WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/02/96

06:00-01

HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Beth
(----------------)
VO-NAT
A College student dies in a car crash in Campbell County. Police say the driver of the car admits to speeding.
(----------------)

And a Roanoke man dies after being stabbed during a fight.

460-Ax

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE# 96-92
GRAPHIC=Fatal AX

A college student returning to school after the Thanksgiving break died in a single- car accident in Campbell County yesterday.
Two others were injured.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Concord;

The wreck occurred in the westbound lanes of Route 4-60 near Concord.
State police say the driver, 18- year- old April Lewis, admitted she'd been speeding when her car hit a patch of water, ran off the road and struck a utility pole.
A passenger in the front seat, 18- year- old Bonita Barton, was pronounced dead on arrival at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Rescue crews spent more than ninety minutes working to free another girl who was trapped in the rear of the car.
All three teens were on their way back to college in Arkansas.
Charges against the driver are pending.
(----------------)

Roanoke-Murder

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=Murder

A Roanoke man was killed yesterday.
Police say 49- year- old Anthony Roger Crutchfield was stabbed in a fight at the V-F-W Post on Loudon Avenue.
He later died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The other man in the fight, 36- year- old Michael Wells of Roanoke, was arrested after he tried to get a warrant charging Crutchfield with assault.
Wells told police Crutchfield started the fight, and he stabbed him in self defense.
Police have charged Wells with murder.

Jackson

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Commercial printing giant R-R Donnelley is under fire for alleged racial discrimination.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;

Reverend Jesse Jackson will meet with company representatives later today. A lawyer who has filed suit says Donnelley selectively fired several hundred african-american employees at a shutdown plant.. while offering the plants' white workers new jobs.
The company denies the allegations.
This comes on the heels of Jackson's successful settlement of a race discrimination suit against oil giant Texaco.
(----------------)

Falwell

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE# 96-93
GRAPHIC=Liberty University

Will Liberty University's creditors accept a fifty cents-on- the-dollar buyout offer?
SS=Falwell, Jerry

The school's chancellor says he's still waiting to hear.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg;

Liberty owes about 15- million dollars to creditors who bought bonds the school issued in the 19-80's.
Lawyers representing the bondholders finished appraising the campus last week.
They had threatened to foreclose on the property unless Liberty made its annual interest payment on the debt.
The Reverend Jerry Falwell says the school still has the financial backing to offer bondholders half the value of their bonds.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:22:09
IN Q=The bank commitment
((REV. JERRY FALWELL/LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR: THE BANK COMMITMENT IS STILL IN PLACE, IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE, AND WE'RE SIMPLY WAITING FOR THE BONDHOLDERS' COMMITTEES ATTORNEYS TO STOP FIGHTING OVER MONEY FOR THEMSELVES AND EITHER SAY YES OR NO.))
SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Liberty University Chancellor; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=yes or no.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Falwell expects to hear within a week whether that offer is accepted.
He admits Liberty may have ruffled some feathers by paying the interest directly to the bondholders rather than through their attorneys.
(----------------)

Literacy

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=education

Virginia Board of Education president Michelle Easton has some good news and bad news.
Virginia's state Board of Education's analysis says its public high school students are doing "average to disappointing."
The final report will go to Governor George Allen and the General Assembly next month.
It points to lower fourth-grade reading scores and stalled passing rates for the sixth-grade Literacy Passport Test.
BUT, the percentage of students receiving scores that qualify for college credit is a little ahead of the national average.

Common-Sense

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#Common Sense
GRAPHIC=Common Sense

Have you noticed that while most interest rates have been lower recently, that's not the case with the rates you pay on your credit cards?
In this week's edition of Common Sense, Len Besthoff tells us about one way to keep those balances down during the holiday season.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=When
SUPER=04-Last Week;
SUPER=@Len2;
RUNS=:41
OUT Q=the newsdesk.

