WDBJ 7 morning news for 11/22/04

[11Giles-Search]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC-1:52:39]
[GRAPHIC=Daniels/Jones]
[ENG#=1]
The search is expected to resume in Giles County today for a woman who has been missing since last week's suspicious house fire. Authorities returned to the scene this weekend and found the body of a man missing for three days. Jeremy Butterfield has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two friends, 40 year old]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.; :22]
[SUPER=01-Lt. William Lucas/Giles Co. Sheriffs Department; :39 QUICK]
[SUPER=19-Jeremy Butterfield/jbutterfield*wdbj7.com; 1:36]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=News 7, Giles County.]
(( 40 year old Niklan Matt Jones and 44 year old Susan Jean Daniels were last seen on Wednesday. Thursday morning, the home that Daniels was renting burned to the ground, in a fire that authorities consider suspicious. And early Saturday morning, a group of volunteer searchers found the body of Jones about 500 yards from the burn site early Friday morning. Police are waiting for autopsy results that will likely show the cause of death but did say there were no visible burn marks on his body. Sunday the search continued, as teams looked for Daniels, and any evidence that might help aulthorities solve the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:25:35]
[IN Q=We've got dogs there to search]
((LT. LUCAS:WE'VE GOT DOGS THERE TO SEARCH THE FIRE SCENE ITSELF AND THE REST OF THE PROPERTY AND ADJOINING PROPERTY. STATE POLICE HELICOPTER OUT OF LYNCHBURG IS HERE TO ASSIST AND OF COURSE THE FRIENDS AND COWORKERS THAT WERE HERE YESTERDAY ARE HERE AGAIN TODAY.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=are here again today.]
Daniels is a Biology student at Virginia Tech and was last spotted on campus.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:29:04]
[IN Q=We're still working on]
((LT. LUCAS:WE'RE STILL WORKING ON NUMBER ONE HOPING THAT WE FIND HER ALIVE.)) [RUNS :04]
[OUT Q=that we find her alive.]
State police arson investigators are working to find the cause of the house fire. That investigation is leading to more questions than answers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:28:22]
[IN Q=From physical evidence that we]
((LT. LUCAS:FROM PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT WE RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE THERE INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE BETWEEN SOMEONE THERE AND WERE NOT RULING THAT OUT CERTAINLY.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=not ruling that out certanley.]
Investigators say time counts in a case like this and hope the break they are looking for turns up soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:26:20]
[IN Q=24 to 48 hours is so crucial]
((LT. LUCAS:24 TO 48 HOURS IS SO CRUCIAL YOU DON'T WANT TO LET ANY LEAD LAY FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT COULD BE THE ONE THAT REALLY MAKES A CASE FOR US.))
[RUNS=: 11]
[OUT Q=really makes a case for us.]

[BUTT BUTT BUTT]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:08:36]
[IN Q=While the search for Susan Daniels]
((LT. LUCAS:WHILE THE SEARCH FOR SUSAN DANIELS CONTINUES OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT RULED OUT ANY POSSIBILITIES AND ARE ALSO TRACKING DOWN LEADS IN BLACKSBURG. JEREMY BUTTERFIELD, NEWS7, GILES COUNTY.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=Reporter tag]))

[Buchanan-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

State police are on the scene of a single vehicle accident on Lee Highway near Buchanan. The accident happened around a quarter after four this morning. One car flipped onto its side. There's no word on injuries, or how long cleanup will take.

[WI-Hunter]

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

In Northwestern Wisconsin, police have arrested a deer hunter for allegedly killing five other hunters and wounding three.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rice Lake, WI;]

Authorities say a dispute over a tree stand escalated into the deadly shootings.
One victim used a radio to call for help, as fellow hunters arrived at the scene, they were shot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You just don't hear]
((THERESA DREW-HESEBECK/VICTIM'S WIFE:YOU JUST DON'T HEAR OF THIS TYPE THING ON RURAL RICE LAKE. IT'S A SHOCK; WE'RE ALL NUMB. ))
[SUPER=01-Theresa Drew-Hesebeck/Victim's Wife;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we're all numb.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A department of natural resources officer recognized the gunman when he emerged from the woods.
The suspect-- identified as a Minnesota man-- was arrested after getting lost and running out of bullets.
(-----------------------)

[Middle-East]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Colin Powell]
[ENG#=3]

Making his first visit to the region in a year and a half, Secretary of State Colin Powell is on a mission to revive the Middle East peace process.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]

Powell met this morning with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I come to bring]
[SUPER=01-Colin Powell/Secretary of State;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=before us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The U-S is hoping to take advantage of new opportunities for peace in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death.
He's asking both sides to make the election of a new leader as smooth as possible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I have assured secretary]
((SILVAN SHALOM/ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER:I HAVE ASSURED SECRETARY TODAY ISRAEL WILL DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO ENSURE ELECTIONS. ))
[SUPER=01-Silvan Shalom/Israeli Foreign Minister;]
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=ensure elections.]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the Palestinians want the U-S to pressure Israel to pull back troops from parts of the West Bank.
(------------)

[11Verizon-Rate]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Verizon has petitioned Virginia's State Corporation Commission to raise its phone rates for both residential and commercial customers in rural areas. If the commission approves the request -- some rates in the state could go up by 10-percent. Verizon officials say the company is struggling in rural areas because the rates they charge are below the operating cost. A public hearing on the matter will be held later today at the State Corporation Commission in Richmond.

