WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/11/99

[7Schoolwatch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

We have a few school announcements to pass along this morning.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[Schoolwatch Boards] Bath County County schools are delayed one hour this morning.
A one hour delay in Botetourt County. Grayson County delayed one hour delay however, Mount Rogers school in Grayson County is closed. And schools in Pocahontas County, West Virginia delayed two hours.
(-------------)

[7E-M'ville-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-65]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]

A Martinsville man is dead, and police say his neighbor is the killer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Timothy Eugene Smith, of 20 Moss Street, died of a single gunshot wound to his chest around one o'clock yesterday afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

Smith had reportedly been arguing with his downstairs neighbor, 42-year old Lane Greer, since Saturday evening.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=01:04:33]
[IN Q=THE INCIDENT LAST]
((SGT. ROBERT RAMSEY/MARTINSVILLE POLICE DEPT.; THE INCIDENT LAST NIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO. HE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE RESIDENCE AND HE CAME BACK TODAY AND THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Robert Ramsey/Martinsville Police Dept.;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=AN ALTERCATION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Smith was shot through the window while standing on Greer's porch.
The shooting took place just across the street from the police department.
(------------)

[7S-Bedford-Escape]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-8; 00:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]

An escapee from the Bedford County jail is still on the loose, but police say he should NOT be considered dangerous.

(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Randy Lawrence Penkert (pink-ert) disappeared some time before 6-30 Saturday evening.
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]

He was waiting to be sentenced on grand theft auto charges.
Officials say Penkert slipped out of a window while part of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail was under construction.
(XXXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE]
Penkert is about 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds.
If you see him you're asked to contact police at 540- 586- 7112 or 540 - 586- 4800.
(-------------)

[7S-I81-Truckers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-2; 04:49]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]

Interstate 81 may turn into a safer place to drive after a New Year's weekend crash in Rockbridge County.
David Johnson reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It concerns me]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./January 3; :10]
[SUPER=01-Greg Williams/Truck Driver; :41]
[SUPER=01-Louis Quiceno/Truck Driver; :48]
[SUPER=@David1; :54]
[SUPER=01-Brian Servis/Truck Driver; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=Djo, News 7, Rockbridge County.]
((
[SOT=04:12:27]
[IN Q=IT CONCERNS]
((IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT YEAH IT CONCERNS ME.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=]
What has Greg Williams and other tractor trailer drivers so concerned is last week's fatal accident on I-81. Four people died, including a truck driver when eight tractor trailers and seven passenger vehicles slid across an ice covered bridge and crashed. Truckers are worried they or someone they know could be next. [NAT-SOUND/Trucks speeding by in bunches] [RUNS05]
Sunday is a busy day on the Interstate and one of the busiest days for truckers.
I-81 is their main vein for travel, unless they drive an alternate route, like Route-11. But that's not considered an option.
[SOT=04:11:55]
[IN Q=ROUTE ELEVEN]
((GREG WILLIAMS/TRUCK DRIVER; ROUTE ELEVEN, THEY'D HAVE TO WIDEN IT. IF WE TAKE THE ALTERNATE ROUTE THEN IT WOULD CREATE A TRAFFIC JAM OVER THERE.)) ((LOUIS QUICENO/TRUCK DRIVER; MYSELF I LIKE TO STICK TO THE INTERSTATE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT SAFER I THINK.)) [RUNS14] [STAND-UP/02:07:03] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVERS IS THAT THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE--JUST SLOW DOWN. BUT IS THAT A REAL WORLD SOLUTION? TRUCKER BRIAN SERVIS SAYS IF LIVES ARE GOING TO BE SAVED, IT'S THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE.)) [RUNS12]
[SOT=04:19:05]
((BRIAN SERVIS/TRUCK DRIVER; DON'T TRY TO PUSH YOURSELF. IF THE LOAD'S GOING TO LATE, LET IT BE LATE. NO SENSE IN KILLING YOURSELF OVER SOME BREAD. Or someone else? OR SOMEBODY ELSE. THAT'S HOW A LOT OF US FEEL.)) [RUNS14]
David Johnson News 7.))

