[7E-PULASKI-NEEDLE]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=98-73 1:57:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The urban legend continues to ring true in Southwestern Virginia.
More hypodermic needles were found yesterday-- this time inside a mail slot at the post office in Speedwell in Wythe County.
A third was dropped inside the night deposit box at a nearby bank.
Investigators say no one was injured.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]
But that wasn't the case in Pulaski-- where two people were punctured by needles Tuesday afternoon.
A woman was pricked by a needle when she stuck her finger inside the coin return at a pay phone at Walmart.
A similar incident happened to a man using a pay phone at the Pulaski County courthouse.
Both were treated at Pulaski Community Hospital.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= I'M SURE]
((HERB COOLEY/PULASKI POLICE CHIEF: I'M SURE THEY'RE TERRORIZED AS I KNOW I'D BE, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW IF THE NEEDLES WERE DIRTY OR CLEAN.))
[SUPER=01-Herb Cooley/Pulaski Police Chief; ]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=dirty or clean.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Pulaski officer initially working the case did NOT hang onto the needles but Cooley hopes to get them back so they can be sent to a lab for analysis.
At this point, Pulaski police say they don't have any suspects.
(------------)
[7E-Brush-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-51]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
Homes and lives were saved after a fierce battle was waged between a small group of firefighters and a blaze that sprang up on Porter Mountain in Bedford County last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night;]
It could have been much worse.
As the fire burned toward Porter Mountain Road, Blue Ridge firefighters, armed only with small low-pressure hoses, fought to keep the flames from jumping across the road and burning toward more houses.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was pretty intense]
[SUPER=01-Shannon Boyette/Blue Ridge Fire Dept.]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=doing much]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But it was enough, with only seconds to spare, a tanker arrived.
Its high pressure hoses were able to beat the flames back.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=keeping it from jumping]
[SUPER=01-Chief John Dooley/Blue Ridge Fire Dept.]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=our hands full]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The fire burned about ten acres, and came within 20 feet of 3 houses.
They're still trying to find out what started it.
(------------)
[7E-Covington-Bomb]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-76 1:34:09]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Has the state waited too long to prosecute a group of murder suspects?
Some attorneys think so.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lewisburg, WV;]
Robert Vernon Brown, convicted killer Gene Gaylor and former husband and wife Carrol Eugene Humphries and Kitty Abshire Humphries are all charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutors believe they were all involved in the 1976 bombing death of Billy Ray Abshire.
But, yesterday defense attorneys claimed the state waited too long to charge them with the crime.
And, they're asking a judge to dismiss the cases.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17.20.18 - 17.20.31]
[IN Q=It's my opinion]
((BARRY BRUCE/GENE GAYLOR'S ATTORNEY: IT'S MY OPINION WITH A PRETRIAL DELAY ISSUE AFTER 22 YEARS WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE BEING AVAILABLE AT LEAST AT THE END OF 1981, THAT IF IT APPLIES, IT APPLIES IN THIS CASE.))
[SUPER=01-Barry Bruce/Gene Gaylor's Attorney;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=it applies in this case.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Prosecutors, meanwhile, claim they're only now able to press charges thanks to recent developments in the case.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
Judge James Holiday is expected to rule later this morning on whether the cases should go before a jury.
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE=#]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your Thursday forecast..
Another unseasonably warm day ahead, with sunny skies and southerly breezes. Look for highs in the low- to mid-60s.
