[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Coming up on NEWS 7: The sworn testimony of a pastor accused of molesting children.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :06]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And the Reverend Jerry Falwell weighs in on same-sex marriage and the Constitutional amendment.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
Tonight on News 7 sports - we'll check in with the high flying Liberty University men's and women's basketball teams.
We'll get reacquainted with Bryan Randall multi-talented brother.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and soon-to-be hall of famer John Elway joins forces with Bassett furniture.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]
Chilly tomorrow, warmer by the weekend and watching a storm to the south to make sure it doesn't sneak up on us.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]
News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
A Former Giles County pastor takes the stand in his own defense.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Roger Holcomb says his intimate contact with children was accidental.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Holcomb]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC1:36:32]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The defense rested its case this afternoon and the Commonwealth finished calling rebuttal witnesses.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
53-year old Roger Holcomb is accused of molesting three children in Giles County.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa has been attending the trial.
She's in our Blacksburg newsroom with the latest on the case. Rachel?
Keith and Shannon, Roger Holcomb spent the entire morning on the witness stand,
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
testifying in his own defense.
Holcomb denies ever molesting any children, but did admit on the stand one of the children touched his private parts on three occasions.
[ENG#=4]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]
Roger Holcomb is charged with 4-counts of aggravated sexual battery and 2-counts of taking indecent liberties.
The charges stem from his association with 3-children.
On the stand, under cross examination by the Commonwealth he did say that one of the children had touched his private parts on three occasions, but said they were all accidents and unintentional.
For instance, Holcomb testified that one time the child was trying to jump on his lap and her hand fell between his legs and into the opening of his boxer shorts.
Holcomb and his wife also testified they believed the child's parents were abusing her.
(------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
The Commonwealth called several rebuttal witnesses today, including a social worker who says she took a phone call from Holcomb's wife.
She testified that Frone Holcomb told her, Roger was obsessed with the child and feared he was sexually abusing her.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
Keith and Shannon, closing arguments will begin tomorrow morning and the case is expected to be in the hands of the jury by noon.
[Gay-Marriage]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC40:12]
[GRAPHIC=George w. Bush]
President George Bush is --quote--"on the side of the angels"-- for proposing a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages.
[ANCHOR=Jerry Falwell]
That's the opinion of the Reverend Jerry Falwell, speaking in Lynchburg today.
[ENG#=1]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Falwell says the President has drawn a line in the sand that his political opponents will not be able to cross.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:51:38]
[IN Q=Seventy to eighty]
((REV. JERRY FALWELL/LIBERTY U. CHANCELLOR: 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BELIEVE A FAMILY BEGINS EXCLUSIVELY WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN LEGALLY MARRY. AND THE PRESIDENT HAS COURAGEOUSLY, WHO'S BROUGHT SUCH DECENCY AND RESPECT BACK TO THE OVAL OFFICE, IS NOW TAKING A STAND FOR THE FAMILY. THIS WILL RE-ELECT HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Liberty U. Chancellor]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=will re-elect him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Falwell says he's confident the amendment will pass in Congress and by three quarters of the state legislatures to become law.
(------------)
[State-budget]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC1:17:15]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]
State budget negotiations are starting earlier this year and so is the budget bickering.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
House Republicans today blasted Senate Democrats for threatening a budget impasse.
G-O-P leaders also called on Governor Warner to take a position on the Senate budget which increases revenue by nearly four billion dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:02:04]
[IN Q=WOULD HE SIGN THE SENATE BUDGET]
((DEL. BILL HOWELL/(R) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; WOULD HE SIGN THE SENATE BUDGET IF IT CAME TO HIM OR ARE THE TAX INCREASES IN THAT PLAN TOO LARGE? IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Bill Howell/(R) Speaker of the House; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But the governor's press secretary says it is a moot question.
She says the budget process doesn't work that way.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09:34]
[IN Q=HE'S MADE HIS PRIORITIES KNOWN]
((ELLEN QUALLS/GOVERNOR'S PRESS SECRETARY: HE'S MADE HIS PRIORITIES KNOWN. HE'S CRITIQUED THE HOUSE BUDGET AND THE REVENUES IT RELIES ON. HE SAID THE SENATE PLAN IS VERY AGGRESSIVE. NOW IT IS UP TO THEM TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION.))
