WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 07/26/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR= 2-Shot]

Branching out or closing the doors. What'll happen to your local bank branch if Wachovia merges with First Union.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR= 2-Shot]
Plus, one county hopes a massive gathering of sport utility vehicles will blaze a new path for tourism.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, Dot Bolling comes back to win another City County golf title. The Big East picks Tech to finish second.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
We'll check the polls and check in with the magazine man - Lee Suggs.
(------------)

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

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue....I'll have your hometown forecast...
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A lot of Wachovia customers can bank on some big changes.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

There are plans to put several area branches up for sale.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Wachovia]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-43 TC10:04]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Wachovia announced today it will sell off 38 of its branches if the merger with First Union goes through.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Nine of those branches are in our viewing area
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jennifer/Microwave;]

and we find News 7 business reporter Jennifer Miele at one of them tonight. Jen.
[LIVE=Jennifer /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Keith and Shannon, I'm standing in front of the Wachovia bank at Tower's Shopping Center.
If the merger goes through, Wachovia customers will have to head to what are now First Union branches to do their banking. Luckily for this branch's users, there's a First Union right up the street.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Here's a look at]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape; :16]
[RUNS=:37]
[OUT Q=anything at this time.]
(([PRE PRO]
Here's a look at the banks in our area that may be sold: Again, the branch at Towers Mall, Franklin Plaza, Crossroads Mall, Cave Spring, 460 East and West Salem.
Other area branches slated for sale include Bedford, Hardy and Chilhowie. [END PRE PRO]
The 38 branch sell-off will total $1.5 billion dollars in deposits if the merger goes through.
No buyers have been identified yet, but the company says it's likely ALL of the banks will change hands but remain open.
Wachovia says once buyers are identified, customers will begin to receive information about the process... but do NOT need to do anything at this time.))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

If you remember SunTrust Bank is also trying to get its hands on Wachovia. We asked a SunTrust spokesperson about this sell-off. He said this a very common occurrence when two banks are merging, and says if by chance SunTrust ends up with Wachovia, SunTrust may be forced to do the same.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jennifer /Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon.

[Vitramon]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC27:13]
[GRAPHIC=Vishay Plant Closing]

A Roanoke company that said last week it would stay in business now says it will close.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Vishay Vitramon announced today it will close by the end of March.
Employees say 71 of the plant's 300 workers were laid off today.... more cuts are expected in September and February.
Vishay Vitramon is a multi-billion dollar electronic parts manufacturer.
The company blames the cutbacks on the slow economy.
(--------------)

[Melrose-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-22 TC1:44:43]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
Another teenager has been arrested for the armed robbery and related murder in Roanoke about three weeks ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 10]
Ryan Fischer was killed and Ben Chastang's car and jewelry were stolen July 10th, though the vehicle was later recovered in Ohio. A 19- year old suspect was charged in Akron last week.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Last night Roanoke police charged a 17-year old from Northwest Roanoke with robbery. So far, NO murder charges have been filed in the case.

[Hall]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-39 TC29:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Shawsville man who was shot during a fight with a police officer now faces charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Eric Lee Hall is charged with felony malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer.
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./July 14;]
Authorities say Hall attacked Roanoke County Officer Riley Meador (MED-or) earlier this month after he was pulled over for suspicion of drunken driving. Authorities say Hall grabbed Meador's flashlight and hit him on the head. During the fight, Hall was shot twice and was treated and released from Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Hall says Officer Meador was the aggressor that night. The officer has been on administrative leave. Eric Lee Hall is in custody without bond.
(------------)

[Car-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#01-23 TC1:14:28]
[GRAPHIC=Car Tax]

Freeze the car tax cut and find that the Governor broke the law.
Or say state senators and citizens have NO legal right to question the Governor's absolute authority.
That's the question before a Richmond Circuit Court judge, who heard motions to dismiss the car tax lawsuit today.

