WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/10/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

A decision from federal prosecutors on whether to try former D-Day Memorial President Richard Burrow again.
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[VO-NAT]
And Army Reservists get some real hands-on training right here in Virginia.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports - JJ Redick makes the ACC's all freshman team. The Tech women are giving UConn all they want this evening.
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[VO-NAT]
and Virginia Tech fires basketball coach Ricky Stokes - after posting his third straight disappointing season in the Big East.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Bundle up for another day but after that, spring like conditions. We will check on the warm up in a few minutes.

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[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]

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

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[V/O-NAT ]
The Government has decided it wants to try Richard Burrow again on federal fraud charges.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
Shannon Young is off tonight.

[Burrow]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC45:15]
[GRAPHIC=Richard Burrow]
Until today prosecutors had been un-prepared to say whether they planned to pursue the case further. A hearing was scheduled for one week from today to argue whether the case should be dismissed. Burrow's lawyers maintained it was too late, that the government had waited so long the clock had run out on the speedy trial act.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/December 16, 2002]
It's been nearly three months since Burrow's first trial ended in a hung jury. Seven jurors held out for acquittal, so the judge declared a mistrial. The National D-Day Memorial that Burrow headed is just now emerging from financial difficulties. In an eight-page motion filed today, the prosecutor says it was Burrow's "fraudulent conduct and half truths that steered the Foundation to the verge of financial ruin."
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[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[SS=HOLD]
The government asked the court to set the case for retrial no earlier than May 15th.

[Stokes]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#03-01 TC48:10]
[GRAPHIC=Ricky Stokes]

The Virginia Tech mens basketball program is now looking for its 27th head coach.
Today Virginia Tech fired Ricky Stokes in the fourth season of his 5 year contract.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Microwave]

Steve Mason is outside Cassell Coliseum tonight with more.
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@steve1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:but one stood out.)
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Virginia Tech Athletic Director;]
[RUNS=:41]
[OUT Q=go in a new direction.]
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[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Microwave]

[Bank-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:32:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Rockbridge County authorities are looking for a man who robbed a bank today at knifepoint.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

It happened about 12-30 at Planters Bank in Natural Bridge.
Authorities released photos of the robbery from the bank's surveillance cameras.
[SUPER=04-Surveillance Photos;]

The photos show a man wearing a ski mask and camouflage.
Deputies say he threatened the teller with a knife and ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber is described as a white man, six feet tall.
Deputies brought in a dog to track him, but so far they've been unable to find him.
The sheriff says its the first bank robbery in Rockbridge County in about 30 years.
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[Giles-Search]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:22:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Rescuers have put off the search for two men who may have drowned in the New River.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./Sunday;]

Authorities say the river was too muddy and turbulent to let crews resume their efforts today.
They found items belonging to the men yesterday, and have recovered their boat.
But there's no sign of the missing men.
Officials have not released their names, but say one is from Roanoke, and the other is from Vinton.
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[Carder]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC29:34]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Carder]

Add a seat on Roanoke City Council to the list of elected offices that will soon change hands.
Today, Bill Carder announced that he has accepted a new job that will take him out of the Roanoke Valley.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD /Newsroom Pod;]

Joe Dashiell is in the newsroom tonight with more on a decision that has implications for local government and two historic properties.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom ]
[SUPER=@joe1;]

Keith, Bill Carder will remain on city council through the budget process... and plans to give up his seat in early June.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This has been our home]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05]
[SUPER=@Carder; :16]
[SUPER=01-Brenda Hale/Roanoke NAACP President; :56]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=job here in the Roanoke Valley.]
(([SOT]
[IN Q=This has been our home.]
((THIS HAS BEEN OUR HOME. WE LOVE ROANOKE))
[RUNS= :03]
[OUT Q=love Roanoke.]

Bill Carder says it was the hardest decision he and his wife Chris have ever had to make.
After 11 years in Roanoke, and three on Roanoke City Council, Carder says it will be difficult to leave.
[SOT]
[IN Q=you may not]
((YOU MAY NOT HAVE AGREED WITH EVERY DECISION WE MADE, BUT I THINK WE MADE A LOT OF THEM. I THINK WE CLOSED THE DOORS ON A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WERE HANGING AROUND FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS 49:10 WITH THE VICTORY STADIUM, NOW WITH THE RIVERSIDE COMPLEX, DEVELOPING THE RIVER INTO A MULTI-USE AREA, I CAN GO ON AND ON. I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS COUNCIL, AND PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.))
[RUNS= :21]
[OUT Q=the last few years.]

