WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/21/96

08:25-01

7Police-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-82
GRAPHIC=Police Shooting
SUPER=19-Melanie Moon;

41- year- old Rodney Lee Wilhelm was shot and killed by police early yesterday morning outside of his southeast Roanoke home.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The incident unfolded near the intersection of Jerome and Padbury Streets about three A- M.
Police say they responded to a call of a woman screaming for help.
According to a news release, Wilhelm had fired shots into his own house. When they arrived, they say he was standing in the street with a gun in his hand.
Police say he fired a .44 caliber handgun at the pavement, then pointed another weapon at an officer.
They say that's when the officer opened fire.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Neighbors who witnessed the shooting confirmed that Wilhelm fired one of his guns, before the officer opened fire on him.
But family members dispute the department's version of events... and say they believe police could have avoided a fatal confrontation.
The officer who fired the fatal shots has been placed on administrative leave until the investigation is completed.

7Pedestrian-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-79
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident

A pedestrian was struck and killed on Interstate 5-81 Saturday night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday Night;

The accident happened shortly after ten o'clock in the southbound lanes of the highway.
State Police say 45- year- old Richard Leo Thompson of Emporia walked into the path of a car.
He was taken to a Roanoke hospital where he died about 45 minutes later.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Police have not filed charges against the driver of the car.

7House-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-78
GRAPHIC=Fire

Fire damaged two homes and displaced residents in southeast Roanoke.
It happened yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

No one was injured, but both buildings will need major repairs.
723 Dale Avenue was the first to catch fire. Occupants say they heard a popping noise... and then found one side of their house in flames.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I couldn't believe
((RHONDA FRITZ/HOMEOWNER: I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. JUST A SECOND IT WAS ALREADY ABOUT TEN FOOT HIGH, THE BLAZE WAS. FIRST THING IS TO CALL AND THEN GET OUT. THAT'S BASICALLY IT. I DIDN'T GRAB ANYTHING. I JUST GOT OUT AND MADE SURE MY DAUGHTER AND MY HUSBAND WERE OUT.))
SUPER=01-Rhonda Fritz/Homeowner;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=were out.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Two ladder trucks and four engines responded, as the flames spread to the house next door.
Firefighters contained the blaze in about 35 minutes and then stayed on the scene to hose down hot spots in the attic.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We could see the smoke
((BOBBIE SLAYTON/DISTRICT CHIEF: WE COULD SEE THE SMOKE DOWNTOWN. IT WAS GOING PRETTY GOOD WHEN WE GOT HERE.))
SUPER=01-Bobbie Slayton/District Chief;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=when we got here.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

No official word on the cause, but residents believe an electrical problem may have sparked the fire.

7Dodge-Latch

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#96-75
GRAPHIC=None

Some Dodge minivans may need some unexpected repair work.
The service center at Dominion Dodge in Salem is helping van owners replace potentially defective hatch latches on mini-vans.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

Apparently the latches on 19-84 to '95 model mini-vans may spring open if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Company officials say more than a year ago Chrysler began offering this voluntary safety action.
Dominion Dodge has replaced more than one- thousand of the latches during that time.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:25:25
IN Q=CHRYSLER DETERMINED
((BOB KAPLAN/DOMINION DODGE: CHRYSLER DETERMINED THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THEIR LATCHES AND THEY THEREFORE REDESIGNED ALL THESE LATCHES AT NO COST TO ANYBODY WHO OWNS ONE OF THESE TYPE OF VEHICLES.))
SUPER=01-Bob Kaplan/Dominion Dodge;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=TYPE OF VEHICLES
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Kaplan says Chrysler has sold more than four- and- a- half- million mini-vans.
Dodge Caravans, Plymouth Voyagers and Chrysler Town and Countries are models which may need a new latch.
Kaplan encourages all mini-van owners to take advantage of the replacement service.
(----------------)

7WEATHER

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

SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Variably/Cloudy/61-65/Partly/Cloudy/45-49;

SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning now to the weather forecast,
Expect some cloud coverage today with highs in the lower 60s.
Tonight, lows will drop to the mid to upper 40s. Take extended 7BIRTHDAYS! 10/22/96

SUPER=130-100/June Hostetter/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-90/Otey Waldron/Thaxton;

SUPER=130-88/Irene Adams/Dry Fork;

SUPER=130-10/Katie Bryant/Blacksburg;

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-/Bobby & Delores McBride/Gretna;

SUPER=130-3/Katelyn Young/Penhook;

SUPER=130-20/Christopher Hatchett/Penhook;

SUPER=130-7/Michaelia Tyler/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-8/Evan Phillips/Floyd;

55Senate-Race

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jda
TAPE#96-76
GRAPHIC=Campaign 96
SUPER=@Melanie1;

With U-S Senate race just over two three weeks away, Senator John Warner and challenger Mark Warner continue the verbal attacks.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;

On a visit to the Addison Aerospace Magnet School earlier this week,-- and during appearances across the state, the incumbent Republican has billed himself as an independent voice for Virginia.
But Mark Warner says his opponent's voting record is not that of a mainstream moderate.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=If I could get
((MARK WARNER/D- U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: IF I COULD GET EVERY VIRGINIA VOTER TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO LOOK AT HIS RECORD, GO LOOK AT WHERE HE'S VOTED THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'D WIN THIS RACE WALKING AWAY.)) ((THE PERCEPTION AND THE REALITY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CASE OF THE INCUMBENT. I WAS FRANKLY SURPRISED AND I WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAINST HIM IF THE PERCEPTION AND THE REALITY WERE THE SAME.))
SUPER=@MarkWarner;
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=were the same.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Wednesday;

But Senator John Warner says it is his Democratic challenger who is hoodwinking the voters.
He says Mark Warner is a political insider, not a newcomer to Capitol Hill.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=You know it's kind of like
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/R- VIRGINIA: IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FELLOW DRIVING UP PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. HE TRIES TO SAY, MR. POLICEMAN TELL ME WHERE'S THE CAPITOL. POINT THE WAY. COME ON. HE'S WORKED IN THE CAPITOL OFFICES OF TWO SENATORS. TWO OF THE MOST LIBERAL SENATORS. THEN HE WENT ON TO WORK FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.))
SUPER=@JohnWarner;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=democratic national committee.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The senate campaign has taken on an increasingly negative tone.
That is only expected to intensify in the final days of the campaign.

