WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/22/99

[7E-Trenchcoat]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-13 40:06]
[GRAPHIC=School Shooting]

Investigators resume their work at Columbine High School in Colorado today, trying to learn more about the fatal shooting rampage by two student members of the "trenchcoat mafia."
In Roanoke County, a high school principal says he plans to tell students not to tease classmates who wear trenchcoats.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

16-year-old John Fidler left Northside High school early yesterday to avoid a fight.
He wasn't even wearing his usual black jeans and trenchcoat -- but he says students still would not stop calling him the Trenchcoat Mafia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:21:17]
[IN Q=When someone picks]
((WHEN SOMEONE PICKS ON ME I REALLY DON'T CARE BUT WHEN I SEE THEM PICKING ON MY FRIENDS AND THEY'RE A LOT SMALLER THAN ME THAT BUGS ME MORE THAN THEM PICKING ON ME.))
[SUPER=01-John Fidler/Roanoke Co. Student;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=picking on me]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Other parents have also complained, saying their children were teased for wearing trenchcoats.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:32:09]
[IN Q=No kids]
((NO KIDS 16 YEARS OLD WANTS TO BE CALLED THE TRENCHCOAT MAFIA. LIKE I SAID EARLIER THAT TO ME IS JUST LIKE BEING CALLED CHARLES MANSON.))
[SUPER=01-Pat Janney/Mother;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=charles manson]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fidler says he wears a trenchcoat to mimic his favorite wrestler -- Sting -- but that he will put it away for a while.
(------------)

[7Gun-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-9]
[GRAPHIC=School Shooting]

Governor Gilmore has responded to the Colorado school shooting by ordering Virginia's local school superintendents to report gang activity and potentially dangerous students to local police.
But some students want him to approve a total ban on guns on school property, with NO exemptions for students with hunting rifles and licenses.
Eric Earnhart reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For this group]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Fred Hutchins/Senior; :07]
[SUPER=01-Alex McLearen/Senior; :30]
[SUPER=01-Harash Patel/Senior; :47]
[SUPER=@Eric1; :55]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=hunting people]

(( For this group of seniors at Lord Botetourt, the question is a no-brainer.

[SOT 02:35:38]
[IN Q=I would say]
(( FRED HUTCHINS/SENIOR; I WOULD SAY NO GUNS AT VIRGINIA SCHOOLS PERIOD, IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK OF HAVING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LOOSE THEIR LIVES SO SOME HUNTING STUDENTS CAN HAVE THE CONVENIENCE OF JUST GOING OUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND THEN GO HUNTING. ))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=then go hunting]

That parking lot is not far from the building itself... It would take only a minute or two to get a gun and return to the building. it IS something students worry about.

[SOT 02:36:52]
[IN Q=If you're walking down]
(( ALEX MCLEAREN/SENIOR; WHEN YOUR'RE WALKING DOWN THE HALL AND YOU SEE A FIGHT, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AFRAID THE SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PULL OUT A GUN THAT THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN FROM THEIR CAR AND START RANDOMLY FIRING ))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=randomly firing]

And one student says, if you consider the lengths schools go to to protect students, letting guns anywhere near the building doesn't make sense.

[SOT 02:40:34]
[IN Q=kids can't have]
(( HARASH PATEL/SENIOR; KIDS CAN'T HAVE CIGARETTES, CELL PHONES, PAGERS AT SCHOOL.... THEY CAN HAV HUNTING RIFLES? IF THEY HAVE A BAD DAY, THEY COULD BE HUNTING PEOPLE. ))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=hunting people]

The students want Gilmore and the legislature to produce an UNCONDITIONAL ban of all guns on school property.
The governor DID, sign a bill today giving anyone convicted of posessing a gun on school property, WITH THE INTENT TO USE IT THERE, or THREATEN PEOPLE WITH IT, a mandatory 5 year prison sentence.
Eric Earnhart, News 7))

[7Evans]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Andre Evans]

