WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/05/96

06:00-01

HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A stand- off at a convenience store in Roanoke ends without injury after a teenager threatens police with a weapon.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Beth

And... investigators may have found the clue that could reveal the cause of the crash of Valujet Flight 5-92. wx-head/live-head
(larry ad lib weather)
ANCHOR=Beth

News 7 Mornin' is next.

Valley-View

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-46
GRAPHIC=NONE

Valley View Mall is accused of allowing racial discrimination against shoppers.
As a result, local members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference are calling for a boycott.
Kimberly McBroom has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=07-Robert Manns; :18
SUPER=01-Jeanette Manns/S.C.L.C.; :55
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:27 screen right!!
RUNS=1:30
OUT Q=McBroom, News7

(( Last Saturday night, 25- year- old Robert Manns and two friends were browsing in the Foot Locker store at Valley View Mall.
One of them made a comment about the store manager-- who overheard it and asked the three to leave.
Then the chief of security arrived to escort the group out of the mall.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:08:57
((ROBERT MANNS: THAT'S WHEN HE PUSHED ME AND SAID, "WE SAID LEAVE THE MALL." AND THAT'S WHEN I ASKED HIM, "I SAID, FOR WHAT CAUSE DID YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME?" WE'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG. YOU'VE HAD NO CAUSE TO TOUCH ME AND I DEMAND AN APOLOGY. HE APOLOGIZED, BUT HE STILL MADE US LEAVE. ))
RUNS=:11

Manns says he doesn't feel his group provoked the incident-- but say there's tension between mall security and black patrons in general.
He filed an assault charge against the security chief- who, two days later charged Manns with trespassing and verbal abuse.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference says Valley View has discriminated against blacks in the past-- now, the 250- member organization is calling for a boycott.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:21:29
((JEANETTE MANNS/SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: WE WILL NOT SHOP AT VALLEY VIEW MALL UNTIL THEY LEARN TO RESPECT US AS SHOPPERS. THEY'RE NOT FRIENDLY TO THE SHOPPERS THAT COME THERE WHEN THEY HAPPEN TO BE OF THE BLACK RACE, AND WE WILL NOT BE COMING BACK UNTIL THEY GET IT TOGETHER. ))
RUNS=:13
Pre-Pro
Valley View officials declined to comment about the accusations on camera.
But in a phone interview, Manager Mike Sullivan says he hasn't heard from the S-C-L-C and he questions their motive behind arranging a boycott without discussing it with mall management. End pre-pro
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 19:58:05
((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: MEANWHILE, SULLIVAN SAYS THE VALLEY VIEW DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYONE-- AND SAYS HE WELCOMES THE CHANCE TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THE S-C-L-C DIRECTLY.
KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7.))
RUNS=:11

))

Standoff

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-42
GRAPHIC=NONE

A stand-off with police brought some TENSE moments yesterday in southeast Roanoke.
A young man threatened POLICE with a gun and threatened HIMSELF with a large knife before officers were able to subdue him.
Joe Dashiell has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The fifteen year old
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=07-Sharon Richmond; :13
SUPER=07-Desire Carlisle; :22
SUPER=@Joe2; :27
SUPER=07-Tina Davis; :36
RUNS=:50
OUT Q=JD News 7

((The fifteen year- old paced the parking lot of a southeast Roanoke convenience store, holding a large knife to his wrist.
Earlier, he had pulled a gun, an air pistol that resembled a .357 magnum, and pointed it at police.
SOT 03:11:18
IN Q=I was worried
((SHARON RICHMOND: I WAS WORRIED THAT SOME OF US MIGHT GET SHOT, OR THE OFFICERS, OR THE STORE MIGHT GET SHOT UP.)) ((DESIRE CARLISLE: I THOUGHT FOR SURE HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT AND THAT THING WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH MY CAR AND HE WAS GOING TO HIT ME AND THE BABY.))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=hit me and the baby.

That didn't happen, but the confrontation tested the patience of police and provided some anxious moments for convenience store customers.
SOT 03:16:33 TINA DAVIS
IN Q=That's the scaredest I've
((TINA DAVIS: THAT'S THE SCAREDEST I'VE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE. YOU ALWAYS SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON COPS, NOT IN REAL LIFE. YOU'RE NEVER INVOLVED IN IT.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=never involved in it.

