WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/17/96

08:25-01

7Bedford-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=fatal fire
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

A house fire has taken the life of an elderly, wheelchair-bound man in Bedford County this morning.
It was reported shortly after 3 o'clock.
89-year-old Jobe (joe-BEE) Nelms was found in the front bedroom of his home in the Body Camp section of the County.
Sheriff's deputies say the house was destroyed.
Police believe Nelms was a heavy smoker.
The fire is not believed to be suspicious.

7Savino

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER= cro
TAPE# edit of savino 89-36
GRAPHIC=none

A scheduled execution tonight for death row inmate Jospeh Savino.
( ----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape;

37-year-old Joseph Savino pleaded guilty to capital murder in the November 1988 killing of live in lover Tom Mc-Waters in Bedford County.
Savino said in an interview this week that Mc-Waters supported him and gave him money but hounded him for sex. In appeals, attorneys for Savino have contended that police badgered him into confessing even though he repeatedly asked for a lawyer.
(-------------)

7Danville-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-56
GRAPHIC=Shooting

Danville police are looking for suspects following a double shooting at an apartment complex.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

It happened at 304- Edmonds Street yesterday afternoon.
Police say 40- year old Phyllis Loney (low-knee) was shot in the right forearm.
27-year old Robert Holland was also injured.
He suffered a gunshot wound to the the lower jaw.
Loney and Holland are from Richmond.
Police say the two were apparently unable to identify the gunman.
They reportedly told police when they opened the door a man and woman entered and someone began shooting.
Police say both injuries were minor.
(-------0---------)

7Chopski

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cuitn
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-57
GRAPHIC=Chopski

It has been three years since federal officials seized the business records of Roanoke pharmacists Joseph Chopski and charged him with fraud.
Last night a jury found him not quilty on all 19 counts.
Keith Humphry has reaction from Chopski.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Chopski says he's
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape; :05
SUPER=@Keith2; :13
SUPER=01-Joseph Chopski/Pharmacist; :24
SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Chopski's Attorney; :31
SUPER=01-Tom Blaylock/Wonder Drug's Attorney; :53
RUNS=1:35
OUT Q=Humphry, NEWS 7.

(( Chopski says he's not much of one to cry in public, but says he came pretty close when the verdicts were read.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield audited his Wonder Drug Store in 1993. The insurance company gave the results to the F-B-I, suggesting that Chopski had over-billed hundreds of thousands of dollars.
CHOPSKI believes it was pay-back for the way he reacted to changes Blue Cross had made in its "provider agreement."
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:16:05
IN Q=I put a sign
((JOSEPH CHOPSKI/PHARMACIST: I ASSUME. I PUT A SIGN UP THAT SAID: "WE ACCEPT BLUE CROSS, BUT IT SUCKS," AND FROM THAT POINT ON MY LIFE WAS A LIVING HELL.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=living hell.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:04:30
IN Q=There was some inference
((TONY ANDERSON: CHOPSKI'S ATTORNEY: THERE WAS SOME INFERENCE THAT THIS WAS A PAY-BACK FOR THE SIGN THAT MR. CHOPSKI HAD PLACED OUT IN FRONT OF HIS STORE ON HIS MARQUEE. A SIGN THAT: "WE ACCEPT BLUE CROSS BUT IT SUCKS." AND IT CAME OUT IN THE COURSE OF THE TRIAL. I THINK THERE WAS SOME ACRIMONY AS A RESULT OF IT, AND I THINK THE JURY SAW THAT.))
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=some acrimony. jury saw that.

(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:05:45
IN Q=As I told the jury
((TOM BLAYLOCK/WONDER DRUG'S ATTORNEY: AS I TOLD THE JURY, IT'S JUST CONTRARY TO HUMAN EXPERIENCE. A MAN WITH THAT KIND OF REPUTATION IS NOT GOING TO- -FOR $2 A WEEK- -COMMIT FRAUD OVER A PERIOD OF 30 MONTHS.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=30 months.

