WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/22/98

[1-news-head]

[talent=keith]

On NEWS 7 at SIX tonight:

Another look at the controversy over a site for the new Roanoke County high school.
(-------------------)
[VO NAT]
And we'll meet the boy whose fellow parishioners gave him a new breath of life.
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[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]

Tonight in sports, former UVa recruit Melvin Whitaker has found a college home, some area golfers got in the swing of things for charity today.
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[VO-NAT]

And VMI welcomed home Donny White, a former cadet, coach, player and teacher to jump start the school's athletic department.
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[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Wet stuff for the next 24 hours then a fine warmup for the weekend. Details and a visit from WeatherSchool coming u

p this evening.[Ron-Nixon]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-24 TC 44:07]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]

The managing editor of the Roanoke Times says he's baffled as to why reporter Ron Nixon's name is still associated with an advocacy group that deals with environmental issues.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Thursday;]

Nixon, shown here at a forum, has been with the newspaper for a year now and covers the controversial American Electric power line issue.
He's also listed on the internet as a founding member and current treasurer of the group "Democracy South".
The non-partisan organization investigates issues and then sends its findings to different organizations and news outlets.
Democracy South focuses mostly on political campaign finance reform but also studies social and environmental issues.
Newspaper editor Rich Martin says Nixon resigned from the group when he came to the Roanoke Times.
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[ANCHOR=KEITH]
[SS=None]

Martin says newspaper staffers discussed Nixon's association with the group and felt comfortable in hiring him-- ad

ding management believes Nixon's work is fair and balanced.[County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-35 TC 22:52]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Roanoke County School Board members say they still hope negotiations will prevent a lengthy court fight.
But on the day after a public hearing drew mixed reaction, board members say they still favor a controversial site for a new high school. Joe Dashiell reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the plan to condemn]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Bill Irvin/School Board Chairman; :25]
[SUPER=01-Mike Stovall/School Board Member; :35]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :45]
[SUPER=01-Lacy Carter/Woods End Resident; :59]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=JD News 7]

((The plan to condemn the 70-acre tract on Farmington Drive has divided the community... and the school board heard from both sides at the public hearing Tuesday night.
The School Board has identified the Woods End property as the best alternative among a dozen possibilities, but the county has failed to reach agreement with landowner Charles Palmer.
While board members say they're weighing comments pro and con, it appears likely the board will continue efforts to secure the site.
[IN Q=With the opposition]
((BILL IRVIN/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WITH THE OPPOSITION AND THE PROPONENTS BEING ABOUT EQUAL, AT THIS POINT I THINK WE'D WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THAT SITE AND THEN TRY TO TAKE CARE OF ANY CONCERNS THE OPPOSITION MIGHT HAVE.)) ((MIKE STOVALL/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: WE HAVE LOOKED FOR OVER A YEAR AT SITES IN THE COUNTY AND RIGHT NOW IF I WAS VOTING TODYA ON THE SITE, THAT'S THE SITE THAT I FEEL LIKE THE SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE PUT ON.)) [RUNS21]
[OUT Q=to be put on.]

Meanwhile, Lacy Carter hopes the School Board will take citizen's concerns to heart. She's lived on the property for three years and says the county has rushed to judgement, moving forward without adequate study of the site, without giving residents enough information to assess the proposal.
[SOT 15:36:36]
[IN Q=And it may be]
((LACY CARTER/WOODS END RESIDENT: AND IT MAY BE A COSTLY LEGAL BATTLE THAT WILL POSTPONE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD PURSUE A MORE OPEN PUBLIC ATTITUDE TO THIS PROCESS AND WORK WITH THE CITIZENS TO COME UP WITH A VIABLE SOLUTION.)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=a viable solution.]

The School Board meets again next Tuesday, and will decide then whether to move forward with the condemnation process.

