WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/03/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

Wachovia stockholders okay the merger with First Union. We have the details from Winston-Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And the local N-Double-A-C-P Chapter weighs in on Wednesday night's gay- bashing attack at the Metropolitan Community Church.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports, Steve Mason joins us from Charlottesville with a LIVE report from UVa's elaborate Media Day festivities.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll check in with Lee Suggs and Frank Beamer as the Hokies earn a top 10 preseason ranking in the coach's poll.

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

You better carry an umbrella with you tonight if you plan on going out. It looks like we're going to see some showe

rs this weekend. Details coming up.

[ANCHOR=KEITH 4-SHOT][Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The combined company]
((BUD BAKER/WACHOVIA CEO: THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL HAVE A MAJOR MARKET SHARE POSITION IN ROANOKE. THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT MARKET FOR US.))
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=market for us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The battle over Wachovia comes to an end.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Now shareholders want to know if the BIG bank will roll right over Roanoke.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.[Wachovia-FU]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-SHOT]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-23 TC-1:23:56]

By a significant margin, Wachovia shareholders approved a merger with First Union today.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHOT]

Pending Federal approval, the two banks plan to start the transition process almost immediately.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some people remain skeptical, wondering whether bigger is really better.
Jennifer Miele reports from Winston-Salem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=An average Wachovia shareholder's]
[SUPER=03-Winston-Salem, NC;:00]
[SUPER=01-Warden Miller/Wachovia Shareholder;:22]
[SUPER=01-John W. Boyd/National Black Farmer's Association;:54]
[SUPER=01-Ken Thompson/First Union CEO;1:14]
[SUPER=@jennifer1;1:27]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(( [NAT SOUND] [RUNS05]
An average Wachovia shareholder's meeting draws a crowd of about a hundred.
Today's meeting drew ten times that.
And even though most of Wachovia's shareholders voted by mail-in-ballot, the suspense brought them to Winston-Salem.
[SOT]
((I'M JUST HERE OUT OF CURIOSITY.)) [RUNS02]
Preliminary results showed a clear victory for First Union.
Most say they weren't surprised.
[SOT]
((I THINK IT'S QUITE POSITIVE. I'M REALLY FOR IT. I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT'S A COMPELLING GROUP BROUGHT TOGETHER. I THINK IT'S ONE THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING AND I'M GLAD IT'S HAPPENED.)) [RUNS10]
But SunTrust, the OTHER bank engaged in a bidding war for Wachovia, did not go down without a fight.
It's CEO made an emotional appeal to undecided shareholders at the meeting.
He was joined by National Black Farmer's Association President and Wachovia shareholder John Boyd, who says big banks will alienate small business owners.
[SOT]
((JOHN BOYD/NBFA: WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WE FEEL WOULD HELP SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THIS INSTITUTION RIGHT NOW.)) [RUN 07]
After the vote, First Union President Ken Thompson, and Wachovia President Bud Baker assured small business owners, especially those in Roanoke, that the traditional "big bank mentality" will not prevail after the merger.
[SOT]
((KEN THOMPSON/FIRST UNION: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CUSTOMERS AT THE FRONT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AND I WOULD ASSURE CUSTOMERS IN ROANOKE THAT THEY'LL BE VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST TO DO THAT.)) [RUNS12] [STAND UP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND JOBS WILL BE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE MERGER. BUT BOTH BAKER AND THOMPSON SAY CUSTOMERS WON'T SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT BANKING CHANGES FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR. IN WINSTON-SALEM NORTH CAROLINA, JENNIFER MIELE, NEWS 7.)) [RUNS14]))

[React-Wachovia]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC-1:25:51]
[GRAPHIC=Wachovia]

