WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/13/97

08:25-01

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SUPER=@Melanie1

7Danville-Fire

ANCHOR=Mel
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

A brand new Danville business went up in flames this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

The "Shanghai Express" on Old Riverside Drive apparently caught fire sometime at about three o'clock.
When fire fighters got there the roof over the back part of the building had already collapsed.
The Chinese restaurant had only been opened a short time but fire fighters say there was little hope of saving the business.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We started
((B. G. LEWIS/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF: ))
SUPER=01-B. G. Lewis/Danville Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=a minute.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The building used to house "Famous Recipe Chicken."
Fire fighters hope to determine the cause of the blaze sometime later today.
(----------------)

7P-Abed

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A tenth arrest in the Roanoke Valley case allegedly involving organized crime.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Herndon;

(Ah-mahd Thee-ahb) Ahmad Thiab was taken into custody at Dulles Airport yesterday, as he got off a flight from London.
Doctor Thiab had been living in Quebec, Canada.
Three years ago he was co-owner of Mixer's Restaurant and Lounge in Salem.
SUPER=03-Salem/April 2, 1994;

It burned to the ground in a spectacular blaze that federal authorities now say was deliberately set by members of the Abed "crime family."
Thiab allegedly hired five of the Abeds to set the fire in an UNsuccessful attempt to collect insurance proceeds.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=abed

JOE Abed's lawyer filed a motion yesterday demanding that the indictment be dismissed, citing appearances by federal prosecutors on Channel 7.
If it's not dismissed, Attorney Jack Kennett says U-S Attorney Bob Crouch and his assistant Tom Bondurant should be taken off the case.

7E-Salem-VA

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#97-2
GRAPHIC=Veteran's Administration

A second official at the Veteran's hospital in Salem is under investigation.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Director John Presley recently placed ASSOCIATE director William Delameter
(Della-meeter) on administrative leave.
SUPER=03-Salem;

Now a committee appointed by the V-A's Mid- Atlantic network is investigating PRESLEY.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:04:11
IN Q=I can only say
((DR. RAJIV JAIN/CHIEF OF STAFF: I CAN ONLY SAY THAT THERE IS A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES THAT ARE BEING REVIEWED AND AS SOON AS THE PANEL CAN SUBSTANTIATE WHICH ONE OF THESE ARE RUMORS, AND WHICH ONE OF THESE ARE FACTS, I THINK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE'LL HAVE A NEWS RELEASE TO GIVE ALL OF THE FACTS. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Rajiv Jain/Chief of Staff;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=all of the facts
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Doctor Jain (Jane) says the review has nothing to do with patient care issues.
He says the investigation is necessary because both Presley and Delameter are centrally- appointed officials.
(----------------)

7Counterfeit

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=aje
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=

Five men and a 17- year- old boy have been arrested in Lynchburg for allegedly running a small counterfeit operation.
Police say the suspects produced 20- dollar bills and 100- dollar bills with a personal computer.
Investigators say the bills had a pink tint and were of poor quality.
About three- hundred and twenty dollars in bogus bills are believed to have been cirulated at a restaurant and grocery store.

7E-Tultex

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tbr
TAPE#97-16
GRAPHIC=TUltex

A big acquisition is in the works for one of Southside's largest employers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville/File Tape;

Yesterday Tultex agreed to acquire California Shirt Sales, a firm that sells Tultex shirts on the west coast.
The Martinsville- based company says the move fits well into its plan to increase its tee-shirt sales.
It also brings Tultex closer to achieving closer its long term goal of something called "vertical integration".
Vertically integrated companies have their own raw materials, plus the means of production and distribution.
(-------------)

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Let's take a peek at today's forecast--
Sunny early, then clouding up later on.
Highs will be near 50.
Rain is likely by tonight, with lows in the mid 40s.
Showers will continue into tomorrow, with highs around 60.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Sunny Early/Clouding Up Late/48-53/Rain Likely/Heavy at Times/40-44;
SUPER=#555; reset
7BIRTHDAYS! 3/14/97

SUPER=130-/Dustin Moseley/Thaxton;

SUPER=130-2/Justin Ritter/Radford;

SUPER=130-3/Corey Saul/Pulaski;

SUPER=130-/Paul Manley/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-9/Julie Goad/Floyd;

SUPER=130-9/Jeremy Jefferson/Danville;

SUPER=130-16/Gerri Oliver/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-3/Natasha Moore/Fries;

SUPER=130-29/Cindy Tomlin/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-/Jeff Carroll/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-30/James Walker/Glasgow;

SUPER=130-10/Heather Studebaker/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-7/Caleb Sexton/Roanoke;

(Father-Daughter Birthday!)
SUPER=130-/Russ Williams & Kirsten Williams/Troutville;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-8/Corey Chewning/Fincastle;

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-45th/Randy & Barbara Midkiff/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-6/Collette Riddle/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-6/Kristen Thurston/Goodview;

SUPER=130-101/Josie Saunders/Vinton;

SUPER=130-47/Dempsey Dalton/Floyd;

SUPER=130-28/Timmy Orange/Huddleston;

SUPER=130-16/Dawn Putnam/Galax;

SUPER=130-50/Donna Carder/Radford;

SUPER=130-24/Melissa Carder/Radford;

SUPER=130-94/evie Shelton/Floyd;

SUPER=130-14/Shannon Jarels/Pembroke;

SUPER=130-10/Dreama Phillips/Salem;

SUPER=130-4/Benjamin Nunn/Bland;

SUPER=130-/Johenn Wooden/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-/Edward Craghead/Bassett;

