WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/27/98

[Open]

[SUPER=#4050; HEADLINE BANNER]

[SUPER=17-Monday/April 27, 1998]
[SUPER=15-Melanie/Moon;]
[SUPER=15-Kimberly/McBroom;]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

[kids-arson]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#98-25 TC:46:37]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A series of fires last night in the town of Appomattox were intentionally set and police say the ones lighting the matches were children.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox;]

The first fires were set just after 7 p-m at the J-E Sears Company in downtown.
A warehouse full of building materials was destroyed.
Investigators found profanity and racist graffitti spraypainted at the scene.
But the company's owners are white.. and they, like the police, were at a loss to explain what happened.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((AL SEARS/OWNER:WE DON'T KNOW...CAUSED IT. ))
[SUPER=01-Al Sears/Owner;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=CAUSED IT.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Three other fires were set in a nearby garage, a pile of haybales and a grassy field.
Eyewitnesses led police to the two children who were seen near the fire scenes.
The 11 year old boy and 14 year old girl are now in police custody and police are still wondering about motive.
(----------------)

[MCDONALDS]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One gunman is dead, and 15 hostages are free after a standoff at a Massachusetts McDonald's.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Bedford, MA;]
[4:00:00]
New Bedford police say one gunman and one hostage are still missing.
There was a report that the woman taken hostage by the second gunman is a manager of the restaurant and that she is six months pregnant.
The gunmen exchanged fire with police, and that's when one of the gunmen escaped with a hostage.
Authorities aren't sure if the dead gunman was hit by a police bullet during the shootout or if he committed suicide.
(----------------)

[TEACHER-KILLED]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

Teachers at a middle school in edinboro, Pennsylvania will counsel grieving students when they return to class today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Edinboro, PA;]

It's still unknown why a 14-year old Andrew Wurst allegedly opened fire at his 8th grade dance Friday night.
Yesterday, memorial services were held for a teacher killed in the attack.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( PATRICK KNAUS/WITNESSED SHOOTING;I SAW HIM WALK UP TO THE DOORWAY HE WAS WAVING A GUN LIKE THIS AND SOMEONE GOES ANDREW WHAT ARE YOU DOING, AND HE GOES LIKE THIS WAVING THE GUN AROUND. AND THEN HE PULLED THE GUN AND LOOKED AT ONE OF THE STUDENTS AND SHOT AT HIM, AND MISSED HIM AND IT WENT THROUGH HIM AND HIT ANOTHER STUDENT IN THE FOOT.))
[SUPER=01-Patrick Knaus/Witnessed Shooting;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=killed in the attack.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Three other people were injured.
(----------------)

[S-Carroll-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

It's been over 3 weeks since a Hillsville man was reported missing.
Yesterday police found the body of 33-year-old Ronnie Dale McMillian, who apparently died following a traffic accident almost a month ago.
According to police McMillian was traveling along Route 608 when his car ran off the road and flipped over an enbankment.
Yesterday authorities used a helicopter to search for his body.
They say alcohol was a factor in the accident.

[E-W&L-Folo]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-23; 57:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Charges of abduction and hazing have left some Washington and Lee fraternities wondering about their future.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]

Police say five students were arrested following a Wednesday night campus party.
Two students from Sweet Briar College apparently shaved the pubic hair of a W&L student at the party.
Then in retaliation, three Sigma Nu frat members allegedly abducted the women and tried to do the same thing to them.
Police charged the two women with sexual battery.
The men were charged with abduction.
W&L's faculty approved a hazing policy not long ago.
While this is not considered a hazing incident, members of a neighboring fraternity fear this latest prank will lead the administration to restrict fraternity activities.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=10:49:44]
[IN Q=THERE'S BEEN A]
((J.P. KILEY/PHI KAPPA PSI; THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. IT SEEMS LIKE YEARS AGO IT USED TO BE THAT'S WHAT THIS SCHOOL WAS ABOUT. NOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT IT TO BE ABOUT. THEY WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD THEM BACK UP INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO. THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. KIDS ARE DIFFERENT TODAY.))

