08:25-01

7Plane-Crash

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-14
GRAPHIC=NONE


Federal officials are trying to determine the exact cause of yesterday's plane crash on Interstate 81.
The manager of the Mountain Empire Airport died in the crash.
Tracy Altizer has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Just before one a-m
SUPER=90-Amateur Video; :00
SUPER=01-Sgt. D.A. Shaver/Va. State Police; :16
SUPER=03-Wythe Co./Yesterday; :24
SUPER=04-February 18, 1995; :36
SUPER=01-Brian Burkett/Asst. Airport Manager; :48
SUPER=03-Smyth Co.; 1:08
SUPER=@Tracy1; 1:13
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=news 7 Smyth co.

(( Just before one a-m, a fireball split through the fog along the border of Wythe and Smyth counties.
Minutes before, the pilot of a twin- engine Piper Aztec had radioed Atlanta flight officials he had missed his first attempt to land at Mountain Empire Airport and was going to try again.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:44:46

((1ST SGT. D.A. SHAVER/VA STATE POLICE: HE HAD MADE A FLYBY, SO HE HAD MADE A PASS AND WAS CIRCLING BACK AROUND, AND AT THAT TIME THEY LOST CONTACT WITH HIM. ))
RUNS=:09


State police say the plane burst into flames after it clipped some trees, lost a wing, and crashed.
Firefighters recovered the body of 31 year- old James Preston Harris from the debris, which littered northbound I-81.
An experienced pilot, Harris ran a charter operation and sometimes taught flying lessons.
He was returning home from Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise County, where he had dropped off three passengers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:31:34

((BRIAN BURKETT/ASST. AIRPORT MANAGER: HE'S AN EXCELLENT PILOT, REALLY GOOD. I'VE BEEN WITH HIM ON A LOT OF TRIPS, HE'S ACTUALLY TRAINED ME SOME TO FLY. HE'S AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT PILOT. ))
RUNS=:11


No one on the ground was injured, but northbound I-81 between Groseclose and Rural Retreat was closed for almost eight hours.
It reopened after the wreckage was taken in pieces to Mountain Empire Airport. suOfficials believe dense fog played a role in the crash, but the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate to determine if any mechanical problems were to blame. Tracy Altizer, News 7 Smyth County.))

7Burton


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=Thomas Burton


A life sentence for a Roanoke man for what the prosecutor called the worst type of crime one can imagine.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;


Thomas Arthur Burton denied his involvement in last June's robbery and murder on Memorial Avenue.
SUPER=@file;


Burton had shot and killed Randall Carter for a bag of marijuana plus 190-dollars.
Burton claimed the other two men involved had dropped him off before THEY committed the crime.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I know I'm

((I KNOW I'M NO ANGEL, SIR. I HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS A KID, AND SOME AS AN ADULT, TOO. BUT I'M NO MURDERER. I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY. AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT FAMILY OVER THERE. I'M SORRY THAT YOU LOST YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR SON, BUT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I FEEL MORE SORRY FOR MY FAMILY.))
SUPER=01-Thomas Arthur Burton/Convicted Murderer;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=for my family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Judge Cliff Weckstein gave Burton a life sentence for the murder, plus 20 years for robbery.
(----------------)


7McIntosh


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-17
GRAPHIC=McIntosh


Also in court yesterday, a Roanoke City School principal accused of striking one of his students.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;


35 year old Michael McIntosh is principal at the Noel C. Taylor Learning Academy-- a school for troubled youth.
He's accused of striking a child last October on campus.
McIntosh says he's confident the outcome will be in his favor.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:13:07
IN Q=We're looking forward

((JOHN P. FISHWICK/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR DAY IN COURT. WE ASKED THE JUDGE TODAY FOR A QUICK TRIAL DATE OF APRIL 12TH. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TRUTH COMING OUT IN THIS CASE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WITNESSES WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING OUR HEARING.))
SUPER=01-John P. Fishwick/Defense Attorney;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=having our hearing.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


McIntosh has been suspended from his job pending the outcome.
(----------------)



7Lippard


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of 96-2/Lippard
GRAPHIC=lippard, tracy


An out of court settlement has been reached in the civil case involving a former Miss Williamsburg.
A lawyer for Tracy Lippard says his client and a West Virginia family she attacked have reached a tentative agreement on lawsuits stemming from the case.

Tracy Lippard attacked Rodney Weikle in February 19-94 because his daughter was dating Lippard's former boyfriend.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Lippard was convicted of attempted murder.
She sued her former boyfriend, Todd Scott, and Weikle sued her.
Lippard's attorney says both sides have agreed to drop the lawsuits.
He would not disclose the terms of the agreement.
(----------------)



7Weather


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


Looking at the forecast-
Heavy rain this morning.
A thunderstorm is likely before showers tapper off this afternoon.
Highs will be in the upper 40s.

55Drug-Abuse


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-18
GRAPHIC=None


Speed and Ritalin are fast becoming the drug of choice for teens throughout the nation.
Kimberly McBroom has an update on how the dangerous trend is affecting our region.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's a drug prescribed
SUPER=03-Salem; :00
SUPER=@File; :10
SUPER=01-Steve Eckstein/Richfield Pharmacy; :23
SUPER=01-Tom Kincaid/Roanoke Co. Police; 1:03
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:16
RUNS=1:33
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7


((It's a drug prescribed to treat hyperactive children, but Ritalin is often abused by teens for its effects as a stimulant.
And when abused, it can be deadly.
Last year a Roanoke high school senior died after snorting the drug at a party.
Local health officials say incidents of Ritalin abuse continue to increase-- mainly from teens who buy or steal the drug from younger children taking the medication.
That's why parents have to take control.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:15:03
IN Q=As a parent

