!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd"> WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/11/00

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

Tonight on News 7, Celanese workers finish voting on a new contract offer.

We'll have a live report.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


And she lost a paw to a Virginia Tech snare.
Tonight, she's back in the wild.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 sports, UVa is fired up about the upcoming football season. Former Cav Patrick Jeffers is out for the season. William Byrd gets the Friday Football shout tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And qualifying for the Winston Cup stars at Watkins Glen was washed out this afternoon.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]


Another dry day for most of our area and the weekend isn't looking bad either.

[Celanese]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#00-28 ]
[GRAPHIC=Celanese Contract Vote]


The fate of a proposed labor contract at the New River Valley's eight largest employer is in the hands of its workers.
Celanese union members have just ended two days of voting on the three year contract.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Marya/Starlink]


Marya Jones is outside the union office in Narrows.
[Live=Marya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=06-Narrows;]
( ad lib)

[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Narrows; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rodney Dunn/Union Worker;]
[SUPER=01-Nedra Shaver/Union Worker;]
[SUPER=01-Myron Whittaker/Union Worker;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=it gets pretty rough.]




[Live=Marya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Narrows;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Keith and Marya/Starlink]



[Verizon]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC1:31:56]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon Strike]


Changes in negotiations, company affairs, and the picket lines.... that was the story at a local Verizon picket site this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Striking Union members say the company has changed from family-oriented Ma Bell, to money-oriented Pa Sell.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Customers get tired]
[SUPER=01-John Goodhart/Striking Employee]

((JOHN GOODHART/STRIKING EMPLOYEE: CUSTOMERS GET TIRED OF THIS. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN CUSTOMERS CAN BENEFIT FROM ONE OF THESE SERVICE, BUT NOT EVERY LITTLE OLD LADY NEEDS 15 FEATURES ON HER PHONE LINE.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=on her phone line.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The picket lines are changing, too. Children and retirees came out to show their support.
Picketers say the negotiations are moving slowly but steadily.
They hope to see the strike come to an end soon.
(------------)



[Firestone]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:57:42]
[GRAPHIC=Firestone]


Customers are mounting pressure on Firestone to replace millions of recalled tires.
But some of those customers tell us dealers are not being helpful.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Margaret Erinhardt is one. She says a phone call to Ford Dealers results in an issued statement from Firestone.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It concerned tires in]

((MARGARET ERINHARDT/FIRESTONE CUSTOMER: IT CONCERNED TIRES IN ECUADOR, VENEZUELA, AND OTHER WARM COUNTRIES THAT THE VEHICLES HAD BEEN OVER WEIGHTED.)) ((AND HE CLAIMED AT THAT POINT THAT THERE WASN'T A REAL PROBLEM, AND I SUGGESTED HE TURN ON CNN.))
[SUPER=01-Margaret Erinhardt/Firestone Customer]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=turn on CNN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Despite the sudden rise in demand for new SUV tires, some Goodyear dealers say they haven't been busier than usual.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I have put a]

((J.C. TUCK/GOODYEAR DEALER: I HAVE PUT A COUPLE OF SETS OF TIRES ON THAT PERTAINED TO THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A MAD FRENZY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE ALSO SOLD A FEW SETS TO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS.))
[SUPER=01-J. C. Tuck/Goodyear Dealer]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=to local dealerships.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Firestone says it could take up to 18 months to replace all of the recalled tires.
(-------------)




[Drowning]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-29 TC00:40]
[GRAPHIC=Drowning]


Roanoke County Police are investigating the drowning of a six year old.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


On Wednesday night Conner Lovell was swimming in the Roanoke River near Green Hill Park when he went under.
Officials aren't releasing many details but say the boys mother was there when it happened.
David Crouch visits the river with his kids but says he wouldn't let them swim in it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:31]
[IN Q=I wouldn't]

((DAVID CROUCH: I WOULD NOT LET THEM SWIM IN HERE BECAUSE THE RAPIDS ARE TO ROUGH ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE DEEP HOLES.))
[SOT 21:08]