(( When you're out shopping and all caught up in the mood of the season, it's easy to lose track of your spending.
A few charges here, a few charges there, and suddenly your credit card balance is in the discomfort zone.
One good idea is to buy only big ticket gifts with credit cards.
Pay with cash, check, or a debit card for the rest of the presents.
Those purchases will be taken right out of your bank account, and you'll have a better idea of where you stand.
Also, you won't have as many credit card purchases to keep track of.
And getting cash at the mall is easier these days, since many have ATM's inside.
I'm Len Besthoff with this week's edition of Common Sense, let's send it back to the newsdesk. ))

Holiday-Trees

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# 96-86
GRAPHIC=None

Many Christmas tree lots are opening for the holidays.
Those buying trees early will want to pick the freshest possible.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

Experts say to make sure the branches spring back when bent.
If they snap or the needles fall off they are too dry.
If you are purchasing a cut tree, make a fresh cut at the bottom so there are good conductive tissues for water, keep the water fresh and take it easy on the number of lights you use for decorating.
(/////SOT/////)
10 15 04 00 - 10 15 15 00
SOT
IN Q=The more lights
(( ))
SUPER=01-Bruce Feldberg/Horticulturist;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=SORTS OF THINGS.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

If you are selecting a tree to plant after the holidays, choose one with a large root ball and keep it indoors for only a short time.
The Christmas trees that grow best in the Roanoke Valley are the Norway Spruce, The Colorado Spruce and White Pines.
(----------------)

2-HEADLINES
SUPER=#4050; Headline Banner
ANCHOR=Beth
Here's a look at today's top stories. (----------------)
VO-NAT

An accident in Campbell County kills a college student returning to school after the holiday weekend.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Overseas, Defense Secretary William Perry announces the biggest land transfer to Japan in decades... But hundreds of Okinawans are protesting the agreement this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

and Retailers are smiling after a successful start to the holiday shopping season. Sales were up 11 percent over last year.
(---------------)
ANCHOR=Beth

That's what is making news on this Monday, December 2nd, Stay with us, there's more News 7 Mornin' ahead!

Discrimination

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Reverand Jesse Jackson trying to settle another racial discrimination suit. This one with commercial printing giant R-R Donnelley.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;

Jackson will meet with company representatives later today. A lawyer who has filed suit says Donnelley selectively fired several hundred African-American employees at a shutdown plant.. while offering the plants' white workers new jobs.
The company denies the allegations.
This comes on the heels of Jackson's successful settlement of a race discrimination suit against oil giant Texaco.
(----------------)

Perry

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Defense Secretary William Perry is in Japan, where he's announced a package of reforms with Okinawa. Now, hundreds of Okinawans are protesting the agreement.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;

The package includes the largest return of land in decades. The site of the U-S Marines' Air Station would revert to Japanese control within seven years.
Included in the agreement is the building of a military heliport off the southern tip of the island.
Protesters say the deal just moves the U-S military from one place to another.
The plan is the culmination of an intense series of negotiations with officials in Tokyo after the rape of a schoolgirl by three American G-I's last year.
(----------------)

Shopping

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Retailers nationwide are happy after holiday weekend sales.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;
Mall revenues for Friday----the biggest shopping day of the year----were up
11-percent from last year.
Sears says it was the company's best Thanksgiving sales weekend ever.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=none

Last year, the economy was shakier and consumers were less confident. This year, retailers are more optimistic, even though the Christmas shopping season is shorter than usual.

Travel

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

One of the busiest travel weekends of the year was pretty messy due to the inclement weather across much of the country.
Sharyl Attkisson Reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Nasty Weather
SUPER=03-Kansas City, MO; :00
SUPER=03-Louisiana; :12, quick
SUPER=03-Washington DC; :23
SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :34
SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA; :40
SUPER=01-Sharyl Attkisson/Reporting; :48
SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA; 1:35
RUNS=1:43
OUT Q=CBS News, Washington
((Nasty weather provided a backdrop for one of the busiest travel days of tie year. In Missouri, two people died on ice-coated roads, and police were dealing with a messy ten car pile up.

