WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 06/11/96

08:25-01

7Tornado

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-43
GRAPHIC=Servere Weather

News 7 captures a tornado on videotape.
The twister touched down in Pittslyvania County yesterday knocking down hundreds of trees and power lines.
Teresa Hamilton has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The tornado
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00
SUPER=03-Chatham; :10
SUPER=07-Doris Strader; :18
SUPER=07-Wesley Jones; :45 QUICK!!
SUPER=@Teresa2; :55
RUNS=1:04
OUT Q=Hamilton, News 7.
(( The tornado captured by News 7 was spotted in Mount Airy.
About 30- minutes earlier the twister had touched down in Chatham where it left behind a trail of destruction.
Doris Strader was at home when she learned a warning had been posted.
She quickly opened a window and began to pray.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I just
((DORIS STRADER: I JUST ASKED THE LORD TO BE WITH US AND TO HELP KEEP US SAFE AND ABOUT THAT TIME I HEARD SOMETHING VERY VERY LOUD AND I JUST, I LOOKED UP AND I SAW THE TREES IN THE BACK AND OF COURSE THEY WERE GOING ALMOST TO THE GROUND.))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=to the ground.

A large Oak tree in Strader's front yard was one of the storm's casualties.
Wesley Jones also lives in Chatham and heard the noise.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=You could hear
((WESLEY JONES: YOU COULD HEAR THE WIND SOUNDING JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE THAT TRUCK GOING BY RIGHT NOW. IT WAS THAT HEAVY. ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=it was that heavy.

Two trees in Jones' yard were also heavily damaged.
Officials from the National Weather Service are continuing to assess the damage in hopes of determining the tornado's strength. Teresa Hamilton, News 7.))

7Henry-Storm

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-34
GRAPHIC=HOLD

The National Weather Service says the tornado originated in Henry County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co.;

Residents near the town of Axton can attest to that.
The twister caused extensive damage to a number of structures.
But despite the destruction... there were no reported injuries...and Henry County officials are grateful.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:37:33
IN Q=Nobody is injured
((STEVE EANES/HENRY COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL: NOBODY IS INJURED AT THIS POINT. NOBODY HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. ))
SUPER=01-Steve Eanes/Henry Co. Fire Marshal;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=good shape
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Hundreds up of uprooted trees were scattered across the area.
Residents say the tornado hit so fast... they didn't know what was going on.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:15:32
IN Q=I felt
((MARSHA WALKER/STORM DAMAGE VICTIM: I FELT IT. I FELT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE 'SHIMYIN.' SO I GRABBED MY BABY AND JUST RAN TO GET MY OTHER LITTLE GIRL TO GET IN ONE PLACE AND WHEN I LOOKED OUT AND SAW IT ALL IT WAS ALL OVER WITH. ))
SUPER=01-Marsha Walker/Storm Damage Victim;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=all over with
(----------------)
VO-NAT

There are no estimates yet on the damage.
Cleanup from the twister could take weeks.
(----------------)

7Warner

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

The polls opened early this morning in Virginia's Republican Senate primary, the polls close at seven.
SS=warner, john

All registered voters can cast a ballot and Senator John Warner spent the appealing to voters of party.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

With his political life on the line in today's primary, the incumbent took a five city tour by plane urging all voters to back him.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:57:30
IN Q=When letters
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/R-VA.: WHEN LETTERS COME IN, THOUSANDS A WEEK, OR PEOPLE COME IN TO VISIT ME, I DON'T ASK THEM ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT OR AN INDEPENDENT. I'M THERE AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO SERVE ALL VIRGINIANS FAIRLY AND EQUALLY. AND I NOW PUT OUT THIS APPEAL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.))
SUPER=@johnwarner;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=their support.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Miller, Jim

Challenger Jim Miller confined his final day efforts to the far northwest corner of the state, where his budget allowed travel only by pick-up truck.
Miller complains that Warner has outspent him almost five-to-one to win the party's nomination.
News 7 will have live election coverage on News 7 at Noon.
Also, you can find the results on our News 7 Homepage on the Internet

7Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Today is going to be partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms with heavy downpours.
Temperatures will be around 80 degrees.
For tonight, expect partly cloudy skies with more chances for rain - lows will be in the mid 60s.
Looking ahead, tomorrow will be much of the same - expect partly sunny skies and chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Highs will be in the low to mid 80s.

