WDBJ 7 morning news for 10/13/04

[11Missing-Hikers]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-43 TC03:28]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]
Search and rescue crews have found two sets of hikers that had been missing since yesterday.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
Emergency officials in Rockbridge County say the missing hikers there were found around 1 o'clock this morning. The Big Island rescue crew basically stumbled upon them as they made their way to the site. Officials say they found backpacks and markers left by the hikers indicating they were headed south -- away from the Buena Vista end of the county. One of the hikers may have been injured. The search began when officials got a cell phone call yesterday evening about a hiker who was unconcisous, then they lost the signal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Meanwhile, Commonweath Search and Rescue has found a 19 year old and 15 year old about an hour and half into a trail in Southwest Roanoke County. They've been missing since yesterday. Officials said this morning the hikers were cold and scared, but appeared to be okay.

(------------)

[VOBL'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC 1:22:34]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

A different kind of start to last night's city council meeting in Lynchburg ...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Council member Jeff Helgeson refused to give the invocation because, as a Christian, he says he cannot pray to anyone but his one, true God.
A recent Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling required that government prayers not be limited to one specific faith.
Helgeson disagrees with that decision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:12:19]
[IN Q=It does seem]
((JEFF HELGESON/LYNCHBURG COUNCIL MEMBER: IT DOES SEEM LIKE YOU'RE PRAYING TO SOME CEREMONIAL DEITY THAT DOESN'T EXIST JUST TO FULFILL SOME OBLIGATION OR REQUIREMENTS, I THINK WHY SHOULD WE WASTE OUR TIME?))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Helgeson/Lynchburg Council Member]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=waste our time?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lynchburg's council members take turns giving the invocation before each public meeting.
Helgeson says he prayed outside Council chambers before the meeting began.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

City council last night also delayed a decision on whether to allow a new Walgreens to be built on Langhorne Road.

They want to study the zoning and land use issues a little further.

[Debate-Preview]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush/Kerry]
[ENG#=3]

Tonight voters get their last chance to compare President Bush and John Kerry side-by-side.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tempe, AZ;]

In just a matter of hours, the two will face off on this stage at Arizona State University.
Millions are expected to tune in tonight-- with domestic issues taking the spotlight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Running up ]
((RUNNING UP THE TAXES ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE BAD FOR OUR ECONOMY. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET HIM TAX YOU.))
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=him tax you]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bush will continue trying to brand his opponent as a tax and spend liberal, but Kerry had a comeback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The President is]
((SEN. JOHN KERRY/D- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: THE PRESIDENT IS JUST TRYING TO SCARE EVERYBODY HERE WITH THROWING LABELS AROUND. I MEAN, COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CUTTING 500,000 KIDS FROM AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, CUTTING 365,000 KIDS FROM HEALTH CARE. ))
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Kerry/(D) Presidential Candidate;]
[RUNS=:13] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=from health care.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Three new polls put the candidate in a dead heat.
(------------)

[11Election-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC1:47:27]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]
The state board of elections is preparing for a record number of voters at the polls this November.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
More than 130- thousand Virginians have registered to vote since the first of September. The number of people requesting absentee ballots has also surged. Election officials attribute the high numbers to the "Help America Vote Act." The legislation allots Virginia nearly 70- million dollars to reform its voting system - which officials say is already ahead of the game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:49:17]
[IN Q=Virginia has had a form]
((JEAN JENSEN: VIRGINIA HAS HAD A FORM OF A PROVISIONAL BALLOT SINCE THE 70'S. SOME STATES HAD NEVER HAD IT SO THEY HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE HAD A STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE SINCE THE 70'S.))
[SUPER=01-Jean Jensen/State Board of Elections Secretary;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=database since the 70's]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
To accommodate a record number of voters, the state has created a new phone system to help answer questions on election day.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=2]

An American photographer is free after being held hostage for several days in Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

A New York- based news agency, World Picture News, says 24- year- old Paul Taggert was handed over yesterday.
No word on the details of his release.
Taggart was kidnapped in Baghdad on Sunday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I spoke to Paul]
((STEPHEN CLAYPOLE/WORLD PICTURE NEWS C.E.O.: I SPOKE TO PAUL EARLIER TODAY, HE WAS VERY COOL CALM AND COLLECTED, HE HADN'T BEEN PHYSICALLY ABUSED, HE HAD HAD SOME QUITE GOOD FOOD.))
[SUPER=01-Stephen Claypole/World Picture News C.E.O.;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=quite good food.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ramadi, Iraq;]

Meanwhile, U-S forces are stepping up operations against Sunni insurgents.
U-S soldiers raided mosques in Ramadi and are continuing to launch airstrikes on suspected terrorist targets in Fallujah.
(------------)

[ALCS]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
[ENG#=3]

