WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/17/98

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[7severe-weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Severe weather hit Henry County overnight.
At least three farm structures in the Sandy Level area were demolished.
At this time it doesn't appear to have been the work of a tornado.
News 7 has a crew on the scene and we'll update you as information becomes available.

[7Sixth-District]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-]
[GRAPHIC=BOWERS]

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers says he will carry his campaign for Congress into every nook and cranny of the Sixth District.
Early this morning, he got started in one of the district's smallest communities.
(//////SOT///////////)
[IN Q=At one minute]
((AT ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 17TH, 1998, I'M HERE IN MONTEREY IN HIGHLAND COUNTY TO ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN THE 6TH DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA. HOW ABOUT THAT?))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=well how about that.]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Monterey]

Bowers kicked off his campaign behind a microphone at Highland County's community radio station, WVLS.
Though he faces a popular and well-financed republican seeking a fourth term, Bowers says he must only look to Bob Goodlatte's predecessor for encouragement.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You know]
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/(D) Candidate for Congress]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=carried the Republican areas.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Bowers]

Bowers will make a swing through the district today, with stops that include Lexington, Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Covington.
Meanwhile, Goodlatte says he has lined endorsements from the other nine city mayors in the sixth district.

[7Robb-Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Congressmen Chuck Robb and Virgil Goode spoke to tobacco farmers in Danville last night--
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

about a week after talks of a congressional tobacco settlement stalled.
At the meeting tobacco farmers renewed concerns about their future --concerns that were shared by Senator Robb.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.43.47 - 18.43.58]
[IN Q=It's already caused]
((SEN. CHUCK ROBB: IT'S ALREADY CAUSED A 17 PERCENT DROP IN QUOTA FOR THIS YEAR AND THE UNCERTAINTY FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE CONCERNED IS VERY DESTABILIZING.))
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[OUT Q=is very destabilizing.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Congressmen spoke at a meeting for the Concerned Friends of Tobacco Farmers.
They both plan to revisit the issue once Congress resumes its sessions following its Easter recess.
(------------)

[7E-Bates]

[ANCHOR=mel]
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[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-27 TC 36:47]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

An arrest was made in the murder of a Henry County man Wednesday night.
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[VO-NAT]

52- year- old Kenneth Bates allegedly killed 40- year- old Randel Lee Lambert, shooting him in the chest with a shotgun.
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Deputies say the two men were arguing outside Bates's mobile home on North Daniels Creek Road in Henry County.
They say Bates was standing on his front porch when he fired-- and Lambert was found wounded in the front yard.
He later died-- Bates is now in jail. Bail has been set at 100-thousand dollars.
(------------)

[7E-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cut in]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-24 TC 38:28]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co.]

Charles Palmer says Roanoke County hasn't negotiated in good faith.
Yesterday, he invited reporters to take a closer look at the site the county favors for a new high school.
(----------------)
[VO/NAT SOT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Palmer grew up on the 70-acre tract that his parents purchased in 19-40. A working farm in the years since, the land is now a scenic patchwork of pastures, woodlands, and hayfields.
Meade Carter has lived on the land for about four years, and says it should be treated as a treasure, not a site for major construction.
[SOT 09:45:18]
[IN Q=This fellow up here]
((MEADE CARTER: THIS FELLOW UP HERE HAS BEEN LIVING IN THIS HOUSE FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HE THINKS HE HAS THE BEST VIEWIN THE VALLEY AND I CAN'T HARDLY DISPUTE HIM. AND FOLKS AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN LIVING AROUND A GREAT BIG OPEN SPACE LIKE THIS.))
[SUPER=07-Meade Carter;]
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[OUT Q=great big open space like this.]
[TALENT=mel]
[SS=None]

County Attorney Paul Mahoney says he remains hopeful that the parties can find some common ground, before the issue ends up in court.
Meanwhile, Charles Palmer is urging the county to look elsewhere and purchase one of the other sites that county officials have deemed suitable.

[7e-Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[TAPE#98-31 TC 23:12]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]

The question of the necessity for a high voltage power line should ONLY be measured on a local level.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

That was the message last night from Congressman Rick Boucher who took part in a forum at Virginia Tech.
Boucher says its local residents who'd have to live with the environmental consequences if A-E-P is allowed to build.
Boucher also outlined alternatives for the line which A-E-P says it needs to meet the growing demand for electricity..
One suggestion is having A-E-P purchase a portion of the power it needs for the future from neighboring utilities.
(/////SOT/////)
[9:00:13] [8:52:38]
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm very]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D)ABINGDON:I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT AS THE COMMISSION PASSES ON THE QUESTION OF NEED THAT IT WILL TAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO ACCOUNT AND MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, FIRST OF ALL, NEW POWER NEEDS ACTUALLY EXIST. TODD BURNS/AEP SPOKESMAN:THE THING IS WE HAVE TAKEN ALL THE INCREMENTAL STEPS THAT WE CAN AT THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN 25- YEARS SINCE WE HAVE BUILT A POWER LINE LIKE THIS TO SERVE THIS AREA SO WE'RE TRYING TO REINFORCE THE BACKBONE SYSTEM THAT FEEDS THIS AREA AND BRINGS ELECTRICITY TO US. ))
[SUPER=@Boucher; ]
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/AEP Spokesman; :15]
[RUNS=:27 approx.]
[OUT Q=to us.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The forum was sponsored by the Young Democrats at Virginia Tech and the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.
(----------------)

[7Weather]

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A rainy start to your weekend -- occasional showers and thunderstorms should linger throughout this Friday with highs quite warm, between 70 and 75 under mostly cloudy skies...
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[7BIRTHDAYS!] 4/18/98
Saturday:

