WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/24/96

08:25-01

7Goshen-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-29 (edit of fatal-ax)
GRAPHIC=NONE

In Rockbridge County, police are trying to determine what caused a single vehicle accident that killed two and injured another.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Last Night;

The three were travelling east on Interstate 64 when their Toyota Pickup truck flipped several times.
It happened near the Goshen exit at about six.
All three were thrown from the truck.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:24:53
IN Q=The vehicle rolled
((WALT BAKER/STATE POLICE: THE VEHICLE ROLLED ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES. IT WENT THROUGH QUITE A SPILL THROUGH THERE.))
SUPER=01-Walt Baker/Va. State Police;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=spill through there.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

29-year-old Brenda Kay Gray of Lester, West Virginia, died at the scene.
31-year old Timothy Duncan of Waynesboro was also killed.
A third person was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial hospital, his condition is not known.
I-64 had to be closed for more than an hour while Lifeguard 10 landed.
(-------------)

7Route-24

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-34
GRAPHIC=Bedfrod County Seal

Bedford County residents are hoping to avoid fatal accidents by widening a section of Route 24 near Stewartsville to four lanes.
More than a hundred citizens turned out for a public meeting last night to discuss why the project has never been funded.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=For the people
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Home Video; :00
SUPER=01-Norman Culbreth/Bus Driver; :29
SUPER=@ssm1; :34
SUPER=01-Del. Dick Cranwell/(D) Roanoke; :49
SUPER=01-Dale Wheeler/Bedford Co. Supervisor; 1:05
RUNS=1:17
OUT Q=News7, Bedford Co.
(( For the people who travel Route 24 every day, near accidents like this are a familiar site.
Residents say high traffic volume and a narrow roadway are a dangerous combination.
Norman Culbreth drives a school bus on Route 24 every day.
From mirror to mirror his bus is 121 inches wide.. on parts of 24 however, his available lane space shrinks to 104 inches.. put a tractor trailer in the other lane and the numbers add up to disaster.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:27:18
IN Q=How many lives
((NORMAN CULBRETH/BUS DRIVER: HOW MANY LIVES IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY ALLOCATE THE MONEY?))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=allocate the money.
(/////SOT/////)
SU 21:00:45 (2)
IN Q=The people
((The people who spoke agree they basically were preaching to the choir. Everyone in attendance here knows full well the problems associated with Route 24... the next step is to take those concerns to the state transportation board which meets in Salem June 6th.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=June 6th.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:59:56 (#1)
IN Q=I think the
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/D- ROANOKE: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO IS TO CONTINUE TO PRESS OUR CASE WITH THE FOLKS WHO SIT ON THE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=transportation board.

So far, the board has yet to listen.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on engineering studies.. but nothing else.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:12:15
IN Q=And there's a
((DALE WHEELER/BEDFORD CO. SUPERVISOR: AND THERE'S A TIME TO STUDY AND TO DESIGN AND THERE COMES A TIME LIKE TONIGHT, AND THAT'S A TIME TO START MOVING DIRT.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=moving dirt.

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County.))

7Limbaugh-Book

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=Sta
TAPE#96-44
GRAPHIC=none

A Bedford County family is suing school officials at Montvale Elementary after a teacher took away their son's Rush Limbaugh book.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last Thursday a student at Montvale was reading Limbaugh's book, THE WAY THINGS OUGHT TO BE when his teacher confiscated it.
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

The boy's father wrote a letter explaining the boy had his permission to read the book.
He wanted the book returned to his son.
But, the school's principal refused.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:09:04 - 16:09:16
IN Q=Once he gave
((JOHN FISHWICK/LAWYER; ONCE HE GAVE HIS APPROVAL TO HAVE THIS BOOK READ IN THE FREE READING PERIOD THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT TO PICK THIS BOOK AND TO SAY NO...THAT BOOK CAN'T BE READ.))
SUPER=01-John Fishwick/Lawyer;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=can't be read.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The family is NOT seeking money in the suit.
The boy's father says he only wants school officials to return the book to his son and let the boy read it in class.
The principal says he's flabergasted by the lawsuit.
(----------------)

7Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
It's going to be partly sunny today with highs in the mid 80s.
There's a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms this afternoon.
For tonight, clouds move in and more rain is likely.
Lows will be in the upper 50s.
Looking ahead, possible showers tomorrow with highs near 70 degrees.
For the remainder of the holiday weekend, look for a chance of showers on Sunday and cloudy conditions on Memorial Day.
Expect cooler temperateres - highs in the 60s.

55Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-29 (edit of fatal-ax)
GRAPHIC=NONE

Rockbridge County authorities are investigating the cause of single vehicle accident yesterday that killed two people and injured a third.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Last Night;

The three were travelling east on Interstate 64 when their pickup truck flipped several times.
It happened near the Goshen exit at about six.
All three were thrown from the truck.
29-year-old Brenda Kay Gray of Lester, West Virginia, died at the scene.
31-year old Timothy Duncan of Waynesboro was also killed.
A third person was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial hospital, his condition is not being released.
I-64 had to be closed for more than an hour while Lifeguard 10 landed.
(----------------)

55Crump

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-40
GRAPHIC=Crump

An 18 year old convicted killer continues to declare his innocence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;

Yesterday in Roanoke Circuit Court, Michael Wayne Crump was sentenced to life in prison-- suspended after forty years.
He DENIES shooting Eric "Nike" Jones, and says he's hopeful the REAL killer will be caught.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:46:55
IN Q=I want
((MICHAEL CRUMP/SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON: I WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY TO MR. AND MRS. JONES' FAMILY FOR THEIR LOSS AND I HOPE THE REAL PERPETRATOR GETS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. ))
SUPER=07-Michael Crump;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=to justice
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Crump's court appearance was tame compared to his trial two months ago.
SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 12;

When he was found guilty of murder in March, family members erupted inside the courtroom.
Crump's attorney says he's received information that may lead to another suspect.
He plans to appeal.
(----------------)

55Knowles

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-33
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

In another courtroom case yesterday, this one in Christiansburg, a teenager gave a detailed account of the night her father gunned down her mother.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/March 20;

It happened March 20th in Christiansburg, at the home where Angie Knowles had moved with her children.
Her estranged husband, Michael Knowles allegedly broke into the house.
Eighteen year-old Vanessa Knowles says she tried to pull the shotgun away from her dad, then made a desperate attempt to stop the bullet.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:05:57
IN Q=
((VANESSA KNOWLES/VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: AND WHEN I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T MOVE THE GUN OR PUSH MY DAD I STUCK MY FINGER IN THE GUN, IN THE BARREL, AND RIGHT AFTER THAT HAPPENED HE PULLED THE TRIGGER. ))
SUPER=01-Vanessa Knowles/Victim's Daughter;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=pulled the rigger.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

The bullet blew off part of Vanessa's finger before piercing her mother's chest.
Michael Knowles allegedly fired his gun at police, before Vanessa talked him into putting down the weapon and he surrendered.
Yesterday the judge certified six charges against Michael Knowles including murder and malicious wounding.
(----------------)

55Warner-Radio

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#edit of 96-29
GRAPHIC=Warner, John

Senator John Warner has begun airing a radio commercial that says his opponent in the June 11th Republican primary intentionally avoided military service.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;

During the Vietnam War, Jim Miller was a married student at the University of Georgia and a graduate student at the University of Virginia.
He received student deferments. (----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Miller, Jim

Miller says he was directed by his draft board while at the University of Virginia to undergo testing for induction.
He says he did so but was not called up and did not volunteer.

55Explore-Park

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-36
GRAPHIC=Explore Park Logo

Virginia Explore Park officials are expanding the parks hours this summer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

Beginning June 7th, the living history park will open to the public Friday through Sunday from nine A- M to five P- M.
Officials say they've had to turn away tourists on the days the park is closed.
(----------------)

55Weather

8Rockbridge-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-29 (edit of fatal-ax)
GRAPHIC=NONE

Rockbrige County authorities don't know yet what caused a pickup truck to flip several times last night killing two people and injuring a third.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Last Night;

