[7S-Mobil-Merger]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=CHR]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[TAPE=98-60 1:57:43]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A Virginia-based company is the focus of a reported merger in the making.
(-------------)
[vo-nat]
[super=@file;]
[14:54:39]
Exxon is reportedly discussing a buyout of Mobil Corporation, based in Fairfax.
The energy giants were split apart nearly 90 years ago by trustbusters -- their reunion would create the world's premier energy business.
Neither company would confirm the 49-(B) billion dollar acquisition.
Mobil has been divesting its non-core operations to focus on oil and gas production, and owns or operates all or part of 25 refineries globally.
It's the second-largest oil and gas group in the US -- behind Exxon.
(------------)
[7S-Forest-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-64 1:15:33]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Water was pouring down from the skies above the Shenandoah valley yesterday-
(--------)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
Helicopters dumped buckets of water on a blaze in Southwestern Augusta County that has charred over 15-hundred-acres of land in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./Wednesday;]
The man-made fire started nearly a week ago.
Forest service officials say firefighters have contained about half the fire.
They expect to conquer the rest by Monday.
Officials say fire conditions are still hazardous across the forest and campfires are illegal.
(------------)
[7S-Cabin-Lake]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-62 1:35:13]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Aftermath]
A year after fire ripped through their Thanksgiving Day celebrations, former tenants of Danville's Cabin Lake Apartment complex are still getting their lives back together.
Christy Hubley caught up with some of the tenants to find out how they're moving on.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I still look back]
[SUPER=01-Tosha Carter/Former Tenant; :00]
[SUPER=03-Danville/November 28, 1997; :15]
[SUPER=01-E.J. Craft/Former Tenant; :44]
[SUPER=@Christy2;]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville.]
((
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:07:56-:05]
[IN Q=I still look back on it]
((TOSHA CARTER/FORMER TENANT: I STILL LOOK BACK ON IT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MADE IT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE LORD AND GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD FAMILY, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE MADE IT.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=only way we made it.]
Tosha Carter was nine months pregnant with her son S'coy last Thanksgiving Day.
She wasn't home when the fire erupted at the Cabin Lake apartments.
But when she got there, she saw flames shooting through the roof.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 2:03:12-:17]
[IN Q=You know I was]
((TOSHA CARTER/FORMER TENANT: YOU KNOW I WAS SEEING IT BUT I WASN'T BELIEVING IT. SO I COULDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT WAS MY HOUSE.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q= it was my house.]
With the help of generous donations, Tosha moved her family into a new home just a week after the fire.
[NATS (of tv)]
[RUNS:03]
E.J. Craft, his girlfriend, and their children have also moved on from the fire after losing everything-- including precious pictures and belongings.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:16:58-:17]
[IN Q=My children's mother]
((E.J. CRAFT/FORMER TENANT: MY CHILDREN'S MOTHER DIED TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY HAD SPECIAL MEMORIAL ITEMS FROM THEIR MOTHER THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANYMORE. MY DAUGHTER HAD HER MOTHER'S JEWELRY YOU KNOW AND STUFF THAT SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PASSED ON TO HER DAUGHTER AND STUFF LIKE THAT IS GONE. IT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED, NEVER EVER TO BE REPLACED.))
[RUNS:19]
[OUT Q=ever to be replaced.]
The burned out apartments have been torn down.
Fire investigators have concluded their investigation-- labelling the fire UNDETERMINED.
But for former tenants, those finalities don't make what happened go away.
Both Tosha Carter and E.J. Craft have joined other tenants in a lawsuit against the apartment owners.
They're seeking more than 10-million dollars to compensate their losses.
A lawyer for the tenants says the lawsuit could go to trial next May.
Christy Hubley, News 7, Danville.))
(----------------)
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your Friday forecast..
Another pleasant day ahead, with sunny skies and light winds. Expect highs to be in the low- to mid-60s.
