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CNN Live At Daybreak

Many Virginia School Districts Taking No Chances

Aired October 22, 2002 - 05:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: With a sniper on the loose, many Virginia school districts are taking no chances and they will not open for classes this morning.
Our Kevin Sites spoke with some anxious parents in Ashland, where the latest sniper victim was gunned down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Normally sixth grader James Tuck would be in school right now, not doing flips on the backyard trampoline. But this is no ordinary Monday in Ashland, Virginia. Because of the recent shootings 200 schools in four area school districts closed. More than 150,000 kids stayed home.

Judy Tuck is happy to have her kids home and safe. She was worried there could be more violence.

JUDY TUCK: There's a possibility that, you know, he had hit so many times in one area that maybe Ashland was, you know, could be hit again, a second time.

SITES: Other parents believe the worst is over.

ANGIE MILLER: It's so unusual. You don't see this type of stuff. So I can't imagine a, you know, lengthening would strike twice type situation.

SITES: Angie Miller enjoyed the bonus day with her children, but not the way she got it -- an innocent man gunned down in her town.

MILLER: It was pretty scary, you know, the helicopters in the back yards and, yes, it was pretty scary.

SITES (on camera): For hundreds of schools around the area, the scene is the same -- darkened classrooms, empty playgrounds, empty school buses. So when will things get back to normal for the kids here? It may be a while. According to Hanover public school officials, until further notice, all outside activities will be suspended.

ALLAN FUNK, ASHLAND PARENT: I don't think keeping them out of school is going to do any good. Like I say, I think it's just going to create more fear.

SITES (voice-over): And fear is impacting more than just the schools here. Many businesses stayed closed today while others say they probably should have.

(on camera): On a Monday, how many customers do you usually have in here?

TYLER TILLMAN, ASHLAND COFFEE AND TEA: Usually about 30 or 40 customers.

SITES: How many are in there now?

TILLMAN: Right now? Two.

DYAN STANLEY-WHARTON, STERLING SUNSET SALON: Today specifically, we usually by this time of day have 20 to 25 tanners and we've done three to four today already.

SITES (voice-over): Ashland is literally split in two, east and west, by railroad tracks. In some ways, the recent violence here has roared through the heart of the city like a freight train. Those who live here are eager to put it past them and there are signs that may already be happening. While so many schools and shops were closed here today, Ponderosa reopened for business.

Kevin Sites, CNN, Ashland, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And stay with us, because coming up early in our next hour we're going to be joined by CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks. And we can hear what he has to say. He's the former instructor of federal agents. He has a lot to say about the search for the sniper. He'll be with us at the beginning of the six o'clock hour.

And in addition to our continuing coverage of the sniper case, cnn.com now has a special report on the D.C. area shootings -- Sniper Attacks: A Trail of Terror. And it includes some interactive maps, time lines, profiles of the victims and some tips for dealing with all the anxiety. Much more there. Just go to cnn.com/sniper.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 22, 2002 - 05:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: With a sniper on the loose, many Virginia school districts are taking no chances and they will not open for classes this morning.
Our Kevin Sites spoke with some anxious parents in Ashland, where the latest sniper victim was gunned down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Normally sixth grader James Tuck would be in school right now, not doing flips on the backyard trampoline. But this is no ordinary Monday in Ashland, Virginia. Because of the recent shootings 200 schools in four area school districts closed. More than 150,000 kids stayed home.

Judy Tuck is happy to have her kids home and safe. She was worried there could be more violence.

JUDY TUCK: There's a possibility that, you know, he had hit so many times in one area that maybe Ashland was, you know, could be hit again, a second time.

SITES: Other parents believe the worst is over.

ANGIE MILLER: It's so unusual. You don't see this type of stuff. So I can't imagine a, you know, lengthening would strike twice type situation.

SITES: Angie Miller enjoyed the bonus day with her children, but not the way she got it -- an innocent man gunned down in her town.

MILLER: It was pretty scary, you know, the helicopters in the back yards and, yes, it was pretty scary.

SITES (on camera): For hundreds of schools around the area, the scene is the same -- darkened classrooms, empty playgrounds, empty school buses. So when will things get back to normal for the kids here? It may be a while. According to Hanover public school officials, until further notice, all outside activities will be suspended.

ALLAN FUNK, ASHLAND PARENT: I don't think keeping them out of school is going to do any good. Like I say, I think it's just going to create more fear.

SITES (voice-over): And fear is impacting more than just the schools here. Many businesses stayed closed today while others say they probably should have.

(on camera): On a Monday, how many customers do you usually have in here?

TYLER TILLMAN, ASHLAND COFFEE AND TEA: Usually about 30 or 40 customers.

SITES: How many are in there now?

TILLMAN: Right now? Two.

DYAN STANLEY-WHARTON, STERLING SUNSET SALON: Today specifically, we usually by this time of day have 20 to 25 tanners and we've done three to four today already.

SITES (voice-over): Ashland is literally split in two, east and west, by railroad tracks. In some ways, the recent violence here has roared through the heart of the city like a freight train. Those who live here are eager to put it past them and there are signs that may already be happening. While so many schools and shops were closed here today, Ponderosa reopened for business.

Kevin Sites, CNN, Ashland, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And stay with us, because coming up early in our next hour we're going to be joined by CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks. And we can hear what he has to say. He's the former instructor of federal agents. He has a lot to say about the search for the sniper. He'll be with us at the beginning of the six o'clock hour.

And in addition to our continuing coverage of the sniper case, cnn.com now has a special report on the D.C. area shootings -- Sniper Attacks: A Trail of Terror. And it includes some interactive maps, time lines, profiles of the victims and some tips for dealing with all the anxiety. Much more there. Just go to cnn.com/sniper.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com