[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
New criminal charges against a Roanoke Police Officer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the nation's largest furniture store files for bankruptcy protection.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, we'll check in at the first ever football practice for the Averett College Cougars.
We'll also check in with the Pulaski County Cougars in our nightly Friday Football Extra previews.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, former Hokie Jim Druckenmiller is cut by the Miami Dolphins.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
A cool front is crossing the region at the moment. The short term promise is for a pleasant airmass surrounding us.
We'll check the forecast in a few moments.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A new indictment against Roanoke police officer Fred Pledge. And the N-Double-A-C-P is concerned about it.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Indictment]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-27 ]
[GRAPHIC=Fred Pledge]
A total of 11 new indictments in case of Officer Frederick Pledge were handed up by the Grand Jury today.
Meredyth Censullo was in the courtroom ..
[Double Boxes=Keith & Meredyth/Microwave Roanoke]
This is what's called a super-ceding indictment against Officer Pledge?
[Live= Meredyth Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meredyth1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
Yes - You'll remember, Officer Pledge is charged with one count each of racketeering and Conspiracy.
Today, 7 new acts were added to that racketeering charge, alleging Pledge took more than 15-thousand dollars in cash, as well as guns, drugs and alcohol in exchange for not arresting several people on various charges - including gun and drug possession.
The original indictment charged he accepted less than three- thousand dollars in bribes.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Meredyth/Microwave]
The new indictment today also says Pledge was involved in this criminal activity over a six year period of time.
The original indictment only covered a five year period. Keith.
[NAACP]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-27 TC35:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The N-double-A-C-P had been waiting for this "other shoe" to drop, fully expecting additional police officers to be indicted this week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:15:43]
[IN Q=The problem we're]
((THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING IS THAT THEY'RE ALL BLACK. AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY? ESPECIALLY IN A PERIOD WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF BLACK PARTICIPATION IN THE DEPARTMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Martin Jeffrey/NAACP Board Member]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=in the department.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
The indictment says Pledge "enriched himself" as a patrolman, accepting bribes from drug dealers.
The N-double-A-C-P figured he'd been accused of taking about 23-hundred dollars over a five- year period.
The new indictment adds 15-thousand dollars in bribes and dates back to 1994.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:07]
[IN Q=If we have]
((IF WE HAVE A POLICEMAN THAT'S DOING SOMETHING WRONG, WE WOULD SAY, "YOU ALLOW THIS TO GO ON FOR FIVE YEARS?" YOU SAY, "WE KNEW ABOUT IT FOR FIVE YEARS." OVER THE COURSE, LESS THAN $3,000, IF IT'S THAT MUCH.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Carl Tinsley/NAACP Acting President]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=that much.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The total now comes to almost 18-thousand dollars.
S-C-L-C Vice President Jeff Artis issued a statement today saying he's insulted and embarassed by the N-double-A-C-P's support of Officer Pledge.
Artis said: "Pledge's problems aren't because he's Black. He willingly engaged in criminal activity," Artis says, "and got caught."
[Heilig-Meyers]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC1:40:37]
[GRAPHIC=Heilig-Meyers Chap. 11]
One of the nation's largest furniture chain filed for bankruptcy today.
Five local Heilig-Meyers stores will close-- in Christiansburg, Radford, Martinsville, Collinsville and Rainelle, West Virginia.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Jen/Newsroom]
Jennifer Miele is in the newsroom with details on the announcement.
[Live=Jen Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
Keith, in adddition to the five local stores you mentioned, nearly 300 more in other parts of the nation will also close.
Effective immediately, all stores will cease to offer in-store financing.
That could be bad news all around for the company, customers and employees.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The bankruptcy announcement]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brian Gottstein/Legg Mason; :20]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :58]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=in 29 states.]
(( The chapter 11 protection will allow Heilig-Meyers to continue operations as it implements a restructuring plan.
70 to 80 percent of the store's sales were financed directly through the company. With so many stores in so many medium-sized markets, the company has had to spend a large amount of money collecting those finance payments.
[SOT]
[IN Q=There have been]
((BRIAN GOTTSTEIN/LEGG MASON: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DELINQUENCIES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SO THEY'VE HAD TO WRITE A LOT OF THAT OFF. THEY'VE HAD TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON, FROM WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS, ON MARKETING COSTS TO BRING NEW CLIENTS IN.))
[OUT Q=new clients in.]
[RUNS13]
Some analysts say customers who have furniture financed through the company are at the mercy of the company who buys those debts.
