[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
Coming up on News 7,
It was the Bibleman not Franklin Graham that had children singing praises this morning.
Charges are dropped against 12 people accused of participating in a drug ring.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Funeral services are held for a South Boston airmen killed in combat in Iraq.
(------------)
[Sports-head]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight in sports, Alabama fires football coach Mike Price, the Avs lose again on the diamond, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jerry Nadeau is still in intensive care in a Richmond hospital.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
A mixed bag of weather including some sunshine, rain, storms, even a few reports of some hail this Saturday. The showers and storms are expected to continue through this evening.
We'll see who is affected and check out your Sunday forecast coming up.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:22:33:10]
[IN Q=I really enjoy it]
((I REALLY ENJOY IT, IT'S PRETTY FUN. I MEAN YOU DANCE AND SING AT THE SAME TIME. I ENJOY IT.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=I enjoy it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05 + ]
Area children get their big day at the Southwest Virginia Festival with Franklin Graham.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
Good evening, I'm Joy Sutton in for Teresa Hamilton.
[Graham-Festival]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC-28:39]
[GRAPHIC=Franklin Graham]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Thousands of children and their parents turned out to see Bibleman in Salem today.
And while the performance was cut short, festival goers say everything happens for a reason.
Jennifer Wishon explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Southwest Virginia Festival]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Shea Arnold/Festival Runner; :16]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Arnold/Festival Counselor; :37]
[SUPER=01-Nicole Wade/Children's Choir; :52]
[SUPER=01-Willie Aames/Bibleman; 1:08]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:46]
[RUNS=2:14]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Salem]
((((CHOIR 1:07:55:24 SMALL TO BIG))
The Southwest Virginia Festival may have been organized by adults, but children were the focus Saturday morning.
While some sang in the choir, others were happy to help out on the field.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:06:48:09]
[IN Q=It makes me feel]
((SHEA ARNOLD/FESTIVAL RUNNER: IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M A BLESSING FROM THE LORD BECAUSE I THINK HE SENT ME HERE FOR A REASON AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN THAT YOU KNOW IS GONNA SAVE SOMEBODY.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=gonna save somebody]
And bringing children to know God was the goal of the event.
Ralph Alfred of Roanoke went through special training to counsel new Christians.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:12:25:26]
[IN Q=People come up]
((RALPH ALFRED/FESTIVAL COUNSELOR: PEOPLE COME UP SEEKING QUESTIONS OR HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO GIVE THEIR HEART TO GOD AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. WE'RE HERE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AND PRAY WITH THEM AND BRING THEM INTO THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=the Christian world]
But the adult counselors weren't the only ones on a mission to minister.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:19:09:16]
[IN Q=Here you get to]
((NICOLE WADE/CHILDREN'S CHOIR: HERE YOU GET TO SING TO EVERYBODY AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU BRING, YOU CAN WITNESS TO THEM BY SINGING.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=them by singing]
But of course the main attraction was Bibleman.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:37]
[IN Q=I head one time]
((SHEA ARNOLD/FESTIVAL RUNNER: I HEARD ONE TIME HE FLEW ACROSS THE STAGE.))
[RUNS= 03]
[OUT Q=across the stage]
The man behind Bibleman's mask hasn't always been one of God.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:28:05:18]
[IN Q=I mean, if anyone]
((WILLIE AAMES/BIBLEMAN: I MEAN, IF ANYONE HAD TOLD ME TEN YEARS AGO THAT I WAS GONNA BE WEARING SPANDEX FOR JESUS. I MEAN YOU GOTTA ADMIT, IT'S A FUNNY IDEA.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=a funny deal]
Willie Aames played the character Buddy Lembeck in the television series Charles in Charge.
He spent many of those days under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
But about eight years ago he says he turned his life around and soon Bibleman was born.
But he doesn't want children to idolize the character.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:29:28:05]
[IN Q=I make it very ]
((WILLIE AAMES/BIBLEMAN: I MAKE IT VERY VERY CLEAR DURING THE SHOW THAT WITHOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD I'M NOTHING, I'M JUST A MAN, JUST A GUY IN A SUIT AND I WILL SAY THAT DURING THE SHOW.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=during the show]
During the show Bibleman and his partner practice verses and fight evil with the Bible.
