WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/26/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Coming up on NEWS 7 at six.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A bullet left him paralyzed. Today friends of a Roanoke taxi cab driver come together to make John Powers return home a little smoother.
(------------)
[anchor=teresa]
[ss=]

And, an update on a police pursuit that ends with a man in critical condition.[Sports-Head]

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

In sports, The Lakers are up 3 games to none on San Antonio in their best of 7 Western Conference final playoff series.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Jeff Green wins a wild finish at the Lowes Motor Speedway today in the busch Carquest 300.
(------------)

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

Our Saturday turned out very sunny and pleasant but the rest of memorial day weekend may not hold the same... the holiday forecast is just a few minutes away. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:06]
[IN Q=if you]
((MIKE SEBOLT: IF YOU MET JOHN YOU'D WANT TO HELP HIM.))
[RUNS=:2]
[OUT Q=help him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Friends of the Roanoke taxi driver shot and paralyzed prepare to welcome him home.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.

[John-Powers]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC-1:32:41]
[GRAPHIC=N7 at 6]
It's been nearly two month since John Powers was shot behind the wheel of his taxi cab. On Thursday-- he'll be leaving Roanoke Memorial's Rehab Center and moving back home. Kate Weidaw reports-- while life will never be the same, his friends are trying to make it a little smoother.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Sebolt/Former William Byrd Track Coach;:17 QUICK!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April 1;:37]
[SUPER=01-Phyllis Travisano/Former William Byrd Track Coach;:59]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:19]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=kw news7 Salem.]

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

With a little elbow grease a ramp leading up to the front door of Powers' home in Salem is being built. It's all thanks to some Roanoke Valley contractors donating their time and old friends of Powers helping out.

[SOT 14:33]
[INQ=]
((MIKE SEBOLT: AS WE'VE TALKED WITH JOHN WE'VE DETERMINED WHAT HIS NEEDS ARE THERE WAS NEVER A QUESTION THAT WE WERE GOING TO HELP HIM.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]

Mike Sebolt was Powers' track coach at William Byrd High School and fondly remembers coaching him through state and regional championships in the 80's.

[SOT 15:00]
[INQ=]
((MIKE SEBOLT: HE'S THE KID YOU WANT ANCHORING THE RELAY TEAM HE'S THE KID YOU WANT TO COUNT ON BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]

In April when Sebolt heard the news that his former track star had been shot by two men, he wondered how Powers would react to knowing he was paralyzed from the waist down.

[SOT 15:37]
[INQ=]
((MIKE SEBOLT: JOHN'S AMAZING, HE'S APPROACHING THIS AS HE DID A TRACK MEET I CAN DO THIS , I CAN BEAT THIS, I CAN WIN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]

Powers' positive approach to his new life brought other former coaches like Phyllis Travisano to help out.

[SOT 19:25]
[INQ=]
((PHYLLIS TRAVISANO: HE'S THE KIND OF KID THAT WILL PULL HIMSELF UP, HE'S NOT A KID ANYMORE HE'S 31 YEARS OLD I'M SURE HE'LL PULL HIMSELF BACK UP AND BE FINE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 11]

It's that determination that made an impact on Powers' former coaches more than a decade ago..... and it's that determination which assures his friends he'll be okay with life in a wheel chair when he comes home on Thursday. Kate Weidaw News 7 Salem.))
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[ANCHOR=TERESA]
[TAKE PINNACLE FS 4638Ess] Friends have set up a fund at the First Union in Vinton to help out with additional costs in making Powers home handicap accessible. Donations can be sent to The John Powers Foundation, care of William Byrd High School, 2902 Washington Avenue, Vinton, VA 24179

[Blacksburg-Body]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Blacksburg authorities are investigating a body found in a construction area. Police say a male was found dead in an apartment building under construction on North Main Street shortly before 3-o'clock. Authorities have not yet identified the body, but say the medical examiner is on the way.

[Roanoke-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-23 TC-30:24]
[GRAPHIC=Police Chase]
A Salem man is in critical condition following a police pursuit that ended with the suspect crashing into a tractor trailer.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night;]
State police say they were pursuing 20-year old John Guilliams because he was suspected of driving drunk. Two troopers with lights and sirens were behind the Ford Bronco as well as Roanoke city police. A state police spokesman says the officers pursued the man for about eight miles -- thinking he was going to pull over. The pursuit ended at the intersection of Peters Creek Road and Salem Turnpike -- striking the side of a tractor trailer hauling milk.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:47:55]
[IN Q=When you]
((reporter speaks: WHEN YOU WENT TO THE DOOR AND LOOKED OUT WHAT DID YOU SEE? ASHLEY LOVE/WITNESS: THE RED TRUCK WAS COMING FROM THAT ROAD RIGHT THERE, AND WAS RUNNING THE RED LIGHT AND GOING THAT WAY AND THE 18 WHEELER HIT IT AND IT SPUN AROUND INTO THE OTHER LANE. ))
[SUPER=01-Ashley Love/Witness; :03]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=into the other lane.]
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[VO-NAT]
The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. State police say Guilliams was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. They say charges are pending.

