WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/23/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

The uncertainty is over in the case of a local military man missing in Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
And Roanoke Police try to round up answers in the shooting deaths of a man and his dog.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Tonight on News 7 sports - Matt Schaub is being pushed for the Heisman, Uva and Tech are on the diamond in Salem tonight -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And thanks to some generous football fans at least Saturday's spring game - the Rayna DuBose fund now tops the 200 thousand dollar mark.
(------------)

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

The early growing season may be stunted by mother nature tomorrow morning. Temperatures sliding into the 30s will bring a frost and freeze. Details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]

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

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A South Boston airman is the sixth Virginian to die in the war in Iraq...
... while a Virginia Tech graduate also killed is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

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

[Watkins]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC1:48:28]
[GRAPHIC=Casualties]
[SUPER=219-Shannon Young/syoung*wdbj7.com]

An Air Force major from South Boston who has been listed as missing in action has been confirmed dead.
37-year-old Major William R. Watkins the Third was on an F-15 fighter that went down in Iraq two weeks ago.
Now, his family has official word his remains have been identified. [***WATKINS IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Marya /Pulpit;]

Marya Jones is here with more.
Shannon,
For two weeks, Bill Watkins' family has braced for news about what happened to him.
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Pulpit]
[SUPER=219-Marya Jones/mjones*wdbj7.com;]

Today, they're remembering him as a man who lived to serve God, his country and his family.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Watkins was a]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=for this short time.]
(( Watkins was a weapons system officer on an F-15, completing a bombing mission in Northern Iraq when his plane went down.
He had been stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.
Family members declined an on-camera interview today, but said,
"Bill's legacy will continue in the lives of his two children as it will in the memories that each of us holds dear of this truly caring and loving man. We have always been and will continue to be proud to have known him even for this short time."))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Pulpit]

Watkins and his wife have a 11-month old son and were expecting another child in August. A fund is being set up for his children's education.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Marya /Pulpit;]

Arrangements are still being made for his memorial service in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and a burial in South Boston.
Shannon?

[Kaylor]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC58:11]
[GRAPHIC=Jeffrey Kaylor]

Meanwhile, another Virginian killed in the war was laid to rest today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A private burial was held at Arlington National Cemetery this afternoon for Army Second Lieutenant Jeffrey Kaylor. He was killed earlier this month in a grenade attack.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]
Kaylor was a member of Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets. He graduated in 2001. Kaylor is survived by his wife, Jenna, who was also in the R-O-T-C program and graduated the same year. He was 24.
(------------)

[Dan-River]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC00:12]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]
Dan River Incorporated is laying off two-hundred workers.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape;]
Danville's largest employer says it's cutting jobs to shift manufacturing efforts to remain efficient and NOT because of a slowdown in orders. The textile company has a workforce of 38-hundred. A total of four shifts are being eliminated including an accessory plant, sewing plant and two warehouses. The majority of cuts are to full-time, hourly positions. They'll be effective on Friday. The company says it's assisting workers in applying for unemployment benefits.
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[NAFTA]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC1:32:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
While Dan River's layoffs aren't due to foreign competition, our region is still learning how textile companies can survive under NAFTA.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Canadian Embassy officials spoke on the topic at Roanoke's Kiwanis Club meeting today. The message for textile industries was that they have to change to succeed. Embassy officials say specializing in a high value product is important.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:25:57]
[IN Q=nafta requires]
((LESLIE THOMAS REISSNER/CANADIAN EMBASSY; NAFTA REQUIRES INDUSTRIES TO CHANGE BUT IT MAKES THEM MUCH STRONGER BUT INDUSTRIES THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY STRONG IN REGIONS IN QUEBEC FOR INSTANCE WE HAVE TEXTILES AND CLOTHING MANUFACTURING HAVE TO RE-ARRANGE THEMSELVES. ))
[SUPER=01-Leslie Thomas Reissner/Canadian Embassy;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=re-arranger themsleves.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Embassy officials say in the end, there is no way a tee-shirt will be for less money in North America than overseas. Canada has found textile success by importing Italian fabric, making suits and exporting them to the U-S.
(------------)

