WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/10/03

[7-VOB-Bramblett]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mpu]
[TAPE#=03-01]
[GRAPHIC=Bramblett]

Last night, Earl Bramblett was executed for the 1994 murder of a Vinton family of four.
In his last statement, Bramblett continued to claim that he was innocent of all charges against him.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I didn't]
[SUPER=01-Larry Traylor/Department of Corrections Spokesman]
((Larry Traylor/Department of Corrections Spokesman: "I DIDN'T MURDER THE HODGES FAMILY, I NEVER MURDERED ANYBODY. I'M GOING TO GO TO MY DEATH WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, I'M GOING TO GO TO MY DEATH HAVING HAD A GREAT LIFE BECAUSE OF MY TWO GREAT SONS, MIKE AND DOUG. MIKE AND DOUG, THANK YOU, YOU'VE BLESSED ME, BE STRONG, REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES, I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER. THANKS FOR BLESSING ME."))
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=blessing me.]
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Bramblett chose the electric chair rather than lethal injection as a protest over his conviction.
He is the first inmate executed this year and only the third inmate executed by electric chair since prisoners were given a choice in 1995.

[7-11Watkins]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC1:10:00]
[GRAPHIC=war w/ iraq]

A Southside family is praying for the safe return of a loved one serving in Iraq. The Department of Defense says the whereabouts of Major William Watkins and another airman are unknown. Watkins has NOT been officially designated as missing in action.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Goldsboro, NC;]
Military officials say an F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Iraq on Sunday but they will not confirm that it was his aircraft. Watkins was based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.
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[GRAPHIC=Kim]
[ANCHOR=HOLD]
William Watkins grew up in South Boston. Family members say they do not want to release any information that may jeopardize the possibility of his safe return.

[7-11Local-Iraqis]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC42:58]
[GRAPHIC=Battle for Baghdad]
Many celebrated in the streets of Baghdad as the U-S removed the statue of Sadam Hussein frrom the center of the city.
It brought celebration to Southwest Virginia as well.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke]

Iraqis living in Roanoke kept a close eye on developments yesterday, and hailed the apparent end of Saddam Hussein's regime.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:48:04]
[IN Q=I cried emotionally]
((HUSSAIN ALSAADY: I CRIED EMOTIONALLY AND THIS MOMENT WE WERE WAITING FOR FOREVER AND A DAY. AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BORN ALL OVER AGAIN. )) ((ALMUSAWI MAJEED: JUST A NEW LIFE FOR US. WE ARE SO HAPPY AND WE WAIT A LONG TIME FOR THIS MOMENT.))
[SUPER=207-Hussain Alsaady; :00]
[SUPER=207-Almusawi Majeed; :12]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=wait a long time for this moment.]
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[VO-NAT]

Some members of Roanoke's Iraqi community haven't seen their families in more than a dozen years.
But they are now looking forward to the day when they will be reunited with close relatives and friends.
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[45-Short-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Jennifer Short]
Sheriff Frank Cassell says more help is needed in the investigation into the murders of Jennifer Short and her parents. At least four Henry County investigators are working 'round the clock on the case.
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[VO-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
The sheriff talked about the investigation yesterday as he announced his bid for a fourth term. Investigators from Rockingham County, North Carolina are also working full-time on the murder case.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
But Cassell and his investigators say federal and state support here has dwindled because of budget cuts and plan to approach the Governor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=But I don't ]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF; BUT I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE THAT THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA WHO CALLED ME WHEN THIS THING HAPPENED AND OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR REALIZES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR ON EVIDENCE FROM THE CRIME LAB.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=FROM THE CRIME LAB.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
NEWS 7 contacted Mark Warner's office for comment. A spokeswoman says the governor regards this as a unique case because a child was murdered and will re-iterate to state police and the crime lab that they should do everything within their professional judgment to help the case along.
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[45-Darnell-Phoner]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
A Graduate of V-M-I and Vinton Native is now a General in the Air Force, playing a major role in the war in Iraq.
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[VO-NAT 16]

Brigadier General Daniel Darnell spoke with News 7 from his base in Southwest Asia.
He is responsible for 34 squadrons, making up the most diverse flying wing in the Air Force.
General Darnell talked about the F-15 Eagle missing in action since a mission on Sunday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 08:17]
[IN Q=]
((IT WAS AN ATTACK MISSION. QUITE FRANKLY WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT HAPPNENED. TYPICALLY WE DO NOT RELASE OPERATIONAL DETAILS. I WILL TELL YOU THE SEARCH CONTINUES.))
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=the search continues.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 10]

General Darnell says sometimes intelligence comes in and action must be taken quickly.
He said Monday's attack on a leadership target is a good example.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:35]
[IN Q=]
((IN THE TIME THE B-ONE WAS TOLD TO RELEASED ON A LEADERSHIP TARGET DOWNTOWN EIGHT MINUTES LATER IT WAS OVERHEAD WITH BOMBS IN THE AIR.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=bombs in the air.]
(------------)
[Vo-Nat 07 plus pad]
General Darnell and his wife are both William Byrd graduates.
He says there is still much work left to do in Iraq.

(--------------)[8-460-ax]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=cak]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A tractor trailor has jackknifed on the ramp from Leesville Road to U-S 460 westbound in Campbell County. The truck was carrying a load of lumber, which dumped out during the accident.

Traffic on U-S 460 is moving along, but the ramp will be closed for several hours for clean up.[8-Monty-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=fatal accident]

Montgomery County authorities are investigating an accident that claimed the life of a Virginia Tech student.
It happened around 11- 30 last night on Jennelle Road near the railroad crossing at Cedar Run.
Authorities say the driver apparently lost control on the wet road.
The vehicle hit a tree and rolled over, killing the driver.
Three other passengers were injured.
All of the occupants were Tech students, but police are not yet releasing any names.

[8-11L'burg-Robberies]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC42:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The same man may be responsible for a pair of armed robberies in Lynchburg in the past week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Authorities say a suspect robbed the Super Eight motel on Candler's Mountain Road early Tuesday.
He's described as a six foot tall black man, in his 30's or 40's, weighing about 200 pounds.
That's similar to the description of the man who robbed a Lynchburg convenience store last week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:09:53]
[IN Q=There are some]
((TOM LAWTON/LYNCHBURG POLICE: THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES. THE TIMES ARE SIMILAR. THE ONE THAT HAPPENED BACK ON APRIL 3RD ON FORT AVENUE WAS RIGHT AROUND 11:30 AND THIS ONE AROUND ONE O'CLOCK AND ALSO THE SUBJECT WEARING A WIG.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Lawton/Lynchburg Police Department]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=wearing a wig.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The suspect in the motel robbery fled the scene in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle.
Anyone with information about either crime is asked to call Lynchburg police.
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[8-11Cigarette-taxes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC1:14:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In terms of making fast money, distribution of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes is becoming almost as profitable as drug trafficking.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Federal officials unsealed indictments today in Roanoke and Los Angeles. Fifteen suspects- -mostly Armenian men who live in the North Hollywood area- -are charged with buying cheap cigarettes in Virginia and re-selling them in L-A. The prosecutor say they grossed more than 18-million dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:38:40]
[IN Q=An operation of]
((AN OPERATION OF THIS KIND CAN YIELD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A VERY SHORT TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Sharon Burnham/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=short time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
More than 100-million cigarettes were shipped from here to the west coast and elsewhere... most of them genuine, Philip Morris and R-J Reynolds products. But A-T-F Agents also confiscated 51 cases of counterfeit cigarettes. Everything from the smokes inside to the packaging was fake. (------------)