[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
V-Dot will spend hundred of thousands of dollars on an Interstate 81 safety patrol.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the federal prosecutors are pointing to a link between a woman arrested in Vermont and an organization that supports terrorists.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
The day started out with patchy fog, but now we're looking forward to a partly sunny afternoon.
But temperatures will stay pretty chilly...highs in the lower 40s.
We'll have the complete outlook through the holiday weekend.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Safety-Patrols]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#99-41 TC1:37:17]
[GRAPHIC=Highway Safety]
V-Dot is going to spend 600-thousand dollars a year to run a safety patrol along Interstate 81.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tina/Microwave]
Tina Tenret is near the highway in Roanoke Co. to tell us about today's announcement.
[Live=Tina Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:permanent and full time.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Curtis Goad/VDOT; :12]
[SUPER=01-Chip Nottingham/State Transportation Commissioner; :25]
[RUNS=:39]
[OUT Q=]
[Live=Tina Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tina/Microwave]
[Spanky's]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-41 1:37:06]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
The owner of Spanky's restaurant in Salem is suing the Roanoke Times for libel.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
The newspaper ran a story last week, pointing out that a grand jury charged several people with dealing drugs outside the building.
The indictments came after an investigation by state and local police, and ABC agents.
The lawsuit filed in Roanoke Circuit Court this morning accuses the newspaper of publishing false information and it asks for a total of five million dollars in damages.
No one from the newspaper was available to comment.
(------------)
[Terrorism]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Federal prosecutors are linking the woman who was arrested Sunday in Vermont with an international
group believed to be a sponsor of terrorism.
She and an Algerian man were arrested Sunday at a border crossing from Canada.
Meanwhile the latest warning of possible terrorism against Americans focuses on mail bombs.
The F-B-I says it's received unconfirmed reports that people may be planning to send small package bombs to addresses in the United States from Germany.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[3:12:26]
Meantime, the F-A-A is tightening security at all U-S airports in response to the potential threat of terrorism.
The new security measures went into effect as the State Department extended a worldwide caution to American travelers through mid-January.
During his visit to a Washington, D-C soup kitchen, President Clinton tried to ease fears.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((CLINTON:I DONT THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD STOP THEIR HOLIDAY
ACTIVITIES. THEY SHOULD ENJOY THE SEASON. BUT BECAUSE WE, IN THE GOVERNMENT, ARE TAKING EXTRA STEPS I THINK ITS GOOD FOR THEM AND GOOD FOR US TO BE CAREFUL))
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=for us to be careful.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Meantime there's a new report linking the Algerian accused of trying to smuggle explosives into the U-S with Osama bin Laden.
That's the man considered by the Clinton administration to be the head of a global terrorist operation.
A Canadian newspaper says Ahmed Ressam (AH'-med res-AHM') learned to make bombs with bin Laden.
(------------)
[fatal-fire]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]
An assistant fire chief and two other firefighters are being mourned today in Iowa -- along with three
children they were trying to save.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Keokuk, IA;]
[3;02:40]
The firemen were fighting a blaze at a 130 year old apartment complex and trying to rescue several children trapped inside.
The bodies of two of the firefighters were found upstairs -- one of them near one of the young victims.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The thought of losing civilians...]
[SUPER=01-Mark Wessel/Keokuk Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=the lose is phenominal.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Neighbors were able to help the children's mother rescue a son.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=She couldn't]
[SUPER=01-Andrea Glasscock/Neighbor;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=to find another.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The woman and her boy are hospitalized this afternoon in fair condition.
There's no word yet on what caused the blaze.
(------------)
[ferry-ax]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Nine people are dead and dozens missing after a ferry sank accident in the central Philippines.
The ferry was carrying hundreds of passengers returning home for the Christmas holidays when it sank early this morning.
Gaby Tabunar reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[7:02:35]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cebu, Philippines; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gaby Tabunar/Reporting; :48]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Manila.]
((THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE WORD ON THE FATE OF THE OTHER PASSENGERS AS
RELATIVES OF THOSE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN ON BOARD THE FERRY WAITED ANXIOUSLY.
THE VESSEL SANK JUST BEFORE DAWN THURSDAY ON THE NORTHERN TIP OFF A CENTRAL PHILIPPINE ISLAND ABOUT 300 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MANILA.
