[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
The Smart Road is open... not open to the public, but this asphalt laboratory is supposed to lead to great things. We'll have specifics on NEWS 7 at SIX.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
And both sides say in-fighting within the Reform Party of America could destroy it.
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, the March madness broadcast lineup, comments from Duke and Carolina.
Plus, Pulaski County finally gets a diamond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And 19 year old Jon Wood gives the Martinsville Speedway a workout before heading to Florida this afternoon.
(------------)
[open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=@patrick1;]
[RUNS=:20]
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Smart Road opens, kicking Virginia's transportation safety research into high gear.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Smart-Highway]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-57 1:25:05]
[GRAPHIC=Smart Highway]
Virginia's only "Smart Road" revved into gear today. This afternoon researchers got their first chance to demonstrate why the road is so "smart".
[Double Boxes=Keith & Marya/Microwave]
Marya Jones is on the road in Blacksburg.
[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
(rollcue... lead to Blacksburg. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This two-mile]
[SUPER=01-Ray Pethtel/Va. Tech. Transportation Inst.; :11]
[SUPER=01-Dan Brugh/VDOT Resident Engineer; :38]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=research capabilities here.]
(())
[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
(ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith & Marya/Microwave]
[Impostor]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Authorities are on the lookout for a man they believe is posing as police officer and pulling vehicles over.
The man stopped a woman yesterday afternoon on Route 29 in northern Nelson County.
He told her to get out of her vehicle and to bring her keys and purse.
When the woman said she was going to call 9-1-1 the man fled.
(+++++++)
[TAKE PINNACLE 1002]
Authorities describe the man as a white male with brown hair and a beard.
Approximately 35 year old and about 6 feet tall.
He was driving a white Crown Victoria or Chevy Caprice.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Authorities say to be on the safe side, leave your vehicle running if you are pulled over, keep the doors locked -- and only let the window down just enough to hand out information.
And if you feel uncomfortable stopping authorities say turn on your hazard lights continue at a normal rate of speed until you reach a well lit area.
Anyone who may have seen the suspect should call 9-1-1 or the Nelson County Sheriff's office.
[Rockbridge-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-01 1:19:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
They've identified the culprit in that fatal fire north of Lexington: It was the heating system.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Monday]
Debris had apparently built up in the duct work and caught fire.
Flames burned through the ducts and shot up out of the floor of the master bedroom as everyone in the house slept Sunday night. Seven- year old Kassidy Higgins and her 12-year old half sister, Rebecca Chittum, died in the fire. Funeral services for the two girls will be held tomorrow.
State Police Investigators determined that the oil furnace was replaced in 1993, but the duct work was not. The house was 40-to-50 years old.
(------------)
[Price]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Danville woman has been indicted for allegedly embezzling union funds.
Thirty- nine year old Virginia Ann Price was the financial secretary to Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Local 314-T in Danville.
The Grand Jury charges that Price wrote more than 2-thousand dollars worth of checks to herself and her two children between 1994 and 1997.
Today's 15- count indictment alleges Price also altered union records in an attempt to cover the theft.
[Reform-Party]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:40:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The battle for control of the Reform Party of America may actually end up destroying it.
That's the word from the two sides who have taken their case to a federal court.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=After two days]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pat Choate/Current Reform Party Chairman; :22]
[SUPER=01-Jack Gargan/Ousted Reform Party Chairman; 1:19]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( After two days of testimony, it's clear that the Reform
Party is itself in need of some reform.
Infighting between two factions of the party has been
going on for months.. each side suing the other over
various alleged slights and violations.
It culminated last month in Nashville, when new chairman
Jack Gargan and treasurer Ronn Young were voted out of
office.
[SOT 10:13:26]
((PAT CHOATE: JACK AND RONN WOULD NOT SUBMIT TO THE
AUTHORITY OF THE PARTY. THE CONSTITUTION IS VERY CLEAR,
AS OFFICERS THEY WORK FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=executive committee.]
But Gargan says that same committee was responsible
for calling what amounted to an illegal meeting in
Nashville.
He and his supporters claim the Perot faction of the
Reformers have systematically tried to replace anyone
who disagrees with them.
