WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/03/00

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

The state's highest court agrees with Governor Gilmore on one issue and sides with Botetourt County rather than Co
ca Cola Bottling.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Also coming right up on NEWS 7: it's not your standard racing oval- -but it's acres of challenging terrain, different elevations and sharp turns... about to re-open after decades of disuse.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, Northside and Gretna are all set for their Region III championship tilt, Roanoke's softball team is rated in the top 20 preseason
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Dale Earnhardt broke the track qualifying record at Vegas only to watch that guy, Ricky Rudd break it again.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

A bit cool Saturday with hit or miss showers. Sunday looks pleasant indeed. I'll have details in a moment.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Governor prevails on appeal in the Hugh Finn case.
The same justices also take a stand on taxing vending machines.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Finn]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-04 31:33]
[GRAPHIC=Va Supreme Court]

Virginia's Supreme Court says Governor Jim Gilmore can't be sued by the widow of Hugh Finn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The court ruled in 1998 that the Governor had NO right to block Michele Finn from removing her comatose husband's artificial life support.
But today, the high court ruled that the Governor does NOT owe Mrs. Finn more than 13-thousand dollars in legal fees she spent fighting him.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Today;]

Gilmore says he's still glad he attempted to intervene at the "11th hour."
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:30:51]
[IN Q=It was a]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: IT WAS A HUMAN SITUATION. THE MOTHER, THE FATHER, THE BROTHERS, EVEN THE RELATIVES OF MICHELE FINN WERE ALL TELLING ME THE SITUATION WAS VERY UNCLEAR.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=very unclear.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mrs. Finn's biggest defender in the legislature says he understands the court's decision that the Governor's immune from lawsuit.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:01:49]
[IN Q=But it still]
((SEN. DICK SASLAW/D-SPRINGFIELD: BUT IT STILL DOESN'T NEGATE THE FACT THAT THE STATE OWES THIS WOMAN MONEY FOR PUTTING HER THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER HIS INTENTIONS WERE GOOD OR NOT, HE PUT THAT WOMAN THROUGH HELL.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Dick Saslaw/(D) Springfield;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=through hell.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last year, the legislature approved 48-thousand dollars in state money to pay Mrs. Finn's legal bills.
But that money is now tied up in another lawsuit.
(------------)

[Coca-Cola]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The Court also today settled the tax fight between Botetourt County and Roanoke's Coca Cola Bottling plant.
Coke said it shouldn't have to pay personal property taxes on vending machines, declaring them mini-assembly plants- -a part of the manufacturing process- -not subject to local property taxes.
Virginia's highest court today agreed with Botetourt County Judge George Honts, declaring that the machines are not used in manufacturing but merely in selling the finished product.
Botetourt- -and now presumably other localities- -stand to collect tens of thousand of dollars in back taxes fro

m Coca Cola Bottling.[Waterworks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-03 46:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The state might snatch a Smith Mountain Lake man's business and fine him 24-thousand-dollars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Robert Winney owns Waterworks -- a utility company serving four lake subdivisions. [tape 99-42 TC 6:05]
[SUPER=03-September 1999;]
The State Corporation Commission says Winney will not repair leaks, lets the tanks run dry, and overcharges customers.
He also refused to pay his electric bills, risking the entire system being shut down. Winney says he could serve his customers if the S-C-C would let him raise his rates. The S-C-C has NOT ruled yet but has proposed charging Winney 24-thousand-dollars and appointing a new owner for Waterworks.
(------------)

[Bomb-Threats]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-09 3:48]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threats Charges]

A 15- year- old boy is facing three felony charges after he allegedly phone in bomb threats to two Lynchburg schools this morning.
Classes were delayed for more than an hour at Dunbar Middle School and E.C. Glass High School while authorities searched the buildings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

This brings to six the number of bomb threats in Lynchburg in just over two weeks.
While no explosives have ever been found, educators say they'll continue to evacuate the buildings and take every precaution.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:24:37]
[IN Q=Unfortunately there]
((JAMES MCCORMICK/LYNCHBURG SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO WAY TO BE SURE. THERE'S NOT A WAY TO BE SURE AT ALL.. THE ONE THING YOU CAN BE SURE OF THOUGH IS SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND YOU WORK IN THAT DIRECTION.))
[SUPER=01-James McCormick/Lynchburg School Superintendent; :00]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=in that direction.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Two juvenile girls were arrested for a bomb threat to Heritage High School last week.
Two other bomb threats remain unsolved.
(------------)

