WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 07/31/00

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

On NEWS 7 tonight: protests of innocence from a Franklin County murder suspect.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
After all the bomb threats at Pulaski County High School- -a different kind of explosion sets off a race against the clock to get the school ready for fall classes.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, it's not even August, but high school football practice fore the upcoming season is already in full swing. Tonight we'll check in with two time defending state champion Salem, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
GW Danville - where interim head coach Everett Woods led his Eagles on the field today with veteran coach Ed Martin in their hearts.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Can't get enough of that rain? Wait a few minutes. There is more on the way.

[Video-Open]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:23:00]
[IN Q=I didn't]
((I DIDN'T KILL NOBODY.))
[RUNS=:03 ]
[OUT Q=kill nobody.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A Franklin County man denies shooting his best friend multiple times.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Franklin-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC1:50:53]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]

26- year old Mickey "Tex" Rogers and a 15- year old girl are accused of murder.
But Rogers says he did NOT kill 41- year old Michael Edward Campbell.
[Double Boxes=keith and Teresa/newsroom]

Teresa Hamilton spoke with Rogers this afternoon and is in the newsroom tonight.
[Live=Teresa Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]

Keith, Tex Rogers admits he was at the victim's mobile home early this morning but says he was not involved in the death of a man he'd been friends with for ten years.
However, investigators say witnesses and evidence prove otherwise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He wasn't ]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :06]
[SUPER=01-Ken Barnett/Neighbor; :21 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Ewell Hunt/Franklin Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :38]
[SUPER=01-Tex Rogers/Murder Suspect; :55]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=gun on me.]
(((////sot////)
[sot 00:06:12]
[In q= He wasn't ]
((KEN BARNETT/NEIGHBOR: HE WASN'T MOVING, HE WAS BLOODY FROM HEAD TO TOE.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=to toe.]

Barnett lives two doors down from the victim but says he didn't know how badly Mike Campbell was hurt until it was too late.
Barnett says Campbell came onto his porch around one AM shouting for him to call 9-1-1 but Barnett didn't open his door until deputies arrived.
(////sot///)
[sot 00:07:29]
[in q= He just]
((KEN BARNETT/NEIGHBOR: HE JUST SAID CALL 9-1-1 TWICE AND I THOUGHT HE HAD LEFT CAUSE I NEVER HEARD ANYMORE OUT OF HIM.)) [runs06]
[OUT Q= out of him.]

This morning-- Barnett spent time much of his time cleaning up the victim's blood.
Investigators say Campbell had been shot at least three times inside his mobile home in the Hardy section of Franklin county.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:13:43]
[In q= It did ]
((EWELL HUNT/FRANKLIN CO. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: IT DID APPEAR THAT HE'D BEEN SHOT IN THE BED OR BEDROOM BUT MOST LIKELY IN THE BED.)) [runs06]
[out q= the bed.]

Investigators say witnesses and evidence point to 15- year old Sarah Edwards.... ((nat SOUND)) [runs03] and 26- year old Tex Rogers as suspects.
(////sot////)
[sot 00:22:50]
[In q= The warrants]
((TEX ROGERS/MURDER SUSPECT: THE WARRANTS A LIE, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANYONE THERE BUT THE THREE OF US AND I GOT MY CLOTHES AND I LEFT, SHE LEFT WITH ME, NEXT THING I KNOW WE'RE WALKING OUT OF THE WOODS AND THE COPS SAYING YOU KILLED THIS MAN AND I DIDN'T KILL NOBODY. but you had a gun on you?)) ((YEAH, I DID, IF I WAS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, I'D HAVE A GUN ON ME.)) [RUNS19]
[OUT Q= on me.]))
(-------------)
[Live=Teresa Full/Newsroom]

The pair was arrested this morning a short distance from the victim's residence.
Authorities had been watching a suspicious car parked nearby when the two came walking out of the woods.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Teresa/Newsroom]

Keith, investigators say they do NOT have a motive.

