18:00-01

1-News-Head

ANCHOR=Keith

He's not quite a free man, but Randall Lee Smith left the penitentiary today for the first time in 15 years.
Parole for the Appalachian Trail killer tops NEWS 7 at SIX tonight.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


And we'll take a look at a device to keep Rover from being catapulted through the windshield.
It's already propelled its designers into national recognition.
(----------------)


Sports-Head
ANCHOR=Steve


In sports, the cavaliers hope to turn Scott Stadium into the Texas Steakhouse this weekend, Syracuse talks about the Hokies, FFE is here again,
(----------------)
VO-NAT


as is qualfying at North Wilkesboro where a rain delay has slowed thing s at the half mile bull ring.
(-------------)

WX-Head
TALENT=Robin
SS=None


The sun may lose the battle tomorrow with clouds and showers winning out, but Sunday looks nice and breezy. Also get ready for a bitterly cold WeatherSchool.

Smith


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-69
GRAPHIC=None


Some say he's done his time.
Others believe it wasn't enough.
Either way, Randall Lee Smith is a free man tonight.
15 years ago he went to jail for murdering 2 hikers along the Appalachian Trail.
Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Microwave


Scott Prince was there for his release, and he now joins us from our New River Valley Newsroom.
Live=Scott Full/Microwave
SUPER=@Scott1;
SUPER=05-Blacksburg;


Keith, even though Smith went free today, authorities are still going to keep a close watch on him.
But he made sure no one could really watch him today.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Draped with
SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;
SUPER=04-1981;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=to Pearisburg


Draped with a jean jacket over his head, Randall Lee Smith made his last stop on the way to freedom.
He met up with his parole officer at the state correctional facility in Dublin.
There he was fitted for an electronic monitoring device.
He'll be forced to wear it during his 10- year supervised parole.
It's been 15 years since Smith killed two hikers alon the Appalachian Trail.
The murders of Susan Ramsay, and her companion Bob Mountford drew national attention.
She had been stabbed and slashed.
He was shot in his sleeping bag.
All of the evidence pointed toward Smith, who eventually pled guilty-- but to second degree murder charges.
He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Because of the lesser charges against him, Smith was eligible for parole in 1986 and ultimately received this mandatory release.
Now there is a free man hiding under that jacket... on his way back home to Pearisburg.
Live=Scott Full/Microwave
SUPER=05-Blacksburg;


Keith, we tried to talk to Randall Lee Smith... but as you could see, he wanted nothing to do with media.
Neither did his parole officer.
He also turned down our request for an interview.
Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Microwave
(QUESTION: Scott, were there any family members there waiting at the prison?)


No Keith, there weren't. We can only assume that there were people waiting for him at home.

Pulaski-Body


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-78
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation


Two murder suspects are apparently on the run tonight, after authorities recovered the body of a Pulaski County man who had been missing since Sunday.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Sheriff's investigators were
SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Ralph Dobbins/Pulaski Co. Sheriff;
SUPER=@Tracy1;
SUPER=01-Jacqueline Fisher/Victim's Wife;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.


Sheriff's investigators were checking out the missing person report when a man they questioned led them to the New River.
The man had given 22 year- old Darick Dewayne Wetzel and 27 year- old Joseph Ray Graham, Junior a ride to the river Monday.
When they got there, he says Graham and Wetzel showed him the body of 43 year- old Elmer Eugene Fisher, described how they killed Fisher, and threatened to kill HIM if he told.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 21:18:57

((RALPH DOBBINS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: BASED ON WHAT HE STATES THESE SUSPECTS TOLD HIM WE ROUNDED UP ONE OF THE OTHER SUSPECTS, ONE OF THE NAMES HE GAVE US AND THAT SUSPECT HAS GIVEN US A VERY DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HOW IT TOOK PLACE. ))
RUNS=:14


That third suspect, who has not been charged, was an eyewitness who was driving the group Sunday night. suAuthorities say according to the witness, the foursome stopped here along the New River to drink beer. That's when Graham and Wetzel allegedly pulled knives on the victim, who managed to break free and run into the river.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 21:15:57

((THEY PROCEEDED INTO THE RIVER AFTER HIM AND STABBED HIM NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING21:16:07HE WAS HELD UNDER THE WATER UNTIL THEY WERE SURE HE WAS DEAD.))
RUNS=:10


The witness told police Wetzel and Graham were mad at Fisher for an earlier fight. Fisher's wife said her husband knew there could be trouble.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 22:23:14

((JACQUELINE FISHER/VICTIM'S WIFE: HE WANTED ME TO LOCK THE DOORS DAY AND NIGHT AND WHEN I LET THE DOGS OUT TO LOCK THE DOOR, JUST LET THEM OUT. AND WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE WITH THEM TO WATCH MY BACK. ))
RUNS=:12


Wetzel and Graham are still at large and are considered dangerous. Tracy Altizer, News 7.

