WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/02/96

08:25-01

7Bramblett

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96=52
GRAPHIC=Earl Bramblett
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

The man suspected in the mass slaying of a Vinton family is back in the Roanoke Valley this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton;

Bramblett waived extradition, rather than fight being transferred to Virginia from South Carolina.
The 54-year old suspect has lived in Spartanburg for most of the past two years.
Police have now confirmed Bramblett has been their principle suspect from the beginning- -
SUPER=04-August 29, 1994;
from the day they discovered the bodies of the Hodges family in their burned out home on East Virginia Avenue.
Bramblett was a friend of the victims, and had practically lived with Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two girls.
Police won't discuss a motive and won't say what led to the arrest Tuesday.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9"39:40
IN Q=It will be
((CHIEF RICK FOUTZ/VINTON POLICE: IT WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING CASE. THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN THE CASE BEGINS TO UNFOLD AND PEOPLE WILL REALIZE WHY IT TOOK 23 MONTHS IT'S A VERY COMPLEX CASE AND A VERY UNUSUAL CASE. A circumstantial case? A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE.))
SUPER=01-Rick Foutz/Vinton Police Chief;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=circumstantial case.
(double out| Q&A are the same.)
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bramblett was brought first to the Vinton Police department for processing, than taken to the Roanoke County jail in Salem, where he awaits trial for capital murder and arson.
(----------------)

7Amph-lab

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-64
GRAPHIC=NONE

Three people have been arrested after drug enforcement agents find a drug lab, hidden in the Penhook section of Franklin County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Drug Enforcement Admin. Video;

D-E-A Agent Don Lincoln says it was inside a hundred- year old tobacco barn, further concealed by a thick lawyer of hay.
After digging through the hay bales, agents found a trap door and inside a state-of-the art stainless steel laboratory.
Lincoln says it was used to manufacture amphetamine.
Eddie and Ronnie Meeks were arrested along with Tracy Hancock... all three of them charged with manufacturing amphetamine AND marijuana.
(----------------)

7Yokohama

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-62
GRAPHIC=Yokohama

For the first time in seven years Yokohama Tire in Salem is laying off some of its workers.
The action follows an adjustment of production and inventory.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;

The company made it official yesterday, announcing that over the next few weeks, 44 people will be laid off.
Yokohama first circulated word of impending cutbacks last week, but no firm numbers were given.
The company has also begun a one- week plant shutdown.
Yokohama is one of the region's largest employers, with nearly 800 workers.
(-------------)

7Tobacco

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-67
GRAPHIC=Tobacco

In Danville, hundreds were on hand yesterday to take part in one of the south's oldest traditions.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Nat sound
(( ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=sold in Danville, Va.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

Holland's Tobacco Warehouse was the site of "opening day" for the flue-cured tobacco market in Danville.
The past few months haven't been easy for Southside farmers considering this summer's drought like conditions.
The rain which has fallen over the past ten days has helped significantly.
Depending on the type sold, the golden leaf went for anywhere from a dollar 60 to a dollar 87 a pound.
In fact, many experts are predicting a good selling season.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Unfortunately
((CLARENCE BRYANT/TOBACCO FARMER:UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF OUR COUNTERPARTS TO THE, IN THE EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE FALLEN ON, YOU KNOW HARD TIMES BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE THE MARKET UP THIS WAY, TO TRY AND GET THE TOBACCO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DOWN THERE, SO I THINK THE MARKET WILL BE GOOD. ))
SUPER=01-Clarence Bryant/Tobacco Farmer; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=will be good.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

During opening ceremonies, retiring Congressman L- F Payne received a letter signed by local tobacco farmers and warehouse officials thanking him for his years of support.
(----------------)

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
(CHYRON TODAY/TONIGHT AREA FORECAST PAGE)
SUPER=314-Partly/Sunny/81-85/Mostly Cloudy/Possible Showers/61-65;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the forecast - your weekend is going to get off to a nice start.
It's going to be partly sunny today with highs in the low to mid 80s.
For tonight, expect clouds to move in with a slight chance of showers.
Lows will be in the mid 60s.
Saturday will have a few clouds with very scattered showers.
Highs will be in the lower 80s. 7BIRTHDAYS ! 8/4/96

SUPER=130-74/Lucille Womack/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-8/William Rogers/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Glenn Cales/Radford;

SUPER=130-6/Sierra Lee/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-1/Elizabeth Guarino/Daleville;

SUPER=130-66/Geraldine Easome/Penhook;

SUPER=130-7/Jeremy Bishop/Pulaski;

