WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 06/22/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

A gift given by one woman to Pulaski county is being given back to everyone.
We'll show you the new park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, a local apparel company is pulling out, leaving employees to pull together to keep from losing their shirts.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports we'll preview tomorrow night's $50 thousand dollar Grand Prix at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, and tomorrow's Hershey track meet in Charlottesville. Plus, we'll visit with Danny Wilmer
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and have an update on qualifying on the road course at Sonoma where time trials are always an adventure.
(------------)

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

Large hail and heavy downpours are part of the short term forecast. Clouds and showers may stick around tomorrow as well. Details next.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=SHannon 3-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

More bad news as more lay-offs hit Southside.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
Keith Humphry is off tonight.

[JPS-Apparel]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#01-16 TC1:39:58]
[GRAPHIC=Plant Closing]

First e-toys, Lane Furniture, then Goodyear.
Now J-P-S Apparel.
The company plans to close its South Boston plant, taking with it hundreds of jobs.
[Double Boxes=Justin & Shannon/Danville Bureau]

Justin McLeod is in our Danville newsroom with more. Justin?
[Live=Justin Full/ Danville Bureau]
[SUPER=@justin1;]
[SUPER=05-Danville ;]
Shannon, 346 people will lose their jobs when J-P-S closes its South Boston plant in August.
The announcement is more bad news for an economy thats already suffering.
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***JUSTIN'S MIC HOT***]
[SUPER=03-South Boston]

The plant closing comes after J-P-S decided to consolidate manufacturing operations and discontinue making certain fabrics.
The South Boston plant produces apparel fabrics used mainly for women's fashions.
Town and County Leaders say the news is a major blow but remain optimistic this is only a minor setback for the economy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :41:33]
[IN Q=South Boston and Halifax]
((TED DANIELS/TOWN MANAGER: SOUTH BOSTON AND HALIFAX HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER AND OVERCOME ADVERSITY. WE'LL DO THIS AND ALL THE FOLKS AT J-P-S KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTING THEM AND WE'LL PULL TOGETHER AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT THAT WE CAN.))
[SUPER=01-Ted Daniels/Town Manager; ]
[Runs=16]
[OUT Q=that we can]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Daniels says the first step will be to help those laid off workers find other jobs.
The town and county will then work together to market the site in hopes of attracting new businesses to the area.
(-------------)
[Live=Justin Full/Danville Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]

J-P-S says it too will help workers find other jobs in the area.
[Double Boxes=Shannon & Justin/Danville Bureau]

Shannon, the plant is scheduled to close August 20th.

[Patrick-Body]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-35 TC10:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities say there's been no sign of a man wanted for questioning in the 12-year-old murder of Ether Adean Smith.
They've been unable to locate one of Smith's acquaintances who disappeared the day after her body was found. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB SET***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya & Shannon /MB SET;]

Marya Jones talked to his family today.
So they're calling the disappearance a coincidence Marya?
Shannon,
39-year-old Timothy Wayne Willis was one of several people questioned about Smith's disappearance 12 years ago.
[LIVE=Marya /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]

Investigators say he drew their attention once again Tuesday, when he left without warning.
His sister says, however, that it's merely a coincidence... that Willis had talked of escaping custody for some time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Willis spent]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :00 QUICK!]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :11]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Kimmy Nester/Henry Co. Sheriff's Department; :22]
[RUNS=:57]
[OUT Q=when he left.]
(( Willis spent the last year in the Franklin County jail, serving a two-year firearms sentence.
A judge granted him work release in January... after car dealership owner Jim Mills sought his help.
Coworkers at the dealership say Willis was known as one of the best auto body men in the area.
But on Tuesday, after Ether Smith's body was found inside a welded oil drum, Willis didn't return from work to jail.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:44:47 - :54]
((CAPT. KIMMY NESTER/HENRY CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT HE HAPPENED TO DISAPPEAR ABOUT THE TIME WE WANTED TO GO BACK AND TALK TO HIM, SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN AS TO WHY HE MAY HAVE FLED.))
[RUNS=:07]

Willis ran an auto body business out of his home all his life... even as he worked for a brief time as a security guard at Tultex, according to his sister Debra Fields.
She says she never heard him mention a relationship with Ether Smith, also a Tultex employee.
Fields declined an on-camera interview, but said she didn't think her brother could be involved.
"He talked about leaving before..." she said. "It just built up in him and I don't think he could go back there every night. I'm sure it looks suspicious, but I really don't think he knew about this when he left."))
(-------------)
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[LIVE=Marya /FULL MB SET]

Investigators are still not calling Willis a suspect.
He and his third wife lived in the Henry community in Franklin County.
They believe he may STILL be in the area.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya & Shannon /MB SET;]

They're asking anyone who sees him or knows something about the case to contact the Henry or Franklin County Sheriff's Department. Shannon?