So it will be up to judge Norman K. Moon to interpret
the party's constitution and decide whether it's Gargan
or Pat Choate who's in control.
Choate says if he wins, it's on to victory in November.
[SOT 10:15:38]
((CHOATE: WE NEED TO HAVE THE PARTY TOGETHER. IF THE
DECISION THAT WE ASK FOR IS AFFIRMED, WE'LL HAVE 50 STATES
AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD
AGGRESSIVELY TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY AND WE CAN DO THAT.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=can do that.]
But that would have to be done without Gargan and his
supporters.
If they lose here in federal court, Gargan says there's
no going back to the Reform Party... and they may be
looking at a FOURTH party alternative.
[SOT 15:22:16]
((JACK GARGAN: WE WILL THEN HAVE TO DETERMINE OUR OPTIONS
ON WHETHER TO START A NEW PARTY OR GET INVOLVED IN THE
BETTER GOVERNMENT MOVEMENT IN SOME OTHER VENUE, OR JUST
RETIRE. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF RETIRING.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=of retiring.]
Both sides have wrapped up their cases.
Judge Moon will issue a ruling on Monday.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
The Atlanta Braves may take over their Danville farm team. The reason... still ahead on News 7 at 6.
(---------------)
[LIVE=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Carvins Cove;]
[RUNS=10]
(----------------)
[First-Wx]
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER
[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER STORY
TOMORROW FORECAST
[WEB ADDRESS]
[COMMERCIAL][Web-Address]
[Carvins-Cove]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-07 28:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's taken more than a year, and millions of gallons of water, but the boats are back on Carvins Cove.
Today, the level is only five and a half feet below the spillway, almost normal for this time of year.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Joe/Microwave]
Many of us may envy Joe Dashiell. He's spent the day at the cove and has more on the "rising tide".
[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Carvins Cove;]
(rollcue... conditions here are returning to normal.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=H.T. Goforth]
[SUPER=01-Rodney Brown/Boat Inspector; :20 Quick!]
[SUPER=01-Keith Journell/Fisherman; :41 Quick! ]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=boom or bust (pause) yep.]
[Live=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Carvins Cove;]
(ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith & Joe/Microwave]
[Gas-Giveaway]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse/ejo]
[TAPE#=00-03 1:12:12]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices]
Tired of high gas prices? How about 20 dollars worth ... for free.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
That was the offer this morning, and you can guess the result -- long lines at a gas station along 419 near Tanglewood.
J-93 F-M gave away twenty dollars of gasoline to 93 listeners. All they had to do was show up early and get in line.
One man even brought his lawnmowers, but he wasn't allowed to fill them up.
And in case you're wondering, J-93 tells us there are no immediate plans to do this again soon .. but didn't rule it out, either.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Up, up and away on Wall Street. After seven weeks, the Dow goes above 11-thousand again.
[TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/253.16/11119.86/x/75.86/4940.61/x/2.59/113.00;]
It rose 253 points. NASDAQ up 76. The Bloomberg-News 7 Local Index climbed three points.
[SUPER=431-h#/29f/hd/57e/h2g/54@/h1g/59c/ie/23@;]
[SUPER=432-hc/26@/ia/2c/hb/38@/h1e/37d/h$/37&;]
[SUPER=433-h8c/159f/i%/16c/i%/14b/i1f/40d/ha/19%;]
[SUPER=434-ie/15g/h2!/60r/h@/33f/h2!/67@/i1b/54;][Danville-Braves]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=99-58 1:27:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Baseball fans in Danville are waiting for word that their Braves will play again this season.
The team didn't pay some important bills last year ... and now the Atlanta Braves are involved in efforts to keep the team alive.
Surae Chinn has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Danville;]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Spencer/Danville City Attorney; :20]
[SUPER=@Surae1; :38]
[SUPER=02-Andrew Goldstein/Danville Braves' Attorney; :52]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville.]
(nats of baseball :02)
The Danville Braves team played in this stadium rent-free for the past season. But that wasn't the original deal the city and the team agreed upon. According to court documents the team owes 40 thousand dollars in rent in addition to 50 cents for each paid admission.