Carder says the owners of the Patrick Henry remain committed to a five million dollar renovation that will convert the hotel into an independent living center.
With the move to South Boston, Carder will assume management of Berry Hill Mansion, a national historic landmark and Marriott Conference Hotel, that has ambitious plans for expansion.
[SOT]
[IN Q=And our loss]
((AND OUR LOSS BUT NOT REALLY OUR LOSS WILL BE A GAIN FOR SOUTH BOSTON AREA. MR CARDER HAS FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN HIS CAREER HERE, AND FACED THEM BRAVELY AND I THINK THAT HE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB HERE IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY.))
[RUNS= :18]
[OUT Q=here in the Roanoke Valley.]))
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[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom Pod]

Choosing Carder's successor will fall to the remaining members of Roanoke City Council, Keith.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD /Newsroom Pod]

Since he isn't planning to step down until June, they have some time to consider how to fill his unexpired term.

(QUESTION: IS THERE ANY INDICATION WHO THEY MIGHT CHOOSE?)

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

It kept people out of Lynchburg's oldest cemetery for generations.
Still ahead, officials hope restoration of it will keep people coming to the Hill City's most popular tourist spot for generations to come.
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[SOT]
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((GAS GAS GAS))
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[VO-NAT]

Plus Virginia reservists headed for active duty get a crash course in the dangers of chemical weapons.
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[Fort-Eustis]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:52:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
For the past month, members of a Virginia based Army Reserve unit have been preparing for worst case scenarios.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Eustis;]
Soldiers with the 359th Transportation Battalion are learning how to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear, chemical or biological threat. Today-- the media got a chance to watch the men and women as they underwent training at Fort Eustis.
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[SOT 00:22:42]
[IN Q=Whenever we do ]
((RANDY LOCK/ARMY RESERVIST; WHENEVER WE DO GET DEPLOYED, IF WE DO HAVE CHEMICAL WARFARE, WE HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO PUT OUR MASK ON, WEAR THAT CHEMICAL SUIT, AND TO DETECT DIFFERENT AGENTS, THAT BLISTER AGENT THAT BLOOD AGENT, YOUR NERVE AGENT, STUFF LIKE THAT THERE, AND WE HAVE TRAINING HERE... BECAUSE OVER THERE IT'S GOING TO BE REAL LIFE. ))
[SUPER=01-Randy Lock/Army Reservist; :03]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=to be real life.]
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[VO-NAT]
Approximately 75-soldiers are members of this particular reserve unit. They have not been told when or where they will be deployed.
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[NS-Asbestos]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC2:01:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A ruling by the U-S Supreme Court today may open the door to more lawsuits against Norfolk Southern.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The court says workers who were exposed to cancer-causing asbestos can collect monetary damages in court. even if they don't have cancer. The vote was five to four. To collect, workers must already have a separate asbestos-related illness and be able to document their health concerns. Norfolk Southern officials say they're disappointed, but that they don't think it will result in substantial claims against the company. The dissenting opinion says previous rulings don't support the finding that workers can collect money when they suffer from another disease that doesn't necessarily lead to cancer.
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[Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC59:29]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Fire officials say cooking was the cause of an apartment fire that sent a Roanoke man to the U-V-A Burn Center.
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[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
36-year-old Daniel Cobb was in his third floor unit at the Lee Apartments on Mountain Avenue when flames broke out this morning. He is being treated for critical burns and smoke inhalation. Officials say the accidental fire originated in the kitchen. The apartment complex has a total of 19-units. Five people had to be evacuated for safety reasons.
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[SOT17:08:17]
[IN Q=THE BIGGEST]
((AUDIE FERRIS/ROANOKE FIRE BATTALION CHIEF; THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THE SMOKE AND BECAUSE IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING PEOPLE WERE STILL IN THEIR APARTMENTS STILL IN BED SO OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS EVACUATING THOSE PEOPLE OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Audie Ferris/Roanoke Fire Battalion Chief;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=PEOPLE OUT.]
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[VO-NAT]
Damage is estimated at 30-thousand dollars. Cobb's unit is destroyed while several others have smoke and water damage.
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[Accident]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=502-12 TC1:02:15]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

A woman is in the hospital after a three-car accident in Roanoke.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

It happened just after noon at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Plantation Road.
Witnesses say a delivery truck was making a left turn and slammed into a white Oldsmobile that was crossing the intersection.
Sue Forbes was pinned between the truck and a Yellow Cab for about 20 minutes before rescue workers got her out of her car.
There's no word yet on her condition.
The accident is still under investigation.
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[Stocks]

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

Nagging fears about a war with Iraq sent stocks lower again. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/171.85/7568.18/y/26.92/1278.37;]

The DOW tumbled 172 points.
NASDAQ fell 27.
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[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[City-Cemetery]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:48:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg's busiest tourist spot is celebrating the restoration of one of its most historic elements.
Steve Smallshaw tells us how the community came together to help save a key part of the Old City Cemetery.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=For 175 years]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jane White/Old City Cemetery; :14]
[SUPER=01-Randy Parr/Lynchburg Restoration Inc.; :41]
[SUPER=@ssm1; :57]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( For 175 years, it has stood guard over Lynchburg's oldest burial ground.
But the years had taken their toll on the brick wall that used to surround Old City Cemetery, so a couple of years ago, an effort began to save what was left.
[SOT 2:06:15]
((JANE WHITE/OLD CITY CEMETERY: BECAUSE WE'RE SO HILLY, DRAINAGE WAS AN ISSUE, AND THE WALL WAS LEANING IN PLACES, IT ALREADY HAD SOME BAD CRACKS IN ADDITION TO JUST PLAIN BEING, TO THE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS THAT YOU COULD JUST PULL IT APART))

[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=pull it apart.]

