WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/06/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It's only a matter of time before the West Nile virus reaches Roanoke, health officials say, even as they hasten to ad
d there's no reason to panic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And the city of Salem honors its longest- serving mayor, as Jim Taliaffero is laid to rest.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - the Friday Football Extra preseason tour rolls on in Salem. Steve Mason checks in from Falcon's camp with former Hokie Kevin McCadam.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Virginia Tech's Eric Green is set to have his knee surgically repaired on Thursday.
(------------)

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

In a word, dry. Great for comfort, not so great for a drought. The 7 day planner is just ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 20:47:28]
[IN Q=With the positive crow]
((WITH THE POSITIVE CROW IN PATRICK COUNTY, AWARENESS IS DEFINITELY UP, AND WE'VE GOTTEN MANY REPORTS OF DEAD BIRDS.))

[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=many reports of dead birds.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Health officials are testing dead birds and taking other measures...
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

As they monitor the progress of West Nile Virus in western Virginia
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[West-Nile]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-17 TC1:58:25]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Today alone, health officials in our area collected at least nine dead birds.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

So far there are no new reports of West Nile in western Virginia...
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=West Nile Virus]
but officials say it's probably just a matter of time before more cases are confirmed here.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In addition to testing the dead birds they've collected, health officials also have plans to work with the Virginia Tech Department of Epidemiology to test adult mosquitos for the presence of the virus.
Environmental Health Manager Dick Tabb says the West Nile Virus is definitely moving into the area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think it's something we're going to]
((DICK TABB/ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANAGER: I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH. PEOPLE FEEL THAT WEST NILE VIRUS MAY BE ENDEMIC TO THE WHOLE UNITED STATES IN A YEAR OR TWO.))
[SUPER=01-Dick Tabb/Environmental Health Manager;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=in a year or two.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials are encouraging anyone with questions or reports of dead birds to call their local health department.
(------------)

[Nile-Richmond]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-23 TC1:03:22]
[SS=West Nile]

The arrival of West Nile Virus in the area is raising concern.
What do residents need to know about this new threat?
[DOUBLE BOXES=SHannon & Meghan/C-Band Satellite]

Meghan Muldoon talked to state health officials to find out.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL C-Band Satellite]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Parts of the state have been living with the threat of West Nile for two years but its new to southwest Virginia.
And there is some important information state health officials want people to know.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=West Nile virus has been blamed.]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Gaines /VA Dept. of Health; :17]
[SUPER=01-Katie Fisher/Mosquito Biologist; :41]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=not going to give you West Nile Virus.]
(( West Nile virus has been blamed for at least 22 deaths in the United States.
Still health officials want Virginians to know that the risk of dying from the disease is low.
Only a small proportion of mosquitoes are likely to be infected.
Most people bitten by an infected mosquito do not even get sick.
[SOT 13:39:35-58]
[IN Q=HIGHWAY FATALITIES ARE A HUGE CAUSE OF MORTALITY COMPARED]
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=YOU NEED THE MOSQUITOES TO TRANSMIT IT.]

For that reason, officials recommend avoiding all mosquitoes but especially the Asian Tiger which is most likely to transmit the virus to humans.
[SOT 12:21:10]
[IN Q=THE ASIAN TIGER MOSQUITO]
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=THEY BITE ALL THE TIME.]

[PUT BIRD B-ROLL OVER THIS CART SEGMENT]Residents, they say, can play a huge part in monitoring the spread of the virus by reporting any dead birds to their local health department for testing.
[SOT 13:42:49-04]
[IN Q=WE DON'T RECOMMEND ANYONE GRABS A BIRD.]
[RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=AND DISPOSING OF THEM.]

[PUT B-ROLL OVER THIS CART SEGMENT]Officials are particularly interested in testing crows, bluejays and raptors which are most likely to die from West Nile.
They say any bird acting strangely is a good candidate for testing.
[SOT 13:44:10]
[IN Q=BIRDS THAT ARE SICK DON'T ACT NORMALLY.]
[RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=AND INJURE THEMSELVES.]

Most importantly, state health officials say if you find a dead bird in your lawn, there's no need to panic.
[SOT 13:47:12]
[IN Q=A DEAD BIRD DOES NOT MEAN.]
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=A DEAD BIRD IS NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU WEST NILE VIRUS.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL C-Band Satellite]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Health officials stress that people can protect themselves from mosquitoes by wearing long loose clothing and mosquito repellant.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Meghan/C-Band Satellite;]

And they say dump out any containers that collect rainwater around your house.

