WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/02/02

[Kidnapping]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']

Two teenaged girls kidnapped from a Southern California lovers' lane are now back home with their families.
Authorities found the girls and the suspect in a stolen Bronco yesterday, 12 hours after they were abducted.
The sheriff says a new system that broadcast quick reports about the abduction helped locate the two teens.
Authorities believe their captor took them out to the desert, with the intent of killing and burying them.
Drew Levinson is in Lancaster, California with an update.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Lancaster, CA;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Carl Sparks/Kern Co., CA Sheriff;]
[SUPER=01-Joshua Brown/Friend;]
[SUPER=01-Nadine Dyer/Jacqueline's Mother;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Lancaster, CA;]
(( THE TWO TEENAGE GIRLS ARE WITH THEIR FAMILIES NOW...RE-UNITED AFTER A HARROWING EXPERIENCE THAT ENDED YESTERDAY IN A CALIFORNIA DESERT. POLICE BELIEVE THEY CAUGHT UP WITH THE KIDNAPPER JUST MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS GOING TO MURDER HIS CAPTIVES.

SOT: CARL SPARKS/KERN COUNTY SHERIFF (21:20:10)
"I THINK HE BROUGHT THEM UP HERE TO DIG A HOLE AND BURY THEM, THAT'S WHAT I THINK. I MEAN HE ALREADY RAPED, WHY ELSE WOULD YOU BRING THEM UP HERE."
POLICE SAY 16 YEAR OLD TAMARA BROOKS AND 17 YEAR OLD JACQUELINE MARRIS WERE KIDNAPPED AT GUNPOINT EARLY THURSDAY MORNING BY THIS MAN, ROY DEAN RATLIFF. ALREADY WANTED FOR ANOTHER RAPE....RATLIFF GRABBED THE GIRLS AT A POPULAR LOVERS LANE LOCATION JUST OUTSIDE LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA...AND LEFT THEIR MALE COMPANIONS BOUND WITH DUCT TAPE.

SOT: JOSHUA BROWN/FRIEND
"HE WAS JUST SUDDENLY AT MY WINDOW, tied me up and wanted the car."
ACTING ON A TIP, POLICE LOCATED RATLIFF DRIVING A STOLEN TRUCK ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY FROM FROM WHERE HE ABDUCTED THE GIRLS. AFTER A SHORT CHASE, THEY MOVED IN AND SHOT HIM WHEN HE REFUSED TO SURRENDER. THE GIRLS WERE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

SOT: SPARKS AGAIN
"THE GIRLS WERE HIGHLY EMOTIONAL, WERE SCARED, FRIGHTENED AND EXCITED ABOUT BEING RESCUED ALL AT THE SAME TIME."

sot: Nadine Dyer/Jacqueline's Mother

))

[L'burg-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kgu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

Two men were shot early this morning in Lynchburg. According to police- an altercation took place in the parking lot of Mario's Pizza on Bedford Avenue around two A-M. Police say that as the restaurant was closing from a nightly dance club... two men exchanged gunfire in the crowded parking lot. Two males were struck in the exchange... and were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time. Authorities are looking for the suspects as the investigation continues.

[Anthrax-Investigation]

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

The government is continuing its investigation into last year's deadly anthrax mailings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Detrick, MD;]

Yesterday, F-B-I agents conducted a THIRD search of a bio- defense scientist, Doctor Stephen Hatfill's apartment.
They'd also polygraphed Hatfill months ago.
He'd worked at the Pentagon's top bio- defense research center until 19-99, and is believed to have been vaccinated against anthrax.
While there, he like other scientists, had access to the strain of anthrax used in several mail attacks across the country.
However, officials still aren't calling Hatfill a "suspect."
(------------)

[Law]

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

In Massachusetts, Cardinal Bernard Law is expected to take the stand today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA;]

A judge will decide how much the Boston archdiocese should pay victims who were sexually abused by priests.
In March, the archdiocese agreed to pay up to 30- million dollars.
But now it says that amount is too much, in light of additional lawsuits that are expected over clergy abuse.
(------------)

