18:00-01

(------------)

VO-NAT

Case dismissed! Even after his conviction on a money-laundering related charge, Earl Frith walks away from the felony- -a free man.
We'll hear from him on NEWS-7 at SIX.
(------------)
ANCHOR=Keith


And the case of Jens Soering back in court on appeal. We'll take you inside the State Supreme Court.Sports-head
ANCHOR=Steve


In sports, highlights from both the Radford and Roanoke women's conference tournament wins, the Redskins sign another defensive lineman,
(----------------)
VO-NAT


and Express Goalie Daniel Berhtiaume is serving a suspension for his pin point puck aim.
(-------------) WX-Head
TALENT=Robin
SS=None


What a great day for enjoying the weather, solar eclipses...whatever. Hope you found an excuse to get out a bit. Clouds in the forecast just

ahead.Frith


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=khu
TAPE#=98-5
GRAPHIC=Earl Frith


Criminal charges against Earl Frith have been dismissed.
Judge James Turk says the 63-year old Floyd County Realtor had been denied his Constitutional right to a speedy trial.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke


A jury had found Frith guilty of "structuring," - -trying to set up cash transactions to avoid detection by the I-R-S.
The judge threw out the conviction today, because it had taken the government seven years to get the case to trial.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=01-Earl Frith/Auctioneer

((EARL FRITH: YOU WIN AND YOU LOSE. I LOST SEVEN YEARS AGO, BUT TODAY, I FEEL GOOD. THANK YOU. ))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=thank you

* * * Keith ON ENG * * *
SUPER=@file


But Judge Turk was irritated with Frith for denying- -under oath- -that he made two 8-thousand dollar deposits... cash he got from Drug dealer Javier Cruz.
The I-R-S surveillance tape recorded Frith recalling how he had "structured" those transactions in 1989.
IN Q=The tapes speak
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=the very beginning.
ANCHOR=Keith
GRAPHIC=Earl Frith


The judge said he wants the government to appeal and that he'll be "happy" to sentence Frith on the "structuring" charge, if the appeals court sends the

case back to him.Hughes


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#=98-7
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


You might say a Lynchburg man beat a murder charge today "by a nose".
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File


32- year- old Aubrey Hughes was accused of shooting to death Terrence Johnson during an altercation January 18th.
Hughes told police Johnson shot him first, but his only apparent injury was a cut to the nose.
Authorities discovered the "cut" was actually a gunshot wound, when the bullet FELL OUT of Hughes' nose as he sat in jail.
Prosecutors this morning dropped the murder charge, after deciding Hughes acted in self- defense.

(------------)L'Burg-Schools



ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#98-3
GRAPHIC=Education


Lynchburg residents concerned about potential racial problems in their public schools are now getting some answers from school administrators.
Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Microwave


Steve Smallshaw is at E-C Glass High School, where the issue first came to light.. Steve?
Live=Steve Full/Microwave
SUPER=@ssm1;
SUPER=05-Lynchburg;


Keith, E.C. Glass is where former football coach Bo Henson last month claimed he was fired because there weren't enough white players on the team and enough white fans in the stands.
Those remarks touched off a storm of controversy, and raised serious questions from the city's minority community.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=A committee of
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00
SUPER=01-Julius Sigler/School Board Chairman; : 22
SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/City Council Member; :44
RUNS=:53
OUT Q=can't be overcome.


(( A committee of concerned citizens sent a list of 19 questions to school administrators, wanting to know the racial makeup of the city's school populations, their sports teams and their faculty.
The school system responded with a thick stack of documents which administrators say held "no" real surprises.
They're hoping residents will look past Coach Henson's remarks to see the big picture.
SOT 7:15:43
IN Q=The concern is

((JULIUS SIGLER/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: THE CONCERN IS NOT THAT THERE ARE CHARGES OF RACISM, BUT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS TO UNDO WHAT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=over the years.


