12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

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


California authorities are trying to find family of the cult members who killed themselves as more details emerge about the group and its leaders.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie


And police apprehend a suspect following a one hour standoff in southwest Roanoke.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick
SS=None


Clouds with the possibility of showers moving in today, but by Easter Sunday, we'll see sunshine again. I'll have your complete forecast, as well as a look at who won the N-I-T finals last night at Madison Square Garden.
(////////////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE


NEWS 7 at a Noon is next.

MASS-SUICIDE


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


In California, investigators are combing through books, videos and the Internet looking for more information about the Heaven's Gate Cult.
The bodies of 39 cult members were discovered Wednesday inside a million dollar mansion near San Diego.
They apparently killed themselves by with a lethal mixture of phenobarbital and vodka.
The group's leader has been identified as one of the victims.
Marshall Applewhite promised celestial bliss to hundreds of followers back in the 70's.
Jennifer Sabih joins us with the latest. ********take from NEWSPATH********
SUPER=01-Jennifer Sabih/Reporting;
SUPER=05-Rancho Santa Fe, CA;
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=01-Dick Joslyn/Former Cult Member;
SUPER=01-Rick Singer/Screenwriter;
SUPER=01-Don Crist/San Diego Sheriff's Dept.;
RUNS=1:50
OUT Q=back to you.

(( AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED CULT LEADER MARSHALL APPLEWHITE AS ONE OF THE 39 PEOPLE WHO TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES. FOR 20 YEARS, APPLEWHITE BELIEVED THAT HUMANS WERE DESTINED FOR A BETTER LIFE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN BODIES, A MIXTURE OF CHRISTIANITY AND UFO WORSHIP THAT AMASSED A SIGNIFICANT FOLLOWING. HE AND HIS PARTNER, BONNIE LU NETTLES, BECAME KNOWN AS "DO" AND "TI" (PRON: TEE) WITHIN THE HEAVEN'S GATE CULT.

(SOT, DICK JOSLYN, FORMER CULT MEMBER, 8:07:50, "THEY WERE ARTICULATE, LOVING

PEOPLE.")
DICK JOSLYN LEFT THE CULT 7 YEARS AGO, AND TOLD CBS THIS MORNING THAT THE GROUP IS MISUNDERSTOOD.

(SOT, JOSLYN, 8:13:20, "EVERYONE WANTS A BETTER LIFE... ")


A BETTER LIFE THROUGH JOURNEYS INTO SPACE WAS A COMMON THEME, AS RICK SINGER DISCOVERED. HE IS A SCREENWRITER APPROACHED BY HEAVEN'S GATE TO MAKE A STORY, CALLED "BEYOND HUMAN", INTO A SCREENPLAY.

(SUPER: FROM WORLD WIDE PANTS)



(SOT, RICK SINGER, SCREENWRITER, 01:08: 25, "IT WAS MOSTLY ABOUT VISITATIONS

AND ABDUCTIONS. BUTT TO 01:11:06, "THE CONCEPT THAT SOLD ME... AS FAR AS EVOLUTION.")
SAN DIEGO COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED ALL 39 MEMBERS, AND ARE WORKING TO NOTIFY THE FAMILIES. AMONG THE CONFIRMED VICTIMS IS A 72-YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER FROM COLORADO. TODAY, POLICE WILL CONTINUE PIECING TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MILLION-DOLLAR MANSION.

(SOT, SGT. DON CRIST, SAN DIEGO SHERIFF'S DEPT., 08:04:24, "WE'LL START

LOOKING... CONVINCED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.")

(SABIH STANDUP CLOSE: BUT FROM ALL ACCOUNTS, IT WASN'T SO MUCH A MATTER OF

CONVINCING, AS IT WAS BELIEVING. JENNIFER SABIH, FOR CBS NEWS, BACK TO YOU.))

