WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 07/05/99

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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

A self- inflicted gunshot wound ended an alleged racial shooting spree by a 21- year- old white supremacist over the weekend.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And 100- degree temperatures are sending many people to the emergency room with heat- related illnesses.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

[Shootings]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

Authorities say the white supremacist who allegedly shot several minorities in the Midwest, ended his weekend spree by turning the gun on himself.
21- year- old Benjamin Smith was well known by a group who keeps a close watch on white supremacists.
But the F-B-I wasn't aware of him until this past weekend.
Drew Levinson has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It ended with]
[SUPER=03-Salem, IL;]
[SUPER=01-Michael Ruth/Skokie Police Spokesman;]
[SUPER=03-Chicago/Friday Night;]
[SUPER=03-Bloomington, IN; ]
[SUPER=01-Jesse Jackson/Rainbow Coalition;]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=CBS News...]
((IT ENDED MUCH THE SAME AS IT BEGAN--- IN A CAR....

AFTER GETTING TIPPED HE WAS HEADING THEIR WAY IN A STOLEN MINI-VAN, POLICE IN SALEM, ILLINOIS WERE WAITING..... AND BENJAMIN NATHANIEL SMITH DROVE RIGHT INTO THEIR TRAP. THE FBI SAYS WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS CAUGHT-- HE SHOT HIMSELF.

SOT:SGT. MICHAEL RUTH/SPOKESMAN, SKOKIE POLICE
BENJAMIN SMITH WAS DISCOVERED WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD. HE LATER DIED.
POLICE SAY SMITH WAS A WHITE SUPREMACIST -- AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE WORLD CHURCH OF THE CREATOR, AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN FOR ITS RHETORIC OF RACIAL HATRED.

SOT: RUTH
THE NORTAFF INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT SMITH ACTED ALONE. THEY'RE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS.
LOCATOR: CHICAGO/FRIDAY NIGHT
THE SHOOTINGS STARTED ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO. 6-ORTHODOX JEWS WERE WOUNDED AS THEY LEFT A SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH.
A FEW HOURS LATER TO THE NORTH-- A BLACK MAN--RICKY BRYDSONG WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE WALKING WITH HIS CHILDREN. BYRDSONG WAS A FORMER BASKETBALL COACH AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.
ON SATURDAY-- POLICE SAY SMITH FIRED AT AND MISSED TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN -- AND LATER-- INJURED AN ASIAN STUDENT.
LOCATOR: BLOOMINGTON, IN
AND ON SUNDAY--THEY BELIEVE HE KILLED AN ASIAN STUDENT JUST OUTSIDE OF A KOREAN CHURCH IN BLOOMINGTON INDIANA.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE CALLING FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE...

SOT: JESSE JACKSON/RAINBOW COALITION
THESE SHOOTING SWERE ANTI-SEMITIC.... THIS UNDERBELLY OF HATRED MUST BE ADDRESSED.))

[Turkey-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]

One person was killed and at least 22 others injured when a bomb exploded at a park in Istanbul, Turkey.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Istanbul, Turkey;]

Police suspect that a bomb hidden in a garbage can caused the explosion.
No one claimed reponsibility for the attack, but many believe it was the work of Kurdish rebels.
The group vowed to escalate violence after rebel leader Abdullah (OH- juh-lahn) Ocalan was sentenced to die last week.
The rebels are fighting for autonomy in Turkey's southeast region-- they were suspected of another explosion in Istanbul last Thursday.
(------------)

[Wythe-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-30 2:46]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Proposed Line]

Dozens of people spent their holiday protesting AEP's proposed power line.
(+++++++)
[Take Full Screen]
The line would carry power from Wyoming West Virginia through Tazewell, Bland and Wythe Counties to AEP's Jacksons Ferry Station.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.]

Just a short distance from Jacksons Ferry, at Fosters Falls, dozens of opponents rallied in opposition last night, right under a major high-voltage line
They say there is no need for another one running through their counties.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think that]
[SUPER=01-Deborah Little/Power Line Opponent;]
((I think that A-E-P is trying to set themselves up for deregulated market, in which they can sell the excess energy at the cost of our society here. We already have a power line in Wythe County. We have already beared the burden for utilities.))
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=burden for utilities.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A-E-P says it needs a new line to meet the region's future power needs.
The state will conduct public hearings later this month.
(------------)

[Heat]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-21 51:58]
[GRAPHIC=Heat Wave]

