WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/24/98

[1-News-Head]

[Anchor=Keith]

Coming up on NEWS 7 at SIX:

A pay raise for legislators wins out over increasing the amount of money for Virginia school construction.
(-----------------)
[v/o-NAT ]
And an old hotel said to be up for sale for a dollar. It'll either be torn down or end up on the National Register of Historic places.

(---------------)[Sports-Head]

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

Tonight in sports, Roy Stanley checks in from the Greensboro Chrysler Classic with the story of how the event is paying tribute to Sam Snead this weekend.
Qualifying is still going on in Talladega, and Earnhardt is rolling.
The WCW is suing Ric Flair,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and one of the area's top high school track meets, the Cosmo, opened its two day run today in Salem.
(------------)[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

The weekend outlook is pretty strong for outdoor activities. From golf in Greensboro to hiking on the Appalachian T

rail, it should be nice.[XGR]

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

They had a chance to put their money where their mouths are-- and a majority said NO.
All 140 members of the General Assembly want to make history by launching a state program for school construction.
But when asked to give up a pay raise to help do it-- the politicians drew the line.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/Starlink]

Ellen Qualls is at the State Capitol.
[Live=Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]

Keith, Lynchburg's Senator Steve Newman led the charge in the Senate.
On the House side, it was Bedford Delegate Lacey Putney.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT **Rolled from StarLink**]
[IN Q=Any way]
[SUPER=@Putney; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :11]
[SUPER=01-Del. Vince Callahan/(R) Fairfax; :24 ]
[SUPER=@Reynolds; :56]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Stafford Co.;1:10]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=of Dodge.]
(([SOT 11:23:17 roxane]
((DEL. LACEY PUTNEY/I-BEDFORD: ANY WAY WE LOOK AT IT, WE CAN CALL IT OFFICE EXPENSE OR CALL IT WHAT WE WILL, IT'S A SALARY INCREASE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY.)) [runs:10]
So Putney says if lawmakers want more money for school construction-- killing their own pay raises would provide two-point-four million dollars.
[sot 11:24:29]
((DEL. LACEY PUTNEY: I HOPE YOU WILL VOTE FOR THE CHILDREN OF VIRGINIA AND VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT.)) [runs:05]
[sot roxane 11;34:10]
((DEL. VINCE CALLAHAN/R-FAIRFAX: I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE, AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO, THAT MY SERVICES ARE WORTH SOMETHING, AND EVEN WITH THIS WE HAVE PALTRY COMPENSATION THAT PUTS US IN THE POVERTY LEVEL WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT! wait for laughter)) [runs:17]
That being said, the pay raise cut died in both the House and Senate.
That cleared the air for the real debate-- the House has agreed to 125 million dollars now for school construction-- Senate Republicans have kept the bar at only 110 million.
[sot LONNIE 14:51:53]
((SEN. ROSCOE REYNOLDS: I WISH THAT WE COULD STILL NOW, THIS YEAR, INCREASE THAT BEYOND 130 MILLION DOLLARS AND I APPLAUD THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO STAND UP AND SAY WE MUST MEET THESE NEEDS.)) [runs:15]
[SOT LONNIE 14:47:28]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-STAFFORD CO: I REALLY AM AFRAID IF WE DO 125 OR 130 IT WILL BE 150 BEFORE MIDNIGHT.)) [RUNS:06]
[SOT LONNIE 14:47:44]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-STAFFORD CO.: PUT INTO PLACE A SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION EFFORT OF 110 MILLION DOLLARS AND GET OUT OF DODGE.)) [RUNS:08]))
(-------------)
[Live=Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]

A reminder of course that the car tax cut appears etched in stone at this point.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/Starlink]

The last minute negotiating is now mostly about school buildings. [Q&A When are they scheduled to adjourn?]
They've given themselves until Sunday morning.

[Pitts-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-33 20:28]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

Southside families are mourning the loss of three teenagers killed in an auto accident.
State Police suspect the young driver wasn't paying attention to the road when she veered into the path of a tractor trailer.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Christy/Danville Bureau]

Christy Hubley is in our Danville Newsroom with more on this tragedy.
[Live=Christy Full/Danville Bureau]
[SUPER=@Christy1;]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]

No charges will be filed against the driver of the tractor trailer.
State Police say there's nothing he could have done to prevent the accident.
One look at the car and you'll see why there were no survivors.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. M. M. Scott/State Police;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=over their deaths]
(( This 1997 Mazda was smashed beyond recognition when it swirved into the path of an on-coming tractor trailer.
The three teenagers inside didn't stand a chance.
17-year old Jennifer Blair was driving the car.
18-year old Jennifer Hodges and 15-year old Rocky Tate were her passengers.
The accident happened in Pittsylvania County on State Route 863 near the intersection of State Route 874.
Signs of the accident are still here... black skid marks and a torn-up roadside.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :03-:24]
[IN Q=Our investigation indicated]
((SGT. M.M. SCOTT/STATE POLICE: OUR INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT HE MADZA DRIVEN BY MISS BLAIR WAS NORTH BOUND ON 863, RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, CROSSED BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY INTO THE PATH OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER, AND WAS STRUCK IN THE RIGHT FRONT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS.)) [RUNS:21]
[OUT Q=and passenger compartment.]

