WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/09/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

What would bring investigators in the Jennifer Short case to the sentencing of a drug smuggler?

That's our top story on News 7 at Six.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus Richard Burrow's trial gets underway with cold hard numbers verses pressure to get the job done.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - the Civitan Sportsmanship award is served up today. The Associated Press names its college football player of the year, while UCLA fires it coach.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And this coach reacts to ringing in the New Year in San Francisco.
(------------)

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

Last week it was snow and sleet, this week it's a raw, cold rain. Washing away most of the white stuff tops the midweek forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]
A prison drug smuggling case that's been described as bizarre is finally over but not without one last unique turn of events.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening. I'm Shannon Young. Keith Humphry has the night off.

[Fulcher]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC1:59:53]
[GRAPHIC=Mike Fulcher]
As an informant, Michael Fulcher's been connected to some of the most notorious criminal cases in Southwest Virginia, from murders to drug deals. The day of his sentencing on conspiracy and money laundering charges was no different.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As federal court convened...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :07]
[SUPER=01-Joe Mott/Prosecutor; :30]
[SUPER=01-David Whaley/Fulcher's Attorney; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=whatever sentence is imposed.]
((As federal court convened this morning, Judge Jackson Kiser conducted a closed hearing. While nobody would comment on the testimony, the presence of Henry County authorities begged the question: Did Fulcher have knowlege about the murders of Jennifer Short and her parents? Henry County Captain Kimmie Nester would only confirm he and his colleagues were in Roanoke "in search of information". Judge Kiser said whatever information was gleaned during the hearing was too vague to be of any use in Fulcher's case and wouldn't alter his sentence.
[SOT 15:11:59-15:12:10]
[IN Q=We sought 10 years and the judge...]
((JOE MOTT/PROSECUTOR: WE SOUGHT TEN YEARS AND THE JUDGE IMPOSED 7 BUT THAT'S HIS PREROGATIVE AND THAT'S HIS DECISION.))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=that's his decision.]
Fulcher's latest case began in early 1998. He was accused of running a "continuing criminal enterprise" from behind bars at the Bland Correctional Center. His first trial ended in a conviction but was thrown out after Fulcher's claim that he was working undercover for the Drug Enforcement Agency was given some weight by a DEA agent. The "criminal enterprise" charge was dropped and this time around, Fulcher reached a plea agreement.
[SOT 15:16:25-15:16:43]
[IN Q=Well, you know, Michael Fulcher is a survivor...]
((DAVID WHALEY/FULCHER'S ATTORNEY: WELL, YOU KNOW, MICHAEL FULCHER IS A SURVIVOR OBVIOUSLY, A MAN WHO'S BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, A MAN WHO'S FACED ADVERSITY BEFORE AND, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S A SURVIVOR. HE'LL SURVIVE WHATEVER SENTENCE IS IMPOSED.))
[RUNS= :18]
[OUT Q=he'll survive whatever sentence is imposed.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[SS=HOLD]
Fulcher's 69-year old mother, Ethel Fulcher, was charged as a co-conspirator. Under the deal, she'll serve no jail time.
[SS=Garry Bowman]
As far as any possible Jennifer Short connection, News 7 spoke to Gary Bowman, at one time a "person of interest" in that case this afternoon. He said he does not remember anyone by the name of Michael Fulcher.

[Burrow]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:13:12]
[GRAPHIC=Richard Burrow]

Prosecutors call it "Burrow math" and "a shell game".
Time and again, authorities say, the former director of the D-Day Memorial tried try to borrow money for the project without the proper collateral.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

Burrow's fraud trial got underway today in Lynchburg's federal court.. Steve Smallshaw joins us from Lynchburg.. Steve where's this case headed?
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

The government will be concentrating on cold, hard numbers.. the defense is more concerned with why the Memorial was being built and the pressure Burrow was under to get it finished.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In the months]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Lichtenstein/Defense Attorney; :35]
[SUPER=01-Jim Fields/Burrow Supporter; :56]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=the presidential dedication.]
(( In the months before its dedication in the spring of 2001, the director of the D-Day Memorial Richard Burrow was in a fix.
Construction was moving faster than donations were coming in, and Burrow was scrambling to find ways to plug the holes.
Authorities say Burrow began borrowing money to get other funds.. listing non-existent pledges as collateral to secure state grants and bank loans.
Burrow never gained financially himself, they say, but the losers were the banks, Virginia taxpayers and the Memorial itself, which is now in bankruptcy.
Burrow's lawyer hopes to paint a different picture.
[SOT 9:04:29]
((JOHN LICHTENSTEIN/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: WE HOPE THEY'RE GOING TO SEE HIM AS WE SEE HIM, AS WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=to do that.]

To his supporters, the ends justified the means.
They see Burrow as a man who worked 80 hours a week for years to get the Memorial finished in time for millions of veterans to see it before they died.
[SOT 9:09:10]
((JIM FIELDS/BURROW SUPPORTER: I THINK HIS HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT COME DOWN EVERYTHING WAS PREPARED, EVERYTHING WAS PREPARED TO GET IT READY FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL DEDICATION.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=the presidential dedication.] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

Dozens of witnesses are expected to take the stand this week, including former House Speaker Dick Cranwell, millionaire donor Melvin Proffitt and Richard Burrow himself.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

A six-man, eight-woman jury is hearing the case.. several potential jurors whose relatives served in World War Two, including two who were part of the D-Day invasion, were "not" chosen to serve on the panel.

