[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
Coming up on NEWS 7 at SIX:
More bad news from Tultex.
Virgil Goode's still playing party affiliation close to the vest- -we'll hear from him and the candidates in the race for US Senate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And a Railroad official holds out some hope for passenger service, IF the state were to pay more attention to improving track than asphalt.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, The Redskins talk about tomorrow's playoff game against Detroit.
A big weekend at the Roundhouse for the Roanoke Express.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Frank Beamer is the Paul "Bear" Bryant coach of the year.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
The weekend has a split personality. Sunny Saturday and a chance of rain Sunday.
[Tultex]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#99-52 TC33:47]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex]
Another brutal blow to Martinsville's economy.
And once again, it's a blow struck by Tultex:
Approximately 300 more layoffs.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]
Word came late this afternoon ... Scott Goldberg has details tonight from our newsroom.
[Live=Scott Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]
Keith ... we've been able to confirm that Tultex is going to lay off in the neighborhood of 300 people ---
The bankrupt apparel company will no longer produce fleece in Martinsville -- that means 100 percent of its manufacturing will now be done out of the country.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[super=03-Martinsville/File Tape;]
This is more devastating news for Martinsville's economy.
Last month, Tultex laid off 11-hundred workers when it filed for Chapter-11 bankruptcy protection.
These layoffs have made the city's unemployment rate skyrocket --- it's well above 15-percent now --- by far, the hig
hest number in the state.
The company will not say if this latest round of layoffs is part of the company's restructuring plan -- or why this is happening now.
Only that everyone who worked in fleece production is laid off, effective immediately.
(--------------)
[Live=Scott Full/Newsroom]
This comes one day after it was announced that the federal government approved 8-point-five million dollars in federal-trade act funds for other laid-off workers.
But any good news at Tultex these days is short-lived.
Tultex was the city's second-biggest employer.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]
Keith
[Lewis-Goode]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#99-49 TC50:10]
[GRAPHIC=Virgil Goode]
He's been straddling the political fence for months, but with Congress set to reconvene in a few weeks, the question is will Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode return to Washington as a Democrat?
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Lynchburg bureau]
Steve Smallshaw caught up with Goode in Farmville today to ask him just that.. Steve, what did Goode have to say?
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]
Keith, Virgil Goode still won't say what his plans are.. political expert Larry Sabato says it would be in Goode's best interests to bolt the Democrats and run for re- election as an Independent this year.. and wait to see what happens when Virginia's congressional districts are redrawn in 2001.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Farmville; ]
Goode appeared with Democratic congressman John Lewis of Georgia at a reception in Farmville today.
For months, he's promised to make an announcement after the first of the year.. New Year's has come and gone and Fifth District Democrats are still waiting.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:00:31//3:06:58]
((REP. VIRGIL GOODE/D- FIFTH DISTRICT: I'M NOT MAKING ANY COMMENT.. Reporter: If you were going to run as a Democrat, why not just say right now that you're running as a Democrat? ... RE- ELECTION IN 2000.))
((CARL EGGLESTON/FIFTH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: AT THIS POINT .. HE'S OUR CONGRESSMAN.))
[SUPER=01-Carl Eggleston/5th District Democratic Chairman;]
[RUNS=30]
[OUT Q=he's our Congressman.]
(-------------)
[Live=Steve Full/Lynchburg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]
Eggleston says if Goode does run as a Democrat, the nomination process.. as always.. will be opened up, and that he's heard there may be a few Democrats interested in taking Goode on.
[Double Boxes=Ellen and Steve/Lynchburg Bureau]
Many Democrats are still angry that Goode appeared at a fundraiser for Republican Senate hopeful George Allen last month.. Ellen Qualls talked with Allen's opponent Chuck Robb today to get his reaction..
[Robb]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#99-47 TC1:03:03]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[Double Boxes=Ellen and Steve/Lynchburg bureau and State Microwave]
(adlib)
[Live=Ellen Full/State microwave]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
Steve, some Republicans in the Fifth District are saying there is already a secret agreement between Goode and Republican George Allen for Goode to endorse Allen.