[Regional-Jail]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-51 1:35:25]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Those who DO get caught committing a crime in Lynchburg will soon have a new place to call home.
Construction on central Virginia's new regional jail is nearly complete.. Steve Smallshaw takes us inside for a tour.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It may not]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Webb/Jail Administrator; :24]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]

(( It may not look like a jail on the outside, but inside there's no mistaking it..
Two years and 29 million dollars worth of labor have built a 170- thousand square foot, state- of- the- art regional jail designed to house more than 400 prisoners.
From computerized doors to lights that require a key to turn on, no detail has been overlooked.
[SOT 13:21:40]
((CHRIS WEBB/BLUE RIDGE REGIONAL JAIL ADMINISTRATOR: WE TRIED NOT TO PUT ANY OF THE FRILLS IN OTHER THAN WHAT WAS CALLED FOR BY THE MINIMUM STANDARDS.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=minimum standards.]

Indeed, you'd be hard- pressed to find any amenities in here.. the medium and maximum security cells feature just a bunk, a toilet and a sink.. that's it.
A thin window lets in some outside light... but even getting some fresh air means staying indoors.. the recreation areas are surrounded by cement and wire.
Still, the new jail is a vast improvement over the existing facility.
[SOT 14:22:20]
((WEBB: MORE ROOM IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND YEAH, IT'S NEWER, CLEANER, BUT I THINK AS PEOPLE LOOK AROUND AND SEE, IT'S STILL A LOT OF CONCRETE AND A LOT OF STEEL.. IT'S PRETTY STARK AND NOT AN ENVIRONMENT THAT I'D CHOOSE.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=that I'd choose.]
[Standup 14:41:25] ((If you ever wondered what it would be like to be locked up inside a jail cell and you don't want to go the bank robbery or car theft route.. members of the general public will have an opportunity next month to spend the night in jail.))

[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=(door closes)]

On April 7th, the local Crimestoppers program will host a fundraiser.. for a hundred bucks you can stay overnight in a jail cell while being treated to free meals, movies and entertainment... and still keep your record clean.

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))[Raceway-reopens]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-06 7:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]

After more than two decades the Virginia International Raceway will reopen. Construction is in full swing and is set to open in just a few weeks... with a grand re-opening scheduled in June.
Surae Chinn tells us how the race track has stood the test of time.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You could say]
[SUPER=01-Harvey Siegel/Owner and Creator; :12]
[SUPER=@Surae1; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Marcia Harris/Danville Chamber of Commerce; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:59]
[OUT Q=News 7.]

(( You could say it was Harvey Siegel's dream playground. A race car driver for 25 years, he wanted to reopen the Virginia International Raceway.
[SOT=1:48:44]
((HARVEY SIEGEL/OWNER AND CREATOR: I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING SO SPECIAL IT WAS WORTHY OF A FULLSCALE DEVELOPMENT.)) [RUN06]
Currently, the race course is under construction. But in a few weeks drivers will be going a lot faster on this straightaway.
(natsot of nascar racing)

It's not your traditional nascar oval track, but acres of challenging terrain, different elevations and sharp turns.
[SOT 1:47:54]
((I THINK IT'S REDEFINING WHAT A RACE COURSE IS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT MORE. IT HAS A PERSONALITY IT'S SOME PLACE VERY SPECIAL.)) [RUN:10]
Before the track fell on hard times in 1974 and closed up, this was a hot spot in Danville's backyard.
[SOT=1:50:52]
[RUN=:10]
[SOT=1:57:55]
((STANDUP: BACK IN 1957 THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES...OAK TREE TURN AND IN A FEW WEEKS SPECTATORS WILL WATCH MOTORCYCLE, SPORTS CAR AND VINTAGE CAR RACING.)) [RUN10]
Many hope the racetrack will not only bring much excitement but economic growth.
[SOT= 1:43:03]
((IT WILL BRING OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH THE RACING INDUSTRY. PEOPLE WILL BUY A SECOND HOME OR BUSINESS..ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AREA.)) And for Siegel it will be a chance to recapture the races of long ago.
[SOT=1:50:52]
((IT WAS GOOD TIMES MANY YEARS AGO...GOOD MEMORIES FOR EVERYBODY WHO WAS HERE BEFORE.)) [RUN10]
All this to make a visit to the speedway more permanent than a pit stop. Surae Chinn, News 7.))[Raceway-reopens]

