WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/29/99

[7-E-State-Y2K]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:58:00]
[GRAPHIC=Battling the Bug]

State officials say Virginia is 100 percent Y-2-K compliant.
And they say citizens should "act reasonably" on New Year's Eve.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

But that doesn't mean they're NOT planning for the worst.
It's the first time the state's planned to use ham radio operators to coordinate a statewide emergency response if telephones fail.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT TAPE ONE 10:34:04]
[IN Q=All 138]
((MICHAEL CLINE/VIRGINIA EMERGENCY SERVICES: ALL 138 OR SO OF THE COUNTIES AND CITIES WILL HAVE A RADIO OPERATOR AVAILABLE TO THEM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AT LEAST RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM BETWEEN THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Cline/Virginia Emergency Services; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=local government.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

They showed off the temporary Y-2-K command center for this weekend.
Then they warned citizens against overreaction.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT TAPE ONE 10:39:39 ]
[IN Q=We want]
((BETTE DILLEHAY/VIRGINIA Y2K OFFICE: WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE THAT BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IN ITSELF IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. AND WE COULD IN FACT CREATE SITUATIONS IF WE HAVE AN OVERREACTION TO THE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Bette Dillehay/Virginia Y2K Office;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=the situation.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Virginia State Police say more law enforcement officers will be on duty this weekend than any other time in state history.

[7-Hotline]

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

Virginia residents have a toll free phone resource available in case of any emergencies. Its called Y2K Citizen Information Line.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE PHONE NUMBER FULL SCREEN]
The number is 1-888-200-0258. [TAKE WDBJ WEB ADDRESS FULL]
You can find it and a link to the state's Century Date Change Initiative Project office in the Web Watch section of our homepage at WDBJ7-dot-COM.
(-------------)

[7-Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=nkr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A man was killed and a woman injured in a head-on collision in Henry County yesterday afternoon.
Robert Toney Wimbish the third of Patrick Springs was driving west on route 57-A around four-30.
The 22-year-old veered into the east-bound lane and hit a truck head on.
The driver of the truck... 42 year old Anna Watts.... was taken to the hospital.
State police believe Wimbish fell asleep at the wheel. He was on his way home from work.

[7-E-Burcham]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:17:14]
[GRAPHIC=Burcham]

The Star City will ring in the new year with a new city manager.
Yesterday, Darlene Burcham took the oath of office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Burcham was sworn in by circuit court judge Diane Strickland, as family members and city officials looked on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:36]
[IN Q=I think Roanoke has had]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: I THINK ROANOKE HAS HAD A WONDERFUL HISTORY. I THINK IT HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE, AND I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL AND THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THAT FUTURE EVEN BETTER AND BRIGHTER.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=better and brighter.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Burcham will officially take office at 12:01 A-M on New Year's Day, and she plans to be on the job with other city employees monitoring potential Y2K problems.

[7Weather]

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

Here's a look at your mid week forecast.
Expect a mostly sunny day with winds reaching 10 to 20 miles per hour.
Highs in the lower 40s.
Tonight, mostly clear and windy with lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/40-45/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-15/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-New-Years]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-59]
[GRAPHIC=New Years]

With just a few days until the year 2-thousand you may still be looking for a place to celebrate.
Kate Weidaw has a few suggestions.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Hotel Roanoke]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Duckworth/Organzier;:17]
[SUPER=01-Kathy George/Wyndham General Manager;:54]
[SUPER=01-Rob Callahan/First Street Owner;1:17]
[SUPER=@Kate1;1:30]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=be shared by all.]

((The Hotel Roanoke may be offering one of the more expensive New Year's Eve parties but organizers promise it will be the best one in town. For 275 dollars per couple you get a night full of entertainment by four bands.
[SOT 4:24;13]
[INQ=]
((LAURA DUCKWORTH/ORGANIZER: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOOD EVERYWHERE THE ENTIRE HOTEL IS OURS WE ARE GIVING A COMMEMORATIVE GIFT CHAMPAGNE TOAST, FAVORS, SIX DRINKS TICKETS PER PERSON, WE JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE IT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 17]
And with 13-hundred people already expected and only 100 tickets left it promises to be a gala of great proportions. Across town at the Wyndham Marriot the party may not be as large but they promise it will be just as grand. With six different party packages, including a swing band, organizers say it's affordable for anyone.

[SOT 3:56:54]
[INQ=]
((KATHY GEORGE/GENERAL MANAGER: THERE IS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FROM $18.95 FOR DINNER ALL THE WAY UP TO $550 DOLLARS FOR THE GRAND PACKAGE THAT HAS DON PERIGNON IN THE GUEST ROOMS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

If it's an intimate dinner instead of a party you're looking for - try First Street in the Market. The restaurant will only seat 30 people at a cost of 75 dollars per person.
[SOT 4:44;47]
[INQ=]
((ROB CALLAHAN/FIRST STREET OWNER: WE'RE GOING TO DO A SIX COURSE DINNER WITH WINES PAIRED WITH EACH COURSE WITH A TRIO BLUES, JAZZ PLAYING MUSIC OF COURSE ALL THE PARTY FAVORS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]
And to top off the night a 6 liter bottle of champaign will be shared by all.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: AND IF YOU'RE WNATING TO INCLUDE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE NEW YEARS EVE FESTIVITIES LOOK NO FURTHER THEN FIRST NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN ROANOKE IT'S INEXPENSIVE AND PROMISES TO BE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7 ROANOKE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=11]
))

