WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/12/96

08:25-01

Cutopen

SUPER=@Melanie1;

7Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-103
GRAPHIC=Shooting

Roanoke police are searching this morning for the person responsible for fatally shooting a man last night in a Northwest neighborhood.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

A number of shots were fired at about seven last night in the 25- hundred block of Centre Avenue.
When authorities got to the scene, they found a body lying in the middle of the street surrounded by more than a hundred on-lookers.
Very little information is being released, but police at this point think they know which direction the shots came from.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:04:53
IN Q=Not sure
((SGT. STAN SMITH/ROANOKE CITY POLICE: NOT SURE HOW MANY TIMES HE WAS SHOT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE'VE GOT VERY LIMITED INFORMATION AT THIS POINT. BUT PROBABLY THE SHOOTER WAS STANDING UP ON THE HILL OF THE YARD, UP TOWARD THE HOUSING COMPLEX WHEN THE SHOTS WERE FIRED ))
SUPER=01-Stan Smith/Roanoke City Police;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=were fired
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The victim's identity is not being released at this time and NO ONE at the scene was taken into custody.
This marks the 11th murder in Roanoke City this year.
(----------------)

7Together

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE#96-93
GRAPHIC=None
***ANCHOR TAG***
A Roanoke matchmaking franchise is shutting down.
Eric Earnhardt reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT=
IN Q=On Tuesday, Together dating
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday; :00
SUPER=01-John Byron/Franchise Owner; 07 quick
SUPER=@Eric1; :36
SUPER=01-Fran Stephanz/Better Business Bureau; 1:03
RUNS=1:36
OUT Q=ee, news 7

(( On Tuesday, Together dating service's doors were locked, but franchise owner John Byron told us he's not closing.
SOT 15:41:14 tape 1
IN Q=no we're not
((NO WE'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT CLOSING? NO. NO PLANS TO CLOSE? NO. AND IT'S FULLY OPERATIONAL.))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=reorganizing the place

But then we talked to Elizabeth Weir, with the company's corporate headquarters in Massachusetts.
She said "we have terminated his franchise, we are allowing him to operate until we can resell the market."
We went back to Together to ask about that.

SOT 4:48:00
IN Q=no turn it off
((NO, I'M SORRY, YOU'LL HAVE TO TURN IT OFF, I WILL NOT TALK. LEAVE RIGHT NOW THANK YOU. HAS YOUR FRANCHISE BEEN PULLED SIR? THAT IS NOT TRUE"))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=that is not true

5:06:22 Standup
We went back in without the camera and Byron told us the decision to transfer the franchise with someone else was by mutual agreement between himself and corporate headquarters. He said in the mean time, existing clients would continue to be serviced. He also said he wasn't aware of any Better Business reports detailing problems with his company.
But the local Better Business Bureau told us they had a number of complaints from customers who were't happy with what they got for the 3000 dollars they paid.

SOT 5:37:19
IN Q=we've had a lot of problems
((FRAN STEPANZ/BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU; WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE IN ROANOKE WITH THEM, OUR BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT CUSTOMERS ARE VERY VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE, THAT THE COMMITTMENT THAT IS MADE BY THE SERVICE IS NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC IS GETTING. ))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=what the public is getting

Late Wednesday, a corporate spokesperson for Together Dating told us, effective immediately, the Roanoke franchise has been transferred to the owner of the Greensboro franchise, and existing clients will be serviced out of Greensboro over the holidays. They can continue getting service by calling this number... 1-800-903-5344
Eric Earnhart, News 7))
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none

In a faxed statement, John Bryon told us he's closing his business, because of his age, and concerns about the operations of the corperate organization.

7Puppyland

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-92
GRAPHIC=Lawsuit

Testimony continues today at the W-S-L-S TV/ Puppyland civil trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke

Channel 10 reporter Kris Loyd was on the stand yesterday for more than two hours-.
Earlier in the day W-S-L-S lawyers called former Puppyland employees who said they'd seen owner Chris Benson mistreat animals, specifically muzzling dogs with tape or rope.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:12:42
IN Q=I was calling
((I WAS CALLING AROUND, CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, TO FIND OUT WHAT WOULD BE STANDARD IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY, WOULD TAPING UP A DOG'S MOUTH OR TYING IT UP WITH ROPE BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. I MUST HAVE CALLED ABOUT 10 PLACES, AND THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.))
SUPER=01-Kris Loyd/WSLS-TV Reporter
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=absolutely not.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Benson and Puppyland are suing Loyd and the T-V station for 10-million dollars, claiming her reports were maliciously false.
(----------------)

