[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Tonight on NEWS 7, we hear how they're coping with the accidental death of a Shawsville mother and daughter.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And federal agents round up what they say are gang members responsible for bringing in as much as $10 million dollars worth of cocaine.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - the Virginia State Am golf tourney is in Roanoke this week - we're in the fast lane in Roanoke County,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and UVa's Adam Zimmerman - the Z man - comes up huge - by earning a spot on the USA national baseball team.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]
The midweek forecast is looking quiet. We will explain why in just a moment.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]
News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT: 52:27:00 ]
[IN Q=They didn't ]
((DAVID SIRRY: THEY DIDN'T DESERVE THIS, MY LITTLE GIRL WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD.))
[RUNS=:06 ]
[OUT Q=years old.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A grieving father speaks about the death of his wife and daughter while the driver accused of running them down now faces more charges.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon is off tonight.
[Shawsville]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC39:16]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
21 year old Christopher Hight is now charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence of drugs.
Police say he ran down a Shawsville woman and her six- year old daughter, as they walked along route 460.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel /Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa talked with the family of the victims today.
She brings us their story.
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
Keith every person I spoke with in Shawsville today, knew 44 year old Joyce Sirry and her six year old daughter Betty.
Their deaths have devestated the community and especially David Sirry, the victims' husband and father.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It just tears me up.]
[SUPER=01-David Sirry/Victims' Husband and Father; :00]
[SUPER=01-Debra Hall/Victim's Niece; :18]
[SUPER=03-Shawsville/Saturday; :28]
[SUPER=01-Butch Roupe/Neighbor; :48]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=hand in hand.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 53:01:00 ]
[IN Q=It just tears me up.]
((DAVID SIRRY: IT JUST TEARS ME UP... WE WERE SO CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. [INSERT Cover with their picture] :14 THEY WEREN'T EVEN 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM ME, IT HAPPENED THAT QUICK.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=]
Joyce Sirry and six year old Betty [END PICTURE] walked this stretch of route 460 every single day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:48:34:00 ]
[IN Q=This daily walk]
((DEBRA HALL: THIS DAILY WALK IS A DAILY WALK THAT THEY TOOK FOR YEARS, HAND IN HAND. EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN TELL YOU WHEN THEY WERE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET, THEY HAD EACH OTHERS HANDS. :43))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=others hands.]
[INSERT VIDEO OF THE SCENE]
They were walking back from the post office Saturday evening... when this time a car ran off the road and struck them, throwing them both more than 50 feet. [END VIDEO OF THE SCENE] Flowers now honor their memory at the accident scene.
Police say the driver was on drugs... and that has folks in Shawsville outraged.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:45:05:00 ]
[IN Q=I've followed]
((BUTCH ROUPE: I'VE FOLLOWED PEOPLE DRINKING AND ALL COMING THROUGH HERE. WE'RE GOING TO START CALLING ON THEM. WE'RE GOING TO BREAK THIS UP. IF YOU'RE DRINKING IN SHAWSVILLE, YOU BETTER LOOK OUT, CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU. :14 WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. :18))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=as a community.]
As the community tries to start new efforts with police to crack down on drunk and drugged driving, [INSERT PICTURE OF MOTHER DAUGHTER TOGETHER to the end of package... cover the bite] the family is finding comfort in the thought that mother and daughter are together.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:49:20:00 ]
[IN Q=The only way]
((DEBRA HALL: THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THIS IS I KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN HEAVEN WITH GOD, BOTH OF THEM, HAND IN HAND. ))
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=hand in hand]))
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FUNERAL GRAPHIC FULL]
The family will hold a visitation Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm at Seneca Baptist Church in Elliston.
The funeral will also be at the church on Thursday at 2:00.
(-------------)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel /Microwave;]
Keith, Hight is being held at the Montgomery County jail without bond.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of involuntary manslaughter.
[Bedford-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
Two students at Liberty High School were hurt when their vehicle overturned this morning.
State police say the 15-year-old driver lost control on a road in the Big Island area, went into a ditch and struck a couple of trees.
