WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/10/00

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

The Governor is looking for help defining Confederate History in a way that's acceptable to blacks AND whites.

Ellen Qualls has a LIVE report ready for us from Richmond on today's meetings with Governor Gilmore on the threatened tourism boycott.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the huge heads of American Presidents may not end up in Buena Vista- -but others like them may.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Washington and Lee cruises through its first round game in the N-C-A-A division three lacrosse playoffs Brand and Francis are the top rookies in the N-B-A.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And despite having the weekend off, The Winston Cup Drivers were busy testing this week at the Lowes Motor Speedway Mike Stevens will have a report.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Heading for a cooler day. But how long will it last? The answer coming up tonight in weather.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:09:21]
[IN Q=I don't]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S BACKING DOWN ANYWHERE TODAY...FORWARD FROM HERE.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=from here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A boycott is averted - for now.
And the Governor is asking for an earful on how to remember Confederate history.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Tourism-Boycott]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#00-06 TC1:18:40]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Six]

After almost an hour behind closed doors, Governor Jim Gilmore and the Virginia N-double-A-C-P came out in agreement.
The Governor will solicit public opinion.
The N-double-A-C-P will wait and see what happens.
[Double Boxes=Ellen and Keith/State Microwave]

Ellen Qualls is in our Richmond newsroom with the full story.
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Keith, the N-double-A-C-P went into this meeting saying NO more Confederate History Month-- or "direct action" would result.
That might mean marching on the Governor's mansion, or a national economic boycott of Virginia.
Yesterday, state director Salim Khalfani said he'd be happy with just a Civil War History Month.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The morning]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robert Barbour/Sons of Confederate Veterans; :]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :]
[SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Virginia NAACP; : ]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=that's not good.; :DOUBLE OUT!!!!!]
(( The morning kicked off with Roanoke's Sons of Confederate Veterans commander declaring himself a Confederate American, and addressing the Governor.
[sot 11:19]
((ROBERT "RED" BARBOUR/SONS OF CONFED. VETERANS: PLEASE STAND YOUR GROUND AGAINST A GROUP THAT ONE TIME STOOD FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. THAT NOW, THEY STAND FOR HATRED OF ANOTHER GROUP'S HISTORY. AND THAT MAKES THEM A HATE GROUP.)) [runs:21]
But inside the Capitol, nothing but respect for the N-double-A-C-P from Jim Gilmore.
[sot 11:59:42]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I BELIEVE THAT WE AGREE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE NAACP AND OUR ADMINISTRATION ON A FORMAL BASIS.)) [runs:09]
After the meeting Gilmore announced he wants at least quarterly meetings with the group.
But first, he needs to meet with a host of other Virginians on the issue of memorializing Confederate History. ((SALIM KHALFANI/VIRGINIA ACP: YOU KNOW THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL AND GUT ISSUE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO WE WILL WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WORKING WITH BOTH SIDES ON THIS.)) [runs:16]
[SOT 12:10:24]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT MISUNDERSTOOD...NOT GOOD. THAT'S NOT GOOD.)) [RUNS:14 ]))
(-------------)
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

So for now, crisis averted -- a political one for Gilmore, a potential economic one for Virginia's tourism industry, and perhaps an indentity crisis for Virginians on all sides of this issue.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave]

QUESTION: Is there a timetable from here?

[Fort-Early]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-11 TC34:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meanwhile, Lynchburg officials hope a new program will help them attract more Civil War tourists to the Hill City.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Three of Lynchburg's historic sites, including Fort Early, have been added to the Virginia Civil War Trails program.
The program links more than 260 sites all across the state, directing tourists to both the well- known and less familiar historic places.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:28:24]
[IN Q=To help us]
((TOM LEDFORD/LYNCHBURG MUSEUMS DIRECTOR: TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND SEE OUR OWN HISTORY AND HELP OUR TRAVELERS AND VISITORS ACROSS VIRGINIA TO COME TO OUR CITY AND SEE HOW LYNCHBURG IS CONNECTED TO ALL THE OTHER EVENTS AND SITES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE CIVIL WAR.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Ledford/Lynchburg Museums Director]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=the Civil War.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Old Court House Museum and City Cemetery were also added to the trails program.
New signs now direct tourists into the city from Routes 460 and 29.
(------------)

[Sales-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC40:30]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]

Lynchburg residents will soon decide whether they want to raise taxes on themselves to help pay for school improvements over the next ten years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night]

City council last night voted to put a referendum on this November's ballot that would raise the state sales tax by a penny.
But even if it passes, the General Assembly still has the final say.. and one local lawmaker says the plan will be dead on arrival in Richmond.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:41:10]
[IN Q=And now they're]
((SEN. STEVE NEWMAN/R- LYNCHBURG: AND NOW THEY'RE ASKING US TO RAISE TAXES ON WORKING VIRGINIANS, RAISE THE SALES TAX 22 PERCENT AND AS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM WORKING FAMILIES, I JUST OPPOSE THAT AND I CERTAINLY WILL NOT VOTE FOR IT.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Steve Newman/(R) 23rd District]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=vote for it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Governor Jim Gilmore has routinely vetoed similar measures for other localities.
Lynchburg's plan would also reduce the real estate tax by a dime.
(------------)

