18:00-01

1-News-Head

ANCHOR=Keith

Carving up Conrail.
Coming up on NEWS 7 at SIX:
We'll see what Norfolk-Southern gets out of the C-S-X deal.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


And a high-flung project of military antiquity.
It's called a Trebuchet; and it works.
(----------------)


Sports-Head
ANCHOR=Mike


Tonight in sports, the Hillcats put the nation's number one draft pick on the hill tonight.
Ferrum looks for another big win on the diamond.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#


And Steve Mason checks in from UVa with George Welsh and a report on the Cavs Spring football progress.
(-------------)

WX-Head
TALENT=Robin
SS=None


Grab your coats and your warmest caps. Temperatures will dive into the 20s tonight.

Rail-Merger


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-7
GRAPHIC=Rail Merger


Six months and more than 10- BILLION- dollars later, we have a deal.
Cross state railroad rivals Norfolk Southern and C-S-X have struck a deal to split up Conrail, which has a monopoly in the northeast.
Double Boxes=Keith and Len/Microwave


Len Besthoff says N-S will get most of Conrail.
Live=Len Full/Microwave
SUPER=@Len1;
SUPER=05-Roanoke;


Keith, N-S will pay six- billion- dollars for 60- percent of Conrail.
C-S-X will spend four- billion for the rest.
N-S employees believe their company did pretty well, considering it wasn't even in the merger plan C-S-X and Conrail had last fall.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We thought
SUPER=01-Becky Wade/NS Employee; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :06
SUPER=01-Bill Bales/NS Senior VP-International; :22
SUPER=01-Jay Brenner/Cycle Systems Inc.; :41
SUPER=01-Louis Newton/Retired NS Employee; 1:08
RUNS=1:15
OUT Q=existing system.





(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape one 12:21:23
IN Q=We thought

((BECKY WADE/NORFOLK SOUTHERN EMPLOYEE: WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA LOSE IT COMPLETELY, SO THIS IS SOME WONDERFUL NEWS FOR US AND I'M REAL EXCITED.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=real excited.


So's the N-S brass, including Bill Bales, who says the deal will get his railroad into markets all across the eastern half of the U-S..an area N-S has been eyeing since it tried to take over Conrail back in the early 80's..
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape two 14:35:52
IN Q=We will

(( ))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=Baltimore.


N-S customers such as Cycle Systems, which sells scrap metal, provide good examples of how the Conrail carve up will create new business opportunities.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:03:51 tape one
IN Q=There's a lot of new

((JAY BRENNER/CYCLE SYSTEMS INC.: THERE'S A LOT OF NEW STEEL MILLS LIKE BAR TECH UP IN PENNSYLVANIA IT OPENS UP AND THE BETHLEHEMS, AND THE PITTSBURGH AREA.))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=Pittsburgh area.


From the way the maps look, C-S-X gets a much longer, expansive set of track through key markets in the northeast and mid-section of the country.
But railroad veteran Louis Newton, who worked on previous mergers for N-S, says don't let that fool you.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE ONE 10:54:36
IN Q=It doesn't

((LOUIS NEWTON/RETIRED NS EMPLOYEE: IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT MILEAGE IS THE KEY FACTOR. IT'S WHAT'S ON THESE LINES THAT'S IMPORTANT AND HOW THEY CAN BE UTILIZED AND THEY TIE INTO THE EXISTING SYSTEM.))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=existing system.
Live=Len Full/Microwave
SUPER=05-Roanoke;


And if you want to see how Conrail was split up in greater detail, we have maps available in the business section of the News-7 homepage.
Double Boxes=Keith and Len/Microwave


Confederate-Month


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-17
GRAPHIC=None


April is Confederate history and heritage month in Virginia.
And two black civil rights groups say they're appalled.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;


Governor George Allen proclaimed the month at the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
His proclamation recalls the Confederate legacy as "a source of pride, honor, and respect for millions of Americans," but makes NO mention of slavery.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:36:44
IN Q=I think it