(VO/LOUISIANA)
Tornadoes tore through parts of the south.

(NATSOT)
(16:13:22) WE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND JUST WAITED IT OUT. IT SHOOK THE
HOUSE FOR ABOUT TWENTY SECONDS. (:03)

(VO/WASHINGTON NATIONAL AND HARTSFIELD ATLANTA)
For millions on the east coast, travel was hampered by a steady, cold rain. Some flights were cancelled, and passengers needed to use their last reserves of patience as they waited in long lines, and plowed through jam packed terminals.

(VO/PHILADELPHIA)
Some turned to trains. In Philadelphia this morning, five hundred people were waiting at dawn, hoping to get seats.

(SOT-WOMAN)
(58:14) I KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RUSH, EVERYONE TRYING TO TAKE THIS
TRAIN.

(ATTKISSON BRIDGE)
NATIONALLY, AMTRAK CARRIED FIFTY PERCENT MORE PASSENGERS THAN NORMAL. AND DESPITE THE BAD WEATHER, THEY HAD GREEN SIGNALS UP AND DOWN THE LINE. (:08)

(WASHINGTON D.C.)
Washington D.C.'s union station is one of the nation's busiest...with more than twenty thousand people expected to pass through here.

(NATSOT-AMTRAK EMPLOYEE)
(02:15) PEOPLE MOVIN' WELL PEOPLE ARE SMILIN' ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN.

With the trains running on time, passengers were good-natured amid the crush. Their biggest concern was whether they'd be sitting or standing on the train.

(SOT-NO FONT/COUPLE)
(39:24) (SHARYL) IF THERE'S ONLY ONE SGAT, WHO GETS IT (MAN) SHE DOES (WOMAN)
HE DOES (THEY LAUGH).
Nearly 32 million people travelled more than a hundred miles over this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Most of them had to factor the bad weather into their plans.

(VO/CLINTON)
Even the President had to take a detour on his way home because of fog and rain.

(VO/LOS ANGELES)
Only California seemed to escape tie grey. In Los Angeles, it was sixty-seven degrees...and sunny. Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News, Washington. ))

Lottery

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# net; edit 94-42 & 596-03
GRAPHIC=Va Lottery

Virginia Lottery officials have all but run out of ideas for new games and gimmicks to lure players.
That has state officials wondering if the lottery will continue to make more money.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The profitability of the lottery's traditional numbers games and scratch tickets has peaked.
To boost revenues, state legislators are considering making lottery games more like casino-style gambling.
A subcommittee is studying a proposal for a new keno-style lottery game that would be launched next year.
The game would be played in restaurants and taverns, with several drawings an hour.
The game could net the state 30 million dollars or more in profits.
(----------------)

Senate-Race

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE# 96-88
GRAPHIC=Dudley, Allen

A victory by Allen Dudley in the special state senate election scheduled for December 17th would reverberate around the state.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@FILE;

Republican Dudley has the chance to tip the state Senate to a Republican majority for the first time in history.
But so far, the handicappers say it's Democrat Roscoe Reynolds' race to lose.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 27:06
IN Q=It's very important
((LARRY SABATO/UVA POLITICAL ANALYST: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR BOTH PARTIES. IT'S A STATUS SYMBOL, CERTAINLY, ESPECIALLY FOR GEORGE ALLEN. HE FAILED TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF EITHER HOUSE IN HIS MID-TERM ELECTION IN 1995. THIS IS ALMOST A SECOND CHANCE FOR ALLEN TO SCORE A BREAK-THROUGH. SO HE HAS A LOT OF PERSONAL PRESTIGE RIDING ON IT.))
sot 22:26
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL GOVERNING MAJORITY AS I SAID LAST YEAR. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL DIDN'T CARE TO REPORT IT AS SUCH. BUT THEN WHEN YOU SAW HOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTUALLY OPERATED THIS YEAR, YOU REALLY DID SEE IT WAS JUST LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.))
SUPER=01-Larry Sabato/UVA Political Analyst; :00
SUPER=@Allen; :20
RUNS=:40
OUT Q=night and day.
TALENT=Beth
SS=Goode, Virgil

The 20th senatorial district was represented by Congressman- elect Virgil Goode.