ARCOVA


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-67
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


Federal investigators seized hundreds of documents and computer records yesterday from a research firm in Radford.
The search warrant filed today reveals that the raid on the American Research Corporation of Virginia was conducted by criminal investigators from the F-B-I, NASA and the Defense Department.
The investigation has been going on since mid-June.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Radford/Yesterday


The feds are targeting Company President Russell Churchill, as well as its research director and bookkeeper. They're suspected of fraud.
ARCOVA has been a defense contractor for the past decade.
Most recently the company has won 3-million dollars worth of research contracts for the various military services and the defense department.
At the same time, ARCOVA was working on more than 2-million dollars worth of NON- military research for NASA and the National Science Foundation.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=None


Federal agents say ARCOVA employees were pressured to report they'd worked on certain contracts when they hadn't.
According to the government, whenever one contract was running out of funds- -but wasn't finished yet- -ARCOVA employees were told to mark their time sheets to show they were working on a contract that still had money.
The investigation continues.
Tease#1

HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=NONE


Still to come on News 7 at 6--after more than 30 years, a changing of the guard for the Danville Fire Department.
(---------------)
VO-NAT


and some high schoolers' bright idea for keeping pets safe in the car gets national attention.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Robin

wx ad lib Roll Lake Level MUSIC UP FULL
COMM#1

Roll
TALENT=Robin
SS=NONE
SUPER=80-73/61/0.02''/78/61/0.00''/72/57/Trace/70/63/0.00'';
SUPER=81-81/61/0.17''/79/63/0.00''/72/63/0.00'';
SUPER=82-9.46''/plus 6.44''/45.21''/plus 14.57'';
SUPER=83-Down 1.70 feet/Down 0.45 foot;Lake levels


Boucher


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tal
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Rick Boucher


A clarification on a story from yesterday regarding Congressman Rick Boucher's votes in support of late-term abortions.
We reported only that Boucher said he opposed the bill banning the procedure because it did not allow its use even to save the life of the mother.
The bill DOES include that exception, but Boucher went on to say he also wanted exceptions when necessary to preserve the mother's health and future child- bearing potential.

Big-Game


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-75
GRAPHIC=Virginia Lottery


We told you this week that the Virginia Lottery's new Big Game is NOT pulling in the revenues it's supposed to ...so far.
Lottery officials blamed the early low jackpots.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chicago/September 20;


Well, tonight, the Big Game's 15- million dollar jackpot is the biggest in the nation.
Powerball and California's Super Lotto tied for second place at 13- million.
The Big Game numbers are drawn in Chicago, at 11 p-m eastern time. You can get the winning numbers during News 7 at 11.
(-------0---------)



Danville-Fire


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-71
GRAPHIC=None


David Lampley won't leave empty handed when he retires as Danville's Fire Chief.
He'll be packing 33- years of memories.
Teresa Hamilton reports, the city didn't have to search far for a replacement.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I can still
SUPER=03-Danville; :07
SUPER=01-David Lampley/Danville Fire Chief; :14
SUPER=01-Capt. B. G. Lewis, III/Incoming Fire Chief; :35
SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:04
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=Hamilton, News 7.

((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I can

((DAVID LAMPLEY/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF: I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY I WALKED IN THIS BUILDING 33- YEARS AGO, LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. ))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=it was yesterday.


It's memories like those Chief David Lampley carries close to his heart.
Even more meaningful are the people he's met over the years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Not only

((DAVID LAMPLEY/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF:NOT ONLY HERE, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY, THE STATE AND ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS, ALL POSITIVE, I'LL REMEMBER THOSE. ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=remember those.


44- year old B- G Lewis will fill Lampley's shoes on Tuesday.
The career fireman has been with the department for more than 20- years.
Helping others comes naturally, before joining the department, he worked as a life guard.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I'm looking

((CAPT. B. G. LEWIS, III/DANVILLE FIRE DEPT.: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE CITY AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT WHAT I THINK I'M CAPABLE OF DOING. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=of doing.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I've known

((DAVID LAMPLEY/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF: I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS 15- YEARS OLD, A JUNIOR MEMBER OF THE LIFE SAVING CREW, CHASING FIRE TRUCKS, HE'S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB, HE'S A GOOD PEOPLE PERSON, HE'S GOT A LOT OF PERSONALITY AND HE LISTENS TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE JOB. ))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=of the job.

take su
Lewis doesn't expect any major changes right away.
But he's keeping an open mind.
He believes tax payers want more for their money.
Down the road, he'll be looking for ways the department can offer more services to the community.
Teresa Hamilton, News 7.))