55Prison-Reform

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

A prison reform group is trying to stop the state from making money off telephone calls made by prison inmates. The group -- Virginia CURE -- will ask the General Assembly to end what it calls a kickback, paid to the state for inmate phone calls.
A legislative watchdog group said the state made seven- and- a- half- million dollars last year from inmate calls.
CURE said the money is coming from inmates' families who pay for the collect calls made by their relatives behind bars.
The state says inmates have to go through an operator in making calls to prevent fraud and abuse.

55WEATHER

8Police-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-82
GRAPHIC=Police Shooting
SUPER=@Melanie1;

A confrontation with police proved fatal for a Roanoke man.
41- year- old Rodney Lee Wilhelm was shot and killed early yesterday morning outside of his southeast Roanoke home.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The incident unfolded near the intersection of Jerome and Padbury Streets about three A- M.
Police say they responded to a call of a woman screaming for help.
According to a news release, Wilhelm had fired shots into his own house. When they arrived, they say he was standing in the street with a gun in his hand.
Police say he fired a .44 caliber handgun at the pavement, then pointed another weapon at an officer.
They say that's when the officer opened fire.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Neighbors who witnessed the shooting confirmed that Wilhelm fired one of his guns, before the officer opened fire on him.
But family members dispute the department's version of events... and say they believe police could have avoided a fatal confrontation.
The officer who fired the fatal shots has been placed on administrative leave until the investigation is completed.

8Robots

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-83
GRAPHIC=NONE
***ANCHOR TAG***
A Roanoke County Company is forecasting a bright future.
Systems Technology of Virginia believes it will lead the way in labor saving devices.
Len Besthoff has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=There were
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Scott Repsher/Systems Technology of Virginia; :21
SUPER=@Len1; :28
SUPER=01-Richard Harriman/Staubli Unimation; :46
SUPER=01-Ken Rickenbrode/Bertelkamp Automation; :57
RUNS=1:15
OUT Q=LB, News-7.
(( There were no end of gadgets,
NAT SOT TOT 10:36:32
RUNS=:02
sorters,
NAT SOT TOT 10:21:45
RUNS=:02
and other devices at this robotics show.
NAT SOT TOT 10:39:50
RUNS=:02

And they all have one thing in connection...automation.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:19:04
IN Q=This show
((SCOTT REPSHER/SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY OF VA: THIS SHOW WAS CONDUCTED TO SHOW THE LOCAL VIRGINIA AREA AND THE COUNTRY, BASICALLY...ESPECIALLY THE EAST COAST HOW VIRGINIA CAN SUPPLY AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS AND SOLUTIONS TO MAJOR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=industrial problems.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:56:49
IN Q=Here's one
((Here's one of the high precision robots on display here. A product can be in one position one time and the robot'll pick it up. Then you can put a product down on the tray in another position another time and it's smart enough to adapt.))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=to adapt.
NAT SOT with big yellow machine
RUNS=:02

The robot can do this because it basically has an electronic eye.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:37:29
IN Q=The vision
((RICHARD HARRIMAN/STAUBLI UNIMATION: THE VISION SYSTEMS CAN ADAPT IMMEDIATELY AND PLACE THE PART IN THE PROPER ORIENTATION.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=proper orientation.

Another device on display can perform three functions at once...all on different planes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:14:24
IN Q=They can
((KEN RICKENBRODE/BERTELKAMP AUTOMATION: THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY DO THE MULTIPLE MOTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=do now.

All the people displaying these products say there's more automation to come, noting that when you look at these robots, you're basically getting a good glimpse of what's coming in the 21st century.
Len Besthoff, News-7.))

ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Systems Technology of Virginia uses a lot of the robotic devices on display to help customers simplify their manufacturing processes.
The company expects to make the robotics show an annual event.

8Auction

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#96-74
GRAPHIC=None

Christmas is still two months away, but one group in Salem is already getting ready for the Holiday. The Community Christmas Store
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;
sponsored a benefit auction this weekend to raise money for needy families.
One of the big-ticket items of the day was this Mustang.
The car sold for 19-hundred dollars.
The Christmas Store gets a percentage of whatever is sold during the auction.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:38:06
IN Q=our goal is to
((TERESA THOMAS GEREAUX/COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS STORE: OUR GOAL IS TO SERVE OVER 500 FAMILIES IN OUR STORE. IT'S OPEN DECEMBER 13TH AND 14TH. WE PROVIDE FOR EACH OF THOSE FAMILIES CLOTHING AND TOYS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ALSO HAVE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR THE FAMILY AND FOOD.))
SUPER=01-Teresa Thomas Gereaux/The Community Christmas Store;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=FAMILY AND FOOD
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The store needs about 20 to 30-thousand dollars to operate.
They will also accept donations of NEW clothes and toys at the store during the month of November.
The store is located on Roanoke Street in Salem.
(----------------)