[1-News-Head]

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

[VO-NAT]

A severe threat of coastal flooding from Hurricane Bonnie nearly stalled on the Carolina Shoreline.
We've got the latest tracking data- -storm video- -and a LIVE report from Ellen Qualls on the coast.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]


A murder trial the hinges on a broken gun.
And a new home for your Hometown Station.

[Sports-Head]


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


Tonight on the Big 7, McGwire talks about the down side of the homer chase, Sosa hits another this afternoon.
Earnhardt and his son are getting ready to race each other in Japan,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


and the woman ranked third in the LPGA Rolex player of the year standings is coming to Roanoke on September 29th.


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

[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]


Bonnie grabs the headlines as the heat continues here. Looks like isolated showers are popping up along the mountains tonight.


[Update-Bonnie]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Hurricane Bonnie in now off the North Carolina coast near Cape Fear. But a serious forecast problem has developed.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wilmington, NC]


Not until late this afternoon did the eye of the storm make landfall.
This huge weather system- -400 miles wide- -made its presence known far in advance of the epi-center.
Bonnie has rocked the coastal Carolinas.
But with its forward movement at only about ten miles an hour, the hurricane will drop at least five to ten inches of rain over the next 10 or 12 hours.
As much as 20 inches is not out of the question if Bonnie stops moving altogether... and that is now a distinct possibility.
(-----------)

[Roll]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=NONE]
[SUPER=80-93/67/0.00''/87/65/0.00''/90/63/0.00''/86/64/0.00'';]
[SUPER=81-88/71/0.00''/91/64/0.00''/90/63/0.00'';]
[SUPER=82-6.17''/plus 2.78''/39.28''/plus 12.42'';]

[SUPER=83-Down 1.16 feet/Down 1.06 feet;Lake levels][School-Closings]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The steamy weather in this area is causing more early school closings tomorrow.
(------------)

[take pinnacle board]
In Covington..
Edgemont Primary will close tomorrow at noon and there will be no afternoon kindergarten.
Jeter-Watson Intermediate will close at 12-26pm.
And, Covington High School will close at 12-34 tomorrow.
Schools in the Alleghany Highlands will close two hours early tomorrow.
And, Nelson County Schools will close at 1 p-m tomorrow.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=none]


Montgomery County schools closing early tomorrow include--
Shawsville High School and Middle School which will both be close at noon--along with Auburn High School and Middle School, Blacksburg Middle School and Christiansburg Middle School.
Montgomery County elementary schools closing at 12:45 tomorrow include Margaret Beeks, Belview, Price's Fork, Gilber Linkous, and Christiansburg Elementary School.

[Bus-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]


12 Patrick County students and their bus driver were injured when the bus overturned on a gravel road this afternoon.
It happened when the bus met another vehicle in a curve, moved to the shoulder and rolled onto its right side.
The injures were not serious, one student had a broken collarbone. Both drivers were charged with failing to drive on the right side of the road.

[Hit-and-Run]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=98-51; 46:48]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A Pittsylvania County woman is dead after a hit- and- run accident near her home.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]


The body of 34- year- old Cynthia Faye White was found this morning along State Route 360 in Keeling.
State Police say she was discovered by her boyfriend.
Troopers believe she was killed between 9 and 11 last night and may have been struck by a dark colored Ford pick-up truck.
Anyone with information about this fatal accident should call the State Police in Salem.
(----------------)

[wipe,wipe,wipe]

[West]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=KHu]
[TAPE#=98-55; 46:27]
[GRAPHIC=wipe,wipe,wipe]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./August 20]


A woman injured in a traffic accident on 220 last week has died of her injuries.
Sherry West's view of the Jeep that hit her was apparently blocked by a south-bound truck, as she pulled out from Pine Needle Road Thursday.
Rescue workers managed to revive her, but the single mother of two elementary school children died last night.
(----------------)



[Gill]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-46; 1:29:33]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A broken gun became the key clue in a Franklin County murder trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]


21-year-old Rodney Gill was convicted today of killing his 19-year-old girlfriend LaKisha Stockton last August.
He then straddled her body in bed and shot himself through the head, but he survived.
His attorney says the murder was an accident.
But the prosecutor points out Gill's gun was broken and that he would had to have cocked it by hand.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:09:41]
[IN Q=The trigger pull]

((CLIFF HAPGOOD/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THE TRIGGER PULL ON THIS WAS SIX AND A HALF POUNDS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL PULL, NOT A HAIR TRIGGER BY ANY MEANS, NOT THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE WAVING AROUND IN THE AIR AND OOPS, IT WENT OFF. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE HERE AT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Cliff Hapgood/Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=at all]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Judge William Alexander convicted Gill of second degree murder, saying there was no proof he had planned the crime in advance.
Gill will be sentenced in October.
(------------)
[Tease#1]

[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]


Still to come--pinks slips are going out to dozens of workers at a Roanoke company.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And, WDBJ--your hometown station-- is headed to a new, bigger location in Roanoke--the old Best building.
That story is coming up when the news continues.
(----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]


