WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/21/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Americans are still traveling for Thanksgiving but their methods have changed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And, Virginia's talking turkey. Bird production is a feather in the Commonwealth's cap.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, A big weekend of sports on Your Hometown station beginning tomorrow High school regional finals are set for Friday night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the Roanoke Express loses another player.
(------------)

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

We can be thankful that the weather will not foul up holiday travelers as they head for their family feasts. Details straight ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've had a]
((WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME THROUGH HERE FROM DIFFERENT STATES GOING TO TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA.))
[RUNS=:06 ]
[OUT Q=Texas and California.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Virginia's roads are filled with holiday travelers.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But will those travellers give the sagging tourist industry a boost?
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Travel]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#01-44 TC1:34:52]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Triple-A says 87 percent of holiday travelers will go by car this season-- that's the highest figure the organization's ever recorded.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

So how are Virginia's road handling the increase?
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Rachel/Microwave]

Rachel Cannon is along Interstate 81 tonight with the answers.
[Live=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: fly this holiday weekend. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :12]
[SUPER=01-Warren Rhodes/BP Gas Employee; :21]
[SUPER=01-Doris Humes/Holiday Traveler; :42]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=going by vehicle.]
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[Live=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Rachel/Microwave]

[Airport]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-48 TC1:25:41]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]
The American Automobile Association says AIR travel DECREASED even more dramatically than expected this day-before Thanksgiving.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Passenger loading figures were off by more than 25-percent. Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard continue to patrol Roanoke Regional in addition to the state's eight other airports. Though their presence is supposed to instill a sense of security, it made Paula Panikowski uneasy, as the Radford student waited for a flight to Michigan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:39:25]
[IN Q=I'm not used]
((PAULA PANIKOWSKI/RADFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENT; I'M NOT USED TO THAT SIGHT IN AN AIRPORT. Reminds you there's trouble in the world, doesn't it? YES, VERY MUCH.))
[SUPER=01-Paula Panikowski/Radford University Student]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=trouble in the world, doesn't it? Yes, very much.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The airport director had hoped to hear from Washington today that the F-A-A had approved her plan to re-open the short-term parking lot. It didn't come. If it doesn't come by Sunday, Jackie Shuck figures she may not receive word until after Christmas.
(------------)

[Oxycontin-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-60 TC47:08]
[GRAPHIC=Oxycontin]

A Ferrum woman will spend 3-and -a half years in prison for letting oxycontin fall into her baby daughter's hands.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]

24-year-old Lisa Chaney entered an Alford plea and was convicted of felony child neglect.
An Alford plea means she does not admit guilt but agrees there's enough evidence to convict her.
Last June, Chaney's relatives took her 16-month-old daughter to the hospital when the baby wouldn't wake up from a nap and stopped breathing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 29:42 - :52]
[IN Q=I know in hindsight,]
((JOHN BOITNOTT/CHANEY'S ATTORNEY: I KNOW IN HINDSIGHT, SHE WISHED SHE HAD TAKEN KATLYN TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN SHE FIRST NOTICED SHE HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING.))
[SUPER=01-John Boitnott/Chaney's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=had difficulty breathing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Xanax and oxycontin were found in the baby's blood stream.
Chaney said the baby must have eaten pills that fell on the floor.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The baby lived -- and is doing fine.
She and Chaney's 6-year-old daughter now live with their grandparents.

[Hooker]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-45 TC1:44:53]
[GRAPHIC=James Hooker]

A Henry County man is facing a charge of felony child abuse following the death of his six- month old daughter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

23- year- old James Ray Hooker of Axton is being held in the Henry County Jail.
Investigators say he claimed his daughter was hurt in a vehicle he was driving.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :22]
[IN Q=We were first told]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF; WE WERE FIRST TOLD IT HAD FALLEN OUT OF A BABY SEAT AND STRUCK THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT WASN'T CONSISTENT WITH THAT AND WE FELT FROM EARLY ON IT WAS A SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME TYPE OF DEATH.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=type of death.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Investigators believe Breanna Marie Hooker was injured at her home.

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

A big budget gap could close several schools in Southside.
Thats's next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And firefighters may spend Thanksgiving on the line, battling a blaze in the Alleghany Highlands.
(----------------)

[Henry-Schools]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-39 TC1:44:23]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The Henry County Public Schools are facing a budget shortfall that could reach two million dollars.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Today, officials outlined a plan that would consolidate high schools, close three elementary schools, and re-organize others. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /MB Set;]

Joe Dashiell is here tonight with more on this controversial proposal.
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@Joe1]

Henry County has been debating possible school closings and consolidation for over ten years...
But with declining enrollment, falling sales tax revenues, and the state's budget crunch, officials say they can wait no longer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've gotten to the point]
[SUPER=01-G. Dan Pace/Henry Co. School Board; :00]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :13]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Tyler Millner/Henry Co. Resident; :34]
[SUPER=01-Judy Cloud/Henry Co. Resident; :54]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=less impact on the children being moved.]
(([SOT 09:20]
[IN Q=we've gotten to the point]
((WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'VE GOT TO ACCEPT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND DO WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE CANNOT OPERATE LIKE WE'RE OPERATING.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=like we're operating.]

