18:00-01

1-News-head

(----------------)
VO-NAT


On NEWS 7 at SIX in just a moment: ...reaction from the victims of extortion and racketeering.
We'll look at life on 13th Street following allegations that an organized crime family was behind it all.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Keith


And what's wrong with Colonial Elementary School?
Water's the main thing. We'll take a look at that. Sports-Head
ANCHOR=Mike


Tonight in sports, the Hokies fall to Rhode Island this afternoon in Philadelphia, Steve Mason checks in from Greensboro as the Hokies prepare for their ACC opener with the Tarheels.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#


And after watching the Roanoke women lose last night, the Roanoke men hope to avoid a similar fate this evening in their NCAA opener.
(-------------)

WX-Head
TALENT=Robin
SS=None


A passing cold front packs quite a punch...first rain and then damaging winds. The details just ahead.

Colonial-Elementary


ANCHOR=keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-106
GRAPHIC=None


An out- dated water system at a Botetourt County elementary school is causing a stink among parents.
Because at times, students are asked to refrain from using the bathroom.
Scott Prince explains.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=On the surface
SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Donna Dudding/Concerned Parent; :28
SUPER=@Scott2; :42
SUPER=01-Lois Trent/Principal; 1:02
RUNS=1:22
OUT Q=S.P., N-7, Botetourt County


((On the surface, nothing seems out of the ordinary at Colonial Elementary School in Blue Ridge.
But according to the PTA, there are some serious issues that need to be addressed.
In a letter sent to parents, the group reveals that by the end of the day "the water pressure is so low that toilets cannot be flushed. It is unreasonable to ask our children and staff to refrain from using the toilets for the last hour of the day."
The notice has some parents worried about their children's health.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:01:08
IN Q=Little girls

((DONNA DUDDING/CONCERNED PARENT: LITTLE GIRLS, LITTLE BOYS. IT CAUSES MEDICAL PROBLEMS. PLUS THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO WASH THEIR HANDS. SO THEY'RE CARRYING GERMS FROM ONE TO THE OTHER. ))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=to the other


The complaints don't stop there.
Many parents are upset over these open- air classrooms, which have no doors... and only makeshift walls... meaning there's no way to block out noise.
They're also finding fault with teacher salaries... which they say are some of the lowest in the Roanoke Valley.
For the most part, principal Lois Trent agrees with the PTA... and she's looking to the school board for help.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 3:45:51
IN Q=I'm just

((LOIS TRENT/PRINCIPAL: I'M JUST REAL HOPEFUL SOME OF THOSE HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS WILL NOT GO BY THE WAYSIDE. ))
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=by the wayside


At this point it doesn't appear that parent and faculty efforts will go down the drain.
School Board officials say some of the problems... including the water situation... WILL being included in the upcoming budget proposal.
Scott Prince, News- 7, Botetourt County.))

Prepaid-Tuition


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-9
GRAPHIC=Education


Virginia families are planning ahead for the high cost of college.
In fact, 16- thousand families have already bought a year or more of college through the state's first prepaid tuition program.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Petersburg;


The state's first investor in the tuition program is pleasantly surprised.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:01:27 TAPE TWO
IN Q=And so

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: AND SO WE WERE SAYING WELL HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP AND SO FORTH, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD APPLIED. AND IT WASN'T THAT MANY IN THE BEGINNING, SHE SAID. BUT IN THE FEW OTHER STATES THAT HAVE DONE IT, THEY GET THE PILE OF THEM ALL IN JUST LIKE STUDENTS TURNING IN THEIR HOMEWORK, PARENTS WAIT TO GET THE APPLICATIONS, OR GRANDPARENTS, AT THE VERY LAST SECOND. AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S ABOUT 16-THOUSAND SIGNED UP. AND THAT'S GREAT.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:24
OUT Q=that's great.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The program closed out Friday, but will take new applications in the fall.
State officials say families in all economic categories bought into the plan.
(-------0---------)



Allen-Jobs


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=George Allen


He campaigned on bringing 125- thousand new jobs to Virginia.
He's now over 200- thousand and counting.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE TWO 14:53:49
IN Q=In fact

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: IN FACT WE THOUGHT YOU COULD REASONABLY DO 25- THOUSAND A YEAR. BUT WE FIGURED YOU GOTTA SHOOT FOR MORE THAN THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE FAR EXCEEDED THAT. WE'RE OVER 200- THOUSAND NET NEW JOBS, AND WE'VE HAD RECORD INVESTMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN RECORD INVESTMENT. OVER 11- BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW INVESTMENT. AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT NEW INVESTMENT AS OPPOSED TO THE 200- THOUSAND NET NEW JOBS IS THAT SOME OF THOSE JOBS HAVEN'T ALL HIRED ON.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:28
OUT Q=hired on.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Petersburg;


