WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/09/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

They say it's the fastest- growing illegal drug in the region. We'll take a look.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :07]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And Chatham residents can't blame the weather for this morning's fog. We'll show you what lowered the veil of vapor.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
Tonight on News 7 sports - a Wake up call with the kind of March madness no one wants in Winston-Salem - the Liberty women open the Big South tourney.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and the Hokies look to hang with the Scarlet Knights for round three of their Big East battles tomorrow at Noon.
(------------)

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

For the higher elevations, snow showers continue for a few more hours. Sprinkles and flurries for the rest of us.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

First it was Oxycontin... now its Methamphetamine.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

State Police say this addictive drug and its explosive labs are quickly becoming a big problem for southwest virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT:13:55:00 ]
[IN Q=No one can]
((NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE DANGER IF A METH LAB WAS TO BLOW UP, ESPECIALLY IF ITS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU.))
[RUNS=: :07]
[OUT Q=door to you.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Meth-Labs]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC1:58:00]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

State Police admit the problem is going to get much worse, before it gets better.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Meth, as it's known, is a highly addictive drug that strongly affects the central nervous system.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]

As New River Valley Buruea Chief Rachel DePompa found out, it's use is starting to rival the oxycontin problem.
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Keith and Shannon, you can make meth with common household products in your own house, that's part of the attraction.
But it can also be a very lethal combination. Meth labs are highly explosive, and creat extremely toxic air.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It may look like]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Michael Conroy/State Police;:17]
[SUPER=02-State Police Special Agent;:42]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./August 2003;:55]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=excessive trash]
((It may look like a space suit,
But this chemical resistant clothing is quickly becoming part of the uniform for local drug enforcement agencies.
NATS- crunching sound...
They need the protection to fight the region's fastest growing drugs problem, methamphetamine

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:12:16:00 ]
[IN Q=They're just too much]
((CONROY:THEY'RE JUST TOO MUCH OF A DANGER. YOU;VE GOT THE EXPLOSIVES, YOU'VE GOT THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE INVOLVED THAT CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS TO HUMANS AND CHILDREN. AND IT'S JUST TOO MUCH OF A POTENTIAL TO IGNORE.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=a potential to ignore.]

Labs are popping up in trailers and apartments across the region. Last year state police busted 34 in southwest Virginia. They've found 10 so far this year. This agent is undercover and can not be identified.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:9:31:00 ]
[IN Q=It's an up]
((SPECIAL AGENT:IT IS AN UP AND COMING DRUG IN THIS AREA. WE STILL HAVE THE OXYCONTIN PROBLEM, I DON'T FORSEE IT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON, BUT I DO SEE METH AS A GROWING PROBLEM IN SWVA.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=in southwest virginia.]
The labs are usually a mess and extremely dangerous to even be standing near. [TAKE PRE-PRO] Police say you may have a lab near you if you notice unusual odors, like cat urine or ammonia, blacked out windows, a lot of cars driving back and forth and excessive trash. [END PRE-PRO]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Police are also asking area merchants to be on the look out.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon, they say if you notice someone buying extreme amounts of products like cold medicine, Iodine, or matches, call state police and let them know.

[L'burg-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC1:34:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

"There's something for everyone to dislike" in this year's Lynchburg city budget.. that's the opinion of the man who put the budget together, city manager Kimball Payne.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Lynchburg is facing a 17-million dollar shortfall which city leaders say can't be plugged without reducing services AND raising taxes.
Payne released a budget today that calls for hikes in the city's real estate, personal property, meals and amusement taxes.
He also proposes eliminating about forty city jobs.
It's now up to city council to decide what to cut and what to raise.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:08:25]
[IN Q=I've tried to]
((KIMBALL PAYNE/LYNCHBURG CITY MANAGER: I'VE TRIED TO.. ...TO DO THAT?))
[SUPER=01-Kimball Payne/Lynchburg City Manager]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=to do that?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In lieu of raising taxes, Payne says the city can eliminate things like the downtown library, the museum system and one fire station.
A public hearing will be held next month.
(------------)

