WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/08/96

08:25-01

7Fatal-Ax

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#96-86
GRAPHIC=fatal accident
SUPER=19-Beth Myer;

An accident in Campbell County has killed an Appamattox man.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;

It happened last night. Police say 36- year- old William Ellis the third was driving east bound on route 460 when his pick up veered off the road and overturned.
Ellis was taken to Lynchburg General, where he later died.
There is no word on whether alcohol was a factor.
(-------------)

7220-Ax

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-75
GRAPHIC=NONE

Second degree murder charges have been filed in connection with the deadly high speed chase in Botetourt County that happened last Monday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Last Week;

This was the scene one week ago-
Authorities say 18-year old TIMMY Stocks is mostly to blame.
Police say Stocks was in a stolen car- They clocked him at about 90 miles an hour.
After that, a chase ensued down Route 220 near Gala.
Officials stopped their pursuit after six minutes fearing other motorists would be hurt.
But authorities say the 18-year old kept going... and rammed into 2 other vehicles.
29-year old Timothy Mays was killed in the crash.
If convicted on all of the charges against him... Stocks could face more than 45-years in prison.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:00:02
IN Q=He's charged
((JOEL BRANSCOM/BOTETOURT COUNTY COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: HE'S CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER, FELONY ELUDING A POLICE OFFICER, RECKLESS DRIVING AND DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE. ))
SUPER=01-Joel Branscom/Botetourt Co. Commonwealth's Atty.;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=a license
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Stocks' had one passenger in the stolen vehicle- 21-year old Johnny Hayes.
HE's been charged with grand larceny.
Both men are in the Botetourt County Jail, awaiting a bond hearing.
(----------------)

7City-Council

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-72
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Roanoke's local resource authority may be able to compete with commerical trash haulers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

City Council originally rejected the idea, but yesterday members decided to bring it up for another vote.
The Roanoke County supervisors have already endorsed the proposal, and city council is expected to reconsider its decision in two weeks.
The Resource Authority says it may need the new business to insure an adequate flow of trash to the Smith Gap Landfill, but commercial haulers have raised vocal opposition.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=HOLD

Yesterday, City Council also agreed to forgive a 200-thousand dollar loan to Total Action Against Poverty that helped pay for the renovation of the Henry Street Music Center.
Gainsboro neighborhood leaders raised objections to the deal saying the former Dumas (DOO-muss) Hotel should be returned to its previous owners.

7Obremski

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE# 96-70
GRAPHIC=Michael Obremski

Michael Obremski faces another 45 years in prison for making threatening, obscene phone calls to young girls in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/May 10;

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to six counts of threatening to abduct and molest young girls over the telephone.
Obremski got their names from the newspaper. Investigators testified they found a list of 450 names when they searched his apartment.
The commonwealth's attorney says she considers this a violent crime, and will ask for substantial prison time.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:42:01
IN Q=we feel that it's
((BETTY JO ANTHONY, DEPUTY COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; WE FEEL THAT IT'S WARRANTED IN THIS CASE. THE LIVES OF THESE LITTLE GIRLS, SOMETIMES AS YOUNG AS 9 YEARS OLD, WERE VERY ADVERSELY AFFECTED, IT'S A VIOLENT CRIME IN TERMS OF INTERFERING WITH THEIR LIVES.))
SUPER=01-Betty Jo Anthony/Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=with their lives
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=Michael Obremski

Obremski will be sentenced in November.
He's already been sentenced to 15 years in prison for similar charges in Roanoke County and he faces indictments in Botetourt County.

7Best

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutins
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#96-74
GRAPHIC=Business News

Best Products is closing more than 80 stores in 19 states.
That's almost half of its catalog showrooms.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The Best showroom in Roanoke will stay open.
The only store in Virginia that's closing is in Springfield.
The company is also closing three of its four distribution centers.
About 45-hundred people will lose their jobs, two weeks after Best filed for bankruptcy protection.
(----------------)
Talent=Beth
SS=hold

One Richmond retail analyst, Ken Gassman, predicts Best will be out of business by the end of next year.

