WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/15/97

06:00-01

HEADLINES

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

It's back to work for some laid of Yokohoma workers.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie

And Virginia N-DOUBLE A-C-P are speaking out against a murder they say was racially motivated.
ANCHOR=Kimberly

Hot and humid as we get set for the weekend--
A warm front could trigger an afternoon thunderstorm or two.
The complete outlook is next.
ANCHOR=Steve
(ad lib)
ANCHOR=Melanie

E-Yokohama

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

Yokohama's chief operating officer announced that the Salem tire company is recalling 46 laid off employees.
The move comes as the company gets ready for a major expansion 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.
Ogden notes that a variety of improvements made by Salem employees led to this decision.
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.

Grayson-Murder

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE#97-57
GRAPHIC=none

The burning and beheading of a black man in Grayson County is continuing to spark allegations that the killing was racially motivated.
State officials with the N-Double-A-C-P say they're convinced, that race was the reason for the murder.
(----------------)
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-Frmr. 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.

S-Appomattox-Wreck

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

According to state police a man committed suicide yesterday after being ordered to pay child support.
Authorites say the man sped away from court and killed himself by driving off of the highway in Appomattox County.
(----------------)
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.
(----------------)

ups

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#=NET
GRAPHIC=none

Discussions in the U-P-S strike will resume this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington, DC;

The teamsters and U-P-S began talks yesterday which lasted past midnight.
A spokesman says strike negotiators are taking a break while staffers for both sides do some number crunching.
Even though the two sides are far apart, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman says there are promising signs.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
FROM NET C
IN Q=The President and
((ALEXIS HERMAN/LABOR SECRETARY: THE PRESIDENT AND I ARE PLEASED THE TWO PARTIES HAVE AGREED TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY IS A CLEAR SIGNAL OF THEIR EFFORT TO REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO TRY AND REACH A SETTLEMENT. ))
SUPER=01-Alexis Herman/Labor Secretary;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=a settlement today
(----------------)

Yesterday U-P-S said it was willing to talk about anything, but that shouldn't be taken as a sign that U-P-S is changing its position.
(----------------)

S-M'ville-Testing

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

Three Martinsville familiies are on alert..
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville;

now that the E-P-A has found high levels of harmful gases in their basements.
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 they would affect anyone.
The families will NOT be evacuated.
The E-P-A will ventilate the homes next week and test children's bedrooms and living areas.
Smith Lake Road residents called in the E-P-A in June after seeing a frothy substance running down their road.
Their water tested clean.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

The E-P-A says these gases can accumulate if a gas-powered lawnmower is left in the basement, for example.

S-Beyer-Trash

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-44
GRAPHIC=none

A Virginia politician wants to change the Commonwealth's status as the country's second largest trash importer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Don Beyer wants to change that.
Beyer used a trash transfer station in Richmond to call for a moratorium on new mega-landfills and enhanced penalties for lawbreakers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:05:23
IN Q=For years
((LT. GOV. DON BEYER/D-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: FOR YEARS AND YEARS, THE SLOGAN OF VIRGINIA HAS BEEN "VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS." THE QUESTION IS NOW IS VIRGINIA ALSO FOR TRASH, AND GARBAGE, AND WASTE?))
SUPER=@Beyer1;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=and waste?
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A coincidental visit from a praying mantis helped Beyer make his "photo-op" as a candidate for the environment.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:23:55
IN Q=This is the
((LT. GOV. DON BEYER/D-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: THIS IS THE KIND OF VIRGINIA WE WANT. VIRGINIA IS FOR PRAYING MANTISES.))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=praying mantises.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Virginia accepts 1-point-7 million tons of out-of-state garbage now, and processes four times the national average.
(-------0---------)

S-Democrats

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-52
GRAPHIC=Don Beyer

Beyer is trying to play down reports of rifts involving his campaign staff and his running mate's staff.
Sources tell NEWS 7 that a certified mediator had to meet with people from the Beyer, Payne, and Dolan camps a little more than a week ago because tensions were so bad.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;

At that meeting, Beyer campaign chief Susan Platt -- seen here to his left -- walked out twice, using profanities.
Beyer says he hasn't been told of any such meeting.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 23:29:17
IN Q=
((THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE TENSIONS BECAUSE CAMPAIGNS ARE IRREGULAR. THERE ARE UPS AND DOWNS. BUT I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN SUSAN PLATT.))
SUPER=@Beyer1;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=Susan Platt.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Sources say Beyer, Payne, and Dolan themselves are getting along alright.
(------0----------)

