WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/17/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A local robber is held up in his own act.
He's now suspected of more than a dozen crimes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And he Don's three hats: We'll profile the Army Commander, Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney and high school football referee.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on the Big 7 - UVa tries to rally the troops for a technically tough close. We're Christmas shopping in tonight's Tech 2003 report -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And A-Rod takes home the American League's MVP award.
(------------)

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

After a very mild start, a cold front will change things up a bunch by midweek. Details in our forecast after sports.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT:21:56:00 ]
[IN Q=As I got]
((DEPUTY DAVID MEREDITH: AS I GOT A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE COUNTER SHE MADE A MOTION WITH HER MOUTH SAYING I'M BEING ROBBED.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=I'm being robbed]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

A Wythe County Sheriff's deputy walks in on the middle of an armed robbery.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

It happened at a Rural Retreat gas station and ended in a high speed chase.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Wythe-Arrest]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC2:03:28]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The suspect is now behind bars but yesterday's story doesn't end there.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Authorities say he may have been involved in more than a dozen robberies.
[Blacksburg DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]

New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa joins us from Blacksburg with the latest.
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg]

Keith and Shannon, Investigators are now swamped with calls from at least 8 other jurisdictions. They say, this suspect and his gun match the descriptions from nearly 19 different robberies in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.]
[SUPER=01-Dep. David Meredith/Wythe Co. Sheriff's Office]
[SUPER=01-Kermit Osborne/Wythe Co. Sheriff; ]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=DEFINITELY HAD A CHANCE]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT:24:40:00]
[IN Q=It was totally]
((DEPUTY DAVID MEREDITH: IT WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND IT ALL JUST HAPPENED SO FAST.)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=Happened so fast.]

Deputy David Meredith thought he was going to a routine gas drive-off call at this Rural Retreat gas station. Instead, he walked in on an armed robbery.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:26:52:00]
[IN Q=The clerk looked]
((DEPUTY MEREDITH: THE CLERK LOOKED AT ME AND SAYS I'M BEING ROBBED AND AT THAT TIME I'VE SEEN GUY WITH A MASK COME UP FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER AND HE WAS POINTING A GUN AT ME.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=a gun at me.]

Meredith dove behind this food stand and then went out the front door. He says 59 year old Paul Edwards Inman then took the clerk hostage.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:23:14:00]
[IN Q="I was parked right]
((DEPUTY MEREDITH: I WAS PARKED RIGHT HERE AND I WAS BEHIND MY VEHICLE AS HE CAME OUT WITH HER AND I ADVISED HIM TO DROP HIS WEAPON AND LET HER GO.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=let her go.]

Investigators say Inman jumped in his car and lead Meredith on an 8 mile chase... even going the wrong way on route 11 before hitting a state police road block. Investigators now believe there may be more to this story.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:4:27:00]
[IN Q=It appears]
((SHERIFF KERMIT OSBORNE: IT APPEARS THAT THE DESCRIPTIONS AND THE TYPE OF WEAPON MATCH SOME OF THE OTHER ROBBERIES IN THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=other jurisdictions.]

Deputy Meredith says it all happened so fast, he's just thankful no one was hurt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:25:50:00 ]
[IN Q=I was thanking god]
((DEPUTY MEREDITH: I WAS THANKING GOD THAT HE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER BECAUSE HE DEFINITELY HAD A CHANCE.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=had a chance.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Deputy Meredith was at the end of a 4-day shift when this happened. He now has the next 4-days off to rest.
Inman is facing 7 different felony charges including abduction, robbery and attempted murder.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]

He's being held a the regional jail without bond. Keith and Shannon, several police agencies are headed this way to get a chance to talk with him.

[Wytheville-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Police in the town of Wytheville are on the lookout for another robber who may have been shot during a separate attempt.
Officers say a man entered the Sunny Daze Deli-Market on Lee Highway last night and demanded money from the clerk.

