WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/17/98

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[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][7E-Roanoke-Murder]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
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[TAPE#98-53 20:26]
[GRAPHIC=Murder investigation]

A home invasion and attempted robbery in Northwest Roanoke yesterday morning turned into a fatal shooting.
Three armed men wearing ski masks barged into the home- a type of crime Roanoke police say is on the rise in the Valley.
Scott Goldberg reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=if police]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; 00 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Stan Smith/Roanoke Police; :22 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-David Baylor/Victim's Neighbor; :34]
[SUPER=@scott2;1:00]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=sg,n7,roanoke]
(( What police know is that three men wearing ski masks broke into the home Melvin Lee shared with his family.
What they suspect is that the men who shot and killed the 35-year-old knew Lee and knew what the inside of his house looked like.
What police do NOT know is whether THIS home invasion is connected to others that have happened in Northwest Roanoke.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14 59 46]
[IN Q=CERTAINLY]
((SGT. STAN SMITH/ROANOKE POLICE: CERTAINLY WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP. BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.)) [RUNS06]
[OUT Q=point in time]

The men who broke into Lee's house went straight to his bedroom.
The robbery attempt turned into an argument, which turned into a shooting.
A shooting that left Lee's family distraught and his neighbors dismayed.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10 19 19]
[IN Q=there's a lot]
((DAVID BAYLOR/VICTIM'S NEIGHBOR: THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY WITH THE POLICE AROUND HERE, QUITE A BIT. BUT YEAH TO FIND OUT SOMEONE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MURDERED -- IT'S SURPRISING AND UPSETTING .)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=surprising and upsetting]

David Baylor, whose kids played with Lee's children, said there is some crime on his block.
But he said he's never seen anything this bad.
And he said this kind of crime can happen anywhere.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10 21 12]
[IN Q=it's not just]
((DAVID BAYLOR: IT'S NOT JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S ALL OVER THE CITY.)) [RUNS06]
[OUT Q=all over the city]

But not all of the people who live on this block wanted to talk on camera -- and many said crime IS a problem here.
They're upset someone had to die before the problem became one the rest of the city noticed.
Scott Goldberg, News-7, Roanoke.))
(-------------)

[7E-Cressell]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[TAPE#98-41 1:28:55]
[GRAPHIC=Cressell, Emmett]

Emmett Cressell, Junior will await his August trial date in a jail cell.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Independence;]

Cressell is accused of burning and beheading Garnett "G-P" Johnson in Elk Creek, last summer.
He was originally charged with first degree murder and later released on bond after agreeing to testify against co-defendant, Louis Ceparano.
But the tables quickly turned for Cressell after Ceparano recently entered a plea.
In exchange for life in prison, Ceparano agreed to testify against Cressell who was then charged with capital murder.
Yesterday-- Cressell's attorneys argued their client should be granted bond because he did NOT try to flee when previously released.
(/////SOT/////)
[3:50:20]
[SOT]
[IN Q=We simply]
((JEFF DORSEY/CRESSELL'S ATTORNEY: WE SIMPLY POINTED OUT, MR. CRESSELL HAS CONSISTENTLY, 100- PERCENT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS CASE, DONE EVERYTHING HE'S BEEN ASKED TO DO. ))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Dorsey/Cressell's Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=asked to do.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The judge ruled against bond saying the circumstances surrounding the case are different now.
It was also revealed in court that Ceparano recently told investigators the victim's watch was NOT stolen and another person, who has never been mentioned, was there the night of the murder.
(----------------)

[7Hambrick]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[GRAPHIC=legal scales]

An Albemarle County police captain is free on bond after being indicted by a federal grand jury.
38-year old Scott Hambrick pleaded innocent yesterday to charges of sending pornography online and attempting to lure minors for sex.
He was charged last week after he allegedly propositioned a New Hampshire detective posing as a 14-year old boy on the internet.