School board members say it's a difficult decision that none of them wants to make.
But with major budget troubles brewing, they say they have no choice.
The plan they asked officials to assess includes combining Laurel Park and Magna Vista High Schools at Magna Vista, combining Fieldale-Collinsville and Bassett High Schools at the Bassett site.
Other changes would include closing three elementary schools.
[SOT 28:34]
[IN Q=That to me says]
((THAT SAYS TO ME PRETTY MUCH, YOU HAVE DECIDED WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND WE DON'T WANT THE CITIZEN INPUT. AND I UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY YOU CANNOT DISENFRANCHISE THE PARENTS.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=disenfranchise the parents.]

Other county residents said they understand that cuts must be made, but want to insure that all students are treated fairly.
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's going to have to happen]
((JUDY CLOUD/PARENT: IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN. THE MONEY IS JUST NOT THERE TO RUN ALL THESE SCHOOLS, BUT LIKE I SAID LET'S HANDLE IT SO THAT IT HAS LESS IMPACT ON THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING MOVED.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=the children that are being moved.]))
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[LIVE=JoeD /FULL MB GRAPHIC]

So this proposal has raised as many questions as answers...
The public hearing is now scheduled for December third at 7pm in the county administration building.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Joe /MB GRAPHIC;]

The school board intends to take a vote December sixth.

[Bath-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon ]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-51 TC1:19:01]
[GRAPHIC=Forest Fire]
A forest fire in Bath County is contained tonight.
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[VO-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Bath Co.;]
The Dickenson Ridge Fire is burning about three miles southwest of Millboro Springs. 200-acres have been charred. The blaze, which started yesterday, is being fought by three twenty-person crews and local fire departments. There's no word on a cause.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two other fires that have burned more than one thousand acres a piece are also contained. The Hickory Run Fire in Page County and the Heard Mountain Fire in Albemarle County are both in the mop-up stage.

[Amtrak]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-52 TC20:41]
[GRAPHIC=Amtrak]
Amtrak may benefit from a decrease in demand for air travel.
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[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 19;]
While presenting a check to Roanoke's Achievement Center earlier this week, Congressman Bob Goodlatte commented on the fact that more travelers have turned to passenger rail service since the attacks of September 11th. He says that increased demand, combined with a plan for Trans-Dominion rail service across the Commonwealth, may help pull Amtrak out of its financial woes.
(///// SOT at :21 /////)
[SOT 10:32:19-10:32:36]
[IN Q=What we did was require...]
((REP. BOB GOODLATTE/(R) 6TH DISTRICT: WHAT WE DID WAS REQUIRE AMTRAK TO PARTICIPATE WITH REGARD TO PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH ROLLING STOCK... LOCOMOTOVES AND PASSENGER CARS. AND, EVENTUALLY, WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE HAPPEN IS AMTRAK PROVIDING ALL THE TRAINS NECESSARY FOR THAT PROJECT.))
[SUPER=@Goodlatte;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=necessary for that project.]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=Rail Service]

Trans-Dominion service would run north from Bristol through Roanoke and up to Washington D.C.
Trains would also connect Lynchburg and points east towards Richmond.

[Stocks]

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

Stocks ended the pre-Thanksgiving session lower. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/66.70/9834.68/y/5.46/1875.05;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW dropped 67 points.
NASDAQ fell five-and-a-half.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.65/42.13/i/0.11/16.93/h/0.07/63.58/i/0.20/12.84/i/0.20/6.40;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.26/59.44/i/0.30/47.49/i/0.65/40.45/i/1.31/21.88/i/0.44/40.23;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.47/24.52/h/0.07/19.24/i/0.03/1.31/i/0.43/47.24//Unchg/11.30;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.45/63.98/i/0.42/64.88/i/0.21/48.99/h/0.26/30.09/i/0.58/55.12;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Indians]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-50 TC1:01:10]
[SS=None]

Don't blame the Indians.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

As the Commonwealth faces a budget shortfall and a recession, the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Indians are paying their taxes on time and in full.
It's the 355th year they've given Virginia's Governor their tax tribute of deer, beaver pelts, and this year, rockfish.
In his final tax tribute ceremony as governor, Jim Gilmore thanked the Indians for providing strength in extraordinary times.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:11:15]
[IN Q=And now, two months into]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: AND NOW, TWO MONTHS INTO A NEW WAR, A WAR ON TERRORISM, WE CARRY THIS TRADITION FORWARD INTO THE 21ST CENTURY BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE FOUNDATION AND THE HALLMARK OF WHAT WE ARE AS VIRGINIANS AND AS AMERICANS. IT HELPS US TO REMEMBER THAT EVEN IN THIS TIME OF TROUBLE.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=even in this time of trouble.]
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[VO-NAT :11]

Governor Jim Gilmore eventually came to support the tribes' on-going bid for federal recognition.
He has OPPOSED them in their fight against a reservoir in eastern Virginia.
(------------)

