WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/20/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

To beer or not to beer more events at the Roanoke Civic Center.
We'll have the latest on the debate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And, after a brief closure, a local DMV office is back in operation on a full tank of gas.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - Matt Kenseth returns as a champion at the Rock. Suggs is hoping to impress in Indianapolis. And the Express wants a packed Roundhouse this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
PLUS - Mike Tyson is making headlines, but this time it's for his head.
(------------)

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

Only light jackets needed today but rain slickers will fill the bill by tomorrow night. That story and the latest school information just ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=keith 4-Shot]

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

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

Opponents of expanded alcohol sales at the Roanoke Civic Center pray their message gets through.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Now it's up to the Alcholic Beverage Control officials.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Civic-Center]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#02-55 TC1:03:42]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Officials from the Roanoke Civic Ceneter defended their request to sell beer and wine at more events while critics argued it will only lead to more problems at the facility.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]

Joe Dashiell is downtown tonight where a state hearing officer has been considering the request all day.
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(ROLLCUE:a lot is riding on this decision. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Prayer is powerful]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;08]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Mark Washington/Hollins Road Baptist Church; 28 ]
[RUNS=:49]
[OUT Q=multiple violations have taken place.]
(-------------)
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]

[Girl-Shot]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:26:20]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A five year old Bedford County girl remains in critical condition after being shot in the head in North Carolina.

(XXXXXX)
[TAKE CONOVER MAP FS #4270EssC]
Conover, North Carolina police say Rachel Sanchez was hit when a bullet
(-------------)
[VO/NAT - :17+ some extra]
[SUPER=03-Conover, NC/Monday; ]
went through the right rear passenger window of the S-U-V she was riding in on Interstate 40.
She was in vehicle with Steve Lackey, his wife and two grandchildren.
Officers searched the area Monday night and were back out again yesterday looking for evidence. So far, no arrests have been made.
(------------)

[Clevenger]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC14:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Williamsburg teen who fell off a Bedford bridge died this morning from his injuries.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/Yesterday]

16 year old Daniel Clevenger was walking his dog on the bridge over Blue Ridge Avenue Tuesday morning when he fell over the railing.
Bedford Police are still trying to determine how Clevenger fell from the bridge but no criminal activity is suspected.
You're asked to call Bedford Police if you may have witnessed the incident.
(------------)

[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC32:54]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

State lawmakers missed another deadline today to agree on a budget.
Negotiators are stalled over funding for the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/File Tape]

House members are asking for more than one million dollars to help pay off the equestrian facility's debt.
But Senate conferees say Virginia can't afford to do that.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:20:53]
[IN Q=WE CAN'T HAVE TUITION]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/BUDGET CONFEREE: WE CAN'T HAVE TUITION GOING UP FORTY TO FIFTY PERCENT, WE CAN'T HAVE MEDICAID WAIVERS NOT BE FUNDED BUT YET DO A MILLION-POINT-TWO ON AN ENTITY FOR WHICH WE HAVE REALLY NO INTEREST.)) ((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS A STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP PAY THEIR DEBT. WE PROMISED THAT YEARS AGO AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/Budget Conferee; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del.Morgan Griffith/(R) Salem; :15]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q= SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Delegate Lacey Putney says there's a new development... a letter written by Budget Chairman John Chichester in which the Senate promises state support for the horse center.
Putney says in light of the letter, he plans to hold out until the Lexington facility gets its money.
That means the session which is scheduled to adjourn Saturday, may go into Sunday.
(------------)

[NTelos-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC2:04:19]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]
A consolidation move for NTelos (en-TELL'-ohs) means some jobs for our area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daleville/April;]
[file tape @ 02-05 1:33:14] The phone and internet provider says it will close one of its three call centers in Virginia. The Portsmouth location will shut down in June or July, eliminating 100 jobs.
Seventy of those jobs will be transferred to NTelos' Daleville location and thirty will go to Waynesboro. The company will hold a job fair February 28th and March 1st. A company spokesman says the move is an operational cost-saving measure.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=SHannon]
[SS=None]
NTelos is struggling with debt and just this week missed scheduled annual interest payments totaling 24-point-6 million dollars.