[Birth-control]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC1:42:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Abortion opponents are going after Virginia's colleges and universities.
They want student health centers to stop dispensing the so-called "morning after" pill.
Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=CONDOMS BREAK, DIAPHRAGMS GET]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
[SUPER=01-Nancy Harris/VCU Women's Health Coordinator]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :]
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :]
[SUPER=01-Grace Park/Planned Parenthood of VA; :]
[SUPER=@meghan1;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=MM, News 7, Richmond]
(([SOT ::]
[IN Q=CONDOMS BREAK, DIAPHRAGMS]
((NANCY HARRIS/VCU HEALTH CENTER: CONDOMS BREAK. DIAPHRAGMS GET DISLODGED. PILLS GET FORGOTTEN. SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN.]

That back-up plan for many Virginia students is a drug called Preven or Plan B.
It is offered at many student health centers including Virginia Tech, Radford and Longwood Universities.
Republican lawmaker Bob Marshall says the drug facilitates a type of early abortion.
And that giving the drug to students violates the state's informed consent law.
But many health care workers disagree.
[SOT ::]
[IN Q=IT'S NOT AN ABORTION PILL]
((NANCY HARRIS/VCU STUDENT HEALTH CENTER: IT'S NOT AN ABORTION PILL. IT DELAYS OVULATION. THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. JUST LIKE BREAST-FEEDING DELAYS OVULATION.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=BREAST-FEEDING DELAYS OVULATION.]

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says the issue raises an important question about the so-called "morning after" pill.
[SOT 02:33:54]
[IN Q=AT WHAT POINT DOES IT]
((DELEGATE MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: AT WHAT POINT DOES IT STOP BECOMING A CONTRACEPTIVE AND BECOME AN ABORTION?)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=BECOME AN ABORTION]

Griffith says it's a debate for the General Assembly to settle.
But other say state lawmakers should stay out of it.
[SOT 02:30:51]
[IN Q=I THINK THE FINAL DETERMINATION]
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=THERE.]

Abortion rights supporters are criticizing Republicans for deliberately trying to blur the line between birth control and abortion.
[SOT ::]
[IN Q=I'M SURE WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH]
((GRACE SPARKS/PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF VIRGINIA: I'M SURE WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH THIS EVEN IF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION WENT AWAY, THAT I THINK THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE CONTRACEPTION IN GENERAL.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=WHO OPPOSE CONTRACEPTION IN GENERAL.]

Last week James Madison University decided to halt the sale of the morning after pill after receiving a letter from Delegate Marshall.
Marshall says he is sending similar letters to eight other state-supported schools that dispense the drug.
He's hoping for the same response.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

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

Virginia's longest serving politician wants to keep at it.
More on that story when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]

And see what's being done to change the face of one local downtown.
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[Rke-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=503-02 TC11:02]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

Roanoke Police hope someone will come forward with answers to a Montgomery County man's death.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

51-year-old Richard Anthony Palmer of Riner was found shot to death in his pickup truck at Norfolk Avenue and 12th Street Southwest yesterday.
His dog was also killed.
Palmer was a school bus driver in Montgomery County.
He had also worked as a sports photographer at the Montgomery County News-Messenger and at the Southwest Times in Radford.
(------------)

[Harvey]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A former Virginia Tech employee was indicted on embezzlement charges today. 37-year-old Angela Harvey was a program support technician for the university's Foreign Language and Literature Department. Investigators say from 1997 to 2002 she embezzled more than 70-thousand dollars through false reports of overtime and travel reimbursements. Harvey has since been fired. She is charged with three counts of embezzlement.

[Clifford]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC2:34:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A high school football coach is in legal trouble, for slapping one of his players last November.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Season;]

Patrick Henry High School Football Coach Kevin Clifford was disciplined following the November 8th incident, but now he also faces criminal charges.
School officials confirm the coach has been suspended without pay until the charges are resolved.
The incident happened after the last game of the football season. When contacted this afternoon, Clifford said he did not strike the player out of anger.
"It's unfortunate for all involved," Clifford told News 7, "It was a mistake and I just want to move on for the sake of my family, the program and the school."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

School Superintendent Wayne Harris says suspending Clifford without pay is consistent with action he has taken under similar circumstances in the past.