Not much of a cool-down overnight. Clouds will move in and bring some passing showers. Lows will only drop into the 50s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds SE 10-15/62-66/Clouding Up/Scattered Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 2/12/99
Friday:
[SUPER=130-20/Keith Chumbley/Glenvar]
[SUPER=130-51/George Finney/Rocky Mount]
[SUPER=130-6/Ashley Seymore/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-11/Jeremy Kenley/Radford]
[SUPER=130-42/Vergie Hodge/Martinsville]
[SUPER=130-13/Steven Scott/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-4/Summer Norton/Ferrum]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-3rd/Scott & Patty Helmick/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-9/Kellye Looney/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-2/Preston Hill/Fincastle]
[SUPER=130-15/Kari Ruley/Lexington]
[SUPER=130-7/Amber McGhee/Rocky Mount]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-50th/Rev. & Mrs. Floyd Carter/Danville]
[SUPER=130-12/Kayla Murphy/Spencer]
[SUPER=130-7/Scottie Fix/Lexington]
[SUPER=130-84/Rosa Taylor/Fieldale]
[SUPER=130-2/Hunter Haynes/Radford]
[SUPER=130-/Corey Rumensky/Roanoke]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-53/Linda Wills/Salem]
[SUPER=131-5/Danielle Preston/Roanoke]
[SUPER=131-/Donna Lovelace/Penhook][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[45E-Fifth-District]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-83 42:21]
[GRAPHIC=Virgil Goode]
Democrat Virgil Goode was one of the House members who voted to impeach President Clinton, in face Goode voted against the President about 70 percent of the time last year.
[graphic=Democratic Party]
At a democratic committee meeting in Lynchburg last night, members said if Goode doesn't change his ways, they won't nominate him for another term.
Some fifth district committee members say they feel like they're supporting a Republican.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Last night representatives from several counties reported Goode has lost the support of democrats, especially African-American democrats.
They passed a resolution expressing deep concern about his voting record, and invited him to meet with the committee and talk about it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think we did]
[SUPER=01-Carol Black/Bedford Committee Member;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=say from there]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But if Goode will not soften his independent stance, committee members say they can't, in good conscience, nominate him again.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we are concerned]
[SUPER=01-Carl Eggleston/Committee Chairman]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=lose the seat (TRIPLE OUT!!!)]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
Congressman Goode says he'll be happy to meet with the committee and discuss his voting record, which he believes reflects the views and concerns of the people of the fifth district...
He says the president's views on many issues are out of step and harmful to the voters he represents.
[45E-Indian-Bill]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-2 33:15]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capitol]
In state politics, a lack of sensitivity Tuesday night on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates is drawing fire.
Representatives of the Rappahannock Indian tribe sat in the House gallery Tuesday for 13 hours, waiting for a bill recognizing their tribe to be heard.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Tuesday]
That's when some members of the usually rowdy House took it a step too far.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:03:15]
[IN Q=As soon as]
((DEL. VIOLA BASKERVILLE/D-RICHMOND: AS SOON AS THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS CALLED UP, THERE WAS A POUNDING ON THE TOPS OF THE DESKS LIKE TOM TOM DRUMS. TOMAHAWKS SIGNS BEING GIVEN AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Viola Baskerville/(D) Richmond; ]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=given as well.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=hold!!]
Some delegates routinely break up long floor sessions mimicking the Budweiser frogs on their microphones.
Delegate Baskerville says that's different-- because she never expects frogs to be observing the proceedings from the gallery.
[45-5-81-Patrols]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=598-40 1:09:07]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Speed Patrol]
Governor Gilmore is hoping the State Police can make interstate 81 safer for motorists.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not]
((COL. WAYNE HUGGINS/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: I'M NOT PREPARED TO SAY THAT TRUCKERS ARE THE PROBLEMS OR AUTOMOBILES ARE THE PROBLEM. THE FACT IS THAT THIS IS A SOCIETAL PROBLEM. AND I DON'T THINK THE POINT SHOULD BE BLAMING. WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR THE BAD DRIVER, THE FLAGRANT DRIVING BEHAVIOR. AND WHETHER THAT PERSON IS DRIVING A CAR, OR WHETHER THEY'RE DRIVING A BUS, OR A TRACTOR TRAILER, WE'RE GONNA TAKE AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Col. Wayne Huggins/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=simple as that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The Governor's directive includes 50 more troopers patrolling 81, assistance from state police aircraft, more safety signs, and an aggressive driver education campaign.
(------------)
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE=#]
[GRAPHIC=]
Turning your attention now to the forecast--
Mostly sunny today, with unseasonably mild highs in the mid 60s.
Clouding up by this evening, with scattered showers developing overnight.
Low temperatures will only drop into the lower 50s.