Tunstall High School is providing counselling for students who knew the young crash victims.
Teachers tell us many are shaken up over their deaths. ))
(-------------)
[Live=Christy Full/Danville Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]

State Police say the three teens were NOT wearing seatbelts.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Christy/Danville Bureau]

Keith, the Seargent in Danville says this accident was so severe, he doesn't think seatbelts would have saved any li

ves.[Powell]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-25 44:24]
[GRAPHIC=John Powell]

The case against a Lynchburg pediatrician charged with reproducing child pornography will go directly to a grand jury.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Dr. John G. Powell waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a brief court appearance this morning.
He was arrested after police raided his Lynchburg office in January and seized material Powell allegedly downloaded from the Internet.
Powell has since resigned from the practice where he worked.
Judge Joseph Serkes (serks) today granted Powell's request to travel to South Carolina while remaining free on bond.

The grand jury meets next month.
(----------------)

[Frito-Lay]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-21 57:21]
[GRAPHIC=Frito Lay]

They've been making snack chips there for more than two months, but Frito- Lay got around to dedicating its Lynchburg facility today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Governor Jim Gilmore was on hand to help local and state dignitaries cut the ribbon at the plant.
Hard lobbying and millions of dollars worth of incentives helped the Hill City land Frito- Lay two years ago.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:16:15//14:28:28]
[IN Q=Our significant]
((JIM RICH/FRITO- LAY: OUR SIGNIFICANT 100 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THIS PLANT IS A TESTIMONY TO THE FAITH THAT WE HAVE IN THE FRITO- LAY TEAM HERE IN LYNCHBURG AND THIS COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT IS BASED.)) ((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THIS NEW PLANT IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TWO POINT FIVE BILLION DOLLARS TO THE VIRGINIA ECONOMY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US. THEIR PRESENCE CONFIRMS THAT VIRGINIA IS A PRO- BUSINESS STATE.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Rich/Frito-Lay; :00]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :11]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=pro-business state.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Frito- Lay currently employs about 200 people in its Lynchburg plant.
That number is expected to quadruple in the next ten years.
(----------------)
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Fire destroyed part of the Hotel Botetourt last year.
Now the county is threatening to destroy the rest.
That story is still ahead on News-7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Thomas Jefferson Beale may not have buried his treasure here- -but he may well have ridden the stage coach on the Bufordsville- Fincastle Turnpike.
Is this REALLY the site of a 19th Century wayside called the Black Horse Tavern?
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib] [Roll] [Lake Level] [MUSIC UP FULL]

[COMM#1][Hotel-Botetourt]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-23 TC53:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Botetourt County officials say they will demolish a historic landmark unless someone takes action.
Tina Tenret explains why.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Fire destroyed]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan/August, 1997; :01]
[SUPER=01-Harry Gleason/Project Manager; :21]
[SUPER=@Tina1; :54]
[SUPER=07-Tommy Firebaugh; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Buchanan]

((Fire destroyed the roof and third floor of the Hotel Botetourt last year.
This brick building has been a Buchanan landmark for a century and a half -- once a resting stop for confederate soldiers.
Inside the original fireplace mantels are still intact.
A local historian says it would be perfect for elderly housing or apartments.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:37:18]
[IN Q=Housing and apartments]
((HOUSING AND APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN IN SUCH NEED HERE IN TOWN. WE HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHO WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY WITHIN THE TOWN WHEN THEY CAN'T MAINTAIN THEIR OWN PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.)) [RUNS:20]
[OUT Q=THAT OPPORTUNITY]

But county leaders say it's a safety hazard that will be condemned, unless someone acts soon.
Replacing the roof could cost up to 35-thousand-dollars -- and there's almost two-thousand-dollars worth of back taxes owed on the building.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:41:22]
[IN Q=The town is trying]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: THE TOWN IS TRYING TO PUT THIS BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THAT WAY IT WOULD EARN TAX CREDITS FOR BEING RESTORED. IT IS ALSO NEGOTIATING WITH A GROUP CALLED THE ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS HOUSING ALLIANCE THAT FINDS MONEY FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=HISTORIC BUILDINGS]

