WDBJ 7 morning news for 10/31/96

06:00-01

Headlines

ANCHOR=Melanie
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Ahead on News 7 Morning, the smoke is too much for a Roanoke man whose house caught fire yesterday.
(----------------)

And on this Halloween, a popular Roanoke attraction faces a lawsuit stemming from its yearly Haunted House.

Fatal-Fire

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

A Roanoke man died yesterday when his Garden City home caught fire.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The blaze broke out around 4- 30 yesterday afternoon.
David Hurt was found in the kitchen 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

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 with a cigarette.
(----------------)

recall

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Tainted fruit juice is being blamed for most of an E- coli (ee KOH'-ly) outbreak in western Washington state.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Half Moon Bay, CA;
4:00:00
The state Health Department says ten of the 13 confirmed cases have been linked to Apple juice made by Odwalla, a company based in Half Moon Bay, California.
In addition to the 13 confirmed cases of E- coli, officials say four more possible cases are being checked.
People infected with E- coli often develop abdominal cramps and severe or bloody diarrhea.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
ss=none

The same bug killed three children and sickened hundreds in western Washington in early 19-93.
That outbreak was traced to contaminated and undercooked hamburgers.

Best

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

There's good news and bad news for people who shop at Best stores.
The good news- big liquidation sales are coming.
The bad news- It's the last sale Best Products 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.
(-------------)

Halloween-Suit

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=lawsuit

A 24- year- old woman is suing Roanoke's Dixie Caverns for an accident that happened at its Halloween attraction two years ago.
Each year Dixie Caverns converts its natural cavern into a Haunted Cave.
Elizabeth Pamplin says she suffered serious and painful injuries when she was hit by a plastic ax that was supposed to swing down AFTER visitors passed by.
Pamplin is seeking 50-thousand dollars.

Falwell

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=falwell

The Reverend Jerry Falwell says he's no Southern Baptist.
Instead, Falwell made the distinction between being a Southern Baptist and a Baptist in the South.
Falwell said he is not giving up his church's independence, even though he gave funds to a conservative group of Virginia Baptists.
Because part of that money will go to the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention, Falwell's church will get voting rights within the nation's largest Protestant organization.

Legionnaires'

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

More cases of "Legionnaires' Disease" can be added to the New River Valley outbreak-
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, the State Epi-dem-iologist's Office, 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.

Chase-Shooting

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

Wilbur Scearce apparently shot and killed his wife before putting her body in his trunk.
The medical examiner yesterday confirmed Tammy Scearce was shot four times in the head and chest.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Monday;

On Monday authorities chased Wilbur Scearce to question him concerning the whereabouts of his wife.
The 35- year- old man led them at high speeds from Danville to his home in Ringgold.
Police negotiated with Scearce for hours before he apparently committed suicide.
(----------------)

Gardner

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

Bedford County educators may face a lawsuit for confiscating Rush Limbaugh's book from a nine- year- old.
(----------------)
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.
(----------------)

Buchanan-Dig

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-83
GRAPHIC=NONE

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is trying to preserve a piece of American history.
They are working on an old Native American Village that once thrived on a Botetourt County site.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;

For the past week, the group's been involved in an archeological dig in Buchanan.... near the FUTURE home of the Virginia Forge plant.
The team's already found a series of refuse pits... plus a number of artifacts... including pottery pieces and arrow heads.
Expedition leaders also believe the village might have served as an Indian burial ground.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=11:21:42
((TOM KLATKA/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES: BASED ON RESEARCH AT OTHER SITES, WE DO KNOW THAT NATIVE AMERICANS BURIED THEIR DEAD WITHIN THE VILLAGE ITSELF-- USUALLY RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSES. AND SO IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT IN THIS VILLAGE ITSELF, THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF BURIALS... BUT WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY YET.))
SUPER=01-Tom Klatka/Va. Dept. of Historic Resources;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=any yet
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Klatka says the main objective is to map out the boundaries of the village.
Virginia Forge now owns the land... but has promised to avoid any construction on the site.
(----------------)

2-Headlines
SUPER=#4050; Headline Banner
ANCHOR=Melanie

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A house fire in Roanoke's Garden City community yesterday takes the life of a 60- year- old man.
Authorities say he may have tried to escape.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A national juice company has issued a recall following an E- coli outbreak in Washington State.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And a warning to parents and youngsters about teenage "huffing."
A Botetourt County woman tells her story after her son dies from ingesting anti-freeze.
(----------------)

And that's what's making news on this Thursday, October 31st.