[Chatham-Leak]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC36:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An early morning gas leak at a Pittsylvania County plant is under investigation tonight. Just after six A-M, Cook Composites and Polymers in Chatham shutdown, releasing gas into the air. The company makes polyester resin, a component of bathtubs, boats and vanities. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Susan /NEwsroom;]
Susan Bahorich was at the plant today. Susan, how hazardous is this gas? Keith- Not very, but it can be obnoxious...
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1;]
A scale from zero to four- with four being the most dangerous- is used to measure the hazard. The gas in this case, Dicyclopentadiene (Die-cycle pen-e-dine) is ranked as an "1."
[ENG#=2]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was foggy..]
[SUPER=01-Betty Davidson/Pittsylvania Co. Resident; :00 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :10]
[SUPER=01-Rick Niesen/Plant Manager; :32]
[SUPER=01-Jim Nobles/Pittsylvania Co. Resident; :57]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=OR CONCERNED WITH .]
(([SOT@51:51:22]
[INQ=It was foggy...]
((BETTY DAVIDSON, LOCAL RESIDENT: IT WAS FOGGY, VERY FOGGY THIS MORNING....)) [RUNS:04]
[OUTQ=.. this morning.]

Betty Davidson has lived in Tightsqueeze, just outside of Chatham, for 30-years. This morning she woke to fog so thick, she thought her neighbors were burning brush. (??? more conversational)

((nats up- from ccd)) According to officials at Cook Composites and Polymers, that's because one of its backup valves released Dicyclopentadiene (Die-cycle-pen-ah-dine) also known as D-C-P-D, into the air.
Four schools in the area shut down after students and teachers complains of burning eyes and irritating coughs.

[SOT@37:26:15]
[INQ=When that shuts down...]
((RICK NIESEN, PLANT MANAGER: WHEN THAT SHUTS DOWN- THE EQUIPMENT IN THE PLANT AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO THE ATMOSPHERE. THAT'S A SAFETY DEVICE BUILT INTO THAT EQUIPMENT, SO WE DON'T BUILD PRESSURE ON THE EQUIPMENT ITSELF.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUTQ=.. equipment itself.]

Niesen (Knee-sen) has been at the plant since it opened in 1970. He says 6 months ago there was a pump failure, but for the most part things at CCP have been quiet.
Regardless, some neighbors don't seem concerned.

[SOT@49:48:00]
[INQ=We haven't had..]
((JIM NOBLES, LOCAL RESIDENT: WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEM SINCE THEY'VE BEEN HERE, NOTHING TO GET ALARMED ABOUT, OR CONCERNED WITH ...)) [RUNS:06]
[OUTQ=.. concerned with...] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Newsroom]
I spoke with Richard Criqui (Creek-y) of the D-E-Q earlier this afternoon, he says historically the plant has had some problems. Criqui (creeky) says just last week there was a small release and local crews had to be called in.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Susan /Newsroom;]
He also says in the 80's there were some problems, but that was before the current company bought Cook Composites and Polymers.

[School-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC30:45]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=3]

A faulty heating unit is to blame for a fire this morning at a Roanoke County elementary school.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Fire officials say it started sometime before 6:30 inside a mobile classroom unit at Mount Pleasant Elementary. A teacher's aid had just arrived for work when she spotted heavy smoke and flames. Firefighters were able to put the blaze out quickly. There weren't any students at the school at the time. School officials say all of the classroom trailers are checked regularly, and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 133]
[IN Q=it's just]
((RICHARD FLORA/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: IT'S JUST LIKE PEOPLE'S HOMES, IF YOU LIVE IN ONE LONG ENOUGH THERE'S A CHANCE THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A FIRE.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Flora/Director of Operations;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=have a fire]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Estimated damage is 12-thousand dollars. About 20-students normally use the classroom. Their classes have now been moved into the main building until repairs are completed.
(------------)

[Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=None]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]
No one was injured when a boiler exploded this morning at the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County. Firefighters say the buildup of pressure sent the boiler's eight-foot steel cap through a wall. It traveled a total of FIFTY feet, leaving a 12-by-8 foot hole in the wall.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

Prosecutors want to put an area pastor behind bars.
The reason why when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And DISH Network pulls the plug on some stations.
We'll have more on the dispute with Viacom.
(----------------)
[1st-Wx]
[XGR-Budget]
(MINI OPEN)
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:28:34]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It's crunch time in Richmond.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

