WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/17/96

08:25-01

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SUPER=@Melanie1;

7Tech-Players

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-95
GRAPHIC=Tech Football
***ANCHOR TAG***
Another allegation of sexual misconduct against some Virginia Tech football players.
Tracy Altizer reports the charges are adding baggage to the Hokie's Orange Bowl trip.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=After a season of turmoil
SUPER=@File; :00
SUPER=@Tracy1; :30
SUPER=01-Joe Painter/Defense Lawyer; :47
RUNS=1:14
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7
(( After a season of turmoil and numerous criminal charges against various players, the Virginia Tech football team was finally basking in the glory of its upcoming Orange Bowl bid against Nebraska.
Now another serious diversion. EDMONDS Senior starting fullback Brian Edmonds, one of the players charged in an on-campus brawl earlier in the season, is now charged with rape and sodomy. CRAWFORD So is his roommate, sophomore receiver James Crawford, one of two players whom Christy Brzonkala accused of raping HER last year. STANDUP According to an attorney who represents both players the alleged victim in this case says Crawford and Edmonds raped her in an apartment the players share in Blacksburg.
He says the woman had been at the apartment Friday night for a party, that she left, then broke in through a patio door several hours later to demand money.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:52:53
((JOE PAINTER/DEFENSE LAWYER: DIFFERENT STATEMENTS, ONE TIME 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR MY TUITION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. ANOTHER TIME FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK IF YOU GO TO THE NFL. OTHER TIMES TELLING PEOPLE "NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED, I JUST WANT MONEY OUT OF THIS." ))
RUNS=:16
BEAMER GAME SIDELINE VIDEO (REPLACE THE VIDEO THAT'S ALREADY THERE) A university spokesman says Coach Frank Beamer has discussed the situation with both players. But it's too soon to know when or if he and the university will take any action.
Tracy Altizer, News 7.))
TALENT=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Police arrested Crawford and Edmonds yesterday. Their bond was set at 45 thousand dollars each.

7City-Council

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-99
GRAPHIC=NONE

Roanoke City Council took another step toward building a new interchange on Interstate 5-81 near Valley View Mall.
Council voted to hire an architectural and engineering firm to design the interchange bridge and ramps.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The project will cost about five million dollars.
Officials say it will divert much of the traffic that now empties onto Hershberger Road.
But motorists will have to endure one more Christmas of traffic problems before the project is completed.
(----------------)

7P-Dudley-Reynolds

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#596-46
GRAPHIC=Election 96

The electoral college just elected Bill Clinton President yesterday.
Today, voters in Virginia will elect a state senator.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Friday;

Delegates Allen Dudley and Roscoe Reynolds have been campaigning around the clock in hopes of securing the seat.
A Dudley victory would put the G-O-P in control of a Virginia legislative chamber for the first time in its history.
(/////SOT/////)
12:25:42 15:14:01
SOT
IN Q=Jobs
((DEL. ALLEN DUDLEY/R-STATE SENATE CANDIDATE: JOBS ARE THE MAIN CONCERN AND A GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS SO WITH THOSE TWO THINGS I DON'T THINK IT TAKES, SAY A ROCKET SCIENTIST, TO FIGURE OUT THAT'S FOREMOST ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA. DEL. ROSCOE REYNOLDS/D-STATE SENATE CANDIDATE:I'VE BEEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE 1986 AND DURING THAT TIME I HAVE LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THIS AREA HAVE A STRONG VOICE IN THE SENATE OF VIRGINIA. VIRGIL GOODE HAS BEEN THAT STRONG VOICE, I THINK I CAN BE THAT STRONG VOICE, I'M WORKING FOR THAT. THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IN THIS CAMPAIGN. ))
SUPER=01-Del. Allen Dudley/(R) State Senate Candidate; :00
SUPER=01-Del. Roscoe Reynolds/(D) State Senate Candidate; :13
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=in this campaign.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Any registered voter living in the 20th senatorial district is eligible to cast a ballot during the special election today.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=melanie
SS=election 96

For the latest on today's election, be sure to stay tuned to news 7 throughout the day.
(----------------)

7WEATHER

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
TAPE#NONE

SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Morning Rain/Afternoon Showers/50-54/Mostly Cloudy/Possible
Showers/40-44;

SUPER=#555; RESET

Turning now to the weather forecast,
light rain should continue on and off today.
highs will be in the low 50s.
Tonight, expect low temperatures in the low 40s.
For the rest of the week.......... 7BIRTHDAYS! 12/18/96

SUPER=130-11/Kristina Eckles/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-9/Chinae Carrington/Keysville;

SUPER=130-5/Rebecca Kimberlin/Clifton Forge;

SUPER=130-7/Connie Smith/Natural Bridge Station;

SUPER=130-17/Graylin Claybrooks/Bassett;

SUPER=130-87/Elizabeth Smith/Bedford;

SUPER=130-7/Alexa Painter/Buena Vista;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Melissa Woodfin/Gladstone;

SUPER=130-/Melvin Mays/Lynchburg;

SUPER=130-/Cecil Wilmer/North Carolina;

SUPER=130-/Stephanie Shepherd/North Carolina;

SUPER=130-/Chris Shepherd/ North Carolina;

SUPER=130-/Debbie Dietz/Bluefield WV;

SUPER=130-Scott Dietz/Bluefield WV;

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SUPER=@Melanie1;

55P-Tech-Players

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#596-37
GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech Football

