WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/06/03

[7-81-Accidents]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-9:38]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Many people were caught off gaurd yesterday as several inches of snow fell in some areas, causing hazardous road conditions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.]

This car flipped on its side just after ten yesterday morning on the northbound side of Interstate 81 near Natural Bridge.
A driver and a passenger suffered minor injuries.
State Police believe the weather contributed to the accident.
Several hours and several inches later, a multi car accident took place southbound on 81 near Natural Bridge around 12:30.
One vehicle crashed into a tractor trailer, several others ended up in a ditch.
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Farther south, just over the line in Botetourt County, two vehicles ended up in the woods.
Another hit the guardrail just after one yesterday afternoon.
The drivers and passengers suffered just minor injuries.
The right lane was closed for awhile, causing a slowdown on the interstate.
(------------)

[7-11Car-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC-1:03:10]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed four cars in Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Police say a white car caught on fire on Fourth Street downtown shortly after 8 o'clock. The driver then turned into a gated parking lot, and got out of the car. The car then rolled into two tow-trucks, igniting both. Eventually the fire spread to a van parked nearby.
(------------)

[7-11Triangle-Lanes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC-45:49]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Christiansburg landmark will soon be shutting its doors for good.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]

Triangle Lanes on Route 460 in Christiansburg closed last night after nearly forty years in business.
Sixteen of the lanes are bound for another bowling alley, while others will be used as souvenirs.
Since the news of the closing spread, many longtime fans stopped by to play one last game and write their fond memories on a wall.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 45:57]
[IN Q=This is our time]
((JULIE BRANSCOMB/BOWLER: THIS IS OUR TIME AWAY FROM HOME, A PLACE TO GO AND HAVE FUN, KICK BACK, HAS SOME LAUGHS. WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, THEY'RE BUS DRIVER FOR THE KIDS. WE WON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. WE WILL BE LOST.))
[SUPER=01-Julie Branscomb/Bowler; ]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=we will be lost]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The owner plans to bowl one last game this morning.
The building that houses the bowling alley will be replaced by a drug store.
(------------)

[45-11Short-Case]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC-37:05]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

A case that has attracted national attention still remains unsolved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./August]

It's been nearly five months since Michael and Mary Short were found murdered in their Oak Level home.
Their daughter Jennifer was abducted and later found dead in Rockingham County North Carolina.
The Henry County sheriff says investigators took a break from the case for the holidays but at least two or three deputies are now back on the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:35:10]
[IN Q=I don't look]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF: I DON'T LOOK FOR IT TO BE SOLVED IN NEXT WEEK, PROBABLY NOT THE NEXT MONTH BUT CERTAINLY...WE'VE NARROWED A LOT OF THINGS DOWN FROM WHERE WE STARTED AND A FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=at right now]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Cassell says North Carolina carpenter Gary Bowman is still a "person of interest."
Cassell would like to see Bowman take a lie detector test administered by his department.
(------------)

[45-11Conner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC-1:11:15]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Western Sizzlin' on Route 460 was robbed over the weekend. But as Jennifer Wishon reports, the robber didn't get far, thanks to a courageous young man.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Aaron Conner and his]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Aaron Conner/Tackled Robber; :08]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2; :51 ]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]
((16 year old Aaron Conner and his parents had just walked in to this Western Sizzlin' Saturday night when they witnessed something frightening.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:59:09]
[IN Q=We were waiting]
((AARON CONNER/TACKLED ROBBER: WE WERE WAITING TO BE SEATED AND A GUY CAME IN WITH A BLUE HOOD ON AND HE PULLED IT DOWN LIKE IT WAS A MASK AND THE GUY BEHIND HIM WAS LIKE 'HE'S ROBBING THE STORE' AND THE GIRL AT THE REGISTER DIDN'T THINK HE WAS BEING SERIOUS AND HE WAS AND SHE GAVE HIM ALL THE MONEY.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=all the money]
On the football field Aaron is a running back for the William Byrd Terriers-- Saturday he used his experience on the gridiron to do something about the robbery.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:59:36]
[IN Q=I just took off]
((I JUST TOOK OFF RUNNING AFTER HIM AND TACKLED HIM AND PULLED HIM ON THE GROUND AND GRABBED BOTH OF HIS ARMS SO HE COULDN'T GRAB IN HIS POCKETS OR ANYTHING.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=pockets or anything]
Although he didn't know if the robber had a weapon, Aaron says he didn't hesitate going after him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:00:45]
[IN Q=I just thought]
((I JUST THOUGHT HE WOULD TURN AROUND AND HURT THE GIRL THAT WAS WALKING AFTER HIM AND I FIGURED I COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=something about it]
And the reward for his efforts... Dinner was on the house. Jennifer Wishon, News 7.))

[8-81-Accidents]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-9:38]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Many people were caught off guard yesterday as several inches of snow fell in some areas, causing hazardous road conditions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.]

This car flipped on its side just after ten yesterday morning on the northbound side of Interstate 81 near Natural Bridge.
A driver and a passenger suffered minor injuries.
State Police believe the weather contributed to the accident.
Several hours and several inches later, a multi car accident took place southbound on 81 near Natural Bridge around 12:30.
One vehicle crashed into a tractor trailer, several others ended up in a ditch.
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Farther south just over the line in Botetourt County, two vehicles ended up in the woods.
Another hit the guardrail just after one yesterday afternoon.
The drivers and passengers suffered just minor injuries.
The right lane was closed for awhile causing a slowdown on the interstate.
(------------)

[8-11Car-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC-1:03:10]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed four cars in Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19+]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Police say this white car caught on fire on Fourth Street downtown shortly after 8 o'clock. The driver then turned into a gated parking lot, and got out of the car. The car then rolled into two tow-trucks, igniting both. Eventually the fire spread to a van parked nearby.
(------------)

[8-11Water-Restrictions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC-8:29]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]

The City of Roanoke will hold a press conference later today to discuss water conservation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :25+]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove;]
Carvins Cove is currently sitting at 9-point-6 feet below the spillway.
That's about three feet shy of the 6 feet the cove normally sees during the month of January. It's not known whether the city will relax or suspend water restrictions today, or continue to ask citizens to conserve. Partial mandatory water restrictions were imposed last February.
(------------)

[8-11Courthouse]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC1:09:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Increased security could mean delays for some at the Roanoke City Courthouse, where new metal detectors have been put into place.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The sheriff's office says it'll be no different than airport security measures already in effect. In fact- -like the airport- -the sheriff recommends people arrive an hour before they're scheduled to be in court in order to get to the courtroom on time. The stepped up security was brought on by September 11th.
It has just taken a while to get a plan in place. (------------)