WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/18/03

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']

An audio tape from an al-Qaida spokesman says Osama bin Laden is alive, and urging Muslims to fight against U-S troops.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While soldiers in Iraq have endured countless attacks in recent months, the latest target is the country's resources.

[SUPER=03-Baiji, Iraq;]

Over the weekend, two fires were set along Iraq's 600- mile oil pipeline.
All firefighters could do was shut it down and wait for the remaining oil to burn.
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

A day later, a Baghdad underpass became a swimming pool after saboteurs blew a huge hole in one of the city's fresh water pipelines.
Although this is believed to be the work of Saddam Hussein loyalists, many people are point the blame at Americans.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Because they make]
((BECAUSE THEY MAKE ALL THE PROBLEMS, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE THINGS.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=for these things.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Because they're on edge, American troops accidentally shot and killed a news camera man yesterday in Baghdad.
They apparently mistook his camera for a grenade launcher.
(------------)

[Terrorism]

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

A British research company says another September 11th- style attack is highly likely in the U-S in the next year.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

The London- based World Markets Research Center ranks America fourth in the top five countries at risk.
The report says U-S fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq has increased anti- U-S sentiment throughout the world.
Meanwhile, Colombia came in first, as the most likely to be hit.
(------------)

[Drug-Bust]

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

Authorities have nabbed a Carroll County man for running a methamphetamine lab near his home.
36- year- old Ronnie Clark Bobbitt is being held in the Surry County jail, awaiting extradition.
His arrest was the culmination of an investigation last Friday.
Authorities say the lab was located in a building beside a residence on Pipers Gap Road.
It was capable of producing as much as four- thousand dollars in methamphetamines.

[11Amherst-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC26:21]
[GRAPHIC=Fire ]
Authorities are not sure what caused a fire at a historic restaurant in Amherst County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :13]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.;]
The blaze broke out at the Briar Patch Restaurant around 9 o'clock yesterday morning. Investigators say the fire is believed to have started in the kitchen area. The restaurant first opened in 1948, and is a well known landmark in the area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 20:27]
[IN Q=It was a local...]
((SGT. WILLIAM CLARK/AMHERST CO. FIRE INVESTIGATOR; IT WAS A PLACE EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY CAME TO AND EVERYBODY AROUND HERE KNOWS ABOUT IT, IT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS. AND THEY JUST ADDED A NEW SECTION ONTO THE BUILDING ABOUT A YEAR AGO.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. William Clark/Amherst Co. Fire Investigator]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=the building about a year ago.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :11+]
The owner of the restaurant was in the building when the blaze broke out, but escaped without injury. It could be several days before investigators know what caused the fire.
(------------)

[11Cascades-Hypothermia]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-28 TC55:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Cold water and dangerous swimming conditions combined to send one man to the hospital with hypothermia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]
The man and a friend were in the water at the bottom of the Cascades in Giles County when he was pulled underwater and trapped for a few minutes before his friend pulled him out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT- 01:23:05]
[IN Q=THEY SHOULD NOT ]
((STEVEN DAVIS/GILES RESCUE SQUAD--THEY SHOULD NOT BE SWIMMING IN LITTLE STONEY CREEK AT THE CASCADES IN GILES COUNTY PARTICULARLY IF THE WATER IS AS HIGH AS IT IS TODAY. AS THE WATER COMES ACROSS THE FALLS LITERALLY, THERE'S TONS OF WATER FORCE THAT COMES ACROSS THAT FALLS. ))
[SUPER=01-Steven Davis/Giles Rescue Squad;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=ACROSS THAT FALLS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Davis says that water pressure is what pulled the man under. He also says the water there stays in the low 60's -- cold enough to cause hypothermia after only a short time. The victim was taken to Giles Memorial Hospital for observation.
(------------)