[SUPER=01-J.P. Kiley/Phi Kappa Psi;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=HOUSE AT ALL.]
(------------)
[Talent=Melanie]
[SS=none]

Members of the Sigma Nu fraternity say the actions of the fraternity brothers involved was a "stupid prank".
And, it's not representative of the chapter as a whole.
University officials were not available for comment yesterday.

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, a tough start to the season for the Roanoke Wrath.
Roy Stanley has details on yesterday's loss to the South Carolina Shamrocks.
Good Morning Roy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good Morning]
[RUNS=1:59]
[OUT Q=later on mornin'.]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)

[One-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M98-5]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

(I'll ad lib intro)

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Ladies and gentleman]
[SUPER=12- Charleston, WV; :00]
[SUPER=13-Pete Cinini/Stable Manager; 1:19]
[SUPER=13-Mark Gaipo/Operations Manager; 2:35]
[RUNS=3:14]
[OUT Q=it compliments the job]

((LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

For one hundred and twenty eight years those words have grabbed the attention of youngsters -and the young at heart- and turned them towards the Ringling Bothers and Barnum Bailey Circus.
But it is the work behind the scenes and the stories of the people involved that may be The Greatest Show On Earth.
When the worlds longest privatly owned train pulls its 30 plus cars into town, months of planning is put into motion.

Over 70 animals need to be brought to the arena and the only way to get most of them there...is to walk.

When's the last time you looked into your rear view mirror and saw this?

Of course all of that walking can make an animal hungry, which is one of the reasons the circus goes through 11 tons of hay, 18 hundred pounds of oats, 735 pounds of meat and almost a ton of produce each week!
The animal's health is cared for by Pete Cinini. But he didn't come to the circus 22 years ago to be a vet.

(around 2:32:00) I NEEDED A VACATION ONE SUMMER AND A YEAR TURNED INTO ANOTHER AND ANOTHER YEAR (end 2:32:07)
(2:32:19)BUT WHEN YOU GET THE SAWDUST IN YOUR SHOES (end 2:32:22)
(2:32:25) ITS HARD TO SHAKE IT OUT, EVEN THOUGH I GO THROUGH MANY SHOES A YEAR ITS HARD TO GET RID OF THE SAWDUST. (en
d 2:32:30)

and besides, if he left who would do his other three jobs?

(2:32:59) BESIDES MYSELF BEING THE VET TECHNICIAN AND THE STABLE MANAGER AND NEWSPAPER EDITOR- TODAY I'LL SORT 3,200 PI
ECES OF MAIL MYSELF AND IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 2 HOURS (end 2:33:21)

Lots of people in the circus wear many hats. When 40,000 pounds of trusses, 8 miles of rope and wire, over 700 lights and a 30 thousand watt sound system need to be set up in just 10 hours, there's no need to look for a side job. Its construction hat by day...head dress and wings by night.

And just like in any other large corporation these employees need to know about everything from smoking and sexual harrasment policies to family leave and medical coverage. Mark Gaipo is the man that keeps them informed and overseas the whole operation day and night.

(2:53:14) SOMETIMES THE HOURS ARE LONG BUT IF I DIDN'T LOVE IT I WOULDN'T DO IT. IT CAN REALLY CONSUME YOU. (2:53:20)

While a lot of people may see the circus as leaving a lot of friends and family behind, Mark actually hit the road to be closer to his sister who's been with Ringling Brothers for 10 years.

(2:53:39) ONE YEAR IT WAS TIME TO BUY HER A BIRTHDAY PRESENT AND I REALIZED I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER. WE'D SEE
EACH OTHER TWICE A YEAR IF YOUR LUCKEY. I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME ON THE ROAD, I STARTED AS A RIGGER, A LOT OF HARD WORK DETERMINATION AND GOOD PEOPLE IN THE COMPANY ALLOWED ME TO MOVE UP TO THIS POSITION SO QUICKLY. (2:53:54)
and like many others in this traveling city the circus is where he met his true love, a Russian trapeeze artist who is now pregnant with their first child.