E-Rke-Standoff


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-18
GRAPHIC=Standoff


An hour long standoff in Roanoke last night ended peacefully.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


Police surrounded a home in the 500 block of Elm Avenue and diverted traffic, after they received a report that shots had been fired.
A negotiator spoke with Ernie Henderson by phone, and ultimately persuaded him to surrender.
The stand- off ended when the 27- year- old walked out the back door of the house and was taken into custody.
(----------------)



MARINES-HAZING


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


A Marine platoon commander and his platoon sergeant could be booted out of the service over a 19-91 hazing ritual.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


The incident involved pounding gold wings into the chests of paratroopers.
The "blood pinning," as it was called, was caught on videotape.
The base commander at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is recommending that the two soldiers be discharged from the Marine Corps.
A total of eleven Marines have been disciplined over the incident.
(----------------)




Good-Friday


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


Christian pilgrims walked through Jerusalem's Old City today, retracing the path Jesus took to his crucifixion.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Jerusalem;


Some carried wooden crosses, others sang hymns, all under the watchful eyes of Israeli riot police.
This year's Good Friday observances come at a time of growing tension between Israel and the Palestinians.
SUPER=03-Philippines;


Meantime, in the Philippines, some communities marked Good Friday in a bloody way.
Those being nailed to wooden crosses, were seeking divine favors or forgiveness of sins.
(----------------)



E-Philip-Morris


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-12
GRAPHIC=Gilmore


Questions about campaign fundraising are moving from Washington to Richmond.
The attorney general is taking the tobacco side in a legal battle with the federal government, so a contribution from Philip Morris is drawing attention.
Republican candidate for governor Jim Gilmore flew to New York last week on a Philip Morris corporate jet.
There he raked in 50- thousand dollars in campaign donations at a company fundraiser -- including 20-thousand from Philip Morris itself.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=In meetings
SUPER=@file; :00
SUPER=@Beyer1; :12
SUPER=@Allen; :45
SUPER=@Ellen1; :55
RUNS=1:09
OUT Q=NEWS 7, rICHMOND

(( In meetings with Virginia reporters when he got back, Gilmore said he had NO plans to withdraw Virginia's friend of the court brief on behalf of the tobacco companies against the FDA regulations on teen smoking.
sot 09:46:43

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER: I THINK AT BEST HE'S GUILTY OF BAD JUDGMENT AND AT WORST, HE'S GUILTY OF GROSS IMPROPRIETY.))
runs=:08


Well that comes from a man who accepted 10- thousand dollars from Philip Morris in 1996.
sot 09:46:53

((BEYER: I'M NOT IN THE POSITION OF ENFORCING VIRGINIA'S TOBACCO LAWS. REMEMBER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ACTUALLY .. AGAINST THE FDA REGULATIONS.))
runs=:11


Beyer's likely running mate L.F. Payne also accepted 10- thousand dollars last year.
But Republican George Allen admitted Gilmore's donation didn't come at the best time.
sot 08:34:14

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT....DISCLOSED. WHICH MEANS EVERYONE CAN HAVE ALL THEIR POT SHOTS AND COMMENTS ABOUT IT.))
runs=:11



SOT STANDUP


We tried to get Jim Gilmore in front of our cameras ... but he did NOT make himself available by our deadline.
A spokesman called Don Beyer a hypocrite for taking tobacco money in the past and making this an issue.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond. ))

E-Sex-Offenders


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=Don Beyer


Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer wants to make sure Virginians know when a sex offender moves into their community.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;


Beyer has already won "two strikes and you're out" laws and a sex offender registry in Virginia in recent years.
But yesterday, at a Richmond schoolyard, he proposed a three level procedure that mandates that some convicted rapists and molesters be introduced to the town they're moving into at a public meeting.
He's NOT worried things will get ugly.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 09:56:36
IN Q=But they

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER: BUT THEY ))
SUPER=@Beyer1;
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=children again.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The American Civil Liberties Union calls it a novel idea that fits into a new trend of "public shaming."
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:53:14
IN Q=Everyone

((KENT WILLIS/VA ACLU: EVERYONE CARES ABOUT FAMILIES...IN THE FIRST PLACE.))
SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=first place.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Beyer says the average repeat child molester has victimized 117 children.
(-------0---------)


E-DSM-Layoffs


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-16
GRAPHIC=Layoffs


Up to 50 jobs will be eliminated when a Wytheville company reorganizes.
D-S-M Engineering Plastics Products is making the move to stay competitive.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Wytheville/File Tape;


The company used to be called Polymer Corporation- Now it's phasing out several product lines.
It's also shifting some of its manufacturing between its plants in Wytheville and Reading, Pennsylvania.
The layoffs will take effect throughout the second half of the year.
D-S-M currently employs about 130 people in Wytheville.
(----------------)



Melrose-Fire


ANCHOR=mel
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#net b
GRAPHIC=fire