[SOT]
[IN Q=Their debts would]
((BRIAN GOTTSTEIN/LEGG MASON: THEIR DEBTS WOULD BE SOLD TO WHOMEVER THE NEW FINANCIERS ARE, A NEW COMPANY COMING IN AND BUYING THEIR OLD DEBT. THOSE CUSTOMERS WOULD CONTINUE THOSE OBLIGATION, TO A NEW FINANCIER.))
[OUT Q=a new financer.]
[RUNS15]
Finance restructuring may also be a worry for workers-- Heilig-Meyers employs 16 thousand people in twenty nine states.))
(-------------)
[Live=Jennifer Full/Newsroom]
For now, daily operations will continue in all stores, but suppliers are only selling furniture to Heilig-Meyers stores for cash.
[Double Boxes=Jennifer and Keith/Newsroom]
Keith, there has been a commitment from a group of lenders to buy 215 million dollars of customer debt.
No word yet on how that might affect buyers who still owe money to the company.
[Verizon]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-32 TC18:23]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon Strike]
Verison workers are still walking the picket lines on day 11 of the strike.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Union workers brought their children to the picket lines today to let the company know that family is their priority.
Nearly 100 people went to the Bell Atlantic building, hoping to gain support for a new contract.
Union leaders say company and Union negotiators haven't officially met since August fourth.
The union's regional compensation fund kicks in Saturday if the unionized workers are still on strike. That means paychecks will still be issued as the strike continues.
(------------)
[Fatal-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-30 TC56:06]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A Danville woman died in a traffic accident this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
Authorities say 34 year old Teresa Bledsoe was driving on Mount Cross Road when she lost control and hit a utility pole.
Crews rushed her to Danville Regional Medical Center.
She was pronounced dead an hour later.
(------------)
[Roanoke-Fraternity]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke College]
A Roanoke College fraternity has been suspended amid allegations of hazing.
Pi Kappa Phi is being investigated by the college and its national fraternity.
The school says the conduct in question happened in the Fall of 1999 but did not come to light until this past Spring.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
They hope it never happens, but Bedford County officials are preparing for violence at school.
That's one story still ahead on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And science may find revolutionary new uses for tobacco-- find out how that may revolutionize the way it's grown.
(----------------)
[Graduate-Center]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-24 TC53:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A new plan is in the works to change Danville and Pittsylvania County's economy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
The "Future of the Piedmont Foundation" says Virginia Tech, Averett College and Danville Community College are part of that plan.
A graduate program called the Dan River Institute will be established. Students will gain higher education and degrees in engineering and technology.
A research component will also be available.
There's more-- a low cost, high- speed internet service will be offered.
Business experts say the region would be better equipped than Northern Virginia or the research triangle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:42:28]
[IN Q=There are times]
((SENATOR CHARLES HAWKINS/(R) CHATHAM: THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHERE ALL THE PLANETS LINE UP. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE TIMES WHERE EVERYTHING HAS FALLEN INTO PLACE.))
[SOT 5:50:13]
((FRANK CAMPBELL/AVERETT COLLEGE PRESIDENT: THE MESSAGE IS THAT A STUDENT WILL NO LONGER LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR AN EDUCATION. IT CAN ALL BE DONE HERE.))
[SUPER=@Hawkins; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Campbell/Averett College President; :09]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=be done here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The institute and the high- speed internet service should be up and running in a year.
(------------)
[Bedford-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-26 TC1:03:34]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]
It's not a question of "if" but "when" another gunman decides to open fire in one of our nation's public schools.. that's the opinion of Bedford County sheriff Mike Brown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]
So Brown wants his department and local educators to be prepared.
Keeping schools safe was the goal of a day-long seminar today at the Bedford County sheriff's department.
More school resource officers are being deployed in the county's schools.. with positive results.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:14:48]
[IN Q=We're seeing]
((SGT. MIKE MILLER/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: WE'RE SEEING, FOR INSTANCE, ON CURSE AND ABUSE A 66 PERCENT DECREASE.. DISORDERLY CONDUCT A FIFTEEN PERCENT DECREASE.. TOBACCO A 33 PERCENT DECREASE.. BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING CREATIVE WAYS LIKE COMMUNITY SERVICE.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Mike Miller/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=like community service.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Miller says the department also has developed crisis response plans for each of the county's schools.