[Hurricane-Bonnie]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-45]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Bonnie]


As we told you earlier, Hurricane Bonnie has come ashore in North Carolina, packing winds of up to 115 miles per hour.
[Double Boxes=Keith/ Ellen Starlink]


Ellen Qualls joins us now live from Morehead, North Carolina.
Ellen what's the situation?
[Live= Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Morehead, NC;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:at this hour. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Amazing]
[SUPER=01-Linda Cancellerach/Carteret Co. Resident; :00]
[SUPER=03-Morehead City, NC; :]
[SUPER=01-Jerri Banks/Morehead City Resident; :]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Linda Davis/Shelter Resident; :]
[SUPER=01-Mark Whittaker/American Red Cross; :]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=be back.]




[Live= Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Morehead, NC;;]
( ad lib)





[Double Boxes=Keith/ Ellen Starlink]


[Blevins]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=98-59; 18:40]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A former teacher accused of having sex with a female student was sentenced to seven years in prison.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smyth Co./May 7;]


35- year old Michael Blevins pleaded guilty to the charges in Smyth County today, as part of a plea agreement .
The girl was a former student of Blevins when he taught in Rural Retreat although the crimes happened in Smyth County.
He also faces trial in Montgomery County for allegedly having sex with two other students.
Blevins taught math and coached wrestling at Shawsville High School.
Prosecutors say Blevins lavished liquor on the girls to get them into bed and also bought them lingerie.
(----------------)


[VMI-beating]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-50; 1:35:09]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]


Three VMI cadets, charged with hazing are asking a judge to dismiss the charges.
Jonathan Gonzales, Thomas Upshaw and Charles Clemmons allegedly beat former cadet George Wade with belts and a coat hanger.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]


But their lawyer says the state's hazing law is too vague.
And the school's interrogation methods, called "gestapo tactics" by a federal judge, violated their constitutional rights.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT01:05:59 ]
[IN Q=Evidence was obtained]

((THOMAS SPENCER/DEFENSE ATTORNEY; EVIDENCE WAS OBTAINED IN VIOLATION OF ABOUT EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION AGAINST GATHERING EVIDENCE AGAINST A CRIMINALLY ACCUSED DEFENDENT .))
[SUPER=01-Thomas Spencer/Defense Attorney;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=accused defendant]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The judge will not rule on the motion until Michael Irvine, the special prosecutor, submits a response.
(------------)


[Halmode]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=98-58; 22:26]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Another round of layoffs hits the embattled textile industry. This time it's in Roanoke;
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]


Halmode Apparel says 180 people will lose their jobs in late October.
That is 40 percent of its Roanoke workforce.
Halmode says it is ending some of its manufacturing operations. This news comes on the heels of the company's announcement that it is cutting 75 percent of its workforce in Covington.
In April, Halmode closed its plant in New Castle, laying off 117.
Southwest Virginia has lost 10 textile plants this year.
Many of the jobs are going to Mexico where labor is much cheaper.
(---------------)


[Tri-Wood]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A Henry County manufacturing plant is closing-- its operations will be moved to other area facilities.
Tri-Wood Incorporated has made particle board for furniture production since 1983.
The plant is jointly owned by Bassett and Hooker furniture companies.
Those parent companies will move Tri-Wood operations to their facilities by early next year.
Tri-Wood's 70-workers will be offered jobs at the local facilities.

[Stocks]


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


The dow dipped almost 80 points today-- [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/79.30/8523.35/y/30.04/1768.13;]


closing at 85-hundred-twenty-three points.
NASDAQ was down 30 points.
[SUPER=431-ha/45b/i!/56f/i@/42d/i1#/25@/i1a/57;]

[ AE /ATT /Bell/Columbia/Crestar;]
[SUPER=432-i1a/45/hb/9@/ha/41r/ig/51&/i*/46d;]

[Dana/Dimon/Dominion Resources/First Union/First VA]
[SUPER=433-ha/90$/i1e/50&/i1f/69a/i1@/29r/i!/9e;]

[General Electric/Kroger/Nationsbank/Norfolk Southern/Optical Cable]
[SUPER=434-h$/44@/ie/15e/id/29c/ir/82#/h%/69!;]

[phillip morris/roanoke electric steel/trigon/wachovia/walmart]

[APCO]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-49; 1:31:31]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]


The people reviewing American Electric Power's plan to build a high-voltage line have some heavy reading to do.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


A-E-P handed over a 150-page study.
It was a response to the state's request that A-E-P look at an alternative route. [map]
A-E-P concluded its preferred corridor -- from Wyoming, West Virginia to Cloverdale -- is the least costly and most efficient place to build a new line.
THAT line could be built by winter in the year 2002.
A-E-P says the state's two-phase alternative project could take three times as long to build.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13 48 41]
[IN Q=just phase one]

