WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/31/99

[7-Big-Game]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Big game]

Look for a a new round of lottery fever in the next three days. The numbers are getting really big.
No one hit the "Big Game" jackpot last night, so the new jackpot will be at least 140 million dollars.
The next drawing will be Friday.

[7-Pritchett]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bud Pritchett]

Closing arguments are expected later this morning in the captial murder trial of Bud Pritchett.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]

Pritchett took the stand yesterday in his own defense.
He denied making a confession to state police.
He says the only reason he indicated he was involved was because he felt pressured after hours of questioning.
The defense also tried to bolster its case by presenting character witnesses who testified Pritchett has a reputation in the community as trustworthy despite two previous felony convictions.
(------------)

[7-Powell]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-10 39:21]
[GRAPHIC=Colin Powell]

Retired General Colin Powell supports the NATO assault in the Balkans.
The former chairman of the Joint Chief's of staff spoke in Blacksburg last night.
In a press conference before the address, he called the Serbian president a villian, and said the bombing must continue.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Powell approaches]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gen. Colin Powell/Fmr. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair; :17]
[SUPER=01-Bob Denton/Center For Leader Development; :45]
[SUPER=01-Amber Waller/Pulaski Co. Senior; 1:05]
[SUPER=@eric1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUTQ=EE, News-7.]
((Powell approaches the subject cautiously... not wanting, he says to speak from the comfort of retirement, criticizing those on the hot seat.
On the subject of ground troops, he says they could be a necessitity, if Serbian President Milosevic takes too long to act.
[SOT 00:57:41]
[IN Q=I don't sense that political]
((GEN. COLIN POWELL/FMR. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIR; I DON'T SENSE THAT POLITICAL AUTHORITIES HAVE REACHED THAT POINT YET, AND IT THINK IT'S A POINT WE SHOULD TRY TO AVOID AND SEE IF AIR POWER CAN CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU WISH TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE, YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THAT. )) [RUNS 17]
[OUT Q=have to do that]

Powell is one of the most popular and most expensive speakers Tech has ever had... at better than 70 thousand dollars... and it took two years to get him... but according to student polls, he the person they most want to hear.
[SOT 01:11:36]
[IN Q=he is the student's ]
(( BOB DENTON/CENTER FOR LEADER DEVLEOPMENT ; HE IS THE STUDENT'S NUMBER ONE CHOICE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE RESERVED SO MUCH AND THE MAJORITY OF THE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TONIGHT. SO HE'S WORTH IT? OH, I'D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=in a heartbeat]

Because, they say, finding someone students will really LISTEN to is priceless.
Three high school seniors drove here from Pulaski County and paid ten dollars apiece to hear Powell's message.
[SOT 01:167:27]
[IN Q=I'm looking for someone]
(( AMBER WALLER/PULASKI CO. SENIOR; I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE ME GUIDANCE SO THAT I CAN ACT BETTER POLITICALLY AND BE INVOLVED, AND THIS HOPEFULLY WILL BE THE SPEECH THAT GIVES ME THE IDEAS THAT I NEED. )) [RUNS 12]
[OUT Q=that I need]

Powell's guidance goes something like this.
[SOT 01:09:42]
[IN Q=even as you're on your]
((GEN. COLIN POWELL/FMR. JOINT CHIEFS FO STAFF CHAIR; EVEN AS YOU'RE ON YOUR TRACK TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPERATION AND TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF MONEY, MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALSO GIVING SOMETHING BACK TO THE SOCIETY THAT GAVE YOU SUCH OPPORTUNITY. )) [RUNS 13]
[OUT Q=gave you such opportuinty]

[newsroom standup] Video cameras were NOT allowed at Powell's actual speech, but he continued to encourage students to help those who are less fortunate then they are. He also said last night he is NOT running for president in 2000.
Eric Earnhart, News 7))

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

We have a mild day ahead, but we could see some rain tonight.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Clouds Increase/Winds SE 10/70-75/60% Chance/of Showers/45-50;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