The three were travelling east on Interstate 64 .
It happened near the Goshen exit at about six.
All three were thrown from the truck.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:16:22
IN Q=I checked all
((TIM SNAPP/WITNESS: I CHECKED ALL THREE VICTIMS. ONE WAS UP AND CONSCIOUS. THE FIRST LADY STOPPED AND TRIED TO GET HIM DOWN. I CAME UP TO CHECK THE OTHER TWO AND STARTED CPR ON THE GIRL.))
SUPER=01-Tim Snapp/Witness;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=on the girl.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

29-year-old Brenda Kay Gray of Lester, West Virginia, died at the scene.
31-year old Timothy Duncan of Waynesboro was also killed. A third person was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial hospital, his condition is not being released.
I-64 had to be closed for more than an hour while Lifeguard 10 landed.
(----------------)

8Leftwich

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-25
GRAPHIC=Steven Leftwich

A Roanoke man plans to appeal his case of alleged police brutality... after being convicted on four counts of assault.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 12;

Earlier this year, 30- year- old Steven Leftwich stirred- up controversy in Roanoke by accusing police of using excessive force during his arrest.
He said officers savagely choked and beat him for no reason... when he and a friend were pulled over on a routine traffic stop.
But the officers testified Leftwich was high and drunk... and that he instigated the entire incident.
Leftwich was fined four- thousand dollars plus two years in prison.
He remains free on bond pending his appeal.
(----------------)

8Rocky-Mountain

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=sch
TAPE#596-10
GRAPHIC=Ticks

The first confirmed case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Virginia this year is in Pulaski.
We told you a little about the 10 year old girl earlier this week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:19:05:01
IN Q=history was about
((JODY HERSHEY/NEW RIVER HEALTH DISTRICT DIRECTOR: HISTORY WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR THEY HAD A TICK THAT WAS IMBEDDED ON THE PATIENT AND HAD BEEN PULLED OFF SO IT'S ALMOST CLASSIC FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER.))
SUPER=01-Jody Hershey/New River Health District Director;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=mountain spotted fever.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The patient had a fever and muscle aches for several days before seeing her doctor.
She then developed a rash on her wrist and palms.
After a few days in the hospital, she's doing well and recovering at home.

8Ticks

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cst
TAPE#596-11
GRAPHIC=HOLD Ticks

This year brings a bumper crop of ticks.
The parasites can carry dangerous diseases besides Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - they can also carry Lyme Disease and Earlichiosis, just to name a few.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

One way to prevent yourself from getting sick, is to keep your pets safe, as well.
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :

You should consider using a tick repellant on your animals, one that is safe to use everyday.
A tick collar can also help-- as can a spot check, to de-tick your animal every night.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:58:46
IN Q=Look up around
((DR. MARK FINKLER/VETERINARIAN: LOOK UP AROUND AROUND THE EARS, CHECK AROUND THE NECK RUN YOUR HAND OVER THEM, FEELING FOR ANY BUMP THAT MIGHT BE A TICK IF YOU SHOULD FIND ONE. I LIKE TO USE A PAIR OF TWEEZERS OR FORCEPS, AND ACE HERE DOES NOT HAVE ANY TICKS ON HIM FORTUNATELY BUT I WOULD PART THE FUR, GRASP THE TICK DOWN NEAR IT'S MOUTHPARTS WHERE IT'S ATTACHED TO THE SKIN, STAND THE TICK UP ON IT'S HEAD AND PULL STRAIGHT OUT. I WOULD NOT TWIST OR ROTATE, JUST PULL STRAIGHT OUT.))
SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Finkler/Veterinarian; :
RUNS=:34
OUT Q=pull straight out.**SECOND OUT***
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It's important to avoid getting any part of the tick on yourself, to prevent the spread of toxins.
Also, you don't have to be in the woods to meet up with ticks this year, they are everywhere.
(------------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Worldwide, there are more than 800 tick species-- 100 of which can carry diseases.

8Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
It's going to be partly sunny today with highs in the mid 80s.
There's a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms this afternoon.
For tonight, clouds move in and more rain is likely.
Lows will be in the upper 50s.
Looking ahead, possible showers tomorrow with highs near 70 degrees.
For the remainder of the holiday weekend, look for a chance of showers on Expect cooler temperateres - highs in the 60s. Sunday and cloudy conditions on Memorial Day.