WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 06/24/02

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Suspended County Administrator Side Clower pleads guilty to embezzling public funds. A live report from the courthouse in just a moment.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And from Richmond, another delegate from our region plans to avoid the Speaker's Chair.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - Tiki and Ronde Barber open up their Twins' Camp at Cave Spring. A UVa grad gets a big honor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Wimbledon opens play today with Andre Agassi doing the honors on Centre Court to open this year's tournament.
(------------)

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

Hot and humid weather dominates the week's forecast, with a slight chance for some scattered showers, I'll have all the details.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=this man the con-artist]
[RUNS=:05 ]
[OUT Q=comes in to be sentenced.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

He admits he stole money from Henry County,.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Now Sid Clower faces up to 60-years in prison for embezzlement.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm SHannon Young.[Clower]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#1:26:58 on 02-04]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The suspended Henry County administrator pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzling public funds.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHot]

Prosecutors say he stole just over thee-quarters of a million dollars from the county's public service authority between 1999 and 2001.
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Marya/Starlink]

Marya Jones is outside the Patrick County Courthouse where Clower entered his plea this afternoon.
Marya, what happens to him now?
[Live=Marya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Stuart;]
( ad lib)
[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mr. Clower]
[SUPER=01-Guy Harbert/Clower's Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Don Caldwell/Special Prosecutor; :18]
[SUPER=03-Stuart; :30]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=85,000 dollars in income, untaxed.]
(-------------)
[Live=Marya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=05-Stuart;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Marya/Starlink]
(KEITH QUESTION: Clower already threatened suicide once... are they worried about that?)

[Henry-Supers]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-19 TC38:05]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]
Henry County supervisors are expected to finalize Sid Clower's termination as Administrator during their regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
During a meeting today the panel approved a 96-million dollar budget for fiscal year 2003. The Acting Administrator says the Office of Commerce will see a significant jump in funding to help create jobs. Schools and law enforcement will see about one percent more than this year. Taxes and current fees will stay the same.
(///// SOT at :18 /////)
[SOT 4:46-5:03]
[IN Q=No tax or fee increases.]
((BENNY SUMMERLIN/ACTING HENRY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: NO TAX OR FEE INCREASES. WE DID IMPLEMENT TWO NEW ORDINANCES THAT WILL RESULT IN SOME REVENUE. ONE IS AN INMATE PROCESSING FEE. THE OTHER IS A COURTHOUSE SECURITY FEE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE MOST RECENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY.))
[SUPER=01-Benny Summerlin/Acting County Administrator;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=most recent General Assembly.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Acting County Administrator Benny Summerlin says the board's being cautious in preparation 2004 when the full financial effect of the closure of VF Imagewear is expected to be felt.

[581-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-24 TC21:51]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

An accident on 581 in Roanoke sends three people to the hospital and slows rush-hour traffic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

It happened at the southbound off ramp for Elm Avenue about an hour ago.
A truck drove through the guardrail and down an embankment after colliding with a car.
A third vehicle was involved in the accident.
Authorities say no one was seriously hurt.
(------------)

[Dickson]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scaels]
The mother of a fourth grader is taking on Botetourt County school administrators and sheriff's deputies over an incident at Colonial Elementary last Fall. Ten- year old Meghan Dickson was summoned to the principal's office, based on reports from other students that Meghan had taken a gun to school. According to the complaint filed today in U-S District Court, the child was detained, interrogated and her bookbag was searched. Meghan says she asked school officials to call her mother, but they refused. A week later the school sent a letter home to parents indicating: "no weapon was ever found."

[Speaker]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC1:50:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The field of candidates to replace ousted Speaker Vance Wilkins is thinning.
Two leading contenders today bowed out of the contest, leaving it a one-man race.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Meghan & SHannon /State Microwave;]

Meghan Muldoon joins us from Richmond with more.
Two of the frontrunners for the Speakership announced today they aren't seeking it.
[LIVE=MEghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

With Morgan Griffith bowing out of the race last week, it's looking like an easy ride to the Speaker's chair for Stafford Delegate Bill Howell.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Bedford Delegate Lacey Putney who has]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Putney; :19]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob McDonnell/(R) Virginia Beach; :46]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=but I can't do twelve.]
(( Bedford Delegate Lacey Putney who has been serving as Speaker since Vance Wilkins' resignation said today he will remain Speaker only until January when the General Assembly convenes.
Putney, who caucuses with Republicans but remains an Independent, took himself out of the running today as a permanent successor to Speaker Vance Wilkins.
[SOT 15:14:39-54]
[IN Q=I think the majority of the caucus]
[RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=and elected as a Republican.]

Earlier in the day, Virginia Beach Delegate Bob McDonnell announced he also isn't a candidate.
McDonnell who is interested in running for Attorney General in three years, says he cannot meet the full-time expectations of the job.
[SOT 18:02:11-20]
[IN Q=There's a tremendous commitment]
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=but I can't do twelve.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= MEghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Howell is the only formal candidate but two other lawmakers still haven't ruled out running.
Delegate Phil Hamilton of Newport News sent around an email today to his colleagues to test the waters and Delegate Kirk Cox of Colonial Heights has also expressed interest.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

But Howell seems to have the momentum and support of the Caucus so as it stands now, he will be the next Speaker.

