WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/21/00

[7-School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

This week's winter weather is still causing problems for some schools.
Here's the list we have this morning.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS]
Christian Heritage Academy is delayed one hour ... and closing at one PM.
Craig County Schools are closed today.
In Franklin County, classes are delayed two hours, with no early dismissal.
The Minnick Education center in Radford is opening one hour late.
The Pulaski County schools have a one-hour delay.
(XXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO WEBPAGE FULL SCREEN]
Remember, you can always find an up-to-the minute list on our webpage at W-D-B-J-7- dot- com.
(-------------)

[7-Budget-React]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC26:33]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Governor Jim Gilmore's final two-year budget is encountering some skeptical reaction from lawmakers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

It includes three and six percent budget cuts to state agencies, as well as 600 million dollars in borrowed money for building projects.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well we're not]
[sot tape TWO 10:23:59]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: WELL, WE'RE NOT IN GOOD TIMES. WE'RE IN DIFFICULT TIMES RIGHT NOW. IT'S AGAIN CREATED BY NATIONAL POLICY, NOT BY ANYTHING WE'RE DOING IN THE STATE.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; ]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=the state.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But Gilmore keeps the NO car tax on track.
The budget assumes the General Assembly will agree.
Before lawmakers even vote in the early spring, many localities will have already sent out bills with 70-percent of the tax phased out.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When this]
[sot tape two 11:05:10]
((SEN. DICK SASLAW/D-SPRINGFIELD: WHEN THIS THING'S AT 100 PERCENT, IT'S 1-POINT-2 BILLION. WHERE ARE WE GONNA FIND THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS? YOU'LL BE GONE.))
[sot tape TWO 11:20:32]
((TRUMBO: IF THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE ON THAT LIMB AND ASSUME WE'RE GONNA PASS IT. THAT'S HIS DECISION. NOT OURS.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Dick Saslaw/(D) Springfield; :00]
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :09]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=not ours.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

One of the building projects bond money would pay for in the Governor's budget: a 15 million dollar new Natural History Museum in Martinsville.
(------------)

[7-Drake]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC1:43:59]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Henry County Company is expanding, bringing more jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]

Drake Extrusion makes the fiber for trunk lining in automobiles.
Its competitors withdrew from manufacturing, so Drake Extrusion decided now is the time to expand.
The company plans to hire seven new employees, and expand its facility in Martinsville.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you think of]
((GEOFF SCHOFIELD: IF YOU THINK OF COTTON OR WOOL, IT'S WHAT POLYPROPYLENE STAPLE IS MAKE TO PERFORM LIKE. IT'S A MAN-MADE FIBER THAT'S CUT INTO THREE TO FIVE INCH PIECES THEN PROCESSED BY OUR CUSTOMERS.))
[SUPER=01-Geoff Schofield/Drake Extrusion]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=by our customers.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

New hires will make in excess of eleven dollars an hour.
Drake currently employees 210 people in Henry County.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Turning our attention now to weather--
Partly sunny with increasing clouds today and highs in the lower 30s.
Snow showers are only likely in West Virginia.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Increasing Clouds/30-35/Cloudy and/Cold/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

This week's winter weather is still causing problems for some schools.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS] Bath County Schools are closed today.
Christian Heritage Academy is delayed one hour ... and closing at one PM.
Craig County Schools are closed today.
In Franklin County, classes are delayed two hours, with no early dismissal.
The Minnick Education center in Radford is opening one hour late.
The Pulaski County schools have a one-hour delay.
(XXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO WEBPAGE FULL SCREEN]
Remember, you can always find an up-to-the minute list on our webpage at W-D-B-J-7- dot- com.
(-------------)

[45-Santa-Run]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC1:21:19]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]
Santa may prefer a sleigh on Christmas Eve ... but he's more than willing to use whatever transportation he can find.

