WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/15/02

[81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

State police say a tractor trailer has overturned on Interstate 81, just south of Ironto.
Authorities say all three southbound lanes are blocked in the area near mile marker 127.
Officials say fuel is spilling out of the truck.
No word on exactly what the truck is hauling.
We'll have more information, as soon as it becomes available.

[11460-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-62]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Authorities say one lane of west bound traffic has re-opened along a portion of Route 460- in Bedford County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
Traffic was brought to a halt in the west bound lane after a car and EMPTY tanker truck collided over Goose Creek --
The collision left the back end of the tanker perched on the edge of the bridge by its back tires. When Montvale firefighters first arrived, they say the mood was intense. At least one passenger was trapped in the car-- and they didn't know if the tanker was full, or whether it would flip.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The first thing]
[SUPER=01-Jason Ferguson/Montvale Fire Department; ]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=heart stopper for just a second.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
One passenger in the car was flown by Lifeguard ten after being cut from the vehicle. State police say she's 21-year old Josanne Elizabeth Flynn of Thaxton. Two or three others involved in the accident were also taken to Roanoke Memorial. V-DOT was called to inspect the bridge... Meanwhile, west bound traffic was re-routed.
(------------)

[AM-Warner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-05]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]

Governor Warner says the state's revenue shortfall could reach five billion dollars over the next four and a half years.
Last night, in his first State of the Commonwealth Address, Warner called for deeper budget cuts, and said short-term pain will preserve the state's financial integrity.
Joe Dashiell has more from Capitol Square
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Warner says the state failed]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gov. Mark Warner; :18]
[SUPER=01-Del. Dave Nutter/(R) Christiansburg; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Edwards/(D) Roanoke; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Joe1; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=Joe D News 7 Richmond]

((Warner says the state failed to heed the warning signs, and now faces a budget that's badly out of balance. He plans to use the rainy day fund and other one-time sources of revenue, deeper budget cuts, restrictions on new spending, and a top to bottom review of state government that could consolidate some agencies.
[SOT 19:12:53]
[IN Q=]
((AND JUST LIKE ANY BUSINESS OR FAMILY THAT HAS TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT, THIS WILL INVOLVE SOME PAIN IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT WE WILL ALL COME OUT STRONGER BY TAKING THESE STEPS. SO LET US JOIN TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.))
[RUNS= :16]
[OUT Q=let us join together to solve this problem.]

Just as he did on Saturday, when he reached out to the Republican leadership, Warner asked lawmakers to join him in a bi-partisan dialogue.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=There is plenty of heavy lifting to do.]
((THERE IS PLENTY OF HEAVY LIFTING TO DO. WE WILL ONLY SUCCEED IF WE DO IT TOGETHER.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=if we do it together.]

Some lawmakers are waiting for more specifics, but members of both parties said they were impressed with the Governor's words.
[SOT 20:15:37 :14]
[IN Q=I thought the Governor]
((I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY GAVE A VERY GOOD SPEECH TONIGHT. I THINK HE CLEARLY LAID DOWN A STRONG MARKER FOR US. WE ARE FACING VERY DIFFICULT TIMES HERE IN THE STATE, AND IT'S ONE THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ALL OF US REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, HOUSE, EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND SENATE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.)) ((I THINK IT WAS AN EXCELLENT SPEECH, BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT THE LONG-TERM BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND IS WILLING TO GIVE AN HONEST STRAIGHT-FORWARD ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM.))
[RUNS= :23]
[OUT Q=assessment of the problem.]

The speech also addressed the needs of rural Virginia... the Governor said he would work to double Virginia's agricultural receipts over the next decade, bring more knowledge based jobs into rural Virginia, promote tourism, and create the economic crisis task force that will help areas hit hard by recession.

Joe Dashiell News 7 Richmond))[11Danville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

There are NO leads in the investigation of what appears to have been a murder in Danville.
The father of 34-year old Timothy Ferguson found his son's body in his home on Moorefield Drive around eight Sunday night.
Ferguson had suffered serious head injuries, but authorities aren't sure whether the injuries are what caused his death.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE DESCRIPTION FS]
Danville police are also looking for his car.. it's a purple 1994 Ford Taurus with Virginia tags Y-T-M 1-4-7-6.
Anyone with information can contact Danville police.
(-------------)

[Priest-Abuse]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Jury selection has started in the trial of a former Roman Catholic priest, accused of molesting children in the Boston area.
66- year- old John (GAYG'-en) Geoghan is standing trial for allegedly abusing an 11-year-old boy.
But (GAYG-en) faces allegations from more than 130 others.
Byron Pitts reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cambridge, MA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Patrick McSorley/Alleged Victim; :30 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Byron Pitts/Reporting; :40]
[SUPER=01-Richard Sipe/Retired Priest; :55 QUICK]
[SUPER=07-Cardinal Bernard Law; 1:23]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=Pitts, CBS News, Cambridge. ]
((

That man in the dark suit say authorities has an even darker past.
John Geoghan now 66 took an oath once to save souls. But instead say his alleged victims Father John Geoghan - Catholic priest stole souls ruined young lives.