[Route-220]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC1:45:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The phone calls and e-mails are still coming in about the major back up that stranded some motorists for up to eight hours on Route-220 last week. Many are asking Roanoke County officials why the mess happened and what they're going to do to keep it from happening the next time a winter storm hits. Rachel Cannon has more on the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=04-Last Week; :07]
[SUPER=@Church; :13]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Roanoke.]
(( Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Butch Church says reaction to the jam has been varied. He says people are upset, annoyed, confused and that he understands.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:32:35]
[IN Q=if i were]
((JOE "BUTCH" CHRUCH/ROANOKE CO. BOARD CHAIRMAN; IF I WERE THERE ON 220 FOR WHAT ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 6 HOURS, I'M SURE I WOULD BE PRETTY UPSET.))
[OUT Q=UPSET.]
The scene would be upsetting for most. A traffic deadlock left motorists with no where to go. Some ran out of gas, others just waited it out, wondering where fire, rescue and police personnel were. Church says the public needs to know officials are looking into it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:33:52]
[IN Q=we're]
((WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE INFORMATION ABOUT OF HOW WHEN AND WHO AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN. ))
[OUT Q=HAPPEN]
He says from what they can tell, the County was overwhelmed with accidents, calls to the dispatch center and that the weather made it impossible to respond to parts of 220. Church says what they hope to do next is figure out what didn't work and take steps to change it. He wants to work with V-DOT, the county's service and neighboring locales.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:36:57 - :14]
[IN Q=people have]
((PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT REASONABLE SERVICE AND SOMEHOW SOMEWAY THIS INCIDENT LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED - I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYONE'S FAULT. I THINK NATURE OCCURRENCES TIMING IT JUST EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN DID HAPPEN.))
[OUT Q=HAPPEN.]
As for a traffic nightmare like this never happening again, Church says no one can give that guarantee. But he says the scene last Wednesday was a bizarre situation to say the least. Rachel Cannon, New, Roanoke))

[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC= School Info]

That same snow and ice is still causing problems for some school systems.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FULL]
(Shannon adlibs boards)
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=NONE]

She has lots of experience with inaugurations.
Still ahead on News 7, find out why that's bringing Janet Reno to Southwest Virginia.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus, thousands of Hokies get ready head west.
We'll search out some deals.
(----------------)

[Kaine-education]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC38:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine says Virginia is failing when it comes to public education.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Kaine says the state underfunds education by about 600-million dollars a year.
He is proposing a constitutional amendment to require the state to pay up.
He also wants to raise the average salary of Virginia's teachers by up to 3-thousand dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1::]
[IN Q=I WANT TO KNOW WHAT]
((LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TIM KAINE: I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S A MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITY. SO I THINK THE DEBATE WE'RE SETTING UP IS WHAT IS A MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITY THAN THIS? IF WE COULDN'T GET THERE DURING THE BEST PERIOD OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY EVER, IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE LACKED THE RESOURCES; IT WAS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MAKE IT A PRIORITY.)) ((ROB JONES/VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: WE HAVE LONG BEEN FRUSTRATED THAT WE CAN'T GET A VOTE ON THE TEACHER SALARY ISSUE. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO VOTE AGAINST PAYING TEACHERS AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THEN IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TURN AROUND AND CAMPAIGN ON THAT THEME.))
[SUPER=@Kaine; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rob Jones/VA Education Assoc.; :15]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=ON THAT THEME.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kaine says his proposals would boost education spending by about one-billion-dollars a year.
(------------)

[Warner-Terrorism]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Governor Warner says Virginia must be able to respond to terrorism, and any other disaster.
That's why he'll ask the General Assembly to act on some of the recommendations of the Secure Virginia Panel.
Warner plans to ask legislators to amend the Virginia Constitution to expand the line of succession to the governor, create a database of all medical professionals in the state, tighten security at schools and force employees in sensitive jobs to undergo background checks.
Other recommendations by the panel don't require legislative approval.

[Reno]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Reno]

Former Attorney General Janet Reno will help inaugurate the 10th president of Hollins University. Reno will be the featured speaker when Nora Kizer Bell is sworn in as Hollins' president February 20th.
Bell has been at the helm since July, but the ceremony will coincide with the university's annual Founder's Day celebration. Janet Reno served as U-S Attorney General for almost eight years in the Clinton administration.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Stocks sank sharply even as the President announced he had tapped John Snow, chairman of Virginia-based railroad C-S-X, to be the next Secretary of the Treasury. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/172.36/8473.41/y/55.33/1367.11;]

The DOW sank 172 points.
NASDAQ dropped 55.
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[VO]
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[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Tech-Trip]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC1:54:02]
[GRAPHIC=SF Bowl]

The phones are ringing off the hook at area travel agencies...thanks to the holidays and the Hokies.
Virginia Tech found out yesterday it will play Air Force, New Year's Eve for the Diamond Walnuts Bowl in San Francisco.
And according to local travel agencies, the three-thousand mile trip is not stopping fans from joining their team.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Shannon/Microwave;]

New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens joins us now to tell us jus how much it's going to cost them?
Shannon, it really depends on which route you take.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

You can take the more traditional route of going through a travel agency or hop on the Internet.
But, when you combine the holidays, and the fact that the game is only three weeks away, you can expect to cough up some dough.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bill Ortega/University Travel President;]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :06]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND]
(-------------)
(([SOT 1:08]
[RUNS:05] ((THIS MORNING WE'VE BEEN BUSY TAKING RESERVATIONS ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER, PEOPLE WANTING TO GO TO SAN FRANCISCO.))

