WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/30/96

08:25-01

7Allman

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=Scott Allman

A guilty plea is expected from the man accused of leading Roanoke County Police on a high speed chase that ended in a fatal crash.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

Scott Allman Junior waived his preliminary hearing yesterday and plans to plead guilty to three counts of manslaughter in circuit court next month.
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./April 21;

The twelve mile chase took place last month while Allman was running from police.
His car then slammed into this Vinton couple's car-- killing them and their baby.
Allman's attorney is asking the court to show mercy on his client.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 09:54:49
IN Q=I'm hopeful that I'll...
((TOM BLAYLOCK/ALLMAN'S ATTORNEY: I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN WHAT HIS AGE. AND THE FACT THAT HE DID NOT INTEND THE TRAGIC RESULTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. HE DIDN'T INTEND FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE KILLED.))
SUPER=01-Tom Blaylock/Allman's Attorney;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=these people to be killed.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The commonwealth's attorney says it's too late for remorse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:01:21
IN Q=He may be expressing
((SKIP BURKART/ROANOKE CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: HE MAY BE EXPRESSING REMORSE TO HIS ATTORNEY NOW AND I'M SURE WHEN HE COMES TO COURT HE'LL TELL THE COURT HOW SORRY HE IS. BUT THAT PARTICULAR EVENING AND DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WHOLE CHASE HE DIDN'T SEEM VERY CONCERNED AT ALL.))
SUPER=01-Skip Burkart/Roanoke Co. Commonwealth's Attorney;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=seem very remorseful at all.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Allman was also convicted of numerous traffic violations.
For those charges he'll receive more than 12 months in jail and a fine of more than one thousand dollars.
(----------------)

7Senate-Race

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-29
GRAPHIC=warner, john

Some Virginia REPUBLICANS aren't keeping quiet their dislike for John Warner.
SS=miller

But it's still unclear how they feel about challenger Jim Miller.
Ellen Qualls brings us a day in the life of the man going up against his own party's incumbent U-S Senator.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Jim Miller
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=@Miller; :21
SUPER=@file; :41
SUPER=@Ellen2; :49
SUPER=01-Sue Wrenn/Va. Democratic Party; 1:07 QUICK!
SUPER=03-Richmond/Friday; 1:19
RUNS=1:33
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( Jim Miller presided over a splashy fundraiser.
His campaign says it proves Senator John Warner doesn't have the lock on Main Street, affluent Republicans.
The highlight was this endorsement -- from former Governor Mills Godwin -- delivered by the daughter of late party leader Dick Obenshain.
Not bad for a challenger to his own party's sitting incumbent.
SOT 13:45:09
((JIM MILLER/R-SENATE CANDIDATE: I THINK THAT GOVERNOR GODWIN IS AS REVERED AS ANYONE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IN TERMS OF HIS POLITICAL JUDGMENT. AND HIS ENDORSEMENT OF ME I THINK SENDS A VERY IMPORTANT SIGNAL TO PEOPLE THAT HE JUDGES JIM MILLER TO BE THE PERSON TO CARRY US INTO THE NEXT CENTURY IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.))
RUNS=:19

But that signal was quickly muddled.
Godwin told reporters by telephone that he'd authorized "no" such endorsement -- only quiet support and regret he couldn't attend.
But one might have sensed trouble when Miller's hand-selected emcee told the crowd that dislike of Warner should be "reason enough" to vote for Miller, and that Miller was, in his words, "no ding dong."
sot 11:40:47

Meanwhile, a Democratic party news conference actually bolstered Miller's claim he's more conservative than John Warner.
sot 11:39;52
((SUE WRENN/VA. DEMOCRATIC PARTY: NOW JIM MILLER HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM.))
runs=:02

While Democrats are labelling John Warner's recent votes a race to the right -- Jim Miller's blasting Warner in radio spots as a liberal.
And that brought Miller a little more grief.
A reprimand from the party's titular head -- George Allen -- for rough campaign tactics.
sot 13;44;26
((MY COMMERCIAL IS REALLY A COMPARATIVE PIECE.))
runs=:03

The GOP primary is just under two weeks away.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

7Limbaugh-Book

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Sta
TAPE#96-33
GRAPHIC=none

A Bedford County fourth grader could soon be getting quite a present from Rush Limbaugh.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Last Week;

The talk show host reportedly offered to send the boy free copies of all of his books for the rest of the school year.
Limbaugh made the offer during his morning talk show.
The offer comes after a teacher confiscated the Limbaugh book the boy was reading.
Limbaugh apparently wants to supply the boy with enough books to take one to school everyday.
(----------------)

7Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
The day will start off cloudy, but the sun will appear later in the morning.
Temperatures will be a little warmer, with highs in the low 70's.
Tonight, expect fair and cool conditions with lows in the mid to upper 40s.
Looking ahead, more sun and warm temperatures take us into the weekend.
Highs on Friday should be in the mid to upper 70s.

