WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/01/97

08:25-01

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SUPER=19-Eric Earnhart;

7Forest-fire

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#net (edit of 597-16)
GRAPHIC=brush fire

It looks like a smoldering campfire could have sparked the brushfire burning on the Roanoke-Craig County line.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The Forest service and Volunteers used hand tools and a bulldozer to contain the fire.
Cold temperatures are keeping the fire from being overly aggressive, but the bitter wind chill is slowing down firefighters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:00:13
IN Q=THEY WILL
((DAVID OLSON: THEY WILL PICK UP LEAVES THAT ARE HOT, AND THEY WILL THROW THEM ACROSS THE FIRE LINE, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS YOU GET A NEW FIRE IN A PLACE WHERE THERE CURRENTLY IS NO CONTROL LINE, AND YOU HAVE THE ISSUE OF LOSING THE FIRE LINE. SOME OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, WHEN THEY GOT UP THERE-- so people aren't exactly dressed for the weather? SOME PROBABLY AREN'T. ME FOR ONE, I WASN'T DRESSED FOR THIS KIND OF WEATHER ))
SUPER=01-David Olson/U.S. Forest Service;
SUPER=01-Bob Boardwine/U.S. Forest Service; :15
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=weather
(----------------)
VO-NAT

David Olson says if the ground hadn't been damp from a weekend rain, it could have been a lot worse.
(----------------)

7E-Chaffin

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-8
GRAPHIC=dRUNK dRIVING

A man charged in a drunk driving death in Montgomery County is in jail without bond, after he was charged with ANOTHER D-U-I.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim who died in an accident from Timothy Scott Chaffin's FIRST D-U-I tries to pick up the pieces.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Stevie Burton was driving
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Barbara Burton/Stevie Burton's Mother;:15
SUPER=01-Lisa Hatcher/Stevie Burton's Sister;:46
SUPER=@Tracy2;
RUNS=1:12
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.
(( Stevie Burton was driving home to his wife and three-and four- year- old sons when a drunk driver struck his car head- on.
The 27 year- old school custodian died on impact, leaving his family, especially his boys struggling with the loss.
SOT 12:26:17
((BARBARA BURTON/STEVIE BURTON'S MOTHER: THEY QUESTION THE MOTHER AND SHE SAYS HE'S IN HEAVEN. THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY CAN GO SEE HIM, THEY WON'T HAVE TO STAY VERY LONG, THEY'LL COME BACK. THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.))
RUNS=:09

But what's even harder for Burton's family to understand is what they see as a lack of remorse on the part of the other driver, 23 year- old Timothy Scott Chaffin.
Chaffin was freed on bond after the accident, in which is blood alcohol content was .19, more than twice the legal limit.
Less than two months later on March 15th, Floyd County authorities charged him with a SECOND D-U-I.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:31:42
((LISA HATCHER/STEVIE BURTON'S SISTER: I CAN SEE ONE MISTAKE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S HURT AND IT COST US A LOVED ONE. BUT TO DO IT AGAIN? THAT'S VERY HARD. ))
RUNS=:14

After convicting Chaffin in the January D-U-I, the judge also sent an involuntary manslaughter charge to the grand jury and ordered him held without bond.
His license is suspended for one year.
Tracy Altizer, News 7.))

7E-Green-Adoptions

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#97-5
GRAPHIC=Green

The case of former Franklin County animal breeder Valery Green has taken another twist.
A few weeks ago, Green was found guilty of mistreating her more than one-hundred dogs and cats.
But now Green's teenage son has sent a letter to members of the Humane Society stating HE owned the animals... not his mother.
He's demanding that all of the dogs and cats be returned to his possesion.
But that will be nearly impossible.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co./January