Some are saying he may just NOT endorse his fellow Democrat Chuck Robb-- a silence that would speak with the same volume that Democrat Doug Wilder's did against Democrat Don Beyer in 1997.
We caught up with Senator Robb today.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Obviously, I ]
[SUPER=@Robb; :00]
[SUPER=03-Hampton; :20]
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) U.S. Senate Candidate; :29]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/May 1994; :44]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=personal relationship.; DOUBLE OUT!!!!]
(([sot 12:16:21]
((SEN. CHUCK ROBB/D-VIRGINIA: OBVIOUSLY I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED, BUT AGAIN, HE'S A UNIQUE FORCE IN VIRGINIA POLITICS. AND I THINK PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLSE WILL TELL YOU THAT...PARTY OF HIS FATHER, WHICH HE FREQUENTLY CITES AS THE PRINCIPAL REASON FOR HIS STAYING ABOARD.))
[runs:20 ]
Robb's in campaign mode, touring NASA Langley's space shuttle labs with NASA's director... and dropping a quarter billion dollar budget promise.
But George Allen's the one smiling.
[SOT 17:51:58]
((ALLEN: VIRGIL KEEPS HIS OWN COUNSEL...GOODE'S SUPPORT.))
[RUNS:15]
Remember, Goode ran against a scandal-tainted Robb for the U-S Senate six years ago.
[SOT BETA 39:10]
((I'M SAYING VIRGIL GOODE...THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.))
[RUNS:10]
[sot 12:17:28]
((SEN. CHUCK ROBB/D-VIRGINIA: VIRGIL HEARS A VERY DISTINCT DRUMMER THAT HE FOLLOWS AND I RESPECT THAT. HE AND I HAVE A GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.))
[runs:10]))
[Live=Ellen Full/State microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
As we've mentioned before, Republicans could easily redistrict Virgil Goode right out of a seat in Congress, so playing both sides of the aisle isn't just a personality quirk right now-- it's political survival.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State microwave]
[Brzonkala]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-50 TC1:06:08]
[GRAPHIC=Christy Brzonkala]
We need laws on the books to prevent rape ... because the laws we have fail us.
Those are the words of Christy Brzonkala.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]
The former Virginia Tech student made a rare appearance in front of reporters today.
She said the Supreme Court should allow women to sue their attackers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:23:26]
[IN Q=my whole]
((CHRISTY BRZONKALA/FORMER TECH STUDENT: MY WHOLE TAKE IS, I SHOULD GO AS FAR AS I CAN GO SO I DON'T LOOK BACK IN 20 YEARS AND SAY I SHOULD'VE DONE SOMETHING ELSE. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Christy Brzonkala/Former Va. Tech Student;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=I'M HERE NOW]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=Supreme Court]
The Supreme Court holds a hearing on the Violence Against Women Act next Tuesday.
It's the law under which Brzonkala sued Virginia Tech and two Hokie football players ... saying she was raped ... and the university created a hostile environment for women.
[Bramblett]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-44 TC1:56:03]
[GRAPHIC=Earl Bramblett]
The jail-house snitch who helped put Earl Bramblett on death row has changed his tune.
Though Bramblett did talk to Tracy Turner when they were both being held in the Roanoke County jail, Turner now insists Bramblett never said he got caught with one of the Hodges girls and then choked the life out of her mother.
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/1997]
That was what Turner testified at trial Bramblett had told him. Prison officials approved NEWS 7's request for an interview with Turner, but Turner declined.
In a statement to Bramblett's new lawyers, Turner said: at the same time he was locked up with Bramblett, he was being repeatedly questioned by Special Agent Barry Keesee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He indicates]
((HE INDICATES THAT IN HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH BARRY KEESEE, HE WOULD FIND OUT BITS AND PIECES OF INFORMATION, ENOUGH THAT HE COULD CONSTRUCT WHAT HE THOUGHT THE COMMONWEALTH WANTED HIM TO SAY.))
[SUPER=01-Will Lindsey/Bramblett's Attorney]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=fairly significant.]
[* * * Keith on ENG * * *]
Though the prosecutor says Turner's testimony wasn't all that important, without it- -the case against Bramblett would have been entirely circumstantial.