The driver and his 16-year-old passenger were NOT wearing seat belts and were flung from the Jeep Wrangler.
Police say their injuries were serious and they were taken to local hospitals.
The 15-year-old did NOT have a driver's license.
[NRV-Drugs]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC2:00:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Authorities have arrested a dozen people believed to be part of a major drug operation in the New River Valley.
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda/Keith/BAM;]
Myranda Stephens is here with the details.
Keith, the arrests are the result of a nearly four-year federal investigation
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL BAM]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
into the drug and gang problem in the N-R-V.
And today, a federal grand jury indicted 14-people on 47-charges, including distributing crack cocaine, illegally possessing and using a firearm, and assaulting witnesses.
[ENG#=1]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
Authorities arrested 12 of the 14 this morning, including the alleged ring-leader, Richard Lighty.
U-S Attorney John Brownlee says Lighty would travel to his home in the New York-New Jersey area to buy the drugs, and then bring them back to the Radford area, where he would then have his associates distribute them.
In all, authorities believe Lighty and his group distributed between two-and-a-half and 10-million dollars worth of cocaine, since November of 1999.
Authorities say Lighty and three others -- Quaheem Edwards, Antoine Kennedy, and Otis Smith, A-K-A "Skeeno" are also members of the Bloods street gang, and attempted to hire people to kill rival drug dealers in the area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:39:45]
[IN Q=bottomline is this]
((JOHN BROWNLEE/U. S. ATTORNEY; THE BOTTOMLINE IS THIS WE'RE GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO COME IN HERE TO USE VIOLENCE, WEAPONS, NARCOTIC ... TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE IN THE NRV OR ANYONE ELSE IN THIS DISTRICT.))
[SUPER=01-John Brownlee/U. S. Attorney;]
[RUNS14]
[OUT Q=in this district]
(-------------)
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL BAM]
Police are still looking for Kennedy and a woman who they've also charged as part of the ring -- Crystal Dawn Stigger.
All of the people indicted today could face a possible sentence of life in prison and a four MILLION dollar fine.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith/BAM;]
Keith, the last major drug bust like this in the New River Valley was in 1999.
But, officials say they're not sure if the two are related.
[Methadone]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC1:50:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Opponents of a Roanoke methadone clinic say their attempts to negotiate have fallen short, and now they're planning a mass meeting to air the community's concerns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference say their research continues to raise troubling questions about the proposed methadone clinic on Hershberger Road.
They met twice with representatives of CRC Health Corporation, but now say they are planning to take a higher profile in their fight against the clinic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I didn't want to go]
((PERNELLER CHUBB-WILSON/ROANOKE SCLC PRESIDENT; I DIDN'T WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE AT ALL. I WANTED TO DO THINGS IN A PEACEFUL MOVEMENT LIKE THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WANTED THINGS TO BE DONE IN A PEACEFUL MOVEMENT, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO A LITTLE HIGHER TO GET HELP.))
[SUPER=01-Perneller Chubb-Wilson/Roanoke SCLC President]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=go a little higher to get help.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
State officials have visited the Hershberger road location, but have not yet issued a state license for the facility. The SCLC is still working on a time and place for its community meeting.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Some new rules at Smith Mountain Lake mean some events may have to heave-to for the Coast Guard.
We'll explain when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus a new plan to bring horse racing back to Central Virginia is off and running.
(----------------)
[1st-Wx]
[Edwards-Murder]
(MINI OPEN)
[ANCHOR=Ketih]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC1:48:32]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The first day of a Roanoke murder trial has wrapped up for the evening.
27-year-old Carl Richardson or Kalif Freed Abdul Mateen, as he's also known, faces multiple charges related to the murder of Neesha Edwards in December, 2003.
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Ketih & Susan/Newsroom;]
Susan Bahorich was in the courtroom today.
She has a summary of opening day.
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1]
Carl Richardson faces murder, malicious wounding and a number of handgun charges in the December shooting which left a woman dead and man wounded.
[ENG#=1]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
After more than three-hours, prosecutors and defense attorneys settled on a jury of eight women and five-men.
