WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/17/97

06:00-01

E-Campbell-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-2
GRAPHIC=Murder

Investigators say what started as a domestic dispute in Campbell County ended in a murder-suicide.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co./Saturday Night;

The sheriff's department says 30- year- old Jennifer Susannah White of Forest, had apparently been fighting with her ex-boyfriend in the parking lot of C.T. Town and Country.
Witnesses say she was trying to get away when the man shot her once in the chest with a 38 caliber handgun.
The suspect then fled the scene.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:10:01
IN Q=THE VEHICLE
((SGT. JOHN RIEGER/CAMPBELL CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN ALTAVISTA PATROLMAN AND PULLED OVER IN THE ALTAVISTA AREA OF THE COUNTY. ONCE THE OFFICER APPROACHED THE VEHICLE THE SUBJECT INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHOT HIMSELF ALSO.))
SUPER=01-John Rieger/Campbell Co. Sheriff's Dept.;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=SHOT HIMSELF ALSO
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Altavista/Saturday Night;

Police pulled the suspect over on Route 43 near Altavista.
Investigators are not releasing the man's name until his family has been notified.
Both he and White were transported to Lynchburg General Hospital where they died.
The bodies will be brought to Roanoke this week for autopsies.
(----------------)

clinton

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=MORNIN
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=clinton

President Clinton is back at the White House this morning after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his knee.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC/Yesterday;

The President complained of a little pain but otherwise said he's feeling fine.
Mr. Clinton has delayed this week's summit with Russian President Boris Yeltsin by a day so that he could have more time to recover.
The President has also put off a trip to Denmark until July.
(----------------)
WIPE/WIPE/WIPE

CAMPAIGN-FINANCE

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=wipe/wipe/wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch is repeating his call for an independent counsel to investigate Chinese campaign donations and possible influence peddling.
Yesterday, the Republican told C-B-S News he believes top White House officials knew as early as 19-95 about an alleged Chinese plot to buy political influence even though President Clinton says he was informed only recently.
(----------------)

E-Racism

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 97-15
GRAPHIC=none

People Uniting Against Racism, celebrated the positive aspects of society.
Each year the group honors a business that members feel promotes unity.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

This year W-S-L-C/W-S-L-Q Radio received the award for their efforts to publicize community events that promote the end of racism.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:31:53
IN Q=BROADCASTING, RADIO
((HERM REAVIS/WSLC-WSLQ EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: BROADCASTING, RADIO AND TELEVISION, NEEDS TO DO WHAT EVER WE CAN TO HELP THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SPREAD THE WORD THE BEST WE CAN AND TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.))
SUPER=01-Herm Reavis/WSLC-WSLQ Executive VP;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Members of the group say bringing people together is the purpose behind their organization.
During their bi-monthly meeting members talk about current events and how racism has effected their lives.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17:19:31
IN Q=IT'S NOT THAT
((CLAUDIA WHITWORTH/PEOPLE UNITED AGAINST RACISM: IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO HATE WHITES WHEN YOU SEE MARY AND TOM AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME VOLUNTARILY TOGETHER AND IT'S HARDER TO HATE BLACKS WHEN YOU'VE GOT ALFRED AND CLAUDIA AND NAMES AND FACES YOU CAN PUT INSTEAD OF RACES.))
SUPER=01-Claudia Whitworth/People United Against Racism;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=INSTEAD OF RACES
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

People Uniting Against Racism meets several Thursdays a month at The Roanoke Tribune.

NAACP

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=none

About 100 people turned out for Roanoke's first African-American Film Festival.
Organizers said they're encouraged enough by the weekend turnout to try a repeat next year.
The event had been planned for the Hotel Roanoke but was moved because of an N-A-A-C-P boycott of several hotel chains over minority hiring practices.
One of the festival's guests was Richmond civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill.
As a boy, Hill appeared in a 19-22 movie made in Roanoke by pioneer black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux.

