WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 03/04/97

12:00-01

Noon-open

SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner
SUPER=@Melanie1;
SUPER=@Patrick1;

Rail-Merger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-9
GRAPHIC=rail merger

There's more evidence emerging that Virginia's two major railroads will divide the spoils of Conrail, a dominant carrier in the northeast.
Double Boxes=Melanie and Len/Newsroom

Len Besthoff has been tracking these developments.
He joins us from our newsroom with more on the situation.
Live=Len Full/Newsroom
SUPER=@len1;

Melanie yesterday mum was the word on any change in the bidding war over Conrail.
But a set of brief statements released by all three railroads Monday evening are confirming what industry sources have been predicting.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Conrail's board of directors has approved a revised agreement in which it will be sold to C-S-X for 10- point- five- billion- dollars.
But comments by C-S-X C-E-O Jack Snow give every indication that Norfolk Southern, one of our area's largest employers, will get to purchase some key Conrail routes.
Snow says he expects a proposal that will "provide a pro- competitive solution in the east".
Industry speculation has N-S getting two Conrail routes giving it strong links into New York.
(-------------)
Live=Len Full/Newsroom

N- S C-E-O David Goode sounds equally optimistic, saying he's looking forward to a plan to restructure the rail system with N-S and C-S-X each getting part of Conrail.
Double Boxes=Melanie and Len/Newsroom

Key to the deal for N-S are the links to the port of New York, an area it has been trying to get a foothold in for many years.
(QUESTION: Now originally Conrail demanded it wouldn't be broken in two. What
happened?)

AR-OH

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Clinton

President Clinton is on his way to his home state of Arkansas this afternoon where he'll see for himself the devastation left by Saturday's killer tornadoes.
Meanwhile, residents along the Ohio River brace for what could be the worst flooding in more than 30 years.
Thousands have already been forced from their homes.
John Roberts reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
10:39:45
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Cynthianna, KY; :00
SUPER=01-John Roberts/Reporting; :40
RUNS=:55
OUT Q=CBS NEWS CINCINNATI.
((
Further upstream on the licking river -- cynthianna, kentucky was spared the depth of falmouth's problems -- but none of its pain.
"WE'RE JUST DEVASTATED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE DIDN'T GET OUT WITH NOTHING." NARR: IT WAS A WEEKEND OF RECORD RAINFALL -- BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL THAT TO THIS MAN.
"I'VE LIVED IN CYNTHIANNA 46 OF MY 49 YEARS OF AGE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS." NARR: THEY WERE SAYING THE SAME THING IN SHEPPARDSVILLE, KENTUCKY... WHERE THE SALT RIVER HIT A 40 YEAR HIGH.
" I GOT MY WIFE OUT AND MY KIDS OUT... IS IT GOING TO HELP TO CRY? NO. YOU JUST GOT TO GO ON."
John Roberts, CBS News Cincinnati.))

McVeigh

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=mcveigh

An attorney for Oklahoma City bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh is accusing the Dallas Morning News of stealing hundreds of documents from his computer files.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dallas, TX;

Stephen Jones says a purported confession by McVeigh printed by the paper is not a legitimate document.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((STEPHEN JONES/MCVEIGH'S ATTORNEY: IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AUTHORIZED FREEDOM OF THE PRESS BASED UPON DOCUMENTS STOLEN BY PEOPLE WHO SEEK TO PUBLISH THEM. ))
SUPER=01-Stephen Jones/McVeigh's Attorney;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=to publish them.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The paper denies any wrongdoing.
Meantime, a source tells C-B-S News the defense made up the alleged confession to see if it would cause a potential witness to change his story.
(----------------)

Armed-Robbery

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

Christiansburg police are on the look out for two men who allegedly robbed the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Peppers Ferry Road last night.
Police say one of the men brandished a semi-automatic handgun.
They fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

E-Virginia-Guns

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-5
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal

In the wake of the shooting rampage at the Empire State Building, some politicians are pointing out what they see as a new source of weapons...Virginia.
But state officials say the numbers just don't add up.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-New York, NY/February 23; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Torricelli/(D) New Jersey; :07
SUPER=01-Bill Dunham/ATF Agent; :36
SUPER=@Ellen2; :51
RUNS=1:24
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( Call it the fallout of a bloody Sunday at the Empire State Building.
SOT
((SEN. BOB TORRICELLI/D- NEW JERSEY: NO ONE IN FLORIDA, THE CAROLINAS OR VIRGINIA SHOULD WANT TO PROFIT BY THE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.))
RUNS=:08

