WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/30/02

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom..... You'll need to be careful as you leave this morning - there's mist and fog out there. Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be along shortly with your complete forecast.

[7-11Missing-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC1:54:13]
[GRAPHIC=Jennifer Short]
After another ground search in Henry County for missing 9-year-old Jennifer Short - investigators say there are still no clues in the case. Jennifer has now been missing for more than two weeks.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]

A search and rescue team from Fairfax County hit the ground in Oak Level.
Two dogs and their handlers covered the area near the home where Michael and Mary Short were murdered earlier this month.... but they apparently found nothing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We did that just as a safeguard]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF: WE DID THAT JUST AS A SAFEGUARD. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T MISS NOTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=we didn't miss nothing.]
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[VO-NAT]

Sheriff Frank Cassell says investigators are still interviewing people, and continue to follow leads, but yesterday he said there was no progress to report.
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[7-11Fitzgerald]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-26]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The murder and D-U-I trial of a Franklin County man has gained so much public attention that it has been moved to another locality.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]

William Fitzgerald is charged with second degree murder while driving under the influence.
Last November, his car struck Ellen Schenker's vehicle head-on ... killing her and injuring her son.
Judge William Alexander seated a jury for the case ... then dismissed it.
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[SOT 1:28:47 - :59]
[IN Q=I think that]
((JUDGE WILLIAM ALEXANDER: I THINK THAT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF I WERE TO TRY THIS CASE TODAY THAT THIS CASE WOULD BE REVERSED BY AN APPELLATE COURT BASED ON THE EXTENSIVE PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY.))
[SUPER=01-William Alexander/Franklin Co. Circuit Court Judge]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=pre-trial publicity.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In early reports, authorities attributed the accident to alcohol.
Fitzgerald's blood alcohol content was only POINT- ZERO - ONE, well UNDER the legal limit ... but prosecutors say he had too much of the anti-anxiety drug Librium in his system to drive.
His lawyers contend his medication was improperly dispensed to him.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The case has been TEMPORARILY set for October 17th in Danville... but defense attorneys say they'll make a motion to have it tried even farther away.

[7-11Salem-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest]
Investigators are calling a Wednesday night fire in Salem an act of arson.
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[VO-NAT :28]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Wednesday Night]

48-year old James Earl Potts of Elliston is charged with setting fire to a home in the 16-hundred block of McCauley Avenue shortly before 11.
Two people were home at the time but escaped without injuries. Authorities say the house appears to be a total loss. Vehicles on the property were also damaged. Potts was found by Montgomery County authorities and charged with arson and threatening to burn an occupied dwelling.

He's in jail without bond.
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[45-11Farinacci]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A tape of Elizabeth Faranacci confessing her crime to an undercover officer - was played before a jury yesterday.
Prosecutors accuse her of kiling her husband to cover up another murder.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rustburg]

Farinacci is accused of shooting him to death last February.
Authorities say Frank Farinacci was ready to confess about the couple's involvement in the apparent murder of a Nelson County man four years ago.. and that Elizabeth killed him to keep him quiet.
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[SOT 3:04:51]
[IN Q=She said]
((CHRISTINA LAMONDS/FRIEND: SHE SAID SHE HAD TAKEN CARE....CLEANED THE GUN.))
[SUPER=01-Christina Lamonds/Friend]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=cleaned the gun.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Faranacci maintains motorcycle gang members committed the crime.
The trial resumes today.
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[45-Salem-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest]
An arsonist is said to be the culprit in a Salem house fire.
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[VO-NAT :28]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Wednesday Night]

48-year old James Earl Potts of Elliston is charged with setting fire to a home in the 16-hundred block of McCauley Avenue shortly before 11.
Two people were home at the time but escaped without injuries. Authorities say the house appears to be a total loss. Vehicles on the property were also damaged. Potts was found by Montgomery County authorities and charged with arson and threatening to burn an occupied dwelling.

He's in jail without bond.
(------------)

[45-11Jackson]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Grayson County man will serve nearly 6-years behind bars...and pay more than 100-thousand dollars for committing a scam on e-bay.
Back in June, 28-year old Michael Paul Jackson pled guilty to cheating more than one hundred e-Bay customers.
A federal judge yesterday gave him the maximum sentence.
The judge agreed with prosecutors that Jackson had obstructed justice and failed to accept responsibity for his actions.

[45-11Sunnyside-Market]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-24]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Residents in one Roanoke neighborhood are pushing for a local grocery store to stop the sale of alcohol.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Citizen complaints are one reason the Sunnyside Market in Old Southwest may lose its license to sell beer and wine. The Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control has also filed alcohol violations against the business. Some residents say Sunnyside's alcohol sales contribute to what they call the unsightly and criminal behavior that plagues the area. Supporters of the family owned and operated business says it provides basic needs from a convenient location. A judge heard from both sides in an administrative hearing - - he's expected to decide the license status is seven to ten days.
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[8-Tootoo]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-128 54:04]
[GRAPHIC=Tootoo]
The Roanoke Express has lost a player and comrade in center Terrence Tootoo. He was found dead yesterday afternoon in Brandon Manitoba, Canada.
Express officials say Tootoo committed suicide with a self- inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file; :00]

Tootoo, who was an express fan favorite, was working out with his younger brother's junior team. Tuesday night, Tootoo got a D-U-I while driving home from dinner with his brother. Wednesday, he did not show up for practice and was reported missing.
He was found dead this afternoon. The 22- year-old was loved and embraced by the Roanoke hockey community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Duncan Dalmao/Terrence's Roommate and Teammate; :11]
[SUPER=01-Mike Lonchar/Express Owner; :32]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=.....time with him"]
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[anchor=Kim]

No arrangements have been announced at this time.

[8-11NRV-Airport]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-28 TC48:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A successful project at the New River Valley Airport now has officials drawing up more plans for expansion.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

A ceremony yesterday at the airport marked the completion of an improvement project that began in March.
It included re-striping the main runway, installing a new lighting system and relocating a beacon light.
Officials say the improvements will increase safety and modernize the airport, which they hope will lead to more International attention.
They are now looking at a future project to overlay a runway, to accomodate larger planes.
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[8-Miss-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC08:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Miss Virginia is getting ready to take a trip to Atlantic CIty - in hopes of bringing back another crown as her souvenir.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]

Jennifer Pitts got a hearty farewell last night at a party in Vinton.
She's getting ready to leave for the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
She'll be there for about three weeks to prepare for the pageant which wraps up September 21st.
If she doesn't end up being the next Miss America, Pitts says she plans to spend her year as Miss Virginia stressing the importance of volunteering. (------------)