WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/21/96

08:25-01

7Standoff

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE# 96-10
GRAPHIC=shooting

A police stand-off last night in Roanoke County ended in gunfire.
After holding them at bay for three hours, lawmen shot the suspect, now identified as 36- year- old David Ira Bell.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Night;

Police were dispatched to 5268 Keffer Road in Catawba at about 7- 30 on a domestic dispute call.
Authorities say the caller also reported that shots were fired.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:10:00
IN Q=We determined
((SGT. DAVID WELLS/ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE DEPT.: WE DETERMINED THAT WE HAD A SITUATION THAT CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- AS A RESULT OF THAT, AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE RESIDENCE WAS SUSEQUENTLY SHOT. ))
SUPER=01-Sgt. David Wells/Roanoke Co. Police Dept.;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=SUBSEQUENTLY SHOT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bell was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where news of his condition is being withheld.
Sgt. Wells says no one else was injured.
Charges are pending against Bell.
(----------------)
TALENT=MELANIE
SS=hold

Meanwhile, police are keeping quiet sabout why Bell had to be shot-- they say the matter is still under investigation.

7Giles-Drowning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-16
GRAPHIC=NONE

After searching the New River for the body of a 14-year old girl, Giles County authorities now say the girl is alive.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Giles Co./Monday;

For two days, divers searched for the girl after her friend said she jumped from Commissary Hill bridge in Giles County Sunday afternoon.
But police learned yesterday the girl is safe and sound.
They are not releasing her name or any details pending further investigation.
Police also will not say whether the story was just a hoax.
(----------------)

7City-Schools

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-5
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

A string of snow days at Roanoke schools means a shorter spring break.
Last night the school board decided to cut it by three days to make up for 12 lost days.
Kimberly McBroom has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Figuring out the equation
SUPER=04-January 12; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :08
SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke City School Superintendent; :15
SUPER=01-Candace Beamer/William Fleming Senior; :36
SUPER=01-Fenn Crutchfield/William Fleming Senior; :49
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:22
RUNS=1:32
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7

(( Figuring out the equation of how to make up snow days proved to be as tough as any problem students would encounter in the classroom.
Roanoke city school board members buckled down-- debated and discussed every known option.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 6:46:08
((WAYNE HARRIS/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: HERE IS A SITUATION WHEN NO MATTER WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS, THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WILL BE DISPLEASED. BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS-- AND EVEN STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. ))
RUNS=:15

But for many students, tampering with Spring Break is the wrong answer.
Some say they'll take their vacation anyway.
SOT TAPE 1 7:47:54
((CANDACE BEAMER/WILLIAM FLEMING SENIOR: IT MIGHT MESS UP MY ATTENDANCE RECORD, BUT IT WON'T MESS UP MY PLANS. SINCE IT'S ROUTINE, WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE NATURAL PLAN.))
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 7:45:19
((FENN CRUTCHFIELD/WILLIAM FLEMING SENIOR: MOST STUDENTS AND TEACHERS NEED A BREAK DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO EXAMS AND GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE YEAR, AND PEOPLE GETTING WOUND UP-- AND I THINK THEY NEED THAT VACATION JUST TO RELAX. ))
RUNS=:16
pre-pro please
But board members ended up biting the bullet and approved April 10, 11, and 12th as make- up days.
At its last meeting, the board also authorized the inservice day on January 26th-- as well as March 15th and Memorial Day as make up time. end pre-pro
That accounts for six of the 12 days missed--
Three days are padded into the school calendar-- and the remaining three days will be pulled from excess banked time the school system had acquired. STANDUP HERE, PLEASE TAPE 2
The board also approved a contingency plan in the event of more inclimate weather.
If additional days are missed, the school day would be extended by up to 30- minutes, starting April first.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7.
))

7Literacy

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

And it looks like some high school seniors will have to spend a little more time hitting the books if they want to pick up their diplomas.
More than 500 Virginia high school seniors failed the Literacy Passport test.
The exam measures sixth-grade level skills.
This month is the students last chance to pass before graduation.
The class of '96 is the first group to face of the ultimatum of the Literacy Passport.

7Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to the forecast -
Dense for and light drizzle this morning, but becoming mild later on.
Temperatures will be high around 60s degrees.

55Shootout

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE# 96-10
GRAPHIC=shooting

A Roanoke County man is in the hospital this morning following a shoot out with police.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Night;

David Ira Bell held police at Bay for several hours last night when they responded to a domestic dispute call in Catawba.
The stand-off ended in gunfire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:10:00
IN Q=We determined
((SGT. DAVID WELLS/ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE DEPT.: WE DETERMINED THAT WE HAD A SITUATION THAT CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- AS A RESULT OF THAT, AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE RESIDENCE WAS SUSEQUENTLY SHOT. ))
SUPER=01-Sgt. David Wells/Roanoke Co. Police Dept.;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=SUBSEQUENTLY SHOT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bell was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he was in surgery late last night.
Sgt. Wells says no one else was injured.
Charges are pending against Bell.
(----------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=hold

Meanwhile, police are not saying why Bell had to be shot.
They say the matter is still under investigation.

55Short

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-4
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation

A bizarre twist in the in a Botetourt County murder investigation.
Less than a week after Botetourt authorities began investigating the the murder of a Roanoke woman, her ex-husband was found dead in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last Thursday, two men found the remains of 31- year- old Rebecca Jean Wright near the James River in Botetourt County.
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Her ex-husband, 37-year-old James Short, was found dead yesterday in his home by the former couples 14-year-old daughter.
The medical examiner has NOT determined the cause of death.
Wright and Short had two young daughters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:48:22
IN Q=Well, they seem to
((CYNTHIA SMITH/NEIGHBOR: WELL, THEY SEEM TO BE TAKING THEIR MOTHER'S DEATH REAL HARD. BUT I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO THEIR FATHER.))
SUPER=01-Cynthia Smith/Neighbor;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=happened to their father.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Police say they questioned Short about Wright's death but he was NOT their primary suspect.
(----------------)

55Valley-TechPark

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-9
GRAPHIC=Virginia Economy

Some big economic news for the Roanoke Valley.
News-7 has learned a NEW industry may be headed to the Valley, bringing with it several hundred new jobs.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./June 1, 1994;

Sources in the business community say Roanoke County is trying to complete a deal which would bring a high-tech printing company to Valley TechPark.
They say it would be an extremely large investment worth tens of millions of dollars.
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./August 29, 1995;

Rusco Windows of Roanoke announced plans to move there last summer.
Sources say this new tenant could take up the rest of the space.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

No one with Roanoke County could be reached for comment.
Governor Allen will attend an economic development announcement in the county this afternoon.

55D-Day-Memorial

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-15
GRAPHIC=none

The House Appropriations Committee has added 200-thousand dollars to next year's budget for the Bedford D-Day memorial.
Bedford Delegate Lacey Putney must now lobby the Senate to match that amount.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

He says the emotional nature of the project helps sell it.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:52:16
IN Q=In fact,
((DEL. LACEY PUTNEY/I-BEDFORD: IN FACT, ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, GEORGE HEILIG-- AND I DON'T THINK HE WILL OBJECT TO MY SAYING THIS-- BUT GEORGE'S WIFE'S FATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE KILLED IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THE INVASION. SHE NEVER SAW HER FATHER.)) ((DEL. CHIP WOODRUM/D-ROANOKE: IT DOES HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASPECT AND A TOURISM DOLLAR TO IT, AND I THINK IT WILL BRING THAT. BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MEMORIALIZE THEIR SACRIFICE FOR ITS OWN SAKE.))
SUPER=@Putney; :00
SUPER=@Woodrum; :18
RUNS=:31
OUT Q=own sake.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bedford had more D-Day casualties than any other American community.
The total cost of the memorial will be more than five million dollars.
Putney says state money will help loosen the purse strings in Congress, and he hopes the state will budget more next year.
(-------0---------)

