WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/06/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities and volunteers team up to search by foot and by air... looking for a missing Franklin County high school student.
(------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[ss=]
And, prosecutors are given the clearance to pursue the death penalty in a decade old murder case.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Scores and highlights from the Major Leagues the Salem Avalanche wrapped up a 4 game set with Wilmington at Salem Stadium.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Tony Stewart drives Pontiac to victory lane last night at the Richmond International Raceway.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Jacey]
[SS=None]

Temperatures remain cool tonight and tomorrow but what about that rain? Will we see any more of it? The answer coming up in the forecast. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 21:49:56]
[IN Q=I hope he's]
((STEVEN DILLON: I HOPE HE'S OKAY AND MAYBE IF HE HEARS ME TALKING ON TV HE'LL COME HOME.))
[RUNS=:4]
[OUT Q=he'll come home.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Franklin County father pleads for the return of his missing 15 year old son.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.

[Franklin-Search]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-29 TC-2:34]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
It's been a little more than a week since Steve Dillon apparently ran away from home. Investigators are not saying if they believe foul play has prevented the teen from returning home. But today they expanded their search.
[TWO SHOT=Teresa/Kate]
Kate Weidaw was at today's search and has the latest.
[LIVE= Kate/FULL ON MB SET]
[NEWS 7 AT 6 GRAPHIC ON MONITOR]
[SUPER=@Kate1]
Yesterday deputies found evidence by the Pigg River in Rocky Mount that lead them to believe he may be in that area. Steve's mother has been going to all of his friends homes to see if he is there and still there is no sign of him. Today officials searched by air and down the river.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]
[SUPER=01-Morris Stephenson/Volunteer]
[SUPER=01-Steven Dillon/Missing Teen's Father]
[SUPER=01-Lt. David Cundiff/Franklin Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=is to strong for divers.]

(([NAT SOUND OF HELICOPTER]
[RUNS= 3]

State Police spent more than an hour flying over the Pigg River in Franklin County searching for 15 year old Steve Dillon. The Franklin County high school student allegedly ran away from home on April 27-th and hasn't been heard from or seen since.

[SOT 21:42:05]
[INQ=]
((NAT SOUND: I FEEL LIKE IF HE'S THERE WE'LL FIND HIM.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 2]

Saturday, officials found evidence alongside the Pigg River that has lead them to focus their search in the water. Morris Stephenson brought his canoe to join in the search. He says the river has high banks and only a few deep sections.

[SOT 21:44:57]
[INQ=]
((MORRIS STEPHENSON: IF HE'S IN THIS STRETCH OF WATER HE'LL EITHER BE IN ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]

Saturday night more than 40 people searched near the river and around the Old Power Dam and found nothing.
Dillon's father says he hasn't given up hope of finding his son alive.

[SOT 21:49:04]
[INQ=]
((STEVEN DILLON/MISSING TEENS FATHER: IF HE'S OUT THERE WE'D LIKE HIM TO COME HOME OR CALL HOME....(CRYING)))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

Dillon says his son has ran away before but he was only gone for three days. Now, more than a week after his disappearance officials say the search isn't over yet.

[SOT 21:52:05]
[INQ=]
((LT. DAVID CUNDIFF: WHAT WE'LL TRY AND DO IS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING IN A CAMERA OR WE COULD PUT IT IN THE DEEPEST PART OF THE DAM WHERE THE CURRENT IS TO STRONG FOR DIVERS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]))

[LIVE= Kate/FULL]
[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE IN MONITOR]
The search will continue tomorrow but the Franklin County Sheriff's department is asking for your help. If you have any information you're asked to call the Roanoke Police Department or the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

[Tazewell-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-09 - TC 1:26:29]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Federal prosecutors are given the go ahead to seek the death penalty against two men accused in a Tazewell County triple homicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tazewell Co./File Tape;]
38- year old Sam Ealy will go to trial November sixth. 36- year old Walter "Pete" Church will also be prosecuted in connection with the case. The two are accused of killing a family of three more than ten years ago at their home in Pocahontas. Prosecutors say the three were murdered to prevent them from testifying in a drug case.
(------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[ss=hold]
Federal prosecutor say they got a letter Friday from U-S attorney General John Ashcroft authorizing them to pursue the death penalty.