A death sentence could await Andre Evans, after
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

a judge yesterday found him guilty of capital murder for fatally shooting two men in Bedford in 19-97.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=That the defendant]
[SUPER=07-Judge James Updike]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=inexplicable pride.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sentencing gets underway later this morning.
(------------)

[7E-Druckenmiller]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-7 1:14:20]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller]

A former Virginia Tech quarterback is in trouble with the law.
Papers filed in court by the Times-World Corporation allege the indictment charges Druckenmiller with a felony, but do not go into the nature of the offense.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs will rule today on whether to un-seal a grand jury indictment that allegedly involves Drunkenmiller, who
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/1997;]

just finished his second year as a back-up quarterback with the San Francisco 49-ers.
He played at Virginia Tech for four years before moving on to a professional career.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

Prosecutor Skip Schwab argued yesterday that a defendant has the right to be served with an indictment before learning about it in the media.

[7WEATHER]

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

Taking a look now at your Thursday forecast..
A very warm and sunny day ahead. Look for highs in the low- to mid-80s, with some light winds.
Some clouds move in tonight, as lows fall into the lower-50s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Warm/Winds 10-20 MPH/80-85/Partly Cloudy/Light Breeze/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 4/23/99
Friday:

[SUPER=130-9/Amanda Meadows/Pembroke]

[SUPER=130-7/Will Trent/Vinton]

[SUPER=130-23/Amanda Quesenberry/Barren Springs]

[SUPER=130-25/Stacey Pickeral/Penhook]

[SUPER=130-5/Kendell Hill/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-23/Richard Scherrep/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-4/Kelleigh Smith/Riner]

No Pictures:
Wow!
[SUPER=131-91/Nora Fuller/Wirtz]

[SUPER=131-23/Ben Bradley/Pulaski]

[SUPER=131-/Debbie Young/Bassett]

[SUPER=131-/John Jones/Bassett]

[SUPER=131-46/Bobie Brown/Drakes Branch]

[SUPER=131-/Danny Sorrells/Buena Vista]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[45Smart-Road]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Smart Road]

The Canadian company building the first section of the Smart Road in Montgomery County says it will appeal nine safety violations.
The state department of labor and industry wants to fine P-C-L Civil Contractors more than 37-thousand dollars.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./December 28, 1998]

The work site was inspected last winter after a worker fell 45-feet from a steel scaffolding.
John Wesley Burford died 23 days later.
(------------)

[45E-Store-Swap]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-8 1:33:21]
[GRAPHIC=Store Swap]

Government trust busters say they're taking a look at the Harris-Teeter and Kroger store swap.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The Federal Trade Commission wants to make sure there will be grocery-store competition in markets like Roanoke.
The F-T-C reviews thousands of business deals every year.
And one Roanoke business lawyer said the feds rarely block deals like the store swap.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:53]
[IN Q=they might]
((HUGH WELLONS: THEY MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STRONG GROCERY STORES OPERATING IN THE VALLEY, I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY DID ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Hugh Wellons/Flippin Densmore, et al.]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=DID ANYTHING]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kroger said there is plenty of grocery competition in the Roanoke area.
It plans to take over 11 Harris Teeters in Western Virginia after May 11th.
(------------)

[45E-Shad-Planking]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#99-5 1:22:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Boney fish and politicians make up the Shad Planking--a 50-year Virginia tradition in the woods of Wakefield.
Ellen Qualls has highlights.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound of George Allen]
[SUPER=03-Wakefield; :00]
[SUPER=01-Delegate Paul Harris/Allen Campaign Chairman; :13]
[SUPER=@Deeds; :16]
[SUPER=01-Rob Jones/Robb Spokesman; :30]
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) Senate Candidate; :37]
[SUPER=@Earley; :52]
[SUPER=@Hager; :58]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=News 7 Wakefield]

[45E-VA-Western]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia Western Community College is getting a 50-thousand grant from Lewis-Gale Medical Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The money will be used to develop a new health care outreach program for students.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 05 54 27]
[IN Q=Roanoke is a]
((DR. MARK EMICK/VWCC PRESIDENT ASST.: ROANOKE IS A MEDICAL CENTER. IT IS A MEDICAL SERVICES CENTER, BUT IT'S ALSO A MEDICAL EDUCATION CENTER, WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE LEVEL, TO ADVANCE THE LEVEL OF HEALTHCARE IN THE ROANOKE AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Emick/VWCC Assistant President]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=the Roanoke area.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
The first phase of the program is a community health care needs assessment. All local hospitals, physician's offices, retirement communities and nursing homes will be surveyed to identify their biggest demands.

