WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/14/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The bill to make failure to buckle up a primary offense comes undone in the legislature.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And, rain, sleet, snow. They're all on the way. But where? And when?
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - a local woman takes over the Charlotte Sting. Travis Wells checks in from Daytona with the inspirational story of a crew chief from Halifax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Craftsman Truck series race at Daytona this afternoon comes down to the wire - with a photo finish benefiting Texas driver Rick Crawford.
(------------)

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

An excellent opportunity to break out your Brunswick Stew recipe this weekend. Something spicey, something warm because the weather will not be those things.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Some parts of Southwest and Central Virginia begin the latest winter storm with snow.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Others, however, are still waiting for whatever could be on the way.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[First-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Many of us are just getting some cold rain right now.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But before the weekend's out, it could turn into a significant amount of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Robin/WX CENTER]

For more on what to expect, let's talk to meteorologist Robin Reed.
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER Position #2

[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST

[DOUBLE BOXES=Robin & JoeD/Porchcam]
(Robin tosses to joeD)

[Winter-Storm]

[ANCHOR=Robin]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=502-06 TC1:31:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]

While the storm is already bringing snow and ice to higher elevations, a cold rain has been falling in the Roanoke Valley for most of the afternoon.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Robin & JoeD /Porchcam;]

Joe Dashiell has been keeping an eye on the approaching storm. Joe, What have you seen so far?
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Porchcam]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

So far, Robin, a lot of rain.
Certainly the weekend could bring more challenging conditions, but for this day at least, residents of the Roanoke Valley were trying to keep on the sunny side.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Valentines Day]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Andy Larsen/Boat Show Visitor; :14]
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/AEP Spokesman; :54]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=locations to work from]

((Valentines Day brought signs of spring to the city market... a preview of summer fun to the Roanoke Civic Center...
And even the cold rain that began to fall early in the afternoon, did not dampen thoughts of warmer weather.
[SOT]
[IN Q=Are you tired ]
((ARE YOU TIRED OF WINTER WEATHER?I THINK I AM AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS, BUT WE NEEDED THE RAIN AND THANK GOODNESSS WE GOT IT. SOMETIMES THAT MEANS A LITTLE SNOW AND SLEET, BUT THAT'S PART OF IT. BETTER THAN THE DROUGHT WE HAD FOR SURE LOOKING FORWARD TO WARMER DAYS AHEAD. ABSOLUTELY. IT WON'T BE LONG.))
[RUNS= :23]
[OUT Q=it won't be long.]

Until then, the Virginia Department of Transportation is prepared for whatever winter brings. Snow plows and chemical spreaders were waiting by the side of US220 this afternoon.
And as snow began to fall in the higher elevations... American Electric Power was keeping a close eye on the icy conditions.
[SOT]
[IN Q=With an ice storm coming]
((TODD BURNS/AEP SPOKESMAN: WITH AN ICE STORM COMING INTO THE AREA WE HAVE CONTACTED AREAS WHERE WE HAVE HAD REMOTE STAGING AREAS IN THE PAST TO MAKE SURE THAT IF FOR EXAMPLE IF WE GOT ICING ON BENT MOUNTAIN WE'VE MADE SOME CONTACTS UP THERE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE REMOTE LOCATIONS TO WORK FROM.))
[RUNS= :16]
[OUT Q=remote locations to work from.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Porchcam]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

VDOT has plenty of chemicals on hand, including a new salt spray that prevents snow and ice from binding to the pavement.
[DOUBLE BOXES=JoeD & Keith-Shannon /Porchcam;]

V-DOT has used that spray during the last couple of snowstorms, and official say it has proven useful in the 220 corridor,

[Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]

[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FULL]

(XXXXXXXXXX)
[SCHOOLTOUCH FULL]
A few schools have canceled their classes tonight.
No night classes at ECPI in Roanoke or Radford University tonight.
(-------------)

[FBI-Report]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Contrary to some reports circulating this afternoon, the F-B-I says Roanoke is NOT under any higher security alert than any other part of the country.
A spokesman for the Richmond office says the supervisor in the Roanoke office sent an e-mail yesterday to area law enforcement agencies.
The note said there have been no specific threats against any person or place in the region.
It did say that over the past few months, individuals from Iraq have asked for travel and hotel information about the Roanoke Valley.
Roanoke officials say the information called for no action on their part, except to remain on alert for suspicious activity.

