[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

State Corporation approval for the gas companies to merge.

What the Governor vetoed that Senate Republicans liked.
(------------)

[V/O-NAT]
And why Kroger workers like their new contract.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


In sports a local high school basketball star recieves a huge award, one of Green Bay's all time greats was in Bassett today,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


and speaking of greats, many of Winston' Cup's finest hit high speeds at Martinsville today.
(------------)


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


Another chance for record cold tonight but a 30 degree rebound expected tomorrow. Full forecast details are coming up.

[Video-Open]


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



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


A merger between two Gas Companies means the money for a new gas pipeline is in the bank.
Residents who don't want it say the fight isn't over.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]


Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Gas-Merger]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC1:55:34]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Six]


The State Corporation Commission today put its stamp of approval on a merger between Virginia Gas and New Jersey-based N-U-I.
That means Virginia Gas now has the funds it needs to build a new pipeline through Southwest Virginia.
Now pipeline opponents are gearing up for a court battle.
Jennifer Miele has the story.
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Monkey Bars]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]


Keith, the State Corporation Commission could have forced N-U-I to explore colocation-- that's the idea of building the new pipeline next to an existing one.
But the S-C-C says conditioning the merger would go beyond its scope of power.
Still residents say they'll keep fighting construction of a new pipeline unless its built along side an existing one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two problems arose]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:]
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Opponent]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=new gas pipeline.]

(( Two problems arose when Virginia Gas announced construction of a new pipeline -- money AND the residents who didn't want the pipeline to run through their property.
Now that the merger is approved, money is no longer a problem.
But residents say they aren't going away.
[SOT]

[tc:08:21:24] ((BRENT RILEY/PIPELINE OPPONENT:THERE WILL BE SOME JOINING OF GROUPS, I BELIEVE, TO HIRE LEGAL COUNCIL AS A GROUP TO TRY TO DEFEND THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.)) [RUNS12]
For months, Brent Riley has fought construction of a new pipeline along a new route.
He says it simply doesn't make sense -- why not build a new pipeline along side an existing one? [tc:08:21:59] ((BRENT RILEY/PIPELINE OPPONENT:WHEN THE STATE GIVES TO A CORPORATION THE RIGHT TO TAKE LAND, IT'S BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF NEED. WHEN THE NEED IS NOT THERE, THE TAKING OF THAT LAND BECOMES A FORM OF TYRANNY.)) [RUNS12]
The S-C-C didn't abandon residents like Riley completely.
A statement released today explained the Commission stands ready to step in if Virginia Gas or N-U-I doesn't adhere to its public service duties when it comes to construction of a new gas pipeline.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Jennifer FULL/Monkey Bars]


We called and left messages with both Virginia Gas and N-U-I.
Neither entity has commented on the merger or construction of a new pipeline.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.

[Altavista]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-05 TC1:27:27]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]


Usually it's businesses that announce layoffs.
But this time it's a local government doing the cutting-- 25 percent of its workforce, in fact.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Altavista]


Town officials in Altavista plan to lay off eleven people and eliminate ten vacant positions.
The town will also consolidate emergency dispatch services with Campbell County.
Town Leaders say the cuts are needed to help offset a downturn in the economy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:10:56]
[IN Q=We've also of course]

((BRYAN FOSTER/TOWN MANAGER: WE'VE ALSO OF COURSE HAVE HAD A DOWNTURN IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY WITH RECENT PLANT CLOSINGS AND THEN WITH THE BUDGET. THE PROBLEMS THAT THE STATE IS HAVING WE KNOW OUR REVENUE FROM THE STATE IS GOING TO DECREASE AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Bryan Foster/Town Manager]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=decrease as well]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The layoffs take affect immediately.
The switch over to Campbell County's 9-1-1 center takes place June first.
(------------)



[Gilmore-Vetoes]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-06 TC1:23:58]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]


Governor Jim Gilmore vetoed just seven out of almost 850 bills he considered until last night's deadline.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


Six were Senate bills, sponsored by members of his own party.
And today, some senators are wondering why at least some of them were singled out.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:27:31]
[IN Q=I wish I could say that]