Joe Dashiell News 7))[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-26 **Tape Rolled from StarLink**]
[GRAPHIC=Session 98]

There appears to be a meeting of the minds finally in Richmond over the health care of low income children. The 19-98 General Assembly is back today for its final days of lawmaking this year.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/StarLink]

Ellen Qualls is at the State Capitol with the latest action.
[Live=Ellen Full/StarLink]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]
(Ellen ad lib)
(rollcue: has finally budged.)
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[SOT **Rolled from StarLink**]
[IN Q=We have]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Stanley Walker/(D) Norfolk; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :24]
[SUPER=01-Del. Dick Black/(R) Loudoun Co.; :32]
[SUPER=01-Lois Cumashot/Virginia PTA; :56]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=to a teacher]

[Live=Ellen Full/StarLink]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]

[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/StarLink]

(Keith question--so this is just the veto session and the lawmakers return tomorrow for more?)[UVA-Transplant]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=98-31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The life expectancy for a cystic fibrosis patient is about 30-years.
14-year old Robert Jackson of Stuart was running out of time.
His infected lungs were failing, and his team of U-V-A medical center doctors was NOT optimistic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; ]

Then in what his family calls an act of faith, two men from the Jackson's church in Bassett decided to donate part of their lungs to save his life.
Jackson is now the recipient of Virginia's first double lung transplant from living donors.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The new]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Ben Gaston/UVA Pediatrics; :09 ]
((DR. BEN GASTON/UVA PEDIATRICS:THE NEW LUNGS WILL NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS IN THEM.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=in them.]
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[VO-NAT]

Donors Randy Crawford and John Poe say they had no hesitation about giving up part of their lungs, and they feel great now, three monnths after the surgery.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]

U-V-A is the largest transplant center in the state.
The medical center began doing lung transplants in 19-90 and the oldest living patient is getting ready to celebrate
the eighth anniversary of her operation.[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

The Bad Boy of Roanoke restaurant owners is planning a new eatery for downtown. That story is still to come on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And by collecting everything from toilet paper to books, some elementary school students are getting a lesson about volunteerism.
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[SUPER=83-Down 0.73 foot/Above 0.86 foot;Lake levels][Viagra]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-29 TC 35:19]
[GRAPHIC=Medical News]

The new impotence drug Viagra is popular and expensive, and apparently irresistible to scam artists.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The manufacturer, Pfizer Incorporated, has already sued one company making a copy-cat herbal supplement called Vaegra (VAY-grah).
And we found a product called ViaGRO for sale over the internet, claiming to be the same medication.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Roanoke Urologist George Patterson says prescribing impotence drugs over the internet or telephone won't necessarily help problems caused by prostate cancer and diabetes.
(/////SOT////)
[SOT 16:45:02]
[IN Q=but there's no question]
((DR. GEORGE PATTERSON/UROLOGIST; THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WILL BE OVERLOOKED AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS MIGHT BE OVERLOOKED AS WELL AND SO THAT'S NOT REALLY A SAFE WAY TO HANDLE THAT KIND OF PROBLEM))
[SUPER=01-Dr. George Patterson/Urologist;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=that kind of problem]
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[VO-NAT]

The FDA is investigating the copycat drugs. The website we found yesterday, disappeared today.
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[College-Tutors]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-38 8:09]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Their classroom is a grassy hillside.. their desk a bus stop bench.
But once a week, a group of Lynchburg College students uses this unusual setting to make a difference in some young peoples' lives.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Renee Costa/Lynchburg College Senior; :22]
[SUPER=01-Andrew Barricks/Student; :45]
[SUPER=01-Junelle Brown/Student; :55]
[SUPER=01-Kelley Perkins/Lynchburg College Junior; 1:08]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:15 ]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]

(([natsot 6:51:33]
((I HAVE FOUR HOURS TO PLAY IN THE OCEAN.)) [RUNS:04]
Renee Costa will graduate college next month and begin a career in marketing.
But her senior year at Lynchburg College has been about giving something back.
Every week, Costa and a group of her fellow students comes to the Birchwood Apartments to help children of low- income families with homework.. to play a game.. or to just listen.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:08:49]
[IN Q=They just expect]
((RENEE COSTA/LYNCHBURG COLLEGE SENIOR: THEY JUST EXPECT YOU TO COME, THEY LOOK FORWARD TO US COMING, JUST TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK, JUST TO WATCH THEM TIE THEIR SHOE, JUST TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THEM READ A BOOK WITH THEM. THEY JUST REALLY WANT THE PERSONAL ATTENTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=we're here for.]