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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Taking a look at your Friday forecast..
Clouds move into the area today, as temperatures soar back into the low 90's.
Overnight, look for cloudy skies, with light winds. Lows in the mid- to upper-60's.
The extended forecast..
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[7BIRTHDAYS!] 7/18/98
Saturday:

[SUPER=130-59/Joyce Wright/Lynchburg]

[SUPER=130-/Darlene Burton/Lynchburg]

[SUPER=130-64/Louise Webb/Callaghan]

[SUPER=130-9/Ramon Munoz//Roanoke]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-32/Kelley Lambert/Roanoke]

[SUPER=131-55/Thedo James/Roanoke]

[SUPER=131-36/Robert McDaniel/Altavista]
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[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][45Home-invasion]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net- ;FROM 98-53]
[GRAPHIC=MURDER INVESTGATION]

No arrests yet in yesterday's deadly home invasion in northwest Roanoke.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Police say three masked gunmen apparently forced their way into Melvin Andrew Lee's house early yesterday and demanded money.
The 35-year-old was fatally shot in the head.
Police do not know if this shooting is connected to other home invasions in Northwest Roanoke.
They say its apparent the suspects were familiar with the interior of Lee's home.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Certainly we're]
(( SGT. STAN SMITH/ROANOKE POLICE: CERTAINLY WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP. BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Stan Smith/Roanoke Police Department;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q= is at this point in time.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lee's mother, a friend and two young nephews were also in the house but were not injured.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]

Police said Lee was free on bond after being arrested in April on drug and gun possession charges -- but they won't say whether the killing was drug-related.

[45E-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-39 1:51:51]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke COunty Schools]

Roanoke County is finalizing plans for new school construction, while most agree the county needs a new High School,
some are questioning the renovation of an existing high school. (------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape]

Current plans call for a renovating Cave Spring High School, and building a new facility on the Woods End property or some other site.
Some South County residents believe a single high school makes more sense.
They say it will save money in the long-run, and prove less divisive.
They've received no guarantees, but county leaders have agreed to let their experts crunch the numbers one more time.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT UB 16:31:21]
[IN Q=Where you build a school]
((BOB JOHNSON/SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN: WHERE YOU BUILD A SCHOOL, WHETHER OR NOT YOU BUILD A SCHOOL. THE CURRICULA, NUMBER OF STUDENTS, PUPIL TEACHER RATIOS ARE ALL SCHOOL BOARD ISSUES. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS SAID IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE FROM WHAT WE'VE ADOPTED SO FAR, THAT BEING TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR YOU AND WE'LL GO DOWN THIS ROAD ONCE AGAIN AND TRY TOMAKE A VALUED AND INFORMED DECISION.))
[SUPER=@Johnson]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=informed decision.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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Officials say they have a window of a couple of weeks, in which they can consider the question, without delaying school construction.

[45E-Summer-Fun]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[TAPE#=98-43 1:17:08]
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The state and the city of Lexington are joining forces to keep teens out of trouble.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

Lexington recently received a state grant worth nearly 30 thousand dollars that will go to the Office on Youth.
A program director said it will help fund daily operations and programs like this one targeted towards prevention.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12.06.41 - 12.07.00]
[IN Q=Like, the summer]
((TAMMY MERCHANT-DUNN/OFFICE ON YOUTH: LIKE THE SUMMER PROGRAM I HAVE IS PREVENTION. I HAVE A SMALL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. IT GIVES THEM SOMEWHERE TO GO AFTER SCHOOL, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THEY'RE NOT BUSY AND HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS. SO, IT'S A WORTHWHILE PROGRAM. WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF KIDS AND A LOT OF PARENTS WORK DURING THAT TIME AND IT GIVES THEM SOMEWHERE SECURE FOR THEM TO GO.))
[SUPER=01-Tammy Merchant-Dunn/Office on Youth;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=them to go.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Summer Fun '98 Program got underway June twenty-second and lasts for eight weeks.
Activities include dancing, swimming, arts and crafts and field trips on Fridays.
So, far 38 youngsters have signed-up.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Time now to find out what the Friday forecast holds for us--
Partly cloudy today and hot again, with highs reaching 90.
Staying partly cloudy overnight, with lows in the upper 60s.
The outlook for the weekend is partly cloudy, with daytime temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90.
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[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;][8Home-invasion]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net- ;FROM 98-53]
[GRAPHIC=MURDER INVESTGATION]

