WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/11/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

No delay in the criminal proceedings against Marcus Vick and his teammates.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And the school bus driver was just filling in. Now he's feeling the pinch.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
Tonight on News 7 sports - we'll head down to Tobacco Road and check in on the testing at the Lowe's Motor Speedway,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Marshall and Tech agree to a three game series in football beginning in 2009.
(------------)

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

Storms again today but they seem to be dying off quickly which is good because they are moving very slowly. The story of a Bermuda High coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Marcus Vick's goes to court on Friday after all.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The judge denies the request for a continuance.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Vick]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC30:01]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The Commonwealth's Attorney asked for the delay.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Joey Showalter said he needed more time to review cell- phone records and talk with lawyers for the complaining witnesses.
[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[SS=Vick]
Three underage girls reported drinking alcohol in Vick's apartment.
[ENG#=4]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Tech quarterback is charged- -along with Brenden Hill and Mike Imoh- -with contributing to the delinquency of minors. In addition, Vick- -who was 19 at the time but has since turned 20- -is accused of having sex with one of the girls, a 15-year old.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=Legal Scales]
Judge Robert Viar's decision cleared the way for Friday's trial. A full case load today prevented him from saying WHY he declined to give the prosecutor more time to prepare. The judge indicated he would provide a written opinion tomorrow.

[Gas-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC1:11:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
Ten cents over the last two weeks and four cents last night alone. That's how fast the price of gasoline is climbing. And driving some business owners right *out* of business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Just as weeds will...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Hodges/Landscaper; 14]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Chapman/Brandon Service Center Owner; :45]
[SUPER=@Shannon2; :52]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=from this field of business.]

((Just as weeds will choke a garden, drought and gasoline prices will put a landscaper out of business. That's according to David Hodges who says the cost of fueling his equipment is cutting into his profits.
[SOT 18:47:14 - 18:47:22]
[IN Q=When you're fighting....]
((DAVID HODGES/LANDSCAPER: WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING DROUGHTS AND GAS PRICES, IT'S ALMOST A QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU WANT TO STAY IN THIS BUSINESS OR NOT.)) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=in this business or not.]
For the past 17-years Hodges has owned and operated a landscaping business, paying more than 100-dollars a week for fuel. He looks back on those starting out years as the easy days.
[SOT 18:50:08 - 18:50:18]
[IN Q=I believe the gas prices...]
((I BELIEVE THE GAS PRICES WERE UNDER A DOLLAR A GALLON. IT WAS PRETTY GOOD BACK THEN.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=it was pretty good back then.]
[butt butt butt]
[SOT 18:56:32 - 18:56:38]
[IN Q=What're you gonna do?]
((JERRY CHAPMAN/OWNER, BRANDON SERVICE CENTER: WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO? HOPE WE CAN HANG IN THERE AND RAISE THE PRICES TO COMPENSATE FOR IT.)) Jerry Chapman also yearns for the past. The gas station owner says he passes his costs onto customers immediately after filling his tanks. He makes about 10-cents off every gallon but is still feeling the pinch.
[SOT 18:55:49 - 18:55:58]
[IN Q=I would prefer very much...]
((CHAPMAN: I WOULD PREFER VERY MUCH NOT TO BE IN THE GASOLINE PART OF IT AT ALL 'CAUSE WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE BIG PEOPLE LIKE THE SHEETZ... ON PRICE OR ANYTHING ELSE.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=on price or anything else.]
In Virginia, a gallon of regular averages out to about a dollar-81. The industry blames supply and demand, an increase in the price of crude and fuel regulations that become tighter during the warmer months. Some relief is expected by fall. But that may be too late for David Hodges who's finding the rising price of gas to be one storm he'd rather not weather.
[SOT 18:47:30 - 18:47:35]
[IN Q=I plan to remove myself from this...]
((HODGES: I PLAN TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THIS FIELD OF BUSINESS.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=from this business.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[SS=None]
Hodges is going back to school. Chapman has put his service station up for sale.

