WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/28/01

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=@Denise1;]
[SUPER=@Jacey1;]

Coming up ... Astronauts made their first flight into space decades ago.
Now - it's the tourist's turn. An American blasts off with Russians this morning.
(------------)
[vo-nat] AND -- A Roanoke taxi driver speaks for the first time about the fare that left him paralyzed.
We'll have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
(-------------)

[2-shot toss to Hello]

[Powers]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=am]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-22 15:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke taxi driver who was shot, robbed, and left to die is talking about the night it happened.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

31 year old John Powers describes the night of April first as a usual fare when he says he picked up Phillip Foreman and Shawn Vaughn.
But when he dropped the men off - that's when Powers says Foreman pulled out a gun.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:25]
[IN Q=The first shot]
((JOHN POWERS: THE FIRST SHOT WHICH WENT BY MY HEAD INTO THE DASH BOARD THEN THE SECOND SHOT WENT THROUGH THE SEAT AND SEVERED MY SPINAL CORD AND RESTED UP AGAINST MY AORTA.))
[SUPER=01-John Powers/Wounded Taxi Driver]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=against my aorta.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Powers is now paralyzed from the waist down.
He's in the Roanoke Rehabilitation Center learning how to use a wheel chair and deal with everyday tasks.
He hopes to go home on May 23rd.
(------------)

[11Innkeeper-murder]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-12 TC1:07:35]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]
Police have arrested a North Carolina man in connection with a murder at a Danville motel.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

29 year old Christopher Scott Emmett is charged with capital murder for the robbery and death of John Fenton Langley.
Langley's body was found in a room at the Inn Keeper Motel on Riverside Drive yesterday morning. He had suffered injuries to the head.
The two men worked together at a North Carolina construction company.
The suspect is being held without bond in the Danville jail.
(------------)

[Soyuz]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

They say money can't buy you everything, but now it can get you a ticket to the last frontier, space.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baikonur, Kazakhstan/This Morning;]

The first ever cash customer lifted off with the Russians this morning.
Dennis Tito paid the highest price ever for any seat on any flight--as much as 20 million dollars.
But there may be problems docking.
We'll have more on this story coming up in the second half hour of News 7 Saturday Morning.
(------------)

[Peru-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Hundreds gathered to in Fruitport, Michigan, to say goodbye to Ronnie Bowers, the missionary killed along with her daughter when her plane was mistakenly shot down over the Amazon River.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nats music]
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=Nats music]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fruitport, MI;]

Bowers and her daughter were killed when a Peruvian Jet fighter shot down their small plane last week in South America.
The military pilot apparently mistook it for a drug plane.
Bowers' husband, Jim, says he holds no animosity towards the Peruvian government.
(--------------)

[Teacher-Thief]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Danville teacher was convicted yesterday of STEALING from students' lockers. 53-year-old Lucy Barringer is a physical education teacher at George Washington High School. In a sworn statement to police, Barringer said she took money from students lockers several times before she was caught. Barringer says she did it to teach kids a lesson - NOT to leave personal items in unlocked lockers. She was found guilty of petty larceny and fined a hundred bucks. Barringer's been suspended with pay pending a school board hearing.

[Christmas-April]

[ANCHOR=2-shot Anchor = Jacey]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Without further ado - it's time for Christmas in April...
[Anchor=Denise]
Kate Weidaw joins us with more from Roanoke. Hello again Kate -
[DOUBLE BOXES=Denise and Jacey/Kate - Microwave;]

[LIVE= /FULL]
[SUPER=@Kate1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

[SUPER=01-David Bowers/Christmas in April]
[SUPER=01-Roger Vest/House Captain]

[LIVE=KATE /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

KATE TOSSES BACK TO DENISE AND JACEY
[DOUBLE BOXES=Denise and Jacey 2-shot / Kate Microwave;]

[Christmas-April]

[WeekendCalen]

[ANCHOR=Jacey 2-shot]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

If you're still looking to fill your schedule this weekend, here's some ideas from the weekend calendar.
[Take full screen calendar board] [Chyron 7157]
There's much more to come on News 7 Saturday Morning - including Weekend Diner. [STRAIGHT INTO DINER BUMP]
[Diner-Tease]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=bwa]
[TAPE#=Weekend Diner]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[WIPE INTO DINER TEASE]

(//////SOT/////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=Hi I'm Jennifer]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=piece of cake to make.]