A rowdy and rambunctious group beforehand, the kids settle down once they pair up with their tutors and start hitting the books.
It's just an hour or two a week, but it's made a difference.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:24:41]
[IN Q=I like it]
((ANDREW BARRICKS/STUDENT: I LIKE IT BECAUSE WHEN I'M IN SCHOOL AND I DON'T KNOW STUFF, THE TUTORS COME AND THEY HELP ME WHEN I DON'T KNOW STUFF AND THEY HELP ME DO IT.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=me do it.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:23:06]
[IN Q=They help us]
((JUNELLE BROWN/STUDENT: THEY HELP US WITH OUR HOMEWORK AND THEY HELP US GET BETTER GRADES ON OUR TESTS AND STUFF AND ON OUR REPORT CARDS.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=report cards.]

But accomplishments are not just measured in grades and test scores, but in smiles and hugs.
The tutors are learning something too.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:30:27]
[IN Q=The children]
((KELLEY PERKINS/LYNCHBURG COLLEGE JUNIOR: THE CHILDREN, AS SOON AS THEY SEE ME COMING, THEY CALL OUT MY NAME AND COME AND GIVE ME A HUG AND IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M FINALLY GIVING BACK, I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=good about it.]

The children will tell you the feeling is mutual.

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))[Cave-Spring]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-21 TC 55:04]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Helping others can be rewarding--that's the lesson for students at one local elementary school this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Over the course of two weeks, Cave Spring Elementary School students collected more than two thousand rolls of toilet paper. That goes to the Rescue Mission.
More than 600 books they gathered will go to the Ronald McDonald house.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=13:18:14/13:17:35]
[IN Q=I THINK IT'S]
((STEPHEN BERRY/CAVE SPRING ELEMENTARY; I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN'T AFFORD THIS KIND OF STUFF.)) ((KATY WHITMORE/CAVE SPRING ELEMENTARY; IT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT AND THEY MIGHT START HELPING, TOO.))
[SUPER=01-Stephen Berry/Cave Spring Elementary Student;]
[SUPER=01-Katy Whitmore/Cave Spring Elementary Student;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=helping too]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It's part of "Big Help Week", a national program sponsored by Nickelodeon. It's designed to encourage volunteerism among children.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A mixed day on Wall Street today---
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/8.22/9176.72/x/13.48/1917.35;]

The Dow lost eight points to close at 91 hundred 77.
NASDAQ gained 13 points.

[SUPER=431-i%/47%/ia/63e/h1f/97g/id/33!/h1*/61!;]
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[Spanky-Macher]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-27 TC 47:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Spanky Macher extended his reputation when he opened the Star City Diner downtown.
Now the restaurateur would like to be known as the man who added some spice to Roanoke's night life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

"Chilli Peppers" is Macher's latest venture.
It's a combination Southwestern restaurant and bar that will feature live entertainment from what Macher calls "higher-end garage bands."
Macher and his business partners said downtown Roanoke needs more bars like this.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09 01 44]
[IN Q=if you could]
((SPANKY MACHER/RESTAURATEUR: IF YOU COULD OPEN UP FIVE OR SIX MORE BARS DOWNTOWN WITH BANDS, THAT WOULD CREATE EVEN MORE EXCITEMENT DOWNTOWN AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Spanky Macher/Restaurateur;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=come downtown]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Chilli Peppers should open next week. [star city shots]
Meanwhile, Macher said this fat fellow is not about to come down.
The Elias Brothers restaurant chain is suing Macher, saying his statue on the Star City Diner looks too much like "Big Boy," a registered trademark.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09 02 22]
[IN Q=my trademark]
((SPANKY MACHER: MY TRADEMARK LAWYER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES, IT'S UNIQUELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS REGISTERED BY ELIAS BROTHERS IN WASHINGTON.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=WASHINGTON]
[VO NAT]
Macher said he expects the court case to last at least a couple of years.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sports tease]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up tonight in sports, VMI has a new athletic director, Melvin Whitaker finally has a college home, the Hornets have new hairdos,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and once again some area linksters hit the course today driving and putting for charity. That story and more coming up right after this break.