Every dog taken from the Green property already has a permanent home.
There are still about two dozen cats that have not been adopted.
Officials say up to this point, the process has been fairly smooth.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:58:01
IN Q=It's been
((DR. LINDA JENNINGS/BRAMBLETON VETERINARY HOSPITAL: IT'S BEEN GOING REALLY WELL. IT'S A LITTLE HECTIC HERE WITH ALL OF THESE PHONE CALLS, BUT IN GENERAL EVERYONE'S BEEN REAL GOOD. THEY'VE BEEN GOING PRETTY QUICKLY BUT WE STILL HAVE A FEW LEFT. ))
SUPER=01-Dr. Linda Jennings/Brambleton Veterinary Hospital;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=a few left
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Dr. Jennings says the adult cats have been harder to adopt-out because they're not used to human contact.
She says that will likely change over time.
(----------------)

7weather

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

Time now to check today's windy forecast--
Sunny skies will prevail, but blustery conditions continue for this afternoon. Highs will gradually warm up to near 60, with winds out of the Northwest at 20 to 30 miles per hour.
Overnight winds will die down, and under clear skies we'll cool off to near freezing.
By Tomorrow, we're looking for highs into the upper 60's.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Blustery/58-62/Clear/& Cold/30-34;
SUPER=#555; reset

7BIRTHDAYS! 4/2/97 (REVISED)

SUPER=130-5/Lauren Dudley/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-37/Billiejo Halsey/Clifton Forge;

SUPER=130-6/Tracy Self/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-30/Suzanne Burns/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-1/Parker Woods/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-3/Kenisha Whorley/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Gordon Wertz/Troutville;
No Pictures:

SUPER=130-/Janet East/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-52/Kathy Brightwell/Salem;

cutopen
SUPER=19-Eric Earnhart;

55P-Chaffin

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#597-09
GRAPHIC=drunk driving

A Montgomery County judge convicted Timothy Scott (chay-finn) Chaffin of a D-U-I and sent an involuntary manslaughter charge to the grand jury.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

Chaffin was escorted to jail after the judge also revoked his bond.
Judge Tommy Frith says Chaffin needed to be locked up and off the road, since he got another D-U-I in Floyd County March 15th.
In January, Chaffin crossed the center line and struck 27- year- old Steve Burton's car head-on.
Burton was killed instantly.
His family praised the judge's decision to revoke Chaffin's bond.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:32:00
IN Q=
((LISA HATCHER/STEVE BURTON'S SISTER: YOU TRY TO HAVE COMPASSION BECAUSE YOU KNOW MISTAKES ARE MADE. AND THEN WHEN YOU DON'T SEE REMORSE, AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE EVENTS OF HOW THE SECOND D-U-I HAPPENED, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE FURIOUS. ))
SUPER=01-Lisa Hatcher/Steve Burton's Sister;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=to be furious.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

After the fatal January crash Chaffin's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
(----------------)

55Rosser

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

The daughter of a man found slain in his home says she does NOT think her eight- year- old step-brother committed the crime.
Sherry Rosser's father, Bernard Rosser, was found dead in his Gretna home on December 19th.
Police charged the man's stepson in the killing.
But Sherry Rosser told The Roanoke Times an autopsy showed her father died after at least two blows to the head.
She said the report indicates the first blow could have been fatal -- and she does not think an eight- year- old is capable of killing a grown man with one strike.

55E-Sandoe

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-7
GRAPHIC=heaven's gate

One of the Heaven's Gate cult member to take his own life was from Abingdon.
Michael Sandoe (SAN-doe) was the president of his high school class.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Sandoe was a 19-89 graduate of Abingdon High School, class president, and a member of the Key Club.
By all accounts, he was a popular student who was active in the community.
Members of his family declined an interview, but friends were surprised to hear of his involvement with the group, and saddened by the news of his death.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:35:00
IN Q=I've known him since
((CHRIS HOLMES/FAMILY FRIEND: I'VE KNOWN HIS SINCE HE WAS A YOUNG CHILD AND THIS IS A SHOCK TO ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.))
SUPER=01-Chris Holmes/Family Friend;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=involved in this.
ANCHOR=Eric
SS=HOLD

Michael Sandoe was 26.

