[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
An earthquake hits Central Virginia.
It was not the BIGGEST tremor of all time- -nor was it the first time we felt the earth move in the Old Dominion.
(-----------)
[V/0-NAT SOT]
And Ronald Lee Fitzgerald gets ready to make his final walk to the death chamber tonight.
(-----------)
[TALENT=Keith]
We'll check in with Ellen Qualls at the prison for a status report.
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sports-head]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on the Big 7, we'll check in with the Tech and UVa men's basketball teams.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, Tech women's star Sarah Hicks won't be able to shoulder the burden of keeping the Lady Hokies in the top 25 this season due to an injury.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Clouds and a few sprinkles tonight and just so you know....bundle up tomorrow night because it will be a cold edition of Friday Football Extra.
[Earthquake]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#98-61 1:14:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An earthquake struck central Virginia today. It may be unusual, but it's hardly a first for the area.
The quake hit around two o'clock this morning, shaking houses and rousting residents from their beds.
[Take Earthquake Map--ss#1000]
It was centered near Farmville, on the Buckingham- Prince Edward County line.
It was felt as far away as Richmond.
Steve Smallshaw talked with Central Virginia residents today.
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]
Steve, how are they taking it?
Pretty well, Keith.. this was a mild tremor.. about 3- point- 3 on the Richter scale.. but it was strong enough to shake the local grapevine.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot]
[SUPER=03-Farmville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Henry Fulcher/WFLO Radio; :12]
[SUPER=03-Buckingham Co.; :24]
[SUPER=01-Joe Jamerson/Buckingham Co. Resident; :39]
[RUNS=:47]
[OUT Q=back to sleep.]
(([natsot 2:59:45]
((AND OF COURSE WE HAVE A FOLLOW- UP ON THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE WFLO LISTENING AREA..))
[RUNS=:06]
Just minutes after the quake hit the phone lines at WFLO Radio in Farmville began to light up.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:47:52]
[IN Q=Folks calling in]
((HENRY FULCHER/WFLO RADIO: FOLKS CALLING IN WANTING TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.. THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXPLOSION OF SOME TYPE.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=some type.]
No explosion, no plane crash.. just a mild earthquake that bounced folks from their beds, cracked a few dishes and rattled some windows.
Up the road in Buckingham County, the tremor shook the chandeliers in the county courthouse.. knocking out just a single bulb.
At least one businessman saw the quake as an opportunity.. but to most residents it was nothing more than an annoyance.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:44:42]
[IN Q=I heard this]
((JOE JAMERSON/BUCKINGHAM CO. RESIDENT: I HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE AND THE BUILDING KINDA SHOOK. I THOUGHT SOMEBODY RUN INTO THE BUILDING AT FIRST. I GOT UP AND LOOKED AROUND AND DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE, SO I FIGURED I WAS DREAMING AND I WENT ON BACK TO SLEEP.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=back to sleep.]))
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]
Again, this is not the first time the Farmville area has been hit by a quake.. another, milder tremor hit the area about eight years ago.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Steve/Microwave]
Then, as now, there was no major damage and no report of any injuries. Keith?[Quake-History]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=See below]
This earthquake was moderate, hardly unique in Virginia. As Steve just mentioned, there have been others in the same region. And the state has long history of earthquakes.
(------------)
[fs graphics]
One of the first recorded quakes in the Commonwealth happened in 1774 and shook houses off their foundations in Petersburg.
[Next graphic]
The worst recorded quake in Virginia history hit Giles county in 1897. Chimneys collapsed. Witnesses said the ground rolled like waves.
[Next graphic]
And there's at least one report of a quake in Roanoke on Christmas day, 1924.
[ss#4562-Webwatch]
For more Virginia earthquake information on the internet, visit the WebWatch section of our W-D-B-J-7 website.
(------------)
[Fitzgerald]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#98-56 (Starlink)]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In 1993, he cut a swath of violence across Pittsylvania County that's believed to be the worst in county history.
Tonight, nothing stands between Ronald Lee Fitzgerald and execution.
[Take Greensville Map full--#4579]
Fitzgerald is awaiting execution at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, and that's where we find Ellen Qualls tonight.
[Live=Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Jarratt;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: his rightful fate.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Ronald Fitzgerald]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./January 1994;]
[RUNS=:36]
[OUT Q=what he did.]