((SALIM KHALFANI/VA. NAACP: I THINK IT GOES ALONG WITH THE PATTERN THAT GOVERNOR ALLEN HAS EXCLUDED AFRICANS FROM HIS CABINET. HIS WIFE HAS A CAT CALLED BUCKWHEAT. I THINK THE ALLENS ARE VERY INSENSITIVE AND THIS BORDERS ON BEING JUST PLAIN RACIST.))
SOT 12:01:44 tape 3

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: PART OF OUR HISTORY--LOOK AT THE MONUMENTS. IN FRONT OF VIRTUALLY EVERY COURTHOUSE IN VIRGINIA, THERE'S A MEANING FOR IT, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO CELEBRATE THE MONTH, I'M NOT GONNA COMPEL ANYONE TO DO SO. BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK WE OUGHT TO COMMEMORATE OUR HISTORY AND I'M ONE OF THEM.))
SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Va. NAACP; :00
SUPER=@Allen; :15
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=one of them.
TALENT=Keith
SS=None


The N-double-A-C-P and Southern Christian Leadership Conference are demanding an apology from Allen for what they say is a "slap in the face."

Allen-Execution


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-20
GRAPHIC=George Allen


Nobody officially asked for his opinion.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;


But Governor George Allen is telling the Supreme Court in NO uncertain terms that Amherst County killer Doug Buchanan deserves to die.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:48:36
IN Q=He killed

((HE KILLED MORE THAN JUST HIS FATHER... COME HOME FROM SCHOOL.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=from school.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The Supreme Court halted Buchanan's execution yesterday to decide whether it will hear his appeal.
(----------------)



Beyer


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


Neither one will raise your taxes... or so they're saying in the Virginia governor's race.
This week, Democrat Don Beyer upped the ante, proposing the first cuts of the campaign.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Read his lips.
SUPER=@Beyer1; :07
SUPER=03-Richmond; :19
SUPER=@Ellen2; :23
SUPER=@Allen; :50
RUNS=1:22
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.


(( Read his lips.
sot 09:39:40

((I GO IN OFFICE WITH NO INTENTION TO RAISE TAXES.))
runs=:03


But he still won't take a pledge.
sot TAPE ONE 09:40:18

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER/D-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: WHEN YOU DEVELOP A MANTRA... ALL GIMMICKRY.))
runs=:12


So instead of a pledge, how about a cut?
How about two cuts?
Today, Don Beyer said he'd eliminate the corporate income tax on 131- thousand small businesses statewide.
Monday, he said he'd finally remove the sales tax from over the counter medications.
sot 09:40:47

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER/D-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: I'M NOT GONNA CAMPAIGN ON DRAMATIC TAX CUTS. BUT I WANT VIRGINIA TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BACKGROUND IS MY BUSINESS AND MY LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT TO KEEPING VIRGINIA'S LOW TAX ENVIRONMENT INTACT.))
runs=:15



sot TAPE 3 11:42:57

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: I THINK HIS POSITIONS ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES CHANGE LIKE THE WEATHER. AS FAR AS THESE IDEAS THAT HE'S COMING UP WITH NOW, IT'S DAMAGE CONTROL FROM HIS INITIAL COMMENTS ABOUT GETTING VIRGINIANS PREPARED TO RAISE TAXES.))
runs=:17


Also expect tax cut proposals from Republican Jim Gilmore when he kicks off his campaign.
The one-upsmanship is just beginning.
Gilmore's spokesman says Don Beyer talking about tax relief is like Jack Kevorkian selling life insurance.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))
Tease#1

HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=NONE


Still to come on News 7 at Six, Joe Abbott says there's no way he could be head of a Roanoke crime family, as the government contends. We'll show you a letter Abbott sent us from the city jail.
(---------------)
VO-NAT


and VMI cadets have launched a new project--quite literally. It's a lesson in medieval warfare.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Robin

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

Roll
TALENT=Robin
SS=NONE
SUPER=80-54/37/0.00''/52/41/0.00''/48/31/0.00''/46/37/0.00'';
SUPER=81-54/48/0.00''/55/41/0.00''/36/23/0.00'';
SUPER=82-0.12''/minus 0.71''/7.63''/minus 2.34'';
SUPER=83-Down 1.03 feet/Down 1.37 feet;Lake levels