7WEATHER

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin

SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Cloudy/Showers & Storms/53-57/Showers/Thunderstorms/45-49;
SUPER=#555; RESET

Turning now to the forecast.
The temperatures are mild-- Highs will reach the mid 50s.
But it will be rainy day with showers and thunderstorms moving through the area.
lows tonight will be in the upper 40s. 7BIRTHDAYS! 12/13/96

SUPER=130-/Melody Jennings/Salem;

SUPER=130-2/John Gibson/Vinton;

SUPER=130-1/Colton Henderson/Pilot;

SUPER=130-1/Megan Persinger/New Castle;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-7/Lauren Coleman/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-1/Cody Claxton/Shawsville;

SUPER=130-24/Christy McLeod/Cloverdale;

SUPER=130-3/Jacob Stevens/Huddleston;

SUPER=130-7/Hollie Brightwell/Salem;

SUPER=130-5/Kristen Davis/Fries;

SUPER=130-15/Jamie Hatcher/Gasglow;

SUPER=130-3/Clint Hines/Gretna;

SUPER=130-3/Corbin Stevens/Huddleston;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Adrianne Trent/Salem;

SUPER=130-3/Clint Hines/Altavista;

Cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1;

55Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-103
GRAPHIC=Shooting

Roanoke Police this morning are looking for the suspect who gunned down a man last night in a Northwest neighborhood.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

A number of shots were fired around seven last night in the 25- hundred block of Centre Avenue.
When authorities got to the scene, they found a body lying in the middle of the street surrounded by more than a hundred on-lookers.
Very little information is being released, but police at this point think they know which direction the shots came from.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 20:04:53
IN Q=Not sure
((SGT. STAN SMITH/ROANOKE CITY POLICE: NOT SURE HOW MANY TIMES HE WAS SHOT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE'VE GOT VERY LIMITED INFORMATION AT THIS POINT. BUT PROBABLY THE SHOOTER WAS STANDING UP ON THE HILL OF THE YARD, UP TOWARD THE HOUSING COMPLEX WHEN THE SHOTS WERE FIRED ))
SUPER=01-Stan Smith/Roanoke City Police;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=were fired
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The victim's identity is not being released at this time and NO ONE at the scene was taken into custody.
This marks the 11th murder in Roanoke City this year.
(----------------)

55Ward

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-88
GRAPHIC=Ward

The former head football coach at Lord Botetourt High School wants a second chance.
But that will have to happen after he spends more than a month behind bars.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;

Yesterday, Andy Ward was sentenced to 40 days in jail.
Most of the punishment stems from a drunken driving conviction in March in which he initially received probation.
But since then, Ward received another D-U-I charge... and was caught driving on a suspended license.
He resigned amid the controversy a few weeks ago but at the time remained silent about his situation.
But after yesterday's hearing Ward talked about his future.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:08:23
IN Q=Plans are
((ANDY WARD/FORMER FOOTBALL COACH: PLANS ARE UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW. EVENTUALLY I'D LIKE TO STAY IN COACHING. HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT WILL GIVE ME THAT SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THAT I AM A GOOD PERSON. I JUST MADE A FEW MISTAKES IN MY LIFE. ))
SUPER=01-Andy Ward/Former Football Coach;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=in my life
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Ward also apologized to his friends, family, and students.... calling the past few weeks the most difficult period in his life.
Ward was suppose to start serving his jail time last night.
But he's free after entering an appeal.
His attorney, however, expects him to withdraw that appeal in the coming days.
(----------------)

55WEATHER

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin

SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Cloudy/Showers & Storms/53-57/Showers/Thunderstorms/45-49;
SUPER=#555; RESET
(Melanie Expertly ad libs school closing)

Turning now to the forecast.
The temperatures are mild-- Highs will reach the mid 50s.
But it will be rainy day with showers and thunderstorms moving through the area.
lows tonight will be in the upper 40s. Cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1;

8P-Roanoke-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=spr
TAPE#596-46
GRAPHIC=shooting

A man was gunned down last night in a northwest Roanoke nieghborhood, and now police are searching for the shooter.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

