WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/21/98

[school-shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

There has been another school shooting.
This time it happened at a high school in Springfield, Oregon.
CNN is reporting that one person was killed.
Police say the shooting occurred in the cafeteria and at least two people were wounded around 8am Pacific time.
But a hospital spokeswoman says she's been told to expect at least five victims.
No word yet on the extent of their injuries.
The gunman used a rifle and has been taken into custody.

No word yet if the shooter was a student.[Rocky-Mount]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#98-45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It looks like a dispute between Rocky Mount and Franklin County over land and sewer lines will be settled by the courts.
Tina Tenret explains.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't think]
[SUPER=01-John Boitnott/Town Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./File Tape; :16]
[SUPER=01-Jerre Lumsden/Franklin Co. Supervisor; :42]
[super=@Tina1; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=TT, News 7]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:36:58]
[IN Q=I don't think]
(( JOHN BOITNOTT/TOWN ATTORNEY: I DON'T THINK THE TOWN WOULD BE LOOKING TO MAKE MONEY OFF AN ANNEXATION. IT'S MORE A DESIRE TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE TOWN THAT DESPERATELY NEED THOSE UTILITY SERVICES.
[OUT Q=utility services]

One of those areas is the Route 40 East corridor.
Several businesses apparently want to move here -- except there are no sewer lines.
So Rocky Mount says it will build sewer lines and annex the surrounding land so it can get a share of the taxes.

But the county insists the town also share in the cost of building sewer lines in the less profitable Franklin Heights subdivision.
Town leaders say they have exhausted all means of negotiation-- so they're taking the county to court.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:21:43]
[IN Q=The worst case scenario]
JERRE LUMSDEN/COUNTY SUPERVISOR: THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS IF THE TOWN WANTS TO ANNEX JUST THE HIGH PROFIT CORRIDOR AND THE COUNTY FIGHTS IT, IT MAY CAUSE EACH A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND TAKE SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MEANTIME. WE LOSE MILLIONS EVERY YEAR. [RUNS :21]
[OUT Q=millions every year]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Jerre Lumsden says]
JERRE LUMSDEN SAYS A MAJOR COMPANY WANTS TO BUILD A SHOPPING CENTER ON ROUTE 40 BRINGING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS. IT'S JUST WAITING FOR A SEWER LINE SOLUTION -- BUT LUMSDEN SAYS THE COMPANY WILL NOT HANG AROUND MUCH LONGER. TINA TENRET NEWS7.Tina Tenret News7))
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]

Both sides say they are still willing to negotiate.[Hedrick]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-33; TC 44:57]
[GRAPHIC=Legal scales]

Convicted killer Brandon Wayne Hedrick could learn today whether he'll spend the rest of his life in prison or be sent to death row.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/Monday]

An Appomattox County jury yesterday convicted Hedrick of the abduction, rape, robbery, and murder of Lisa Yvonne Crider last year.
The 23-year-old Crider died of a shotgun blast to the head.
Her body was later found in the James River.
Today the jury will hear testimony about Hedricks background as his attorneys try to avoid the death penalty for their client.
(------------)

[E-Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=net-R ]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]

Roanoke fire investigators say it could be weeks before they determine if arson is to blame for Monday's deadly apartment blaze.
Authorities HAVE determined that one of the people who was reported missing, Kim Patrick Hudson, is still alive.
The identities of four of the five victims of the fire have been confirmed; officials are still trying to find out who that fifth victim was.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Work crews began tearing down the remains of the Church Avenue apartment building yesterday.
Police are still interviewing witnesses but the search for victims has ended.
The Fire Chief says it will take some time to piece together the physical evidence.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we have sent]
((JIM GRIGSBY/ROANOKE FIRE EMS CHIEF; WE HAVE SENT OFF SAMPLES, FOUR SAMPLES WE'VE TAKEN TO THE LAB TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY RESIDUE THERE, AND TRYING TO WORK ON THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND PUT OUR REPORT TOGETHER, WHICH WILL TAKE US ACTUALLY ANOTHER COUPLE-THREE MONTHS TO GET THAT REPORT PUT TOGETHER.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Grigsby/Roanoke Fire EMS Chief;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=report put together]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile a small memorial is growing in a corner of the property. Flowers, notes and photographs in are being left at the scene in memory of the victims.
(------------)