THE FERRY CARRIED MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE., MOST OF THEM HEADING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. MANY WERE STUDENTS.
THE CREW OR A PASSING CARGO SHIP THAT REACHED THE FERRY AND PICKED UP
SURVIVORS SAID THE VESSEL WAS LEANING BADLY ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH NO LIGHTS--MINUTES BEFORE IT WENT DOWN.
PHILIPPINE NAVY SHIPS AND PRIVATE SEA CRAFT ARE HELPING IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.
THE LOCAL COAST GUARD SAID THE FERRY'S DEPARTURE WAS DELAYED FOR SOME 3
HOURS AFTER IT WAS FOUND THERE WERE MORE PASSENGERS THAN THE VESSEL'S
ALLOWABLE CAPACITY OF 614.
BUT OFFICIALS OF THE FERRY INSISTED IT SET OUT TO SEA WITH LESS PASSENGERS THAN ITS CAPACITY.
FERRIES ARE THE MAIN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
ISLANDS BUT OVERCROWDING IS COMMON AND SEVERAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED
OVER THE YEARS.))
[Algeria-quake]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Earthquake]
A strong earthquake has shaken western Algeria killing close to two dozen.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ain-Temouchent, Algeria;]
[7:12:06]
Radio reports say close to 50 have been hospitalized.
Scores of others are less seriously injured.
The quake had a magnitude of 5 point 8.
Many frightened residents spent the night huddle in blankets close to collapsed buildings.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Tobacco growers will be getting a holiday present from the government.
Find out what we mean when News 7 at Noon returns.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And more rain is moving in as relief workers try to help the victims of the Venezuelan floods.
First, let's talk to Kimberly McBroom about our forecast.
(---------------)
[Talent=Kimberly]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
If you've got some last- minute Christmas shopping today, you'll want to bundle up as you brave the malls today.
A westerly breeze, along with the cool air that's settled over the region will keep temperatures in the 40s today.
Folks to our west, meanwhile, are picking up some flurries and light snow showers......
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Venezuela-mudslides]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An American cargo plane carrying equipment that can purify over 25-hundred gallons of water an hour has arrived in Venezuela.
The flooding and mudslides that
devastated the country's coast also contaminated local water supplies.
Meantime, relief workers are frantically trying to stop a dangerous outbreak of cholera and hepatitis.
Now, more rain is forecast and officials fear that could cause another string of deadly mudslides.
Byron Pitts reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10NEWSPATH]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Caracas, Venezuela; :00]
[SUPER=01-Byron Pitts/Reporting; 1:00]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Caracas.]
((THIS IS ONE OF THE COUNTLESS NEIGHBORHOODS IN CARACAS THAT WAS DEMOLISHED BY HORRIFIC MUDSLIDES. LAST WEEK THIS TIME, THE MUD AND WATER WASN'T SIMPLY ABOVE MY HEAD, IT WAS 2 STORYS HIGH.
NARR:
(CBS)
A NEW DAY IN CARACAS CANNOT DISGUISE THE OLD STENCH OF DEATH THAT STILL
LINGERS HERE. BURIED BENEATH 20 FEET OF CEMENT-HARD MUD.
NARR:
(APTN)
SURVIVORS SAY ARE BURIED THE REMAINS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ENTIRE
FAMILIES WHO COULD NOT ESCAPE
(BBC)
AN AVALANCHE OF MUD, BOULDERS AND TREES THAT HAVE CARVED A PATH OF PAIN 60 MILES WIDE.
NARR:
(APTN)
DESPITE THE RELIEF AID THAT IS POURING IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD MISERY HERE IS STILL RISING.
NARR:
(APTN/Globalvision Pool)
2 HELICOPTERS CRASHED KILLING 10 RESCUE WORKERS.
NARR:
(BBC/VENEVISION)
THE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA HAS PROMISED TO BUILD SURVIVORS HOMES ON SOLID GROUND.
(BBC/UNIVISION)
BUT MEANWHILE HE HAS ASKED THE US FOR THOUSANDS OF BODY BAGS AND COFFINS AS THE DEATH TOLL COULD REACH AS HIGH AS 30,000 PEOPLE.