Monday:

SUPER=130-62/Lois Cash/Danville;

SUPER=130-50/Moises Martinez/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-5/Jonni Wilcher/Salem;

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-1st/Mr. & Mrs. Mark Leisure/Richmond;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-60/Annie Martin/Copper Hill;

55Bramblett

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96=52
GRAPHIC=Earl Bramblett
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

Nearly two years after a family of four was found murdered in Vinton, the suspect in the case sits in the Roanoke County jail this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton;

Bramblett waived extradition, rather than fight being transferred to Virginia from South Carolina.
The 54-year old suspect has lived in Spartanburg for most of the past two years.
Police have now confirmed Bramblett has been their principle suspect from the beginning- -
SUPER=04-August 29, 1994;
from the day they discovered the bodies of a family of four in their burned out home on East Virginia Avenue.
Bramblett was a friend of the victims, and had practically lived with Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two girls.
Police won't discuss a motive and won't say what led to the arrest Tuesday.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9"39:40
IN Q=It will be
((CHIEF RICK FOUTZ/VINTON POLICE: IT WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING CASE. THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN THE CASE BEGINS TO UNFOLD AND PEOPLE WILL REALIZE WHY IT TOOK 23 MONTHS IT'S A VERY COMPLEX CASE AND A VERY UNUSUAL CASE. A circumstantial case? A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE.))
SUPER=01-Rick Foutz/Vinton Police Chief;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=circumstantial case.
(double out| Q&A are the same.)
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Bramblett was brought first to the Vinton Police department for processing, than taken to the Roanoke County jail in Salem, where he awaits trial for capital murder and arson.
(----------------)

55Dog-Warden

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-59
GRAPHIC=NONE

Gerald Wheeler's 11 year career as Henry County animal warden may be nearing an end, though it's not voluntary retirement on Wheeler's part.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./July 1996;

On Wednesday the county suspended Wheeler for the second time in a year.
He expects he'll be fired Monday when the suspension ends, and he says he isn't going to fight it.
Last year Wheeler was put on leave after he was indicted for distributing drugs used to euthanize animals.
The charges were later dropped.
This time he says the county has a variety of infractions he allegedly committed.
The county confirms it suspended Wheeler, but will not comment further.
(-------------)

55Henry-Courthouse

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-56
GRAPHIC=NONE

Henry County's new courthouse is just about ready, and now the question of what to do with the old court building remains.
Kimberly McBroom reports some say it's a part of history that should be preserved.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Serving for two centuries
SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00
SUPER=01-Eric Monday/M'ville-Henry Co. Historical Soc.; :17
SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :34
SUPER=01-Tim Martin/Uptown Business Assoc.; :44
SUPER=01-Roscoe Gillispie/Henry Co. Resident; 1:05
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:13
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=News 7, Henry county

(( Serving for two centuries as the Henry County courthouse, this building has stood the test of time.
But now that this landmark is showing its age-- the Martinsville-- Henry County Historical Society is trying to preserve it.
They envision at least a portion of the courthouse as a museum.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 2 19:57:07
((ERIC MONDAY/M'VILLE-HENRY CO. HISTORICAL SOCIETY: WE HAVE A HISTORY OF INDIVIDUALISM, OF INDUSTRIOUSNESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP THAT I THINK COULD NOT ONLY SERVE TO BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT COULD ALSO BE A GOOD MARKETING TOOL FOR OUR REGION AS WE TRY TO BUILD AN ECONOMY FOR THE NEXT CENTURY. ))
RUNS=:16

Even as construction of the new courthouse nears completion--many residents consider the old one as a cornerstone of the county's heritage and a
haven for its future. (/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 1 19:15:29
((TIM MARTIN/UPTOWN BUSINESS ASSOC.: IF WE TAKE OUR COURTHOUSE AWAY, OR DO SOMETHING IN IT THAT DOES NOT MAINTAIN OUR UPTOWN AREA AND MAKE IT INTO A MUSEUM OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE IN RETROSPECT TO WHAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN SAYING-- THEN WE'LL TEAR OUR CORE OUT, OUR HEART. ))
RUNS=:15

Some say a museum would benefit those who remember the area's history-- and those who have yet to learn about it.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 1 19:23:06
((ROSCOE GILLISPIE/HENRY CO. RESIDENT: DURING MY CLASSES, I HAVE ASKED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, "WHO WAS HENRY COUNTY NAMED AFTER?" THEY DON'T KNOW. ))
RUNS=:07
(/////SOT/////)
SOT first standup please 20:17:05
((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, WHEN THE NEW COURTHOUSE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN-- THE COUNTY WILL BE ASKING FOR MORE PUBLIC INPUT. THEY SAY IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE THE RESIDENTS WHO DECIDE THE FATE OF AN OLD LANDMARK. KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7, HENRY COUNTY.))
RUNS=:13
))