[powerball]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-n]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Still no word on who's got that winning Powerball ticket for the biggest jackpot in lottery history.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pell Lake, WI;]

But whoever it was, they purchased it at this store in Wisconsin.
The results won't be final until an auditor confirms the numbers later this morning.
[SUPER=03-Des Moines, IA;]

The prize totaled just shy of 195 million dollars.
But the Wisconsin player took the all-cash option, and if that proves to be the only ticket, it would be worth 104 million dollars.
(----------------)

[Indonesia]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Indonesia has a new leader today... for the first time in more than three decades.
Following weeks of violent anti-government protests President Suharto resigned and was replaced by his vice president who is also his close ally.
Barry Petersen reports from Jakarta.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[9:05:26]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Jakarta, Indonesia; :00]
[Super=01-Barry Petersen/Reporting; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:40]

[OUT Q=CBS NEWS JAKARTA.][CHINA]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The White House says it will cooperate with any congressional investigation that gets at the truth about China.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill;]

The Senate Intelligence Committee will look into whether high technology exports to China jeopardized national security.
The House yesterday also voted to block future satellite exports to China.
Both houses are planning investigations.
(----------------)

[E-Bank-Theft]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-44 12:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Danville police are looking for the suspect who took money from a bank courier's vehicle yesterday.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Yesterday Morning;]

It happened outside the People's Bank on Kentuck Road.
The bank courier parked his pickup truck and went inside.
That's when police say a man wearing a black "uniform-like" outfit smashed out the truck's windows.
He took a bag containing an undertermined amount of cash.
Police say the suspect drove off in a blue compact car with stolen tags.
(----------------)

[Sexual-Harassment]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=net-I]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Children are not immune to sexual harassment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge]

That's what teachers and school administrators learned at a conference yesterday.
Speakers participated in yesterday's forum to educate people about sexual harassment in high schools.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09.43.28 - 09.43.50]
[IN Q=They have]
((PATRICIA THOMAS/RAPPAHANOCK COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: They have found that sexual harassment is often used to identify victims both adults and younger and so it's very important for people to recognize that harassment is not just somebody saying something to hurt your feelings--that it really has other repercussions and these are specific practical suggestions of how to do that.))
[SUPER=01-Patricia Thomas/Council on Domestic Violence;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=how to do that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Speakers taught teachers and administrators new ways of dealing with the problem.
They stressed responding to the harassement, rather than ignoring it.
Ignoring it, they said, can indicate that the harassment is acceptable.
(-------------)

[E-Thermachoice]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=98-39 27:45]
[GRAPHIC=Women's Health]

Roanoke Valley hospitals are offering a new procedure that could help some women avoid a hysterectomy and a lengthy hospital stay.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford; ]

The alternative is uterine balloon therapy and it uses a latex balloon catheter filled with heated fluid to destroy the uterine lining.
The procedure takes only eight minutes and the patient can resume normal activity the next day.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ube 11 08 23]
[IN Q=Thermachoice is]
((DR. JAMES WESTON/OBGYN:THERMACHOICE IS A NEW TECHNIQUE WHICH OFFERS WOMEN A NEW APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF VERY HEAVY PAINFUL PERIODS WITHOUT REQUIRING EXTENSIVE SURGERY.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. James Weston/OB-GYN;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=extensive surgery]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Women who wish to become pregnant or who have latex allergies are not recommended for the therapy.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Radford and Roanoke Community Hospitals are the only facilities offering the procedure right now.