[Alert-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC10:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you're prepared for the possibility of a lengthy snowfall, chances are good you're also ready for a terrorist attack.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The American Red Cross advocates being prepared for any disaster, whether natural or man-made. The government recently recommended that every American home be stocked with three days worth of supplies in case of terrorist attack. But the Red Cross says you should already be prepared.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 20:07:50-20:08:11]
[IN Q=We've heard our government says...]
((AMY WHITTAKER/AMERICAN RED CROSS: WE'VE HEARD OUR GOVERNMENT SAY, "BE VIGILANT" BUT, IN ACTUALITY, THIS IS SOMETHING FOLKS SHOULD HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO. WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYTIME WITH A FIRE, A FLOOD, AN ICE STORM.))
[SUPER=01-Amy Whittaker/American Red Cross;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=a fire, a flood, an ice storm.]
(++++++++)
[TAKE WEBPAGE FS] For more information on disaster planning and what to put in your disaster supplies kit log onto our homepage at wdbj7.com and click on websites in the news.
(------------)

[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC56:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It passed yesterday but today the bill to buckle up got shot down.
In a reversal, the House of Delegates killed the measure to allow police to pull over drivers who are not wearing their seat belt.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan/State microwave]

Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has more on this from the state capitol.
Keith, opponents made it clear
[LIVE=Meghan Full/State microwave]
[SUPER=@meghan1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
that they didn't like yesterday's result. So after some behind-the-scenes manuevering,
The bill was reconsidered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IT PASSED BY ONE VOTE]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jeannemarie Devolites/(R) Vienna; :22]
[SUPER=01-Del. Ken Melvin/(D) Portsmouth; :47]
[SUPER=01-Doug Wilder/Former Governor; :58]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT.]
(([NAT Sound]
It passed by one vote.
And by a single vote it was killed the next day.
The House of Delegates reversed itself and defeated a bill that would toughen the state's seat belt law.
Six lawmakers changed their votes, Delegate Jeannemarie Devolites was one of them.
[SOT 13:06:58]
[IN Q=I JUST HAVE]
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=THAN YESTERDAY.]

Delegate Ken Melvin warned his colleagues that a primary offense seat belt law would give some police officers an excuse to stop and harass black drivers.
[SOT 10:47:38]
[IN Q=I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLICE]
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=IN VIRGINIA.]
butt
[SOT 10:50:10]
[IN Q=THIS GIVES THESE PEOPLE]
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=SEAT BELT ON.]

Melvin and other black leaders question why the measure is one of the governor's priorities.
[SOT 15:07:21]
[IN Q=AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE]
((FORMER GOVERNOR DOUG WILDER: AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH ANY NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS IS THIS WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR POLITICAL CAPITAL. AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=I THINK THE ANSWER IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.]

Warner disagrees that a primary seat belt law would lead to racial profiling.
The governor says increasing the number of Virginians who buckle up is a worthy cause.
[SOT 15:01:00]
[IN Q=IF ITS GOING TO]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: IF THIS IS GOING TO SAVE LIVES, I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT.)) [RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=TO FIGHT FOR IT.] ))
(--------------)
[LIVE=Meghan Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Warner points out that the bill got farther this year than it ever did before.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan/State microwave]

He says it has momentum so the issue is likely to be back next year.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
Logan Bowman turns 6 tomorrow. Still ahead, as the search for him goes on, his mother goes before a judge.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And a Roanoke judge does Valentine's Day double duty .. uniting a man he had already sentenced.
(----------------)

[Davis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:19:02]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The Grayson County mother of a missing five-year-old may now face even more jail time.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./Monday;]
Cynthia Davis is already in jail for child endangerment, in connection with the disappearance of her son Logan Nathaniel Bowman. But, today, the judge sentenced Davis to an additional 10-days in jail for violating her son's visitation rights with his father. Davis is appealing the conviction. A hearing is scheduled in April.
(------------)