[KB-Toys]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-19 TC1:42:10]
[GRAPHICN=New Jobs]

If you've got some spare time this holiday season, and you'd like to put some spare CHANGE in your pockets, K-B Toys may have the answer.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=One year after]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Wear/Fulfillment Center Director; :30]
[SUPER=01-Dan Sleeper/Pittsylvania Co. Administrator; 1:10]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=News7, Pittsylvania County.]
(( One year after they first moved to Pittsylvania County, K-B Toys is ready to become one of the area's biggest employers.. at least for the next few months.
With the Christmas shopping season fast approaching, K-B Toys needs help.
[natsot 18:06:12]
((AND REALLY, WE ARE SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS HERE..))
[RUNS= 04]

Last year, they hired 800 seasonal workers to process and ship Internet and phone orders for toys.. this year, they're looking for 14-hundred people.
But company officials say finding enough quality employees should be a piece of cake.
[SOT 18:00:13]
((RALPH WEAR/FULFILLMENT CENTER DIRECTOR: THIS AREA IS BLESSED WITH A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER TO HIRE 1400. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, I MEAN WE THINK THAT THERE'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, A LARGE TALENT POOL AND WE'RE LOOKING TO TAP INTO THAT.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=tap into that.]

K-B itself has been a gift to the Southside economy.
Until it bought out the bankrupt E-Toys operation, this 450-thousand square foot plant was silent..
[natsot ]
[RUNS= 02]

Now, more than a hundred year-round employees keep the facility humming.
For a community hit hard by recent layoffs, the advent of new jobs, even temporary ones comes as great news.
[SOT 17:56:59]
((DAN SLEEPER/PITTSYLVANIA CO. ADMINISTRATOR: 1400 NEW JOBS IS A LOT OF JOBS, IT'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF CARS, VEHICLES GOING IN AND OUT OF 29 HERE, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE. ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES THE COMMUNITY GROW AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE ACTIVITY, THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO MOVE TOWARDS IT.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=move towards it.]

Hiring for the new jobs is already underway.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Pittsylvania County.))

[L'burg-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC03:00]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Lynchburg police have nabbed the man they say shot and killed a teenager on the street last week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

35-year-old Gerald Wayne Hubbard was picked up in the 11-hundred block of Court Street last night at the end of a brief foot chase.
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Week; :08]

Police say Hubbard shot 16-year-old Ronrico Robinson in the head the night of July 30th. Robinson died two days later at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Authorities have not discussed a motive for the killing.
Hubbard is being held without bond on murder and firearms charges.
(------------)

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

Still ahead on News 7 at Six, Roanoke honors a former judge for his work inside and outside the courthouse.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And a man remembered by many as a hero is laid to rest in Salem... as the city says goodbye to former mayor Jim Taliaferro.
(----------------)