[Hedrick]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC1:11:29]
[GRAPHIC=Hedrick]

Condemned killer Brandon Wayne Hedrick is still trying to prove that mistakes by his attorneys landed him on death row.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/File Tape]

Hedrick was convicted in 1998 of the rape, robbery and murder of Lisa Crider in Appomattox County.
Hedrick's current legal counsel claims his trial lawyers made several errors that might have led to a jury giving him the death penalty.
Those mistakes they say included not preparing enough for the case, failing to strike hostile jurors and allowing Hedrick, who has an I-Q of 76, to take the witness stand.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

The two day hearing is wrapping up at this hour. Judge Richard Blanton must decide whether Hedrick should get a new trial. A ruling is not expected anytime soon.

[I-73]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-21 TC1:16:17]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 73]

Despite one change in the route for Interstate 73, V-Dot says Southeast Roanoke residents shouldn't get their hopes up...
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[VO]
Yesterday the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted a new route, farther east of Martinsville.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Some Southeast Roanoke residents say V-DOT should upgrade Route 220, and then use it as the route for I-73. But V-Dot officials say that's not a viable option.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 50:48]
[IN Q=Route 220, as it goes through...]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT SPOKESWOMAN; ROUTE 220 AS IT GOES THROUGH THE HEAVILY POPULATED AND BIG COMMERCIAL CENTER OF SOUTHWEST COUNTY, THEN THROUGH CLEARBROOK AND BOONES MILL. IF WE WERE TO LAY I-73 ON TOP OF 220, VIRTUALLY ALL OF THAT WOULD DISAPPEAR. THOSE LOSSES ARE TOO GREAT TO SUFFER.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokeswoman;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=losses are too great to suffer.]
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[VO-NAT]
Bullock says because of environmental restrictions, it could take a year to get federal approval for the project.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=NONE]

Just in time for summer, a new county park is making a splash with residents.
We'll tell you about it when News 7 at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And they're the talk of Grayson County.
Folks are wondering about a couple of crop circles, and how they got there.
(----------------)

[Danville-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-39 TC13:22]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Still no word on what caused the fire that heavily damaged a Danville restaurant earlier this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

The fire broke out around 2:45 at the Fresh Market and Buffet on Nordan Drive.
Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming out of the building, and before long, flames shot out of the roof.
The restaraunt has been closed for about a month for remodling.
The Fire marshal plans further investigation on Monday with help from the State Police.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[Botetourt-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-37 TC38:09]
[GRAPHIC=]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Firefighters were also called out early this morning in Botetourt County, where flames drove members of a family from their home.
Firefighters responded to the 25- hundred block of Webster Road near Blue Ridge around three A-M.
The residents made it out safely, and no one was injured, but officials say the home was a total loss.
(------------)

[Bomb-Threat]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC1:36:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
State Police successfully handled a suspicious device in the New River Valley today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]
A worker at the Ethan Allen Furniture Plant in Dublin found the gas container on a conveyor belt. According to a police spokesman, authorities recovered the gray four-inch cardboard tube and safely removed its cartridge at the Pulaski Landfill. State Police say the major concern was a possible fire, because there are large amounts of sawdust in the Rough Mill section of the plant where the canister was found.
(------------)