All this to make a visit to the speedway more permanent than a pit stop. Surae Chinn, News 7.))[Injectibles]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-59 43:34]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A maker of medical vaccines in Bland County has won a 284-thousand dollar judgment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bastian/File Tape]

In 1998 a refrigeration unit at General Injectables and Vaccines shut down, destroying a large supply of vaccine that required sub-zero storage.
The company filed a claim with St. Paul Insurance which refused to pay, citing previous failures of the refrigeration unit that created a high risk of repeated failure.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[ss=HOLD]

In a strongly worded opinion today, federal judge Sam Wilson bluntly states: "Insurance is about risk taking." The judge reviewed what he called "an astonishing array of policy exclusions," rejecting each one. "In summary," Judge Wilson, writes: "the court wonders what events would have been covered under the policy" by St. Paul's interpretation.[

Body-Piercing]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-60 1:18:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

You can't get a tattoo without Mom or Dad or a doctor or nurse being there.
But feel free to get a body piercing if you're under 18.
For now.
A bill is zipping through the General Assembly that would change that.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Why don't you]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Bromberek/15 Year Old; :21]
[SUPER=01-Ashley Hutchens/17 Year Old; :35 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Crooks/Parent; :40]
[SUPER=01-Erica Barnes/Body-Piercer; :53]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Lindsey French/15 Year Old; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]

(([SOT BODY PIERCING 13:13:43]
((why don't you take a nice deep breath in from your nose and out from your mouth. good.)) [RUNS:05 ]
Chandler Barnes got his first piercing at age 16.
He was a trendsetter.
[SOT BODY PIERCING 13:11:02 ]
((CHANDLER BARNES/23 YEARS OLD: I REMEMBER GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND EVERYBODY'S GOING LIKE OH MY GOD, YOU'VE PIERCED YOUR NIPPLE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? AND NOW, EVERYBODY'S DOING IT, SO.)) [RUNS:08 ]
[SOT 08:36:51 ]
((ELIZABETH BROMBEREK/15 YEAR-OLD: I MEAN, I THINK IT LOOKS NICE. I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY CUTE AND SEXY AND YOU KNOW. I THINK IT'S VERY LADY-LIKE AND MAN-LIKE.)) [RUNS:07]
But would her parents approve?
[SOT 08:37:02]
((ELIZABETH BROMBEREK/15 YEAR-OLD: NO. BUT I WOULD DO IT ANYWAY.)) [RUNS:03]

[SOT 08:42:02 ]
((ASHLEY HUTCHENS/17 YEAR-OLD: I WENT WITH MY MOM. SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME.)) [RUNS:06]

[SOT 08:47:01 ]
((BONNIE CROOKS/PARENT: KIDS CAN GET CARRIED AWAY OR CAUGHT UP IN THE WRONG KIND OF THING. AND THEY'RE GONNA REGRET IT LATER. AND MAYBE AN ADULT BEING THERE MIGHT HELP.)) [RUNS:10]
At Richmond's Enigma Tattoo parlor, they're ahead of the legislative curve.
[SOT body piercing 12:58:35 ]
((ERICA BARNES/BODY-PIERCER: OUR POLICY IS THAT IF ANYBODY COMES UNDER THE AGE OF 18, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR PARENT. WE DON'T PIERCE ANYBODY WHO'S UNDER THE AGE OF 16.)) [RUNS:08]
That's stricter than the proposed law.
It would give NO minimum age.
But it could apply even kids who try to do home piercings on their friends.
[SOT 08:37:27]
((LINDSEY FRENCH/15 YEAR-OLD: IT'S OUR BODY, AND IT'S OUR LIKE DECISION. SO. NO I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE THERE. LIKE I'VE BEEN ARGUING WITH THEM LATELY TO GET MY BELLY BUTTON PIERCED. AND THEY WON'T LET ME.)) [RUNS:11]
If signed by the Governor, it would take effect July first.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-56 (1:37:42)]
[GRAPHIC=Las Vegas Logo]

The Winston Cars are still on the track, qualifying today in Las Vegas for Sunday's Carsdirect.com 400.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Las Vegas, NV/ESPN2; :]

Dale Earnhardt Junior was the second car on the track and he shattered the track record with a speed of 172 point 216 and that was good enough for the pole position at the time.
But Ricky Rudd later would turn the mile and a half oval at a speed of 172 point 563 setting a new track record and he sets on the pole position with several cars left to qualify.
(--------------)
[TALENT=STEVE]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD LOGO]

Defending Winston Cup champ Dale Jarrett turned in a speed of 171 point 141 for the fourth position.
Several cars have yet to qualify.