Clear skies stick around overnight. Look for lows in the low- to mid-30s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Winds 10-15 MPH/60-65/Clear/Light Breeze/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 11/28/98
Saturday:
[SUPER=130-16/Aisha Newbill/Penhook]
[SUPER=130-15/Sabrina Ratcliffe/Boones Mill]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-63rd/Mr. & Mrs. T. W. Taylor/Hardy]
[SUPER=130-7/Whitney Elliott/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-10/Luke Fisher/Roanoke]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-/Lisa Hicks/Snow Creek]
[SUPER=131-/Randy Hatchett/Snow Creek]
[SUPER=131-/Buddy Sago/Sago]
[SUPER=131-8/Michael Brightwell, III/Salem]
[SUPER=131-15/Arlithia Campbell/Rocky Mount]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-45th/Leo & Juanita Payne/Thaxton]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Kimberly/McBroom;][45E-Shopping]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-80 37:54]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas Shopping]
The Christmas rush has begun.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The day after Thanksgiving is billed as the top shopping day of the year.
And to lure people in -- many stores will run sales chopping as much as 50 percent off prices.
Retailers hope shoppers will not wait for after-Christmas sales to open their wallets.
Store owners suggest arriving early to find a parking space and a little breathing room.
(------------)
[45S-Philip-Morris]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-68 1:03:15]
[GRAPHIC=Philip Morris (4037)]
Even as it's reeling from last week's national tobacco settlement, the Philip Morris tobacco giant is still buying back company stock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Last week's 206-billion-dollar settlement with the states on tobacco-related health claims has not stopped Philip Morris from resuming its eight-billion-dollar program to buy back stock.
Philip Morris makes the best-selling Marlboro cigarettes and others that make up more than half of U-S cigarette sales.
The company runs a huge cigarette-manufacturing plant in Richmond.
(------------)
[45S-Kovack]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-65 1:03:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[NOTE ANCHOR TAG****]
Although no new clues have turned up, the family of Rob Kovack is not giving up hope.
Teresa Hamilton has an update on the missing Virginia Tech student.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been ]
[SUPER=03-Fayette Co./September; :04]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police; :19 ]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Berghage/Kovack's Friend; :50]
[SUPER=01-Catherine Porzio/Kovack's Friend; 1:16]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:29]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Blacksburg. (quick out)]
((
It's been more than two months since 25- year old Rob Kovack was last seen leaving Blacksburg for his parents' home in West Virginia.
His abandoned red geo tracker was discovered several days later in Fayette County--near the New River Gorge Bridge.
An area that's been repeatedly searched by friends and family.
(/////SOT/////)
[48:18:10]
[SOT]
[IN Q=You lose your]
((BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE:YOU LOSE YOUR KEYS, YOU DON'T LOSE PEOPLE AND WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP
THIS THING ALIVE AND KEEP IT HOT AS LONG AS WE CAN--- TO TRY AND FIND HIM. ))
[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=find him.]
Blacksburg police have been working the case with West Virginia state police.
But so far, the questions still seem to outweigh the answers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=That's sad]
((BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE: THAT'S SAD, WE'RE APPROACHING ONE OF THE BIGGEST FAMILY HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR AND WE HAVE NOTHING NEW TO REPORT. ))
[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=to report.]
But police say they're NOT giving in and neither are Kovack's friends...
Friends, like Jeff Berghage who studied architecture with Kovack at Virginia Tech.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're just ]
((JEFF BERGHAGE/KOVACK'S FRIEND:WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HOLD UP OUR END HERE, SO HIS FAMILY FEELS LIKE THERE'S SOMEBODY DOWN HERE THAT'S TRYING TO HELP. ))
[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=to help.]
Kovack's family has since hired a private detective and is offering a reward for information.
To help offset the cost--- Kovack's friends have been chipping in.
They run a concession stand at Tech's home football games.
They've also been writing letters and distributing fliers.
(/////SOT/////)
[3:22:54]
[SOT]
[IN Q=Now I'm much]
((CATHERINE PORZIO/KOVACK'S FRIEND:NOW I'M MUCH MORE AWARE OF POSTERS THAT I SEE AT REST STOPS OF OTHER MISSING PEOPLE AND I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER BE ABEL TO FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=like this.]
A situation made even harder during the holidays.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Blacksburg.))
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[graphic=None]
Kovack's friends have also created a WEB page with details about the case.
You can find a link to it by clicking on webwatch on the WDBJ website, at wdbj7-dot com.
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news to check your Friday forecast--
Sunny skies today as you head out to the shopping malls, with highs in the lower 60s.
Clear overnight, with less breezy conditions.
Lows in the low to mid 30s.