2-460-Ax

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE# 96-92
GRAPHIC=Fatal AX

A college student died and two others were injured yesterday in a car accident in Campbell County.
They were on their way back to school.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Concord;

The wreck occurred in the westbound lanes of Route 4-60 near Concord.
State police say the driver, 18- year- old April Lewis, admitted she'd been speeding when her car hit a patch of water, ran off the road and struck a utility pole.
A passenger in the front seat, 18- year- old Bonita Barton, was pronounced dead on arrival at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Rescue crews spent more than ninety minutes working to free another girl who was trapped in the rear of the car.
All three teens were on their way back to college in Arkansas.
Charges against the driver are pending.
(----------------)

2-Roanoke-Murder

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=Murder

A Roanoke man died yesterday after being stabbed in a fight.
Police say 36- year- old Michael Wells stabbed 49- year- old Anthony Roger Crutchfield in a fight at the V-F-W Post on Loudon Avenue.
Crutchfield later died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Wells was arrested after he tried to get a warrant charging Crutchfield with assault.
He told police Crutchfield started the fight, and he stabbed him in self defense.
Police have charged Wells with murder.

AVENEL

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=DAL
TAPE# 96-100
GRAPHIC=None
***ANCHOR TAG******
State funds have dried up so a preservation group is looking to the public for help in restoring The Avenel (AV-en-el) Plantation.
The 158- year- old house was a fixture in Bedford long before the city existed.
The historic home has only had two owners and many believe the first owner still walks the halls.
Denise Allen has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=OH FOR GOODNESS
SUPER=01-Peggy Ballard Maupin/Avenel's Former Owner; :09
SUPER=03-Bedford/August 1996; :41
SUPER=04-August 1990; 1:32
SUPER=@Denise2; 2:02
RUNS=2:13
OUT Q=News 7
(((/////SOT/////)
SOT 01:08:27
IN Q=OH FOR GOODNESS
((PEGGY BALLARD MAUPIN/AVENEL'S FORMER OWNER: OH FOR GOODNESS SAKES. WE USE TO HAVE SQUARE DANCING HERE, ROUND DANCING. SOMETIMES WE'D HAVE DIFFERENT ONES TO COME IN AND MAKE THE MUSIC.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=MAKE THE MUSIC.

Peggy Maupin is almost 98- years- old and has lived most of her life at Avenel.
Her father bought the property from Burwell family in 1906.
The plantation has only had two owners.
Shortly after Peggy and her family moved in... the "white lady" revealed herself.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:46:26
IN Q=WHY WOULD IT
((WHY WOULD IT BE ANYONE ELSE ACCEPT MISS BURWELL. SHE WAS LOOKING AFTER HER HOME AND SEEING THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING ALL RIGHT.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=GOING ALL RIGHT

The story of the "white lady" attracted the attention of producers of the television show "Sightings."
Peggy was interview for the show this summer.
She says she's only seen the "white lady" once, as a little girl.
Peggy says she her family and a number of party guests all saw the lady.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:06:02
IN Q=AND WE SAY THIS
((AND WE SAW THIS LADY DRESSED IN AN OLD TIME WHITE DRESS AND SHE WAS CARRYING A PARASOL IN HER HAND AND WHEN SHE GOT ACROSS THE ROAD SHE DISAPPEARED IN FRONT OF A BIG OAK TREE. AND MY MOTHER TURNED AROUND AND SAID, "DID ANY OF YOU SEE WHAT I JUST SEEN?" AND OF COURSE RIGHT MANY OF US HAD SEEN IT.))
RUNS=:31
OUT Q=US HAD SEEN IT