[Taliaferro]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC1:24:48]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The city of Salem said goodbye to a true original today.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Former mayor Jim Taliferro got a hero's send-off from friends, family, citizens and colleagues at East Hill Cemetery.
Marya Jones was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Howard Packett/Salem City Council; :14]
[SUPER=03-Salem/1996; :26]
[SUPER=01-Carey Harveycutter/Salem Dir. of Facilities; :34]
[SUPER=01-Alex Brown/Salem Vice-Mayor; 1:07]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Salem.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: QUICK FUNERAL NATS.)) [RUNS:01]
He helped Salem earn the nickname "The City of Champions" -- and today, Jim Taliaferro was buried like one.
He got his final salute from about 200 friends, colleagues and residents, in a cemetery overlooking the city he loved.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:10 - :21]
((HOWARD PACKETT/SALEM CITY COUNCIL: HE WAS MR. SALEM. HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO SALEM AND IT'S IRONIC THAT HE'S BURIED OVER HERE NEXT TO ANDREW LEWIS. SO, WE GOT TWO HEROES BURIED HERE TODAY.)) [RUNS:11]
Taliaferro ruled Salem's government for 22 years.
He retired from office in 1996. But his contributions will be felt for decades to come.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:04:08 - :25]
((CAREY HARVEYCUTTER/SALEM DIR. OF FACILITIES: IT'S A SAD DAY FOR SALEM... BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE MISSED. BUT THE LEGACY HE LEAVES IN BRICKS AND MORTAR AND THE PEOPLE HE TOUCHED WILL LIVE FAR BEYOND ANY OF US STANDING HERE TODAY.)) [RUNS:17]
Taliaferro may be best remembered for helping make Salem's school system independent ... and for pushing hard to build the city's football and baseball stadiums.
He died Saturday of liver cancer ... but not before he got to see the City's sports complex and Civic Center renamed in his honor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:38:27 - :41]
((ALEX BROWN/SALEM VICE MAYOR: JIM WAS A BIG BEAR OF A MAN. HE HAD A GRUFF EXTERIOR AND A REAL TENDER HEART. PEOPLE JUST LIKED JIM, HE MADE IT FUN FOR EVERYBODY AND MADE EVERYBODY FEEL SPECIAL. THAT'S THE REASON YOU SEE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE TODAY.)) [RUNS:14]
(///// SOT /////)
[SU 2:06:31 - :43] ((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: TALIAFERRO SPENT A THIRD OF HIS LIFE IN SALEM'S TOP OFFICE. BUT THOSE WHO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY WILL REMEMBER HIM AS A FAMILY MAN, A SPORTSMAN AND A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. MJN7, SALEM.)) [RUNS:12]))

[Fitzpatrick]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC1:56:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The entrance to Roanoke's hall of justice has a new name.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20.5]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Today, the courthouse atrium was dedicated to the late Judge Beverly Fitzpatrick, Senior.
[SUPER=04-1996;]
Fitzpatrick passed away two years ago at the age of 80 ...leaving a legacy of professional and personal achievements.

He served on the bench for 25 years and founded the honor court-- which aimed at giving alcoholics a choice of jail or rehabilitation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:06:03]
[IN Q=There is ]
((BEV FITZPATRICK, JR./SON; THERE IS SOMETHING JUST AMAZING ABOUT WALKING IN AND SEEING YOUR DAD ON THE WALL AND KNOWING THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE COUNCIL AND OTHERS REALLY APPRECIATE THE YEARS HE SPENT WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF SO ITS HARD TO DESCRIBE THE WONDERFUL FEELINGS ALL OF US HAVE TODAY. ))
[SUPER=01-Bev Fitzpatrick, Jr./Son;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=HAVE TODAY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Outside of the courtroom, Fitzpatrick was most recognized for his efforts to save the old Jefferson High School by turning it into the Jefferson Center.
(------------)

[Dog-Attack]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=502-02 TC1:17:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanoke police say a pit bull was shot and killed after it confronted an animal control officer this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Police say the dog got out of its pen in the 600 block of Madison Avenue Northwest and snapped at the officer, pinning him against the wall of a house.
The officer fired twice, wounding the pit bull. The dog died later at an animal hospital.
Police are reviewing a series of complaints involving the dog, and will consult with the commonwealth's attorney about possible charges.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

Police say the dog belongs to Eric Minor. He's the brother of a man who died in a motorcycle accident two years ago...a crash the family blamed police for causing. An internal report cleared the police of any wrongdoing.

[Stocks]

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

After three days of losses, bargain hunters moved in and sent stocks higher today. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/230.46/8274.09/x/53.54/1259.55;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW climbed 230 points.
NASDAQ gained 54.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/1.35/45.15/h/1.00/32.20/h/0.99/61.49/h/1.67/63.73/h/0.83/15.31;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.44/5.99/h/1.67/59.55/h/2.30/55.45/h/1.35/29.65/h/0.75/15.67;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.88/45.40/h/0.48/19.27/h/1.34/19.64/i/0.06/1.84/h/0.76/48.26;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.81/12.61/h/2.00/62.56/i/0.28/29.87/h/0.96/34.35/h/1.68/47.28;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Reyes]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-26 TC46:43]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Nearly five years after his arrest and prosecution, abortion protester John Reyes (RAY-iss) has lost his legal battle with the city of Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

Reyes was convicted of trespassing during this anti-abortion rally at E.C. Glass High School in 1997.. he appealed his prosecution based on the premise that the city's parade permit law was unconstitutional.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today denied Reyes' claim for nominal damages because his rights were never violated.
City officials say that also means Reyes' attorney cannot recover any of the legal fees spent pursuing the appeal.