It will take a while for the citizens' committee to digest all the facts and figures.
Councilman Carl Hutcherson says the important thing is the lines of communication are now open.
SOT: 2:46:34
IN Q=I think that

((CARL HUTCHERSON/CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: IN ANY SYSTEM AS LARGE AS OURS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS, CERTAINLY. I WOULDN'T THINK THEY WOULD BE OVERT OR SO GLARING THAT THEY CAN'T BE OVERCOME.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=can't be overcome.))
Live=Steve Full/Microwave
SUPER=05-Lynchburg;


School officials say if there ARE disparities in the makeup of certain teams and activities, the reasons are more socio- economic than race- based.
Double Boxes=Keith and Steve/Microwave


They add though that compiling these figures DOES help them identify potential problems and get them started on some solutions. Keith?

Danville-Fatal


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=chu
TAPE#None
GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident


A Danville couple died today in a two-car accident.
58 year old Paul Booth and his 52-year old wife, Patsy, were driving on West Main Street around 7-30 this morning.
That's when their car was hit by a pickup truck driven by Leonard Hanks of Reidsville, North Carolina.
Danville police say Hanks is being charged with failure to obey a red

light.Robbery-Victim


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-95
GRAPHIC=None


88- year old Willie Battle is just as puzzled as everyone else by a rumor circulating around the Montgomery County courthouse that she'd died.
The misinformation actually led prosecutors last week to drop charges against a Christiansburg man accused of robbing Battle at knife point.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Shawsville;


The robbery happened last fall at this laundromat in Shawsville.
Sheriff Doug Marrs says a court clerk mistakenly told one of his deputies and the commonwealth's attorney that Battle was dead.
But he says-- the clerk can NOT remember who relayed the misinformation to her.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Our clerks

((DOUG MARRS/MONTGOMERY CO. SHERIFF: OUR CLERKS, THEY ALWAYS TELL US PRETTY STRAIGHT ON EVERYTHING, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE HUMAN ERRORS THAT HAS OCCURRED. ))
SUPER=01-Doug Marrs/Montgomery Co. Sheriff; :
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=has occurred.
ANCHOR=KEITH
SS=None


Charges against the man who allegedly robbed Battle have been
refiled.Tease#1

HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Keith
SS=NONE

He wasn't elected to the House of Delegates, but once this former candidate got to the Capitol, he wasn't leaving without having his say. That story is coming up on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
VO-NAT


And from the diamond to the classroom, Salem Avalanche players are a hit with some young fans.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Robin

wx ad lib Roll Lake Level MUSIC UP FULL

COMM#1XGR-Budget



ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#98-8
GRAPHIC=Personal Property Tax


The fate of the car tax cut now rests with the House of Delegates-- and nothing is certain.
Two Republican defections have already sent one version of the plan down in flames in the House this afternoon.
House Democrats have a three-pronged replacement: a drastically scaled-down car tax cut, a small food tax cut, and state money for school construction projects for the first time in almost 50 years.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;


The Senate passed its own Republican substitute to Governor Gilmore's car tax cut earlier today.
But state Republican Party Chairman Randy Forbes objected -- partly because it wasn't Gilmore's plan.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:50:24
IN Q=I do not

((SEN. RANDY FORBES/R-CHESAPEAKE: I DO NOT PLAN TO BETRAY THAT TRUST. AND MR. PRESIDENT, IN MY OPINION, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT DELIVER THAT PROMISE.))
SOT 14;57:50

((SEN. EDD HOUCK/D-SPOTSYLVANIA: SO LET ME SEE IF I'VE GOT IT STRAIGHT. WE'VE ADDED MORE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE'VE DONE MORE FOR THE NEEDY INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. WE'RE EXPANDING OUR WORK FORCE TOWARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE'RE PROVIDING THE LARGEST TAX RELIEF IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH?))
SUPER=01-Sen. Randy Forbes/(R) Chesapeake; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Edd Houck/(D) Spotsylvania; :08
RUNS=:26
OUT Q=good enough?
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Governor Gilmore is still pushing both chambers for his full car tax cut plan.
(--------0--------)


Bedrosian


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=equ
TAPE#98-10
GRAPHIC=Al Bedrosian


Al Bedrosian just can't seem to make his voice heard in Richmond.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;


Bedrosian lost a squeaker election as a Republican to Democratic Delegate Dick Cranwell in November.
Today, he went to Richmond to speak out against sex education in front of a Senate committee.
(----------------)
TALENT=Keith
SS=Al Bedrosian