Governor George Allen also oversaw record FOREIGN investment last year: almost one-and-a-quarter BILLION dollars in foreign business.
(------0----------)




Cease


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-13
GRAPHIC=John Cease


Roanoke County Police Chief John Cease has a new job in another city.
Today, he accepted the position of Chief of Police in Wilmington, North Carolina.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;


Cease came to Roanoke County in 1990 after voters approved the creation of a police department.
He says he is proud of the transition that followed and the accreditation the department received in 1992.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=And i think we

((JOHN CEASE/ROANOKE CO. POLICE CHIEF: AND I THINK WE, AND I SAY WE, WE AS A GROUP HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. IT'S BEEN A COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THIS COUNTY, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, CERTAINLY THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN SEVEN YEARS.))
SUPER=01-John Cease/Roanoke Co. Police Chief;
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=a long way in seven years.
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=John Cease


Cease will assume his duties in Wilmington in early April. He says he will remain on the job in Roanoke County until then.
Tease#1

HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=NONE


Still to come on News 7 at Six-- Will the evidence hold up against a Palestinian family accused of racketeering and other crimes?
(---------------)
VO-NAT


and they certainly don't have the superstar status of a Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley...but Richmond Rage players are making history. Ellen Qualls will have their story.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Robin

wx ad lib Roll Lake Level MUSIC UP FULL
COMM#1

Roll
TALENT=Robin
SS=NONE
SUPER=80-59/40/Trace/55/41/0.01''/55/34/0.05''/45/34/0.00'';
SUPER=81-58/45/0.02''/55/37/0.00''/37/31/0.05'';
SUPER=82-1.52''/plus 0.92''/5.91''/minus 0.35'';
SUPER=83-Down 0.26 foot/Above 0.15 foot;Lake levels


Abed


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#97-4
GRAPHIC=Joseph Abed

* * * NOTE: Anchor Tag * * *
Racketeering and extortion charges might not stick.
A federal magistrate said today he wants to hear from some of the so-far unidentified witnesses against the Abed family.
Judge Glen Conrad has scheduled a hearing Wednesday to "determine whether the government's case is going to hold up," as he put it.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Rod Abed appeared
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=01-David Damico/Rod Abed's Attorney; :19
SUPER=03-Salem/April 2, 1994;
SUPER=01-Tom Bondurant/Prosecutor;
SUPER=01-Joseph Kirk/"Corner Store" Owner
SUPER=01-Jermaine Witcher/Fire Witness;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=saw or heard something.



Rod Abed appeared before Magistrate Conrad this morning for a detention hearing.
In addition to the severity of the charges brought Tuesday- -that include arson and murder, the prosecutor ticked off a list of assault CONVICTIONS... burglaries and thefts that would make Abed a poor candidate for pre-trial release.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:57:40
IN Q=

((I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE KIND OF HARD PROOF THAT GUARANTEES CONVICTION.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=


Abed's lawyer challenged the basis of the government's case, citing a lack of hard evidence such as surveillance tapes, confessions or independent eyewitnesses. FIRE- -94-16
But the prosecutor says that's typical of such cases. The criminals may not have been caught in the act, but there's no shortage of witnesses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:13:50
IN Q=

(( ON SOME OF THESE FIRES LIKES THE MIXERS, CORNER STORE, 30, 40, 50 WITNESSES WILL BE TESTIFYING ABOUT THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE CASE.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=


Tuesday's indictment says the Abed family set fire to the Corner Store across the street from their Speedway Mart, in an attempt to put them out of business.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:59:35
IN Q=

((YOU KNOW WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT WE PRETTY MUCH KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WHO WAS BEHIND IT. ))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=



(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:00:10
IN Q=

((BUT WE REBUILT IT AND KEPT ON GOING. I think a lot of people would have said, "i get the message. i'm out of here." WELL, WE'RE JUST TOO STUBBORN, I GUESS TO QUIT. ))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=


Within hours of the corner store fire, another fire broke out just three doors up the street.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:12:15
IN Q=

((WE HEARD A GLASS BREAK AND ABOUT THE TIME EVERYBODY CAME AROUND AND LOOKED, THERE WAS FIRE BURSTED OUT THE SIDE OF THE WINDOW.))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=


Witcher and his friends helped SOME of the residents get out.
But Marie Hardy and Todd Thomas died. The Feds figure the Abeds THOUGHT one of them might have seen who set the earlier blaze.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:15:30
IN Q=

((ANYBODY COULD HAVE SEEN IT. ALL TIMES OF NIGHT PEOPLE STAYED OUT HERE THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT. IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY LIVED SO NEARBY ANYWAY. THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAW OR HEARD SOMETHING.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=something.
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=None


Witcher and Kirk- -the store owner- -both expressed a measure of disbelief.
They said they thought this kind of thing only happened on T-V or in some bad movie.

