WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 09/16/98

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[7:00:36]
[IN Q=You have witnesses]
(( REP. STEVE BUYER/R-IN: "YOU HAVE WITNESSES THAT BEGIN TO PLAY MIND GAMES AND BEGIN TO TOY WITH THE QUESTIONERS...AND YOU KNOW THAT THERE LACKS SOME SINCERITY WITH REGARD TO THOSE ANSWERS." ))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=to those answers.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lawmakers debate the release of President Clinton's videotaped grand jury testimony.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And a death row inmate wants to die in the electric chair.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

[cLINTON]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]

Democrats and Republicans have been holding separate closed-door meetings, discussing whether the public should see what President Clinton told the Monica Lewinsky grand jury.
Meantime, President Clinton faces questions from reporters today for the first time since the release of the Starr report when he holds a news Conference with the President of the Czech Republic.
Maureen Maher is in Washington with an update.
[Live=Maureen Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Maureen Maher/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[11:30-UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Tom Delay/(R) Majority Whip;]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Charlie Rangel/(D) New York;]
[super=04-Sketches By: William Hennessy;]
((( At the arrival ceremonies for the President of the Chech Republic President Clinton made no mention of the growing controversy over the Monica Lewinsky affair choosing instead to stick to foreign relation issues.

(SOT/President Clinton)

Meanwhile Republicans gunning for an impeachment inquiry continue to turn up the heat on the President_ saying a vote for censure would be a less than adequate punishment_
Rep. Tom Delay/R-TX/majority whip:
(approx)" President wouldn't even have to stand in the corner"

Some Democrats believe the GOP is all talk and is only looking to further embarrass the President.
Rep. Charlie Rangel/D -NY:
(approx) "the republicans want to stretch this past november)

But the republicans may soon have more ammunition in their battle to move the President out of the Oval office. The House Judiciary committee could meet as early as tomorrow to decide whether Mr. Clinton's August 17th video taped grand jury testimony should be released_

(STAND-UP) The video taped testimony is said to show an angry and
defiant man, a side of Bill Clinton the American public has not seen before_ The President has yet to comment on this latest controversy, but that could change later this afternoon, when he holds his first press conference since the Independent Counsel's report was released.))
[Live=Maureen Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)
[OUT Q=back to you in the studio.]

[Post-Office]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-63 30:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A significant part of Christiansburg's history is back where it belongs.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

This morning, residents and local dignitaries marked the return of the mural which has hung in the downtown post office for roughly 60- years.
The mural was removed so it could be cleaned and restored to its original beauty.
(/////SOT/////)
[2:02:31] [2:11:21]
[SOT]
[IN Q=The artwork]
((JOHN HALBERSTADT:THE ARTWORK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS OUR HISTORY AND TO PUT IT ANYWHERE ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAVESTY. LANCE TERPENNY/CHRISTIANSBURG TOWN MANAGER:IT BELONGS HERE, IT DEPICTS THE WILDERNESS TRIAL AND AS YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT STARTED MAIN STREET AND IT WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE TO BE ANYWHERE OTHER THAN ON THE WILDERNESS TRAIL. ))
[SUPER=07-John Halberstadt; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lance Terpenny/Christiansburg Town Manager; :08]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=wilderness trail.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many who attended this morning's ceremony were reminded that the mural would probably not be hanging in the downtown post office had town residents and others not successfully lobbied to keep it open.
(----------------)

[E-Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=598-35 22:54]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]

American Electric Power says the latest development in the power line controversy suggests the focus of the debate is shifting ...
From a question of: IS the new power line needed ...
To the question: Where should it go?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Yesterday the State Corporation Commission staff said it wants a complete study of an alternative route for the 765-thousand volt transmission line.
That route would not end in Cloverdale, but at the Jackson Ferry substation in Pulaski County.
The staff report says this route would let A-E-P meet its projected power needs, and cause less environmental damage.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

Another round of studies will cost A-E-P an estimated 700-thousand dollars.
But spokesman Todd Burns said he's encouraged by the language of the S-C-C's request.
It says a new power line would reinforce Southwest Virginia's power supply.