(------------)[S-VMI]

[ANCHOR=MIke]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-3]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

VMI announced the hiring of its new athletic director today.
But the school gets much more than an administrator in Donny White.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Donny White/VMI Athletic Director; :20]
[SUPER=01-Maj. Gen. Josiah Bunting/VMI Superintendent; :46]
[SUPER=01-Ted Cain/VMI Head Football Coach;1:18]
[SUPER=01-Bart Bellairs/VMI Head Basketball Coach; 1:41]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=all that]
(-----------------)
((1965 VMI civil engineering graduate Donny White accepted his new challenge high a top alumni field.
He inherits a program that for the last ten years has had trouble challenging for championships in the tough Southern Conference. ((DONNY WHITE/NEW VMI ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:))
White experiences set him apart from the other candidates. He was a football co-captain and a baseball all-star at VMI, plus his ties to the legnedary Bob Thalman were also a plus. ((MAJ. GEN. JOSIAH BUNTING:)) ((DONNY WHITE:)) ((TED CAIN/VMI FOOTBALL COACH:))
Still despite all his experience, his past and the enormous support he has amongst fellow alumni, White knows his job will not be an easy one.))

((BART BELLAIRS:))[S-White]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-1]
[GRAPHIC=GREEN BAY LOGO]

Reggie White says he's a man of his word.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Green Bay, WI; :]

And for that reason White says he will not retire and instead honor his promise a year ago to play for the Packers two more seasons.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I'm a man...]
[SUPER=01-Reggie White/Packers Defensive End; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=....Bay Packers."]
(--------------)

[S-Melvin]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-5]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]

Former University of Virginia recruit Melvin Whitaker has been in jail since 1996 for slashing a UVa football player in the face. It appears now he will have the chance to play college basketball.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :00]

Whitaker, who attended Oak Hill and Hargrave Military Academy, has reportedly signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Mount Saint Mary's College in Maryland. Athletic director Harold Menniger says the plan at this time is to have Whitaker on campus in the fall.
Mount Saint Mary's school officials say they are aware of the risk. Whitaker plead guilty to malicious wounding and was sentenced to three and a half years in jail for slashing Maurice Anderson with a boxcutter during a pick up basketball game in March of 96.

(------------)[S-Hornets]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-7]
[GRAPHIC=HORNETS]

The Charlotte Hornets were 0-for-4 against the Atlanta Hawks their first round playoff opponents during the just completed regular season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Mill, SC; :00]

So to change things up a bit, the Hornets showed up at practice today with shaved heads.
All 12 members of the team are now bald including Vlade Divac.
Veteran Dell Curry, the only original Hornet initiated the close shave.

(------------)[S-Golf]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-11]
[GRAPHIC=GOLF]

And finally tonight the rain held off long enough for Countryside
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
to play host to the annual Kroger-March of Dimes charity golf event today.
This the 8th straight year the Cave Spring Kroger employees have organized this event.
Last year the event raised $23 thousand dollars to help fight birth defects.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="You see them...]
[SUPER=01-Jim Heninger/Kroger Representative; :00]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=...get out of it."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]

Besides hitting the links, the golfers also attacked the lunch buffet that included grilled chicken and smoked pork bar-b-que.
(------------)
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
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[TAPE#None]
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That's News 7 at Six. Coming up tonight at 11, after higher assessments left many Botetourt County homeowners angry, will they be getting a break on their property taxes?
And a Japanese native who helped save Holocaust victims remembers his experience. [Keith ad lib byes] Jean Jadhon will have those stories and more tonight on News 7 at 11.