[11FloydFest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC19:40]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Fest]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a popular place to drive on sunny weekends, but the past few days, there's been a big reason to stop in Patrick County. Jennifer Wishon has more on Floydfest, an event many people call magic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Music]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co.; :05]
[SUPER=01-Erika Johnson/FloydFest Organizer; :10]
[SUPER=01-Gregg Moneyhun/Attended FloydFest; :31]
[SUPER=01-Lowee Adotei/Kusun Ensemble; :48 ]
[SUPER=01-Nii Tetty Tetteh/Kusun Ensemble; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:26 ]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Patrick County]
(([SOT 19:02:51:29 ]
((BLUE GRASS MUSIC))
[RUNS= 04]
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, FloydFest is like a big front porch.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:00:15:01]
[IN Q=FloydFest is magic and]
((ERIKA JOHNSON: FLOYDFEST IS MAGIC AND THAT SPREAD FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE WAY MORE PEOPLE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR AND EVERYONE IS FEELING THE LOVE AND THE CONSIDERATION AND THE COOPERATION THAT WENT INTO THE CREATION OF THIS.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=creation of this]
Organizers say thousands of people attended this year's three day festival. Some camped out, while others commuted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:19:49:17]
[IN Q=I just love being]
((GREGG MONEYHUN: I JUST LOVE BEING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS WITH ALL THESE HAPPY PEOPLE AND LISTENING TO THE JOYFUL MUSIC.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=the joyful music]
Music performed by dozens of artists who in turn shared their talents with amateurs.
[SOT 19:06:18:01]
((AFRICAN DANCE LESSONS))
[RUNS= 04]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:09:02:17]
[IN Q=We want to teach]
((LOWEE ADOTEI: WE WANT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO DANCE AFRICAN CULTURE. THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THIS AFRICAN CULTURE HERE SO THAT WE CAN TEACH YOU PEOPLE SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO DANCE, HOW TO PLAY THE DRUMS.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=play the drums]
Mixing cultures in a place where it most likely wouldn't happen naturally was an original goal of FloydFest organizers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:14:38:10]
[IN Q=Share the good]
((NII TETTY TETTEH: SHARE THE GOOD STUFF. THAT'S ALL LIFE IS ABOUT. LET'S SHARE THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=that we have]
Children were also included in the festival. Magicians and crafts kept them occupied while mom and dad jammed with the bands.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:32:51:25]
[IN Q=Last year FloydFest]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: LAST YEAR FLOYDFEST WAS PLAGUED BY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. THIS YEAR THEY DID EXPERIENCE AN EARLY MORNING DOWNPOUR, BUT IT ONLY CLEARED TO REVEAL A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY. JENNIFER WISHON, NEWS 7, PATRICK COUNTY.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=Patrick County]))

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Wall Street deals with the blackout of 2003.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((The massive blackout of 2003 was the first real test of Wall Street's > backup systems since 9/11 and it proved to be MERELY A HICCUP FOR THE > FINANCIAL MARKETS. > > THERE WAS NO PANIC SELLING TO BE FOUND AND TRADING VOLUME WAS EXTREMELY > LIGHT AS TRADERS DEALT WITH COMMUTES AND CONTINUAL OUTAGES. > the dow gained 11 points > UP 1.4 PERCENT FOR THE WEEK. > > the nasdaq added a point and half..FOR A WEEKLY GAIN OF 3.5 PERCENT > > > Shares of utilities serving markets in the Northeast and Midwest traded > mixed: > The most notable declined was National Grid the parent of New York's > Niagara Mohawk, the utility that came scrutiny in the wake of the blackout > .. > > Con Ed, the utility serving New York City down nearly one percent.... > > The power outage also sparked interest in alternative fuel companies... > INCLUDING Plug Power and FuelCell Energy > > AIRLINE STOCKS FINISHED MOSTLY LOWER.. THEY STAND TO LOSE MILLIONS OF > DOLLARS DUE TO CANCELLED FLIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE OUTAGE. > > ANALSYTS EXPECT TRADING VOLUME TO PICK UP ON MONDAY THANKS TO SOME PENT UP > DEMAND FOR STOCKS. > > TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM... I'M AC IN NY.)) >