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast..
Mostly sunny today, with light winds. Look for highs to rise into the low-40s.
Some clouds roll in overnigt, with continued breezy conditions. Lows in the low-30s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/38-42/Partly Cloudy/Winds SW 10/30-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 1/12/99
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-6/Adam Anderson/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-80/Paul Reed/Pilot]

[SUPER=130-19/Brian Coles/Radford]

[SUPER=130-7/Lee Edney/Pulaski]

[SUPER=130-6/Jake Tuell/Dublin]

[SUPER=130-3/Kyle Wilhelm/Rocky Mount]

No Pictures:
Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-/Leslie & Rena Oakes/Redwood]

[SUPER=131-/Brenda Akers/Sontag]

[SUPER=131-/Kendra Hatchett/Snow Creek][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[45Schoolwatch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A few schools are delayed or closed today.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[Schoolwatch Boards] Bath County schools delayed one hour this morning.
A one hour delay in Botetourt County. Grayson County delayed one hour delay but Mount Rogers school in Grayson County is closed. And schools in Highland County and Pocahontas County, West Virginia delayed two hours.
(-------------)

[45S-Train-Escape]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-4; 14:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A man trying to dodge an oncoming train is in critical condition after jumping down a trestle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

According to published reports, the man was walking along train tracks near Willow Branch Road in Roanoke County.
The train's conducter saw the man, blew his horn and slammed on the brakes.
The man then jumped 30 feet and was knocked unconcious.
He was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, but officials are not releasing his name.
(------------)

[45C'Burg-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An auto accident last night in Christiansburg took the life of a woman from Tennessee.
It happened at the intersection of Roanoke Street and Bristol Drive.
Police say a vehicle driven Horst Jahn of Tellico Plains, Tennessee drove into the path of another vehicle.
Jahn's Wife, Hildegard, died at the scene.
He was flown to Roanoke Memorial hospital where he is in critical condition.
No charges have been filed against the driver of the other vehicle.

[45Drive-Safe]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]

Truck drivers who frequent Interstate 81 are taking notice of the deadly vehicle pileup a week ago Sunday in Rockbridge County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./January 3;]
Investigators say speed and ice were the main facotrs in the accident that left four people dead. Eight tractor trailers and seven other passenger vehicles slid across an ice covered bridge, causing a chain reaction crash in the highway. The accident took place on a Sunday, one of the busiest travel days along I-81 for truckers. But most say an alternate like Route-eleven is not really an option.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=ROUTE ELEVEN]
((BRIAN SERVIS/TRUCK DRIVER; ROUTE ELEVEN TAKES YOU UP MORE STEEP GRADES AND IF YOU'RE REALLY HEAVY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TIME GOING THROUGH IT.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Servis/Truck Driver;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=GOING THROUGH IT.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some say the only way to prevent future accidents is to learn to share the road and stick to the posted speed limit.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=04:12:47 - 04:10:36]
[IN Q=I THINK]
((GREG WILLIAMS/TRUCK DRIVER; I THINK THEY NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND RESPECT THE TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE TRUCK DRIVERS NEED TO RESPECT THE FOUR WHEELERS AND RESPECT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SURE.)) ((LOUIS QUICENO/TRUCK DRIVER; JUST SLOW DOWN AND TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU JUST HAVE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BAD WEATHER HITS. THAT'S ABOUT IT.))
[SUPER=01-Greg Williams/Truck Driver; :00]
[SUPER=01-Louis Quiceno/Truck Driver; :07]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=ABOUT IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some truckers admitted they speed, saying they are under the pressure of a deadline. But they add it's not worth dying for.
(------------)

[45Redskins]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]

It's the most expensive sale in America's sports history.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]

The Washington Redskins and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium are now the property of the Milstein- Snyder group, after a 800 million dollar deal.
The group-- headed by Howard and Edward Milstein and Daniel Snyder-- paid the largest- ever bill for a North American sports franchise-- and ended 25 years of ownership by the Cooke family.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

Before it's final, the sale must be approved by three-quarters of N-F-L owners.