[Live=Ellen full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Greensville;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith & Ellen/Starlink]
(Question: That's a record in Virginia, is it a record for the nation?)[Buchanan-Wreck]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-58 1:30:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Traffic is starting to move again on Interstate 81 near Buchanan, after a tractor-trailer accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
The rig overturned about four this afternoon, blocking northbound traffic.
Police were able to get part of one lane open after a while, but it did create a three- mile long backup.
There were no serious injuries.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
You may have to wait for your flu shot. Still ahead on NEWS 7, we'll tell you why there could be a delay.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And next, exactly what an accused killer plans to tell the judge ...something that could delay his trial.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib]
[Roll]
[Lake Level]
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]
[Pritchett]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-53 1:45:01]
[GRAPHIC=Pritchett]
A highly unusual capital murder trial is supposed to start next week in Montgomery County... SUPPOSED TO... but may not.
We understand "Bud" Pritchett will say "NO," when he's asked whether he is satisfied with his attorneys.
David Johnson tells us why.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Elsie Pritchett]
[SUPER=01-Elsie Pritchett/Pritchett's Mother; :04]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :22]
[SUPER=01-Martia Pritchett/Pritchett's Sister; :34]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :51]
[SUPER=01-Lenard Hines/SCLC Vice-President; 1:10]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:24]
[RUNS 1:36]
[OUT Q=Djo, N7]
Elsie Pritchett doesn't believe her son is a murderer.
[SOT=14:36:11]
[IN Q=WHEN THEY SAID]
((ELSIE PRITCHETT/PRITCHETT'S MOTHER; WHEN THEY SAID HE KILLED THIS MAN, HE SAID HE DIDN'T DO IT. AND I QUESTIONED HIM OVER AND OVER AND HE STICKS TO HIS STORY THAT HE DIDN'T DO IT.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=DIDN'T DO IT.]
Pritchett is charged with robbing and shooting to death Estel Singleton at the Ironto rest stop in May last year.
Pritchett's family thought his court-appointed attorneys were representing him based on his innocence.
That is until Pritchett's lawyers apparently told the family there were more than circumstantial reasons why he should plead guilty.
[SOT=14:40:23]
[IN Q=THE FIRST ONE]
((MARTIA PRITCHETT/PRITCHETT'S SISTER; THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT HE WOULD BE CONVICTED BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS FOUND IN HIS ROOM. THE SECOND ONE WAS BECAUSE HE'S IN A PREJUDICE COUNTY. THE THIRD WAS IS HE HAS AN ALL-WHITE JURY.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=ALL-WHITE JURY.]
The family contacted the local chapter of the Southern Christain Leadership Conference.
After a brief investigation, they concluded Pritchett's best interest were not being served.
SCLC representative Lenard Hines says that will come to light when Judge Ray Grubbs ask Pritchett if he's satisfied with his attorneys.
[SOT=14:57:26]
[IN Q=AND AT THAT]
((LENARD HINES/SCLC VICE-PRESIDENT; AND AT THAT TIME, HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY NO HE'S NOT SATISFIED AND TO ASK FOR NEW REPRESENTATION. AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DOES THAT, TO ASK FOR NEW REPRESENTATION AND THIS WILL GIVE US TIME TO GET THE OTHER ATTORNEYS IN PLACE.))
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=IN PLACE.]
[STAND-UP]
((DAVID JOHNSON;REPORTING; PRITCHETT'S ATTORNEYS DECLINED TO COMMENT ON CAMERA AND WOULD NOT CONFIRM OR DENY WHETHER THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THEIR CLIENT ENTER INTO A PLEA AGREEMENT. BUT THEY DID SAY WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING IS IN THE B
EST INTEREST OF BUD PRITCHETT. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS7.))[West-release]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-52 2:01:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Dennis West will be out of prison in two weeks... living in the Roanoke Valley once again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1989]
The 46-year old businessman from Salem will be paroled on election day... having "maxed out" a 20-year sentence under the old parole guidelines.
West maintained his innocence throughout two trials and nearly a decade in prison.
West claims he "discovered" his wife's mutilated body in their Union Street home in March of 1988.
Authorities say Dennis West stabbed Barbara in the back, straggled her and slit her throat.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
He's scheduled for release from the Keene Mountain prison November 3rd, then plans to live in Vinton with his parents.