[Suspensions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
[ENG#=4]

In sports, several NBA players have been suspended for their role in Friday night's brawl at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA Entertainment]
The Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest is suspended for the rest of the season in the longest N-B-A suspension in league history. Stephen Jackson got a 30-game suspension, Jermaine O'Neal sits out 25, Anthony Johnson is suspended for five games and
Reggie Miller one game by the N-B-A.

(------------)[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, stocks closed lower on Friday.
Marcella Palmer has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm MP.]
((THE WORLD'S LARGEST MEAT COMPANY GETS A BREAK AFTER BEING HIT BY THE BACKLASH OF REPORTS OF MAD COW DISEASE IN THE U.S LAST WEEK.... BONDS ISSUED BY TYSON FOODS ARE BY SOME ANALYSTS, STILL CONSIDERED A GOOD BUY DUE TO THE LOW PROBABILITY OF A CONFIRMATION OF MAD COW... THE MAD COW SCARE LAST WEEK ALSO AFFECTED MCDONALD'S STOCK...
IF YOU FLY AIRLINES LIKE AIR CANADA, OR DELTA SONG AIRLINES YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABOARD A PLANE MANUFACTURED BY EMBRAER... OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES THE COMMERCIAL JET MAKER ESTIMATES IT WILL SUPPLY THE WORLD WITH NEARLY 8-THOUSAND OF ITS JETS WITH UP TO 120 SEATS... THE WORLD'S NUMBER FOUR AIRCRAFT MAKER JUST RELEASED ITS OUTLOOK, WHICH PLANS TO SUPPLY THE WORLD WITH 170-BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF JETS BY 2024.
A TRIPLE DIGIT DIVE FOR THE DOW ON FRIDAY, AFTER COMMENTS BY FEDERAL RESERVE CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN WHO VOICED CONCERN OVER THE SIZE OF THE U-S CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT AND ITS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON FOREIGN INVESTORS. THE DOW CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 115. THE NASDAQ CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 33.
OIL PRICES RALLIED ABOVE $48-DOLLARS A BARREL ON RENEWED THREATS TO GLOBAL SUPPLIES FROM RUSSIA AND IRAQ. CRUDE-OIL CLOSED AT 48.44 A BARREL.
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]

[CA-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

It only happens about once every ten years-- and when it does, it causes some major travel headaches.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Julian, CA;]

A rare storm has hit Southern California, dumping up to two feet of snow in the mountains and leaving dozens of motorists stranded.
Snow fell at lower elevations, too, prompting kids to make snowballs and adults to grab video cameras.
Forecasters say rain and snow was expected to continue through last night and then clear out by today.
(------------)

[11Boty-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-51 TC-7:46]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
[ENG#=2]

One man was injured in a single-vehicle accident in Botetourt County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
The crash happened on Narrow Passage Road near Buchanan around 4-thirty yesterday afternoon. State Police say the driver of this pickup truck was headed southbound, when he lost control, ran off the road and hit a tree. He was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with what were described as serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The accident is still under investigation.
(------------)

[11Deer-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-42 TC-28:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
Automobile accidents involving deer -- killed a record number of motorists last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file; ]
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 210 motorists were killed in 2003 after crashing into a deer. That is double the number from 1993. November is the peak time of year in Virginia for these types of accidents, especially at night. V-Dot officials say that's because of the time change, and advise motorists to watch for deer on their way home from work-- as it gets darker earlier.
(------------)
(kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM] [VOBGiles-Search]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Daniels/Jones]

[ENG#=1]

The search for a missing political activist will resume this morning. 44 year old Susan Daniels has been missing since last Wednesday -- her friend's body -- 40 year old Niklan Matt Jones was recovered on Saturday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./Yesterday;]
It was found about 500 yards from Daniels' burned out home. Police think the fire was arson. Autopsy results will likely show the cause of death, but police say there were no visible burn marks on his body. State police arson investigators are working to find the cause of the house fire. That investigation is leading to more questions than answers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:28:22]
[IN Q=From physical evidence that we]
((LT. LUCAS:FROM PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT WE RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE THERE INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE BETWEEN SOMEONE THERE AND WERE NOT RULING THAT OUT CERTAINLY.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. William Lucas/Giles Co. Sheriffs Department;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=not ruling that out certanley.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday dogs searched the fire scene and adjoining property, and the state police used a helicopter to get an overhead view. The investigation has also spread to Blacksburg, where Daniels goes to university at Virginia Tech.
(------------)