[SUPER=01-Ellen Qualls/Governor's Press Secretary; :]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=work together to find a solution.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
House and Senate leaders are speeding up the budget negotiations, hoping to complete their work by March 13th.
(------------)
[Concept-One]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC2:00:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
The plan to bring a private school for troubled youth to Radford may be in trouble itself.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
A Tidewater company wanted to get the old New River Industries plant on Main Street rezoned so it could create a private academy for troubled 15 to 17 year olds.
Last night a Radford city council member made a motion to approve the rezoning, but no one would second it.
City attornies are now looking into the matter, but officials say it's likely the failed motion means the project is essentially denied.
(------------)
[Boys-Girls]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:11:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
A new partnership will bring a major expansion for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Roanoke Valley.
Two clubs are now slated to open in two city schools, serving 12- hundred more children in northwest Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Forest Park Elementary will become the first school to host a new Boys and Girls club this Spring.
Then in January, a second will open in the new Academy for Math and Science.
Roanoke College Senior Tiffany Allen is a former member and current volunteer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Leaving school]
((TIFFANY ALLEN/ROANOKE COLLEGE SENIOR; LEAVING SCHOOL TO GO TO AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM JUST LEAVES ROOM FOR ERROR, FIGHTS SOMEBODY GETTING HURT, SOMEBODY GETTING PICKED ON. BEING RIGHT HERE YOU CAN GET IT ALL. WATCH EM. KEEP AN EYE ON THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Tiffany Allen/Roanoke College Senior; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=keep an eye on them]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The group is launching a fundraising drive, and today celebrated a 250- thousand dollar contribution from Delta Dental Plan of Virginia.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Without new leads, they're out of luck.
Still ahead, the latest on the investigation into livestock shootings in the New River Valley.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Plus, it's a nationwide problem. See how one area school system is trying to get more school bus drivers behind the wheel.
(----------------)
[1st-Wx]
[Bus-Drivers]
(MINI OPEN)
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC20:53]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
It's estimated there are more than 450-thousand buses nationwide shuttling kids back and forth to school every day.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
But, across the country there aren't enough people to captain these ships.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]
As Susan Bahorich tells us a number of obstacles are keeping candidates out of "the drivers seat."
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= *NATS* -Barbara Helms..]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Helms/School Bus Driver; :11 ]
[SUPER=01-Richard Craft/Substitute Bus Driver; :36]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1; :48]
[SUPER=01-Larry Hall/Botetourt Co. Schools; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q= News7, Botetourt County]
(([nat sequence@1:03:45:16]
((close door=CLICK, shift gears, start driving))
[runs:04]
Barbara Helms has been "at the helm" of a school bus for 26-years.
[SOT@1:07:14:18]
[INQ=I usually don't have..]
((BARBARA HELMS, SCHOOL BUS DRIVER: I USUALLY DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO THEM VERY MUCH, JUST TO MAKE THEM SIT DOWN THERE IN THEIR SEATS. THAT'S THE MAIN THING WITH THOSE KIDS.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUTQ=.. with those kids.]
School bus drivers like Helms are a hot commodity, drivers are in short-supply forcing school systems around the country and the Commonwealth to explore their options...
[NATS@49:59:00]
((driving away))
[runs:03]
That's the case in Botetourt County where substitute drivers like Richard Craft are in high demand.
[SOT@25:43:27]
[INQ=I like helping..]
((RICHARD CRAFT, SUBSTITUTE DRIVER: I LIKE HELPING PEOPLE OUT. I LIKE WORKING WITH KIDS, IT'S FUN FOR ME.))
[RUNS:06]
[OUTQ=.. fun for me.]
When times get tight even maintenance crew and staff are trained to slide behind the wheel.
[SOT@1:00:16:00]
[INQ=Five-thousand students..]
((SUSAN BAHORICH, REPORTING: FIVE-THOUSAND STUDENT ATTEND BOTETOURT COUNTY SCHOOLS. IT'S ESTIMATED NEARLY 80-PERCENT OF THEM RIDE THE BUS. BUT, WHEN THE AVERAGE BUS DRIVER SALARY IS 10-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR- GOOD HELP IS HARD TO FIND.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUTQ=.. hard to find.]
[SOT]
[INQ=Imagine teaching a..]
