WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/04/97

06:00-01

HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Melanie
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A fire forces the evacuation of some nursing home patients in Bedford.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie

And three people are reported dead in a small plane crash in Montgomery County.
ANCHOR=Kimberly

Clouds and drizzle as you wake up this morning--
But for the first day this week, rain is NOT in the forecast.
Partly cloudy skies on the way by the afternoon.
ANCHOR=Larry
(ad lib)
ANCHOR=Melanie

Nursing-Home

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-39
GRAPHIC=Fire

The wail of sirens filled the air for several hours in the city of Bedford last night, after fire broke out in the nursing home section of Bedford Memorial Hospital.
Steve Smallshaw reports emergency personnel who evacuated dozens of patients are counting their blessings that no one was injured.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It was a
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night; :00
SUPER=01-Russell Stevens/Assistant Fire Chief; :23
SUPER=01-Lou Venhorst/Evacuated Mother; :44
SUPER=01-Howard Ainsley/Hospital Director; 1:09
SUPER=@ssm1; 1:21
RUNS=1:33
OUT Q=News7, Bedford.

(( It was a scenario they had planned and trained for, but never hoped to see.
When fire broke out in a second floor day room in the nursing home section of Bedford Memorial Hospital, emergency personnel from across central Virginia sprang into action.
The first crews to arrive found heavy smoke in one end of the building, and hospital personnel frantically evacuating patients.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:08:19
IN Q=The sprinkler
((RUSSELL STEVENS/BEDFORD F.D. ASST. CHIEF: THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAD GONE OFF AND KNOCKED THE FIRE DOWN AND CONTROLLED IT. ABOUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAD WAS THE PEOPLE AND THE EVACUATION, GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THE SMOKE.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=the smoke.

Lou Venhorst heard about the fire and rushed to the scene where he helped his mother and two other patients escape the smoke-filled building.
He says the hospital staff did a great job under difficult conditions.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:47:38
IN Q=Things were
((LOU VENHORST/EVACUATED MOTHER: THINGS WERE HAPPENING, SMOKE IN THE BUILDING AND IT WAS HOT, TENSION WAS THERE, NO THEY WERE HUSTLING AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THERE, IS WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=all about.

The Carilion staff also had help from an estimated 250 fire, police and rescue personnel.
While some patients were wheeled into nearby buildings, ambulances lined up to transport dozens of others to area hospitals and a Bedford retirement home.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:20:03
IN Q=We had good
((HOWARD AINSLEY/HOSPITAL DIRECTOR: WE HAD GOOD RESPONSE FROM OUR MEDICAL STAFF, WE HAD GOOD RESPONSE FROM OUR HOSPITAL STAFF AND OUR SYSTEM EMPLOYEES, CARILION HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND SO OVERALL IT WAS AN EXCELLENT EFFORT.))
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=an excellent effort.
(/////SOT/////)
Standup 1:38:22
IN Q=As investigators try
((As investigators try to determine the cause of the blaze, police, fire and rescue personnel will sit down in a couple of days and critique how they handled the situation...they'll talk about what they did right and what they could have done better. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=News7, Bedford.))

plane-crash

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#97-34
SS=plane crash
**Note Anchor Tag**
A plane crash in Montgomery County killed three people yesterday afternoon.
The single-engine Cessna slammed into a hillside around five o'clock.
Andrew Freiden reports there were several witnesses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=01-Wilmer Brammer/Witness; :00
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :19
SUPER=01-Sean Hall/Witness; :40
SUPER=@Andrew1; :56
RUNS=1:21
OUT Q=News 7 Montgomery County
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Plane Crash

The victims in that crash included 25-year old Timothy Williams Sprinkle of Troutville, 22-year old Charles David Smith of Salem and 70-year old Clifford E. Wells of Buchanan.

GE-LAYOFFS

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=AMO
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=General Electric

The rumors of job cuts are now fact at Salem's General Electric plant.
125-salaried positions were eliminated yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;

Some employees say they were told there's not enough work.
The company that designs and manufactures control systems for large industrial machines says "the action is necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the GE business in Salem."
G-E noted this move won't impact its hourly workforce..this time it's the 30 to- 60- thousand- dollar- a- year jobs.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:05:13 GE SOT 1
IN Q=It's a broad
((STEPHEN THOMAS/GE ENGINEER: IT'S A BROAD RANGE. THERE'S SEVERAL CATEGORIES. BUT IF YOU TAKE THE WHOLE CATEGORY THAT I WAS IN RANGED FROM 30 TO 60 THOUSAND.))
SUPER=01-Stephen Thomas/GE Engineer;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=to 60- thousand.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The job cuts will take place over the next four to eight weeks.
Those affected will get a week's pay for each year of service with the company.
(----------------)