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Power-Outage]

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

Today is the big power test in the northeast.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Millions of people are heading back to work, giving the power system its first major test after last week's massive blackout.
New York's subways and other systems were up and running again over the weekend after being out of service on Thursday and Friday.
Investigators now believe the outage started just south of Cleveland, Ohio, when several overloaded voltage lines failed.
Officials also believe the alarm system designed to alert controllers of the problem also failed.
(------------)

[11SCLC-Charges]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC31:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A local civil rights group is asking for a federal investigation into the Roanoke police department. The Roanoke chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference says the black community is being discriminated against.
(-------------)
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Jeff Artis, with the S-C-L-C, says the city has overlooked a rise in gang activity in schools and low income neighborhoods.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:58:47]
[IN Q=We have asked...]
((JEFF ARTIS/CHAIRMAN OF BOARD, SCLC; WE HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS OF THE ROANOKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DON'T WANT TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS WE HAVE GOTTEN. ALL WE'VE GOTTEN IS THE RUN-AROUND. SO WE'VE ASKED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THAT SITUATION. ))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Artis/SCLC Chairman; ]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=and look at that situation.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The S-C-L-C is asking the U-S Department of Education and the Justice Department to conduct the investigation. City Manager Darlene Burcham declined a request for an interview, but says she has not heard from the S-C-L-C, and denies the city has used racist policies.

[Your-Hometown]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=bwa]
[TAPE#=Your Hometown]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Bedford hasn't always been a bustling city.
In fact, it hasn't always been known as Bedford.
It started out as the community of Liberty in 1782 and in 1870 took on the name Bedford. In this week's hometown report, Brent Watts visits some of the well known and not so well known parts of this small city.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our first stop...]
[SUPER=01-Harry Leist/Restaurant Owner; :16]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/June 6, 1954; 1:44]
[SUPER=01-Ellen Wandrei/Bedford City Museum Director; 1:54]
[SUPER=01-Clare Robertson/Wharton House Volunteer; 2:18]
[RUNS=2:48]
[OUT Q=...for News-7 Mornin.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR KIMBERLY]
[SS=none]
Brent's next stop will be the community of Christiansburg in Montgomery County.

(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, trading was light on Friday as a result of the blackout of 2003. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((TRADERS IN NEW YORK HAD TROUBLE GETTING TO WORK IN THE AFTERMATH OF THURSDAY'S BLACKOUT.
AND VOLUMES WERE VERY LIGHT ON THE MAJOR EXCHANGES FRIDAY.

THE DOW CLOSED UP ELEVEN POINTS...
AND THE NASDAQ GAINED ONE-AND-A-HALF.

DELL SHARES WERE UP THREE PERCENT AFTER ANOTHER QUARTER OF DOUBLE-DIGIT SALES AND PROFIT GROWTH.
AFTER HOURS ON THURSDAY DELL REPORTED A 16 PERCENT GROWTH IN QUARERLY SALES OVER LAST YEAR.
THE COMPUTER MAKER NOW HAS MET OR BEATEN ESTIMATES FOR TEN SUCCESSIVE QUARTERS.

PHILIP MORRIS WILL HAVE TO POST THAT 12-BILLION DOLLAR BOND, AFTER ALL.
JUDGE NICHOLAS BYRON, WHO HAD INITIALLY CUT THE BOND TO A SIX-BILLION DOLLAR TERM NOTE AND SEVERAL HUNDRED-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, ISSUED THE NEW RULING.
HE SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING THE ORDERS OF AN ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT, WHICH FOUND BYRON DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CUT THE BOND.
PHILIP MORRIS IS APPEALING A VERDICT THAT IT DECEIVED SMOKERS INTO THINKING "LIGHT" CIGARETTES WERE SAFER THAN REGULAR ONES.

