08:25-01

Thirty-Weather

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SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Chance of Storms/88-92/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/68-72;
SUPER=315-Partly Cloudy/& Humid/80-84/Variable Clouds/Chance of Storms/65-69;
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SUPER=@Melanie1


7E-Yokohama


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-51
GRAPHIC=Yokohama


A major expansion at Yokohama is proving beneficial to the job front.
The Salem tire company is recalling 46 laid off employees.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;


Daniel Ogden says the Salem facility will increase its operating capacity by 10 percent by the end of 1998.
For the first time, it will produce light truck and high performance tires at the plant.
Plant officials add that more laid off employees will be recalled if there are continued productivity gains.
With the latest gain, Yokohama has about 950 workers in Salem.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Just two weeks ago, the company signed a new six year deal with its local union.
Yokohama says the new contract is not the main reason for this expansion, which is reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.


7Grayson-Murder


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE#97-57
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation


The debate continues as to whether Grayson County authorities are dealing with a hate crime.
State officials with the N-Double-A-C-P say they're convinced that race was the reason for the burning and beheading of a black man, allegedly by two white men last month.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond; :


Salim Khalfani is one of the N-double-A-C-P officials looking into Garnett "GP" Johnson's murder.
He's troubled by the fact Grayson County authorities have told the media RACE was NOT a primary factor.
Two white men are charged in Johnson's murder.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT IF TAPE IS ZEROED AT SALIM'S FIRST WORD 01:56
IN Q=

((SALIM KHALFANI/VA. NAACP: YOU KNOW IT'S JUST THAT FOLKS SEEM TO BE IN A STATE OF DENIAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT RACE WAS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN THIS CASE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW ONE COULD DENY UNLESS THEY'RE FROM SOME OTHER PLANET OR SOMETHING. ))
SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Virginia NAACP;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=something.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Khalfani is basing his beliefs, in part, on witness statements to the media and what he was told by the prosector.
A former friend of suspect, Louis Ceparano, spoke with NEWS 7, but didn't want to reveal his identity.
He says Ceparano and the victim were friends-- although Ceparano was known to use racial slurs.
(/////SOT/////)

18:48:03
SOT
IN Q=Was

((WAS LOUIS CEPARANO A PERSON YOU WOULD EVER THINK WOULD KILL SOMEBODY? NO, NOT WHEN I MET HIM. BUT DID THAT IDEA CHANGE? DID YOU THINK IT WAS A POSSIBILITY? WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, HE CHANGED AND HE JUST GOT KIND OF SPOOKY AT TIMES. ))
SUPER=29-Former Ceparano Friend;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=at times.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Murder Investigation


It's unlikely we'll hear Ceparano's side of the story until he appears in court-- his new attorney-- Jimmy Turk has told him NOT to speak with the media.



7S-Appomattox-Wreck


ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-50
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident


A trip to family court proved fatal for a Lynchburg man.
According to state police the man committed suicide yesterday by speeding off the highway in Appomattox County after being ordered to pay child support.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Appomattox Co.


A state trooper clocked 40- year- old Brian John Rossi (ROSS-ee) of Lynchburg at about 80 miles per hour when Rossi's vehicle veered off Route 460 near Concord.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:23:27
IN Q=Wasn't two

((SGT. DENNIS BRADNER/VA STATE POLICE: WASN'T TWO SECONDS WORTH OF PURSUIT HARDLY. BY THE TIME HE FLIPPED HIS LIGHTS ON, HE JUST DROVE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD.))
SUPER=01-Sgt. Dennis Bradner/Virginia State Police; :00
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=off the road.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Rossi's truck cut a tree in half, and flipped over several times.
He was thrown from the vehicle and died on impact.
(----------------)



7S-Blues-Festival


ANCHOR=
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#97-47
GRAPHIC=None


Roanoke blues and jazz fans are looking forward to September.
A festival is set for Saturday, September 6th, in Elmwood Park.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke


It's called "A Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues and Jazz Festival."
And it will feature some international musicians, including Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.
30 restaurants will also be part of the event.
It's sponsored by WDBJ-7.
(----------------)



7weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=aje
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


And taking a look at your Friday forecast... Partly sunny skies with a slight chance for storms. Highs in the upper 80's to low 90's. -- tonight looks pleasant wity partly cloudy skies overnight lows in the upper 60's to low 70's. And taking a look ahead...
SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Chance of Storms/88-92/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/68-72