[Park-Inn]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC36:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A little more than three months after Roanoke hotel operator Betty Desai was murdered ...Park Inn International has sued Desai's estate for trademark infringement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January]

The home office says the Desai's have been in default of their franchise agreement since 1998.
In a complaint filed last night in federal court in Roanoke, the Park Inn says the Desai's failed to pay "reservation fees."
The hotel chain is seeking liquidation damages of more than 100-thousand dollars.
(------------)

[Big-Game]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-59 TC2:01:43]
[GRAPHIC=Big Game Record]

Eight Big Game players who bought tickets in Virginia came very close to winning it all.
They had five numbers right .. but missed the gold money ball.
All is not lost .. each ticket is worth 150 thousand dollars.
Three of them were sold in our area .. in Cana, Ridgeway, and Madison Heights.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[16:23:57]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

A fourth was sold in Richmond, to four army recruiters. After taxes, each gets about 25 thousand dollars.
[SUPER=03-Lake Zurich, IL]
[14:51:52]
In Illinois, this was payday for a store that sold one of the two winning tickets, each worth more than 180 million dollars. The store gets a one per cent cut, or 1-point-8 million.
[SUPER=03-Utica, MI]
[10:01:58]
It's a different story at the other winning store, this one in Michigan, where the state lottery procedures are different.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:47:41]
[IN Q=And what is..]
[SUPER=01-George Kassab/Store Owner ]
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=lousy two thousand dollars.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

We are still waiting for the two Big Game winners to step forward to share the largest lottery jackpot in US history.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Some Virginia's historial giants may be coming to Buena Vista.
We'll explain next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And cleaning up hazardous waste at this Roanoke paint plant could cost taxpayers big.
(----------------)

[Pres-Park]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-10 TC1:03:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Buena Vista wanted them but it looks like Tidewater will be getting the giant statues of the 41 American Presidents.
But that's not the end of the story.
As Teresa Hamilton reports-- Buena Vista is now in the running for a different set of heads.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been]
[SUPER=03-York Co./March 17; :00]
[SUPER=01-Everette Newman/Park Developer; :25 ]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:00 ]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7.]
(( It's been more than a month since the giant Presidential statues rolled into Virginia-- headed for York County.

The statues were constructed for a theme park---but developers had to put the brakes on the project because of zoni
ng.
That's when city leaders in Buena Vista wrote project developers for consideration.
Today-- Buena Vista's city manager and the developers put their heads together as they toured Glen Maury Park.
[sot 15:23:16]
((EVERETTE NEWMAN/DEVELOPER: YOU'VE GOT MORE LAND THAN WE REALLY NEED BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.)) [runs 10] [being renovated.]
Project developer Everette Newman is optimistic the presidential park will go up near Williamsburg.
But he isn't writing Buena Vista out of the picture.
Instead-- he and his partners are considering the city for a second theme park of famous Virginians... such as Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
[SOT 15:22:38]
[IN Q= We want]
((EVERETTE NEWMAN/PROJECT DEVELOPER: WE WANT THE SECOND PARK TO BE LOCATION SPECIFIC AND MOST OF THE FOLKS I JUST NAMED HAVE A TIE INTO THE AREA.)) [runs 10]
[out q= to the area.]
[TAKE SU] ((The famous Virginians Park would be similar to the one proposed in York County-- in other words, it too would include giant heads.)) [runs10]
City leaders in Buena Vista believe they have the right mix to make it all work-- with the city's proximity to I-81, Lexington and Natural Bridge.
[SOT 15:25:51]
[This would] ((DAN COLLINS/BUENA VISTA CITY MANAGER: THIS WOULD JUST BE ONE MORE THING TO ATTRACT TOURISTS.)) [RUNS 10]
[out q= attract tourists.]

The theme park would not be like an amusement park.
It's being described as an educational place where children and adults would be able to read about historical figures... clearly larger than life. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7.))

[Evans-Paint]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-08 TC1:13:46]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Federal agents say if they cannot find the people who left hazardous material in an abandoned Roanoke warehouse, taxpayers must pay for cleanup.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
E-P-A inspectors say some of the 600 containers in the Evans Paint warehouse hold hazardous materials. They're not sure what's in the rest. Some tanks have leaked.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:49:34]
[IN Q=In the building]
((MICHAEL TAURINO/EPA: IN THE BUILDING EVERYTHING IS PRETTY WELL CONTAINED. NOW THERE ARE ISOLATED AREAS WHERE AT ONE POINT IN TIME SOME MATERIAL HAS GOTTEN OUT. THAT MATERIAL HAS SOLIDIFIED SO IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Taurino/EPA;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=going anywhere]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Inspectors still have to find out what's in the underground tanks, too. Cleanup won't start until June and should wrap up by the end of the summer. A security officer will guard the site until cleanup's finished.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE] In the meantime, agents ask people who know anything about the plant or its former owners to please call the D-E-Q at 540-562-6812 or the E-P-A at 703-235-1113.
(-------------)

[Brookneal-Cop]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A police officer in the town of Brookneal has been charged with assaulting his wife and pointing a gun at her.
24- year- old Brian Carr was off- duty when the incident allegedly took place in a supermarket parking lot Sunday.

