WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/28/03

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The key to keeping things calm when there's an emergency inside the emergency dispatch center.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And a controversial speaker at Roanoke College stirs up the Sons of Confederate veterans.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, we'll preview the week one Friday Football Extra slate, the Nascar circuit heads to Darlington, and

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

Bryan Randall tries to get a handle on the Golden Knights from Central Florida.
(------------)

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

The heat and humidity create the inevitable result, hard pouring scattered thunderstorms. Looks like it will happen again tomorrow.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:16:06-17:16:08]
[IN Q=We keep supplies for them...]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=they keep supplies for us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Roanoke City is watching Roanoke County's back.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]
Both are being praised for their response to an emergency at a 9-1-1 call center.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Dispatch-Center]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC31:58]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Police dispatchers answer your calls for help every day.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
But what happens when there's an emergency at the 911 center?
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[***ANCHOR TAG***] As News 7 found out, a backup plan kicks into place.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In the wee hours of Thursday morning...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning;:00]
[SUPER=01-Lt. C. M. Viar/Roanoke Co. Police;:16]
[SUPER=01-Mike Crockett/Roanoke City 911 Center Supervisor;:41]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=as we saw, it worked perfectly.]
((In the wee hours of Thursday morning, fire and rescue crews raced to the Roanoke County Police Department. The building's fire suppression system had gone off, covering the 911 center in a thick fog. The seven dispatchers on duty were evacuated.
[SOT 17:22:13-17:22:18]
[IN Q=Upon the discharge, everybody in the call center...]
((LT. C.M. VIAR/ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE: UPON THE DISCHARGE EVERYBODY IN THE CALL CENTER DID EXACTLY AS PROTOCOL CALLS FOR.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=as protocol calls for.]
The County has a deal with Roanoke City that, should either call center be disabled, the other will pick up the slack.
Because it's on the same radio frequency, the Town of Vinton also plays a vital, if temporary, role.
[SOT 17:22:18-17:22:26]
[IN Q=They switched the calls to Vinton.]
((VIAR: THEY SWITCHED THE CALLS TO VINTON. VINTON HANDLED THEM UNTIL WE COULD GET OUR DISPATCHERS DOWN TO ROANOKE CITY WHERE WE COULD TAKE OUR CALLS THERE.)) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=take our calls there.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 17:15:33 - 17:15:38]
[IN Q=With the throwing of a switch...]
((MIKE CROCKETT/SUPERVISOR, ROANOKE 911 CENTER: WITH THE THROWING OF THE SWITCH AS WE TERM IT WE CAN RECEIVE THEIR 911 CALLS AND THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAPABILITY TO DO THE SAME FOR US.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=do the same for us.]
The switch is actually a key. A flick of the wrist is literally all it takes to reroute emergency calls from one location to the other.
[SOT 17:15:11-17:15:34]
[IN Q=We have the capability of the..]
((CROCKETT: WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF THE INTERNET OPERABLE RADIO SYSTEMS WITH ROANOKE COUNTY AND WHEN THEIR DISPATCHERS NEED TO COME DOWN HERE THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR POLICEMEN OR FIREMEN.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=their policemen or firemen.]
The transfer took about 18-minutes. Officials say the system is so efficient that it's highly unlikely any calls for help were missed.
[SOT 17:23:47-17:23:51]
[IN Q=Everything pretty much done...]
((VIAR: EVERYTHING'S PRETTY MUCH DONE ON DEMAND. AND IT'S QUICK.)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=And i's quick.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 17:16:25 - 17:16:32]
[IN Q=We try to think ahead...]
((CROCKETT: WE TRY TO THINK AHEAD FOR THE CITIZENS AND PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE AND NON-INTERRUPTION AND AS WE SAW IT WORKED PERFECTLY.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=it worked perfectly.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[SS=None]
Lt. Viar says, until this morning, the back-up plan hadn't been used in years. Roanoke County dispatchers are back in their usual office. They're not sure what caused the fire suppression system to malfunction.