[Covington]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC1:17:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Leaders in Covington admit theirs is an area that needs a little help. Downtown businesses have closed or moved away. Now city leaders hope that a new grant will help the community attract new business. Richard Lesko has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Covington; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jeremiah Walker/Olde Town Covington Inc.; :16]
[SUPER=@Richard2; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=Lesko, News 7, Covington]
(( Since July of last year, economic development leaders have been trying to land a major Community Development Block Grant that they say would help revitalize the downtown region, and would help do some spring cleaning on some buildings.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 12:11:24]
[INQ=The grant will...]
((JEREMIAH WALKER/OLDE TOWN COVINGTON INC.; THE GRANT WILL HELP US KEEP COVINGTON WHERE IT IS, AND HOPEFULLY KEEP IMPROVING, ADDING NEW BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN.)) [RUNS9]
[OUTQ=adding new businesses.]
The process has been two fold. Last year, city leaders applied for a planning grant that paved the way for the city to pursue more money. The state awarded them 20-thousand dollars to develop a long range plan for the city, and to hire consultants to make a case for a larger grant. If the city gets its way this time around, the grant would put more than a million dollars into the downtown area. That money would go towards upgrading second story apartments, refacing store fronts, making repairs to the train depots, and refurbishing a historic bridge that badly needs repairs. It is all an effort to keep the downtown businesses that they have and attract new ones to help stimulate the city's economy.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 12:07:03]
[INQ=I think we can do...]
((JEREMIAH WALKER/OLDE TOWN COVINGTON INC.; I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH THIS GRANT. IT WON'T SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, BUT IT WILL DEFINATELY BE A BIG BOOST TO THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY.)) [RUNS10]
[OUTQ=boost to the downtown economy.]
The city is competing with 5 others around the state for the grant, and civic leaders expect to find out sometime in June if the state shares their vision for the city. Richard Lesko, News 7, Covington.))

[Stocks]

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

Better-than-expected earnings reports sparked some modest buying on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/30.67/8515.66/x/14.80/1466.16;]

The DOW rose 31 points.
NASDAQ gained 15.
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[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Newman-Putney]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC1:38:03]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

Virginia's longest-serving politician says, if it's okay with the voters, he'd like to stay in Richmond a little while longer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Bedford County delegate Lacey Putney today announced he's running for the 19th District seat for the 22nd time.
Putney is an Independent who caucuses and votes with the Republican majority.. several of whom were on hand to show their support.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:31:45//3:23:52]
[IN Q=I don't make]
((DEL. LACEY PUTNEY/I-BEDFORD CO.: I DON'T MAKE MANY PROMISES. MY COMMITMENT IS TO FOLLOW A COMMON SENSE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO STATE GOVERNMENT, SOUND FISCAL POLICY AND LEGISLATION THAT FOCUSES ON SOUND FAMILY VALUES.)) ((SEN. STEVE NEWMAN/R-LYNCHBURG: ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO STRESS THE TEAM, I THINK WE HAVE THE SENIORITY, I THINK WE HAVE THE TEAM APPROACH IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA TO KEEP OUR AREA GOING FORWARD IN RICHMOND AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Lacey Putney/(I) Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Steve Newman/(R) Lynchburg; :18]
[RUNS=29]
[OUT Q=looking forward to that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

State senator Steve Newman also announced he's seeking re-election to his 23rd District seat.
Putney is facing a possible challenge from Lynchburg firefighter Art Lipscomb, while Newman could be opposed by Southern Air president Robert Clark.
(------------)

[Kenworthy]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=03-12 TC29:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra is looking for a new executive director.
Jane Kenworthy today announced her resignation. She's planning to move to the Baltimore area to be closer to family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 31]

Kenworthy has been managing the symphony's business operations for the past two and a half years.
She said she's proud she was able to erase the orchestra's deficit, increase paid attendance and develop new audiences.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - some baseball notes, women's lacrosse highlights and an update on the Rayna DuBose fund.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, Matt Schaub's heisman campaign in Charlottesville has begun. Steve Mason has the details when we return.
(------------)

[S-UVa]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/UVA]

Baseball fans in the area are in for a real treat tonight. At seven at Salem Memorial Stadium Virginia Tech on UVa. Last week the Hokies beat the Cavs 5 to 3, their game this past Monday in Charlottesville was rained out for the second time this season, so tonight is the last chance for folks to see the two in action against each other. The first pitch is at 7.

