WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 09/14/00

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Up Next on News 7--
The U-S Supreme Court denies condemned killer Derek Barnabei his last chance for a stay of execution.
Barnabei is scheduled to die tonight by lethal injection.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And public health officials believe there's another case of Legionnaires' Disease in Covington.
If so, it's the second case in less than a WEEK in Alleghany County.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]

Cloudy skies begin our day but sun *and* showers are expected today. Your cool weekend forecast and your tropical outlook are ahead.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]

You'll want to stay tuned-- News 7 at noon is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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[VO-NAT]

No clemency from the Governor...now NO second chance from the U-S supreme court for a convicted killer.

(-----------)[Barnabei]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom. The U-S Supreme Court has denied a stay of execution for condemned killer Derek Barnabei.
Barnabei is scheduled to die by lethal injection tonight at the Greensville Correctional Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-29 1:22:52]
[SUPER=03-Norfolk/File Tape]
Barnabei was convicted in Norfolk of raping and killing his girlfriend 17-year-old Old Dominion University student Sarah Wisnosky from Lynchburg. Barnabei claims he's innocent and that new D-N-A tests ordered by Governor Gilmore are based on tainted evidence that disappeared and then reappeared two weeks ago.
(------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[ss=none]
Gilmore also denied a clemency plea, saying the tests helped prove Barnabei's guilt.

[Legionnaires]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legionnaires]

Public Health Officials believe they have another case of Legionnaires' Disease in Covington but they say it's too early to call this an outbreak.
This is the second case in less than a week in Alleghany County.
The victim is a middle-aged man. He's receiving treatment at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The other victim, a woman is at the UVA Medical Center.
She was an employee of Westvaco.
Health officials say it's very unusual for two people to catch the disease at the same time, living in the same community-- this leads them to believe they may have caught it from the same source.
Victims of Legionnaires' Disease experience flu-like symptoms.
It causes acute pneumonia and can be fatal.
It's often spread through water taps, water-based humidifiers, or cooling- tower air conditioners.

[Bent-Mt-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
An accident on Bent Mountain killed one person and injured four others.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
It happened yesterday on Route 221 near Tinsley Lane. Roanoke County police say 66-year-old Betty Arthur of Bedford turned into the path of this Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep hit the passenger side, killing Arthur's aunt, Fannie Hazen. A couple in the Jeep - Paul and Kathleen Slater from Floyd County - were also injured. Arthur and the Slaters are all in stable condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Arthur's husband was treated at the scene. Charges are pending against Betty Arthur.
(------------)

[Ax-Reax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-35]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
The accident occurred just yards from the Bent Mountain Rescue Squad building. But no one was there - because last month, Roanoke County moved Bent Mountain's three paid firefighters to the Back Creek station several miles down the road. As Meredyth Censullo reports, some Bent Mountain residents say, the accident was a classic example of their worst fear.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Carson King/Bent Mountain Fruit Market;:09]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Newman/Witness;:31]
[SUPER=@Meredyth2;1:07]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=News 7 Roanoke Co.]
((The accident happened right in front of Carson King's Fruit Market. His wife called for help. That's when he says the wait began.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=My wife called..]
((CARSON KING: MY WIFE CALLED AS QUICK AS IT HAPPENED AND WHEN I CAME DOWN SHE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT, THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN UP YET.")) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=up yet.]

Roanoke County Fire Chief Rick Burch says the first rescue squad on the scene - from Back Creek - arrived in eight minutes. Residents at the scene say it took much longer. In fact they say the response time was unacceptable.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There were..]
((THERE WERE SEVERE INJURIES HERE THAT I WITNESSED AND SAW AND FOR THE COUNTY TO THINK THEY CAN SERVICE BENT MOUNTAIN FROM BACK CREEK, THEY'RE MISTAKEN. IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=gonna happen.]

Residents say a speedy response COULD have happened. The Bent Mountain Fire and Rescue Squad is located mere yards from the crash site.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If we had...]
((CARSON KING: IF WE HAD PAID FIREMEN, RESCUE SQUAD ON THE MOUNTAIN, THEY COULD RESPOND WITHIN 1 TO 2 MINUTES. )) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=minutes.]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Maybe the woman...]
((WAYNE NEWMAN: MAYBE THE WOMAN WOULD'VE STILL PASSED AWAY, BUT SOMEONE WOULD'VE BEEN HERE WHO WOULD'VE KNOWN WHAT TO DO, THAN JUST STAND THERE AND WATCH.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=and watch.]

Fire Chief Burch says in an ideal situation, both Bent Mountain and Back Creek would each have their own staff of paid firemen. But, he says, there's no way the county can afford that. Meredyth Censullo, News 7, Roanoke County.))