The heat is on.....Temperatures could get to 100 degrees today.
Even though these temperatures aren't unusual for this time of year doctors say some people are being treated for heat stroke.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
Around Roanoke yesterday we found several people outside during the times when the sun was the hottest---playing bas
ketball, riding bikes or just taking a walk.
And although these activities can seem harmless...in this type of heat they can be dangerous especially if you're doing something strenuous.
Roanoke Memorial says this week alone several people have gone to the emergency room for heat related illness.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:57:38]
[IN Q=we've had peopl]
((DORIS DUFF/ROANOKE MEMORIAL: WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COMING IN WITH NAUSEA, VOMITING, STOMACH CRAMPING. USUALLY WHEN THEY HAVE A HEAT STROKE THEY DON'T SWEAT, BUT DIZZY AND WEAKNESS))
[SUPER=01-Doris Duff/Nurse]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=but dizzy, weakness]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Remember heat stroke is life threatening. Roanoke Memorial says to be smart..and they can't stress enough drink plenty of fluids...and stay inside when the sun is at it 's hottest.

[Wildfires]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wildfires]

It's been a hot Fourth of July weekend, especially for residents in central Utah.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires that have scorched more than 60- thousand acres.
Elizabeth Dannheim reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Families in the towns]
[SUPER=01-Joan Sphere/Montana Firefighter; :12]
[SUPER=03-Mammoth, MT; ;21]
[SUPER=01-Phyliss Corbett/Resident; :47]
[SUPER=01-Garett Dulaney/Montana Firefighter; 1:28]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Danheim/Reporting; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Eureka, Utah.]
((Familes in the towns of Eureka and Mammoth are back in their homes after wildfire drove them away this weekend. Residents were allowed to return home Sunday afternoon. The fire has burned more than 61 thousand acres since it was reported Friday afternoon. By this evening it had been 70 percent contained. A total of about 427 people are fighting the blaze. Gusty winds have hampered the fire fighting efforts, but forecasts were calling for cooler temperatures and a shift in winds that should help fire fighting. ))

[Pulaski-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-28 11:14]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An accident over the holiday weekend claimed the life of a Dublin man.
(+++++++)
[Take FS MAP]
Yesterday afternoon a motorcycle and a pickup truck collided on state route 100, just south of Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.]

State Police say the motorcycle's driver, 46 year old Darrell Duaine Hundley crossed the solid yellow line and collided with the pickup.
Hundley died at Roanoke Memorial hospital. No word on the driver of the pickup.
(------------)

[Ax-Remember]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-19 58:08]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[NOTE:**ANCHOR TAG**] The memory of the last years fatal 4-th of July accident that killed seven people on Interstate 81 has impacted one man's life forever.
Joy Sutton has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A cross]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;00]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./July 4, 1998;10]
[SUPER=01-Ray Sloan/Buchanan Volunteer Fire Dept.;36]
[SUPER=@Joy2;]
[RUNS= 1:04]
[OUT Q=Botetourt Co.]

((A cross, a wreath, a teddy bear and flowers serve as a memorial for the seven people who were killed in an accident July 4th, 1998.
When a car traveling southbound on I-81 near the Arcadia exit in Botetourt county hydroplaned into the median and then into the path of a tractor trailer.
Both vehicles fell over the bridge and landed on route 11.
For Ray Sloan with the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department it's a day he will never forget...as he and other fire and rescue workers recovered the victims bodies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:55:37]
[IN Q=You are never going]
((RAY SLOAN/BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS SOON. IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FORGOTTEN))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=be forgotten]

And Sloan says every time the tones sound at the fire station his heart starts to race...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:56:08]
[IN Q=You always have]
((RAY SLOAN/BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.: YOU ALWAYS HAVE IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD. IS THIS GOING TO BE ANOTHER JULY 4TH))
[RUNS= 5]
[OUT Q=July 4th]

Sloan says since the day of the accident the words "July 4th" have taken on a new meaning--the are used to describe an accident he hopes will never be repeated.
Joy Sutton, News 7 Botetourt County.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Switched at Birth]

The accident was just the start of a very difficult month for the Chittum family of Buena Vista.
Among the victims was Kevin Chittum, the father of Rebecca.
By early August, it was learned that Rebecca was one of two girls switched at birth at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

[Feedback, July 4]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=feedback 31:07]
[GRAPHIC=feedback]

The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate our nation's history.
Some of the symbols of that heritage have been creating controversy lately, and brought us several comments from viewers.
Assignment Editor Joe McKean tells us what they had to say, in this week's Feedback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A committee]
[RUNS=2:07]
[OUT Q=McKean, News-7.]