Lindsey has new evidence challenging the link between a bullet found in the Hodges' house and one in Bramblett's truck.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Love to have]
((LOVE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RETRY THE CASE, KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW.))
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=we know now.]
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Bramblett was sentenced to die for killing the entire Hodges family in Vinton in 1994.
[Boty-Sheriff]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-41 TC1:56:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He's been the sheriff only a week -- but he's already demoted his rival and pulled his brother up through the ranks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
The new Botetourt County Sheriff, Ronnie Sprinkle, has NOT fired anyone.
But he did knock the man who ran against him, Ken Smith, down three ranks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:25]
[IN Q=Will it be]
((SGT. KEN SMITH: WILL IT BE ... VERY EASY FOR ME.
RONNIE SPRINKLE/BOTETOURT SHERIFF: THERE'S SO MANY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THOSE PEOPLE. I CHOSE TO KEEP EM AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I THINK IT CAN WORK.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Ken Smith/Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Office; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Sprinkle/Botetourt Co. Sheriff; :15]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=IT CAN WORK]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Sprinkle downgraded another major too, to make the department less top-heavy.
He promoted three people -- his new chief deputy, his chief jailor, and his brother Gary.
Sprinkle also moved his office downstairs near the entrance to be more accessible to people.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Southwest Virginia could solve two problems with two rails.
Find out how when News 7 at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And later-- a Roanoke teen health program could get a shot in the arm thanks to a national award.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib]
[Roll]
[Lake Level]
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]
[Passenger-train]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-45 TC1:36:55]
[GRAPHIC=Rail Service]
A Norfolk Southern official says Roanoke could get passenger trains, if the state would spend money on railroads instead of Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
About a hundred people packed into Roanoke's Transportation Museum to discuss passenger rail service in Southwest Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:24:15]
[IN Q=If we were]
((WILEY MITCHELL, JR/NORFOLK SOUTERN: IF WE WERE TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD THE MONEY THE STATE IS GOING TO SPEND IN ADDING LANES TO 81, WE COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE RAILROAD FROM KNOXVILLE TO HARRISBURG.))
[SUPER=01-Wiley Mitchell, Jr./Norfolk Southern;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=to Harrisburg]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
That way, Mitchell says, you take trucks off I-81, put them on trains, and get an extra track for Amtrak passenger service.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:32:51]
[IN Q=Right now]
((FRED ALTIZER/VDOT: RIGHT NOW OUR PLANS AT VDOT IS TO CONTINUE WITH THE PLANNING AND ENGINEERING WORK ALONG THE 81 CORRIDOR.))
[SUPER=01-Fred Altizer/VDOT;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=the 81 corridor]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers says he hopes passenger train service will be a topic in this year's General Assembly.
(------------)
[copy-Cat]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-56 TC21:44]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]
Copy Cat Graphics apparently couldn't reproduce the success of other printing and copying businesses.
The chain closed all its Virginia stores-- they were in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Ikon Office Solutions says the printing centers will be consolidated into Ikon's digital production plants in Richmond and Norfolk.
60 jobs were eliminated in Virginia.
Ikon is attempting to find other positions in the company for the laid-off employees.
Ikon's stock has dropped from 38-dollars a share in April, 1998, to a little over 7-dollars a share yesterday.
(-------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
After huge losses earlier in the week, the Dow Industrials finished the week in record territory.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/269.30/11522.56/x/155.49/3882.62;]
The DOW rose 269 today to close at 11-thousand-523.
NASDAQ gained 155 points-- its biggest one-day point gain ever.
[SUPER=431-h$/33c/h&/48&/i1#/48r/i$/58&/h1/31!;]
[SUPER=432-h1*/31f/u/3!/u/40%/hc/33r/ib/39c;]
[SUPER=433-h5c/151#/i@/18*/ic/20r/ia/17g/h%/23c;]
[SUPER=434-h@/16/ia/62#/h3#/31%/h1$/66%/h4&/68 f;]
[Teen-Health]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-46 TC1:12:07]
[GRAPHIC=Health Care]
A Roanoke teen health program is a finalist for one of the highest public health awards.
The winner of the Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award will receive 50-thousand dollars to continue efforts to treat medically under-served teens.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership won 20-thousand as a runner up last year.