[Runaway-Car]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-36 TC24:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

After rolling hundreds of feet, a runaway car hit two vehicles and crashed into a Roanoke county apartment building.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

No one was in the S-U-V when it crashed into a building at the Pebble Creek Apartments around eight yesterday evening.
The car was parked in a lot at the neighboring Bent Tree Apartment complex when it started rolling.
It hit a motorcycle and an antique car, then kept rolling into the apartment.
No one was hurt.
(------------)

[Campaign-2000]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

The two candidates for U-S Senate in New York took the gloves off last night in their first publicized debate.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Buffalo, NY;]

The hour- long debate between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Congressman Rick Lazio featured discussion about health care and the economy.
But mostly, the candidates took shots at each other.
The First Lady repeatedly called Lazio a conservative disciple of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:17:55 ]
[IN Q=He stands here...]
((HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON/D- U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: HE STANDS HERE AND TELLS US HE IS A MODERATE MAINSTREAM MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WHEN IN FACT HE WAS DEPUTY WHIP TO NEWT GINGRICH, HE VOTED TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN. HE VOTED TO CUT 270- BILLION FROM MEDICARE, HE VOTED FOR THE BIGGEST EDUCATION CUTS IN OUR HISTORY.))
[SOT 10:18:27 ]
((RICK LAZIO/R- U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: MRS. CLINTON, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULDN'T TRY TO MAKE GUILT BY ASSOCIATION. NEWT GINGRICH ISN'T RUNNING IN THIS RACE. I'M RUNNING IN THIS RACE. LET'S TALK ABOUT MY RECORD.))
[SUPER=201-Hillary Rodham Clinton/(D) U. S. Senate Candidate;]
[SUPER=201-Rick Lazio/(R) U. S. Senate Candidate; :16]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=about my record.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

During one especially lively exchange, Lazio asked Mrs. Clinton to sign a pledge to stop using soft money.
But the debate's moderator called time before the matter was resolved.
(------------)

[Bird]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC2:01:48]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Myrtle Beach authorities say they do NOT have any suspects in the stabbing death of a Roanoke man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Myrtle Beach, SC/Yesterday;]

Housekeepers at the Poindexter Ocean Front Resort found the body of 50- year old John Milton Bird Tuesday morning.

A Dodge Stratus with Virginia license plates was later seized by police from the hotel's parking lot.
Investigators are hoping to locate three people who may have been with Bird in the hours before his death.
Witnesses told police two of the people may have gone by the names Jeremy Hackney and Chrissy and were possibly from Ohio.
Roanoke police are also assisting in the investigation.
They're trying to find out who may have traveled to South Carolina with Bird.
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[Gas-pipeline]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-24 TC1:34:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Duke Energy has offered to allow construction of the proposed 55-mile Virginia Gas pipeline next to its own existing one.
But there are some strings attached.
Jennifer Miele has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A new gas]
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/Roanoke Gas Company; :42]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape; 1:10]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(( A new gas pipeline running from Montgomery County to the Roanoke area is expected to affect 165 families in Montgomery County and 215 in Roanoke County.
Opponents say Virginia Gas should run the new pipeline along an existing one owned by Duke Energy.
Duke Energy has offered the following three options. [PRE-PRO]
Virginia Gas can share a pipeline with East Tennessee's existing one.
The lines can run 50 feet apart, but Virginia Gas would have to pay for any expansion.
OR, Virginia Gas can buy some of Duke Energy's existing property, creating a smaller right of way in between the lines. [END PRE-PRO]
John Williamson of Roanoke Gas Company says the proposals are only a short term solutions.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've forcasted]
((JOHN WILLIAMSON/ROANOKE GAS COMPANY: WE'VE FORECASTED THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL PIPELINE CAPACITY BY 2002-2003.))
[OUT Q= by 2002-2003.]
[RUNS08]
Williamson is urging Virginia Gas to build the new line using a new easement. [PRE-PRO page 2]
He says one pipeline will meet Roanoke's needs only until 2006. An expansion of co-located pipelines would be two expensive for Virginia Gas. And a co-located right of way, as proposed by Duke Energy, would actually affect 100 more property owners. [END PREPRO]
With more choices, residents who are opposed to the new pipeline may now have more of a reason to fight against it.
Still, Williamson says he'll fight for it.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've been in this]
((JOHN WILLIAMSON/ROANOKE GAS COMPANY: WE'VE BEEN IN THIS PLANNING MODE FOR A LONG TIME, AND FRANKLY WE THINK A SECOND PIPELINE IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE. AND WE HOPE VIRGINIA GAS COMPANY GOES THROUGH WITH THE PROJECT.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=with this project.]
[STAND UP] [TC: 1:45:15] ((JENNIFER MIELE: PROPERTY DAMAGE IS STILL AN ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHY RESIDENTS WHO OPPOSE THE PIPELINE ARE SCHEDULED TO PICKET ROANOKE GAS COMPANY ON FRIDAY. JENNIFER MIELE, NEWS 7.)) [RUNS10]))

