WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 02/20/97

12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Giles County authorities believe a shooting that took the life of a young woman was accidental.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie

And ten years after he was freed from a California prison a convicted rapist, but last night he was arrested for murder.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick

Clouds are pushing in, and we have some showers in the forecast for the next 24 hours. Temperatures still well above normal for the next couple of days, then we return to normal. I'll have all the weather details, along with a look at basketball across the region.
(///////////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

News 7 at noon is next.

E-Giles-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#597-14
GRAPHIC=Shooting

A young woman was shot and killed in Giles County last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Giles Co.;

Sheriff's investigators say she was shot shortly before eight o'clock.
It happened in a mobile home off route 4-60 near the entrance to Mountain Lake.
Officials say charges have been placed, but they won't say who they've arrested.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=A WHITE
((A WHITE FEMALE APPROX 20-22 YEARS WAS FOUND DECEASED.. THERE WERE TWO INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOME. THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING))
SUPER=01-Willie Lucas/Giles County Investigator;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=IS CONTINUING
(-------------)

E-Floyd-Body

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#597-15
GRAPHIC=NONE

Another suspicious death is under investigation in the Buffalo Mountain section of FLOYD County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;

The Sheriff's department discovered a body at a home on route 629.
Auto theft warrants have been issued for 18- year- old Mark Anthony Beavers and 21- Year- old Jerry McKinney.
They're both in custody in WEST Virginia.
A car was apparently stolen from the home in the course of the murder.
(----------------)

E-Danville-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#97-4
GRAPHIC=fatal Accident

A teen died in an accident on one of Danville's busiest roads last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

It happened on Route 58 in front of Westover Baptist Church.
Police say 18- year- old Mary Bailey apparently pulled her station wagon into the path of another car.
Witnesses say Bailey was crossing the road on her way to church.
Police say 15- year- old John Paul Bailey, a passenger in the station wagon, died at the hospital.
Three others were also injured, but the extent of their injuries is not known.
(----------------)

RAPIST

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

In Florida, a man who did time for raping and than maiming a teenager has reportedly struck again.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hillsborough Co., FL/Last Night;

Police say Lawrence Singleton fatally stabbed a woman at his home near Tampa.
SUPER=03-Contra Costa Co., CA;

The 69- year- old was paroled in 19-87 after serving eight years in a California prison for raping and than chopping off the forearms of a 15- year- old girl.
(----------------)

XIAOPING

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

China has begun a six-day mourning period for the last of its revolutionary leaders.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Beijing;

Deng Xiaoping (dung shah-oh-ping) died yesterday of a lung infection and complications of Parkinson's disease.
He was 92.
SUPER=@File;

He's being remembered for the Tiananmen Square massacre and as the architect of China's economic reform.
Former President George Bush predicts a stable transition of power and says Deng will be remembered as the leader who transformed China into an economic power.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I think that will be his legacy..
RUNS=:12
OUT Q= couldn't even exist.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, but no foreign dignitaries have been invited.
(----------------)

Ferrum-Players

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#net h
GRAPHIC=legal scales

Two college athletes were kicked out of Ferrum College and sentenced to three days in the Franklin County jail... after being convicted of assault charges.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;

19- year- old Al Anderson and 19- year- old David Cooper were found guilty of starting a brawl at the school's recreational facility last month.
The victim was one of their own teammates.
Wes Mattera testified that he was hit repeatedly in the face after playing in a pick up basketball game.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 13:46:32
IN Q=I just
((WES MATTERA/BEATING VICTIM: I JUST GOT HIT. PUNCHES WERE FLYING FROM ALL SIDES AND I JUST GOT HIT. I GOT HIT TWO OR THREE TIMES AND FINALLY I GOT HIT IN THE NOSE. IT MUST HAVE BROKE MY NOSE.))
SUPER=01-Wes Mattera/Beating Victim;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=broke my nose
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A Ferrum spokesperson says Anderson and Cooper are no longer students at the school.
Two other players had been charged with assault but were found not guilty.
They were 18- year- old Michael Bryant and starting running back Maurice Clark.
(----------------)

S-Wythe-School

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=None

The school board is being put in the middle of a racial dispute at George Wythe High School.
The parents of at least four white students are now asking the board to overturn the punishment their children received.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wytheville;

Ten students were reportedly suspended for tying their jacket drawstrings into nooses.
Earlier this week, members of the group, Concerned Citizens Network, complained that black students have been subjected to repeated slurs and other racial incidents.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

But the parents of some of the suspended students have asked the Wythe County School Board to overturn the suspensions.
The board is expected to consider that request next month.