Authorities have arrested a Roanoke man who THEY believe is responsible for a February fire that destroyed two houses.
30- year- old Steven Anthony Marrs was taken into custody earlier this week and charged with arson.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 12;


The blaze all but leveled this vacant house in the 21- hundred block of Melrose Avenue.
The fire quickly spread to the occupied home next door.
Firefighters were able to save a third house from going up in flames.
No one was injured.
(----------------)



E-Greenbrier


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-9
GRAPHIC=Greenbrier


The plan to open a private casino at the Greenbrier resort is a step closer to becoming reality.
A committee in the West Virginia legislature gave its approval to a local referendum.
While the state politicians were debating the issue in Charleston yesterday, Joe Dashiell has been sampling opinions on the streets of White Sulphur Springs.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=In Greenbrier Co.
SUPER=03-White Sulphur Spr.; :00
SUPER=01-Jeff McCormick/Union Official; :19 quick
SUPER=01-G.P. Parker/White Sulphur Springs Mayor; :25 quick
SUPER=01-Clifford Holley/Greenbrier Co. Resident; :34 quick
SUPER=@Joe2; :40
SUPER=01-Pat Cooper/Greenbrier Co. Resident; :47
SUPER=01-Tina Sheppard/Greenbrier Co. Resident; :59 quick
RUNS=1:15
OUT Q=JD News 7 White Sulphur Springs


((In Greenbrier County, legalized gambling means the West Virginia State Lottery or Friday night bingo, but soon those games of chance may not be the only game in town.
The Greenbrier hopes to open a Monte Carlo style casino for overnight guests in the space that formerly served as a cold war bunker for members of Congress.
SOT
IN Q=With more guests

((JEFF MCCORMICK/UNION OFFICIAL: WITH MORE GUESTS BEING AT THE HOTEL, WE'RE LOOKING AT MANY MORE JOBS BEING UP THERE IN THE WINTERTIME FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.)) ((G.P. PARKER/WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS MAYOR: IF A PERSON CAN AFFORD TO STAY AT THE GREENBRIER, MAYBE THEY CAN AFFORD TO LOSE A LITTLE MONEY.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=lose a little money.


Still, on the Streets of White Sulphur Springs, support is far from unanimous.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I don't think it should

((CLIFFORD HOLLEY/GREENBRIER CO. RESIDENT: I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD GO IN. WHY NOT? PROBABLY RUIN THE COMMUNITY.))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=ruin the community.


How the prospect of gambling plays in the barber's chair, or the church pew is important, since the issue is ultimately headed for a local referendum.
SOT
IN Q=You don't want any more

((PAT COOPER: YOU DON'T WANT ANY MORE DRUGS... MORE PEOPLE TO THE AREA.)) ((TINA SHEPPARD: I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING TO BE DEAD SET AGAINST IT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BATTLE. I'M PRETTY SURE OF THAT.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=pretty sure of that.


In the meantime, all eyes are on Charleston where a final vote in the legislature is expected by the end of next week.
Joe Dashiell News 7 White Sulphur Springs))

Bedford-Schools


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-19
GRAPHIC=education


Staffing changes at Liberty High School are upsetting Bedford County students and parents.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night;


About a hundred people turned out for a school board meeting last night at Body Camp Elementary School.
Five of them spoke out in support of chemistry teacher Tim Overstreet, who is one of three Liberty staff members who reportedly will not be offered a teaching contract next year.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:57:27//8:12:41//8:15:10
IN Q=It has been said

(( ))
SUPER=01-Penny Witt/Parent; :00
SUPER=01-Tabby Wood/Liberty H.S. Student; :16
SUPER=01-Karen Toms/Parent; :32
RUNS=:42
OUT Q=students to learn.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The school board did "not" take any action on Overstreet's contract during an executive session last night.
Superintendent John Kent says he has not met with Overstreet and could not comment on the situation.
(----------------)



S-Green


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#97-5
GRAPHIC=none


The Franklin County animal breeder who lost her business because of animal neglect will be back in court next month.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co./March 11;


Just a few weeks after a judge said Valery Green could no longer own any pets, animal control officers found a puppy inside a fenced in portion of her property.
SUPER=04-January;


Green lost custody of her 120 dogs and cats after a Franklin County judge ruled she mistreated them.
Authorities have issued a "show- cause" warrant against her and she's scheduled to appear in court April 8th.
If Green is found in contempt... she could face a stiff fine, or jail time.
(----------------)


Monty-Recycling


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=abo
TAPE#97-
GRAPHIC=none


Forget the hassle of sorting paper, glass and plastic-- Montgomery County residents can now throw all their recycling in one container.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;


Today was the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new 48- thousand- square- foot recycling processing facility.
It can sort up to 80 tons of recyclable material a day-- which saves two days-worth of valuable landfill space each month.
The machine is the only one of its kind in the state of Virginia.
(----------------)



S-Treeways


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-15
GRAPHIC=None


Driving on area highways may be more pleasurable, thanks to some high school volunteers and a program called "America's Treeways."
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Campbell Co.


