WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/17/03

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
No two-foot snow fall here, but it's enough to make the roof cave in at Yellow Cab.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And just when we thought it was all over, a little more sleet is making roads slick again.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports - the weather is messing up hoops on the hardwood - plus Steve Mason checks in the from the hardwater with the latest on the possible sale of the Express.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Greg Maddux gets the largest one year contract in baseball history as he breaks the Braves' bank and avoids arbitration.
(------------)

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

The big one for this winter buries northern Virginia as we hope for a quick melt down of the sleet. Storm total numbers just ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

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

Sleet and ice give many in Southwest and Central Virginia a President's Day off.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

But it's not much of a holiday for those trying to dig out or keep emergency services running.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[PM-Snow]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC2:00:20]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The storm came and went, but not without leaving a big mess for residents and road crews.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Many of the main roads in our area were clear.
But more sleet is making them slick again.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Marya /Porch Cam;]

Marya Jones is outside with an update on the conditions.
Keith and Shannon, motorists saw big improvements on the main roads today, but the residential roads are still coated in sleet and ice.
[LIVE= /FULL]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

VDOT is asking people to be patient and use caution because it may take a few days to clear the secondary roads.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Poff/Snowmobiler;]
[SUPER=01-Steve Roberts/Yellow Cab Co. Co-Owner;]
[SUPER=01-Angie Pr'Out/Roanoke Co. Resident;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=out of my hair.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: 581 TRAFFIC.)) [RUNS:01]
Black pavement is visible once again on Interstate 581.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 55:40]
((NATS: WHEELS DRIVING ON SNOW.)) [RUNS:02]
But up on Bent Mountain, EVERYTHING is white.
If you want to get around, you need the right vehicle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: SNOWMOBILE.)) [RUNS:02]
Kevin Poff found the weather perfect for his snowmobile.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:02:05]
((KEVIN POFF: YOU CAN'T RIDE THIS WHEN THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW SO YOU GOTTA WAIT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ICE OR A WHOLE LOT OF SNOW.)) [RUNS:04]
In Roanoke, snow and ice caused the roof to cave in at the Yellow Cab Company.
Workers had to clear out and call in help.
But through it all, the cabs kept going.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 48:50]
((STEVE ROBERTS/YELLOW CAB CO. CO-OWNER: WE'RE STILL ABLE TO OPERATE. WE HAVE ANOTHER BUILDING WE CAN MOVE INTO. OR IF WE HAVE TO, WE CAN DISPATCH FROM TAXI TO TAXI. OUR BUSINESS WILL STILL BE OPERATING.)) [RUNS:10]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((NATS: KIDS SLEDDING.)) [RUNS:02]
While their kids enjoyed the weather, Marc and Angie Pr'Out (Pree-yat) were busy digging out their driveway.
After nearly two days of being stuck in the house, the work was welcome.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:11:27]
((ANGIE PR'OUT: A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY'RE TIRED OF BEING IN THE HOUSE. BUT YEAH, AS FOR ME, I WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. I WANT THEM OUT OF MY HAIR. .)) [RUNS:09]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Marya/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

(Marya ad libs)
As for the roads, V-DOT is asking residents to give it another day or two to get to those secondary roads and just to use caution if they DO go out on them.
[DOUBLE BOXES= /Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon?

[Southside-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC1:46:56]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

In Southside, ice was a bigger problem for motorists and residents than the snow..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

24 hours of sleet and freezing rain had left many trees bending dangerously near power lines throughout the area.

Scattered outages left several hundred people without power Sunday night.
It also made driving somewhat perilous.
The call went out yesterday for anyone with a four-wheel drive vehicle to help transport hospital employees to work at Danville Regional Medical Center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:25:29]
[IN Q=So we staff]
((IAN WATSON/DANVILLE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: SO WE STAFF A BANK OF TELEPHONE LINES, WHICH OUR ASSOCIATES WHO NEED TO COME INTO WORK CAN CALL THAT NUMBER, ASSOCIATES WHO NEED A RIDE HOME CAN CALL THAT NUMBER AND WE COORDINATE DRIVERS FROM THAT ROOM. AND WE ALSO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IN THE CITY OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES TO GAUGE THE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Ian Watson/Danville Regional Medical Center]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=gauge the situation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Watson says close to a hundred hospital workers took advantage of the volunteer ride system yesterday and today.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[NRV-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC02:20]
[GRAPHIC=]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Finding a ride was not a problem for students and staff at Virginia Tech.
Hazardous road conditions and the threat of more winter weather prompted the school to cancel all of its classes, and close its offices today.
The snow and ice also contributed to a tractor trailer accident on Interstate 81 this morning.
It happened around 9 A-M in the northbound lanes near exit 105.
A car hit a patch of ice and slid into the truck. No one was injured.
(------------)