SOT/PATRICK MCSORLEY, ALLEGED VICTIM (01:02:20)
"EVIL, A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. "

Patrick McSorley is one of 130-people Who say over a 30-year span Geoghan the smiling parish priest molested, raped or sodomized them when they were children.

SOT/ IT'S UNEXPLAINABLE HOW PETRIFED I FELT.

McSorley was 12 when he says Father Geoghan took him out for ice cream and molested him in a car . STANDUP CLOSE: It's a secret the Catholic Church alledgedly tried to keep quiet.
According to court documents Father Geoghan admitted in therapy he was a pedophile. His supervisors were aware of it. And simply transferred him to another parish only to molest again.

SOT/RICHARD SIPE, RETIRED PRIEST
"THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.'
Richard Sipes, now a psychotherapist, is a RETIRED catholic priest who studies pedophiles. He points to the case of James Porteranother Catholic priest also based in Boston who was accused of molesting more than a hundred children.

One of those who allegedly knew of Father Geoghan's appetite for young boysand authorized his transfer was Cardinal Bernard Law who last week in an unprecedented move apologized.

SOT/CARDINAL BERNARD LAW (17:42:55)
'WITH ALL MY HEART I WISH TO APOLOGIZE ONCE AGAIN FOR THE HARM DONE TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.'
Law also announced the Archdiocese of Boston will now report all allegations of sexual assault to state authorities.

SOT/MCSORLEY)
'THE CARDINAL'S APOLOGY THE OTHER DAY TOO LATE THE DAMAGE IS DONE TOO LATE.'

The Catholic Churchch has already paid 10-million dollars to settle several lawsuits involving Father Geoghan but faces at least 80-more.
NATSOT BOOS

As for the accused he's been kicked out of the priesthood. On trial for assault one child today he goes on trial for raping another next month. Byron Pitts, CBS NEWS, CAMBRIDGE> )

[War-Update]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Enduring Freedom]

The U-S military is searching for new terrorist or Taliban hideouts, similar to the camp in eastern Afghanistan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The focus is shifting since U-S warplanes bombed a suspected "regrouping" site in the (ZOW-er kih-LEE) Zawar Kili area near Pakistan.
Officials say the bombing is now coming to an end.
Some 60 buildings were destroyed, and entrances were shut to 50 caves.
[SUPER=03-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba/File Tape;]

Meanwhile, 30 more war prisoners landed successfully at the U-S detention facility in Cuba .
The prisoners were searched and cleaned-up before being transferred to their cage- like cells.
(------------)

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-111]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Dazzle]

In sports, The Roanoke Dazzle got a win at home last night. The Dazzle beat the Huntsville Flight at the Roanoke Civic Center 81 to 66.
[SS=NBA]

Meanwhile In NBA action, Orlando dominated the third quarter of a 113-to-87 rout of Dallas.
The Mavericks missed 20 of their 23 third-quarter shots, and ended a three-game winning streak.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/Mavericks vs. Magic; :00]

Tracy McGrady dropped in 26 points as the Magic outscored the Mavericks 33-to-9 in the third period. McGrady helps out his teammate with the ally oop to Mike Miller.
Miller scored eleven of his 15 points on the night.
Juwan Howard had 26 points and eight rebounds.
But Dirk (noh-VIHT'-skee) Nowitzki and Steve Nash combined to shoot 3-for-18.
Both Nowitzki and Nash finished with four points.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

Now let's check the scoreboards.
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[go to scores] [WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5028;]
[SUPER=0096-/Dallas/87/j/Orlando/113////San Antonio/97/j/New Jersey/99///;]
[SUPER=x5027;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Liberty/86//Coastal Carolina/80////Radford/63/j/Charleston Southern/74///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Syracuse#12/56//Notre Dame/51///j/Longwood/80//Limestone/76///;]
[SUPER=X5034;]
[SUPER=0122-j/Roanoke Dazzle/81//Huntsville Flight/66//Dazzle Now 11-and-16/;]
[SUPER=X5031;]
[SUPER=0103-/Boston/0/j/Washington/1//Final in Overtime//Columbus/2//NY Rangers/2//Final in Overtime/;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=....last score."]
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[SUPER=#555;reset]
(weather toss)

[11Virgilina]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC54:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virgilina Elementary School in Halifax County will stay open.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.;]

The Halifax County School Board voted last night- it was a tie of four to four-
That means the motion goes down to defeat- and the school will stay open.
The school is more than one hundred years old.
Residents call it a landmark and many spoke out to keep the school open.
The county wanted to close the school, because enrollment is down- and the building needs renovation.
Last night, Virgilina's mayor said he's ecstatic- and called the decision to keep Virgilina elementary open... "a victory for the community."
(------------)

