WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 06/09/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Ahead on NEWS 7 at six.
A local Wal-Mart is on the losing end of a federal lawsuit---involving allegations of sexual harassment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, graduation day arrives for a number of area high schools. Meet two students who've beaten the odds to embark on a new chapter in their lives.
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[Sports-Head]

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

In sports, Tthe Virginia High School League crowned its champions today the Avalanche has 4 players on the Carolina League All Star team.
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[VO-NAT]

And Jennifer Capriati is the winner of the Women's French Open title.
(------------)

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

The sunny skies and warm temperatures we had today should last through the rest of the weekend... but rain may not be far behind. We'll explain in the forecast.

[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
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[VO-NAT]
A federal jury awards a woman 750- thousand dollars in a lawsuit against a local Wal-Mart and her former boss.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]

Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.[Wal-Mart-Suit]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-22 TC-56:16]
[GRAPHIC=Wal Mart]
The lawsuit was filed by a former employee who says she was sexually harrassed while working at the Wal-Mart in Salem.

(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
39- year old Lisa LaFranca told jurors when she complained to her superiors she got no support.
LaFranca says the abuse began when her boss started making crude remarks and grabbing her. She says when she complained to a higher boss, that boss told her he'd sleep with her if he had half a chance. A jury yesterday awarded LaFranca 750- thousand dollars. Wal-Mart's attorney would not comment on the verdict.
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[Ped-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=01-34 tc2:48]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Pittsylvania County man is dead after being hit by a car.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
Officials say 45-year-old Ben Petty was walking down the middle of Malmaison Road in Danville around 11:30 last night.
He apparently would not get out of the way of an oncoming car - and the car could not avoid hitting him. Petty was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the driver of the car will not be charged.
(------------)

[Northside]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Seniors at Northside high school received their diplomas today. But for two students reaching this point in their lives has meant overcoming the odds. Kate Weidaw has their story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Onita Cook/Elizabeth's Mother;:19]
[SUPER=07-Elizabeth Rogers;:35]
[SUPER=07-Gary Kasey;:47]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:33]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=kw news7 Roanoke.]

(([NAT SOUND OF GRADUATION MUSIC]
[RUNS= 3]
[SHOTS OF STUDENTS WALKING IN]
As the graduating class of Northside High School marches in two students stand out .... Elizabeth Rogers and Gary Kasey. Both have cerebral palsy, but through elementary and high school they have supported each other. Elizabeth's mother says getting to this day wasn't easy.

[SOT 42:05]
[INQ=]
((ONITA COOK: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FIGHTS TO GET THEM MAINSTREAM AND WITH THE REGULAR CLASSES.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

Elizabeth was able to graduate near the top of her class.

[SOT 45:03]
[INQ=]
((ELIZABETH ROGERS: I'M NUMBER 66 IN MY CLASS, I'M ON THE HONOR ROLE SO I THINK I'VE DONE PRETTY GOOD.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

Gary says his years in high school helped him deal with living in a wheelchair.

[SOT 46:42]
[INQ=]
((GARY KASEY: I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN SELF PITY ABOUT BEING IN A WHEEL CHAIR LIVING WITH BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR INSTEAD OF SUFFERING.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]
[BUTT, BUTT, BUTT]
[SOT 48:35]
[INQ=]
((GARY KASEY: HIGH SCHOOL WAS VERY PLEASANT FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS SO I HAD A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM THE WHOLE FOUR YEARS I WAS HERE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

But graduating from high school isn't separating this pair. Elizabeth and Gary plan to leave in July for Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville where they'll attend Blue Ridge College together. And like most graduates they're looking forward to the perks of college.

[SOT 45:45]
[INQ=]
((ELIZABETH ROGERS: BEING ON MY OWN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

[SOT 47:20]
[INQ=]
((GARY KASEY: WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND PUSH EACH OTHER AND KEEP EACH OTHER MOTIVATED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 3]

Gary hopes to have a successful career in business administration some day while Elizabeth is still deciding whether to study math or psychology. And while they know challenges lie ahead, they plan to face those together. Kate Weidaw News7 Roanoke.))

