WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 09/13/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A bankruptcy filing the company president says will keep the rest of the firm from going under.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And a gay activist is taking a stand against the preachings of Reverend Jerry Falwell by making it impossible for the pastor to ignore him.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports tonight, Winston Cup drivers try and tackle the troublesome New Hampshire International Speedway, William & Mary gears up for VMI in football.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and a look back at a night the Thundering Herd would no doubt like to forget.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

A good shot of tropical moisture is due in here by late Saturday night. Details on the possible effects of Hanna in a moment. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:37]
[IN Q=it's got to]
((DAVID SPANGLER/JEFFERSON MILLS CO. PRESIDENT: IT'S GOT TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR THE COMPANY TO SURVIVE STAY IN BUSINESS IT GOT TO A POINT THAT IT HAD TO BE DONE))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=be done]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Financial woes forces a local textile company to close one of its mills.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But, company officials say they are still optimistic.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.

[Jefferson-Mills]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC-27:37]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Pulaski textile plant filed for bankruptcy, saying more than dozen of its workers may be let go.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
However, company officials say the decision may do more good than harm.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=they're the people]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Spangler/Jefferson Mills Co. President; :06 ]
[SUPER=@Myranda2; :59]
[RUNS=1:18]
[OUT Q=STD]
(( They're the people who make the materials to make the clothes you wear on your back.
[SOT 1:40]
[RUNS= :05]
((DAVID SPANGLER/JEFFERSON MILLS CO. PRESIDENT: WE DO A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL A NICHE BUSINESS THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN'T DO SO EASILY))
Jefferson Mills has been processing yarn ever since it moved from its New York to Pulaski 64-years ago.
But, company officials say the textile industry has seen a major decline in profit since then.
As a result, the company filed for chapter-eleven bankruptcy Monday, citing financial troubles that spans over three years.
[SOT 1:29]
[RUNS= :10]
((WE HAVE A PLAN TO REORGANIZE AND DOWNSIZE OUR COMPANY AND MAINTAIN OUR COMPANY IN EXISTENCE, IN BUSINESS AT A LITTLE SMALLER SCALE FOR MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE))
The company is now in the process of closing one of its two mills to form one major operation.
[SOT 5:09]
[RUNS= :12]
(( THE HILL PLANT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY UTILIZED FOR OVER A YEAR. SO, IT'S INEFFICIENT TO OPERATE IN A BUILDING THAT SIZE, WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING THE FULL FACILITY))
Spangler says about 20 out of nearly 200-workers will be affected by the close, but, says the building will not remain empty.
He says with the shape its in, he hopes to one day rent or lease the building to another manufacturer...which could possibly lead to more jobs.
Myranda Stephens, News 7, Pulaski.))

[Danville-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-24 TC-1:59:00]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Governor Warner is thanking a local company for choosing to expand operations in Southside. Universal Leaf Tobacco Company just completed renovating its processing plant in the City of Danville. The decision adds up to an investment of 28-million dollars and 38 jobs at the location.
Business Reporter Rachel Cannon joins us with more...Rachel?
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon-Rachel/PULPIT;]
Shannon, this is not the first time Governor Warner has made a stop in Southside with economic news ... and it's a good thing, because the area needs it. The region was hard hit with layoffs over the past year after furniture and textile plant closings..
[LIVE=Rachel/FULL]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
Warner says in the past 8-months, thanks to local and state officials, hundreds of jobs have been created from new businesses or others expanding like Universal Leaf..
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
Officials with the tobacco company say they've already filled the 38 new positions thanks to an eager workforce. And thanks to renovations, they will increase their domestic leaf processing. Warner says change to Southside comes with each economic announcement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:51]
[IN Q=I know]
((GOV. MARK WARNER/(D) VIRGINIA; I KNOW THE REGION IS STILL STRUGGLING BUT WE'VE GOT AN ADMINISTRATION NOW IN RICHMOND THAT WANTS TO WORK WITH SOUTHSIDE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA TO MAKE SURE WE STOP THE FLIGHT OF JOBS AND STOP THE FLIGHT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=@markWarner1;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=YOUNG PEOPLE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Universal Leaf has a history in Virginia ... 84-years worth. There's the plant in Danville and administrative offices are in Richmond. The total workforce is about 7-hundred people.
(-------------)
[LIVE=Rachel/FULL]
State officials say the company looked at North Carolina for the project as well.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon/Rachel PULPIT;]
Shannon, The Commonwealth provided a 3-hundred thousand dollar grant to help seal the deal to stay in Virginia.

