WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/11/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A Pulaski company is closing down at a cost of more than 3-hundred jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And a capital murder charge is dropped. That way, the prosecutor says, he can build a stronger case.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steev]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, Tech embraces two quarterbacks, Al Groh talks about a wild ACC season, the Express is the hottest team in the ECHL
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Bruce Smith and his Skins are warming up as they prepare for the Carolina Panthers.
(------------)

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

The forecast has a full slate of choices including warmth, winds and a wicked temperature change. Stand by for the details.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

He WAS on trial for capital murder, but tonight, Christopher Picard is a free man.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:58]
[IN Q=I feel real good]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=good to be with my family.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Prosecutors dismissed the charges, citing a last-minute development in the case.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Picard]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC1:30:33]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The jury was selected and opening arguments were about to begin.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

But prosecutors put a halt to it all, announcing they had new evidence in the case ... and they had to drop the charges to pursue it. [***PICARD IN MONITOR***]
[TOSS ACROSS=Keith-Shannon & Marya/BAM;]

Marya Jones was in court today and has more on this unexpected turn of events.
Keith and Shannon,
Christopher Picard is a free man, but he may not have heard the last of this case.
[LIVE= Marya /FULL BAM]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]

Investigators and the commonwealth's attorney are following up on a new lead that they say may actually strengthen their case against him.
But as they investigate further, they had no choice but to let him go.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Kiss. I love you.]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
[SUPER=01-Christopher Picard/Freed Murder Defendant;]
[SUPER=01-Steve Metts/Victim's Brother; QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Denise Metts/Victim's Sister-In-Law;]
[SUPER=01-William Stanley/Defense Attorney;]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=right person to justice.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:10]
((NATS: KISS. I LOVE YOU.)) [RUNS:01]
After 13 months in jail, Christopher Picard had hugs and kisses for his family and a message for everyone else:

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:49]
((CHRISTOPHER PICARD/FREED MURDER DEFENDANT: IT FEELS GOOD AND I'D LIKE TO TELL EVERYBODY I DID NOT DO THIS AND I FEEL SYMPATHY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY OR LORI METTS.)) [RUNS:05]
Picard WAS facing multiple capital murder charges in the death of Lori Metts Hodges Boyd.
The Franklin County teacher's aide, bus driver and mother of four was found strangled in her burning car last year.
Prosecutors said Picard's fingerprint and footprint tied him to the murder scene.
But Picard and his attorneys say he just stumbled across the items and touched them.
Lori Boyd's family remains convinced he did it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:06]
((STEVE: IT'S TOUGH. JUST NOT KNOWING. pan to DENISE: I FEEL IF THIS HERE WILL MAKE HIM GO TO JAIL AND PAY, WAITING UNTIL THEY INVESTIGATE THIS, I'M WILLING TO WAIT. WHAT'S ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO?)) [RUNS:16]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:02]
((NATS PICARD TO SON: HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?)) [RUNS:01]
Picard reunited with his 2-year-old son and headed home.
But as he enjoys his homecoming, his lawyers are preparing for the possibility of defending him against the charges again.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:24]
((WILLIAM STANLEY/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: SOMEONE ELSE COMMITTED THIS MURDER. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE C.A.'S OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPT. WILL INVESTIGATE THIS CASE THOROUGHLY AND BRING THE RIGHT PERSON TO JUSTICE.)) [RUNS:13]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Marya /FULL BAM]

Immediately after he was released, Picard was arrested for a 1999 break-in in Henry County.
The warrants charge that he stole computer equipment at Fieldale-Collinsville High School.
A magistrate released him on one-thousand dollars bond, unsecured.
[TOSS ACROSS=Keith-Shannon & Marya /BAM;]

But he'll be back in court for THOSE charges on Thursday.
Keith and Shannon?

[Renfro]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC46:51]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]

Workers at a Pulaski plant could soon be losing their jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]
Renfro employees say the company notified them today that it will be shutting down its Pulaski facility in early January. The close would affect more than 300-people. In August, the company announced it was laying off 166 workers due to the economy and a decline in consumer demand for apparel. Renfro makes socks, including the Fruit of the Loom brand. The Pulaski facility has been in operation since 1987.
(------------)

[Methadone]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC1:6:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is gearing up for a fight.
This afternoon, the group promised pickets and other peaceful protest if a methadone clinic opens on Hershberger Road.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Joe/Microwave;]

Joe Dashiell has more tonight on the group's plans to fight the facility.
[LIVE=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Shannon, this is the second methadone clinic proposed for the Roanoke Valley... Like the first on Colonial Avenue in Roanoke County, the clinic here on Hershberger is drawing strong opposition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If this ]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Artis/Roanoke SCLC Chairman; :00 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :07]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Shadrack Brown/Garden of Prayer #7; :21]
[SUPER=01-Della Millner/Clinic Neighbor; :45 QUCIK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Geraldine Price/Clinic Neighbor; :53]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=the objection I really have.]
(-------------)
[LIVE=Joe Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
(adlib toss back)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Joe/Microwave;]