Suzanne Barron is a nurse practitioner at the William Ruffner Middle School location.
She says having a clinic at school means more students get care.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 09:22:00]
[IN Q=Easy access]
((SUZANNE BARRON/PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER: EASY ACCESS FOR THE KIDS TO GET TO THE CLINIC, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE NOT MISSING TIME FROM THEIR BUSY WORK SCHEDULES TO TAKE THE KIDS TO APPOINTMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Suzanne Barron/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=to appointments]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
More than two thousand students visit one of the three free centers every year for violence prevention, family planning, sports physicals and basic overall primary health care.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Winners will be announced Monday.
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]
And coming up, Another coaching award for Tech coach Frank Beamer The Express opens a big weekend at the Roundhouse tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Washington Redskins talk about their playoff game tomorrow against the Detroit Lions.
(------------)
[S-Beamer]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-53 (1:13:04)]
[GRAPHIC=Frank Beamer]
Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer earned another coach of the year honor last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Houston, TX/Last Night; :]
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association named him the Paul "Bear" Bryant coach of the year.
Beamer led the Hokies to an 11 and 1 record, the loss coming in the Sugar Bowl to Florida State.
Tech finished number 2 in the final Associated Press Poll, it's highest final ranking ever.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/"Bear"Bryant Coach of The Year; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=.....individual accomplishment."]
(-----------)
[S-2000]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-49 11935TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FB]
The Virginia Tech Hokies finally have a chance to catch their breath after the greatest season in school history.
The players have now headed home to enjoy what's left of the school's winter break.
But head coach Frank Beamer already is looking ahead to next season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I think...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Va. Tech Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:39]
[OUT Q=....NEXT YEAR."]
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FB]
The Hokies lose 23 seniors, with the biggest hits coming of defense where at least 7 starters will be gone from the nation's top rated defensive unit.
[S-Skins]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6m]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-48 (1:45:40)]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins Logo]
The Washington Redskins have the home field and momentum heading into their N-F-L playoff game against the Detroit Lions.
But In the back of their minds, The Redskins also remember the 33 to 17 loss to the Lions just five weeks ago.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="As a whole]
[SUPER=01-Irving Fryar/Redskins Receiver; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brad Johnson/Redskins Quarterback; :14]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=.....whole thing."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]
Kick off is 4 oclock in Landover.
[S-Ice]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-46 tc 1:43:19]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Johnstown]
The Express' seven game win streak will be put to the test this weekend as Roanoke will entertain the home fans with three games at the Round House.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A strong defense and great goaltending has been the driving force behind the Express' recent success.
The players seem to know their roles and are playing up to their potential.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=guys feeling]
[SUPER=01-Mike Peron/Express Center; :00]
[super=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :18]
[RUNS=36]
[OUT Q=all set]
(---------------)
[S-Roanoke]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-54 tc1:07:03]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke College]
Another local team on a hot steak is Roanoke College's men's basketball team.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Wednesday;]
The Maroons have won nine straight since losing their season opener on November 19th.
Their nine and one record is even more sweet after last season's 12 and 13 outcome.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=it started]
[SUPER=01-Page Moir/Roanoke College Head Coach;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=since day one]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Roanoke is undefeated in the ODAC. The team's success is due in part to dedicated players, many of whom stayed in Salem this summer and played summer ball.
Coach Moir says a win against Washington and Lee tomorrow, would be the first time one of his teams has started conference play at five and oh.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=W&L's won]
(())
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=towards the top]
(------------)
[Promo]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Need a job? Want a better one? The numbers have never been more in your favor in the Roanoke region.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]
Jean Jadhon joins us with details.
[Live=Jean Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]
Keith,
The latest numbers are in. Even as Martinsville struggles with still more Tultex layoffs today, the Roanoke area has a record low unemployment rate of one-point-six percent.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Virginia Employment Commission says for those on the job hunt -- this is good news -- because many companies are hiring.
On top of that, new businesses are popping up everywhere.
(------------)
[Live=Jean Full/Newsroom]
Tonight on News 7 at 11, more on how the low unemployment rate is affecting businesses and job seekers in our area.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]
Keith,
by SS