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

One in six couples has trouble conceiving a child. But a first of its kind program in this area hopes to help.
More on that when News 7 at six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus find out why some drivers are happy just to be able to stand in line at one D-M-V office.
(----------------)

[Bedford-DMV]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC55:44]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Smiles and sighs of relief in Bedford today, where the local Department of Motor Vehicles office re-opened after a four-month shutdown.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

As Steve Smallshaw reports, the lines were long, but most people didn't seem to mind.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They were lined]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Canada/DMV Regional Manager; :14]
[SUPER=01-Kathy Orange-King/DMV Customer; :50]
[SUPER=01-Chuck Battey/DMV Customer; 1:03]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford.]
(( They were lined up outside at 8:30 in the morning, and inside it was standing room only for part of the day at the Bedford D-M-V.
Customers came here prepared to wait.. but they'd been waiting even longer for their local office to re-open.
[SOT 22:28:49]
((JERRY CANADA/DMV REGIONAL MANAGER: CITIZENS ARE VERY HAPPY. I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE 8:30, 9 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING WAITING FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW GETTING THE OFFICE PREPARED FOR OPENING AND SOME OF THE FOLKS HAVE SEEN US IN HERE WORKING AND HAVE STOPPED BY AND TALKED TO US A LITTLE BIT. AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO OPEN.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=going to open.]

State budget cuts had forced ten customer service centers around the state to close, and the rest to reduce hours.

But citizens complained long and loud about having to travel more than an hour round-trip to get their business done.. and the outcry eventually goaded lawmakers into restoring the funding.
[SOT 22:59:24]
(( KATHY ORANGE-KING/DMV CUSTOMER: I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO GO TO ROANOKE, THERE'S A LONG WAIT. SOME PEOPLE ARE WAITING AS LONG AS EIGHT HOURS JUST TO GET RENEWALS AND THAT'S A LONG WAIT FOR EVERYBODY SO I'M REALLY PLEASED AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY HERE IN BEDFORD IS PLEASED TOO.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=is pleased too.]
[SOT 23:07:33]
((CHUCK BATTEY/DMV CUSTOMER: THERE WAS NO REACHING LYNCHBURG AND I DON'T THINK THEY WERE PREPARED FOR THE OVERFLOW. IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT ON A GREAT MANY OF US, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THE OUTER PART OF THE COUNTY.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=of the county.]

The Bedford D-M-V is resuming its normal hours, with the exception of being closed on Wednesdays.
The re-opening also seemed to take some of the pressure off the Lynchburg center, where the wait Thursday was a little shorter than usual.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford. ))

[Roadside-Memorials]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:45:49]
[GRAPHIC=Nnoe]

Starting this summer, the state will pay for roadside markers to remember people who die on its highways.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]

The markers are designed to replace crosses, stuffed animals, signs and sculptures friends and relatives put on roadsides where loved ones have died.
The General Assembly says those memorials are a hazard and wants VDOT to regulate them.
The proposed three-foot markers would say "Drive safely in the memory of," followed by the deceased person's name.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

VDOT says it will spend 250-dollars to make each sign and leave them up for two years.
After that, the sign could go to the victim's family.

[Billings]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC07:07]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
The Grayson County Sheriff's office has had a lot on its plate recently. That includes trying to solve the recent murder of a Galax High School student. But, as New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens tells us, the department may soon get some help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=that was his first]
[SUPER=03-Fries; :00]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./File Tape; :24]
[SUPER=01-Kyle & Sherry Billings/Brandon's Parents; :34]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Wilson/Grayson Co. Sheriff; 1:14]
[SUPER=@Myranda2; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=news 7, grayson county]
([NATS @ 22:53]
[RUNS 05] ((THAT WAS HIS FIRST YEAR STARTING REPORTER: HE LOVED FOOTBALL YES HE DID 22:58)) Kyle and Sherry Billings dedicate a corner of their living room to the memory of their son, number-79.
[SOT 22:25][FADE OUT!!!]
[RUNS :04] ((I COULD NOT JUST PACK HIM AWAY I JUST COULDN'T PACK HIS PICS AWAY. 22:29)) Brandon Billings was a senior at Galax High School and played tackle for the school's football team. But, on October Sixth, just hours after his 18th-birthday, police found Brandon's body in his pickup truck on Rockhouse Lane. He apparently died from a gunshot to the head.
[SOT 26:19]
[RUNS :09] ((THAT'S IT THAT THE BIG QUESTION. WHY? WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE ANY REASON WHATSOEVER TO KILL THEM LIKE THEY DID 26:28))