[Randolph-Park]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC1:00:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Pulaski County has turned a generous land donation into a haven for summer fun. Longtime area resident Jane Alexander gave the County more than 75-acres and the result is Randolph Park. New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon shows us how the facility is gearing up for it's official opening.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nats "water"]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Akers/Randolph Park Manager; :17]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; :48]
[SUPER=01-Charles Cook/Pulaski Co. Supervisor; :55]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Pulaski County.]
(([Nats Pool tc] The heat, humidity and haze during a summer day make a dip in Randolph Park's blue water all the more inviting. Park Manager Anthony Akers says the pool complex will be the focal point of the facility and a real treat to every one who visits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:06]
[IN Q=THIS AREA]
((ANTHONY AKERS/RANDOLPH PARK MANAGER; THIS AREA NEEDED AN OUTDOOR PARK OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND WE FEEL THIS WILL BE A NICE PARK FOR THE WHOLE REGION.))
[OUT Q=WHOLE REGION ]
It's taken an estimated 6-million dollars to make the facility a reality Planning started some 5-years ago. [Nats construction] Construction has been going on for about three and a half years and organizers say it will continue on some portions into the summer and beyond.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:04:08]
[IN Q=we have]
((ANTHONY AKERS/RANDOLPH PARK MANAGER; WE HAVE PICNIC SHELTERS GAZEBOS WALKING TRAILS.))
[OUT Q=TRAILS]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:28:46]
[IN Q=OFFICICALS SAY]
((RACHEL CANNON/NEWS 7; OFFICIALS SAY FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND RANDOLPH PARK BUT THEY ALSO SAY THEY HOPE IT REVITALIZES THE AREA.))
[OUT Q=the area]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:22:01]
[IN Q=WE FELL]
((CHARLES COOK/PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS; WE FEEL THERE IS A LOT TO BE GAINED FROM THIS PARK PEOPLE COMING INTO THE AREA COMING IN TO LOOKING AND SEEING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEW RIVER VALLEY.))
[OUT Q=RIVER VALEY]
Akers says he has already received many calls about camps and residents wanting to visit the park. He says even though they're only 4-weeks behind schedule because of all the rain last month, many are eager to spend some of their summer here.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:06:29]
[IN Q=THEY JUST]
((THEY JUST CAN'T BELIEVE SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAS BEEN BUILT IN PULASKI COUNTY.))
[OUT Q=county]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:23:45]
[IN Q=THEY LOOK AT IT]
(( THEY LOOK AT IT IN AWE SO TO SPEAK AND VERY EXCITED SO WERE EXPECTING LARGE CROWD.))
[OUT Q=LARGE CROWD.]
June 30th is the official opening. You can expect a dedication ceremony and a large crowd making a big splash. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Pulaski County.))
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An earnings warning from drug company Merck sent blue chips tumbling. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/110.84/10604.59/y/23.93/2034.83;]

The DOW dropped 111-points.
NASDAQ fell 24.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.50/46.01/h/0.11/21.01/h/0.56/61.94/i/0.63/21.79/i/0.65/9.50;]
[SUPER=272-h/1.00/61.25/i/0.55/34.00/i/0.57/46.48/h/0.61/51.86/i/0.22/43.90;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.02/24.88/i/0.30/19.62/h/0.07/10.18/i/0.13/47.53//Unchg/16.40;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.36/65.01/h/2.02/60.12/i/0.65/52.55/i/0.40/69.10/i/0.47/49.98;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[VEA-Democrats]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-18 TC1:27:01]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]

It may come as NO surprise to Republicans, but the state's teacher lobby has endorsed the state Democratic ticket.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=404-File Tape;]

The Virginia Education Association says it supported Republican Mark Earley when he ran for state Senate a decade ago.
But this year, Democrats Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Donald McEachin all get the teachers' nod.
The V-E-A cites Warner's positions specifically on funding, public education and treating the S-O-L tests as tools, NOT "ideological tenets."
(------------)

[Comair-Vote]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Comair's pilots have voted to accept a contract proposal, ending a three-month strike at the regional airline.
We'll have more tonight on News 7 at Eleven.

[Crop-Circle]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-31 TC04:57]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
A farm in Grayson County is producing more than hay.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.;]
The land is also generating curiosity thanks to the mysterious appearance of a couple of crop circles last weekend. The circles are connected by a thin line, giving the indentation the look of a dumbell. Onlookers are flocking to the field to see the circles and theorize as to their cause. It's unknown what caused the markings, but many seem to think aliens are responsible.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, a qualifying update from Sonoma, plus we'll hit a different kind of track with some area youngsters and head to Charlottesville and visit with former UVa assistant Danny Wilmer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll have a preview of tomorrow night's $50 thousand dollar Grand Prix event at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show.
(------------)

[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-101 1027TC]
[GRAPHIC=SEARS POINT]