55weather

8Forest-fire

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#net (edit of 597-16)
GRAPHIC=brush fire

A campfire may have started the blaze on the Roanoke County- Craig County line.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The Forest service and Volunteers used hand tools and a bulldozer to contain the fire.
Cold temperatures are keeping the fire from being overly aggressive, but the bitter wind chill is slowing down firefighters.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:00:13
IN Q=THEY WILL
((DAVID OLSON: THEY WILL PICK UP LEAVES THAT ARE HOT, AND THEY WILL THROW THEM ACROSS THE FIRE LINE, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS YOU GET A NEW FIRE IN A PLACE WHERE THERE CURRENTLY IS NO CONTROL LINE, AND YOU HAVE THE ISSUE OF LOSING THE FIRE LINE. SOME OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, WHEN THEY GOT UP THERE-- so people aren't exactly dressed for the weather? SOME PROBABLY AREN'T. ME FOR ONE, I WASN'T DRESSED FOR THIS KIND OF WEATHER ))
SUPER=01-Bob Boardwine/Forest Service; :15
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=weather
(----------------)
VO-NAT

David Olson says the ground was slightly damp after a weekend rain-- or it could have been a lot worse.
(----------------)

8P-Chaffin

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#597-09
GRAPHIC=drunk driving

Timothy Scott (chay-finn) Chaffin was convicted of driving under the influence, and an involuntary manslaughter charge was sent to the grand jury.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

Chaffin was escorted to jail after the judge also revoked his bond.
The Montgomery county Judge says Chaffin needed to be locked up and off the road, since he got another D-U-I in Floyd County March 15th.
In January, Chaffin crossed the center line and struck 27- year- old Steve Burton's car head-on.
Burton was killed instantly.
His family praised the judge's decision to revoke Chaffin's bond.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:32:00
IN Q=
((LISA HATCHER/STEVE BURTON'S SISTER: YOU TRY TO HAVE COMPASSION BECAUSE YOU KNOW MISTAKES ARE MADE. AND THEN WHEN YOU DON'T SEE REMORSE, AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE EVENTS OF HOW THE SECOND D-U-I HAPPENED, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE FURIOUS. ))
SUPER=01-Lisa Hatcher/Steve Burton's Sister;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=to be furious.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

After the fatal January crash on Pepper's Ferry Road, Chaffin's blood alcohol content was point-one-nine, more than twice the legal limit.
(----------------)

8Rosser

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

The daughter of a man found slain in his home says she does NOT think her eight- year- old step-brother is capable of killing her father.
Sherry Rosser's father, Bernard Rosser, was found dead in his Gretna home on December 19th.
Police charged the man's stepson in the killing.
But Sherry Rosser told The Roanoke Times an autopsy showed her father died after at least two blows to the head.
She said the report indicates the first blow could have been fatal -- and she does not think an eight- year- old could kill a grown man with one strike.

8P-Green

ANCHOR=Eric
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#597-07
GRAPHIC=green

Another chapter in the story of a Franklin County Animal Breeder...The son of Valary Green, says HE's the rightful owner of the more than one-hundred dogs and cats seized from his mother's property.
Valary Green was found guilty of neglect...
Members of the Franklin County Humane Society received a letter from her son demanding HIS animals back.
Despite the new claim, the group is forging ahead with the adoption process.
All but two dozen cats formerly owned by Valery Green have been given new permanent homes.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

Feline adoptions are still underway at the Brambleton Veterinary Hospital in Roanoke County.
Members of the Franklin County Humane Society say the cats are skittish around humans... but that could change with some love and affection.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:19:18
IN Q=They will
((TAMMY JAVIER/FRANKLIN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY: THEY WILL BE A LITTLE HARDER BECAUSE OF THE SOCIALIZATION PROBLEMS. WE NEED SPECIAL HOMES AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALL OF THESE CATS BE INSIDE CATS... TOTALLY INSIDE. ))
SUPER=01-Tammy Javier/Franklin Co. Humane Society;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=totally inside