Stocks


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#=None
GRAPHIC=NONE

The stock market edged higher today. The Dow gained four points to finish the week at 58 hundred 72. NASDAQ was up two points.
(//////////)
RUNS=:25
SUPER=x5005;


Pet-Restraint


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-79
GRAPHIC=Education


A team of students from the Governor's School in Roanoke are the top dogs in a national competition.
Tonight Joe Dashiell reports on their pet project.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Tripy may seem a bit wooden
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=01-Josh Dietz/Governor's School Junior; :17
SUPER=@Joe2; :27 Quick;
SUPER=01-Gregory Holder/Governor's School Junior; :37
SUPER=01-Shana Waller/Governor's School Senior; :52
RUNS=1:18
OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke


((Tripy may seem a bit wooden, but this two- by- four legged animal is part of an award- winning team.
With Tripy's help, Shana Waller, Gregory Holder and Josh Dietz claimed top honors in a national competition for young inventors.
SOT
IN Q=Originally we

((ORIGINALLY WE WERE GOING TO DO A PROJECT ON SEATBELTS FOR PEOPLE, BUT WHEN WE RESEARCHED THE SUBJECT WE COULDN'T FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT.)) ((BECAUSE MY MOM IS A VETERINARIAN, I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF A SEATBELT FOR PETS.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=seatbelt for pets


Their goal was to create a safety harness, a restraint that would protect a pet in an accident.
SOT
IN Q=First we had to make the

((FIRST WE HAD TO MAKE THE DESIGN OF THE HARNESS ITSLEF. AND WE TOOK A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS INTO ACCOUNT. FIRST WE HAD TO DECIDE HOW THE DOG WOULD BE SITTING AND WE DECIDED THAT MOST LIKELY THE DOG WOULD BE SITTING UPRIGHT LIKE THIS.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=upright like this.


And since they couldn't test the device on a real dog, Tripy did the honors.
SOT
IN Q=We were happy

((WE WERE HAPPY THAT OUR PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL. IT SURVIVED THE FIRST TEST, BUT BY THE SECOND TEST THE DOG WAS A LITTLE BIT CROOKED, BUT WE CALCULATED THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN. ))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=that would happen.


Their project failed to win the governor's school or state competitions, but their teachers submitted it to the national program anyway.
Now they're headed to Washington to claim their award.
SOT 13:15:23
IN Q=He'll be going to Washington

(( ))
RUNS=:03
OUT Q=be around for a while.


Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

Sports tease


ANCHOR=steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=none


Rain has dampened qualifying at the soon to be Winston Cup retired Bull Ring, 15 games on the slate for FFE,
(----------------)
VO-NAT


and, on the menu for the Virginia cavliers..hopefull some well done Longhorn steak.
(-------------)


S-Qualify


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#R-34
GRAPHIC=WILKESBORO


They've been racing Cup cars at North Wilkesboro since 1951, and while this weekend marks the track's last date as Winston Cup host, Mother Nature is doing her best to make their time together last as long as possible.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-N. Wilkesboro, NC/ESPN2; :00


All but 13 cars made it through first round time trials before the rains started and the umbrellas came out.
Bobby Hamilton, who won the pole last week at Martinsville, made his run and was on the pole until rain stopped time trials for over 2 hours and 20 minutes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="You know...

((BOBBY HAMILTON/CURRENT TOP QUALIFIER:))
SUPER=01-Bobby Hamilton/Current Top Qualifier; :00
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=...GET IT IN."
(----------------)
VO-NAT CON'T


They got it in alright!
Jeff Gordon was the first car back on the track after the rain delay and he went out and stole the pole away from Hamilton.
but just a couple of cars later Gordon lost the pole position as Ted Musgrave went out and grabbed to top spot with a speed of 119. point 057 miles an hour.
The time trials just finished up. We'll have the rundown of the top 25 tonight at News 7 Primetime at 10 and on News 7 at 11.
(-------------)


S-Franklin


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=FRANKLIN CO.


Last week's rain on Saturday forced the Folks at Franklin County to reschedule the Crossroads Mall 350 to tomorrow night.
The gates open at 3, the racing starts at 8, and the Southern Modifieds will be on hand for a 150 lap race.

