[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
After all this time- -a year and a half- -there may actually be a union agreement with Rubatex.
We're LIVE from Bedford with that tonight.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]


And the stock market resumes its nose dive. Local comments and observations about that tonight.

[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 sports, a Madison Heights man has a new song out honoring Dale Earnhardt. The state basketball final four events are set to open tomorrow in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And this mother of two is joining the Winston Cup circuit.
(------------)


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


The wind has left the area but now the clouds and rain are heading our way... I'll have your complete forecast coming up.......

[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]



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


The end may be in sight to the 18-month long labor dispute at Bedford's Rubatex plant.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Rubatex]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#01-09 TC 23:00 ]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex Agreement]


Union and company officials confirm that a tentative agreement was reached last Thursday and is now waiting to be approved by the union and its members.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Starlink]


Steve Smallshaw is in Bedford tonight.
Steve, what can you tell us about the agreement.
[Live=Steve Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[SUPER=06-Bedford;]
( ad lib)

[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]
(adlib)
(-------------)
[Live=Steve Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Bedford;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Starlink]



[Market]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC1:35:55]
[GRAPHIC=Stock Market]


Stocks plunged again today.
(XXXXXXXXX)

[TAKE STOCKS PINNACLE]
The DOW dropped 319 points.
NASDAQ fell 43.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]


Today's market climate cost local investors millions of dollars.
So, if you're not willing to lose it, get out.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Jennifer /Microwave;]


That's the advice one local professor gave News 7's business reporter Jennifer Miele.
She joins us now with that story.
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]


What seems to be on most of viewer's minds tonight is the state of their 401 K's.
If you have money invested in high risk stocks you ARE probably losing it right now.
But the professor we talked to says don't touch it.
Here's why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You don't want to]
[SUPER=01-Carroll Gentry/Virginia Western Business Div.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sally Booy/Investor; :42 ]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=guess the tops.]

(([tc:21:25:43] ((CARROLL GENTRY/VIRGINIA WESTERN BUSINESS DIVISION: YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PULLING MONEY OUR OF RETIREMENT FUNDS RIGHT NOW, AND SHIFTING THINGS AROUND AT IT'S LOW POINT.)) [RUNS05]
Advice from Professor Carroll Gentry at Virginia Western Community College.
He says today's investor was spoiled by thousand percent returns on technology stocks. [tc:21:26:04] ((CARROLL GENTRY/VIRGINIA WESTERN BUSINESS DIVISION: WE WERE TRYING TO GET RICH QUICK AND THAT TO ME REFERS TO GREED.))
[RUNS05]
Gentry says there are places where people shouldn't be in the stock market.... anywhere that an investor isn't comfortable losing three to five percent on an investment.
So if you aren't willing to risk losing, Gentry advises investment in CD's and treasury bills.
Let's turn now from this market to this one, where some average investors are panicking. ((SALLY BOOY/INVESTOR: I'M DEFINITELY NOT BUYING ANYMORE. I WAS BUYING BEFORE WHEN IT WENT DOWN, AND NOW I'M TOO WORRIED TO DO IT.)) [RUNS05]
Gentry calls it legalized gambling.
You win some, you lose some, but you have to keep playing the game if you want your retirement money back. ((CARROLL GENTRY/VIRGINIA WESTERN BUSINESS DIVISION: LEAVE THEM ALONE, DON'T PANIC, DON'T TRY TO GUESS THE TOPS, DON'T TRY TO GUESS THE BOTTOMS.)) [RUNS06]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]


There's the advice from a local expert.. if you can't take the heat, get out of the market.
But if you can, don't do anything.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer and Keith/Microwave;]


We'll continue to keep a close watch on the market over the next several weeks, Keith.

[Hairston]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC07:42]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Jury is deliberating the fate of a Martinsville man accused of killing his girlfriend and her daughter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/March 2000;]


Michael Hairston is charged with capital murder and first degree murder in the shooting deaths of Evonne Hairston and her 16 year old daughter Melveena.
In their closing arguments, defense attornies conceded Michael Hairston fired the gun, but argued it was not pre-meditated.
Prosecutors say it was intentional because Hairston at one point left the house then returned with the gun.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]


The jury got the case about an hour ago, we'll have an update on News 7 at Eleven.