The incident ended with a stream of pepper spray.
There were no serious injuries, but the young man now faces charges of concealing and brandishing weapons and assault.
Joe Dashiell News 7))

Alaska-Fires

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=fire

In Alaska -- a destructive wildfire that was nearly under control is raging again.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Big Lake, AK;

The fire has destroyed as many as 100 homes, scorching more than seven-thousand acres since it started Sunday.
A state forestry spokesman says more than 300 firefighters, backed by helicopters and flying tankers, are working to halt the fire's spread.
Hundreds of homes have been evacuated and hundreds of people are spending the night at an emergency shelter.
(----------------)

Valujet

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=plane crash investigation

A published report says investigators have found what COULD be an important clue to the crash of ValuJet Flight 5-92.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dade Co., FL;

The "Sun Sentinel" of Fort Lauderdale says divers found pieces of a cockpit panel that could reveal whether the D-C-Nine was brought down by an electrical fire.
The paper says it's the same panel that a mechanic removed to repair a circuit breaker while the plane was in Atlanta on May 11th.
That's the same day the plane crashed in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people aboard.
(----------------)

Medicare

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=medicare

Sources say Medicare is going broke FASTER than expected.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

Republicans say the trustees will report the hospital fund will go bankrupt in 2001, owing about 29- billion dollars.
They say the fund's deficit will only get worse after that and want President Clinton to negotiate with them now on a solution.
Democrats agree action is needed.
But House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt says Republicans want "to raid Medicare, not to save it" in order to give more tax breaks to people who don't really need them.
(----------------)

1-Sports

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

In sports, Mike Stevens has an update on the battle for the Stanley Cup.
Good morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=good morning
RUNS=1:02
OUT Q=a few minutes

Kilgore

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-37
GRAPHIC=New Prison

In Charlotte County, a battle between prisons and preservationists.
State officials yesterday announced the county will SOON be home to the SECOND privately built prison in Virginia.
But local opposition to the project remains strong.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Like it or
SUPER=03-Charlotte Co.; :00
SUPER=01-George Zoley/Wackenhut President; :22
SUPER=01-Jerry Kilgore/Va. Public Safety Secretary; 35
SUPER=01-Kathryn St. John/Prison Opponent; :52
SUPER=01-Ron Angelone/Va. Dept. of Corrections; 1:00
SUPER=@ssm2; 1:09
RUNS=1:14
OUT Q=News7, Charlotte County.

(( Like it or not, Charlotte County residents will soon have a new neighbor: a one thousand bed, privately operated prison to be built on this patch of land near Drake's Branch.
More than a thousand people signed petitions opposing the project last year, but their local elected officials voted in favor.
That opened the door for the Wackenhut Corrections Corporation to step in.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:14:22
IN Q=So that's what
((GEORGE ZOLEY/WACKENHUT PRESIDENT: SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS PROFESSIONAL PRISON MANAGEMENT THAT SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THAT PROVIDES ONGOING PERMANENT JOBS TO THAT COMMUNITY.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=to that community.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:08:04
IN Q=The jobs that
((JERRY KILGORE/VA PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY: THE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CREATED ARE GOING TO BE WELL- PAYING JOBS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT VIRGINIA AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY NEED THE JOBS.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=need the jobs.

Opponents say compromising the county's historic integrity isn't worth the 225 jobs the prison will create.
But with the project a done deal, they may have no options left.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:47:16
IN Q=If there are
((KATHRYN ST. JOHN/PRISON OPPONENT: IF THERE ARE WE WILL PURSUE IT. IF NOT, WE WILL PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO LIVE NEXT TO A PRISON.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=to a prison.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:25:31
IN Q=So it's going
((RON ANGELONE/VA DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE, NOT EVERYONE'S GOING TO ACCEPT IT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT RIGHT NOW HAVE FEARS ABOUT IT WILL TURN AROUND AND ACCEPT IT IN THE LONG RUN.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=the long run.

Construction gets underway next spring.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Charlotte County.))

Carroll-Administrator

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-45
GRAPHIC=Mitchell

Former Carroll County administrator Billy Mitchell is FREE on BOND after being charged with 18 counts of embezzlement.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Carroll Co./File Tape;

A grand jury returned the indictments yesterday, less than three months after the board of supervisors fired Mitchell.
A county audit had uncovered discrepancies, and further state police investigation revealed about 425 thousand dollars in missing funds.
Most of the money involves a loan the Carroll Industrial Development Authority obtained for development of Magnolia Manufacturing.
Mitchell was chairman of the development authority at the time.
(----------------)