(2:55:47) YOU NEVER PLAN IT TO HAPPEN, IT HAPPENS. YOU GET A LITTLE SCARED AT FIRST TO WONDER IF YOU ARE ADAPTING TO T
HE SURROUNDINGS- BUT THE MORE TIME YOU GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER- CROSSING ETHNIC DIVERSITIES- IT COMPLIMENTS THE JOB.))
[Steve Live]
[STOCKS] [COMM][stocks]
[SUPER=x5101;]
[SUPER=430-y/78.71/9064.62/y/12.45/1868.94;]
[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;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[Missing-Patient]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

It has been nearly 24-hours since an Alzheimer's patient wandered off in Rockbridge County.
Authorities say 78-year-old Robert Nelson Chadwick had no money or identification when he drove off in his daughter's car yesterday morning.
Chadwick is reportedly driving a red GEO tracker with a tag that reads "U-F-O T-R-K-R".
He has gray hair and blue eyes.
[super=16-(540)463-7328/Rockbridge County Sheriff's Dept.]

Anyone who sees Chadwick is asked to contact the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Department at (540)-463-7328. [E-Airpo

rt-folo]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-26; 52:54]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Plans to demolish some World-War-II-era hangars sparked one Roanoke man's mission to save them.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Now, Duane Howard is trying to bring more attention to aviation history.
He's started a Roanoke chapter of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14.08.17 - 14.08.29]
[IN Q=The focus of]
((DUANE HOWARD/VA AERONAUTICAL HIST. SOC.: THE FOCUS OF THE VIRGINIA AERONAUTICAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE VIRGINIA'S AVIATION HERITAGE AND TO WORK AND PROMOTE AVIATION WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Duane Howard/Va. Aeronautical Hist. Soc.]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=with young people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The group elected officers earlier this month.
And, it's continuing Howard's efforts to preserve some structures at Roanoke Regional Airport.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

Other group activites include aviation history exhibits at area museums, scheduled for later this summer.
The group also plans to host a fiftieth anniversary party, celebrating the founding of Piedmont Airlines.

[Common-Sense]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=comsen]
[GRAPHIC=Common Sense]

Many investors have kept a close eye on Asia, wondering if problems there could hurt the economy here.
As Scott Goldberg reports in this week's Common Sense, one expert says that is not likely.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Scott1; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Orr/First Union Economist;20]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=i'm SG]
(( The chairman of the Federal Reserve Board recently said there's a chance troubles in Asia could slow down our economy.
But so far, that Asian turmoil has meant great things for American consumers.
For example, gas prices and mortgage rates are low.
First Union economist David Orr says it's only a small sector of the U-S economy that should brace for a hit.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12 09 59]
[DAVID ORR TAPE]
[IN Q=there will be]
((DAVID ORR/FIRST UNION ECONOMIST: THERE WILL BE A VERY SEVERE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON A VERY NARROW SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY. AND THAT'S THE COMPANIES THAT EXPORT WITH ASIA, AND THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE TO COMPETE WITH ASIAN IMPORTS. THAT'S ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ECONOMY, AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING SLAMMED. BADLY. )) [RUNS 18]
[OUT Q=badly]

Orr said you can expect the trade deficit to get horrendously big.
But he said 85-percent of the country won't even notice.
That's this week's Common Sense.