A reward for information in the case has reached nearly 12-thousand dollars, but authorities say they still do not have any suspects. But, Kyle and Sherry say they hope to change that by submitting their story to "America's Most Wanted."
[SOT 21:50]
[RUNS :10] ((I FEEL LIKE WE WOULD STAND A GOOD CHANCE IF IT WAS MORE BROADLY CAST OUT THAN JUST THE NEWSPAPERS 22:00)) The family is now working with the Grayson County Sheriff's department to get the paperwork that's needed for the show.

[SOT 33:12]
[RUNS 06] ((ANYTHING THAT'LL HELP SOLVE THIS CASE THAT'S THE MAIN THING WE WANT THIS CASE SOLVED 33:18)) And although it may be another two months before Kyle and Sherry finds out when and if their story will air, they will continue to have faith in God, knowing that the truth will one day be revealed. Myranda Stephens, News 7, Grayson County.)
(------------)

[Echols]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A part-owner and employee of a Rocky Mount auto dealer has been indicted on a moonshine charge. Ronnie Dean Echols was allegedly seen loading 40 half-gallon jars of bootleg whiskey into his S-U-V at Duncan Ford last September. He was pulled over in Boones Mill. Authorities say Echols admitted it was moonshine.

[Stocks]

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

Worries about a war with Iraq and a round of disappointing economic reports sent stocks lower. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/85.64/7914.96/y/13.09/1331.23;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW dropped 86 points.
NASDAQ fell three.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.54/38.90/i/0.06/20.73/i/0.50/56.12/i/0.29/69.46/i/0.21/9.08;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.30/6.20/h/0.37/55.43/i/0.07/40.50//Unchg/23.35/h/0.04/4.25;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.02/40.66/i/0.20/13.69/i/0.13/18.67//Unchg/3.27/i/0.47/37.02;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.04/9.50/i/0.26/55.94/i/1.84/34.76/h/0.09/35.35/i/0.69/48.08;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Fertility-Clinic]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC1:33:59]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

For some couple,s getting pregnant requires medical assistance.
In fact, every month dozens of couples from the Roanoke Valley travel out of the region for treatments like in-vitro fertilization.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But Lewis-Gale Medical Center is hoping to change that.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Joy /Newsroom Pod;]

Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton joins us to explain.
[LIVE= Joy /FULL Newsroom Pod]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]

Lewis-Gale Medical Center is starting an assisted fertility program. It will be the first in Southwest, Virginia.
And with one out every six couples having trouble conceiving, Lewis-Gale says this service is definitely needed in the region.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***JOYS MIC HOT***]
Lewis-Gale Medical Center says its fertility clinic will provide all types services, everything from helping a couple determine what the problem is to treatments like in-vitro fertilization.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT12:08:37]
[IN Q=We like to think that 15 to 20 percent]
((DR. MARWAN SHAYKH/FERTILITY SPECIALIST; WE'D LIKE TO THINK THAT 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE COUPLES WHO SUFFER WITH INFERTILITY, A LOT OF THEM WE CAN HELP NOW WITH TREATMENT))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Marwan Shaykh/Fertility Specialist]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=help with treatment]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lewis-Gale says it hopes this service will mean more couples will be able to experience the joy of childbirth.
And they won't have to travel hours away to get help to conceive their bundle of joy.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULLS CREEN BOARD]
The Medical Center is already taking appointments for the assisted fertility program. For more information call 1-888-633-9944 [TAKE WDBJ WEBPAGE] or check out its webpage. You can find a link on our homepage at WDBJ7-dot-com.
(-------------)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Joy /Newsroom Pod;]