Health-Sciences

ANCHOR=mel
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-105
GRAPHIC=none

The College of Health Sciences will have a new home... soon after the turn of the century.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

At a news conference this morning, the school received the deed to 38 acres of land just west of Dixie Caverns.
The tract was donated by American Electric Power.
College officials say they expect to outgrow their current Roanoke facility in the next few years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=10:33:51
((DR. HARRY NICKENS/COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES: THE GROWTH... BECAUSE JOBS ARE THERE... IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE. NOT ONLY IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, BUT THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA AND THE NATION. SO OUR CHALLENGE IS TO CONTINUE TO BE AHEAD OF THE JOB DEMAND CURVE. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Harry Nickens/College of Health Sciences;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=demand curve
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none

The College of Health Sciences currently has around 550 students.
That number is expected to increase by more than 35- percent by the time the new campus is opened.

Taylor

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Hollywood celebrated Elizabeth Taylor's 65th birthday a few days early on Sunday at an AIDS fundraiser.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hollywood, CA/ABC-Sunday;

Today she faces another event,-- surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.
The tumor is in an area above and behind Taylor's left ear.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((DR. SOLOMON: THE TUMORS DON'T ACTUALLY INVADE THE BRAIN, THEY DON'T ARISE FROM THE BRAIN, AND THEY DON'T REALLY DO ANY DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN. THEY JUST APPLY PRESSURE TO THE UNDERLYING BRAIN. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Robert Solomon/Neurosurgeon;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q= underlying brain.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Doctors say Taylor will remain in the hospital for three to five days after the surgery.
They say the Oscar-winning actress should make a full recovery.
(----------------)

RAY-HEARING

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

In Memphis, a hearing is being held that will ultimately decide whether James Earl Ray will stand trial for the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Memphis, TN;

His attorneys are asking a judge to allow new scientific tests on a hunting rifle authorities say Ray used to kill King.
SUPER=04-Thursday;

Last week the family of Dr. King joined Ray's family in asking that he be tried, so the truth could come out about the murder.
Ray originally pleaded guilty but later recanted his confession.
(----------------)

jonbenet

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=murder investigation

Colorado prosecutors say the parents of JonBenet Ramsey have not been ruled out as suspects in their daughter's murder.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The announcement was made yesterday following a request to a judge to keep sealed search warrants for the couple's property.
A deputy district attorney wrote that the two have not "been eliminated from suspicion."
This is the first time an official connected to the case has included the Ramseys among the list of suspects.
(----------------)

E-Assisted-Suicide

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-106
GRAPHIC=Session 97

A weekend deadline is fast approaching the 19-97 General Assembly.
Fights over appointing judges foreshadow a long weekend.
Budget negotiators gave themselves an extension.
Debate was put off yesterday on parental notification.
But finally, both chambers signed a bill banning assisted suicide in Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Consolidating two slightly different versions could still de-rail the ban, but it finally puts the legislature on record.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 06:32:42
IN Q=I think
((DEL. BILL MIMS/R-LOUDON CO.: I THINK THAT THIS TELLS SOMEONE LIKE DR. KEVORKIAN OR THE DR. KEVORKIAN WANNA-BES THAT ARE OUT IN SOME OTHER STATES, YOU'RE NOT WELCOMED IN VIRGINIA. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT VIRGINIA ALREADY HAS A DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT.))
SUPER=01-Del. Bill Mims/(R) Loudon Co.;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=dignity act.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The ban calls for a ten-thousand dollar civil penalty for assisting one suicide -- a one hundred-thousand dollar fine for a second.
Amendments making it tougher failed in the House.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT earl tape 15:58:56
IN Q=Please send
((DEL. BOB MARSHALL/R-MANASSAS: PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO SENIOR VIRGINIANS. WE DO LOVE YOU, WE DON'T THINK THAT GIVE THEM MARIJUANA, GIVE THEM DEATH IS THE WAY TO PROCEED.))
sot earl tape 16:00:45
((HOUSE SPEAKER TOM MOSS/D-NORFOLK: IT'S YOUR FUNERAL. NOT MINE. NO PUN INTENDED THERE.))
SUPER=01-Del. Bob Marshall/(R) Manassas; :00
SUPER=01-Tom Moss/House Speaker; :12
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=intended there.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None