[Federal-Grants]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-21 TC2:00:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Federal grants are helping law enforcement agencies in Henry County make up for a loss in local funding.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Congressman Virgil Goode delivered checks from the Justice Department to buy new equipment for Henry County and Martinsville patrol cars.
A 100-thousand-dollar grant will help Henry County install video cameras in 38 of its cars.
The cameras give deputies a record of traffic stops that can be used in court.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:25:35]
[IN Q=I can't in good faith]
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY CO. SHERIFF: I CAN'T IN GOOD FAITH GO OUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC AND SOLICIT MONEY FOR US WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE JOBS AND THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT PAYING THEIR INSURANCE AND FEEDING THEIR KIDS. I CAN'T DO THAT. AND VIRGIL CAME THROUGH FOR US.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=came through for us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In Martinsville, a 25-thousand dollar grant will help upgrade in-car computers.
The computers allow officers to access driving and criminal records without tying up dispatchers.
(------------)

[Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A dispute over a CD player may have led to a shooting in Henry County last night.
Investigators say 25-year-old Timothy Allen Janey traded a CD player for drugs ... but when the CD player didn't work, four men came looking for him.
Investigators say they broke into his apartment on Kings Mountain Road, beat him and shot him in the stomach.
Janey's recovering at Martinsville Memorial hospital.
Authorities are still looking for the four men, though they don't know who they are.
They were seen driving a 1993 burgundy Nissan Altima.

[Dry-cleaning]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC1:53:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginians pay taxes on food and diapers but not on manicures or gym memberships.
Lawmakers are thinking about changing that.
But some business owners, like dry cleaners, think the idea is all wet.
Meghan Muldoon has the dirt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IN ANY SORT OF TAX REFORM]
[SUPER=01-Del. Leo Wardrup/(R) Virginia Beach; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :05]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Weitzel/Premiere Cleaners Owner; :25]
[SUPER=01-Richard Regal/Dry Cleaning Professional; :43]
[SUPER=@Meghan2; :55]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]
(([SOT 01:10:43]
[IN Q=IN ANY SORT OF TAX REFORM]
((DELEGATE LEO WARDRUP/R-VA BEACH: IN ANY TYPE OF TAX REFORM THERE ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.)) [RUNS03]
[OUT Q=TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.]

Dry cleaners say they would be the losers if the state's tax reform commission moves forward with a proposal to charge a four precent tax on services.
[SOT 14:21:56]
[IN Q=ITS BOOK WORK WE DON'T]
((.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=HAVE TO HANDLE CURRENTLY.]

Bobby Weitzel owns Premiere Cleaners in Richmond.
He says he would need to spend more time filling out paperwork if the state starts charging a service tax.
[SOT 14:23:21]
((BOBBY WEITZEL/OWNER, PREMIERE CLEANERS: I HOPE THEY DON'T I FEEL LIKE WE PAY ENOUGH TAXES ALREADY. IF WE'RE NOT PAYING TAXES ON SERVICES RIGHT NOW I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO START.)) [RUNS:12]
Dry cleaners, who are worried about how it will affect their business, have become vocal opponents of a tax on services.
[SOT 1:10:19]
[IN Q=IT'S REGRESSIVE]
((.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=LEAST AFFORD IT.]

But lawmakers say a system that taxes both goods and services is a fairer one.
And they say Virginia's tax structure should reflect the state's modern economy, one that is increasingly based on services.
But for many Virginians, tax is a dirty word.
[SOT 14:25:33]
((DRY CLEANING CUSTOMER: I HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME STAYING CLEAN AT THE CURRENT PRICE SO I'M CERTAIN IT WOULD JUST BE A DIRTIER WORLD I THINK IF WE WOULD PASS A SERVICE TAX ON DRY CLEANING. )) [RUNS:10]
[OUT=A SERVICE TAX ON DRY CLEANING.]

In the end, lawmakers may have to decide between a fairer Virginia or a cleaner one.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

Plenty of students in this area can thank the heat for an early start to the weekend.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
Bland County schools will close at 1:00 tomorrow.
In Henry County, elementary schools will close at noon, middle schools at 12:45 and high schools will close at 1:00.
And in Martinsville: Druid Hills and Patrick Henry Elementary Schools will close at 12:30.
Thunderstorms are dominating the weather tonight. Let's talk to Robin Reed.
(-------------)

[ANCHOR=Robin]

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Goodyear just finished up contract negotiations, now it's slashing positions.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