PITTS ON CAMERA:
THE FORECAST CALLS FOR MORE RAIN IN THE COMING DAYS AND THAT COULD WELL
MEAN MORE MUDSLIDES. BYRON PITTS, CBS NEWS, CARACAS.))
[china-pirates]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A court in southern China has sentenced 13 men to death and given 18 others life sentences in the country's first trial of pirates in at least a decade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Shanwei, China;]
[10am newspath]
They were accused of murdering 23 seamen and throwing their bodies overboard when they hijacked a freighter in November 1998.
Piracy experts have described the attack as one of the most vicious cases in 19-98, a year in which 202 pirate attacks were reported worldwide.
(------------)
[E-Rubatex]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-48 40:16]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex Strike]
Other unions are throwing their support behind striking Rubatex workers.
The workers on strike at Bedford's biggest employer took their picket line to Roanoke yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsound]
((NATS OF CHANTING: WHAT DO WE WANT? CONTRACT! NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!))
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=No Peace]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
They rallied outside the Rubatex company headquarters.
Striking Steelworkers were joined by members of five other local unions.
They called it a show of solidarity -- trying to force the company back into negotiations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 15 43 29 /////// 15 13 05 ]
[****BUMP SOTS****]
[IN Q=we will be stepping /////// we are the union]
((RICHARD WALKER/USWA LOCAL 240 PRESIDENT: WE WILL BE STEPPING IT UP GRADUALLY ... WHATEVER IT TAKES .... WE'RE GOING TO DO IT. ///////////////KENNETH STANLEY/STRIKING RUBATEX WORKER: WE ARE THE UNION AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE ... THE GOTTA GET OFF THEIR BUTTS ... BETTER DO IT.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Walker/USWA Local 240 President; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Stanley/Striking Rubatex Worker; :08]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=BETTER DO IT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
During the rally ... Rubatex workers walked inside company headquarters ... demanding copies of their pension plans ... that's part of the contract that's in dispute.
For its part, Rubatex would not comment on yesterday's rally.
The strike is 103-days old.
(------------)
[***WIPE***WIPE***]
[E-Legacy]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=None]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:54:21]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Co. New jobs]
[***WIPE***]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.]
In Floyd County, a textile company will soon be bringing jobs into this building.
The company is called Legacy, based in northern Virginia.
It will lease the shell building, built by Floyd County.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Co. New Jobs]
Legacy will hire about 45 workers to start with, and hopes to expand. Company officials say these jobs won't be heading to Mexico.
[E-Henry-Loans]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-50 52:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Henry County residents who DID lose their jobs to Mexico will be getting some help next week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The no-interest loans will help Henry County residents let at Tultex, Pluma, Ashmore Sportswear, or Visy Protective Products.
Information sessions are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday at the county administration building.
More information is available through Henry County or Patrick Henry National Bank.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE GFX PAGE]
And for complete information on the program go to our WDBJ7 home page and click "Webwatch."
(------------)
[S-Tobacco-Money]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-51 18:0799-51 18:07]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]
Almost 90 per cent of Virginia's tobacco growers should see checks in the mail shortly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co.]
The 40 thousand checks are part of the so-called "Side Agreement" of the national settlement, with the money dedicated just to tobacco growers.
Virginia's share of the Side Agreement" for this year is 24-million dollars.
So the average check would be about five hundred and 40 dollars.
(------------)
[E-MAMSI]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:48:01]
[GRAPHIC=Health Insurance]
The hospital and several area doctors are no longer accepting an insurance plan that covers 300 city and school employees in Martinsville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; ]
Memorial Hospital is dropping MAMSI, Mid Atlantic Medical Services Incorporated in less than two weeks.
Physicians say the insurance company had many problems processing claims.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 01:48:53]
[IN Q=MAMSI always]
((DR. ELIZABETH VAUGHAN/VAUGHAN MEDICAL CENTER: MAMSI ALWAYS LOST THE SECOND PAGE, THEY COULD NEVER FIND AND PROCESS THE SECOND PAGE.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Elizabeth Vaughan/Vaughan Medical Center; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=second page.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Medical Society of Virginia identified MAMSI as the insurance carrier with the most physician complaints in the state.