In sports, The National League Championship Series between the Cardinals and the Astros begins tonight in St. Louis. The American League Championship Series got underway last night in New York.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/MLB]
The Yankees built an early eight-run lead, scoring six of those runs in the first three innings. Mike Mussina retired the first 19 Red Sox batters he faced. Mark Bellhorn's double with one out in the seventh inning was Boston's first hit. The Red Sox rallied with five runs in the seventh and two in the eighth. But it wasn't enough. New York held off Boston to win the opener, 10 to 7. Game Two is tonight.
(------------)

(weather toss)

[11Knight-Celotex]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=504-05 TC1:53:41]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, A Danville factory will soon be buzzing with activity again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996]

Knight-Celotex will reopen the old Masonite plant and create 145 jobs over the next year.
The company will also invest a million dollars in upgrades.
Knight-Celotex makes environmentally-friendly insulation and fiberboard products.
Masonite closed the plant in March, eliminating 172 jobs.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]

British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline is talking with the F-D-A about selling its flu vaccine in the United States.
Marcella Palmer has that story and and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=in NY, I'm Marcella Palmer.]

((OIL TRADERS ARE WAITING FOR TODAYS U-S CRUDE INVENTORY REPORT. CRUDE-OIL WEIGHED ON THE BROADER MARKET TUESDAY... STOCKS CLOSED THE DAY MOSTLY FLAT... HIGH OIL PRICES WHICH AT ONE POINT SPIKED TO A RECORD HIGH ABOVE 54 DOLLARS WEIGHED ON THE MARKET.... BUT EVENTUALLY PRICES BACKED DOWN AND CLOSED AT 52.51 A BARREL.
THE DOW CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 4... THE NASDAQ CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 3.
GASOLINE PRICES ROSE ABOVE 2-DOLLARS A GALLON LAST WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR MONTHS... THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR ALL GRADES ROSE BY 5 AND A HALF CENTS TO ALMOST 2.04 A GALLON. UNLESS YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE GAS IS UP ALMOST 12 CENTS.
AND GLAXOSMITHKLINE IS CONSIDERING STEPPING INTO THE U-S FLU-SHOT MARKET FOR THE 2005-2006 FLU SEASON. THE BRITISH DRUG COMPANY MARKETS ITS OWN VACCINE OVERSEAS. THE MOVE WOULD COME AT A TIME WHEN U-S REGULATORS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FLU SHOT SUPPLIERS TO PREVENT A REPEAT OF THIS YEARS MASSIVE SHORTFALL, AFTER VACCINE MAKER CHIRON CORPORATION WAS FORCED TO STOP PRODUCTION BY BRITISH REGULATORS.
CHIRON YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY FOR FAILING TO SUPPLY THE U-S WITH HALF OF THIS YEARS FLU VACCINE.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKET LOG ON TO OUR SITE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM. IN NEW YORK I'M MARCELLA PALMER.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[Wildfire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wildfire]
[ENG#=1]

Investigators are still trying to nail down the cause of a fast- spreading wildfire in Northern California.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rumsey, CA;]

Officials say the blaze -- feeding on dry brush -- has grown to nearly 30- thousand acres.
The blaze has prompted dozens of voluntary evacuations in a nearby lake development.
Gusty winds have hampered firefighters' efforts to maintain fire lines.
The blaze began on Sunday near the farming community of Rumsey, before spreading to nearby hills.
(------------)

[5-Camp-Damage]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=504-13 12:03]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding Aftermath]
[ENG#=2]

Two weeks after Tropical Depression Jeanne caused major flooding in western Virginia, the damages continue to mount.
For a popular camp in Craig County, the storm left behind a million dollar problem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Craig Co.]

Five to seven feet of water from Craig Creek flowed through Camp Easter Seals on September 28th. The flood included raw sewage after the failure of a treatment facility upstream.
Easter Seals Virginia cancelled its Fall programs, and now faces major clean-up and repair before it can re-open.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:40]
[IN Q=Our commitment]
((KIM HUTCHINSON: EASTER SEALS VIRGINIA PRESIDENT: OUR COMMITMENT IS TO OPEN BACK UP BY THE SPRING OF 2005 AND OUR FIGHT RIGHT NOW IS TO BEAT MOTHER NATURE WHICH WILL COME ROARING THROUGH HERE IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS AND FREEZE THE FACILITY, SO WE HAVE A TASK AHEAD OF US.))
[SUPER=01-Kim Hutchinson/Easter Seals Virginia President;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=have a task ahead of us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The damage to equipment and facilities is estimated at one-point-two million dollars.
Officials say insurance will only cover about ten percent and that they're planning a major fundraising effort to make up the difference.

