WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/22/99

[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

A few school announcements to pass along--
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN] Bath County schools are operating on a one hour delay.
And Highland County schools will open two hours late today.
(-------------)

[7-Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

State Police say speed, alcohol, and wet pavement all contributed to a fatal overnight accident in Henry County.
It happened just after midnight on route 7-61.
A pick-up driven by Mark Edward Thompson of Bassett drove off the right shoulder, hit an embankment twice, and rolled several times.
Thompson died at the scene.
A passenger-- Kenneth R. Boyce of Fieldale, was thrown from the vehicle.
He was seriously injured and taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

[7-Foutz-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Department]

Many Vinton residents remain unhappy now that town council has voted down a petition that would compensate former police chief Ricky Foutz.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]

The petition would have allowed Foutz to receive his salary until 2003 when he could collect his full retirement.

Council members unanimously voted down the petition saying they did not want to make any payments what so ever until the special grand jury investigation is complete.
Foutz's wife said the vote was an injustice and changes are on the way.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:41:34 tape #1]
[IN Q=Come May there]
((LISA FOUTZ/RICKY FOUTZ'S WIFE: COME MAY THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE YOU WON'T BE SITTING UP THERE AND I WILL PERSONALLY HEAD UP A CAMPAIGN AGAINST YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Lisa Foutz/Ricky Foutz's wife]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=campaign against you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Right now Ricky Foutz is collecting 20 thousand dollars in vacation and sick leave that he earned.
One council member says if Foutz is cleared of any wrong doing when the report comes out in January he will be given full restitution.
(------------)

[7-E-Wasena-Park]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:12:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke prosecutors say they want videotaped proof of people have sex in parks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
18 men were recently charged with asking male undercover cops for oral sex in Wasena Park. But the jury found three men NOT guilty. And prosecutors dismissed charges against two more. Now prosecutors are going to try tougher tactics.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:25:54]
[IN Q=I tend to think]
((DON CALDWELL/PROSECUTOR: I TEND TO THINK RIGHT NOW THE WEAK POINT IS WE'RE MAKING IT ONE PERSON'S WORD AGAINST ANOTHER. WE HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO PUT IT ON FILM AND WE NEED TO USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.))
[SUPER=01-Don Caldwell/Prosecutor;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=technology]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A dozen men pleaded guilty as long as they were guaranteed an appeal. They hope to strike the law that makes oral sex a felony.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:11:31]
[IN Q=Virginia's sodomy]
((VIRGINIA'S SODOMY LAW IS TOO BROAD, UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT INDISCRIMINATELY CRIMINALIZES ORAL SEX, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BY ANY PEOPLE, AT ANY TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Sam Garrison/Attorney;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=at any time]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This will be the first time a Virginia court considers changing the law against sodomy.
(------------)

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Here's a look at your mid week forecast.
Expect light rain drizzle this morning with possible flurries mixed in.
The afternoon becomes partly sunny with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s.
Tonight mostly clear and windy with lows in the low to mid 20s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Drizzle & Flurries/Then Partly Sunny/35-40/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

A few school announcements to pass along--
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN] Bath County schools are operating on a one hour delay.
And Highland County schools will open two hours late today.
(-------------)

[45-Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

State police believe alcohol contributed to a fatal auto accident overnight in Henry County.
It happened just after midnight on route 7-61 in the Rangely section of the county.
Police believe the driver of a pickup was traveling too fast for conditions.
Authorities Mark Edward Thompson of Bassett drove his pickup off the right shoulder, hit an embankment twice, and rolled over several times.
He died at the scene.
A passenger was thrown from the vehicle.
Kenneth R. Boyce was seriously injured and taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

[45-Danville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=che]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=murder Investigation]

Danville police are investigating a homicide.
They say an autopsy shows the woman found dead in a Danville neighborhood over the weekend was strangled.
Police aren't saying if they have any suspects in the murder of 34-year old Angela Terry Newman.

[45-Council-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:41:54]
[GRAPHIC=Rke. Council Pay]

The debate has begun over the Roanoke City council pay raises.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The raises are less than state law allows... Council members will go from 14- thousand to 16- thousand a year.
The mayor's salary will increase from 18- thousand to 21- thousand.
Mayor Bowers, Alvin Hudson, Carroll Swain and Bill White voted for it... Nelson Harris, Jim Trout and Linda Wyatt voted against.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:43:54]
[IN Q=I think any time]
((NELSON HARRIS/ROANOKE VICE-MAYOR:))
[SUPER=01-Nelson Harris/Roanoke Vice-Mayor;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=but we'll just have to see.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

The raises will take effect on July first of next year.

