WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/28/96

08:25-01

7Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jda
TAPE#edit of 96-11
GRAPHIC=fire

An early morning fire forced a couple from their home this morning in southeast Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Firefighters were called to the 400 block of Walnut Avenue at about 1:30.
Flames burned a large hole in the second floor.
Dottie Glass and Roy Dalton had just moved into the building on Friday.
Dalton says he woke up to find no electricity in the house, and the electrical box on fire.
To make matters worse, they say their living room was soaked by a leak in the ceiling before the apartment caught fire.
(-------------)

7Sharon-Bottoms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#96-4
GRAPHIC=Bottoms

A Virginia judge has denied a mother custody of her young son.
Sharon Bottoms and her companion April Wade
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henrico Co./Yesterday;
were back in court to prove how Sharon's life was in order -- and Sharon's mother Kay's was not.
They got some unexpected help from the attorney appointed by the court to represent four- year- old Tyler.
Torrence Harmon recommended Sharon regain custody.
She said she was profoundly concerned about Tyler's development in the care of his grandmother.
(////////////)
SOT 06:43:38
((RICHARD RYDER: WELL I DON'T CONSIDER HER AS BEING OBJECTIVE.)) ((STEVE PERSHING/VA. ACLU: IT'S MY JUDGMENT THAT THIS COURT, LIKE THE CIRCUIT COURT THREE YEARS AGO, AND THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT IN THE INTERIM WAS SIMPLY NOT PREPARED TO BRING VIRGINIA INTO THE 20TH CENTURY BEFORE IT ENDS.))
SUPER=01-Richard Ryder/Kay Bottoms' Attorney; (Quick)
SUPER=01-Steve Pershing/VA. ACLU; :04
RUNS=:15
OUT=before it ends.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The judge favored the grandmother, Kay Bottoms -- saying Sharon had "plateaued as an underachiever," ironically using the phrase psychologists used to describe Tyler under Kay's care.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none

The judge said little about homosexuality, but a lot about a contract for a T-V movie that appalled him.
Bottoms sobbed after she heard the verdict.
This case will be appealed.

7Henry-Street

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-17
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Roanoke Officials face a few human obstacles in their plans to revitalize Henry Street.
Kimberly McBroom has the story from last night's public hearing.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The community is sick
SUPER=07-Rev. Leonard Hines; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :14
SUPER=07-Robert Gravely; :35
SUPER=01-Bev Fitzpatrick/Henry Street Revitalization Comm.; 1:00
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:10
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7
(( ((REV. LEONARD HINES: THE COMMUNITY IS SICK AND TIRED OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING TO US. NOW, YOU MESSED UP GAINSBORO, AND WE DECLARE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MESS UP HENRY STREET WITHOUT A FIGHT. ))
That was the sentiment of most who attended the meeting-- that the 18- million- dollar proposal to renovate Henry Street is an indecent one.
While planners promise blacks will be encouraged to open businesses again on Henry Street-- many questioned how that would be made possible.
Perhaps the biggest opposition came from those who feel the project has been pushed over on them. ((ROBERT GRAVELY: YA'LL DIDN'T ASK US WHAT WE WANT OR WHAT WE NEED. YA'LL COME UP WITH A PLAN OUT OF NOWHERE FOR US. YA'LL GOING TO BRING OUR CULTURE BACK-- WHY CAN'T WE BRING IT BACK? ))
Such passionate debate was what city officials and organizers had asked for by hosting the public hearing.
And one official says he understands residents' concerns-- and wants them to continue speaking out. ((BEV FITZPATRICK/HENRY STREET REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE: I MEAN, THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS IT IS ANYBODY ELSE'S AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS FIND OUT IF THERE'S COMMON GROUND AND MAKE SURE IF THERE IS, THAT WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK ))
As one speaker put it, black people are more than soul food and jazz-- and many here say the proposed plan overlooks what their community really needs.
They say more public input is necessary if the Henry Street Revival is to be welcomed in their neighborhood.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7.))

7weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Today will get off to a rainy start, with a possible early morning thunderstorm.
Highs will be in the low 60s.
It should clear up later in the day, becoming windy and cooler, with temperatures dropping into the 50s.

55Hall

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-5
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

Testimony resumes today in Floyd County in the Trial of David Joel Hall.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Floyd Co./Yesterday;

The 34- year- old is charged with killing his girlfriend in the Willis section of the county.
SUPER=03-Floyd Co./June 14, 1995;

June 14th Sheriff's deputies found the body of 18 year old Ellen Marjorie Plocki (PLAH-kee) in a small room inside a garage.
The two had apparently been living there.
She died from a severe beating to the head.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:14:07 tape 1
IN Q=A blood clot
((WILLIAM MASSELLO/ASST. CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER: A BLOOD CLOT THAT LAYS OVER THE SURFACE OF THE BRAIN AND IS A RESULT OF A BLOW OR IMPACT OR SEVERAL IMPACTS TO THE HEAD OR FACE AREA. ))
SUPER=01-William Massello/Asst. Chief Medical Examiner;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=face area
(----------------)
VO-NAT

More than a dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution.
The defense is still waiting to call its first witness.
(----------------)

55Cobbs

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A Roanoke man will spend 8 years behind bars for abducting his ex-girlfriend last fall.
Darren Cobbs was under a court order not to see his former girlfriend when he went to her place of employment last August with the intent of killing himself.
He dragged his ex-girlfriend from the hair salon where she worked and then put a gun to his head.
He fired several shots but the woman knocked the gun away from his head.
The gun fired again, hitting Cobbs in the leg.
Cobbs forced the woman into a car and drove her to a mobile home in Franklin County.
He held her there for several hours until he was arrested.

55Safe-Home

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-7
GRAPHIC=Domestic Violence

A shelter in Covington is working to help women who have gotten themselves out of violent homes.
Ron Jones reports it's a place full of hope for these women and their children.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Melanie White says
SUPER=03-Covington; :00
SUPER=01-Melanie White/Safehome Exec. Director; :14
SUPER=03-Washington DC/Last Week; :59
SUPER=@Ron2; 1:20 (Quick)
RUNS=1:23
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.

((Melanie White says Safehome has helped more than 500 women and children and also handled more than three- thousand crisis calls over the past five years.
She runs the shelter for victims of Domestic Violence. ((MELANIE WHITE/SAFEHOME EXEC. DIRECTOR: ABUSE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. THIS HAS BEEN MUCH NEEDED, MANY, MANY, YEARS AGO SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. SO WOMEN CAN COME IN AND HAVE A NON-VIOLENT LIFESTYLE. AND HAVE THAT PROTECTION AND SECURITY AND SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.))
This woman, who did NOT want to be identified, says she was abused for three years... until one day she had enough. ((I WAS SCARED TO LEAVE BUT I LEFT, BUT THEN I'D BE BACK IN A MATTER OF WEEKS THINKING, OKAY THINGS CAN CHANGE, THINGS WILL BE BETTER. AND IT TOOK ME THE FOURTH TIME TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, TOOK ME THAT MANY TIMES TO REALIZE THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO CHANGE UNLESS I DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT MYSELF.))
And with Safehome she did.
She's working NOW and plans to buy a home.
The White House has also come on the scene by promoting a Domestic Violence number for those abused or in need.
The president says he wants more involvement in the future... but Melanie is hoping for something a little different. ((I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SAFEHOME OUT OF A JOB. I HATE TO SAY I'D LIKE TO BE OUT OF A JOB BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE OUT OF A JOB... BUT IF WE'RE OUT OF A JOB THAT MEANS NO ONE IS BEING ABUSED ANYMORE.))
A prayer many would agree upon.
Ron Jones, News seven.))

55weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Today is going to get off to a rainy start, with a possible thunderstorm early in the morning.
Highs will be in the low 60s.
It should clear up later in the day, becoming windy and cooler, with temperatures dropping into the 50s.
For tonight, expect partly cloudy skies, with windy and cold conditions.
Low will be around 30 degrees.

8Roanoke-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jda
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=fire

Fire and rain overnight has damaged one couple's southeast Roanoke apartment... just days after they moved in.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Firefighters were called to the 400 block of Walnut Avenue early this morning.
Flames burned a large hole through the second floor.
Dottie Glass and Roy Dalton had just moved into the building on Friday. They say their living room was soaked by a leak in the ceiling BEFORE the fire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We went to sleep
((ROY DALTON: WE WENT TO SLEEP. I WOKE UP ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK TO TAKE A SHOWER. I WENT IN THE BATHROOM TO TURN THE LIGHT ON AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. HAPPENED TO SMELL SMOKE AND COME OUTSIDE AND THE ELECTRICAL BOX ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.))
SUPER=07-Roy Dalton;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=was on fire.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

No one was injured in the blaze.

8Lesbian-Verdict

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#edit of 96-4
GRAPHIC=Bottoms

A Lesbian mother fights for custody of her four- year- old son, but loses again in Henrico County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henrico Co./Yesterday;

Sharon Bottoms was back in court yesterday trying to prove her life was more stable than that of her mother, Kay Bottoms.
Tyler is now living with Kay, his grandmother.
Judge William Boice last night affirmed his 19-93 ruling that the boy should be placed in Kay's custody.
Boice says Sharon's lesbian lifestyle makes her an unfit mother.
The Virginia Supreme Court last year upheld Boice's decision.
Sharon and her partner, April Wade, fled the courthouse in tears without speaking to reporters.
(----------------)

8Henry-Renovation

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#edit of 96-17
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Roanoke residents and city officials want to restore Henry Street to the way it was in its heyday.
But, they don't agree on how to do it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night;

At last night's public meeting, many residents said the 18-million dollar proposal to renovate Henry Street does not been the community's needs.
While planners promise blacks will be encouraged to open businesses again in the district, residents say more public input is necessary if the Henry Street Revival is to be a welcomed part of the neighborhood.
(-------------)

8VMI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-8
GRAPHIC=VMI Seal

Some officials at Virginia Military Institute are starting to talk about the possibility of going private.
A federal appeals court raised that issue three and a half years ago-- as one alternative to admiting women.
Keith Humphry has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Superintendent Josiah Bunting
SUPER=03-Lexington/September, 1995; :00
SUPER=@keith1; :13
RUNS=1:30
OUT Q=humphry, news 7
((
Superintendent Josiah Bunting says it could happen, if the Supreme Court rules against V-M-I.
Bunting boasted to newspaper writers in Richmond Friday that he could raise the money it would take to go private ...in ten phone calls.
At first General Bunting agreed to talk with us about it, then changed his mind- -apparently after getting some calls from alumni over the weekend.
In addition to doubling the endowment to about 350-million dollars, it would require a vote of the Board of Visitors and probably the General Assembly.
It's hard to imagine Virginia just handing over the keys to the Institute.
The Commonwealth owns all this: 134 acres of prime real estate in Lexington valued at $153 million.
Not even the nation's most heavily endowed public college- -which V-M-I is, per student- -could afford to buy AND operate it as a private school- -solely to maintain its policy of admitting only men.
The final ritual of the rat line.
Three weeks ago the class of '99 emerged from this muddy mass of male bonding.
The Superintendent declined to let us record the event at the time, but this privately- produced videotape follows the rats as they're first tormented by upperclassmen and then ultimately pulled from the mire.
Once they've broken out of the rat line, they're part of the brotherhood, recognized in a class of their own, treated with the respect afforded men in uniform. Keith Humphry, News 7.))