;Area Forecast
SUPER=#555;RESET


7BIRTHDAYS! 8/17/97
Sunday:

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-6th/James & Cindy Walker/Snow Creek;


Monday:

SUPER=130-35/Will Bowling/Snow Creek;



SUPER=130-5/Chasity Watkins/Natural Bridge Station;



(Twins)
SUPER=130-4/Luke & Sam Thomas/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-50/Linda Gardner/Chamblissburg;



SUPER=130-2/Howard Carr Jr./Keysville;


No Pictures:

SUPER=130-56/Doris Light/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-45/Laurie Brightwell/Alexandria;



SUPER=130-/Allison Adams/Sycamore;



SUPER=130-47/Curtis McDaniel/Leesville;

cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1


55E-Yokohama


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-51
GRAPHIC=Yokohama


It's back to work for some Yokohoma workers.
Officials at the Salem plant say their recalling close to 50 laid of employees.
The move comes as the company prepares for a multi million dollar expansion.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;


Daniel Ogden says the Salem facility will increase its operating capacity by 10 percent by the end of 19-98.
For the first time, it will produce light truck and high performance tires at the plant.
Plant officials add that more laid off employees will be recalled if there are continued productivity gains.
With the latest news, Yokohama has about 950 workers in Salem.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Just two weeks ago, the company signed a new six year deal with its local union.
Yokohama says the new contract is not the main reason for this expansion.



55Grayson-Murder


ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE#97-
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation


Virginia officials continues to investigate a murder believed to be a hate crime.
Members of the N-double-A-C-P say race was the reason Garnet G-P Johnson was burned and beheaded in Grayson County allegedly by black men.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond; :


Salim Khalfani is one of the N-double-A-C-P officials looking into his murder.
He's troubled by the fact Grayson County authorities have told the media RACE was NOT a primary factor.
Two white men are charged in Johnson's murder.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT IF TAPE IS ZEROED AT SALIM'S FIRST WORD 01:56
IN Q=

((SALIM KHALFANI/VA. NAACP: YOU KNOW IT'S JUST THAT FOLKS SEEM TO BE IN A STATE OF DENIAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT RACE WAS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN THIS CASE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW ONE COULD DENY UNLESS THEY'RE FROM SOME OTHER PLANET OR SOMETHING. ))
SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Virginia NAACP;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=something.


Khalfani is basing his beliefs, in part, on witness statements to the media and what he was told by the prosector.
A former friend of suspect, Louis Ceparano, spoke with NEWS 7, but didn't want to reveal his identity.
He says Ceparano and the victim were friends-- although Ceparano was known to use the word NIGGER.
(/////SOT/////)

18:48:03
SOT
IN Q=Was

((WAS LOUIS CEPARANO A PERSON YOU WOULD EVER THINK WOULD KILL SOMEBODY? NO, NOT WHEN I MET HIM. BUT DID THAT IDEA CHANGE? DID YOU THINK IT WAS A POSSIBILITY? WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, HE CHANGED AND HE JUST GOT KIND OF SPOOKY AT TIMES. ))
SUPER=29-Former Ceparano Friend;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=at times.
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Murder Investigation


Ceparano's attorney Jimmy Turk has advised his client NOT to speak with the media.



55S-M'ville-Testing


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tte
TAPE#97-48
GRAPHIC=None


Three Martinsville familiies have been told they have harmful levels of gases in their basements.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville;


Felicia Dailey of the E-P-A says this is a cause for concern because the mix of gases is a gasoline derivative.
Smaller amounts of these gases were found in three more basements on Smith Lake Road and in the soil, but Dailey says it would take a long time before anyone would become sickened.
The families will not have to move out.
The E-P-A will ventilate the homes next week and test children's bedrooms and living areas.
Their water tested clean.
(----------------)



55S-Blues-Festival


ANCHOR=
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#97-47
GRAPHIC=None


A blues and jazz festival is set for Saturday, September 6th, in Roanoke.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke


It's called "A Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues and Jazz Festival."
And it will feature some international musicians, including Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.
30 restaurants will also be part of the event.
It's sponsored by WDBJ-7.
(----------------)



55weather


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


Time now to find out what the weekend weather holds--
Partly sunny and hot today, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Highs climbing to around 90.
Partly cloudy overnight, with lows dropping to near 70.
And more hazy sunshine and hot weather ahead for the weekend.
SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Chance of Storms/88-92/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/68-72