The gun used at the Empire State Building came from Florida.
But when a New Jersey senator and a New York congressman pulled up some numbers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms...Virginia showed up as the new number one provider of guns used in New York City crimes.
But Governor George Allen's office and the ATF say the politicians' spin lacks some facts-- like the "street age" of the guns.
sot 05:51:57
((BILL DUNHAM/ATF AGENT: A LARGE NUMBER OF GUNS THAT WERE TRAFFICKED EARLY ON IN THE '90s PRIOR TO ONE GUN A MONTH LEGISLATION IN VIRGINIA MAY STILL BE ON THE STREETS IN NEW YORK. AND AS THEY'RE RECOVERED AND TRACED, IT'S SHOWING VIRGINIA AS A SOURCE STATE.))
runs=:16

The AVERAGE age for a gun seized in a crime is six years old.
Virginia's one gun a month law is just four years old.
SOT 05:49:11
((BILL DUNHAM/ATF AGENT: WE HAD INVESTIGATED CASES WHERE FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED GUNS WERE TRAFFICKED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE. THERE IS STILL GUN TRAFFICKING GOING ON.)) butt*butt
sot 05:49:29
((BUT IT'S A HANDFUL OF GUNS THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BRING UP VERSUS A TRUNKLOAD.))
RUNS=:18

The A-T-F says gun runners may soon be loading up in West Virginia.
Sales are still unrestricted there.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

Wintergreen-Body

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

The body of a Waynesboro woman was found Sunday at the Wintergreen ski resort after someone heard her three- year- old daughter's wails.
Wintergreen police say 27- year- old Heather Merchant had been visiting friends at the Nelson County resort.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, but police say there were no signs of struggle.

cloning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=clinton

President Clinton does not want humans to play God when it comes to scientific research.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

From the Oval office today he issued a directive to bar any federal agency from supporting, funding, or undertaking research on human cloning.
Mr. Clinton says new research over the weekend raises the prospect that it might be possible to clone humans.
He's referring to the cloning of two rhesus monkeys in Oregon.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
10:00:58 ((THERE IS MUCH ABOUT CLONING WE STILL DO NOT KNOW, BUT THIS MUCH WE DO KNOW ANY DISCOVERY THAT TOUCHES UPON HUMAN CREATION IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY IT IS A MATTER OF MORALITY AS WELL.))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=as well.
ANCHOR=Melanie
ss=hold
The president also wants a voluntary halt to privately funded human cloning experiments.

KIDS-DRUGS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=drug use

Some alarming new statistics about children and drugs.
A survey by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America finds marijuana use by youngsters in the fourth through sixth grades has doubled in the last year.
The president of the group says the average age for trying marijuana is now 13.

E-VMI

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-1
GRAPHIC=VMI

Virginia Military Institute's educational mission statement now officially includes women.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape; :00

Adopted in 19-86, the statement outlines V-M-I's approach to educate its students in a military-style setting.
But until yesterday, that statement only applied to male students.
When V-M-I was forced to admit women, it also had to add the WORD "women" to its mission statement.
SUPER=03-Farmville; :

The change was approved yesterday by the State Council of Higher Education.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:23:45
IN Q=The mission statements
((ELIZABETH MCLANAHAN/SCHEV CHAIRMAN: THE MISSION STATEMENTS OF EVERY PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN THE COMMONWEALTH MUST BE APPROVED BY THE STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION. SO THIS IS A POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT'S IN PLACE FOR EVERY PUBLIC INSTITUTION.))
SUPER=01-Elizabeth McLanahan/SCHEV Chairman; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=public institution.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

V-M-I hopes to admit thirty female cadets for its class of 2001.
(----------------)

eagle-rock

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#97-8
GRAPHIC=NONE

The plans are not yet firm, but it looks like residents in Eagle Rock will have their bridge.
Andrew Freiden was at a community meeting last night, where residents found out where the money is coming from.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=@Trumbo; :00
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :10
SUPER=01-Fred Altizer/VDOT; :37
SUPER=04-February 18; :53
SUPER=01-Bill Loope/Board of Supervisors; 1:01
SUPER=@Andrew2; 1:08
RUNS=1:23
OUT Q=news7, botetourt co.
((
IN Q=WHAT THAT
((WHAT THAT WAS, THEY HAVE MORE PROJECTS, TO BE FUNDED AND LESS MONEY THAN ANY DISTRICT IN THE STATE. ))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=IN THE STATE

