WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 03/20/02

[News-Heads]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

A downtown Roanoke church is apparently NOT on solid ground--
The front wall of the Solid Rock Pentecostal Church is sagging.
Building inspectors are heading out there later today.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And a fight in New York involved two motorcycle clubs from Roanoke and the New River Valley.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]

Rain showers will once again develop across the area as temperatures stay on the cool side...but changes are not that far off....I'll have your forecast

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A section of Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke remains closed--
Authorities are afraid an unstable CHURCH building might collapse on the road.
(------------)

[Church-Collapse]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-12]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Noon]
Building inspectors and an engineer will check out Southwest Roanoke's crumbling Solid Rock Pentecostal Church this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The front wall at 803 Campbell Avenue was found to be sagging Tuesday evening. Building inspectors say they think the earth beneath a crawl space under the wall had been excavated, leaving the wall with no support. Because of the risk of collapse, Campbell Avenue is closed between 8th and 9th Streets. Inspectors say there are some questions as to who owns the church. They're also trying to determine whether the building can, or should be, repaired.
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[Pagans]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities say a violent fight in New York last month involved members of two motorcycle clubs from Roanoke and the New River Valley.
The clash between members of the Pagan Outlaw Motorcycle Club and the Hells Angels resulted in 73 arrests on various charges, including federal racketeering, conspiracy and assault.
Nassau County police say the Pagans tried to crash a Hells Angels event.
Police arrested bikers and confiscated weapons, including pistols, stun guns, knives, axes, chains and bats.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/1994;]

Among those arrested was John "Hose-A" Jones, who is shown here from 1994.
At that time Jones identified
(------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[Graphic=None]

himself as the President of the Lynchburg chapter of the Pagans.
Also arrested were William ``Tung Foo'' Grayson of Woolwine and Phillip ``Buzzard'' Hawks of Barren Springs.
Mike Grayson of Pulaski says the Virginia Pagans went to New York to party, not to cause trouble.

[Bus-Bombing]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Bombing]

It appears that today's suicide bomb attack in Israel is NOT side- tracking U-S efforts to promote peace in the Middle east.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Musmus, Israel;]

The attack occurred on board a crowded commuter bus during rush hour.
A suicide bomber killed himself and seven other people.
[SUPER=03-Ramallah, West Bank;]

Meanwhile, U-S peace envoy Anthony Zinni met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today in the West Bank.
Palestinian officials continue blaming the violence on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:13:23]
[IN Q=I believe]
((YASSER ABED RABBO/PALESTINIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: I BELIEVE SHARON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY.

HE HAD DESTROYED THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES IN THE PAST MONTHS. ))
[SOT 10:14:10]
((GIDEON MEIR/ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: DESPITE ISRAEL'S EFFORT TO ASSIST GENERAL ZINNI TO BRING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE, DESPITE ISRAEL'S GESTURES OF GOODWILL TOWARDS THE PALESTINIANS, PALESTINIAN TERROR CONTINUES. ))
[SUPER=01-Yasser Abed Rabbo/Palestinian Information Minister;]
[SUPER=01-Gideon Meir/Israeli Government Spokesman; :14]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=innocent Israelis.]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, sources from both sides say peace talks are still on for later today.
(------------)

[Afghanistan]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Terrorist forces are on the offensive in Afghanistan, moving against allied forces in an overnight attack.
Allen Pizzey reports from Kabul.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Allen Pizzey/CBS News; :00]
[SUPER=03-Khost, Afghanistan/File Tape; :10]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=Allen Pizzey, CBS News, Kabul.]
((

o/c: One American soldier was lightly wounded in the arm in a firefight that lasted nearly an hour and which could mark a new stage in the war here.

(Khost file/special operations forces with Afghans)

vo: The extent of U.S. involvement in the fighting was not clear...although special operations forces work closely with Afghans in the region.

SOT Major Leanne Smullen, U.S. military spokesperson

SOT

(File U.S. troops)

vo: And U.S. forces involved in the just-finished Operation Anaconda are pursuing any al-Qaeda and Taliban who may have escaped.

(Night camera ex-Evening News)

vo: In an exclusive interview with CBS News a pro-Taliban tribal leader holed up in a cave near Khost said he had 400 men ready to fight...and vowed...in his words...to "create problems for the U.S."

