WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/05/99

[TORNADO]

[ANCHOR=melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tornado]

Thousands in Oklahoma and Kansas are picking through what's left of their possessions after Monday night's tornados that left at least 43 dead.
Close to 80 twisters touched down in 5 states.
Manuel Gallegus reports from Moore, Oklahoma.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Moore, OK; :00]
[SUPER=01-M. T. Berry/Local Policeman; :10]
[SUPER=01-Steve Bullock/American Red Cross; :28]
[SUPER=01-Wanda Sharp/Victim; :56]
[SUPER=01-Manuel Gallegus/Reporting; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, MOOORE, OK.]
(((LOCATOR: MOORE, OK) SOME VICTIMS FROM THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WILL BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THEIR HOMES TODAY. OFFICIALS HOWEVER..ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.
SOT: M.T. BERRY/(LOCAL POLICEMAN) "WE STILL HAVE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, HOMES COULD STILL COLLAPSE."
THE PUSH IS ALSO ON TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS. MANY WHO WERE WHO WERE LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK
SOT: STEVE BULLOCK/ACTING PRES..AMERICAN RED CROSS "WE'LL BE FOCUSING HOW WE CAN GET PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET, GET TH
EM TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN BE SELF SUFFICIENT AND MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES."
(NATZ OF SEARCH)
WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE STILL MISSING..SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS AND NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE STILL SEARCHING WHAT'S LEFT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA.
(NAT OF WALKING THRU RUBBLE)
FOR SURVIVORS, TODAY WILL BE ANOTHER DAY OF PICKING THRU THE RUBBLE. DESPITE LOSING NEARLY ALL HER WORDLY POSSSESIONS.WANDA SHARP IS FOCUSING ON WHAT SHE DIDN'T LOSE.
SOT: WANDA SHARP/VICTIM "WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS RIGHT THERE MY SON. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. HE CRIED LAST NIGHT
WHEN HE FOUND OUT WE HAD NOTHING LEFT. YES WE DO, THIS IS NOT OUR HOME. OUR HOME IS RIGHT HERE, IT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.
(GALLEGUS STANDUP CLOSE)))

[Shooting-suspect]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Shooting]

There could be a third suspect in the Colorado school shootings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Littleton, CO/April 20;]

Some Columbine High School students have reportedly identified another possible gunman.
The sheriff tells the Denver Post that witnesses have made statements which agree on an identity.
He won't name the person in question, but says the potential suspect has been interviewed.
The sheriff's comments apparently took the local prosecutor by surpise who told the paper the Sheriff hasn't talked to him about a possible third triggerman.
(--------------)

[Kosovo-Chopper]

[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Serbia Under Attack]