(------------)[VOBCounty-Disaster]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC 52:34]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Roanoke County has new resources in case a disaster strikes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The Fire and Rescue Department used 35-thousand dollars in homeland security grant money to purchase a mass casuality unit.
The trailer holds necessary equipment to care for up to 50 people who have been injured in a major incident like a bus accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:12:07]
[IN Q=We considered using]
((STEVE SIMON/ROANOKE CO. FIRE AND RESCUE DEPT.: WE CONSIDERED UTILIZING IT WHEN WE HAD THE SCHOOL BUS WRECK ON BUCK MOUNTAIN ROAD IN ROANOKE COUNTY. WE STARTED TO DEPLOY THE UNIT BUT ONCE OUR INITIAL UNITS GOT ON THE SCENE AND STARTED TALKING TO THE STUDENTS WE FOUND THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED AND WOULD BE TRANSPORTED IF THEY NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION BY THEIR PARENTS.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Simon/Roanoke Co. Fire and Rescue Department;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=by their parents]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The county also purchased a 100-thousand dollar structural collapse unit through a F-E-M-A grant.
The equipment provides needed resources to adequately respond to a building collapse.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM] [6-Linkous]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-32 TC1:12:03]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
[ENG#=3]
A Montgomery County grand jury has indicted a Christiansburg teenager for first degree murder.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/September]
17 year old Zachary Linkous is accused of shooting and killing 15 year old Edward Bertrand. Last June, Bertrand was shot once in the stomach in a friend's garage on Spruce Street in Christiansburg. Linkous now stands charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. No trial date's been set.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]

In business news, U-S Airways has reached an agreement with its lenders. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((STOCKS CLOSED JUST BELOW UNCHANGED TUESDAY.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS LOST FOUR-POINTS.
WHILE THE NASDAQ EDGED DOWN THREE.

BANKRUPT U-S AIRWAYS HAS REACHED A FINANCING DEAL TO KEEP IT FLYING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.
THE AGREEMENT WITH A PAIR OF LENDERS AND THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES BANKRUPTCY COURT APPROVAL.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE COMPANY TO CONTINUE DRAWING CASH FROM THE REST OF A ONE BILLION DOLLAR LOAN GUARANTEED BY THE AIR TRANSPORTATION STABILIZATION BOARD FROM ITS FIRST BANKRUPTCY FILING LAST YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ESTIMATES FLORIDA CITRUS GROWERS WILL PRODUCE 27-PERCENT FEWER ORANGES IN THE 2004-2005 SEASON DUE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE.
THAT MEANS THE SMALLEST CROP IN 11 YEARS.
THE STATE'S GRAPEFRUIT CROP WAS HIT EVEN HARDER. IT'S PROJECTED TO PRODUCE THE SMALLEST CROP SINCE THE 1937-1938 SEASON.
IN CONTRAST, THE U-S-D-A SAID FARMERS IN THE MIDWEST WILL HARVERST RECORD YIELDS OF CORN, SOYBEAN AND COTTON.

DREAMWORKS SET THE PLANNED INITIAL PRICE OFFERING FOR ITS ANIMATION UNIT, WHICH IT IS SPINNING OFF. THE COMPANY WILL OFFER 29 MILLION COMMON SHARES, AT AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF BETWEEN 23 TO 25 DOLLARS PER SHARE.
THE UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOCKBUSTERS SHREK 2 AND SHARK TALE.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[11Teacher-Award]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-37 TC31:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

A Franklin County school teacher was recongnized yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Lisa Bowman, a fourth grade teacher at Burnt Chimney Elementary, won the Milken National Educator Award. Each year, the foundation surprises outstanding educators all over the country with a prize of 25-thousand dollars. Bowman started her seven-year teaching career as a school volunteer.
(------------)

[11M'Ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC06:53]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest]
[ENG#=3]
There's another twist in a long-running Martinsville murder case.
A man already tried twice for the crimepled guilty to a conspiracy charge Friday.
Billy Ray Manns has allegedly confessed to the killing of Lisa Nicole Thomas and reportedly identified the victim's husband and his spiritual advisor as the ones who paid him to do it. Yesterday, those two suspects were arraigned on capital murder charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]
Maverick Demarco Thomas told the judge he cannot afford to hire an attorney. He and Malvester Dixon are accused in a murder for hire scheme that dates back to the year 2000.
[SUPER=04-September 2000]
Lisa Thomas was found shot to death in the store she and her husband ran on Walnut Street.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:51:13]
[IN Q=I'm glad it]
((I'M GLAD IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE THEY TRIED TO SOLVE IT. BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE THAT WAY. THAT'S A HORRIBLE DEATH FOR ANY HUMAN BEING.))
[SUPER=07-Timothy Gravely]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=any human being.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Maverick Thomas has issued repeated calls for justice, including one on Monday, just before he and Dixon were arrested. (------------)