A preservation group has been trying to restore the historic site for some time now.
They say the plantation offered Confederate soldiers refuge, Robert E. Lee has stayed there, Lee even greeted soldiers at the home shortly after the war ended.
But they say the history of the Burwell family alone, is enough reason to save the house.
Peggy says she was never frightened of the spirit that lives at Avenel.
And even though she's only seen the "White Lady" once there have been other signs.
Peggy says the spirit checked on her brother every night as he slept.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:40:07
IN Q=he used
((HE USED TO SAY THAT DOOR WOULD OPEN AT 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=AT NIGHT

Peggy says she's not sure how long the "White Lady" will remain at Avenel, but she says she happy so many people have gotten a glimpse of the lady in white.
Denise Allen News 7.))
ANCHOR=Beth
SS=None

The show "Sightings" is about real people's experiences with U-F-O's, ghosts and other weird happenings.
The episode on Avenel is supposed to air this month on the Sci-Fi channel.

Literacy

Christmas-Trees

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# 96-86
GRAPHIC=None

Christmas tree lots are popping up around are area, and while a lot of people buy cut trees, other's want their tree to be more than just a holiday decoration.
Either way, there are some things you should know...
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Choosing a live
SUPER=03-Salem; :00
SUPER=01-Bruce Feldberg/Horticulturist; :15
RUNS=:55
OUT Q=Frazier furs.
(( Choosing a live, cut tree that will last through the holidays isn't too difficult, but there are a few easy tips to help you select one that's fresh.
(/////SOT/////)
10 13 59 00 - 1 14 14 00
SOT
IN Q=You can always test
((YOU CAN ALWAYS TEST THAT BY BENDING AND IT SHOULD SPRING RIGHT BACK. IF IT SNAPS NEEDLES ARE FALLING OFF, YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN OUT OF THE GROUND FOR QUITE AWHILE AND HAS NOT BEEN KEPT FRESH BY BEING KEPT MOIST. ))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=kept moist.
It's best to make a fresh cut at the bottom so it has good conductive tissues for water. And keep the water fresh to keep the tree healthy.
If you're choosing a tree that you will plant in your yard after Christmas, make sure the root ball is big and don't keep it inside long.
(/////SOT/////)
10 16 20 00 - 10 16 28 00
SOT
IN Q=The shortest amount of
((THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME WILL BE BEST FOR THE TREE SO IF YOU CAN KEEP IT IN FOR A WEEK OR LESS THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR THE TREE. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=the tree.
The best Christmas trees to plan in the Roanoke Valley are the Norway Spruce, the Colorado SPruce and WHite Pines. Summers can be too hot in this area for Frazier Furs. ))

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=News 7 sports/College Basketball

Virginia tech is now one-and-two on the season after falling to Illinois in the Big Island invitational Basketball Tournament in Hawaii.
For all of last night's scores let's check the boards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5027;
SUPER=0098-j/Kansas#2/79//San Diego/72///j/Wake Forest#3/80//Richmond/55///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Villanova/85//Tulane/70///j/Iowa State/82//MD E. Shore/62///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Roanoke/89//F & M/75///j/Illinois/92//Virginia Tech/68//;
SUPER=X5028;
SUPER=0096-/Portland/70/j/Golden State/98////Sacramento/66/j/Detroit/95///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0096-j/Utah/96//Seattle/90////Denver/96/j/L.A. Lakers/104///;
SUPER=X5031;
SUPER=0103-j/Florida/4//Detroit/2////Montreal/2/j/N.Y. Rangers/6///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0103-/Vancouver/3/j/Philadelphia/4///j/San Jose/4//St. Louis/3///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0103-/Edmonton/2/j/Anaheim/4///;
RUNS=1:20
OUT Q=....last score."
(-------------)

PrimeTimePromo

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=none

A reminder,
If you want to get your late news early, then we invite you to tune in to News 7 Prime Time on W-E-F-C every week night at 10 p-m.
Join anchor Connie Stevens, Meteorologist Robin Reed and Mike Stevens with sports. Check your local cable listings for the station in your area.