In the wake of the merger announcement, Roanoke customers of both banks are considering whether bigger really is better.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[BUMP SOTS]
[IN Q=This is the second]
[SOT 17:38:12 - :21]
((SONDRA DAROSHEFSKI/WACHOVIA CUSTOMER: THIS IS THE SECOND ONE I'VE BEEN THROUGH AS A CUSTOMER AND IT SEEMS LIKE BIGGER BUSINESS AND IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR ALL THE CUSTOMERS.))
[sot 17:42:22 - :39]
((JEAN HARVEY/WACHOVIA CUSTOMER: MY SAVINGS ARE HERE, MY CHECKING ....SO YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER BANK? I THINK MAYBE THE SMALLER THE BETTER... JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.))
[SOT 17:32:34 - :40]
((DEWEY MONGER/FIRST UNION CUSTOMER: NOTHING WILL CHANGE -- IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE SAME BANKING, SAME PEOPLE, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Sondra Daroshefski/Wachovia Customer; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jean Harvey/Wachovia Customer; :10]
[SUPER=01-Dewey Monger/First Union Customer; :27]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=I look forward to that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Nine area Wachovia branches will be sold off... and more changes may be in store.
Customers can expect to get information about the merger and their options in the coming months.
(------------)

[NAACP]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-SHOT]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC-1:12:46]
[GRAPHIC=none]

There are more calls for stronger national hate crimes legislation... after another attack on gays in Roanoke
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith Shannon / Justin- Microwave;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHOT]
Justin McCleod joins us from Lee Plaza where a rally was held late this afternoon. Justin
[LIVE= Justin/FULL]
[SUPER=@Justin1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

((ROLLCUE:...earlier this week))
(-------------)
[VO] [about :15 of vo]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Definately...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=07-Rev. Catherine Houchins; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brenda Hale/NAACP Chapter President; :05]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=crimes are committed]
(-------------)
[VO] [about :10 of vo] but it did not pass.
(-------------)

[DOUBLE BOXES= Keith-Shannon/Justin Microwave;]
[JUSTIN WILL CALL FOR DOUBLE BOXES]

[Bedford-Search]

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

A manhunt has just been completed for a Bedford County juvenile who escaped police custody this afternoon. Authorities say the young man had been wanted for several felony petitions, and had gone with his family to the sheriff's department to turn himself in. That's when the boy ran off, allegedly assaulting a female deputy in the process. The Bedford County tactical team, state troopers and the state police helicopter had been searing an area near Route- 4-60 for several hours.

[Walker]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-35 TC-41:22]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A Roanoke murder suspect arrested in Atlanta last month is back in Roanoke tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Roanoke Police say 19- year- old Bernard Maurice Walker was transported to the Roanoke City Jail this afternoon. He is being held without bond.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/December 24, 2000;]

Walker is charged with shooting 18-year- old Reaco Hilton on Christmas Eve outside of a Melrose Avenue convenience store.
(------------)

[Tax-Refund]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-29 TC-53:28]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Three months after they were filed, three and a half percent of Virginia state income tax forms have yet to be processed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]

That's because the first change in three decades to the Form 760 caused taxpayer and computer filer errors to increase 48 percent over last year.
Eight percent of the refund checks took more than 30 days to be processed.
Taxpayers whose forms had errors may still be waiting.
The Gilmore administration has finally written a letter to General Assembly members trying to explain the problems and solutions.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:27:38]
[IN Q=For this year, when we saw]
((JOHN FORBES/VIRGINIA FINANCE SECRETARY: FOR THIS YEAR, WHEN WE SAW THAT THE NUMBER OF ERRORS HAD GROWN SO MUCH, WE ADDED 20 PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY TO ADD TO THE SOLUTION, AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH IT. WE ALSO MANDATED OVERTIME FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WORKING ON ERROR RESOLUTION IN TAX RETURNS. PROSPECTIVELY, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE NEXT YEAR THE AMOUNT OF CONSUMER EDUCATION THAT WE DO, EDUCATING TAXPAYERS ON HOW FILL OUT THE NEW FORMS. ALSO INCREASED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR TAX PREPARERS, ALSO.))
[SUPER=01-John Forbes/Virginia Finance Secretary;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=certification for tax preparers, also.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Shannon]
[SS=none]

The state is also blaming new computer scanning equipment that incorrectly read the new forms.
The final statistic provided today: the amount the state paid out in refunds this year increased 19 percent over last year.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on News 7, a generic form of Prozac will soon be hitting the shelves, and it's coming from a local company.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And are you in the mood for a sweet peach? Details coming up on this annual festival in just a few minutes.
(----------------)

[Horne]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC-1:37:18]
A Montgomery County man will pay a 1-thousand dollar fine for his involvement in a fatal accident last August.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Richard Horne was found guilty of a form of reckless driving.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The judge determined speed was the cause of the wreck that took Kenneth Sowers life...but that it was accidental.

