WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/12/96

08:25-01

7Hurrican-Update

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=edit
GRAPHIC=Hurricane/Generic
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Virginians along the coast are bracing for the arrival of a weakening Hurricane Bertha.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;

The storm's maximum sustained winds are down to 80 miles an hour and it has been down-graded to a category one.
But Bertha still threatens to dump substantial rain and cause flooding along the coast.
Governor Allen has declared a state of emergency as a precaution - so far, no shelters have been opened and no evacuations have been ordered.
Forecasters expect Bertha's center to come ashore in South Carolina around noon, somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

We will have a live report from Virginia Beach on News 7 at Noon.

7Train-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-55
GRAPHIC=Train Accident

And a Central Virginia man's feet were severed this morning in a train accident in Campbell County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;

It happened shortly after 3 o'clock on Route 680 near Rustburg.
State police say 22-year-old Lewis E. Noel Junior of Madison Heights was apparently was sitting on the railroad tracks when he was struck by a northbound Norfolk Southern train. Rescue crews say the train's wheels severed Noel's feet.
He suffered other minor injuries and was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital.
He's listed in stable condition.
Police say Noel had been drinking just before the accident.
(----------------)

7Kingdom-Hall

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-49
GRAPHIC=NONE

A church in Halifax County has been vandalized.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Halifax Co.;

The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses near Halifax was vandalized sometime Wednesday night.
Members discovered several thousand dollars in damages yesterday.
The Halifax County congregation is counting its blessings, though, in light of the recent rash of church fires in the South.
(/////SOT/////)
6:41:27
SOT
IN Q=That was the
((STALEY BRANDON/KINGDOM HALL CHURCH ELDER: THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO OUR MIND. HOW FORTUNATE WE WERE THAT THIS GUY OR PERSON DID NOT, YOU KNOW, SET THE KINGDOM HALL ON FIRE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. FORTUNATELY, IT WASN'T A YOU KNOW, SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. ))
SUPER=01-Staley Brandon/Kingdom Hall Elder; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=lost everything.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

27- year old Kevin Ray Davis of Gladys has been charged with felony breaking and entering of a church and felony vandalism.
Members told authorities Davis was at the hall Wednesday night causing trouble.
(----------------)

7Straight-Street

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

The former Straight Street teen center in Christiansburg is reopening.
Along with it comes a new location and a new name - and it won't be just for teens.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=For more than five years
SUPER=@File; :00
SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :18
SUPER=01-Bob Anderson/180 Club Director; :33
SUPER=07-Shawna Galli-Reese; :57
SUPER=07-Ryan Reeves; 1:05
SUPER=@Tracy1; 1:13
RUNS=1:24
OUT Q=News 7 Christiansburg.
(( For more than five years hundreds of teenagers flocked to Straight Street for fun and fellowship in a Christian atmosphere.
But financial difficulties and problems with the landlord forced the center to close last Winter.
Now it's bouncing back and aiming to reach a larger audience in a new facility, a former body shop it purchased on Radford Road.
Instead of Straight Street, the non-profit center will be called the 180 Club, with offerings for teens, young adults, even families.
Even though the center is far from ready, the public is invited to check it out at a party this weekend.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:49:58
((BOB ANDERSON/180 CLUB DIRECTOR: PRIMARILY BEING IN THIS BUILDING IS TO SHOWCASE THE BUILDING AND SAY HELP, WE NEED SOME HELP OUT HERE TO GET IT FIXED UP FOR THE KIDS. ))
RUNS=:06

Anderson plans to transform this space into an arcade room and snack area.
He's looking for donated computers for an after-school homework lab.
The main room will offer roller-blading, basketball, live music and dancing.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:52:09
((WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE FUN AND INSTRUCT THE KIDS HOW TO HAVE FUN IN A NICE CLEAN WAY. ))
SOT 4:06:06
((SHAWNA GALLI-REESE: IT'S A CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY THING FOR TEENS. I MEAN, IT'S SOMEWHERE TO GO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYPLACE TO GO, AND IT'S A GOOD HANGOUT PLACE.))
SOT 4:08:00
((RYAN REEVES: THIS IS DEFINITELY A BIGGER PLACE. BE ABLE TO GET OUT HERE AND BE ATHLETIC BY DOING THE ROLLERBLADING AND BASKETBALL. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION AT THE OTHER STRAIGHT STREET.))
RUNS=:19

The party Saturday night gets under way here with an open house from six to seven. Later, the popular Christian rock band Reality Check will take the stage until 11. Tracy Altizer, News 7 Christiansburg.))

7Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Mostly Cloudy/Rain/75-79/Partly Cloudy/with Showers/65-69;
(CHYRON WV FORECAST TODAY/TONIGHT PAGE)
(TOSS TO BUMP)
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning to the forecast -
Today will be rainy with highs in the upper 70s.
Clouds tonight with showers.
Lows will be in the upper 60s.
SUPER=#4057;

55Hurrican-Update

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=edit
GRAPHIC=Hurricane
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Coastal Virginians are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Bertha.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;

The storm's maximum sustained winds are down to 80 miles an hour and it has
been down-graded to a category one---
but Bertha still threatens to dump substantial rain and cause flooding along the coast.
Governor Allen has declared a state of emergency as a precaution - so far, no shelters have been opened and no evacuations have been ordered.
Forecasters expect Bertha's center to come ashore in South Carolina around noon, somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

We will have a live report from Virginia Beach on News 7 at Noon.

55Beard

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-45
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

An appeal for a new trial has been denied to man who was sent to prison for the 19-80 Rainbow murders.
A judge has ruled that investigators did not violate their agreement with Jacob Beard.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lewisburg/File Tape;

Beard was convicted of first degree murder and given two life sentences.
He claimed he was granted immunity from prosecution, but Judge Charles Lobban ruled that the agreement extended only to statements about a third death Beard claimed to have witnessed.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Nancy Santomero of Huntington, New York, and Vicki Durian of Wellman, Iowa, were hitchhiking to a gathering of the Rainbow Family when they were shot near Droop Mountain.

55Optical-Cable

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-56
GRAPHIC=Optical Cable

A Roanoke County company is expanding in a big way.
Optical cable has announced plans to double its facility and triple its work force.
And company president Bob Kopstein (KAHP-steen) says that's just for starters.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

A ground- breaking ceremony was held yesterday for its new addition... which will "mirror" the existing building at ValleyPointe Corporate Park.
Construction should be complete in a few months, and more expansion seems likely.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:42:09
IN Q=When we're all
((BOB KOPSTEIN/OPTICAL CABLE PRESIDENT: WHEN WE'RE ALL SAID AND DONE, IT WILL BE FOUR TIMES THE SIZE THAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THAT REALLY MEANS THAT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS THAT WE COULD HAVE AS MANY AS A THOUSAND PEOPLE HERE ON THIS ENTIRE SITE.))
SUPER=01-Bob Kopstein/Optical Cable President;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=entire site
(----------------)
VO-NAT

It's been a tremendous year so far for Optical Cable.
The company went public in April.
And stock prices peaked at 134- dollars a share.
Then, last month the company made a 13- million- dollar sale to a Japanese buyer.
(----------------)

55Kool-Gang

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE#96-51
GRAPHIC=NONE

A band that has a rocking in the mid 80's is making a come back-- much to the delight of faithful fans.
Kool and the Gang brought its latest tour to Salem last night.
Jay Moore has the highlights.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=You'd think
SUPER=03-Salem; :00
SUPER=01-J.T. Taylor/Kool & The Gang; :30
SUPER=@Jay2; 1:06
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=Moore, News 7.
(( You'd think after eight years the group would be a little rusty.
But that wasn't the case.
Kool & The Gang opened up at Memorial Stadium with the same enthusiasm and energy they showed in the 80s. ((J.T. TAYLOR/KOOL & THE GANG: WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT OUT THERE. JUST PUT US ON THE STAGE. WE'LL SHOW YA. ))
And show the crowd they did.
With nearly a sold- out crowd of more than 5- thousand, members of Kool and The Gang say they're proud to be the first band to play at the stadium. ((TAYLOR: WE SEEM TO BE MAKING HISTORY EVERYWHERE WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE CAREER. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST CONCERT IN SALEM [MEMORIAL STADIUM]. I HOPE IT WON'T THE LAST. IT'S AREAS LIKE THESE THAT BRING IN THE TALENT.))
Kool & The Gang will continue their World Tour through January. In Salem, Jay Moore, News 7.))