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

A Roanoke Valley business is being hailed as one of the safest in the state.
That still ahead on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Safety is also a hot topic at one area raceway... after a weekend accident killed a man and injured his son.
(----------------)

[Wythe-Raceway]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-16 TC1:05:22]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A tragic accident. That's how the owner of a local raceway describes an incident over the weekend that killed one man and injured another.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
39-year-old Lacy McNeill was working in a pit crew in the infield when he was hit by a wheel.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The North Carolina resident died later at Wythe County Community Hospital from head injuries. New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon has more on the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Fred Brown/Raceway Owner; :15]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=RC, NEWS 7, WYTHE COUNTY.]
((NATS 18:55:14 "These are the trucks, the truck racing." Raceway owner Fred Brown says thousands come out on Saturday nights to watch the races. It was a shock to all this past weekend when a 3-car crash sent a tire flying towards the infield.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:50:10]
[IN Q=the tire]
((FRED BROWN/RACEWAY OWNER; THE TIRE AND WHEEL THE WHOLE COMPONENTS AND A PORTION OF THE AXLE BROKE OFF WITH IT, THIS PROBABLY WEIGHED 40 OR 50 POUNDS.))
[OUT Q=POUNDS.]
Brown says it landed near this light pole along the backstretch where racer Dustin McNeill's pit crew was stationed.

His Dad Lacy was working as chief..and that's when he was hit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:49:15]
[IN Q=LACY]
((LACY HAD RACED HERE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS THIS YEAR HIS SON THIS WAS HIS SON'S FIRST YEAR OF COMPETING IN THE TRUCK CLASS.))
[OUT Q=TRUCK CLASS.]
The younger McNeill tells Brown he will continue family tradition and in the future race his bight orange truck again.
Meanwhile the track will go ahead with its Saturday night racing schedule.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:51:16]
[IN Q=there's ]
((THERE'S A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF RISK THE DRIVERS ALL THE CARS ARE VERY WELL CONSTRUCTED BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AN ACCIDENT.))
[OUT Q=accident.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:00:55 OR 19:00:00]
[IN Q=so what]
((RACHEL CANNON.RCANNON@WDBJ7.COM; SO WHAT ABOUT ATTENDANCE, WILL FEWER PEOPLE COME TO THE RACETRACK ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. FRED BROWN SAYS HE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SOME OF THESE SEATS REMAIN EMPTY. RACHEL CANNON, NEWS 7, WYTHE COUNTY. ))

[OUT Q=RC, NEWS 7, WYTHE CO.]))
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Another woman was treated and released for minor injuries Saturday night. Brown says the last fatal accident at the raceway was about 30-years ago. It involved a flag man stepping in front of a car.

[Carter]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC1:36:06]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

An Axton man is charged with second degree murder after a shooting Saturday night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
The Henry County Sheriff's Office says 41-year old Larry Junior Carter was involved in a dispute with Antonio Dewayne Turner at the Axton Mobile Home Park shortly before midnight when the two exchanged gunfire.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
Carter allegedly shot the 21-year old Martinsville man in the stomach with a shotgun. Turner later died at the hospital. Police say he'd used a handgun to shoot Carter in the foot. Carter's also charged with Malicious Wounding for shooting his sister, 40-year old Lisa Ann Carter, in the legs. Larry Carter is being held in the Henry County Jail without bond.

[Donnelley]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC2:02:27]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

An award to a Roanoke County company means help for homeless women and children.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The R.R. Donnelley Company today won top honors from the state for workplace health and safety.
The printing plant is one of just 16 manufacturing facilities in Virginia to make the grade.
The company celebrated by announcing a donation of 35-thousand dollars to the Roanoke Rescue Mission, for its new women's and children center.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Stocks ended in positive territory in what was wild and volatile session. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/28.03/9281.82/x/19.37/1460.33;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW gained 28 points.
NASDAQ rose 19.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/1.11/59.90/i/0.25/40.90/h/0.10/70.36/h/0.10/17.45/i/0.15/7.00;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.70/64.30/i/0.58/52.97/h/0.65/29.60/i/0.14/18.97/i/1.40/49.00;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.34/18.96/h/0.32/23.03/i/0.03/0.52/i/3.85/48.80/i/0.10/12.89;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.02/67.05/i/3.15/103.10/i/0.55/39.70/i/0.62/37.35/h/0.77/55.75;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Amtrak]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-20 TC1:48:52]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHot]

While Washington debates the future of Amtrak, local employees and passengers have been on edge the past few weeks.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

They're wondering whether the rail system will shut down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

