[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
A former election official waits to hear how he'll pay for thousands of dollars in illegal credit card buys.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And, the public gets one last chance to affect the fate of five local schools.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports - Clemens is added to the all-star roster.
Tech's football camp opens with 600 campers.
The area's top baseball players weigh their options -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Lance Armstrong takes the low road to stay in front in today's ninth stage of the Tour De France.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]
Our week ahead in weather will be rather normaland warm while Claudette gets ready to make landfall in Texas. Details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]
News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:50]
[IN Q=It doesn't matter]
((IT DOESN'T MATTER IF HE'S REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. IF HE'S IN THE WRONG, HE'S GOING TO BE PROSECUTED.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=to be prosecuted.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
A Republican U-S Attorney- -and a Republican State Prosecutor join forces to get a guilty plea out of a Republican electoral board member.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Alfonso Grant admits he intentionally misapplied government property.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Grant]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC1:21:04]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Shrimp and steak dinners with wine and cocktails, horseback riding, trips to the spa and gift-shop purchases all chalked up to the taxpayers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Time and again former Lynchburg Election Board Secretary Al Grant used the city's credit card for trips to Hilton Head, Washington, D-C, and the Homestead.
In addition to using the Board's Diner's Club Card, he filed for re-imbursement for lunches, dinners and other expenses.
He claimed it was all Electoral Board business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:47:50]
[IN Q=It was pretty straightforward]
((JOHN BROWNLEE/U. S. ATTORNEY; IT WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD STEALING. HE WAS TAKING THE CITY'S MONEY FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT, AND THIS TYPE OF CORRUPTION, THOUGH IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FIND, ONCE YOU DO, THE PICTURE IS VERY CLEAR AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.))
[SUPER=01-John Brownlee/U. S. Attorney]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=happening there.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The plea agreement says the bogus charges add up to more than 9-thousand dollars, though Grant's lawyer says almost half that's in dispute.
Grant's female traveling companion told investigators Grant never conducted any city business on these trips.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:44:10]
[IN Q=I believe we'll]
((TONY ANDERSON/GRANT'S ATTORNEY; I BELIEVE WE'LL BE PREPARED TO PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT ON SOME CHARGES THERE WAS LEGITIMATE CITY BUSINESS. But clearly there was some that was not. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE EVIDENCE WILL BE AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Grant's Attorney]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=will be as well.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The sentencing guidelines are likely to call for a range of punishment from NO time to serve ...up to about six months in jail.
The government has agreed not to oppose probation for Grant or some other alternative to locking him up. However Grant has agreed that what he did involves obstruction of justice. With that on the record, the judge may feel compelled to impose at least some prison time.
[Henry-Consolidation]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-20 TC1:16:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In a little over a week, the Henry County school board will vote on whether to close and consolidate several schools.
But before the vote, the public is getting its say at a hearing underway at Fieldale Collinsville High School.
As Justin McLeod discovered the plan is drawing a lot of criticism, candor, and concerns.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Collinsville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tiwianna Hairston/Parent; :12 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Donna Akers/Parent; :36 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Kathryn Wickline/School Board Chair; :56]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Henry Co.]
((((NAT SOUND OF PEOPLE TALKING))
When you're talking about closing as many as five schools, people undoubtedly get fired up.
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
(( ))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q= ]
The plan under consideration would close four elementary schools and one middle school.
It would also reduce the number of high schools from four to two with Laurel Park and Fieldale Collinsville slated to become middle schools.
The plan would go into effect for the 2004-2005 school year and is projected to save the school system 1 point four million dollars a year.
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
(( ))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q= ]
The school system says it has no choice.
Administrators cite several reasons behind the decision including declining enrollment, aging buildings, and a loss of local funding of more 2 1/2 million dollars in the last two years.
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
(( ))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q= ]
Many however disagree.
Some would like to keep their community schools, others fear their children will be on long bus rides.
A good number of people also want the school system to keep three high schools.
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THERE IS ALSO THE CRITICSM THIS IS ALL HAPPENING TOO QUICKLY. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL REVIEW THE COMMENTS MADE HERE TODAY AND THEN VOTE ON WHAT SCHOOLS TO CLOSE AT ITS MEETING SCHEDULED A WEEK FROM WEDNESDAY. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7, HENRY COUNTY.))))