The clerk bent over to retrieve the money, produced a weapon and shot the suspect in the stomach.
The man left the store, got into a car and drove away.
Police say they have warned local hospitals and doctors to be on the lookout.
Officers aren't sure if anyone else is involved, but Radford police reported a similar robbery earlier yesterday evening at the Super 8 Motel on Tyler Avenue.
The robber in that case was successful and got away uninjured.

[Baby-Death]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Henry County woman faces felony murder and child abuse charges, after an infant died in her care.
(+++++++)
[TAKE PINNACLE FS#4460]

34-year-old Tonia Boothe Johnston is being held without bond in the Henry County jail.
Yesterday, 6-month-old Coy Kaczor (KAY-zor) died of injuries sustained while she was babysitting him.
Johnston told deputies he fell and hit his head.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Investigators say the boy's injuries were the result of being shaken.
Johnston is a former teacher's aide who was a friend of the infant's parents. She was babysitting while they were at work.

[Muhammad-Verdict]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC52:32]
[GRAPHIC=John Muhammad]

Guilty of capital murder...that is the verdict today in the sniper trial of John Allen Muhammad.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It took a jury in Virginia Beach six-and-a-half hours to convict Muhammad of the shooting death of Dean Meyers outside a Manassas gas station last fall.
A stoic Muhammad looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read.
The 42-year-old Gulf war veteran was convicted of two counts of capital murder, as well as two lesser charges.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:57:30]
[IN Q=I AM PLEASED THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE]
((ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY KILGORE: I AM PLEASED THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN GETTING GUILTY VERDICTS ON IMPORTANT COUNTS NOT ONLY REGULAR CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTION BUT ALSO A CONVICTION USING VIRGINIA'S NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAW THAT PROHIBITS INDIVIDUALS FROM TERRORIZING AN ENTIRE CIVILIAN POPULATION.))
[SUPER=@Kilgore]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=TERRORIZING AN ENTIRE CIVILIAN POPULATION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The same jury began hearing testimony this afternoon in the sentencing phase of the trial.
They must decide now whether Muhammad gets a death sentence or life in prison.
(------------)

[City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC1:38:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]

City Council wants to change Roanoke's zoning ordinance in response to a proposed methadone clinic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Roanoke Treatment Center wants to put a substance abuse treatment facility on Hershberger Road. Opponents say the location is too close to schools. City leader found out about the proposal not long before the public. They agree the facility creates unique circumstances and say more clearly defining "outpatient clinics" could help.
(///// SOT at : 21 /////)
[SOT 15:15:02-15:15:18]
[IN Q=Well, the zoning amendment that we are requesting...]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: AND THEN REQUIRE THAT THOSE ACTIVITIES MEETING THAT NEW DEFINITION COULD ONLY BE LOCATED IN C-2 DISTRICT OF THE CITY, WHICH IS OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND THEN COULD ONLY BE LOCATED WITH APPROVAL FROMTHE B-Z-A THROUGH A SPECIAL EXCEPTION PROCESS.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=through a special exception process.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Council and the Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing on the issue December 15th. The city also want the Virginia code to be amended to require the state to notify any locality when an application for such a facility is made. Burcham says the locality should then be given 30-days to comment on the proposed location.

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

Homelessness on the rise.
Still ahead, new numbers and new calls for help in the Roanoke Valley.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And From Commonwealth's Attorney to full-time Colonel.
See how Don Caldwell is juggling his jobs as active-duty soldier and Roanoke's chief prosecutor.
(----------------)