McVeigh

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=Timothy McVeigh

Testimony begins this morning in the sentencing phase of the first Oklahoma City bombing trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Timothy McVeigh, found guilty this week of planning and executing the explosion, could get the death penalty.
While warning prosecutors to limit emotional testimony, judge Richard Matsch (Maytch) said yesterday he didn't want the trial to become a quote "lynching."
Prosecutors plan to call some forty bomb survivors and family members of victims. For the defense, McVeigh's father and sister will take the stand.
(----------------)

stocks
SUPER=x5101

SUPER=440-ha/40b/he/35d/he/71/hf/29d/ie/36a;

[ AE /ATT /Bell/CentralFidelity/Columbia]

SUPER=441-hd/38b/he/36b/ib/22g/ie/34e/h2a/87a;

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

SUPER=442-he/56/ha/60g/h1b/60/hf/97b/ha/10a;

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

SUPER=443-ib/42b/ha/16e/i1/32f/h1b/20c/hf/30d;

SUPER=#555;RESET

2-Nursing-Home

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-37
GRAPHIC=Fire

Fire forced the evacuation of dozens of elderly patients from the nursing home at Bedford Memorial Hospital last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night;

The blaze started in a second floor day room around 9:30, and quickly filled part of the building with heavy smoke.
Authorities say sprinklers helped bring the fire under control, and hospital personnel were already evacuating patients when the first emergency crews arrived.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:09:57
IN Q=With the evacuation
((RUSSELL STEVENS/BEDFORD V.F.D. ASST. CHIEF: WITH THE EVACUATION THEY HAD ALREADY STARTED MOVING PEOPLE AND ALL IN THE HOSPITAL, SO THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES WERE DOING THEIR JOB THE WAY THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO, SO THAT'S THE THING THAT KIND OF HELPS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN WE GET HERE.))
SUPER=01-Russell Stevens/Assistant Fire Chief; :00
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=we get here.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Police meanwhile were kept busy directing emergency crews to the scene and keeping crowds out of the way.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:14:56
IN Q=You can expect
((MILTON GRAHAM/BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: YOU CAN EXPECT THAT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE BEING MOVED, FAMILIES CONCERNED AND SO FORTH, SO THAT'S NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.))
SUPER=01-Milton Graham/Bedford Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=out of the ordinary.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Graham says investigators from his department, Bedford County and the Virginia State police are looking into the cause of the fire.
(----------------)

2-Plane-Crash

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=Net
GRAPHIC=Plane Crash

Officials are now saying three people died in a plane crash yesterday in Montgomery County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

The single-engine plane crashed into the side of this hill at about five o'clock in the afternoon.
Witnesses describe hearing a crackling noise moments before the accident.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00.02.08 - 00.-02.15
IN Q=I heard the
((I HEARD THE PLANE SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE. I TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AND IT WAS LIKE SOME POPPING SOUND--YOU KNOW. THE WING FLEW OFF AND IT WAS JUST FLIP-FLOPPING AND AS SOON AS IT WENT OVER THE TREES IT WENT STRAIGHT DOWN. ))
SUPER=01-Sean Hall/Witness;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=went straight down
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Officials are not sure what caused the accident, although weather conditions
are believed to be a factor. (----------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=

Twenty-five year old Timothy Williams Sprinkle of Troutville, 22-year old Charles David Smith of Salem and 70-year old Clifford E. Wells of Buchanan all died in the crash.

PRESIDENT'S-PLANE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=None

The Air Force isn't calling it a near miss.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

But technically it was.. when air force one had to change course to avoid a 7-47 cargo jet during the President's flight to Europe last week.
President Clinton's plane flew just a thousand feet above and three miles left of a United Parcel Service aircraft.
(----------------)

2-Scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S7-5
GRAPHIC=None

In sports, no action at Salem's Memorial Stadium again last night because of the rain. But there were plenty of other games from the minor and major leagues. Let's check the scoreboards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5011;
SUPER=0093-/Frederick///Salem///PPD By Rain...Again!
//Lynchburg/3/j/Wilmington/6///;
SUPER=X5010;
SUPER=0091-/New York/5/j/Baltimore/7//10 Innings//Detroit/8/j/Oakland/9///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0091-/Toronto/3/j/Seattle/6///j/Chicago/9//Cleveland/5///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0091-j/Minnesota/5//Texas/4////Boston/4/j/Milwaukee/6///;
SUPER=X5009
SUPER=0091-/Anaheim/2/j/Minnesota/5///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0092-j/San Francisco/9//Florida/1////Colorado/4/j/St. Louis/15///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0092-/Los Angeles/3/j/Houston/4///j/Pittsburgh/3//Chicago/1///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0092-j/Cincinnati/3//Philadelphia/2///j/San Diego/5//Atlanta/2///;
SUPER=X5031;
SUPER=0103-j/Detroit/4//Philadelphia/2///;
RUNS=:40
OUT Q=....last score."
(-------------)
2-HEADLINES
SUPER=#4050; Headline Banner
2-Shot=Mel/Kmc
ANCHOR=Melanie

