[7E-Downtown-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-9 43:19]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]


Fire shut down part of downtown Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


A blaze broke out at C and P Outfitters on Jefferson Street at about 7-30.
Authorities had to close the road to battle the stubborn fire.
The blaze was contained inside the building, and no one was injured.
Investigators are still looking for clues as to what may have sparked the blaze.
(------------)


[7Fisher]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#99-4 1:19:23]
[GRAPHIC=Fisher Execution]


Virginia's fourth inmate of 19-99 was executed last night.
In 1983, David Lee Fisher hired someone to kill an 18-year-old friend in Bedford County.
They made it look like a hunting accident.
Then, Fisher allegedly reached into the wound to stop the victim's beating heart.
Ellen Qualls was at Greensville Correctional Center, where the execution took place.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=57-year-old]
[SUPER=01-Larry Traylor/Virginia Dept. of Corrections; 12]
[SUPER=01-Patrick Lynch/Media Witness; 36]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/November 1987; 42]
[SUPER=01-Kristen Gustafson/Fisher's Attorney; 51]
[SUPER=01-Estelle Inge/Victim's Aunt; 1:20]
[SUPER=01-Eddie Wilkey/Victim's Cousin; 1;55 ]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt/Last Night; 2;00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Stanton/Death Penalty Protester; 2:12]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 2:03]
[RUNS=2:10]
[OUT Q=News 7, Jarratt]


[7-5-Pritchett]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=599-5 18:03]
[GRAPHIC=Pritchett]


The murder trial of Livingston "Bud" Pritchett is underway.
Counsel is at the half-way point in jury selection, and opening arguments could begin this afternoon.
Pritchett stands accused of murder at the Ironto rest stop.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:21:01]
[IN Q=WHAT SAY YOU]

((JUDGE: WHAT SAY YOU? GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? BUD PRTICHETT: NOT GUILTY.))
[SUPER=01-Livingston Pritchett/Murder Defendant]
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=NOT GUILTY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]


Pritchett is charged with murdering 57-year-old Estel Singelton Senior last year.
The trial was delayed twice -- once because of a dispute over evidence...
And once when Pritchett tried to dump his court-appointed lawyers.
He ultimately stuck with those lawyers.
Yesterday, they and the prosecution began interviewing the jury pool.
It was a slow-moving process, with each potential juror answering a series of questions about the death penalty.
(------------)


[7WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]



Taking a look now at your Friday forecast..
A good chance for some rain today, with the possibility of some snow mixed in. Highs will be in the low to mid-40s.
Mostly cloudy overnight, with light snow possible. Lows in the lower-30s. The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]

MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-40% Chance of Rain/Possible Snow Showers/40-45/Mostly Cloudy/50% Chance of Lt. Snow/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[7BIRTHDAYS!] 3/27/99
Saturday:

[SUPER=130-6/Mekaila Young/Check]


Twins:
[SUPER=130-/Kehana & Kehshana James/Roanoke]



[SUPER=130-86/Sue Spangler/Christiansburg]



[SUPER=130-71/Robert Henley/Radford]



[SUPER=130-5/Celeste Hodges/Boones Mill]



[SUPER=130-13/Danielle Hairston/Martinsville]


Wow!
[SUPER=130-102/Laura Williamson/Alton]



[SUPER=130-46/Linda Mansfield/Buena Vista]



[SUPER=130-4/Stephanie Fisher/Callaway]



[SUPER=130-50/Jill Elliott/Salem]


No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/Ann Whitlock/Roanoke]


Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-62nd/Mr. & Mrs. Walter Glass/Hurt]



[SUPER=131-80/Saint Bolden/Low Moor]



[SUPER=131-/Ruth Bova/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-/Stanley Hurt/Lynchburg][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Kimberly/McBroom;]


[45E-Serb]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:52:39]
[GRAPHIC=Serbia Under Attack]


NATO is denying Serb claims this morning that three Western jets were downed, after a second night of attacks on Yugoslavia.
A Serbian woman now living in Southside wants Americans to understand the other side of the story.
Tina Tenret reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nadica Quint says]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nadica Quint/Yugoslavian Native; :10]
[SUPER=@Tina2; :21]
[RUNS=:57]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7]

(( Nadica Quint says what Americans don't realize is that Serbs are protecting THEIR land Kosovo from the Albanians.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:18:15]
[IN Q=SAME THING]