The current owner -- Terry Parsell -- would not meet with us, but he's apparently told several people he will sell the Hotel for a dollar.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:59:01]
[IN Q=I understand the price is]
((I UNDERSTAND THE PRICE IS A DOLLAR AND SOMEBODY COULD PICK UP THE BACK TAXES AND BRING IT UP TO DATE. THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE AROUND. SOMEBODY SHOULD PROTECT IT REALLY. THAT WOULD BE MY PLEA. SOMEBODY PROTECT IT!)) [RUNS:19]
[OUT Q=SOMEBODY PROTECT IT]

Artist Tommy Firebaugh has raised 450-dollars to save the hotel.
Trying to keep a historical treasure from crumbling.
Tina Tenret News7 Buchanan))

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Wall Street's slide continued today. The DOW closed [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/78.71/9064.62/y/12.45/1868.94;]
79-points lower, finishing the day at nine- thousand- 64.
Nasdaq lost 12 and a half points.
[SUPER=431-h@/47!/hc/62#/i1d/92g/i%/32$/if/60;]
[SUPER=432-i@/59f/i#/14#/ha/39e/i%/62!/i'/56@;]
[SUPER=433-i%/83d/i@/43/i1a/76b/i1b/33c/ia/10d;]

[SUPER=434-i@/38e/hb/20b/i1a/29/i1/84%/i1a/50e;][Black-Horse]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=KHu]
[TAPE#98-22 TC58:00]
[GRAPHIC=Black Horse Tavern]

About 50 people and their horses will test their endurance this weekend in a ride across Blackhorse Gap.
On the way from Botetourt ...to Bedford County ...and back... they'll pass some historic landmarks.
The Black Horse Tavern will NOT be one of them.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Barely half ]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=08-Kathy Hall/U.S. Forest Service; :10]
[SUPER=@keith1; :28]
[SUPER=01-Ben Richardson/Former Land Owner; 2:08]
[RUNS=2:15]
[OUT Q=rights to the treasure]

((
Barely half a mile below the Blue Ridge Parkway, they'll see the sign that purportedly marks the site of the tavern built in 1782.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:34:45 2-shot]
[IN Q=]
((IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE INTERESTING THINGS. YOU WANT TO KEEP FINDING OUT THE HISTORY, KEEP DIGGING, GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. )) [RUNS:06]
The oasis of spring water and transplanted Periwinkle would have made a perfect wayside for weary travelers. But the Black Horse Tavern wasn't here.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:56:15 walking standup]
[IN Q=]
((IN THE EARLY 1800'S THERE PROBABLY WASN'T ENOUGH TRAFFIC ON THE OLD SWEET SPRINGS ROAD TO REQUIRE A TAVERN- -EVEN IN A BEAUTIFUL SPOT LIKE THIS. BUT THERE WAS A BUILDING HERE, PROBABLY JUST A STAGE COACH STOP. AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN WHERE THE GATE KEEPER LIVED.)) [RUNS:15]
MOUNTAIN Gate, they called it, a stop on the Bufordsville and Fincastle Turnpike.
The commercial toll road opened in 1835, a means of getting from Montvale to Fincastle and the "sweet springs" of West Virginia.
The Black Horse Tavern is actually eight miles southwest of Blackhorse Gap in the Hollins area of Roanoke County. [16:01:15] ((THAT'S THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN.)) [RUNS:02]
Frank Longacre is new to the neighborhood. The National Business College president just bought the old Bellvue Hotel next to the tavern. [16:12:30 -walking into kitchen] ((YOU SEE THIS WINDOW HERE IN THE KITCHEN....)) [RUNS:02]
He's got elaborate plans to renovate the 144-year old mansion.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:09:40 At one time this was two rooms.]
[OR]
[SOT 16:04:45 Either the front part or back part was a bar.]
[RUNS:02]
In contrast, the Black Horse Tavern stands vacant, neglected, a crumbling remnant of some long-forgotten traffic pattern.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:39:35]
[IN Q=]
((THE FOLKS WHO LIVED ON THE OLD CAROLINA ROAD IN THE 1830'S REMEMBERED THAT ANDREW JACKSON WAS A FREQUENT GUEST AT THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN. THE PRESIDENT WOULD OFTEN STOP HERE ON HIS WAY FROM NASHVILLE TO WASHINGTON, D.C.)) [RUNS:12]
For all its history, the tavern might fare better tucked away in the Jefferson National Forest where riders through Black Horse Gap have long THOUGHT it was.
The last PRIVATE land owners of these 380 acres sold it to the government in the early 80's for 103-thousand dollars more than they paid for it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:08 -Ben (starts on 2-shot)]
[IN Q=]
((WHEN WE HAD THE LAND, WE COULD HUNT ON IT, FISH ON IT AND LOOK FOR THE TREASURE. AND AFTER WE SOLD IT, WE COULD DO THE SAME THING.)) [RUNS:08]
The Beale Treasure is widely believed to be somewhere in this area.
And now that the land belongs to the taxpayers, we can all enjoy it... OH, except that Ben and Jack Richardson reta