[Pulaski-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=500-15 30:15]
[GRAPHIC=eXPLOSION]

A weekend explosion at Pulaski County High School may mean its 15-hundred students start the school year late ... or somewhere else.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

The explosion occurred in the mechanical room behind the cafeteria.
It housed the electrical and gas services for the school.
Officials believe the blast was caused by natural gas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:37 - :52]
[IN Q=It's likely that it]
((DAVID COX/PULASKI CO. SUPERINTENDENT: IT'S LIKELY THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRICITY. WE KNOW THAT THE TRANSFORMER, OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, DID EXPLODE ITSELF. THE TOP AND SIDES OF THE UNIT WERE BLOWN OFF. ))
[SUPER=01-David Cox/Pulaski Co. Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=were blown off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The maintenence area is considered unstable.
School officials are still trying to estimate the damages, but say they'll have to rebuild that portion of the building.
They've called an emergency school board meeting for tomorrow to get funds to demolish and rebuild the area.
(------------)

[Gun-Amnesty]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC01:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you're a convicted felon walking around with a gun in Lynchburg, you have one chance at avoiding mandatory prison time.
On Saturday, illegal guns can be turned in to the police with no names given, and no questions asked.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

It's all part of the Virginia Exile program, aimed at reducing gun violence across the state.
Commonwealth's attorney Bill Petty says he's not sure how many people might show up to turn over their weapons.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:16:32]
[IN Q=But we want]
((BILL PETTY/LYNCHBURG COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: BUT WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THESE GUNS IN.. I MEAN, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO PROSECUTE ANYBODY, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE GET RID OF THE WEAPONS AND THERE WON'T BE ANY CONSEQUENCES AND OUR WORK LOAD WILL GO DOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Petty/Lynchburg Commonwealth's Atty.]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=will go down.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Carrying a gun after being convicted of a felony is against the law.
The gun amnesty program runs from 10 to 2 on Saturday at the Lynchburg Lifesaving Crew building.
(------------)

[Miss-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-15 TC1:55:23]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Roanoke's "Miss Virginia" pageant kicked her out last month because she had a criminal charge pending.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Powhatan Co.]

Today, a Powhatan County judge certified a felony embezzlement charge against 23 year old Samantha L- Miller to an October grand jury.
Miller's accused of embezzling from the Pepsi fund, while working as a secretary for a now- bankrupt construction firm.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:46:45 ]
[IN Q=There was]
((PAUL GREGORIO/MILLER'S ATTORNEY: THERE WAS A SODA MACHINE ON THE PREMISES. EMPLOYEES WERE PAYING FOR THE SODAS. THE MACHINE WOULD BE OPENED, THE MONEY WAS TAKEN AND PUT INTO AN ACCOUNT. AND THEN, MONEY WAS USED FROM THAT TO BUY NEW SODAS. IT WAS LIKE A SELF FUNDING ACCOUNT. +++ WE DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MONEY MISSING. WE DISPUTE THE FACT THAT IT'S AN EMPLOYEE ACCOUNT.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Gregorio/Miller's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=employee account.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Miller was Miss Hampton Holly Days Festival.
She was disqualified from the Miss Virginia pageant a week before it was held last month.
(------------)

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

Still ahead on News 7, the man who's run the city of Lynchburg for nearly a decade steps down.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Norfolk-Southern rolls out a legendary locomotive to turn the spotlight on a legendary photographer.
(----------------)

[220-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC1:13:45]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

An accident this afternoon on route 220 sent two people to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]

The accident happened in the northbound lanes of 220, about ten miles south of Rocky Mount.
A tractor- trailer ran into traffic that had stopped behind a V-DOT mowing crew. Four vehicles were involved.
Reginald Thomas was sleeping in the tractor- trailer when the accident occurred.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 07:55:31]
[IN Q=It was pretty bad]
((REGINALD THOMAS: IT WAS PRETTY BAD, WHEN YOU WAKE UP AND SEE THINGS FLYING OVER YOU, SO IT'S JUST BASICALLY IT. I'M FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE, PERIOD.))
[SUPER=07-Reginald Thomas]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=fortunate to be alive, period.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The New Jersey man who was driving the tractor- trailer, was charged with reckless driving.
The two people who were taken to the hospital, did not appear to have serious injuries.
(--------------)

[Rogers]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC1:16:59]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]

Attorney Jonathan Rogers will have his say in federal court. It just won't be tomorrow.
(------------------)
[V/O-NAT]
Rogers sued two city police officers for arresting him at a private party at his own home three years ago.
Nothing came of the case against Rogers,
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
but his case against Officers M-L Pendleton and M-G Vinyard WILL go forward.
Judge Irene Keeley ruled today that "Rogers clearly had a specific Constitutional right not to be forced to endure the warrentless search of his home..." and "not to be arrested for his lawful refusal to permit such a search."
Tomorrow's trial date was continued to give the officer's attorney time to appeal today's ruling.