((KEISHA CROUCH: MY DAD ONLY LETS ME SWIM IN THE SHALLOW PART, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM IN THE RIVER.))
[SUPER=01-David Crouch/Used to Swim in River]
[SUPER=07-Keisha Crouch]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=in the river.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Police say they are still interviewing witnesses and anyone with information is asked to call the Roanoke County Police Department.
(------------)



[Vinton-Drowning]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-34 TC03:07]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


A Vinton babysitter has been indicted by a Roanoke County grand jury after the two year old girl she was caring for drowned earlier this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 500-7 59:24]
[SUPER=03-Vinton/May 31]


Leni Whitmire was indicted on felony child abuse and neglect after Hailey Wilson drowned in an "above ground" pool.
Whitmire could face up to ten years in prison and a one hundred thousand dollar fine.
(-----------)



[Tobacco-Preview]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-21 TC1:54:28]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco]


People in the tobacco industry in Southside are gearing up for opening day.
The Danville Tobacco Market officially opens this Monday.
Opening Ceremonies will be held at the Holland's Warehouse this year.
But ss Surae Chinn tells us opening day will be bittersweet at one warheouse.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=At Motley's]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nancie Motley/Motley's Warehouse Pres.; :12]
[SUPER=01-Otey Kelley/Tobacco Farmer; :50]
[SUPER=@Surae1; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=News7, Danville.]

(((quick nats of moving tobacco) [RUNS:02]
At Motley's Warehouse in Danville the tobacco is flowing in--so are the tears and hugs.
[SOT 7:33]

((NANCIE MOTLEY/MOTLEY'S WAREHOUSE PRES.: WHEN A FARMER COMES IN AND SAYS, HE KEPT ME FROM LOSING MY FARM, HE WAS A GOOD MAN; WE'LL MISS HIM. THOSE THINGS HURT.)) [RUNS:11]
It's seeing familiar faces when times get tough for Nancie Motley. Her husband John was murdered a month and a half ago. A family member is accused of fatally shooting him. John Motley used to run the warehouse side by side with his wife. Now she's at it alone.
[SOT 9:35]

((NANCIE MOTLEY/MOTLEY'S WAREHOUSE PRES.: I HAVE PEACE. BECAUSE IN SPIRIT HE'S STILL HERE WITH ME.)) [RUNS:05]
[SOT 14:07]

((OTEY KELLEY/TOBACCO FARMER: YOU GOT A LOSS--A BIG LOSS.)) [RUNS:03]
Otey Kelley has been selling his tobacco to the Motleys for two decades.
[SOT 14:42]

((OTEY KELLEY; OVER THE YEARS, JOHNNY HELPED A WHOLE LOT. DONE GOOD FOR THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY WE ALL GOING TO MISS HIM.)) [RUNS:08]
Tobacco is already an uncertain business-- there is added pressure at this particular warehouse without Johnny.
[SOT 19:53]

((SURAE CHINN/REPORTING: NANCIE MOTLEY SAYS SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE FUTURE OF HER TOBACCO WAREHOUSE. WHAT SHE DOES KNOW IS THAT SHE HAS TO KEEP IT OPEN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT JOHNNY WOULD WANT.)) [RUNS:09]
Monday won't be an easy day at the Motley Warehouse. Things won't be quite the same without Johnny leading the sale. Surae Chinn, News 7, Danville.))
(---------------)



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


A bear who lost a paw in a snare is back in the wild tonight.
That's one of the stories still ahead on News 7 at six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And for the first time in a decade, Campbell County deputies bust up a moonshine operation.
(----------------)






[Campbell-Moonshine]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-25 TC54:08]
[GRAPHIC=Moonshine bust]


Sheriff's deputies have busted a moonshine still in Campbell County for the first time in ten years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;]

Deputies found 17 drums of mash and 17 gallons of bootleg whiskey in the woods of Altavista, near a small stream. They also took two vehicles, a pound and a half of marijuana and twenty pot plants. The sheriff says it's not healthy to drink moonshine.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:00]
[IN Q=It's always]

((ROBERT MAXEY/SHERIFF: IT'S ALWAYS DANGEROUS. I KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD OF PEOPLE GETTING LEAD POISONING. IT DEPENDS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STILL BUT IT'S ALWAYS RISKY TO CONSUME MOONSHINE ALCOHOL.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Maxey/Campbell Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=moonshine alcohol]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

49-year-old Lennie Mitchell turned himself in and has been charged with bootlegging, a felony. Deputies are investigating whether someone else was involved.