NAT SOT in Pashtun

vo: "Disappearing form the battlefield does not mean the Taliban have completely disappeared"...Jallad Khan says..."they can come back to life again."
o/c: The area around Khost is a hotbed of both tribal friction and support for Taliban and al-Qaeda...which means there is every reason to treat the overnight fighting and threats from caves as more than isolated anger and bravado.
Allen Pizzey, CBS News, Kabul ))

[SW-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Flood aftermath]

Flood waters are receding in the far Southwest part of the state.
While residents are beginning to clean up, the threat of more rain is in the forecast.
Brian Bishop has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Scott Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Don Abate/Flood Victim;:14]
[SUPER=01-Connie Turner/Flood Victim; :56]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=eye on the WX...]
((FLOOD WATERS ARE RECEDING IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA... LEAVING RESIDENTS TO CLEAN UP THE DAMAGE.

AND WHILE SOME THINGS ARE ALREADY BACK TO NORMAL BRIAN BISHOP TELLS US OTHERS WILL TAKE SOME TIME.
(TAKE PKG)
(NATS)

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE AS CARS AND HOMES DID SINK.
THAT WAS THE STORY IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MONDAY AS WEEKEND RAIN BROUGHT FLOOD WATERS CRASHING DOWN AROUND RESIDENTS ALONG SEVERAL RIVERS.

(SOT - ABATE "It came up on the house really strong and we got kind of
scared and didn't really know what was gonna happen. Then about three o' clock in the morning the rescue squad came by boat and got our family out. They took us a half mile behind the house by boat and got us out of here.")

BUT AFTER THE INITIAL EVACUATION COMES THE CLEANUP.
FOR SOME IT'S QUICK AND EASY.
FOR OTHERS THINGS WILL NEVER BE BACK TO NORMAL.

(SOT - ABATE "We're gonna try to make a plastic walkway here just
until some of this can dry out, so we don't track mud through the house. To get the cars in and out. It's gonna take two or three good weeks of sun to dry this out and get it up so it's gonna be a task.")

(SOT - TURNER "Come in the back door, water in the floor, mud in the
floor got it cleared up. Got the parking lot cleaned up the wood floated all over."
"Laundromats down the road are open and we can't lose the business.")

(SOT - ROBINETTE "It swept through the garage and it swept through a
bedroom downstairs and a den and some closets and a bathroom. But we carried all we could carry so we think we won't lose much. But it's still a mess to clean up so we'll get right to it.")

(SOT - ABATE "We had to stow a lot of stuff under the house and a lot
of the kids summer clothes and that sort of thing. Some mementos, my wife's wedding dress. So pretty much the personal effects and things like that are history.")

MORE RAIN IS PREDICTED FOR WEDNESDAY.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA OFFICIALS ARE WARNING RESIDENTS TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE WEATHER. ))
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[Graphic=Hold]

That was Brian Bishop reporting.
[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

A new study says minorities are not getting the health care they deserve. We'll have the details after the break.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Also we will see how a small device can save the lives of thousands of heart patients.
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[Streaming Video] [music up full] [comm1]

[Rosser]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The former head of a Girl Scout group for lower-income children in Lynchburg was convicted yesterday of embezzling more than 62-hundred dollars from cookie sales.
Debbie Rosser was paid to be the program coordinator last year for a Girl Scout group for 141 girls living in public housing.
She was responsible for handling the money generated from the sale of Girl Scout cookies.
She was fired June 15th, more than two months after the group's cookie money was supposed to be turned over.
The Lynchburg program reportedly had to cancel an end-of-summer trip, and drop a quarter of the girls from a scheduled fall camping trip because of the lost money.
Prosecutors say part of the money WAS recovered.
Rosser will be sentenced June 21st.