(------------)
[Pipeline]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kth]
[TAPE#=00-35 TC03:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The battle lines have been drawn in the war over a proposed natural gas pipeline through the Roanoke Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Residents and landowners from several counties formed the Sensible Mountain Policy Action Coalition.
They met today to announce the new council and what they propose to do about the pipeline situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :32:53-:33:08]
[IN Q= the most immediate situation]
((THE MOST IMMEDIATE SITUATION WE ARE AFTER IS TO PROPOSE AND HOPEFULLY ACHIEVE COOPERATION WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES WHERE THEY WILL SHARE THE EXISTING EASEMENTS RATHER THAN EVERY UTILITY COMPANY OUT THERE HAVING ITS OWN EASEMENT COMING ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Caveness/SMPAC]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q= coming across the mountain]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A public forum will be held September seventh at the Brambleton Center.
(------------)
[Green-Party]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-28 TC54:50]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
Bush, Gore, Browne, and Nader.
They could all be on the Virginia ballot for president this fall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Richmond;]
The Libertarians have already turned in petitions for Harry Browne.
Today, the Green Party filed more than 17-thousand signatures to put Ralph Nader on the state ballot.
Pundits say Nader could cut into Gore support.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:55:19]
[IN Q=Well I've never]
((SHERRY STANLEY/GREEN PARTY OF VIRGINIA: WELL I'VE NEVER BEEN ONE TO PREDICT HISTORY. I LIKE TO MAKE IT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND DO WHAT WE CAN. BUT I DON'T LIKE MAKING PREDICTIONS. THAT ALMOST TAKES THE VOTE AWAY FROM PEOPLE. THE DECISION-MAKING IS IN THE HANDS OF THE CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA HERE. I HOPE THAT WE GET AT LEAST TEN PERCENT OF THE VOTE HERE BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE THE GREEN PARTY BALLOT ACCESS IN VIRGINIA. BUT WINNING WOULD BE FINE TOO.))
[SUPER=201-Sherry Stanley/Virginia Green Party;]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=be fine too.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Nader 2000 campaign says its candidate is on the ballot in 20 other states.
Virginia's Board of Elections must sign off on the petitions dropped off today.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Another day of profit-taking sent Blue-Chips lower.
[TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/58.61/11008.39/x/9.54/3861.20/y/0.34/116.03;]
The DOW lost 59-points, but NASDAQ gained 10.
The Bloomberg News 7 Index lost about a third of a point.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=431-h!/35b/hd/32a/i&/53f/h#/26d/i1/2d;]
[SUPER=432-ib/51g/ic/28d/h@/42g/if/56g/i1b/33f;]
[SUPER=433-h@/20*/i#/17*/u/26f/h*/33b/if/11c;]
[SUPER=434-i#/52r/i%/57$/if/41f/if/58d/i1d/49r;]
[Tobacco]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-29 TC44:12]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco]
Experts say the new kind of tobacco used in biomedical research will produce lots of local jobs -- and not just for farmers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
Researchers from Virginia Tech are cutting the experimental tobacco now and expect to build the first processing plant within three years.
That would mean new jobs -- plus money for machinery dealers, utilities and other businesses.
Joe Williams is the first Virginia farmer to grow this Oriental strain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:43:46]
[IN Q=Absolutely]
((JOE WILLIAMS/FARMER: ANYBODY THAT'S FARMING AT 50 TO 55 YEARS OLD, I THINK THEY'LL SEE IT IN THEIR LIFETIME.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Williams/Farmer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=in their lifetime]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This type of tobacco is smaller and cheaper to grow than the flue-cured or burley tobacco.
But it's also more susceptible to pests or diseases.
A machine slices the stalks, replacing scarce and costly migrant workers who pull traditional tobacco leaves by hand.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:19:15]
[IN Q=Right now]
((TONY BANKS/VA FARM BUREAU: RIGHT NOW WE'RE STUDYING SOME DIRECT SEEDING METHODS. ... COST SAVING METHOD.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Banks/VA Farm Bureau;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=cost saving method]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Tobio -- a company made up of Virginia tobacco growers -- is waiting for the State Corporation Commission to approve its business plan so investors can cash in.
(------------)
[Cannery]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC1:22:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Bedford County gardeners have reason to celebrate once again..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]
Last night, county supervisors voted 4 to 3 to spend 21- thousand dollars to connect the New London Cannery to a new wastewater system.
Dozens of residents use the facility every year to can locally- grown fruits and vegetables.
A previous earlier effort to keep the cannery open failed on a tie vote, but supervisor Robert Bashore provided the winning margin last night.
