WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/28/97

12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

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

In the little town of Jarrell, Texas, crews are resuming a full-scale search for victims of yesterday's deadly tornado.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie

And President Clinton responds to the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on the Paul Jones lawsuit.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick

Sunshine will disappear gradually today, and we can expect clouds and showers for tomorrow. The cool weather will continue as well. I have all those details and a look at who FINALLY won the Indy 500.
(//////////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

News 7 at Noon is next. Stay with us.

Twister

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=tornado

What shapes up to be the worst tornado in recent Texas history has virtually erased one town from the map.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

In the small farming community of Jarrell, more than two dozen people are dead another two dozen are missing.
The twister also wiped out an entire subdivision leveling between 50 and 70 homes.
SUPER=03-Jarrell, TX;

Jarrell, which has a population of about a one-thousand was hit by a tornado eight years ago.
SUPER=03-Cedar Park, TX;

In the town of Cedar Park at least five people are missing.
The death toll is expected to climb as officials search through the wreckage.
Jonathan Freed joins us from Jarrell with the latest.
(----------------)
WIPE WIPE WIPE

tornado

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=WIPE WIPE WIPE

****Take from NEWSPATH****
SUPER=05-Jarrell, TX;
SUPER=01-Jonathan Freed/Reporting;
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
11:30 UPDATE WINDOW
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Jarrell, TX;
SUPER=01-Ed Richards/Williamson Co. Sheriff;
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=back to you.
(( THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT OF THE TOWN OF JARRELL, POPULATION 6-HUNDRED 50. WHERE HOMES ONCE STOOD IN THIS SUBDIVISION CALLED DOUBLE CREEK ESTATES, THERE REMAIN ONLY CONCRETE SLABS.
SURVIVORS HUDDLE TOGETHER...

(NATSOT, GIRLS CRYING)

... KEEPING VIGIL AS RESCUE WORKERS GRAPPLE WITH WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR TOWN, WATCHING SOME OF THEIR NEIGHBORS BROUGHT OUT OF THE DEVASTATED AREAS IN HEARSES.
&1/8NAT OF TORNADO&3/8
POWERFUL TORNADOES UNLEASHED THEIR WHIRLING DESTRUCTION ON SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS. BUT JARRELL WAS CERTAINLY HARDEST HIT, THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET'S ROOF TORN OFF... CARS CRUSHED LIKE TOYS... AND COUNTLESS LIVES CHANGED FOREVER.
SHERIFF ED RICHARDS, WILLIAMSON COUNTY
DOZENS OF PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, MANY SEEKING REFUGE IN A LOCAL SCHOOL. SOME 200 RESCUE WORKERS CONTINUE COMBING THE AREA, LOOKING FOR MORE VICTIMS.
&1/8SUGGESTED STANDUP: Poss warnings for more storms expected later today, back to you.))

Knowles

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=jda
TAPE#97-23
GRAPHIC=Michael Knowles

Michael Knowles says he was trying to threaten his wife into coming back home.
Today he told a Montgomery County jury he never intended to kill his wife or wound his daughter.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

Knowles testified this morning as his attorneys began presenting evidence in his murder trial.
Knowles says he was upset because he believed his wife was having affairs with men she met on the Internet.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
(( ))
SUPER=01-Michael Knowles/Defendant;
RUNS=:260
OUT Q=
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Knowles has a long history of mental problems.
Today he told jurors he first had a conversation with an angel when he was 16- years- old.
He was also taking anti-depressants and drinking heavily on the day of the shooting.

E-Bedford-Schools

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-35
GRAPHIC=Education

Bedford County's school budget made it to the chopping block last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford;

The school board came into its work session needing to chop more than two million dollars from its proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
It reached its goal by trimming programs, expenses and about two dozen jobs, including twelve assistant principal positions throughout the school system.
But one school board member says some of those employees might still be back next year.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:04:59
IN Q=The assistant
((BETTY EARLE/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WILL BE.. ..LARGEST AMOUNT OF STUDENTS.))
SUPER=01-Betty Earle/School Board Member; :00
RUNS=:25
OUT Q=amount of students.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The board also voted to impose a 25 dollar per student fee for instructional materials.
It still needs to find more than a million dollars to pay its bills for the rest of THIS school year.
(----------------)

Methanol

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none

Up to three- thousand gallons of methanol leaked from an underground pipe at the Ingersoll- Rand plant in Roanoke County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