Here's a look at your forecast .. increasing cloudiness today. Look for a high of 70 to 75. Tonight, a 60 per cent chance of showers .. lows 40 to 45.[7BIRTHDAYS!] 4/1/99
Thursday:
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-60th/Arthur & Helen Thomas/Galax]

[SUPER=130-1/Kierra Clark/Rustburg]

[SUPER=130-7/Charles McKeever/Vinton] (Matthew McKeever's son)

[SUPER=130-1/Phillip Williams/Bassett]

[SUPER=130-2/Jordan Rupe/Barren Springs]

[SUPER=130-32/Debbie Cox/Dublin]

[SUPER=130-14/Justin McKee/Elliston]

Wow! Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-71st/Harvey & Pearl Martin/Stanleytown]

[SUPER=130-17/Erica Davis/Glade Hill]

Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-41st/Richard & Jaunite James/Penhook]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-17/Kelly Moore/Penhook]

[SUPER=131-/Garnett Barnes/Patrick Springs]

[Cutopen]

[SUPER=@Kimberly1;][45E-Pritchett]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-7 50:08 ]
[GRAPHIC=Pritchett On the Stand]

A Montgomery County courtroom will reconvene today for the capital murder trial of Bud Pritchett.
Teresa Hamilton has more on the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=No, i didn't do it]
[SUPER=01-Bud Pritchett/Defendant; :00]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :18]
[SUPER=03-Ironto/April 30, 1997; :25]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Humphreys/State Police; :30]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Christiansburg.]
((((BUD PRITCHETT/ACCUSED MURDERER:NO, I DIDN'T DO IT, I DON'T KILL PEOPLE, I DIDN'T DO IT.)) [RUNS 05]
Bud Pritchett did admit to trying to use Estel Singleton's ATM card to get money, but says he found the card in the parking lot of a local grocery store NOT on the victim's body.
But a state police agent tells a different story.
Jerry Humphreys says Pritchett admitted shooting Singleton just days after the victim's body was found at the Ironto rest area. ((JERRY HUMPHREYS/VA STATE POLICE:HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING AT FIRST AND THEN HE SAID WITH ANGER IN HIS VOICE HE WAS A FAGGOT , HE CAME INTO THE BATHROOM, PULLED A GUN AND CALLED ME A NIGGER, I RAN, WE STRUGGLED, THE GUN WENT OFF AND THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.)) [RUNS 15]
The alleged statement was made after state police brought Pritchett in for questioning after a video camera captured Prithcett trying to use the victim's ATM card.
In court, Pritchett denied making the statement.
He says the only reason he indicated he was involved was because he felt pressured after hours of questioning. ((BUD PRITCHETT/ACCUSED MURDERER:AT FIRST I TOLD HIM NO AND THEN HE KEPT REPEATING IT, THEN I SAID, OK, WHATEVER.)) [RUNS 10] [TAKE SU]
The defense also tried to bolster its case by presenting character witnesses who testified Pritchett has a reputation in the community as trustworthy despite two previous felony convictions.
Closing arguments are set for later this morning. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Christiansburg.))

[45E-UVA-Stalker]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-13 23:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Charlottesville police say they have the man responsible for several sorority house break-ins at UVA.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The University had warned female students to be on the lookout for Garnett Lloyd.
He was arrested for a series of break-ins at sororities last year.
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville]

Then police say he struck again this month at the Delta (Zay-ta) Zeta house.
Lloyd claims he has a compulsion that makes him unable to suppress sexual urges.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's common sense]
((LT. CHIP HARDING/CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE: IT'S COMMON SENSE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CONCERNS THE PERSON MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF DOING MORE THAN STEALING UNDERWEAR OR TOUCHING A FEMALE.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Chip Harding/Charlottesville Police Department;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=touching a female.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Lloyd was out on bail when police say he broke into the Delta Zeta house.

