Morning news on WDBJ 7 for 10/31/95

06:00-01

headlines

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=mel
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=

The people of Quebec have spoken -- Canada will remain one country.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot
SS= 2 shot

And the House takes a stand on Bosnia. wx-head
(beth ad lib)
live-head
(larry ad lib)

Rubatex-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#95-94
GRAPHIC=Fire

A suspicious fire last night near the Rubatex plant in Bedford has left two people homeless.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night;

Shortly before six, fire crews were called to a vacant lot at the corner of Grove and Church Streets, where several stacks of rubber products had caught fire.
The house Dann Witt shares with his mother is just a few feet away and the burning rubber also set fire to that building.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:22:38
IN Q=And you could
((DANN WITT/RESIDENT: AND YOU COULD FEEL THE HEAT, AND I WENT BACK IN AND CALLED 911, IT WAS BUSY, SO I HUNG IT UP AND TOLD MY MOTHER WE'LL HAVE TO GET OUT.))
SUPER=01-Dann Witt/Resident; :00
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=have to get out.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It took firefighters about twenty minutes to contain the blaze.
Authorities say, at first, they feared things would be much worse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:29:51
IN Q=We didn't know
((MIKE BURNETTE/BEDFORD FIRE CHIEF: WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE WOOLEN MILL ON FIRE, WHICH WAS THIS BIG BUILDING HERE. WE JUST BROUGHT IN THE EXTRA HELP.))
SUPER=01-Mike Burnette/Bedford Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=the extra help.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The lot was being used by the Rubatex Corporation as a storage area for their rubber products.
Rubatex would NOT say what type of material caught fire.
Authorities consider this blaze suspicious.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:41:39
IN Q=It's sitting
((M.H. GRAHAM/BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: IT'S SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ASPHALT PARKING LOT, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NOTHING THERE THAT COULD IGNITE THE RUBBER. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'S OBVIOUSLY SUSPICIOUS AND WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE, OR WHAT CAUSED IT.))
SUPER=01-M.H. Graham/Bedford Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=or what caused it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Graham says the regional arson squad will assist in the investigation.
(----------------)

Helms

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#edit of 95-86
GRAPHIC=none

A teenage boy charged with MURDER has turned himself in to police.
Police say he's suspected in the murder of a Martinsville girl, whose body was found along a roadside.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

16- year old Tommy Lawrence Helms of Bassett is charged with FIRST- degree murder in last week's shooting death of 15- year old Lavina Scales.
Scales' body was found on Route 6-79 Wednesday night by a passing couple.
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Last Thursday;

The Medical Examiner says Scales was shot SEVERAL times in the head and left on the side of the road.
Authorities say they were on Tommy Helms' trail from the beginning.
Helms will attend a detention hearing in Juvenile court today.
(----------------)

Basham

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#95-77
GRAPHIC=Basham

A merciless monster.
That's how the Roanoke Commonwealth's attorney describes Tonya Basham.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;

She was given THIRTY years in prison for the neglect and abuse of an 18- month- old boy.
Yesterday, Basham took the stand at her pre- sentencing hearing and said she NEVER hurt Anthony Harvey.
That's despite the fact she confessed to police back in March and pleaded guilty to the charges TWO months ago.
But Basham claims she was rushed into her confession and that she loved the toddler as much as her OWN child.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT Basham Bites 15:18:32
IN Q=I love children
((TONYA BASHAM/I LOVE CHILDREN. I LOVE MY DAUGHTER. I LOVE ANTHONY. I'D NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HARM ANTHONY. ))
SUPER=07-Tonya Basham;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=harm Anthony
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Anthony Harvey was treated for second degree burns to his face, feet and buttocks.
Cocaine was found in his blood and doctors say he suffered internal injuries.
Basham was watching the child while the boy's mother, Tammy Harvey, tried to get her get her OWN life back in order.
Tammy Harvey pleaded NO contest to child neglect last month.
She'll be sentenced Friday.
Anthony Harvey is now in the care of his grandmother.
He is said to be in good condition.
(----------------)

Quebec

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

The vote is in, Canada WILL remain one country.
But the question this morning may be for how long?
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montreal;