[E-School-Closings]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

The continued heat is making for another short school day for many area students.
(------------)
[Pinnacle Pages]
Danville schools will run on a half-day schedule.
Henry County will close elementary schools at noon; middle schools at 12:45pm and high schools at 1pm.
In Martinsville, Patrick Henry Elementary school will close at 12:30pm, and Albert Harris Elementary at 1pm.
Pittsylvania County, Bland County, and Patrick County schools will close at 1pm today.
The schedule in Lynchburg: high schools closed at noon, middle schools close at 12:30pm and elementary schools close at 1pm.
Closing 2 hours early are the following school systems: Giles County, Alleghany County, Bedford County, and Covington schools.
Craig County and Wythe County schools will close at 1:30pm.
(----------)

[Dry-Season]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-56 41:35]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fires]

The heat and dry weather are bringing rise to anxiety about area forests.
Dozens of acres on Massanutten Mountain near New Market will fall prey to brush fires by the end of the week.
And officials for George Washington-Jefferson National Forest say the dry spell is contributing to the blaze sparked by lightning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Dave Olson is with the forest service. He says such droughts are always a potential hazard for long burning brush fires. Olson has advice for hikers heading out into the woods this time of year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=17:22:03]
[IN Q=PARTICULARLY IF]
((DAVE OLSON/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER; PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE SMOKING, JUST BE SURE YOUR CIGARETTE IS EXTINGUISHED. MAYBE IT'S BEST TO SMOKE IN THE CAR INSTEAD OF ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING A CAMPFIRE PARTICULARLY THIS WEEKEND, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO AVOID THAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN A DEVELOPED CAMPGROUND SITE ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Olson/Public Affairs Officer;]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=SITE ITSELF.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Olson says this year's drought season is months ahead of schedule and is twice as dry as normal.
He says forest fires under such conditions are much more difficult and expensive to contain.
(------------)

[Stewart-Execution]

[ANCHOR=mELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-45 tc 50:52]
[GRAPHIC=Kenneth Stewart]

Kenneth Manuel Stewart Jr. has one week to live, barring intervention.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/May 1992]

And he wants to die in the electric chair.
Stewart shot and killed his estranged wife and infant son in Bedford 7 years ago.
If his wishes for electrocution are carried out, it would be the first death sentence by a means other than lethal injection carried out in VIrginia since 1994.
Stewart's lawyer questions whether his client is mentally fit to make that decision.
(------------)

[Motorola]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=net-I]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The hard times in Asia have short-circuited one of the biggest economic development projects in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Motorola;]

Motorola says it's stopping construction of a semi-conductor plant in Goochland County.
The company says the market for computer chips has hit bottom, because factories in Asia are selling them at such low prices.
Motorola says it still plans to go ahead with the project, once the market improves.
It's supposed to employ about 5-thousand people.
(------------)

[S-Growth-Botetourt]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#98-58 1:35:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Asia's economic woes were apparently behind yesterday's announcement that Connex will close it's doors in Botetourt County.
But County officials say they still expect accelerated growth in the area.
And those same officials are putting a pinch on housing to accommodate that growth, by reducing the number of apartments allowed per acre.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

This classroom, packed with almost thirty children, is a snapshot of county growth.
Schools are bursting at the seams.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:06:33]
[IN Q=Like when I ]
((KATE CAMPBELL/SECOND GRADE: LIKE WHEN I ... PRETTY HARD.))
[SUPER=01-Kate Campbell/Second Grade;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=PRETTY HARD]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Another elementary school is being built in the Greenfield Industrial Park.
But that park is also for new businesses and thousands of future employees.
To save Botetourt's rural hills, county supervisors yesterday cut the number of apartments allowed per acre in half, from twelve to six.
Only a few apartments exist in Botetourt County now.
So where will all the newcomers live?
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:41:05]
[IN Q=A lot of people]
((A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY ...PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR COUNTY?))
[SUPER=01-David Hale/Regional Homebuilders' Assoc.;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=into our county]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The county administrator says big companies don't ask about housing.
But developers say there are no homes for young, elderly, low or middle income people in Botetourt County.
(----------)