The city wants its money.
[SOT 9:42]
((TIM SPENCER/DANVILLE CITY ATTORNEY: WE FILED SUIT CLAIMING THE CONTRACT IS IN BREACH SO THERE FORE WE ARE SEEKING TO TERMINATE THAT CONTRACT.))
[RUN=: 09]
According to court documents filed by the team's attorney, the team admits failing to pay last year's stadium rent and other fees.
[SOT=1:10:40]
((SURAE CHINN/REPORTING: BUT HOW DID THAT BREACH IN CONTRACT HAPPEN? AND WHY WASN'T THE RENT MONEY PAID. WELL WE TOOK OUR QUESTIONS STRAIGHT TO THE TEAM'S ATTORNEY. WE TALKED TO HIM BY PHONE BUT BECAUSE OF THE PENDING CASE HE COULDN'T GIVE TOO MANY DETAILS.))
[SOT 1:06:14]
((ANDREW GOLDSTEIN/DANVILLE BRAVES ATTORNEY: THERE'S NO SPECIFIC BLAME. THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY AND I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO GO INTO IT.))
[RUN=]
(baseball nats) Both sides agree that fans will soon fill these seats and that the Danville Braves will play ball.
[SOT 10:06]
((TIM SPENCER/DANVILLE CITY ATTORNEY: IT IS THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF MY OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL THAT THERE WILL BE BASEBALL THIS SEASON IN DANVILLE.))
What ever the two sides pitch to each other, fans are hoping they won't strike out. Surae Chinn News 7 Danville.
(--------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on the Big 7, the Wood Brothers take their turn and turning left at Martinsville.
We'll have an update on injured George Lynch.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Pulaski County high school finally gets a diamond the school can call it's very own.
(------------)
[S-Madness]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=MEN'S FINAL FOUR]
The March Madness resumes in full force tonight right here on Your Hometown Station as play in the Sweet 16 begins in two of the four regions.
(----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 7511]
The broadcast schedule here on WDBJ-7 turns to hoops at 7:30 as we head to Auburn Hills, Michigan where the midwest region's top seeded Michigan State Spartans take on Syracuse. That game will be followed by the Iowa State-UCLA encounter and of course you will get bonus coverage from tonight's other two games.
(----------------)
[S-Duke]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-57 20440TC]
[GRAPHIC=MEN'S FINAL FOUR]
Tomorrow night the action begins in the East where the Duke Blue Devils take on Florida.
The team's heart and soul says Duke is still around not because of the players, but because of head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THERE IS NO...]
[SUPER=01-Shane Battier/Duke Junior Forward; :00]
((SHANE BATTIER/DUKE JUNIOR FORWARD: THERE IS NO GURANTEE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR WITH ALL THE CLOSE GAMES WE HAD WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A 21 GAME BALL CLUB THIS YEAR AND WHAT HE DID IS HE SHOWED US THAT FORGET ALL THE EXTERNAL THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US AND LETS FOCUS IN ON OURSELVES AND BY DOING THAT HE REALLY BROUGHT THE BEST OUT OF US AND SHOWED WHY HE'S A LEGEND IN THE COACHING RANKS.))
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...COACHING RANKS."]
(------------------)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE 7512]
[S-Heels]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-55 14230tc]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(--------------)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE 7512]
Then Friday, note that right after the Duke - Florida game in the East, we'll head out to Austin, Texas where Tennessee and North Carolina battle in the late game.
(-------------------)[S-Lynch]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Lynch]
George Lynch will miss the next 10 to 14 days after injuring his knee last night.
Lynch sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee against the Raptors when he collided with a teammate.
Doctors plan to do a an MRI on the knee tomorrow, once some of the swelling has gone away, to make sure it is just a sprain and not a tear.
Lynch had started all 66 games for the Sixers this year, averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds a contest.
[S-Cougars]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-52 (1:51:01)]
[GRAPHIC=HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL]
A new era of baseball will begin in Pulaski County this week when the Cougars debut their new baseball field.
Roy Stanley has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Historic Calfee....]