[45WEATHER]

[8E-Former-Student]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-15 9:02]
[GRAPHIC=School Shooting]

Columbine High School remains closed, but other Colorado schools will re-open today with increased security.
A Roanoke 9th grader is among those waiting for the names of the 15 who died in the shooting rampage.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton;]

Tommy Wood attended another school in Littleton last year and still has friends at Columbine.
He did NOT know the two students who carried out the attack, but did know several others who wore trenchcoats and listened to heavy metal music.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:52:03]
[IN Q=they were the kind]
(( TOMMY WOOD/FORMER LITTLETON STUDENT; THEY WERE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WEAR THAT STUFF JUST FOR LOOKS AND FOR THEIR OPINION AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY, THEY LIKED JUST AVOUT EVERYONE AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T THINK OF KILLING ANYBODY OR HURTING ANYBODY. ))
[SUPER=01-Tommy Wood/Former Littleton Student]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=hurting anybody]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Wood says he'd like to return to Littleton to visit his friends, but he doesn't want to live there anymore.
(------------)

[8E-Evans]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-4 1:57:41]
[GRAPHIC=Evans Found Guilty]

He gunned down two men in the streets of Bedford in 1997.. now Andre Evans could receive the death penalty for his crime.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They were two]
[SUPER=04-September 1997; :00]
[SUPER=01-Webster Hogeland/Defense Attorney; :15]
[SUPER=01-Randy Krantz/Prosecutor; :28]
[SUPER=07-Judge James Updike; :57]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford.]
(( They were two fatal shootings that both sides admit anyone could have prevented.. instead, a long-running feud between Andre Evans and Tim Robinson ended in bloodshed.
Evans' lawyers argued he had every right to fear for his life. ((WEBSTER HOGELAND/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: ANDRE EVANS HAD THE.. TO REPEL IT.))
But prosecutor Randy Krantz says it wasn't fear that motivated Evans.. only his sense of pride. ((RANDY KRANTZ/PROSECUTOR: HE DID THAT TO PROVE THAT HE WAS THE MAN.. IS CALLED FOR.))
The maximum penalty could be death.
Judge James Updike found Evans guilty of capital murder. ((JAMES UPDIKE: THAT THE DEFENDANT.. INEXPLICABLE PRIDE.))
Sentencing gets underway Thursday morning.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford.))

[8E-Druckenmiller]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-7 1:14:20]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller]

A Montgomery County Circuit Judge will decide today whether to un-seal a grand jury indictment that allegedly involves former Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
Papers filed in court by the Times-World Corporation allege the indictment charge Druckenmiller with a felony, but do not go into the nature of the offense.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/1997;]

Druckenmiller just finished his second year as a back-up quarterback with the San Francisco 49-ers.
He played at Tech for four years before moving on to his professional career.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

Prosecutor Skip Schwab argued yesterday that a defendant has the right to be served with an indictment before learning about it in the media.

[8E-Towers]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-6 1:27:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Towers Mall will soon have a different look.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

S and S Cafeteria has not renewed its lease. And while the cafeteria says it wants to stay in Roanoke... the mall's leasing agent said the restaurant will close on June first.
Also closing is Mae's Fabric store.
Mall officials say they're trying to lure a nationally recognized clothing store to fill the empty space.
And ...a new pizza restaurant is supposed to open at Towers in two weeks. Then next month, the old theater will be torn down, clearing the way for even more new tenants.
(------------)