Wx-Hello

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=None

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(CHYRON)
SUPER=X5000;SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=311-57/49/W-12/Clear;Roanoke Conditions
SUPER=312-58/47/W-8/Clear; Lynchburg Conditions
SUPER=314-Sunny/Skies/65-69/Increasing/Clouds/40-44;
SUPER=#555;RESET

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E-COLI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

At least 13 people in Washington state have come down with the illness caused by E-Coli bacteria.
Health officials there have confirmed ten of the cases were caused by apple juice.
The company that makes the juice, Odwalla is ordering a recall.
Thuy (Twee) Vu reports from its headquarters in California.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=nat sound
SUPER=03-Half Moon Bay, CA;:06
SUPER=01-Dr. Alonzo Plough/King Co. Health Dept.; :20
SUPER=01-Greg Steltenpohl/Odwalla Chairman; :55
SUPER=01-Dr. Mimi Fields/Washington State Health Dept.; 1:47
SUPER=01-Thuy Vu/Reporting; 1:27 (no SU)
RUNS=2:08
OUT Q=for cbs news.
4:00

WAR-BODIES

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

The families of six American airmen are getting their remains -- decades after they died in the Vietnam War.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Travis AFB, CA;

An Army lab in Honolulu says it has identified the remains recovered in Southeast Asia.
They've been flown to California so they can be turned over to families.
Three of those identified were crew members of a bomber that disappeared over Vietnam in September 19-63.
Two other pilots died on missions over North Vietnam in 19-65 and 19-66, and a third was lost over (LAH-os) Laos in 19-69.
(----------------)

CAMPAIGN

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=campaign 96

The U-S economy has slowed down.
The government's pre-election report, for the third quarter, shows growth down by more than 50 percent from earlier this year.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Denver, CO;
4:05:43
President Clinton is steering clear of the latest economic figures, instead he'll be talking family values during campaign stops today in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA;
4:08:59
Bob Dole wasted no time in attacking the president with the economic news.
At a rally yesterday the Republican challenger warned a recession is just over the horizon.
Dole gets a little help from former President George Bush at a rally in Tampa, Florida today.
(----------------)

Mason-Dixon

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=News 7 Poll

In Virginia the Presidential races is still a dead-heat.
The latest NEWS 7 poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Research shows Republican Bob Dole with 45-percent of those polled, to Bill Clinton's 42-percent. Ross Perot had five percent.
Eight percent of Virginia voters were still UNdecided as of last week.
Dole's 3-point lead in Virginia is within the poll's margin of error. So the Commonwealth could go either way on Election Day.

Dig

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

A little digging from a state organization turned up some interesting pieces of history.
A manufacturing plant was set to be built near an old Indian Village in Botetourt County.
Now archaeologists are in the process of preserving the site.
Scott Prince has the "dirt."
(/////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.))

Jet-Crash

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=plane crash

A Brazilian T-V network reports the crash of a domestic Brazilian jetliner with 90 people on board.
Globo T-V says the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Sao Paulo.
Little information is available at this time.

Fire-Fatal

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

Fire took the life of a Roanoke man yesterday evening.
(----------------)
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

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 17:55:51 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.
Officials are still investigating what caused the fire, but believe Hurt may have fallen asleep with a cigarette.
(-------------)

Weddington

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

Drug use in elementary school is not as uncommon as you may think.
Kids as young as 11- years- old are getting high by breathing fumes from aerosol cans.
A Botetourt County mother says it's got to stop.
She lost her son last week. Eric Earnhart talked to her.
(/////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))

Jet-Crash

NS-Conrail

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-78
GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern is not letting up any pressure as it continues its high- profile 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.
(-------------)

Colonial-Arms

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

One of downtown Roanoke's largest buildings is NOT "going condo" as a number of people in the business community thought it might.
But it looks like the building will remain office space.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;
Nat Sot AUCTIONEER
RUNS=:05

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.
(-------------)

Red-Cross

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cst
TAPE#96-85
GRAPHIC=American Red Cross

You never know where the American Red Cross will turn up....usually, in any CRISIS situation.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :

Yesterday, though, the organization had candy on its mind....playing host to some 50 youngsters, getting in a little early trick or treating.
EMPLOYEES donated the candy to the kids, all 3- to- 5- year- olds from TAP's "Head Start Child Development Center."
Many of the children live in neighborhoods where trick or treating just is not safe.
The organization also wants to remind parents about the importance of SAFE (---------------) trick or treating tonight.