More on the cuts when News 7 at Six returns.
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[LIVE=Justin Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Justin1;]
[SUPER=05-Salem]
(Justin adlibs live tease)
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[Dees]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC2:01:56]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A well known and controversial civil rights lawyer is speaking at Roanoke College tonight.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

His name is Morris Dees and his appearance is drawing both praise and protest.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Justin /Microwave;]

Justin McLeod joins us from the campus of Roanoke College with more . Justin?
Keith and Shannon, Dees is the chief counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
[LIVE= Justin /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@justin1]
[SUPER=05-Salem]

He is famous for bankrupting the K-K-K and more recently he's been involved in the Alabama ten commandements controversy.
He has also been critical of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, so much so that the group, as you can see behind me, is here tonight protesting him.
This afternoon we sat down with the man some call a savior, others call a troublemaker.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :10]
[SUPER=01-Morris Dees/Southern Poverty Law Center; :23]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=FACIAL EXPRESSION IS LIKE]
((((NAT SOUND OF MORRIS DEES SPEAKING AT 1:52:16 "I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH TODAY ARE TRYING TO PUT THE CONFEDERACY AND CIVIL WAR BEHIND THEM."))
Morris Dees is outspoken on a number of race issues including the Civil War.
He believes the war was fought over slavery and not state rights.
It is that belief and others that often puts him at odds with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
[SOT 1:33:56]
[IN Q=There is an effort ]
((MORRIS DEES/SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: THERE IS AN EFFORT IN THE MANY OF THE OFFICES OF THE MANY LEADERS OF IT NOW HAVE BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH SOME OF THE EXTREMIST GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY.)) [Run11]
[OUT Q=in the country]

More recently Dees has been involved in the fight over the ten commandments in Alabama.
He's been instrumental in having the monument removed from the Alabama Supreme Court Building believing it is an issue over the separation of church and state.
[SOT 1:43:48]
[IN Q=One of your citizens]
((MORRIS DEES: ONE OF YOUR CITIZENS HERE IN VIRIGNIA WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THOMAS JEFFERSON HE WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE STATEMENT TO A BAPTIST GROUP THAT THERE HAD TO BE SEPARATION OF CHURCH OF STATE.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=of church of state]

These two hot button issues may or may not come up here at Roanoke College.
Dees has no prepared remarks, and says he'll just speak from the hip.
[SOT 1:44:23]
[IN Q=I am a trial lawyer]
((MORRIS DEES: I AM A TRIAL LAWYER I WATCH THE JURY AND SEE WHAT THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSION IS LIKE.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=expression is like]))
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[LIVE= Justin /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Salem;]

17-hundred people can hear tonight's speech.
It takes place at 7:30 at the Bast Center and it is free and open to the public
Because Dees is controversial, extra security will be on hand tonight on campus.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Justin /Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon, no backpacks will not be allowed and security does reserve the right to search spectators if need be.

[Goodyear]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Goodyear]

Goodyear's cutting jobs, just a week after it reached a new contract deal with unionized workers.
The tire-maker says it's cutting 500 salaried and non-union workers system-wide.
Goodyear says the reductions will affect managers and staff at most manufacturing plants in North America.
The plant in Danville employs about two-thousand people.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannno 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The stock market managed once again to snap out of a lazy trading session. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/40.42/9374.21/x/18.05/1800.18;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW rose 40 points.
NASDAQ gained 18.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.13/74.03/h/0.63/40.91/h/0.05/28.36/h/0.14/71.90/h/0.67/78.30;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.53/36.20/h/0.02/15.40/i/0.02/6.93/h/0.04/60.55/i/0.07/29.68;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.08/6.62/h/0.25/37.75/h/0.08/19.08/h/0.60/19.00/i/0.13/6.50;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.09/9.31/h/0.55/61.05/h/0.53/35.60/h/0.04/42.20/h/0.19/59.30;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[VIR]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC1:56:26]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A racetrack in Pittsylvania County is quickly earning an international reputation.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

It's known as one of the most technical road-courses in the nation.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

This weekend it will host one of its largest crowds ever along with some seriously high-speed machines.
Richard Lesko has more from Virginia International Raceway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;00]
[SUPER=01-Connie Nyholm/VIR Co-Owner;22]
[SUPER=01-Tommy Hayden/Defending Champion;1:05]
[SUPER=01-Aaron Yates/2002 600cc Series Champion;1:21]
[SUPER=@richard1;1:30]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=RL, News 7, Pittsylvania Co.]