Teresa Hamilton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Ho ho]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; ]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; ]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=th, news 7, Botetourt Co.]
(((//////sot//////)
[sot]
[in q=Ho ho]
((HO HO HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q= merry christmas.]
Santa traded in his sleigh and reindeer for a ride aboard a Troutville fire engine. With less than a week until Christmas-- Santa decided to enlist a little help from local fire fighters and rescue volunteers to make a few last minute rounds.
(////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[in q= HO HO]
((HO HO HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS)) [runs05]
[OUT Q= merry christmas.]
(////sot////)
[sot 00:15:35]
[IN Q= Had you]
((Had you been excited about him coming? OH, MY HOUSE, I WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN, I WAS SO EXCITED.)) [runs05]
[OUT Q= so excited.]
5 year old Meredith wasn't the only one excited by Santa's visit. Despite the cold there was no shortage of excited little ones as Old Saint Nick and his helpers made their way through several Botetourt County neighborhoods. The trip also gave Santa an opportunity to brush up on a few Christmas lists from his biggest fans.
((////sot/////))
[sot 00:11:21 ]
[IN Q= What did you]
((WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM? I WANT TRAIN STUFF.)) [runs05]
[out q= train stuff.]
(////sot//////)
[sot 00:13:02]
[in q=He's great]
((HE'S GREAT, I LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE COMES EVERY YEAR WITH PRESENTS AND I LIKE HIS FIRE DOG.)) [runs07]
[OUT Q= like his fire dog.]
Santa also made a house call to check in on seven year old Lauren Robertson... who suffers from cerebral palsy. This is the fifth year... Santa has made his annual trek through the Troutville/Daleville area.
((////SOT////))
[sot 00:21:35]
[in q= We just]
((WE JUST WANT ALL THE KIDS IN THE VALLEY, IN THE AREA, TO HAVE A VERY SAFE AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND FOR THEM TO KNOW WE'LL BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS TO VISIT THEM.)) [runs06]
[OUT Q= visit them.]
((//////sot//////))
[sot ]
[in q=]
((WAVE TO SANTA, BYE SANTA.))
[SOT]
((BYE, MERRY CHRISTMAS.)) But days from now... you can bet the red glow of the engine will be replaced by another red glow... that of Rudolph's nose. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Botetourt County.))

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Turning to the forecast--
Partly sunny today with clouds building by this afternoon.
Look for highs only in the lower 30s.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Increasing Clouds/30-35/Cloudy and/Cold/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

This week's snowfall is still on the ground, and still causing problems for a few school systems.
Here's the complete rundown.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS] Bath County schools are closed today.
Christian Heritage Academy is delayed one hour ... and closing at one PM.
Craig County Schools are closed today.
In Franklin County, classes are delayed two hours, with no early dismissal.
The Minnick Education center in Radford is opening one hour late.
The Pulaski County schools have a one-hour delay.
(XXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO WEBPAGE FULL SCREEN]
You can always find an up-to-the minute list on our webpage at W-D-B-J-7- dot- com.
(-------------)

[8-Gas-Bills]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kth]
[TAPE#=500-6 1:37:16]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Gas]

Roanoke Gas is taking some heat from customers who are upset over higher bills.
The company says it's because of cooler temperatures and higher gas rates.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Roanoke gas has been busy answering phones- Customers want to why the bills are so high.
One customer service rep took over 160 phone calls in one day- from people who want to know what's going on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=On average]
((ON AVERAGE WE ARE EXPECTING TYPICAL NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS TO SEE ABOUT A SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR HIGHER BILL FOR THEIR DECEMBER USAGE THAN DECEMBER LAST YEAR))
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/Roanoke Gas President;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=December last year.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And don't expect the bills to come down any time soon. Officials say if the temperatures keep dropping, the bills are surely to rise. That's because demand is up from past years.
(------------)

[8-SBA-loans]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you're looking to start up your own business, there is help.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Thanks to the chamber of Commerce and Total Action Against Poverty, entrepreneurs will now be able to borrow up to 75 thousand dollars.
A similar program helped Ellen Harvey get a loan.
Her business called Custom Food Worx is set to open on March first.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[tc:05:36:29]
[IN Q=They've bent over]
((ELLEN HARVEY/SMALL BUSINESS OWNER: THEY'VE BENT OVER BACKWARD TO ACCOMMODATE ME AND IT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING WE DID IN 30 DAYS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBABLY SINCE MARCH.))
[SUPER=01-Ellen Harvey/Small Business Owner]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=since March.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Small Business Development Center at the chamber helped Harvey design a business plan and get pre-approval for a loan.
Her new shop at Towers shopping center will feature made-to-order sandwiches, salads and wood-fired pizza.
(------------)

[8-Intermet]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Furloughs are coming to companies that make car parts, due to a decrease in demand.
Seventy workers at Intermet operations in the Lynchburg area will laid off this week because of the slowdown.
Furloughs in the automotive industry are typical in the week between Christmas and New Year's.

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Taking a break from the news to check the forecast--
Partly sunny today, with increasing clouds later on and highs of 30 to 35.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Increasing Clouds/30-35/Cloudy and/Cold/20-25;]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED) [SUPER=#555;RESET]