S-Botetourt


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S6-17
GRAPHIC=FFE LOGO


For some high school teams in the area tonight marks the midway point of the season.
And one of the biggest surprises so far is Lord Botetourt.
The Cavaliers have literally made a 180 degree turnaround.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=

((WESLEY COX/BOTETOURT TAILBACK & LINEBACKER:)) ((ANDY WARD/LORD BOTETOURT HEAD COACH:))
SUPER=01-Wesley Cox/Botetourt Tailback and Linebacker;
SUPER=01-Andy Ward/Lord Botetourt Head Coach; :12
RUNS=:30
OUT Q=...DISTRICT SEASON."
(-------------)



S-FFE


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-12
GRAPHIC=FFE


Besides the Botetourt-Byrd game we'll have 14 others on Friday Football Extra tonight.
Here's where you'll find our crews on the scene this evening.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=SOT
RUNS=:28
OUT Q=...FFE graphic comes full screen/music fades.
(-------------)


S-Tech


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=TF96-1
GRAPHIC=Tech football


The carrier Dome is the site of the 10 the meeting between Virginia Tech and Syracuse tomorrow.
SS=Big East


it is the first conference game for the Orangemen while the Hokies are 1 and OH in the Big East.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00


One major key for the 3 and OH Hokies will be to contain Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The secondary

((CORNELL BROWN/VIRGINIA TECH DEFENSIVE END:))
SUPER=01-Cornell Brown/Va. Tech Defensive End; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=...over their head"
(----------------)
VO-NAT(Con't)


Brown has been double teamed most of this season, but his defense is still giving up only 13 points per game.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="our offense

((MALCOLM THOMAS/SYRACUSE RUNNING BACK:))
SUPER=01-Malcolm Thomas/Syracuse Running Back; :00
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=...kitchen sink"
(----------------)
VO-NAT(Con't)


One other note, Tech tailback Ken Oxendine will be back in uniform against the Orangemen.
(-------------)
SS=FULL Screen-Tech/Syracuse


You can catch the game right here on your Hometown Station at 3:30 SS+full screen wake forest Clemson
You can get warmed up for the Hokies by watching the Clemson, Wake Forest battle at noon.

S-Cavaliers


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=VF96-1
GRAPHIC=Virginia cavaliers


Several items on the menu for the Virginia Cavaliers tomorrow...long horn steak, flank steak and filet migon.
UVa's defense will lead the way if it is to beat 13th ranked Texas, which ever way you chop it up.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=first audio
SUPER=01-Duane Ashman/UVa Defensive End; :00
SUPER=03-Winston-Salem, NC/Saturday; :07
SUPER=@Steve1; :17
SUPER=01-Ronde Barber/UVa Defensive Back; :28
SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA/1995 Sugar Bowl; :39
SUPER=03-Austin, TX/Cavaliers vs. Longhorns; :57
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=...I hope they remember it"
(-------------)

((DUANE ASHMAN/UVA DEFENSIVE END:))
((UVa's defense has brought it's apetite to each game so far, amassing 15 sacks in three games. ((STEVE MASON:)) ((:)) ((RONDE BARBER/UVA DEFENSIVE BACK:))
The nations 6th ranked defense seems to have been preparing for last year's Southwest conference player of the year since the pre season. ((ASHMAN:)) Virginia has a score to settle with the Longhorns. A Texas 50 yard field goal as time expired beat UVa last year.
Have the cavs been taking out their anger on this season's oppenents, whose to know, but George Welsh, not known for belief in revenge delivered this very short but strong message to his team this week. ((:))
(-------------)


Wx-Tape
SUPER=305-73/61/87/1986/38/1947;
SUPER=306-72/66/81/SE-9mph/30.18f/7:12am/7:08pm;


Forecasts
SUPER=#561;Burnt Chimney VN
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Cloudy With A/Few Showers/60-65/Showers Likely/Gusty S Wind/73-76;
SUPER=331-Cloudy Skies/Wind S-10/63-66/Showers Late/Gusty S Wind/74-78;
SUPER=332-Showers Likely/And Windy/60-65/Late Day Showers/Gusty S Wind/70-75;
SUPER=333-Showers Likely/Wind S-10/60-64/Showers Likely/S Wind Gusty/73-76;
SUPER=334-Showers And/Thunderstorms/60-65/Showers & Windy/SW-20/70-73;
SUPER=X5001;


Marine-Hero


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-68
GRAPHIC=Frankie Lee Hall


Real heroes are hard to come by.
But the Blue Ridge Community Traffic Safety Board believes
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton

it found the genuine article in Frankie Lee Hall.
The Marine Staff Sergeant was honored today for the daring rescue he made four days ago.
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday


Sergeant Hall pulled two teenagers to safety from a burning vehicle on Interstate 581 Monday.
He said he could never have imagined anything like that was about to happen as he drove downtown.
Noting that he, too, has an 18-year son, Hall thanked God for the fact that Kevin Ballinger and Nicole Hicks got out of the wreck alive.
(----------------)



Bye


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=None


And a reminder you can catch the region's only Prime Time newscast tonight. Take Fullscreen Board
News 7 Prime Time airs at 10 p-m on WEFC Television. You can check your local cable listings for the channel in your area.
Talent=Keith

7 at 11 here on WDBJ. And also be sure to join us for all the day's news weather and sports on News
by SS