E-Bedford-Fatal

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 97-12
GRAPHIC=Fatal Ax

A head-on collision in Bedford County Saturday took three lives.
One of three killed was a long time Roanoke County educator.
Police say 52- year- old James "Monty" Johnson of Vinton died yesterday morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./January;

Johnson was the principal at Arnold R. Burton Vocational and Technical school.
Friends say the community has lost a dedicated educator who worked to help all his students succeed.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:40:35
IN Q=they knew he
((DEANNA GORDON/ROANOKE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: THEY KNEW HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THEM AND INTERESTED THAT THEY ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS AND BECOME VERY PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE AND MANY OF THEM OF COURSE WENT ON TO COLLEGE SO HE WAS MR. J TO THEM.))
SUPER=01-Deanna Gordon/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=MR. J TO THEM.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Saturday Night;

State police say Johnson was driving north on Route 43, when he swerved to miss a car parked on the shoulder of the road.
His Madza then went airborne.
The car landed in the opposite lane hitting a Malibu stationwagon.
79- year- old Jesse Willard Goad and 68- year- old Katie Lee Goad, both of Bedford County, died at the scene.
(----------------)

E-County-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 97-13
GRAPHIC=Fire

A Roanoke County family lost their home to fire yesterday.
David and Darlene Francisco were both at work when the fire began.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The blaze had a big jump on fire fighters.
Officials say flames were shooting out from the living room when they arrived at the home on Carvins Cove Road.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:17:26
IN Q=SHE CAME HOME
((DONALD GILLISPIE/ROANOKE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL: SHE CAME HOME FROM WORK AND FOUND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE. ABOUT THE SAME TIME A NEIGHBOR OBSERVED SMOKE AND HEARD SOME POPPING AND GLASS BREAKING AND THEY IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.))
SUPER=01-Donald Gillispie/Roanoke Co. Fire Marshal;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The family dog did not survive the fire.
Officials are investigating the blaze and would not speculate on the cause.
(----------------)

E-Optical-Cable

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE 97-4
GRAPHIC=optical cable

Locally, Optical Cable is getting to be well known.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;

But the Roanoke County company is working to get more national exposure.
That's what C-E-O Bob Kopstein told shareholders at its first annual meeting this week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:02:39
IN Q=We put
((BOB KOPSTEIN/OPTICAL CABLE CEO: WE PUT IN PLACE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE AN INVESTOR RELATIONS GROUP OUT OF NEW YORK TO CONTACT A LOT OF THE REAL DIFFERENT STOCK BROKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND VARIOUS SMALL AND MICRO CAP FUNDS AND MONEY MANAGERS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNICATION AREAS.))
SUPER=01-Bob Kopstein/Optical Cable CEO;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=communication areas.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

Since it began selling its stock to the public last year, Optical Cable has had a strong, albeit volatile climb.
The company believes that if more people know about its success story, its stock price will continue to rise.
And increased publicity will also put the stock in the hands of more people, which Optical Cable hopes will prevent shares from having such large price swings.
(-------------)

E-Pluma

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE# 97-3
GRAPHIC=business news

A company with a large presence in our area began selling its stock to the public this week.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;

Pluma Incorporated, which is based in Eden, North Carolina, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday.
The activewear company has plants and outlet stores in Altavista, Chatham, Martinsville, Rocky Mount, and Vesta.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=none

Data from American Business Information indicates Pluma has well over 600 employees at those operations.

Forbes

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=forbes

Magazine publisher Steve Forbes will return to Virginia today.
This visit, Forbes is campaigning for Coleman Andrews.
SS=Coleman Andrews

The Mc-Lean businessman is among three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
Andrews is the clear fund-raising leader, with more than One-million dollars at the start of the year.
Richmond G-O-P activist John Hager and Delegate Jay Katzen of Fauquier County are also running.