7WEATHER

ANCHOR=Tiny
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=none
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Flash Flood Watch/Breezy with Rain/55-60/Breezy/Rain Ending/48-50;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the weather,
we'll see breezy conditions today with rain-- there is a flash flood watch for much of our region.
Highs will stay in the upper 50s.
Tonight, rain will end, lows will dip to the upper 40s. MAKE IT A GREAT DAY 7BIRTHDAYS! 10/9/96

SUPER=130-16/Rogenia Craft/New Castle;

SUPER=130-15/Jessica Wilson/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-15/Raymond Rakes/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-75/Victor Dalton/Radford;

SUPER=130-7/Perry Allen/Covington;

SUPER=130-34/Larry Beatty/Lynchburg;

SUPER=130-10/Zachery Dodson/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-33/Diane Tyler/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-3/Branden Dooley/Blue Ridge;

SUPER=130-2/Kayla Underwood/Roanoke;

55NS

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-85
GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern is transfering jobs from Chattanooga to Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;

The company will move its locomotive overhaul operations to a facility it has at its East End Shops in Roanoke.
About 60 people worked at the Chattanooga shop.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 04:05:57
IN Q=The persons
((BOB AUMAN/NORFOLK SOUTHERN SPOKESMAN: THE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN CHATTANOOGA WILL BE OFFERED WORK EITHER HERE OR ELSEWHERE WITHIN NORFOLK SOUTHERN.))
SUPER=01-Bob Auman/Norfolk Southern Spokesman;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=Norfolk Southern.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

One thing is for sure.
Even if the workers don't move from Chattanooga, the work will.
Right now N-S has about 160 people doing long term locomotive repairs in Roanoke.
(-------------)

55Voter-Registration

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-81
GRAPHIC=Campaighn 96

Sunday night's presidential debate and the new motor- voter law created a rush on the local registrar's offices. Steve Smallshaw reports hundreds of folks registered to vote in the November elections at the last minute.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=natsot
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00
SUPER=01-Carol Read/Lynchburg Voter Registrar; :15
SUPER=01-Megan Gregores/Applicant; :59
SUPER=01-Wendell Walker/Republican Party Chairman; 1:08
SUPER=@ssm2; 1:16
RUNS=1:19
OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.

((natsot 00:14:00 (phone rings)
((REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, HOW MAY I HELP YOU?))
RUNS=:02

It's been a tough week to be a voter registrar.
Even after signing up more than 600 would- be voters in the last four days, Lynchburg's registrar's office was still deluged by last minute applicants.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:06:58
IN Q=We've been preparing
((CAROL READ/LYNCHBURG VOTER REGISTRAR: WE'VE BEEN PREPARING BUT THERE'S NO REAL PREPARING FOR IT ONCE IT STARTS. I FOUND ONE OF MY STAFF STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WAS SHE WAS GOING AND IT WAS ONLY A QUARTER TO ELEVEN.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=quarter to 11.

Part of the confusion stems from the new motor-voter law which has left some area registrar's offices "drowning in paperwork".
Applying by mail has cut down on the lines at City Hall, but verifying information on the forms can be time- consuming.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:07:55
IN Q=If it gets
((READ: IF IT GETS THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE POLLS.. YOU CAN REGISTER, BUT IF YOU DON'T VOTE THEN I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S WORTH IT.))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=worth it.

The Republicans would say it is.
Even after Governor George Allen fought hard against motor-voter, his own party is using the law to its advantage... signing up people at their local headquarters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:46:25
IN Q=Is this easier
((REPORTER: IS THIS EASIER FOR YOU THAN HAVING TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN TO DO IT? MEGAN GREGORES/APPLICANT: YES, SIR, DEFINITELY. IT'S ALSO, I WAS AT THE DENTIST RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME RIGHT DOWN HERE.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=right down here.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:30:29
IN Q=It makes it
((WENDELL WALKER/REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN: IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY, YOU CAN SIGN UP JUST ABOUT ANY PLACE, SO THE REPUBLICANS NOW ARE TAKING, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO TRYING TO GET VOTERS SIGNED UP.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=voters signed up.

