WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/03/00

[7-11Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-02 1:22:02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

One person reportedly was killed in a fire last night in Floyd County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]

It happened last night at a home on Route 2-21 -- about one mile from the Roanoke County line.
When fire fighters arrived-- the home was engulfed in flames.
Floyd County dispatchers confirmed this morning that a body was found in the home, but are not releasing the identity.
(------------)

[7-11Convience-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A shooting at a Henry County convenience store sends a teenager to the hospital.
It happened at about one clock yesterday when the owner of B-G's Express on Route 58 and Carver Road was showing a 15 year old male a 9 millimeter gun.
Investigators say the owner pulled the trigger thinking the gun was NOT loaded and shot the teenager in the shoulder.
He was taken to Martinsville Memorial and later released.
The owner has been charged with reckless handling of a fire arm and shooting inside an occupied building.

[7-11Truck-Theft]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-07 40:43]
[GRAPHIC=none]

For the second time this week, a tractor trailer carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment is stolen from an area truck stop.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville]

And the drivers were eating dinner.
The first incident happened Monday, near Lexington.
The most recent theft occurred Friday in (Ray-feen) Raphine.
Both rigs were delivering merchandise from a Richmond depot owned by Menlo Logistics, a California distribution company.
The news has some truckers concerned.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:36:07]
[IN Q=It's happening in other places]
((RODNEY MILSTEAD/TRUCKER: IT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES BUT WHEN IT GET THIS CLOSE TO HOME IT'S KIND OF TOUCHY GIVE YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING MORE TO THINK ABOUT. ))
[OUT Q=think about]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:17]
[IN Q=This is the first time]
((BILL SHERIFF/TRUCKER: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING IT MAKES ME A LITTLE LEERY THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER AND GET AWAY WITH IT))
[SUPER=01-Rodney Milstead/Trucker]
[SUPER=01-Bill Sheriff/Trucker]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=with it]
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities believe the crimes are related.
Similar thefts have been reported in both California and Richmond.

[7-11Poplar-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-06 31:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest retreat has re-opened.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Crews have been putting the finishing touches on the 200 year old home that attracts more than 20- thousand visitors every year.
Because, the house is still being restored, many of those visitors are repeat customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:58:20]
[IN Q=It's a place]
((KARIN SHERBIN/POPLAR FOREST: IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO WATCH THE PROGRESS. SOME PEOPLE COMMENTED TO US THAT THEY DON'T WANT US TO EVER FINISH THE RESTORATION PROCESS BECAUSE THEY ENJOY SEEING THE CHANGES SO MUCH, AND SO THAT TO ME AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IS PART OF THE CHARM OF POPLAR FOREST, IS THAT IT IS EVER- CHANGING.))
[SUPER=01-Karin Sherbin/Poplar Forest]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=is ever-changing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sherbin says new attractions this year include refinished floors in the main house and a hands on history exhibit.
Poplar Forest is open daily from 10 to 4.
(------------)

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Here's a look at your Monday forecast.
Rain this morning with thunderstorms possible.
Highs in the upper 60s to 70.
Tonight, showers and thunderstorms with lows in the low 50s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Morning Rain/Possible Thunderstorm/65-70/Showers &/Thunderstorms/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-11Gas-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-01 1:31:07]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices]

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson predicts that gas prices could drop by as much as eleven cents a gallon by the end of September and another 18 cents by the end of the year.
But for now motorists are paying at the pump.
And so are some convenience store owners.

Joy Sutton explains.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Charlie]
[SUPER=03-Montvale;00]
[SUPER=01-Charlie Bailey/Convenience Store Owner;14]
[SUPER=@Joy1;1:45]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=n7 Montvale]
(( Charlie Bailey has been selling food and gas for seven years at his store Minit Saver in Montvale.
He says high gas prices -- are not just affecting his customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:55:44]
[IN Q=I pay for it]
((CHARLIE BAILEY/CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER: I PAY MORE FOR IT JUST LIKE THEY DO AND I RAISE MINE IF THEY PRICE OF GAS GOES UP AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH UNTIL I GET IT DELIVERED))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=it delivered]

And he says competing with larger gas stations hasn't made it any easier. Because larger stations purchase more gas-- they're able to buy it at a cheaper price.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT6:01:03]
[IN Q=It's really hard to]
((IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMPETE WITH THEM. THEY'LL DROP THEIR PRICES BEFORE I AM OUT OF GAS AND BEFORE I ORDER AGAIN. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DROP MY PRICE DOWN BELOW WHAT I PAID FOR IT. YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO LET IT SIT IN THE GROUND AND HOPE YOU CAN SELL IT))
[RUNS= 20]
[OUT Q=for it]