[11Radio-Station]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-26 TC 42:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two area radio stations are now sharing the same frequency.
A recent storm destroyed W-C-Q-V's tower at Smith Mountain Lake.
So while the tower's being rebuilt, the radio station will share time with its sister station W-W-W-R.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The relationship began last night at six o'clock with the most unusual format.
910 AM is now broadcasting its normal gospel format from six in the morning to six in the evening.
The station then switches to W-C-Q-V's adult standards format for the following twelve hours.
Station management says the switch is a necessity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:58:19]
[IN Q=We have authorization to be]
((BARBARA EVANS/STATION MANAGEMENT: WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO BE OFF THE AIR UP TO NINE MONTHS AND CERTAINLY WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE BACK ON DEFINITELY BY THANKSGIVING BECAUSE THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR IS OUR BIGGEST QUARTER. BUT YOU NEED TO KEEP THE CUSTOMERS SATISFIED AND YOUR LISTENERS ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS AND IF YOU DON'T THEY WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY MIGHT NOT COME BACK TO YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Barbara Evans/Station Management]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=back to you]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Management is also turning this negative into a positive in another way.
The new tower will be bigger in size which will double the signal.
That is important because the old signal had trouble reaching the Roanoke area from Smith Mountain Lake.
(------------)

[6-Grandin-Renovations]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC1:15:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]
They've found the money to re-open the Grandin Theater ....and found some vintage art-work in the process. Keith Humphry has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Though the marquee]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tony Stavola/Grandin Theatre Foundation President; :12]
[SUPER=01-Dave Trinkle/Foundation Fund Raiser; :54]
[SUPER=01-Ann Trinkle/Foundation Fund Raiser; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Keith2;]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=Keith Humphry, News 7.]
(( The marquee may still reflect the Foundation's hope for a Grand-IN re-opening this SUMMER, but the 70-year old movie house won't be back in business until October, now.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:37]
[IN Q=]
((DUE PARTLY TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR FUND-RAISING EFFORTS, WE HAVE REVISED OUR RENOVATION PLANS AND DECIDED TO COMPLETE ADDITIONAL RENOVATIONS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY PLANNED TO DO IN PHASES AFTER THE THEATER OPENED.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=]
That includes expanding the lobby and concession area and upgrading the ground-floor rest rooms. Even as the fund-raising project was being declared a success, however, the non-profit foundation that now owns the theater was making a pitch for additional donations. They're still selling stars- -at $1,000 a piece- -metal mementos that'll be embedded in the sidewalk out front. 550 have been sold, so far. There's room out front for as many as 850 to be laid out like this.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:00]
[IN Q=]
((IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE WAY INTO THIS HISTORIC THEATER. SO WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE SELLING STARS, UP TO 850.)) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=]
If the stars are beyond your reach, you can always buy a seat. For 250-dollars they'll put a plaque on the back. It doesn't entitle you to sit there, necessarily, but it'll have your name on it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT Ann 13:28]
[IN Q=]
((SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND TAKE A SEAT AT THE GRANDIN)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=]
When workmen took down the heavy curtain that hung above the main stage, they discovered some original art work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:32]
[IN Q=]
((THAT STENCILING HAD BEEN DONE AND THEN HAD BEEN COVERED UP IN ONE OF THE EARLIER REINCARNATIONS OF THE THEATER AND NOW HAS BEEN EXPOSED AGAIN.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=]
Nina Roe will complete the restoration work. She got her first, up-close look at it and discovered that at least part of the work is on canvass. She'll repaint the plaster repairs then cover it with sealer.))

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Disney reports a drop in third quarter profits. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((DISNEY'S PROFITS WERE MEEK AS A MOUSE LAST QUARTER. AFTER THE CLOSING BELL, WALT DISNEY SAID PROFIT FELL 7 PERCENT, SALES SLIPPED NEARLY 3 PERCENT.

(GR)
THE MEDIA GIANT BLAMES THE DROP ON DISAPPOINTING RESULTS AT ITS ABC TELEVISION NETWORK AND FILM STUDIO DISNEY. DISNEY OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED FEWER RESERVATIONS BOOKED FOR ITS THEME PARK BUSINESS.

(OC)
THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS INVESTORS HAVE BEEN GREETED WITH WEAK ECONOMIC DATA.. POINTING TO AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT'S FALTERING. TODAY, WALL STREET GETS A KEY PIECE OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE ECONOMY'S HEALTH - THE JULY EMPLOYMENT REPORT DUE OUT BEFORE THE MARKET OPENS.
AS INVESTORS REMAIN CAUTIOUS.
IN ADDITION TO GOOD OLD FASHION PROFIT TAKING...MORE REPORTS POINTED TO A SLOWDOWN IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THAT PUT THE BUYERS ON HOLD...