There were also music videos and dancing and everything was smooth until..
[26:28:14 - nats of rain]
The heavens opened over Salem Stadium.
Bibleman continued to perform but Festival goers hurried to their cars.
And by the time of the invitation the stadium was mostly empty.
But organizers say it was all part of a plan only a higher power would understand.
Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Salem.))
[ANCHOR=JOY]
[GRAPHIC=]
Franklin Graham will speak at the Festival a little later this evening at Salem Stadium.
Artists Michael W. Smith and Mary Mary will also perform.
We'll have more on those events coming up tonight on News 7 at Eleven.
[Watkins-Memorial]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-17 TC-7:06]
[GRAPHIC=Watkins]
Friends and Family gathered today to say their final farewells to a South Boston airmen killed in the line of duty.
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT tape 2 around 6:50]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF JET]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=NAT SOUND OF JET]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.]
U. S Air Force Major William R. Watkins, the third, was laid to rest at South Boston's Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The 37 year old was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his crew mate were killed when their F-15 went down during a bombing mission.
The military also plans to hold a memorial service for Watkins at the airforce base where he was stationed in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Watkins leaves behind a wife and an eleven month old son. His widow is expecting another child in August.
(------------)
[Murder]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
One Martinsville man was killed, and a Danville man wounded after being shot yesterday.
Police say 37 year old Randolph Eugene Taylor died after being shot in the upper body and head.
29 year old Michael Anthony Marlowe is being treated at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville for a gunshot wound to his stomach and is listed in fair condition.
Officials have arrested a seventeen year old and charged him with murder and malicious wounding.
He is being held at the W-W Moore Detention Center in Danville.
[Callaway-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jja/mjo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
A hardware store in Callaway was destroyed by fire last night.
The Auto Discount store caught fire just after nine.
Firefighters say the flames started in the garage area.
Five fire companies responded to the blaze. Authorities are still investigating the cause and compiling damage estimates.
The store is owned by the Franklin County Board of Supervisors Chairman Wayne Angell.
He sells lawnmowers, chainsaws, hardware and garden supplies at the store.
[Sanmina]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC-2:50:15]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]
Electronics manufacturer Sanmina (San-MEE-nuh)-SCI laid off 114 employees, leaving fewer than 400 workers at the old Ericsson
property in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file; ]
A compay spokesperson says the facility just could NOT maintain its work force with the world economy and the electrnics industry still suffering.
The company has gone through several rounds of layoffs since inheriting 17-hundred-80 employees from Ericsson in October of 2000.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[SS=NONE]
Still ahead on the newscast, narcotics officials get some good news, and bad in two drug ring investigations.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and also, this weekend is always the sweetest time of year in Roanoke. We'll take a look at the annual strawberry festival in just a few minutes.
(----------------)
[Radford-Drug]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC-1:08:38]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Prosecutors say 15 of the 18 people accused of participating in a violent drug ring in Radford have pleaded guilty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
One of them is 28-year-old Malcolm Lewis, who was described as the operation's leader. He was convicted of directing a continual criminal enterprise. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison when he's sentenced in federal court later this year.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]
14 others have pleaded guilty to drug charges or money laundering. That leaves one person who has not been arrested, one who plans to plead guilty and a final defendant who is scheduled to go to trial May 12th.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Authorities say the drug ring distributed more than one million dollars in cocaine, crack and marijuana and was responsible for drive-by shootings and other violent crimes.
[Rke-Drug]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC-1:58:53]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Meanwhile, a federal judge drops charges against 12 people accused of participating in another international drug ring.
A drug ring that brought cocaine through the Roanoke Valley during the 1990's.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Federal prosecutors asked the judge to drop the charges because the man who was set to testify against the defendants is no longer available.
Javier Cruz is on the run in Colombia. He was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the drug operation.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
But since the charges were based on his information, without his testimony, the judge decided to dismiss the 12 indictments.
[National-Guard]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Two more Virignia Army National Guard units are being released from service in the war on terrorism. A Guard spokesman says 325 soldiers will return to Virginia by July 31st.