At the moment, West is going to be on supervised parole for the next six months, but the parole board may extend th
at.[Bacova-Guild]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-60 1:23:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Workers at the Bacova Guild plant in Low Moor have nine days until they vote for or against a union.
Meanwhile, company officials and representatives with the United Paperworkers International Union are vying for workers' loyalty and support.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Low Moor;]
About a week ago union officials accused company management of using "fear tactics" to discourage employees from organizing.
Today, an official with Burlington Industries, Bacova Guild's parent company, responded.
[pre pro]
Dick Windham said the company would rather communicate directly with employees than go through a third party.
Windham also said management has been holding meetings for employees to give the company's point of view.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=]
Bacova Guild's Low Moor plant employees about 300 people.
If workers vote to organize, they would create the first union of the company's seven plants in Virginia.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A good day on Wall Street.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/13.38/8519.23/x/35.31/1674.50;]
The Dow climbed more than 13 points to 85-19. NASDAQ jumped 36 points. But you'll see many local stocks were down.
[SUPER=431-ie/49e/ha/62a/i1c/54$/hr/50!/i#/19%;]
[ AE /ATT/Bank of America/Bell/Columbia;]
[SUPER=432-i1!/64g/h!/39%/h&/12c/i$/45c/i1$/56!;]
[Crestar/Dana/Dimon/Dominion Resources/First Union;]
[SUPER=433-i$/46b/h1c/83d/h1$/50/i1/33f/ia/11;]
[First Virginia/General Electric/Kroger/Norfolk Southern/Optical Cable]
[SUPER=434-hd/49*/ia/13d/u/30#/i1%/87@/ic/64*;]
[phillip morris/roanoke electric steel/trigon/wachovia/walmart]
[a= 1/8 e= 1/4]
b= 3/8 f= 1/2
c= 5/8 g= 3/4
d= 7/8
!=1/16 %=9/16
@=3/16 r=11/16
#=5/16 &=13/16
$=7/16 *=15/16
h= UP (Local Stocks only!)
i= DOWN (Local Stocks only!)
u= UNCHANGED (Local Stocks only!)[Retail]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-62 56:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The war is on.
Heading into the holiday shopping season, big retailers -- and the small ones, too -- are battling for your business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[GASSMAN TAPE]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Target reports that more than four-thousand people have shopped there everyday since it opened earlier this month.
But Target is the third giant retailer to move into Roanoke...along with "Big-K" and Walmart.
One retail analyst predicts sooner or later, one of those stores will have to go.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13 57 55]
[GASSMAN TAPE]
[IN Q=WHEN I SEE]
((KEN GASSMAN/RETAIL ANALYST: WHEN I SEE A TARGET, WALMART AND KMART, I SAY TO MYSELF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE THE LOSER THERE. I DON'T WANNA GUESS WHO IT'S GOING TO BE. BUT I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THERE WILL BE ONLY TWO SURVIVORS IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Ken Gassman/Retail Analyst;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=FOUR YEARS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Smaller, specialty stores also feel the squeeze.
They can't afford to cut prices like the big discount chains.
But retail experts say there will always be a place for the little guy, no matter how big the retail landscape becomes.
(------------)
[Flu-Shots]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=598-26 1:34:54]
[GRAPHIC=Flu shots]
Several locations throughout the Roanoke Valley have cancelled flu shots.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Carilion Home Care Services flu clinics and some Lewis Gale health fairs have run out of the vaccines.
Hospital officials say the manufacturers of this year's flu vaccine has a shortage of the serum.
No word yet on when they might be rescheduled.
(------------)
But flu shots may still be available at local health departments and your doctor's office.
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight in sports, UVa coach Pete Gillen is looking for a few good men to lay hoops for the Cavs.
The Tech women lose one of their top players for the upcoming season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll check in with the Tech men's team that is anxious to improve over last season's effort that was 10 games below 500.
(------------)
[S-Hicks]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-21 1:05:40]
[GRAPHIC=Tech basketball]
The preseason 22nd ranked Virginia Tech womens basketball team has already suffered a huge loss less than a week BEFORE the Lady Hokies media day.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
As News 7 sports feared last Tuesday, former Lord Botetourt standout and now Tech sophomore guard Sarah Hicks will miss the entire 1998-99 season due to an injured shoulder sustained during preseason workouts.
Hicks is scheduled to undergo surgery next week and will receive a medical redshirt. Sarah underwent the same surgery on her left shoulder at the end of last season.