It happened about seven o'clock.
More than a hundred residents looked on in disbelief as the covered- up body stayed in the street for more than an hour.
At this point police are giving out little information, but did say early on there was some confusion.
Apparently, a young black male was shot from a hillside.
Police say they have identified the victim, but his name has not been released.
Questioning continues at this hour, but so far there have been no arrests.
(----------------)

8Drug-Search

ANCHOR=melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#96-90
GRAPHIC=None

WIth the rise in drug use among juveniles in the past three years, Roanoke County police are now taking a more aggressive approach to the problem in the schools.
Beth Myer reports that dogs don't stop at locker searches anymore... they get right into the classroom.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's tough to miss
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :04
SUPER=01-Lt. T.W. Haynes/Roanoke Co. Police; :11
SUPER=01-Dave Blevins/Hidden Valley Principal; :28
SUPER=@Beth2; :38
RUNS=1:24
OUT Q=Beth Myer, News 7.
(( It's tough to miss the police squad as it pulls up to any school on any given day.
Even school officials aren't told when their school will be targeted for the random searches.
(/////SOT/////)
11 57 28 00 - 11 57 45 00
SOT
IN Q=They were told
((LT. T.W. HAYNES/ROANOKE CO. POLICE: THEY WERE TOLD TWO MONTHS AGO OF THE PLANS BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. THEY DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SHOW UP. BUT SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH. ))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=to work with.
(/////SOT/////)
11 12 21 00 - 11 12 26 00
SOT
IN Q=THere word has been out
((DAVE BLEVINS/HIDDEN VALLEY PRINCIPAL: THE WORD HAS BEEN OUT AMONGST THE CHILDREN FOR SOMETIME NOW, IT'S BEEN GOING ON AT OTHER SCHOOLS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN HERE AT HIDDEN VALLEY. ))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=at hidden valley.
This is the second time this year the group of nine officers and three dogs has hit the school system in full force, and the team is netting results.
(/////SOT/////)
11 58 15 00 - 11 58 21 00
SOT
IN Q=We have gotten
((LT. T.W. HAYNES/ROANOKE CO. POLICE: WE HAVE GOTTEN SOME PARAPHERNALIA OUT OF ONE SCHOOL AND HAD SEVERAL HITS IN OTHER SCHOOLS. ))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=in other schools.

Students are removed from the classrooms and told to leave all possessions behind.
In just minutes the dogs run through the aisles and sniff everything.
This time, they got several alerts.
(/////SOT/////)
11 57 58 00 - 11 58 13 00
SOT
IN Q=If we don't
((LT. T.W. HAYNES: IF WE DON'T LOCATE ANYTHING, THAT KIDS HAVE BEEN AROUND IT OR THE DOGS HAVE HIT ON SOMETHING, THE DOGS ARE ALERTING ON SOMETHING THAT WAS THERE.))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=that was there.
Police say the purpose of the drug searches is not just to make arrests, but to send the message to students that drugs will not be tolerated in Roanoke County schools. Beth Myer, News 7.))

8Puppyland

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-92
GRAPHIC=Lawsuit

A Roanoke jury heard testimony last night from the channel 10 reporter who wrote the allegedly libelous stories about Puppyland last year.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke

Kris Loyd testified under oath for more than two hours- -reciting what she did to check out the claims of former Puppyland employees and customers.
Earlier in the day W-S-L-S T-V called former Puppyland employees who said they'd seen owner Chris Benson mistreat animals.... specifically muzzling dogs with tape or rope.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 19:12:42
IN Q=I was calling
((I WAS CALLING AROUND, CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, TO FIND OUT WHAT WOULD BE STANDARD IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY, WOULD TAPING UP A DOG'S MOUTH OR TYING IT UP WITH ROPE BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. I MUST HAVE CALLED ABOUT 10 PLACES, AND THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.))
SUPER=01-Kris Loyd/WSLS-TV Reporter
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=absolutely not.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Her attorneys showed the jury a story Loyd had done that included a demonstration of proper dog grooming techniques.
Benson and Puppyland are suing Loyd and the T-V station for 10-million dollars, claiming her reports were maliciously false.
(----------------)

8WEATHER

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin

SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Cloudy/Showers & Storms/53-57/Showers/Thunderstorms/45-49;
SUPER=#555; RESET
(School closing ad lib)

Turning now to the forecast.
The temperatures are mild-- Highs will reach the mid 50s.
But it will be rainy day with showers and thunderstorms moving through the lows tonight will be in the upper 40s. area.