WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/11/96

06:00-01

Headlines

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin'
WRITER=nle
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Coming up on News 7 Mornin',
A tornado rips through Southside Virginia,
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
and John Warner's political life is on the line today as the polls open for the Republican primary. wx-head
(beth ad lib)
live-head
(larry ad lib)
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot

News 7 Mornin' is next.

Tornado

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin'
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-43
GRAPHIC=Severe Weather

A tornado touched down in Southside yesterday downing hundreds of trees and power lines.
Teresa Hamilton and photographer Andrea DiRocco caught the twister on videotape as it made its way through one Pittsylvania County community.
(/////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.))

Henry-Storm

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

The National Weather Service confirms that the tornado actually 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... including this barn.
But despite the destruction... there were no reported injuries...and Henry County officials were grateful.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:37:33
IN Q=Nobody
((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.
(----------------)

Primary

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.

Kevorkian

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=kevorkian

Dr. Jack Kevorkian reportedly attended his 29th suicide early this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Kevorkian's attorney says the body of a 69- year- old woman was brought to the hosptial by her son shortly after midnight.
Geoffrey Feiger says the New Jersey woman died of carbon monixide poisoning.
It's not clear yet what she was suffering from.
(----------------)

black-churches

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=Clinton

President Clinton tomorrow is expected to visit one or more of the churches in the south that have been destroyed by arson.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Greenville, TX;

Thirty-seven have been burned in the last year and a half.
Police now have three suspects in yesterday's fire that destroyed a Texas church.
SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC;

And a 13- year- old white girl has been arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed a Charlotte church last week.
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

Ministers from the churches say the fires have been motivated by racism.
But Federal agents report no evidence of any organized plot by white supremacists.
But the ministers have been promised investigators will not be closed-minded.
(----------------)

NHL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=MORNIN
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

What a difference a year makes.
Last year, Denver didn't have a hockey team and the city had never had a major championship.
Now, Denver is celebrating a Stanley Cup victory.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Miami, FL;

Last night the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup, completing a four-game sweep with a one-nothing, triple-overtime victory over Florida.
Uwe Krupp (kroop) scored at four-31 of the third overtime to seal the first-ever big league championship for the city of Denver.
Now with more sports, here's Steve Mason.
(----------------)

1-weather

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=none
TAPE#none

VIEWER NET
DOPLAR
LIVE LINE: regional RADAR national SAT CURRENT COND TEMPS HIGHS FCAST
ESS C
(TODAY/TONIGHT/TOMORROW)
(EXTENDED)

(2 SHOT TOSS TO LARRY)
BUMP ESS C BREAK

Roanoke-Ax

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

Roanoke City police report a small boy was killed last night after being struck by a car.
The accident happened in the 1600 block of 20th street.
Police say four-year-old Robert Thomas Blevins was playing in the street when he was hit by a car driven by a Roanoke woman who was not identified.
No charges have been filed and police are still investigating.

L'burg-Fatal

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

Also yesterday -- a Lynchburg 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.
(----------------)

Route-220

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

Traffic safety is a concern in Franklin County -- where some citizens say they are fed up with the recent tanker wrecks at the intersection of Route 220 and 605.
And as 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.))

2-scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

Turning now to sports --
Colorado is the Stanley Cup champion.
(----------------)
VO-NAT/04-NA022

The Avalanche completed a four-game sweep with a 1-to-0 triumph over Florida in triple overtime.
It's Denver's first championship in any of the four major pro sports.
(-------------)

2headlines

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

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

Voters go to the polls in today's Republican Senate Primary.
Incumbent John Warner did some last minute stumping all over the state yesterday, while challenger Jim Miller spent his day in the far northwest corner of Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The attorney for Doctor Jack Kevorkian says a New Jersey woman has died in the presence of the assisted suicide advocate.
A spokeswoman for a Pontiac, Michigan, medical center says the woman's body was brought to the hospital early today by her son and Kevorkian's lawyer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup 1-nothing this morning four minutes and 31 seconds into the third overtime.
The sweep
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
of Miami came from a team that did not even exist last year.
And those are some of the top stories on Tuesday, June 11th.
ANCHOR=Beth

(ad lib)

Tornado

Henry-Storm

jack-Kevorkian

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=kevorkian

Suicide activist Dr. Jack Kevorkian has attended another death.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Kevorkian's attorney says the body of a 69- year- old woman was brought to the hosptial by her son shortly after midnight.
Geoffrey Feiger says the New Jersey woman died of carbon monixide poisoning.
It's not clear yet what she was suffering from.
Kevorkian was acquitted last month of two counts of assisted suicide.
This marks the 29th death the retired pathologist has attended since 19-90.
(----------------)

Valujet

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=plane crash investigation

On the one month anniversary of the Valujet crash the search for wreckage has ended.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dade Co., FL;

Investigators say they've recovered 75 percent of the plane, enough to complete their investigation.
They've been able to identify the remains of only 36 of the 110 people who died when flight 592 went down in the everglades.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Meantime, there are even more questions about ValuJet maintenance procedures.
Federal Aviation Administration sources confirm a "Washington Post" report that says maintenance workers lacked the proper tools and manuals even after the airline came under close scrutiny.

