WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/10/96

08:25-01

7Roanoke-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#96-30
GRAPHIC=fire

Fire destroyed the second story of a house on Hanover Avenue in Roanoke this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

It happened at about five o'clock.
Fire crews responded quickly and contained the blaze in a matter of minutes.
The resident of the home says she heard an explosion before the fire broke out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=there was a lady
SUPER=01-Dist. Chief Johnny Johnson/Roanoke Fire Dept.; :14
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=what happened up there
(----------------)
VO-NAT

No one was injured in the blaze.
(-------------)

7Del-Ricco

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPEedit of #96-25
GRAPHIC=legal scales

Assault and battery charges have been dismissed against Virginia Tech football star Jim Druckenmiller.
The charges stemmed from an incident outside a Blacksburg bar.
Former Tech player George Del Ricco was also cleared of charges.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;

No one saw if Druckenmiller threw a punch in a fight outside the bar so the judge yesterday threw out the case for lack of evidence.
And out of a parade of witnesses who saw co-defendant Chris Bishock and his brother beating Sean Elko, only one could testify to seeing Del Ricco throw a punch, and that was Elko.
The judge said he believed Del Ricco may have hit Elko, but because he wasn't convinced beyond a reasonable doubt he had to dismiss those charges.
Del Ricco says he was a victim of overzealous prosecution.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:31:42
IN Q=i had to
((GEORGE DEL RICCO/FORMER TECH LINEBACKER: I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THIS WITH TRYOUTS GOING ON AND STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF IT AFFECTED ME WITH THE PROS. SOME TEAMS MAYBE NOT LOOKED AT ME AS MUCH. ))
SUPER=01-George Del Ricco/Former Va. Tech Linebacker;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=me as much
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Judge Frith certified malicious wounding charges against Bishock to the grand jury.
(-------------)

7Phillips

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-28
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A reckless driving conviction will stand against an Iron Gate Police Officer.
Yesterday, a judge rejected Jim Phillip's appeal.
Joe Dashiell has more from Fincastle.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=On the morning of March 1st
SUPER=03-Iron Gate/File Tape; :00
SUPER=07-Dennis Dew; :14
SUPER=01-Jim Phillips/Iron Gate Police Officer; :33
SUPER=01-Judge George Honts/Botetourt Co. Circuit Court; :52
SUPER=@Joe2; 1:02
RUNS=1:11
OUT Q=JD News 7 Fincastle

((On the morning of March 1st, Jim Phillips was pursuing a motorist he believed was driving with a suspended license.
Along a narrow stretch of US 220 in Botetourt County, he crossed a double yellow line to pass a slow- moving truck.
SOT DENNIS DEW #1 17:41:29
IN Q=He jumped out
((HE JUMPED OUT IN FRONT SO QUICK I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND I WAS JUST PRAYING THAT HE WOULDN'T HIT. ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=wouldn't hit.

The cars didn't hit, but Dennis Dew believes they would have if he hadn't reacted quickly.
Phillips told judge George Honts the encounter wasn't that close and never threatened either driver.
SOT JIM PHILLIPS #2 18:23:31
IN Q=And I immediately
((JIM PHILLIPS/IRON GATE OFFICER: AND I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THAT HE HAD SEEN MY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE WHEN I EASED OUT, SAW THE TRAFFIC, AND SAW HIM PULL OVER AND SLOW, I KNEW I HAD ADEQUATE SPACE IN WHICH TO PASS.))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=in which to pass.

Prosecutor Joel Branscom argued there was no emergency that justified Phillips actions and judge Honts agreed.
SOT JUDGE HONTS #4 19:03:27
IN Q=It seems to me
((IT SEEMS TO ME THE STANDARD HERE IS THAT OF A REASONABLE PERSON AND THE DISCRETION CAN EITHER BE EXERCISED OR ABUSED AND I MUST CONCLUDE IN THIS CASE THAT IT WAS ABUSED.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=that it was abused.
STAND-UP CLOSE
Phillips remains on administrative leave, but he and his attorney say they are considering the possibility of another appeal.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Fincastle))

7Bad-Water

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

Questions are being raised about the safety of Virginia's drinking water.
Environmentalists say residents of more than 450 communities drank water in 19-94 and 19-95 that violated federal standards for contaminants such as fecal bacteria, lead and copper.
But state health officials contend that any problems are isolated, not statewide, and that no one has gotten sick from a public water system in more than ten years.

7Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Today will be cloudy through mid-morning, then partly sunny and very warm.
Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s.
Expect partly cloudy skies tonight with lows in the mid to upper 60s.

55Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#96-30
GRAPHIC=fire

No one was injured this morning when a house on Hanover Avenue went up in Flames.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

It happened at about five o'clock.
Fire crews responded quickly and contained the blaze in a matter of minutes.
The resident of the home says she heard an explosion before the fire broke out.
(-------------)

55Nelms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=Robert Nelms

Suffolk Republican Robert Nelms was in court yesterday to plead innocent to a charge of indecent exposure.
He was arrested in a city park in February.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday;

The lawmaker turned himself in yesterday and was fingerprinted.
A grand jury decided Monday to indict Nelms, even after a judge threw out the initial charge on the grounds of legislative immunity.
Yesterday Richmond police released vice crime statistics for city parks, after Nelms said he was the victim of a witch hunt.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:13:11
IN Q=We have vice
((FRED RUSSELL/RICHMOND DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF: WE HAVE VICE OFFICERS ON A REGULAR BASIS GOING THROUGH THESE PARTICULAR AREAS JUST TO KEEP A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON. SO YOU KNOW THEY HIT THEM FAIRLY REGULARLY. IT'S NOT A TWO MONTH SWEEP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY'RE IN THERE WEEKLY, SOMETIMES DAILY.))
SUPER=01-Fred Russell/Richmond Dep. Police Chief;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=sometimes daily.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Nelms' attorney says he is researching legal precedent for reviving a charge after it's thrown out on the grounds of immunity.
Nelms is scheduled for a jury trial next month.
(----------------)

55Danville-Intersection

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-29
GRAPHIC=NONE

What could be Danville's most dangerous intersection was closed yesterday.
But some residents are not in favor of cutting off the crossover at Elizabeth Street and Route 265.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville/Last Night;

Opponents who spoke at Danville City Council last night say closing the intersection will only create more problems.
They say it's not only inconvenient but could hamper response time for emergency crews.
SUPER=04-October 19, 1995;

V-DOT decided to close the intersection after two young children were killed when the car they were riding in collided with a dump truck.
Opponents want the state to re-open the intersection and build the overpass that was promised 17- years ago.
Many say now that the road is closed they or their loved ones will have to travel an additional five miles to get home.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=You all
((MARTHA PICKERAL/OPPONENT:YOU ALL TALK ABOUT THESE KIDS GETTING KILLED, I'M SORRY, BUT THESE PEOPLE NEED TO PUT THEIR GRIEF SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU ALL GOING TO FEEL THAT SORRY FOR ME IF MY HUSBAND GETS KILLED BECAUSE YOU ALL...ALL OF THIS SHUT DOWN THE INTERSECTION. REV. WAYNE WALLACE/OPPONENT: THE ONLY ANSWER TO THIS VERY VOLATILE SITUATION IS FOR VDOT OR WHOEVER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COME THROUGH WITH THE OVERPASS THAT WAS PROMISED THIS COMMUNITY. ))
SUPER=01-Martha Pickeral/Opponent; :00
SUPER=01-Rev. Wayne Wallace/Opponent; :21
RUNS=:33
OUT Q=this community.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

More than a thousand residents have signed petitions against closing the road.
Danville officials will forward a letter to V-DOT outlining residents concerns.
(----------------)

55Master-Gardener

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=PEV
TAPE#96-32
GRAPHIC=NONE

The Master Gardener Program has been pruned out of the state budget, so localities are being asked to bear the costs.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Local projects such as the Fishburn Rose Garden, along with other duties including seminars and consumer phone calls, are primarily handled by Master Gardeners.
Cooperative Extension agents rely on the volunteer Gardeners, as well as the work of a paid Coordinator.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
(( ))
SUPER=01-John Arbogast/Roanoke Extension Agent;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=the citizens.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SUPER=NONE

The cost of the local coordinator will be shared by Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke counties, and the city of Roanoke.
Total proposed allocations equal just over $41,000.