[Car-River]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC1:07:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

A high-speed chase ended with the suspect ditching the car in the James River.. and a local boater helping police get their man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Amherst County sheriff's deputies chased this stolen van into Lynchburg when the driver went off a boat ramp at about 70 miles per hour.
The suspect tried swimming to an island, but deputies borrowed a boat and went out to arrest him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:13:57]
[IN Q=When you flee]
((J.E. BEGLEY/AMHERST CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: WHEN YOU FLEE FROM THE POLICE, LEAD THE POLICE WITH LIGHTS AND SIRENS AT THOSE TYPES OF SPEEDS UP TO A HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR, THERE'S NO REGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS MAN DIDN'T CARE, I DON'T BELIEVE, IF HE KILLED SOMEONE AT THE SPEEDS HE WAS GOING.))
[SUPER=01-J. E. Begley/Amherst Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=speeds he was going.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

22-year-old Jonathan Michael White faces charges of grand larceny and eluding police.
(------------)

[Bus-Accident]

[ANCHOR=keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:53:07]
[GRAPHIC=School Bus Accident]
[ENG#=3]
A Salem man faces reckless driving charges after a morning school bus accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]
39-year-old Thomas Hicks usually works at the Roanoke County School's transportation department, but this morning he was filling in, DRIVING a bus. Police say Hicks cut a corner too close, pinning a car between a utility pole and the bus off Tinker Avenue in Vinton.
No one was injured in the accident, but Hicks was charged with reckless driving. School officials say Hicks will continue to work with the school system. They say he is certified to drive a bus and has a clean record.
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[L'burg-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC1:04:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's a 141-million dollar budget for Lynchburg but residents can still add their two cents at tonight's city council meeting.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/Microwave;]

Steve Smallshaw is in our Lynchburg newsroom.. Steve, is there anything for anyone to like in this budget?
[LIVE=Steve/FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

Shannon, the picture isn't nearly as bleak today as it was a few months ago, but there are about three million dollars in tax hikes in this budget and some city employees could lose their job.
And there are still groups of workers who say they'd like to see a little more in their paychecks.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Last month]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/April 9; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ed Sulzbach/Supports Dispatcher Pay Raises; :29]
[RUNS=:46]
[OUT Q=or what have you.]
(( Last month, the citizens spoke and city council apparently listened.
After a well-attended public hearing, council decided not to cut funding to things like the library system and night-time bus service, but personal property, real estate and meals taxes are going up.
And while some city employees could be getting a pink slip, others are hoping for a pay raise.
When city council gave the police department raises last winter, they left out the dispatchers who run the city's 9-1-1 center.
[SOT 22:06:36]
((ED SULZBACH/SUPPORTS DISPATCHER PAY RAISES: THEY ARE THE MORTAR IN THE WALL. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM, NOBODY WOULD KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO BRING. AND WHEN WE GET THERE AND NEED HELP, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BRING IT TO US. AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES IN THE HOME IF SOMEONE'S HOME IS ON FIRE OR BURGLARS ARE BREAKING IN OR WHAT HAVE YOU.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=or what have you.] ))
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[LIVE=Steve/FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

The local firefighters' union also will be putting in an appearance tonight, asking council to commit to a pay raise for THEM in the near future.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/Microwave;]

It takes two votes to make this budget official.. the first one should take place tonight.

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

Officials hope traffic will take a turn for the better with new intersection near Roanoke Regional Airport.
We'll explain the changes when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And this grandma will soon be a graduate, thanks to a year-long workforce program.
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[1st-Wx]
[Global-Contact]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:58:12]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Pulaski officially welcomed a new call center and hundreds of new jobs to town today.
[ENG#=1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

