WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 01/22/03

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It's official. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the reason Rick Mast is parking his ride for good.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
And the cost of keeping warm this winter continues to climb, at least partly because it's colder outside.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight in sports, Ricky Stokes talks about the biggest win of his Tech tenure, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

the Nascar community reacts to the announcement that Rick Mast's driving career is over.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

The coldest weather in quite sometime will be entering the area overnight, along with a few light snow showers. We'll check out the forecast for your hometown coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Basically, what I'm]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=Carbon monoxide exposure.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And with that announcement, Rick Mast confirms that his NASCAR racing career is over.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon is off tonight.

[Rick-Mast]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:02:50]
[GRAPHIC=Rick Mast]

Illness forced Rockbridge County's most famous driver to stop racing last April, and ever since, he has told those close to him that carbon-monoxide poisoning was the likely culprit.
Mike Stevens has more on the confirmation of that cause and the public disclosure that came today in Charlotte.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/1999; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rick Mast/Suffering from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; :15]
[SUPER=01-Jim Hunter/NASCAR Vice-President; 1:19]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC; 1:30]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/1947; 1:40]
[SUPER=01-Glen Wood/Wood Brothers Founder; 1:46]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/UPS Ford Driver; 1:56]
[SUPER=01-Richard Petty/Longtime Carbon Monoxide Sufferer; 2:03]
[SUPER=@Mike1; 2:23]
[RUNS=2:39]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports.]

[Schools]

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

The continuing shots of winter weather are already leading to more school announcements.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FULL] Greenbrier County, West Virginia schools have a two hour delay tomorrow. So does Hargrave Military Academy. Jefferson Christian Academy will delay classes for one hour.
And Tazewell County Schools are operating on a two hour delay.
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[Heating-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC1:29:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ANCHOR TAG!!!!]
The cold weather is making it more expensive to stay warm this winter. Roanoke Gas says bills for its natural gas customers are running thirty to fifty percent higher than last year. Business Reporter Rachel Cannon takes a look at how one local resident is getting by.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Roanoke County resident]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Delma Law/Customer; :07]
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/Roanoke Gas; :30]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; 1:00]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Roanoke.]
(( Roanoke County resident Delma Law is trying to stay comfortable while keeping it affordable.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:59:55]
[IN Q=i either got]
((DELMA LAW/CUSTOMER; I EITHER GOT TO HAVE A HOUSE COAT ON OR SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THAT WINDOW OVER THERE IT'S REAL COLD A LITTLE QUILT SPREAD OVER ME AND A HEATING PAD BEHIND ME.))
[OUT Q=ME.]

Law says the cost of heating her two-bedroom patio home is noticeably higher than last year. Her natural gas bill for December was nearly 90-dollars. Roanoke Gas officials say blame mother nature.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:51:27]
[IN Q=Because of ]
((JOHN WILLIAMSON/ROANOKE GAS; BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER BILLS. [cut and butt] IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR IT WAS ABOUT 65 OR 70 DOLLARS THIS YEAR IT'S ABOUT 105 OR TEN.))
[OUT Q=TEN]
79-year-old Law is taking steps to fit the increasing costs in her fixed income primarily by turning down the thermostat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:00:55]
[IN Q=ESPECIALLY]
((ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT I HAVE IT ON 60 AT NIGHT BUT I GOT PLENTY OF COVER ON ME I DON'T GET COLD))
[OUT Q=COLD.]
Willamson says since cold weather isn't going anywhere, rising costs are here to stay. Single digit temperature forecasts for Friday may even blow in a new record.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:55:15]
[IN Q=if it]
((IF IT ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE THAT COLD AND THE WIND IS BLOWING HARD WE COULD SEE A RECORD DAY FOR NATURAL GAS USAGE.))
[OUT Q=USEAGE.]
NATS 'SINCE IT HAS BEEN SO COLD I IMAGINE THE NEXT ONE WILL BE MORE." So while we brace for the cold chill, Velma braces for her next bill. Roanoke Gas says she's not alone. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Roanoke.))
(---------)
[ANCHOR=KEITH]
[SS=None]

American Electric Power says customers who heat with electricity are seeing about a 20-percent increase this winter compared to last winter.

[Walker]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC1:39:42]
[GRAPHIC=Guilty Plea]
Two men from Lexington have admitted they were involved in a fatal shooting at Roanoke's Tower's Mall last Spring.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
One of them pled guilty today. Kip Lamont Walker agreed to cooperate with authorities and testify against Christopher Riley.
[SUPER=04-April 19, 2002]
Walker told police they'd arranged to meet Ronald Steven Clark in front of Hollywood video to buy cocaine, but that Clark said he didn't have the powder with him. Walker claims it was Riley who approached Clark's car with a 20-guage shotgun.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:14:05]
[IN Q=Mr. Walker then said]
((SHERRI JONES/PROSECUTOR; MR. WALKER THEN SAID HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STOOD RIGHT BESIDE RILEY AS HE AIMED THE GUN AT MR. CLARK'S HEAD. CHRISTOPHER RILEY THEN REACHED IN AND TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION OF RONALD CLARK'S CAR AND THEN SHOT HIM.)) ((KIP LAMONT WALKER/DEFENDANT; I'M GUILTY OF THESE CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO ME, SO I'LL TAKE MY RESPONSIBILITY.))
[SUPER=01-Sherri Jones/Prosecutor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kip Lamont Walker/Defendant; :17]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=my responsibility.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Under a plea agreement, the prosecution will ask for a prison sentence of no more than 25 years, as long as Walker cooperates. He's already facing 35 years on an earlier conviction in Rockbridge County.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