Yesterday voters in the province of Quebec decided to remain part of Canada.
But the vote was extremely close.
And Separatists, who lost by only one percent of the vote, are vowing to make another bid at independence.
Meantime, Canada's prime minister Jean Chretien, is appealing for national reconciliation.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((JEAN CHRETIEN/CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER:ORDINARY CANADIANS INSIDE QUEBEC AND THROUGHOUT CANADA STOOD UP AND PROVED WHAT THE COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT. SPONTANEOUSLY WITH GREAT EMOTION, WITH GREAT PRIDE. LET US KEEP THAT EMOTION ALIVE IN THE WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME. ))
SUPER=01-Jean Chretien/Canadian Prime Minister;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q= years to come.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last night Separatist leader (loo-see-EHN' boo-SHARD') Lucien Bouchard did not sound as if he is thinking of reconciliation.
He vowed that the next vote would be different and could come quicker than some think.
(----------------)

Bosnia

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=bosnia

The house last night passed a non-binding resolution that says no U-S troops should be sent to Bosnia unless Congress gives its approval.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It also says negotiators should not presume that enforcing a peace agreement will involve U-S soldiers.
SUPER=03-Capitol Hill;

House Speaker Newt Gingrich called the vote "a message to the president that he can't manipulate Congress."
Yesterday's vote comes as Bosnian peace talks are set to get underway tomorrow in Dayton, Ohio.
Chief Envoy Richard Holbrooke says there can be no peace in Bosnia without U-S troops under NATO command.
(----------------)

1-Sports

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

In sports, the World Series is over, but NOT the celebrations!
Mike Stevens takes a look at some of the festivities.
/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=good morning
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=a bit
$CCOFF

One-Larry

ANCHOR=Larry
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ldo
CHROMAKEY=Live/Lobby
GRAPHIC=none

(Live Interview)

SUPER=15-Larry Dowdy;

SUPER=13-Freda Wood/Halloween Expert;

SUPER=11-Roanoke;

(Toss to Beth)

Sierra-Club

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-95
GRAPHIC=Campaign '95

Two environmental groups are asking on Republicans to urge Governor Allen to return 100- thousand dollars in what they call "dirty money."
They're objecting to money the Governor's PAC accepted from Smithfield Foods-while the state was fining the company for pollution problems.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;

The New River Valley chapter of the Sierra Club and "Friends of the Rivers of Virginia" say it was un-ethical for Allen to accept the funds.
The organizations challenged state SUPER=@File;
senate candidate Pat Cupp to pressure Allen to return the money, even though Cupp did not directly benefit from it.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((PEGGY ALLEN/NRV SIERRA CLUB/HOWEVER HE CERTAINLY BENEFITTED THROUGH THE VOTE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN. MUCH OF THE PAC MONEY HAS BEEN UTILIZED IN THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO VOTE REPUBLICAN. ))
SUPER=01-Peggy Allen/NRV Sierra Club;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=to vote republican;
TALENT=Beth 2 shot
SS=2 shot

Cupp was not available to respond to the challenge.

Smithfield-Contribution

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

Meantime, the Washington Post reports today that the chairman of Smithfield Foods plans to send another check to Allen's political action committee.
Chairman Joseph Luter says he was aware of the investigation at the time of the earlier donations, but it didn't factor into his decision to send the money.
Luter says he does not expect anything in return for his donations.

Via-Contribution

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=campaign 95

Two millionaire businessman brothers from Roanoke have added 60-thousand dollars in donations to TWO Republicans challenging TWO Democratic leaders in House of Delegates races.
New campaign reports reveal Edward and Peter Via already had given MORE than 100-thousand dollars to Republican challengers Trixie Averill and Newell Falkinburg.
SS=averill

Averill is challenging House Majority Leader Dick Cranwell of Vinton and
SS=Falkinburg
Falkinburg opposes Delegate Chip Woodrum of Roanoke.

Heat-Share

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#95-98
GRAPHIC=NONE

Contributions are being made for another cause -- helping those in need pay their utility bills this winter.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

That's the reason behind the Salvation Army's annual Heat Share Program.
Roanoke Gas Company today contributed 88- hundred dollars to the program.
And gas customers are also encouraged to help those less fortunate.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:53:00
IN Q=I remember back
((MAJOR DAN DELANEY/SALVATION ARMY: I REMEMBER BACK WHEN THERE WAS NO PROGRAM LIKE THIS, AND THERE WAS NO MONEY TO HELP ANYBODY OUT. BUT THIS IS A RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE NOT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS COMING OUT OF IT. IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO-- IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. ))
SUPER=01-Major Dan Delaney/Salvation Army;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=great program
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Appalachian Power Company is also doing its part to help the needy.
APCO's annual Neighbor- to- Neighbor Program also encourages customers to help low- income families with their electric bills.
In addition the company matches customer contributions up to 38- thousand dollars.
(----------------)

SPCA

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE# 95-80
GRAPHIC=SPCA

The Roanoke Valley S-P-C-A could SOON be sniffing around for some contributions to complete a PET PROJECT.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The organization bought some new digs along route 4-60 in northeast Roanoke.
SUPER=@File;