[2-WI-Hunter]

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

A man is under arrest after fatally shooting five deer hunters in Wisconsin.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rice Lake, WI;]

Authorities say a dispute over a tree stand escalated into the deadly shootings.
One victim used a radio to call for help, as fellow hunters arrived at the scene, they were shot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You just don't hear]
((THERESA DREW-HESEBECK/VICTIM'S WIFE:YOU JUST DON'T HEAR OF THIS TYPE THING ON RURAL RICE LAKE. IT'S A SHOCK; WE'RE ALL NUMB. ))
[SUPER=01-Theresa Drew-Hesebeck/Victim's Wife;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we're all numb.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A department of natural resources officer recognized the gunman when he emerged from the woods.
The suspect--identified as a Minnesota man-- was arrested after getting lost and running out of bullets.
(--------------)

[2-Middle-East]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Colin Powell]
[ENG#=3]

Secretary of State Colin Powell says this is ``a moment of opportunity'' in efforts to revive diplomacy between Israel and the Palestinians.
Powell is in Jerusalem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]

He met this morning with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I come to bring]
[SUPER=01-Colin Powell/Secretary of State;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=before us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The U-S is hoping to take advantage of new opportunities for peace in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death.
He's asking both sides to make the election of a new leader as smooth as possible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I have assured secretary]
((SILVAN SHALOM/ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER:I HAVE ASSURED SECRETARY TODAY ISRAEL WILL DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO ENSURE ELECTIONS. ))
[SUPER=01-Silvan Shalom/Israeli Foreign Minister;]
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=ensure elections.]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the Palestinians want the U-S to pressure Israel to pull back troops from parts of the West Bank.
(------------)

[2-11Verizon-Rate]

[11Mega-Millions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mega Millions]
[ENG#=3]

A parking lot attendent in New York City is the sole winner of the 149 million dollar Mega-millions jackpot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY]
49-year-old Juan Rodriguez, a Columbian immigrant living in Queens, was the only person to hit *all the winning numbers* in Friday night's game. Rodriguez collected his winnings yesterday morning in front of the news stand where he bought the ticket.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :34]
[IN Q=I was]
(( Juan Rodriguez/New Multimillionaire: I was so crazy. That's it. That's it. Simple like that. ))
[SUPER=01-Juan Rodriguez/Lottery Winner;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=like that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Rodriguez moved to the United States in 1982. He says he has no idea what he will do with the money but is taking his winnings in one lump sum.
(------------)
(kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[11Xmas-Tree]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC-54:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]
Christmas is still weeks away, but plans for the center piece of our nation's celebration have been in the works for more than a year. This year's Capitol Holiday Tree is coming from Virginia, but not before making a statewide tour of the Commonwealth.
Susan Bahorich has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's the birthplace...]
[SUPER=03-Highland Co./November 2nd; ]
[SUPER=01-Mike Tripp/U.S. Forest Service; :22]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :32]
[SUPER=01-Keith Garman/Camrett Logistics; 56]
[SUPER=@SUSAN2; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=SB, News 7, Salem.]
(( It's the birthplace of eight American Presidents, and this year, Virginia is the home of the Capital Holiday tree.
((nats of something))
The tree was cut from the George Washington National Forest on November 2nd. Since that time, crews have worked to prepare the tree, which initially weighed more than nine-thousand pounds and spread nearly 35 feet.

[SOT@32:48.21]
[INQ=The tree right...]
((MIKE TRIPP, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: THE TREE RIGHT NOW IS 67-FEET TALL, IT'S WEIGHS 5,500 POUNDS. IT'S 79-YEARS OLD, IT'S A RED SPRUCE. IT CAME FROM HIGHLAND COUNTY.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUTQ=...Highland, County.]

Now the spruce is on tour across Virginia on a specially built trailer. An average tractor trailer is about 55-feet long, this one is 17-feet longer.
Camrett Logistics, which has shops around the state- including Salem- has the task of transporting it. Keith Garman is the lucky guy who gets to drive the final leg into D.C.

[SOT@37:35.13]
[INQ=I think it's a...]
((KEITH GARMAN, CAMRETT LOGISTICS: I THINK IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US, FOR OUR COMPANY TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR NATION'S CHRISTMAS TREE. IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE DONE WITH THE COMPANY BEFORE.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUTQ=.. company before...]

The truck left Salem Sunday morning to wrap up the last leg of its two-week tour across the Commonwealth. The tree will make its way back into our neck of the wood by mid-week and on November 29th, travel to our nation's capital to "spruce" up Christmas.
((nats sound driving away))
SB, News 7, Salem.))

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

(+++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE WDBJ7.COM FS] If you'd like more information about where the tree will be this month, just visit our website and click on websites in the news.
(+++++++)