((TODD BURNS/AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER: JUST PHASE ONE OF THAT PROJECT WOULD DELAY IT BY ONE YEAR. AND THE DATE FOR HAVING THE TOTAL PROJECT IN PLACE WOULD BE AS LATE AS 2012.))
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/American Electric Power;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=as late as 2012]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The state will take a couple of weeks to review A-E-P's study.
Then the State Corporation Commission will decide if it needs to know more about the alternative route.
Power-line hearings have been put on hold until the review is completed.
(------------)



[Best-WDBJ]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-54; 1:10:09]
[GRAPHIC=none]


We've bought a new home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


W-D-B-J- -7 closed the deal yesterday to purchase five-acres of land now occupied by the Best Products building on Hershberger Road.
It'll be turned into a T-V station by the turn of the century.
Station Manager Bob Lee says the site near the Roanoke Airport is a great, high- profile location.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:52:20]
[IN Q=It is what]

((BOB LEE/WDBJ 7 GEN. MGR.: IT IS WHAT THE RETAILERS CALL A "BIG BOX" LOCATION, A GREAT BIG EMPTY 250 BY 200 STRUCTURE WITH VERY FEW OBSTRUCTIONS INSIDE.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Lee/WDBJ 7 General Manager]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=obstructions inside.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Architectural work is still on the drawing board, but Lee expects work to begin within the next three or four months.
The move to the new television station is now set to take place on the first day of the new millenium.
(------------)


[Sports Tease]


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


Coming your way tonight in sports, Mark McGwire deflects some of teh criticism he's been receiving since divulging that he takes a diet supplement.
Sosa hits one out today, Donn Andrews is coming to town
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


and Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. announce plans to share a Coke and race together this season.
I'll tell you where and when in just a moment.
(------------)


[S-Earnhardt]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-15 58:42TC]
[graphic=nascar 50th]


NASCAR's 50th anniversary season has featured about everything imaginable to date, and tonight there's word that Dale Earnhardt and his rising son, Dale Junior are going to mmix it up in Japan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA;:00]


Coca Cola announced today that it is not only sponsoring the season ending exhibition race in Japan but it also is sponsoring Chevy's driven by both Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Dale Sr.
It will mark the first time that the father and son have raced against each other.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Well, I'm pretty...]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...country you're in."]
(------------)


[S-Sosa]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-16]
[GRAPHIC=SOSA]


Sammy Sosa has put some life back into the Roger Maris chase that was dormant last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cincinnati, OH/MLB-Reds; :00]


In the top of the third inning of the Cubs game in Cincinnati today, Sosa ripped this solo shot out of Synergy Field as the Cubs beat the Reds 9-to-2. Sosa now has 52 homers and 130 rbis.
(------------)



[S-McGwire]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-19]
[GRAPHIC=Mcgwire]


As for Mark McGwire, he's still in front with 53 homers on the season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]


But he's also somewhat down in the dumps. He's surprised by the amount of criticism he has received since revealing that he takes the legal over the counter diet supplement androstenedione (AN-DRO-STEN-DE-OWN).
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="They are trying...]
[SUPER=01-Mark McGwire/53 Homers This Season;:00]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=...comes down to."]
(-------------)



[S-Sight]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-25]
[GRAPHIC=Tee off for Sight]


Hunting Hills Country Club will host the 17th annual Tee Off for Sight Golf Tournament this September.
[graphic=donna andrews]


Donna Andrews will serve as the event's first ever female guest pro, one of two new elements Steve Mason introduces us to.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning; :10]
[SUPER=01-Roby Roberson/Hunting Hills Golf Pro; :20]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :27]
[SUPER=01-Tim Gresham/Prevent Blindness Va. CEO; :40]
[SUPER=01-Terry Phelps/Tournament Sponsor; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports"]
(--------------)


((The Tee off for sight tournament has featured Peter Jacobson, Mark McCumber, and Fuzzy Zoeller to name a few. It's only fitting that prevent Blindness Virginia and Hunting Hills Country Club announce, that the event's first female guest pro have local roots, Lynchburg's LPGA Star Donna Andrews. ((:)) ((:)) ((:))
Andrews has 12 LPGA top 10 finishes and has won over 640 thousand dollars. her hometown ties, which include five Virginia Amateur titles, and tour success will hopefully generate over 30 thousand dollars to prevent blindness. ((:))
The tournament tees off September 29th. Steve Mason, News 7 sports.))
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-93/67/98/1959/47/1942;]
[SUPER=306-86/70/59/SE-10mph/29.87s/6:46am/7:56pm;]


[Forecasts]
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[SUPER=330-Partly Cloudy/Isolated Shower/68-70/Partly Sunny/Wind NE-15/87-90;]
[SUPER=331-Partly Cloudy/Wind NE-15/68-70/Partly Sunny/Showers Possible/87-90;]
[SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/And Breezy/62-66/Mostly Sunny/Wind N-10/85-87;]
[SUPER=333-Partly Cloudy/Wind NE-10/63-67/Partly Sunny/Wind NE-15/83-87;]

[SUPER=X5001;][SUPER=334-Partly Cloudy/And Breezy/58-62/Partly Sunny/Wind N-10/80-85;]
by SS