Global Contact Services says Pulaski County was able to provide an attractive as well as easily accessible location for a new center.
The company has invested more than one million dollars into the new facility.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 51:13]
[IN Q=I think]
((MICHAEL SCHEWEL/VIRGINIA SECRETARY OF COMMERCE & TRADE; I THINK IT WAS GOOD EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS WHO WENT OUT AND REALLY MADE THESE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME AND WORKED HARD TO PROVIDE THIS ATTRACTIVE LOCATION FOR THEM WHERE THEY COULD GET UP AND RUNNING VERY QUICKLY.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Schewel/Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=very quickly]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Local officials say they are excited about the new industry and looking forward to future growth.
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[Workforce]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC1:08:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
[****ANCHOR TAG****] A 78-year-old Franklin County woman will be attending this year's high school graduation, not as a proud grandmother, but as a proud graduate. Myranda Stephens has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nellie Kirk/Getting Her Diploma; :39]
[SUPER=@Myranda1; :49]
[SUPER=01-Deborah Hamrick/Adult Education Center Coordinator; :58]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=News 7, Franklin County. ]
(([NATS OF HIGH SCHOOL @] [RUNS03] It's an exciting time for high school seniors, as they prepare to begin a new chapter in their lives after graduation.
And among this year's graduates is 78-year-old Nellie Kirk.
[SOT 13841]
[RUNS02] ((I'M A SENIOR IN EVERYTHING (LAUGHS) 43)) Nellie was just about to start her senior year in high school when she dropped out in 1943.
[SOT 3951]
[RUNS05] ((REPORTER: WHAT HAPPENED IN HIGH SCHOOL? WHAT STOPPED YOU FROM GETTING YOUR DIPLOMA ? NELLIE: BOYS! (SMILES) 57)) She decided to get married, rather than finish school. But, through a year-long job training program, Nellie will finally get her diploma.
[SOT 1:3904]
[RUNS13] ((I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE DONE IT, OTHER THAN I NEEDED THE MONEY, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE WENT TO SCHOOL, BUT NOW THAT I'VE GOTTEN STARTED, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GONE BE ANY STOPPING ME 17))
[SOT 156:29]
[RUNS10] ((NELLIE WILL GRADUATE IN JUNE WITH ABOUT 90 OTHER STUDENTS WHO'VE EARNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CREDITENTIALS, AND ON TOP OF THAT, SHE'S ALSO THIS YEAR'S SPEAKER 39))
[SOT 1:36:06]
[RUNS11] ((IT'S A FULL, FULL-ON GRADUATION CEREMONY. AND ONCE WE EXPLAIN THAT TO THE STUDENT WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE, THEY BECOME VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT B/C THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL.)) There is one part of graduation Nellie won't get to experience -- senior prom. Although it doesn't seem to bother her.
[SOT 1:43:58]
[RUNS02] ((I HAVEN'T GOT A DATE YET ANYWAY 00)) And seeing how boys got in her way the first time, that may be best. Myranda Stephens, News 7, Franklin County. ))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Nellie's birthday is May 31st, so she'll actually be 79 when she graduates.

[Stocks]

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

Wall Street finally got in a winning session today. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/29.45/10019.47/x/35.28/1931.35;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW rose 29 points.
NASDAQ gained 35.
[SUPER=271-h/0.80/41.30/i/1.49/53.40/h/0.02/29.03/h/0.17/86.16/h/0.51/78.43;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.19/33.73/h/0.37/18.88/h/0.17/6.94/i/0.37/61.63/h/0.22/30.25;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.22/8.22/h/0.35/39.90/h/0.12/17.15/h/0.16/23.62/i/0.19/5.24;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.13/11.99/h/1.32/63.12/i/0.19/36.16/h/0.21/45.05/i/0.69/54.53;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Slate-Hill]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC30:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Roanoke County officials say they still have too many questions about the proposed Slate Hill development.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./March;]

Today county administrator Elmer Hodge recommended the supervisors defer action on the controversial project until the developer addresses concerns about traffic, erosion and other issues.
A representative of the developer told board members that many of the county's concerns are being resolved.
Another hearing is scheduled later this month.
(------------)

[Airport]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-19 TC16:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