[S-RC]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-57 1:54:21]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA]

The Roanoke College men's basketball team is in Glassboro, New Jersey awaiting tomorrow night's NCAA Division III tournament second round game against 21 and 4 Rowan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Night; :00]

Roanoke beat Marymount 83-72 in overtime last night at the Bast Center.
Trailing 69-66 with nine seconds left in the game, Roanoke's Jason Strickland hit a three pointer to send the game into OT. Rowan is up next.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="first audio]
((PAGE MOIR/ROANOKE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH:))
[SUPER=01-Page Moir/Roanoke Men's Basketball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....survive and advance"]
(-----------)

[S-Softball]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-54 1:39:00]
[GRAPHIC=Softball]

Four years ago, the Roanoke College softball was a club sport. My have things changed. The lady Maroons come into this season ranked 18th in the country in USA Today and the American Fast Pitch Coaches Association poll.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

The Team left for Fayettville, North Carolina yesterday for the season's first road trip. The team played three games today and will play two to three more games tomorrow and that's the beginning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we]
[SUPER=01-Alan Bayse/Roanoke Softball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=....this way"]
(------------)

[S-Hoops]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-52 (1:40:27)]
[GRAPHIC=Northwest Region]

The G.W. of Danville boys and Girls teams will play for the Northwest Regional championship tomorrow night at Lynchburg College.
The Boys play Potomac and the girls play Garfield.
[GRAPHIC=Region IV]

In Group AA Region Four, Martinsville has a date with Gate City tomorrow night on its home court.
(--------------)
[VO NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Hawks vs Spartans; :]

The High flying Gretna Hawks will suit up tonight for the championship of Region Three against the Northside Vikings.
Both teams have already earned a spot in next weeks state tournament.
Tip off tonight at Northside is 7:30.
(---------------)

[S-Wrestling]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-62 (05:33)]
[GRAPHIC=Wrestling Logo]

Individual and Team titles are up for grabs as the Group A and Double A wrestling tournament kicked off at the Salem Civic Center this morning.
Roy Stanley has a preview.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="500 wrestlers...]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Group AA & A Wrestling; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Hall/Tournament Director; :15]
[SUPER=01-Travis Fiser/Grundy Head Coach; :48]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Dresser/Christiansburg Head Coach; 1:00]
[SUPER=@Roy1; 1:09]
[SUPER=01-Ron Loy/Parry McCluer Head Coach; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=........news 7 sports."]
((500 Wrestlers in the two divisions are competing for state titles this weekend. And officials say this years event could be more competitive than the three previous state tournaments held at the Salem Civic Center.)) ((LARRY HALL/TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR:)) ((The teams to beat in the Group Double A competition are Christiansburg and Grundy. The two split in matches prior to the state.
The Golden Wave of Grundy has 14 wrestlers in the competition while the Blue Demons have 13.)) ((TRAVIS FISER/GRUNDY HEAD COACH:)) ((KEVIN DRESSER/CHRISTIANSBURG HEAD COACH:)) ((ROY STANDUP:)) ((RON LOY/PARRY MCCLUER HEAD COACH:)) ((The Semi finals kick off Saturday at the Salem Civic Center. Roy Stanley News 7 sports.))
(-------------)

[Promo]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=VR7]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It might be the most important form you fill out all year -- the 2000 Census.
That's according to Census Officials who say you and your community have much to gain by participating.
[Double Boxes=Joy & Kate/Microwave]

Joy Sutton is working on that story tonight.
[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Keith,
Census workers started their nationwide door-to-door campaign today. They're dropping off forms -- and urging people to fill them out.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

The information gathered from the census is important for schools, roads, and even some day care programs.
Census Officials say children are often undercounted -- and they are the ones who can benefit the most.
(--------------)
[Live=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Tonight on News 7 at 11, we'll have more on the benefits of filling out the census form.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Joy/Microwave]

Keith,