(GR)
THE DOW SANK 229 POINTS OR MORE THAN 2.5 PERCENT.

(GR)
WHILE THE NASDAQ TANKED 48 POINTS OR MORE THAN 3.5 PERCENT.

(OC)
EVEN AUTO STOCKS SKIDDED DESPITE SIZZLING JULY SALES...

(GR)
THANKS AGAIN TO ZERO PERCENT FINANCING DEALS..GENERAL MOTORS SAW SALES UP 24 PERCENT.. FORD UP A MORE MODEST 1.5 PERCENT FOR THE MONTH.

(OC)
THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE CONFIRMS IT WILL BUILD A SECOND ACTIVE TRADING FLOOR OUTSIDE OF LOWER MANHATTAN TO ENSURE THE MARKET STAYS OPEN AFTER A DISASTER.

(GR)
TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ... AT THE NASDAQ
(OC)
I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS IN NY.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[6-Tech-Submarine]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-17 TC1:53:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Phantom Four is the pride and joy of an engineering design team at Virginia Tech. And there's good reason for it. The one person, self propelled submarine is breaking records, and has taken first place in national competitions.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon has more on the underwater boat that's created from scratch.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Justin Hlavin/HPS Team President; :11]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Neu/HPS Team Advisor; :59]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Blacksburg.]
((NATS 33:13:12 (getting in the sub) Justin (Lavin) Hlavin feels right at home inside the Phantom Four. As team president and pilot he cruises this sub into first place.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 24:29:09]
[IN Q=we have]
((JUSTIN HLAVIN/HPS TEAM PRESIDENT; WE HAVE GONE FROM THE STONE AGE TO THE HIGHEST TECHNOLOGY, THE SCHOOL IS VERY PROUD OF THE TEAM WE ARE THE ONLY ENGINEERING DESIGN TEAM TO WIN THERE FIRST PLACES IN A ROW.))
[OUT Q=A ROW.]
This is the fourth submarine to come out of a Hokie design lab. About 15 students, with various, but mostly engineering backgrounds, designed and built the boat in five-months for about 60-thousand dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:49:07]
[IN Q=the hulls]
((JUSTIN HLAVIN/HPS TEAM PRESIDENT; THE HULLS ARE BUILT OUT OF CARBON FIBER AND FIBER GLASS THE PROPULSION SYSTEMS ARE MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL AND ALUMINUM TO PREVENT CORROSION AND THE CONTROL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN A VARIETY F PUSH RODS AND PULL PULL STINGS AND THIS WE STEPPED UP AND ID ELECTRONIC.))
[OUT Q=ELECTRONIC.]
If it sounds complicated, that's because it is. Advisor Wayne Neu is around to help - but he gives the students all the credit for the success.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 27:11:19]
[IN Q=it seems]
((WAYNE NEU/HPS TEAM ADVISOR; IT SEEMS EACH YEAR WE HAVE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT, AND THESE KIDS JUST KEEP COMING UP WITH GREATER AND GREATER IDEAS.))
[OUT Q=IDEAS]
[SOT 38:20:14]
[IN Q=There are]
((RACHEL CANNON/RCANNON@WDBJ7.COM; THERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY THE BOAT HAS DONE SO WELL, FIRST THE PROPELLERS ARE COUNTER ROTATING THEN THERE ARE THESE END PLATES THEY MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT, NEXT VORTEX GENERATORS THEY REDUCE DRAG THE AMOUNT OF DRAG WHEN ITS UNDERWATER, FINALLY THERE'S THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUILT INSIDE THAT CONTROLS THE DIRECTION OF THE BOAT. It ALLOWS THE PILOT TO CONCENTRATE ON PEDALING RATHER THAN STEERING.))
[OUT Q=THAN STEERING.]
[SOT 29:41:01]
[IN Q=There's a lot of]
((THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS SUBS AND EACH NEW DESIGN YOU KNOW USE THOSE LESSONS AS BETS WE CAN.))

[OUT Q=WE CAN]
The team counts on company sponsors and school funding to get the sub underwater. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Blacksburg.))