And they're hoping it pays off next month.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

55WEATHER

8Fatal-Ax

ANCHOR=beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#96-86
GRAPHIC=fatal accident

An accident in Campbell County has killed an Appamattox man. It happened last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;

Police say 36- year- old William Ellis the third was driving east bound on route 460 when his pick up veared off the road and overturned.
Ellis was taken to Lynchburg General, where he later died.
There is no word on whether alcohol was a factor.
(-------------)

8Health-Director

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-78
GRAPHIC=None

Virginia law states its public health directors must be licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth.
Doctor Tom Coleman oversees Halifax, Mecklenburg, and Brunswick Counties.
But He is NOT licensed in Virginia -- and has NOT been for eight months.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=He's licensed
SUPER=03-Halifax; :00
SUPER=01-Dr. Thomas Coleman/Southside Health Director; :07
SUPER=01-Dr. Randy Gordon/Va. Health Commissioner; :35
SUPER=@Bennett; 1:01
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:32
RUNS=1:46
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Halifax.
((
He's licensed in North Carolina, but he did NOT apply for his Virginia license until ten days ago.
sot 03:08:25
((DR. TOM COLEMAN/SOUTHSIDE HEALTH DIRECTOR: IT'S IN ALL HONESTY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PUT ON THE TO-DO LIST...IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I FAILED TO DO ... PERMANENT EMPLOYEE.))
runs=:17

Sounds innocent enough.
But when Allen- appointed health commissioner Randy Gordon says he found out, on the same day Coleman filed for his license, he put Farmville's director in charge of Coleman's district.
sot 01:07:40
((RANDY GORDON/VA. HEALTH COMMISSIONER: DR. COLEMAN HAS BROUGHT LEADERSHIP... PAY HIM FOR THE LEADERSHIP, AND THE MANAGEMENT, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.))
runs=:15

That pay is an annual salary of over 93- thousand dollars a year.
So the non- leadership, strictly doctoring functions are being performed by other doctors, who are paid on a contract to cover for Coleman. 03:53:54 ((THE LAW IN VIRGINIA'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED. THE LAW IS VERY, VERY CLEAR, UNEQUIVOCAL, IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS...I DON'T KNOW.))
runs=:21

sot 03:14:15
((DR. COLEMAN: I CAN... COVERTLY I'VE DECEIVED ANYBODY.))
runs=:10

sot standup
((DR. COLEMAN'S LICENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS NEVER BEEN SUSPENDED, REVOKED, OR PLACED ON A PROBATIONARY STATUS. SO PRESUMABLY, VIRGINIA'S BOARD OF MEDICINE WILL GRANT HIM A LICENSE IN A MATTER OF MONTHS. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, HALIFAX.))))
runs=:13

8AEP

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=AEP

American Electric Power is on the offensive again, trying to get their high-voltage power line across the Jefferson National Forest.
A-E-P says massive blackouts could occur if the line is not installed.
It says an overload could hit the existing power system that the new line will reinforce -- and an overload could trigger power outages from West Virginia to the East Coast.
But the U-S Forest Service has refused to approve the 124-mile line and recommends a route that avoids federal property.
The utility objects to the alternate route.

8WEATHER

ANCHOR=Tiny
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=none
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Flash Flood Watch/Breezy with Rain/55-60/Breezy/Rain Ending/48-50;
SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the weather,
As the Remnants of Tropical Storm Josephine pass through the mid atlantic states,
we'll see breezy conditions today with rain-- there is a flash flood watch for much of our region.
Highs will stay in the upper 50s. MAKE IT A GREAT DAY Tonight, rain will end, lows will dip to the upper 40s.