[COMM #3]
[go straight to commercial]

[Garden-Tour]
[anchor=Denise -- PERFORMANCE SET]
[newscast=Sat AM]
[writer=chr]
[tape=01-16 38:53]
[graphic=None]

The 68th annual Roanoke House and Garden Tour is today from 10am until 5.
It includes 5 stops in the Hidden Valley section of Roanoke County and Salem.
The Roanoke Tour is organized by the Roanoke Valley and Mill Mountain Garden Clubs.
Here this morning to tell us about is Alison Conte and Sandy Carson.

First, why a garden tour?

[super=01-Alison Conte/Roanoke House and Garden Tour;]
[super=01-Sandy Carson/Roanoke House and Garden Tour;]

You have been successful over the years raising more than five million dollars in the 68 year history. How do you put that money to use?
[roll cue...let's take a look at some of the gardens]
(------------------)
[vo-nat]

[runs=]
(------------------)

Where do people go if they want to take part and how much does it cost?
[DENISE TOSSES TO JACEY FOR SPONSORED WEATHER]

[DinerOpen]

[ANCHOR=Jacey]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=chr/bwa]
[TAPE#=Diner Open]
[GRAPHIC=Weekend Diner]
If carrot cake tickles your fancy - and you like a dessert that's simple to make - you'll be glad today's Weekend Diner is on the menu. Here's News 7's Brent Watts with Jennifer Haynes-Watkins.
(////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=animation]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=stop animation]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[Weekend-Diner]

[ANCHOR=Jacey]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. AM]
[WRITER=bwa]
[TAPE#=WKND Diner #3]
[GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe]

[wipe wipe wipe]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hello I'm Brent Watts]
[super=07-Jennifer Haynes-Watkins]
[RUNS=2:33]
[OUT Q=Jennifer Haynes-Watkins on the Weekend Diner.]
(++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Jacey]
[Take FS Chyron 7153]
If you would like Jennifer's Carrot Cake recipe or any recipe you see on Weekend Diner - check out our web site at WDBJ-7-dot com - just click on the Weekend Diner Icon. Or - you can send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope to... Weekend Diner Care Of WDBJ7.....P.O. Box 7 Roanoke....Virginia 24022-0007. News 7 Saturday Morning will be right back.
(++++++++++++)
[STRAIGHT TO BREAK]

[2Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]

Coming up ... this morning a California man becomes the first TOURIST to blast off for space.
(------------)
[vo-nat]
And .. It looks like you'll be getting your tax bill - while lawmakers are still debating over the amount of the car tax cut.
More on those stories just ahead.
(-------------)

[2-shot toss to hello]

[2Soyuz]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A history- making day in space travel this morning.
The world's first paying space tourist blasted off aboard a Russian spacecraft bound for the International Space Station.
But American millionaire Dennis Tito is still in for a wait once he gets there.
CBS's Dave Browde explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Baikonur, Kazakhstan/This Morning; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bill Gerstenmaier/ISS Deputy Program Manager; :21]
[SUPER=04-NASA TV; :31]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Tito/Space Tourist; :51]
[SUPER=01-Susan Helms/Space Station Astronaut; 1:14]
[Super=01-Dave Browde/CBS News; 1:34]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=cbs news]
((SUPER: Baikonur, Kazakhstan/This Morning PUNCH: Video From: Russian Mission Control
NATSND BLASTOFF UP AND UNDER
TRACK: With their passenger, the first ever cash customer in space paying the highest price ever for any seat on any flight, the Russians apparently were NOT allowing any air traffic delays. But though the Soyuz spacecraft blasted off this morning, it may be headed for something unprecedented in space but common on Earth: A gate delay.
SUPER: Bill Gerstenmaier/ISS Deputy Program Manager
SOT: "Does it put undue pressure on us? The answer is 'no.' We're going
to evaluate it, we've got the degree of freedom from the people we need to go do what is mandatory and what has to be done."
TRACK: NASA says its concern is safety, not disdain for space tourist Dennis Tito.
SUPER: Video From: NASA TV TRACK: The space agency says computer problems are the only problem in the way of Tito's visit to the International Space Station. But the Russians point out the station is designed for TWO spacecraft to dock at the same time and only now is NASA saying the docking ports are too close for comfort.
SUPER: Dennis Tito/Space Tourist
SOT: "I think the politics is over and I think now that the flight is
ahead of us and the excitement that that will generate will overshadow any politics."
SUPER: Friday TRACK: The American financier clearly isn't buying the NASA line that technical concerns were all that was standing in the way of his space station visit. But if politics are involved, the space station crew says, it ends at the docking station door.
SUPER: Susan Helms/Space Station Astronaut:
SOT: "When we open the hatch, whoever's on the other side of the
Soyuz hatch will be welcome inside the space station."
TRACK: NASA's midlevel managers who appear at the briefings insist on a technical level everything's fine between the Russian and American teams working on the space station. But they don't deny there's friction at the upper levels.
SUPER: Dave Browde, CBS NEWS ON-CAMERA: One sign: Spokesmen say when the Russians finally dock with the American space tourist aboard, there will be no special television coverage provided by the space station crew. Dave Browde, CBS News, New York.
Supers: Video From: Russian Mission Control, APTN, NASA TV))