Ball-Trial


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6p
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#96-110
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


A jury in Wythe County has found Eric Ball guilty of murder and abduction.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wytheville/Yesterday


The verdict came down this afternoon, on the third day of the trial.
SUPER=03-Wythe Co./January 22, 1996


Ball and two others dumped the body of 17-year-old Ricky Lee Coleman over a creek bank last year.
An autopsy indicated Coleman died of exposure, and that he had a high blood- alcohol level.
Ball told the jury yesterday that he thought Coleman was dead at the time.
The jury has not yet determined Ball's sentence.
(----------------)



First-Union


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-1
GRAPHIC=First Union


Some new federal laws will change the way banks are organized, and one of our area's largest employers plans to take advantage of that.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Vinton;


By mid- year, First Union and other large banks can fold their separate, state chartered banks under one umbrella organization.
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


First Union estimates this will save it six- million- dollars a year.
The move won't mean any job cuts in the Roanoke Valley, where the bank has more than two thousand employees.
First Union adds it will still keep its regional headquarters in downtown Roanoke, where 30 executives and administrative assistants work.
(-------------)


Stocks


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#=None
GRAPHIC=NONE


Fueled by new inflation fears, stocks finished lower today.
The Dow was off one point.
NASDAQ dropped 14 points.
(//////////)
RUNS=:25
SUPER=x5005;


Women's-Basketball


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-12
GRAPHIC=None


If you'd like a road trip to Richmond this weekend and want to witness sports history... the Richmond Rage women's pro basketball team can oblige you.
They're one-and-one in a best of five game series for the championship of the groundbreaking new American Basketball League.
Ellen Qualls took a look at the first season.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=nat sound
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=01-Dawn Staley/Richmond Rage; :12
SUPER=01-Adrian Goodson/Richmond Rage; :45
SUPER=01-Tammy Holder/Rage General Manager; :59
SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:16
RUNS=1:33
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( NAT SOUND GAME OR PRACTICE
runs=:03


They are the Richmond Rage... and they're just two games away from being the American Basketball League's first national champions.
sot 11:28:39

((DAWN STALEY/RICHMOND RAGE: WE HAD A LOT OF SKEPTICAL PEOPLE...ABL IS FOR REAL... CHAMPIONSHIP IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AS FAR AS WE CAN TAKE IT.))
runs=:20


Former UVA star Dawn Staley took it to the Olympics and won gold.
But UVA standout Dena Evans had actually left the sport, cause there was NO pro ball for women in America.
Adrian Goodson played for Old Dominion University.
sot 11:32:41

((ADRIAN GOODSON/RICHMOND RAGE: ONCE I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL I JUST SORT OF KNEW THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO GO OVERSEAS...FINALLY THEY CAME UP WITH SOMETHING LEGITIMATE SO I STAYED.))
runs=:10


But the cup runneth over... the NBA chose this summer to launch its OWN women's basketball league.
sot 10:43:07

((TAMMY HOLDER/RAGE GENERAL MANAGER: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PLAYERS THAT ARE TWO YEAR CONTRACTED PLAYERS... IT PROMOTES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL. THE ABL WANTS NOTHING BUT.))
runs=:18


So as long as the leagues don't knock each other out... choices about WHERE to play are a good thing for aspiring girls who are good at hoops.
SOT 11:33:10
IN Q=Oh wow.

((ADRIAN GOODSON: OH WOW. AT LEAST NOW THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO DREAM ABOUT. I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS PLAYING I LOOKED UP TO DR. J, YOU KNOW.))
RUNS=:06


Now maybe it's Dr. G.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

Sports Tease


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#sports tease
GRAPHIC=NONE


Coming up tonight in sports, the ACC tournament opens tonight. Steve Mason checks in from the Greensboro Coliseum with a report on UVa's afternoon shootaround.
Plus, the Roanoke men open NCAA play tonight,
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#


and Virginia Tech's season comes to a close in the A-10 quarterfinals as they lost to Rhode Island by 4.
(-------------)


S-Tech


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#TB97-1
GRAPHIC=A-10


The Virginia Tech Hokies hopes of upsetting the field at the A-10 tournament ended in the quarterfinal today with an upsetting loss to Rhode Island, a team they had on the ropes.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Philadelphia/Rhode Island vs. Va. Tech; :00


The Hokies took their first lead with 5-minutes left in the first half Ace Custis hits the jumper from the corner Tech led 22 to 18.
Tech came the momentum on its side as freshman Russ Wheeler hits this jumper to make it 24 to 18 Tech.
The Hokies upped that lead to 7 at the half then another freshman Brandon Dunlop's three made it a 34 to 24 as the Hokies led by 10.
Rhode Island rallied midway through the second half - Tyson Wheeler's jumper gave the rams a 41 to 40 lead and they would never trail again.
Tech fell behind by as many as SUPER=33-Rhode Island/67/Virginia