One of the units has armories in Danville, Martinsville, Chatham and South Boston. The other is based in Sandston.
[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on News 7 at 6, Mister Rogers is remembered by Roanoke College, and thousands of college graduates get ready to meet the working world...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and also, a new program will take you behind the scenes to where some local artists create their works of art.
(----------------)
[Commencement]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The first weekend of May is the traditional time for some colleges in our region to send their newest graduates out into the world.
Governor Mark Warner spoke at Radford University's graduation just a day after the Board of Visitors announced a tuition increase for the next year.
Roanoke College graduated its 2003 class of 363 students indoors today, and bestowed an honorary degree to the late Fred Rogers, known to many of us as Mr. Rogers on telvision.
Averett University handed 339 diplomas out.
Also, Sweet Brier College awarded degrees to 143 graduates.
[Studio-Tour]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
If you've ever looked at a piece of artwork and wanted to know more about the person who created it, now's your chance.
In this week's Time Off, Shannon Young sketches out Roanoke's Open Studio Tour.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Susan Jamison/Artist; :26]
[SUPER=01-Sarah Muse/Artist; :53]
[SUPER=@Shannon2; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=STD]
(([SOT 11:19:49-11:19:54]
[IN Q=I have to use really...]
((SUSAN JAMISON/ARTIST: I HAVE TO USE REALLY SMALL BRUSHES TO APPLY THE PAINT. IT'S REALLY IMMEDIATE AND PRECISE.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=really immediate and precise.]
Paint is Susan Jamison's medium of choice.
But it's not the only way she expresses her creative side.
Her individuality is apparent in the way she defines her living space from which, she in turn, finds inspiration.
[SOT 11:09:30-11:09:40]
[IN Q=I planted all these beautiful...]
((SUSAN JAMISON/ARTIST: I PLANTED ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL LILIES AND THE ANIMALS CAME IN THE YARD AND BIT THE HEADS OFF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=off every single one of them.]
Jamison is one of dozens of artists involved in this weekend's Open Studio Tour, a unique event that allows the public into the artists' domain.
[SOT 11:24:06-11:24:09]
[IN Q= It's kind of an intimate feeling.]
((SARAH MUSE/ARTIST: IT'S KIND OF AN INTIMATE FEELING.))
[RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=intimate feeling.]
Sarah Muse specializes in jewelry and textiles.
But her biggest project these days is the renovation of her house.
Despite the chaos she says visitors are more than welcome to wander her "work in progress".
[SOT 11:23:43-11:23:48]
[IN Q=Everybody wants to know...]
((SARAH MUSE/ARTIST: EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW HOW AN ARTIST LIVES, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEIR PLACE LOOKS LIKE.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=what their place looks like.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 11:05:43-11:06:;10]
[IN Q=I think to see it in the context...]
((SUSAN JAMISON: I THINK TO SEE IT IN THE CONTEXT OF SOMEBODY'S HOME, THINGS THEY COLLECT, THE GARDEN THEY KEEP OR DON'T KEEP, TELLS MORE OF THE STORY THAN JUST SEEING THE ARTWORK IN A COMMERCIAL GALLERY SPACE WHERE YOU'RE PROBABLY DEALING WITH WHITE WALLS AND CERTAINLY NO PERSONAL OBJECTS AROUND OR ANYTHING.))
[RUNS:27]
[OUT Q=objects around or anything.]
Some houses will feature the work of guest artists, who will be on hand for discussions or to sell, if you're inclined to buy.
But interaction is not required.
Nor, for that matter, is an interest in art.
[SOT 11:06:17-1:06:22]
[IN Q=People are interested as much in seeing...]
((JAMISON: PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED AS MUCH IN SEEING THE KITCHEN RENOVATION AS MUCH AS THE STUDIO AND THAT'S FINE.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=as the studio and that's fine.]
Shannon Young, News 7, Roanoke.))
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Open Studio Tour continues tomorrow from noon to 5.
Maps are available at the Visitor's Center, Market Gallery and Studios on the Square.