55Weather

8Hurrican-Update

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#=edit
GRAPHIC=Hurricane Bertha
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Hurricane Bertha gaining strength again as it heads for the Carolinas and Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;

The storm's maximum sustained winds are now close to 90 miles an hour.
Bertha continues to threaten substantial rain and flooding along the coast.
Governor Allen has declared a state of emergency as a precaution - but so far, no shelters have been opened and no evacuations have been ordered.
Forecasters expect Bertha's center to come ashore in South Carolina around noon, somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

We will have a live report from Virginia Beach on News 7 at Noon.

8Train-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-55
GRAPHIC=none

A central Virginia man's feet were cut off in a train accident in Campbell County early this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;

State police say it happened at about 3:15 on Route 680 near Rustburg.
State police say 22-year-old Lewis E. Noel Junior of Madison Heights was apparently sitting on the railroad tracks when he was struck by a northbound Norfolk Southern train. Rescue crews say the train's wheels severed Noel's feet.
He suffered other minor injuries and was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital.
He's listed in stable condition.
Police say Noel had been drinking just before the accident.
(----------------)

8VMI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#=edit of *95-75
GRAPHIC=VMI

V-M-I's Board of Visitors is gathering in Lexington this weekend to discuss the school's options, in light of the Supreme Court ruling ordering the all-male school to admit women.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The state-supported school is considering whether it's feasible to take the school private rather than go co-ed.
The 17-member board isn't expected to adopt a final plan until September.
(----------------)

8Legacy-Camp

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Sta
TAPE#96-48
GRAPHIC=none

Students, many who have come from foreign countries, are in Bedford County this week learning to be global citizens.
It's a special summer camp that allows participants to share hardship and learn how to resolve conflict.
Intern reporter Stacey Martin tells us more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=These teens have
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Mersiha Advic/Sarajevo, Bosnia; :10
SUPER=19-Stacey Martin; :57
SUPER=01-Mary Helmig/Director of Summer Programs; 1:06
RUNS=1:37
OUT Q=Stacey Martin, News 7, Bedford
(( These teens have traveled the world to get to this camp.
They've come to escape hardships at home--like poverty and hunger and for some even war. ((MERSIHA AVDIC/SARAJEVO, BOSNIA; I WAS TOUCHING THE PARTS OF MY BODY BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I MADE IT, THAT I LIVED THREE AND A HALF YEARS UNDER SUCH HORRIBLE CONDITIONS AND I LEFT IT UNTOUCHED.))
Here Mersiha's found a global village of her peers--with 50 other teens from countries like Cuba, India and China.
The camp is called Legacy International-- and it's a healing camp.
The teens share personal experiences of war and peace-- and try to bridge the cultural gap left behind by previous generations.
There are classes in conflict resolution and leadership.
Campers are also hoping to dispel stereotypes and cultural myths ((STACEY MARTIN/REPORTING; DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL TRAINING HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND SO HAS THE EVERYDAY VIOLENCE BUT OFFICIALS HERE SAY THERE'S STILL A PURPOSE TO THEIR MESSAGE.)) ((MARY HELMIG/DIRECTOR OF SUMMER PROGRAMS; IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE OTHER PEOPLE. THEY'RE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THINGS AT ANOTHER RATE THAT MAYBE THE U-S IS GOING THROUGH AND HOW CAN WE HELP THEM?))
Legacy has been around since 1979.
It's the brain child of a '60s revisionist who never forgot the mission of those turbulent years.
The camp runs twice a summer for three weeks at a time and teens don't have to be from a foreign country to attend.
But counselors say they do have to be open to change.
Stacey Martin, News 7, Bedford.))