Hiking-Safety

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

Autopsies reveal TWO women hikers found dead near Luray had their throats SLASHED.
The investigation continues, but climbers along the Appalachian Trail may wonder how safe the wilderness is.
Intern reporter Stacey Martin has more about hiker safety.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=For most the mountains
SUPER=01-Bill Sgrinia/Roanoke Parks Dept.; :51
SUPER=19-Stacey Martin/Reporting; 1:06
RUNS=1:18
OUT Q=I'm Stacey Martin
(( For most the mountains are a peaceful wilderness...a place where hikers enjoy quiet times alone.
But the recent death of two women hikers has shattered that image...and the feeling of personal safety among some in the climbing community.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11.11.51 - 11.12.09
IN Q=It wakes you up
((EMILY DUNCAN AND ANNE RINEHART/HIKERS: IT WAKES YOU UP AND MAKES YOU REALIZE. WE FELT REALLY SAFE SO FAR BECAUSE OF EVERYONE...LIKE YOU SAID YOU LEARN TO TRUST PEOPLE MORE. BUT, THEN WHEN YOU HEAR OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IT'S DISCONCERTING.))
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=this it's concerning

Park officials say that hiker safety involves eating right and being aware.
They say hikers should take plenty of water and foods high in protein and carbohydrates.
...and they should also look-out for strangers or people who look like they don't belong on the trails.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10.08.00 - 10.08.12
IN Q=Limit your contact
((BILL SGRINIA/ROANOKE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT: IF FOR SOME REASON YOU DON'T TRUST THE PERSON, WE JUST TELL THEM TO LIMIT YOUR CONTACT AND KEEP GOING ON YOUR WAY...PRETTY MUCH REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE SITUATION.))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=from the situation

Although murders and assault have happened before along these trails, officials say sprains, strains, and broken bones are more common.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT15.07.48 - 15.08.02
IN Q=Officials say part
((Officials say part of the problem is that hikers let down their guard once they get into the wilderness. Officers are reminding hikers that being street-smart isn't just for the streets but for the mountains as well. For News-7, I'm Stacey Martin.))
(----------------)

2-scores

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

In sports --
Colorado took the opener of the Stanley Cup Finals 3-to-1 over Florida.
Let's take a look at the scoreboards.
(//////////////)
SUPER=#C-200;
SUPER=103-Colorado/==3/Florida/==1;

SUPER=93-Salem/==3/Wilmington/==1//Lynchburg/==7/Frederick/==1;

SUPER=91-Oakland/==8/Kansas City/==3//NY Yankees/==5/Toronto/==4;
SUPER=91-Seattle/=10/Cleveland/==7//Milwaukee/==6/Texas/==2;
SUPER=91-Minnesota/==5/California/==3//White Sox/==6/Boston/==4;
SUPER=91-Baltimore/=10/Detroit/==7;

2HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#news heads
GRAPHIC=NONE

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A teenager threatens police with a weapon at a Roanoke convenience store.
The stand- off ends without anyone getting hurt but some customers say they've never been so frightened.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Crash investigators may have found a critical piece of the plane that could shed light on the cause of the crash of Valujet Flight 5-92.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Chrysler vows to fight a government lawsuit to force the recall of 91-thousand cars.
The government claims the cars have unsafe seat belts.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Beth

.... That's what's making news on this Wednesday, June 5th.
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

Crash-investigation

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=plane crash investigation

Investigators have found pieces of a critical cockpit panel that MAY shed light on whether Valujet Flight 5-92 was brought down by an electrical fire.
(----------------)
4am na021
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dade Co., FL;

A Fort Lauderdale newspaper reports the pieces are from the SAME panel that a mechanic removed TWICE to repair a circuit breaker while the plane was in Atlanta on May 11th.
That's the same day the plane crashed in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people aboard.
(----------------)

Chrysler

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# NET
GRAPHIC=lawsuit

Chrysler is vowing to fight a government lawsuit aimed at forcing a RECALL of 91-thousand cars.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Detroit, MI;

The government claims the 19-95 Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus cars have UNsafe seat belts and it wants a court order forcing Chrysler to fix them for FREE.
This is the first time the government has taken such legal action based on its own safety tests.
It has taken manufacturers to court to recall cars it believes are defective based on engineering analysis and accident data.
The agency has lost only one case.
Chrysler says this is not a safety issue.
(/////SOT/////)
IN Q=THE ONLY
SOT
IN Q=The only question here
((LEW GOlDFARB/CHRYSLER ATTORNEY: THE ONLY QUESTION HERE IS WHETHER NHTSA CAN REQUIRE A MANUFACTURER TO PASS A TEST PROCEDURE WHICH IS NOT SPECIFIED ANYWHERE IN THEIR REGULATIONS AND HOLD IT IN NONCOMPLIANCE FOR FAILURE TO DO SO. ))
SUPER=01-Lew Goldfarb/Chrysler Attorney;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=to do so.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Chrysler says the seat belts are safe.
Its lawyers also say the government standards are unclear and say the company is prepared for a long court battle if necessary.
(----------------)

Medicare

Abortion

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=abortion

The Allen administration has decided to STRIP state employees of UNrestricted abortion insurance coverage.
Under NEW rules that will take effect July 1st, workers can expect coverage for abortions under ONLY three conditions. Those conditions are gross fetal deformity, to save a woman's life, or IF a pregnancy was caused by rape or incest.