((SAME THING IF SOMEONE CAME HERE AND TRIED TO TAKE MY HOUSE AWAY JUST BECAUSE THEY OWNED IT BEFORE ME? WOULD I LEAVE MY HOUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT IT BACK?)) [RUNS :12]
[OUT Q=WANT IT BACK]


She points to the Serbian scarf her grandmother wore and says you can see this on many of the dead bodies.
And she says the Serbs are ready to fight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:07:39]
[IN Q=THERE'S ONLY SO LONG]

((THERE'S ONLY SO LONG ONE CAN GO ON BEING ACCUSED OF BEING A MONSTER FOR SO MANY YEARS. THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SAY HEY, WE LOST EVERYTHING ANYWAY. THEY'RE NVER GOING TO RECOVER FROM THIS. SO WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO LOSE?)) [RUNS :13]
[OUT Q=HAVE TO LOSE]


Quint does not want to see U-S soldiers hurt but says they would be no match for the Serbs in the woods and mountains around Kosovo.
Tina Tenret News7.))

[45S-Onyemen]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-6 50:13]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


Not guilty by reason of insanity is the verdict for a mother who stabbed her eight- year old son.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/November 17;]


32- year- old Pamela Onyemen (AHN-ye-men?) was charged with attempted murder last November, after her son was stabbed several times in the chest, arms and hands.
He was seriously injured, but survived.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Onyemen apparently suffers from schizophrenia, and a doctor testified that she didn't know the difference between right and wrong.
She will receive treatment at Central State Hospital in Petersburg.

[45Speedway]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-10 TC36:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Neighbors are fed up with the Natural Bridge Speedway. But Roger Willetts says the million-dollar improvements he's made to the track since he bought it in 19-92 have brought a great deal of money into Rockbridge County.
Stacey Martin reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Beginning this Saturday]
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge/File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Carol Kosup/Speedway Opponent; :22]
[SUPER=01-Roger Willetts/Owner; :54]
[SUPER=01-Joe Hedrick/Speedway Opponent; 1:07]
[SUPER=@Stacey1; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=MArtin, News7.]

((Beginning this Saturday the spectators, the drag racing and yes-- the noise..
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12.57.55 - 12.28.02 - TAPE #1]
[IN Q=(cars going down race track)]
((nat sot))

[RUNS07]
[OUT Q=(cars off in distance)]


will return to the Natural Bridge Speedway.
But, if some nearby residents have their way these sights and SOUNDS will fade into a memory.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19.09.11 - 19.09.22]
[IN Q=It has really]

((CAROL KOSUP: IT HAS REALLY BEEN EAR-SPLITTING ON SOME EVENINGS. IT HAS BEEN LOUD ENOUGH SO IF I TRY AND TALK ON THE TELEPHONE OVER HERE, I HAVE TROUBLE HEARING.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=have trouble hearing.]


The Natural Bridge Concerned Citizens complained to the county's Board of Supervisors hoping to get more restrictions against the races and reduce the noise.
But, supervisors only agreed to prevent races from lasting late into the evening and required race cars to have specialized mufflers.
The owner says he's willing to cooperate, but doesn't believe the restrictions will ultimately lead to a compromize.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16.19.51 - 16.19.59 tape #2]
[IN Q=This group is really]

((ROGER WILLETTS/OWNER: THIS GROUP IS REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN COMPROMIZE. THEY'RE REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE SPEEDWAY. THEY WANT THE TRACK CLOSED.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=they want the track closed.]


Now both sides agree the matter should be settled in court.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19.00.22 - 19.00.39 tape #2]
[IN Q=They are taking]

((JOE HEDRICK: THEY ARE TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO ENJOY OUR PROPERTY AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS THAT TYPE OF CASE. AND, IF WE CAN RAISE THE MONEY WE WILL TAKE THIS TO COURT.)) [RUNS17]
[OUT Q=take this to court.]))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Willetts now has]

((STACEY MARTIN/REPORTING:WILLETTS NOW HAS A FIVE YEAR PERMIT TO OPERATE THE TRACK GIVEN THE RESTRICTIONS. AND, GROUP MEMBERS SAY THEY PLAN TO MONITOR THE FACILITY AND REPORT ANY VIOLATIONS.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=SM, News 7.]



[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a break from the news to check the Friday forecast...
Bring along the umbrellas, just in case. There's a possibility of rai today, along with a few light snow showers.