Amtrak says it needs another 200 million dollars in federal funding or it may have to start turning away passengers later this week.
President Bush and transportation secretary Norman Mineta have promised to keep the trains running.. but they're insisting on major changes within the Amtrak operation.
Local employees say changes may be necessary but so is passenger rail service.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:34:27:]
[IN Q=It's been a]
((GARLAND HARPER/AMTRAK TICKET AGENT: IT'S BEEN A REAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WONDERING JUST WHAT THE FUTURE'S GOING TO BE. THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES WHERE IT LOOKED IT WAS CURTAINS AND THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS HAVE COME THROUGH FOR US. AND THIS ISN'T SAYING THERE'S NO ROOM FOR CHANGE.))
[SUPER=01-Garland Harper/Amtrak Ticket Agent]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=no room for change.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Anywhere from 30 to 50 people a day use the Amtrak service in Lynchburg.. many of them travel from the Roanoke-Blacksburg area which is not served by passenger rail.
Nationwide, train ridership is up a few percentage points, while air travel has declined since September 11th.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - highlights from the opening day of Wimbledon from both the men's and women's side of the net.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Tiki and Ronde Barber open up their 5th annual Twins Camp - we'll give you a snap shot of day number one tonight in sports.
(------------)

[S-Tiki]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-121 TC274424]
[GRAPHIC=The Barbers]

Today was Day One of the NFL Twins Football Camp at Cave Spring High School. Nearly 150 eight and nine year olds had the chance to learn some new moves from Tiki and Ronde Barber. And as Travis Wells explains, the first move they learned was how to pose for the camera.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio..]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tiki Barber/N.Y.Giants Running Back; :16]
[SUPER=01-Ronde Barber/Tampa Bay Cornerback; :30]
[SUPER=01-Natalie White/Natalie Artistic Portraits; :56]
[SUPER=@travis1; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=..News 7 Sports."]
(----------------)
((Nats :
Now in its fifth year, the NFL Twins Camp has added a new twist, one that has everyone all smiles. Every camper this week will receive a photo with the Barbers, developed and ready to be signed by the end of the camp day.
Tiki: (2:23:12: "We try to every year..take home to remember.") Ronde:(2:32:53 "Other than a shirt..so it's fun.")
Natalie White of Natalie Artistic Portraits has donated her time and effort to the event this week, taking doubles of each youngster. It all adds up to about 300 portraits on 8 rolls of film. And that's just Day One.
Natalie : (1:54:380 :"I had seen...with Tiki and Ronde.")

Travis :White's presence this week is just another example of how the Barbers' infectious personalities have rubbed off on the community.
Natalie : (1:55:48: "They just..is nice too.")
But Tiki and Ronde are anything but shy on the football field. Nats : Tuesday, ten and eleven year olds will get their shot with the twins. In Roanoke County, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-Men]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-123 254505TC]
[GRAPHIC=TENNIS]

Wimbledon 2002 opened today without its defending men's champ and without the usual rash of upsets.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wimbledon, England/TNT;]
Andre Agassi was given the honor of opening the tournament at centre court after defending champ Goran Ivanisevic withdrew two months ago due to shoulder problems. Agassi hammered fellow American Harel Levy 6-love, 6-4 and 6-4. Pete Sampras, the seven-time Wimbledon champion who had been questionable with a rib strain, then stepped on to centre court and served 27 aces to beat Britain's Martin Lee 6-3, 7-6 and 6-3. Sampras has not won a tournament since Wimbledon 2000, but played well today.
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=Tennis]
Andy Roddick, Todd Martin and Martin Safin each won, as well. Tomorrow crowd favorite and English countryman Tim Henm

an plays his opening match along with top seed Lleyton Hewiit.[S-Women]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-118 15330tc]
[GRAPHIC=TENNIS]

The women's side of the tournament also was upset free for the most part. Venus Williams will play her opening match tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wimbledon, England/TNT;:00]
Today, Venus was simply an interested spectator as she watched younger sister Serena win her opening match without hardly breaking sweat - 6-1 and 6-1. Jennifer Capriati also recorded a straight set win in her opening match of the tournament. Capriati wins 6-1 and 6-4 over Janette Husarova. And 21st seeded Tatiana Panova made a whole lot of folks mad today when he eliminated Anna Kournikova from the tournament. Kournikova was beaten in three sets 6-1, 4-6 and 6-4.
(------------)

[S-UVa]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-119 15452TC]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]

In one other Wimbledon note tonight - former UVa tennis great Brian Vahaly will play his opening round match tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]
Vahaly won three qualifying matches to earn a spot in the main draw of Wimbledon. He will meet Russia's Mikhail Youzhny tomorrow. Vahaly is currently ranked 143rd in the world. Vahaly was the ACC player of the year his final two years in college. Since turning pro he has beaten Michael Chang and won five futures tournaments.
(------------)

[S-Avs]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]

For the first time in nearly two weeks, there will be baseball at Salem Memorial Stadium. Tonight, the Avalanche welcomes the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to town for a three game series. Myrtle Beach won the first half title in the Carolina League's Southern Division. Salem is just one and three in this second half of the season. The first pitch tonight is at 7 o'clock. (-------------)