WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/27/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

What could prompt a local county administrator to threaten suicide?
We'll tell you about the police investigation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Plus, the health threat resulting from the tire fire is over for now. And Roanoke County may get financial help cleaning up the site.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, The Roanoke Express will hold silent auctions for jerseys throughout the home games in the E-C-H-L playoffs The Rookies tested at Martinsville today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the Season is over for the Carter Haas racing teams because of the K-Mart Bankruptcy.
(------------)

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

The cold northwest winds may have cleared the air but tomorrow we are shooting for milder readings. Details coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Yesterday was extremely difficult]
((YESTERDAY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, I THINK TODAY PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE OF RESOLVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT, WE GOTTA DO OUR JOBS.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=do our jobs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Police search the County Administrator's office. Then he threatens suicide.
[ANCHOR=keith 2-Shot]

Henry County already faced some big problems .. now there is one more.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Clower]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC1:28:36]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-shot]

State Police are investigating possible embezzlement of Henry County funds.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-shot]

When they searched Sid Clower's office yesterday, they seized computer disks, a hard drive, and a palm pilot. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jennifer /MB Set;]

Jennifer Miele has details about the investigation, and its impact on the county.
[LIVE=Jennifer /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]

Keith, Shannon, co-workers say they had no idea Clower was troubled by anything until yesterday.
Financially, we understand him to be more than sound -- he was administrator in two other counties, and worked as a real estate broker prior to that.
Co-workers say he often footed the bill for business lunches -- and worked for the joy of it, not for the money.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Yesterday morning, Clower's]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry Co. Spokesman; :15]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=unemployment rate.]
(( Yesterday morning, Clower's secretary found three notes on her desk. One was addressed to her, one to the deputy administrator, and one to the county attorney.... all three indicating he might harm himself.
Clower was nowhere to be found.
[SOT]
((TIM HALL: AT THAT POINT WE CALLED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ASKED THEM TO COME AND HELP US, DID ANOTHER WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING, AND TOOK A LOOK ON THE PERIMETER.)) [RUNS08]
In the woods, about a mile from the administration building, sheriff's deputies found Clower holding a handgun, threatening to kill himself.
They managed to talk him out of it, and took him straight to a mental hospital.
At the same time, state police were searching Clower's office. They seized a hard drive, palm pilot, computer disks, and various files, a copy of the county's budget and his suicide letters.
Since no one has spoken with Clower, it is unclear whether his suicide attempt had anything to do with the investigation.
Meanwhile, deputy administrator Benny Summerlin is now left to handle Clower's duties... he'll have to compose a county budget by June, and help fight a 10.1 % unemployment rate.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Jennifer/FULL MB SET]

The search warrant says a hard drive from Public Service Authority Business office was also seized. Clower ran that division from 91 to 96.
Audits of the PSA over the last decade have shown no irregularities.
Clower's wife released a statement today thanking the community for their prayers.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Jennifer /MB Set;]

Keith, Shannon.

[Second-Harvest]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-18 TC01:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank is offering refunds to about 200 contributors, after they failed to receive a promised state tax credit.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Food Bank had encouraged contributors to take advantage of the Virginia Neighborhood Assistance Program... a state initiative that offered individuals a tax credit of up to 200 dollars.
Officials say the response exceeded their expectations, and the organization's 54- thousand dollar allotment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:40]
[IN Q=We felt that this was]
((JIM PEARMAN/FOOD BANK CHAIRMAN: WE FELT THAT THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THESE DONORS, AND HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE DONORS.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Pearman/Food Bank Chairman;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=with these donors.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Contributors can still receive a charitable deduction for their gifts, and Food Bank officials are hopeful that most will not request refunds.
Letters went out last week, and so far a handful of donors have asked the Food Bank to return the money.

