[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Up next on News 7--
The BRAKES are put on a Roanoke county woman who was about to jump- start her racing career.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And we'll have a complete list of area hot spots to catch July fourth fireworks.
(/////////////)
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[SS=None]
Thunderstorms are popping up across the area...I'll have your Holiday forecast coming right up.....
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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[VO-NAT]
From Mount Rushmore to the Windy City--
We'll have an sneak peek at the July Fourth fireworks lighting up the nation's skies..
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=News 7 at Noon ]
Good afternoon.
[Independence-Day]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fourth of July]
Good Afternoon and Happy Independence Day, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
While our local fireworks displays won't happen for another nine hours or so,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mt. Rushmore, SD;]
some former PRESIDENTS had the best seats in the house for last night's fireworks display in South Dakota.
It took a lot of hard work during the day to prepare for the light show on Mount Rushmore-- but it was well worth it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:32:40]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=nat sounds of fireworks and music...]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Every year, thousands of people travel to the landmark to check out the spectacular booms and blasts.
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
Midwesterners were also showing off their patriotic spirit last night.
Nearly a million people came out to watch the night light up at the annual Windy City fireworks display along Chicago's lakefront.
(------------)
[Annan]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD ]
With the Liberty Bell as the back- drop, the Secretary General of the United Nations was honored this morning in Philadelphia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA;]
Kofi Annan was in Philly earlier today to receive the 2001 Philadelphia Liberty Medal in front of Independence Hall.
Annan's being honored for his efforts in the fight against AIDS.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:49:42]
[IN Q=I accept this]
((KOFI ANNAN/U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: I ACCEPT THIS AWARD ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE U.N. AND ITS STAFF....TO ADVANCE LIBERTY.))
[SUPER=01-Kofi Annan/U. N. Secretary General;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=to advance liberty.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Meanwhile, President Bush will be also be spending this July fourth in the City of Brotherly Love.
He'll attend a block party to encourage Americans to reach out to troubled children.
The President also plans to deliver a speech at Independence Hall, where the Continental congress approved the Declaration of Independence.
[July-4th]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=4-th of July]
As long as Mother Nature cooperates, Independence Day will end with a bang.
Several localities have scheduled fireworks to top off the holiday.
Here's a list of places where you can see tonight's lightshows.
[LIVE PATRIOTIC MUSIC UNDER]
(---------BOARDS ON TAPE---------)
[VO-NAT]
[IN Q=Roanoke Board]
[RUNS=:41]
[OUT Q=Brookneal last board]
(---------------------------------------------)
[11Hemsley]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=01-36 TC12:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The man best known for his role as George Jefferson is spending this Independance Day in western Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Actor Sherman Hemsley flew into the Roanoke Regional Airport last night but it was just a stopover.
He'll eventually make his way to Lexington where he'll participate in The Annual Bruce Allen Fourth of July Celebration.
It's all part of a funraiser for local charities.
Hemsley will be entertaining the public as a favor to his friend Bruce Allen.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well before I perform]
((SHERMAN HEMSLEY/ACTOR; WELL BEFORE I PERFORM I'LL BE INTRODUCING KEITH BRYANT THE SINGER AND I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE STANDUP MYSELF AND JUST TRY TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY AND MAKE EVERYBODY LAUGH.))
[SUPER=01-Sherman Hemsley/Actor]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=everybody laugh.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hemsley will be performing at Davidson Park in Lexington.
All the festivities, which include music and food, kick off at 4 and run until 10.
(------------)
[5-Junie]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=501-02 36:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
"Junie" Smith may be one of Buchanan's most beloved citizens.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15.5]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan;]
You can usually find the 66 year old man driving his lawn tractor around town.
Junie was born with Muscular Dystrophy. Doctors told his family he should be placed in an institution, but his mother said no.
Now, Junie runs his own lawn mowing business.