[Caldwell]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC37:06]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Workplaces- -all across America- -are replete with empty seats... because so many reservists have been called to active duty overseas.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Roanoke's Commonwealth's Attorney is a military commander who's been away from his elective office for 11 months now.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I am a person]
[SUPER=03-Fort Eustis; :03]
[SUPER=04-October 2002; :27]
[SUPER=01-Col. Donald Caldwell/2174 Garrison Support Unit; :49]
[SUPER=04-Salem; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Carlye Garst/W. Salem Elementary School Student; 1:23]
[SUPER=@keith2; 1:29]
[RUNS=2:01]
[OUT Q=good second half.]
((((I AM A PERSON WHO LIKES CHALLENGES.))
[RUNS= :02]
Don Caldwell has two full-time jobs, at the moment: one at Fort Eustis where he commands 186 reservists in an active duty Garrison Support Unit.... [10:21:33] ((THEY'RE SMART, THEY'RE MOTIVATED. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.))
[RUNS= :03]
These troops prepare other units for deployment overseas- -primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. [14:48:55] ((...ALL RIGHT, CARRY ON.))
[RUNS= :02]
In his other life: he's a lawyer, one of 10 attorneys who prosecute criminal cases in Roanoke. [10:21:57] ((I HAVE A GOOD STAFF BACK AT THE OFFICE.))
[RUNS= :02]
His Chief Assistant says Cadlwell calls the office everyday and wants to know the status of virtually every case. With the boss gone for almost a year now, though, the rest of the staff has had to pick up the slack while Caldwell is doing his part to support the war effort. [10:23:05] ((THE COUNTRY SACRIFICES IN DIFFERENT WAYS WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A WAR-TIME ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT'S THEIR SACRIFICE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THEY LOOK AT IT, DOING THEIR PART.))
[RUNS= :11]

[NAT SOT at West Salem Elementary]
On Veterans Day, Colonel Caldwell visited a school in Salem where part of his unit is based. [9:38] ((MY PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING HERE TODAY IS TO THANK WEST SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR THE CARDS AND LETTERS YOU MADE FOR MY UNIT.))
[RUNS= :10]
Carlye Garst was one of those who helped support the troops. [10:03] ((I WROTE, " THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE WHEN WE NEEDED YOUR HELP."))
[RUNS= :06]
Caldwell hopes to be able to demobilize many of his troops by Christmas, but he doesn't know when HE'll be back. His mandatory removal date came and went six months ago- -after 30 years in service. [10:16:50] ((I WAS RETIRED ON MAY 31ST AND I WAS BACK ON DUTY OUT OF THE RESERVES ON JUNE 2ND.))
[RUNS= :06]
Caldwell just turned 53, but he's managed to lose 40 pounds on active duty. Most Friday nights he can leave Fort Eustis in time to make it back to referee High School football games. ((SHAKE HANDS. LET'S HAVE A GOOD SECOND HALF.))
[RUNS= :02]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Caldwell says he hopes to hang up his Army uniform by the end of January and go back to being a full-time Commonwealth's Attorney.

[Boty-Marine]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A missing Marine reservist from Botetourt County has been found dead.
(+++++++)
[TAKE Boblett #4462 EssC FS]
The family of Private First Class Stephen Jared Boblett reported him missing after he failed to show up for a training exercise Sunday morning.
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=none]
He was found in his pickup truck that night, killed by a gunshot wound. The sheriff says there is NO evidence of foul play.

[NRCC]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:14:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More help is on the way for hundreds of laid off workers in Pulaski.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

New River Community College is opening a satellite office at the Renfro Plant.
The sock manufacturer announced last week it was closing and laying off 315 workers.
College officials say the office will be used to help workers go back to school or find a new job.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:18:36:00]
[IN Q=A lot of these]
((RON CHAFFIN: A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND ARE A LITTLE SCARED SO WE THOUGHT WE'D MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM. ))
[SUPER=01-Ron Chaffin/New River Community College]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=as possible for them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The satellite office will be open for several weeks. The Renfro plant will close on January 10th.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Stocks dropped again following steep declines in overseas markets. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/57.85/9710.83/y/20.65/1909.61;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW lost 58 points.
NASDAQ dropped 21.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.57/80.47//Unchg/50.35/i/0.36/27.00/i/0.84/67.88/i/0.15/74.57;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.08/39.07/i/1.41/15.24/i/0.16/6.49/i/0.49/60.47/i/0.07/27.81;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.09/6.64/i/0.15/40.35/i/0.26/17.82/i/0.24/20.87/i/0.11/6.29;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.05/9.40/i/0.06/69.50/h/0.13/32.74/i/0.23/44.50//Unchg/55.00;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Homeless]