Eagle Rock residents learned that money for their bridge will not come from the state's primary road system funds.
But State Senator Bo Trumbo, and Delegate Lacey Putney have worked out a deal with the Commonwealth transportation board to split the coast of the bridge with the county-- and add the bridge to the secondary road system.
Even if the spending is approved, residents will be left without use of their lifeline for at least 3 years-- State engineers say it's unsafe.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:46:41
IN Q=
((THE BEST WE CAN DO FROM THE TIME WE START IT TILL THE TIME WE TAKE IT DOWN, AND PUT A NEW ONE BACK IN THE SAME SPOT, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 15-18 MONTHS. ))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=

The whole project will cost 2.5 million dollars-- and the county will be stuck with half of the bill.
The board of supervisors will vote on March 18th, and the outlook looks good for supporters of the bridge.
SOT18:53:47
IN Q=just guessing
((BILL LOOPE: BOTETOURT CO. SUPERVISORS: JUST GUESSING, I'D SAY THE BOARD WILL GO ALONG WITH THE REVENUE SHARING WITH THE STATE TO KEEP THE BRIDGE IN EAGLE ROCK. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=EAGLE ROCK

A few residents from the south end of the county were at the meeting , and folks there aren't so sure Botetourt County should get into the habit of building state roads.
But eagle rock residents say it's about time some money is spent in their corner of the world.))

E-Low-Jets

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-6
GRAPHIC=None

Highland County residents won their fight against the U.S. Air Force.
And yesterday, Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte said he believes they have won more than just a temporary victory.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Langley AFB;

Goodlatte says he was concerned the Air Force would merely extend the public comment period on its plan for a dramatic increase in low- level training flights.
But with last week's announcement, the Air Force agreed to re-evaluate its training needs,
SUPER=03-Highland Co.;and the impact on the areas where the training takes
place.
More importantly, Goodlatte says, the Air Force will look for ways to spread out the impact of the low-level flights.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=First of all
((REP. BOB GOODLATTE/R- 6TH DISTRICT: FIRST OF ALL I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO COME BACK UP AGAIN THIS YEAR. EVENTUALLY THEY MAY COME FORWARD WITH ANOTHER PROPOSAL, BUT I BET IT WILL BE ONE THAT IS MORE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS LIKE HIGHLAND COUNTY AND WESTERN AUGUSTA COUNTY.))
SUPER=@Goodlatte;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=and Western Augusta County.
(-------------)

E-Stranded-Students

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=eea
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=spring break

After spending two days stuck at the airport some Virginia Tech students are finally lounging on the beaches of Mexico.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC

The students were part of a group left stranded at the Raleigh airport, when three of the charter airline's planes had mechanical trouble.
The flight that was supposed to leave Saturday morning, finally got off the ground last night.
SOT 00:02:54
IN Q=frustrating?
((JAKE GOMOKE/STRANDED STUDENT; FRUSTRATING? ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS MY LAST SPRING BREAK OF MY COLLEGE CAREER AND THEY'VE KIND OF DESTROYED IT FOR ME, I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT THOUGH, I'LL GIVE 'EM THAT.))
SUPER=01-Jake Gomoke/Stranded Student;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=give 'em that.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

While the students are finally on their way to a good time, some of the parents haven't stopped worrying.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:28:43
IN Q=I don't know
((JANE LAWSON/STUDENT'S MOTHER; I DON'T KNOW IF I'M EXCITED ABOUT THEM GOING NOW OR NOT, NOW I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING HOME, SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEKEND.))
SUPER=01-Jane Lawson/Student's Mother;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=a long weekend
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Sun and Surf travel agency, which sold the vacation packages, said the students will get a third of their money back.
(----------------)

P-Drummer

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=abo
TAPE#597-04
GRAPHIC=none

The Macarena may no longer be hip-- but students at Hurt Park Elementary
School picked up an older, dance step--- the Merengue (mar-en-gay).
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke

As part of a program called the World Beat Workshop, students learned this national dance of the Dominican Republic, as well as other rhythms from around the globe.
Musicians Robert Jospe' (Jos-pay) and Keven Davis introduced music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America-- and encouraged students to join in the beat.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:07:25
IN Q=The young kids
((ROBERT JOSPE'/WORLD BEAT: THE YOUNG KIDS ARE JUST DYING TO JUST MOVE AROUND AND GET SOMETHING GOING, SO IT'S FUN IN THAT WAY.))
SUPER=01-Robert Jospe'/World Beat
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=in that way.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Jospe' and Davis perform workshops for students from elementary school to college--
(----------------)

WEATHER
SUPER=300-45/89/Var 6mph/30.14f/81/1976/ 9/1943;
SUPER=301-45/86/S 5mph/30.15f/79/1976/12/1943;
Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Increasing/Clouds/46-50/Mild With/Showers Likely/60-64;
SUPER=331-Increasing/Clouds/48-52/Mild with/Afternoon Showers/64-68;
SUPER=332-Increasing/Clouds/45-49/Cloudy with/Showers/58-62;
SUPER=333-Increasing/Clouds/44-48/Mild with/Showers Likely/58-62;
SUPER=334-Increasing/Clouds/42-46/Showers/Likely/54-58;
SUPER=X5001;

S-Roanoke-Gas

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-106
GRAPHIC=Roanoke Gas

Residential gas rates in Roanoke are going down for the second time in a month.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Roanoke Gas says its billing rate for homeowners will go down 11- percent.
That's on top of a six- percent cut LAST month.
The new rate will be effective for bills distributed after March first.
Roanoke Gas says the reduction is due to further declines in natural gas prices.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

The company is also studying ways to prevent price increases like the ones experienced this winter.

Moore

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of S6-24)
GRAPHIC=news 7 sports generic

From now on "March 3rd" will be recognized as "Herman Moore Day" in Danville.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Danville; :00

The Detroit Lions receiver--a former G.W. and U-V-A star--returned home last night, honored by his friends at a standing room only function at Sir Richard's restaurant.
(----------------)

Colonial

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of BB97-4)
GRAPHIC=Colonial

Old Dominion beat sixth seeded J-M-U in overtime in the Colonial Conference tournament final.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Richmond/HTS; :00

J-M-U take the early lead when Chatney Howard nails the three pointer.
But Odell Hodge would wheel and deal inside and score on the layin as the two hit the halftime tied at 23.
Hodge, the former Laurel Park star, finished the game with 16 points and 18 rebounds--he would keep it rolling in the second half.
J-M-U's Matte Milisa hit two big three pointers to put the Dukes in front with three minutes to play.
SUPER=33-James Madison/58/Old Dominion/62/Overtime;

But the game went into overtime and and the Monarchs drop the Dukes 62-to-58 in overtime.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=BITE
((ODELL HODGE/CAA TOURNEY MVP:))
SUPER=01-Odell Hodge/CAA Tourney M.V.P.; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=...MY TEAMMATES."
(-------------)

ODAC

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=BB97-3
GRAPHIC=Salem/NCAA tourney

The Roanoke men and women are already in the NCAA Division Three tournament.
The men open their 64 team event Thursday night, on the road against Dixie conference champion Methodist.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="We
((PAGE MOIR/ROANOKE MEN'S COACH:))
SUPER=01-Page Moir/Roanoke Men's Coach; :00
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=...done all year"
(----------------)
VO-NAT(Con't)
SUPER=03-Salem/Yesterday;

The women play Thomas Moore Wednesday at 7pm at the Bast center.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I
((SUSAN DUNAGAN/ROANOKE WOMEN'S COACH:))
SUPER=01-Susan Dunagan/Roanoke Women's Coach; :00
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=...right now"
(-------------)

Rusty

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of R-35)
GRAPHIC=rusty

Rusty Wallace is the OFFICIAL winner of Sunday's Pontiac Excitement 400.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Richmond/ESPN; :00

After the win, NASCAR said Rusty's Ford engine failed the postrace compression test. In other words his engine had more power than his competitors.
The engine was confiscated by NASCAR and flown to Daytona where their engineers performed a series of tests on the motor yesterday before deciding it was legal and that Rusty is the winner.
(-------------)

blackbeard

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

An amazing find off the coast of North Carolina.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Beaufort, NC/November 26, 1996;

They don't look like much, but this ship's bell, dated back to 17-09, and other artifacts recovered in the Atlantic last fall may provide a link to Blackbeard the pirate.
North Carolina archaeologists say they came from the wreck of blackbeard's ship the "Queen Anne's revenge." (----------------) Blackbeard died in a battle with the British Navy in 17-18.