[I-73]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC22:45]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 73]


Almost 87-hundred southside and southwest Virginians have weighed in on the issue.
Today, the Commonwealth Transportation Board heard the results of December and January's public comment period on the proposed new Interstate 73.
(XXXXXXXXX)

[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE ]
The comments are almost equally divided among building the new Interstate, just upgrading the existing Route 220 between Roanoke and Martinsville, and NOT building anything at all.
All four alternatives for a new Interstate would displace more than 340 houses and up to 147 businesses.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:42:20]
[IN Q=]

((FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE NOT HAD TO ACT ON A NEW INTERSTATE ROADWAY, SO WHEN YOU THINK OF THOSE DISPLACEMENTS...70 MILES LONG.))
[SUPER=01-Patsy Napier/VDOT Engineer;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=averaging about 70 miles long.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The staff will make its recommendation of a route at the state board's April or May work session.
But the Lynchburg division member is already worried about using 581 in Roanoke.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:51:44]
[IN Q=If we're gonna come up]

((ROY PARRISH BYRD/COMMONWEALTH TRANS. BOARD: IF WE'RE GONNA COME UP THE RURAL SIDE OF 220, AS WE GET CLOSER TO...TRAFFIC OUT OF THE CITY.))
[SUPER=01-Roy Parrish Byrd/Commonwealth Trans. Board; ]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=traffic out of the city.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]


Virginia is in the middle of the pack in terms of planning for I-73 among the six states it would hit on its Michigan to South Carolina path.
If it were built today, V-DOT says it would cost more than 1-point-2 BILLION dollars.

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


They lost two hundred dollars to a burglar, but have gained hundreds more because of it.
Still ahead on News 7 at Six, the story of Catie's fund, and the burglar who's been a blessing in disguise.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And investigators say they know what sparked Monday's fire at a Roanoke apartment complex.
(----------------)






[Stolen-Fund]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC50:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A burglar's effort has ended up raising more money for a five year old girl with leukemia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


Last week, a burglar broke into Kilmer Chiropractic on Brambleton Avenue and stole 200 dollars from an envelope going for Catie's fund.
The money was going to be used to help Catie's family pay for medical expenses.
But word of the burglary --has encouraged more people to give.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:09]
[IN Q=We're seeign much more money]

((DAVID KILMER/KILMER CHIROPRACTIC: WE'RE SEEING MUCH MORE MONEY . I THINK TODAY WE'VE RAISED 1300 DOLLARS JUST FROM THE INFORMATION OF THIS BREAK-IN, REACHING THE PUBLIC IT'S BEEN AMAZING))
[SUPER=01-David Kilmer/Kilmer Chiropractic]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=the public it's been amazing]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Catie recently had a stem cell transplant and is recovering at Duke Medical Center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:03:25]
[IN Q=She's doing well right now ]

((RUDY COX/CATIE'S GRANDFATHER: SHE'S DOING REALLY WELL RIGHT NOW. WE HOPE THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT FOR HER))
[SUPER=01-Rudy Cox/Catie's Grandfather]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=work out for her]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]


Kilmer Chiropractic is accepting donations for Catie and is also offering its services for free for first time patients who wish to give..
(------------)



[Fleming-Update]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC06:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Their investigation isn't complete, but Roanoke police think they may have found the teenager who fired a gun outside William Fleming High School earlier this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday]


Officers were called to the school late Monday afternoon, after someone fired shots in the parking lot.
The young man with the gun did not point the weapon at anyone, and no one was injured.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Today, police said they arrested a fifteen- year- old boy after he assaulted his 18- year- old sister.
Investigators recovered a handgun which they will compare with shell casings found in the school's parking lot.



[Summit-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-14 TC02:03]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]


Authorities say they know what caused the fire at the Summit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday;]


Investigators have traced it to a discarded cigarette in a flower pot on a deck.
The fire destroyed two apartments and did heavy damage to three others.
(------------)



[Museums]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-03 TC1:15:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Leaders of local cultural organizations are warning the community about the effect of Governor Gilmore's newly balanced budget. Monday, the Governor announced he'd found the funds necessary to make up for a 421-million dollar budget shortfall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]

But his new budget provides no money for local museums that rely on state funding. The organizations housed in Roanoke's Center in the Square are now scrambling to raise enough money to continue operating. Executive directors say they'll have to make significant changes that will ultimately affect the community as a whole.