[Motel-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Roanoke City Police have charged three people with the armed robbery of a motel. Sterling Dawson the second, James Ramsey and Angela Perdue, all of Roanoke are accused of a string of motel robberies late this summer. The three were charged with the armed robbery of a Comfort Inn off of Interstate 81 in Botetourt County, and police say they robbed the Motel 6 in Roanoke on September 5th.
All three are being held at the Botetourt County Jail. Authorities say additional charges are pending.

[Franklin-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-33 TC-56:08]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Ferrum woman- -stopped two years ago for driving without a license- -has filed a multi-million dollar claim in federal court.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount/October, 2001]
Abby Newman was convicted by a Franklin County jury... after she balked at a State Police check point. She'd gotten into a shouting match with the troopers and spent the night in jail. This week she filed suit against two state troopers, the sheriff's department and the judges who heard her case, claiming false arrest and retaliation for asserting her Constitutional rights. She's also accusing the officials of racketeering.
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[House-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC-20:51]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]

Investigators believe a child playing with a cigarette lighter started a fire that heavily damaged a Roanoke County home last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The fire broke out at this home in the 53-hundred block of Fallowater Lane off 419 just before 10:30.
A father and his three kids were home but all got out safely.
A four old boy playing with a cigarette lighter accidentally started the fire on the mattress in the front bedroom.
Damage estimates top more than sixty thousand dollars.
(------------)

[White-Falwell]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC-1:36:44]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]
He's been a thorn in the Reverend Jerry Falwell's side for years .. now he's a next-door neighbor. Gay activist Reverend Mel White and his partner have moved to Lynchburg. Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It is a home]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=04-October 1999; :28]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Mel White/Soulforce, Inc.; :38]
[SUPER=01-Gary Nixon/Partner; :48]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Jerry Falwell/Thomas Road Baptist Church; 1:03]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:48]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=Steve Smallshaw, News 7, Lynchburg.]
(( It is a home with a view. ((THIS IS OUR FRONT VIEW OF THEIR WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, CHURCH, AND WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY COMING AND GOING ON SUNDAYS WILL STOP AND SAY HI.)) Gay activist Mel White and his partner Gary Nixon have moved to Jerry Falwell's home town, leasing a home right across from Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church. ((JERRY FALWELL IS WRONG FOR BRINGING HOMOSEXUALS INTO THE CHURCH HOUSE.)) White's last appearance here drew loud protests as he and Falwell sought to tone down each other's rhetoric. Three years later, White and Nixon see themselves as missionaries with a simple message. ((MEL WHITE/SOULFORCE INC.: WE ARE HERE AS AN OLD GAY COUPLE TO SAY WE'RE JUST AS BORING AS YOU ARE. DON'T SEE US AS A THREAT .. WE WANT TO BE FRIENDS.)) ((GARY NIXON/PARTNER: THEY CAN WATCH HOW WE LIVE. THEY CAN WATCH ME GO TO WAL-MART AND SHOP JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THEY CAN WATCH ME MOWING THE LAWN. THEY CAN WATCH US PICKING UP OUR MAIL .. I MEAN, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?)) They've also invited their new neighbor to dinner. Falwell doesn't plan to accept. ((REV. JERRY FALWELL/THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH: OBVIOUSLY HE WASN'T SINCERE. HE'S HOTDOGGING, HE'S OUT FOR PUBLICITY AND ULTIMATELY MONEY. THE GAY COMMUNITY HAS REJECTED HIS LEADERSHIP.)) But White and Nixon say their presence here will be low-profile as they encourage Falwell's following and Lynchburg residents to be more tolerant of the gay lifestyle. ((REV. MEL WHITE: I DON'T THINK OUR GOAL IS TO CHANGE JERRY. I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO LOVE JERRY AND TO SHOW HIM AGAINST WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE, BUT I THINK OUR GOAL IS REALLY TO HELP LYNCHBURG UNDERSTAND HER OWN GAY PEOPLE.)) ((REV. JERRY FALWELL: THE DEMONSTRATION WILL BE GOING FROM US TO HIM. LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, THOMAS ROAD CHURCH WILL BE PRAYING FOR HIS TRUE CONVERSION, GARY'S CONVERSION, AND WHEN THEY REALLY GET CONVERTED, EVERYBODY WILL KNOW IT. THEY'LL STOP LIVING TOGETHER AND HE'LL GO BACK TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.)) White and Nixon's lease runs for one year. Steve Smallshaw, News 7, Lynchburg.))