[45E-Big Game]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The multi-state Big Game lottery is still growing!
Since none of the tickets sold for last night's 103- million dollar drawing matched all five lotto numbers and the Big Money Ball number, the jackpot now stands at 140- million.
The next drawing will be Friday.
[45E-Fabio]
[anchor=Kimberly]
[newscast=Morn]
[writer=chr]
[tape=NET]
[graphic=none]

It was supposed to be the Modern Day Adonis versus the Ancient Sun God.
(-------------------)
[vo-nat]
[super=03-Williamsburg]

But yesterday's promotional event for a new ride at Busch Gardens went wrong, and pitted supermodel Fabio against a bird.
Fabio was riding on the new roller coaster dubbed Apollo's Chariot when a bird hit him in the face.
He suffered a one-inch-cut on the bridge of his nose.
(-------------)

[45-WEATHER]

[SUPER=@Kimberly1;][8E-MLK-Day]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-2 1:10:38]
[GRAPHIC=Martin Luther King Day]

Lynchburg schools are adding Dr. Martin Luther King Day to their calender after a two- year absence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The school board last night voted to include January 17th, 2000 as a school holiday.
The move comes following pressure from a minority citizens group that wanted to honor Dr. King by giving both city employees and school students the day off.
School officials hope students will use that time to learn more about the slain civil rights leader.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:09:12]
[IN Q=This is important]
((MARIE HARRIS/LYNCHBURG SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I SUPPORT MAKING THIS A HOLIDAY AND GIVING THE CITY AND INTERESTED CITIZENS AND GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS THAT WILL ATTRACT THE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Marie Harris/Lynchburg School Board Member; :00]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=of the community.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last week, city council okayed a King holiday for Lynchburg employees.
(------------)

[8E-L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=98-83]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg]

If you've always wanted to have your own field of dreams, this may be you're chance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Fundraising is underway to overhaul 60- year- old City Stadium.. Lynchburg's minor league ballpark.
Donors can buy a sponsor brick for 100 dollars that will have their name engraved on it.
But organizers are also looking for a BIG-money sponsor who'd like to see their name in lights.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:20:58]
[IN Q=The real goal]
((CHRIS ELLIS/SPORTS CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA: THE REAL GOAL IS TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE THEIR NAME ON THAT FACILITY, CITY STADIUM THAT IS. AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE MARKET IS WILLING TO BEAR AS FAR AS THAT GOES, WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPEND ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Ellis/Sports Capital of Virginia; :00]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=spend on it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Ellis says the major sponsor might have to put up anywhere from a half million to a million dollars.
They hope to have renovations complete by next spring.
(------------)

[8E-S-Melton-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-6; 55:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Southside man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing the mother of three children.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax/Monday]

A Halifax County judge convicted Denny Melton of first degree murder in the death of Rhonda Stone.
The verdict came at the end of a two-day trial.
Stone was shot to death through the kitchen window of her trailer last August.
(------------)

[8E-Synchrony]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-5 53:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Virginia engineering firm near Bent Mountain has been named one of the fastest-growing companies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Synchrony opened six years ago.
Since then, the maker of high-tech motors and magnetic bearings has watched its revenues grow by 42-percent.
It's growing so fast, Synchrony will soon need a bigger building.
But the president says he'll keep the company in Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:41:31]
[IN Q=roanoke is]
((VICTOR IANNELLO/SYNCHRONY PRESIDENT: ROANOKE IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WHEN I STARTED SYNCHRONY I HAD THE CHOICE OF LIVING IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AND I CHOSE TO STAY IN ROANOKE. I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE THAT EXISTS IN THE VALLEY.))
[SUPER=01-Victor Iannello/Synchrony President;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=THE VALLEY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Synchrony has landed lucrative contracts with the U-S Air Force and NASA.
It is the only business in the Roanoke and New River Valleys on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce "Fantastic 50" list.

That's the list of the 50- fastest growing companies in the state.
(------------)

[8E-Big-Game]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Big Game]

There's 140- MILLION- dollars still up for grabs if you know how to pick your numbers.
Nobody was lucky enough to do that in last night's multi- state Big Game lottery drawing that was worth 103 million dollars.
But players will have another shot at it in Friday's drawing.

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast....
Clouds increasing today, with highs in the low to mid 70s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Clouds Increase/Winds SE 10/70-75/60% Chance/of Showers/45-50;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]