State budget negotiators have only four days left to come up with a spending plan.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon joins us from the State Capitol with an update.
At this point, Senate and House budget conferees have agreed
[LIVE=Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
to exchange written compromise proposals. But so far, neither side is budging.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BUDGET CONFEREES ARE JUST A FEW DAYS]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Fralin; :]
[SUPER=01-John Hamlin/Danville Mayor; :]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=IS REFORMING THE TAX SYSTEM.]
(( Budget conferees are just a few days away from their constitutional deadline, but they remain sharply divided on the major sticking point: higher sales and income taxes.
House Republicans continue to blame the Senate for the impasse.
[SOT 02:30:58]
((DELEGATE BILL FRALIN/R-ROANOKE: IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITH A TREE. THE HOUSE HAS MOVED. :05 butt 30:08 WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO ACCOMODATE THE BUDGETARY NEEDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, THE SENATE HAS PASSED A BUDGET AND HASN'T MOVED AN INCH. :16)) [RUNS:15]
Local government leaders were in Richmond to tell the Senate to stand their ground.
They say a state budget that does not have additional revenue would be "devastating."
[SOT ::]
((JOHN HAMLIN/MAYOR OF DANVILLE: WE'VE ASKED OUR EMPLOYEES I THINK WE'VE GONE AS FAR AS WE CAN GO IN THAT REGARD YOU'RE BACK UP AGAINST A WALL NOW .)) [RUNS:11]
Governor Warner say he believes there is still sufficient time to reach an agreement.
But he wants conferees to start focusing on tax relief as well as revenue.
[SOT ::]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: THE QUESTION I'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW DAYS has been much more the horse race WHAT THE REVENUE NUMBER BUT ANOTHER IMPORTANT IS REFORMING THE TAX SYSTEM. :21)) [RUNS:15]))
(------------)
[LIVE=Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
(adlib)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan/Microwave;]

[Brown]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC46:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
The domestic drama between two evangelical pastors in Salem continues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/February 11]
A judge revoked Judy Brown's bond once already because she couldn't stay away from her neighbor, a fellow pastor she tried to bludgeon to death after having a lesbian affair with his wife. This morning a Salem police officer reported spotting Brown in front of the other couple's home. She'd been told to stay away from Ted & Toby Smart. Though she DID sell her home next to the Smarts, and was living in Northeast Roanoke, she has continued to come in contact with the Smarts.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
The prosecutor will try to get her bond revoked again Friday. Brown has yet to be sentenced.

[Patrick-Suspect]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC1:50:30]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
[ENG#=4]
Two people wanted for questioning in a Patrick County murder have been arrested in Texas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
26-year-old Justin Cain Manning and his wife, 23-year-old Virginia McKeehan Manning, are being held in Brownsville Texas.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
They were arrested Sunday, after being deported by Mexican authorities. Both will be interviewed about the January murders of Kenneth and Deanna Williams of Meadows of Dan.

[Stocks]

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

Investors let their worries about the economy outweigh some surprisingly strong earnings outlooks. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/72.52/10456.96/y/13.62/1995.16;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW lost 72 and a half points.
NASDAQ fell 14 and has now erased all of its gains in 2004.
[SUPER=271-i/0.32/41.23/i/0.04/58.19/h/0.01/33.91/i/1.14/87.63/i/0.67/81.77;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.23/37.37/i/1.05/20.32/i/0.02/7.12/i/0.11/65.09/i/0.27/31.56;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.08/8.12/i/0.40/41.38/i/0.35/18.56/i/0.28/21.34/i/0.46/6.24;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.11/14.29/i/0.51/72.08/i/0.10/39.20/i/0.05/48.85/i/0.18/60.28;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Toms-Creek]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC21:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Blacksburg will vote tonight on controversial plans for a new sewer system.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

