WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/06/96

08:25-01

7Giles-Lightning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=afr
TAPE# None
GRAPHIC=None

As storms swept through the region last night a six- year- old girl was struck by lightning while visiting her aunt in Giles County.
Latasha White and her Aunt, Charlene Vaughn, were standing in the front doorway watching a storm when the lightning hit.
Vaughn said the child was blinded for 15 minutes, and was having convulsions when rescue workers arrived.
Latasha was treated and released from the hospital last night.

7Mont-Rescue

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=None

Meantime, in Montgomery County another child was sent to the hospital yesterday after being submerged in a pond for 45 minutes.
According to police the four-year-old girl's older brother watched as his sister fell into the water at the Old Farm Village.
After divers found her body, rescue squad members began performing C-P-R until she began to respond.
She was later taken to Community Hospital in Roanoke-- but her condition is not known and her name has not been released.

7Highway-Safety

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=DAL
TAPE# 96-27
GRAPHIC=None

Police say a weekend fatal accident on Interstate 81 may have been the result of slow traffic in a work zone.
Police say Merritt Kirkpatrick of Illinois apparently didn't realize traffic had slowed.
What followed next was a chain reaction collision.
The accident happened in a POSTED work zone.
But as Denise Allen reports there are steps drivers can take to make driving safe.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Saturday afternoon
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Saturday; :00
SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson; :28
SUPER=01-Sgt. Joe Rader/State Police; 1:00
SUPER=@Denise2; 1:29
RUNS=1:43
OUT Q=News 7

(( Saturday afternoon travel near the 158 mile marker slowed.
Several miles down the highway the road narrowed to one lane as construction workers repaved the highway.
Witnesses told police Merritt Kirkpatrick did not try to brake before slamming his truck into the tractor trailer in front of him.
The accident killed Kirkpatrick and injured three others.
Officials say signs are posted four miles in advance of the work to prepare drivers for slower traffic. ((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT SPOKESPERSON: THE LAYOUT OF A WORK ZONE IS FEDERALLY PRESCRIBED. SO WE FOLLOW SPECIFIC LAYOUTS FOR WORK ZONES DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND THE HIGHWAY IT'S TAKING PLACE ON.))
V-Dot and construction crews also use low frequency radio advisories to update motorists on road conditions and reduced speeds.
Bullock says obeying the signage is the first key to safety.
She also suggests not changing lanes and maintaining the posted speed.
Statistically work-zones are more dangerous for motorists than for the workers. ((SGT. JOE RADER/STATE POLICE: THEY NEED TO REDUCE THEIR SPEED AND NOT BE TALKING LIKE TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THEIR CAR OR READING A MAP. IF YOU JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD YOU'LL BE FINE.)) ((BULLOCK: THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IF A PERSON IS CAUGHT SPEEDING AND CONVICTED OF SPEEDING IN A WORK ZONE, WHERE THE SIGN IS POSTED THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO 250 DOLLAR FINE)) ((RADER: WE SUPPLEMENT OUR REGULAR PATROL WITH ADDITIONAL TROOPERS IN THE ACTUAL WORK ZONE AND THEIR SOLE PURPOSE IT TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE WORKERS AND TO REDUCE THE SPEED IN THAT AREA.))
Laura Bullock says the construction will be around for a while.
In addition to the repaving being done in Botetourt County, V-DOT is replacing bridges on 81 near Salem.
She says this work will take nearly two years to complete.
Denise Allen News 7.))