But the committee's Republican chairwoman allowed NO members of the public to speak.
Bedrosian refused to leave.
So then she had him escorted out by a Capitol Police officer.
Bedrosian objected to having driven four hours and NOT getting to

speak.Soering


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=six
WRITER=jda
TAPE#=98-2
GRAPHIC=Jens Soering


Jens Soering's bid for a new trial reached the state Supreme Court today.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford/October 1996;


Soering was convicted of the 1985 murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom, the parents of his girlfriend.
But his attorney says prosecutors withheld evidence that could have helped the defense. Gail Starling Marshall says they failed to reveal that two men stopped by police within a week of the murders, later committed a brutal killing in Roanoke.
SOT
IN Q=These individuals proved

((GAIL STARLING MARSHALL/SOERING'S LAWYER: THESE INDIVIDUALS PROVED BY THEIR STABBING OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL 26 TIMES, THEY'RE CAPABLE OF HAND TO HAND COMBAT AND OF DESTROYING ANOTHER LIFE IN SUCH A FRENZIED WAY, IN A VERY SIMILAR WAY IN WHICH MR. AND MRS. HAYSOM WERE SO BRUTALLY ATTACKED.)) ((JOHN MCLEES/ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL: THE BES THING THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THEM FROM SOERING'S STANDPOINT IS THAT ON AN EVENING BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX DAYS AFTER THE HAYSOM MURDERS THEY WERE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME COUNTY THAT THE MURDERS OCCURRED.))
SUPER=01-Gail Starling Marshall/Soering's Lawyer; :00
SUPER=01-John McLees/Asst. Attorney General; :13
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=that the murders occurred.
(------------)
VO-NAT


The Justices also heard from attornies representing Ben Lilly, the man sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Virginia Tech student Alexander DeFilippis.
(-----------)
Talent=Keith
SS=None


Today his lawyers alleged errors during his trial, including concerns

about jurors they say should have been disqualified.Weeks


ANCHOR=khu
NEWSCAST=6p
WRITER=jmc
TAPE#=None
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


A jury in Roanoke has found Troy Weeks guilty of first degree murder.
Weeks was convicted this afternoon after a three-day trial in the fatal stabbing of Lenwood Alston.
Alston was found dead in his apartment on Day Avenue last September.

Weeks was sentenced to life in prison.Stocks


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=sly
TAPE#=None
GRAPHIC=NONE

The stock market set more records today. TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE
RUNS=:25
SUPER=x5102;
SUPER=430-x/32.89/8490.67/x/10.67/1777.15;


The Dow gained 33 points to close at 84 hundred 91.
NASDAQ was up nearly 11 points.


SUPER=431-i#/48b/h%/62b/h#/89@/hc/26&/h#/55a;
SUPER=432-i1@/54f/i@/17a/ia/40*/hf/52#/ia/50a;
SUPER=433-u/77a/h1!/41&/ib/68f/if/34&/he/12g;
SUPER=434-h1c/42c/he/28g/hf/29d/u/79b/i$/47e;


No-Wake


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=tte
TAPE#=98-6
GRAPHIC=Smith Mountain Lake


A boisterous meeting resulted in a tied vote on the issue of no-wake zones at Smith Mountain Lake.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake/File Tape;


Residents along Becky's Creek want boats to drop to idle speed in this cove.
They say speeding boats create waves that could hurt a child, or damage docks.
But the marina at the end of the cove says if boats have to travel through a no-wake zone, they'll go somewhere else for gas.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:21:04
IN Q=This has nothing to do

((C. JACK ROBBINS/SHORELINE MARINA: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY ... SOMEBODY ELSE'S.))
SUPER=01-C. Jack Robbins/Shoreline Marina;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=somebody else's
(------------)
VO-NAT


A policy advisory board sub-committee could not decide whether or not to make the cove a no-wake zone -- and that's when the crowd got rowdy.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:43:23
SOT 4:43:41
IN Q=We've been trying

((WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THESE BUOYS SINCE 92. WE LIVE ON THAT COVE. WE SEE THE SAFETY PROBLEMS AND YOU'RE TALKING LIKE THERE'S NO PROBLEM OVER THERE. YOU GOT A BIG PROBLEM AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PROTECT OUR LITTLE WHITE BEACHES. WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.))
SUPER=01-James Bocckinfuso/Becky's Creek Resident;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=and our grandchildren
(------------)
VO-NAT