President Clinton is in Germany today visiting U-S servicemen.
It is one day after an Apache helicopter crashed in Tirana Albania... killing two crewmen-- the first NATO casualties of the war.
Lee Cowan has the latest...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Russ Meyer/U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=@file;]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Col. Garrie Dornan/U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting;]
[SUPER=@file]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Albania]
(((NATS, RAINING ) IN TIRANA A DOWNPOUR SET THE TONE FOR THE DAYL. NEWS OF THE FIRST NATO CASUALTIES SINCE THE NATO CAMPAIGN BEGAN SPREAD THROUGH THE U.S. CAMP LIKE WILDFIRE.
(SOT, SGT. RUSS MEYER, U.S. ARMY, "I just hope it's not someone I know... unfortunate that it happened.")
(SUPER: FILE)
IT'S THE SECOND TIME A 14-MILLION DOLLAR APACHE HAS CRASHED DURING A TRAINING MISSION OVER THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS OF YUGOSLAVIA. BUT THAT TIME THE TWO CREWMEN SURVIVIED. THE TWO LAST NIGHT DID NOT.
(SOT, LT. COL. GARRIE DORNAN, U.S. ARMY, "We'd like to express... loved ones of our pilots,.")
OFFICIALS SAY IT DIOD NOT APPEAR THE APACHE WAS DOWNED BY ENEMY FIRE, DESPITE THE FACT THE CRASH TOOK PLACE JUST SHORT OF KOSOVO'S BORDER. INSTEAD, OPFFICIALS SAY, IT HAD BECOME A VICTIM OF INTENSE TRAINING, DESIGNED FOR ONE THING ONLY.
(SOT, DORNAN, "Combat is inherently risky... a combat operation.")
(COWAN STANDUP: "Across the airfield the mood is somber... Apaches in
action.") AND THE PRESIDENT AGREED. WHILE VISITING U.S. TROOPS IN GERMANY, MR. CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS REGRET FOR ANY U.S. CASULTIES, BUT EMPHASIZED THE MISSION MUST CONTINUE.
(SOT, CLINTON)
(SUPER: FILE)
OVERNIGHT, NATO FORCES CONTINUED TO BOMB WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ONE THING THE APACHES WERE DEPLOYED TO DO: HIT SERB FORCES ON THE GROUND HARD, IN ADDITION TO ARTILLERY SITES AND ARMORED CONVOYS, NATO ALSO SAYS IT INTERCEPTED AND SHOT DOWN A YUTGOSLAVIAN MIG FIGHTER JET, ONLLY THE SECOND AIR TO AIR COMBAT IN THE 67 WEEK OLD CONFLICT. LEE COWAN, CBS NEWS, ALBANIA.))

[Park-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]

Firefighters are getting close to containing a brush fire that has burned three-thousand acres of the Shenandoah National Park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 21:26:40]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co.]

The fire has doubled in size during the past couple of days and has closed much of the park.
But firefighters are beginning to gain the upper hand-- they expect to have the blaze contained by tomorrow evening.
The fire is still a good distance from any structures or private property.
It was accidentally sparked Saturday by embers from a planned burn that park officials thought was extinguished.

(------------)

[Sands]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Closing arguments are expected today in the murder trial of Victoria Sands.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./August;]

She's accused of first degree murder for shooting her husband in their Pittsylvania County home.
They had been married for 15 years and have a five year old son.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Yesterday, she testified that she believed her husband was going to kill her.
But prosecutors brought witnesses who knew the couple and said they never saw evidence of abuse.

[E-Confed-Plate]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-5 1:49:12]
[GRAPHIC=SCV License Plate]

The Sons of Confederate Veterans say they're ready to fight a legal battle with the Commonwealth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The group says it will file a federal lawsuit in July to get its logo on a state license plate.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:58]
[IN Q=It's just]
((RED BARBOUR/SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS: IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THAT FLAG AND WHAT IT STOOD FOR--NOT WHAT THEY THINK IT STANDS FOR.))
[SOT 19:32]
((THAT ISSUE IN GEORGIA'S NOT THROUGH, AND THEY GOT THEIR LICENSE TAGS WITH THE S-C-V LOGO. MARYLAND'S GOT THEIRS, NORTH CAROLINA'S GOT THEIRS. ALABAMA HAS JUST GOT THEIRS.))
[SUPER=01-Red Barbour/Sons of Confederate Veterans; :00 ]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=got theirs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The General Assembly approved a special plate this year-- but rejected the logo as the controversial part.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:42:19]
[IN Q=We've been]
((SEN. HENRY MARSH/D-RICHMOND: WE'VE BEEN ON A STEADY MARCH TOWARD PROGRESS, TOWARD ELIMINATING SOME OF THE VESTIGES OF SLAVERY. AND IT'S SLOW AND STEADY. AND IT WOULD SET US BACK. I THINK EVENTUALLY WE'RE GONNA GET THERE. BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD SET US BACK IF THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE CONFEDERATE POINT OF VIEW.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Marsh/(D) Richmond; :00 ]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=point of view.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The S-C-V points out that groups like the National Rifle Association and labor unions have Virginia's approval for plates with logos on them.
(------------)