[Minority-Business]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-21 TC1:38:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

She was an outspoken critic of the last Republican governor -- calling George Allen a Fascist in one news conference when she was director of Virginia's N-double-A-C-P.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/July 1998]

But now, Linda Byrd-Harden finds her new office the target of a State Police investigation.
The probe was requested by the administration of the Republican Governor who hired her to head up the Minority Business Enterprise department in 1998.
Here was Byrd-Harden on Jim Gilmore then:
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT from 07/06/98]
[IN Q=He's]
[sot 11:28:01]
((LINDA BYRD-HARDEN: HE'S INDICATED TO ME THAT HE WANTS ME TO BE OPEN WITH HIM AND THAT'S WHAT I INTEND TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Byrd-Harden/Dept. of Minority Bus. Enterprise;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=intend to do.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=None]

Meanwhile, the state Auditor of Public Accounts has issued a report that says the department has severe financial control problems that increase the risk of fraud.
Also, the Associated Press reported in May that a 300-thousand-dollar department loan program to assist minority businesses had languished for more than a year, making NO loans to struggling companies it was created to help.

[Stocks]

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

Tech stocks rebounded from last week's losses. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/10.81/10521.98/x/103.99/3766.99/y/0.23/108.48;]

The DOW gained eleven points while NASDAQ climed 104.
The Bloomberg News 7 Index lost about a quarter-point.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=431-ie/32&/h#/30*/hd/47b/ia/22*/h@/2d;]
[SUPER=432-ig/45$/h!/25&/hb/39r/hg/51r/hc/34;]
[SUPER=433-ib/20r/i!/18r/i#/26c/i$/25e/ia/11d;]
[SUPER=434-i$/47d/h#/53/u/47/h*/55/i3%/55a;]

[L'burg-Manager]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC52:07]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]

Today marked the end of an era in Lynchburg city government.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

After nine years on the job, health problems are forcing Charles Church to step down as Lynchburg city manager.
A reception in Church's honor is being held at this hour at City Hall.
Church says he's proud of many things he accomplished while on the job, but will miss his co- workers the most.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:56:32]
[IN Q=It's been a]
((CHARLES CHURCH/RETIRING CITY MANAGER: IT'S BEEN A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE THINGS WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, BUT I'M GOING TO MISS A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE, WITH THE DAILY CONTACT, THAT HAVE BEEN VERY SPECIAL IN MY LIFE.))

[SUPER=01-Charles Church/Retiring City Manager]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=in my life.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Church is suffering from prostate cancer and recently was told the disease is terminal.
City attorney Walter Erwin will serve as acting city manager until a replacement is named.
(------------)

[James]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Logo]

Another Roanoke city official has quit.
Library director Beverly James is leaving next month to take a similar job in Greenville, South Carolina.
James has been in Roanoke more than 12 years.
She says the opportunity in Greenville was too good to pass up, because that city is about to build several new libraries.
Her departure is the latest in a series of retirements and resignations in Roanoke city government in the past year.

[Steam-Engine]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6PM]
[WRITER=tst]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC2:01:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A famous photographer with Roanoke connections is being honored by a national magazine.
A crew from Vanity Fair will be shooting pictures of O. Winston Link later this week.
The photos will be taken at the Norfolk Southern East End Shops. And to help with the shoot, the railway is rolling out something a lot bigger than a red carpet.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Steam locomotive 1218 hasn't been seen by the public in years.
But last week, workers wheeled the engine out of the shops, and began sprucing it up.
Vanity Fair wants to use the locomotive as a background for the photos of Link.
The 1218 has been stored in the shops since Norfolk Southern ended its steam excursion program six years ago.
O. Winston Link is best known for the nighttime photographs he took of steam trains on the old Norfolk and Western Railway in the late 1950s.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, everthing from charity golf to high school football. As the 2000 season gets underway
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
with the opening of practice a day before the month of August arrives. We'll hear from Salem and GW Danville in a moment.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[S-Salem]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-71 5623TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
High school football practice began today for most schools around the Commonwealth. It's the first time that the opening of two-a-day workouts has hit before the month of July has ended.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
The two time defending state champs from Salem welcomed 70 players to their first workout, but veteran coach Willis White clearly understands how the early start can be a problem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
((WILLIS WHITE:))
[SUPER=01-Willis White/Salem Head Coach;:00]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=...makes it tough."]
(------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] White begins his 37th year of coaching this season with a team that again has a chance to challenge for more than district title.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I THINK...]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...WE'LL BE TOUGH."]
(--------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] Many speculated that White might step down after winning his third championship last season, but he says the time still just isn't right.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I really...]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=....THAT WILL BE IT."]
(--------------)