((DR. LARRY HALL, BOTETOURT COUNTY SCHOOLS: IMAGINE TEACHING A CLASS WITH YOUR BACK TO THE CHILDREN THE WHOLE TIME. THAT'S WHAT A DRIVER IS DOING WHEN HE'S GOING DOWN THE ROAD. HE HAS 50-KIDS BEHIND HIM WITH THE ONLY WAY TO CHECK ON THEM IS BY MIRROR. I'D RATHER HE BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS EYES ON THE ROAD THAN THE MIRROR.))
[RUNS:17]
[OUTQ=.. than the mirror.]
In addition to being responsible for the safety of dozens of children a day for a relatively small paycheck- these yellow "tanks" often take "the hit" when it comes to cuts in the budget.
And Hall says pay increases seem to be the only way to lure and keep good drivers. If not...
[NATS@1:14:37:01]
[INQ= Bye..]
((BYE.... CLOSE DOOR- CLICK SHUT))
[RUNS:03]
[OUTQ=noise-click shut]
.. more and more of those drivers could shut the door and say goodbye to the roads.
SB, News7, Botetourt County. ))
[Gonier]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC59:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
A bank robber was sentenced today to serve 12 and a half years in prison for one of those two bank jobs that happened one right after the other on the same day in May last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/May 2003]
Douglas Earl Gonier held up the Valley Bank on Starkey Road just as somebody else was making a getaway from another Valley Bank branch in South Roanoke.
Gonier had been working as a painter at the Holiday Inn before he robbed the bank across the road.
Gonier was ordered to pay back the six thousand dollars he stole... once he has completed his sentence of 150 months in prison.
(------------)
[Cow-Update]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC2:03:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office needs more evidence if it's to pursue a string of livestock shootings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./October 2003;]
One of eight pregnant cows owned by Larry and Sandra Hollandsworth was shot to death on their Riner-area property last October.
Another pregnant cow, named Blaze, was shot but survived.
The Hollandsworths say Blaze's wounds healed, and she gave birth to a healthy heifer yesterday.
They've named her Miracle.
In all, six head of livestock were shot in Riner last October.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office says it has developed some suspects but does NOT have enough evidence to press charges.
The case is classified as "inactive".
[RBX]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Bankruptcy Filing]
Roanoke-based RBX Industries filed for bankruptcy protection today.
While the company says it is dissappointed with its current state, RBX says Chapter 11 reorganization is necesary and expects positive effects for continuing operations.
In February, the company announced it would close three facilities, including the plant in Bedford, due to the weak economy and overcrowding in the rubber industry.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Another down day on Wall Street.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/43.25/10566.37/y/2.08/2005.44;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The DOW lost 43 points today.
NASDAQ dropped two.
[SUPER=271-i/0.31/39.00/i/0.46/56.17/i/0.31/33.14/h/1.56/83.48/i/0.55/81.45;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.10/36.68/i/0.11/21.02/h/0.04/6.79/h/0.07/63.30/i/0.14/33.28;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.03/7.81/h/0.11/42.41/i/0.44/19.02/i/0.17/21.97/h/0.24/7.38;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.01/12.46/h/0.34/73.69/h/1.08/38.09/i/0.09/48.05/i/0.10/59.95;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]
[Desegregation]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-53 TC1:13:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It was the Supreme Court decision that would permanently change the face of America's public schools.
Today, Patrick Henry Community College marked the 50th anniversary of the Brown versus the Board of Education decision.
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith/NEwsroom;]
Myranda Stephens is in the newsroom with more.
Keith and Shannon, the college held a panel discussion today on the landmark decision.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
The speakers were mostly former students who lived through that era, giving students today a better picture of what it was like back then.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mike Muse/1st Black Student in Martinsville Schools; :00]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :10]
[SUPER=01-Terry Young/Assoc. Prof. of Legal Administration; :44]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=TRENDS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE ]
(([SOT 143]
[RUNS09]
((THAT FIRST WEEK WAS VERY HECTIC AND TRYING IN TERMS THAT WE HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN BY A POLICE GUARD 152))
Mike Muse was the first black student to attend Martinsville public schools.
Although he's proud of being a trailblazer, he admits it wasn't easy.