55Franklin-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

A Moneta man is dead following a head-on collision with a state trooper's car early this morning.
Police say 41-year-old Victor Howard Wilcox was driving west on Route 616 in Franklin County when his pickup truck hit the shoulder of the road.
Wilcox lost control of his truck when he overcorrected, and struck the police car driven by State Trooper J-K Johnson, head on.
Johnson was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

55Bethel-School

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-47
GRAPHIC=Education

The Riner community in Montgomery County will get a brand new elementary school.
But not everyone is praising the plan.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

Last night, school officials unveiled plans for the new Auburn Strand Elementary School.
The school will absorb students from Riner and Bethel Elementary schools.
Riner will become a middle school.
No word yet on what will happen with the Bethel School-- and that has at least one resident upset.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:07:58
((JULIA SMITH: WHY NOT KEEP OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY? IT'S SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN. SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT GO TO BETHEL ALREADY HAVE A HALF HOUR BUS RIDE. AND FOR KINDERGARTNERS TO HAVE A 45- MINUTE, HOUR BUS RIDE IN THE MORNINGS-- THAT'S A LOT ON THEM. ))
SUPER=07-Julia Smith;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=lot on them
(-------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=education

Smith plans to start a petition drive in hopes of preventing Bethel from closing.
Meanwhile, Auburn Strand is expected to open in the fall of 1998.

55Underage-Drinking

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-42
GRAPHIC=None

Last month, three Community college students went undercover with Roanoke police in a plan to curb underage drinking.
The trio purchased beer -under the watchful eye of the Vice Squad Unit.
Of the 44 clerks the teens approached, half sold them alcohol.
Keith Humphry has more. (/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It was pretty
SUPER=01-Laura Reinhard/Undercover Beer Buyer; :18
SUPER=01-Rhonda Mack/SAVE-X Store Clerk; 1:08
SUPER=01-Sue Peterson/Former Village Store Clerk; 1:33
SUPER=@Keith2; 1:38
RUNS=1:45
OUT Q=Humphry, NEWS 7.
((
Laura Reinhard was working for the City Police Vice Squad.
She made 20 dollars for every successful purchase. If the clerk demanded to see an I-D- -or otherwise refused to sell her alcohol- -she got nothing.
Including payment for her appearance in court, Reinhard made 360 dollars.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:24:20
IN Q=It was pretty
((IT WAS PRETTY FUN. I DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY, I JUST PRETTY MUCH DID IT TO GET PEOPLE IN TROUBLE. (LAUGHS) ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=(laughter)

The daughter of a narcotics officer, Reinhard hopes to become a police investigator herself.
NAT SOT
13:41:28 I entered the store, went to the beer cooler
She calmly recounted the afternoon of April 9th... like any other undercover officer on the witness stand.
Based on her testimony, the judge convicted the clerk.
In one case where fellow undercover operative, Tanya Lightfoot was with her, Reinhard even quizzed the clerk: "Don't you think she looks too young?"
Lightfoot was 18, wearing braces at the time.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:25:25
IN Q=
((I WAS KIND OF NERVOUS, BECAUSE I DON'T DO THIS SORT OF THING, BUT I FINALLY GOT THE HANG OF THINGS.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=

Store clerk Rhonda Mack said she couldn't recall the transaction, but wouldn't have sold Reinhard the beer ...in hindsight.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=She looks
((SHE LOOKS ABOUT 19 OR 20, TODAY. AT THAT TIME I OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT SHE WAS 21 AND OVER. SO I DIDN'T CARD HER.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=didn't card her.

Judge Vincent Lilley rewarded Mack for her "candor..." fining her just 25 dollars.
Sue Peterson- -who worked at the Village Store- -was fined TWO-HUNDRED- fifty dollars... after she said she'd do it again, because the girl LOOKED old enough.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:07:35
IN Q=
((IF THEY LOOK YOUNG, I WOULD CARD THEM. I HAVE CARDED 35 YEAR OLD PEOPLE.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=

Fifteen store clerks either pled guilty to selling alcohol to minors or were convicted at trial.
Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))

55Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
The day will start off cloudy, but the sun will appear later in the morning.
Temperatures will be a little warmer, with highs in the upper 60s.
Tonight, expect fair and cool conditions with lows in the mid to upper 40s.
Looking ahead, more sun and warm temperatures take us into the weekend.
Highs on Friday should be in the mid to upper 70s.