((SEN. PATSY TICER/D-ALEXANDRIA: I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRICTLY OBJECTIVE. IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT THESE VETOES ARE STRICTLY OBJECTIVE.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Patsy Ticer/(D) Alexandria;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=vetoes are strictly objective.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Senate Finance chairman John Chichester had a bill on the state higher education council's membership vetoed.
He's been the Governor's chief antagonist on the speed of the car tax cut.
Two of his fellow budget negotiators also suffered vetoes.
The Republican Senator who asked for the State Police to investigate the Governor's political action committee?
Ken Stolle (STAH-lee) also had a bill vetoed.
The Governor's office says they were all simply bad bills, and any assignment of political motive is "silly, petty, and false."
The only House bill vetoed would have let school buses go 65 miles per hour on Interstates.
It was Carroll County Democrat Tommy Jackson's, and was opposed by the Department of Education.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:40:36]
[IN Q=When you increase the]

((CHARLES PYLE/VIRGINIA DEPT. OF EDUCATION: WHEN YOU INCREASE THE SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, YOU'RE INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. YOU'RE ALSO INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Charles Pyle/Virginia Dept. of Education;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=the potential for a serious accident.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Delegate Jackson says he sponsored the bill because parents were concerned that buses NOT going the speed of traffic were in more danger.
(------------)



[County-Supers]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#01-09 TC34:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]


NExt month 20 new fire and rescue personnel will be on the job in Roanoke County.
And, it looks like they'll be getting 15 new coworkers.
But the people who need their services will end up footing the bill.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Teresa/Microwave]


Teresa Hamilton is at the Roanoke County administration building to explain.
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:fee for ambulance service. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Fuzzy Minnix/Cave Spring Supervisor ; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :11]
[SUPER=01-Bob Johnson/Hollins Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=proceed so quickly.]
(-------------)
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Teresa/Microwave]



[EMS-Promotions]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC58:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A dozen people have new jobs in the Roanoke fire and rescue department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Among the five new lieutenants is Marci Ingram, the first woman to work her way up through the ranks to that position.
Three new first lieutenants were also recognized.
And four men got captain's bars at this morning's city hall ceremony.
(------------)



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


Kroger employees vote on a new contract.
The results next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And it may be nothing more than urban legend.
But Roanoke's "Hanging Tree" is now nothing more than firewood.
(----------------)



[Kroger]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-14 TC09:39]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger Contract Vote]


Kroger employees in central and western Virginia have a new contract tonight.
They approved the four- year deal this morning during a meeting at the Salem Civic Center.
The agreement did not please everyone, but Joe Dashiell reports it passed by an overwhelming margin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Seeking more details]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :10]
[SUPER=01-Georgette Finney/Kroger Employee; :25]
[SUPER=01-Wanda Whiting/Kroger Employee; :41]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=JD News 7]


((Seeking more details on the tentative agreement negotiators inked on Sunday, Kroger employees arrived by the busload for the session at the Salem Civic Center...
Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union represents 45- hundred workers at 49 Kroger stores in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
And most who turned out for the meeting, voted to accept the new contract.
[SOT 17:43:29]
[IN Q=I think it was a good contract]

((GEORGETTA FRANKLIN FINNEY: I THINK IT WAS A GOOD CONTRACT. I'M GLAD THAT EVERYBODY ACCEPTED IT. SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, AND OVERALL IT'S A GOOD CONTRACT.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=and overall it's a good contract.]


But that opinion wasn't universal.... and there was some concern from employees who said they would see little improvement in their wages.
[SOT]
[IN Q=The agreement is good for most]

((THE AGREEMENT IS GOOD FOR MOST EVERYBODY. MOST EVERYBODY GOT SOMETHING, BUT A FEW OF US GOT DROPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUT Q=dropped through the cracks.]