New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon spoke with the victim's family.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="HE KILLED SOMEONE"]
[SUPER=01-Connie Sowers/Victim's Wife; :00]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :30]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Goff/Victim's Best Friend; :52]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; 1:00]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, MC.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:01:28]
[IN Q=HE KILLED ]
((CONNIE SOWERS/VICTIM'S WIFE; HE KILLED SOMEONE I LIVED WITH FOREVER (HOW LONG WERE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MARRIED?) IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 25-YEARS IN OCTOBER (crying).))
[OUT Q=IN OCTOBER (crying)]
Connie Sowers (SAUERS) says life has been extremely difficult since her husband was killed. Today she was surrounded by family and friends for the judge's decision, for her, a disappointing one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:00:59]
[IN Q=THIS IS JUST ]
((CONNIE SOWERS/VICTIM'S WIFE; THIS IS JUST A SMACK IN THE HANDS FOR HIM HE PROBABLY HAS HIS 1-THOUSAND FINE IN HIS WALLET. ))
[OUT Q=HIS WALLET]
47-year-old Kenneth Sowers was heading to work when his car was hit on Pilot Road. Since the accident, his family has been looking for the woman driving behind him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:10:46] (COVER)
[IN Q=we think]
((WE THINK ITS SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY.))
[OUT Q=IN THE COMMUNITY.]
So shortly after the wreck, they put up this "hard to miss" panel truck, first near the crash site and later in downtown Christiansburg. It pleads for anyone with information to call.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:06:45]
[IN Q=IT GOT QUITE]
((WAYNE GOFF/VICTIM'S FRIENDS; IT GOT QUITE A BIT OF PHONE CALLS OPENED UP A GOOD INFORMATION LINE FOR CALLS WE GOT AT HOME IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF IT WE GOT SO MANY CALLS.))
[OUT Q=SO MANY CALLS]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT LAST ONE]
[IN Q=BUT NOT]
((RACHEL CANNON/RCANNON@WDBJ7.COM, BUT NOT THE CALL THEY WERE HOPING FOR. THE FAMILY BELIEVES THAT THE WOMAN DRIVING BEHIND KENNY SOWERS THAT NIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN A KEY WITNESS IN THE CASE. BUT DESPITE TODAY'S OUTCOME THEY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR HER.))
[OUT Q=LOOKING FOR HER]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:08:07]
[IN Q=THE LADY HAD]
((THE LADY HAD A BROWN SANDY HAIR POSSIBLY IN SWEAT PANTS NOT A VERY LARGE FRAME WOMAN MAYBE SHORTER.))
[OUT Q=MAYBE SHORTER.]
The family believes she may have been scared that night due to all the commotion. Civil proceedings are expected to go forward. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Montgomery County.))
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=none]

Richard Horne has been advised by his attorney not to comment because of the pending civil case.[Barr-Labs]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-34 TC-28:31]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The generic version of the anti-depressant Prozac is now on its way to pharmacy shelves thanks to a plant in Bedford County that's been busy bottling the drug.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Barr Laboratories manufactures fluoxetine (flu-OX-eh-teen) in New Jersey, but the company has been bottling and packaging the capsules at its facility in Forest.
Barr won the right to launch the generic after challenging Prozac patents in federal court. The company began shipping the drug today. It should be available to consumers within a few days.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
After making modest gains, the markets ended the week on a down note. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/38.40/10512.78/y/21.21/2066.17;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The Dow closed down 38. Nasdaq lost 21.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.35/46.30/i/0.18/20.54/i/0.11/63.35/i/0.07/25.51/i/0.28/9.25;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.14/62.09/h/0.11/35.55/h/0.01/48.29/h/0.55/42.75/i/0.39/44.16;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.30/26.50/i/0.09/20.16/i/0.14/8.90/i/0.67/45.17/h/0.08/17.00;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.45/69.93/i/0.12/65.50/i/0.82/53.68/h/0.27/71.49/i/0.60/55.39;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

(-------------)[Kuumba]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHOT]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-10 TC-31:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Roanoke Health Center will now be able to expand its services.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-SHOT]

Thanks to a 100-thousand dollar grant from the Deparment of Health and Human Services.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape; :18]