[Tire-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:39:46]
[GRAPHIC=Tire Fire]

The state's largest tire dump is now a Superfund site.
The Environmental Protection Agency is offering half-a-million dollars to help Roanoke County fight and clean up its massive tire fire.
It's been burning now for five days.
But, today, health officials lifted an air quality advisory, saying the air is again safe to breathe.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Marya /Microwave;]

Marya Jones is out tonight in Starkey Park, where the smoke appears to be clearing.
[LIVE= Marya/FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]

Keith, there's a very noticeable difference just from last night.
Rains overnight helped clear the air.
And this morning -- more good news: the Keeling tire dump was declared a Superfund site, which means it's eligible to receive federal funding to help with firefighting and clean up efforts.
The E-P-A is offering half-a-million dollars ... and that amount could go up to 1-point-2 million dollars. ((ROLLCUE: with the help of U-S Marshalls to do it))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rick Burch/Roanoke Co. Fire & Rescue Chief; :26]
[SUPER=01-Molly O'Dell/Regional Health Director; :35]
[SUPER=01-Michael Zickler/Evironmental Protection Agency; :1:14]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=ALL THE OPTIONS.]
(( Blue skies were back again over Willie Keeling's illegal tire dump ... just five days after millions of tires caught fire.
Two days ago, smoke and fire made the tires almost impossible to see.
But, today, they were reduced to a smoulder, allowing HAZMAT teams to go in a survey the damage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: RAIN)) [RUNS:02]
Yesterday's rains, along with cooler temperatures and winds, did more good than harm.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:50:44 - :51]
((RICK BURCH/ROANOKE CO. FIRE CHIEF: THE FIRE IS 100% CONTAINED... VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.)) [RUNS:07]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:01:26 - :35]
((MOLLY O'DELL/REGIONAL HEALTH DIRECTOR: EVERYBODY CAN RESUME.... RECREATION IN SCHOOLS.)) [RUNS:09]
Recess resumed for the first time this week at Penn Forest Elementary ... after the air quality came back better than normal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: TIRES BURNING.)) [RUNS:02]
More than three-million tires continue to smoulder.
The strategy so far has been to let them burn out, which could take months.
The E-P-A, here to offer help putting out and cleaning up the fire, has had to remain on the sidelines, awaiting permission from the tire dump's owner, Willie Keeling, to enter the property.
Today, that permission came ... in the form of a court order.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:06:55 - 15:07:06]
((MICHAEL ZICKLER/EPA: WE MAY BREAK THE FIRE UP AND ATTACK SMALL AREAS, WE MAY TRY TO EXTINGUISH IT.... THOSE ARE ALL THE OPTIONS.)) [RUNS:11]))
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[LIVE= Marya /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
(adlib)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Marya/Microwave;]

[Framatome]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-08 TC51:43]
[GRAPHIC=Framatome]

Another major expansion for one of Lynchburg's biggest employers.. this one is especially good news for high school students hoping for a career in engineering.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Framatome A-N-P broke ground today for a 27- thousand square foot addition to its Mill Ridge Road facility.
The new space will house a technical training center that will help train nuclear maintenance technicians.
The company has also partnered with Central Virginia Community College to offer full scholarships and part-time jobs to students willing to work and train at Framatome.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:39:00]
[IN Q=It's exactly what]
((DARRELL STAAT/CVCC PRESIDENT: IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING, IT'S PART OF OUR MISSION TO BE WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO WORK IN THIS KIND OF A MANNER, IT'S JUST GREAT FOR THE COLLEGE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC FOR THE STUDENTS.)) ((TOM CHRISTOPHER/FRAMATOME PRESIDENT: WE LOOK IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS ESSENTIALLY TO DOUBLE IN OUR BUSINESS.. SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.. AND 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF WHAT WE DO IS PEOPLE, IT'S NOT PRODUCT.. OUR PRODUCT IS SKILLED PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.))
[SUPER=01-Darrell Staat/CVCC President; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tom Christopher/Framatome President; :13]
[RUNS=25]
[OUT Q=skilled people in the field.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Framatome provides maintenance and refueling services to nuclear power plants across the country.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

A convicted killer from Danville will stay on Death Row.
That's next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus another area university gets a new president... this time it's Washington and Lee.
(----------------)

[Walton]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-09 TC48:10]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A federal judge has denied a new trial to a death row inmate who pled guilty because he wanted the death penalty.