55Weather

8Roanoke-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#96-30
GRAPHIC=fire

Flames engulfed the second story of a house on Hanover Avenue in Roanoke this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

It happened at about five o'clock.
Fire crews responded quickly and contained the blaze in a matter of minutes.
The resident of the home says she heard an explosion before the fire broke out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=there was a lady
SUPER=01-Dist. Chief Johnny Johnson/Roanoke Fire Dept.; :14
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=what happened up there
(----------------)
VO-NAT

No one was injured in the blaze.
(-------------)

8Allen-Trip

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=non
GRAPHIC=Allen, George

Governor Allen leaves for a two week trip to the Far East today.
He'll be marketing Virginia products in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.
He'll also be plugging the state as a tourist destination.
This is Allen's third trade mission since taking office.

8Giles-Lightening

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE#96-47
GRAPHIC=none

The chance of being struck by lightning is about one in 600- thousand according to the National Weather Service.
Last weekend, a six year-old-girl was hit by lightning in Giles County.
It's been several days since the incident, and as Jay Moore reports it appears the six- year- old's life is already getting back to normal.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Latasha
SUPER=01-Latasha White/Lightning Victim; :08 QUICK!!!
SUPER=01-Charlene Vaughn/Latasha's Aunt; :19
SUPER=03-Rich Creek; :26
SUPER=@Jay2;
RUNS=1:02
OUT Q=when it's lightning.
(( Latasha and her aunt were standing in the doorway watching the storm when the lightning hit.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:50:17
IN Q=We saw a
((LATASHA WHITE/LIGHTNING VICTIM: WE SAW A BLUE LIGHT AND BOOM...BAM.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=boom...bam.

Charlene Vaughn says she'll never forgot that day or the look on her niece's face.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:03:02
IN Q=She starting
((VAUGHN: SHE STARTING SHAKEN REAL BAD, JERKIN. HER EYES WERE ROLLIN BACK IN HER HEAD. I REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS DYIN'.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=was dying.

Latasha was blinded for about 15 minutes...
Luckily she regained her sight.. but she still has problems with her left eye.
Her aunt also believes she felt a part of the strike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:02:47
IN Q=I felt like
((CHARLENE VAUGHN/WHITE'S AUNT: I FELT LIKE ELECTRICITY RAN DOWN MY WHOLE BODY AND SO I GRABBED LATASHA AND SHE WAS AS STILL AS SHE COULD BE.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=could be.

Fortunately, Latasha is once again active.
She returned to Peterstown Elementary with some advice for her classmates.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:01:24
IN Q=Every parent
((WHITE: EVERY PARENT AND KIDS RUN IN THE HOUSE AND DON'T GO OUT WHEN IT'S LIGHTNING.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=it's lightning.

In Giles County, Jay Moore, News 7.))

8Griffith-Center

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-46
GRAPHIC=None

The dream of a Christiansburg police officer shot and killed in the line of duty is being realized.
The incident happened less than two years ago, but construction on a new youth center is already underway.
It's being financed by a fund in the officer's name.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The concrete has already been poured, and the building parts have arrived.
The Terry Lynn Griffith Memorial Youth Center is being erected next to Moore's Chapel Baptist Church in the Bradshaw area.
Shortly before Griffith was fatally wounded while trying to apprehend a shoplifter, his wife says he spoke of one day leaving police work to oversee such a center.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:46:12
IN Q=That he felt
((DIANE GRIFFITH/SLAIN OFFICER'S WIFE: THAT HE FELT GOD WAS LEADING HIM OUT OF THAT LINE OF WORK AND WAS GONNA USE HIM IN THIS WAY. TODAY IT JUST REALLY DAWNED ON ME THAT GOD DID. HE TOOK HIM OUT OF POLICE WORK AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE YOUTH CENTER IS A REALITY. ))
SUPER=01-Diane Griffith/Slain Officer's Wife;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=is a reality.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

So far, the fund at First National Bank of Christiansburg has collected about 65 thousand dollars.
The center is estimated to cost about 120 thousand to complete.
(----------------)

8Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
It's going to be partly sunny this afternoon and humid.
Afternoon highs will reach the upper 80s.
Clouds will move in tonight - lows will be in the low 60s.
Tomorrow, expect showers and thunderstorms most of the day. Mother's Day will be partly sunny and cool with highs around 60. Highs will be around 80 degrees. Overnight lows will drop into the 40s.