85 percent of the employees voted to accept the contract, and local 400 President Jim Lowthers said he was pleased that members delivered such a strong vote in favor.
Kroger Mid-Atlantic President Pete Williams said he was also pleased. "It's important that our employees and management both feel good about this settlement," Williams wrote in a news release this afternoon, "and that was accomplished."
The new agreement takes effect immediately.
Joe Dashiell News 7))

[Pleasants-Reward]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC37:45]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]


A 10-thousand dollar reward is the latest effort to solve a murder case in Radford.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford]


The city's police hope it will encourage new information on the death of 23-year-old Lori Pleasants.
Pleasants body was found in her Radford apartment last June.
[SUPER=04-June 19]


An autopsy revealed she was strangled and her wrist was cut.
Although authorities say there have been a number of leads, including a D-N-A sample... no one has been charged with the crime.
(------------)



[Tax-Fraud]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


An Amherst County man and his daughter face federal tax fraud charges for allegedly misleading hundreds of people into filing false tax returns.
Danny Jordan and his daughter Brandi are named in a 22- count indictment handed up yesterday.
Jordan filed suit against the I-R-S in January, claiming his arrest caused him pain and stress and had ruined his business.

[Stocks]


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


Wall Street's rally continued for a third straight day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/260.01/9947.54/x/53.74/1972.23;]


The DOW climbed 260 points.
NASDAQ gained 54.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.60/44.83/h/0.42/22.94/h/1.98/54.48/i/0.03/17.88/i/0.44/7.20;]
[SUPER=272-h/2.20/62.95/h/0.75/32.72/h/1.00/43.20/h/1.68/41.91/h/0.78/38.05;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.98/24.95/h/1.04/16.00/h/0.16/12.50/h/1.98/47.23/h/2.13/13.00;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.93/62.93/i/0.18/50.40/h/2.11/50.11/h/1.36/60.57/h/0.69/50.29;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]



[School-Sewage]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-12 TC18:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Twice in the past two weeks, raw sewage has interrupted lunch at a Botetourt County Elementary School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]


Students at Colonial Elementary School were moved from the cafeteria last Friday and once the week before because sewage seeped into the lunchroom and kitchen.
School administrators and the health department say no food was contaminated and no kids touched the sewage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:06:33 - :48]
[IN Q=Every pot and pan]

((RITA EVANS/PRINCIPAL: EVERY POT AND PAN WAS CLEANED, EVERY DISH WAS CLEANED, WALL WERE CLEANED, FLOORS -- WE STRIPPED THE FLOORS AND PUT NEW COATS OF WAX ON. WE MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS CLEANED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.))
[SUPER=01-Rita Evans/Colonial Elem. Principal;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=any questions.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The school has a septic system dating back to 1939.
The principal says the back-up occurred because students flushed inappropriate objects: everything from a bottle to plastic bags.
(------------)



[Hanging-Tree]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-55 TC1:54:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]


For more than 100 years, legend has it, a tree has stood in Southwest Roanoke- -that was the site of a public hanging.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


That tree was cut down today. The legend of the lynching dates back to 1893.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:16]
[IN Q=A white woman]

((A WHITE WOMAN WAS BEATEN SEVERELY ON THE MARKET, LEFT FOR DEAD. WHEN SHE CAME TO SHE IDENTIFIED A BLACK MAN AS THE PERPETRATOR. A LYNCH MOB TOOK THE MAN AND BROUGHT HIM HERE AND HUNG HIM.))
[SUPER=07-Scott Ruby]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=him here and hung him.]

[* * * Keith on ENG * * *]
The property where the hanging occured was later home to Norfolk and Western Railroad President Race Horse Smith.
It's now Lotz Funeral Home. Scott Ruby used to live upstairs, has worked here since he was 15 and remembers hearing about the hanging tree.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:17:20]
[IN Q=It haunted Mr. Lotz]

((IT HAUNTED MR. LOTZ. HE HATED IT, ABSOLUTELY HATED IT. I'M GLAD FOR HIM TODAY TO SEE THE TREE COME DOWN.))
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=see the tree come down.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Newspaper accounts of the 1893 lynching confirm that the hickory tree the mob used was at Franklin Road and Mountain Avenue.
But more recent stories say the tree died and had already fallen down . Perhaps. In any event, the legend was finally put to rest today.
(------------)