Keith and Shannon, the fertility clinic is expected to open in April.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - the Express gets ready for a big weekend - Suggs is at the NFL combine, Tyson is in Mississippi,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and the Nascar circuit rolls to the Rock tomorrow. We'll hear from defending race champ Matt Kenseth in just a moment.
(------------)

[S-Rock]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-145 3327tc]
[GRAPHIC=nascar 2003]

The Winston Circuit sets up shop in the sandhills of North Carolina tomorrow for what promises to be another rainy racing weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham, NC/Last February; :00]
If the one mile long track somehow avoids the wel stuff - they'll need to be on the look out for the kid with the "right stuff." Matt Kenseth won the Subway 400 last February at the Rock and then went on to win a total of five races. Does being the defending champ make it easier this weekend?
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=01-Matt Kenseth/Defending Subway 400 Champion;:00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...neutral car.]
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=nascar]
The forecast has rain moving in tomorrow afternoon, thunderstorms on Saturday and maybe the rain ending on Sunday.[S-S

uggs]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-147 29:57]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]

The NFL combine is in its third day at the RCA dome in Indianapolis. Today, the quarterbacks, wide outs and tight ends went through drills.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

Yesterday, former Virginia Tech star Lee Suggs went through workouts. One NFL analyst rated him the fourth best running back out of a field of 33. Suggs is ignoring any hype.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/Fourth Rated Running Back at NFL Combine; :03]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....what people say"]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Suggs was officially measured at five foot 11 and 202 pounds and does not care which teams drafts him. He just wants to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL. Suggs does care about becoming a versatile back.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=.....i can do it"]
(-----------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-140 53:06]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

In an attempt to improve sagging attendance, the Roanoke Express owners are offering a few promotions this weekend. Tomorrow night the Express hosts Greensboro and it is "College night". College students and government workers get a discount with proper I.D.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ashby Coleman/Express Owner; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=....one night"]
(-------------------)
[anchor=mike]
[graphic=express]

Saturday night the Express battles Pee Dee at the Roanoke Civic Center on "pack the round house night". The adult gol

d and silver seats are just 5 bucks and kids under 17 are 3 dollars.[S-Joe]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-136 1:09:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT wipe to #eng!!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Former Express owner Joe Steffen has relocated his law practice to Savannah, Georgia. For the past three years he has been trying to convince Savannah City officials to bring an ECHL team in. Steffen said by phone today that he doesn't think ECHL hockey will arrive until a new civic center is built and that project is three years down the road. Steffen said he is not interested in buying the Express at this time.
(------------)

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(XXXXXXXX)
[go to pinnacle 12998] The ACC lineup on Your Hometown Station on Saturday will feature the front runners in the ACC. Maryland and Duke are now tied for first place, and Saturday Carolina takes on the Terps at two, followed by the Wolfpack and BlueDevils at 4 - right here on WDBJ-7.
(-------------)

[S-Tyson]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-134 10359TC]
[graphic=news 7 sports]
Mike Tyson and Clifford Etienne are in Mississippi weighing-in for their Saturday night fight at this hour. But in truth - the fight, weigh-in and everything else is just a sidebar to the real sideshow - Tyson's new facial tattoo.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A NEW ZEALAND...]
[SUPER=01-Mike Tyson/Fights Saturday Night; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...EVEN HALF WAY DONE."]
(-----------)
[Hollins-President]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:30:34]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Former Attorney General Janet Reno is helping Hollins University welcome its tenth president.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Nora Kizer Bell took the institution's head office in July but is being officially inaugurated today. The school also celebrated Founder's Day with a variety of musical performances and an annual processional to the Cocke Family Cemetery to lay at wreath at the grave of Charles Lewis Cocke. Janet Reno, who is speaking at the inaugural ceremony this evening, commented that she was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm exhibited by Hollins students. (------------)