Virginia environmental investigators say nearby residents are in NO immediate danger.
Methanol is defined as a volatile, flammable, and poisonous form of alcohol.
It's often used as a solvent and antifreeze.
The leak was caused by a corroded pipe.
(----------------)

clinton-reax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=clinton

Fresh from the historic deal yesterday linking Russia with NATO President Clinton today works on strengthening other ties.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-The Netherlands;

He is calling for a new Marshall Plan to help struggling nations of Eastern Europe.
Earlier today he spoke in the Netherlands where he's commemorating the 50th anniversary of the original Marshall plan, which helped rebuild post-world War Two Europe.
Meantime, the President had no direct comment about the Supreme Court ruling to let Paula Jones proceed with her sexual harrassment lawsuit.
He said he would let his lawyer do the talking.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO FUTURE PRESIDENTS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.. I'D LIKE TO STICK WITH WHAT MR. BENNET SAID ABOUT THAT. ))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=ABOUT THAT.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
from Jones pkg
Gil Davis, one of Jones' lawyers and a candidate for Virginia's Attorney, General, says if the President wants the lawsuit to go away, he at least has to admit he was in a hotel room with Jones in 19-91.
(----------------)

OK-TRIAL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=ok trial

The defense is expected to rest today in the Oklahoma City bombing trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

In court this afternoon attorneys for suspect Timothy McVeigh are expected to try to discredit the testimony of key prosecution witnesses Lori and Michael Fortier.
Yesterday, the defense attacked the F-B-I's handling of evidence in the case.
(----------------)

House-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#97-42
GRAPHIC=fire

A Franklin County home was gutted by fire this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;

Flames gutted this brick ranch home on Edwardsville Road.
No one was home at the time.
And there's no word yet on what started the fire.
It's still under investigation.
(----------------)

E-Fatal-Bedford

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=abr
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident

A single car accident in Bedford County yesterday killed one man and sent two others to the hospital.
Police say the three men were apparently traveling too fast around a curve on route 6-40 and hit some trees- ejecting all of them.
25- year- old John Henry Tanner of Bedford was dead when rescue crews arrived.
Two other men were airlifted to the hospital where police say they're in critical condition.
Their names have not been released.

E-GE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-34
GRAPHIC=GE

Salaried employees are the target of some layoffs rumored to be on the horizon at G-E's Salem plant.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

A source familiar with the situation who's talked with G-E management says a "significant cut" to G-E's salaried workforce is on the way.
He was also told it would serve as a "wake up call".
No solid numbers have been pinned down.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

G-E currently has 1150 salaried employees in Salem, and 900 hourly workers.
At first there were indications a cutback would come as soon as this week.
Now other sources believe it has been delayed, possibly several weeks.

Kroger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Kroger

The transfer of 125 Kroger warehouse jobs from West Virginia to Roanoke County remains in limbo.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Charleston, WV/Yesterday;

A circuit court judge in West Virginia says he will rule in the next 10 days on an injunction against the supermarket chain, after an all day, all night hearing.
SUPER=@File;

Kroger has closed its warehouse in Charleston, West Virginia, and plans to consolidate it with one in Roanoke County.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

The West Virginia workers contend Kroger has to keep the Charleston warehouse going, because the company accepted 27- million dollars in public bonds to build it.

Comp-Time

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#net (edit of 97-28)
GRAPHIC=None

Some workers in Southside are worried about some legislation that could cut overtime pay for hourly workers across the country.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co.;

The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, or UNITE, started a letter writing campaign to Senators voting on the bill.
UNITE members from Tultex, Fieldcrest Cannon, and Health Tex are involved.
(/////SOT/////)
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:52:01
IN Q=This whole
((JOANNE WALKER-HARRIS/UNITE LOCAL 1994: THIS WHOLE EVENT IS ABOUT THE COMPENSATORY OVERTIME BILL THAT THEY HAVE IN THE SENATE AT THE PRESENT TIME. AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT GETS VETOED OUT.))
SUPER=01-Joanne Walker-Harris/UNITE Local 1994;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=vetoed out.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

UNITE explains the bill would require people to work 80 hours in a two week period before they get overtime.
It would also let companies choose how to pay for overtime...with either comp time or overtime pay.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

Senator Warner has stated he's for the bill, Senator Robb is against it.