[OxyContin]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Oxycontin]
Virginia is one of five states selected to take part in a federal program aimed at stopping abuse of the painkiller "OxyContin".
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
Pharmacies are being asked to participate in the prescription monitoring program on a voluntary basis. The painkiller has been tied to 74 overdose deaths in Virginia since 1998. The other states invited to participate are Florida, Ohio, West Virginia and Mississippi.
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[Comair]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twa]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC29:38]
[GRAPHIC=Comair Strike]

Comair and its pilots are heading back to the bargaining table.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March]

Yesterday, the Delta-owned airline and its pilots agreed to sit down and talk in hopes of putting an end to the two month-old strike. Comair has not talked with the pilots since May 12th, when they rejected an offer that did not fulfill union demands.

Both sides will meet Tuesday and try to reach a compromise within the following three days.
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[Lewis-Gale]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC-2:03:26]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Staff members at the Lewis Gale Clinic in Salem were out raising money for lung cancer research today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
The Lee Hi Medical Center held a car wash and open house to raise money for the Mike (muh-LAR-ee) Mallare Golf Tournament in July.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:03]
[IN Q=dr. mallare]
((MATT CLOUGH: DOCTOR MALLARE WAS A PEDIATRICIAN WITH THE CLINIC FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS WHO TRAGICALLY DIED FROM LUNG CANCER AT THE AGE OF 39 AS A NON-SMOKER SO WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR EVENT WHICH IS HELD IN JULY.))
[SUPER=01-Matt Clough/Lewis Gale Clinic Marketing Dir.]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=held in july.]
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[VO-NAT]
In addition to the car wash the public could have their blood pressure and blood sugar checked. The new allergy clinic was open for the public to take a look at. The clinic hoped to raise 1-thousand dollars.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Coming up, one person's luck is running out, despite hitting a big jackpot last year...
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[VO-NAT]
and it has been a gorgeous day to get a bird's eye view of the Roanoke Valley... More on those stories in just a bit, but first let's check in with Jacey in the Weather Center...
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[Big-Game]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=twa]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Big Game]
Someone is about to let millions and millions of dollars slip through their fingers. A winning Big Game lottery ticket that was purchased one year ago has NOT been turned in. The winning numbers were purchased at a store in Montvale, New Jersey. If the prize is not claimed by midnight tonight, the 23-point-seven million dollar jackpot will be distributed to the states that participate in the Big Game.

[VS-Profile]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=Va Profiles]
[GRAPHIC=VA Profiles]
A Giles County student is making history by becoming the first person at Narrows High School to graduate 2-years early.
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[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Narrows;]
16-year-old Eric Atkins skipped fifth grade and his junior year to graduate with the Class of 2001. The youngest of three-kids, he says he's already planning for an early retirement. But before he can do that, Atkins will attend college at the University of Illinois to study business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :16:01:17]
[IN Q=I chose the UOF I]
((ERIC ATKINS/GRADUATING EARLY; I CHOSE THE U OF I BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE SCHOOL AND THAT'S KIND OF A BIG CHANGE IN NARROWS WHICH HAS NOTHING, AND, THEY HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS PROGRAM.))
[SUPER=01-Eric Atkins/Graduating Early;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=BUSINESS PROGRAM.]
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[VO-NAT]
Graduating early is only one of Atkins achievements. More on this local boy with a bright future tomorrow on News 7 Sunday morning.
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[Hot-Air]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jbi]
[TAPE#=01-39 tc 4:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]
It was great weather for a Hot Air Balloon ride at Valleyfest in Green Hill Park today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
The Roanoke County festival began this morning and runs until 8 o'clock tonight. Tethered hot air balloon rides were available all day. The pilots say a good flying day requires clear skies and light winds... just about what we have seen today. And in case you were wondering, a typical hot air balloon stands about 8 stories high and 20 pick-up trucks could easily fit inside.
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]

Coming up, Roy Stanley will join us with highlights from today's state Double-A boys soccer championship...
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[VO-NAT]
and we're not horsing around, the Roanoke Valley Horse Show is just a few weeks away. We'll have details coming up in just a few minutes.
(----------------)

[Time-Off]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Time OFf]
Roanoke's Mill Mountain is home to scenic beauty and lots of wildlife, including lazy leopards, and a famous feline. If you want to see these magnificent creatures, then the Mill Mountain Zoo is the place for you. In this week's Time Off Shannon Young takes us along for a walk on the wild side.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hey. Come on! I'm not]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dave Wood/Mill Mountain Zoo; :42]
[SUPER=@Shannon1; :51]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=standard]