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996]
"Certain factual maters remain clear," as Judge Sam Wilson put it in his 45-page opinion today, Percy Levar Walton "brutally killed three people."
Walton murdered Jesse and Elizabeth Kendrick and Archie Moore.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]

Walton had indicated he thought he was a millionaire, that he believed he was Jesus, that he father was working for the police against him. But Judge Wilson accepted the trial judge's conclusion that Walton was mentally competent.

[Resk]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC1:23:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke Valley physician spent all day today answering allegations brought by the state Board of Medicine.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Doctor Joan Resk faces 11 accusations, ranging from berating her employees to providing medical care for her "significant other." She denies that.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:19:25]
[IN Q=Patient "M" is my best]
((DR. JOAN RESK/OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN; PATIENT "M" IS MY BEST FRIEND. SHE'S NOT MY "SIGNIFICANT OTHER." I DISAGREE WITH THAT PARTICULAR DESIGNATION. SHE HAS BEEN ME PATIENT PREVIOUSLY. SHE IS MY PATIENT CURRENTLY, BUT SHE'S NOT MY "SIGNIFICANT OTHER."))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Joan Resk/Osteopathic Physician; :03]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=BUT SHE'S NOT MY "SIGNIFICANT OTHER."]
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[VO-NAT]
Patient "M" followed Dr. Resk from California to Ohio then Virginia in 1998. She helped her set up the practice she calls "To Life." They did live together, Dr. Resk says, but she insists they maintained proper ethical boundaries as doctor and patient. Resk disputes all the charges- -including the allegations that arose only today that she fudged records subpoenaed by the Board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:44:25]
[IN Q=A reasonable person]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Ken Walker/Va Medicine Board Committee Chair]
[SUPER=01-Paul Beers/Dr Resk's Attorney; :18]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=so people make msitakes.]
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[V/O-NAT ] The Board of Medicine has a broad range of choices in its final determination. It can reprimand, censure or fine Dr. Resk. Of course she could be fully exonerated. Her license can be suspended or revoked. She could also be placed on probation for a period of time.
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[Police-Hangar]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC57:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's been twenty-five years since Lynchburg citizens began receiving around-the-clock emergency medical care from the fire department and 'not' a private ambulance service.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Ceremonies honoring E-M-S workers were held at the Lynchburg airport today.
City leaders also used the occasion to unveil the new hangar for the state police med-flight helicopters.
Officials say since September 11th, the nation has a new appreciation for emergency workers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:02:53]
[IN Q=The people of]
((ROBERT CROUCH/VA PUBLIC SAFETY: THE PEOPLE OF LYNCHBURG CAN BE PROUD OF THE RECORD THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE LADIES AND GENTLEMAN WHO SACRIFICE SO MUCH IN THEIR DAILY LIVES TO SERVE THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Crouch/VA Public Safety;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=their fellow citizens.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The city of Lynchburg spent about 700-thousand dollars building the new hangar.
It will recoup that cost by leasing it to the state.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Stocks gained ground today, with blue chips enjoying a solid advance. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/73.55/10426.91/x/2.58/1826.75;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW climbed 73 and a half points.
NASDAQ gained two and a half.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.05/45.05/h/0.73/46.00/i/0.32/68.80/h/1.17/20.50/h/0.05/6.95;]
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[SUPER=273-h/0.10/22.30/h/0.67/24.26/i/0.01/0.98/h/0.36/53.59/i/0.04/13.57;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.57/67.39/h/0.35/72.99/i/0.41/45.55/h/0.44/37.45/i/0.17/62.00;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[W&L-President]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC57:15]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The nation's ninth-oldest university welcomed its new leader today.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]