(------------)[Kaine]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC-49:45]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
Richmond's Mayor made a stop in Roanoke this afternoon to campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Tim Kaine shook hands and talked to Roanokers at "Festival in the Park". The Democrat says he has an edge over the other two candidates because he follows through on his promises.... by cutting violent crime in Richmond by half and building new schools. And while his home is miles away, Kaine has ties to Roanoke.
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[SOT 14:42]
[IN Q=I have family]
((TIM KAINE: I HAVE FAMILY FROM ROANOKE, MY WIFE GREW UP IN ROANOKE HER DAD IS FROM BIG STONE GAP SO I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY CONNECTION IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA SO I FEEL REALLY AT HOME HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Kaine/(D) Lt. Governor Candidate]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=at home here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
On June 12-th Kaine will face Alan Diamonstein and Jerrauld Jones in the Democratic primary.
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[Rolling-Thunder]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC-1:41:36]
[GRAPHIC=none]
More than a hundred men and women from Roanoke and the New River Valley are spending their holiday weekend riding for freedom.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
This morning-- they left on their motorcyles bound for the nation's capital. Once there-- they'll be taking part in a Memorial Day parade, along with folks from around the country, to honor America's veterans.
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[SOT 01:41:24 01:45:46 ]
[IN Q=It's important]
((MARK PETERSON/ROLLING THUNDER RIDER: IT'S IMPORTANT....FAMILIES OF THESE PEOPLE. DAVID BOLEJACK/ROLLING THUNDER RIDER: THE SERIOUSNESS THESE PEOPLE.....THAT'S SERVED IN THE MILITARY.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Peterson/Rolling Thunder Rider; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Bolejack/Rolling Thunder Rider; :15]
[RUNS=30]
[OUT Q=that served in the military.]
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[VO-NAT]
This is the tenth year-- local riders have taken part in what's called the Ride for Freedom or Rolling Thunder.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]

Coming up, a doctor in Grundy could face HUNDREDS of years in prison for illegally prescribing a powerful painkiller...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and this bird has been flying for 20 years now. We'll check in with Lifeguard Ten on a fair-weather day. But first, let's find out what the forecast holds from Jacey Birch...
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[Doctor-OxyContin]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=OxyContin]

A doctor in Grundy could face hundreds of years in prison for writing fake prescriptions. Doctor Franklin Sutherland was convicted yesterday of writing hundreds of unnecessary prescriptions for the painkiller Oxycontin ... and other drugs.
Prosecutors claim Sutherland either ignored his patients' drug problems or prescribed the drugs knowing they'd be abused.
Oxycontin has been tied to 43 deaths in Southwest Virginia since 1998. Sentencing is set for September.

[Japan-Business]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-22 - TC-41:11]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Two area officials will head to Japan in hopes of bringing more international business to Roanoke.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Roanoke Valley Economic Development Director Phil Sparks and Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge say they'll be knocking on doors to recruit Japanese business.
At a development announcement yesterday, the pair said they'll be doubling the number of marketing trips they make because they mean business.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We're going to Japan]
((ELMER HODGE/ROANOKE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN TO MEET SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES AND SEVERAL OTHERS TO SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, FOR EXPANSION, AND ALSO TO WORK THOSE COMPANIES INTO THE ROANOKE VALLEY. THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US. WE THINK WE CAN DO A LOT TO FURTHER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE TWO LOCALITIES.))
[SUPER=01-Elmer Hodge/Roanoke County Administrator]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=the two localities.]
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[VO-NAT]

Sparks and Hodge will leave on Tuesday for two weeks.
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[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=BizReview]
[GRAPHIC=Biz Review]

Roanoke may be a long way from the ocean, but it is now part of an Inland Port...
Jennifer Miele has that story, and more in this week's business review.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=MUISC/GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :32]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :52]
[SUPER=@jennifer2; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Dan Draughn/Tradewinds Network General Manager; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=MUSIC/GRAPHICS]
((Area government officials said Friday that the Dublin Airport will no longer be the only regional place local businesses can ship goods out of the country.
Now the counties of Roanoke, Bedford, Franklin, Craig, and Montgomery are approved for international trade.... called Inland Port.
Officials say businesses will be able to send and receive international goods for less money. [INSERT GREEN FLASH HERE]
[TAPE#=501-13 4:55]

Customer service seems to be the hottest area of contention for home improvement retailors like Lowes and Home Depot.
Spokespersons from both stores say without good customer service, they'd get hammered by the competition.
[SOT]
[PRE PRO] ((SUZANNE MCCOY/LOWES:IF SOMETHING IS DONE WRONG ONCE, WE EMPOWER OUR EMPLOYEES TO CORRECT THAT PROBLEM SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, SO WE ARE TAKING CARE OF A CUSTOMER.))
[RUNS= 08]
[INSERT GREEN FLASH HERE]
[TAPE#=01-15]

Tradewins Network Services unveiled its newest product... "Optical Laser Video." In a demonstration last week, the company beamed audio and video images from an office in downtown Roanoke to the Hotel Roanoke.
Optical Laser Video is not a replacement for actual fiber optic cable, because it only beams signals about 2 miles.
But it is designed to connect businesses in rural areas to sites that DO have fiber optic cable.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We put this]
((DAN DRAUGH/TRADEWINDS: WE PUT THIS LINK UP IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS. NO FILING, NO ZONING, IT'S FIBER WITHOUT THE FIBER.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=without the fiber.]
[PRE PRO]
On Wall Street, the Dow finished DOWN 117.05 at 11005.37.
And the Nasdaq Composite Index was DOWN 30.99 to finish at 2251.03 for the week.
For News 7, I'm Jennifer Miele, and that's this week's business review.))