The Kuumba Community Health and Wellness Center will use the money to offer mental health and substance abuse treatment.
The Center's Medical Director says the additional services will help remove a major obstacle for the patients.
The clinic opened last year to offer primary care to those with little or no insurance.
(------------)

[Evan&Jaron]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-22 TC-1:56:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Two of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People beautified Roanoke today with their music....
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[NATS: MUSIC]
[IN Q=NATS SINGING]
((NATS: SINGING: SHE ROLLS THE WINDOW DOWN, AND SHE TALKS OVER THE SOUND.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=she talks over the sound.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Twin brothers Evan and Jaron Lowenstein visited the Star City to play a few songs and meet with fans at K-92.
The 27-year-old pop hearthrobs scored a hit earlier this year with their song, "Crazy For This Girl..."
But they say all the attention paid to their looks hasn't phased them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:08:48 - :57]
[IN Q=I don't pay attention]
((EVAN LOWENSTEIN/MUSICIAN: I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT, I JUST FOCUS ON DOING MUSIC... IT'S A COMPLIMENT ... BUT WHAT WE DO IS MUSIC.))
[SUPER=01-Evan Lowenstein/Musician;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we do is music.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The twins are Orthodox Jews and former semi-pro baseball players.
Their next stop tonight is Raleigh-Durham.
(------------)

[Peach-Festival]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-38 TC-40:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Peaches are in season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

And there were plenty of them in downtown Roanoke. The Virginia Mountain Peach Festival got underway today. They were serving up big batches of peaches and cream all day.
If you failed to feast on your favorite yellow fruit today, they'll do this all over again tomorrow at SunTrust Plaza for the benefit of the Northwest Child Development Center.
By the way, Patrick County has its own Peach Festival next week in Stuart.

(------------)[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the big 7, Steve Mason will join us from UVa's football media day with a LIVE report from Charlottesville. The Hokies talk about their top 10 preseason billing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And one of the great American Heroes, Lance Armstrong, pedals onto the White House Lawn today.
(------------)

[S-UVA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=rolled from starlink]
[GRAPHIC=UVA LOGO]

The Virginia football team held its first media gathering under first year head coach Al Groh late this afternoon. [DOUBLE BOX SHOT] Steve Mason now joins us from Charlottesville with what turned out to be a major event. [STEVE FULL SCREEN VIA STARLINK]
[SUPER=@steve1; ]
[SUPER=06-Charlottesville;]

[STEVE WILL ADLIB INTO PACKAGE ROLLED FROM STARLINK]
[ROLL CUE:...SUPER BOWL FLAVOR.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=04-UVa Football Media Day; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Football Coach;:25]
[SUPER=01-Antwoine Womack/ACC's Top Rusher in 2000; :33]
[RUNS=:43]
[OUT Q=...WHAT WE GOT."]
(------------------)
[COME OUT TO STEVE AND THREE SHOT WITH INTERVIEWEES]
[SUPER=@steve1;]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Haley/UVa Freshman Linebacker from Salem; ]
[SUPER=01-Jermaine Hardy/UVa Freshman Defensive Back from Fleming;]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville;]

[STEVE TOSS BACK TO MIKE IN STUDIO]

[SUPER=06-Charlottesville][S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-95 10059TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FOOTBALL]
Coaches across America apparently believe there is plenty of life after MIchael Vick.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Hokies debut in the first USA Today coaches poll in the number 9 spot. Florida is the preseason number one. This is the poll that crowns it's national champion with the crystal football trophy. The Hokies finished last season ranked 6th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A WHOLE LOT...]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/Nation's Leading Scorer in 2000; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...DURING THE SEASON."]
(---------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] Suggs is the Hokies marquee man in more ways than one this season. Frank Beamer would like for many of his other players to follow Suggs' lead.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'VE ALWAYS SAID...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/99 Career Wins at Va. Tech; ;00]
[RUNS=:23]

[OUT Q=...THAT COMBINATION."][S-Lance]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-102 4253TC]
[GRAPHIC=LANCE ARMSTRONG]

Finally tonight, american sports icon Lance Armstrong dropped by the White House today
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;:00]
to meet with President Bush and to also give the president a brand new bike. Armstrong also presented the president with one of the yellow leader's jerseys that he wore during the Tour De France last month. Armstrong told the audience he was honored to be at the White House. (------------) But the president seemed to be the one most impressed by his audience.