(///// SOT /////)
[23:18:42 2nd tape/10:11:07 1st tape]
[SOT]
[IN Q=He's something]
((MARTY RICKMAN/FRIEND: HE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY. EVERY COMMUNITY OUGHT TO HAVE A JUNIE.))
((JEREMY MULLINS/FRIEND: Q: WHY DO YOU LIKE HANGING OUT WITH A 66 YEAR OLD GUY? HE'S JUST FUN TO TALK TO. HE SMILES A LOT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.))
[SUPER=01-Marty Rickman/Friend; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jeremy Mullins/Friend; :10 ]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=smiles a lot and everything else.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Junie is so popular with the locals that he's been named Marshal for Buchanan's Fourth of July parade this evening.
(------------)
[Jeep-Investigation]
[ANCHOR=Kim']
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Jeep]
Federal authorities reportedly have begun a probe into complaints that Jeep Grand Cherokees can suddenly shift into reverse.
The Los Angeles Times says the government has received at least 48 complaints.
The report says the incidents have led to 32 crashes and 14 injuries.
Most of the incidents allegedly occurred while the sport-utility vehicles were idling with the gearshift in the park position.
[Renee-Kopstein]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC55:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
For the last three years, a Roanoke County woman has been driven to drive.
Renee Kopstein had hoped to get her racing career in gear last night in South Boston, but her hopes stalled out.
As News 7's Jennifer Miele reports, Kopstein's wheels are still spinning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Renee Kopstein/Goody's Dash Series Driver; :18]
[SUPER=01-Bob Kopstein/Optical Cable CEO; :45]
[SUPER=@jennifer1; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=JM news 7, Halifax County.]
(([tc:08:02:49]
[NAT SOUND: SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, NO, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO START? NO.]
[RUNS05]
Three years of training boiled down to a broken fuel pump.
For 25-year-old Renee Kopstein, the race that was supposed to kick off her career was suddenly thrown into park.
[SOT]
[TC:07:54:19]
((RENEE KOPSTEIN: IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING. I FEEL LIKE WE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED FOR THIS. THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. ALL WE CAN DO IS LEARN FROM IT, AND GO ON FORM HERE AND LET I NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT RACE AND GO FROM THERE.))
[RUNS13]
Standing in South Boston's pit with a bird's eye view yesterday's race, was Renee's sponsor, who by the way, is also her father.
He's the President and CEO of Optical Cable Corporation -- a Roanoke County fiber optic firm.
[SOT]
[tc:07:47:28]
((BOB KOPSTEIN: SHE WOULD EITHER SIT ON MY LAP OR ON THE OTHER SIDE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SHE'D ALWAYS WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR EVER SINCE SHE WAS ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OLD.))
[RUNS11]
Now it's not everyday that you'll find a female racecar driver who's also happens to be a Cave Spring graduate, who's dad happens to be the CEO of a million dollar company....
But Renee says out of the ordinary is nothing new to her.. precisely why last night's disappointment will be so easy to bounce back from next time she races.
And sure enough, dear old dad will be there.
[SOT]
[STAND UP]
((JENNIFER MIELE: IF RENEE HAD GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO RACE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AN HOUR BEFORE, SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS... BUT RACE OR NO RACE, HER BIGGEST FAN IS WAITING AT THE FINISH LINE.))
[RUNS13]
Bob Kopstein says the hundred thousand dollars it cost the company to sponsor Renee will be well worth it, even if she comes in last place... because in his heart, Rene is always a winner.
Jennifer Miele, News 7, Halifax County.))
[Tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
It could have crippled the fall television season.
Still ahead on News 7, Actors and producers head off a potential strike.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And we'll get a look at the first pictures from yesterday's deadly plane crash in Russia.
(---------------)
[Streaming Video]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[11Missing-woman]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC1:20:51]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Police haven't been able to find Dewey Lee Summerlin or the woman he's suspected of abducting.
But Summerlin's landlord says he recently spoke to him.