[Turkey]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC1:03:30]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]

There's a good chance your Thanksgiving Turkey was raised in Virginia -- in fact, the Commonwealth is one of the top turkey producing states in the country.
That's what Business reporter Jennifer Miele found out when she talked turkey today with a gobbler expert.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Do you know what]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/September; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Denbow/Virginia Tech Poultry Science;:34]
[SUPER=@jennifer1;:45]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
((((REGIS/KELLI: Do you know what a Hokie Is? GREG MOORE:It's actually like a, if you see the mascot, it's like a turkey. REGIS: Looks like a what? GREG MOORE: A turkey, well sort of, yeah.)) [RUNS05]
Not everyone in the world understands why Southwest Virginians love turkey.
But this Hokie isn't afraid to share his feelings.
[SOT]
((I LIKE IT.)) [RUNS02]
Poultry Science professor Mike Denbow makes his living off of turkeys as do thousands of others across the commonwealth.
According to him, Virginia is the fourth largest turkey producing state in the country cranking out 25 million gobblers every year.
[SOT]
((MIKE DENBOW: POULTRY IS THE NUMBER ONE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY IN THE STATE AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT. IT'S A BIG PART OF VIRGINIAN'S ECONOMY.)) [RUNS08] [STAND UP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: IF IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOUR TURKEY HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE MORE MEATY OVER THE YEARS, THAT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE. DR. DENBOW SAYS THESE BIRDS ARE DESIGNED TO BE NOTHING LESS THAN DELICIOUS.)) [RUNS08]
But to be delicious comes with a price... no mating season for these turkeys.
[SOT]
((WE'VE SELECTED BIRDS FOR LARGE BODY SIZE SO THEY ARE NOT AS EFFICIENT IN REPRODUCTION... SO WE ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATE THEM.)) [RUNS08]
So Virginia could be where your thanksgiving tom comes from... before it's going going gone.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Jennifer Miele, News 7. ))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

And coming up In sports, The Express loses another player, It's regional finals in high school football we'll show you the schedule.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And a couple of Cleveland Browns were in court today facing drug charges.
(------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-103 1:29:55]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

The Roanoke Express begins a three game in three nights run on Thanksgiving when Greensboro comes to the Roanoke Civic Center. Roanoke will have to play without it's leading scorer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Center Mike Omicioli was called up to the AHL Hershey Bears last night. Omicioli has 21 points and that breaks down to 8 goals and 13 assists. He is the second player to be called up in the last two days along with Vern Fiddler.
Even without Roanoke's two top offensive players, the Express must focus.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Daniel Berthiaume/Express Goalie; :26]
[RUNS=:46]
[OUT Q=....pick it up a notch"]
(-----------)

[S-FFE]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-97 15618TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Friday Football Extra is getting ready to crown regional champions this week. But this is a Holiday weekend and we know many of you will be traveling. So, tonight we have the entire statewide regional playoff schedule for you with game times and the home team listed on the bottom of each matchup.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=LOGO AND AUDIO FULL]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=...logo comes full.]
(------------)

[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-100 (2:05:24)]
[GRAPHIC=NFL logo]

Cleveland fullback Mike Sellers and cornerback Lamar Chapman pleaded innocent to drug charges today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cleveland, OH/WOIO; :]

The 2 were arrested by Cleveland police Monday night after they were pulled over in a traffic stop. Browns rookie defensive tackle Garard Warren has a court date in Pittsburgh November 30-th after his arrest on a weapons charge.
Warren said he had not had a chance to register a hand gun police found in his S-U-V early Tuesday morning.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

The Browns suspended Warren and Sellers for one game. The pair will be reinstated by the team next week.

[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 6996] And don't forget Your Hometown Station has a Thanksgiving Day treat for you tomorrow as the Dallas Cowboys play host to the Denver Broncos. The game kicks off on WDBJ-7 at four pm.
(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 6997] Friday College Football is the word as we head into the SEC for the Arkansas and LSU battle at 2:30.
(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 6998] Saturday there's more football from the Southeastern Conference as Tennessee tangles with in-state rival Vanderbilt.
(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 6999] And then Sunday we have an NFL doubleheader for you as the Steelers hook up with the Titans, followed by Tiki and the Giants battling the Oakland Raiders.
(-----------------)

[S-Cave]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-94 (2:01:02)]
[GRAPHIC=High School Hoops]

Over at Cave Spring High School this evening the Knight would host the defending group two a champion Martinsville Bulldogs in preseason scrimmage.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :]

2 of the areas top coaches Cave Springs Billy Hicks and Martinsville's Troy Wells would get an early indication at where their respective teams are.
And the Knights knew pretty quick that J.J. Reddick was on his game. Reddick would drive hard to the hoop and score showing that outside shooting is only part of his game and his Knights would take an 11 point lead in the first quarter.
Reddick would also demonstrate his passing ability on the inbounds he gives to Jason Hurgruder for 2 points.
Martinsville would close the gap in the second quarter Kameron King with the slam dunk to make it 22 to 16 knights in front the game is still going on we'll have the results tonight at 11. (------------)