WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/25/96

08:25-01

7Serial-Killers

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-21
GRAPHIC=None

A serial killer may be on the loose in Richmond.
Yesterday city manager Robert Bobb likened a string of recent murders to the time when "Southside Strangler" Timothy Spencer was still at large.
The F-B-I and State Police have now joined in on the probes of ten unsolved murders-- two in the last three days.
The victims are all women over the age of 50.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday;

Richmond City Council authorized a ten-thousand dollar reward for information leading to a conviction or convictions in the murders.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 06:41:22
IN Q=I can tell
((I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE TRY TO BE CALM BUT THERE'S REALLY TURMOIL INSIDE AS WE TRY TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.))
sot 07:12:29
((IN SOME OF THESE CASES THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES, AND IN SOME OF THESE CASES THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES. OUR JOB IS TO SHUFFLE THROUGH ALL THAT.))
SUPER=01-Robert Bobb/Richmond City Manager; :00
SUPER=01-Fred Russell/Richmond Deputy Police Chief; :10
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=all that.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None

Richmond police are heading up what they're calling the Golden Years Task Force.
But they are not releasing many details of the crimes.
One of the victims killed Tuesday was the block captain of her neighborhood crime-watch program.

7Allman

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-26
GRAPHIC=Scott Allman

A 21-year old man could be locked up for 30 years for his role in a high speed chase that ended in a death for a Vinton family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/Yesterday;

Yesterday Scott Allman was advised by a judge of three counts of in-voluntary manslaughter filed against him.
His preliminary hearing is set for May.
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Sunday;

Allman is accused in the deaths of 36-year old Lori Mason, six week old Joleen Faucher, and 34-year old Thomas Faucher.
Faucher's co-workers, who called him Fred, says he was well liked.
(/////SOT/////)
IN Q=He was one of
SOT 14:48:11
((BRYAN YOUNG/FAUCHER'S SUPERVISOR: HE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. EVERYBODY SAYS THIS ABOUT PEOPLE BUT FOR ONCE IT'S THE TRUTH. FRED WAS JUST THE TYPICAL NICE GUY.))
SOT 14:49:28
((PAT WILLIAMS/CO-WORKER: FRED WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PEOPLE HERE AT WORK. HE WAS A VERY GENUINE PERSON. A VERY UNIQUE PERSON. HE LOVED EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY REALLY LOVED HIM.))
SUPER=01-Bryan Young/Supervisor; :00
SUPER=01-Pat Williams/Co-Worker; :08
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=really loved him.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The funeral for the crash victims is scheduled for later this week.
Allman told News 7 this is actually the second time he ran from police.
He says he was chased on foot and arrested by Roanoke County officers three weeks ago because he had numerous outstanding warrants.
Allman says he was trying to avoid going to jail.
(----------------)

7Drowning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-36
GRAPHIC=Drowning

The search is over for a missing Henry County man.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Monday;

Yesterday divers found the body of 43 year old Danny McMillan in the Martinsville Reservoir.
Authorities were called in when McMillan failed to show up for work on Monday.
Police dogs tracked McMillian's scent to the water.
Divers found his body shortly after seven last night.
Authorities say there were no signs of foul play.
(----------------)

7VHDA-Policy

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#95-114 (needs to be cut)
GRAPHIC=none

The Virginia Housing Development Authority is under scrutiny by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The A-C-L-U says the housing Authority has more gay- friendly rules for its own workers than it does for home loan applicants and it calls the discrepancy "a grand hypocrisy."
In January the Authority voted to reverse a broad loan policy and go back to lending money only to those related by blood or marriage.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/January 27;

That move, -- spurred by Governor Allen, -- prompted federal inquiries into whether it discriminated against homosexual and unmarried couples.
But A-C-L-U director Kent Willis points out the V-H-D-A's own personnel policy allows paid illness or death leave for "significant others or any individual residing in the same household."
(----------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=none

Willis says the A-C-L-U will challenge the loan policy.
The Authority has offered NO comment on its personnel policy.

7weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
It's going to be partly sunny today and warmer.
Highs will reach 80 degrees, becoming windy this afternoon.
For tonight, expect more clouds and breezy conditions with a 30 percent chance of showers.
Lows will be in the upper 50s.

55Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#96-40
GRAPHIC=Fire

Arson investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that damaged two homes yesterday in Elliston.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Elliston/Last Night;

Shortly after nine firefighters were called to a home on Brake Road.
They found one home fully engulfed and another beginning to burn.
No one was there at the time and no one was injured; however, one of the homes was destroyed.
The other had some water and smoke damage.
Fire officials don't know how the blaze started, but they've asked arson experts to investigate.
(----------------)

55George-Bush

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-23
GRAPHIC=VMI

A former president visits Lexington to address cadets at the Virginia Military Institue.
Jay Moore was there when President George Bush arrived.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Lexington/Yesterday; :00
SUPER=01-Sherri Sharpe/V-Wil Cadet; :19
SUPER=@JAY2; :24
RUNS=1:10
OUT Q=Jay Moore News 7