8Franklin-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

A head-on collision with a state trooper leaves a Moneta man dead and the officer with minor injuries.
It happened early this morning.
Police say 41-year-old Victor Howard Wilcox was driving a pickup truck west on Route 6-16 in Franklin County when his truck hit the shoulder of the road.
Wilcox lost control of his truck when he overcorrected, and struck a state police car driven by Trooper J-K Johnson, head on.
Johnson was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

8Allman

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=Scott Allman

The man accused of killing a Vinton family when he crashed into their car after leading police on a high speed chase... says he is ready to plead guilty.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

Scott Allman Junior waived his preliminary hearing yesterday and plans to plead guilty to three counts of manslaughter in circuit court next month.
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./April 21;

The twelve mile chase took place last month while Allman was running from police.
His car then slammed into this Vinton couple's car-- killing them and their baby.
Allman's attorney is hoping the court will show mercy on his client.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 09:54:49
IN Q=I'm hopeful that I'll...
((TOM BLAYLOCK/ALLMAN'S ATTORNEY: I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN WHAT HIS AGE. AND THE FACT THAT HE DID NOT INTEND THE TRAGIC RESULTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. HE DIDN'T INTEND FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE KILLED.))
SUPER=01-Tom Blaylock/Allman's Attorney;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=these people to be killed.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The commonwealth's attorney says it's too late for remorse.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:01:21
IN Q=He may be expressing
((SKIP BURKART/ROANOKE CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: HE MAY BE EXPRESSING REMORSE TO HIS ATTORNEY NOW AND I'M SURE WHEN HE COMES TO COURT HE'LL TELL THE COURT HOW SORRY HE IS. BUT THAT PARTICULAR EVENING AND DURING THE COURSE OF THIS WHOLE CHASE HE DIDN'T SEEM VERY CONCERNED AT ALL.))
SUPER=01-Skip Burkart/Roanoke Co. Commonwealth's Attorney;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=seem very remorseful at all.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Allman was also convicted of numerous traffic violations.
For those charges he'll receive more than 12 months in jail and a fine of more than one thousand dollars.
(----------------)

8ITT

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-41
GRAPHIC=ITT

Roanoke County's Supervisors are helping the I-T-T Corporation by approving 300-thousand dollars in incentives for the company to re-focus its night-vision business.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

The county's agreed to write-off a disputed debt, refund an overpayment of the machinery and tools tax, and provide a 100-thousand dollar grant in the next fiscal year.
The performance agreement requires the company to make substantial investments over four years, while maintaining jobs and taxes.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Jean
SS=HOLD

I-T-T Night Vision employs more than 600 people, and economic development officials say the plant HAS spawned other high-tech firms in the area.

8Strawberries

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-46
GRAPHIC=NONE

A week of rain has made it tough on berry growers.
Strawberry season is open -- but pickers have NOT been picking the berries in the rain.
The sun finally made an appearance yesterday, giving some strawberry growers a ray of hope for saving their season.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Berry producers say the long stretch of gray skies kept people at home instead of heading to the fields to pick strawberries.
At J-D Scott's farm near Moneta, the crowds have been down almost eighty percent the last several days.
With acres of ripe strawberries ready for picking, Scott says the next few days will be crucial for his business.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:50:08
IN Q=Last Friday
((J.D. SCOTT/STRAWBERRY GROWER: LAST FRIDAY WAS PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF OUR PEAK SEASON, AND THE WEATHER DIDN'T COOPERATE. WHEN IT'S RAINING, THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO PICK, THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, AND THEY'VE GOTTEN BEHIND, BUT THE BERRIES AREN'T HURT NOW, BUT THEY JUST NEED TO GET HERE AND GET 'EM.)) ((AND THEN JUST BRING THE FLAG WITH YOU AND PUT IT WHEREVER YOU FINISH, PICK BOTH SIDES.))
SUPER=01-J.D. Scott/Strawberry Grower; :00
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=pick both sides
(----------------)
VO NAT
The strawberry season usually lasts about two and a half weeks.
Scott says his ripe berries will last another few days, if Mother Nature cooperates.
(----------------)

8Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
The day will start off cloudy, but the sun will appear later in the morning.
Temperatures will be a little warmer, with highs in the upper 60s.
Tonight, expect fair and cool conditions with lows in the mid to upper 40s. Highs on Friday should be in the mid to upper 70s. Looking ahead, more sun and warm temperatures take us into the weekend.