[Vinton-Betting]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC2:02:27]
[SS=None]
Church leaders opposed to Vinton's off-track betting referendum say they've made their point.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :14]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke Co./Last Wednesday;]
Voters last week decided Colonial Downs will be allowed to put in a betting parlor. The referendum passed by just 20-votes.
The leaders of about 10-churches opposed to the issue say there's no reason to ask for a recount.
(///// SOT AT :14 /////)
[SOT 4:16:50-4:17:05]
[IN Q=We feel like we've...]
((ROB COLWELL/THRASHER MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO LISTEN TO US AND NOW, IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING WE LIKE WE NEED TO BE LISTENING TO THEM.))
[SUPER=201-Rob Colwell/Thrasher Mem. United Meth. Church;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=feel like we need to ne listening to them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=203-Alberta/File Tape;]
Colonial Downs is still shopping for a location, but says Vinton will have a horse betting parlor in six to eight months.
The business is expected to generate 190-thousand dollars a year in revenue for the town.
The money will be used to renovate the Vinton War Memorial and the fire and rescue building.
(------------)

[County-Wreck]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC28:29]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

A car ran off Route 220 in Roanoke County this afternoon, sending two people to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The wreck near Red Hill Baptist Church and Crowell Gap Road injured a man and a woman from Ontario.
Rescue workers had to stabilize the vehicle with ropes to get the victims out after it flipped.
Lifeguard 10 took them to Carilion-Roanoke Memorial.
No word yet on their conditions.
(------------)

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

Fighting cancer without fighting traffic getting from office to office.
Still ahead on News 7, how one medical center's new construction will keep patients under one roof.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Plus Virginia honors her veterans... young and old.
(----------------)

[D-Day]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC1:26:09]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Bedford's D-Day Memorial is geared towards celebrating one epic battle in World War Two.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

It's also a good place to honor ALL those who served in America's military.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

And as Steve Smallshaw reports, it's never too late to say 'thank-you'.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It may be]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Maj. Paul Adam Willard/USAF JROTC; :18]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :48]
[SUPER=01-Ray Ford/Korean War Veteran; :55]
[SUPER=01-Lawrence Hylton/Korean War Veteran; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford.]
(( It may be called America's "Forgotten War", but a large Veterans Day crowd in Bedford remembered to honor the men who served in Korea more than a half century ago.
Fifty years ago, they were battling the spread of communism.. and speakers noted that today's soldiers are fighting a battle that's just as important.
[SOT 12:34:03]
((MAJOR PAUL ADAM WILLARDUSAF JROTC: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS SO EVIDENT THAT EVIL EXISTS IN OUR VERY SMALL WORLD TODAY AND OUR TWO OCEANS NO LONGER GIVE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION WE KNEW. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL STAND AGAINST THAT EVIL.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=against that evil.]

But today belonged to those men who last saw a battlefield in the early 1950's..
[natsot 12:41:25]
((AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR, CONGRATULATIONS..))
[RUNS= 03]

..as they were presented with the South Korean Service medal and a letter of thanks from that country's government.
U-S military custom used to prevent such decorations from being bestowed.. now these veterans are finally getting a long overdue thanks.
[SOT 12:50:49]
((RAY FORD/KOREAN WAR VETERAN: IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY REALLY. YOU GET TO LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE HERE TODAY AND IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES THAT WE HAVE HAD THROUGH THE YEARS. I'M JUST PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=to be here today.]
[SOT 12:54:50]
((LAWRENCE HYLTON/KOREAN WAR VETERAN: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT I'M PROUD OF IT AND I'M PROUD OF ALL THE STUFF THAT'S GONE ON HERE TODAY. THIS IS REALLY NICE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=this is really nice.]

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford. ))

[Salem-Vets]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC1:50:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The eleventh day of the eleventh month was solemnly observed on a grand scale in many places and some smaller places... no less grand.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT @ 9:31:40]
[IN Q=Your'e a grand]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT=...wave.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
[KEITH ON CART] Students at West Salem Elementary School recognized veterans and active duty reservists at their Veterans Day ceremony.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

[9:59:06] ((YOU REMEMBER ALL THOSE SOLDIERS THAT WERE IN THE WAR AND ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND STUFF.))
[RUNS=:09]

[10:05:37] ((VETERANS DAY REALLY MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY THANK PEOPLE AND THANK GOD THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE.))
[RUNS=:10]

[10:00:45 Jordan Scott] ((I THINK MILITARY PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE VERY BRAVE. HA.))
[RUNS=:12]

((Did you like the ceremony? YES. What was your favorite part? WHEN WE SAY THE PLEDGE.))
[RUNS=:06]

((WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.))