[Boty-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC27:39]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

An accident involving a propane truck shut down part of Route 220 in Botetourt County this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

A pickup truck collided with the tanker near the community of Glen Wilton.
State police say it appears the pickup veered into the opposite lane, and hit the side of the other vehicle.
The propane truck tipped over on its side and skidded to a halt.
The driver of the tanker was shaken up, but not seriously hurt.
The other driver was taken to Alleghany Regional Hospital.
No word yet on the extent of his injuries.
(------------)

[Sledding-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:22:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A young Roanoker trying to make the most of the winter weather this morning endured a wild ride and a close encounter with traffic instead.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The young woman was riding a sled down a steep hill on Van Buren Street when she lost control.
She ended up in the middle of Melrose Avenue, shaken but not seriously injured.
The young woman and her friends walked away from the incident with their damaged sled in tow.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Still ahead on News 7, the latest on a standoff in Danville.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus they may not necessarily enjoy the weather, but snow and ice mean big business for many tow truck drivers.
(----------------)

[Danville-Shooting]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:24:16]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A man Danville police say shot two people yesterday ended up killing himself after a lengthy standoff today.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

36-year-old Darin Edward Barksdale was suspected of shooting two people in a home on Swanson Street early Sunday.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

Barksdale later called police from the Travel Inn on West Main Street and authorities, with the help of a family member, tried to negotiate his surrender.
Barksdale reportedly cut off communications Sunday night and officers kept surveillance on his room until about noon today.
That's when police found Barksdale dead on the bed from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The two people he reportedly shot remain hospitalized.
(------------)

[Towing]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC59:52]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The snow and ice translates into big business for local towing companies. A day after the storm, people are not only digging out but paying to get pulled out of difficult situations along roads and highways in our area. [***TOW TRUCK GRAPHIC IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel /Pulpit;]

News 7's Rachel Cannon caught up with a tow truck operator. Keith, if you traveled along Interstate-81 this weekend
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
during or after the storm, you could see vehicles that were being abandoned by owners. Common problems are sliding off the road and getting stuck in snow or mechanical problems due to the cold. In most cases, drivers have no choice but to leave it behind and come back, with help, once the storm is past.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS truck pulling out]
[SUPER=03-Troutville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Arrington/Towing Company Owner; :15]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :42]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=HALF OF IT.]
(( Like V-DOT crews, tow truck operators are busy long after the snow falls. Meeting the demand for their services could take days to finish. Joe Arrington has been in the business for over 30-years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:14:16]
[IN Q=it turns]
((JOE ARRINGTON/TOWING COMPANY OWNER; IT TURNS OUR BUSINESS INTO EMERGENCY WORK ALONG ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. SO MUCH BUSINESS COMES AT THAT TIME YOU CAN'T EVEN ACCOMMODATE.))
[OUT Q=EVEN ACCOMODATE.]
Arrington says this weekend's storm could have been worse. Since today is a holiday and the storm hit while most people were at home, staying off the roads and away from problems was easier.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:14:48]
[IN Q=when we]
((JOE ARRINGTON/TOWING COMPANY OWNER; WHEN WE REALLY GET THE HARDEST BANG IS WHEN IT SNOWS AFTER FOLKS GET TO WORK DURING THE WEEK.))
[OUT Q=THE WEEK]
He estimates they've received about 1-hundred calls for tows, a majority due to ice. In this case, a flat tire sidelined a Honda. NATS 00:20:28 "PULLING UP TRUCK BED"
It's an easy and fast removal for the towing equipment. But with six trucks in his fleet, he says callers have to get in line and be patient.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:15:16]
[IN Q=you know]
((JOE ARRINGTON/TOWING COMPANY OWNER; YOU KNOW YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUSINESS BUT YOU KNOW IT OVERWHELMS YOU WHEN SO MUCH STUFF STARTS AND YOU CAN'T GET TO HALF OF IT.))
[OUT Q=half of it.].))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Pulpit]
The cost of hiring a tow truck varies. We've gotten some calls from people who say they've been charged upwards of $125 dollars
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel/Pulpit ;]
The lowest quote we got from calling around was $50 but Arrington says price is determined by several factors including your location, the kind of vehicle and the situation it is in.