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
A Danville woman is killed trying to walk across train tracks... That story ahead on News 7 at 6.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

and also, divers search a local lake in hopes of finding clues to the disappearance of Jennifer Short.
(----------------)

[Missing-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-26 TC-1:36:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Divers searched portions of Philpott Lake today. They were looking for any evidence that might help in the search for Jennifer Short and the investigation of her parents' murder.
[ANCHOR=Shannon -2-Shot]

Authorities say they weren't acting on a specific tip...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith&Shannon/Joe @ POD;]

And tonight Joe Dashiell reports there is no indication that they found anything today.
[LIVE=Joe D./FULL]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]

Keith and Shannon, the Henry County Sheriffs Department has conducted repeated searches of the area near the Short family home, and many other locations in Henry County and beyond... Today, they took a closer look at Philpott Lake.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Law enforcement divers]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff; :21]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=gone in the water before.]

((Law enforcement divers from Henry and Franklin counties went into the water near Philpott Dam.
They were planning to investigate several locations including boat landings and nearby coves.
Though investigators on the Short case have searched farm ponds in the area, Sheriff Frank Cassell says this was their first look below the water line at Philpott.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've been in the area]
((SHERIFF FRANK CASSELL: WE'VE BEEN IN THE AREA ON FOOT AND WE'VE HAD A HELICOPTER THAT'S GENERALLY LOOKED ALONG THE SHORELINE IN THIS GENERAL AREA, BUT WE HAVEN'T GONE IN THE WATER BEFORE.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=gone in the water before.]))
[LIVE=Joe/FULL]

Late this afternoon, Sheriff Cassell told us there were no significant discoveries during today's dives.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith&Shannon/Joe POD;]

Keith and Shannon, they won't be back in the lake this weekend, but Cassell says divers may search other portions of Philpott in the future.

[Train-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-36 TC-41:54]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A train struck and killed an elderly Danville woman this morning...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
Officials say 73-year-old Marie Anna Hardy was hit while walking across Norfolk Southern tracks on Wooding Avenue. Her 56-year-old son told police they were walking to breakfast and that he ran across the tracks before the train ... thinking his mother would wait until it passed. Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses say the railroad crossing barricades were down and warning bells were ringing.
(------------)

[Monty-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

One man was injured in an accident this morning in Elliston.
It happened around ten-thirty on Brake Road, near Roanoke Road.
Officers say the driver of a pickup was traveling south on Brake Road, when he lost control and turned over.
31-year-old Timothy Melton was thrown from the truck, and airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Melton is listed in good condition, and another person traveling with him was not hurt.

[Liberty-Road]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-31 TC-51:05]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Liberty Road Bridge over Interstate 581 is open again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :27]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
VDOT closed the bridge Wednesday after it was struck by a vehicle too tall to pass underneath. The collision damaged at least two of the bridge's re-inforced concrete beams. A barricade wall has been set up to divert bridge traffic away from the damaged areas, narrowing the two lanes, but officials say the span *is* safe and that traffic *is* flowing in both directions. VDOT says it's still assessing the damage and has yet to come up with a long-term plan of action.
(------------)

[Public-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-38 TC-14:45]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Roanoke City can stick another feather in its cap thanks to its public safety agencies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :11]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Mayor Ralph Smith today announced the Star City is the only one in the nation to boast a nationally accredited police, fire and sheriff's department. He says he's pleased but not surprised.
(///// SOT at :11 /////)
[SOT 3:16:44-23:16:57]
[IN Q=Oh, it's absolutely wonderful...]
[SUPER=01-Mayor Ralph Smith/Roanoke;]
((MAYOR RALPH SMITH/ROANOKE: OH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS. THE SHOCK WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WE NOT AFTER WE'D JUMPED THROUGH ALL THESE HOOPS WITH SUCH FLYING COLORS.))
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=with such flying colors.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
The fire department was the most recent to gain accreditation, earning its plaque this summer. Roanoke holds many distinctions including being named a five-time All-American City. It's also been called one of the best places in the country to retire, raise a family and locate a business.
(------------)