[S-Hillcats]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=HILLCATS]

The Lynchburg Hillcats closed out this week's road trip at Myrtle Beach this afternoon with a 3-to-2 loss to the Pelicans. The loss means that for the first time this season - the defending league champs have lost a series. A solo homer in the bottom of the ninth did Lynchburg in. Amazingly, it was Myrtle Beach's first homer of the season after 605 at bats.

[S-Schaub]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-140 1:22:54]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]
While the UVa spring football season is over, the university continues promoting Matt Schaub. Steve Mason has more on the rising seniors climb up the Heisman trophy watch list.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Matt Schaub/28 Touchdown Passes Last Season; :19]
[SUPER=04-2003 Season; :34]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Third Year Head Football Coach; :46]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=....News 7 sports"]
(---------------)

((Matt Schaub's plate has never been more full. He is now the Cavaliers top leader, one of the nations top returning quarterbacks and he must play his senior season with a first year UVa offensive coordinator. His calm demeanor is perhaps most evident in his support for Ron Prince. ((:)) Schaub set or tied at least 10 UVa single season football records last fall while throwing for 2,976 yards. He produced a 4 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio and was sixth in the nation in passing efficiency. ((AL GROH/UVA THIRD YEAR HEAD COACH:)) ((STEVE MASON:))
UVa has already started its promotion of Schaub for the coveted trophy, but the hype hasn't gone to his head. ((:))
Schaub opens his senior campaign August 30th at home against Duke. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))

[S-Lax]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=sp-134 12515tc]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]

Roanoke College played host to Guilford in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference women's lacrosse tournament.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Quakers vs. Maroons;]

This is the third time the Maroons have met the Quakers in the ODAC tournament, with Roanoke winning the first two outings.
Roanoke goes up one - nothing a few minutes into the game when Julie Vanderghinst (VAN-der-ginst) scores, and the assist goes to Megan Cromwell.
Roanoke would extend its lead to two goals on a penalty shot off the stick of Carrie Smith.
[SUPER=34-Guilford/6/Roanoke/20;]The Maroons would go up 3-to-0 before Guilford gets its first goal of the game.
Sarah Routhier (ROW-tee-air) cuts across the crease and beats the Maroon goalie. Roanoke wins 20 to 6.
(------------)

[S-Rayna]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-146 10645tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]

Rayna DuBose, the Tech women's basketball player who lost parts of hands and feet after contracting a rare form of meningitis is amazed each and every day at just how much her story impacts strangers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Saturday; :00]
Today she found out that the fund, set up through the Tech Monogram Club to help with her ever growing medical expenses, has now topped the $200 hundred thousand dollar mark thanks to generosity of strangers, fans and donors from all over the country. This past Saturday - proceeds from the Tech spring football game's admission charges were earmarked for the fund. Today officials said $62 thousand, five hundred and thirty five dollars were raised at the game. Only adults were charged the five dollar admission fee.
(------------)

[S-Carbon]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-149]
[GRAPHIC=RICK MAST]

When our good friend Rick Mast was forced to retire from racing due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning - he hoped that his departure would not be in vain. NASCAR's poster boy already is doing some good.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC; :00]
By bringing the problem to NASCAR's attention - the sports research and development center in Concord, North Carolina has developed a catalyst system that can reduce or eliminate the deadly gas. Tony Stewart - who has had all kinds of problems with carbon monoxide tested the new device at Martinsville two weeks ago and the results are promising. The device sits on the floor in the car next to the driver and sends clean air to the driver's helmet. It works on the same premise as the catalytic converter on your personal car. (------------) Mast's input has been critical in the development of the device.