[5-Cancer-Book]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=501-02 TC1:37:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two local doctors are spreading hope by combining their professions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Doctor William Fintel (fin-TELL) is an oncologist at Lewis Gale Medical Center. He teamed up with Doctor Gerry McDermott, a professor of religion at Roanoke College, to write a book about cancer and God. "Dear God, It's Cancer" is laid out in two parts with the first addressing medical aspects of the illness. McDermott and Fintel also address the financial concerns of dealing with the disease.
(///// SOT at :21 /////)
[SOT 2:49:30-2:49:53]
[IN Q=An the second part of the book...]
((DR. WILLIAM FINTEL/ONCOLOGIST/AUTHOR: AND THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK IS TRYING TO SAY, AFTER THEY'VE SETTLED IN THEY START ASKING THEMSELVES HARDER QUESTIONS LIKE "WHY?" "HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?")) ((DR. GERRY MCDERMOTT/RELIGION PROFESSOR/AUTHOR: AND SPIRITUALLY WHY. THAT IS, IF THERE'S'S A GOD AND THIS GOD IS LOVING AND ALL POWERFUL, THEN WHY DOES HE ALLOW SOMETHING TERRIBLE LIKE CANCER?))
[SUPER=01-Dr. William Fintel/Oncologist & Author; :05]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Gerry McDermott/Religion Professor & Author; :17]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=Why does He allow something terrible like cancer?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
The doctors will be holding a seminar on the spiritual and medical issues surrounding cancer.
(++++++++)
[TAKE PHONE # FS]
For more information or to find a copy of the book contact Roanoke College at 375-2317. [TAKE FS WEB ADDRESS] Or you can find a link to the college's website on our site at wdbj-7 dot com.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[6-Sharov]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-58 TC43:58]
[GRAPHIC=Sharov]
Blacksburg Police say they're following several leads in the most recent disappearance of a 24-year old man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17.5]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Authorities have been looking for Mikhail Sharov (Sha-rove) since December 29th. Officials say the information they've gathered so far does NOT indicate any foul play. Sharov was last seen leaving Blacksburg for Fort Bragg North Carolina. He never arrived for military duty and is now officially listed as AWOL.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/August 2000;]
In August of 2000, police were also looking for Sharov. He was reported missing and then found safe at Roanoke Regional Airport after hiking there from Blacksburg. Sharov is a white male, 6-feet tall, 160-pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
(------------)

[11Moneta-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsc]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:10:00]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Aftermath]

A man who dedicated his life to fire fighting faced a blaze at his own home over the weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Moneta;]

Howard Arthur, who founded Moneta's volunteer fire department in the 1950's, was away from his home when it caught fire.
Arthur said he was numb from the event.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Everything...gone]
((HOWARD ARTHUR/FIRE VICTIM: EVERYTHING...GONE. YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. IT'S LIKE A DEATH.))
[SUPER=01-Howard Arthur/Fire Victim;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=like a death.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Six different fire units responded - the fire burned more than eight hours.
Firefighters were called back to the scene yesterday morning when flames re-ignighted.
Five firefighters were taken to Bedford Memorial yesterday suffering smoke inhalation.
All were treated and released.
It's believed the fire started in the flue of a wood burning-stove, but is still under investigation.
The home had been in Arthur's family since 1938.
(------------)

[11GLTC-Station]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Just a few years ago, it looked ready to be condemned.
Now Lynchburg's Kemper Street train station is quickly becoming the city's hub for transportation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

More than a million dollars in federal grants have helped renovate the 90- year- old facility.
Greyhound Bus Lines moved its offices into the station yesterday and is now running up to sixteen buses a day into the area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:41:17]
[IN Q=The place was]
((MIKE CARROLL/GLTC DIRECTOR: THE PLACE WAS RAMSHACKLE, IT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND IT CERTAINLY SHOWED THAT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, IT'S A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED FACILITY BOTH ON THE AMTRAK LEVEL AND THE GREYHOUND LEVEL WHICH IS ON KEMPER STREET AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Carroll/GLTC Director]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=Kemper Street as well.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lynchburg's city bus company also operates a customer service desk at the station.
Amtrak moved into its new offices on the lower level last year.
(------------)

[11C'burg-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kgu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Christiansburg man died in a single vehicle accident.
Christiansburg Police say 55-year old David Belcher's corvette ran off Stafford Drive and hit a tree just before two yesterday afternoon.
Belcher died at the scene.

[11Campbell-Drugs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Drug Bust]

Campbell County authorities say they've broken up an open air drug market.
A ten-month long investigation has ended with the indictments of five people on drug and gun charges.
Authorities say the group distributed nearly 22 kilos of cocaine and more than four pounds of marijuana in the Mudd Street area of the county since 1995.
All five suspects are being held without bond. Police also seized more than three thousand dollars in cash and three automobiles during the weekend sting.