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up in sports, Bryan Randall talks about curing his fumbilitis, VMI preps for the Middies, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Nascar rolls into Darlington for the last Southern 500 to be held on Labor Day weekend.
(------------)

[S-Fumbles]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-154 2135tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]

The Tech offense will be in the hands of Bryan Randall this Sunday, and during this preseason, Randall has been working hard to strengthen those hands.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Season; :00]
Last season he got labeled as a fumbler after he turned the ball over on too many occasions and cost the Hokies a couple of key drives.
[SUPER=04-This Preseason;]
But ever since last season, he's been working hard both physically and mentally on doing a better job of hanging onto the ball.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OH DEFINITELY...]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/2641 Yards of Offense Last Season; :05]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=...A DIFFERENT STORY."]
(------------)
[vo nat con't] Randall says his reaction to game situations also will be a different story. With experience has come a better comprehension of what it take to win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...MUCH BETTER PLAYER."]
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=TRAV]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]
Tech remains a 20 points favorite for Sunday's 3pm kick-off against Central Florida.
(XXXXXXX)
[WIPE to FULL SCREEN #1020]

News 7 Sports will get you set for the upcoming college pigskin season tomorrow night at 7-30 with Great Expectations, which just about sums up the mood in both Charlottesville and in Blacksburg heading into the 2003 campaign.
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[S-VMI]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-148 TC15517]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

The VMI Keydets open the season Saturday in Annapolis. VMI Coach Cal McCombs will meet up with an old friend in Navy Head Coach Paul Johnson, the former Georgia Southern skipper who also knows McCombs from their days in the WAC.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Cal McCombs/Keydets Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=how to score points."]
(----------------)

[S-Roll]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-157 2050TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
Friday Football Extra fires up its 20th season tomorrow night as the high school football season kicks-off from one end of the state to the other. Here's a look at the schedule of games for week number one for the schools on our end of the state.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=LOGO AND MUSIC FULL ON TAPE]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=...LOGO COMES FULL WITH MUSIC]
(------------)

[S-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-155 TC2651]
[GRAPHIC=Nascar]

One of the oldest traditions in Nascar returns to Darlington this weekend with the Southern 500, the Sunday before the Labor Day holiday. The track known as the Lady in Black provides the drivers a unique challenge.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Craven/21st in Winston Cup Points; :00]
[SUPER=01-Elliott Sadler/Darlington Spring Race Pole Winner; :23]
[SUPER=01-Dave Blaney/Jasper Ford Driver; :30]
[RUNS=:36]
[OUT Q=what's gonna happen."]
(----------------)

[Survivor]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC37:56]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
A Danville native will be "castaway" on the up-coming season of "Survivor."
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jon Dalton went to G-W, Danville, then Virginia Tech. He lives in L-A, now. A 29-year old "art consultant," Dalton says he's most proud of being the first person in his family to leave his hometown and go to college. During taping of the show on the Pearl Islands off the coast of Panama, Dalton apparently got by on humility....
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:52:25]
[IN Q=...true confidence, knowing]
((JON DALTON/SURVIVOR "CASTAWAY" FROM DANVILLE; ...TRUE CONFIDENCE, KNOWING HOW GREAT LOOKING, HOW SMART, HOW AMAZING THAT I REALLY AM. IT'S HARD TO BE THIS GREAT. FORTUNATELY I AM.))
[SUPER=01-Jon Dalton/Survivor "Castaway" from Danville]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=fortunately I am.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
He's not the only Hokie among the 16 Castaways this season. Michelle Tesauro just got her degree in business and marketing from Tech this Spring.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
Professor Jim Littlefield knows her well, but the news took him by surprise.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05]
[IN Q=and the reason]
((JIM LITTLEFIELD/VIRGINIA TECH MARKETING PROFESSOR; ...AND THE REASON IS SHE'S SO QUIET, WAS SO QUIET. BUT OBVIOUSLY SHE'S VERY TALENTED, VERY BRIGHT, VERY HARD-WORKING....))
[SUPER=01-Jim Littlefield/Virginia Tech Marketing Professor]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=very hard working....]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
So she has what it takes to win, he says Littlefield has never seen "Survivor," but he'll be watching when the new season debuts next month. (------------)