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]

Coming up, Roy Stanley will join us with the tale of a rookie who's making a splash at the Coca-Cola 600...
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[VO-NAT]
and these guys from across the state are flexing their muscles... just part of the festivities at Festival in the Park. Stay with us...
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[Lifeguard-Anniversary]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-16 - TC-1:12:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Lifeguard 10 turned 20 today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The medical helicopter used by Roanoke Memorial to transport critical patients opened its doors to the public this afternoon. Adults and kids had a chance to crawl around inside and get a closer look at the equipment. Flight nurses say the helicopter is like an intensive care unit in the air.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:04:35]
[IN Q=we have cardiac]
((CARL CLINE: WE HAVE CARDIAC MONITORS, IV PUMPS, WE HAVE EQUIPMENT TO PUT A BREATHING TUBE INTO THE PATIENTS THROAT TO HELP THEM BREATH, WE HAVE VENTILATORS.))
[SUPER=01-Carl Cline/Lifeguard 10 Clinical Team Leader]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=we have ventalators.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Lifeguard 10 is the oldest hospital based air medical transport service in Virginia.
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[Festival-Park]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC - 1:02:38]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Today's great weather brought out thousands to Roanoke's Festival in the Park.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Arts and crafts booths line Elmwood Park with everything from pottery to chairs and hand bags. Local bands played on the main stage and kept the crowd on its feet. Across the street at the Williamson Road parking lot, muscle men from across the state competed in the Strongman Challenge. One contest had contestants trying to hurl a 35 pound keg over an 18 foot wire. Organizers say there's something for everyone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:22]
[IN Q=we have 4]
((WENDI SCHULTZ: WE HAVE FOUR STAGES DURING THE DAY THAT OPERATE WITH ALL KINDS OF ENTERTAINMENT WE HAVE SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS WE HAVE BANK OF AMERICA FINE ARTS WITH 170 CRAFTS PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Wendi Schultz/Organizer]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=170 crafts people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This marks the 32-nd year Festival in the Park has taken place. If you missed it today you still have plenty of time, the festival runs everyday through June 3-rd.
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[Sports Tease]

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

And coming up in sports, Jeff Green wins the Busch race at the Lowes Motor Speedway A rookie will start up front in the Coke 600.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the Lakers are one game away from winning the Western Conference final against the San Antonio Spurs.
(------------)

[S-Busch]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-94 (24:49)]
[GRAPHIC=Busch Logo]

The rain let up today in Charlotte and Jeff Green and Matt Kenseth would battle to the end in the Carquest 300.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/FOX SPORTS; :]

Green was curising along with a 5 second lead with 16 laps to go but Kenseth closed the door taking the lead with 7 laps to go but Green came right back to the front and he would cross the line with Kenseth on his side to win the race, his second Busch win this season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I probably...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Green/Carquest 300 Winner; :]
[SUPER=01-Matt Kenseth/Finished Second; :]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=.....sure did."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

Jason Keller was third, Todd Bodine fourth and Mike Skinner fifth.

[S-Newman]

[ANCHOR=ROY]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=MIKE]
[TAPE#=SP-92 11855TC]
[GRAPHIC=LOWES SPEEDWAY]

The eyes of the racing world will be on 23 year old Ryan Newman in tomorrow's Coca-Cola 600. Mike Stevens says the young driver's reputation is growing almost as fast he drives.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC;:00]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Newman/Coca-Cola 600 Pole Sitter; :19]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/February 11th; :30]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/January; 1:02]
[SUPER=@MIKE1; 1:48]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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[S-Soccer]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-86 (2:01:10)]
[GRAPHIC=Soccer Logo]

The 15-th annual Berglund Festival Soccer tournament is being held this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :]

The Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer team is the host. 135 teams from 7 states will compete. The 22-hundred players and 45-hundred visitors will inject an estimated 1 to 2 million dollars to the local economy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="It's certainly....]
[SUPER=01-Carey Aliff/Director Of Coaching; :]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=.....to the area."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

The tournament will continue through tomorrow.

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-96 (31:06)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA Logo]

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 18-th straight game blowing out San Antonio 111 to 72.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA/NBC SPORTS; :]

The victory gives the Lakers a 3 to nothing lead in the best of 7 series.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal combined for 71 of the Lakers points in the victory.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="The last...]
[SUPER=01-David Robinson/Scored 24 Points; :]
[SUPER=01-Shaquille O'Neal/Scored 35 Points; :]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=.....be fine."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

Allen Iverson missed todays game three between the Sixers and Bucks with a sore hip. The game is in the second qua rter and Milwaukee was leading 24 to 17.