WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 09/25/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
We'll see a few more clouds today and a possibility of scattered showers in western areas.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the Thursday outlook, up next.

[7-11Roanoke-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC1:51:41]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

A car ended up under a house in Roanke after being tailed by police.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Police say they were following the car last night when it somehow ended up crashing into the basement of a home on Elm Avenue.
No one was inside the house at the time.
Police have not said what happened to the driver or why they were following the car.
(------------)

[7-11Franklin-Drugs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC39:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Franklin County officials say some of its biggest drug dealers are in jail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Tuesday;]

They arrested about 50 people on distribution charges in a sweep Tuesday.
Yesterday, they unsealed federal indictments accusing 10 of running a major drug-dealing operation that brought cocaine from Florida into Franklin County.
They allege that Gerald Randolph Smith was the kingpin, and that Euell Clifton Chitwood and Terry Ivan Smith were his lieutenants.
Both Smiths served prison time for dealing cocaine in the 80s.
[SUPER=04-June 16;]

William Davis, who shot two intruders in his mobile home back in June, was also charged in the sweep.
(------------)

[7-6-Clinic-Law]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC1:02:29]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

The methadone clinic controversy is becoming a campaign issue.
Yesterday three Republican candidates proposed state restrictions on drug treatment programs located near schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Senate Candidate Brandon Bell, House Candidate William Fralin and House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith promise legislation that would prohibit the dispensing of methadone and other narcotics used in drug treatment programs within one half mile of a school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think we want to make sure]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/(R) SALEM: I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE TREATMENT CENTERS OF THIS NATURE THEY'RE NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS.)) ((WILLIAM FRALIN/(R) HOUSE OF DELEGATES CANDIDATE: IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK WE'RE STRIKING A PRETTY GOOD BALANCE HERE.)) ((BRANDON BELL/(R) STATE SENATE CANDIDATE: THEY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HEAR THE CITIZENS AND HEAR US SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND LOOK FOR A BETTER LOCATION.))
[SUPER=@Griffith; :00]
[SUPER=01-William Fralin/(R) House of Delegates Candidate; :09]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Bell/(R) State Senate Candidate; :15]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=and look for a better location.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Griffith says he will work to fast track the measure, and have it enacted as emergency legislation.
(------------)

[7-11EEE-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An Eastern Virginia man is the first in the state to contract Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
The Gloucster County man in his 70's contracted the mosquito-born illness in August and died last week.
E-E-E is considered the most deadly of the mosquito-borne diseases, and usually affects animals.

[55-WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Cool temperatures in the 40s and 50s greet you as you first head out today, but we'll see pleasant highs this afternoon near 80.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the complete forecast, right after the news.

[55-2-11Missing-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC07:10]
[GRAPHIC=Jenni Northrup]

The smallest detail could help police find a former Roanoke girl missing for four days.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
That's according to the father of 16-year old Jenni Northrup. The teen was visiting Roanoke from North Carolina when she was last seen Sunday morning in the Williamson Road area.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Hours later, she used a pay phone outside the Roanoke Weiner Stand to says she was in trouble. Yesterday, the Northrups passed out fliers in the hope someone had seen their daughter.
(///// SOT at :21/////)
[SOT 9:15:36 - 9:15:50]
[IN Q=The smallest thing, you might think.]
((MICHAEL NORTHRUP/MISSING GIRL'S FATHER: THE SMALLEST THING, WHETHER IT COULD BE... YOU MIGHT THINK IT MEANS NOTHING.
BUT THE SMALLEST THING COULD BE MY LITTLE GIRL. SHE COULD BE FIVE MINUTES FROM BEING RESCUED.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Northrup/Missing Girl's Father;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=she could be five minutes from being rescued.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12]
Michael Northrup says Jenni has a history of running away but has not done so since she started taking medication for her mood disorder a year ago. Jenni last lived in Roanoke in 1994.
(------------)

[55-11Voter-Forums]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC13:16]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

One Montgomery County organization wants to change low voter turn out by hosting a series of forums.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]
Starting today, the League of Women Voters will host its three-part series of candidate forums. The forums offer citizens a chance to meet local candidates and ask them questions. Organizers say the goal is to increase voter participation and interest in LOCAL elections.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2602]
[IN Q=it's our local]
((BETH OBENSHAIN/LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CHAIRMAN: IT'S OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS, IT'S THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, IT'S THE TOWN COUNCIL WHO REALLY DETERMINE, HAVE MORE AFFECT ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DECIDE HOW MUCH OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED, OUR LOCAL LIBRARIES...SO ACTUALLY THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE AT LOCAL ELECTIONS.))
[SUPER=01-Beth Obenshain/League of Women Voters Chairman;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=at local elections]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The forums begin each night at seven o-clock, inside the Blacksburg public library.
(------------)