[Clifford]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-27 TC23:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The former head football coach at Patrick Henry High School hopes his resignation will clear his record.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :35]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./June 4;]
Kevin Clifford is appealing a misdemeanor assault conviction in Juvenile Court for the slapping of player Brett Moyer after a game in Halifax County last fall.
Clifford was fined fifty dollars.
He was also suspended from coaching.
Last week he *resigned* from the position.
His attorney says Moyer's mother, Cathy Esworthy, had indicated she would drop the charge if Clifford left the football program.
Esworthy wouldn't say today whether that offer still holds.
She DID say Clifford could have avoided the charge altogether if he'd resigned sooner.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]
Clifford's attorney says the case's direction will be clearer tomorrow.
We'll have the details and hear from Clifford tomorrow on News 7 at 6.
[4H-Camp]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC22:01]
[GRAPHIC=4-H Invest.]
Investigators are still looking into kids' allegations of organized fights at a 4-H camp.
But they say they've nailed down one detail: Only kids and counselors from Bedford County were involved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Franklin County's sheriff says there's been no evidence that any Halifax County kids and teen counselors were in on the fights.
That's what 4-H officials told News-7 last week, when five teen leaders and two adults from Bedford County were barred from further participation in the group.
Prosecutor Cliff Hapgood says he may decide as early as this week whether any of the teenagers will face charges.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
A new campaign wants to get the word out about free food.
More on that when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Plus, workers once again stage a mass protest outside an area plant, as their strike enters a third week.
(----------------)
[ITT]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#03-17 TC1:35:52]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Negotiations continue between ITT Night Vision and its striking union.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
It looks like they're making progress.
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Rachel/Microwave]
Business Reporter Rachel Cannon is at the Roanoke County Plant where workers held a mass rally this afternoon.
[Live=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: Strike a deal. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Shirley Blevins/ITT Worker; :12]
[SUPER=01-Morris Miller/Union Vice-President; :37]
[SUPER=01-Mitchell "Red" Adams/Union Steward; :58]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=than the company.]
(-------------)
[Live=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Rachel/Microwave]
[Fieldale]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-21 TC57:09]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Workers at a Southside plant are now on a staggered schedule.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fieldale;]
Pillowtex, the financially strapped owner of this plant in Fieldale, says employees will be called in by their supervisors.
About 12-hundred people work at the facility which makes Royal Velvet towels.
Officials don't know how many hours employees will get or how long the staggered schedule will stay in effect.
Pillowtex is also looking for another forbearance extension between the company and its financial lenders.
The current extension expires today.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Wall Street rally lost some steam to profit-taking.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/57.56/9177.15/x/20.91/1754.84;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The DOW closed 58 points higher.
NASDAQ gained 21.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/2.03/65.54/h/0.15/41.96/h/0.16/28.43/i/1.33/78.17/h/0.58/83.46;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.22/35.16/i/0.10/15.86/h/0.07/7.37/h/0.35/61.60/i/0.08/28.04;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.10/5.30/i/0.10/32.22/i/0.18/17.33/h/0.27/19.80/h/0.08/7.55;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.19/9.00/h/1.18/62.35/i/1.27/37.50/h/0.65/41.92/h/0.12/56.65;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Food-stamps]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC1:05:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
More than 100-thousand families in Virginia who are eligible for free food may not know it.
Now the state is teaming up with the federal government to try to change that.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Virginia has been awarded a grant to help increase participation in the federal food stamps program.
The state plans to use the 800-thousand-dollar grant to pay for an informational campaign and to make it easier to apply.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :34:43]
[IN Q=THIS IS GOING TO HAVE]
((CHRIS MARTIN/U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE WELL-BEING OF THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN VA.))
((FAY LOHR/CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOOD BANK DIRECTOR: WE'RE JUST EXCITED THAT WORKING PARENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO DECIDE ABOUT PAYING THE RENT OR DAYCARE AND HAVING TO DECIDE ABOUT BUYING FOOD. :04))
[SUPER=01-Chris Martin/U. S. Dept. of Agriculture; :00]
[SUPER=01-Fay Lohr/Central Va. Food Bank; :06]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=ABOUT BUYING FOOD.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
State officials say Virginians will soon be able to apply for food stamps online or by going to local food banks.
(------------)
[NC-Escapees]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=cda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Two prison escapees from North Carolina are in custody tonight in Virginia.
44- year -old Randy King and 24-year-old Bobby Mathis broke free from the Forsyth Correctional Center last night.