KOHL'S REPORTED AN ALMOST TEN PERCENT DROP IN SECOND QUARTER PROFITS BUT MANAGED TO BEAT ESTIMATES.
EARNINGS WERE PUT AT 33 CENTS A SHARE, DOWN FROM 36 CENTS A YEAR EARLIER.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[11Short-Fundraiser]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC1:47:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A fundraiser was held yesterday to help fight crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
The day started at the Henry County Administration building with a bike show. Groups then rode together through Figsboro, Rocky Mount and Collinsville. The event was in honor of Jennifer Short and "children everywhere."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:47:59:15]
[IN Q=I just want to show]
((TODD TURNER/ORGANIZER: I JUST WANT TO SHOW THE FAMILY THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS GONNA STICK BEHIND THEM UNTIL THIS IS DONE AND OVER WITH AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO FORGET HER.))
[SUPER=01-Todd Turner/Organizer;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=to forget her]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Organizers expected about 300 bikes and all proceeds will go to Crimestoppers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:49:04:23]
[IN Q=The Crimestopper Program]
((TIM HALL/HENRY COUNTY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: THE CRIMESTOPPER PROGRAM PAYS REWARDS OF UP TO 1000 DOLLARS FOR TIPS THAT LEAD TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF CRIMINALS AND CERTAIN CRIMES IN MARTINSVILLE/HENRY COUNTY.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Hall/Henry County Deputy Administrator;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=Martinsville-Henry County]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
All Crimestopper tips are anonymous. Hall says 30 to 50 rewards are awarded each year.
(------------)

[Healthy-Living]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=on kim' desk, already has a countdown]
[GRAPHIC=Healthy Living]

Kids will soon be headed back to the classroom, and that means hitting the books.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE FS HEALTHY LIVING] In this week's Healthy Living, Joy Sutton has some advice on how to make sure your child is not overloaded this school year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If your child's backpack is too heavy]
[SUPER=@Joy1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. John Moore/Carilion Pediatric Medicine; :23]
[RUNS=2:45]
[OUT Q= with this week's healthy living.]

[Tape tosses to bump] [BUMP] [COMM]

[11Great-Race]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-27 TC1:08:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Great Race was an excellent adventure for three men from western Virginia.
They covered more than four thousand miles in fourteen days, nursing a 1929 Ford Speedster along the way. Joe Dashiell has their story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mike Metzler was tuning up]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./June; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Metzler/Driver; :16]
[SUPER=01-David Metzler/Navigator; :49]
[SUPER=@Joe2; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=Joe Dashiell News 7]

((Mike Metzler was tuning up for the competition when he took us for a spin in June. With son David navigating alongside, and brother in law Brian Rorrer driving a support vehicle, the team from Floyd County was soon off and running.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We were on the road]
((WE WERE ON THE ROAD FOR 14 DAYS IN ACTUAL COMPETITION. WE COVERED 4261 MILES. WE WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, TRIALS AND ADVERSITY, BUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS SOMETHING I WOULD DO AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT. ))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=I would do again in a heartbeat.]

Those trials and adversity included brake problems, a bad bearing, an electrical fire, a blown engine, and a string of late night repairs to keep the car on the road.
But the Metzlers and their 1929 Ford Model A Speedster made it to the finish line... 72nd out of 113 entries.

[SOT]
[IN Q=I expected it to be]
((I EXPECTED IT TO BE A LOT EASIER THAN IT WAS AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING. THE NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED WERE A LOT HARDER AND HAD TO REFINE WHAT I KNEW.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=had to refine what I knew.]

CTI Balloons paid the five thousand dollar entry fee, and help from fellow competitors, like the team from Coker Tire, kept them in the race.
They brought home an Ace Award for logging a perfect score on one leg, and the Never Say Die Award for successfully battling mechanical problems the rest of the way.
And while they consider the race a once in a lifetime opportunity, they're working to line up sponsors for another Great Race across America. Joe Dashiell News 7))