SUPER=130-/Buddy Hedge/Roanoke;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Ruby Terry/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Gay Tyree/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-77/Raymond Lee/Cloverdale;

SUPER=130-21/Jason Perdue/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-/James Scott/Roanoke;

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SUPER=@Melanie1

55P-WYTHE-SCHOOLS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=AFR
TAPE#597-11
GRAPHIC=race relations

The Superintendent of Wythe County Schools unveiled has introduced a plan designed to fight racism at George Wythe High School.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;

Jim Vaught is sending some teachers to a "Dismantling Racism" workshop, along with some members of the Concerned Citizens Network.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=i still think
(( ))
SUPER=01-Kerry Eans/Concerned Citizens Network
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=what went on
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last month, several students were suspended for tying their drawstrings into nooses.
Last night, the citizen's group said it feared those suspensions would be overturned.
It said it progress is being made in the right direction-- It's just that the progress is moving too slowly.
(----------------)

55Danville-Fire

ANCHOR=Mel
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

A Danville restaurant that had only been open a short time, went up in flames
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;
early this morning.
The "Shanghai Express" on Old Riverside Drive apparently caught fire sometime at about three o'clock.
When fire fighters got there the roof over the back part of the building had already collapsed.
Firefighters battling the blaze say the fire spread quickly making it impossible to save the business.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We started
((B. G. LEWIS/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF: ))
SUPER=01-B. G. Lewis/Danville Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=a minute.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The building used to house "Famous Recipe Chicken."
Fire fighters hope to determine the cause of the blaze sometime later today.
(----------------)

55Counterfeit

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to weather--
Sunshine this morning will give way to clouds later on.
Highs will be around 50.
Expect rain to develop tonight, with lows in the 40s.
Rain lingers into tomorrow, with highs near 60.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Sunny Early/Clouding Up Late/48-53/Rain Likely/Heavy at Times/40-44;
SUPER=#555; reset
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SUPER=@Melanie1

8P-Abed

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

Police have wrapped up the arrests of the ten men indicted a week ago in a major racketeering and arson case.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Herndon;

(Ah-mahd Thee-ahb) Ahmad Thiab was taken into custody at Dulles Airport yesterday, as he got off a flight from London.
Doctor Thiab had been living in Quebec, Canada.
Three years ago he was co-owner of Mixer's Restaurant and Lounge in Salem.
SUPER=03-Salem/April 2, 1994;

It burned to the ground in a spectacular blaze that federal authorities now say was deliberately set by members of the Abed "crime family."
Thiab allegedly hired five of the Abeds to set the fire in an UNsuccessful attempt to collect insurance proceeds.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=abed

JOE Abed's lawyer filed a motion yesterday demanding that the indictment be dismissed, citing appearances by federal prosecutors on Channel 7.
If it's not dismissed, Attorney Jack Kennett says U-S Attorney Bob Crouch and his assistant Tom Bondurant should be taken off the case.

8P-WYTHE-SCHOOLS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=AFR
TAPE#597-11
GRAPHIC=race relations

The Wythe County Schools superintendent is hoping education of a different kind will help battle racism at George Wythe High School.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;

Jim Vaught is sending some teachers to a "Dismantling Racism" workshop, along with some members of the Concerned Citizens Network.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=i still think
(( ))
SUPER=01-Kerry Eans/Concerned Citizens Network
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=what went on
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last month, several students were suspended for tying their drawstrings into nooses.
Last night, the citizen's group said it feared those suspensions would be overturned.
Eans added that his group is satisfied the administration does admit there IS a problem.
He says progress is being made in the right direction-- It's just that the progress is moving too slowly.
(----------------)

8P-Salem-VA

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#597-02
GRAPHIC=Veterans Admin

The longtime director of the Salem V-A Medical Center is now under investigation after making a personnel decision.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

Doctor John Presley recently placed ASSOCIATE director William
(Della-meeter) Delameter on administrative leave.
SUPER=03-Salem;

Now a V-A appointed panel is investigating PRESLEY.
No word yet on the exact subject of the review.
But officials say it's necessary because both Presley and Delameter hold such high positions.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:03:07
IN Q=There were some issues
((DR. RAJIV JAIN/CHIEF OF STAFF: THERE WERE SOME ISSUES BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR AND THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. SINCE DR. PRESLEY HAD PUT MR. DELAMETER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE THE NETWORK DIRECTOR DECIDED TO HAVE THIS PANEL REVIEW ALL OF THE FACTS. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Rajiv Jain/Chief of Staff;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=all of the facts
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Doctor Jain (Jane) expects the committee to complete its investigation within the next few days.
(----------------)

8Danville-Fire

ANCHOR=Mel
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

It was only open a short while before fire destroyed one of Danville's newest restaurants.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;

The "Shanghai Express" on Old Riverside Drive apparently caught fire sometime around three this morning.
When fire fighters got there the roof over the back part of the building had already collapsed.
The Chinese restaurant had only been opened a short time but fire fighters say there was little hope of saving the business.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We started
((B. G. LEWIS/DANVILLE FIRE CHIEF: ))
SUPER=01-B. G. Lewis/Danville Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=a minute.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The building used to house "Famous Recipe Chicken."
Fire fighters hope to determine the cause of the blaze sometime later today.
(----------------)

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Time now to check the Thursday outlook--
Sunny skies this morning, then increasing clouds later on.
Expect a high around 50.
Tonight looks rainy, with lows in the mid 40s.
The rain lasts into tomorrow, with high temperatures around 60.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=#555; reset SUPER=314-Sunny Early/Clouding Up Late/48-53/Rain Likely/Heavy at Times/40-44;