[SUPER=130-8/Jonathan Eric Wade/Rocky Mount]

[SUPER=130-/8/Summer Kearns]

[SUPER=130-35/Fred Southers/Chester]

[SUPER=130-6/Laken Louise Meeks/Martinsville]

[SUPER=130-8/Daniel Norton Kelly/Natural Bridge]

[SUPER=130-/57/Ellis Pettrey]

Anniversary:

[SUPER=130-/33/Ellis & Adell Pettrey]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/56/Joseph Francis]

[SUPER=131-//Mark May]

[super=131-//Garnett Simkins]

[super=131-//Evelyn Dull]

[super=131-/20/J. P. Puryear/Ferrum]

[super=131-47/Fannie Bell/Rocky Mount]

[super=131-48/Henry T. Bond/Hardy]

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[45severe-weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Severe weather hit Henry County overnight.
At least three farm structures in the Sandy Level area were demolished.
At this time it doesn't appear the destruction was caused by a tornado.
News 7 has a crew on the scene and we'll update you as information becomes available.

[45Sixth-District]

[45E-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-26 TC 38:28]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co.]

Residents living on the proposed sites for a new Roanoke County school share their thoughts on the county's site selection.
(----------------)
[VO/NAT SOT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Charles Palmer grew up on the 70-acre tract that his parents purchased in 19-40.
A working farm in the years since, the land is now a scenic patchwork of pastures, woodlands, and hayfields.
Meade Carter has lived on the land for about four years, and says it should be treated as a treasure, not a site for major construction.
[SOT 09:45:18]
[IN Q=This fellow up here]
((MEADE CARTER: THIS FELLOW UP HERE HAS BEEN LIVING IN THIS HOUSE FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HE THINKS HE HAS THE BEST VIEWIN THE VALLEY AND I CAN'T HARDLY DISPUTE HIM. AND FOLKS AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN LIVING AROUND A GREAT BIG OPEN SPACE LIKE THIS.))
[SUPER=07-Meade Carter;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=great big open space like this.]
[TALENT=mel]
[SS=None]

County Attorney Paul Mahoney says he remains hopeful that the parties can find some common ground, before the issue ends up in court.
Meanwhile, Charles Palmer is urging the county to look elsewhere and purchase one of the other sites that county officials have deemed suitable.

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Your Friday has started off wet with heavy rains in most areas during the overnight hours -- occasional showers and thunderstorms should linger throughout today with highs quite warm, between 70 and 75 under mostly cloudy skies...
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[8severe-weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=Mel]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=severe wx]

It was a rough night in Henry County -- severe weather swept through the area.
At least three farm structures in the Sandy Level area were demolished, according to Henry County Emergency Services.
At this time it doesn't appear the destruction was caused by a tornado.
News 7 has a crew on the scene and we'll update you as information becomes available.

[8Robb-Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire]

A couple of Virginia lawmakers were on hand in Danville last night, speaking to tobacco farmers. The meeting between Senator Chuck Robb, Representative Virgil Goode and farmers comes
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
about a week after talks of a congressional tobacco settlement stalled.
At the meeting tobacco farmers renewed concerns about their future --concerns that were shared by Senator Robb.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.43.47 - 18.43.58]
[IN Q=It's already caused]
((SEN. CHUCK ROBB: IT'S ALREADY CAUSED A 17 PERCENT DROP IN QUOTA FOR THIS YEAR AND THE UNCERTAINTY FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE CONCERNED IS VERY DESTABILIZING.))
[SUPER=@Robb;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=is very destabilizing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The lawmakers spoke at a meeting for the Concerned Friends of Tobacco Farmers.
They both plan to revisit the issue once Congress resumes its sessions following its Easter recess.
(------------)

[8E-Bates]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-27 TC 36:47]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Henry County authorities have a suspect in a Wednesday fatal shooting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Authorities say 52- year- old Kenneth Bates shot 40- year- old Randel Lee Lambert in the chest during an argument.
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Deputies say it happened outside Bates's mobile home on North Daniels Creek Road in Henry County.
They say Bates was standing on his front porch when he fired a shotgun.
Lambert was found wounded in the front yard.
He later died.
Bates is now behind bars.
Bail has been set at 100-thousand dollars.
(------------)

[8E-Horse-Racing]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-25 36:23]
[GRAPHIC=none]

There's a new event in horse racing happening at Virginia's only horse track.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co.;]

Colonial Downs in New Kent County plays host to its first ever harness races through July.
The massive track allows the horses to run a full mile with only one curve --a unique design in the nation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:53:52]
[IN Q=Unlike thoroughbreds]
((GIL SHORT/COLONIAL DOWNS: UNLIKE THOROUGHBREDS, HARNESS PEOPLE ARE REALLY AGGRESSIVE TO BREAK WORLD'S RECORD, MEANING THE TIME. THE WORLD'S RECORD IS 1:46:1 AND I'M SURE THAT IT WILL HAVE A DEFINITE ATTEMPT TO TRY TO LOWER THAT MARK.))
[SUPER=01-Gil Short/Colonial Downs;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=that mark.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Virginia will also host the World Series of Harness Racing in November-- after the regular fall thoroughbred season comes to a close.
(-------0---------)

[8Weather]

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Turning to weather now--
Expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional showers and thunderstorms today.
Highs in the low to mid 70s.
Lingering clouds tonight, with a chance of light rain and drizzle.
Lows in the upper 40s.
The extended forecast is drier and cooler...
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