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

A fire at Bedford Memorial Hospital has forced the evacuation of several elderly patients.
The fire broke out on the second floor, in the nursing home section of the hosptial.
So far no injuries have been reported.
(---------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Kimberly

Three people are dead after a single engine plane crashes into a hillside in Montgomery County.
The crash was witnessed by several people.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

And jurors return to a Denver courtroom today, as the penalty phase of Timothy McVeigh's trial begins.
Prosecutors plan to call more than 40 witnesses to describe how the Oklahoma City bombing affected their lives.
(----------------)
2-Shot=Mel/Kmc
ANCHOR=Kimberly

And that's what's making news on this Wednesday, June 4th.
ANCHOR=Melanie

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

3-Nursing-Home

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-41
GRAPHIC=Fire

A chaotic night in the city of Bedford as fire forced the evacuation of dozens of people from Bedford Memorial Hospital.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/Last Night;

The blaze on the second floor of the hospital's nursing home was quickly brought under control, but medical personnel battled thick smoke to help many elderly residents escape.
Lou Venhorst rushed to the scene to help bring his mother to safety.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:45:35
IN Q=When I first
((LOU VENHORST/EVACUATED MOTHER: WHEN I FIRST SEEN THE SMOKE, I RAN UP AND THE IN RAN IN AND I RAN FOR MAMA, SO I TOOK HER OUT AND THEN I GOT HER ACROSS THE STREET TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, AND I RAN BACK IN HELPED TWO MORE PEOPLE OUT.))
SUPER=01-Lou Venhorst/Evacuated Mother; :00
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=more people out.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

No injuries were reported, a fact that hospital personnel attributed to the quick work of the estimated 250 police, fire and rescue personnel who responded to the scene.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:20:03
IN Q=We had good
((HOWARD AINSLEY/HOSPITAL DIRECTOR: WE HAD GOOD RESPONSE FROM OUR MEDICAL STAFF, WE HAD GOOD RESPONSE FROM OUR HOSPITAL STAFF AND OUR SYSTEM EMPLOYEES, CARILION HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND SO OVERALL IT WAS AN EXCELLENT EFFORT.))
SUPER=01-Howard Ainsley/Hospital Director; :00
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=an excellent effort.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
(----------------)

3-plane-crash

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=afr
TAPE#97-34
SS=plane crash
**Note Anchor Tag**
A plane crash in Montgomery County killed three people yesterday afternoon.
The single-engine Cessna slammed into a hillside around five o'clock.
Andrew Freiden reports there were several witnesses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=01-Wilmer Brammer/Witness; :00
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :19
SUPER=01-Sean Hall/Witness; :40
SUPER=@Andrew1; :56
RUNS=1:21
OUT Q=News 7 Montgomery County
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Plane Crash

The crash victims include 25-year old Timothy William Sprinkle of Troutville, 22-year old Charles David Smith of Salem, and 70-year old Clifford E. Wells of Buchanan.

2-GE-LAYOFFS

ok-bombing

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=Oklahoma Bombing Trial

Heart-wrenching testimony is expected today as the penalty phase of the Oklahoma bombing trial gets under way.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Timothy McVeigh, found guilty this week of planning and executing the explosion, could get the death penalty.
While warning prosecutors to limit emotional testimony, judge Richard Matsch (Maytch) yesterday said he didn't want the trial to become a quote lynching.
Prosecutors plan to call as many as 45 witnesses to describe how the devastated their lives.
For the defense, McVeigh's father and sister will take the stand.
(----------------)

3-Sports

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=lba
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=NONE

In sports,
another disappointment for Detroit fans in the Stanley Cup finals.
Mike Stevens has details.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Ice hockey
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=Wednesday everyone

Lottery
Pick 3/Pick 4
SUPER=64-5/3/2/2/3/7/5;

SUPER=#555; RESET

4-Nursing-Home

2-Bedford-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Fire Aftermath

In the wake of last night's fire, the nursing home remains closed this morning.
What will now become of the elderly residents?
Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/StarLink

Scott Prince joins us from the scene with more.
Live=Scott Full/StarLink
SUPER=@Scott1;
SUPER=06-Bedford;
( ad lib live interview)
SUPER=01-Beth Myer/Carilion Spokesperson;

Live=Scott Full/StarLink
SUPER=06-Bedford;
( ad lib toss back to studio)

Double Boxes=Melanie and Scott/StarLink

Scene-Arrest

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-44
GRAPHIC=None

Bedford police also say they had to arrest a man who was interfering with the evacuation of patients from the hospital.
Chief Milton Graham says 43- year- old James Garland Dooley was charged with being drunk in public, resisting arrest and interfering with a fire officer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:14:36
IN Q=I'm not sure
((MILTON GRAHAM/BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: I'M NOT SURE WHY HE WAS THERE, I UNDERSTAND THAT HE DID ATTEMPT TO STRIKE ONE OF THE NURSES AND ALSO ATTEMPTED TO ASSAULT ONE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE.))
SUPER=01-Milton Graham/Bedford Police Chief; :00
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=fire department people.
ANCHOR=Kimberly

Graham did "not" know whether Dooley had a relative in the hospital, or why he was there.