The town wants to extend service to the Toms Creek Basin.
Council members are deciding whether to approve a bond issue to pay for an estimated 11-million dollar conventional, gravity fed sewer through the town's least developed area.
Proponents say they don't want to develop the area, they just want to be prepared for future growth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT17:29:00]
[IN Q=I've lived here]
((J.B. JONES:I'VE LIVED HERE LONG ENOUGH, AND I'VE SEEN THIS TOWN GROW ENOUGH. I HAVE NO REASON TO THINK IN 20-40 50 YEARS FROM NOW THAT BRUSH MOUNTAIN ESTATES MIGHT SAY WE'D LIKE TO JOIN YOU AND IF WE'VE GOT THE CAPACITY TO DO IT, THAT'S A GOOD TAX BASE. WHY SAY NO? ))
[SUPER=01-J. B. Jones/Blacksburg Council Member;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=why say no?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Opponents say the project will pollute the environment. They favor an alternate plan that would run a central pipe along Route 460 and not Toms Creek.
The meeting is tonight at 7:30.
(------------)

[Dish-TV]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC12:16]
[GRAPHIC=Satellite TV]
[ENG#=2]

Subscribers of the Dish Network lost more than a dozen popular channels today, when the satellite tv provider pulled the plug on networks owned by Viacom.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Dish Network has replaced MTV, Nickelodeon, B-E-T and other channels with a message board criticizing Viacom's demand for a rate increase.
Regional Satellite Service Provider A-C-S hasn't heard many complaints yet, but owner Matt Whitcomb hopes the dispute will be resolved quickly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think if anything]
[SUPER=01-Matt Whitcomb/ACS Home Entertainment Gallery]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=the gamble is all about]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Dish Network says customers will receive a one dollar monthly credit while the Viacom networks are not available.
(-------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - making the Big East tournament shouldn't be that big of a deal for the Hokies - Wake and Charlene part ways,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Carey Green's Liberty women open up the Big South tournament tonight on their home turf in search of their 8th straight title.
(------------)

[S-South]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-155 2:04:40]
[GRAPHIC=Big soth or Liberty U]
[ENG#=1]

The first round of the Big South women's basketball tournament begins tonight at sites of the higher seeds. Top seeded Liberty battles Winthrop tonight at the Vines Center at seven.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]

Tonight marks the Flames first step towards becoming the first Big South basketball program to win eight consecutive conference titles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Carey Green/Libert Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=....and they like to win"]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Flames have had an easy time of late in the conference tourney. Last year, Liberty outscored the opposition by an average of 18 points on its way to the title. But that was last year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Katie Feenstra/Liberty Center; :00]
[SUPER=01-Crystal Peace/Liberty Guard; :18]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=.....capable of playing"]
(-----------------)

[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-163 ]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]
[ENG#=2]

The Virginia Tech Hokies open up their first and last Big East tournament tomorrow at high Noon at Madison Square Garden against Rutgers. The Hokies have been playing up the fact that they finally made the tournament. To some it's a big deal - but the truth is - the bar better get a lot higher a lot quicker.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE BIG EAST...]
[SUPER=01-Coleman Collins/VT Freshman Forward; :00]
[SUPER=01-Seth Greenberg/First Year Va. Tech Head Coach; :31]
[RUNS=:43]
[OUT Q=...CONTINUE TO RECRUIT."]
(------------)
[vo nat con't] As for playing Rutgers just a week after beating the Scarlet Knights in Blacksburg - Greenberg thinks that might be an advantage for his team.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=you know...]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...out of their sails."]
(-----------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD BIG EAST]
If Tech wins tomorrow - the Hokies will face Pittsburgh in the second round.

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC TOURNEY]

The men's ACC tournament opens on Thursday night at the Greensboro Coliseum with the dreaded play-in game. Clemson and Virginia will hook up Thursday night in a 7pm tip-off with the winner having to turn around and play Duke Friday at Noon. On paper the tournament is one of the most balanced ever - tickets on ebay are fetching as much as $18 hundred dollars a pair.

[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-171 1242TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC WOMEN'S TOURNEY]
[ENG#=3]

Just a day after the end of the ACC women's tournment - the winds of change blew into Winston-Salem and caught Roanoke native Charlene Curtis.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :00]
This afternoon Wake Forest announced that it would not renew her contract - in effect firing the Roanoke native. The Demon Deacons went 12 and 17 this past season, but since her arrival at Wake in 1997 - her teams have won just 67 games and lost 129. Curtis is also a Radford University graduate and a member of the school's hall of fame. (------------)