S-Trash-Tags

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-32
GRAPHIC=Lynchburg City Seal

One councilman has yet to get the city council to trash Lynchburg's garbage tag system.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg

Council members yesterday heard it would cost the city about 900- thousand dollars a year to do away with trash tags entirely.
Councilman Carl Hutcherson is proposing a few less costly alternatives.. such as reducing the cost of the trash stickers or providing free pickup of just ONE bag of trash per week.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:27:36
IN Q=At least with
((CARL HUTCHERSON/LYNCHBURG COUNCIL MEMBER: AT LEAST WITH THESE PROPOSALS EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN ANTICIPATED LOSS OF REVENUE, HERE AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH, BUT AT LEAST GIVES US SOME TIME TO LOOK AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD OR SOME FUTURE COUNCIL, I DON'T KNOW.))
SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Council Member; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=I don't know.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Councilman Robert Garber says he'll continue to push for the complete repeal of the trash tag ordinance.
Council will take up the issue again before its July 8th meeting.
(----------------)

E-Cave-Rescue

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=eea
TAPE#97-25
GRAPHIC=NONE

On Monday, she was trapped in a Bath County cave for several hours after falling some 30 feet, but this afternoon Sheryl Valone feels very lucky to be alive and wants to thank her rescuers.
Eric Earnhart has her story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It was her first
SUPER=03-Bath Co.; :00
SUPER=07-Sheryl Valone; :11
SUPER=03-Bath Co./Monday; :22
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=E.E., News 7

(( It was her first time in a cave, but Sheryl Valone had an experienced guide, and was wearing protective gear.
And that probably saved her life, as she lost her footing on a rock.

SOT 13:08:11
IN Q=That I don't remember
((SHERYL VALONE;THAT I DON'T REMEMBER AT ALL, I DON'T REMEMBER THE FALL AT ALL, I DON'T REMEMBER THE LANDING, I JUST REMEMBER WAKING UP, I GUESS I WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR A WHILE ))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=for a while

As the rescue effort mobilized outside the cave, Valone woke to find herself at the bottom of the drop, unable to move.

SOT 13:08:32
IN Q=
((SHERYL VALONE;I KIND OF KNEW WHAT HAPPENED, MY FRIENDS KIND OF EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I KNEW THEY WERE OUT GETTING HELP SO I KNEW THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT JUST WAIT ))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=but just wait

Her companions helped her fight off hypothermia as she waited, and wondered how badly she was hurt.

SOT 13:08:49
IN Q=I wasn't moving
((SHERYL VALONE/ ;I WASN'T MOVING TOO WELL, I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE MORE DAMAGE THAN I DID AS FAR AS FRACTURES AND INTERNAL PROBLEMS, IT WAS SCARY, I FELL PRETTY LUCKY, I FEEL REALLY LUCKY. ))
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=feel really lucky

A possible concussion, but nothing broken.
doctors say if a CAT scan shows no serious damage, she can go home.
And this first time caver says it will NOT be her last time.

SOT 13:10:09
IN Q=I'd like to
((SHERYL VALONE/ ;I'D LIKE TO TRY IT AGAIN, I WOULD YEA... MAYBE NOT SOON
(LAUGHS) ))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=not soon(laughs)

Eric Earnhart, News 7))

p-cloning

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#597-26
GRAPHIC=none

The director for the Scottish company that made headlines earlier this year by cloning "Dolly" the sheep made a visit to Virginia Tech.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;

Ron James says the media has missed the message-- and sensationalized the accomplishments of the scientists at his company.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:48:55
IN Q=the university
((RON JAMES/PPL THERAPEUTICS: THE UNIVERSITY HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO A WIDER AUDIENCE WHY EXACTLY WE MADE DOLLY. AND TO CORRECT SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THE MEDIA HAS HAD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO. AND I WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY. ))
SUPER=01-Ron James/PPL Therapeutics;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=that opportunity.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Scotland/February;

James says his company has no desire to clone humans.
He doesn't plan to continue cloning animals either.
Instead, he wants to use a technique called Nuclear Transfer Technology to genetically alter sheep to produce human proteins in their milk.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:38:55
IN Q=and the reason.
((RON JAMES/PPL THERAPEUTICS: AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE ANIMALS MAMMARY GLAND EXISTS TO MAKE PROTEINS , THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. OT MAKE PROTEIN TO FEED THE YOUNG ANIMALS-- SO IT DOES IT RATHER WELL, AND IT MAKES A LOT OF IT AND IT MAKES IT CHEAPLY. ))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=it cheaply
(----------------)
VO-NAT

These proteins will be used to help people with diseases like cystic fibrosis.
P-P-L Therapeutics is based in Scotland, with 20 researchers in Blacksburg working on similar projects.
(----------------)