[Craig-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some Craig County residents are answering the call for help.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Castle;]
The rescue squad found itself in desperate need of volunteers after several members recently resigned. The squad's new captain says 24 people have since signed up to take a basic E-M-T class. It will cost each person about 100- dollars to take the course. Last night, Tim Reynolds asked the Craig County Board of Supervisors to consider footing the cost of tuition.
(////sot////)
[sot 20:55:41]
[IN Q= A LOT OF TIMES]
((A LOT OF TIMES WE'VE HAD EMT CLASSES IN THE PAST PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN CERTIFIED FOR THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND HAVEN'T STEPPED UP TO HELP, AND WE'VE STILL BEEN SHORT HANDED SO MAYBE WITH THIS INCENTIVE, OK, WE'LL PAY FOR IT IF YOU JOIN, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME MORE ACTIVE MEMBERS TO HELP SERVE EVERYBODY BETTER.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Reynolds/Craig Co. Rescue Squad Captain; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q= EVERYBODY BETTER.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
The board of supervisors should know next week if it will be able to fund part or all of the tuition for the course-- which will take about six months to complete.
(------------)

[Defibrilators]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Heart Attacks]

A large percentage of a rescue squads calls are for people suffering heart attacks.
The patient's odds of survival increase greatly when he or she is treated quickly.
Now a new study says thousands could be saved by a simple device that provides treatment in a matter of seconds.

Elizabeth Kaledin has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Arthur Moss/Study Author; :35]
[SUPER=01-Dr. William Frumkin/Electrophysiologist; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Kaledin/CBS News; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=CBS News New York]
(( Track: Defibrillators could mean the difference between life and death when implanted in heart attack new research suggests they should be used routinely.
Track:/GFX: the study in this weeks New England Journal of Medicine was funded by the Guidant Corporation which makes defibrillators.
It followed more than 1200 (1232) heart attack survivors. 742 received a defibrillator 490 got standard drug treatment After 20 months...fewer patients with defibrillators died.
Track: Dr. Arthur Moss presented the numbers to the American College of Cardiologists

(SOT) Dr. Arthur Moss/study author
It's a 31 percent reduction in mortality...in other words a significant improval in survival for those who had defibrillators.
Track: When implanted in the chest wall...the beeper-sized devices constantly monitor heart rhythm...an abnormal rhythm triggers an electric shock...(nat sound) and gets the heart beat back to normal.
For people with damaged heart muscles as a result of heart attack...abnormal rhythm is a constant threat and is often fatal.
According to electrophysiologist William Frumkin...defibrillators take the place of calling 911.

(SOT) Dr. William Frumkin/electrophysiologist
But you don't have to wait for EMS to come...the defibrillator takes 5 or 6 seconds to work...and EMS could take 3,4,5, minutes to arrive...it's also good if you're alone or asleep and there's no one to call 911 for you.
Track: The device was implanted in Vice President Cheney last summer....and in Joseph Silverman two years ago. He never feels it...but knows it's there all the same:

(SOT) Joseph Silverman/heart attack survivor
I'm satisfied that this is really what's saving me.
Stand Up Close/EK OC: If there is drawback to the technology it's the price tag. Defibrillators cost between 20 and 25 thousand dollars....potentially limiting just how many people will be able to benefit. Elizabeth Kaledin CBS News, NY))

[Minority-Health]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Health Care]

A report out today confirms what many minorities in this country already suspected-- that they're not getting the same health care as their white counterparts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Neurosurgeon Doctor Gary Dennis says an undercurrent of racism in American medicine pushed him to lobby Congress to commission the study.
And the report from the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine is NOT a surprise to him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:25:10 ]
[IN Q=Doctors are assuming]
((DR. GARY DENNIS/NEUROSURGEON:DOCTORS ARE ASSUMING BLACK PATIENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR DISEASE, THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MEDICINES THEY REQUIRE//THAT THEY ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR OPTIONS MIGHT BE.
))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Gary Dennis/Howard University Hospital;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=their options might be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The report's based on 10 years of previous studies.
Officials say it confirms that discrimination is endangering lives AND that many health professionals lack social and cultural knowledge.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Still to come on the newscast, airlines says they are eliminating the fees they paid travel agencies. We'll see what they could mean to what you pay,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Also we'll see why Hollywood is giving the all star treatment to a new pizza.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[Travel-Agents]