And that's what the folks at University Travel in Blacksburg expected. The company is one of the few, if not only travel agency in town that's offering a Bowl game package.
[SOT 412]
[RUNS:12] ((OUR PACKAGE INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION CHARTER FLIGHT OUT TO CALIFORNIA...TRANSPORTATION TO THE GAME, 4:24)) And when you throw in a souvenir package, that all equals up to about 13-hundred dollars. It may sound pretty steep, but, Ortega says it's cheaper than going through the Internet.
[SOT 7:58]
[RUNS:06] ((7:58 AIRFARE TO THE WEST COAST IS EXPENSIVE YOU HEAR ABOUT ALL THESE GREAT DEALS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE, BUT, NOT FOR NEW YEAR'S 8:04)) We checked around to some of the popular airline websites. Here are some of the individual fares we found...leaving Roanoke the day before the game and returning New Year's Day.

The lowest was 400-dollars. But, once you add up the cost of hotel and transporation, it may not look like much of a deal afterall. Either way you go, travel agents advise you make your flights now, before it's too late.
[SOT 10:37]
[RUNS:04] ((IF YOU WANT TO GO...DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND))))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Now, the package offered through University Travel does NOT include the cost of the ticket.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Shannon/Microwave;]

Tickets range anywhere from 40 to 65 dollars depending on where you sit.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - awards and firings in the college football world tonight. Plus, Steve Mason checks in from Hargrave Military tonight with Frank Beamer and Billy Hite.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers pick up serious hardware today at the Civitan Club's annual holiday gathering.
(------------)

[S-Combine]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-134]
[GRAPHIC=Tech/San francisco bowl]

Virginia Tech turns its' focus to Air Force and the San Francisco Bowl
[graphic=uva/tire bowl vs. west virginia]

while Virginia begins preparations for West Virginia in the Charlotte Tire Bowl. Coaches from both schools attended the Hargrave Military Academy annual combine today. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :00]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA; :17]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/4 and 5 Record in Nine Bowls; :26]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL/Last Season's Gator Bowl; :40]
[SUPER=01-Bill Hite/Virginia Tech Associate Head Coach; :49]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Ahmad Brooks/Committed to UVa as a Linebacker; 2:00]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC; 2:05]
[RUNS=2:16]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
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[S-UCLA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-126 20522TC]
[GRAPHIC=bam]

UCLA is headed to the Las Vegas Bowl. The players will be there, but the coach won't make it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]
Today the school fired Bob Toledo who led the team to a 7-and-5 record this season.
Toledo coached the Bruins to a school record 20 game winning streak in 1997 and 1998, but since then UCLA has gone 24-and-24. Not bad, but not good enough anymore. UCLA boosters have reportedly pledged to pay the $1.3 million buyout of Toledo's contract.
(------------)
[WIPE TO ENG#]

[S-Banks]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-126 20430TC]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[WIPE TO ENG#!!!!!!!!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]
The Associated Press named its college football player of the year today and it is Iowa quarterback Brad Banks. He was the nation's top rated passer this season as he led the Hawkeyes to an 11-and-1 record and a spot in the Orange Bowl. Before this year, he never started a college game. He completed 155 of 258 passes for 2,369 yards, with 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also ran for 387 yards and five scores.
(------------)

[S-Civitan]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-136]
[GRAPHIC=BAM]

One of Friday Football Extra's Blue Ridge members also picked up a present today
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
as the Roanoke Civitan Club handed out its 52nd annual Sportsmanship award this afternoon. The Western Virginia football officials association votes on the winner each season and today Lord Botetourt and coach Keith Robinson were honored at the Patrick Henry Hotel.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=you can win...]
[SUPER=01-Keith Robinson/Lord Botetourt Head Coach; :03]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=...a great honor for us."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
Lord Botetourt senior receiver and defensive back Joe Park also was honored with the Civitan Club's $500 scholarship.

(----------)[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-135 1609tc]
[GRAPHIC=MARSHALL]

Former Friday Football Extra star Nate Poole, from GW Danville - who later went on to make a named for himself at Marshall got his first career start in the NFL yesterday for the Arizona Cardinals. Poole had 6 catches for 40 yards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carlisle, PA; :00]
Also, Redskins' defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis is not leaving the team as some national services had reported. Lewis told the Redskins today that he will not be the next Michigan State head coach. (------------) It's not known if he was offered the job, but he did meet with school officials.