[Double Boxes=Shannon & Ellen/State Microwave]

Ellen Qualls is in our Richmond newsroom.
Any indications on how the judge is leaning?
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Suffice it to say that it's a sticky legal position to be in.
But Judge Theodore Markow was entertaining today, asking at one point if the Governor has the legal authority to consult a "panel of Ouija board advisors," use revenue estimates "he pulled out of the sky," or is "bound by anything other than the wind."
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nobody is above the law]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :04]
[SUPER=01-Grayson Hanes/Senators' Attorney; :18 ]
[SUPER=01-Bill Hurd/Virginia Solicitor General; :53]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=plaintiffs wish were in the law.]
(([sot tape 15:22:01 ]
((GRAYSON HANES/ATTORNEY: NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW. CERTAINLY NOT THE GOVERNOR.))
[runs= 03]

The argument a Republican and Democratic state senator make through their attorney is that Governor Jim Gilmore used a "phony" number to keep the car tax cut law trigger from freezing the tax cut at 47-point-five percent.
[sot tape 15:20:23 ]
((GRAYSON HANES/ATTORNEY: I THINK THAT HE ABUSED HIS DISCRETION AT LEAST. You actually said he used phony numbers. HE DID. HE HAD OTHER NUMBERS WE WILL PROVE THAT HE DID NOT PRESENT TO EITHER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. Were they inaccurate or simply outdated? OUTDATED AND THEREFORE THEY WERE INACCURATE.))
[runs= 18 ]

Local Republicans even organized a small boycott of the lawsuit, based on their wallets and NOT necessarily on the law.
But the Attorney General's office stood up for the Governor in court, arguing the judge can only step in if it sees Gilmore showing "demonstrable and proven bad faith."
[sot tape 15:13:50 ]
((BILL HURD/VIRGINIA SOLICITOR GENERAL: THE GOVERNOR IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA... HIGHLY DISCRETIONARY. THERE ARE NOT THE HARD AND FAST AND CONSTRAINING RULES IN THE LAW THAT PLAINTIFFS WISH WERE IN THE LAW.))
[runs= 30 ]))
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[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Judge Markow said at one point he's NOT going to second guess humans for doing something wrong -- only something illegal -- and the Governor's "no less a human being just because we elected him as Governor."
We have to summarize Judge Markow's comments because he banned our cameras from the courtroom.
[Double Boxes=Shannon & Ellen/State Microwave]
(QUESTION: When will he rule?)

The Attorney General's office expects a ruling on their request to throw the case out in a week to ten days.
If he doesn't, it goes to trial in October, just before the next election.

[Earley-Bush]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=bmo]
[TAPE#=01-32 TC44:14]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD Car Tax]

While the car tax is argued in court, it's already getting high-level political attention in the race for governor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=403-Washington, DC;]

President Bush invited Republican candidate Mark Earley to the White House today, where the president praised Earley for supporting a complete car tax phase-out next year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=So it was]
((MARK EARLEY/REP. CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR; SO IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT, WE APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT. AS WELL AS THAT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT WHO WAS THERE AND IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE HIS COMMITMENT TO VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=commitment to Virginia.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=Earley]

Democrats see the meeting differently.
The party's state chairman says the White House visit may have made for a great photo-op, but disguises what he calls Earley's contradictory positions on cutting the car tax since it was first proposed.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Still ahead on News 7, find out why thousands of off-road vehicles are rolling into Nelson County... and how the county hopes the caravan will jump-start toursim there.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And they're often blamed for causing accidents.
Now truckers are trying to teach the rest of the motoring public how to share the road.
(----------------)

[Truckers]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-21 TC1:56:41]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Truck drivers may own the road, but they're trying to teach motorists how to share it more safely.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Fed Ex driver Don (NEAR-ing) Nehring has been accident-free for 28 years.
He travels around the country demonstrating how car drivers can maneuver more safely around trucks.
He says motorists often are not aware of trucker's blind spots ... or longer braking times.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:39 - :52]
[IN Q=If I could]
((DON NEHRING/TRUCK DRIVER: IF I COULD TAKE ONE THING AND TEACH THE MOTORING PUBLIC... IF THEY CANNOT SEE THE DRIVER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TRUCK, HE CANNOT SEE THEM. IF THEY ARE IN THAT POSITION, THEY ARE IN A BLIND SPOT FOR ME.))
[SUPER=01-Don Nehring/Truck Driver;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=blind spot for me.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The American Trucking Association estimates that 71-percent of all deaths involving trucks are initiated by car drivers.
Nehring says ALL drivers should stay at least 4-seconds behind other vehicles, so there's enough time to stop.
(------------)

[Nelson-Tourism]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-31 TC27:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Fun and four- wheeling are on the agenda for thousands of Jeep owners this weekend in Nelson County.
Steve Smallshaw tells us how officials hope Camp Jeep will help jump-start the local tourism economy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It is by far]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frankee Love/Nelson Co. Economic Development; :25]
[SUPER=01-Lou Bitonti/Camp Jeep; :45]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :56]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=News7, Nelson County.]
(( It is by far the biggest event a small, rural area like Nelson County could hope to attract.
Over the next three days, ten thousand people from around the country will roll down Route 29 and into Camp Jeep.

