WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/28/99

[7-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

State police say traffic is moving again on Interstate 81. Earlier this morning, a multi vehicle accident blocked both southbound lanes north of the Troutville scales.
State Police say a car struck a moving truck when it swerved to avoid a deer.
The car flipped on its top. Several injuries were reported. No word on how many people were taken to the hospital. Another single car accident happened as a result and closed the right lane. No one was hurt in that accident.

[7-11Fulcher]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-49 36:31]
[GRAPHIC=Fulcher New Trial?]

A new trial may be in the future of the Fulcher family who have been convicted of drug dealing and money laundering in Bland Prison.
In an emotional letter to a judge, drug agent Don Lincoln said that his testimony in court may have been wrong.
Tina Tenret has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Don Lincoln's letter]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Whaley/Defense Attorney; :27]
[SUPER=@Tina2; :33]
[RUNS=:49]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke]
((Don Lincoln's letter makes Mike Fulcher seem like less of a liar. Fulcher said he ran a drug ring in Bland Prison only to bust guards and inmates for the D-E-A. Agent Don Lincoln always said that wasn't true. Now in a six-page letter Lincoln says maybe he misled Fulcher. He writes -- [take pre-pro] If I said anything in haste which led him to believe he was covered it may be the proximate cause of all this.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:25:07]
[IN Q=If this evidence]
((IF THIS EVIDENCE HAD BEEN ADMISSIBLE AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE JURY I THINK THE JURY WOULD HAVE FOUND THE DEFENDANTS NOT GUILTY.))
[RUNS= :04]
[OUT Q=NOT GUILTY]
But prosecutors say Lincoln is either too chummy with Fulcher, who's tattled to the D-E-A before, or Fulcher's got the agent cornered with some personal dirt. The judge said he will probably give Fulcher, his wife and mother new trials but he hasn't decided yet. Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke.))

[7-11Henry-Loans]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-52 24:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Henry County officials hope today will be better for their new program.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]

Yesterday, was the first day laid-off textile workers could apply for interest-free loans ... and register for free legal advice.
The county expected a thousand people to show up.
Only 53 did.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:37:03]
[IN Q=I'm shocked]
((TIM HALL/HENRY COUNTY SPOKESMAN: I'M SHOCKED THE TURNOUT HAS NOT BEEN AS HIGH AS WE EXPECTED. I HOPE IT'S AN INDICATION THAT PEOPLE DON'T NEED FINANCIAL HELP. I HOPE IT'S NOT AN INDICATION PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE PART IN THIS PROGRAM.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry Co. Spokesman]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=IN THIS PROGRAM]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[video of man getting in car and driving away]
Of the 53 who turned out ... about 20 were turned away.
To qualify ... workers have to live in Henry County.
They have to have been laid off from either Tultex ... Pluma ... Ashmore or Visy after September of this year.
Henry County will hold another sign-up session this morning at eight-30.
(------------)

[7-11Dan-River]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Another P-C-B warning from the state health department. This one for a section of the Dan River in Halifax County.

Recent testing showed eight species of fish had been contaminated with the cancer- causing chemical.
Residents are advised to limit their consumption of flathead and channel catfish caught between Staunton River State Park to where the Dan River crosses into North Carolina.
Similar warnings have been in effect for the Staunton River near Altavista for two years.

[7Weather]

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

Here's a look at your Tuesday forecast.
Partly sunny and windy today with highs in the upper 30s.
Tonight mostly cloudy with a chance of snow flurries.
Lows fall to the lower 20s.
The extended forecast...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/35-39/Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Flurries/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

Traffic is moving again on Interstate 81 after a multi vehicle accident blocked both south bound lanes early this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

It happened just north of the Troutville scales.
State police say a car struck a moving truck when it swerved to avoid a deer.
The car then flipped.
Several injuries were reported.
There is no word yet on how many were taken to the hospital.
The accident triggered a single vehicle wreck, but no one was injured.
(------------)

[45-11Y2k-Cults]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-50 53:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

There have been many New Year's warnings of disturbing activity by cult groups
But a professor at U-V-A says hype over religious movements committing mass suicides is overblown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Jeffrey Hadden created a Web site from his and his students' research-- research that details more than two hundred religious movements, ranging from Mormons, to U-F-O cults, to Zen Buddhists. [++++++++++] [TAKE WEB ADDRESS FULL SCREEN]
The Web site can be found at w-w-w dot religious movements dot org. [++++++++++]

[45-11L'burg-Y2K]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:53:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meantime possible Y-2-k problems don't have Lynchburg officials worried.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

City leaders announced they are well prepared for whatever the so- called millennium bug might bring this weekend.