[ANCHOR=Kimbelry]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-61]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's a blow to travel agencies... Three major airlines have stopped paying agent commissions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Delta, American, Northwest and Continental have stopped paying fees within the last week to save money.
That means customers will have to pay travel agents to book tickets.
Mel Ludovici at Martin Travel says he expects to lose some customers, but is certain corporate clients will stay on board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think the customer]
((MEL LUDOVICI: I THINK THE CUSTOMER, LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS DECISION THEY MAKE, WILL EVALUATE THE VALUE THAT'S PROVIDED AND THE WORTH OF THAT AND MAKE THEIR DECISION.))
[SUPER=01-Mel Ludovici/Martin Travel]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=their decision.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Customers like Lewis McGuire say they'll stick with agents, despite added costs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think the customer]
((LEWIS MCGUIRE: THEY HAVE BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE, THEY CAN DIRECT YOU TO ACTIVITIES, THE BEST SITES TO SEE AND HELP YOU SPEND YOUR TIME BETTER, GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TRIP.))
[SUPER=01-Lewis McGuire/Traveler]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=you trip.]
(------------)

Ludovici says its likely smaller travel agencies will have to merge to survive the loss of airline commission.
(-----------)

[Puck-Pizza]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The founder of Spago's in Los Angeles has launched a new line of pizzas, just in time for the Oscars.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]

Frequent Chef to the Stars, Wolfgang Puck has made wood- fired pizzas a signature dish in most of his restaurants.

The launch party for the new pies was held with true Hollywood fanfare, featuring fireworks and pyro-technic special effects.
The pizzas are now available in California supermarkets.
They'll be making their way into freezers across the country later this year.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN 74 points.
The NASDAQ has lost 29 points.

[super=460-y/74/y/29;]

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
An old friend showed up at the Express game last night - only to get disappointed. We'll tell you all about that coming up in sports.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
...And a Friday Football Extra Coach of the year has found a brand new home.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Heritage]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-112 11646TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
One of Friday Football Extra's most successful coaches has landed a new job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Football Extra; :00]
Chris Jones, who in his two seasons at Bath County won 25 games and a state championship, was approved last night as the new head football coach at Heritage high school in Lynchburg. Jones bid a tearful farewell to his Bath County players yesterday, but told us last night he is excited about his new opportunity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Chris Jones/New Heritage Head Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=...YEAR OUT."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT CON'T]
Jones knows the job at Heritage is not only an opportunity, but also a challenge and a big step-up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MY COACHING STAFF...]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...a challenge."]
(-------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] Jones was voted a Friday Football Extra Coach of the Year each of the last two years.
This past year, his state championship team was named Friday Football Extra's team of the year.
(-------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-114 1222TC]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

The Roanoke Express gave old friend John Brophy and his Wheeling Nailers a big welcome last night. But with the playoffs right around the corner, Roanoke couldn't spend too much time worrying about the Ric Flair of the E-C-H-L.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Nailers vs. Express; :00]
Brophy in control and on the bench last night with his much-improved team. But Roanoke was in the net.
Pete Gardiner gets the first goal of the game off the assist from Tim Verbeek and Kevin McDonald.
It's 1-to-nothing in the second. Roanoke gets another tally in the second frame as Jeff Johnstone, the ECHL player of the week, adds to his legend.
He scored off the assist from a fired up Rick Kowalsky.
[super=38-Wheeling/0/Roanoke/2;]
Daniel Berthiaume stops all 33 Wheeling shots, and Brophy exits the Roundhouse disgusted as his team fails to score and loses 2-to-nothing.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]
Roanoke has five games left, including a Thursday night home date with Cincinnati.
Roanoke needs just 5 points in those last five games to beat out Richmond for the final playoff spot.

[S-Brophy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-117]
[graphic=john brophy]
Brophy's presence last night got the crowd on its feet, and also caught the players' attention. Steve Mason spoke with the ECHL's grand old man yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday Morning; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Brophy/997 Pro Hockey Wins; :06]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :41]
[SUPER=01-Rod Taylor/Played Nine Seasons Under Brophy; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Mark Bernard/Played Four Seasons Under Brophy; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(------------)

((He's the same old silver haired coach whose fire for the game continues to burn after more than 30 years of coaching. ((:))
Brophy almost did die in a car accident in Nova Scotia in the summer of 2000. He broke a leg and has had several operations on his left eye, which was severely injured in the wreck. He's back to his old self. ((:)) ((:)) ((:))
Brophy has taken a team that had back to back 40 game losing seasons and turned them into Northwest playoff contenders in this his first season. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))
[Quickcast]
[WXPRO/FULL] FINAL LOOK AT THE WEATHER
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