Summerlin called his landlord Monday night and said the woman he's with is all right.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]
Lawrence Wolfe rented a basement apartment to Dewey Summerlin.
The house is at the end of a secluded, steep driveway at Lynville on the Lake in Hardy.
Wolfe says Summerlin was depressed when he called late Monday night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:53:35]
[IN Q=He said I shoud]
((LAWRENCE WOLFE/LANDLORD; HE SAID, "I SHOULD PUT A BULLET IN MY HEAD." I SAID, "THAT'S NOT NECESSARY." I ASKED IF THE LADY WAS ALL RIGHT AND HOW HIS SON WAS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I WAS CONCERNED WITH.))
[SUPER=01-Lawrence Wolfe/Landlord]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=that's pretty much all I was concerned with.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police would like to talk with Summerlin about the disappearance of Jennifer Barker. Yesterday, they scoured the area around the house with a tracking dog after searching the house Monday night and finding a sawed- off shotgun. A car they'd been looking for was also there.
The search warrant affidavit indicates "human blood was found in the vehicle which was not present at the time Robert Wingfield loaned the vehicle to Summerlin" last week.
The warrant cites Barker's abduction as the reason for the search.
(------------)
[VMI-Pregnancy]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VMI Seal]
Virginia Military Institute's plan to require cadets involved in a pregnancy to leave school or face expulsion is under fire from a civil rights group.
The A-C-L-U says the policy violates privacy rights and the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.
The A-C-L-U urged V-M-I to treat pregnancy as a temporary medical disability.
The state Attorney General's office has not yet responded.
[FBI-Spy]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Former F-B-I agent Robert Hanssen will appear in court on Friday to admit that he was a long-time spy for the Russians.
Hanssen has agreed to a plea bargain that'll spare his life.
Jim Stewart reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :44]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :54]
[SUPER=01-Jim Stewart/Reporting; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=Stewart, CBS News, Washington.]
[Actors]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Audiences won't likely notice a change on the big or small screens, now that the actors' unions have reached a tentative contract agreement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
The three-year deal is designed to benefit the little-known, lower-paid members.
MOST actors earn 75-hundred dollars a year or less.
The deal would boost salaries and health benefits for the 135-thousand members.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:35:07]
[IN Q=I have since...]
((BILL DANIELS/SAG PRESIDENT:I HAVE SINCE LAST OCTOBER BEEN TELLING EVERYONE THAT A DEAL COULD BE WORKED OUT AND I WAS RIGHT! AND FOR THAT, I'M ENTIRELY GRATEFUL. ))
[SUPER=01-Bill Daniels/S. A. G. President;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=entirely grateful.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The members will vote on the agreement by mail, which will likely take several weeks.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
Meanwhile, Hollywood producers say they won't begin work on new projects until the agreement is ratified.
But they don't expect any delays in the fall T-V season.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Still ahead on News 7 at Noon, Leo has a closer look at the holiday forecast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And it's no holiday for firefighters in California, as they try to stop a warehouse blaze.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Warehouse-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Flames shot as high as 75- feet into the air this morning outside a warehouse in California.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Industry, CA;]
Rows of wooden pallets in a warehouse yard caught fire.
150 firefighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading into other areas.
But the effort took them about three hours.
While nearby homes were threatened at first, no one was evacuated.
One of the firefighters was treated for minor injuries.
(------------)
[Russia-Plane]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Plane Crash]
Tomorrow will be an official day of mourning in Russia for the 145 people killed in a plane crash in Siberia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Burdakovka, Russia;]
Everyone on board the airliner was killed, when the plane plunged into a wooded meadow and caught fire.
The accident happened during the plane's THIRD landing attempt.
Aviation officials are examining the plane's two black box flight recorders, looking for clues to the crash.
Investigators are NOT ruling out terrorism.
The airline says 12 of the 145 people on board the flight were foreigners, most of them from China.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
Wall Street is closed today in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Will they stay or will they go..