[Sports tease]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


15 Winston Cup teams were at Martinsville today, the latest from Jeff Gordon on Tony Stewart's antics, a Green Bay Packer great was in Bassett today
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


and one of the area's finest hoopsters gets yet another award.
(------------)



[S-Gordon]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-88 12506TC]
[GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE]


The Thunder was back in the Foothills today at the Martinsville Speedway. Mike Stevens and photographer Dennis Brown take us trackside.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=@mike2; :10]
[SUPER=01-Elliott Sadler/9th In Points Race; :22]
[SUPER=03-Bristol, TN/Fox; :40]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Gordon/2nd In Points Race; :50]
[SUPER=01-Eddie Wood/Wood Brothers Team Owner; 1:19]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/1999; 1:41]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(------------)


[S-Redick]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-87 1:21:41]
[GRAPHIC=J.J. Redick]

Cave Spring junior J.J. Redick has been named the Virginia Gatorade basketball player of the year for a second straight year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]


Gatorade will make a 500 dollar donation to the VHSL on behalf of J.J. and Cave Spring. Redick averaged 28 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game. The award is based on basketball, grades and citizenship. Redick is now a candidate for the Gatorade National player of the year award.
(------------)


[S-Packers]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-90 12430TC]
[GRAPHIC=PACKERS]


One of the Green Bay packers all-time greats was in Bassett today to talk a little football and a lot of furniture.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bassett; :00]

Former defensive end Willie Davis is a member of Bassett Furniture's board of directors. He also is a 2 time Super Bowl champion, a 5 time pro bowler and the holder of a masters degree from the University of Chicago.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Willie Davis/5 Time All-Pro with Packers; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=...GRATIFYING IN THE END."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
[SUPER=03-Green Bay, WI/1967; ]

Davis played 12 years in the NFL and never missed a game - playing 162 straight. He played in six NFL title games and 2 super bowls, but nothing will ever match the infamous Ice Bowl against the Cowboys.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...PLAYING THAT GAME."]
(--------------)






[S-Steam]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-83]
[GRAPHIC=Steam]


The Roanoke Steam Arena II football team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage tonight at the Roanoke Civic Center. The scrimmage begins at 7:30 and is free to the public. The season begins April 7th, final cuts are Sunday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Steve Jerry/Steam Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=new direction.]



[S-Gould]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-84 tc 1:41:38]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT wipe to #eng!!!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]


Speaking of Cave, Chris Gould signed on the dotted line this afternoon to play football for Hampden-Sydney.
[super=03-South Boston/October 27, 2000;]


Gould played on both sides of the ball for the Knights, but was told he could make an impact on the Tiger defense as a freshman.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I decided]
[SUPER=01-Chris Gould/Signs With Hampden-Sydney;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=for football]
(----------------)



[Tornado-Drill]


[ANCHOR=Robin]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-03 TC1:28:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Some Campbell County students got a realistic lesson this morning in how to prepare for a disaster.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:46:37]

((WE HAVE A TORNADO AND IT STRUCK OUR BUILDING...))
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]
[RUNS=03]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Emergency crews were called to Tomahawk Elementary School around 9:45.
They were told a tornado had hit the school and five students were missing.
Crews fanned out across the building to find the children and bring them to safety.
The rest of the school was treated to a tornado safety presentation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:13:01]
[IN Q=Mrs. Brown]

((DAVID GORSLINE/TOMAHAWK E.S. PRINCIPAL: MRS. BROWN, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND I WENT INTO THE CLASSROOMS LAST WEEK AND BASICALLY GAVE A LESSON ON TORNADO PREPAREDNESS AND FOR THAT MATTER IN THE HOME, AT SCHOOL AND SO FORTH. SO WE'VE REALLY BEEN IMMERSED IN TORNADO SAFETY FOR THE LAST WEEK AND IT'S BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE.))
[SUPER=01-David Gorsline/Tomahawk Elem. Principal]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=a good experience.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


School officials say the students and staff reacted well to the disaster drill. (------------)
by SS