[11Jefferson-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:49:59]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A local high school has closed due to health concerns.
Now students must finish their school year at another location.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Jefferson Forest High School will close next month --so that environmental engineers can test the building for biological contaminants.
They've already found high levels of a mold --known as stachybotrys (stackee-BAAH-tris) in several classrooms.
The mold produces a toxin --which can cause health problems.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT28:59]
[IN Q=The main problem]
((JOHN OWEN/IMEC ENGINEERS: THE MAJOR POINT OF CONCERN IS IT DOES SUPPRESS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. SO THAT IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES, RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT))
[SUPER=01-John Owen/IMEC Engineers]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=contribute to that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

School officials say closing early is just a precautionary measure while the testing continues.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT21:05]
[IN Q=I was told it was safe]
((JAMES BLEVINS/BEDFORD CO. SUPERINTENDENT: I WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE BUT BEING PRECAUTIONS WE HAVEN'T TESTED THE WHOLE BUILDING -- SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW WIDE SPREAD IT IS))
[SUPER=01-James Blevins/Bedford Co. Superintendent]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=how widespread it is]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

Students will finish out the rest of their school year at Forest Middle School.
They will start class at that school on May 21st and continue until June 8th.
(------------)

[11Senate-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-21 TC24:13]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
Virginia's Senate Finance committee has approved a proposed budget... for the THIRD time this year. And THIS one includes changes to the car tax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Vehicles worth under 48- hundred dollars wouldn't be charged a local car tax.
There would be a 50 percent phase out for those worth more than 48 hundred but less than 20 thousand.
And those with vehicles worth more than 20 thousand dollars would have to pay the full tax.
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The changes would cut taxes by about a billion dollars annually, but would still fund a three- and- a- half percent pay raise for state employees.
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[SS=HOLD]

The proposal still has to be approved by the full Senate and House.

[11Tax-Bills]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC1:17:25]
[GRAPHIC=Car Tax]

If you live in the Roanoke Valley and you haven't already received your property tax bill - chances are it's on the way... EVEN though debate continues in Richmond over exactly WHAT the car tax cut should be.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Automated Mailing Systems began processing Roanoke City's personal property tax and decal statements yesterday afternoon. And other local governments have been sending out their forms.
City officials were waiting for lawmakers to resolve the issue, and they're still concerned that developments in Richmond may complicate their tax collections.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:47]
[IN Q=It would mess our billing]
((IT WOULD MESS OUR BILLING UP COMPLETELY. WE HAVE NOW CALCULATED EVERYTHING AT 70 PERCENT. IF THEY CHANGE THAT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE WOULD DO. WE'D HAVE TO CHANGE OVER COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND STEP BACK AND TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT.))
[SUPER=01-David Anderson/Roanoke City Treasurer]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=and take a hard look at it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

With only four weeks until the May 31st deadline, Roanoke Treasurer David Anderson is encouraging taxpayers to mail their payments as soon as possible.
He's also adding temporary employees to help with the extra work.
(------------)

[Jenna-Bush]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=George W]

President Bush is not commenting on his daughter's recent brush with the law.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-File Tape/January 20, 2001]

Police in Austin, Texas, say 19-year old Jenna Bush, one of the president's two daughters, was cited for alcohol possession early Friday.
They say she was at a bar with another young woman-- and both were cited-- but not arrested.
White House officials would not comment.
(------------)

[Court-Dope]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A man headed to court over a drug conviction finds himself in trouble again - when he inadvertently hands over a bag of dope. Rockingham County authorities say James Mitchell was going to pay a court cost for a prior conviction. But the metal detector kept buzzing... even after he thought the metal was out of his pockets. When the 20-year-old finally pulled out the dime that was setting off the metal detector - he also pulled out a bag of marijuana. Mitchell was arrested for drug possession. He has ANOTHER court date Monday.