7Tour

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of s6-9 and map
GRAPHIC=Tour DuPont

1995 Tour DuPont chmampion Lance Armostrong won the fifth stage of this year's race yesterday afternoon.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The stage began in Mount Airy, North Carolina and ended in Downtown Roanoke.
Armstrong covered the 112-and-a-half miles in four hours, 41 minutes and 19 seconds despite riding the final nine miles in heavy rain and hail.
The leader will take a 61-second advantage into today's 134-and-a-half mile road race from Salem to Blacksburg.
Stage six starts at 11 a.m. at the Salem Civic Center and is expected to end at about four at Virginia Tech.
(-------------)

7Weather

55Radford-Dedication

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=sch
TAPE# 96-25
GRAPHIC=Radford Univeristy

A new adminisrative building is open for business at Radford University.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Radford;

The building is called Martin Hall, named after the former Radford president.
University President Douglas Covington presented a plaque in honor of Martin.
The late Dr. Charles Martin served the university for 20 years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:24:29
IN Q=he was dedicated
((DR. EDWIN MARTIN/BROTHER OF DR. CHARLES MARTIN: HE WAS DEDICATED TO THIS UNIVERSITY HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THIS UNIVERSITY AND SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD PLEASE HIM TO NO END. AND SO WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE IT.))
SUPER=01-Dr. Edwin Martin/Charles Martin's Brother;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=sincerely appreciate it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The building houses the registrars, financial aid, and the offices of the president and vice president.
(----------------)

55Rising-Expectations

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

The Rising Expectations Coalition hopes its efforts will dispell many of the stereotypes surrounding the disabled.
The group will gather at Valley View Mall this Thursday, to demonstrate services available to the handicap.
Vendors supplying appliances for the disabled will display their wares throughout the day.
Seminars teaching business owners how to better serve handicap customers will also be offered.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:56:33
IN Q=I DON'T THINK
((DEBBIE HELMS/RISING EXPECTATIONS: I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT DISABLED PEOPLE CAN WORK AND CAN LIVE NORMAL LIVES AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW TO WORK WITH DISABLED PEOPLE. WE'D LIKE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE. TO IMPROVE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT DISABILITIES.))
SUPER=01-Debbie Helms/Rising Expectations;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=ATTITUDES ABOUT DISABILITIES
ANCHOR=RON
SS=None

The Rising Expectations Awareness Day takes place at Valley View Mall on Thursday, May 9th.

55Perfect-Candidate

ANCHOR=Ron
NEWSCAST=11pm
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-26
GRAPHIC=NONE

Two years ago it gained national attention, now the Virginia Senate race between Chuck Robb and Oliver North is again in the news.
A movie has been made about the campaign.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:47:38
IN Q= I TELL YOU
((OLIVER NORTH/FORMER SENATE CANDIDATE: TELL YOU RIGHT NOW COUNSEL, AND ALL THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE GATHERED. THAT I MISLED CONGRESS ))
SUPER=10-Oliver North/Former Senate Candidate/File Tape;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=misled congress
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-"A Perfect Candidate"

It's called "A Perfect Candidate," it charts the campaign between Chuck Robb and Oliver North from inside the North Campaign.
Senator Chuck Robb, the victorious candidate, has seen the movie, and is not a big fan.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT16:48:50
IN Q=The candidate thought
((CHUCK ROBB/SENATOR: THE CANDIDATE THEY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO WIN DIDN'T, AND THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST TO RECOUP THEIR LOSSES. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.))
SUPER=@Robb;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=understand that
(----------------)
VO-NAT

"Perfect Candidate" will be released in major markets sometime next month.
No word yet on when it may make its way to Virginia.
(----------------)

55Common-Sense

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#common sense
GRAPHIC=common sense

In this week's addition of Common Sense Len Bestoff looks at an interesting way to play the market.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=with mutual funds
SUPER=@Len1; :00
SUPER=01-Tom Dunkenberger/Wheat First Butcher Singer; :14
RUNS=:58
OUT Q=back to the newsdesk

55Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Morning clouds are going to start off the day.
We'll see partly sunny skies the rest of the day, with highs in the upper 70s.
For tonight, expect the clouds to remain, with a thirty percent chance of light rain and drizzle.
Lows will be in the mid 50s.
Tomorrow will be cloudy with more chance for rain, and possible thunderstorms.
Highs will be in the low to mid 60s.