Primary

bob-Dole

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=dole, bob

After thirty five years on capitol hill Senator Bob Dole today becomes simply-- Bob Dole private citizen.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

He said goodbye last night at a Republican House- Senate dinner.
Before abandoning the podium, a rather reflective Dole spoke of the Senate's inability to pass a balanced budget amendment earlier this year as the biggest disappointment he's had to endure while in office.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES..
SUPER=01-Senator Bob Dole/(R) Kansas;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=YOU'LL BE BE THERE.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Dole is leaving the Senate to devote full time to his G-O-P presidential campaign.
(----------------)
WIPE/WIPE

YELTSIN

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Meantime in the race for President in Russia, incumbent Boris Yeltsin doesn't appear to be showing concern for his communist opponent heading into Sunday's election.
Yeltsin showed off his dance moves at a rock concert in a southern Russian city.
Polls say he'll likely face a July runoff.
(----------------)

stanley-cup

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=MORNIN
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# bet
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

Colorado fans are also dancing.
Last year, Denver didn't have a hockey team and the city had never had a major championship.
Now, Denver is celebrating a Stanley Cup victory.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Miami, FL;

The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup early this morning, completing a four-game sweep with a one-nothing, triple-overtime victory over Florida.
Uwe Krupp (kroop) scored at four-31 of the third overtime to seal the first-ever big league championship for the city of Denver.
Now here is Steve Mason with more sports news.
(----------------)

Warner

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

The polls have been open for less than an hour in Virginia's Republican Senate Primary.
Anyone can vote today.
The polls close at 7 pm.
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.

Twister

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

And while the senate candidates were trying to stir up votes, a twister was stirring up trouble in Southside.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00

The tornado captured by News 7 was spotted early yesterday in Mount Airy.
The National Weather Service confirms that it actually originated in Henry County.
It caused extensive damage to a number of structures in Axton, and 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.
(-------------)

Roanoke-Ax

Smart-Highway

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-49
GRAPHIC=Smart Highway

Montgomery County supervisors were expected to vote last night whether to condemn conservation land for the smart highway.
The vote never came, though the debate raged on.
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.))

Pet-Therapy

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=6am
WRITER=cst
TAPE#96-44
GRAPHIC=None

The students at Clearbrook Elementary are becoming accustomed to the hallways of their school looking more like a barn-yard.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:58:53
IN Q=Look who is NAT SOUND
SUPER=01-Mona Sams/Occupational Therapist;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=see sprouty NAT SOUND
(----------------)
VO-NAT
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 she's brought with her a few ways to reach non-verbal kids.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:03:45
IN Q=It will NAT SOUND
((IT WILL TICKLE! )) ((IT'S ONLY A BEGINNING BUT THE ANIMALS CAN BE USED AS A CATALYST TO INTERACTION AND THEY DON'T PASS JUDGEMENTS. )) ((THE ANIMALS DON'T PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE CHILDREN, SO THEY FEEL MORE RELAXED AND THE DO CARRY A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD IS VERY CONFUSING FOR THEM ))
SUPER=01-Linda Hughes/Teacher; :12
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=for them.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

In selecting animals for pet therapy, a good disposition is about the only job requirement.
(--------------)

4-scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

Colorado fans have a great disposition now that their Avalanche has won the Stanley Cup.
(----------------)
VO-NAT/04-NA022

Colorado completed a four-game sweep with a 1-to-0 win over the Panthers in triple overtime.
It's Denver's first-ever big league title.
Let's take a look at the scoreboards.
(-------------)
(////////////)
SUPER=#C-200;
SUPER=103-Colorado/==1/Florida/==0;

SUPER=91-Detroit/==8/Baltimore/==3//Cleveland/==5/Oakland/==4;
SUPER=91-NY Yankees/==5/Toronto/==3//White Sox/==8/Boston/==2;
SUPER=91-Minnesota/=13/Seattle/==6//California/==7/Kansas City/==5;
SUPER=91-Texas/==8/Milwaukee/==3;

SUPER=92-Chi Cubs/==2/Philadelphia/==1//NY Mets/==8/Atlanta /==3;
SUPER=92-Florida/==5/Montreal/==2//Houston/=10/Colorado/==9;
SUPER=92-Los Angeles/==2/St. Louis/==1//Pittsburgh/==5/San Francisco/==4;
SUPER=92-Cincinnati/==6/San Diego/==3;
SUPER=93-Winston-Salem/==1/Lynchburg/==0//Kinston/==4/Salem/==3;