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

A recap of last night's Virginia Tech stampede over Marshall, a look at the Ferrum, Emory & Henry football match up tomorrow,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and we will head to New Hampshire for Bud pole qualifying.
(------------)

[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-130 55:10]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]
Repaving at New Hampshire International Speedway prompted many drives to say the track conditions in July were the worst they had ever raced on. Today, the Winston Cup circuit would again test the asphalt in Bud Pole qualifying for Sunday's New Hampshire 300.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Loudon, NH/SpeedVision; :00]
Steve Park experienced serious problems out of the straight away and into turn one and hits the wall, wrecking the Pennzoil Chevy. He would have to take a provisional and go to a backup car.
Ryan Newman would win his third pole of the season and fourth of his career, now here's the list.
(------------)
[GO TO CHYRON MOTION] [GO TO QUALIFYING]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5016;]
[SUPER=0107-1. Ryan Newman/132.241/2. Johnny Benson//3. Bobby Labonte//4. Greg Biffle//5. Mike Skinner//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-6. Kurt Busch//7. Mark Martin//8. Ricky Craven//9. Jeremy Mayfield//10. Tony Stewart//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-11. John Andretti//12. Jerry Nadeau//13. Kyle Petty//14. Michael Waltrip//15. Rusty Wallace//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-16. Ken Schrader//17. Matt Kenseth//18. Ricky Rudd//19. Jimmie Johnson//20. Bill Elliott//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-21. Jeff Gordon//22. Jeff Burton//23. Dale Jarrett//24. Sterling Marlin//25. Dave Blaney//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-26. Kevin Lepage//27. Ward Burton//28. Jimmy Spencer//29. Robby Gordon//30. Kenny Wallace//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-31. Terry Labonte//32. Kevin Harvick//33. Jeff Green//34. Joe Nemechek//35. Todd Bodine//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-36. Casey Atwood//37. Dale Earnhardt, Jr./Prov/38. Elliott Sadler/Prov/39. Steve Park/Prov/40. Mike Wallace
/Prov/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-41. Brett Bodine/Prov/42. Hermie Sadler/Prov/43. Morgan Shepherd/Prov/;]
[RUNS=:55]
[OC....LAST DRIVER]
(------------)

[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-124 11222TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/MARSHALL]

Tech's "Untouchable" tailback tandem of Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones combined for 324 rushing yards in Tech's lopsided 47-to-21 win over Marshall.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/101 Yards Passing vs. Marshall; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/153 Yards Rushing vs. Marshall; :23]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Jones/171 Yards Rushing vs. Marshall; :34]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :47]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=...CARRY THE MAIL WHOOOO!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
Beamer wasn't only emotional when it came to his running backs, but he was genuinely touched by the pregame ceremony in which his jersey number 25 was retired.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...a real honor for me."]
(-----------)

[S-Tribe]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-129 10112TC]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

VMI chases its third straight win tomorrow against winless William & Mary. Its' the Tribe's home opener and the start of Cave Spring product - Corey Paxton's - final season at Zable Stadium.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I JUST HAVE TO BE..]
[SUPER=01-Corey Paxton/William & Mary Senior; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...I LOVE DOING IT."]
(------------)

[S-ODAC]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-126]
[GRAPHIC=Football]
Hampden Sydney takes on Gettysburg tomorrow on the road. The Tigers are 1 and OH.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Emory/2001 Season; :00]

Emory & Henry is at Ferrum tomorrow at one o'clock. The Wasps are coming off a 5 and 5 season and hope the competition between two former Blue Ridge district quarterbacks, Shannon Johnson of Alleghany and Andy Mullins of Salem, will earn coach Lou Whacker his 12th ODAC title.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Brian Hampton/Wasps Assistant Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=......IN A QUARTERBACK"]
(-----------------)
[anchor=steve]
[graphic=Football]
JMU takes on Florida Atlantic, Shenandoah is at Bridgewater and Johns Hopkins will battle Washington and Lee in Lexington.

[S-Zo]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-127 ]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

32 year old Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning could miss the entire upcoming season, due to a relapse in his kidney disease.Today, his coach reflected on the loss.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Pat Riley/Heat Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=getting him healthy."]
(-------------------)