[Stocks]

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

Even if stock traders could have made it to work on New York's Wall Street today, it wouldn't have mattered.
The markets were closed today for the President's Day Holiday.

[Tease#2]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Many of us are no doubt grumbling about this latest bout of winter weather.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

But many farmers are welcoming it with open arms.
Find out why next.
(----------------)

[Commercial]
[Farms-Snow]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:40:22]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

If it weren't for the cold and the extra work it creates, local farmers would be thrilled with the snow.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
They say the white stuff makes for greener crops down the line.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Bowman brothers are used to hard work...]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Hubert Bowman/Blackwater Bend Dairy; :11]
[SUPER=01-John Hamrick/Extension Agent; :36]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=A LITTLE MORE LATER ON]
(( The Bowman brothers are used to hard work as the owners of one of Franklin County's many dairy farms. So snowfall doesn't faze them. They and the cows just work around it.
[SOT 1:27:43-1:27:51]
[IN Q=Takes longer to feed and...]
((HUBERT BOWMAN/BLACKWATER BEND DAIRY: TAKES LONGER TO FEED AND DO THOSE THINGS. ROADS TO SCRAPE SO THE MILK TRUCK CAN GET THE MILK.)) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=so the milk truck can get the milk.]
At the same time, Hubert Bowman admits frozen precipitation *benefits* the other side of his business, the growing of the hay, corn and alfalfa he feeds his livestock.
[SOT 1:27:23-1:27:34]
[IN Q=Well, 'cause it melts slower...]
((HUBERT BOWMAN: WELL, 'CAUSE IT MELTS SLOWER, SOAKS IN THE GROUND BETTER, HELPS THE CROPS, ALOT OF THE TIMES CROPS WILL GROW UNDERNEATH THE SNOW.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=underneath the snow.]
Virginia Tech Extension Agent John Hamrick agrees. He says, after years of drought, it's a relief to see local farms blanketed in white.
[SOT 1:16:27-1:16:53]
[IN Q=well, i'm just awful glad to see the snow...]
((JOHN HAMRICK/VIRGINIA TECH EXTENSION AGENT: WELL, I'M JUST AWFUL GLAD TO SEE THE SNOW WE'VE HAD THIS WINTER. IT'S REALLY, THE CREEKS, LAKES ARE LOW, SUBSOIL MOISTURE'S LOW. WE'VE HAD RAIN TO KEEP THE TOPSOIL MOISTURE IN AREAS WHERE WE CAN GET BY BUT, THESE SNOWS REALLY HELP THE SUBSOIL MOISTURE BACK UP AS WELL AS THE TOPSOIL MOISTURE.)) [RUNS:26]
[OUT Q=as well as the topsoil moisture.]
Hamrick predicts it would take another storm or two to saturate the ground. So, before the temperatures and the tractors heat for spring planting, he says, let it snow.
[SOT 1:17:23-1:17:25]
[IN Q=I wouldn't mind...]
((JOIHN HAMRICK: I WOULDN'T MIND SEEING A LITTLE MORE LATER ON.)) [RUNS:02]
[OUT Q=seeing a little more later on.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[SS=None]
As far as other crops, like vegetables, go, Hamrick says snow helps preserve the plants by insulating them from the cold.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
The weather is stretching the high school winter sports seasons beyond their limit. Greg Maddux breaks the bank today in Atlanta.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And as he prepares for next season - Express owner Ashby Coleman responds to reports around the ECHl that the team is up for sale.
(------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-146]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

The Roanoke Express seems to be sold on new coach Tony McCaulay. So far the team is holding strong in third place in the Northeast Division. But it is the sale off the ice that has the captured todays headlines. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ashby Coleman/Express Owner; :33]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Tony MacAulay/Express Interim Head Coach; 1:55]
[RUNS=2:06]
[OUT Q=....News 7 sports"]
(-----------------)