55Primary

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=campaign 96

The polls are open in Virginia's Republican Senate primary.
SS=warner

Incumbent John Warner is hoping for a big turnout from independents and Democrats to overcome challenger Jim Miller.
SS=miller

Miller has the backing of G-O-P conservative activists who are most likely to vote.
The primary is open to all registered voters.
News 7 will have live election coverage throughout the day and tonight.
Also, you can find the results on our News 7 Homepage on the Internet.

55L'burg-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-48
GRAPHIC=NONE

In Lynchburg yesterday, a woman was killed in a two-car crash.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg;

It happened on Candler's Mountain Road near the entrance to River Ridge Mall.
Seventy-two year year old Margaret Elder was killed when her vehicle collided with a van, pushing the car into a tree.
Rescue crews tried to revive Elder at the scene, but she died at Lynchburg General Hospital.
The driver of the van, Susan Ann Roberson, was treated for minor injuries and released.
(----------------)

55Roanoke-Ax

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

And in Roanoke last night, a four year old boy was killed when he was struck by a car.
Roanoke City police say the accident happened in the 1600 block of 20th street.
Robert Thomas Blevins was apparently playing in the street when he was hit by a car driven by a Roanoke woman who police are not identifying.
No charges have been filed and police are still investigating.

55Smart-Highway

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-49
GRAPHIC=Smart Highway
A lot of debate but no vote last night in Montgomery County.
County supervisors were expected to vote on whether to condemn conservation land for the smart highway.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The question before
SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;:06
SUPER=01-John Lipsey/Conservation District Landowner;:20
SUPER=01-Alwyn Moss/Smart Road Opponent; :38
SUPER=01-Gary Schafer/Smart Road Supporter; :55
SUPER=01-Scott Prince/Smart Road Supporter; 1:03
SUPER=@Tracy2; 1:20
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.
(( The question before Montgomery County supervisors is whether to allow the highway department to build the smart road through an agriculture and forest district.
VDOT wants 140 acres which stretch through scenic Ellett Valley.
John Lipsey, who owns 65 of those acres, urged the board to consider the precedent it's vote could set.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 08:03:55
((JOHN LIPSEY/CONSERVATION DISTRICT LANDOWNER: NOT ONLY FOR THE 12 FOREST DISTRICT THAT REPRESENTS 50 THOUSAND ACRES IN THIS COUNTY, BUT FOR THE 164 IN THIS STATE THAT REPRESENT 550 THOUSAND ACRES. ))
RUNS=:12

Others simply asked the board not to sacrifice the area's beauty for the sake of research.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:08:29
((ALWYN MOSS/SMART ROAD OPPONENT: THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR EVERYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS TRIUMPHED AND THEY'RE MISERABLE AND SICK AND FULL OF CRIME, AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE SICK. ))
RUNS=:10

But VDOT's studies have found minimal environmental impact, and smart road supporters say the economic benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 07:34:48
((GARY SCHAFER/SMART ROAD SUPPORTER: I BELIEVE THAT THIS HIGHWAY, WITH THE ASSOCIATED HIGH TECHNOLOGICAL INDUSTRIES WILL BE MUCH-NEEDED ECONOMIC BOOST TO THE AREA.))
SOT 07:11:27
((SCOTT PRINCE/SMART ROAD SUPPORTER: THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US TODAY GIVES US A CHANCE TO TELL NOT ONLY VIRGINIA OR THE UNITED STATES, BUT THE WORLD WHAT MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT IT WANTS TO BE.))
RUNS=:21

Due to the absence of supervisor mary Biggs, the board delayed the vote until June 24th when all members may have their say. Tracy Altizer, News 7.))