ined the rights to the treasure.))[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sports tease]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Coming your way tonight in sports, qualifying results from Talladega, the Cosmo track meet opens in Salem, there is controversy in the WCW,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Roy Stanley checks in from the Greensboro Chrysler Classic where the tournament is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a tribute to one of the game's all-time greats.

(------------)[S-Qualify]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-1]
[graphic=talladega]

The Winston Cup warriors are working hard in Talladega at this hour trying to finish up first round time trials for Sunday's Die Hard 500.
This is the fastest track so you would think is would be another stinking day for Earnhrdt right?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Talladega, AL/espn2; :00]

Wrong!
The man in black's best start of the year was 4th in Daytona and he got that by virtue of winning a qualifying race.

Since then his best qualifying effort has been 25th!
But right now he is on the pole after completing a lap in just over 49 seconds.
His speed is 195 point 194 miles an hour.
51 cars are attempting to qualify including Martinsville winner Bobby Hamilton and each is getting two laps so, right now about 10 cars still have to run.
Here's how the top 10 stands at this hour.
(-------------------)
[WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5016;]
[SUPER=0107-1. Dale Earnhardt/195.194/2. Terry Labonte//3. Ken Schrader//4. Morgan Shepherd//5. Jeff Gordon//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-6. Derrike Cope//7. Lake Speed//8. Dale Jarrett//9. Randy Lajoie //10. Joe Nemechek//;]
[runs=:15]
[oc=...nemechek]
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=talladega]

I'll have the complete top 25 rundown for you tonight at 11.[S-Golf]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-6]
[GRAPHIC=Greensboro Classic]

The winner of this year's Greensboro Chrysler Classic will take home a piece of history for his trophy case on Sunday.
Roy Stanley has more from the Forest Oaks Country Club.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ann Vernon Gainey/Tournament Chairperson; :27]
[SUPER=01-Mark O'Meara/1998 Masters Champion; 1:09]
[super=01-Bobby Wadkins/Shot A 71 Today; :1:18]
[super=@roy1; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(---------------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=hold g'boro golf]

Right now, Bob Estes and Hal Sutton have the clubhouse lead at Forest Oaks as the second round of play is winding down.

They are at 12 under par.[S-Cosmo]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=SIX]
[WRITER=Dal]
[TAPE#=SP-8]
[GRAPHIC=Cosmo Track]

Track and Field's traditional right of spring got under way today in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

The 33rd annual Cosmopolitan Invitational Meet boosts 24 teams.
The meet is unusual because both high schools and middle schools compete.
It is also one of the only meets in the state that's NOT put on by a high school, but is still sanctioned by the Virginia High School league.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:42:52]
[IN Q=this meet if]
((RANDY LOWER/MEET DIRECTOR: THIS MEET IF YOU PERFORM A CERTAIN DISTANCE ON A JUMP OR RUN A CERTAIN TIME YOU WILL QUALIFY FOR THE STATE MEET BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE MEET.))
[SUPER=01-Randy Lower/Meet Director;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=OF THE MEET]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Qualifying meets took place today.
The finals and awards ceremonies a start tomorrow morning at nine.
The Cosmopolitian Club organizes the meet. Some of the proceeds benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
(------------)

[S-WCW]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-3]
[GRAPHIC=WCW]

World Championship Wrestling returns to the Roanoke Civic Center this coming Sunday night, but don't look for Ric Flair to be in attendance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-WCW; :00]

The Nature Boy is being sued by WCW officials for missing scheduled appearances and in effect ruining some of the plots and subplots the sports entertainment company had planned.
If all that means wrestling is occasionally fake, this shows there are still hazards on the job.
[SUPER=03-Columbia, SC/Wednesday; ]

Wednesday night Marcus "Buff" Bagwell was taken out the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, South Carolina on a stretcher.
He injured his back, neck and spine when his head got caught in the wrong place. (------------) He damaged three vertebrae and underwent surgery today to have them fused.