[natsot jeep 00:51:10]
[RUNS= 02]

It essentially is a summer camp for cars, but their owners have fun too.
They can road test their vehicles, enjoy concerts and socialize.. all while pumping money into the local economy.

[SOT 00:35:31]
((FRANKEE LOVE/NELSON CO. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE OUTDOOR TRAVELER.. AND THE MEALS.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=and the meals.]

This is the third year the Jeeps have rolled over Nelson County hills.. organizers say they'd love to come back.

[SOT 00:49:17]
((LOU BITONTI/CAMP JEEP: OTHER COUNTIES WOULD HAVE TO.. ...TO MOVE ON.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=to move on.]

But Camp Jeep is just a small part of the big picture of tourism in Nelson County.
Starting this fall, Oakridge will host parimutuel horse racing at a track currently under construction.
The county also received 200- thousand dollars in state grants to renovate the estate's old train station, a 19th century canal and another train depot in Piney River.
[SOT 00:38:26]
((FRANKEE LOVE/NELSON CO. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE BEEN MOVING.. START TO COME TOGETHER.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=to come together.]

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Nelson County.))

[Stocks]

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

Wall Street managed to extend yesterday's rally. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/50.09/10455.76/x/38.48/2022.80;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW gained 50 points.
NASDAQ rose 38-and a half.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.66/43.24/h/0.35/20.50/h/0.71/63.11/h/0.38/25.81/h/0.06/9.05;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.45/60.20/i/0.15/34.98/h/0.12/47.11/i/0.05/43.75/i/0.24/45.98;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.09/25.39/h/1.15/20.65/h/0.29/8.81/i/0.48/44.20/h/0.20/17.00;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.01/68.89/h/0.35/65.89/h/0.38/56.21/i/0.23/70.37/h/0.40/55.50;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Alta-Vista]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-26 tc:01:03:55]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

In its heyday, Lane Furniture employed more than half the population of Altavista.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

When the company announced it was closing its doors, shockwaves hit the town.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=Turning the Tables]

In part four of our furniture series called "Turning the Tables," Jennifer Miele reports those shock waves did damage, but clean up is underway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=500 jobs lost in a]
[SUPER=@jennifer1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Altavista; :26]
[SUPER=01-Rudy Burgess/Altavista Mayor; :38]
[RUNS=2:06]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
((((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: 500 JOBS LOST IN A TOWN OF ONLY THREE THOUSAND... THAT'S THE DEVASTATING REALITY THAT ALTAVISTA IS ABOUT TO FACE. FINDING SUCH A LARGE EMPLOYER WILL BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. BUT THIS TOWN THAT WAS BUILT AROUND LANE FURNITURE IS NOT ABOUT TO BE DESTROYED BY IT.)) [RUNS13]
[sot]
((RUDY BURGESS/MAYOR OF ALTAVISTA: MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A WIDOW LADY WITH FOUR CHILDREN. SHE GOT A JOB COOKING FOR THE LANES.)) [RUNS05]
Altavista Mayor Rudy Burgess remembers his Grandmother's stories about why town founder E.W. Lane Sr. chose to build the town of Altavista... the railroad, the water...
[SOT]
[TC:00:13:15] ((RUDY BURGESS: HE HAD INGENUITY, HE KNEW HOW TO MARKET.)) [RUNS05]
Once the area's largest employer, Lane Furniture announced last month that it would be shutting its doors.
It was notice that Mayor Burgess hoped he would NEVER receive.
[SOT]
((RUDY BURGESS: I USED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE DEPENDED ON THE LANE COMPANY WHISTLE SO MUCH THAT WHEN IT BLOWED, MY CHILDREN USED TO KNOW TO COME HOME FOR LUNCH OR DINNER, WE'RE GONNA MISS THAT NOW.)) [RUNS09]
Mayor Burgess had decided to do exactly what he thought Altavista's founder would do.... build a town.
This 900 thousand dollar shell building is ready and waiting for an occupant, courtesy of Altavista.
A new hotel and shopping center are just a few of the construction projects you'll find popping up across town.