[E-Diversion-Center]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-10 1:28:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's called a Diversion Center.
The new facility in Chatham will offer non-violent offenders an alternative to jail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham]

Chatham Correctional Unit 15..will be the home for the center which used to be a medium security facility.
It will house 100 male probationers from Western Virginia.
The probationers will be trained and will get jobs in the community.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:26:01]
[IN Q=They will make a salary]
((SHERMAN LEA/REGIONAL ADMN.: THEY WILL MAKE A SALARY..MINIMUM WAGE OR HIGHER..THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO PAY COURT COSTS..THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO REPAY VICTIMS OF CRIME..THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT))
[SUPER=01-Sherman Lea/Regional Administrator]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=pay child support]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The center will save tax payers thousands of dollars in jail costs..
It's scheduled to open on May 17th.

[PH-Playwright]

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

It's never been done before at Patrick Henry-- drama students performing a musical written and composed by their classmates.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Lake Texoma is a story of young men and women who lost their way, abandoned their dreams, and ended up living in a Roadhouse in Texas.
Senior John Bryant wrote the play over Christmas break and gave it to his drama coach.
It began as an idea, and grew into a story he wants his classmates to hear.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=they're going to be]
((JOHN BRYANT/AUTHOR; THEY'RE GOING TO BE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THEYR'E GOING TO HAVE TO GET OUT IN THE WORLD AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH LIFE. ))
[SUPER=01-John Bryant/Author; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=do in life]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

As each character searches for the way out of the Lake Texoma, Bryant hopes the play strikes a chord with other young people who are struggling with their own fears, looking for the strength to follow their dreams.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:06:40]
[IN Q=I think that's something]
(( JOHN BRYANT/AUTHOR; I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING INSIDE A TEENAGER, THEY JUST NEED TO GO OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN LIFE AND THEN GO DO IT.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=go do it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

"Lake Texoma" will be performed this Friday and Saturday night at 8, and Sunday afternoon at 2:00.
(-------------)

[Baby-Gorilla]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meet Cincinnati's newest baby gorilla.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cincinnati, OH;]
[4:30;21]
Cecil proudly rode on his mother's back as he made his public debut yesterday.
He was born in November 3rd.
[SUPER=03-Eugene, OR;]

Meanwhile, the world's only feather-less Emu may be leaving his hom in Oregon.
Corey, the 3 year-old Emu, was sitting on three eggs last month, when at least two people stripped him of all his feathers.
They're growing back....but not fast enough.
His owners are worried about sunburn so they will likely have to move him to a more protected environment.
(------------)

[Avalanche]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-27 tc 1:52:47]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]

On to the diamond, where it took extra innings for the Avalanche to down the Pelicans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Pelicans vs. Avalanche;]

Salem would strike first. John Lindsay gets the infield hit that scores the runner from third to make it one nothing in the first.
Then in the fifth, Myrtle Beach gets the go- ahead- run. Marcus Giles grounds to third, and Todd Sears picks up the error- tossing the ball into the dugout.
[super=37-Myrtle Beach/2/Salem/3;]

But the defense would redeem itself. Jody Gerut makes the great diving catch in right field to rob the Pelicans.
The Avalanche goes home happy as Salem wins it 3-to-2 in 10 innings.
(------------)

[AAU]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-42 tc 47:01]
[GRAPHIC=AAU]

Some of Virginia's best high school basketball players took to the court in Basset to help send a team to the A-A-U nationals. 14 and under AAU basketball team to nationals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bassett/Oak Hill Academy vs. All Stars;]

The game between Oak Hill Academy and a group of all-stars from Martinsville, Henry County, Danville, Patrick County and Roanoke was a fund raiser for the Martinsville Red Wave.
Oak Hill is 31 and oh and ranked the number one in the country. And they beat the all-stars last night 110-to-80.
The high school standouts treated the fans to spinning dunks. The money raised will help send the Red Wave to Orla(------------) ndo, Florida in July for the 14- and- under A-A-U Championship competition.