4-Plane-Crash

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=Net
GRAPHIC=Plane Crash

Three people are dead following a plane crash yesterday in Montgomery County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

The single-engine plane crashed into the side of this hill at about five o'clock in the afternoon.
Witnesses describe hearing a crackling noise moments before the accident.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00.02.08 - 00.-02.15
IN Q=I heard the
((I HEARD THE PLANE SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE. I TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AND IT WAS LIKE SOME POPPING SOUND--YOU KNOW. THE WING FLEW OFF AND IT WAS JUST FLIP-FLOPPING AND AS SOON AS IT WENT OVER THE TREES IT WENT STRAIGHT DOWN. ))
SUPER=01-Sean Hall/Witness;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=went straight down
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Officials are not sure what caused the crash, although weather conditions are believed to be a factor.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Plane Crash

The crash victims include 25-year old Timothy William Sprinkle of Troutville, 22-year old Charles David Smith of Salem, and 70-year old Clifford E. Wells of Buchanan.

Time-Warner

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#Net
GRAPHIC=None

The son of one of America's most powerful media executives has been found murdered in his New York City apartment.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;

Time Warner confirms the victim was 31 year old Jonathan Levin (luh-VIHN') son of C-E-O Gerald Levin.
Police found the body Monday night, bound and gagged and lying in a pool of blood.
A neighbor let police in with a spare key, Levin's dog was locked in another room.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
4:09;55-03
IN Q=THEY HAD BEEN KIND
SUPER=01-Richard Beloso/Levin's Neighbor;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=IN THE KITCHEN.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Levin (luh-VIHN') was a teacher at a Bronx high school.
Gerald Levin (luh-VIHN') has chaired Time Warner for four years.
In that time he oversaw the purchase of the Turner Broadcasting System, parent of C-N-N.
(----------------)

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S7-5
GRAPHIC=None

In baseball, Salem was out of luck because of the rain last night, but the Lynchburg Hillcats managed to get their game in. Let's check the scoreboards.
(-------------)
WIPE TO SCORES
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5011;
SUPER=0093-/Frederick///Salem///PPD By Rain...Again!
//Lynchburg/3/j/Wilmington/6///;
SUPER=X5010;
SUPER=0091-/New York/5/j/Baltimore/7//10 Innings//Detroit/8/j/Oakland/9///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0091-/Toronto/3/j/Seattle/6///j/Chicago/9//Cleveland/5///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0091-j/Minnesota/5//Texas/4////Boston/4/j/Milwaukee/6///;
SUPER=X5009
SUPER=0091-/Anaheim/2/j/Minnesota/5///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0092-j/San Francisco/9//Florida/1////Colorado/4/j/St. Louis/15///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0092-/Los Angeles/3/j/Houston/4///j/Pittsburgh/3//Chicago/1///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0092-j/Cincinnati/3//Philadelphia/2///j/San Diego/5//Atlanta/2///;
SUPER=X5031;
SUPER=0103-j/Detroit/4//Philadelphia/2///;
RUNS=:40
OUT Q=....last score."
(-------------)
Local-Recap
SUPER=#4059;Local Recap
2-Shot=Mel/Kmc
ANCHOR=Melanie

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

Many nursing home residents at the Bedford Memorial Hospital are still shaken up this morning after fire forced them to evacuate last night.
No one was injured in the blaze. Authorities are looking for the cause of the fire.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Kimberly

A plane crash in Montgomery County claimed the life of three people yesterday.
Timothy Williams Sprinkle of Troutville, 22-year old Charles David Smith of Salem and 70-year old Clifford E. Wells of Buchanan all died when the single-engine plane crashed into the side of a hill.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

and,
125 G-E employees are out of work this morning.
The company says the layoffs are "necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the GE business in Salem."
The job cuts will take place over the next four to eight weeks.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
2 shot=Mel/Kmc
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(ad lib Prime Time Promo)
(----------------)
2 shot=Mel/Kmc

Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Larry
(toss)
ANCHOR=Larry
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Larry
(ad lib bye)
Close
SUPER=X4028; Mornin' e-Mail/Copyright Banner
SUPER=X4029; Mornin' Fax/Copyright Banner