American Electric Power says it's more likely that ice, snow or squirrels will cause a power outage.. but they're ready for anything.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:53:20]
[IN Q=We are compliant]
((LARRY JACKSON/AEP SPOKESMAN: WE ARE COMPLIANT BUT, OF COURSE, IT'S THE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT, THINGS THAT ARE HIDDEN THAT MAY BE OVERLOOKED. WE'VE TESTED ALL OF OUR POWER PLANTS, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THEM RUNNING ON A YEAR 2000 CLOCK ALREADY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS JUST TO MAKE SURE.. TO MAKE A 100 PERCENT GUARANTEE, DON'T THINK WE COULD DO THAT, BUT WE THINK WE'RE READY.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Jackson/AEP Spokesman]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=think we're ready.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Residents are also reminded not to flood 9-1-1 lines with non- emergency calls on New Year's Eve.
(------------)

[45-11Homestead]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-51 18:39]
[GRAPHIC=New Year's]

And fears for the New Year apparently isn't keeping guests away from the Homestead.
The Bath County resort was close to capacity at Christmas and it's sold out for New Year's Eve.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hot Springs]

Guests are still enjoying the Christmas decorations, and at least three separate celebrations will ring in the New Year.
The resort has become Home for the Holidays for a surprising number of families who return year after year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:01:21]
[IN Q=Many grandparents]
((ALBERT SCHNARWYLER/EXECUTIVE CHEF: MANY GRANDPARENTS SAY WE CAME HERE AS LITTLE BOYS OR GIRLS AND NOW THEIR PARENTS ARE TELLING US THE SAME THING. AND I'M SURE THEIR CHILDREN WILL DO THE SAME THING. IT'S A FABULOUS TRADITION. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT, THE TRADITION.))
[SUPER=01-Albert Schnarwyler/Executive Chef;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=what makes it different, the tradition.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

After checking computers and essential systems, Homestead officials believe they're ready for Y-2-K... but they'll have emergency generators and contingency plans ready just in case.
(------------)

[45Weather]

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

Taking a break from the news to check the forecast...
Partly sunny with northwesterly winds with highs in the upper 30s.
Mostly cloudy tonight with a chance of flurries and lows in the lower 20s.
Looking ahead to the next five days.... lingering flurries are possible tomorrow morning...otherwise partly sunny.
Highs averaging in the 40s...lows in the 20s and 30s.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/35-39/Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Flurries/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

Traffic is back to normal on Interstate 81 following a multi- vehicle accident blocked both south bound lanes early this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

It happened just north of the Troutville scales.
State police say a car struck a moving truck when it swerved to avoid a deer.
The car then flipped.
Several injuries were reported.
There is no word yet on how many were taken to the hospital.
The accident triggered a single vehicle wreck, but no one was injured.
(------------)

[8-11Fulcher]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-49 36:31]
[GRAPHIC=Fulcher New Trial?]

A new trial could be ordered in the drug and money laundering case against the Fulcher family.
A drug agent has written a judge stating that his testimony in court may have been wrong.
Tina Tenret has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Don Lincoln's letter]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Whaley/Defense Attorney; :27]
[SUPER=@Tina2; :33]
[RUNS=:49]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke]
((Don Lincoln's letter makes Mike Fulcher seem like less of a liar. Fulcher said he ran a drug ring in Bland Prison only to bust guards and inmates for the D-E-A. Agent Don Lincoln always said that wasn't true. Now in a six-page letter Lincoln says maybe he misled Fulcher. He writes -- [take pre-pro] If I said anything in haste which led him to believe he was covered it may be the proximate cause of all this.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:25:07]
[IN Q=If this evidence]
((IF THIS EVIDENCE HAD BEEN ADMISSIBLE AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE JURY I THINK THE JURY WOULD HAVE FOUND THE DEFENDANTS NOT GUILTY.))
[RUNS= :04]
[OUT Q=NOT GUILTY]
But prosecutors say Lincoln is either too chummy with Fulcher, who's tattled to the D-E-A before, or Fulcher's got the agent cornered with some personal dirt. The judge said he will probably give Fulcher, his wife and mother new trials but he hasn't decided yet. Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke.))

[8-11Lincoln-Terrace]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbi]
[TAPE#=99-44 1:40:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Work has already begun on a Roanoke Public Housing project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Walls are coming down in Lincoln Terrace housing project -- 32 more houses will go by the end of the city's renovation. The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority is using 41 million dollars for a project they call Lincoln 2-thousand. They plan to build new houses and renovate some of the old ones to create a neighborhood atmosphere.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:21:09]
[IN Q=This]
((ANGELA PENN/ HOUSING AUTHORITY: THIS PROGRAM -- IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BRICKS AND MORTAR, BUT IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING A NEW WAY OF LIVING -- IMPROVING THEIR LIVES, BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT.))
[SUPER=01-Angela Penn/Housing Authority]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=sufficient]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The new housing plan will have various kinds of buildings to serve people with different needs and will be a stepping stone to eventual ownership.
(--------------)

[8-11Dan-River]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Another P-C-B warning from the state health department.
This one for a section of the Dan River in Halifax County.
Recent testing showed eight species of fish had been contaminated with the cancer- causing chemical.
Residents are advised to limit their consumption of flathead and channel catfish caught between Staunton River State Park to where the Dan River crosses into North Carolina.

[8Weather]

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

Let's check out the Tuesday forecast one more time this morning...
Partly sunny with cold northwesterly winds again and highs in the mid and upper 30s.
Skies will turn mostly cloudy tonight, with a chance of flurries.
Lows of 20 to 25.
Looking ahead to the next five days.... lingering flurries are possible tomorrow morning...otherwise partly sunny.
Highs averaging in the 40s...lows in the 20s and 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/35-39/Mostly Cloudy/Chance of Flurries/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]