WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/17/97

08:25-01

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SUPER=@melanie1;

7rail-merger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=mel
TAPE# 96-97
GRAPHIC=Rail Merger;

Conrail shareholders cast their votes today.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Philadelphia/File Tape;

The decision involves whether to support a merger with C-S-X that Conrail's board favors -- or turn to a rival and higher takeover bid from Norfolk Southern. 9
C-S-X has an edge since it already owns a 20 percent voting stake in Conrail.
But a C-S-X spokesman said the outcome is too close to call.
Norfolk Southern says it will keep fighting C-S-X even if it loses today's vote. 22
(----------------)

7Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE#net (edit of 97-1)
GRAPHIC=Fire

An electrical fire heavily damaged a Northeast Roanoke Church last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

All five people in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Huntington Boulevard escaped unharmed.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:40:03
IN Q=We noticed that
((FATHER GEORGE CHIOROS/PASTOR: WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HALL. WE WENT THROUGH THE CHURCH AND AS WE WERE COMING AROUND WE NOTICED THE FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS.))
SUPER=01-Father George Chioros/Pastor;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=coming through windows.
(----------------)
VO-NAT :10

Damage is estimated at 30- thousand- dollars.
Fire investigators believe the blaze was sparked by an electrical short in
a coffee maker. (----------------)

7Burley

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#net (edit of 96-104)
GRAPHIC=Burley

A second trial produces another murder conviction for James Henry Burley.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Amherst/This Week;

A jury yesterday found Burley guilty of first degree murder for fatally shooting Jacqueline Carter in December, 19-95.
Last month, Burley received a life sentence for murdering Robin Burge a month before Carter.
Burley's attorneys plan to appeal his latest conviction, claiming the jury began deliberations before hearing closing arguments.
(----------------)

7Kelly

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-100
GRAPHIC=NONE

Tears and reflection yesterday at Virginia Tech as students remembered a classmate killed over the weekend by a suspected drunken driver.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;

A large crowd gathered for the memorial service of 20-year old Daniel Kelly.
Kelly was struck and killed Saturday night while walking on campus with his girlfriend.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:53:50
((JENNY HIBBS/KELLY'S FRIEND: I DON'T WANT DAN TO BE FORGOTTEN. I DON'T WANT THE ACCIDENT TO BE FORGOTTEN. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS STUFF DOES HAPPEN AND IT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND I DON'T THINK ANY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HURT THAT THE KELLY'S ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. ))
SUPER=01-Jenny Hibbs/Kelly's Friend;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=through right now.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A campus deacon says the driver, 47- year- old Evelyn Williams is devastated.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:39:59
IN Q=
((MICHAEL ELLERBROCK/CAMPUS DEACON: SHE'S VERY WORRIED ABOUT HERSELF. HOW CAN SHE EVER COPE WITH HAVING DONE SUCH A THING? AND THAT'S A HARD ONE TO ANSWER, HOW WILL SHE EVER DEAL WITH IT. A LOVING PERSON. ))
SUPER=01-Michael Ellerbrock/Campus Deacon;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=a loving person.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Friends remembered Kelly as a gifted student who was always ready to lend a hand and a smile.
(----------------)

7Radio-Sale

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=None

A merger between two longtime rivals on the Roanoke-Lynchburg radio airwaves.
Q-99 is buying K-92.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem

W-S-L-C/W-S-L-Q announced that it's going to buy W-X-L-K in Roanoke and W-L-Y-K in Lynchburg.
K-92 was king of the market in the 80s, but has slipped in popularity in the last few years.
Still, Q-99 vice president Leonard Wheeler says it's still a strong station and he does NOT foresee any major changes right now.
The Federal Communications Commission has to approve the sale; that's usually a formality.
(----------------)

7WEATHER

ANCHOR=MELANIE
NEWSCAST=MORN
WRITER=ldo
TAPE#NONE

SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Wind Chill Advisory/Mostly Sunny, Windy/20-22/Breezy and
Cold//13-15;
SUPER=#555; RESET

There are several school closings and delays this morning.
We will continue to flash them across the screen throughout the morning.
Taking a look at your very chilly Friday forecast, A wind chill advisory is in affect today.
It will be mostly sunny, but windy and cold highs will be in the low 20's.
Tonight temperatures will dip down into the low to mid teens.
For the weekend, partly sunny but COLD.
We should start to warm up a bit by Tuesday. 7BIRTHDAYS! 1/19/97
Sunday:

(Twins)
SUPER=130-1/Jake & Rachel Simpson/Troutville;

SUPER=130-95/Virgil Cox/Galax;

SUPER=130-35/Linda Day/Penhook;

SUPER=130-30/Chris Williams/Roanoke;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-7/Jessica Perfater/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-9/Sheridon Reece/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-30/Stacie Thurman/Penhook;

SUPER=130-2/Tori Cheatham/Dublin;

SUPER=130-1/Tierra Witcher/Glade Hill;

SUPER=130-16/Jennifer Clements/Lexington;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-51/Curtis Lee/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-/Rosie Nester/Thaxton;

SUPER=130-/Geri Sigmon/Callaway;

SUPER=130-/Natasha Berryman/Clifton Forge;
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SUPER=@melanie1;

55Longaker

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Khu
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=Frank Longaker

In Roanoke, the Vice President of National Business College is suing the President for sexual harrassment.
(----------------)
VO-NAT :22
SUPER=03-Roanoke/1991

Lisa Meredith, who is on medical leave, has filed a federal lawsuit this week against Frank Longaker and the College.
It cites numerous instances when Longaker allegedly tried to initiate a sexual relationship with Meredith.
(----------------)
Talent=Melanie
SS=hold