The Lake policy advisory board will vote on the no-wake zone in two weeks -- but both sides say they'd be willing to consider a five mile speed limit as a compromise.
(------------)


Avalanche-reading


ANCHOR=Keith
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=jha
TAPE#=97-100
GRAPHIC=Education


The Salem Avalanche is pitching a major league challenge to local elementary students.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

The Avalanche staff is sponsoring a program reinforcing the importance of reading and staying in school. Staff members visit local elementary schools acting out the classic baseball poem, "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Thayer. Then they challenge the kids to read 10 books and record them on bookmarks provided by the team. If the students succeed, they get two free tickets to an Avalanche game in May. Since the beginning of the program three years ago the team has received and overwhelming response.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT

13:27:57
IN Q=Just yesterday

((TRACY BESKID/SALEM AVALANCHE STAFF: JUST YESTERDAY WE GOT THIS PHONE CALL FROM A PARENT WHOSE CHILD ALWAYS HATED TO READ AND THIS PARENT JUST CALLED TO SAY THAT EVERY TIME HE SAW HIS SON HE HAD A BOOK IN HIS HAND BECAUSE HE IS SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE TWO FREE TICKETS.))
SUPER=01-Tracy Beskid/Salem Avalanche Staff; :06
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=free tickets
(------------)
VO-NAT

The staff will visit 20 schools in the Roanoke area.
(------------)





Sports tease


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=none


Express Goalie daniel Berthiaume is suspended by the ECHL, Former Tech basketball star Ace Custis talkks about his NBA status,
(----------------)
VO-NAT


and the Radford women advance in the Big South tournament in their game earlier today. highlights in sports.

(-------------) S-Express



ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6PM
WRITER=SMA
TAPE#=ICE98-2
GRAPHIC=Express/Chesapeake


The Express hit the road this morning on a two game road trip that begins tomorrow night at Chesapeake. Roanoke left town without the league's third rated goaltender.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Chiefs vs. Express; :00


Express goalie Daniel Berthiaume has been suspended by the ECHL for three games for hitting referee Terry Koharski in the the head with the puc during the third period of Roanoke's 5-2 win over Johnstown Tuesday night.
Daniel confirmed by phone today that he never intended to hit the ref with the puc.
(-------------)

WIPE TO PINNACLE!!!
@Page1------


One other note. Express defenseman Adam Young's father passed away this week. Cards for Young, who was told on of his father's passing by coach fran Anzalone in return from a road game; can be sent to the Express offices, 4502 Starkey, suite 211 and the zip is 24014.

S-South


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#ST5-32
GRAPHIC=big south


It's ladies night out at the Vines Center as the Big South womens tournament tipped off with quarterfinal action this afternoon.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Winthrop vs. Radford; :00


Second seeded Radford University held center court against 7th seeded Winthrop at Liberty University.
The Highlanders would get off to a good start as Kelli Tull, the Texas Tornado from just outside of Fort Worth knocks in the three from just outside the line. Former Floyd County Lady Buffalo Leigh-Ann Pursifull turned in Winthrop's second highest point total scoring 14 on the afternoon. Here she nails the off balance shot.
Christiansburg's Rebecca McNeil scored all of her 15 points in the first
SUPER=33-Radford/77/Winthrop/72;

half, as RU puts four players in double figures to advance to tomorrow's semi-finals with a 77-to-72 win.
(-------------)


S-ODAC


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#BB98-2
GRAPHIC=ODAC Logo


Randolph-Macon opened the ODAC women's tournament with a 78 to 49 win over Washington and Lee.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Salem/Marlins vs. Maroons; :


And Roanoke was fighting to stay alive in the other quarterfinal this afternoon.
Megan Herrigan catches the pass and hits the turn around jumper the Lady Maroons trailed by 1, 25 to 24.
then the Lady Marlins hit a run. Samantha Green hits the boards and scores on the put back to make it 31 to 28 Marlins.
The Lady Marlins get fancy Bridgett Smith with the over the head pass to Meliza Mead and the Maroons trailed 36 to 28.
Virginia Wesleyan's defense pushed SUPER=33-Virginia