For the rest of your holiday weekend, expects lots of sunshine and unseasonably mild temperatures....
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Winds 10-15 MPH/60-65/Clear/Light Breeze/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Kimberly/McBroom;][8E-Shopping]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-80 37:54]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas Shopping]
People awoke early this morning-- not necessarily for work, for SHOPPING..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The day after Thanksgiving is billed as the top shopping day of the year.
And to lure people in -- many stores will run sales chopping as much as 50 percent off prices.
Retailers hope shoppers will not wait for after-Christmas sales to open their wallets.
Store owners suggest arriving early to find a parking space and a little breathing room.
(------------)
[8S-Philip-Morris]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-68 1:03:15]
[GRAPHIC=Philip Morris (4037)]
The Philip Morris tobacco giant is still buying back it's stock, even as the company tries to recover from the blow of the national tobacco settlement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Last week's 206-billion-dollar settlement hasn't stopped Philip Morris from resuming its eight-billion-dollar program to buy back stock.
Philip Morris makes the best-selling Marlboro cigarettes and others that make up more than half of U-S cigarette sales.
The company runs a huge cigarette-manufacturing plant in Richmond.
(------------)
[8S-Forest-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-64 1:15:33]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Firefighters had some help from above yesterday--
(--------)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
Helicopters dumped buckets of water on a blaze in Southwestern Augusta County.
The fire has charred over 15-hundred-acres of land in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./Wednesday;]
The man-made fire started nearly a week ago.
Forest service officials say firefighters have contained about half the fire.
They expect to conquer the rest by Monday.
Officials say fire conditions are still hazardous across the forest and campfires are illegal.
(------------)
[8E-Falwell's-father]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-74 15:23]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]
Although he's an internationally known figure at the pulpit, the Reverend Jerry Falwell had a somewhat DIFFERENT upbringing.
Falwell proudly admits he's the son of a moonshine runner.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/1993]
The sale of bootleg whiskey may- -or may not- -be an unusual spring-board to the pulpit at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
Undoubtedly members of the Congregation have heard the story countless times.
But it seems Falwell-- one of the world's most recognizable preachers-- revels in his illicit roots.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:33:50]
[IN Q=My father had]
((MY FATHER HAD THE LARGEST NIGHTCLUB IN VIRGINIA WHERE ALL THE BIG BANDS- -JIMMY DORSEY, TOMMY DORSEY- -ALL CAME, WHEN I WAS JUST AN INFANT. AND HE ALSO- -DURING PROHIBITION- -WAS THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF ILLEGAL WHISKEY IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.))
[SUPER=10-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Thomas Rd. Baptist Church/Last Week]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=of the country. -- QUICK OUT-- NO PAD!!!]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[graphic=hold]
Doctor Falwell says his father was also the Sheriff.
[8S-Rescue-Mission]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=98-63 1:53:50]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]
Yesterday was a day for giving thanks...
For those less fortunate, their holiday dinner was even more meaningful.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Community groups like the Rescue Mission in Roanoke served up a traditional Thanksgiving feast for people with no other place to go.
Volunteers worked for hours in the kitchen cooking up turkey, vegetables, and desserts.
All of this food was donated.
People who enjoyed the free meal say they have a lot to be thankful for.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THAT I'M HERE AND THAT]
((DON NORTON:THAT I'M HERE AND THAT I HAVE A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THIS AND YOU KNOW THAT MY LIFE IS COMING BACK TOGETHER.))
((SUE LOVELACE/VOLUNTEER: IT'S WONDERFUL, REALLY GOOD TO KNOW YOU COULD DO FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN'T DO FOR THEMSELVES.))
[SUPER=07-Don Norton]
[SUPER=01-Sue Lovelace/Volunteer]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=DO FOR THEMSELVES.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Rescue Mission in Roanoke has been preparing Thanksgiving dinners for 50-years.
This year, volunteers served close to 700-meals.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Before we finish the morning updates, here's one more look at the forecast.
Expects lots of sunshine today, with fairly breezy conditions.
Highs in the low to mid 60s.
Clear skies overnight, with lows of 30 to 35.
The four day forecast is calling for sunny, mild weather throughout the holiday weekend and on into next week.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Winds 10-15 MPH/60-65/Clear/Light Breeze/30-35;]
by SS