Dole

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-40
GRAPHIC=Dole

Bob Dole pressed the flesh with Governor Allen and John Warner yesterday.
Ellen Qualls has details of Dole's visit to the Commonwealth.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's a big
SUPER=03-Chester; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Dole/(R) Presidential Candidate; :05
SUPER=@Allen; :45
SUPER=@johnwarner; 1:07
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:21
RUNS=1:35
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Chester.

(( sot TAPE TWO 10:51:47
((SEN. JOHN WARNER: IT'S A BIG DAY FOR VIRGINIA.))
runs=:02

SOT TAPE TWO 10;36:02
((SEN. BOB DOLE: THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE. IT'S ABOUT YOU. IT'S ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. IT'S ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH. IT'S ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET.))
RUNS=:09

Balancing the budget.
Bob Dole, John Warner, and George Allen -- touring houses some Virginia families WISH they could buy to dramatize what a balanced budget and predicted drop in interest rates could mean to the average voter.
Dole announced for the first time here that he's scheduled a balanced budget amendment vote again for Thursday, and his departure from the Senate next Tuesday.
Which takes us back to politics.
SOT TAPE TWO 10:44:31
((SEN. BOB DOLE: I'LL BE BACK IN THE FALL. THIS IS SORT OF A NON- POLITICAL STOP TODAY. This is a good day for you Senator? SEN. JOHN WARNER: OH YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.))
runs=:09

sot TAPE TWO 10:45:00ish
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PRIMARY GOING ON IN THE MIDST OF IT NATURALLY ADDS SOME SKEPTICISM, BUT DON'T AVOID THE MAIN POINT. YOU WANT ME TO SIGN THAT.))
runs=:08

The main point for Warner is fellow Republican Jim Miller would like to force him into early retirement next Tuesday.
So if a picture with Bob Dole is worth a thousand words -- one with the publicly neutral but popular Governor George Allen isn't bad either.
sot 10;53:42 TAPE TWO
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/R-VA.: WE'VE BEEN A TEAM FOR VIRGINIA. BUT I THINK QUITE PROPERLY THERE'S A LOT OF PARTY REBUILDING TO BE DONE. AND GEORGE AND I HAVE TALKED IT OVER AND I THINK IT'S BEST THAT HE STAY RIGHT THERE, NEUTRAL, UNTIL THE DAY AFTER THIS PRIMARY.))
runs=:12

And for Allen, a chance to out- charm the crowds but bolster Bob Dole's message in front of the national media.
sot 10:50:13 tape two
((SEN. JOHN WARNER: THANK YOU GEORGE. SEE YOU LATER. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT. SEN. BOB DOLE: SEE YOU AT 2:15. WARNER: SEE YOU AT 2:15 LEADER I'LL BE THERE. DON'T YOU WORRY.))
runs=:07

sot 10;58;00 STANDUP TAPE TWO
((BOB DOLE WILL BE BACK IN VIRGINIA THIS WEEKEND, STUMPING FOR JOHN WARNER INSTEAD OF HIMSELF AT A BARBECUE WITH COLIN POWELL. THAT'S THE KIND OF WEEKEND BEFORE THE PRIMARY PUBLICITY JIM MILLER COULD DO WITHOUT. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, CHESTER.))
runs=:14))

3-Sports

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

Time now for sports and the latest in high school baseball.
Mike Stevens has the highlights.
Good morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=howdy once
RUNS=2:43
OUT Q=everybody

Mall

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of valley-view 96-46 with new bites
GRAPHIC=none