[Missing-Child]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:34:28]
[GRAPHIC=Logan Bowman]
As the days go by since Logan's disappearance, his family says tomorrow may be the hardest. That's the day Logan will turn six.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=HE HAD A BIG SMILE]
[SUPER=01-Alvin "Wayne" Bowman/Logan's Father; :10]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.; :20]
[SUPER=@Myranda2; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, GRAYSON COUNTY]
(([INSERT LOGAN'S PICTURE!!!!!]
[SOT 29:57]
[RUNS:03] ((HE HAD A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE. HAD CAKE ALL OVER HIM.)) Alvin Bowman smiles... [BACK TO VIDEO!!!!] as he remembers his son's last birthday party.
[SOT 29:42]
[RUNS10] ((ALVIN "WAYNE" BOWMAN/LOGAN'S FATHER: WE HAD CAKES. INVITED A BUNCH OF HIS FRIENDS OVER AND STUFF LIKE THIS WE HAD A NICE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HIM 29:52)) But, this year it seems like there won't be any cake...or party...or a birthday boy. Logan has been missing now for more than a month. And while authorities say the chances of finding him alive are slim, his father isn't giving up hope.
[SOT 27:32]
[RUNS:11] ((I HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE'S ALIVE...SOMEBODY'S OUT THERE'S GOT HIM.)) Bowman says the last time he saw his son was Christmas Eve. Police have ruled him out as a suspect, but the same can NOT be said for Logan's mother...who was arrested after police learned the boy may have been abused.
[SOT 28:24]
[RUNS:08] ((I'VE NEVER SEEN HER DO IT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY SHE WOULD BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO JUDGE 28:32)) [INSERT LOGAN'S PICTURE!!!!!] For now, Bowman says the only thing he cares about is finding his son, safe and alive.
[SOT 29:20]
[RUNS:11] ((WE'D LOVE TO HAVE LOGAN WITH US, TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY WITH US. RIGHT NOW, WE'LL HAVE TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL WE FIND HIM 29:31)) Myranda Stephens, News 7, Grayson County.))

[L'burg-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A domestic dispute in Lynchburg ended in gunfire last night, sending two people to the hospital and a third to jail.
Authorities say David Henry Staton (STAY-ton) of Evington shot his estranged wife and a man at an apartment complex on Graves Mill Road.
Barbara Staton and Gordon Padgett each were shot in the arm and chest.
David Staton faces malicious wounding and firearms charges.

[Hilton]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC1:45:21]
[GRAPHIC=Guilty Plea]

A Martinsville man will spend thirty years behind bars for killing his girlfriend and throwing her out of a window.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/June]

Donatus (Duh-NAH-tus) Hilton was supposed to go on trial today but instead pled guilty to first degree murder.
In June, he stabbed Janice Hilton near the heart and then threw her body out a third story window.
Commonwealth's Attorney Joan Ziglar says the victim's family agreed to the plea bargain to avoid reliving the case at trial.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The bulls sent a love letter to Wall Street this Valentine's Day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/158.93/7908.80/x/32.73/1310.17;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW rose 159 points.
NASDAQ gained 33.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.75/40.30/h/0.20/20.60/i/0.62/54.38/h/1.27/68.87/h/0.15/9.15;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.03/6.35/h/0.71/54.50/h/0.68/40.17/h/0.31/22.48/i/0.04/4.03;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.44/39.89/h/0.37/14.18/i/0.28/18.65/h/0.05/2.95/h/0.67/38.14;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.28/9.46/h/1.18/55.71/h/1.03/37.34/h/0.78/35.00/h/1.51/49.15;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Sentencing-Wedding]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC1:24:33]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The bride wore off-white.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The groom: jail-house blues.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[SUPER=01-Jamel Cabiness/Groom; :35]
[SUPER=01-Melinda Jones/Bride; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=Patrick Henry National Bank.]
(( This is not the first time Judge James Turk has performed a wedding ceremony. It wasn't even the first time the judge has sentenced the groom to prison before the ceremony. Though Jamel Cabiness is guilty of bank fraud, he still got the traditional reading from First Corinthians.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:57:30]
[IN Q=]
((LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND.)) [RUNS02]
[OUT Q=]

In court, the defendant had agreed when the Judge said he was a "flim flam" man. But Cabiness also said he's "trying to turn his life around," and was ready to marry Melinda Jones.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:59:20]
[IN Q=]
((Judge Turk: I WILL LOVE YOU AND HONOR YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. Cabiness: I WILL LOVE YOU AND HONOR YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:04:30]
[IN Q=]
((I WAS IN THE HOLE, ACTUALLY, IN THE ROANOKE CITY JAIL. I NEEDED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL, IT JUST EVOLVED FROM THERE.))