8Giles-Lightning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=afr
TAPE# None
GRAPHIC=None

A six- year- old girl survived being hit by lightning while visiting a relative in Giles County yesterday.
Latasha White was hit while she and her Aunt, Charlene Vaughn, were standing in the front doorway watching the storm.
Vaughn said the child was blinded for 15 minutes, and was having convulsions when rescue workers arrived.
Latasha was treated and released from the hospital last night.

8Mont-Rescue

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=rjo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=None

Police say a four year old girl is at Community Hospital this morning after being submerged in a pond for 45 minutes.
It happened yesterday afternoon in Montgomery County.
According to police, the girl's older brother watched as his sister fell into the water at the Old Farm Village.
After divers found her body, rescue squad members began performing C-P-R until she responded.
The girl's name and condition has not been released.

8Quarry

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-29
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal

Virginia Army Reserve Soldiers are far from home and hard at work.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Panama/Army Video;

The 7th of the 60th Engineer Battalion from Marion is in Panama rebuilding the region's infrastructure. The soldiers are taking stone from a river to build roads.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Quarrying stone out
((1ST LT. MARK MCLAIN/U.S. ARMY RESERVE: QUARRYING STONE OUT OF A RIVER IS NOT SOMETHING WE NORMALLY DO OR BE ABLE TO EVEN DO IN THE STATES, BUT BEING ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF A RIVER HERE WE LEARN HOW TO PULL THE STONE OUT OF THE RIVER WITHOUT GETTING STUCK. ))
SUPER=01-1st Lt. Mark McLain/U.S. Army Reserve;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=without getting stuck.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The end result will be a new avenue of easier transportation for local Panamanian residents.
(----------------)

8Master-gardner

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=NONE

A program that has taught thousands of Virginians how to raise healthy plants and lawns while protecting the environment is getting trimmed from the state budget July 1st.
Localities losing funding for their Master Gardener programs will either have to start paying their coordinators, recruit volunteers or drop the program altogether.

8Race-Traffic

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# edit of 96-28
GRAPHIC=Tour DuPont

Traffic was stopped in Boones Mill yesterday as cyclists came through with the Tour Dupont.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Boones Mill/Yesterday;

Route 2-20 in Franklin County was blocked so the cyclists could continue their journey to the finish line in Roanoke.
When all was said and done the road was only closed for 20 minutes but the motorists didn't seem to mind.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:27:06
IN Q=not much at all
((MARY WEBB: I GUESS FOR THE CITY AND THE TOWN IT'S NOT TOO BAD. WE'LL TOLERATE IT.))
SUPER=07-Mary Webb; :00
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=WE'LL TOLERATE IT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The race was a boon for the town bringing in many visitors.
Most were just happy to take part in the third largest bike race in the world.
(----------------)
wipe wipe wipe

8Tour

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of s6-9 and map
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Defending champion Lance Armstrong won yesterday's fifth stage from Mount Airy, North Carolina to Roanoke.
Armstrong covered the 112-and-a-half miles in four hours, 41 minutes and 19 seconds despite riding the final nine miles in heavy rain and hail.
The leader will take a 61-second advantage into today's 134-and-a-half mile road race from Salem to Blacksburg.
Stage six starts at 11 a.m. at the Salem Civic Center and is expected to end at about four at Virginia Tech.
(-------------)
Take ESS Board
Edit of Three Larry (Board for Stage 6 Viewing Spots-ESS#8112)

The best viewing spots today's stage of the race are: The Salem Civic Center, Route 3-11 in New Castle, Potts Moutain, John's Creek Mountain, Mountain Lake, and the Virginia Tech Campus.
(----------------)

8horse-race

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal

Lots of cash poured into the state's first off track betting parlor.
Colonial Downs in Chesapeake says more than a thousand people came out to watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby Saturday.
General manager Gil Short says Colonial Downs' total wagering for the event was more than 300-thousand dollars, topping the previous high of 219-thousand dollars.