[45-E-Shelor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-47 40:14]
[GRAPHIC=Mont. Co. Tax Dispute]

Shelor Automotive is once again moving its inventory out of Montgomery County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Radio ads announcing the move recently hit the airwaves.
The dealership is moving its inventory to Salem and Pulaski to avoid paying the merchant's capital tax... which is a tax assessed on a business's unsold inventory.
Salem does NOT have the tax -- but Pulaski County does.
But Shelor says the rate assessed in Pulaski is much lower than in Montgomery County.
Moving the inventory, though, is expensive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:06:26]
[IN Q=It's significant]
((LARRY SHELOR/SHELOR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP: IT'S SIGNIFICANT, I WOULD SAY WE'RE SPENDING AS MUCH MOVING OUR CARS AROUND AS THE LARGEST TAX PAYER IN THE COUNTY WOULD ACTUALLY PAY THE COUNTY IN TAXES, I REFER TO WALMART IN THE 60- OR 70- THOUSAND DOLLAR RANGE.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Shelor/Shelor Automotive Group;]
[RUNS=10 approx.]
[OUT Q=dollar range.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Shelor has filed several lawsuits against the county over the issue.
But a Montgomery County circuit judge recently ruled against the dealership saying it could not avoid the tax.
Shelor has indicated it will appeal.
(------------)

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news to check the forecast...
Morning drizzle and flurries will give way to partly sunny skies and highs in the upper 30s.
Mostly clear tonight, with lows in the lower 20s.
The five day forecast stays partly cloudy and chilly heading into the holiday weekend.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Drizzle & Flurries/Then Partly Sunny/35-40/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[School-Info]

[8-Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

State police believe alcohol contributed to a fatal auto accident overnight in Henry County.
It happened just after midnight on route 7-61.
Police believe the driver of a pickup was driving too fast for the wet conditions.
Authorities say Mark Edward Thompson of Bassett drove his pickup off the right shoulder, hit an embankment twice, and rolled over several times.
He died at the scene.
A passenger was thrown from the vehicle.
Kenneth R. Boyce was seriously injured and taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

[8-Foutz-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Department]

The battle between Vinton residents and town council continues after members voted not to pass a petition that would compensate former police chief Ricky Foutz.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]

The petition would have allowed Foutz to receive his salary until 2003 when he could collect his full retirement.

Council members unanimously voted down the petition saying they did not want to make any payments what so ever until the special grand jury investigation is complete.
Foutz's wife said the vote was an injustice and changes are on the way.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:41:34 tape #1]
[IN Q=Come May there]
((LISA FOUTZ/RICKY FOUTZ'S WIFE: COME MAY THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE YOU WON'T BE SITTING UP THERE AND I WILL PERSONALLY HEAD UP A CAMPAIGN AGAINST YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Lisa Foutz/Ricky Foutz's wife]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=campaign against you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Right now Ricky Foutz is collecting 20 thousand dollars in vacation and sick leave that he earned.
One council member says if Foutz is cleared of any wrong doing when the report comes out in January he will be given full restitution.
(------------)

[8-Council-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:41:54]
[GRAPHIC=Rke. Council Pay]

The debate over pay raises for members of Roanoke City Council may not be over as council has narrowly approved the pay increase.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The raises are less than state law allows... Council members will go from 14- thousand to 16- thousand a year.
The mayor's salary will increase from 18- thousand to 21- thousand.
Mayor Bowers, Alvin Hudson, Carroll Swain and Bill White voted for it... Nelson Harris, Jim Trout and Linda Wyatt voted against.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:43:54]
[IN Q=I think any time]
((NELSON HARRIS/ROANOKE VICE-MAYOR:))
[SUPER=01-Nelson Harris/Roanoke Vice-Mayor;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=but we'll just have to see.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

The raises will take effect on July first of next year.

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Time now to look at the mid- week forecast...
Morning drizzle and flurries will give way to partly sunny skies today, with chilly highs in the upper 30s.
Mostly clear overnight, with a low of 20 to 25.
As for the next few days...temperatures stay rather cool with partly cloudy skies.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Drizzle & Flurries/Then Partly Sunny/35-40/Mostly Clear/Winds NW 10/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]