((STEVE ECKSTEIN/RICHFIELD PHARMACY: AS A PARENT, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO KEEP THIS STUFF IN YOUR POSSESSION AND GIVE IT TO THEM AS THEY NEED IT. ))
RUNS=:06


Meanwhile, methamphetamine or speed is also hitting the fast track as the preferred drug in much of the U-S.
It's an often hazardous mix of drugs like ephedrine or dexedrine and various chemicals.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:17:30

((THESE THINGS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE HOME-MADE OR SHIPPED IN FROM UNDERGROUND LABS. ANYTHING THAT IS NOT MADE IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT CAN JUST DOWNRIGHT BE DANGEROUS. ))
RUNS=:14


Although methamphetamine hasn't taken the Roanoke Valley by storm-- it has made its presence known.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:34:19

((TOM KINCAID/ROANOKE CO. POLICE: SOMETIMES IT TAKES LONGER FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DRUGS TO SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS. YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT-- SO IT WASN'T NECESSARILY AS ACCURATE AS WE'D LIKE IT TO BE. ))
RUNS=:14

standup here
While trendy drugs like Ritalin and Methamphetamine aren't as common here locally, Kincaid says there's still a high usage of marijuana and L-S-D.
But as drug abuse is still a problem-- Kincaid says outreach programs like D.A.R.E. are spreading the message to end it.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7.))

55Tobacco


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-13 (formerly philip-morris from eleven)
GRAPHIC=Tobacco


More trouble for the tobacco industry.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;


Government documents have now surfaced.
In them, former Philip Morris employees say the company intentionally manipulated the level of nicotine in cigarettes, knowing the substance acts like a drug.
That contradicts testimony by tobacco executives, and appears to support the F-D-A's position that it should regulate tobacco as a drug.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


Last week for the first time ever, one of the nation's largest cigarette companies agreed to settle a lawsuit over smoking, possibly opening the floodgates to more anti-smoking litigation.

55City-Council


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96=12
GRAPHIC=Roanoke seal


Race cars will be hitting the track once again at Victory Staduim.
Roanoke City Council has okayed an agreement with promoter Danny Taylor that will bring a new and smaller class of cars to the stadium.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


Taylor is planning races on 13 dates during the spring and summer.
Drivers will race mini-cup, mini-stock, mini-modified and legends.. all smaller than the cars that have raced in Victory Stadium in the past.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=This will provide a greater

((DANNY TAYLOR/RACING PROMOTER: THIS WILL PROVIDE A GREATER COMPETITION AND MORE OF A COMPETITION WITH THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES. THE NEW CLASSES AND FOLKS WILL RELATE VERY WELL TO THEM BECAUSE THEY LOOK JUST LIKE A WINSTON CUP CAR.))
SUPER=01-Danny Taylor/Racing Promoter; :05
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=winston cup car.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Council also endorsed the plan to build an interchange on Interstate 581, south of Hershberger Road.
And it decided on a name for the Pedestrian Bridge that links the Hotel Roanoke with downtown.
The new name?
Market Square Walkway.

55Weather


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


Taking a look now at the forecast-
Expect the rain to continue through the morning hours.
A thunderstorm is likely.
Highs will be in the upper 40s, with showers tappering off by this afternoon.
Tonight will be cloudy and breezy, with lows in the upper 30s.
Looking ahead, tomorrow will be mostly cloudy and windy.
Expect cold temperatures and a 50 percent chance of snow showers.
Highs will be in the upper 30s.


8Burton


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=Thomas Burton


A Roanoke man will spend his life in prison killing another man for drugs.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;


Thomas Arthur Burton denied his involvement in last June's robbery and murder on Memorial Avenue.
SUPER=@file;


Burton had shot and killed Randall Carter for a bag of marijuana plus 190-dollars.
Burton claimed the other two men involved had dropped him off before they committed the crime.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I know I'm

((I KNOW I'M NO ANGEL, SIR. I HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS A KID, AND SOME AS AN ADULT, TOO. BUT I'M NO MURDERER. I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY. AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT FAMILY OVER THERE. I'M SORRY THAT YOU LOST YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR SON, BUT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I FEEL MORE SORRY FOR MY FAMILY.))
SUPER=01-Thomas Arthur Burton/Killer
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=for my family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Judge Cliff Weckstein gave Burton a life sentence for the murder, plus 20 years for robbery.
(----------------)



8Lippard


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of 96-2/Lippard
GRAPHIC=lippard, tracy


A former Virginia beauty queen and the West Virginia family she attacked have reached a tentative agreement on lawsuits stemming from the case.
Tracy Lippard attacked Rodney Weikle in February 19-94 because his daughter was dating Lippard's former boyfriend.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Lippard was convicted of attempted murder.
She sued her former boyfriend, Todd Scott, and Weikle sued her.
Lippard's attorney says both sides have agreed to drop the lawsuits.
He would not divulge the terms of the agreement.
(----------------)



8Natural-Law


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#edit of 96-9
GRAPHIC=Campaign '96


A political party that touts meditation as the cure to what's ailing America is trying to get on the presidential ballot in Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;


The Natural Law Party is trying to gather 16-thousand signatures it needs to get on the ballot.
John Hagelin is the party's presidential candidate and Mike Tompkins is the vice presidential candidate.
(----------------)



8Weather


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


Taking a look now at the forecast-
The rain will continue this morning. A thunderstorm is likely before the rain begins to tapper off this afternoon.
Highs will be in the upper 40s.
For tonight will be cloudy and breezy, with lows in the upper 30s.
Looking ahead, tomorrow will be mostly cloudy and windy.
Expect cold temperatures and a 50 percent chance of snow showers.
Highs will be in the upper 30s.
by SS