MAMSI says it will continue to pay claims the hospital and doctors submit to them and avoid any cost to the patients.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead on News-7 at Noon, Kimberly McBroom will have the holiday forecast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And they're making the final preparations for the Christmas celebration in Bethlehem.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[E-Carnegie-Hero]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:44:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Campbell County man says he was just doing the right thing when he risked his own life to save another man last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/September 1998]
Victor Shelton was among the first on the scene of this accident on Route 460 near Lynchburg in September, 1998.
A pickup truck had flipped over and caught fire.. Shelton pulled its unconscious driver to safety just seconds before the vehicle exploded.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:31:59]
[IN Q=A person just]
((VICTOR SHELTON/CARNEGIE HERO AWARD WINNER: A PERSON JUST REACTS.. AT LEAST FOR ME I KNOW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND I WANTED TO FIX IT. I THINK THAT'S A MALE THING, YOU KNOW, WE JUST TRY TO FIX THINGS.. WE HATE FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I TRIED TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Victor Shelton/Carnegie Hero Award Winner]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=tried to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This week, Shelton was one of 20 Americans to receive the Carnegie Hero Award.
Winners get a bronze medal and 35- hundred dollars.
(------------)
[Bethlehem-preps]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Last minute preparations are underway in the City of Bethlehem for Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bethlehem, Israel;]
Some 60- thousand are expected to squeeze into Manger Square on Christmas Eve.
For Americans there is more than the usual anxiety after the State Department's warning that they might be targets for terrorism.
Still most visitors say they won't let it keep them from expressing their faith.
Dozens of Palestinian policemen are securing the square and the streets around Manger Square.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, hockey legends from the Roanoke Valley get set to strap on the skates again,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and one of the N-B-A's most flamboyant former stars has been arrested in California.
We'll have the details, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Rodman]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Dennis Rodman]
Former N-B-A bad boy Dennis Rodman can't seem to kick his tarnished reputation. He is facing criminal charges...again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Costa Mesa, CA;]
The former Chicago Bull and Los Angeles Laker was arrested yesterday near Los Angeles for alleged drunk driving.
Police stopped Rodman because a passenger in his car was not wearing a seat belt.
He was given a field sobriety test when police thought he may be intoxicated.
He was arrested when he failed the test.
This is the third time in four months that Rodman has been arrested.
The charges in those cases were either dropped or never filed.
(------------)
[S-HOOPS]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=NONE]
[GRAPHIC=VT HOOPS]
Virginia Tech men's basketball pulled out a third place finish in this year's San Juan Shootout.
Down by 10 with 7:20 left in the game Tech went on a 20 to seven run to beat Louisiana-Layfette 59-to-56.
Rolan Roberts had a game high 22 points and was selected to the All Tournament Team. The Hokies are six and four. Their next game is Tuesday at seven in the Cassell.
[ss=high school hoops]
In high school action, Radford beat Grayson County 67-44 last night and Riverheads beat James River 82-67.
[S-Fame]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-57 TC 26:16]
[GRAPHIC=Express]
Next month, some of Roanoke's hockey greats will return to the ice.
It's part of the Hall of Fame-Old timers weekend.
During the Express- Renegades game on January 15th, a new class will be inducted into the Roanoke Valley Hockey Hall of Fame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The next day, 18 former members of the Roanoke Rebels will return to the ice for a game with the Greensboro Generals.
Dave "the hammer" Schultz is one of those players making an appearance.
The game will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Roanoke's Southern League Championship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I believe]
[SUPER=01-Pierre Paiement/Former Roanoke Valley Rebel; :00]
[SUPER=01-Henry Brabham/Former Lancers Owner; :13]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=anybody else]
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=HOLD]
Some of the proceeds of the weekend will go to the Children's Cancer Center at Carilion Community Hospital.
[S-Pro]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-51 tc1:22:34]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
The rosters have been set for this season's Pro Bowl and several Washington Redskins are headed to Honolulu.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Frostburg, MD/July; ]
Quarterback Brad Johnson was picked as a reserve. He threw for more than 34-hundred yards and 22 TDs.
Running back Stephen Davis is on the list. Davis picked up more than 14-hundred yards on 290 carries with 17 touchdowns.
Redskin offensive guard (tray) Tre Johnson will also be playing in the February sixth game.
(------------)
by SS