((Express owner Ashby Coleman spent part of a snowy Monday preparing on ice signage that will be installed under the Roanoke Civic Center ice this week. The graphics promote next seasons ticket sales. But the Augusta Chronicle, a newspaper out of Georgia reports that the Express is on the market for 600 thousand dollars and that one potential buyer, an augusta businessman told the Chronicle that he and a small group of investors are putting togethera strong bid to purchase the Express and relocatethe team to Savanah for the 2003-2004 season. ((ASHBY COLEMAN:EXPRESS OWNER:))
The newspaper article also said that the Express could suspend operations or fold after the season unless a new buyer is found. Coleman did say the team is losing money but that the ownership group is woeking hard to sell more tickets. ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:THE ECHL IS ALSO HELPING THE EXPRESS. EACH MOTH, THE EXPRESS JOIN S LEAGUE PRESIDENT BRIAN MCKENNA AND THE OTHER ECHL TEAMS ON A CONFERENCE CALL TO TALK ABOUT TICKET PROMOTIONS. ONE IDEA SUBMITTED BY ONE OF THE TEAMS IS ALREADY GOING INTO AFFECT FOR THE EXPRESS.)) ((:))
The Express has also already submitted dates for next years season to the ECHL. Next season, the Express should have 25 friday and Saturday dates, four more than this season. There is change on the ice. Express golaie Sebastian Laplante was called up to AHL Norfolk late Monday afternoon because the Admirals back up goalie is sick. Evan Lindsay steps into a starting role to replace a hot Laplante. ((:))

The Express is looking for a temporary goalie to back up Lindsay. Steve Mason News7 sports))[S-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[graphic=vmi hoops]
The snow and ice outside the Roudnhouse is causing all kinds of sporting problems in the region. VMI's home basketball game set for tonight with UT Chattanooga has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 at Cameron Hall.
[GRAPHIC=LIBERTY]
Liberty at Birmingham - Southern women's game has been just plain cancelled. The Flames couldn't get out of Lynchburg.
[graphic=radford hoops]
However, there are some brave souls out there - the Charleston Southern - at Radford University men's game is still on for tonight. The Big South battle tips off at the Dedmon Center at seven.

[S-High]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS]

This is high school district basketball tournament week and Blacksburg and Alleghany are trying to determine the top seed in the Blue Ridge, but they can't get together. There game set for Saturday, and then tonight - has now been postponed until tomorrow at 7 at the Salem Civic Center.

[S-Terps]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
The big ACC men's game between Maryland and Wake Forest that was scheduled for last night in College Park had to be postponed until this afternoon. The parking lots at the Comcast Center were still covered with snow and there was no way to televise the game - but they are playing at this hour. Maryland ____ at the half. The game tipped off shortly after five.

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
(xxxxxxxxxxx)
[GO TO PINNACLE 12998] And if you still can't get out your neighborhood - keep it on Your Hometown Station for the best in ACC hoops. The Virginia Cavaliers return to action tomorrow night as they host Clemson at University Hall. The game tips-off at 8 right here on WDBJ-7.
(-------------)

[S-Orioles]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-138]
[GRAPHIC=mlb]

The Baltimore Orioles haven't been in spring training a week and already tragedy has struck the team. 23 year old pitcher Steve Bechler died this afternoon - a day after he collapsed during routine conditioning drill in Ft. Lauderdale.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]
Doctors say he died of multiple organ failure due to heatstroke. His temperature at one point reached 108 degrees. An Orioles spokesman would not confirm or deny a report that a supplement containing ephedrine was found in Bechler's locker. Ephedrine is a stimulant that is available over the counter and that has been linked to heatstroke and heart attacks. The county medical examiner says his understanding is that the bottle exists, but he doesn't have it. An autopsy has been scheduled.
(-------------)

[S-Maddux]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-142 3141TC]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[WIPE TO ENG#!!!!!!!!!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]
And finally - he is 37 years old, but he's still highly prized! Pitcher Greg Maddux and the Braves agreed to the largest one-year contract in baseball history today. Maddux and the Braves today avoided salary arbitration when they settled on a $14 million - 750 thousand dollar deal. (------------) Had they gone to arbitration - Maddux would have been asking for $16 million bucks.