(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:15:35
IN Q=To get audited
((TO GET AUDITED AND BE ACCUSED OF SOMETHING AFTER YOU'VE SPENT 27 YEARS IN THE PROFESSION DEVELOPING YOUR NAME AND YOUR REPUTATION, TO BE ACCUSED OF BEING A THIEF, IT'S NOT A PLEASANT THING TO HAPPEN. AND LOSE A THIRD OF YOUR BUSINESS.. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET THAT BACK? I THINK SO YEAH. AT LEAST I'VE GOT MY REPUTATION BACK AND THAT'S MORE THAN ANYTHING.))
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=more than anything.

If he puts another sign up, he told his lawyers it's going to say: "I've had a cross to bear, and it's Blue."
Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=none
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Mostly/Sunny/86-90/Mostly/Clear/65-69;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the forecast - another sunny day is in store for us today.
Highs are going to be near 90 degrees.
Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with cooler temperatures - lows will be in the mid to upper 60s.
Looking ahead, mostly sunny and hot again tomorrow with highs in the lower 90s. 7BIRTHDAYS! 7/18/96

SUPER=130-40/Diane Midkiff/Floyd;

SUPER=130-8/Joshua Moses/Radford;

SUPER=130-2/D.J. Russell/Goodview;

(ANNIVERSARY)
SUPER=130-25th/Charles & Anita Price/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-6/Katrina Cales/Narrows;

SUPER=130-62/Louise Webb/Covington;

SUPER=130-15/Steve Craghead/Rocky Mount;

(No Pictures)

SUPER=130-/Phyllis Price/Independence;

SUPER=130-34/Robert McDaniel/Altavista;

SUPER=130-52/Frank Young/Dublin;

55Bedford-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=fatal fire
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Bedford County authorties are investigating an early morning house fire that has taken the life of an elderly, wheelchair-bound man.
It was reported shortly after 3 o'clock.
89-year-old Jobe (joe-BEE) Nelms was found in the front bedroom of his home in the Body Camp section of the County.
Sheriff's deputies say his house was destroyed.
The fire is not believed to be suspicious.

55Andrews

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-47
GRAPHIC=campaign 96

The contests for Governor and Lieutenant Governor may still be more than a year away, but one candidate is wasting no time.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg

Businessman Coleman Andrews spoke to supporters in Lynchburg yesterday during a five-stop campaign swing through the state.
Andrews says he needs to build name recognition before taking on well known candidates, like Democrat L.F. Payne.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:40:51
IN Q=The Republican
((COLEMAN ANDREWS/R- LT. GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS HISTORICALLY NOMINATED ITS CANDIDATES THROUGH A CONVENTION PROCESS, AND IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING NOMINATED IN A CONVENTION PROCESS, YOU HAVE TO APPROACH IT AS A MARATHON, NOT A LAST- MINUTE SPRINT.))
SUPER=01-Coleman Andrews/(R) Lt. Governor Candidate; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=last-minute sprint.
(----------------)
VO NAT
State senator Steve Newman says the GOP needs Andrews to help break the deadlock in the Senate.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:37:30
IN Q=If we don't
((SEN. STEVE NEWMAN/R- LYNCHBURG: IF WE DON'T HAVE A DEMOCRAT WHO WILL CHANGE RANKS AND COME AND HELP US VOTE FOR PARITY IN THE VIRGINIA SENATE, WE DEFINITELY NEED SOMEONE LIKE COLEMAN ANDREWS, WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA.))
SUPER=01-Sen. Steve Newman/(R) Lynchburg; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=for central Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Financial reports show Andrews has raised nearly as much money as the likely gubernatorial candidates, and SIX times more than his main GOP opponent John Hager.
If elected, he promises "not" to make politics his career.
(----------------)