[E-Lake-Rentals]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-43]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you had plans to rent a house on the Franklin County side of Smith Mountain Lake for Memorial Day Weekend you'll have to change your plans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

It is now illegal to rent in a residential area for less than a month.
Nieghbors complained that crowds of people often pack into a house meant for four -- then throw loud parties and destroy property.
So short-term rentals are now confined to condominiums.
In contrast -- the Bedford and Pittsylvania County sides of the lake have NO restrictions on short-term rentals.

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

[2-shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting (4130)]

Now for an update on our top story today.
Another shooting at a high school, this one in Springfield, Oregon.
The assistant City Manager of Springfield tells CNN that one person is confirmed dead and at least 16 people are injured.
A gunman has reportedly been taken into custody.
No word yet on whether the suspect is a student at the school.

[E-Software-Factory]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-38 26:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A new business in South Boston has opened its doors.
And the company, called "The Software Factory" is looking to the 21-st century to bring in business now.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-South Boston/Yesterday Afternoon;]

Yesterday the Software Factory celebrated its grand opening.
The high-tech firm trains people for computer programming jobs and specializes in "Year 2000" remediation.
President Jerry Hill demonstrated the company's ability to telecommunicate with its business partners.
Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade was on hand for yesterday's ceremony and noted that technology jobs are the fastest growing jobs in the state.
(----------------)

[S-History-Wing]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-41 TC 14:35]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal]

The public can now see five million artifacts spanning 16- thousand years of Virginia history under one roof.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

The privately-supported Virginia Historical Society now has a new wing.
In it, the Virginia Department of Natural Resources can conduct the work of discovering and documenting state history under the eyes of the public.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:03:30]
[IN Q=You have]
((MELBA MYERS/DEPT. OF HISTORIC RESOURCES: YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CURATOR HERE AND YOU CAN COME SEE OBJECTS FROM OUR COLLECTION.))
[SOT 13:43:42]
((THIS GLORIOUS COMMONWEALTH OF OURS HAS BRED SOME OF THE GREATEST LEADERS AND EVENTS IN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.))
[SUPER=01-Melba Myers/Dept. of Historic Resources;]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :06]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=human history.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The wing was built with a seven million dollar private gift from Richmond philanthropist Claiborne Robins.
(--------0--------)

[E-Hail-Damage]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-26 1:39:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Car-buyers in Salem can thank last week's hail storm for a hefty markdown on new vehicles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

The hail left tiny dimples on cars up and down Salem's East Main Street.
That means if a few dings don't bother you, you can get a sizable chunk knocked off the price of a new car.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 27 06]
[IN Q=they gave us a choice.]
((PAT PHAM/NEW CAR BUYER: THEY GAVE US A CHOICE. THEY COULD FIX IT FOR US OR WE COULD GET OUR PAYMENTS LOWER. AND LIKE I SAID, WE CHOSE TO GET OUR PAYMENTS LOWERED.))
[SUPER=01-Pat Pham/New Car Buyer;]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=LOWERED]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some dealers are hiring dent repairmen to fix the damage.
That means lots of business for people like Steve Hunter.
(------------)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 38 27]
[IN Q=brings in a lot]
((STEVE HUNTER/DENT REPAIRMAN: BRINGS IN A LOT OF EXTRA BUSINESS THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T HAVE. USUALLY YOU JUST HAVE SIDE DOOR DINGS. AND THIS JUST CAUSES A LOT MORE WORK FOR US. ))
[SUPER=01-Steve Hunter/Dent Repairman;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=WORK FOR US]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

There is a downside to buying a hail-damaged car.
Money you save now is money you could lose down the road if you trade in your car.
(-------------)

[2-shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting (4130)]

Now for an update on our top story today.
Another shooting at a high school, this one in Springfield, Oregon.
The assistant City Manager of Springfield tells CNN that one person is confirmed dead and at least 16 people are injured. No word yet on whether the suspect is a student at the school. A gunman has reportedly been taken into custody.