It says the NEW facility will help it rebuild a reputation that's been hurt in the past by a number of problems.
The S-P-C-A says it could also REDUCE the number of animals it puts to sleep, since the additional space will give it MORE time to show the animals.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 09:54:10
IN Q=We won't
((FRANK VAN BALEN/SPCA PRESIDENT: WE WON'T HOPEFULLY HAVE THE STIGMA THAT THE OLD SHELTER HAD AS A PLACE THAT KILLS ANIMALS. WE'RE FIGHTING DESPERATELY TO SAVE LIVES. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.))
SUPER=01-Frank Van Balen/SPCA President;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=what we wanna do.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The building on the site will become office space.
The S-P-C-A will put a NEW kennel in the back.
It spent close to 300- thousand dollars for the building and the land.
Board members estimate... they'll have to raise one MILLION- dollars for the rest of the project.
The S-P-C-A would like to break ground next summer.
It does NOT expect this will cause an increase in the 50- dollar adoption fee.
(-------------)

Football

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=nfl

The Chicago Bears have a one-game lead in the N-F-C Central division
following a 14-to-6 victory at Minnesota.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Courtesy: ABC;

Erik Kramer tossed touchdown passes to Jim Flanigan and Curtis Conway during a one-58 span of the second quarter.
SUPER=30-Chicago/14/Minnesota/6;

The 6-and-2 Bears have a four-game winning streak after ending an eight-game slide in Monday night games.
(-------------)

Two-Larry

ANCHOR=Larry
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ldo
CHROMAKEY=Live/Lobby
GRAPHIC=none

(Live Interview)

SUPER=15-Larry Dowdy;

SUPER=13-Dr. Jesse Webster/Veterinarian;

(ADLIB TOSS TO CLOSING BILLBOARD)

LIVE=Larry/Full
(Toss to Melanie & Beth)

2headlines

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=mel
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Canada is still a single country, but barely.
A vote to separate Quebec province from the rest of the country failed -- by a single percentage point.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Beth

Fire investigators in Bedford believe arson is to blame for a fire that left a mother and son without a home.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

Thousands of volunteers appear to be taking the devil out of devil's night in Detroit.
The city is usually plagued with scores of deliberately set fires on Halloween Eve, but thanks to some 35-thousand volunteers patrolling the streets the night was fairly quiet.
(----------------)

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday, October 31st.
ANCHOR=Beth

Stick around the news is next.

CANADA

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Canada's prime minister is urging national reconciliation in the the wake of yesterday's referendum in which the voters of Quebec narrowly voted to remain part of Canada.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montreal;

In a nationally televised speech, Jean Chretien also asked separatist leaders to work with him in pursuing political change.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
(( JEAN CHRETIEN/CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER:THE FUTURE OF ALL CANADIANS IS BOUND TOGETHER BY COMMON VALUES. WHERE OPPORTUNITY AND THE BELIEF IN A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN UNITE US ALL. ))
SUPER=01-Jean Chretien/Canadian Prime Minister;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=unite us all.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But the separatist leader (loo-see-EHN' boo-SHARD') Lucien Bouchard does not sound as if he is thinking of reconciliation.
He is urging his followers to ``keep the faith'' and promises a new vote on secession.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((LUCIEN BOUCHARD/SEPARATIST;NEVER HAS THE "YES" BEEN SO CLOSE TO VICTORY AS IT WAS TODAY.TO SEE IT ESCAPE OUR GRASP IS HARD TO BEAR. ))
SUPER=01- Lucien Bouchard/Separatist Leader;
RUNS=:19
OUT Q=HARD TO BEAR;
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Final results show 50-point-six percent of the voters in Quebec said NO to secession.
Some 49-point-four percent voted YES.
(----------------)

Devils-night

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST= morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

A small army of people patrolled the streets of Detroit last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Detroit/Last Night;

About 35-thousand voluteers fanned out, keeping an eye out for arsonists on devil's night.
Detroit has been plagued with arson fires on halloween and halloween eve.
To keep temptation out of the hands of those who wouldn't resist, hundreds of vacant buildings were razed, abandoned cars were towed and thousands of old tires were removed from harm's way.
(----------------)

Fire

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#95-94
GRAPHIC=Fire

Two people are homeless following a fire near the Rubatex Plant in Bedford.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night;