(([SOT 24:39-24:41]
[IN Q=Hey. Come on!]
((Hey. come on!))
[OUT Q=Come on!]
It's not quite feeding time and Dave Wood is having trouble waking the animals, especially the leopards, from their early afternoon nap.
[SOT 27:43-27:49]
[IN Q=Everybody loves cats...]
((Everybody loves cats, especially big cats, but alot of times they'll come to the zoo and say, "Well, they're sleeping." Well, that's what cats do.))
[OUT Q=That's what cats do.]
Other creatures, like this red panda, are pacing, perhaps waiting for visitors to arrive. This is the relaxed atmosphere of Mill Mountain Zoo, 4-acres of wooded hillside atop one of Roanoke's most well-known landmarks. For the past 49-years the zoo has sought to encourage a relationship between humans and their feathered, furry and fantastical friends.
[SOT 23:23-23:34]
[IN Q=It's hard to become emotionally...]
((It's hard to become emotionally involved with animals and wildlife by looking at pictures in a book. You need to smell, you need the sound. You need to touch when it's appropriate.))
[OUT Q=You need to touch when it's appropriate.]
[SOT 39:33-39:40]
[IN Q=Although you can't get as close...]
((Although you can't get as close to the animals as I am to Bernice here, you can get a whole lot closer to some species you typically wouldn't find in this area.))
[OUT Q=typically wouldn't find in this area.]
That's because the zoo's changing its focus to become a home primarily to Asian species, instead of the African animals most zoos specialize in. Plus, Wood says Asian animals, like these snow monkeys, are used to climates like Roanoke's that swing from hot to cold.
[SOT 29:35-29:44]
[IN Q=Alot of times people see them in National Geographic...]
((Alot of times people see them in National Geographic articles and stuff, they're sitting in the hot springs in the snow...this is the species. This is that animal.))
[OUT Q=This is that animal.]

You may also be familiar with Ruby the tiger, the zoo's most famous resident. Wood says Mill Mountain will be bringing in still more tigers to keep Ruby company and boost the zoo's big cat population. Snow leopards Boris and Tasha recently made their own contribution by having cubs. Look for the babies to make their debut in the coming weeks. Shannon Young, News 7, Roanoke.))

[Horse-Show]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-14 - TC-1:19:57]
[GRAPHIC=none]
There was some horsin' around outside Tanglewood Mall this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Organizers of the Roanoke Valley Horse Show brought some of their finest to the mall to demonstrate their jumping and trotting abilities. All of the breeds represented in the week long horse show at the Salem Civic Center were also out there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:51]
[IN Q=we're talking about]
((GERALD CARTER: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY DO SO THE PUBLIC WILL BE INFORMED ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN THEY COME TO THE HORSE SHOW, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE ROANOKE SHOW IS THE SPECTATORS SHOW UP IN FORCE.))
[SUPER=01-Gerald Carter/Horse Show Committee Executive]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=show up in force.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The 30-th annual horse show begins the 18-th and runs through the 23-rd. The show is the longest running sporting event in the valley. More than 1-thousand horses from around the country take part in the show every year.
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[S-Burg]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-97 6:16]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]

We start with the Group 2A boys soccer state championship between reigning champ Blacksburg and Jamestown. The Indians would defend an 87 game streak without a loss.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Group 2A Boys Championship; ]

The Indians graduated this morning before their fourth straight title attempt.
We pick it up in the first half. Jamestown has the direct kick. Colby Renniger scores one of his four goals on the day. 3-nothing Jamestown.
[SUPER=34-Jamestown/5/Blacksburg/0;] In the second half, Jamestown has a penalty kick and Colin Wyatt puts it past
Harper Thornsen to make it 4-nothing.
Thornsen again facing a penalty kick and he makes the save but the Eagles end Blacksburg's 87 game streak without a loss with a 5-nothing win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="...]
[SUPER=01-Shelley Blumenthal/Blacksburg Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=came at the wrong time"]
(------------)

[S-Soccer]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-89 1:54:45]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]

On the girls side, Jefferson Forest would battle Broad Run in the Group 2A state championship.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Girls 2A State Championship; :00]

This was the Cavaliers second straight trip to the title game.
The game was scoreless until Broad run junior Kayla Kirby scores to give the Spartans the 1-nothing lead with 3:03 left in the game and that would be enough as the Spartans top Jefferson Forest 1-nothing for the group 2A girls state championship.