Randy Parr's restoration company won the bid to restore the wall, donating a good portion of the work to the cause.
Expert masons repointed crumbling mortar, shored up sagging sections and replaced others with handmade brick.
[SOT 2:02:03]
((RANDY PARR/LYNCHBURG RESTORATION INC.: IT'S NICE TO BE A PART OF THIS CEMETERY BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE KIND OF UNDERESTIMATED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CEMETERY AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO FOR LYNCHBURG IT'S LIKE A MAGNET PULLING PEOPLE TO IT.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=people to it.]
[Standup 3:06:42] ((Restoration of the wall took about a year and a half and 130-thousand dollars to complete. The money came from both large and small private donations, from a 40-thousand dollar grant to 77 dollars in lunch money from a group of local school children.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=local school children.]
[SOT 2:05:46]
((JANE WHITE: IT MAKES YOU VERY PROUD THAT EVEN THOUGH IT USED TO BE A MILE LONG, THIS IS ONLY 800 FEET, AT LEAST YOU SAVED THAT LITTLE PIECE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT STORY.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=tell that story.]
[natsot windchimes 2:49:37]
[RUNS= 02]

It's a story with something for everyone.. from history to horticulture.. and one that's enjoyed by 15-thousand visitors every year.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg. ))

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Tonight on News 7 Sports - the Hokies fire head basketball coach Ricky Stokes. JJ and Travis Watson get some ACC recogintion tonight.
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[VO-NAT]
and the Express is back in the Roundhouse tomorrow night skating against Charlotte in the first of three home games thi week.
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[S-Stokes]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-134]
[GRAPHIC=STOKES]

Ricky Stokes ran in the Richmond Marathon this past November to show folks he could go the distance. This afternoon Tech athletic director Jim Weaver decided he wasn't approaching the finish line fast enough. Stokes was fired today after four years as the Hokies' head coach. Steve Mason now checks in from outside of Cassell Coliseum [GO TO DOUBLE BOX WITH MASON MICRO]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
[SUPER=@steve1;]
with details concerning and reaction to Stokes' dismissal. [GO TO STEVE FULL SCREEN]

[MASON ROLL CUE:]

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[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[super=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Va. Tech Athletic Director; :12]
[super=01-Carlos Dixon/VT Guard; :35]
[SUPER=01-Fabian Davis/VT Forward; :45]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=...very disciplined program."]
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[OUT TO DOUBLE BOX] [MIKE AND STEVE WILL DO QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME PREMITTING]
[STEVE TOSSES BACK TO MIKE]

[S-Women]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-139 5920tc]
[GRAPHIC=tech]

Making matters worse for Stokes is the success the women's team is enjoying. Bonnie Henrickson just secured her sixth straight 20 win season with the Hokies. Her teams have never won less than 20. Today they were trying to beat a team that had won 69 straight.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Piscataway, NJ/Fox-Net; :00]
Diana Taurasi and the number one ranked Connecticut Huskies are the Hokies' opponent in the semi-finals of the Big East tournament that is underway at this hour. Taurasi cane out smoking and she was hoping that her hot hand would send Tech away quietly. But Ieva Kublina had other ideas as the Hokies actually led the game for most of the first half.
[super=33-Virginia Tech/35/Connecticut #1/37;]
U Conn led 31-to-29 at the break and right now the Huskies are on top by 2 with 15 minutes to go.
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[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-1]
[GRAPHIC=acc]

The ACC's regular season ended last night with UVa getting an overtime win over Maryland. The tournament opens this Thursday night in Greensboro, and today the Associated Press handed out some ACC postseason honors.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :00]
For starters - Roanoke's own J.J. Redick caps his first regular season in the league by earning a spot on the five man all-freshman team. J.J. also impressed voters enough to capture a spot on the all-ACC third team squad. The Virginia Cavaliers placed just one player on the three all-ACC teams. Travis Watson, the senior from Brookneal, is a second team selection.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
UVa's Todd Billet earned honorable mention all-ACC props. The one name that is at the top of the all-ACC list and the all-ACC defensive team that was unveiled today is Wake For(------------) est's Josh Howard - the conference's likely player of the year.