55Weather

8Standoff

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#=96-10
GRAPHIC=shooting

A police stand-off last night in Roanoke County ended in gunfire.
After holding them at bay for three hours, lawmen shot the suspect, 36- year-old David Ira Bell.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Last Night;

Police were dispatched to 52-68 Keffer Road in Catawba at about 7- 30 on a domestic dispute call.
Authorities say the caller also reported that shots were fired.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:10:00
IN Q=We determined
((SGT. DAVID WELLS/ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE DEPT.: WE DETERMINED THAT WE HAD A SITUATION THAT CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- CALLED FOR THE SWAT TEAM-- AS A RESULT OF THAT, AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE RESIDENCE WAS SUSEQUENTLY SHOT. ))
SUPER=01-Sgt. David Wells/Roanoke Co. Police Dept.;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=SUBSEQUENTLY SHOT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bell was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where news of his condition is being withheld.
Sgt. Wells says no one else was injured.
Charges are pending against Bell.
(----------------)
TALENT=MELANIE
SS=hold

Meanwhile, police are keeping quiet about why Bell had to be shot-- they say the matter is still under investigation.

8Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=THa
TAPEedit of pitt-murder #96-8
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation

Authorities say they have a suspect in a double homicide in Pittsylvania County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Yesterday;

A man and woman were found dead early yesterday morning outside an abandoned store on route 8-41.
A third person was found injured.
Investigators believe 19- year old Sydney Hairston of Martinsville and 25- year old Darrell Womack of Axton were shot to death- but they are awaiting autopsy results.
The third victim, 27- year old Knova Day of Axton, is hospitilized in serious condition.
(-------------)

8Giles-Drowning

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-16
GRAPHIC=NONE

A 14- year- old girl who reportedly jumped to her death in the New River, is now reported to be safe and sound.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Giles Co./Monday;

For two days, divers searched for the girl after her friend said she jumped from Commissary Hill bridge in Giles County Sunday afternoon.
But police learned yesterday that the girl is okay.
They are not releasing her name or any details pending further investigation.
Police also won't say whether the story of her jumping the bridge was just a hoax.
(----------------)

8Arsenal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-14
GRAPHIC=Business News

A major New York fireworks company from Long Island, may expand its operations to Southwest Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./File Tape;

Vice President of Operations Phil Grucci (GU-ROOCHIE) confirms Grucci Fireworks is negotiating with Alliant Techsystems, the company which operates the Radford Arsenal.
He says federal ARMS incentives help make the arsenal especially attractive.
The ARMS initiative was enacted to encourage commercial industries to create jobs at arsenals hurt by defense downsizing.
Grucci has handled the fireworks displays for the last four U.S. presidential inaugurations.
(----------------)

8Schools

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#96-5
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Heavy snowfall this winter means a shorter spring break for students in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night;

Last night, the school board decided to cut the vacation by three days of spring break to make up for 12 snow days.
The decision was made after every option was discussed.
(/////SOT/////)
((WAYNE HARRIS/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: HERE IS A SITUATION WHEN NO MATTER WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS, THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WILL BE DISPLEASED. BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES AND PARENTS-- AND EVEN STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. ))
SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke City Schools Superintendent;
RUNS=:15
OUT=quality instructional time.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Some students say they'll take their vacation anyway.
But board members ended up approving April 10, 11, and 12th as make- up days.
The board had already authorized using January 26th, March 15th, and Memorial Day as make up time.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD Roanoke City Seal

If more days are missed due to inclement weather, the board decided to extend the school day by up to 30 minutes starting April first.

8Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to the forecast -
Dense fog and light drizzle this morning.
The highs will be in the 60s.
Tonight, expect lows inthe 40s with a chance of showers in the morning. weekend. Looking ahead, expect the 60 plus temperatures to hang around into the