[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=]
The judge who had just sentenced Cabiness to serve 22 months in prison for passing off a stolen cashier's check, was now pronouncing the couple: husband and wife.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:01:50]
[IN Q=]
((THE PEACE OF GOD OUR FATHER BE ALWAYS WITH YOU. YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=]
Cabiness faces the possibility of additional time on state and federal charges in California, so the honeymoon will be postponed at least a couple of years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:05]
[IN Q=]
((TWO MORE, TWO AND A HALF. YOU CAN WAIT THAT LONG? SURE, YES I CAN. (:08) TELL ME WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT HIM. EVERYTHING. HE'S EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN WAITING ON. AND YOU? SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. SHE'S SWEET AND NICE, BEAUTIFUL.)) [RUNS:24]
[OUT Q=]
The judge did not call it a wedding gift, but he ruled Cabiness would not have to pay interest on the nearly 20-thousand dollars in restitution he ordered Cabiness to pay the Patrick Henry National Bank.))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - a Clifton Forge native takes over the Sting. The truck series takes center stage today at Daytona.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Travis Wells checks in from the track with Winston Cup crew chief Robert Barker - a Halifax native - who refuses to be hampered by a handicap.
(------------)

[S-Truck]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-140]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA]
The Craftsman Truck Series drivers opened their season this afternoon at Daytona in the Florida Dodge Dealers 300.
And this one would come right down to the final 100 yards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/Dodge Dealers 300; :00]
After a late caution, the race came down to a two lap shootout with Rick Crawford in the lead. But during the final lap, Crawford was passed by last year's race winner Robert Pressley. It appeared that Pressley would hold on for the win as the cars came out of turn four. But Crawford pulled an outside - inside job on Pressley - crossing him up just enough to get by on the inside and beat him and Travis Kvapil (KWAP-UL) to the line by four feet. The win breaks a 120 race winless streak for Crawford. Only 17 drivers finished the race.
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA SPEEDWAY]
Stuart native Jon Wood finished 8th in the first race of the season. The trucks race again in Darlington on March 14th.

[S-IROC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-139 4852]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA S'WAY]

Mark Martin won the IROC series race this afternoon at the track with Kurt Busch finishing second. Both made it through the race and Winston Cup practice just fine today,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/Winston Cup Practice; :00]
but the same cannot be said for Johnny Benson. He smacked the wall coming out of turn two and pancaked the right side of his Valvoline Pontiac. Benson will have to go to a backup car for the Daytona 500.
(-----------)

[S-Barker]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-136 TC10416]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona 500]

Robert Barker is a former shock specialist for Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon. But now he's reached racing's peak as a crew chief in the Winston Cup ranks. Travis Wells has this Southside native's story from Daytona.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Daytona, FL; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robert "Bootie" Barker/Crew Chief for Dave Blaney; :11]
[SUPER=@travis1; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Dave Blaney/Jasper Engines Ford Driver; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Caleb Hurd/Worked with Barker at Hendrick; 1:40]
[RUNS=2:13]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
((Robert "Bootie" Barker isn't your typical Winston Cup Crew chief. But the 31 year old is living out a dream with his new position at Jasper.
Robert:
The Halifax County native, who is paralyzed from the waist down, owns an engineering degree from Old Dominion University. Barker brings a wealth of technical knowledge to the 77, but he claims that his diploma is a wee bit overrated.
Barker: Travis: Blaney:
Former Virginia Tech football player and current Jeff Gordon pit crew member, Caleb Hurd realized Barker's talents during his relatively short stay at Hendrick Motorsports.
Caleb:
Working for a single car team, Barker and Blaney will no doubt struggle in their first season together. But that first victory, if and when it comes will make it all worthwhile. In Daytona, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-Sting]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-134 5912tc]
[GRAPHIC=wnba]
The WNBA doesn't get a lot of attention, but area basketball fans may want to keep an eye on the Charlotte Sting once the team's season starts up in May.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC; :00]
Trudi Lacey has been named the new head coach of the Sting. Lacey has a tremendouse amount coaching experience including two years as an assistant with the Sting. She also is a native of Clifton Forge.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Trudi Lacey/Charlotte Sting's New Head Coach; :00]
[OUT Q=...happen for you][RUNS=:16]