WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/31/96

08:25-01

copen

SUPER=@Melanie1;

7Fatal-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-93
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

A cigarette may to be blame for a fatal house fire yesterday in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The blaze broke out at about 4- 30 in the afternoon.
David Hurt was found in the kitchen near a window.
Authorities say he may have been trying to escape.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:40:44
IN Q=some three or four
((T.W. TYREE/ROANOKE CITY DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF: SOME THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AFTER THAT, WE GOT THE FIRE KNOCKED DOWN UNDER CONTROL, AND WE DID A SECONDARY SEARCH AND WE DIDN'T LOCATE ANYONE ELSE. ))
SUPER=01-T.W. Tyree/Roanoke District Fire Chief;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=didn't locate anyone else
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Tyree says the 60- year- old man apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, those who knew him say Hurt was a quiet man who stayed close to home.
Charles Stanley says he often helped Hurt run errands.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:56:18
IN Q=I saw him yesterday.
((CHARLES STANLEY/NEIGHBOR: I SAW HIM YESTERDAY. HE WANTED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BUY HALLOWEEN CANDY AND A FEW THINGS FOR THE KIDS FOR THE UPCOMING HALLOWEEN NIGHT. ))
SUPER=01-Charles Stanley/Neighbor;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=upcoming Halloween night
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Officials are still investigating what caused the fire, but believe Hurt may have fallen asleep while smoking.
(----------------)

7Weddington

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE# 96-86
GRAPHIC=None

A woman lost her son to "Huffing" last week.
Now she wants to prevent other families from suffering such a loss.
Eric Earnhardt has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Kathryn Weddington knew
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Kathryn Weddington/Victim's Mother; :18
SUPER=@Eric2; :35
RUNS=1:52
OUT Q=E.E. News 7

(( Kathryn Weddington knew her son was in trouble. 16 year old Brian Mitchell had admitted he'd been "huffing"... getting high off aerosol cans for the last year. He was sick, scared, and finally ready for help.
He talked to his family about it last Monday night.

SOT 12:20:42
IN Q=it was a wonderful
((KATHRYN WEDDINGTON/VICTIM'S MOTHER; IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TALK WITH HIM, HE KNEW HE WAS ABOUT TO START REHAB, HE KNEW HE HAD TO CHANGE. HE WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=looking forward to it

Brian didn't know he was about to die. Driven by his addiction, which aerosols couldn't satisfy anymore. He had swallowed a small amount of antifreeze. Drug counselors say some some teens believe it'll get them high. Brian lapsed into a coma and died.
His mother says the inhalants, from things like aerosol cans and butane lighters, started the process that led to his death.

SOT 12:23:43
IN Q=kids need to know
((KATHRYN WEDDINGTON/VICTIM'S MOTHER; KIDS NEED TO KNOW THAT IT'S TOXINS, IT'S POISON THAT IS AFFECTING THEM. IT'S NOT A NATURAL ORGANIC THING THAT THEY'RE GETTING HIGH ON... IT'S POISON. ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=it's poison

Inhalant abuse is tough to spot... On their own the symptoms don't stand out... they include:
slurred speech headaches involuntary eye movement impaired attention loss of appetite -and- poor balance and coordination.

Parents can also watch for these signs that abuse is going on.
Aerosol cans that aren't empty, but have no propellant left in them. Aerosol cans with the nozzles removed. Rags and paper bags with aerosol residue.

SOT 12:25:26
IN Q=there are many
((KATHRYN WEDDINGTON/VICTIM'S MOTHER; THERE ARE MANY MANY SIGNS, AND YOU CAN KIND OF WRITE THEM OFF TO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT CONSIDER THE SIGNS PUT TOGETHER AND IT'LL MAKE SENSE.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=it'll make sense

Armed with the bittersweet gift of hindsight, Weddington wants to warn other parents and children about the danger.
Hoping Brian's loss can help save someone else's son or daughter.
Eric Earnhart, News 7))