[S-Talbott]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=SP-73 10010tc]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

One of our former Friday Football Extra coaches of the year is returning to the sidelines and the school halls this year in Botetourt County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Football Extra; :00]

Jamie Talbott, who coached Rockbridge County to the Blue Ridge title in 1993, has been hired as an assistant principal and assistant football coach at James River high school.
Talbott's peers voted him Friday Football Extra's Double-A coach of the year back in 1993. Before coaching at Rockbridge County he was the head coach at old Natural Bridge.
(------------)

[S-Danville]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-68 11346TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Understandably, things were a little slow going this morning in Danville, as George Washington high school also opened practice for the 2000 season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
Just over a month after the passing of veteran head coach Ed Martin, the Eagles were back on the field preparing for the upcoming season. Interim head coach Everett Woods says Martin crossed his mind more than once today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'M STILL...]
[SUPER=01-Everett Woods/G.W. Danville Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...voice out here."]
(------------)

[S-Martin]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-70 1:00:20]
[GRAPHIC=Ed Martin]

Martin's absence is being felt not only here locally, but in other parts of the country as well.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Spartanburg, SC; :]

Detroit Lions star receiver Herman Moore, one of Ed's former star players, practiced with the Carolina Panthers last week and re-emphasized Martin's impact on young people.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="it makes]
[SUPER=01-Herman Moore/Detroit Lions Receiver; :00]
((HERMAN MOORE/DETROIT LIONS RECEIVER:))
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=....in that"]
(-------------)

[S-Charity]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-66 11336TC]
[GRAPHIC=GOLF]

They also played some golf today in Danville at the annual Big Brothers and Big Sisters charity event.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
The Goodyear Golf Club played host to this year's tournament. Officials say they hope to raise about $10 thousand dollars and a lot of awareness.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Roman Gabriel/Former Rams Quarterback; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Buddy Curry/Former Falcons Linebacker; :18]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=...VERY SPECIAL."]
(------------)

[S-Deere]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-64 13055TC]
[GRAPHIC=PGA TOUR]

Many of you watching the PGA tour's John Deere Classic yesterday here on Your Hometown Station know that rain forced most of the final round to be bumped to today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Silvis, IL/TNN; :00]
This putt turned out to be the winner as Michael Clark drained this shot on the fourth playoff hole to beat Kirk Triplett. It's Clark first ever win on the PGA tour. Reigning NCAA champ Chalres Howell was third.
(------------)

[Thornhill-Place]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC1:49:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It used to be a neighborhood plagued with crime.
Now it's a place where children can play in their own yards and parents can enjoy their own front porches .. and it's growing.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Meredyth/Microwave]

Meredyth Censullo is at the Thornhill Place community in northwest Roanoke.
[Live= Meredyth Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meredyth1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

For 20 years, the Gilmer-Louden neighborhood has been undergoing a revitalization project ... re-doing old homes and building new ones.
Today, 20 new apartments for low-income families were officially dedicated.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been great]
[SUPER=01-James Lesniak/NNEO Exec. Dir.; :00]
[SUPER=03-Northwest Roanoke; :12]
[SUPER=01-Monique Hall/New Resident; :36]
[RUNS=:46]
[OUT Q=top of the totem pole.]
(-------------)
[Live= Meredyth Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

The Thornhill Place project has been underway for two and a half years. Tonight at 11, we'll speak with the woman who started it all. [Double Boxes=Keith & Meredyth/Microwave]