[Wachovia-FIrstUnion]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=5NetF]
[GRAPHIC=Wachovia-First Union Merger]
The legal opposition mounts against the proposed merger of First Union and Wachovia.
(---------------)
[vo-nat]
[super=04-April 19]
Last week a Virginia shareholder filed a lawsuit claiming the merger is structured to benefit bank officials - at the expense of shareholders. It's the second such lawsuit filed against the proposed deal. Terms of the merger have First Union acquiring Wachovia - exchanging two of its shares for each one of Wachovia's. The merger is expected to result in 7-THOUSAND job cuts.
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[Car-Show]

[ANCHOR=6]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC -1:02:50]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
They're fast, shiny, and always draw a crowd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Members of the Roanoke Valley Mustang Club polished their classic cars and trucks for the annual Round Up car show. The club partnered with the Virginia Museum of Transportation for the event and parked more than 85 mustangs in the front lot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 53:08]
[IN Q=the mustang]
((KOY FARTHING: THE MUSTANG IS JUST PART OF THE TRUE AMERICANA, IT'S THE YOUNG AND OLD VERSIONS OF IT AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR CROWD.))
[SUPER=01-Koy Farthing/Mustang Club Pres.]
[RUNS=8]
[OUT Q=reflected in our crowd.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This is the 13-th year the club has displayed Mustangs belonging to club members.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Coming up, Roy Stanley will bring us up to date on the world of sports, but before that...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
a Roanoke Community is just a fraction of what it used to be... Commerce, travel, and entertainment taking priority over homes, in the name of eminent domain. More on that in just a minute, but first, let's check in with Jacey in the WeatherCenter.
(----------------)

[Monticello-Jefferson]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-28 TC-2:48]
[GRAPHIC=Monticello]
Hundreds of Thomas Jefferson's descendants are holding their yearly family reunion in Charlottesville this weekend.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape;]
Those who say they're Jefferson descendants through his alleged liaison with slave Sally Hemings were invited. But officials say they don't expect they'll be allowed to speak or vote in today's Monticello Association meeting. The Association is expected
(------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[ss=]
to postpone a decision on whether to offer membership to the Hemings family descendants.

[Gainsboro]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=Va. Newsreel #4 56:41]
[GRAPHIC=Eminent Domain]
A Roanoke neighborhood knows, first hand, the price of progress. The predominantly- black Gainsboro area has paid the price-- time and again. Eminent domain has left 60 homes in the community... where six thousand homes used to stand. Jennifer Miele looks back in today's Virginia Newsreel.
(//////SOT//////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Three decades have]
[super=03-Roanoke/File Tape; :00]
[super=01-Benton O. Dillard/Mayor; 37]
[SUPER=@jennifer2;:45]
[SUPER=01-Evelyn Bethel/Gainsboro Resident;: 59]
[SUPER=01-Mary Campagna-Hamlin/Author; 1:16]
[SUPER=01-Ellis Holmes/Roanoke Valley Cultural Exchange; 1:49]
[RUNS=2:20]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(( A half century ago, when the old Norfolk and Western trains rolled into town, the last car on every train stopped in Northwest Roanoke.
Since the last car almost always carried black passengers, the Gainsboro area soon became the center of the black community.
But bit by bit, Gainsboro has been torn down and built over.
The Conference Center at Hotel Roanoke, a four lane highway, and the Norfolk Southern bridge each took a small chunk.
And it was eminent domain that paved the way for the Roanoke Civic Center.
Excitement ran high as many felt the city hit pay dirt... when it broke ground for the Civic Center in the late 60's.
[SOT]
((WE'RE GOING TO EXPEDITE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CIVIC CENTER TO THE UTMOST.))
[RUNS= 6]

Today, the Roanoke Civic Center brings thousands to the heart of Gainsboro, and generates millions in revenue.

While the city considers projects like the Civic Center to be a success, many still question the cost of that success... [TAPE 95-64 gainsboro]
[SOT]
((EVELYN BETHEL/GAINSBORO RESIDENT: THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE IT SEEMS NO MATTER HOW MERITUS OUR CLAIMS ARE, PEOPLE STILL COME THROUGH AND TEAR UP OUR COMMUNITY.))
[RUNS= 12]

Author Mary Campagna-Hamlin chronicled what she called "the demise" of Historic Gainsboro.
[SOT]
((MARY CAMPAGNA-HAMLIN/AUTHOR: IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE BUSINESSES AND HOMES. IT WAS THE WHOLE FIBER OF THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT WAS DESTROYED.))
[RUNS= 12]

Campagna's dream was that her book would prompt others to ask questions and research the impact government projects have on their communities.
And years later ... her dream is coming true, thanks to people like Ellis Holmes.
Holmes is a member of the Roanoke Valley Cultural Exchange.
He says the black community has no interest in stopping progress, but they have a vested interest in being part of progress.
[SOT]
((ELLIS HOLMES/ROANOKE VALLEY CULTURAL EXCHANGE: ONE PROJECT JUMPS UP, DOES ITS THING THING, THEN ANOTHER PROJECT JUMPS UP AND DOES ITS THING. WELL NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY GET KIND OF LOST IN THAT PROCESS.))
[RUNS= 15]

Holmes says the Cultural Exchange is bringing together all ethnic groups to get involved in city planning.
And while eminent domain has changed Gainsboro's past, Holmes says the Cultural Exchange is focused solely on the future.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.))