55Pulaski-Dogs

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-54
GRAPHIC=NONE

Several animals are still waiting for homes more than a month after officials shut down a Pulaski County kennel.
Tipton Ridge Veterinary Clinic has cared for
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pulaski;
29 animals seized from the former Solid Rock Kennel in early June.
Nine were put down due to disease, and 10 have been adopted.
Veterinarian Randy Vaughn says his staff has been stretched to the limit caring for the animals, and after 45 days in cages Eight dogs and two cats still desperately need homes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:41:41
IN Q=
((RANDY VAUGHN/VETERINARIAN: WE THINK WE KNOW THEIR DISPOSITIONS WELL ENOUGH THAT WE CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE YOU A NICE HOUSEHOLD PET OR AT LEAST ONE FOR THE FAMILY YARD. ))
SUPER=01-Randy Vaughn/Veterinarian;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=the family yard.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

All of the dogs and cats taken to Tipton Ridge have been treated, vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
The former owners of Solid Rock Kennel, Terry Weaver and Annette Jenkins face 31 counts each of cruelty to animals.
(----------------)

55Funnel-Folo

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-51
GRAPHIC=Tornado

The National Weather Service reports a higher number of tornados in the state.
The most recent one left extensive damage in Bedford County and City.
Ron Jones has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The storm was first
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Monday; :00
SUPER=03-Bedford; :15
SUPER=01-Michael Emlaw/National Weather Service; ::28
SUPER=@Ron2; :49
RUNS=1:08
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.
(( The storm was first spotted in Stewartsville Monday afternoon.
It ripped through structures and tossed some debris as far as three miles away.
It travelled along an eight to ten mile path and stopped in Bedford City.
A day later residents, city crews and utility workers pitched in to clean up the mess.
National Weather Service meteorologists were on hand to assess the situation.
They say there have been an unusually high number of tornados in Virginia this year.
SOT 03:54:57
IN Q=We didn't have any...
((MICHAEL EMLAW/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: )) Weather Service;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=during the summertime.

Officials say in Bedford city alone there were 14 homes damaged by the storm.
The National Weather Service personnel say they are gathering data to determine if there were any changes in the atmosphere prior to the storm--that might help them predict future activity.
But one positive note-- despite the flying glass and debris-- no one was injured by the storm.
Ron Jones News Seven.))

55weather

8Bedford-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#=96-49
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

An early morning blaze has claimed the life of a Bedford County man.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Authorities say 89- year- old Jobe (JOE-bee) Nelms was killed when his Body Camp home went up in flames around 3:15.
Nelms' brother was sleeping in a pickup truck in the front yard, and awoke to find the house on fire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:18:55
IN Q=He woke up
((INVEST. GARY FARIBAULT/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: HE WOKE UP TO A NOISE, HE'S NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IT WAS, IT COULD'VE BEEN A WINDOW POPPING OUT OR BREAKING OUT OR WHATEVER, SAW THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE AND HE WENT AND OPENED THE DOOR TRYING TO GET TO HIS BROTHER.)) ((ASST. CHIEF RONNIE CHEEK/MONETA V.F.D.: I JUST LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD HERE AND I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES ON THE SCENE, I GOT HERE BEFORE THE TRUCKS DID, IT WAS FULLY INVOLVED. IT WAS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING WITH IT.))
SUPER=01-Invest. Gary Faribault/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :00
SUPER=01-Asst. Chief Ronnie Cheek/Moneta V.F.D.; :12
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=anything with it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Nelms, who was confined to a wheelchair, was found in his front bedroom.
Investigators say he was a heavy smoker, and that may have sparked the blaze.
(----------------)

8Savino

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER= cro
TAPE# edit of savino 89-36
GRAPHIC=none

A man convicted of capital murder in Bedford County is scheduled to die by lethal injection tonight.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape;

Joseph Savino pleaded guilty to capital murder in the November 1988 killing of his lover, Tom Mc-Waters.
The two men lived together.
Savino said in an interview this week that Mc-Waters supported him and gave him money but hounded him for sex. In appeals, attorneys for Savino have contended that police badgered him into confessing even though he repeatedly asked for a lawyer.
(-------------)

8Deathrow-Opposition

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

Researchers at Virginia Tech say a new survey shows that Virginians strongly support the death penalty.
The Center for Survey Research says 83 percent of survey respondents say they're for the death penalty.
But the survey also finds that Virginians aren't nearly as fond of capital punishment when other options are available.