The Winston Cup cars are out west in Sonoma on the Sears Point road course making both left and right hand turns today. Qualifying for this Sunday's race is taking place at this hour.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sonoma, CA/FoxSportsNet; :00]
Jimmy Spencer was one of the first drivers out on the track this afternoon and he immediately had some problems. Mister Excitement ended up sliding into the dirt and grass. No dirt for the current points leader and the road course king Jeff Gordon - he promptly went out and completed a lap in under 77 seconds at a speed of 93 point 7 miles an hour. Many drivers still have to take a run. I'll have the complete starting grid for you tonight on News 7 at 11.
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[S-Prix]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-98 (14:24)]
[GRAPHIC=Horse Show]

The Roanoke Valley Horse Show is trotting along heading toward its big money climax - The 50-thousand dollar Grand Prix tomorrow night.
And Roy Stanley says this year's event is wide open.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Aaron Vale...]
[SUPER=03-Salem/2000 Grand Prix; :]
[SUPER=01-Mary Lisa Leffler/Rolling Clover Farms; :28]
[SUPER=01-Todd Minikus/5 Time Indiana Champ; :54]
[SUPER=@Roy1; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports."]
((Aaron Vale, who has won a record tieing 5 Blue ribbons in the Grand Prix, is not competing this year.
Vale is a member of the U.S. Olympic team developing riders tour.
But even without Vale, The competition will be as tough as ever. Mary Lisa Leffer, a veteran Grand Prix rider, is back in Salem for the first time in six years.
She says without Vale that puts champion rider Todd Minikus in the hot seat.)) ((MARY LISA LEFFLER/ROLLING CLOVER FARMS:)) ((Minikus is a 5 time Indiana Grand Prix champion. He says the tight ring at the Salem Civic Center is a challenge in itself.
And he says it takes a special horse to handle the tight ring conditions.)) ((TODD MINIKUS/5 TIME INDIANA CHAMP:)) ((ROY STANLEY:))
(---------------)

[S-Wilmer]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-97]
[GRAPHIC=UVA Football Logo]
The New Virginia coaching staff is recruiting without top recruiter Danny Wilmer, the long time assistant coach let go in UVa's coaching transition. Steve Mason caught up with him today in Charlottesville.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First audio....]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/1999 Season; :00]
[SUPER=01-Danny Wilmer/UVa Assistant Coach for 18 Years; :29]
[SUPER=01-Antwoine Womack/2000 ACC Leading Rusher; 1:17]
[SUPER=01-Chris Luzar/UVa Senior Tight End; 1:32]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:39]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=........news 7 sports."]
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[S-Track]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-91 20118TC]
[GRAPHIC=TRACK AND FIELD]

The road to Charlottesville will be loaded with local travelers tomorrow as many youngsters and parents head east to take part in the Hershey's track and field state championships.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co./Last Saturday; :00]
Last Saturday at the local meet at Kenneth Dobson Stadium in Pulaski County, boys and girls from the Roanoke Valley, the New River Valley, Franklin County, Bath County, Henry County, Botetourt County and Rockbridge County competed in a variety of track and field events to earn the right to advance to tomorrow's competition at the University of Virginia.

The top three finishers form last week's action advanced to tomorrow's meet. Nationally, nearly half a million kids take part in Hershey track meets each year.
(------------)

[Choir]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kle]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC42:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A local choir is carrying its tunes all the way to Canada.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT Singing]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=Oh Canada.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

The Roanoke College Children's Choir will perform in Ottawa, Canada for Canada Day.
They're leaving Tuesday and will stop in New York for two days before arriving in Canada.
Many of the kids are looking forward to seeing The Music Man in New York and walking around the city.
The group was the ONLY U-S choir selected to sing at the occasion.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They said they weren't going]
((KIM DAVIDSON/CHOIR DIRECTOR: THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ACCEPT ANY AMERICAN CHOIRS BECAUSE THE CANADIAN CHOIRS WERE SO GOOD. THEN THEY LISTENED TO OUR AUDITION MATERIAL AND THEY SAID CONGRATULATIONS WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE THE AMERICAN GUEST CHOIR.))
[SUPER=01-Kim Davidson/Choir Director]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=American Guest Chior.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The choir will perform with the National Canadian Orchestra and sing songs written by Canadian Composers.
They've been practicing for months to learn 10 new songs for the program.
(------------)