At about 5:45 last night, fire crews were called to a VACANT lot at the corner of Grove and Church Streets, where several stacks of rubber products had caught fire.
The house Dann Witt shares with his mother is just a FEW feet away... the burning rubber caught THAT building on fire too.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:22:38
IN Q=And you could
((DANN WITT/RESIDENT: AND YOU COULD FEEL THE HEAT, AND I WENT BACK IN AND CALLED 911, IT WAS BUSY, SO I HUNG IT UP AND TOLD MY MOTHER WE'LL HAVE TO GET OUT.))
SUPER=01-Dann Witt/Resident; :00
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=have to get out.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It took firefighters about twenty minutes to bring the blaze under control.
Authorities say, at first, they feared things would be much worse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:29:51
IN Q=We didn't know
((MIKE BURNETTE/BEDFORD FIRE CHIEF: WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE WOOLEN MILL ON FIRE, WHICH WAS THIS BIG BUILDING HERE. WE JUST BROUGHT IN THE EXTRA HELP.))
SUPER=01-Mike Burnette/Bedford Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=the extra help.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The lot was being used by the Rubatex Corporation as a storage area for their rubber products.
Rubatex would NOT say what type of material caught fire.
Authorities consider this blaze suspicious.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:41:39
IN Q=It's sitting
((M.H. GRAHAM/BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: IT'S SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ASPHALT PARKING LOT, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NOTHING THERE THAT COULD IGNITE THE RUBBER. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'S OBVIOUSLY SUSPICIOUS AND WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE, OR WHAT CAUSED IT.))
SUPER=01-M.H. Graham/Bedford Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=or what caused it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Graham says the regional arson squad will assist in the investigation.
(----------------)

Strickler

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE# 95-93
GRAPHIC=Strickler

Convicted murderer Tommy David Strickler is just ten days away from his scheduled execution, and he still doesn't have a lawyer.
Some say he's part of a disturbing trend on Virginia's death row.
Ellen Qualls has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We spoke with
SUPER=03-Staunton/1990; :00
SUPER=03-Mecklenburg Co.; :03
SUPER=02-Tommy Strickler/Death Row Inmate; :21
SUPER=@Gilmore; :44
SUPER=01-Don Lee/Va. Capital Resource Center; 1:10
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:29
RUNS=1:39
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( We spoke with Tommy Strickler by phone because of a recent state policy to ban our camera from the prison.
He was convicted of the 1990 abduction and killing of Roanoke native and J-M-U student Leann Whitlock.
He maintains his innocence and blames former attorneys for mistakes.
Now Strickler says he's angry and scared, partly because of a new Virginia law.
sot 13:38
((TOMMY DAVID STRICKLER/DEATH ROW INMATE: IT'S KIND OF LIKE A CATCH-22. IN OTHER WORDS, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GONNA END UP GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY CAN EXECUTE THEM. BECAUSE OF PEOPLE AIN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE ATTORNEYS IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.))
RUNS=:13

The July first law sets an execution date within 60 days of the last state appeal -- before new federal court level defense attorneys take over.
sot 16:40:37
((ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM GILMORE: A WOMAN WAS BADLY BEATEN. IN FACT HER HEAD WAS CRUSHED WITH A 69-POUND STONE. BUT NEVERTHELESS, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE AN APPROPRIATE APPEAL AND HE IS TOO. AND THIS JUST SIMPLY REQUIRES HIM TO KEEP HIS CASE MOVING.))
RUNS=:13

Gilmore's sure the courts will delay the execution.
But why doesn't Tommy Strickler have an attorney?
The Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center helps death row inmates find attorneys.
The GOP Congress is cutting most of its funding.
SOT 16:15:23
((DON LEE/VA. CAPITAL REPRESENTATION RESOURCE CENTER: WELL EVEN BEFORE WE HAD THE BUDGET PROBLEM, THAT CREATED PROBLEMS IN RECRUITING ATTORNEYS, BECAUSE THESE CASES ALREADY ARE COMPLICATED ENOUGH AND INVOLVE ENORMOUS PRESSURE WITHOUT THE ADDED PRESSURE OF HAVING TO TAKE A CASE WHILE AN EXECUTION DATE IS IN EFFECT.))
runs=:18

sot standup 16:50:39 Second one

The attorney crunch also tightens the screws on judges, who are starting to complain in their opinions about being put on the spot to decide matters of life and death.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.
runs=:13
))
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot
SS= 2 shot

Meantime, the U-S Supreme Court has sided with ANOTHER condemned killer...