Abbott-Letter


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#97-21
GRAPHIC=Joe Abbott


Joe Abbott says there's no such thing as the Palestinian crime family the government says he heads.
In a letter from the city jail, the 53-year old Lebanese immigrant says there can't be a crime family when he's not even on speaking terms with members of the family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke


A naturalized U-S citizen, he changed his name from Abed to Abbott while in the Army.
He was indicted a month ago for racketeering.
"No such thing," Abbott says in his two-page letter.
He points out that his brother, Abed Jamil Jalil has worked for Fairfax County for 23 years.
He says he and his brother haven't been on "talkative terms" for years. He says the same goes for his son, Rayed, and the two nephews who're charged along with him.
"If I never got along with them," Abbott asks: "where's the crime family."
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=Joe Abbott


He says his son and nephews weren't even allowed in the Pancake House he used to run. And he says he can prove that.

Route-220


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=eea
TAPE#97-8
GRAPHIC=None


Morning commuters may find themselves stuck in a bottle-neck on Route 220.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;


Today workers closed one north-bound lane of the highway, about a mile north of the Franklin County line.
After tomorrow, the orange cones will be replaced by a concrete barrier.
The barrier will be in place till sometime next month.
V-DOT says motorists may want to consider alternate routes.
The lane is closed so a construction crew can build a drainage system beside the road.
(----------------)



College-Paper


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-16
GRAPHIC=Education


Lynchburg College administrators say they "never" attempted to block or censor two controversial articles that recently appeared in the school's student newspaper.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg


In January, a security guard at the college was caught stealing credit cards from the student mail and using them to get cash.
The "Critograph" (CRIT-oh-graf) ran two stories on the guard's arrest and subsequent conviction.
At a public forum today, the paper's reporters found themselves defending the way they presented the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:04:08
IN Q=While the headline

((PETE GILLESPIE/CRITOGRAPH REPORTER: WHILE THE HEADLINE.. THIS IS OUR O.J. SIMPSON.))
SUPER=01-Pete Gillespie/Critograph Reporter; :00
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=our O.J. Simpson.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Lynchburg College president Dr. Charles Warren also denied student claims that faculty members threatened to cut the paper's funding if the stories were published.
(----------------)



Stocks


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


Rising interest rates on the bond market sent stocks lower today; they had been mixed for much of the session.
The Dow DROPPED 45 points.
NASDAQ LOST eight points.
(//////////)
RUNS=:25
SUPER=x5100;



SUPER=440-ie/40/u/34f/ic/59g/ie/29/i1/31e;


[ AE /ATT /Bell/CentralFidelity/Columbia]

SUPER=441-ic/36/ie/32/ie/21/ha/34d/i1c/82c;


[Crestar/Dana/Dimon/Dominion Resources/First Union]

SUPER=442-i1/50g/hg/102/i1f/57a/i1f/87a/ha/11b;


[First VA/General Electric/Nationsbank/Norfolk Southern/Optical Cable]

SUPER=443-ic/113c/ib/14b/if/29b/he/18b/u/28c;


[phillip morris/roanoke electric steel/signet/trigon/walmart]

[(a= 1/8 e= 1/4
b= 3/8 f= 1/2
c= 5/8 g= 3/4
d= 7/8



h= UP
i= DOWN
u= UNCHANGED)



(You must use lowercase letters)]



SUPER=465-**/###/**/###/**/###;

[ Bassett Fur/ Bedford Bancshares/Dimon]
SUPER=466-**/###/**/###/**/###;

[ ETS /Innotech/ Main Bankshares]
SUPER=467-**/###/**/###/**/###;

[ Optical Cable /Pulaski Furn./ Roanoke Electric Steel]
SUPER=468-**/###/**/###/**/###;

[ Roanoke Gas / Stanley Furniture/ Tultex]




Radford-Corn


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tal
TAPE#97-14
GRAPHIC=Radford University


When the Native Americans gave corn to the pilgrims, it was more than just a food offering.
It was a lesson for life that has meaning even now.
It's a lesson Radford University is stressing during its Year of Corn and Culture.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Radford's Selu Conservancy
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Marilou Awiakta/Appalachian Cherokee Poet; :18
SUPER=03-Radford; :26
SUPER=02-Claudia Mullins/Chair-Weaver; :35 QUIK
SUPER=01-Grace Toney Edwards/RU Appalachian Regional Center;:57
SUPER=@Tracy2; `1:10
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.