They were picked up by officers near Cana in Carroll County about 12:30 this afternoon.
How they escaped is still under investigation, but North Carolina officials believe they climbed over the fence.
[Maxey]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC TC4:25:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Sheriff of Campbell County is making a career switch.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Earlier this year, Robert Maxey announced he would retire as Sheriff next January to pursue other interests.
But the longtime lawman says he's been offered a job with Lynchburg's Tharp Funeral Home that will require him to leave the County as early as *September*.
Maxey has served the Campbell County Sheriff's Office for 30-years.
He's spent nearly 20-years as Sheriff.
His successor has yet to be named.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - more than 600 campers at the Tech football school this week.
Lance Armstrong stay in front by taking short cut today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And some baseball stars from the state take a stab at what makes sense - college or cash - when we return.
(------------)
[S-Lance]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-134 20013TC]
[GRAPHIC=news 7 sports]
We begin tonight with one of most bizarre stages in the history of the Tour De France.
Lance Armstrong is still front after executing a "Pass In the Grass" that would make the late Dale Earnhardt proud.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gap, France/OLN; :00]
Spain's Joseba Beloki, who entered today second overall behind Armstrong lost control in the "S" curves today and wrecked right in front of Armstrong.
Lance had nowhere to got except right into a farmer's field.
He continued through the field and came out on the other side right where he left off.
He was not penalized because he did not take the shortcut on purpose and he did not gain an advantage from the move.
Alexander Vinokourov won the stage. The first time he has ever won a stage in the Tour De France.
(----------)
[S-ACC]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC/BIG EAST]
The ACC's request to have the lawsuit brought against it by the Big East dismissed will be heard later this fall.
Today, in Vernon, Connecticut the judge set September 29th as the hearing date.
The ACC contends that Connecticut do not have jurisdiction over the conference.
[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-138]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]
The Virginia Tech football camp is underway this week.
More than 600 campers have come to Blacksburg from as far away as Wisconsin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Stinespring/VT Offensive Coordinator;:08]
[SUPER=01-John Ballein/VT Football Camp Director; :33]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=...off the field as well."]
(------------)
[S-Scouts]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-152 6:30]
[GRAPHIC=Commonwealth Games]
To turn pro or to not turn pro.
That is the question some of the 64 athletes who competed in the 14th annual Commonwealth games baseball tournament over the weekend have to answer.
And while the Major League amateur draft is not until next June, Steve Mason says money is on the minds of many.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Myrick/San Francisco Giants Scout; :22]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Wally Beagle/Commonwealth Games Baseball Dir.; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Darren Hodges/Ferrum Assistant Baseball Coach; 1:34]
[RUNS=2:04]
[OUT Q=.....News 7 sports"]
(-----------------)
((On showcase day, each high school player is evaluated by either pro baseball scouts or college coaches. And while the two sides spend this day close physically, they are miles a part philosophically. One side wants the brawn and the other the class room brains and the brawn.
((:))
Former Cave Spring star Tyler Lumsden, a fifth round pick, turned down over 300 thousand bucks from the Marlins to go to Clemson. One year later, G.W. Danville's Jonathan Fulton and Kenny Lewis, drafted in the third and fourth round respectively, decided to forgo college for a major league baseball contract.
((:))
((STEVE MASON:))
((:))
Darren Hodges has experience with both sides. He pitched five seasons in the Yankees organization and now recruits players at Ferrum College where he is an assistant coach.
((:))
At this time, not one of the 800 commonwealth games baseball athletes is playing for a Major league club. Steve Mas
on news 7 sports.))[S-Clemens]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-149 13556TC]
[GRAPHIC=mlb]
The Major League baseball all-star game is set for tomrorow night in Chicago at the annual all-star game.
Today,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]
Roger Clemens was named a last minute replacement for the Oakland A's Barry Zito.
Zito threw 106 pitches yesterday and will be unable to participate in the game.
Zito was with his all-star teammates doing interviews when he got the news he had been replaced.
(------------)
[Tire-Plant]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#03-23 TC55:04]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
It's a hot topic in Henry County.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Residents will weigh in on a proposed tire burning power plant tonight.
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Teresa/Microwave]
Teresa Hamilton is at the Henry County administration building with a preview.
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Henry Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:from the DEQ to do so.)
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./Last Week]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=if done correctly.]
(-------------)
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Henry Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and Teresa/Microwave]
by SS