[Strawberry-Festival]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC-20:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Organizers of the Strawberry Festival are hoping their sweet treats will bring in sweet rewards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The 23rd annual Strawberry Festival wrapped up at Elmwood Park today.
It's organized by the Community School in Roanoke and administrators expected to raise between 50 and 60- thousand dollars for the school.
They say the event is lots of fun but takes lots of volunteers and planning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:35:28]
[IN Q=The heavy preparations]
((LAURIE BECK/COMMUNITY SCHOOL DIRECTOR: THE HEAVY PREPARATIONS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN WE HAD BAKING DAYS AND WE BAKED OVER 11,000 SHORTCAKES AND FROZE THEM UNTIL WE GOT TO STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL. AND I'D SAY WE HAVE OVER 150 VOLUNTEERS.))
[SUPER=01-Laurie Beck/Community School Director;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=over 150 volunteers]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
More than 750 flats of strawberries were used along with the shortcakes.
Festival goers also indulged in adult sundaes, berries and creme and strawberry slushies.
When asked why the festival is so successful Beck said it's because they make the best strawberry shortcake in town.
(------------)
[Sports tease]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up, we'll update Jerry Nadeau's condition, plus the Cosmopolitan track meet hands out two scholarships, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Alabama has parted ways with head football coach Mike Price.
(------------)
[S-Nadeau]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-143 TC11354]
[GRAPHIC=Nadeau]
Nascar driver Jerry Nadeau is still listed in critical condition at the VCU Medical Center in Richmond after crashing in practice Friday. Nadeau is in the intensive care unit, but has been moved to his own room.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/FX; :00]
The 32 year old continues to be treated for head, lung, and rib injuries. A source close to the family stated the Nadeau had suffered a concussion and several broken ribs and that doctors had induced a coma to better treat him.
The Pontiac Excitement 400 goes on tonight in Richmond. Busch Series regular Jason Keller will make his Winston Cup debut behind the wheel of Nadeau's U-S Army machine. Keller is in his 10th season of Busch racing and currently sits 6th in the points standings.
(------------)
[S-Cosmo]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-140 TC13013]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Sports]
The 38th annual Cosmopolitan track meet is wrapping up at this hour over at Salem High School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
The athletes dodged the wet stuff off and on today.
Cosmo officials awarded two 1,000 dollar scholarships earlier this morning--one to Rockbridge County distance runner John Crews, an N-C State signee who did not compete because of a leg injury, and another to Lord Botetourt's Koran Leonard.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Randy Lower/Meet Director; :00]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=I was very impressed."]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=travis]
[GRAPHIC=news 7 sports]
We'll have the meet's final results tonight at 11.
[S-Avs]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-134 TC13021]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]
Just down the street the Salem Avalanche lost its second straight game to the cellar dwelling Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Pelicans vs. Avalanche; :00]
Only the diehards were out today dodging the rain showers at Salem Memorial Stadium.
The Avalanche trailed it 8-nothing in the bottom of the fifth, but Matt Lucas got Salem on the board with the base knock thru the hole in the left side of the infield. John Helquist crossed the dish for the Avs.
But there wasn't enough of that to go around. Renaldo Ruiz smacks a liner to left, but gets robbed by the Pelicans Greg Miller.
[SUPER=37-Myrtle Beach/9/Salem/3/;]
Myrtle Beach went on to win it by a final score of 9 to 3.
(------------)
[S-Price]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-149 TC4953]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA Football]
For the 3rd time in 5 years, the University of Alabama is in the market for a new head football coach. Today the school fired Mike Price who hadn't even coached a game yet for the Crimson Tide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tuscaloosa, AL; :00]
The termination comes about four months after Price was hired from Washington State.
Price's future was in doubt following his behavior on a trip to Florida for a pro-am golf tournament. Reports say that Price spent hundreds of dollars on drinks and a topless dancer, who then ordered 1,000 dollars worth of room service and charged it to Price's account.
Alabama school President Robert Witt made the decision to fire Price in a meeting with school trustees earlier today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Robert Witt/University of Alabama President; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Price/Former Alabama Football Coach; :23]
[RUNS=:48]
(------------)
[OUT Q=second chances in life."]
by SS