In the five day outlook...expect shower and thunderstorms tomorrow with snow flurries likely over the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds SE 10-15/62-66/Clouding Up/Scattered Showers/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[8E-PULASKI-NEEDLE]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=98-73 1:57:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's an urban legend that's become fact...
Hypodermic needles continue to be discovered in southwest Virginia.
Yesterday, needles were found inside a mail slot in the Speedwell post office in Wythe County.
A third was dropped inside the night deposit box at a nearby bank.
No injuries were reported.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]
But that wasn't the case in Pulaski-- where two people were punctured by needles Tuesday afternoon.
A woman was pricked by a needle when she stuck her finger inside the coin return at a pay phone at Walmart.
A similar incident happened to a man using a pay phone at the Pulaski County courthouse.
Both were treated at Pulaski Community Hospital.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= I'M SURE]
((HERB COOLEY/PULASKI POLICE CHIEF: I'M SURE THEY'RE TERRORIZED AS I KNOW I'D BE, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT WE DON'T KNOW IF THE NEEDLES WERE DIRTY OR CLEAN.))
[SUPER=01-Herb Cooley/Pulaski Police Chief; ]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=dirty or clean.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Pulaski officer initially working the case did NOT hang onto the needles but Cooley hopes to get them back so they can be sent to a lab for analysis.
At this point, Pulaski police say they don't have any suspects.
(------------)
[8E-Switched-Babies]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=98-74 1:37:14]
[GRAPHIC=Baby Swap]
A verbal battle is brewing between the University of Virginia and one of the families involved in the baby switch case at the U-V-A Medical Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville]
Paula Johnson and her attorney have rejected a state offer to settle out of court for two million dollars.
But CYNTHIA Johnson also says it's no coincidence that word of that offer was leaked by the state.. the same day a health department report critical of U-V-A was released.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:14:32]
[IN Q=It was the]
((CYNTHIA JOHNSON/PAULA JOHNSON'S ATTORNEY: IT WAS THE STATE OFFICIAL'S DECISION TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC AND I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT ITS PURPOSE WAS TO DETRACT IN SOME WAY FROM THE EFFECT AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT. THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT OFFER FOR QUITE A WHILE AND YET THEY CHOSE YESTERDAY TO MAKE IT PUBLIC.))
[SUPER=01-Cynthia Johnson/Paula Johnson's Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=make it public.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Johnson denied a published report yesterday that she is seeking a 25 million dollar settlement from the state.
(------------)
[8-5-General-Electric]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=598-39 1:09:14]
[GRAPHIC=General Electric]
It's back to a five- day work week for General Electric employees in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
G-E's hourly workers resume a normal schedule on Monday.
They had planned to work just four days a week during February.
But normally slow first-quarter sales have picked up, and one hot seller is GE's new high-tech drive system.
It was designed by engineers in Salem, who won an internal company award for their team effort.
G-E said its goal is to stabilize the factory's workload, so there's enough work to keep everyone busy at all times.
(------------)
[8-5-Tourism]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=598-36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Tourism officials are hoping more visitors test their golf swing, and then stick around to see what else Southwest Virginia has to offer....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Ten area hotels and six golf courses have joined the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau for a "Golf Package Program".
It's one of the first regional cooperative efforts designed to attract more people to the area.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=01:22:36]
[IN Q=WE FEEL THAT]
((DAVE KJOLHEDE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; WE FEEL THAT THIS AREA IS SO UNIQUE AND SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE.....BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE AND ENJOYED IT.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Kjolhede/Executive Director;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=AND ENJOYED IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The all-inclusive package will include a choice of accommodations, 18-hole greens and cart fees at package rates.
The counties of Bedford, Franklin, Pulaski and Roanoke and the cities of Roanoke and Salem are taking part in the program.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE=#]
[GRAPHIC=]
Let's take a break from the news to check the Thursday forecast--
Mostly sunny skies today with highs in the mid 60s.
Clouding up tonight, with scattered showers, as lows fall into the lower 50s.
The extended outlook is mild and wet tomorrow, then much colder by the weekend.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds SE 10-15/62-66/Clouding Up/Scattered Showers/50-55;]
by SS