WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/31/96

08:25-01

7Hodges

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#96-64
GRAPHIC=Murder investigation
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

It's been alsmost two years since the brutal murders of a Vinton family of four inside their home.
Now, police believe they have the man responsible in custody, and he is described as a friend of the victims.
Ron Jones reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It was the most
SUPER=03-Vinton/August 29, 1994; :00
SUPER=04-Roanoke Times Photo; :23
SUPER=01-Maj. Willie Brown/Spartanburg Sheriff Dept.; :38
SUPER=01-Skip Burkart/Roanoke Co. Commonwealth's Atty; :51
RUNS=1:34
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News Seven.
(( It was the most horrendous crime in the Roanoke Valley in recent memory.
Almost two years later police think they have their man.
A family of four murdered.
Teresa Hodges-- strangled.
Her husband, Blaine shot to death, along with their two daughters.
The house was set a blaze.
The next day police questioned Earl Bramblett, a family friend who often visited their home.
But Bramblett didn't cooperate.
This week he was indicted for capital murder, three counts of first- degree murder and related arson charges.
He was arrested in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
SOT 00:35:56 (WSPA Tape)
((MAJ. WILLIE BROWN/SPARTANBURG, SC SHERIFF DEPT.: WE HAD THE APPROPRIATE MANPOWER TO HANDLE THAT KIND OF SITUATION SO HE HAD VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANYTHING AND THE TIME HE WAS APPREHENDED.))
RUNS=:10

Prosecutors praised both Vinton and State Police.
SOT 16:22
((SKIP BURKART/RKE CO. COMMONWEALTH ATTY: IT'S JUST TAKEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT. IT WAS JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND ARREST SOMEBODY AND SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE THEM.))
RUNS=:10

Some residents had mixed reactions.
SOT 06:12:21
((I'M PERSONALLY GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE MAN HAS BEEN CAUGHT... IF HE'S THE MAN.))
RUNS=:06
BUTT, BUTT, BUTT
SOT 06:05:41
((I GO BY THAT HOUSE EVERY DAY. AND IT BREAKS MY HEART. THEY LET HIM GO AND THEY MADE ALL THESE EXCUSES SEEMS LIKE. I'M SO HAPPY FOR THEM. I HOPE THEY BURN HIM.))
RUNS=:14

This is just the beginning for Bramblett.
South Carolina authorities will determine when he will return to Virginia for trial.
Ron Jones, News Seven.))

7Dalton

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

After seven hours of delibertions, a Pittsylvania County teenager has been found guilty of murder.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night;

19-year old Paul Michael Dalton, Junior was sentenced late last night to 20-years in prison for first degree murder.
Dalton admitted burying the body of 72-year old Clark Aubrey Adkins, but denied pulling the trigger.
According to testimony, Dalton's teenage sister, Mary, and her boyfriend were there when the crime occurred.
Dalton's attorney had tried to convince the jury it was Mary's boyfriend who fired the shotgun.
The defense's side of the story may have placed doubt in the jury's mind.
Dalton was found NOT guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's hard
((DAVID GRIMES/PITTSYLVANIA CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTY.:IT'S HARD TO GUESS BECAUSE PART OF OUR SYSTEM IS THAT WE GIVE COMPLETE PRIVACY TO JURORS, LET THEM MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, IF I HAD TO GUESS, I WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT HE WAS NOT THE ACTUAL TRIGGER PERSON IN THE EVENT BUT THEY MAY HAVE DECIDED THAT 20- YEARS WAS THE SENTENCE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE AND THE THREE YEARS WASN'T NECESSARY. ))
SUPER=01-David Grimes/Pittsylvania Co. Commonwealth's Atty.; :00
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=wasn't necessary.
ANCHOR=MEL
SS=Murder Investigation

The case is still under investigation which means the state could pursue charges against Mary Dalton and her boyfriend, Joseph Smith.

7Incubator

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-51
GRAPHIC=Business News

Another tenant for the Roanoke Valley's two week old small business incubator.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-July 25;
"INCUBATOR" FILE FROM 96-55
The New Century Venture Center announced that SynCom Electronics has moved into one of its space.
SynCom joins a Lynchburg sign company that set up shop in the Venture Center last week.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Business News

SynCom makes "connecting equipment" for the computer, radio, and telecommunications industry.
A small business incubator helps startup firms by providing low cost office space and services.

7Weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Thunderstorms/Locally Heavy Rain/80-84/Partly
Cloudy/Thunderstorms/60-64;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the forecast - it's going to be rainy today with thunderstorms likely.
Temperatures will be in the lower 80s.
The chance of rain continues tonight, becoming partly cloudy after midnight.
Lows will be in the 60s. 7BIRTHDAYS! 8/1/96

SUPER=130-/Nathan Bennett/Narrows;

SUPER=130-/Betty Austin/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-33/Joyce Wooden/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-40/Sharon Coleman/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-7/Audi Hamblin/Snowville;

SUPER=130-16/Cheryl Arnold/Lexington;

SUPER=130-6/Lindsey Crook/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-18/Rhonda Harris/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-17/Bernard Cooper/Roanoke;

(No Picture)

SUPER=130-/Sylvia Chandler/Danville;

SUPER=130-/Amy Snider/Rockbridge Baths;

55Bramblett

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=sly
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=Murder investigation
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Two years after the murder of a Vinton family, a suspect has been arrested in South Carolina.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton/August 29, 1994;

The bodies of Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two young daughters were found inside their burning home.
Teresa Hodges had been strangled; her husband and children were shot to death.
Yesterday, police arrested family friend Earl Bramblett in Spartanburg.
He has been indicted on charges of capital murder, three counts of first- degree murder and related arson charges.
Residents of the Hodges' Vinton neighborhood say they are relieved by the news of Bramblett's arrest.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 06:12:21
IN Q=I'm personally glad
((I'M PERSONALLY GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE MAN HAS BEEN CAUGHT... IF HE'S THE MAN.)) ((I GO BY THAT HOUSE EVERY DAY. AND IT BREAKS MY HEART. THEY LET HIM GO AND THEY MADE ALL THESE EXCUSES SEEMS LIKE. I'M SO HAPPY FOR THEM. I HOPE THEY BURN HIM.))
RUNS=:20
Out Q=they burn him
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Police questioned Bramblett early on in their investigation but aren't yet saying what broke the case and led to yesterday's arrest.
(----------------)

55Helms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#96-67
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A man charged with raping and murdering an elderly Floyd County woman will be sent to a State Hospital.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Floyd Co./June 1992

Thomas Lonnie Helms was charged with the murder of 77 year old Harriet Shank Allen.
She was found dead outside of her home, four years ago.
Yesterday, Helms pleaded NOT guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to Central State Hospital in Petersburg.
Helms told authorities that a man held a gun to his head and forced him to kill Allen.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The Floyd prosecutor says the physical evidence indicated that Helms acted alone.

55Senate-Poll

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=Campaign '96

A recent poll shows Democrat Mark Warner significantly trails Republican Senator John Warner in the Senate race, but not as much as he did a month ago.
The Mason-Dixon Poll shows John Warner was the choice of 53 percent of people surveyed last weekend, compared to Mark Warner's 28 percent.
The last survey showed the senator ahead of Mark Warner 58 percent to 24 percent.

55School-Artist

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-50
GRAPHIC=NONE

When students return to Martinsville Elementary School in a few weeks, they'll find walking the halls a bit more interesting.
Kimberly McBroom explains.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=If you enjoyed watching
SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00
SUPER=01-Roger Carroll/Mural Artist; :24
SUPER=@Kimberly2; 1:00
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville

(( If you enjoyed watching painter Bob Ross on P-B-S-- you'll find the work of Roger Carroll equally captivating.
Like Ross, Carroll is a soft- spoken artist who uses his talent to bring art to life for children.
Carroll has painted murals at schools across Virginia and North Carolina.
His most recent project-- splashing color to the halls and cafeteria of Druid Hills Elementary School in Martinsville.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:52:11
((ROGER CARROLL/MURAL ARTIST: TRIED TO MAKE THE INDOORS APPEAR LIKE THEY'RE OUTDOORS. THE THEORY BEHIND THAT IS IF THE CHILDREN FEEL LESS CONFINED, FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE AT-- THEY'LL JUST NATURALLY DO BETTER. ))
RUNS=:10

Built in 1959, the school has the typical white, cinderblock walls.
But with a stroke of Carroll's paintbrush, the school looks less like an institution-- and more like a scene from a storybook.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:50:59
IN Q=The young lady's
((THE YOUNG LADY'S READING A BOOK ABOUT LAURA INGALLS WILDER'S, "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE" AND AS SHE'S READING THE BOOK, SHE ACTUALLY GETS INTO THE BOOK SO DEEPLY, SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S RIGHT THERE WITH THEM. ))
RUNS=:12

The Parent Teacher Organization raised funds for Carroll's three- week stint at the school.
Carroll says his art will not only make the school more attractive to students, but also makes it feel more like home.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7, Martinsville.))