7Chase-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-79
GRAPHIC=NONE

The Medical examiner confirmed yesterday that a Pittslyvania County woman was shot four times in the head and chest.
After fatally beating and shooting her, Tammy Scearce's husband then apparently put her in the trunk of his car.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Monday;

Authorities were chasing Wilbur Scearce to question him concerning the whereabouts of his wife.
The 35- year- old man led them on a chase from Danville to his home in Ringgold.
Police negotiated with Scearce for hours before he apparently committed suicide.
(----------------)

7WEATHER

ANCHOR=cutin
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE

SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Sunny/Skies/65-69/Increasing/Clouds/40-44;

SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning to the weather forecast, Sunny skies today, with highs in the upper 60s are expected.
We should see increasing clouds with lows in the low 40s tonight. 7BIRTHDAYS! 11/1/96
Friday:

SUPER=130-40/Glenda Blanks/Lynchburg;

SUPER=130-67/Lawrence wilhelm/Glasgow;

(55th Anniversary)
SUPER=130-55th/Edd & Sadie Allen/Blacksburg;

SUPER=130-5/Christy Witcher/Callands;

SUPER=130-3/Kayla Sibold/Goshen;

SUPER=130-/Sharon Gilbert/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-/Gladys Booth/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-11/B.J. Compton/Floyd;

SUPER=130-15/Honey Taylor/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-75/Jesse Fain/Ridgeway;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-18/Holly Smith/Saelm;

SUPER=130-7/Justin Witcher/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-10/Bryan Ratcliff/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-75/Coston Williams/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-15/Jennifer Jennings/Salem;

SUPER=130-14/Debra Parcell/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-10/Jeremy Hodge/Dublin;

SUPER=130-13/Brad Carter/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-8/Adam Jones/Salem;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Mike Yost/Pearisburg;

SUPER=130-/Jody Hershey/Roanoke;

copen
SUPER=@Melanie1;

55Best

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-80
GRAPHIC=Business Closing

A big sale is coming up to local Best Stores, but the bad news, it will be the LAST sale Best will ever have.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;

The financially troubled company expects to close its 88 remaining stores, and 11 jewelry-only locations early next year.
That's because the investors buying Best have decided against operating any part of the 30-year old chain.
Best stores in Roanoke and Lynchburg each have about 55 full and part-time employees.
(-------------)

55NS-Conrail

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-89
GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern turns up the heat in his in its hostile bid for Conrail.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

In a letter to shippers, N-S says a deal between itself and Conrail will improve competition in the East.
The railroad also criticized what it calls C-S-X's opposition to change.
N-S put in a competing bid for Conrail last week.
It tops a previous offer by C-S-X by more than a BILLION dollars.
A Conrail merger with Norfolk Southern or C-S-X would create the nation's third- largest railroad.
(-------------)

55Legionnaires'

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cst
TAPE#96-94
GRAPHIC=Legionnaires

The number of "Legionnaires' cases continues to grow in the New River Valley.
So Don't be surprised if you see health officials out investigating public places.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Radford; :

Yesterday, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of patients to 13.
These latest patients had already been treated for pneumonia-- they just underwent more testing BECAUSE of the outbreak.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control, State health officials, and local health districts are helping in the effort to track down the source of the legionnella bacteria.
(---------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

They're checking out any place they might find water sprays-- a tall order that will include any public place with a drinking fountain.

55Colonial-Arms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-84
GRAPHIC=None

It has rumored one of Roanoke's largest office buildings downtown was going Condo.
But now it looks like it WILL remain office space.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;
Nat Sot AUCTIONEER
RUNS=:05
(nat sound auctioneer 5seconds)

The 12- story Colonial Arms building was auctioned off to a pair of real estate investors from Chesapeake.
They say the building will continue to be leased as office space.
The investors bought the building for 850- thousand- dollars, the only bid made.
They say that's less than half its assessed value.
(-------------)

55WEATHER

8Fire-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#net (edit of 96-93)
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

Fire investigators are trying to determine if a cigarette is to blame for a fatal house fire in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