[55-11Storm-damage]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC1:18:21]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Isabel]

Part of the bill for Hurricane Isabel has been calculated and officals say it may cost over 600 million dollars to fix.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :24]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

State officials say structural damage from Isabel will cost Virginia at least 625 million dollars to fix.
That figure is the first formal statewide storm damage estimate.
But officials warn it is likely to increase substantially.
The extensive damage from Isabel is also causing delays for Dominion Power.
Its crews are working around the clock to restore electricity to the 400-thousand Virginians still in the dark.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:10:48]
[IN Q=AS WE PUSH DEEPER]
((IRENE CIMINO/DOMINION POWER SPOKESPERSON: AS WE PUSH DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE HARDEST HIT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SUBDIVISIONS, WE'RE ACTUALLY FINDING THAT DAMAGE IS MORE SEVERE THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT. ))
[SUPER=01-Irene Cimino/Dominion Power Spokesperson]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Dominion Power officials say Isabel and Tuesday's tornados brought down nine-thousand utility poles and damaged 15-thousand crossarms.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
It's shaping up to be another mild day across the region, with just a slight chance of showers.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the Thursday forecast, plus a look ahead at the weekend, up next.

[8-3-11Franklin-Drugs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC39:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

They served time in prison back in the 80s-- now some of Franklin county's biggest drug dealers are back behind bars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Tuesday;]

Franklin County authorities arrested about 50 people on distribution charges in a sweep Tuesday.
Yesterday, they unsealed federal indictments accusing 10 of running a major drug-dealing operation that brought cocaine from Florida into Franklin County.
They allege that Gerald Randolph Smith was the kingpin, and that Euell Clifton Chitwood and Terry Ivan Smith were his lieutenants.
Both Smiths served prison time for dealing cocaine in the 80s.
[SUPER=04-June 16;]

William Davis, who shot two intruders in his mobile home back in June, was also charged in the sweep.
(------------)

[8-11Murder-Reward]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC36:32]
[GRAPHIC=Richard Palmer]

A murder victim's family is counting on a reward offer to help find a killer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Authorities still don't know who shot and killed 51-year-old Richard Anthony Palmer of Riner.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April 22;]

The Montgomery County school bus driver was found dead in his pickup truck in Roanoke back in April.
His dog was also killed.
Palmer's family and church are now offering a cash reward for information about the killing.
They say they do not want to reveal the amount.
(------------)

[8-11Countess]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meanwhile, attorneys for the defendant in ANOTHER murder case are blaming the crime on drugs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
That's the argument defense attorneys for Cindy Gail Countess have adopted in her murder trial. The 49-year old defendant is accused of beating her 82-year old mother to death in May of last year. Countess pled "not guilty" yesterday, as her trial began before a Roanoke judge- -withOUT a jury. Even if he believes Countess killed Edna Dooley, the defense asked Judge Clifford Weckstein to find Countess "not criminally responsible." They say the medication Countess was taking left her unable to control her behavior.
(------------)

[8-11Old-97]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC00:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The late Johnny Cash sang a song about it-- and so did many others.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of an event in Danville that inspired a well- known ballad.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The wreck of the old 97 happened on September 27th 1903.
It was an express mail train that flew off a Danville trestle, crashing to a rocky creek bed below, killing eleven people.
The event was made famous by the ballad titled "the wreck of the old 97."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:32:24]
[IN Q=Honestly it put Danville]
((LAWRENCE McFALL/RESIDENT HISTORIAN: HONESTLY IT PUT DANVILLE ON THE MAP AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT I CHECKED INTO A MOTEL IN EL PASO TEXAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WHEN I SIGNED THE REGISTRATION DANVILLE VIRGINIA THE CLERK ON THE DESK SAID DANVILLE VIRGINIA AND HE STARTS SINGING THE SONG AND HE WOULDN'T SHUT UP))
[SUPER=01-Lawrence McFall/Resident Historian;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=and he wouldn't shut up.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Danville plans to commemorate the wreck with several events on Saturday at the community market.
There will be a mayor's proclamation, a train show, and a butterfly release at the Science Center to honor the men who died in the train wreck. (------------)