Two witnesses were called on this first day of testimony.
The first, Officer Ricky Southerland of the Roanoke City Police Department.
He told the court he responded to the Caru Apartments twice in the early morning hours of December 18th.
Neesha Edwards and her boyfriend reported Carl Richardson was harassing them.
Later, Edwards' boyfriend Mike Webb took the stand and testified Richardson was stalking her and later shot both of them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@tape 2;1:50:46.00]
[IN Q=So, I get out...]
((SEAN "MIKE" WEBB/VICTIM: SO I GET OUT OF THE CAR, HE COMES UP AND SHUTS THE DOOR. HE GOT RIGHT BESIDES ME AND PUT THE GUN TO MY NECK AND SHOT ME. I FELL TO THE GROUND AND HEARD NEESHA SCREAM, THEN I BLACKED OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Sean "Mike" Webb/Victim]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=... I BLACKED OUT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Webb was shot in the neck and shoulder.
Edwards was shot three-times in the head.
She died from those injuries.
(------------)
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Newsroom]
There are a number of witnesses still to come.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Ketih & Susan /Newsroom;]
Keith- both sides estimate the trial will last at least until Wednesday.
[Lake-Permits]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-18 TC1:01:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Some new safe-guards are being taken at Smith Mountain Lake.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake/File Tape;]
The U-S Coast Guard says from now on, certain events planned at the lake WILL require a permit.
Those include events with 50-participants or more, events that take place in an environmentally sensitive area, and events with vessels traveling more than 30-miles-per-hour.
Officials say organizations will need to obtain the permit 90-days before the event, or they may be fined.
(------------)
[Merchants-Tax]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC48:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Montgomery county car dealers may not roll their cars out of the county this August.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
The Board of Supervisors is taking up the controversial Merchant's tax at tonight's meeting.
It's a tax on all inventory at local businesses. Several business owners maintain it's too high.
Local auto dealers have gone so far as move their cars out of the county to avoid paying up.
Tonight the board will consider dropping the August tax assessment and lowering the tax from by the current dollar-45.
The meeting's tonight at 7:15 at the Government Center.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Stocks reversed course late in the day and ended lower.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/14.75/10357.09/y/5.65/2019.82;]
The DOW lost 15 points.
NASDAQ fell six.
[SUPER=271-h/0.01/45.91/h/1.80/49.60/h/0.29/32.26/i/1.49/86.33/h/0.72/84.72;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.17/37.04/i/0.50/19.58/i/0.05/5.75/i/0.10/63.81/h/0.13/32.31;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.59/9.26/i/0.07/40.29/h/0.11/18.02/h/0.06/25.91/h/0.10/5.45;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.17/13.57/i/0.17/64.35/h/0.19/35.96/i/0.05/44.95/i/0.05/52.46;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]
[Jubilee-Races]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC1:33:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
Horse racing is coming back to Nelson County this fall.. much to the delight of some inner-city children.
Steve Smallshaw has the story from the track.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot ]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co./September 2001; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Holland/Oak Ridge Owner; :27]
[SUPER=@ssm1; :47]
[SUPER=01-Sterling Wilder/Jubilee Family Center; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Joanie Hopewell/Steeplechase Expert; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=News7, Nelson County.]
(( [natsot hoofbeats ]
[RUNS= 03]
It's been three years since this sound has been heard at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County.. and when it returns this fall, it will be music to the ears of some area children.
In October, the area's first nationally sanctioned steeplechase race figures to draw five thousand people to central Virginia.
Oak Ridge is seeking a harness racing license from the state.. its owners figure this will be a good tune-up.
[SOT 11:01:12]
((JOHN HOLLAND/OAK RIDGE OWNER: WITH EVERY EVENT WE'RE LEARNING MORE AND MORE HOW TO SITUATE THINGS TO MAKE THE TRAFFIC FLOW FOR PEOPLE MORE SUITABLE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=more suitable.]
The steeplechase proceeds will benefit Lynchburg's Jubilee Family Development Center, which offers vocational and recreational programs for at-risk children and their families.
