Ragsdale averaged over 400 yards passing a game. And he threw 33 Touchdowns in nine games.))
((DANIEL RAGSDALE/GAGLIARDI WINNER:))
((The two teams held a light workout at Salem High school.
Rowan returns having played in 5 championship games without a win.))
((K.C. KEELER/ROWAN HEAD COACH:))
((Pacific Lutheran is the new kind on the Block but the Lutes finished the season with a 10 and 1 record.))
((FROSTY WESTERING/PACIFIC LUTHERAN HEAD COACH:))
((Fans wanting to attend the game there are plenty tickets left.
Stagg Bowl director Carey Harveycutter says sales are slow but expected to pick up on game day.))
((CAREY HARVEYCUTTER/STAGG BOWL DIRECTOR:))
((ROY STANLEY:))
(---------------)
[S-Womack]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-58]
[GRAPHIC=UVa football]
The trial involving Virginia running back Antoine Womack moved into it's third day. Final arguments were made this morning and the case was turned over to the jury but, at this time, no verdict has been reached and the jury is still deliberating. The main question for the jury is did Womack and the others involved cause bodily injury with malicious intent.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
Another major question is did Womack actually participate in the incident. Two other players who have admitted their in(------------)
volvement in the attack say he did not. He is charged with malicious wounding.
by SS