55weather

8Fire-Suspect

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

Multiple murder suspect Earl Bramblett is back in Roanoke County this morning, after being brought here from South Carolina last night.
He's being held in the county jail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton;

Bramblett has been living in Spartanburg.
He did not fight authorities' request to transfer him back to Virginia.
Police have now confirmed the 54 year old Bramblett was their main suspect all along in the Hodges family murders.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT at @9:39:20
IN Q=I was confident
((CHIEF RICK FOUTZ/VINTON POLICE: I WAS CONFIDENT FROM DAY-ONE AND I REMAINED CONFIDENT. I KNEW THAT WE WOULD RESOLVE IT. ))
SUPER=01-Rick Foutz/Vinton Police Chief
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=would resolve it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton/August 1994

Bramblett is charged with capital murder and arson in connection with the deaths of Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two young daughters. The bodies of the victims were found inside their burning home two summers ago. Police still won't discuss a motive for the slayings.

8Amph-lab

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-64
GRAPHIC=NONE

Drug enforcement agents have discovered a laboratory hidden in the Penhook section of Franklin County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Drug Enforcement Admin. Video;

D-E-A Agent Don Lincoln says it was inside a hundred- year old tobacco barn, further concealed by a thick layer of hay.
After digging through the hay bales, agents found a trap door and inside a state-of-the art stainless steel laboratory.
Lincoln says it was used to manufacture amphetamine.
Eddie and Ronnie Meeks were arrested along with Tracy Hancock... all three of them charged with manufacturing amphetamine AND marijuana.
(----------------)

8Yokohama

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-62
GRAPHIC=Yokohama

Yokohama Tire is laying off 44 people. The company's adjustment of production and inventory in its Salem plant has prompted the first layoffs there since 1989.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;

The company made it official yesterday, announcing that the lay offs will happen over the next few weeks.
Yokohama first circulated word of impending cutbacks last week, but no firm numbers were given.
The company has also begun a one- week plant shutdown.
Yokohama is one of the region's largest employers, with nearly 800 employees.
(-------------)

8Environment

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-60
GRAPHIC=Campaign 96

It looks like Virginia politicians are "out of the loop" if they don't have a seat on an environmental commission.
Going green and getting headlines is the latest trend in Richmond.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Tuesday afternoon
SUPER=03-Richmond/Tuesday; :00
SUPER=01-Attorney Gen. Jim Gilmore/Commission Chairman; :05
SUPER=03-Richmond/Thursday; :11
SUPER=01-Del. Tom Moss/(D) Norfolk; :17
SUPER=01-Patti Jackson/James River Assoc.; :39
SUPER=01-Scott Leake/Va. GOP Caucus; :59
SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:11
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.
(( Tuesday afternoon.
The Governor's Commission on Environmental Stewardship.
sot 01:19:41
((ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM GILMORE: WE WANT TO FIND MORE AND BETTER WAYS TO CLEAN THE ENVIRONMENT, TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.))
runs=:06

Thursday afternoon.
The General Assembly's Subcommittee on the Future of Virginia's Environment.
sot 05;21:09 TAPE ONE
((DEL. TOM MOSS/D-NORFOLK: I'M WELL AWARE...GOING TO HAVE.))
runs=:16

This much manpower looking at environmental regulations has got to be good news for environmentalists.
sot 06:41:35
((PATTI JACKSON/JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: IF THOSE CONTINUE TO BE RATCHETED DOWN TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR, TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM, ALL THE WHILE THERE'S TALKING GOING ON - THEY'RE TALKING THE TALK, BUT NOT WALKING THE WALK -- THEN I THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE OVER WHETHER THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OR WHETHER THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SORT OF A GREEN VENEER ON THINGS.))
runs=:19

sot tape one 04:53:38
((SCOTT LEAKE/VA. GOP CAUCUS: IN AUGUST, WHEN NOTHING MUCH ELSE IS HAPPENING, YOU CAN HAVE A COMMISSION MEET ON ... SAID AND DONE AT THIS OFFICIAL GATHERING.))
runs=:11

So while the Governor's making waves over cleaner rivers, environmentalists and political observers hope the politicians aren't just testing the waters for some feel-good 1997 election year legislation.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))