He's been suspended from his job while the investigation continues.
Carr is one of four police officers in Brookneal. He's been with the force for a year.

[Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-05 TC1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chap. 11]

Tultex is in a tangled mess. This time over yarn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The company is in the middle of bankruptcy court proceedings, but now Tultex says a New York company owes them money.
In an emergency court hearing this morning, the company sued Eagle Apparel Group for fraud, breach of contract, and failing to pay nearly 200 thousand dollars for the goods.
[SUPER=03-Ridgeway;]

Trucks, ordered by the New York company, came here today to pick up thousands of pounds of yarn at a Ridgeway warehouse, only to be stopped at the gate.
The courts ordered U-S Marshals to seize all material so Eagle Apparel would not be allowed to transport any yarn.

(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Worries about another interest rate hike led to a tumble on Wall Street today. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/168.97/10367.78/y/199.75/3385.26/y/0.40/107.65;]

The DOW dropped 169 points while NASDAQ plunged 200.
The Bloomberg News-7 Index lost about half a point.
[SUPER=431-h1!/36@/i1%/36a/i1r/46f/hf/54f/h!/28g;]
[SUPER=432-i&/29!/i!/2!/h2/45*/i%/31d/i1@/36$;]
[SUPER=433-i1@/50*/h&/20a/i@/18c/i2c/25e/h@/23&;]
[SUPER=434-ha/17e/i1f/50$/h2g/45/i*/61/h3e/56e;]

[Festival]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-07 TC1:21:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Country star Trace Adkins will headline this year's Festival in the Park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
There's plenty new this year, including a Gala 50's Party with costume and look-alike contests, two circuses, a Renaissance Fair and a Christian Celebration Night.
[SUPER=04-Last May;]
A recent study shows the Festival in the Park organization brings in four and a half million dollars to the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:57:00]
[IN Q=As far as]
((AS FAR AS THE MONEY, WE AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR TO AREA STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS OF ROANOKE. AND EVERY YEAR WE GIVE UP TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS.))
[SUPER=01-Wendi Shultz/Festival Director;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=scholarships]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Festival runs from May 26th to June 4th.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]

And coming up in sports, Two former A-C-C players share the N-B-A rookie of the year award Washington and Lee opened the N-C-A-A division three lacrosse playoffs today in Lexington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While in college basketball, The Indiana University Board of Trustees continue to investigate head basketball coach Bobby Knight.
(------------)

[S-Lacrosse]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-64]
[GRAPHIC=Lacrosse]

Washington and Lee Opened the men's Division III lacrosse playoffs against Kenyon College today. Steve Mason hasa recap from Lexington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/NCAA D-III Lacrosse Playoffs; :00]
[SUPER=01-Colin Dougherty/Had Nine Points; :18]
[SUPER=01-Tom Melanson/W & L Freshman Middie; :40]
[SUPER=34-Washington & Lee/22/Kenyon/4; :49]
[SUPER=01-Jim Stagnitta/W & L Head Coach; :59]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(-----------)

[S-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-72 (11:07)]
[GRAPHIC=WINSTON CUP SERIES]

Because of Mother's Day - this is an off-weekend for the Winston Cup Series. But Mike Stevens says you'd never know it judging by the flurry of activity in Charlotte.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/Quality Care Ford Driver; :25]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Rudd/Havoline Ford Driver; :42]
[SUPER=01-Geoffrey Bodine/Power Team Chevy Driver; 1:11]
[SUPER=@mike1; :1:26]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(----------------)

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-62 (42:25)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA LOGO]

After going 1 and 2 in the draft, Elton Brand and Steve Francis are both on top again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA; :]

Brand and Francis will share the N-B-A's Rookie of the year Award. Brand led all rookies in scoring, rebounds, blocked shots, minutes and double-doubles.
Francis traded to the Houston Rockets after being drafted by the Grizzles was the rookie leader in steals. He finished second to brand with 18 points a game.
The two are the first pair to share the award since Jason Kidd and Grant Hill in 1994-95.
(------------)

[S-Knight]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-63 (37:06)]
[GRAPHIC=Sports Logo]

In college basketball, Bobby Knight is still under investigation by the Indiana University Board of Trustees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :]

The Trustees are recommending the probe be expanded to include new claims of misconduct that could lead to his dismissal.
An Indianapolis T-V station reported late yesterday that the trustees heard new accusations against Knight at a closed meeting last week.
The board is also checking claims that Knight once choked Neil Reed, who transfered from Indiana in 1997.
Knight has denied the allegations.
(------------)

[Promo]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Eleven]

Imagine waking up an hour and a half early each morning just so you could walk to work.
That's exactly what one local man is doing and it's not just for his health. Tonight on News 7 we'll introduce you to Bob Egbert, show the hike he takes and tell you why he does it.