55Pitts-Supers

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-30
GRAPHIC=NONE

A huge property tax increase in Pittsylvania County drew a vocal crowd at a public hearing last night.
Teresa Hamilton has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The large
SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night; :00
SUPER=07-Joseph Spence; :39 QUICK!!
SUPER=07-Charles Adams; :43
SUPER=07-Willie Fitzgerald; 1:02
SUPER=07-Martha Chaney; 1:10
SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:20
RUNS=1:28
OUT Q=Hamilton, News 7.
(( The large crowd that gathered came as NO surprise to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
In preparing the 1996- 97 School and County Budget--- the board proposed
increasing the county real estate tax from 49- to 85 cents per 100- dollars of assessed value.
County Administrator George Supensky admits an increase is needed.
And, although his recommendation is NOT as drastic, it still represents a 40- percent tax hike.
Supensky has recommended a 20- cent increase to meet an 86- million dollar budget.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I think
((JOSEPH SPENCE:I THINK WE'RE BEING RIPPED OFF FOR OUR TAXES. CHARLES ADAMS:I REALLY THINK YOU'RE DANCING WITH OUR EMOTIONS WITH THIS TAX INCREASE JUST BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS.))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=

Although there was plenty of opposition.
There were those who feel an increase is needed to keep County schools competitive.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I'm
((WILLIE FITZGERALD: I'M LIKE ANY OTHER TAX PAYING CITIZEN, I DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE TAXES THAN I HAVE TO... MARTHA CHANEY:I SUPPORT EVERY PENNY THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I'M FOR IT 100- PERCENT. ))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=100- percent.
su
The board will likely take the public's comments under advisement quickly. They're scheduled to adopt School and County Budgets May first. Teresa Hamilton, News 7.))

55weather

8Drowning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-36
GRAPHIC=Drowning

Divers have recovered the body of a Collinsville man, missing since Saturday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Monday;

Police say 43 year old Danny McMillan apparently drowned in the Martinsville Reservoir.
Authorities were called in when McMillan failed to show up for work on Monday.
Police dogs tracked McMillian's scent to the water.
Divers found his body shortly after seven last night.
Authorities say there were no signs of foul play.
(----------------)

8Allman

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-26
GRAPHIC=Scott Allman

A 30 year prison term could be in the future of a 21-year-old man accused of killing a Vinton couple and their infant while fleeing from police.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/Yesterday;

21-year old Scott Allman was advised by a judge of three counts of in-voluntary manslaughter filed against him.
His preliminary hearing is set for May.
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Sunday;

Allman is accused in the deaths of 36-year old Lori Mason, six week old Joleen Faucher, and 34-year old Thomas Faucher.
Faucher's co-workers, who called him Fred, says he was well liked.
(/////SOT/////)
IN Q=He was one of
SOT 14:48:11
((BRYAN YOUNG/FAUCHER'S SUPERVISOR: HE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. EVERYBODY SAYS THIS ABOUT PEOPLE BUT FOR ONCE IT'S THE TRUTH. FRED WAS JUST THE TYPICAL NICE GUY.))
SOT 14:49:28
((PAT WILLIAMS/CO-WORKER: FRED WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PEOPLE HERE AT WORK. HE WAS A VERY GENUINE PERSON. A VERY UNIQUE PERSON. HE LOVED EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY REALLY LOVED HIM.))
SUPER=01-Bryan Young/Supervisor; :00
SUPER=01-Pat Williams/Co-Worker; :08
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=really loved him.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The funeral for the crash victims is scheduled for later this week.
Allman told News 7 this is actually the second time he ran from police.
He says he was chased on foot and arrested by Roanoke County officers three weeks ago because he had numerous outstanding warrants.
Allman says he was trying to avoid going to jail.
(----------------)

8Hot-Pursuit

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-29
GRAPHIC=Police Chase

In the wake of that fatal crash, many officers throughout the region are taking a hard look at when and how to go after someone in hot pursuit.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Most police officers
SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00
SUPER=01-Sgt. Jerry Bowyer/Blacksburg Police; :21
SUPER=01-Bill Brown/Blacksburg Police Chief; :44
SUPER=01-Ralph Dobbins/Pulaski Co. Sheriff; 1:02
SUPER=@Tracy2;1:15
RUNS=1:23
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.
(( Most police officers who have been involved in a high speed chase will say for them, it's a no- win situation.
If they don't pursue a fleeing motorist, they say they face public criticism for letting the person go.
If they do pursue, and there's an accident, they're criticized again.
For the officer, there's a lot to consider behind the wheel. ((SGT. JERRY BOWYER/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPT.: YOUR SAFETY, THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE SET FORTH BY YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THAT GOES FROM LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, HOW YOU WANT TO APPROACH THE VEHICLE, TIME OF DAY, TIME OF NIGHT. ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GO THROUGH YOUR MIND. ))
Blacksburg's policy is 16 pages long, and updated annually.
Chief Bill Brown says officers may pursue if the risks don't outweigh the offense. ((BILL BROWN/BLACKSBURG POLICE CHIEF: ONCE THOSE RISKS START RISING, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE OFFICER WITH TERMINATE THE PURSUIT. ))
It helps when the officer knows who the suspect motorist is and whether he or she is wanted on any charges.
Pulaski County sheriff Ralph Dobbins says the pursuit is more difficult when the driver hasn't been identified. ((RALPH DOBBINS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: IF THEY HAVE A CHECK OR A WARRANT FOR A MISDEMEANOR WE'RE NOT GONNA CHASE THAT PERSON DOWN. BUT WITH THESE OTHER SITUATIONS YOU DON'T KNOW WHY THAT MOTORIST RUNS. )) ((AND THE FIRST THING THAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND IS "WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?"))
In the end, most say the decision to pursue must be a judgement call, based on the officer's training and department policy. Tracy Altizer, News 7. ))

8weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
It's going to be partly sunny and warm today.
Highs will reach 80 degrees, becoming windy this afternoon.
For tonight, expect more clouds and breezy conditions with a 30 percent chance of showers.
Lows will be in the upper 50s.
Looking ahead, tomorrow is going to be cloudy with various showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. Highs will be in the lower 70s.