WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 08/11/97

08:25-01

cutopen

SUPER=@Melanie1

7franklin-murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=MURDER

One person is dead and another is in the hospital after a man allegedly killed his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself yesterday afternoon.
Franklin County authorities found 19- year- old Lakisha Stockton shot to death in her father's home.
Stockton is from the Doe Run Community of Rocky Mount.
Her boyfriend, 20- year- old Rodney Gill, apparently shot himself in the face.
He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where his injuries ARE life-threatening.
Authorities say Gill will be charged with murder.

7E-Grayson-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=eea
TAPE#97-44
SS=murder Inv.

A Grayson County man accused of murdering a former Marine, could face the death penalty if convicted.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Police upgraded the charge against Louis James Ceparano to capital murder.
The burned and decapitated body of 40- year- old Garnett Johnson was found near Ceparano's house July 25th.
Another suspect, Emmett Cressel (CRES-sell) Junior now faces robbery charges in addition to first degree murder.
SUPER=03-Grayson Co./August 1;

The F-B-I is investigating whether the murder of Johnson was racially motivated.
(----------------)

7UPS-Families

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=MOrn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#net (edit of 97-54)
SS=ups strike

As Roanoke U-P-S workers enter week two of their strike, their families are dealing with the loss of income.
They say strike pay is 55-dollars a week, leaving a big hole in the family budget.
Denise Allen has their story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The Webb family say
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Mike Webb/Union Member; :17
SUPER=01-Warren King/UPS Southwest Operations Mgr.; :30
SUPER=@denise2; :46
SUPER=01-Linda Webb/Mike's Wife; 1:07
RUNS=1:20
OUT Q=A STRIKE VOTE.
(( The Webb family saw the strike coming.
So last month they sold the family van.
Mike has been with U-P-S for 22 years and says his family is cutting back in all areas for the long haul.
At this point he says the company's threat to use replacement workers is just that.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:25:48
IN Q=I THINK THAT'S
((MIKE WEBB/UNION MEMBER: I THINK THAT'S MORE OF A SCARE TACTIC RIGHT NOW. IF THEY CAN SCARE PEOPLE INTO CROSSING THE LINE, WHICH I HOPE THEY DON'T. I HOPE EVERYBODY JUST STAYS TOGETHER. THAT'S OUR STRENGTH-UNITY.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=THAT'S OUR STRENGTH-UNITY
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:17:30
IN Q=Many mailorder
((WARREN KING/UPS SOUTHWEST OPERATIONS DIR.: MANY MAILORDER CUSTOMERS HAVE TOLD US THEY WILL NEVER PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS POSITION AGAIN. THEY WILL ALWAYS KEEP OUR COMPETITORS IN THE DOOR AND WE KNOW WE HAVE LOST VOLUME FROM THIS STRIKE THAT WILL NEVER RETURN AND THAT IS WHY WE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR CONTRACT EXTENSIONS NOT TO SCARE OUR CUSTOMERS AWAY.))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=our customers away

King says union leaders are neglecting their membership by not allowing them to vote on the contract offer.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:16:11
IN Q=THE OFFER IMPROVES
((KING: THE OFFER IMPROVES WAGES AND KEEPS THEM AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE INDUSTRY, IMPROVES BENEFITS AND HAS A PENSION BENEFIT THAT WILL INCREASE THE AVERAGE 50-PERCENT AND ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO RETIRE EARLIER WHICH WOULD CREATE MORE PART TIME OPPORTUNITIES.))
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=MORE PART TIME OPPORTUNITIES
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:32:51
IN Q=they want to
((LINDA WEBB/MIKE'S WIFE: THEY WANT TO PUT THIS TO A VOTE AND THEY ARE VERY SURE IT WOULD PASS BUT 95-PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE CAME OUT AND GAVE RON CAREY A STRIKE VOTE.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=A STRIKE VOTE
Denise Allen N7))

7S-money-politics

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=amo
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=campaign 97

The fundraising is in full swing for Virginia candidates running for the House of Delegates.
SS=democrats
Democrats are leading Republicans in fund raising in several contested races.
SS=cranwell
House Majority Leader Dick Cranwell is a top money raiser. The Vinton Democrat raised more than 155-thousand dollars as of a July 15th
report to the state board of elections. SS=bedrosian

His Republican opponent, Al Bedrosian, had raised more than eight-thousand dollars.

55franklin-murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=MURDER investigation

A Franklin County man is in the hospital this morning after allegedly killing his girlfriend.
Franklin County authorities found 19- year- old Lakisha Stockton shot to death in her father's home.
Her boyfriend, 20- year- old Rodney Gill apparently shot himself in the face.
He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where his injuries ARE life-threatening.
Authorities say Gill will be charged with murder.

55E-Grayson-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=eea
TAPE#97-44
SS=murder Inv.