(( Radford's Selu Conservancy will soon open with a retreat center and a dock and boathouse along the New River.
But Selu will be much more than a place for conferences and outdoor studies.
The Cherokee poet who named it hopes it will also be a place for students to learn the lessons of the corn spirit for which it is named.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:23:21

((MARILOU AWIAKTA/APPALACHIAN CHEROKEE POET: THE SPIRITUAL MEANING TO NATIVE PEOPLE IS JUST THIS, THAT LAW OF RESPECT, THAT IF YOU TAKE YOU HAVE TO GIVE BACK AND COOPERATE. ))
RUNS=:08
(/////SOT/////)
SOT nat of corn-grinding
RUNS=:02


This day, Radford celebrated a Day of the Corn with free bags of fresh cornmeal, demonstrations of cornhusk art such as doll- making, even chair- bottoming.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:15:04

((VOICE OF CLAUDIA MULLINS/CHAIR-WEAVER: AND THEN I TWIST AROUND AND IT JUST LOCKS ITSELF IN PLACE. ))
RUNS=:04


A collection of Huichol Indian yarn paintings is also on display.
The works depict native mythology mostly related to corn and nature.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:45:01

((THESE WERE MADE AS SPECIAL OFFERINGS. ))
RUNS=:02


The festivities are part of Radford's Year of the Corn. Since last Fall, the university has incorporated corn- related topics into 40 courses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:18:14

((GRACE EDWARDS/DIR. OF APPALACHIAN STUDIES: WE'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO SHOW NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT GRASS AS A FOODSTUFF BUT HOW SIGNIFICANT IT HAS BEEN IN THE MYTHOLOGY OR THE RELIGION OF THE NATIVE CULTURES AS WELL. ))
RUNS=:13


Radford will conclude its Year of the Corn with the dedication of Selu June seventh. Tracy Altizer News 7.

Sports Tease


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


Coming your way tonight in sports, the Hillcats number one draft pick in 1996 toes the rubber tonight in Lynchburg, Steve Mason checks in from UVa with a report on spring football.
Odell Hodge get a big honor.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#


and we'll head down to Ferrum, where the cold air couldn't keep the balls from flying out of the yard this afternoon.
(-------------)


S-Hillcats


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S6-25
GRAPHIC=HILLCATS


The Lynchburg Hillcats are off to a fast start this season with four wins in their five games.
Tonight they are again at home playing Frederick at City Stadium.
Pitching tonight for the Cats is former Clemson star Kris Benson, the overall number one pick in last year's draft, who also pitched for the US olympic team last summer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I think...

((KRIS BENSON/HILLCATS STARTER TONIGHT:))
SUPER=01-Kris Benson/Hillcats Starter Tonight; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=...A GOOD TIME."
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Salem/Last Night; :00


There haven't been too many good times in Salem so far this year.
Last night the Avalanche lost its fifth straight game falling 8-to-2 to Wilmington.
Salem will have to wait another night for its first win--this evening's game has been called off because of the cold. They'll play a doubleheader tomorrow.
(----------------)




S-Ferrum


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#S6-26
GRAPHIC=Ferrum Logo


Over in Ferrum this afternoon, The weather was cold as it was at the Avalanche game last night as the Panthers and Guilford went head to head.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Ferrum/Ferrum vs Guilford; :