[Trucking-Investigation]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-27 TC1:13:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

For nearly two years, a group of trucking companies in Central Virginia has been under investigation by federal agents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co./October 1998]

They raided the offices of K-and-C Trucking in Rustburg, and carted away boxes of records.
Search warrant documents unsealed only this week indicate the feds suspect the firms of fudging records.
Those are supposed to account for the number of hours drivers are on the road, and failing to subject drivers to drug testing.
The F-B-I wouldn't discuss it then, and federal authorities still aren't talking about it, other than to say the investigation continues.
(------------)

[Australia-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities in Australia are investigating why an un-marked police car ran over a young woman at a protest of the World Economic Forum.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Melbourne, Australia;]

The protester was wedged under the wheels of the car.
Witnesses say the vehicle then drove OVER her legs before speeding away.
Officials say she's in stable condition.
Dozens of protesters AND police were injured during the three- day protest.
Demonstrators say they plan to seek an independent investigation into what they called "police brutality" toward protesters.
(------------)

[Olympics]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Olympic Rings]

On the day before the Olympic opening ceremonies, hundreds of thousands of visitors are converging on Sydney, Australia.
And as Manuel Gallegus reports, city officials have their hands full.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Sydney, Australia; :00]
[SUPER=01-Manuel Gallegus/Reporting; :14 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Roger Blomquist/Swedish Visitor; :32]
[SUPER=01-Christine Blackmore/Olympic Visitor; :49 QUICK]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=Gallegus, CBS News, Sydney.]
((

PKG-----------------
((OLYMPIC PARK, SYDNEY))
WITH THE GATES OPENED TO ITS STATE OF THE ART OLYMPIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING A GRAND STADIUM FOR 110-THOUSAND, AUSTRALIA HAS COME A LONG WAY PREPARING FOR THE GAMES.
-STAND UP-MANUEL GALLEGUS ON CAM
BUT BEHIND SYDNEYS BREATHTAKING FAGADE, THE CITY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH SOME OLYMPIC SIZED LOGISTICS PROBLEMS.
-NAT BUSSES-
BUS DRIVERS HAVE WALKED OFF THE JOB, COMPLAINING OF POOR LIVING CONDITIONS. AND EXTRA DRIVERS BROUGHT FROM OUT OF TOWN CANT FIND THEIR WAY, LEAVING OLYMPIC ATHLETES AND WORKERS STRANDED.

-SOT-ROGER BLOMQUIST, SWEDISH VISITOR
Yesterday I waited for a couple of hours down here and none turned upyeah one bus actually, and he said sorry mate, Im lost!
-NAT TRAIN-
THE CITYS TRAIN SYSTEM, THE MAIN ARTERY INTO THE GAMES, IS BACK ON TRACK AFTER A SERIES OF DERAILMENTS BUT MANY PASSENGERS HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE.

-SOT-Im so over the trains, its absolutely ridiculous.

-NAT - SOT-GAS LEAK

AT THE NEWLY REMODELED AIRPORT, A CHEMICAL LEAK IN THE TERMINAL MADE DOZENS OF PASSENGERS SICK
AND WHILE AIRPORT SECURITY IS OVERWHELMED BY THE CRUSH OF MEDIA AND FANS CROWDING THE ARRIVING ATHLETES.

SOT-BACK BACK!

AROUND TOWN, POLICE ARE ON ALERT, TAKING NO CHANCES WITH SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES.

-NAT SOT TICKETS-

AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST HASSLE OF ALL IS OVER TICKETS. AUSTRALIANS ARE WAITING IN LONG LINES FOR SEATS BUT AFTER THE VIPS, SPONSORS AND MEDIA GET THEIR SPOTS, NOT MUCH IS LEFT.

-SOT- CHRISTINE BLACKMORE, OLYMPIC VISITOR
I was frustrated that I didn't get tickets to the opening ceremony, that I really wanted to get.
ON THE EVE OF THE GAMES, SYDNEY ORGANIZERS ARE CONFIDENT THEIR PLAN WILL GO-OFF WITH FLYING COLORS. BUT THE QUESTION IS BEING RAISED, ARE THE OLYMPICS TOO BIG FOR ANY ONE CITY TO HANDLE.
MANUEL GALLEGUS, CBS NEWS, SYDNEY.
))

[Korean-Vets]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Crewmen who served on six U-S Navy destroyers during the Korean War were honored today in South Korea.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Inchon, South Korea;]

The operation called "Sitting Duck" cleared the way for a successful landing during the war.
About 100 people gathered for today's ceremony.
It's one of a series of commemorative events planned between now and 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War.
The South Korean government and U-S forces there WERE avoiding big anniversary events, since tensions eased between North and South Korea after a June summit.
The U-S still has 37- thousand troops in South Korea. (------------)