Thomas (BURR-ish) Burish becomes the 24th president of Washington and Lee University. Burish comes from a 26 year career at Vanderbilt University, where he served as provost, and professor of psychology.
A nation-wide search for a new president began after President John Elrod died last July. Washington and Lee's acting president says he sees many similarities between the leadership of the past and the future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT- 44:01/40:49]
[IN Q=I see a similar]
((LAURENT BOETSCH/ACTING PRESIDENT; I SEE A SIMILAR QUALITY OF INTELLECT, CLEARLY A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, AND A KIND OF A SOFT SPOKENESS THAT BELIES A REAL TENACITY OF PURPOSE.)) ((THOMAS BURISH/INCOMING W&L PRESIDENT; THE MORE AND MORE I LEARNED ABOUT WASHINGTON AND LEE, THE MORE I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. IT COMBINES NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM, BUT ALSO A WONDER PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL AND THE LAW SCHOOL, JUST A WONDERFUL, JUST A SUPERB PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAM.))
[SUPER=01-Laurent Boetsch/Acting President; ]
[SUPER=01-Thomas Burish/Incoming W&L President; :15]
[RUNS=29]
[OUT Q=superb professional graduate program.]
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[VO-NAT]
Burish will take over the school in the beginning of July.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]

And coming up in sports, The N-B-D-L hands out its post season awards the Roanoke Express has special plans for home games throughout the East Coast Hockey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And some rookies try to learn the ropes at Martinsville today during a test session before next months race.
(------------)

[S-Test]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-120]
[GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE]

The spring race weekend at the Martinsville Speedway is fast approaching. Mike Stevens tells us how drivers and fans alike were trying to make the "grade" today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham, NC/February 22; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/Currently 24th In Points; :12]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :55]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Newman/Alltel Ford Driver; 1:25]
[SUPER=01-Jimmie Johnson/Lowe's Chevy Driver; 1:32]
[SUPER=03-Harrisburg, NC/January 18; 1:50]
[SUPER=@mike1; 2:17]
[RUNS=2:29]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports."]
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[S-NBDL]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-117 (1:05:59)]
[GRAPHIC=NBDL Logo]

The National Basketball Development League has handed out its first post season awards.
Jeff Myers of the Greenville Groove was named the 2001-02 Defensive Player of the Year. The 6 foot 2 185 pound guard finished second in the league in steals and shared the league record for most steals in a game with 8.
Roanoke's Marshall Phillips was among the other top vote getters.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :]

Meantime, Ansu Sesay is the Leagues Most Valuable Player. He averaged 13 point 9 points a game and ranked among the leaders in Assists, Field goals made Free throws made, blocked shots and minutes played.
He scored in double figures in 36 of 45 games including 18 straight games.
(------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Express]

Roanoke Express fans bring out a little extra money this weekend when the team opens the East Coast Hockey League Playoffs this Friday against the Dayton Bombers.
The Express will hold a silent jersey auction on Friday and it will continue through every playoff game.
Winners will be contacted after the last home playoff game.
[Promo]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It won't start flying until next week, but Lynchburg officials want to make sure the city's newest airline feels welcome.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[***NEWS 7 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jean/MB Set]

Jean Jadhon is in our newsroom to tell us more.
[LIVE=Jean/Full MB SET]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]

Last month we told you that Shuttle America will start providing three daily flights between Lynchburg and Philadelphia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The carrier.. which is owned by U-S Airways Express.. will begin service on April 1st.
The new flights will boost Lynchburg Regional Airport's daily seat capacity by 43 percent.. almost to the level it was before September 11th.
Airport officials say it's crucial that business travelers in central Virginia have access to major international hubs like Philadelphia.
(------------)
[LIVE=Jean/Full MB SET]

There's a party underway as we speak to people welcoming Shuttle America to Lynchburg..
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Shannon & Jean/Newsroom]
We'll bring you more at Eleven.