I'm Scott Goldberg.))[2-Scores]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-4]
[GRAPHIC=Carolina league]

The Salem Avalanche took down Prince William 2 to nothing at Memorial Stadium yesterday.
Here's a look at the scores.
(------------)
(/////SOT/////)
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5011;]
[SUPER=0093-j/Salem/2//Prince William/0////Lynchburg/3/j/Wilmington/4//10 Innings/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0093-/Danville/3/j/Winston-Salem/4///;]
[SUPER=X5010;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Boston/3//Cleveland/2////Detroit///New York///PPD RAIN/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Oakland/12//Baltimore/4///j/Anaheim/2//Tampa Bay/1///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/Cincinnati///New York///PPD RAIN//Milwaukee/7/j/San Francisco/8///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-j/Houston/15//Montreal/0////Arizona/6/j/Florida/12///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/St. Louis/3/j/Philadelphia/9////Atlanta/6/j/Colorado/7///;]
[SUPER=X5028;]
[SUPER=0096-j/New York/96//Miami/86///j/L.A. Lakers/108//Portland/99///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0096-j/Minnesota/2//Seattle/0///;]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=...LOUISIANA."]

(--------------)[Two-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)

[Appox-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-25 TC:47:27]
[GRAPHIC=fIRE]

Two young children: an 11- year- old boy and a 14- year- old girl, are in custody, charged with setting FIVE separate fires in the town of Appomattox last night.
Steve Smallshaw tells us police are still wondering about a motive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The first]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=01-Doug Martin/Appomattox V.F.D. Chief; :13]
[SUPER=01-Al Sears/Owner; :34]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :51]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=News7, Appomattox.]

(( The first fires were set around 7 p-m, at the J-E Sears company in downtown Appomattox.
One destroyed a warehouse full of building materials.. and kept firefighters busy for hours trying to contain it.))(
/////SOT/////)
[SOT 22:00:16]
[IN Q=We started out]
((DOUG MARTIN/APPOMATTOX V.F.D. CHIEF: WE STARTED OUT WITH AN EXTERIOR ATTACK.. STARTED FLOWING WATER.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=flowing water.]

Authorities also found profane and racist graffitti spraypainted around the fire scene.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 22:06:08]
[IN Q=We don't know]
((AL SEARS/OWNER: WE DON'T KNOW.. .. CAUSED IT.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=caused it.]

((Steve Smallshaw, News7, Appomattox.))[2-MCDONALDS]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One gunman and one hostage are missing after a deadly standoff at overnight at a McDonald's in Massachusetts.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Bedford, MA;]
[4:00:00]
New Bedford police say the other 15 hostages have been freed unharmed.
One gunman was found dead when a SWAT team entered the restaurant.
There was a report that the woman taken hostage by the second gunman is a manager of the restaurant and she is six months pregnant.
Authorities aren't sure if the dead gunman was hit by a police bullet during a shootout or if he committed suicide.

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

[CHILD-SHOT]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

Police in Greensboro, North Carolina say they're considering charges against a gun owner after another shooting involving children.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC;]
A six-year-old boy in this neighborhood was shot dead Saturday on his birthday by a four year old friend.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[4:06:40]
[IN Q=]
(( HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, WE USE TO PLAY BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. ))
[SUPER=01-Lindon Gilmore/Shooting Victim's Friend;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=GOT TO SAY.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

Investigators say the boys found the handgun in a purse.. and thought it was a toy.

[2-TEACHER-KILLED]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

Classes will begin two hours late today at Parker Middle School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Edinboro, PA;]

The delay will give teachers extra time to help students who are grieving for a teacher killed Friday at an eighth grade dance.
A 14 year old student at the middle school, Andrew Wurst is accused in the shooting.
Yesterday, memorial services were held for the murdered teacher.
Another teacher and two fourteen year old boys were injured by gunfire.
(----------------)

[E-Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mhi]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

One man was killed in a car wreck in Franklin County yesterday morning around 8 a-m.
According to police Delmas Paul Johnson's car ran off the road, flipped, then hit a tree.
The accident happened along Route 607.
48-year old Johnson died at the scene.