;Area Forecast
SUPER=#555;RESET


cutopen
SUPER=@Melanie1


8E-Yokohama


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#97-51
GRAPHIC=Yokohama


Some positive business news--
A major expansion will bring back 46 workers who were laid off from Salem's Yokohama plant.
The expansion is reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;


Daniel Ogden says the Salem facility will increase its operating capacity by 10 percent by the end of 1998.
For the first time, it will produce light truck and high performance tires at the plant.
Plant officials add that more laid off employees will be recalled if there are continued productivity gains.
With the latest news, Yokohama has about 950 workers in Salem.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Just two weeks ago, the company signed a new six year deal with its local union.
Yokohama says the new contract is not the main reason for this expansion.



8Grayson-Murder


ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE#97-
GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation


State N- Double A-C-P officials are convinced the brutal murder of an African American man in Grayson county was racially motivated.
Last month Garnett G-P Johnson was burned and then beheaded.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond; :


Salim Khalfani is one of the N-double-A-C-P officials looking into Johnson's murder.
He's troubled by the fact Grayson County authorities have told the media RACE was NOT a primary factor.
Two white men are charged in Johnson's murder.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT IF TAPE IS ZEROED AT SALIM'S FIRST WORD 01:56
IN Q=

((SALIM KHALFANI/VA. NAACP: YOU KNOW IT'S JUST THAT FOLKS SEEM TO BE IN A STATE OF DENIAL ABOUT THE FACT THAT RACE WAS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN THIS CASE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW ONE COULD DENY UNLESS THEY'RE FROM SOME OTHER PLANET OR SOMETHING. ))
SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Virginia NAACP;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=something.


Khalfani is basing his beliefs, in part, on witness statements to the media and what he was told by the prosector.
A former friend of suspect, Louis Ceparano, spoke with NEWS 7, but didn't want to reveal his identity.
He says Ceparano and the victim were friends-- although Ceparano was known to use the word NIGGER.
(/////SOT/////)

18:48:03
SOT
IN Q=Was

((WAS LOUIS CEPARANO A PERSON YOU WOULD EVER THINK WOULD KILL SOMEBODY? NO, NOT WHEN I MET HIM. BUT DID THAT IDEA CHANGE? DID YOU THINK IT WAS A POSSIBILITY? WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, HE CHANGED AND HE JUST GOT KIND OF SPOOKY AT TIMES. ))
SUPER=29-Former Ceparano Friend;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=at times.
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Murder Investigation


It's unlikely we'll hear Ceparano's side of the story until he appears in court-- his new attorney-- Jimmy Turk has told him NOT to speak with the media.



8S-Appomattox-Wreck


ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-50
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident


State police say after being ordered to pay child support, a man walked out of an Appomattox county courtroom, and then killed himself.
Authorities say the man sped away from court and drove off of the highway.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Appomattox Co.


A state trooper clocked 40- year- old Brian John Rossi (ROSS-ee) of Lynchburg at about 80 miles per hour when Rossi's vehicle veered off Route 460 near Concord.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:23:27
IN Q=Wasn't two

((SGT. DENNIS BRADNER/VA STATE POLICE: WASN'T TWO SECONDS WORTH OF PURSUIT HARDLY. BY THE TIME HE FLIPPED HIS LIGHTS ON, HE JUST DROVE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD.))
SUPER=01-Sgt. Dennis Bradner/Virginia State Police; :00
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=off the road.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Rossi's truck cut a tree in half, and flipped over several times.
He was thrown from the vehicle and died on impact.
(----------------)



8S-M'ville-Testing


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tte
TAPE#97-48
GRAPHIC=None


Three Martinsville familiies are living with harmful levels of gases in their basements.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville;


That got the word yesterday from the E-P-A.
One official with the agency says there is cause for concern because the mix of gases is a gasoline derivative.
Smaller amounts of these gases were found in three more basements on Smith Lake Road and in the soil.
But for now the families will not have to move out.
The E-P-A will ventilate the homes next week and test children's bedrooms and living areas.
Their water tested clean.
(----------------)



8weather


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


Let's take a peek now at the Friday forecast--
Partly sunny and hot today, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Highs climbing to around 90.
Partly cloudy overnight, with lows dropping to near 70.
And more hazy sunshine and hot weather ahead for the weekend highs in the upper 80's to low 90's -- nighttime lows in the 60's.
SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE
SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Chance of Storms/88-92/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/68-72


;Area Forecast SUPER=#555;RESET
by SS