High temperatures will only reach the lower 40s.
Mostly cloudy overnight, with a chance of a little more light snow, as lows cool into the lower 30s.
Looking ahead to the extended forecast....mostly sunny skies return eventually, along with warmer weather....
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-40% Chance of Rain/Possible Snow Showers/40-45/Mostly Cloudy/50% Chance of Lt. Snow/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Kimberly/McBroom;]


[8Execution]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fisher Executed]


Last night David Lee Fisher was put to death at the Greenville Correctional Center for the 19-83 murder-for-hire of a Bedford county teenager.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


His final words were filled with anger
[SUPER=03-Bedford/November 1987;]

towards his co-defendant-- the actual triggerman in the murder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:19:36]
[IN Q=Bobby Brice Mulligan]
[SUPER=01-Larry Traylor/Virginia Dept. of Corrections; ]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=an innocent man.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Fisher's lawyers told the supreme court he had ineffectual legal counsel and told the governor a juror was influenced by her husband.
Fisher lost his appeal and was pronounced dead just after nine o'clock.
(------------)



[8E-Downtown-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-9 43:19]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]


A fire at a downtown Roanoke clothing store stalled traffic last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


A blaze broke out at C and P Outfitters on Jefferson Street at about 7-30.
Authorities had to close the road to battle the stubborn fire.
The blaze was contained inside the building, and no one was injured.
Investigators are still looking for clues as to what may have sparked the blaze.
(------------)


[8S-School-Searches]


[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-2 1:03:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The war on drugs means more searches at area schools.
Yesterday, drug dogs were brought in at schools in Halifax and Pittsylvania counties
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blairs]


The search at Blairs Middle School and at one other Halifax County school did not turn up any contraband.
Sheriff Harold Plaster says he believes the random searches are serving as a deterrent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:10]
[IN Q=Drugs in the school]

((HAROLD PLASTER/PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY SHERIFF: DRUGS IN THE SCHOOL, WE'RE ZERO TOLERANCE AND THAT'S NOT ONLY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IT'S THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SAYING WE DON'T WANT IT IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND IF YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT, WE'RE GOING TO ARREST AND WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THESE THINGS.))
[SUPER=01-Harold Plaster/Pittsylvania Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=charge for these things.]
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The Halifax County Sheriff's Department also conducted searches at four county facilities. Investigators say the

y found marijuana on three students at Halifax County High School.[8-5-Heart-Attack]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=599-4 27:58]
[GRAPHIC=Heart Attack]


Across the nation, heart attacks aren't as deadly as they used to be-- that's according to two new studies..

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


It seems to be the case in this region as well.
Why are we seeing this trend?
[Super=03-Salem;]


One Lewis Gale Cardiologist says more people know the symptoms of heart attacks and go for help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:53:05]
[IN Q=]

((DR. JACOB NEATHAWK: THAT INDIGESTION MIGHT BE MORE THAN INDIGESTION FOR EXAMPLE OR THAT FUNNY FEELING IN THE JAW OR ODD FEELING IN BOTH ELBOWS THAT YOU NEVER HAD BEFORE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE EVALUATED NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Jacob Neathawk/Cardiologist]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=have evaluated now.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Dr. Neathawk says that healthier lifestyles have also helped reduce heart attack fatality rate.
Experts also think better medicines and treatment have helped.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:54: 03]
[IN Q=]

((DR. NEATHAWK: PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND THE METHODS TO CONTROL IT. PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTAND THAT HIGH CHOLESTEROL NUMBERS ARE SO IMPORTANT. THEY'RE LEARNING WE HAVE A BUNCH OF WONDERFUL DRUGS TO CONTROL HIGH CHOLESTEROL ALL THESE THINGS ARE DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL, DEFINITELY GETTING THE MESSAGE.))
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=getting the message.]
(-------------)
[Talent=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=hold!!!]


Doctors say if you have unusual pain anywhere above the waist- with a clammy, sweaty feeling or shortness of breath, make sure to get it checked out.

[8WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Let's check our forecast one more time this morning...
There's a pretty good chance of rain today, with some light snow showers possible.
Highs will only be in the low to mid 40s.
Mostly cloudy tonight, with more light snow showers possible.
Lows in the low to mid 30s.
And looking ahead to the weekend and beyond...expect some lingering clouds tomorrow.. with a gradual warm-up by next week.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]

[SUPER=#555;RESET] [SUPER=314-40% Chance of Rain/Possible Snow Showers/40-45/Mostly Cloudy/50% Chance of Lt. Snow/30-35;]
by SS