[Danville-rape]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC1:07:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Danville authorities have no clear description of four men who allegedly gang raped a Danville woman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]


It happened around three this morning.
Investigators say the woman opened the door for a friend when four men rushed into the house.
The woman told police that the men pulled their shirts over their faces and wore gloves.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:11]
[IN Q=The black males]

((MAJ. B.C. ELLIOTT/DANVILLE POLICE DEPT.: THE BLACK MALES GRABBED HER HUSBAND DRUG HIM BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM AND THEY CAME INTO THE BEDROOM. ONE OF THEM HAD A WEAPON AND THEY ALL FOUR RAPED HER.))
[SUPER=01-Maj. B. C. Elliott/Danville Police Department;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=four raped her.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Officers are trying to find out if there is a connection to an incident last night where four black men assaulted and robbed a man at the INNKEEPER Motel.

[Autumn-Lane]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-26 TC58:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A building contractor may get nailed for putting up what residents say is a defective house.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC1:16:25]

The city of Roanoke is suing Phillip Bane, a local builder, for not fixing the house he built on Autumn Lane. The foundation's cracked -- the return air vent was not properly sealed -- and the vinyl siding was never attached to the house. The city has charged Bane with several building- related misdemeanors before and forced him to temporarily stop construction. He refuses to comment but plans to build ten more houses just like these on Autumn Lane near Salem.
(------------)



[Tax-Refunds]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-31 TC13:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Gilmore administration is now changing its tune on state tax refunds.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]


In early July, Finance Secretary Ron Tillett told NEWS 7 that there was NO delay in processing tax refund checks.
That's after some revenue commissioners questioned whether the state was delaying refunds.
At the time, Tillett said that was "absolutely false."
Now, Tillett tells The Daily Press of Newport News "there's no question there was a slowdown."
Tillett now says he ordered some workers to stop processing refunds and analyze why there was a drop in revenue collections.
That personnel change meant checks were delayed.
Tillett also tells the paper that he didn't announce that workers were being diverted from processing refunds because some people would have said "the sky is falling."
Through his secretary, Tillett declined to talk to NEWS 7 today.
(------------)



[Tailgater-Search]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=accident Investigation]

State police have released a composite sketch of a man whose alleged aggressive driving may have led to a deadly crash on Interstate 81.
(+++++++++)

[TAKE SKETCH FS]
Witnesses got a look at the driver after 19-year-old Amy Whisler was killed because he got out of his car - saw the damage - then left.
Witnesses say he had blond highlighted hair and was driving a dark green Saturn with Virginia license plates.
(-----------)



[Stocks]


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


Blue chips moved higher on encouraging data showing a slowdown in the red hot economy. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/119.04/11027.80/x/29.48/3789.47/x/1.27/116.10;]


The DOW jumped 119-points, NASDAQ rose 29.
The Bloomberg News 7 Index gained about a point and a third.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=431-he/35#/hb/31e/hc/54!/hb/25*/h@/2*;]
[SUPER=432-hg/50d/h#/29e/h@/43!/i$/56%/hd/35b;]
[SUPER=433-i!/20*/h$/19/h!/26d/h2d/31b/hc/12c;]
[SUPER=434-i!/53#/h1r/56&/ia/42/h@/59@/h%/51%;]



[Allen-FOP]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-27 TC30:04]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Virginia's Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the entire Democratic statewide ticket in 1997.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Hampton;]


But today, the group threw its support behind Republican George Allen for the U-S Senate.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:41:56]
[IN Q=It's a verification]