Common-Sense

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#Common Sense
GRAPHIC=Common Sense

If you are filling out your own income tax forms, Len Besthoff has some typical mistakes to watch out for in this week's edition of Common Sense.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=A good
SUPER=@Len1; :00
SUPER=01-Bill Williams/H&R Block; :10
RUNS=:37
OUT Q=the newsdesk.
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 06:27:01
IN Q=A good
((A good number of folks file their own tax returns but they make some common errors. Bill Williams with H&R Block tells us about some of those.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=some of those.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE ONE 06:02:42
IN Q=About 50
((BILL WILLIAMS/H&R BLOCK: ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF AMERICANS LAST YEAR PREPARED THEIR OWN RETURNS. AND OVER TWO MILLION OF THEM MADE ERRORS LIKE FAILING TO SIGN THEIR RETURN, FAILING TO ATTACH ALL FORMS W-2, MATHEMATICAL ERRORS, ON THE RETURN, ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, AND SO FORTH, AND WHEN THEY DO THIS, THESE RETURNS HAVE TO BE PROCESSED MANUALLY, THE IRS HAS TO CORRESPOND WITH THE TAXPAYER, IT CAN SLOW DOWN A REFUND LITERALLY WEEKS OR MONTHS.))
RUNS=:24
OUT Q=weeks or months.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE TWO 06:30:21
IN Q=I'm Len Besthoff
((I'm Len Besthoff with this week's edition of Common Sense, let's send it back to the newsdesk.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=newsdesk.))

president

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=clinton

President Clinton gets back to work today following knee surgery.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC/Yesterday;

Mr. Clinton was released from the hospital yesterday and is expected to spend a week in a wheelchair.
Vice President Gore will fill in for him this Saint Patrick's Day morning as he accepts the traditional bowl of shamrocks from the Prime Minister of Ireland.
But the President will go ahead with a meeting today with Russia's foreign minister in advance of this week's summit with Boris Yeltsin.
(----------------)

Albania

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

Anti-government unrest in Albania appears to be subsiding.
Government authorities appear to be regaining control of the capitol, and much of the armed anarchy that seized the country last week appears to be subsiding.
In some areas however, Albanians are making a desperate attempt to leave it all behind.
Peter Van Sant has the latest.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Tirana, Albania; :00
SUPER=01-Peter Van Sant/Reporting; 1:23
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=cbs news Tirana, Albania.

2-E-Bedford-Fatal

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 97-12
GRAPHIC=Fatal Ax

In Bedford County, a head-on collision killed three people.
One of them was a long time Roanoke County educator.
Police say 52- year- old James "Monty" Johnson of Vinton died yesterday morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./January;

Johnson was the principal at Arnold R. Burton Vocational and Technical school.
Friends say the community has lost a dedicated educator who worked to help all his students succeed.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:40:35
IN Q=they knew he
((DEANNA GORDON/ROANOKE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: THEY KNEW HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THEM AND INTERESTED THAT THEY ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS AND BECOME VERY PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE AND MANY OF THEM OF COURSE WENT ON TO COLLEGE SO HE WAS MR. J TO THEM.))
SUPER=01-Deanna Gordon/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=MR. J TO THEM.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Saturday Night;

State police say Johnson was driving north on Route 43, when he swerved to miss a car parked on the shoulder of the road.
His Madza then went airborne.
The car landed in the opposite lane hitting a Malibu stationwagon.
79- year- old Jesse Willard Goad and 68- year- old Katie Lee Goad, both of Bedford County, died at the scene.
(----------------)

St-Patrick's

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

Some 100-thousand marchers will take part in today's Saint Patrick's day in New York City.
The parade will include three mayoral weddings, a protest by gays, and a moment of silence for the victims of the Irish Famine.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dublin, Ireland;

Compared to the parties and parades in the U-S, the Irish version of Saint Patrick's day has often been quiet and sober.
But not this year.
A number of events will be held on the Emerald Isle.
Many people will be wearing white ribbons for PEACE along with the traditional shamrocks.
They hope the gesture will illustrate how much the country wants an end to terrorism in Northern Ireland.
(----------------)

2-E-Campbell-Shooting

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-2
GRAPHIC=Murder

Investigators say a domestic dispute ended in a murder-suicide in Campbell County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co./Saturday Night;