[45-E-Gordon]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-46 53:44]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]

In Roanoke County the year 2-thousand will bring a change of leadership in the school system.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Deanna Gordon is retiring after almost 40 years with the school system... and the last five and half as superintendent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:54:11]
[IN Q=Things do change very rapidly]
((DEANNA GORDON/ROANOKE CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: THINGS DO CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY AND CERTAINLY NONE OF US CAN ANTICIPATE WHAT CHALLENGES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AS WHOLE WILL FACE, BUT I KNOW IT'S IN GOOD HANDS. IT'S GOT A WONDERFUL STAFF AND DR. WEBER IS GOING TO BE A GREAT NEW LEADER.))
[SUPER=01-Deanna Gordon/Roanoke Co. Superintendent]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=great new leader.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Gordon began her career as a seventh grade teacher. Retirement will allow her to return to the classroom on occasion, and she says she's looking forward to working with local organizations such as the United Way.

[45Weather]

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

Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast...
Turning mostly sunny and still breezy today with highs in the low to mid 40s.
Mostly clear tonight and not as windy, with lows around 30.
The five day forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies tomorrow...with some rain showers possible on New Year's Eve.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/40-45/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-15/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-E-State-Y2K]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:58:00]
[GRAPHIC=Battling the Bug]

Virginia officials say the state is ready to handle whatever Y2K brings.
But disaster officials still ask that citizens "act reasonably" on New Year's Eve.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

But that doesn't mean they're NOT planning for the worst.
It's the first time the state's planned to use ham radio operators to coordinate a statewide emergency response if telephones fail.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT TAPE ONE 10:34:04]
[IN Q=All 138]
((MICHAEL CLINE/VIRGINIA EMERGENCY SERVICES: ALL 138 OR SO OF THE COUNTIES AND CITIES WILL HAVE A RADIO OPERATOR AVAILABLE TO THEM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AT LEAST RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM BETWEEN THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Cline/Virginia Emergency Services; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=local government.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

They showed off the temporary Y2K command center for this weekend.
Then they warned citizens against overreaction.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT TAPE ONE 10:39:39 ]
[IN Q=We want]
((BETTE DILLEHAY/VIRGINIA Y2K OFFICE: WE WANT TO DISCOURAGE THAT BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IN ITSELF IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY. AND WE COULD IN FACT CREATE SITUATIONS IF WE HAVE AN OVERREACTION TO THE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Bette Dillehay/Virginia Y2K Office;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=the situation.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Virginia State Police say more law enforcement officers will be on duty this weekend than any other time in state history.

[8-Hotline]

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

Just in case there are new years problems, there's a toll free Y2K Citizen Information Line available to Virginia residents.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE PHONE NUMBER FULL SCREEN]
The number is 1-888-200-0258. [TAKE WDBJ WEB ADDRESS FULL]
You can find it and a link to the state's Century Date Change Initiative Project office in the Web Watch section of our homepage at WDBJ7-dot-COM.
(-------------)

[8-E-Burcham]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-45 1:17:14]
[GRAPHIC=Burcham]

The city of Roanoke has already stepped into its 21st century leadership.
Yesterday, Darlene Burcham took the city manager's oath of office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Burcham was sworn in by circuit court judge Diane Strickland, as family members and city officials looked on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:36]
[IN Q=I think Roanoke has had]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: I THINK ROANOKE HAS HAD A WONDERFUL HISTORY. I THINK IT HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE, AND I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL AND THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THAT FUTURE EVEN BETTER AND BRIGHTER.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=better and brighter.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Burcham will officially take office at 12:01 A-M on New Year's Day, and she plans to be on the job with other city employees monitoring potential Y2K problems.

[8-E-Black-Cemetery]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:51:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

For some of Lynchburg's most prominent black residents, it is a final resting place.
But over the years, the White Rock Cemetery has been in disrepair.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Now a local group hopes to change all that.
Laura Munson has spent the past year clearing brush and restoring broken headstones in the seven- acre cemetery.
She says her work is part landscaping and part archaeology.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:05:40]
[IN Q=Just the most]
((LAURA MUNSON/CEMETERY RESTORATION DIRECTOR: JUST THE MOST SPIRITUAL FEELING BEING OUT HERE AND KNOWING THAT THESE PEOPLE HAD WONDERFUL LIVES AND CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THE CITY AND WE JUST WANT THEM TO BE KNOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Munson/Cemetery Restoration Director]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=to be known.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Efforts are underway to identify and collect information on those buried at White Rock.
Those profiles would be linked with Lynchburg's black history museum which is scheduled to open next year.
(------------)

[8Weather]

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

Let's take one more look at today's weather forecast...
Skies will turn mostly sunny today, with warmer westerly winds.
Highs in the low to mid 40s.
Tonight looks mostly clear with lows around 30.
The five day forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies tomorrow...with some rain showers possible on New Year's Eve.
Highs will be warmer, in the mid 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Turning Mostly Sunny/Winds W 10-20/40-45/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-15/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]