A Grayson County man accused of murdering a former Marine, could end up on death row if he's convicted.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Police have upgraded the charge against Louis James Ceparano to capital murder.
The burned and decapitated body of 40- year- old Garnett Johnson was found near Ceparano's house July 25th.
Another suspect, Emmett Cressel (CRES-sell) Junior now faces robbery charges in addition to first degree murder.
SUPER=03-Grayson Co./August 1;

The F-B-I is investigating whether the murder of Johnson was racially motivated.
(----------------)

55S-Latter-Day

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-50
GRAPHIC=NONE

A world traveler and dignitary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints brought her message to Buena Vista this weekend.
Mary Ellen Smoot, the church's Relief Society President was the guest speaker at Southern Virginia College's mini-education week.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Buena Vista;

The society is one of the largest and oldest women's organizations in the world.
Its mission: to teach the female members of the church the principles of the Latter-Day Saints.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:50:22
IN Q=WE WANT OUR
((MARY ELLEN SMOOT/RELIEF SOCIETY PRES.: WE WANT OUR WOMEN AND DAUGHTERS TO KNOW THAT'S IT'S WONDERFUL TO CHOOSE ALSO TO BE A HOMEMAKER AND TO CREATE A HAPPY HOME FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TO SUPPORT AND TEACH VALUES. WE FEEL THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH BUT ALSO TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.))
SUPER=01-Mary Ellen Smoot/Relief Society President;
RUNS=:23
OUT Q=HELP THE COMMUNITY
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

The Relief Society is 155- years- old and has almost four million members world wide.

55E-Illegal-Dumping

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=Dal
TAPE#97-51
GRAPHIC=NONE

In Franklin County officials are getting serious about illegal trash dumping.
Two private security firms have been hired to help patrol trash collection sites.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;

Officials hope the security firms will help stop people from throwing their trash on the ground instead of in the box.
They will also be looking for people dumping hazardous materials such as car batteries.
And the investigators are also targeting contractors improperly dumping construction debris to avoid landfill costs.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:11:44
IN Q=IT COST US
((CLAUDE WEBSTER/FRANKLIN CO. PUBLIC SAFETY DIR.; IT COST US SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 60-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO TRY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE. MONEY WE HAVE TO SPEND TO GO OUT THERE TO THE DUMP SITES EVERY DAY TO CLEAN UP AND TO MANUALLY GET THE MATERIAL OUT OF THESE BOXES US MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY FOR OTHER JUST AS IMPORTANT PROJECTS.))
SUPER=01-Claude Webster/Franklin Co. Public Safety Dir.;
RUNS=:24
OUT Q=AS IMPORTANT PROJECTS
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The penalties for illegal or improper dumping range from a 35- to 25-hundred dollar fine and a year in prison.
If you have questions about trash dumping procedures call the Franklin County landfill or the public safety office.
(----------------)

8franklin-murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=MURDER investigation

A Franklin County man is hospitalized in critical condition after allegedly shooting his girlfriend and then himsel.f
Authorities found 19- year- old Lakisha Stockton shot to death in her father's home yesterday afternoon.
Stockton is from the Doe Run Community of Rocky Mount.
Her boyfriend 20- year- old Rodney Gill apparently shot himself in the face.
He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Authorities say Gill faces murder charges.

8E-Grayson-Murder

ANCHOR=
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-44
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation

State N-double-A-C-P leaders are searching for answers in the brutal death of an African American man in Grayson County.
Yesterday they came to the county in hopes of speaking with those closest to the case-- including the suspects.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Last month, 40- year- old Garnett "G-P" Johnson was doused with gasoline, burned and later decapitated.
SUPER=03-Grayson Co./August 1;

Two white men are charged with murder.
Yesterday afternoon, State N-double-A-C-P leaders tried to speak with the men, but at least one of the suspects refused.
The civil rights leaders did spend time with the victim's father.
(/////SOT/////)
4:32:11
SOT
IN Q=They
((GARNETT JOHNSON/VICTIM'S FATHER:THEY WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT HAPPENED AND EVERYTHING, THEY ASKED ME, I TOLD THEM I DON'T KNOW, THEM, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS. ))
SUPER=01-Garnett Johnson/Victim's Father; :00
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=I guess.
ANCHOR=
SS=Murder Investigation

N-double-A-C-P leaders also spoke with Grayson County's prosecutor and sheriff.

8E-Partnership

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-53
GRAPHIC=BIZ NEWS

Six Southside Virginia communities are joining forcess to attract new business.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co.;

The Southern Virginia Economic Development Partnership will represent Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, plus the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
It will market and promote them as a region, in hopes of generating more relocation prospects.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:22:13
IN Q=The biggest
((JERRY JACOBUS/SOUTHERN VA. ECON. DEV. PARTNERSHIP: THE BIGGEST THING THAT OUR JOB IS, IS TO BE A LIAISON OR A CONDUIT, FROM THE STATE, DOWN TO THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS. ))
SUPER=01-Jerry Jacobus/Southern Va. Econ. Dev. Partnership;
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=economic developers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Business recruiters on the state level have encouraged these kinds of efforts.
They say it allows them to work with groups rather than each community individually.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

Right now there are 17 similar organizations representing other parts of the Commonwealth.
The Partnership opened its new office in Henry County this week.
Through public and private funding, it aims to have a budget of several- hundred- thousand- dollars.

8FDA-Tobacco

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=tobacco under fire

A federal appeals panel meets in Warm Springs today to hear arguments in a tobacco case.
The Food and Drug Administration has asked the fourth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court ruling that blocked the F-D-A from regulating tobacco advertising.
In April, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that the F-D-A can regulate only the sale, distribution and use of tobacco.
The F-D-A contends that advertising and promotion are strategic components in selling and distributing tobacco.

8Environment

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=Beyer

Democratic candidate for Governor Don Beyer has strong words of criticism for the Allen administration over its environmental policies.
Beyer told a meeting of local officials in Charlottesville yesterday that the G-O-P administration has made Virginia a national laughingstock when it comes to anti-pollution enforcement.
Beyer unveiled a package of clean air and water proposals, including rebuilding the state Department of Environmental Quality.
The department underwent a controversial reorganization under Allen that caused the Environmental Protection Agency to raise questions about whether the state can adequately enforce pollution laws.