(///// SOT at: /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For Center in the Square...]

((JIM SEARS/CENTER IN THE SQUARE: FOR CENTER IN THE SQUARE THE LONG TERM EFFECT IS SHORTER HOURS , PERHAPS LESS PEOPLE ATTENDING, LESS ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR REGION, FEWER MULTIPLYING DOLLARS AVAILABLE.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Sears/Center in the Square;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=multiplying dollars available.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Changes in staffing will take effect this weekend when about 20 Center in the Square employees will lose their jobs. Starting next week the Center will be closed Mondays and will open other days at 10:00 a.m. instead of the current 7:30.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


As we said earlier, another dismal day on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/318.76/9972.04/y/42.70/1972.08;]


The DOW plunged 319 points, closing below the 10-thousand level for the first time since October.\
NASDAQ lost 43.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/1.14/44.58/i/0.92/22.42/i/2.50/51.75/i/0.58/18.67/i/0.66/7.51;]
[SUPER=272-i/1.70/62.30/i/1.33/31.36/i/0.45/42.97/i/1.30/41.03/i/0.40/36.30;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.98/23.04/i/0.48/15.87/h/0.19/9.88/i/1.46/48.04/i/0.06/11.19;]
[SUPER=274-i/2.07/63.08/h/0.07/55.00/i/2.28/46.90/i/1.99/59.61/i/1.60/47.20;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[Foot-Mouth]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-12 TC10:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The federal government is taking precautions to fight the import of foot-and-mouth disease.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The highly contagious livestock virus has ravaged farms in Britain and cases have been confirmed in France and reported in Argentina.
While it is not a danger to humans, for protection of U-S farming, the U-S-D-A has banned meat imports from 15-European countries and put foreign travelers under restrictions.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]


A spokesman for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech says vet schools across the country can play a helpful role...
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-1:47:06]
[IN Q=I PERSONALLY]

((JEFFREY DOUGLAS/VETERINARY MEDICINE COLLEGE VT; I PERSONALLY DID MEET WITH A USDA VETERINARIAN ON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEASURES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WORKS TOGETHER IN CONTAINING THIS PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-Jeffrey Douglas/VT College of Veterinary Medicine]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=THIS PROBLEM]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Foreign travelers are doing their part by washing clothing, shoes and personal items and avoiding animal contact.


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



[WREL]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC23:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Country music fans in Roanoke and Lynchburg will soon have a new option on the radio dial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]


W-R-E-L in Lexington is increasing its signal from four thousand to 25-thousand watts.
The change has been in the making for the past seven years. It should be complete by the middle of April.
The Adelphia tower on Brown Mountain in Amherst County will allow W-R-E-L to send a strong signal into Lynchburg as well as parts of Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Probably what]
[SUPER=01-Jim Putbrese/WREL General Manager;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=sports and news.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The station has already opened a sales office in the Hill City.
A break out concert to celebrate the change is planned for this fall in Lynchburg.
(------------)



[Sports Tease]


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

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports we'll see what Jeff Gordon and Orange juice have in common, plus a woman is joining the Winston Cup circuit while a local man has recorded a tribute to Earnhardt.

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

And the state high school final fours are getting set to play - and look who is back in the mix - the Double A kings from Martinsville.
(------------)


[S-Race]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-83 14042tc]
[GRAPHIC=shawna robinson]

36 year old Shawna Robinson announced today that she will run six Cup events this year in a car owned by Michael Kranefuss. Shawna, who is married and a mother of two,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/May 1993; :00]


has been racing for 20 years on everything from the Late Model, to ARCA to Busch series ranks. She will become the first woman since Patty Moise 12 years ago to attempt to make a Cup race when she attempts to qualify at California on April 29th. Shawna plans to run full-time in 2002 and 2003.
(------------)


[S-Gordon]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-84]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]


Robinson also will attempt to make the first ever Cup race at the New Chicagoland speedway in July.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL; :00]