The complaint asks only for a judgment against Longaker, without specifying a dollar amount.
Longaker has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

55Leggett

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-107
GRAPHIC=Leggett

A new name for Leggett stores is bad news for some of its employees.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

Belk Department Stores acquired Leggett last year.
And yesterday it announced all 31 Leggett stores will be re-named Belk.
This is not expected to be a big change for shoppers, since Belk and Leggett have been loosely affiliated since Leggett was founded 70 years ago.
SUPER=03-Bedford;

But the change mean some Leggett employees in Bedford and Altavista will lose their jobs.
Belk is closing those stores in a consolidation move.
(-------------)

55Rosser

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-98
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation

Legal experts say a juvenile correctional center would be out of the question should a judge convict a Pittsylvania County eight- year- old accused of killing his step-father.
Experts say in order to be sentenced to a correctional center, a child has to be at least ten- years- old.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

55- year- old Bernard Rosser was discovered dead last month at his Gretna home.
Authorities say the Franklin County probation officer died from a severe blow to the head.
Martinsville Commonwealth's attorney Randy Smith is NOT connected with the case, but says if Rosser's eight- year- old step-son is convicted, probation would be an option.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It's also
((RANDY SMITH/MARTINSVILLE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTY.:IT'S ALSO AN OPTION OF PROVIDING A FINE UP TO 500- DOLLARS, THAT SOUNDS KIND OF RIDICULOUS FOR AN EIGHT- YEAR OLD CHILD, OBVIOUSLY, AS AN OPTION FOR AN EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILD, IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH SENSE TO IT. ))
SUPER=01-Randy Smith/Martinsville Commonwealth's Atty.; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=to it.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Other options include leaving the child in the custody of a parent or placing him in foster care.
The court could also order the child to spend time in an appropriate mental health hospital.

55WEATHER

8P-Kelly

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#596-43
GRAPHIC=none

At Virginia Tech, students said goodbye to a classmate killed last weekend by an alleged drunken driver.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;

Mourners packed War Memorial Chapel to pay their last respects to 20- year- old Daniel Jude Kelly.
Kelly died when he was hit by a car while walking on Southgate Drive.
Friends say he was always quick to lend a hand and share a smile.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:50:04
IN Q=
((HEATHER WILSON/KELLY'S FRIEND: HE MADE EVERYONE FEEL LIKE SOMEONE, NO MATTER WHO IT WAS. HE WAS REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYBODY'S SELF-ESTEEM. I THINK THAT WAS MOSTLY WHAT EVERYONE CAN REMEMBER THE MOST, WHAT A GOOD FRIEND HE WAS. ))
SUPER=01-Heather Wilson/Kelly's Friend;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=friend he was.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Friends wrote their remembrances on posters for Kelly's family.
Some hope the fact that he MAY have been killed by a drunken driver will remind others of the dangers of drinking and driving.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:43:55
IN Q=
((KEVIN CAVISTON/KELLY'S FRIEND: IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY BAD IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. BUT THE FACT THAT ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED REALLY HURT A LOT MORE BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD'BE BEEN TOTALLY AVOIDED. ))
SUPER=01-Kevin Caviston/Kelly's Friend;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=totally avoided.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Kelly's funeral is today in Maryland.

8P-Davis-Folo

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=abr
TAPE#596-46
GRAPHIC=Davis, Gil

A video tape may have destroyed a political future for Republican Attorney General Candidate Gil Davis.
At least that's the opinion of some politicians in Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
IN Q=Based on the
((BASED ON THE PORTIONS OF THE TAPE I'VE SEEN, I'D SAY MR. DAVIS IS NOT A VIABLE CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE HE'S SEEKING OR ANY OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICE IN VIRGINIA. )) ((IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE A CREDIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.))
SUPER=01-Del. Jay DeBoer/(D) Petersburg;
SUPER=@Beyer;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=for attorney general
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The tape was made in 19-94 by Ramona Hines, a client of Davis' from Pittsylvania County.
Hines released segments where she and Davis discussed her getting modeling contract with Playboy magazine.
Davis is representing Paula Jones in her sexual harrassment case against President Clinton.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 596-46 55:59
IN Q=My take is
((MY TAKE IS THAT PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES. ))
SUPER=01-Sen. Patricia Ticer/(D) Alexandria; :00
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=not throw stones
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Since Hines is a client of Davis', he has not been able to comment about her tape.
Davis is making efforts to sever the client attorney relationship, so he can make a statement.
(----------------)

8rail-merger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=mel
TAPE#96-97
GRAPHIC=Rail Merger

Conrail shareholders decide today which railroad they will merge with.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/File Tape;

They must chose whether to support a merger with C-S-X that Conrail's board favors -- or turn to a rival and higher takeover bid from Norfolk Southern.
C-S-X has an edge since it already owns a 20 percent voting stake in Conrail.
But a C-S-X spokesman said the outcome is too close to call.
Norfolk Southern says it will keep fighting C-S-X even if it loses today's vote.
(----------------)

8Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE#net (edit of 97-1)
GRAPHIC=Fire

Fire officials say an electrical short in a coffee maker was what sparked a blaze last night at a Northeast Roanoke church last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Five people were inside of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church at the time, but safely got out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:40:03
IN Q=We noticed that
((FATHER GEORGE CHIOROS/PASTOR: WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HALL. WE WENT THROUGH THE CHURCH AND AS WE WERE COMING AROUND WE NOTICED THE FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS.))
SUPER=01-Father George Chioros/Pastor;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=coming through windows.
(----------------)
VO-NAT :10

The fire was contained to two rooms.
Damage is estimated at around 30- thousand- dollars.
(----------------)