Finch-Flight

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

Linda Finch is in the home stretch of her round the world journey.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Honolulu, HI;

The Texas pilot is attempting to complete the flight that Amelia Earhart never finished.
She took off from Honolulu last night and is expected to arrive in Northern California within the hour.
SUPER=03-Oakland, CA;

Preparations for her arrival began yesterday at the Oakland International airport.
Finch's twin-engine Lockheed Electra is the same model Earhart was flying in 19-37 when she and her navigator disappeared without a trace.
(----------------)

SPELLING-BEE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

The first round is over at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, and the ranks of spellers are thinning fast.
The event started with 245 youngsters from around the country and is already down to 208.
This is the first of two days of spelling.
The winner will walk away with five-thousand-dollars and other prizes, including a laptop computer.

WEATHER
SUPER=300-63/39/E 10mph/30.40f/95/1941/39/1994;
SUPER=301-62/38/E 10 G 17/30.41f/97/1941/39/1961;
Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Mostly/Cloudy/48-52/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/64-68;
SUPER=331-Mostly/Cloudy/50-53/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/66-69;
SUPER=332-Mostly/Cloudy/46-50/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/60-64;
SUPER=333-Mostly/Cloudy/46-50/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/60-64;
SUPER=334-Mostly/Cloudy/46-50/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/60-64;
SUPER=X5001;

NBA

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of S7-10)
GRAPHIC=NBA PLAYOFFS

The western conference N-B-A championship series resumed last night with the Jazz and Rockets.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT/NBC; :00

Karl Malone hit one of his patented fadeaway jump shots.
But Hakeem Olajuwan answers on the other baseline.
Back come the Jazz - Malone to SUPER=32-Houston/91/Utah/96/Game Five;
John Stockton for the 3, and Utah wins 96 to 91 to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the series.
(-------------)

NCAA

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of CL-97)
GRAPHIC=NCAA BASEBALL

Just two more games in the N-C-A-A Division Three baseball tournament at Salem Memorial.
Yesterday afternoon Wooster beat Carthage 2-to-1.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Salem/Cortland St. vs. S. Maine;:00

Cortland State took on Southern Maine.
Tony Minor rips a shot to deep left center field, but the catch is made right up against the wall.
Jason Crepeau tags on the sacrifice fly and scores from third to make it 1-to-nothing.
Cortland State would answer in the fifth as the Red Dragons' Dan McAvoy
lifts one into center field, and plates SUPER=34-Southern Maine/1/Cortland
State/2; Jon Young. Cortland State would get one more in the ninth to win it 2-to-1.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Patrick
SS=HOLD LOGO

Cortland State plays Wooster today at 3:30, with Southern Maine getting the winner for the championship tonight.

Baseball

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of S7-7)
GRAPHIC=REGIONAL BASEBALL

The Region Three baseball championships opened last night in Danville with Salem losing to Brookville 7-to-1.
And William Byrd taking on Gretna in the nightcap.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Danville/Gretna vs. William Byrd; :00

The Terriers' Ryan Willie singles into right field and drives in a run to give the Terriers a 1-to-nothing lead in the first.
Still in the first, Tommy Chambers hits a triple to center field scoring two runs to make it 3-to-nothing Byrd.
Then in the third inning Byrd's Ross Blankenship
SUPER=34-Gretna/4/William Byrd/10;
drives in another run as the Terriers stay in the lead and win it 10-to-4.
(-------------)

Indy

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of r-36)
SS=INDY SPEEDWAY

They finally made it to the end of the Indy 500 yesterday, as the rains stayed away from the track for a few hours.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Indianapolis, IN/ABC; :00

First Robby Gordon who began the day in fourth place, saw his chances for a win go up in smoke and those deadly invisible flames produced by the Indy fuel.
Then just 12 laps from the finish Steve Kinser, lost control of his car and spun into the outside wall.
In the end, a true Indy veteran won the race as pole sitter Arie Luyendyk
(LY'-ehn-dyk) beat his racing teammate Scott Goodyear to the flag.
(-------------)

Cheese-Roll

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=aje
TAPE#net (edit of 04:39:25)
GRAPHIC=none

Cheese proved to be a tough business in England.
A record crowd of four- thousand people turned out to watch the contest.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-England; :

One of the winners of the four races, 21- year- old postman Craig Carter, reached the finishing post despite breaking his left arm as he tumbled down the hill.
Three years ago, when he last won a race, he broke his right arm. (----------------)