In fact, Bailey says these days gas is costing him twice as much-- and people aren't buying as much either.
And that's taking a toll on sales inside his store, as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:56:35]
[IN Q=If they were putting]
((CHARLIE BAILEY: IF THEY WERE TO PUT 10-DOLLARS OF GAS IN THEN THEY COME IN AND BUY OTHER ITEMS. BUT IF THEY GOT TO PUT 20 DOLLARS IN THAT'S LESS MONEY IN THEIR POCKET TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=other things]

He says his loyal customers are his saving grace-- but nevertheless business is down between 15 and 20 percent partly because of the gas price situation.
But he's still hopeful things will get better soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:02:48]
[IN Q=I think they'll]
((I THINK THEY'LL COME DOWN ABOUT 15 TO 20 CENTS. IT WILL NEVER GO BELOW A DOLLAR AGAIN))
[RUNS= 3]
[OUT Q=a dollar again]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:17:24]
[IN Q=And Bailey says]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTER: AND BAILEY SAYS AS GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP THAT'S NOT ONLY GOOD NEWS FOR MOTORIST BUT FOR HIS BUSINESS AS WELL))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=n7 montvale]))

[45-VT-Earthquake]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

It's been more than 100 years since a major earthquake has rocked the southeastern United States, Still two Virginia Tech researchers have established an earthquake engineering center. The researchers believe that if a large earthquake hit the region, the scene would look much like last summer in Turkey, when 18-thousand people were killed. That's because buildings in the region have similar designs.
Earthquakes have shook the Southeast in the past. One in Charleston, South Carolina in 1886 reached an estimated seven-point-three on the Richter scale and caused damage from Richmond to Atlanta.

[45Weather]

[8-11Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-02 1:22:02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

One person reportedly was killed in a fire last night in Floyd County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]

It started at a home last night on Route 2-21 -- about one mile from the Roanoke County line.
When fire fighters arrived-- the home was engulfed in flames.
Floyd County dispatchers confirmed this morning that a body was found in the home, but are not releasing the identity.
(------------)

[8-11Convience-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A teenager was taken to the hospital after being shot at a Henry County convenience store.
It happened at about one clock yesterday when the owner of B-G's Express on Route 58 and Carver Road was showing a 15 year old male a 9 millimeter gun.
Investigators say the owner pulled the trigger thinking the gun was NOT loaded and shot the teenager in the shoulder.
He was taken to Martinsville Memorial and later released.
The owner has been charged with reckless handling of a fire arm and shooting inside an occupied building.

[8-11Truck-Theft]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-07 40:43]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A tractor trailer carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment has been stolen from a Rockbridge County truck stop.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville]

And it's the second theft in a week.
The first incident happened Monday, near Lexington.
The most recent theft occurred Friday in (Ray-feen) Raphine.
Both rigs were delivering merchandise from a Richmond depot owned by Menlo Logistics, a California distribution company.
The news has some truckers concerned.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:36:07]
[IN Q=It's happening in other places]
((RODNEY MILSTEAD/TRUCKER: IT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES BUT WHEN IT GET THIS CLOSE TO HOME IT'S KIND OF TOUCHY GIVE YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING MORE TO THINK ABOUT. ))
[OUT Q=think about]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:17]
[IN Q=This is the first time]
((BILL SHERIFF/TRUCKER: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING IT MAKES ME A LITTLE LEERY THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER AND GET AWAY WITH IT))
[SUPER=01-Rodney Milstead/Trucker]
[SUPER=01-Bill Sheriff/Trucker]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=with it]
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities believe the crimes are related.
Similar thefts have been reported in both California and Richmond.

[8-11Shakespeare]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-03 1:23:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Auditions will be held today for the play "Merchant of Venice".
Nearly a dozen actors and actresses hoped to romance their way into a local production of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"yesterday.
(--------)
[sot]
((IF HE BE SLAIN SAY AYE, OR IF NOT NO, BRIEF SOUNDS DETERMINE MY WILL OR WOE.))
[runs=:06]
[OUT Q= or woe.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Auditions were held yesterday at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke-- with more than 20- parts up for grabs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((RAFE TELSCH: WE DO....ON SUNDAYS.))
[SUPER=01-Rafe Telsch/Director;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=on Sundays.]
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=none]

The second play is "Merchant of Venice" which will run in August.