The search is still on for the suspects in yesterday's home invasion and fatal shooting in Northwest Roanoke.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Police say three masked gunmen apparently forced their way into Melvin Andrew Lee's house early yesterday and demanded money.
The 35-year-old was fatally shot in the head.
Police do not know if this shooting is connected to other home invasions in Northwest Roanoke.
They say its apparent the suspects were familiar with the interior of Lee's home.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Certainly we're]
(( SGT. STAN SMITH/ROANOKE POLICE: CERTAINLY WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP. BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Stan Smith/Roanoke Police Department;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q= is at this point in time.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lee's mother, a friend and two young nephews were also in the house but were not injured.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]

Police said Lee was free on bond after being arrested in April on drug and gun possession charges -- but they won't say whether the killing was drug-related.

[8E-Cressell]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-41 1:28:55]
[GRAPHIC=Cressell, Emmett]

Emmett Cressell, Junior must stay in his jail cell over the next several weeks until his trial date.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Independence;]

Cressell is accused of burning and beheading Garnett "G-P" Johnson in Elk Creek, last summer.
He was originally charged with first degree murder and later released on bond after agreeing to testify against co-defendant, Louis Ceparano.
But the tables quickly turned for Cressell after Ceparano recently entered a plea.
In exchange for life in prison, Ceparano agreed to testify against Cressell who was then charged with capital murder.
Yesterday-- Cressell's attorneys argued their client should be granted bond because he did NOT try to flee when previously released.
(/////SOT/////)
[3:50:20]
[SOT]
[IN Q=We simply]
((JEFF DORSEY/CRESSELL'S ATTORNEY: WE SIMPLY POINTED OUT, MR. CRESSELL HAS CONSISTENTLY, 100- PERCENT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS CASE, DONE EVERYTHING HE'S BEEN ASKED TO DO. ))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Dorsey/Cressell's Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=asked to do.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The judge ruled against bond saying the circumstances surrounding the case are different now.
It was also revealed in court that Ceparano recently told investigators the victim's watch was NOT stolen and another person, who has never been mentioned, was there the night of the murder.
(----------------)

[8E-SOL's]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-42 TC 1:14:13]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

A few months ago, nearly 300- THOUSAND public school students tackled Virginia's new Standard of Learning tests.

Education officials say they're happy with the testing PROCESS, but they're not yet talking about SCORES.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT tape one 22:18:51]
[IN Q=Our program]
((KIRK SCHRODER/VIRGINIA BD. OF EDUCATION: OUR PROGRAM THIS YEAR GREATLY EXCEEDED OUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME ADMINISTRATION OF THESE TESTS. AND WATCH THIS VERY CLOSELY ...deep breath...I'M VERY RELIEVED.))
[SUPER=01-Kirk Schroder/Virginia Bd. of Education; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=I'm very relieved.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Kirk Schroder's just talking about the logistics of administering the largest testing program in state history.
He's NOT talking about the scores.
[SUPER=@file;]

The Board of Education won't talk about that until after it decides what a passing score is, some time in October.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:00:25]
[IN Q=We have]
((MARK EDWARDS/HENRICO CO. SUPERINTENDENT: WE HAVE SOME RAW DATA THAT WE'RE SORTING THROUGH. BUT WHEN WE HAVE THAT PERFORMANCE DATA, THAT'S WHEN WE GET DOWN TO-- I LOOK AT THAT AS A VERY MUCH LOCAL ISSUE. HOW DO WE RESPOND AND USE THAT DATA? BECAUSE CERTAINLY, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIG PUNCH.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Edwards/Henrico Co. Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=the big punch.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The S-O-L test results will really matter in 2004-- when they determine who graduates from high school.
In 2006, schools with a certain percentage of students still failing will lose state accreditation.
(-------0---------)

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
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[GRAPHIC=]

Before we finish the Friday morning updates-- here's another look at the forecast.
Skies will become partly cloudy today, with highs warming to around 90.
Continued partly cloudy tonight, with lows in the upper 60s.
The extended forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies and temperature ranging from the upper 80s to the lower 90s.
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