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT]
No word on progress in the Comair pilots' strike - but there IS word that 2-thousand of the company's other employees DIDN'T want to hear. They're out of jobs. We'll explain.
[ANCHOR=Jacey]

Plus - there's more Christmas in April straight ahead...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And... Liv Tyler's supposed to sizzle on the Big Screen and make plenty of male co-stars melt... But is "One Night at McCool's" just a big melt-down? Anna Wentworth tells us what she thinks - still ahead. First - if you're traveling today....
[Jacey ad-lib into the travel forecast]
(-------------)

[Jacey MIC hot] [ No 2-shot toss go straight to Travel Bump ] [soft music under] [COMMERCIAL]

[2Christmas-April]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Christmas in April is in full swing across the country today. The organization helps thousands of people renovate their homes... There are several local chapters at work today - including the one in Roanoke.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Denise/Microwave;]
That's where Kate Weidaw joins us with more on the organization and just what's happening today.

[LIVE= /FULL]
[SUPER=@Kate1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

[SUPER=01-Helen Layne/Homeowner]
[SUPER=01-Roger Vest/House Captain]

[LIVE=KATE /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

KATE TOSSES BACK TO DENISE

[DOUBLE BOXES=Denise/Microwave;]

Denise tosses to Jacey for sponsored weather

[11Comair-Strike]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC09:54]
[GRAPHIC=Comair Strike]

Comair's pilots are the ones on strike.
But thousands of other airline employees will soon be the ones pounding the pavement looking for jobs
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Month]

Comair hasn't flown since pilots walked out at the end of March, and the company's president says ``the economic reality has set in.''
So the company laid-off some 2-thousand flight attendants, customer-service representatives and administrators.
Under prodding from federal mediators, the company and the pilots' union have been in contract negotiations all this week.
There's been no word on any progress.
(------------)

[11Danville-Store]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC55:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A landmark grocery store checks out its customers for the last time today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

The Old Dutch grocery store on Court Street in downtown Danville plans to close its doors for good.
The store opened 51-years ago as A-and-P and then became Old Dutch in the early eighties.
Irene Carter has been a cashier there since day one and says she'll miss her customers the most.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 6:06:01]
[IN Q=Its nice to know]
((IRENE CARTER/CASHIER: ITS NICE TO KNOW YOUR PEOPLE BY THEIR NAMES WHEN THEY COME IN. THEN YOU SEE THEIR CHILDREN GROWING UP AND THEN YOU KNOW THEIR CHILDREN. THEY HAVE BABIES AND YOU KNOW THEIR CHILDREN. ITS NICE TO KNOW. ITS KINDA LIKE A FAMILY I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY.))
[SUPER=01-Irene Carter/Cashier]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=you might say]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The owner is closing the store to retire.
The city owns the property.
No word yet on what they plan to do with it.
(------------)

[Sports-plays]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-95 tc 02:40]
[GRAPHIC=COSMO]

In sports, The 36th annual Cosmo Track and Field Meet continues today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Yesterday, Salem High School welcomed 14 varsity teams to the event.
Athletes competed in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash. The shot put was also a part of the competition. As was the boys and girls hurdles and the long jump.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="there's]
(())
[SUPER=01-Randy Lower/Cosmo Meet Coordinator;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=.....times there"]
(-----------------)
[vo-nat]
Cave Spring is the defending girls champion, having won the event for five straight years.
On the boys side, William Fleming is the defending champ.
The Colonels are led by Orren Prunty, who is 75 percent sure he is headed to the University of Virginia to run track.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="basically]
(())
[SUPER=01-Orren Prunty/William Fleming Senior;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=.....in all relays"]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[ss=hold]
Competition resumes this morning with the parade of athletes at 11.