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Coming up, viewers ring in on a pair of campus-wide protests...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, he says he's been called an idiot but says he's nothing short of a revolutionary. One man takes his case to the Capitol steps, and he says he won't stop until he gets an apology. Stay with us...
(----------------)

[Feedback, May 6]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=Feedback]
[GRAPHIC=Feedback]

The viewer mail brings us a couple of protests, over coverage of protesters.
Assignment editor Joe McKean has this week's Feedback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Opening animation...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Tuesday; :05]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Friday; :26]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=animation close]
((The demonstration by some students at Hollins University, including three who were nude, was hardly newsworthy, according to a viewer from Danville (Donald Merricks).
"and by covering their protest you gave them exactly what they wanted. Sometimes I feel that it is best to ignore such vulgar protests and your newscast would have been much better had you done so in this case.
[NAT SOT]

The protest a few days later by some Blacksburg High School students in support of the Indian mascot disturbed one senior (Colin Ward) who said it was unproductive and poorly organized. He also was concerned that "What happened was not a protest, it was an administration-sponsored day during which anyone could skip any class they wished and suffer no repercussions. The precedent that the administration set not only says that it is OK to skip whenever you want, but gives the impression that any rules of the school can be broken at will. This is not going to be good for the upcoming classes, or for the image of the school in the state, and this is a shame."
News-7 welcomes your comments on our news coverage.
Here's our mailing address...our fax number...our e-mail address.
Or take part in the online forum at our website.
Joe McKean, News-7)).

[Mottley-Profile]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=Va. Profile #4 1:00:12]
[GRAPHIC=VA Profiles]
A protest of a different sort in Richmond. Victor Mottley has taken his case to the streets of the Capital, and he says he won't stop walking until he gets an apology.
Ellen Qualls has his story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Victor Mottley has been marching for]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Tuesday; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Victor Mottley/Protester; :22 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :51]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]
[SLOW FADE BACK TO ANCHOR WOULD BE NICE!!]
(( Victor Mottley has been marching for almost a month, in front of the State Capitol, the Attorney General's office, the Richmond courts, and City Hall.
He admits he was found guilty of solicitation of prostitution.
But on appeal, with a jury, the conviction was overturned.
But the Commonwealth mistakenly left it on his record, he says.
He tried to take the Commonwealth to court.
[sot tape 11:26:17]
((VICTOR MOTTLEY/PROTESTER: THEY SAID, WELL YOUR HONOR, WE MADE A MISTAKE. WE COST THIS MAN CREDIBILITY DAMAGE, FINANCIAL DAMAGE. BUT, WE'RE ASKING FOR A DISMISSAL ON THE GROUNDS OF GOVERNMENT AND SOVEREIGNTY IMMUNITY. THE JUDGE ALLOWED IT. I SAID YOUR HONOR, HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?))
[runs= 19 ]

This week, he competed with a Bible reading marathon up the street.
Or maybe the Bible message backs him up.
[sot tape 11:21:31 ]
((WOE TO THOSE WHO DECREE UNRIGHTEOUS DECREES.))
[runs= 02 ]

The state hands out about 70 permits a year for protests and rallies... but neither the Bible readers nor Mr. Mottley needed one out on the city sidewalk.
[sot tape 11:30:47]
((VICTOR MOTTLEY/PROTESTER: I HAD A YOUNG BLACK GUY COME UP TO ME ONE DAY. HE SAID YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT. I TOLD HIM, I SAID, OKAY, YOU GO HOME AND TALK TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER. ASK HER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SIXTIES. I'M DOING THE SAME THING, I'M PROTECTING MY RIGHTS. I'M PROTESTING WHAT I BELIEVE WAS DONE WRONG TO ME.))
[runs= 18 ]
****
[sot tape 11:31:11]
((VICTOR MOTTLEY/PROTESTER: YOU HAD A GREAT LEADER, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. I GOT NOBODY. BUT IF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS ALIVE TODAY, HE'D BE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT BESIDE ME, AND SAYING WE'RE GONNA OVERCOME THIS.))
[runs= 13 ]

Motley says he'll keep hauling his "don't tread on me" flag until the Commonwealth says it's sorry.
After three weeks, we're the first news crew to ask him why he's here.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]

And coming up in sports, Tony Stewart takes the checkered flag in Richmond last night the Big South Softball champion was crowned at the Moyers Sports Complex in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the Salem Avalanche wrapped up a four game set with the Wilmington Blue Rocks this afternoon at Salem Stadium.