[SOT 338]
[RUNS13]
((MIKE MUSE/MY FATHER'S BUSINESS WAS THREATENED, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF ANIMOSITY AMONG CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN THE CITY THAT DIDN'T WANT TO SEE INTEGRATION TAKE FORTH 51))
While most would say integration has come a long way, others like Terry Young, who's studied the Brown versus Board of Education case extensively, note a backward trend.
[SOT 458]
[RUNS16]
((UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF WHITES HAVE LEFT INNER CITIES AND MOVED TO THE SUBURBS AND WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, BEFORE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT LEGALIZED SEGREGRATION IT JUST SORT OF HAPPENS AS A MATTER OF FACT JUST BECAUSE OF THE TRENDS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE 514))))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL Newsroom]
Young says that seems to be happening mostly in urban areas, not predominantly rural areas like Southwest Virginia.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith/Newsroom;]
Keith the college is celebrating a little early, the actual desegregation decision was made on May 17, 1954.
[Coffee-Sign]
[ANCHOR=Shannon ]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC1:21:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
A downtown Roanoke landmark could be percolating in a new location by the end of the year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The H&C Coffee sign has long been the focus of a renovation campaign but the official fundraising will begin tomorrow.
In November, Roanoke City Council approved an ordinance for Downtown Roanoke, Inc. to move the sign from the top of Billy's Ritz to the Shenandoah Hotel nearby.
The sign needs extensive repairs before it can be relit.
But once the work starts DRI says it could be completed in a matter of months.
(///// SOT at :25 /////)
[SOT 1:09 - 1:19]
[IN Q=Because I'd really like to see...]
((DAVID DIAZ/PRESIDENT, DOWNTOWN ROANOKE, INC.: BECAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS UP BY NEW YEAR'S EVE. LET'S HAVE A PARTY OR SOMETHING. BUT TO HAVE IT RUNNING BY THE END OF THE YEAR IS VERY AMBITIOUS.))
[SUPER=01-David Diaz/Downtown Roanoke, Inc., President;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=end of the year is very ambitious.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12]
Organizers estimate they'll need 170-thousand dollars to restore and relocate the sign and create an endowment fund to keep it working.
A steering committee comprised of volunteers will determine how the money will be raised.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - John Elway hooks up with an area company.
The Liberty University men and women are pulling off a rare double,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and we'll get reacquainted with Hampden-Sydney's Brandon Randall - who says when it come to hoops and grades - it's all in the family.
(------------)
[S-Randall]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-170 453]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]
[ENG#=1]
The Hampden-Sydney Tigers won the ODAC men's basketball title and in the process earned an invitation to the NCAA tournament next month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Night; :00]
One of the keys was the play of senior Brandon Randall - who pitched in 18 points and earned all-tournament honors.
Randall was the high scorer in the game or on his team - but no one hit more key buckets than the senior from Williamsburg.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Randall/Hampden-Sydney Senior; :03]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=....GOING TO HESITATE."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
Randall - is the brother of Tech quarterback and shooting guard Bryan Randall who was in attendance last night along with their parents Edgar and Belinda Randall.
Brandon says his close knit family gives him energy on the court.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I CAN...]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...an encouraging me."]
(-----------)
[VO CON'T]
Randall who is a straight A student majoring in Physics at Hampden-Sydney is also a Rhodes Scholar candidate.
(-----------)
[S-Flames]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-162 1:23:33]
[GRAPHIC=Liberty university]
[ENG#=2]
What do Duke, Stanford, Austin Peay and Liberty University all have in common? They are the only colleges in the nation whose basketball programs are tops in their conferences. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Carey Green/Liberty Women's Basketball Coach; :15]
[SUPER=01-Randy Dunton/Liberty Men's Basketball Coach; :42]
[SUPER=01-David Dees/Liberty Flames Guard; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Katie Feenstra/Liberty Flames Center; 1:17]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=..... News 7 sports"]
(---------------------)[S-Elway]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-172 228TC]
[GRAPHIC=nfl]
[ENG#=3]
Later this year John Elway will be enshrined in NFL football hall of fame in Canton, Ohio
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO/1998; :00]
but today the former Denver Bronco joined forces with Henry County-based Bassett Furniture.
Elway will have his own line of furniture known as "Elway Home."
Appropriately it will feature an array of home entertainment centers, reclining sofas, sectionals and chairs.
The line of furniture will be unveiled in October in High Point at the annual furniture market.
(------------)
by SS