[SUPER=@Roy1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Perry Reese/Cougars Head Coach; :18]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.; :30]
[SUPER=01-Chris Qusenberry/Cougars Shortstop; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=......news 7 sports."]
((ROY STANLEY: HISTORIC CALFEE PARK IS NO LONGER THE HOME OF THE PULASKI COUNTY COUGARS. AFTER DECADES OF SHARING THE FIELD WITH THE TOWNS MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATE THE COUGARS HOW HAVE A NEW FIELD LOCATED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.))
((PERRY REESE/COUGARS HEAD COACH: PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OUT BOOSTERS PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HOURS PUT IN TOWARD
COMPLETING IT AND ITS GOING TO BE TOP NOTCH WHEN ITS ONCE COMPLETED.))
((The diamond is still a little rough around the edges but the new field is more than adequate for high school baseball.
It's 320 down the lines, 363 in the power alleys and 385 to dead center field.
And the field is located between the football field and the schools main campus.))
((PERRY REESE: THIS REALLY EXCELERATES OUR BASEBALL PROGRAM AS FAR AS THE KIDS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF EXPERIENCE PLAYERS SOME GOOD SENIORS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE YOUTH OF PULASKI COUNTY INTERESTED IN BASEBALL.))
((CHRIS QUESENBERRY/COUGARS SHORTSTOP: HAVING A HOME FIELD NOW IS MORE CONVIENT NOT TO TRAVEL SO FAR DON'T WASTE TIME FOR PRACTICE AND STUFF SO ITS A LOT BETTER.))
((But those memories of Calfee Park will always be a part of Pulaski County baseball.))
((REESE: THESE GUYS HAVE PLAYED AT CALFEE OF COURSE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN START A NEW TRADITION HERE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE IF YOU WILL.))
((The Cougars will open the park Friday against Bluefield. Roy Stanley News 7 sports.))
(---------------)
[S-Jon]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-64 429tc]
[GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE]
The Wood Brothers racing team gave the Martinsville Speedway a workout today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
Elliott Sadler, the driver of the Woods' Citgo Ford was thrilled with the progress the team made today running laps right around 20 seconds flat.
Sadler also is looking forward to getting back on the concrete at Bristol for qualifying tomorrow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I love Bristol...]
((ELLIOTT SADLER:))
[SUPER=01-Elliott Sadler/Citgo Ford Driver; :00]
[SUPER=03-Bristol, TN; 15]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=...CARS THIS YEAR."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
[SUPER=04-This Afternoon; :00]
Jon Wood, the 19 year old son, of Wood Brothers' car owner Eddie Wood also got in some testing at the track today. Jon is driving in the Hooters Pro Cup series this year after one year in the Late Model ranks. He finished second in his first race, and he returns to the track this Saturday night in St. Augustine, Florida.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I could not...]
((JON WOOD:))
[SUPER=01-Jon Wood/Hooters Pro Cup Rookie; :00]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=....from that."]
(---------------)
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-64/47/80/1994/21/1981;]
[SUPER=306-62/45/53/SE 6mph/30.23s/6:18am/6:35pm;]
[SUPER=83-Down 0.84 foot/Down 0.67 foot;]
[SUPER=84-Down 5.5 feet;]
[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#580;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=330-Partly/Cloudy/42-45/Becoming/Mostly Sunny/68-72;]
[SUPER=331-Mostly Clear/Areas of Fog/43-46/Mostly/Sunny/70-73;]
[SUPER=332-Mostly Clear/& Chilly/36-40/Mostly/Sunny/65-70;]
[SUPER=333-Partly/Cloudy/34-38/Mostly/Sunny/64-68;]
[SUPER=334-Mostly/Clear/34-38/Mostly/Sunny/64-67;]
[SUPER=X5001;][Close]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
(Weekday 6 only)
[SUPER=x4032; e-mail/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS]
SUPER=x4033; Fax/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
(Weekend 6 only)
SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS
SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS
[AM-6Promo]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6 Tonight]
17 hours to go.
Midnight tonight is the agreement deadline for US Airways and its flight attendants.
A lot of local travel plans depend on the outcome.
We'll bring you the latest information tonight on News 7 at 6.
by SS