The Panthers were going after their 23-rd win and gain some momentum for the Dixie Conference tournament.
After falling behind one to nothing in the first Ferrum catcher Riley Hodges gets all of this pitch sending it over the centerfield wall for a solo homer and his 13-th of the season the score was tied 1 to 1.
Guilford scored in the top of the second but the Panthers came back in the bottom of the inning Todd Cunningham hits this solo homer to right field the game was tied again 2 to 2.
Then the very next batter Chuck SUPER=34-Ferrum/17/Guilford/3/;Jarrett

hits a two run homer over the right field wall to make it 4 to 2 Panthers and Ferrum goes on to win the game 17 to 3.
(-------------)


S-Virginia


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#VF96-2
GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA FOOTBALL


Virginia's 1997 Spring football practice concludes this Saturday with the annual Spring game.
Steve Mason says a lot of new faces in uniform and some armed with whistles have made for an interesting Spring.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=FIRST AUDIO
SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00
SUPER=01-George Welsh/UVa Head Coach; :07
SUPER=@steve1; :16
SUPER=03-Ft. Lauderdale, FL/December 1996; :41
SUPER=01-Aaron Brooks/UVa Quarterback; :51
SUPER=01-Shannon Taylor/UVa Defensive End; 1:09
SUPER=01-Anthony Poindexter/UVa Team Captain; 1:28
RUNS=1:40
OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."
(-------------)


S-Hodge


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S7-2
GRAPHIC=NCAA COLLEGE HOOPS


The State's sports information directors have released their picks for all-state college basketball honors.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=04-NCAA; :00


Heading up the first team is former Laurel park star Odell Hodge, who also was voted the player of the year in the state.
Odell averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds this season.
His ODU coach Jeff Capel was named the state's coach of the year.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Mike
SS=hold logo


Ace Custis was a first team selection along with Liberty's Peter Aluma.
UVa's Harold Deane and Courtney Alexander earned second team honors along with Radford's Anthony walker.

S-Race


ANCHOR=Mike
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#R-35
GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE


The Martinsville Speedway is getting geared up for the start of its 50th year in racing with next week's Goody's 500.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Martinsville/This Afternoon; :00


This afternoon, a number of team's took advantage of some down time during the middle of the week to test at the track.
Also, 5000 tickets in the new Bill France Tower went on sale today at $55 a piece.
There are some still available so, if you are interested give the Speedway a call.
(-------------)

Wx-Tape
SUPER=305-54/37/86/1959/22/1972;
SUPER=306-44/12/27/W-G20mph/30.18r/6:53am/7:50pm;


Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Freeze Warning/Clear Skies/23-25/Sunny/And Milder/50-55;
SUPER=331-Freeze/Warning/23-25/Sunny/And Milder/50-55;
SUPER=332-Near Record/Cold/21-23/Sunny/And Cool/45-50;
SUPER=333-Freeze Warning/Clear Skies/18-20/Sunny/And Milder/45-50;
SUPER=334-Near Record/Lows/14-18/Mostly/Sunny/43-47;
SUPER=X5001;


Trebuchet


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-15
GRAPHIC=VMI


Cadets at V- M- I have experience with heavy artillery, but today their training took on a different dimension.
Joe Dashiell reports from Rockbridge County where teamwork conquered a medieval challenge.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=On a windswept hill
SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :00
SUPER=@Joe2; :15
SUPER=01-Grigg Mullen/VMI Engineering Professor; :25
SUPER=01-Joel McCarty/Timber Framers Guild; :51
RUNS=1:10
OUT Q=JD News 7


((On a windswept hill outside of Lexington, a dedicated crew has been working since Saturday.
V-M-I cadets, their professors, and a group of experts on timber frame construction were building a trebuchet. nat sound of guys working on sling
A cousin of the catapult, the trebuchet may not have a place in a modern arsenal, but in medieval times it was a powerful weapon, capable of launching large rocks at enemy fortifications.
SOT
IN Q=

(( ))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=


The first shot was a misfire, but the crew made a few adjustments.
Cadets muscled the 22-foot arm back into position and then watched as the machine sent a 60- pound rock sailing over the Rockbridge County countryside.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=

(( ))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=


The project required eight thousand dollars worth of materials and many times that amount in volunteer labor.
Four days after the group began with a pile of timber, members celebrated atop a working trebuchet. Joe Dashiell News 7))
by SS