[2-E-W&L-Folo]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-23; 57:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some Washington and Lee fraternities fear their future is up in the air following abduction allegations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]

Police say five students were arrested following a Wednesday night campus party.
Two students from Sweet Briar College apparently shaved the pubic hair of a W&L student at the party.
Then in retaliation, three Sigma Nu frat members allegedly abducted the women and tried to do the same thing to them.
Police charged the two women with sexual battery.
The men were charged with abduction.
W&L's faculty approved a hazing policy not long ago.
While this is not considered a hazing incident, members of a neighboring fraternity fear this latest prank will lead the administration to restrict fraternity activities.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=10:49:44]
[IN Q=THERE'S BEEN A]
((J.P. KILEY/PHI KAPPA PSI; THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. IT SEEMS LIKE YEARS AGO IT USED TO BE THAT'S WHAT THIS SCHOOL WAS ABOUT. NOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT IT TO BE ABOUT. THEY WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD THEM BACK UP INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO. THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. KIDS ARE DIFFERENT TODAY.))

[SUPER=01-J.P. Kiley/Phi Kappa Psi;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=HOUSE AT ALL.]
(------------)
[Talent=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

Members of the Sigma Nu fraternity say the actions of the fraternity brothers involved was a "stupid prank".
And, it's not representative of the chapter as a whole.
University officials were not available for comment yesterday.

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, sibling rivalry takes Bobby Labonte to the top at Talladega.
Roy Stanley has highlights from yesterday's DieHard 500.
Good Morning Roy.
(///SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=day everybody.]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)

[Three-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M98-5]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll ad lib intro)

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mom actually]
[SUPER=13-Marissa Richardson/Dance Captain; :00]
[SUPER=12-Charleston, WV; :38]
[RUNS=3:16]
[OUT Q=I'm ready]

((
(3:07:34) MOM ACTUALLY HAS PICTURES OF ME ON OUR LITTLE TRAPEEZE BAR ON OUR SWING SET SO I GUESS I WAS DESTINE TO BE IN
THE CIRCUS. (3:07:40)
Although she didn't end up flying through the air, destiny did bring Roanoke's Merissa Richardson to Ringling Brothers.

(3:10:22) NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I DREAM OR BELIEVE I WOULD BE IN THE CIRCUS, FRIENDS OF MINE WHEN IT WOULD COME TO TOWN
WOULD ALWAYS SAY LETS JOIN THE CIRCUS...HA HA HA. ONE YEAR IN 92 WHEN THEY CAME I AUDITIONED AND 2 DAYS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY NEEDED SOME DANCERS, AND I SAID SURE . FIGURED I'D BE HOME IN 6 MONTHS. BUT THEY SAY SAWDUST GETS IN YOUR VEINS AND I'VE LOVED IT EVER SINCE. (3:10:45)
7 years later she is the dance captain for The Greatest Show On Earth, a job which she equates to being like a mother to 14 girls. Her typical day includes checking costumes and floats to be sure all is in order and checking the floor to make sure her team will be able to enter and exit the rings safely.
Of course she says she has other important things to do each time she arrives in a new city, find the laundromat, post office, grocery store and of course the mall.

(3:07:47) OH YES, I LOVE TO SHOP.

In just about any city you can find her cruzing the shops with friends which is one of the things that she says makes life on the road a lot like home.

(3:06:23) THE SIMILARITIES ARE THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND ROANOKE WHEN I WAS THERE I KNEW A LOT OF PEOPLE. I C
OULD SAY HI, GO TO THE MALL AND KNOW SOMEBODY, HERE EVERY WHERE I GO I KNOW SOMEBODY EVEN IF IT IS IN A MALL IN A DIFFERENT TOWN BECAUSE WE ALL TRAVEL TOGETHER. (3:06:36)
As for the people she travels with she says the dancers and the clowns are pretty close not only becuse they are in a lot of acts together but because their train cars are next to one another. When you live on a mile long moving city, thats like being in the same neighborhood. Of course there is one clown in particular she is very good friends with her husband, Max.
They took the plunge 4 years ago in Charleston West Virginia, Max's home state. And as you may expect, it wasn't exactly your normal wedding.