Tuggle

ANCHOR=Beth 2 shot
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE# 95-84
GRAPHIC=2 shot

The high court has ordered a NEW review in the case of Lem Tuggle.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;

He NARROWLY escaped execution last month when the Court decided to take up his case.
Tuggle was to die by lethal injection for the 19-83 murder and rape of Jessie Havens in Smyth County.
(----------------)
TALENT=Beth
SS=none

The U-S Supreme Court NOW says the Virginia Supreme Court made a MISTAKE upholding Tuggle's death sentence.
While awaiting trial, Tuggle was interviewed by a state psychologist withOUT his attorney present.
Tuggle was NOT given money to hire a psychologist of his own to rebut the state's testimony.
Tuggle's case has been sent BACK to the federal appeals court.

3-Sports

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

This week the Cavaliers have one goal in mind -- beat the Seminoles.
Mike Stevens explains in sports.
Good morning Mike.
/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=mornin' once
RUNS=2:41
OUT Q=nice day
$CCOFF

Birthdays
TALENT=Larry
SS=none
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=(nat sot music)
RUNS=1:50
OUT Q=BACK to you (music under)

Three-Larry

Blaze

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#edti of 95-94
GRAPHIC=Fire

An arson team will be brought in to investigate a suspicious fire near the Rubatex plant in Bedford.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night;

At about 5:45, fire crews were called to a vacant lot at the corner of Grove and Church Streets, where several stacks of rubber products had caught fire.
The house Dann Witt shares with his mother was just a few feet away, and the burning rubber caught that building on fire too.
It took firefighters about twenty minutes to bring the blaze under control.
The lot was being used by the Rubatex Corporation as a storage area for their rubber products.
(----------------)

Henry-Murder

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#95-86
GRAPHIC=none

A teenage boy accused of murdering a Martinsville girl has turned himself in.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

16- year old Tommy Lawrence Helms of Bassett is charged with first- degree murder in the shooting death of 15- year old Lavina Scales.
Scales' body was found on Route 6-79 Wednesday night by a passing couple.
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Last Thursday;

The Medical Examiner says Scales was shot several times in the head and left on the side of the road.
Authorities say they were on Tommy Helms' trail from the beginning.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:49:14
IN Q=We had about
((FRANK CASSELL/HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF: WE HAD ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN INVESTIGATORS AND SUPERVISORS THAT WORKED ALL WEEKEND ON THIS, PRETTY MUCH NIGHT AND DAY. THIS MAN WAS THE SUSPECT FROM ALMOST, WELL CERTAINLY DAY ONE.))
SUPER=01-Frank Cassell/Henry County Sheriff;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=certainly day one.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Helms will attend a detention hearing in Juvenile court today.
(----------------)

Tonya-Basham

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#95-77
GRAPHIC=Basham

A woman accused of abusing an 18-month-old boy has been given a lengthy sentence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;

Tonya Basham was sentenced to thirty years behind bars for the neglect and abuse of Anthony Harvey.
Yesterday Basham took the stand at her pre- sentencing hearing and said she never hurt the toddler.
That's despite the fact she confessed to police in March and pleaded guilty to the charges two months ago.
But Basham claims she was rushed into her confession and that she loved the toddler as much as her own child.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT Basham Bites 15:18:32
IN Q=I love children
((TONYA BASHAM/I LOVE CHILDREN. I LOVE MY DAUGHTER. I LOVE ANTHONY. I'D NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HARM ANTHONY. ))
SUPER=07-Tonya Basham;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=harm Anthony
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Anthony was treated for second degree burns to his face, feet and buttocks.
Cocaine was found in his blood and doctors say he suffered internal injuries.
Basham was watching Anthony while his mother, Tammy Harvey, tried to get her get her own life back in order.
Tammy Harvey pleaded no contest to child neglect last month.
She'll be sentenced Friday.
Anthony is now in the care of his grandmother.
He is said to be in good condition.
(----------------)

VISIT

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=virginia tech

Students and teachers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg have put state tourist attractions onto the Internet as a way to lure more visitors to the Old Dominion.
Travel industry leaders from across the nation will see the system -- called VISIT Virginia -- for the first time today at the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism in Washington.
The computer site was created in four months after state Division of Tourism officials underwrote the project's 100-thousand-dollar cost.
The money paid the students and bought equipment.

NFL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

In sports -- the Chicago Bears are one game ahead in the N-F-C Central after
a 14-to-6 win at Minnesota.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Courtesy: ABC;

Erik Kramer tossed touchdown passes to Jim Flanigan and Curtis Conway during a one-58 span of the second quarter.
SUPER=30-Chicago/14/Minnesota/6;

The 6-and-2 Bears have a four-game winning streak after ending an eight-game slide in Monday night games.
(-------------)

wx-goodbye

ANCHOR=beth
NEWSCAST=am
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE
(beth ad lib)