(------------)

[Brumberg]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-25 TC1:10:45]
[SS=None]

A young man from Roanoke just returned from a 10-day trip to Israel.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Come on guys]
((COME ON GUYS YOU'RE ONLY OUT HERE FOR AN HOUR.))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=Come On (2nd ref)]
(------------)
[KEITH ON CART]
[VO-NAT]

Jon Brumberg is helping freshmen get in shape for football at Patrick Henry High School.
He's one of thousands of young Jewish men and women from all over the world who visit Israel each year- -part of a program called "Birthright."
Brumberg admits he had some anxiety about the pilgrimage... with terrorism an almost daily event in the Middle East, but he says it's important not to give in to the fear of violence.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:33:30]
[IN Q=If we're scared]
((IF WE'RE SCARED TO GO TO ISRAEL THEN THE PALESTINIANS HAVE WON. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. AND I DON'T THINK ANY AMERICAN JEW WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN... OR ANY JEW ANYWHERE ELSE- -RUSSIA, CANADA, ANYWHERE. SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE I NEEDED TO MAKE THIS TRIP, TO SHOW PALESTINE: US AS AMERICAN JEWS ARE NOT SCARED OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.))
[SUPER=01-Jon Brumberg/Tourist]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=scared of what they're doing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Brumberg was in Jerusalem the day of the bombing at Hebrew University, but he says he didn't learn of it until he was on the plane headed home.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - the preseason Friday Football Extra world tour continues in Salem. Hokie Eric Green prepares for his knee surgery.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Steve Mason takes us back inside Falcons' Camp for a visit with former Hokie Kevin McCadam - the Atlanta Rookie defender.
(------------)

[S-Salem]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-125 27:50]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Our Friday Football Extra pre season reports take us to Salem High school for a look at the 2002 Spartans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
Salem will field only 10 seniors, the smallest group of fourth year players in Willis White's two decades as head coach at Salem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Willis White/20th Season at Salem; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=good enough for us"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Spartans return 10 starters total, four on offense and six on defense off a team that went to the playoffs and lost to Pulaski in the Regional finals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=....get better every week"]
(------------)

[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-126 4333TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]

The Virginia Tech Hokies just wrapped up their fourth practice of the preseason less than an hour ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
Once again while the defensive backs worked out with coach Lorenzo Ward, injured cornerback Eric Green could only watch. Green tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee several weeks ago. His surgery has now been scheduled for Thursday on this week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Mike Goforth/VT Athletic Training Director; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...A GOOD SURGERY."]
(------------)

[S-McCadam]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-130 24:58]
[GRAPHIC=Tech]
Kevin McCadam is one of four Hokies on the Atlanta Falcons roster. Steve Mason has more on his transition to the NFL.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Greenville, SC; :00]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/This Past Season; :08]
[SUPER=01-Kevin McCadam/Falcons Rookie Safety; :28]
[SUPER=01-Dan Reeves/Falcons Head Coach; 1:09]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Ray Buchanan/Falcons Cornerback; 1:31]
[SUPER=01-Wade Phillips/Falcons Defensive Coordinator; 1:52]
[RUNS=2:04]
[OUT Q=News 7 sports"]
(--------------)

((Kevin McCadam was signed by Atlanta on June 19th after being drafted in the fifth round as the 148th overall pick. His heart seems to still be in Blacksburg. A feeling never more evident than when he is asked about his former head coach Frank Beamer and the recent release of his bubble head doll. ((:))
McCadam was Tech's third leading tackler last season with 63 in starting all 11 games. But as a freshman in the NFL, Kevin is back to the bottom of the depth chart at third string strong safety. ((:)) ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:)) ((RAY BUCHANAN/FALCONS CORNERBACK:))
It might take him a while to play like Lynch but one advantage McCadam has over his teammates in camp is his understanding of the Falcons new 3-4 defense under Wade Phillips. ((:)) ((:))
McCadam and the Falcons wrap up training camp at Furman University August eighth. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))

[S-Skins]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-127 2501TC]
[GRAPHIC=REDSKINS]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
Meanwhile, Tony Stewart has been fined $10 thousand dollars tonight by NASCAR for punching a photographer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This is just the latest in a string of poor choices by Stewart and his temper that have dogged him ever since he began his Winston Cup career. (------------)