They've already served their prison time, but a new effort in the General Assembly hopes to keep sex offenders locked up even longer.
That's next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***USE NAT SOUND UNDER***]
Plus it's the fastest thing on Smith Mountain Lake, probably any lake in the area for that matter.
It's not boating weather, but we'll cruise at more than a hundred miles an hour.
(----------------)

[Meredith]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC28:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

After more than three decades, the Montgomery County Treasurer says he is stepping down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/File Tape;]

Ellis Meredith says he will retire from office January 31st.
The 69-year-old Constitutional Officer blames his decision partly on the installation of a new county data system, that he says doesn't work.
Meredith will be succeeded by assistant Treasurer Freda Conner.
As part of the transition process, the Treasurer's office will be closed to the public on the 31st.
(------------)

[Henry-Sheriff]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC1:23:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A contender for Henry County Sheriff is off to an early start on his campaign.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Michael McPeek announced his candidacy outside the sheriff's department.
McPeek retired so he could run, ending 29 years as a state trooper in Henry County.
He says it's an uphill battle, so he's starting nine months before the election.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:00:46]
[IN Q=I really don't]
((MICHAEL McPEEK: I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHEN'S THE WORST TIME OR THE BEST TIME. BUT BY FILING EARLY AND STARTING MY CAMPAIGN EARLY, I CAN MEET MORE PEOPLE, TALK TO MORE PEOPLE, GET MORE IDEAS FROM THE PUBLIC. ))
[SUPER=01-Michael McPeek/Candidate for Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=from the public.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

McPeek says, if elected, he'll increase patrols of problem areas in an effort to reduce crime.
He's running with no political party affiliation.
Three-term incumbent Sheriff Frank Cassell says he plans to run again, but he's in no hurry to make a formal announcement.
(------------)

[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC50:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

He was a thirteen year old boy, chained in a box for eight days and repeatedly sexually assaulted.
Thirty years later, Martin Andrews is in Richmond fighting to keep his attacker locked up.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan/State Microwave]

Meghan Muldoon has been following this story in Richmond. Meghan?
Martin's attacker, Richard Alvin Ausley is scheduled
[LIVE=Meghan Full/State microwave]
[SUPER=@meghan1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
to be released from prison in a few months.
Even though another victim has come forward which could delay Ausley's release,
Martin and his many supporters in the General Assembly are not taking any chances.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=ANDREWS TESTIFIED BEFORE LAWMAKERS]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Martin Andrews/Victim of Sexual Offender; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Morgan Griffith/(R) Salem; :]
[SUPER=@Kilgore; :]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY.]
(( Andrews testified before lawmakers and urged them to find the money necessary to put violent sexual predators, like Ausley, in mental facilities when they get out of prison.
Some estimate that the program could cost millions of dollars, but Andrews' visibility on the issue seems to be overcoming lawmakers' budget concerns.

[SOT 11:22:15]
[IN Q=EVERYBODY REPLIED]
((.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.]

In addition to costs, the issue has raised concerns about the legality of locking up someone after they have paid their debt to society.
But Supporters say similar programs are already in place in 16 states and the legislation is Constitutionally sound.

[SOT 10:19:05]
[IN Q=WHAT I ALWAYS SAY]
[RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=HOW MANY SUPREME COURT DECISIONS DO YOU NEED.]

[SOT 10:23:41]
[IN Q=WE WILL BE HOLDING]
[RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=PREVENTING FUTURE ACTS.]

Supporters say the abolition of parole and stricter sentencing are keeping most sexual offenders off the streets,
Still, they say the small number who quality as violent sexual predators are likely to strike again.

[SOT 11:22:15]
[IN Q=I KNOW WHAT RICHARD]
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY.]))
(--------------)
[LIVE=Meghan Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

The bill was passed out of committee today so it is headed for the floor.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan/State Microwave]

Keith, it is expected to pass.