(3:09:16)WELL MOM WAS EXCITED BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO BE IN THE WEDDING IN THE CIRCUS. SO DAVE LARIBLE OU
R HEADLINING CLOWN ESCORTED HER DOWN THE ISLE AND SHE WAS A LITTLE AWE-STRUCK WHEN I CAME OUT ON AN ELEPHANT AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN CLOWN MAKE-UP. IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR HER. (3:09:32)
Living and working together can be tough, but Marissa and Max have it all worked out.

(Around 3:14:27 or so) BEING AT THE BUILDING, THATS OUR TIME APART, HE DOES HIS THING I HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS. IF
WE SEE EACH OTHER OR NEED SOMETHING WE TALK BUT OTHER WISE IT GIVES US SPACE SO WHEN HE COMES HOME I CAN SAY "WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?"(3:14:50)
Marissa says she thinks with its diverse cultural background the circus would be a great place to raise a family, but their aren't any little ones on the way just yet.

(3:09:58) I HAVE A DOG- AND MY HUSBAND'S A CLOWN SO RIGHT NOW THATS ENOUGH FOR ME. HE'S A BIG KID. (3:10:04)

And now after 7 years, with the big kid by her side, she will finally get to put her best foot forward in front of the home crowd.

(3:15:43) OH I'M SO EXCITED. ITS ALL I CAN TALK ABOUT. THE GIRLS ARE LIKE OK OK WE'RE GOING TO ROANOKE, SO YEA...I'M R
EADY. (3:15:51) ))
[Steve Live]

[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, federal officials want to know why one vital drug is in such short supply.
Mika Brzezinski has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=federal health]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; :00 ]
[SUPER=@file; ]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((ONCAM=MIKA
((on cam))
FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE MEETING TODAY TO INVESTIGATE WHY A VITAL DRUG DERIVED FROM HUMAN PLASMA IS IN SUCH SHORT SUPPLY.
INTRAVENOUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN HELPS PATIENTS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. WITHOUT IT, THEY ARE VULNERABLE TO DANGEROUS INFECTIONS.
NOW THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE DRUG ARE DOING ENOUGH TO END THE SHORTAGE, OR IF THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO PROFIT FROM THE CRISIS.
VT=VO
((VO))
RESEARCHERS SAY YOU CAN PROBABLY ADD ASTHMA TO THE LIST OF HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY.
A HARVARD STUDY FINDS OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ASTHMA THAN THOSE WHO ARE SKINNIER. A BRITISH STUDY PRODUCED SIMILAR FINDINGS.
EXPERTS SAY THE EXTRA WEIGHT MAY BE TIGHTENING AIRWAYS TO THE LUNGS-- MAKING THEM PRONE TO CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER ASTHMA.
THE STUDIES WERE PRESENTED AT A CONFERENCE HELD BY THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.
VT=VO
((VO))
AND FINALLY, VEGATABLES MAY BE THE RIGHT INGREDIENT FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
SCIENTISTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY SAY A REGULAR DOSE OF FOLIC ACID--FOUND IN MANY GREEN VEGGIES--COULD PROTECT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THE DEBILITATING ILLNESS.
BUT THE RESEARCHERS STRESS MORE STUDIES NEED TO BE DONE BEFORE A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S AND FOLIC ACID CAN BE MADE.
THAT'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS. MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK))

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]

[Prison-Disturbance]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One deputy suffered scratches during a minor weekend disturbance at a regional jail in New Kent County.
Authorities say the incident started when an inmate became upset over an order to go to bed Saturday night an hour earlier than usual.
The order was given to a 36-inmate cellblock because of a rules infraction.
Authorities say the inmate resisted being handcuffed, and 12 other inmates also refused the order and began throwing chairs.