Still to come on News 7
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Express owners roll through all their options as they get the fate of the team on track.
We'll have details after the break.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Wimbledon]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Wimbledon]
Patrick Rafter will be serving it up in the semifinals at Wimbledon.
He was the first to make it to the next level, after beating Thomas (Enk-vist) Enqvist today in straight sets.
(Gore-an EE-vuh-NEE-suh-vich) Goran Ivanisevic is also in the semi's after defeating fourth-seated (Muh-rat ) Marat Safin
The WOMEN'S semifinals are on the schedule tomorrow at Wimbledon.
Defending champ Venus Williams meets Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati takes on Justine Henin.
[Express]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-105 1110TC]
[GRAPHIC=Express]
The fate of the Roanoke Express is still unknown.
The owners told us yesterday that they might just keep the team.
However, one source speculates that the current owners will just dissolve the team.
What we do know is that two separate groups have submitted offers to buy the Express.
The ECHL told News 7 sports that the sale of the Express has not gone before the board of governors.
Steve Mason puts together the pieces in this complicated puzzle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :39]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; 1:39]
[RUNS=2:16]
[OUT Q=..news 7 sports"]
(--------------)
((The local group that wants to buy the team has three parts. Ashby Coleman, the owner of Aylett Coleman Reality would be the majority owner, Chris Pollock, the owner of Rising Star would also own a portion and a local attorney, whose name has not been revealed would own a third part. They have submitted an offer and a counter offer. Peter Gillespie, majority owner of the Augusta Lynx, and Larry Kish have also submitted an offer. This group would most likely move the express to Fayetteville North Carolina. We spoke with GIlliespie by phone from his home in new York today.
((:))
Sources say Gillespie's group would move the express from the Roanoke civic center to the Cumberland county crown coliseum. He addressed that as well.
((:))
ANOTHER POSSIBLE BUYER THAT SOURCES SAY HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IS CARL SCHEER, PRESIDENT OF THE GREENVILLE GRROWL. SOURCES SAY THE LOCAL GROUP HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF BUYING THE TEAM RIGHT NOW. IT'S SECOND OFFER TO CURRENT OWNERSHIP WAS FOR MORE MONEY THAN THE ORIGINAL.
DICK YANCY IS IN CHARGE OF THE EXPRESS SALE. THE EXPRESS OWNERS SAY IF 4 THOUSAND FANS TURN OUT TO BUY SEASON TICKETS THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN KEEPING THE TEAM IN ROANOKE, BUT NOTHING CAN BE GUARANTEED. THE ECHL HAS COMPLETED IT'S FOURTH DRAFT OF NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULE, A FACTOR THAT COULD PLAY INTO THE EXPRESS STAYING PUT.
((PERRY FLORIO:))
Florio is now forced to update his resume out of protection for his family, even though he feels he will coach at the round house next season.
((:))
The local group that want to buy the express did talk via conference call with express owners Tuesday afternoon.
POLLOCK, SPEAKING FOR THE LOCAL GROUP TODAY, SAID KEEPING THE TEAM IN THE STAR CITY IS THEIR GOAL, IF THEY BUY THE TEAM. HE ALSO SAID HE THINKS THE LOCAL GROUP WILL KNOW BY THE END OF THIS WEEK IF THE EXPRESS IS SOLD. BUT THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS HAS TO APPROVE IT FIRST. steve mason news 7 sports.))
[Grizzlies]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-103 602tc]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
However, the fate of the Vancouver Grizzlies IS definite - they are hitting the road... permanently.
Yesterday the NBA owners gave unanimous approval to move the franchise south of the border.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA;]
The Grizzlies will play in the Memphis Pyramid, and after losing about $46 million last season they needed a new home in a big way.
This is the first franchise relocation in the NBA since 1985, when the Kings moved from Kansas City to Sacramento.
(------------)
by SS