Michigan chose a criminal penalty over a civil one for assisted suicide.
But NO Michigan jury has enforced it against Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

P-XGR

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#597-01
GRAPHIC=session 97

State legislators debated the issue of credit unions throwing huge auto tent sales yesterday.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:25:32 fred tape
IN Q=I wondered
((I WONDERED FROM THE OUTSET WHY THE CREDIT UNIONS WERE SO INVOLVED...ARE TAKING PLACE.))
SUPER=01-Del. Leo Wardrup/(R) Virginia Beach;
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=taking place.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But Carroll County's Tom Jackson prevailed -- calling the tent sales a good deal for "the little people."
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:17:26 fred tape
IN Q=I can't
((DEL. TOM JACKSON: I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER EXAMPLE OF FREE ENTERPRISE...MORE ARM-TWISTING GOING ON ON THIS BILL THAN WILL EVER GO ON UNDER THESE TENTS.))
SUPER=@Jackson;
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=these tents.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

So over the objections of car dealers, the ban was re-referred to committee for another year of study.
(------0----------)

E-State-Song

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-2
GRAPHIC=State Song

Governor Allen's signature can end the 27 year debate over Virginia's state song.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

The Senate cast the final vote to retire "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" to "state song (E-Merit-us) emeritus" status.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 05:42:49
IN Q=In the new
((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS/D-ROANOKE: IN THE NEW DOMINION I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD... BROAD CONSENSUS.))
SOT 05:37:17
((SEN. EMMETT HANGER/R-AUGUSTA CO.: THERE ARE MANY THAT WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT IT REMAIN THE OFFICIAL STATE SONG WITHOUT COMPROMISING IT TO THE STATE SONG EMERITUS. AND I SHARED THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD RETAIN IT AND JUST CHANGE SOME OF THE OBJECTIONABLE WORDS. I DID FIND THAT AFTER I TOOK KIND OF A HIGH PROFILE WITH THE DISCUSSION ON IT, THAT QUITE A NUMBER OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND SOME OF THE MORE PROMINENT LEADERS CONSIDER IT A PART OF THEIR HISTORY AND DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT GO EITHER.))
SUPER=@Edwards; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Emmett Hanger/(R) Augusta Co.; :11
RUNS=:35
OUT Q=go either.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=hold

There are NO formal plans to search for a new song.

E-Bedford-Schools

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=Education

Parents and teachers concerned about the problem of overcrowded schools argue Bedford County is NOT doing enough.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Tuesday night, supervisors voted NOT to apply for a three and a half million dollar state education loan.
The money would have paid for design plans and the necessary land for two new elementary schools.
Parents say the rejection could set the process back another year, and it's something they'll hold board members accountable for in November.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:54:43
IN Q=I think they're
((DEBBY ALLEN/PTA COALITION: I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND THEIR POSITION, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NEED THAT'S A CONCRETE NEED. ... AND THE STUDENTS SUFFER.))
SUPER=01-Debby Allen/PTA Coalition; :00
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=the students suffer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Educators say the county can NOT keep growing- They say something must give.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:01:51
IN Q=If the board
((DR. JOHN KENT/SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: IF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES NOT WANT TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS, THEN WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS NOT APPROVE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.))
SUPER=01-John Kent/School Superintendent; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=approve residential development.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Kent says Bedford County is the fastest growing area west of Richmond, but also spends the least amount of money per student.
(----------------)

CHERRY-HILL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=AFR
TAPE#net (edit of 97-3)
GRAPHIC=NONE

A Roanoke Mansion is going condo.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Two businessmen bought the Cherry Hill Estate from a division of Carilion Health System in October.
They plan to sell condos on the property.
Until 19-83, the 72- year- old estate housed he Roanoke Fine Arts Center-- but since then, it's been empty.
SOT
IN Q=it's exciting
((WINTER HODGES/DEVELOPER: IT'S EXCITING BEING A PART OF RESTORING IT, IT WILL BE DONE THE RIGHT WAY I CAN ASSURE YOU-- AND KEEP HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.))
SUPER=01-Winter Hodges/Cherry Hill Developer;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=roanoke, Virginia
(----------------)
VO-NAT