E-NAACP-School

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#97-55
GRAPHIC=NONE

Roanoke City schools' committment to hiring minority contractors is being questioned by the N-Double-A-C-P.
Complaints from the group include lack of a good faith effort to talk about the issue and discrimination.
Joe Dashiell reports on the news conference and the reaction of school officials.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The sidewalk
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=01-Michael Reed/Contractor; :14
SUPER=@Joe2; :25
SUPER=01-Martin Jeffrey/Roanoke NAACP President; :39
SUPER=01-Marsha Ellison/School Board Chairman; :50
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke

((The sidewalk in front of Garden City Elementary is one of the jobs, concrete contractor Michael Reed has completed for the city schools.
Denied a larger project, Reed now believes he is a victim of discrimination.
SOT 05:53:31
IN Q=I can't understand
((I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, WHY DID I HAVE TO DO NINE OR TEN JOBS, THEN COME DOWN I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH NO MORE. OR TAKE A BIG JOB FROM ME AND GIVE IT TO A WHITE MAN.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=give it to a white man.

The Roanoke Chapter of the N-Double-A-C-P says school system policies discourage the participation of minority contractors in construction projects.
Chapter President Martin Jeffrey says the school board has compromised discussions of these and other issues by requiring the presence of school superintendent Wayne Harris.
SOT
IN Q=What we want to do
((MARTIN JEFFREY/ROANOKE NAACP PRESIDENT: WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST GET OUR CONCERNS ON THE TABLE, HAVE SOME REAL DISCUSSIONS AROUND THOSE CONCERNS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, OF WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT.)) ((MARSHA ELLISON/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: THE SCHOOL BOARD ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ATTEND TO HELP COMMUNICATIONS AND ALSO HE IS HIRED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD TO RUN THE BUSINESS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT CONCERNS HIM AND WE WANTED HIM TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.))
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=to be involved in it.

School Board Chairman Marsha Ellison says she hopes the dialogue with the N-Double-A-C-P can continue.
And Board Member Harry Davis has scheduled a meeting with Reed to discuss his discrimination complaint.
Both members say the school system is committed to minority involvement in construction projects.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke)) 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

Good news for some laid off Yokohama Tire workers. An expansion at the Salem plant means 46 employees will be recalled.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Kimberly

Another marathon bargaining session for U-P-S and striking Teamsters ends with no progress to report.
Still the Labor Secretary says there are promising signs, since the two sides are talking.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
ANCHOR=Melanie

and convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh read a brief statement critical of the government as he was sentenced to death.
McVeigh did not apologize for the bombing that killed 168 people.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly

And that's what's making news on this Friday, August 15th.
ANCHOR=Melanie

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

E-Yokohama

2ups

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#=NET
GRAPHIC=none

Teamsters and U-P-S negotiators are taking a breather before resuming talks this morning aimed at ending a nearly two-week-old strike.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington, DC;

Bargainers for the delivery service and striking Teamsters met for 16 hours in a Washington hotel.
They plan to meet again this morning.
In the Meantime, staffers from both sides are doing complex mathematical computations on some of the items being discussed.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=the mediators have....
RUNS=:19
OUT Q=with the parties.
(----------------)

Yesterday U-P-S said it was willing to talk about anything, but that it shouldn't be taken as a sign that U-P-S is changing its position.
(----------------)

OKLAHOMA-BOMBER

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=MORNIN
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#=NET
GRAPHIC=Tim McVeigh

Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is in a federal prison this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Denver, CO;

Yesterday, before he was formally sentenced to death, McVeigh read a short statement.
The words were not his but those of a former supreme court justice-- "our government-- he said--is the potent and omnipresent teacher.
The statement disappointed survivors and the victims relatives who were hoping to hear an apology or an explanation.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
4:18:36
IN Q=He put
(( MARSHA KIGHT/MOTHER OF BOMBING VICTIM: ))
SUPER=01-Marsha Kight/Mother of Bombing Victim;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=and he did
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Mcveigh is already appealing and possibly trying to change his legal team.
In a rare interview earlier this week with a reporter from a Buffalo newspaper, McVeigh said he doesn't want Jones to handle his appeal.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=me and steven Jones are sort of
4:17;43-53
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=to approach him.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Jones says he has no plans to stop working on appeals for McVeigh unless told do to so by the court.
(----------------)