[E-Bowers-Hike]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-22]
[GRAPHIC=David Bowers]

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers says its an uphill battle he's willing to fight... So he is challenging Congressman Bob Goodlatte for his seat.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

The mayor is running against Goodlatte for the sixth district seat.
Yesterday, Bowers kicked-off a series of hikes to highlight his congressional campaign.
He climbed Elephant Mountain in Buena Vista.
Bowers says--in his own way, he's following in the footsteps of President Clinton's environmental efforts.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=12:49:24]
[IN Q=I THINK IT]
((DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE MAYOR; I THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS RESPONDED WITH HIS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. AND I SUPPORT HIS POLICY OF PUTTING SIX-POINT-THREE-BILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS TAX CREDITS. TOWARDS INDUSTRIES AND OTHER EFFORTS TO TRY AND REDUCE EMISSIONS AND TO PROTECT THE CLEAN AIR OF AMERICA.))
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/Roanoke Mayor;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=OF AMERICA.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bowers said he hopes to meet more of his constituents on future hikes.
(------------)

[Enterprising-Youth]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A church fundraiser is teaching its youth the value of a dollar and of helping their community.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Downtown Roanoke's St. Johns Episcopal church is sponsoring a six-week Rent-A-Kid program.
It's a fundraiser where youngsters from the congregation are hired out in pairs to do odd jobs for church elders.
The rate is five dollars an hour per person.
The money raised is used for summer mission trips into Appalachia to help those less fortunate.
It designed to get the kids actively involved in the community.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=13:41:19]
[IN Q=A LOT OF]
((LAURA MACBEAN/RENT-A-KID COORDINATOR; A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE VERY PRIVILEDGED KIDS AND THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT HAVING ANYTHING. THEY CAN GO HOME AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A HOUSE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE FOOD ON THE TABLE AND MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO GET CARS WHEN THEY TURN 16. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PART OF A WORLD WIDE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY CLOSE TO US THAT DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Laura MacBean/Rent-A-Kid Coordinator;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=HARDLY ANYTHING.]
[Talent=Melanie]
[SS=none]

Two years ago, the program helped tornado victims in Irwin, Kentucky.

This year, it will take the youngsters to Tazewell, Tennessee to help build a house.[4-Scores]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-4]
[GRAPHIC=Carolina league]

In Carolina League Action, a win for the Salem Avalanche, but losses for both Danville and Lynchburg.
Here's a look at yesterday's scores.
(------------)
(/////SOT/////)
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5011;]
[SUPER=0093-j/Salem/2//Prince William/0////Lynchburg/3/j/Wilmington/4//10 Innings/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0093-/Danville/3/j/Winston-Salem/4///;]
[SUPER=X5010;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Boston/3//Cleveland/2////Detroit///New York///PPD RAIN/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Oakland/12//Baltimore/4///j/Anaheim/2//Tampa Bay/1///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/Cincinnati///New York///PPD RAIN//Milwaukee/7/j/San Francisco/8///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-j/Houston/15//Montreal/0////Arizona/6/j/Florida/12///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-/St. Louis/3/j/Philadelphia/9////Atlanta/6/j/Colorado/7///;]
[SUPER=X5028;]
[SUPER=0096-j/New York/96//Miami/86///j/L.A. Lakers/108//Portland/99///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0096-j/Minnesota/2//Seattle/0///;]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=...LOUISIANA."]
[super=#555;Reset]
(--------------)[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

An 11-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl are charged with setting five separate fires last night in Appomattox County.
The first fire was set at about 7 o'clock, and destroyed a warehouse full of building materials. Police say they have no motive for the arson.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

More stories of hazing at Washington and Lee after a campus party Wednesday night.
Police say two students from Sweet Briar College were charged with sexual battery for allegedly shaving the pubic hair of a W&L student. Three W&L fraternity members were charged with abduction after kidnapping the two women.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Police in Rockbridge County are looking for an Alzheimer's patient who wandered off yesterday morning.
Authorities say 78-year-old Robert Nelson Chadwick has no money or identification with him. Chadwick has gray hair and blue eyes and is reportedly driving a red Geo tracker.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(ad lib bye)[Close ]
SUPER=X4029; Mornin' Fax/Copyright Banner [SUPER=X4028; Mornin' e-Mail/Copyright Banner]