55Pet-Therapy

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cst
TAPE#96-44
GRAPHIC=None

The students at Clearbrook Elementary are getting use to some very unusual visitors.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :

The entourage of llamas, ducks, and rabbits is part of the therapy Mona Sams provides autistic children.
Sams just recently moved to Roanoke from Canada--and brought with her a few ways to reach non-verbal children.
She says children feel more relaxed around the animals and they become a catalyst for interaction.
In selecting animals for pet therapy, a good disposition is about the only job requirement.
(--------------)

55Weather

8Warner

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

Virginia Republicans will learn of their party's candidate for the Senate race.
State primary voting polls are open and will close tonight at 7.
Anyone can vote today.
SS=warner, john

Senator John Warner spent yesterday appealing to voters of every stripe.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

With his political life on the line in today's primary, the incumbent invited all voters to help him out in a five city flying tour.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:57:30
IN Q=When letters
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/R-VA.: WHEN LETTERS COME IN, THOUSANDS A WEEK, OR PEOPLE COME IN TO VISIT ME, I DON'T ASK THEM ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT OR AN INDEPENDENT. I'M THERE AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO SERVE ALL VIRGINIANS FAIRLY AND EQUALLY. AND I NOW PUT OUT THIS APPEAL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.))
SUPER=@johnwarner;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=their support.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Jim Miller

Challenger Jim Miller confined his final day efforts to the far northwest corner of the state, where his budget allowed travel only by pick-up truck.
Miller's complaining that Warner has outspent him almost five-to-one to win the party's nomination.
News 7 will have live election coverage throughout the day and tonight.
Also, you can find the results on our News 7 Homepage on the Internet.

8Twister

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPEedit of #96-43
GRAPHIC=severe weather

A tornado swept through Southside Virginia yesterday scattering debris everywhere.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00

The twister was captured on camera by News 7 when it was spotted early in the morning in Mount Airy.
The National Weather Service confirms that it actually originated in Henry County.... and caused extensive damage to a number of structures in Axton, then touched down in Chatham where it knocked over hundreds of trees and power lines.
No injuries were reported.
Officials from the National Weather Service are continuing to assess the damage in hopes of determining the tornado's strength.
(-------------)

8Route-220

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-41
GRAPHIC=Highway Improvements

Some Franklin County citizens say they are fed up with the recent tanker wrecks at the intersection of Route 2-20 and 605.
Ron Jones reports they are organizing and taking their concerns to state officials.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's sharp-- and
SUPER=04-File Tape; :00
SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :20
SUPER=01-Janet McCloud/Henry Resident; :25
SUPER=01-Robert Gillespie/Henry Resident; :41
SUPER=01-Doug Batty/VDOT Representative; 1:05
SUPER=@Ron2; 1:20
RUNS=1:35
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.

((It's sharp-- and it's deadly.
That's the assessment of some Franklin County residents of the Route 2-20 and 6-05.
Within the past seven months two tankers have overturned-- causing evacuations of numerous homes and an elementary school.
It also threatened the area's drinking water. TONIGHT'S VIDEO
A public hearing was held on the matter as citizens asked for help.
SOT 06:48:48
((JANET McCLOUD/FRANKLIN CO. RESIDENT: WE PAY TAX MONEY AND THE LOTTERY MONEY I THINK THEY COULD FIX THAT CURVE. I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO FIX THAT CURVE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS AREA. I MEAN IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THEY NEED SOMEBODY DOWN THERE TO HAND OUT TICKETS.))
RUNS=:16
BUTT, BUTT, BUTT
SOT 06:41:17
((ROBERT GILLESPIE, JR./FRANKLIN CO. RESIDENT: WE'VE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS AND THE LAST ONE SPILLED OVER 6-THOUSAND GALLONS OF CHEMICALS USED IN PAINT THINNER INTO OUR GROUND WATER AND INTO A STREAM THAT FEEDS INTO THE SMITH RIVER.))
RUNS=:12

But the biggest obstacle for the road is not the hazardous curves or the poor visibility-- but funding.
State officials say there's no money allocated to make it safer.
SOT 06:54:49
((DOUG BATTY/VDOT REPRESENTATIVE: THE LONG RANGE PLAN TO ALLEVIATE THE WHOLE SITUATION IS TO GET SOME MONEY AND TO IMPROVE THE CURVE. BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS IN THE INTERIM.))
RUNS=:09

They hope to tap into some special state funds-- but that's a few years down the road.
Meanwhile, V-DOT officials plan to add more signs and lights to warn motorist of the dangerous curve.
But for now these residents are banding together to put pressure on state officials-- hoping the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
Ron Jones, News Seven.))

8Weather

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

Turning now to the forecast -
Today is going to be partly sunny with afternoon showers and thunderstorms with heavy downpours. Temperatures will be around 80 degrees.