55Weather

8Fire-Suspect

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=sly
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=Murder investigation

Nearly two years after a quadruple homicide in Vinton, a suspect has been arrested in South Carolina.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton/August 29, 1994;

August 29th, 1994 the bodies of Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two young daughters were found inside their burning home.
Teresa Hodges had been strangled; her husband and children were shot to death.
Yesterday police arrested family friend Earl Bramblett in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has been indicted on charges of capital murder, three counts of first- degree murder and related arson charges.
Residents of the Hodges' Vinton neighborhood say they are relieved by the news of Bramblett's arrest.
Talent=Melanie
SS=Murder Investigation

Police questioned Bramblett early on in their investigation but aren't yet saying what broke the case and led to yesterday's arrest.

8Dalton

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

A jury has found a Pittsylvania County teenager guilty of first degree murder.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night;

19- year old Paul Michael Dalton, Junior was sentenced late last night to 20- years in prison.
Dalton admitted burying the body of 72- year old Clark Aubrey Adkins, but denied pulling the trigger.
According to testimony, Dalton's teenage sister, Mary, and her boyfriend were there when the crime occurred.
Dalton's attorney had tried to convince the jury it was Mary's boyfriend who fired the shotgun.
The defense's side of the story may have placed doubt in the jury's mind.
Dalton was found NOT guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's hard
((DAVID GRIMES/PITTSYLVANIA CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTY.:IT'S HARD TO GUESS BECAUSE PART OF OUR SYSTEM IS THAT WE GIVE COMPLETE PRIVACY TO JURORS, LET THEM MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, IF I HAD TO GUESS, I WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT HE WAS NOT THE ACTUAL TRIGGER PERSON IN THE EVENT BUT THEY MAY HAVE DECIDED THAT 20- YEARS WAS THE SENTENCE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE AND THE THREE YEARS WASN'T NECESSARY. ))
SUPER=01-David Grimes/Pittsylvania Co. Commonwealth's Atty.; :00
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=wasn't necessary.
ANCHOR=MEL
SS=Murder Investigation

The case is still under investigation which means the state could pursue charges against Mary Dalton and her boyfriend, Joseph Smith.

8Canal-Wall

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-52
GRAPHIC=None

A new look in Buchanan that town officials hope leads to a bright future for the local ecnomy.
Scott Prince has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Take a walk
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Harry Gleason/Buchanan Program Manager; :20
SUPER=@Scott1; :27
RUNS=1:21
OUT Q=S.P., N-7, Botetourt County

((Take a walk down Main Street in Buchanan these days and you see some changes.
New businesses have taken the place of empty lots, and the local economy is growing.
Now officials are taking their revitalization efforts to the banks of the James River.
They're proposing a new park--
And because of the recent discovery of a canal wall... the plan looks rock solid.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:42:39
IN Q=It was
((HARRY GLEASON/IT WAS LITERALLY BURIED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THE SOIL LINE AND IT JUST APPEARED AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HILL THAT CAME DOWN. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=came down
STAND UP 12:40:20
((They say it takes a lemon to make lemonade... and that's a pretty good analogy in Buchanan.
This past winter, the James River flooded, and this area was covered with debris-- so much in fact that volunteers were needed to clean up the mess.
One of those volunteers stumbled upon a piece of rock embedded in mud.
A few hours later, a significant portion of the wall was uncovered.)) END STAND UP
RUNS=:22

It was built sometime during the 1800's... but its been buried for at least sixty years.
Even still, you can get a pretty good idea what the wall used to look like-- it was captured in an oil painting which hangs inside a local bank.
There's still no time table on the park... and the town hopes the majority of funding will come through private donations.
But right now the WALL is completely visible.
And officials believe it will not only attract townspeople... but tourists as well... because it's just a stone's throw from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Scott Prince, News-7, Botetourt County.))