A little over a week after getting word they were heading to the Orange Bowl, the Virginia Tech football team is getting some UNWANTED attention.
Blacksburg police have charged Tech players Brian Edmonds and James Crawford with rape and attempted sodomy.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Former student Christy Brzonkala accused Crawford, a sophomore flanker, of raping HER last year.
Edmonds is a senior starting fullback. He was one of a group of players charged in an on-campus fight in September and suspended for one game.
According to a lawyer who represents Edmonds and Crawford, the alleged rape VICTIM was at the players' apartment Friday night for a party, and returned around five o-clock Saturday morning.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((JOE PAINTER/DEFENSE LAWYER: SHE CAME IN AND WAS SHOUTING AT JAMES CRAWFORD ABOUT MONEY, THEN SHE GOES TO BRIAN'S ROOM. THE DOOR IS LOCKED, SHE KICKS ON THE DOOR, THE POLICE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MARKS ON THE DOOR. THEN WHEN JAMES COMES TO ASK HER TO LEAVE SHE ASSAULTS HIM WITH A BOOT. ))
SUPER=01-Joe Painter/Defense Lawyer;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=with a boot.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A university spokesman says Coach Frank Beamer has discussed the situation with both players.
But it's too soon to know when or if he and the university will take any action.
(----------------)

55Henry-Supers

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#edit of 96-89
GRAPHIC=NONE

The Henry County Board of Supervisors has its hands full with consolidation plans and efforts to improve a dangerous intersection.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co.;

Henry County and Martinsville leaders met jointly, and voted to merge their social services departments.
The new consolidated department will move into the Tultex building in downtown Martinsville.
The new office should be in operation by June first.
SUPER=@File;

The county board also heard V-Dot's plans to improve the safety of the hazardous Route 2-20 intersection in Ridgeway.
The plan includes an intersection re-alignment, and a new traffic light and turning lanes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:03:32
IN Q=WE feel it's
((H.G. VAUGHN/HENRY CO. SUPERVISOR: WE FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS REALIZE V-DOT HAS GIVEN THIS TOP PRIORITY THROUGHOUT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE IN THE STATE. )
SUPER=01-H.G. Vaughn/Henry Co. Supervisor;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=quickly as possible
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Vaughn expects the project to take about 18 months.
(----------------)

55WEATHER

8Tech-Players

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-95
GRAPHIC=Tech Football
***ANCHOR TAG***
With the Orange Bowl two weeks away, some of Virginia Tech's players are facing more legal trouble.
Blacksburg police have charged two players with rape and attempted sodomy.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=After a season of turmoil
SUPER=@File; :00
SUPER=@Tracy1; :30
SUPER=01-Joe Painter/Defense Lawyer; :47
RUNS=1:14
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7
(( After a season of turmoil and numerous criminal charges against various players, the Virginia Tech football team was finally basking in the glory of its upcoming Orange Bowl bid against Nebraska.
Now another serious diversion. EDMONDS Senior starting fullback Brian Edmonds, one of the players charged in an on-campus brawl earlier in the season, is now charged with rape and sodomy. CRAWFORD So is his roommate, sophomore receiver James Crawford, one of two players whom Christy Brzonkala accused of raping HER last year. STANDUP According to an attorney who represents both players the alleged victim in this case says Crawford and Edmonds raped her in an apartment the players share in Blacksburg.
He says the woman had been at the apartment Friday night for a party, that she left, then broke in through a patio door several hours later to demand money.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:52:53
((JOE PAINTER/DEFENSE LAWYER: DIFFERENT STATEMENTS, ONE TIME 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR MY TUITION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. ANOTHER TIME FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK IF YOU GO TO THE NFL. OTHER TIMES TELLING PEOPLE "NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED, I JUST WANT MONEY OUT OF THIS." ))
RUNS=:16
BEAMER GAME SIDELINE VIDEO (REPLACE THE VIDEO THAT'S ALREADY THERE) A university spokesman says Coach Frank Beamer has discussed the situation with both players. But it's too soon to know when or if he and the university will take any action.
Tracy Altizer, News 7.))
TALENT=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Police arrested Crawford and Edmonds yesterday. They were both released on 45 thousand dollars bond.

8Lansdowne-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=legal scales

There's no word yet if a 17 year old Roanoke teenager will be tried as an adult in connection with the shooting death of another 17 year old.
Stephan Dwayne Jones was formally charged with capital murder and two
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Wednesday;
other charges yesterday.
Jones is accused of gunning down Antwan Gray Wednesday night.
It happened in the 24-hundred block of Centre Avenue adjacent to the Lansdowne Apartment Complex.
The Prosecutor says Jones is facing serious allegations.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:08:17
IN Q=The general
((MELVIN HILL/PROSECUTOR: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DECIDED THAT IF YOU KILL SOMEONE IN THE COMMISSION OF A ROBBERY IT'S CAPITAL MURDER. THE SAME IS TRUE IF THE PERSON IS 25 OR 17, IT'S A SERIOUS OFFENSE. ))
SUPER=01-Melvin Hill/Prosecutor;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=serious offense.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The capital murder charge could be downgraded because of his age.
If it isn't and Jones is found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
It was also disclosed yesterday that Jones also faces a drug charge in an unrelated, previous offense.
He's being held without bond at the Coyner Springs Juvenile Detention Center.

8Election

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=election 96

It's election day in the Martinsville area. Virgil Goode's state senate seat is up for grabs. Goode was elected to Congress last month.
Democrat Roscoe Reynolds and Republican Allen Dudley are competing for the vacant seat.
Please stay tuned to News 7 throughout the day for the latest information on today's voting.

8Limitorque

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=layoffs

Layoffs at the (Lim-ih-tork) Limitorque Corporation in Lynchburg have affected about 38 workers.
Employees confirm that the pink slips began going out last week.
Of the 38 workers affected, 23 are hourly and 15 are salaried personnel.
Limitorque manufactures devices that open and close valves.
The plant employs several hundred people.