When Carilion owned the property, the company tried a similar condominium project and failed.
This project is on a smaller scale.
Construction on the project is slated to begin within 60 days.
(-------------)
WEATHER
SUPER=300-57/44/Calm/30.35s/73/1971/ 9/1979;
SUPER=301-60/39/E 6mph/30.37s/76/1930/ 7/1986;
Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Mostly/Cloudy/44-48/Cloudy & Breezy/with Showers/64-68;
SUPER=331-Mostly/Cloudy/44-48/Mostly Cloudy/Breezy & Mild/68-72;
SUPER=332-Mostly Cloudy/with Drizzle/42-46/Partly Cloudy/Showers/60-64;
SUPER=333-Mostly/Cloudy/42-46/Cloudy & Breezy/ Showers/62-66;
SUPER=334-Mostly Cloudy/with Rain/46-50/Variable Clouds/Showers/66-70;
SUPER=X5001;

S-Optical-Cable

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-108
GRAPHIC=Optical Cable

The stock of a Roanoke County company has once again become a hot commodity on Wall Street.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

Optical Cable stock has been trading at more than 14 times its usual volume.
It's price has gone from the 10- dollar range to as much as 15- dollars.
Optical Cable C-E-O Bob Kopstein has several guesses for the stock's first big run-up since last Summer.
A month ago he publicly stated the stock was undervalued.
He adds people may also be buying it because they want to purchase it before it goes up any further.
At noon the stock was up one quarter, at 16- dollars.
(-------------)

UVa

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of vb97-1)
GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA LOGO

The Virginia Cavaliers came away from Raleigh with a win over N-C State.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC/Cavs vs. Wolfpack;

Virginia took the Wolfpack out of the game early as Courtney Alexander drives to the hoop and scores with the left hand.
The Cavaliers were able to take a 36-to-17 halftime lead thanks largely to the outside shooting of Roanoke's Curtis Staples.
Staples assaulted the three point stripe throwing in 26 points on the Wolfpack.
SUPER=33-Virginia/55/N.C. State/46;

State would come back and outscore the Cavs 29-to-19 in the second half.
But Virginia wins its 17th game of the year 55-to-46.
(-------------)

Wake

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#bb97-3
GRAPHIC=acc

In Chapel Hill, number 12 North Carolina dominated fourth ranked Wake Forest from start to finish.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Chapel Hill, NC/JP Sports;

Tony Rutland would get the Demon Deacons on the board early with this long three pointer.
But the first half was all North Carolina, or make that all Vince Carter. First, he knocks down the long three pointer from the left wing.
Then later in the half watch him go to the roof and throw down the alleyoop.
SUPER=33-Wake Forest #4/60/N. Carolina #12/74/;

Carter had 21 points at the half.
Carolina hangs on in the second half and notches the 74 to 60 win.
(-------------)

Tourney

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=TOURNEY TIME

Plenty of high school action as well last night.
In the Blue Ridge semi-finals Salem nipped Northside and Blacksburg upset William Byrd.
Also an upset in the girl's Roanoke Valley District semi-finals as Fleming knocked off Cave Spring in overtime.
Pulaski beat Franklin County in the other semi-final.
And in the Seminole district final four--Liberty beat Rustburg 75-to-64, and Jefferson Forest downed Heritage 52-to-51.

Ashe

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S6-23
GRAPHIC=TENNIS-USTA

The United States Tennis Association officially named the new National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York - "Arthur Ashe Stadium" yesterday.
The governing body had first decided against this, but had a change of heart.
The late Richmond native's wife was on hand for the announcement.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="The Arthur Ashe...
((JEANNE MOUTOUSSAMY-ASHE:))
SUPER=07-Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe; :00
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=...and athlete."
(-------------)

Suess-Mania

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

The work of children's author Dr. Seuss is being brought to life and you're invited to step right into the pages of some of your favorite Suess stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;

A portion of the Children's Musuem of Manhattan has been be transformed into a real life Dr. Suess pop up book.
Children can play with gadgets and gizmos, steer the boat in Green Eggs and Ham, and climb aboard the Cat in the Hat's clean- up machine.
The exhibit was created with the consent of Dr. Suess' widow, Audrey Geisel.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=if you can...
SUPER=01-Audrey Geisel/Dr. Seuss' Widow;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=THAT MUCH MORE.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

You can also view actual sketches and drawings done by the late Theodor Geisel a-k-a Dr. Seuss. (----------------) The exhibit will be in New York City through 19-99.