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

[S-Race]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-81 (1:47:08)]
[GRAPHIC=Richmond Logo]

After winning the Pontiac Excitement 400 in Richmond last night, Tony Stewart gave all the credit to the late Dale Earnhardt.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/FX; :]

Rusty Wallace led 246 of the 400 laps but finished third after Stewart passed him with just over 30 laps to go.
Then the race was red flagged with 6 laps to go when Dave Blaney hit the wall in turn four.
That set up the green-white-checkered flag shootout and Stewart got the jump on the restart holding off Jeff Gordon for the win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Dale Earnhardt...]
[SUPER=01-Tony Stewart/Pontiac Excitement 400 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=........him here."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

Steve Park and Ricky Rudd completed the top 5.

[S-RIVER]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=SIX]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-91 tc 1:26:12]
[GRAPHIC=NRV Speedway]

The New Star 94.9 Race of Champions is bringing some the Winston Cup Series drivers to the New River Valley Speedway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/July 2000;]

The drivers are off for the Mother's Day weekend.
So Michael Waltrip, Stacy Compton, Harry Gant, Ernie Irvan, Brett Bodine and Kerry Earnhardt are coming to the New River track on Saturday May12th.
Improvements have been made to the track since drivers like Compton last raced there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=we've done]
[SUPER=01-Stephanie Carroll/NRV Speedway GM;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=big asset]
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

The gates open next Saturday afternoon at two.
The Winston Cup stars will sign autographs from five to 6:30.
Then they start racing at seven.

[S-Softball]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Sp-87 tc 1:40:30]
[GRAPHIC=big south]

Coastal Carolina was looking to win its third Big South Softball title in four years when the Chanticleers took the field against Wintrop University.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Winthrop vs. Coastal Carolina;]

The Eagles earned a chance at the title by beating Charleston Southern in extra innings in the first game of the afternoon.
The Chanticleers took the board first Karly E Fortune's grounder to short scores Kara Schwind from third. Coastal Carolina has a two-nothing lead in the fourth.
Still in the fourth, Kris tie Pulchinski looks down the third baseline for a double. Two runs score and the Chanticleers are up by four.
[super=34-Winthrop/2/Coastal Carolina/9;]

Wintrop would make a come back with two runs in the fourth. Anne Geddings brings in one of those runs, but the Eagles fall short and Coastal Carolina wins its second straight title 9-to-2.
(------------)

[S-AVS]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-84 (2:03:40)]
[GRAPHIC=Salem Avalanche]

The Salem Avalanche three game winning streak ended today as Wilmington beats the Avalanche 7 to 4.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Avalanche vs Blue Rocks; :]

We pick it up in third Wilmington's Alexis Gomez hits a grounder to right field that brings in a run to make it 4 to 3 Salem in the third.
Then in the top of the fifth, Mike Tonis hits a shot just past the short stop and Angel Berroa comes in to score and the game was tied at 4 to 4.
[SUPER=37-Wilmington/7/Salem/4/;]

Then in the sixth with runners on first and second Eric Nelson hits the ball to first the throw goes to second for one out but the bad throw brings in a runner Wilmington went up 5 to 4 and the Blue Rocks get the 7 to 4 win.
(------------)

[S-Mets]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-88 (1:51:17)]
[GRAPHIC=Mets/Diamondbacks]

The New York Mets were at Shea this afternoon hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/FOX SPORTS; :]

Mets catcher Mike Piazza back in the lineup after missing two games with a sore wrist.
Arizona would get on the board in the top of the third. Luis Gonzalez sends this pitch over the wall in right centerfield for a three run homer and the Diamondbacks led 3 to nothing.
[SUPER=35-Arizona/8/N.Y. Mets/2/;]

The Mets would trim the lead in the fourth inning. Robin Ventura goes deep over the right field wall for a solo homer in the fourth to make it 3 to 1 and Arizona goes on to win it 8 to 2.
(------------)

[S-Scores]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NBA Logo]

The Charlotte Hornets opened the N-B-A East Semi finals today in Milwaukee.
Ray Allen scored a game high 26 points as the Bucks get the 104 to 92 win and take a one game lead in the best of seven series.
And here are today's scores.
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[MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5028;]
[SUPER=0096-j/Milwaukee/104//Charlotte/92//Bucks Lead 1-0//Sacramento/105/j/L.A. Lakers/108///;]
[SUPER=X5011;]
[SUPER=0093-/Salem/4/j/Wilmington/7///j/Lynchburg/11//Kinston/2///;]
[SUPER=X5010;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Cleveland/10//Tampa Bay/3///j/N.Y. Yankees/2//Baltimore/1///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Minnesota/4//Kansas City/2////Chicago/9//Texas/5/9//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/St. Louis/5/j/Atlanta/7////Milwaukee/1/j/Florida/5///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-j/Arizona/8//N.Y. Mets/2///j/San Diego/8//Cincinnati/2///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/San Francisco/8/j/Philadelphia/10///j/Houston/13//Montreal/7///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/Colorado/3/j/Pittsburgh/4////Los Angeles/2/j/Chicago/3///;]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=....last score."]
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