Today, current points leader Jeff Gordon flew into the Midwest to help the track break in a new sponsor. Tropicana Orange Juice has signed on with the new track to be its title sponsor for the next four years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Gordon/Winston Cup Points Leader; :00]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=...of this event."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]

And don't worry - Tropicana is not getting a sponsor's exemption to race this orange bug in July.
(------------)



[S-BLack#3]



[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-85 tc 1:25:58]
[GRAPHIC=earnhardt obit]


NASCAR fans are still mourning Dale Earnhardt's death.
Now country music is responding to the out pouring of affection.
Denise Allen has more on a local musician's song that is touching the nation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Sines, Jr./Country Recording Artist; :18]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :27]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Allen/Music Producer; :45]
[SUPER=@Denise2; :57]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=news 7 sports]

((
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
The Black #3 is John Sines Junior's way of dealing with Dale Earnhardt's shocking death.


The NASCAR fan and Madison Heights resident wrote the song the day after the fatal Daytona race.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:37:32]
[IN Q=coming home]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=had the song]


The song made Nashville music executives stand at attention.
Production was finished in seven days. This week, just three weeks after it was written, it was released to major radio stations around the country.
Producer Bruce Allen says the song has a purpose.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:45:21]
[IN Q=everytime]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=drop to their knees]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


The number three has been influential throughout this process. Production was finished on March third, the third day of the third month.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:39:42]
[IN Q=the song]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=I wrote the song]


John says the song will be added to his current CD, "John Sines Junior." And it hits the stores in about four weeks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


Denise Allen News 7 Sports. ))
(---------------)

[wdbj web page fs]
To find out more about the Black #3's release to music stores, go to John's web page and you can find a link to that

on our home page.




[S-Ville]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-88]
[GRAPHIC=TOURNEY TIME]


The Virginia High School League state tournaments open tomorrow at the Vines Center at Liberty University. Among the participants is the all-time
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/1995;]

Group Two A kings - the Martinsville Bulldogs. The Dogs have won 10 state titles, with most of those coming under hall of fame coach Husky Hall. But this is the Dogs first trip to the final four under Hall's longtime assistant Troy Wells.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Troy Wells/Martinsville Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...special group]
(------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLES]

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



[S-VHSL]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
(------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE GROUP AA] The Martinsville Brunswick game will be followed up at 9 Friday night with the Heritage and Caroline Co. contest.
(------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE GROUP AAA GIRLS] And tomorrow night, the GW Danville girls take on Hampton in the Three-A semi-finals at 7. The Lady Eagles are still unbeaten.
(--------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE ]
The Radford Bobcats open play in the Group A semi finals Friday at 3pm at the Vines Center on the campus of Liberty University against George Mason. Council and Nandua open the event at one.
(------------)






[EMS-Meeting]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rre]
[TAPE#=01-06 TC1:09:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]


On this delightful late winter day, the talk in Williamsburg is of high winds, floods and storms. Emergency managers from around the Commonwealth are gathered to plan for weather disasters.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Robin and Keith/State Microwave]

Robin Reed was on hand and joins us now from our newsroom in Richmond.
[LIVE=Robin Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
[ANCHOR=Robin]

Where the weather could not be more pleasant Keith and yet hurricanes were on the minds of government planers.
Traditionally the coastal areas have been the focus as a hurricane spins but today the director of the National Hurricane Center told us that inland flooding accounts for more than 50% of all tropical fatalities over the last 30 years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We know we need to do a better job...]
[SUPER=01-Max Mayfield/National Hurricane Center]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...from the inland flooding.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Another interesting bit of news may change peoples minds about riding out the storm in their high rise apartments.
New studies show much higher wind speeds 50 to 100 feet off the ground. Recent hurricanes have severely damaged new high rise beach developments.
Staying put may not keep you high and dry anymore.
(------------)
[LIVE=Robin Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

As for the season ahead which begins June 1st, Mr. Mayfield says early forecasts call for another active season but he also points out the hurricane Andrew occured in a very light year, and it was the most damaging in US history.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Leo and Robin/State microwave]

Leo...hurricane season won't be here for awhile but I could go for some rain right now.
by SS