[11Colorful-Classrooms]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-19 TC1:33:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Kids at one local school are coming back to a whole new look this Fall....
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20.5]
[SUPER=03-Belview;]
The kindergarten classrooms at Belview Elementary are getting a paint makeover thanks to Glidden. The school was one of the winners of the company's Colorful Classrooms Campaign. Hundreds of Belview students in all grade levels made a book why their school should be painted. The teachers had a rainbow of paint colors to choose from.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 30:47:29]
[IN Q=MY FIRST]
((PHYLLIS RETTIG/BELVIEW KINDERGARTEN TEACHER; MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS OH MAN GO MULTI COLOR WALLS BUT THEN RESEARCH SHOWS THE CALM BLUE JUST CALMS PEOPLE DOWN ITS A COOL SOOTHING COLOR AND KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE COOL AND CALM.))
[SUPER=01-Phyllis Rettig/Belview Kindergarten Teacher;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=AND CALM]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It will take this crew of ten about eight hours to complete the job. Belview has about 40 kindergarten students to enjoy the finished product. Glidden started the contest in 2-thousand... this year they will paint 45-classrooms.
(------------)

[6-Ford-Panamoric]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC1:52:04]
[GRAPHIC=none]

You could say it was a picture perfect day in Roanoke yesterday afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

More than 100 vintage fords parked themselves at William Fleming High School for a group panoramic picture.
It was all part of the annual convention of the Crown Victoria Association taking place this week at the Wyndham Hotel.
The group devotes itself to a limited line of cars....Fords made between 1954 and 56.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 45:34]
[IN Q=People cherish these cars]
((BOB HASS/CROWN VICTORIA ASSOCIATION: PEOPLE CHERISH THESE CARS AND THEY GET THE PICTURE FRAMED AND THEY PUT IT UP IN THEIR TROPHY ROOM AND THEY REALLY ENJOY IT TO LOOK BACK, TO SEE ALL THEIR FRIENDS NEXT TO THEIR CARS.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Hass/Crown Victoria Association]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=next to their cars]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Taking the picture was a feat unto itself featuring more than 100 cars and nearly 500 people.
The picture was taken with an antique camera made at the turn of the century.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Dominion-College]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC33:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Students at Dominion College will have to learn a new way of doing things this fall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The last remaining site of Dominion College on Fallowater Lane in Roanoke County is closing its doors.
Students will be able to continue their education at National College of Business and Technology.
The two schools reached that agreement this week.
About 500 students attend National's Roanoke campus and the college says it can easily accommodate the 225 students from Dominion.
(------------)

[Dominion-Power]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Some 37-hundred Dominion Virginia Power workers say they'll walk off the job today. The threatened work stoppage follows the union's rejection of the company's latest labor contract offer. It called for a 16-point-5 percent wage increase over five years, pay increases for shift differentials and employees working in expensive northern Virginia, and pension plan and medical benefits improvements.
A spokesman for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 50 says Dominion's final offer was NOT as good as quote the``last, best and final'' offer the company made in May. The company says it'll wait to see if workers do walk off the job and decide how to proceed from there.

[11Minority-Organ]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=02-25 TC1:08:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Organ donation saves lives... that's the message from an organ procurement organization.
Lifenet is working to dispel myths and fears.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Herb Albert is a living testament of the importance of organ donation. A liver transplant saved his life.. now he's on mission to encourage more people to become donors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:04:59]
[IN Q=Most people are not organ]
((HERB ALBERT/ORGAN RECIPIENT; MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT ORGAN DONORS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INFORMED. THEY DON'T REALIZE THE DEPTH OF THE NEED OR THEY'RE MISS INFORMED THEY THINK THEIR BODY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE USED))
[SUPER=01-Herb Albert/Organ Recipient;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=to be used]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

There are nearly 80-thousand people on the waiting list for organs. While race is normally not an issue for organ donation, it could make a difference for the 18-thousand African Americans in need of a kidney transplant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:16:46]
[IN Q=Sometimes with kidney transplants it]
((DENA REYNOLDS/LIFENET; SOMETIMES WITH KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS IT MIGHT HELP WITH MAKE A BETTER MATCH))
[SUPER=01-Dena Reynolds/LifeNet;]
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=a better match]
(XXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE FS]
For more information on organ donation call 1-800-847-7831. (-------------)