Tech/63/;seven, but Troy Manns takes it to the hoop cutting the lead to one. but Rhode Island wins it 67 to 63.
Tech finishes the year and the Bill Foster era with a 15 and 16 record.
(-------------)


S-ACC


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#vb97-1
GRAPHIC=ACC LOGO


There is plenty of tension in the air tonight in Greensboro, as the ACC tournament gets set to open.
Steve Mason checks in from the coliseum with a report on UVa and defending champ Wake Forest.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=FIRST AUDIO
SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC/This Afternoon; :00
SUPER=01-Curtis Staples/UVa Guard; :15
SUPER=01-Jeff Jones/UVa Head Coach; :25
SUPER=01-Harold Deane/UVa Senior Guard; :47
SUPER=@steve1; :56
SUPER=01-Tim Duncan/Wake Forest Center;1:11
SUPER=01-Dave Odom/Wake Forest Head Coach; 1:44
RUNS=1:58
OUT Q=...News 7 Sports."
(-------------)


S-Tourney


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#s6-26
GRAPHIC=TOURNEY TIME


The tournament fun and upsets have already started this afternoon.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO/UNC-Charlotte vs. Louisville; :00


The biggest of which happened in the Conference USA quarterfinals as UNC Charlotte knocked off 20th ranked Louisville 64-to-60.
The 49ers now have 20 wins on the season.
(-------------)

pinnacle board
And don't forget you can watch all four quarterfinal games from the ACC tomorrow right here on Your Hometown Station.
Maryland plays Clemson in the opener tomorrow at Noon.
(-------------)

pinnacle board
Then around 2:20 in the afternoon, it's top seeded Duke taking on the winner of tonight's State-Ga. Tech game.
(-------------)

pinnacle board
The evening session showcases Wake Forest battling Florida State at seven o'clock,
(-------------)

pinnacle board and then at 9:20 tomorrow night we'll have the Virginia-North Carolina game for you LIVE right here on WDBJ.
(----------------)



S-Methodist


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#BB97-3
GRAPHIC=NCAA MEN'S


The Roanoke College men open play in the NCAA Division Three tournament tonight in Fayetteville, North Carolina against Methodist College.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Salem/ODAC Semi-Finals; :00


The Maroons haven't played since they lost in the ODAC semi-finals to Hampden-Sydney.
And in fact they still have Hampden-Sydney on their minds. If the Maroons and Tigers win tonight, they'll have a rematch Saturday night.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="We wanna....

((NATHAN HUNGATE/ROANOKE COLLEGE GUARD:))
SUPER=01-Nathan Hungate/Roanoke College Guard; :00
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=...really counts."
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Mike
SS=hold logo


Methodist tonight's opponent is the champion of the Dixie conference.

S-Roanoke


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#S6-25
GRAPHIC=Roanoke college


For the second year in a row, The Lady Maroons of Roanoke College have been knocked out of the N-C-Double-A basketball tournament.
Last night at the Bast Center, Thomas More of Kentucky beat the Maroons 80 to 76.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Salem/Maroons vs Saints; :


Thomas More shot 60 per cent from the field in the first half and led by 25 points at the break.
Roanoke put up a fight in the second half cutting the lead to three but the Maroons ran out of time losing to the Saints 80 to 76.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="We were content...

((SUSAN DUNAGAN/ROANOKE HEAD COACH: ))
SUPER=01-Susan Dunagan/Roanoke Head Coach; :
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=.....who knows."
(-------------)


Wind-Damage


ANCHOR=Robin
NEWSCAST=6p
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=None


It was windy enough in Blacksburg today to blow the roof off a house.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg


A driver for Nationwide homes was towing a double-wide when a gust of wind tore off its roof.
Traffic was reduced to one lane on Price's Fork Road, and police say it may be tomorrow morning before all the debris can be cleaned up.
The National Weather Service says the wind this afternoon was gusting between 25 and 30 miles an hour in Blacksburg.
And it registered one gust of about 40 miles an hour.
(----------------)


Wx-Tape
SUPER=305-59/40/80/1956/16/1960;
SUPER=306-44/15/31/NW-20mph/30.08r/6:43am/6:19pm;


Forecasts
SUPER=#561;
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Windy/& Cold/26-28/Mostly Sunny/Wind W-15/47-49;
SUPER=331-Mostly Clear/And Cold/28-30/Mostly Sunny/Wind SW-10/50-52;
SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/Wind W-15/24-26/Partly Sunny/And Cool/44-46;
SUPER=333-Clear And/Blustery/20-24/Mostly Sunny/Wind W-10/44-46;

SUPER=X5001; SUPER=334-Partly Cloudy/And Cold/20-22/Partly Sunny/Wind W-15/40-42;
by SS