Hundreds of redbud and willow oak trees were planted yesterday along several major roadways in Appomattox, Campbell and Pittsylvania Counties.
It's all part of a joint effort between V-DOT and the National Tree Trust aimed at beautifying the state's highways.
Since 19-91, the Tree Trust has helped plant nearly five million trees in 48 states.
(----------------)

WEATHER
SUPER=300-61/48/SW 5mph/29.97s/83/1989/17/1982;
SUPER=301-67/36/S 17-23mph/29.95f/88/1910/18/1969;

Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Cloudy/Rain Possible/50-54/Morning Clouds/Then Clearing/62-66;
SUPER=331-Cloudy/Rain Possible/50-54/Morning Clouds/Then Clearing/64-68;
SUPER=332-Showers/Likely/48-52/Early Showers/Partly Cloudy/60-64;
SUPER=333-Cloudy/Rain Likely/48-52/Mostly Cloudy/Showers Possible/60-64;
SUPER=334-Showers/& Storms/50-54/Clouds/Showers Possible/56-60;
SUPER=X5001;



NIT


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of S6-26)
GRAPHIC=NIT


The 19-97 N-I-T is history.
Last night the Big 10 got the best of the A-C-C as Michigan stopped Florida State in the finals.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-New York, NY/ESPN; :00


Michigan center Robert Traylor had a career high 26 points and 13 rebounds scoring on an array of power moves in the paint.
But F-S-U came back from an 18 point halftime deficit thanks to the shooting of James Collins, who scored a team high 20.
SUPER=33-Michigan/82/Florida St./73;


But Maurice Taylor threw down this alleyoop to put the game away as Michigan wins the first ever meeting between these two teams 82-to-73 to capture the N-I-T title.
(-------------)


Botetourt


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#BB97-4
GRAPHIC=GIRLS HOOPS


The highly successful Lord Botetourt chose a familiar face to head their girls' hoops program.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Daleville;


Yesterday afternoon, Chuck Pound was given the keys to run the girls team as its new head coach.
Pound is also the Cavaliers head baseball coach and a longtime basketball assistant at the school.
SUPER=03-Bristol/November 23, 1996; :00


He replaces David Wheat who resigned after leading the Lady Cavaliers to back to back state championships.
Pound hopes the experience garnered from those championships pays off for the returning players.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="THEY'VE...

((CHUCK POUND/NEW BOTETOURT GIRLS COACH:))
SUPER=01-Chuck Pound/New Botetourt Girls Coach; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=...DISTRICT."
(----------------)



Radford


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=net (edit of S7-3)
GRAPHIC=Tech/Radford Baseball


The Virginia Tech Hokies completed a two day, two game sweep of Radford yesterday at Dedmon Center Park.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Radford/Hokies vs. Highlanders; :00


Former Franklin County star Chad Foutz registered four R-B-I's on the day on three hits. His one bagger here in the second plated Gray Hodges and gave the Hokies a 2-nothing lead.
Still in the second, Eric Shifflet crushes a 3 run homer to center that scores Randy Martin and Foutz; 5-nothing Tech.
SUPER=34-Virginia Tech/11/Radford/2;


Radford got on the board in the 3rd. Chris Whiting grounds out but Brad Hoffman crosses the plate; 6-1 Tech and the Hokies cruise to the 11-2 victory. Tech is now 13 and 12 on the season. R-U falls to 12 and 15.
(-------------)


PEEPS


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


And finally as we take you into the holiday weekend, here's a behind the scenes look at the making of a popular Easter candy.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bethlehem, PA;


Thousands of peeps have been rolling off the assembly line at a Candy Plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
To make PEEPS, workers mix up a super saturated sugar solution and pump them out onto a bed of sugar.
Peeps that don't make the cut, get blown off and recycled. (----------------)
by SS