Critics have said too few residents use the cannery to justify spending county money on it.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, Druckenmiller gets fired by the Fins.
Averett College opens its first ever football practice in Danville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, the Pulaski County Cougars are anxious to regain their throne in the Roanoke Valley district.
(------------)
[S-Averett]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-77 4307tc]
[GRAPHIC=COLLEGE FOOTBALL]
We begin tonight with a real beginning in Danville.
Averett College held its first ever football practice today as the team began preparing for its inaugural season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Aw it's exciting...]
((FRANK FULTON:))
((D.J. EDMONDS:))
[SUPER=01-Frank Fulton/Averett Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-D.J. Edmonds/Averett Co-Captain; :09]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=....GET IT DONE."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
More than 100 young men turned out for the opening day of workouts on campus.
There is plenty of enthusiasm, but there is also plenty of newness and little things that coaches in established programs don't have to worry about.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FROM...]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=....OF ALL OF THEM."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
The Averett College Cougars open the season on September the second at Ferrum.
The team's most high profile assistant coach is former Miami Dolphin Tight End Ferrell Edmonds.
(------------)
[S-Druck]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-73 11006tc]
[GRAPHIC=DRUCKENMILLER]
Speaking of Miami, the Dolphins cut former Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]
Druckenmiller, who was a first round pick of the 49ers in 1997, could not climb the depth chart in Miami playing behind Damon Huard, Jay Fielder and now Mike Quinn.
Druckenmiller's agent says the Dolphins never gave him a chance to excel.
The problem now is that he may have trouble getting picked up.
The Dolphins were unable to find anyone wanting to trade for Druck and his $652 thousand dollar salary.
(------------)
[S-Cougars]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-71 (1:06:40)]
[GRAPHIC=FFE Logo]
Despite a couple of lean years, Pulaski County still says in order to win the Roanoke Valley District you have to go through the Cougars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.; :]
The Cougars have failed to make the playoffs the past two years. And last year the Cougars lost several games in the last two or three minutes of the game.
But players on those teams have grown up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Of course...]
((JOEL HICKS/COUGARS HEAD COACH: OF COURSE IT WAS COMPETITIVE LAST YEAR. WE LOST TWO OR THREE GAMES BY A SMALL MARGIN. THREE GAMES WE LOST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES OF THE GAME SO THAT COMES AND GOES. THE SCHEDULE THAT WE PLAY THERE'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF GAMES LIKE THAT THIS YEAR THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY TIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Joel Hicks/Cougars Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=.....VERY TIGHT."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
That schedule includes three straight games on the road beginning with E.C. Glass, Salem and Bluefield, West Virginia.
But with more experience and confidence Hicks says the Cougars can handle that schedule.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We got...]
((HICKS: WE GOT TO KEEP OUR HEAD A SCHEDULE LIKE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN YOU CAN WIN 2 OR 3 BY VERY CLOSE MARGINS YOU CAN LOSE 2 OR 3 BY A VERY CLOSE MARGIN. SO OUR IDEA IS TO BE BETTER THAT SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON KEEP THE PLAYERS FROM LOSING CONFIDENCE AND KEEP MORAL HIGH AND THAT'S THE COACHES JOB.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=..COACHES JOB."]
(------------)
[TALENT=Mike]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]
The Cougars will host their Hudson Classic preseason jamboree this Friday afternoon beginning at 2 Franklin County, Lord Botetourt and Varina, one of the top programs in the state, will compete in the classic.
Also, GW Danville holds its annual jamboree this Friday night starting at six.
(---------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 1031]
And keep in mind that Friday Football Extra annual preseason special is coming up for you this Friday night at 11:35 right here on Your Hometown Station.
(---------------)
[S-Water]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-63 tc 1:29:50]
[GRAPHIC=ffe]
In one other high school related note - the recent death of a Tennessee Tech football player has placed the spotlight once again on staying hydrated.
18 year old Preston Birdsong died when he overheated at practice last week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
At Patrick Henry they're beating the heat with a state of the art hydration system.
The misting tent cools off the players and the cooler dispenses cold water by running water through an iced coil inside.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=ice cold]
[SUPER=01-Tim Bane/Patrick Henry Trainer;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=about 72]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Coaches and trainers stress to their athletes that taking in fluids is a matter of life and death.
Staffs all over the country have got the strategy of water breaks down to a science.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we check]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=15 minutes]
(------------)
by SS