[Stocks]

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

Wall Street closed lower today for the third straight day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/18.74/9737.79/y/10.89/1930.75;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW fell 19 points.
NASDAQ lost 11.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.58/78.86/i/0.40/48.70/h/0.14/27.14/h/0.67/65.88/i/0.10/75.51;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.08/38.92/i/0.19/16.15/i/0.08/6.65/i/0.03/61.14/i/0.06/28.11;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.08/6.62/i/0.11/39.42/i/0.24/17.86/h/0.21/21.25/i/0.14/6.35;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.17/9.55/h/0.25/68.87/i/0.03/32.44/i/0.22/45.34/h/0.16/58.28;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Cancer-Ctr]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC48:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Lewis-Gale Medical Center will soon offer all of its cancer services under one roof.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

That's because it's expanding its cancer center.
Construction is already underway on the new addition that will more than double the size of the current facility.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:23:07]
[IN Q=I hate to say something]
((DR. DAVID RANDOLPH/LEWIS-GALE REGIONAL CANCER CTR.; I HATE TO SAY SOMETHING MINIMAL SUCH AS ONE STOP SHOPPING BUT BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO OFFER. PATIENTS CAN COME HERE THE CAN SEE A GYN ONCOLOGIST, MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST, AND RADIATION ONCOLOGIST THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT HOSPITAL ALREADY HAS))
[SUPER=01-Dr. David Randolph/Lewis-Gale Regional Cancer Ctr.; ]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=hospital already has]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The expansion will also make room for another linear accelerator for more effective radiation treatment --as well as other technology.
But most importantly, it will make life easier for cancer patients
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:20:59]
[IN Q=I think by doing this we will be]
((DR. PATTON SAUL/LEWIS-GALE REGIONAL CANCER CTR.; I THINK BY DOING THIS WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO A BETTER CARE OF SCREENING PATIENT AND ALSO PICKING UP CANCER EARLY SO WE CAN TREAT THEM MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HAVE MORE FAVORABLE OUTCOMES))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Patton Saul/Lewis-Gale Regional Cancer Ctr.; ]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=favorable outcomes]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The expanded center will open in February.
(------------)

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Bruce Smith talks about the Redskins emotional win and the Panthers, the Express is red hot
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Tech hopes to prove that a two quarterback system can not only survive but thrive.
(------------)

[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-161 1718TC]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]

After taking yesterday off, the Hokies are preparing for this Saturday's non-televised road game at Temple. And Mike Stevens says Tech once again plans to tackle the Owls with a two-headed quarterback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/11 and 2 Against Temple; :17]
[SUPER=@mike1; :42]
[SUPER=01-Ernest Wilford/105 Career Catches at VT; :55]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(----------)

[S-UVA]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-165 10:08]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

The 5 and 4 Virginia Cavaliers face Maryland Thursday night in College Park. No one has been able to figure out the ACC this season. The latest surprise, Clemson's win over Florida State.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=....kind of season it's been"]
(---------------)

[S-Skins]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-153 1:18:17]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]

The Redskins head to Carolina this Sunday at one PM to take on the NFC South 7 and 2 leading Panthers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD/Sunday; :00]
The Skins ended a four game losing streak with an emotional 27-20 win over Seattle this past weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Smith/1.5 Sacks Away from All-Time NFL Record]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=......for this team"]
(--------------)

[S-Volley]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-163 16:24]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]

Washington & Lee's Bryan Snider is the ODAC volleyball coach of the year and Bridgewater's Candy Baker is the conference player of the year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :00]

Roanoke setter and former William Byrd standout Holly Holland was selected to the first team. She is the ODAC's all time career assist leader.
Altavista's Melissa Slusher made the second team. She owns the ODAC all time kills record.
(------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-151 1:23:46]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

The Florence Pride hosts one of the hottest ECHL teams tomorrow in the Express. Roanoke has won five in a row and is 6 and 4.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Shawn Limpright/Express Second Leading Scorer; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=......getting the results we need"]
(------------)

[Baghdad-Flag]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:00:31]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
An American flag sent to Roanoke by US troops in the Middle East now flies over Your Hometown Station.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :32]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The banner was run up the station's flag pole this afternoon to celebrate Veteran's Day. Station Manager Bob Lee says the flag was a gift from the 9th Communications Battalion of the First Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Commando in Kuwait.
[SUPER=04-April 10;]
The group was one of many to benefit from the generosity of WDBJ viewers who donated more than 5-thousand pounds of items to soldiers serving in the Middle East. The battalion leader says the flag was flown over Camp Commando for a day, then shipped to the station as thanks. (------------)