[Ramsey]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-D]
[GRAPHIC=Jonbenet Ramsey]

In Colorado a grand jury looking into the murder of JonBenet Ramsey is meeting for a second day.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boulder, CO;]
[7:05;16]
The Panel met for more than eight hours yesterday.
The 6 year old beauty queen was found beaten and strangled in her home in December 19-96.
[SUPER=@File;]

No one has been arrested, and that's led to allegations that police and prosecutors botched the case.
A grand jury has greater power to compel evidence and testimony.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The grand jury]
(( BOB GRANT, ADAMS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY:"THE GRAND JURY HAS AN INVESTIGATIVE ROLE TO PLAY, BEFORE THEY CAN REACH THAT INVESTIGATIVE ROLE, THEY HAVE TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS SO FAR BEEN ELICITED . ))
[SUPER=01-Bob Grant/Adams Co. District Attorney;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=been elicited.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Jonbenet's parents John and Patsy Ramsey have always maintained their innocence, despite speculation they are somehow involved.
(----------------)

[E-Bank-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-55 1:00:13]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]

Federal investigators have made an arrest in connection with last month's hold-up at a Dublin bank.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/August 18;]

F-B-I agents arrested 18-year old Christian David (Ka-hars) Cahours of Blacksburg Monday.
He's accused of robbing the First American Bank in Dublin, August 18th.
[SUPER=03-Dublin/July 28;]

At the time, authorities said it appeared the suspect in that robbery was the same man who robbed the bank two weeks earlier.
Yesterday-- they would only say- that investigation is continuing.
(----------------)

[Pulaski-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Christiansburg woman died last night after she sustained injuries in an early-morning car accident.
State police say 48-year-old Ada (ai-duh) Elizabeth Tass (tess) veered off of Interstate 81 in Pulaski County at exit 89-B around 3 a-m yesterday.
Her car struck a tree.
She died last night in Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

[E-Pitts-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-69 1:00]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]

The needs of several low-income families in Pittsylvania County are reportedly NOT being met.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]

News 7 has learned more than a dozen P-C-C-A clients have issued complaints about unfinished and faulty repairs to their homes.
These clients say they believed the work was supposed to be completed by the agency.
[SUPER=03-Chatham/Last Night;]

Last night, a spokesperson for some of the clients attempted to address the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
Vivian Anderson is a former P-C-C-A volunteer who says she doesn't understand why low-income families aren't getting the help they need.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 8:54:37-:50]
[IN Q=Now something is going]
((VIVIAN ANDERSON/FORMER PCCA VOLUNTEER: NOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON HERE AND I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, I'M A TAXPAYER, I'M A CONCERNED ADVOCATE OF THE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT BEING SERVICED.))
[SUPER=01-Vivian Anderson/Former PCCA Volunteer;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=not being serviced.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Board of Supervisors told Anderson she needs to air her grievences with the Community Action Board of Directors.

The executive director of P-C-C-A says the agency has met all of its obligations with its clients.
The complaints are now being investigated by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development which provides funding to the agency.
(----------------)

[E-Bomb-warrant]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-59 40:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A-T-F agents think a South Roanoke man is behind the bombing of his own car.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September 4]

The blast dazed Norvell West, the Third, and did some damage to his father's truck.
It was the fifth such incident he's reported to police in a month.
Federal agents have seized items from West that could have been used to make a bomb.... materials anyone might have in their garage: wire, nails, drill bits, caulking.
West's lawyer dismisses the idea that West set the bomb himself, calling it "ludicrous."
(-----------)

[E-L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-68 TC]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg]

Lynchburg has spent more a million dollars trying to improve its recrational facilities, but some are still not satisfied.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