[City-funds]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC21:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

They aren't expecting much help from Richmond this year, but officials from Roanoke and other urban areas say critical services will suffer unless the General Assembly begins to address their concerns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham, Council Member Bill Carder and other local leaders are headed to Richmond to lobby lawmakers.
They say the state continues to shift more responsibilities onto local governments without providing adequate funding. And this year localities are facing cuts of 600- million dollars in state aid.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:59:57]
[IN Q=This isn't the sexiest story]
((BILL CARDER/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL; THIS ISN'T THE SEXIEST STORY IN THE WORLD. BUT IT'S ONE OF OUR CITY'S SURVIVAL, AND WE NEED TO GET THAT MESSAGE TO RICHMOND.))
[SUPER=@Carder; ]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=get that message to Richmond.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

They expect little help as lawmakers strain to balance the budget, but they hope the General Assembly will begin to develop a plan to help the state's urban areas.

[Stocks]

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

Blue chips led a retreat on Wall Street, and a rally attempt by the Nasdaq failed late in the day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/124.17/8318.73/y/4.67/1359.58;]

The DOW sank 124 points.
NASDAQ dropped five.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.58/42.60/h/0.18/26.57/h/0.70/61.00/h/0.17/70.90/i/0.61/10.77;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.10/7.00/i/0.76/53.00/i/0.73/41.61/i/0.51/23.55/i/0.29/6.57;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.11/43.26/h/0.21/16.29/i/0.64/18.12/h/0.25/3.00/i/0.45/40.83;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.18/9.75/i/0.72/57.41/i/0.38/36.99/i/0.75/36.80/i/0.94/48.07;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Speedboat]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC-1:43:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A group of speedboat owners occasionally weighs anchor and drops the hammer at Smith Mountain Lake. But there's always a new kid in town, and despite the cold, it hit the water today for the first time. Richard Lesko has more on a company that's trying to stir the water at the lake.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake; :00]
[SUPER=01-Johnny Ford/Central Boat and Trailer Sales; :19]
[SUPER=01-Tim Arrington/Boat Owner;:35]
[SUPER=@richard2; :50]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=News 7, Smith Mountain Lake]
(((//////SOT/////)
Meet the 2003 Eliminator Daytona. It's a 30 foot catamaran with an air entrapment hull. It boasts twin 500cc racing engines producing more than 16-hundred horsepower, and it's ready to take on all comers cruising on Smith Mountain Lake.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 20:11]
[INQ=It rides incredible...]
((JOHNNY FORD/CENTRAL BOAT AND TRAILER SALES; IT RIDES INCREDIBLE, EVEN WITH A CHOP TODAY, IT'S A MILD CHOP, THE CAT HULLS ARE DESIGNED TO TAKE ROUGH WATERS AT HIGH SPEEDS. SO THE ROUGHER IT IS THE BETTER IT IS, GOING TO GIVE YOU A MORE THRILLING RIDE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUTQ=to give you a more thrilling ride.]
The top speed? Try nearly one-hundred-FORTY miles per hour.
(//////SOT/////)
[INQ=nat sound]
[runs= 5 ]
[OUTQ=nat sound]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT -21:59]
[INQ=It feels real good...]
((TIM ARRINGTON/BOAT OWNER; IT FEELS REAL GOOD AT SPEED, 100 MILES AN HOUR THE BOAT, YOU CAN CUT IT AND MOVE IT, AND WITH THE LENGTH OF THE BOAT IT'S AWSOME NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. WITH THE FIREPOWER IT'S GOT IN THE BACK END. IT'S A THRILL TO RIDE.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=it's a thrill to ride.]
The boat was custom made in California and then shipped to Smith Mountain Lake as Eliminator is hoping to expand its market to Southwest Virginia. The high performance boat isn't for everybody, but geared to those who have that need for speed.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 21:16]
[INQ=On a Saturday afternoon...]
((JOHNNY FORD/CENTRAL BOAT AND TRAILER SALES; ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN IT AT 120 MILES AN HOUR, BUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO CRUISE AT 60, IT WOULD BE A NICE SATURDAY BOAT RIDE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUTQ=a nice Saturday boat ride.]
...and the total price tag for the speedster? It will take about 2-hundred-fifty thousand dollars to leave the rest of the crowd in your wake. Richard Lesko, News 7, Smith Mountain Lake.))

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up, reaction from Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler to the news that Rick Mast has carbon monoxide poisoning, plus
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Ricky Stokes and the Hokies revel in last night's upset of UVA.
(------------)

[S-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-135]
[GRAPHIC=Rick Mast]

As we told you earlier in the newscast, Nascar driver Rick Mast has been diagnosed with acute and chronic carbon monoxide poisoning. Mike Stevens examines what other drivers are doing to make sure that the same thing doesn't happen to them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@mike1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/UPS Ford Driver; :18]
[SUPER=01-Elliott Sadler/M&M's Ford Driver; :44]
[SUPER=01-Jim Hunter/NASCAR Vice-President; 1:03]
[SUPER=01-Rick Mast/364 Career Winston Cup Starts; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(------------------)

[S-Recap]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-134 TC4813]
[GRAPHIC=Tech/UVA Hoops]

Ricky Stokes is winless against his alma mater no more. Stokes and the Virginia Tech Hokies knocked off Virginia last night 73-55, beating the Wahoos for the first time in seven years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Stokes/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=great victory all around."]
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