A weekend shopping trip turned sour- now has one group BOYCOTTING Valley View Mall in Roanoke.
Local members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference say the mall has allowed racial discrimination against shoppers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The protest comes as a result of an incident involving a shopper at a mall shoe store.
25-year-old Robert Manns said he was shoved without provocation by the mall's security chief and ordered to leave after a confrontation with a shoe store employee who accused Manns of spitting at him.
Manns says his group did nothing wrong, and did not deserve to be thrown out of the mall.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:14:00
IN Q=I'm not a
((ROBERT MANNS: I'M NOT A LITTLE KID OUT HERE AND I WOULD NOT CARRY MYSELF IN PUBLIC AS ONE. I MEAN, I CARRY MYSELF CORRECTLY ANYTIME AND I BELIEVE THAT THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS TOTALLY NOT PROVOKED BY US. ))
SUPER=07-Robert Manns;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=provoked by us
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Manns' mother, who is an active member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference says her group will boycott the mall.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:24:18
IN Q=I usually shop
((JEANETTE MANNS/SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: I USUALLY SHOP AT THE MALL FOR EVERYTHING. MY DAUGHTER AND I GO THERE REGULARLY. BUT I WILL NOT GO TO VALLEY VIEW MALL AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING THERE THAT I CAN USE IF THEY INSULT ME. ))
SUPER=01-Jeanette Manns/S.C.L.C.;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=if they insult me
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The mall's acting manager denied that the incident happened the way Manns described it.
Manns swore out a warrant accusing security chief John Rutledge of assault and battery.
Rutledge charged Manns with trespassing and abusive language.
(-------------)

Standoff

Bridge-Rescue

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=mron
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-41
GRAPHIC=None

Meantime authorities in Montgomery County had some TENSE moments of their own.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

A 32 year- old man was threatening to take his own life.
Rescuers and family members negotiated with Waymon Smith of Radford for more than an hour to keep him from jumping off an Interstate-81 overpass at Radford exit 105.
Firefighters finally deployed a ladder truck and Smith climbed down on his own.
Sheriff's deputies took Smith into emergency custody.
He reportedly told them he wanted to commit suicide because of ongoing physical problems.
(----------------)

Boy-Hero

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=NONE

From Bedford County -- another story about a life being saved.
This one involves a little boy, who says it was divine intervention that helped.
Ron Jones explains.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=What five- year- old
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Charles W. Hamm/Boy Hero; :20
SUPER=@Ron2; :30
SUPER=01-Rebecca Hawkins/Caldwell Bros. Employee; :55
SUPER=01-Linda Hamm/Charles' Mother; 1:08
RUNS=1:22
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.
(( What five- year- old Charles Hamm, Jr. did last Saturday night was pretty grown-up.
He and his uncle were travelling on a dirt road when their truck lost control and flipped down an embankment.
His uncle was knocked unconscious.
Charles thought he was asleep-- so he hit him in head with a book to wake him up.
That didn't work.
SOT 12:18:57
((CHARLES W. HAMM/BOY HERO: SO I ROLLED MY WINDOW DOWN AND I CRAWLED OUT OF IT. I WAS SMALL ENOUGH. AND WHEN I CRAWLED OUT OF IT I WAS VERY CAREFUL WHEN I WAS JUMPING OUT OF IT SO I WOULDN'T FALL ON THOSE STICKERS.))
RUNS=:12

Charles says he knew what to do because he received instructions from God.
SOT 12:20:23
((HE TOLD ME THE IDEA. AND HE TOLD ME TO GO ON AND DO IT. AND THEN I DONE IT.))
RUNS=:07

He walked up this steep dirt covered road for about...
SOT 12:28:22
((I WALKED ABOUT 10 MILES.))
RUNS=:03

Well, actually about-- a mile-- to a local business.
SOT 13:04:12
((REBECCA HAWKINS/CALDWELL BROS. EMPLOYEE: LITTLE C-W WALKED UP TO THE DOOR. HE CAME IN AND HE WASN'T CRYING OR ANYTHING HE WAS JUST RATTLING OFF THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO HIS UNCLE.))
RUNS=:07

Rescue squad members revived his uncle, who was later treated and released.
Mom's proud.
SOT 12:27:23
((LINDA HAMM/CHARLES' MOTHER: HE SAID MOMMY I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD TO DO IT, I HAD TO DO IT. I WATCH RESCUE 9-1-1. AND HE SAID I WATCH RESCUE 911, SO PARENTS WHO DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS WATCHING THESE SHOWS IT SAVED A LIFE.))
RUNS=:11

Ron Jones, News Seven.)

4-scores

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

Turning now to sports --
Colorado took the opener of the Stanley Cup Finals 3-to-1 over Florida.
Let's take a look at the scoreboards.
(//////////////)
SUPER=#C-200;
SUPER=103-Colorado/==3/Florida/==1;

SUPER=93-Salem/==3/Wilmington/==1//Lynchburg/==7/Frederick/==1;

SUPER=92-Philadelphia/=12/Chi Cubs/==3//Florida/==5/Montreal/==0;
SUPER=92-Cincinnati/==4/San Francisco/==1//NY Mets/=12/Atlanta/==6;
SUPER=92-Houston/=16/Colorado/==8//Pittsburgh/==3/Los Angeles/==0;
SUPER=92-St. Louis/=11/San Diego/==5;