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast.. Mostly sunny and breezy today, with highs near 40.
Tonight looks partly cloudy, with winds shifting to the southwest. Lows falling to near 30.
Quite a bit milder tomorrow, with temperatures warming to near 50... with partly cloudy skies around through Wednesday. Expect some possible wintry weather again by Thursday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/38-42/Partly Cloudy/Winds SW 10/30-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[8Schoolwatch]

[8E-M'ville-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-65]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]

Police believe an argument with his neighbor led to the murder of a Martinsville man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Timothy Eugene Smith, of 20 Moss Street, died of a single gunshot wound to his chest around one o'clock yesterday afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

Smith had reportedly been arguing with his downstairs neighbor, 42-year old Lane Greer, since Saturday evening.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=01:04:33]
[IN Q=THE INCIDENT LAST]
((SGT. ROBERT RAMSEY/MARTINSVILLE POLICE DEPT.; THE INCIDENT LAST NIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO. HE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE THE RESIDENCE AND HE CAME BACK TODAY AND THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Robert Ramsey/Martinsville Police Department;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=AN ALTERCATION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Smith was shot through the window while standing on Greer's porch. Greer faces second degree murder charges.
The shooting took place just across the street from the police department, and is Martinsville's first homicide of the new year.
(------------)

[8S-Bedford-Escape]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-8; 00:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A Bedford county jail inmate has been on the loose for two days, but police say he should NOT be considered dangerous.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Randy Lawrence Penkert (pink-ert) disappeared some time before 6-30 Saturday night.
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]

He was waiting to be sentenced on grand theft auto charges.
Officials say Penkert slipped out of a window while part of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail was under construction.
(XXXXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE]
Penkert is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds.
Due to his non-violent criminal past, Penkert is not considered dangerous.
If you see him you're asked to contact police at 540- 586- 7112 or 540 - 586- 4800.
(-------------)

[8S-I81-Truckers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-2; 04:49]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]

The New Year's weekend accident on I- 81 in Rockbridge County has some truckers fearing for their safety, and re- thinking the way they do their job.
David Johnson explains.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It concerns me]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./January 3; :10]
[SUPER=01-Greg Williams/Truck Driver; :41]
[SUPER=01-Louis Quiceno/Truck Driver; :48]
[SUPER=@David1; :54]
[SUPER=01-Brian Servis/Truck Driver; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=Djo, News 7, Rockbridge County.]
((
[SOT=04:12:27]
[IN Q=IT CONCERNS]
((IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT YEAH IT CONCERNS ME.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=]
What has Greg Williams and other tractor trailer drivers so concerned is last week's fatal accident on I-81. Four people died, including a truck driver when eight tractor trailers and seven passenger vehicles slid across an ice covered bridge and crashed. Truckers are worried they or someone they know could be next. [NAT-SOUND/Trucks speeding by in bunches] [RUNS05]
Sunday is a busy day on the Interstate and one of the busiest days for truckers.
I-81 is their main vein for travel, unless they drive an alternate route, like Route-11. But that's not considered an option.
[SOT=04:11:55]
[IN Q=ROUTE ELEVEN]
((GREG WILLIAMS/TRUCK DRIVER; ROUTE ELEVEN, THEY'D HAVE TO WIDEN IT. IF WE TAKE THE ALTERNATE ROUTE THEN IT WOULD CREATE A TRAFFIC JAM OVER THERE.)) ((LOUIS QUICENO/TRUCK DRIVER; MYSELF I LIKE TO STICK TO THE INTERSTATE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT SAFER I THINK.)) [RUNS14] [STAND-UP/02:07:03] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVERS IS THAT THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE--JUST SLOW DOWN. BUT IS THAT A REAL WORLD SOLUTION? TRUCKER BRIAN SERVIS SAYS IF LIVES ARE GOING TO BE SAVED, IT'S THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE.)) [RUNS12]
[SOT=04:19:05]
((BRIAN SERVIS/TRUCK DRIVER; DON'T TRY TO PUSH YOURSELF. IF THE LOAD'S GOING TO LATE, LET IT BE LATE. NO SENSE IN KILLING YOURSELF OVER SOME BREAD. Or someone else? OR SOMEBODY ELSE. THAT'S HOW A LOT OF US FEEL.)) [RUNS14]
David Johnson News 7.))

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news this morning to check the forecast--
Mostly sunny with northwesterly winds.
Expect highs warming to around 40.
Partly cloudy tonight, with lows dropping only a few degrees, to around 32.
The next couple of days look partly sunny, and warmer, with highs tomorrow reaching near 50.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds NW 10-15/38-42/Partly Cloudy/Winds SW 10/30-32;]