Wesleyan/70/Roanoke/74/;the Maroons outside Toree Morris with the three pointer Roanoke goes on to win the game 74 to 70.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Steve
SS=Hold Logo


The Quarterfinals will continue tonight and Roanoke will face

Randolph-Macon in the semi finals tomorrow night.S-Hoops


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=none
GRAPHIC=Northwest region tourney time


High school regional tournament action tips off tonight. At Lynchburg College; Cave Spring battles defending group 3A state champion G.W. Danville at 7:45. The Lady Knights are playing William Fleming right now.
SS=Region III


2A state champion Liberty plays Dan River at 7 tonight at Rustburg high school. Highlights of these games for ya at 11.
SS=Region C


At Northwood high school tonight; Bland takes on Glenvar at 6:30 and then

Parry McCluer plays John battle at 8. S-Ace


ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=TB98-1
GRAPHIC=atlantic 10


The Virginia tech mens basketball team begins Atlantic 10 conference tournament play Saturday against Duquesne.
SS=NBA


Former Hokie Ace Custis is playing in the NBA with the Dallas mavericks.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Night; :00


Last night Ace had his jersey retired at halftime of the Hokies loss to George Washington at the Cassell. At this time; Custis is on the injured list; rehabbing his knee.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I WAS

((ACE CUSTIS/STARTED SCHOOL RECORD 123 GAMES:))
SUPER=01-Ace Custis/Started School Record 123 Games; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=...again next year"
(----------------)
VO-NAT(CON'T)


Custis, who sat out a year at Tech, approaches this obstacle like any other challenge he has faced; head on.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I've never..
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=in the long run"

(-------------)S-Redskins



ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=6pm
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=FB97-4
GRAPHIC=Redskins


The Washington Redskins continue to beef up their defensive line; signing Cincinnati defensive tackle dan Wilkinson today.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=04-NFL; :00


Redskins officials say Wilkinson has inked a five year; 21 point 4 million dollar contract which included a five million dollar signing bonus.
In return for his services; the bengals receive a first and third round draft pick.
(-------------)Wx-Tape
SUPER=305-67/33/78/1996/8/1970;
SUPER=306-60/24/25/SE-8mph/29.92r/6:54am/6:12pm;
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=335-The weather map shows/high pressure approaching./Your forecast

is:/A. Increasing Clouds/B. Stormy/C. Fair Weather;
SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question
SUPER=X5001; Clears FX

Forecasts
SUPER=#560;
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/40-42/Mostly Cloudy/Wind SE-5/60-62;
SUPER=331-Increasing/Cloudiness/42-44/Mostly Cloudy/Light Winds/60-65;
SUPER=332-Increasing/Clouds/38-40/Chance Of/Showers/56-58;
SUPER=333-Increasing/Cloudiness/42-44/Afternoon/Showers/56-58;
SUPER=334-Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/44-48/Cloudy With/Showers/56-58;
SUPER=335-The weather map shows/high pressure approaching./Your forecast

is:/A. Increasing Clouds/B. Stormy/C. Fair Weather;
SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question
SUPER=335-The weather map shows/high pressure approaching./Your forecast

is:///C. Fair Weather;
SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer
SUPER=X5001; Clears FXPromo
ANCHOR=Keith
(toss to Jean)
NEWSCAST=6
WRITER=
TAPE#Promo


Many people struggle to lose weight--they try all kinds of diets.
Well a group in Lexington is relying on a higher power.
Double Boxes=Keith and Jean/Newsroom


Jean Jadhon says the group stresses religion in its weight loss program.
Live=Jean Full/Newsroom
SUPER=@Jean1;


Keith it's called the Weigh Down Workshop--
(----------------)
VO-NAT


this is video of a session, supplied to us by the workshop organizers.
In addition to teaching healthy eating habits, workshop leaders also encourage participants to pick up a bible and start reading when they're hungry.
They say relying on the gospel will fill you up in more ways than one.
(---------------)
Double Boxes=Keith and Jean/Newsroom

Keith ad lib byes We'll have that story and more tonight on News 7 at 11--Keith?
by SS