By next spring the city should have eight new soccer fields ready for play, but local organizers say that's still not enough.
The group Lynchburg United Soccer wants to raise two million dollars to build a ten- field soccer complex just outside the city limits.
They're asking city council for 500- thousand dollars in seed money.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:54:34]
[IN Q=When they hold]
((DAVID BICE/LYNCHBURG UNITED SOCCER: WHEN THEY HOLD TOURNAMENTS, THEY BRING UPWARDS OF TWO TO THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX BASE TO THE CITY. AN INVESTMENT OF 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BRING IN TWO TO THREE MILLION EVERY OTHER YEAR, OR EVERY YEAR, MAYBE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR, IS CERTAINLY A GOOD INVESTMENT WE THINK.))
[SUPER=01-David Bice/Lynchburg United Soccer; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=investment we think.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Council members say they support the idea of an independent soccer complex, but are not willing to make any financial commitments just yet.
(----------------)

[Mac]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-12 1:23:26]
[GRAPHIC=Sports Generic]

Once again, the King stands alone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO/Pirates vs. Cardinals; :00]

Mark McGwire went into last night's game with the Pirates as a pinch hitter in the ninth. And the hero of St. Louis came up big once again- smacking number 63 over the left field fence. Big Mac is one ahead of Sammy Sosa.
[SUPER=03-Minneapolis, MN/Mariners vs. Twins;]

Ken Griffey Junior hit his 52nd homer on the season as the Mariners beat the Twins 12-7. He also drove in five runs and became the fourth youngest player EVER to log one thousand R-B-I's.
(------------)

[Cut]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-14 1:26:55]
[GRAPHIC=REDSKINS/49ERS]

After Monday's big loss to San Francisco, the Redskins decided to make a move.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Frostburg, MD;:00]

Washington cut place kicker Scott Blanton. He missed two field goals in the second quarter as the Skins suffered their worst home loss in 50 years.
David Akers will take his place.

(------------)[Piedmont]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-25 57:51]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 sports]

On to the high school scene, where the Dogwood and Piedmont districts are again about to shake it up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Next week, the executive committee and the Virginia High School League will meet to decide to move Tunstall, Dan River and Chatham high schools from the Dogwood BACK into the Piedmont distrcit after a three year hiatus.
Next year, the Dogwood is expanding and adding teams that would cause these three schools to travel longer distances. Athletic directors and coaches around the Piedmont have a positve outlook on the moves since they will then be able to schedule more games.

(------------)[RU]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-24 41:17]
[GRAPHIC=Soccer]

Soccer action kicked off at Radford last night as the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest came to town.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Demon Deacons vs. Highlanders;]

In the first half, Wake strikes first. Greg Krouse scores at the 17-55 mark of the period and the Deacs went up 1-nothing.
[SUPER=34-Wake Forest/3/Radford/1;]

Radford answered nine minutes later. Scott Hance takes the pass from Troy Washington and buries it to tie the game at 1 all, but Wake scored 2 in the second half to win 3-1.
RU is now 3, 2 and 1 on the season.
(------------)

[Express]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-17 1:10:54]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

The Roanoke Express now has twelve players on the roster after bringing two more veterans to the ice.
Winger J-C Ruid has signed. He registered 12 points in 24 games last season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1997-98 Season; :00]

And defenseman Duane Harmer will act as a player assistant coach for the Express this season.
Last year, Harmer racked up 50 points for Roanoke, which was 10th best in the ECHL. He also served as captain. Harmer will try out with the Lockmonsters and former Express coach Frank Anzalone in Lowell later this month.
Also, Chris Lipsett, who is still the property of the Express, has been released from the NHL San Jose Sharks rookie camp.
(------------)

[BEATLE-Spice]

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

You've seen those outrageous Spice Girls outfits.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, United Kingdom;]

Now the public has a chance to own a couple.
Some of the dresses worn by former Spice Girl Geri Halliwel, Ginger Spice, are being auctioned at Sotheby's today in London.
Her most famous frock, the Union Jack mini-dress, is expected to fetch about 20-thousand dollars.
Last night, Sotheby's auctioned the notebook in which Paul McCartney drafted the lyrics for the Beatles' song "Hey, Jude." (----------------) It sold for 168 thousand dollars.