The sheriff's department says 30- year- old Jennifer Susannah White of Forest, had apparently been fighting with her ex-boyfriend in the parking lot of C.T. Town and Country.
Witnesses say she was trying to get away when the man shot her once in the chest with a 38 caliber handgun.
The suspect then fled the scene.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:10:01
IN Q=THE VEHICLE
((SGT. JOHN RIEGER/CAMPBELL CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN ALTAVISTA PATROLMAN AND PULLED OVER IN THE ALTAVISTA AREA OF THE COUNTY. ONCE THE OFFICER APPROACHED THE VEHICLE THE SUBJECT INSIDE THE VEHICLE SHOT HIMSELF ALSO.))
SUPER=01-John Rieger/Campbell Co. Sheriff's Dept.;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=SHOT HIMSELF ALSO
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Altavista/Saturday Night;

Police pulled the suspect over on Route 43 near Altavista.
Investigators are not releasing the man's name until his family has been notified.
Both he and White were transported to Lynchburg General Hospital where they died.
The bodies will be brought to Roanoke this week for autopsies.
(----------------)

2-E-County-Fire

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 97-13
GRAPHIC=Fire

A Roanoke County family will start looking for a new place to live today after fire destroyed their home yesterday.
David and Darlene Francisco were both at work when the fire began.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The blaze had a big jump on fire fighters.
Officials say flames were shooting out from the living room when they arrived at the home on Carvins Cove Road.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:17:26
IN Q=SHE CAME HOME
((DONALD GILLISPIE/ROANOKE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL: SHE CAME HOME FROM WORK AND FOUND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE. ABOUT THE SAME TIME A NEIGHBOR OBSERVED SMOKE AND HEARD SOME POPPING AND GLASS BREAKING AND THEY IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.))
SUPER=01-Donald Gillispie/Roanoke Co. Fire Marshal;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The family dog did not survive the fire.
Officials are investigating the blaze and would not speculate on the cause.
(----------------)

Gilmore

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=VA Republicans

State Republican lawmakers are divided on whether Attorney General Jim Gilmore should resign to run for governor full-time.
House Minority Leader Vance Wilkins said if Gilmore's office is organized enough and operates efficiently, there's no need for him to step down.
But Senate Republican Leader Joe Benedetti said Gilmore should quit to concentrate on the campaign.
The G-O-P leaders were in Richmond to talk to Governor Allen's aides about legislation approved by the General Assembly this year.

2-E-Optical-Cable

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE 97-4
GRAPHIC=optical cable

Word about Optical Cable is getting around on a local level.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;

But the Roanoke County company is working to get more national exposure.
That's what C-E-O Bob Kopstein told shareholders at its first annual meeting this week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:02:39
IN Q=We put
((BOB KOPSTEIN/OPTICAL CABLE CEO: WE PUT IN PLACE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE AN INVESTOR RELATIONS GROUP OUT OF NEW YORK TO CONTACT A LOT OF THE REAL DIFFERENT STOCK BROKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND VARIOUS SMALL AND MICRO CAP FUNDS AND MONEY MANAGERS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNICATION AREAS.))
SUPER=01-Bob Kopstein/Optical Cable CEO;
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=communication areas.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;

Since it began selling its stock to the public last year, Optical Cable has had a strong, albeit volatile climb.
The company believes that if more people know about its success story, its stock price will continue to rise.
And increased publicity will also put the stock in the hands of more people, which Optical Cable hopes will prevent shares from having such large price swings.
(-------------)

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=final four

March Madness continues in sports,
For last night's scores, let's check the boards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5027;
SUPER=0098-/New Mexico/63/j/Louisville/64////Coppin State/81/j/Texas/82///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Clemson/65//Tulsa/59///j/Minnesota/76//Temple/57///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Providence/98//Duke/87////Illinois/63/j/UT-Chatt./75///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0098-j/Utah/77//UNC-Charlotte/58////Wake/66/j/Stanford/72///;
RUNS=:28
OUT Q=....last score."
(----------------)