((GEORGE ALLEN/R-U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: IT'S A VERIFICATION OF THE VERY GOOD WORK THAT MY ADMINISTRATION DID -- THE ABOLITION OF PAROLE, JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM, PROVIDING MORE FUNDING FOR MORE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES. EVEN BUILDING PRISONS SO PRISONERS ARE NOT RELEASED BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING.))
[sot 13:02:56]

((JIM GAUDET/VIRGINIA FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE: HE'S ALWAYS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS HIS TOP PRIORITY, AND THAT HIS DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPEN AS GOVERNOR, TO ALLOW US TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO, AND WE FELT THAT SENATOR ROBB NEVER OFFERED US THAT OPPORTUNITY.))
[SUPER=201-George Allen/(R) U. S. Senate Candidate; :00]
[SUPER=201-Jim Gaudet/VA Fraternal Order of Police; :16]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=that opportunity.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Allen says the F-O-P endorsement in 1993 was the most important he got in his campaign against Attorney General Mary Sue Terry.
This year is the first year all 85-hundred members of the F-O-P got to weigh in on the endorsement-- instead of just the leaders of each local lodge.
(------------)



[Tech-Bear]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-30 TC55:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A black bear that lost its paw to a trap set by Virginia Tech was released back into the wild this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Monday;]


Game wardens set it free in an undisclosed location.
They say they're not saying WHERE for the bear's protection.... Only that its in an area where bear hunting is illegal.
Veterinarians pronounced the bear in good health yesterday.
They amputated her paw Monday at Tech's vet school.
[SUPER=04-Virginia Tech Video;]


It had been caught in a trap Tech researchers set to study bears.
The bear was injured when it broke loose from the trap's tether and it caught on some shrubs.
Tech researchers say they're working to make their traps more safe.
The game department says it's also conducting an internal review of what happened.
(------------)



[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, Steve Mason checks in from UVa's preseason football gathering. Qualifying takes a hit from mother nature this afternoon in New York.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And William Byrd hopes to deliver some hits of its own this season. The Truth on the Terriers is straight ahead.
(------------)


[S-Cavs]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-75 33:11]
[GRAPHIC=UVa football]

With an embarrassing Illinois loss to end 1999, the Virginia football team is anxious to show fans just how re-chared the Cavs are. The Wahoos met the media today and Steve Mason was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Byron Thweatt/UVa Senior Linebacker; :08]
[SUPER=01-Billy Baber/UVa Senior Tight End; :23]
[SUPER=01-Dan Ellis/UVa Senior Quarterback; :30]
[SUPER=01-Antwoine Womack/UVa Junior Running Back; :54]
[SUPER=04-1999 Season; 1:08]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Coffey/UVa Senior Receiver; 1:13]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:26]
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/UVa Head Coach; 1:40]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=news 7 sports"]
(--------)



[S-Jeffers]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-63 12644TC]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[WIPE TO ENG#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsburgh, PA/Last Night; :00]

Last night the Panthers lost to the Steelers and lost former UVa star Patrick Jeffers for the season. Jeffers caught this pass in the first half and went down to the turf in a seemingly harmless manor. But he has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Last year he had over 1000 yards, 63 catches and 12 touchdowns.
(------------)


[S-Byrd]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-72 10956TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]


The Friday Football Extra preseason spotlight is in Vinton tonight where the William Byrd Terriers are looking to overcome the departure of the state's all-time rushing leader O.J. Thomason and some other unexpected losses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We thought we...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Highfill/Wiliam Byrd Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...STUFF."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
[super=03-Vinton; :00]

One area that has been impressive in the preseason is the work the lineman have turned in on both sides of the ball.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We knew...]
[SUPER=01-Cory Bush/Byrd Tight End & Linebacker; :15]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=...GOOD WITHOUT HIM."]
(----------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Byrd went 9-and-2 last season, and the Terriers have won at least 7 games - five years in a row.
(--------------)

[GO TO PINNACLE 1030] And remember that Friday Football Extra kicks off its 17th season next Friday night, August 18th at 11:35.
(---------------)



by SS