Hicks played in 25 games as a freshman on a team that won the Atlantic 10 tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament second round.
(------------)
[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-18]
[GRAPHIC=tech basketball]
Tech held it's annual men's basketball media day yesterday in Blacksburg
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/1997-98 Season; :00]
Tech was 10 and 17 last year. Despite the tranfer of some key players like guard Jenis Grinestaff, The Hokies return four players who started at one point last year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="i think]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Hussey/Second Year Va. Tech Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...be our key"]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Seven players off this year's team spent a good paert of the summer in Blacksburg, going ton summer school and playing together.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we]
(())
[SUPER=01-Brendan Dunlop/Va. Tech Point Guard; :00]
[SUPER=01-Andre Ray/Va. Tech Forward; :09]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...help this ball team"]
(------------------)
[S-UVa]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-25]
[GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA LOGO]
UVa is trying to fill out the remainder of its roster with walk-ons from the student body.
Coach Pete Gillen held tryouts last night, and now he and his staff plan to interview finalists tomorrow and Friday.
Gillen would like to pick up four or five players.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We want good...]
((PETE GILLEN/UVA HEAD BASKETBALL COACH:))
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Head Basketball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=...young men."]
(-------------)
[S-Ferrum]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-26 tc 08:38]
[GRAPHIC=Ferrum]
When Ferrum goes for its seventh straight win on the gridiron, the Panthers will have some extra incentive.
The school is retiring the jerseys of several of its best baseball players--Houston Astro pitcher Billy Wagner, Milwakuee Brewer Eric Ownes and former Atlanta Brave Keith Mayhew.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ferrum;]
And the good news continues to roll in for the Panthers, senior linebacker J.C. Harmon, number 19, from Graham High School has been named Atlantic Central Football Conference defensive player of the week.
Harmon registered 14 tackles, 10 solo stops.
He's the leading tackler this season with 57--34 of those were unassisted .
(------------)
[wipe to pinnacle][S-WDBJ]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(-------------)
[wipe to pinnacle 7501]
The weekend slate of games on your Hometown Station is all set.
Saturday you can catch a tape delayed, condensed version of last Saturday night's Pepsi 400 and then settle in for the Miami-West Virginia Big East brawl from Morgantown.
(--------------)
[wipe to pinnacle 7503]
And on Sunday two good NFL games are coming your way as the Patriots take on the Dolphins at Noon, and the Jags battle the unbeaten Broncos at four.
(--------------)
[S-Series]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-19]
[GRAPHIC=WORLD SERIES]
The New York Yankees can wrap up the world series title tonight and make it a clean sweep over the Padres.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA/Last Night-FOX; :00]
Last night Scott Brosius turned a three to nothing defecit into a 5-to-4 Yankee win with two big homeruns.
New York will pitch Andy Pettitte tonight while the Padres will go with Kevin Brown.
(------------)
[S-Weekly]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(-------------)
[wipe to pinnacle page]
And don't forget coming up tonight at 11, Steve Mason will have this week's edition of Hometown Hoops Weekly.
You can catch this weekly segment on high school girl's basketball every week during the season one News 7 at five and 11.
(--------------)
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-63/52/83/1979/24/1972;]
[SUPER=306-61/33/35/Calm/30.06s/7:34am/6:34pm;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=335-A Canadian storm/racing eastward with/snow is called:/A. Northern Runner/B. Alberta Clipper/C. Northeaster;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX]
[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#566;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=330-Increasing Clouds/Chance Showers/42-44/Cloudy Early/And Breezy/52-54;]
[SUPER=331-Increasing/Cloudiness/46-48/Turning/Partly Sunny/53-55;]
[SUPER=332-Cloudy With/Sprinkles & Flurries/38-40/Mostly/Cloudy/44-46;]
[SUPER=333-Cloudy With/Showers/35-40/Cloudy And/Breezy/44-46;]
[SUPER=334-Rain & Possible/Snow Mix/34-36/Cloudy/Wind NW-20/40-44;]
[SUPER=335-A Canadian storm/racing eastward with/snow is called:/A. Northern Runner/B. Alberta Clipper/C. Northeaster;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=335-A Canadian storm/racing eastward with/snow is called://B. Alberta Clipper;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX][Close]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
(Weekday 6 only)
[SUPER=x4032; e-mail/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS]
SUPER=x4033; Fax/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
(Weekend 6 only)
SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS
SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS
by SS