The city of Roanoke is considering traffic improvements that would create a new entrance to the airport and better access to shopping areas nearby.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The plan would extend two- way traffic on Town Square Boulevard to Airport Road.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The upgraded intersection would also feed traffic into the airport, and onto Thirlane Road.
At a recent briefing, City Council member Bev Fitzpatrick described the plan as a brilliant solution to a longstanding problem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:52:27]
[IN Q=That should make a huge difference]
((BEV FITZPATRICK/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: THAT SHOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BOTH FOR THE FOLKS WHO PATRONIZE THOSE STORES AND THE AIRPORT, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY FOR POTENTIAL INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY IN THE RETURN OF TAX DOLLARS. TO ME MAKING IT EASIER MAKES IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY, SO IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA. I'M SORRY THAT WE DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT WHEN WE FIRST CONCEPTUALIZED TOWN SQUARE.))
[SUPER=01-Bev Fitzpatrick/Roanoke City Council]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=conceptualized Town Square.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A new traffic signal and other improvements will cost about one million dollars, but city officials are hopeful that businesses in the area will contribute to the project.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The proposal is still in the planning stages. The Airport Commission will be briefed on the idea next week.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - the Herd and Hokies are getting together in football later this decade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Travis Wells checks in from Charlotte where the Nextel Cup stars have been practicing this week for the Winston and Coke 600 weekends.
(------------)

[S-Test]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-175 1313TC]
[GRAPHIC=NEXTEL CUP]
[ENG#=1]
The Nextel Cup cars are in Richmond later this week, but many of them have been spending the early part of this week at the Lowe's Motor Speedway just outside of Charlotte. Travis Wells has more on the open test session that's been taking place this week at the track for the upcoming Winston and Coke 600.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/18th In Nextel Cup Points Standings; :16]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Green/General Mills Dodge Driver; :37]
[SUPER=01-Greg Biffle/National Guard Ford Driver; 1:07]
[SUPER=@travis1; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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[S-Marshall]

[ANCHOR=Mike ]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-171 10327tc]
[GRAPHIC=MARSHALL/VT]
[ENG#=2]
Marshall fans have been hoping for years to hook up in a long term series with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Tonight, those fans have finally gotten their wish as the two schools have agreed to a three game series.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
that will begin in 2009. That opening game will be played in Blacksburg and the following year Tech will travel to Huntington to play the Herd at Edwards Stadium. The final game of the series will be back in Blacksburg in 2012. The two schools have played 8 times since 1913 with the last meeting taking place in Blacksburg in 2002. The Hokies won that game 47-to-21.
(------------)

[S-Stuff]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-168]
[GRAPHIC=NBA PLAYOFFS]
[ENG#=3]
The NBA playoffs resume tonight for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers host the Spurs in game four of their best of seven series, and Kobe Bryant is expected to play.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Eagle, CO; :00]
Nearly 11 months after he was accused of rape, the NBA star Kobe Bryant pleaded not guilty this afternoon to a single felony assault charge that could land him in prison for life.
During his brief arraignment that was carried live on some cable television outlets - Kobe only said Yes sir and Not Guilty. The judge adjourned the hearing moments later, saying he expected to set a trial date during a May 27 hearing The parents of the 19-year-old accuser watched the plea from the gallery, sitting about 20 feet from Bryant.
(--------------)

[Special-Olympics]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC41:57]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The Christiansburg Town Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office are hoping to "serve up" a big donation to the Virginia Special Olympics.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[ENG#=1]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Officers and Deputies are pulling double duty today as waiters. O'Charlies Restaurant in Christiansburg is paying servers minimum wage so the cops can collect the tips and raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 19:27:00;21:11:00]
[IN Q=I THINK IT SHOWS]
((SHERIFF TOMMY WHITT: I THINK IT SHOWS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT'S COMMITMENT TO VIRGINIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND ALSO SHOWS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE VIRGINIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS. CHRISTINE HERDON: IT'S BEEN GOING GREAT. THE COPS HAVEN'T DROPPED ANYTHING YET, OR BROKEN ANY DISHES OR SPILLED ANYTHING ON ANY CUSTOMERS. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING GOOD. ))
[SUPER=01-Tommy Whitt/Montgomery Co. Sheriff;]
[SUPER=01-Christine Herndon/O'Charlies Manager;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=ACTUALLY DOING GOOD.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officers will be serving dinner until after 8:00 tonight. If you'd like to help but can't make it out for dinner tonight, you can drop off a donation at the Sheriff's Office or Christiansburg Police building.
(------------)