Wildfires

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#=NET
GRAPHIC=none

It's a tough fight in the eastern region of Washington state this morning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Spokane, WA;

Firefighters are battling at least two separate fires that have consumed thousands of acres and nearly a half-dozen buildings and homes.
Firefighters expect this to be a long, drawn out, battle to contain the blaze.
(----------------)

NY-COPS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#=NET
GRAPHIC=none

A shake-up at a police precinct in New York City amid allegations that a patrol man tortured an arrest suspect.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;

A Haitian immigrant claims a patrolman brutally sodomized him with a toilet plunger in a stationhouse bathroom.
One officer has been arrested on felony charges.
A police commander was transferred and 11 other officers were pulled off active duty because of the incident.
(----------------)

3-Sports

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

In sports, all eyes are on the Carolina Panthers during the preseason games as they battle the Chiefs.
And, the Jags lose their starting quarterback.
For more on sports here's Mike Stevens.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Good Morning once
RUNS=1:36
OUT Q=a great weekend everybody.

5-Three-Insurance

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=597-39
GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check
**Note Anchor Tag**
In medical news, local private health care is becoming more available for those who can't afford health insurance but don't qualify for medicaid or medicare.
Intern Reporter Joy Sutton tells us about some places in the area that provide free or low cost care.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=When I see it's
SUPER=01-Dr. Randall Rhea/Volunteer Physician; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :18
SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :58
SUPER=01-Ruth Walford/New River District Nurse Mgr.; 1:10
SUPER=01-Richard White/Trigon;
RUNS=1:46
OUT Q=Joy Sutton News 7
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 02:24:41
IN Q=When i see
((DR. RANDALL RHEA/VOLUNTEER PHYSICIAN: WHEN I SEE IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I.. AVERAGE, HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT CAN'T REALLY AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE..I REALIZE IT'S NOT FAIR. THEY DESERVE THE KIND OF CARE THAT I GET. THAT ANY OF US DESERVE ))
RUNS=:17
OUT Q= that any of us deserve

Dr. Rhea has been volunteering at the Bradley free clinic for 15 years.
And over the last, he says he's seen an increasing need for his services.
Patient visits increased 65-percent from 19-92 to 19-96.
The clinic provides treatment for acute and chronic illnesses, pregnancy testing, dental care, crisis intervention counseling, pre-school physicals, tetanus shots, limited gynecology services and eye examinations.
In addition, the pharmacy located inside the clinic provides free medications.
And the number of prescriptions provided to patients has increased 105-percent over the past five years.
There are other options for those without insurance:
Home Health Services, an in-home nursing and therapy service for homebound patients, offers free and low cost care to those who qualify.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:36:10
IN Q=Our sliding scale
((RUTH WALFORD/NURSE MANAGER NEW RIVER DISTRICT: OUR SLIDING SCALE FEE ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL INCOME AND THE NUMBER OF PERSONS RESPONSIBLE OR NEED THAT PARTICULAR INCOME..AND AS A RESULT WE CAN LOWER THE PAYMENT ))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=lower the payment

For those pricing insurance, Trigon Director Richard White says you can find affordable plans.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:16:09
IN Q=People in the age 19
((RICHARD WHITE/TRIGON: PEOPLE IN THE AGE 19-29 AGE GROUP DON'T GET INSURANCE AND IF THEY'RE YOUNG AND HEALTHY THE RATES CAN BE AS LOW AS..FOR INSTANCE OUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCT IN A LOW DEDUCTIBLE FOR THEM IS ONLY $54 A MONTH
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=only $54 a month

Joy Sutton News 7))
Talent=Melanie
SS=Mornin Health Check

White has these tips for those in the market for insurance.
Consider your deductible..the higher it is, the lower your monthly payments.
Make sure your plan is approved by the Virginia Bureau of Insurance.
And choose a reputable company you can trust.

(toss to bump)

E-Yokohama

Grayson-Murder

S-Appomattox-Wreck

S-M'ville-Testing

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

Three Martinsville familiies are on alert..
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Martinsville;

now that the E-P-A has found high levels of harmful gases in their basements.
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 they would affect anyone.
The families will NOT be evacuated.
The E-P-A will ventilate the homes next week and test children's bedrooms and living areas.
Smith Lake Road residents called in the E-P-A in June after seeing a frothy substance running down their road.
Their water tested clean.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None
left in the basement, for example. The E-P-A says these gases can accumulate if a gas-powered lawnmower is