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

[S-Heritage]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-99 7:04]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]

ON to baseball where Heritage would try and knock off Poquosin in the state championship.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Group 2A Baseball State Championship; :00]
The Pioneers were fired up and focussed for their state title game at Kiwanis Field.
Heritage had a 1-nothing lead but in the bottom of the fourth Poqosin's Jeff Parrish scores from third on a fielder's choice to tie it at 1 all.
[SUPER=34-Poquoson/3/Heritage/1;]Then in the bottom of the fifth. Travis Molkey singles scoring John Farmer and Josh
Cobb and the Islanders go on to win the group 2A baseball state championship with the 3-1 victory.
(------------)

[S-Tennis]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL logo]

Radford is the Group A tennis team champion.
The Bobcats led by singles champion Caroline Downs won all six of the matches against Thomas Walker today.
The final team score was 6 to nothing.
Radford wins its fourth straight team championship.
Downs and Jenni Gray won the doubles title.

[S-French]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-92 (1:31:50)]
[GRAPHIC=French Open]

It was a long day but Jennifer Capriati survived to win the French Open final.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Paris, France/NBC SPORTS; :]

Her opponent Kim Clijsters (KLY'-sturs) would put up a strong fight by winning the first set 6 to 1.
But Capriati would rally to win the final two sets closing the match with a forehand winner down the line that Clijsters couldn't reach. Capriati now becomes the first woman to win both the Australian and French Opens in the same year since Monica Seles in 1992.
(------------)

[S-Avs]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Salem Avalanche]

The Salem Avalanche will have four players on the Carolina League All Star Team.
Javier Colina was added today to replace Potomac second baseman Bo Hart who will miss the game because of an injury.
He joins outfieldere Dan Phillips, First baseman Garrett Atkins and left handed pitcher Cory Vaance as representatives from the Avalanche.
The Avalanche is at home tonight against Winston Salem.

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6-pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-95 (35:51)]
[GRAPHIC=Yankees/Braves]

The Yankees and Braves continued Interleague play this afternoon in the "Big Apple."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bronx, NY/FOX SPORTS; :]

New York fell behind 2 to 1 then in the second, Chipper Jones, who homered in the first hits a single up the middle scoring Andruw Jones the Braves led 4 to 1.
But the Yankees rallied, Trailing 5 to 1 in the third Jorge Posada gets all of this pitch for a two run homer over the centerfield wall but the Braves still led 5 to 4.
[SUPER=35-N.Y. Yankees/6/Atlanta/10/;]

Then in the bottom of the fourth Bernie Williams unloads with this two run homer over the left field wall to make it 6 to 5 but Atlanta rallys to win it 10 to 6.
(------------)

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-98 (6:14)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA Logo]

The N-B-A championship returns to Philadelphia with the series tied at one game each.
Last night in Los Angeles Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant had big games while holding Allen Iverson to 23 in the 98 to 89 win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="As long...]
[SUPER=01-Allen Iverson/Scored 23 Points; :]
[SUPER=01-Kobe Bryant/Scored 31 Points; :]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=....to Philadelphia."]
(----------)
[TALENT=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

The series resumes Sunday night in Philadelphia.

[S-Boxing]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-96 (43:39)]
[GRAPHIC=Boxing Gloves]

In no way was the fight similar to the heavyweight championship bouts their fathers head over the years.
But last night in Verona, New York, Laila Ali scored a majority decision over Jacqui Frazier-Lyde in an 8 round fight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I felt...]
[SUPER=01-Jacqui Frazier-Lyde/Joe Frazier's Daughter; :]
[SUPER=01-Laila Ali/Muhammad Ali's Daughter; :]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=...not to do."]
(-----------)

[S-Hurt]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-94 36:18]
[GRAPHIC=news 7 sports]

A special Sunday sports story coming up tomorrow for everyone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
Act's II, an inner city ministry, held the Hurt Park 3 on 3 cross over basketball tournament today. 10 teams competed. Tomorrow on News 7 at six, all the action and words from one of the players, former William Fleming star and UVa bound(------------) defensive back Jermaine Hardy. That story tomorrow.