[Standup 11:06:18]
((For the Jubilee Family Center, the steeplechase race is not only an opportunity to raise money, but also put themselves on the national map, and reach a whole new pool of potential donors.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=potential donors.]
[SOT 11:03:51]
((STERLING WILDER/JUBILEE FAMILY CENTER: AND WE'RE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. SO THIS IS WAY OF GETTING MORE RESOURCES, SOME FUNDS WE HAVEN'T TAPPED INTO BEFORE, A NEW MARKET, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR JUBILEE PLUS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. STEEPLECHASES, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT IN THE AREA.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=in the area.]
Top steeplechase experts who visited the track Monday are excited about the prospect of bringing this kind of racing to central Virginia.
[SOT 10:58:38]
((JOANIE HOPEWELL/STEEPLECHASE EXPERT: YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE EXCITED WITH THE SPEED AND TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=in your hands.]
The races will take place October 24th.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Nelson County. ))
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Tonight on News 7 sports - UVa's Adam Zimmerman makes his mark on team USA.
The Virginia State Am golf tourney is back in Roanoke,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and two Roanoke County men are hoping to take their love of speed to a new level.
(------------)
[S-Golf]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-169 1:46:58]
[GRAPHIC=VSGA]
[ENG#=1]
This week, the Virginia State Golf Association Sate Amateur tournament begins with qualifying at the Roanoke Country Club. Tomorrow and Wednesday 126 amateurs will try and make the match play field.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
The top 32 will then begin match play Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The championship consists of a 36 hole final match Saturday. This is the first time since 1974 the state amateur has returned to the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Ireland/Roanoke Country Club Pro; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=to have this tournament here"]
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=mike]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The state AM is free to the public. Action begins tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.
[S-Adam]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-171 13034TC]
[GRAPHIC=ADAM ZIMMERMAN]
[ENG#=2]
UVa's Ryan Zimmerman is one just 22 college players nationwide to be selected for the U.S. National team that will compete against Japan in Taiwan later this week and later at the end of July and in the World University games.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-This Season; :00]
Through the first five games of the USA Baseball National Team Trials, Zimmerman batted .364 after going 4-for-11 at the plate with two home runs and two singles.
He also drove in six runs and scored five more.
He started two of the five games he appeared in and has posted six assists and four putouts to go along with his 1.000 fielding percentage.
The team was sliced from 36 players down to 22.
(------------)
[S-Avs]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=NONE]
[GRAPHIC=AVS]
The Salem Avalanche and the rest of the Carolina League is off until Thursday for the league's all-star break.
When the team returns for three games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday it will sharing space and working hand in hand with the Salem fair.
As a result, the team is starting it three games this week an hour earlier at 6:05pm.
This should allow the games to end and coincide with the nightly fireworks shows at the fair every night at 10.
[S-Schaub]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-182 17:58]
[GRAPHIC=atlanta falcons]
[ENG#=3]
The Atlanta Falcons open training camp July 28th. Everyone knows Michael Vick is the started under center but the number two spot could go to rookie Matt Schaub.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
The former UVa star attended an autograph card show recently in Richmond along side NFL greats like Redskin Joe Theisman. The show proved to be a nice break from the mental and physical grind of NFL mini camp.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Matt Schaub/Atlanta Falcons Quarterback; :00]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=...adjusted to the new role"]
(--------------)
[S-Speed]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-170 1:29:05]
[GRAPHIC=news 7 sports]
[ENG#=4]
Roanoke County exotic car builder Dennis Zanefield and Jay Bell have created the Spirit of Virginia super vehicle in hopes of breaking the world land speed record.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
The car is around 30 feet long and has two engines that produce three thousand horse power. With hopeful business sponsorship, the team hopes to run it on a seven mile stretch on salt flats outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jay Bell/Co-Builder & Pilot; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=....advance store"]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
The car has never been run and the team will test it this fall in North Carolina. There are no breaks and the vehicle is stopped by parachutes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=......off the line"]
(---------------)
by SS