David Hurt was found in the kitchen of his home near a window.
Authorities say he may have tried to escape.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:40:44
IN Q=some three or four
((T.W. TYREE/ROANOKE CITY DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF: SOME THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AFTER THAT, WE GOT THE FIRE KNOCKED DOWN UNDER CONTROL, AND WE DID A SECONDARY SEARCH AND WE DIDN'T LOCATE ANYONE ELSE. ))
SUPER=01-T.W. Tyree/Roanoke District Fire Chief;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=didn't locate anyone else
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Fire officials say the 60- year- old man apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, those who knew him say Hurt was a quiet man who stayed close to home.
Charles Stanley says he often helped Hurt run errands.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:55:51 tape 2
IN Q=He was a pretty
((CHARLES STANLEY/NEIGHBOR: HE WAS A PRETTY QUIET GUY, PRETTY EASY GOING, USUALLY STAYED PRETTY CLOSE TO HOME. I WOULD TAKE HIM VARIOUS PLACES, RUN HIS ERRANDS MOST OF THE TIME. ))
SUPER=01-Charles Stanley/Neighbor;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=most of the time
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Stanley says he had just seen Hurt on Tuesday.
He says Hurt wanted a ride to the store to get Halloween candy for the neighborhood children.
Fire investigators believe he may have fallen alseep while smoking.
(----------------)

8Gardner

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-92
GRAPHIC=NONE

A conservative law group is challenging some Bedford County educators.
The group is standing up for a boy's right to read Rush Limbaugh's book during free reading time.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape;

Attorneys from the Rutherford Institute are intervening on behalf of Montvale Elementary School student Jason Gardner.
Teachers took a Limbaugh book from Gardner last spring during an independent reading period.
And last month, the boy's copy of the Limbaugh newsletter was confiscated by his fifth grade teacher.
Two other Montvale teachers reportedly have banned outside reading material from their classrooms.
The Rutherford Institute has given the school seven days to reverse that policy or face a lawsuit.
(----------------)

8Dig

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-83
GRAPHIC=None

The site of a new manufacturing plant in Botetourt County was once apparently the site of an old Indian Village.
With modern construction in the background, archeologists are preserving the site.
Scott Prince has the scoop.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Construction
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Tom Klatka/Va. Dept. of Historic Resources; :21
SUPER=@Scott1; :46
RUNS=1:22
OUT Q=S.P., N- 7, Botetourt County

((Construction on the Virginia Forge plant in Buchanan is already underway.
And it's one of many new companies hoping to build up Botetourt County's future.
But just a couple of hundred yards away... there's a group helping to preserve its history.
This area was once home to a Native American village... and archaeologists and volunteers are helping to keep it safe.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:18:46
IN Q=One of
((TOM KLATKA/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES: ONE OF THE GOALS WAS TO DEFINE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SITE AND MARK ITS LOCATION SO THAT THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE VIRGINIA FORCE COMPANY WOLD NOT IMPACT THE SITE. ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=the site

After digging a series of trenches... the group discovered dozens of refuse pits... where garbage was buried.
A number of artifacts have been recovered as well, like broken pieces of pottery... animal bones... and arrow heads. STAND UP
The archaeologists are also trying to determine which tribe settled here.
At this point they believe it was either the Totero or Tutelo Indians who inhabited this land some 600 years ago. END STAND UP
The group plans to excavate artifacts for a few more days.
But Klatka says the learning process will continue on.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:22:54
IN Q=We should
((KLATKA: WE SHOULD END UP WITH A NICE MAP OF THE SITE, USEFUL FOR THE VIRGINIA FORGE COMPANY AND COME BACK WITH A GOOD SAMPLE OF ARTIFACTS SO WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN THIS VILLAGE. ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=this village

And once the shovels are set aside, the land will be maintained by the Virginia Forge Company... which has promised to avoid any construction on the site.
Scott Prince, News- 7, Botetourt County.))

8WEATHER

ANCHOR=cutin
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=NONE

SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Sunny/Skies/65-69/Increasing/Clouds/40-44;

SUPER=#555;RESET

Turning to the weather forecast, We should see increasing clouds with lows in the low 40s tonight. Sunny skies today, with highs in the upper 60s are expected.