[SOT]
[tc:00:10:55] ((WE HAVE A COMMUNITY COLLEGE NOW FROM LYNCHBURG THEY ARE DEALING WITH WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT. A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO LOST JOBS ARE GOING OVER THERE TO LEARN HOW TO DO OTHER JOBS.)) [RUNS09]
Mayor Burgess admits, however, that all of those projects combined will not generate the employment and tax revenue that Lane Furniture did.
Many say Altavista won't EVER find a replacement.
But this little town with a big heart plans to keep on beating.
[SOT]
((SO MANY PEOPLE THINK WHEN LANE IS GONE WE MIGHT DISAPPEAR TOO, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.)) [RUNS05] [STANDUP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: ALTAVISTA HAS GOTTEN A FEW NIBBLES ON THE SHELL BUILDING, BUT NOTHING IS DEFINITE RIGHT NOW. STILL, MAYOR BURGESS SAYS ONCE A DEAL ON THAT IS SECURE, THE TOWN WILL BE ON THE ROAD TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY. JENNIFER MIELE, NEWS 7.)) [RUNS12] ))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - Big East picks Tech to finish second behind the Canes. We'll hear from Andre Davis, Lee Suggs and WVU coach Rich Rodriguez.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, Roy Stanley checks in from the final round of the women's City County golf championship.
(------------)

[S-East]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-97 3107TC]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]
The Big East conference's 8 teams gathered in New Jersey today and found out that the more things change the more they stay the same. Miami is the preseason choice to win the league title for the second straight year.
(------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE PAGE] It's the seventh time in 9 years that the Canes have been the preseason pick. The Hokies got the other three first place votes. As the schedule makers would want it - Tech and Miami play in the season finale this season on December 1st.
[WIPE TO ENG#]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Andre Davis/VT Preseason All-American; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Va. Tech Head Coach; :14]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...and be good."]
(------------)

[S-Suggs]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-98 4050TC]
[GRAPHIC=LEE SUGGS ]

If the Hokies are live up to that billing and challenge the Canes for the Big East crown - Lee Suggs will have to have an encore performance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Many of the preseason publications believe he is capable of doing just that. He's the cover guy for several magazines this summer - a reality that is a little embarrassing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I FEEL OVERWHELMED...]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/Nation's Leading Scorer in 2000; :11]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=...REAL BIG."]
(------------)

[S-WVU]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-99 3751tc]
[GRAPHIC=west virginia]

As you saw in the poll, West Virginia is picked to begin the post-Don Nehlen era with a 6th place finish. New Head coach Rich Rodriguez isn't disputing that number right now, but by season's end he hopes to be proving the experts wrong.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE HAVEN'T...]
[SUPER=01-Rich Rodriguez/WVU Head Football Coach; ;00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...IN EVERY GAME."]
(------------)

[S-RVGA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-103 (18:44)]
[GRAPHIC=City County]

Dot Bolling's seventh consecutive RVGA City County championship will go down in the books as one that she had to fight for.
Bolling scoring a one stroke win this afternoon at the Botetourt Country Club.
Roy Stanley has this report.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Bolling was...]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dot Bolling/7th Straight RVGA Championship; :12]
[SUPER=@Roy2; :22]
[SUPER=01-Valeta Pittman/Finished Second; :49]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports."]
((Bolling was 2 shots behind leader Valeta Pittman when she started the final round at Botetourt.
She made up those strokes on the front side after shooting a 35 while Pittman shot 39.)) ((DOT BOLLING/SEVENTH RVGA CHAMPIONSHIP:)) ((But Bolling's work was not over. Nancy Snodgrass made a move shooting a 37 on the front. Snodgrass was fourth at 234.
And JMU bound Meg Davies recovered on the back side with a 38 she finished third at 233.
Pittman was one stroke back going to 18 and parred the hole finishing at 228.
Bolling, who was not sure where she stood in the round, also parred the hole for a 74 and a total of 227.)) ((VALETA PITTMAN/FINISHED SECOND:)) ((BOLLING:)) ((Hidden Valley wins the team title, Roanoke was second and Countryside third.
Roy Stanley news 7 sports.))
(------------)

[S-Panthers]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

The Roanoke Express continues to make roster moves. Tonight the team has signed Alex Dumas a 27 year old Dartmouth College graduate who played last season in the United Hockey League.
[GRAPHIC=PANTHERS]
Speaking of signings, former Virginia great Chris Slade has signed with the Carolina Panthers. Slade who was released by the Patriots after 8 seasons in New England gets one year deal worth $477 thousand bucks.