[ANCHOR=Shannon ]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC1:34:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and as it turns out, more people are without homes in the Roanoke Valley than last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
That's according to a survey by the Roanoke Valley Task Force. The survey shows an average of 438-people spent the night in homeless shelters this summer.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
That's about a hundred more than last year. The Task Force conducts these surveys, not only to help raise money for homeless programs, but to eliminate stereotypes about the homeless.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 49:24]
[IN Q=they're high school]
((PAULA PRINCE/ROANOKE VALLEY TASK FORCE: THEY'RE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, THEY'RE COLLEGE GRADUATES, THEY'RE WORKING, THEY'RE FAMILY PEOPLE, THEY'RE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS BEING UNABLE TO FIND HOUSING.))
[SUPER=01-Paula Prince/Roanoke Valley Task Force;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=to find housing]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The survey shows substance abuse, lost housing and unemployment were among the top reasons behind homelessness, although officials say many other factors also contribute.
(------------)

[Guildhall]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC1:00:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The columns at Guildhall are coming down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :26]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The historic mansion on Cove Road is being prepped for demolition. The columns are some of the last parts to be salvaged before the house is torn down. Guildhall, also known as the Moomaw House, was built in 1882 by Reverend D-C Moomaw. The Pastor of the Garden of Prayer church which owns Guildhall, says as much as he would love to renovate the building, doing so is unrealistic. The church will build a sanctuary and gymnasium in its place.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - A-rod takes home the MVP, while UVa gets ready for the "Tech-nical" part of its schedule,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and in this week's Tech 2003 report we'll see what Michael Vick has in common with Elmo. Stay with us.
(------------)

[S-Tech2003]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-160 13207TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2003]
With Temple now in the rear view mirror, but probably never out of mind - Virginia Tech now sets its sights on the its final Big East game ever - this Saturday against Boston College. And while the Hokies hope to wrap up win number 9, we're wrapping up some holiday gifts in this week's edition of the Tech 2003 Report.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Locke White/VT Licensing and Trademarks Director; :28]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=...NEED SANTA HIMSELF."]
(--------------)
(( Tired of riding the Hokie roller coaster the past month. Then hit the malls - Christmas time is coming and Michael Vick is ready to take up space under your tree. The Forever bobble head company has produced a limited edition Vick figure in his Hokie home uniform. B & C Sports Collectibles in both Lynchburg and at Valley View are one of the only place you can find it locally. ((LOCKE WHITE:)) Thanks to Vick and the success of Tech football - the Hokies number of licensed products has almost doubled in four years to more than 500. Another new item this holiday season is a 616 piece three foot long, panoramic jigsaw puzzle of Lane Stadium. ((LOCKE WHITE:)) White says revenue from licensing fees should top $1 million by next year. It could have been more if Tech and Fisher Price had had a meeting of the minds on the new talking Elmo. ((LOCKE WHITE;)) ((nat sound)) ((LOCKE WHITE:)) Vick isn't letting Elmo get much of a lead on him. He is readily available in his Falcons' garb this Holiday season.

But to find these items on store shelves - you may actually need Santa himself.))

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-157]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
The Virginia Cavaliers have lost of their last five games - and with Ga. Tech and Virginia Tech up next - the prospect of a losing season is looming. Steve Mason has more from Charlottesville.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-College Park, MD/Last Saturday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Canty/UVa's Second Leading Tackler; :09]
[SUPER=@steve1; :24]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Coach; :35 quick]
[RUNS=:47]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/UVA]
And ABC sports announced this afternoon that the Tech-UVa game on November 29th will kick-off at either 1pm or 8pm. The network will decide next Sunday.

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-154]
[GRAPHIC=mlb]

Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez is the American League's Most Valuable player.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB;]
He becomes the second player ever from a last place team to earn the award. The last - last place winner was Andre Dawson with the Cubs in 1987. In all - 10 different players received first place votes in the wide open balloting by the baseball writer's of America. (------------)