(( A committee last week proposed that an image of Robert E. Lee be placed back on a Richmond flood wall, along with a picture of a black soldier and one of Lincoln.
That news brought a couple of responses.
"Why don't they use the old one until the new one is done? It seems to me that this is a way for the panel to stall by having new murals made...(and) in regard to the comments that Sa'ad El-Amin made about the decision being made to satisfy the vocal majority which was white. Was it any better when the decision was made to satisfy ONE person?"
And a viewer from Rocky Mount who asked that his name not be used said:
"Of course it was wrong what happened back in the 1800's dealing with slavery, but this is 1999 and times have changed. For the last 30 years or so the blacks and whites have had the same teachers, the same books, the same homework and the same opportunity to make something of themselves as we the whites have had...But too many of the black community would rather change their names to something other than what their parents gave them and sit back and yell about things being racist."
And there were some notes about the issue of flag burning.
"Perhaps the commentator never stood on the rolling deck of a ship at midnight, in stormy weather, knowing that the enemy, its subs, its kamikaze planes were on the prowl. I have, and only those with similar experiences can know the consolation and encouragement of Old Glory silhouetted against a darkened sky, beating a tattoo as it flapped in the wind. Let's protect the greatest symbol of our Great Nation, in spite of those who would degrade it".
"Although it is a felony to burn a cross in Virginia and against the federal laws, it is perfectly OK to burn the US Flag. Aren't they both freedom of speech? Taking down Lee's picture, flying the southern flag, the old state song, are all a part of our heritage...Let us all stand up together and protect all of these symbols from abuse".
Letters to News-7 should be send to P.O. Box 7, Roanoke, 24022-0007.
Our fax number is 343-7269.
Our e-mail address: news@wdbj7.com.
And we have a moderated on-line forum on our web page, wdbj7.com.
Joe McKean, News-7.))

[Cat-Show]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=99-23 1:02:09]
[GRAPHIC=none]

For the third year the Roanoke Civic Center was crawling with cats as the Star City Cat Fanciers sponsored their annual cat show.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;]

Breeders came from all over the country to show their prize cats. Rico Hill knows what it takes to show a winner. He has been breeding award winning Rappers for sixteen years. His cat Plain White Wrapper is the top feline in the nation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There is a]
[SUPER=01-Rico Honey/Cat Breeder]
(RICO HONEY: THERE IS A 100 POINTS TO EACH CAT STANDARD AND EACH CAT STANDARDS DESCRIBE THE IDEAL OF THAT BREED.)
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=that breed.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The show featured 275 felines in 37 different breeds.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

There are no Noon stocks today. Wall Street is closed for the holiday.

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-31 (1:51:26)]
[GRAPHIC=Orioles/Yankees]

The Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 7 to 3. Last night's win broke the O's 10 game losing streak thanks in part to a grand slam hit by B.J. Surhoff.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/WNYW; :]

An Oriole fan looking on at Yankee Stadium.
In the bottom of the first, Derek Jeter hits a chopper down the line into left field scoring Chuck Knoblauch to make it 1 to nothing Yankees.
Then in the second Chilli Davis gets all of this Juan Guzman pitch sending it over the right field fence and the Yankees took the the three to nothing lead on the Orioles.
[SUPER=35-Baltimore/7/New York/3/;]

But the Orioles rallied in the seventh. Surhoff hits the tie breaking grand slam over the right field wall and Baltimore beats the Yankees 7 to 3.
(------------)

[S-Connie]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-32 tc 1:52:09]
[GRAPHIC=Sports Logo]

Here in Roanoke we are lucky to have a little league hero.
Denise Allen talks with Connie Welch who has delighted players and fans for more than two decades.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :06]
[SUPER=01-Connie Welch/Recreation League Umpire; :14]
[SUPER=01-Shirley Henry/Parks & Recreation Department; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=news 7 sports]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:28:17]
[IN Q=coming down]
((CONNIE WELCH: COMING DOWN, THROW IT TO SECOND. PLAY BALL!))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=PLAY BALL!]

Connie Welch has been starting rec league games this way for 22 years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:20:51]
[IN Q=i love]
((CONNIE WELCH/PARKS AND REC UMP: I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART TO LOVE THESE KIDS AND THE KIDS LOVE ME THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=ALL ABOUT]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:29:41]
[IN Q=move batter]
((MOVE BATTER. MOVE BATTER. WHEN I TELL YOU TO MOVE HE'S COMING HOME. GET OUT OF THERE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=OF THERE]

The Roanoke Sanitation and Solid Waste worker is no ordinary ump--he doesn't just call balls, strikes and outs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:31:25]
[IN Q=ball]
((BALL BRING YOUR PITCHES IN. GIVE YOUR PITCHER A TARGET.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=A TARGET]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:20:30]
[IN Q=I TRY TO TEACH]
((I TRY TO TEACH THEM THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME, OF SLIDING, OF GETTING OUT OF THE WAY WHEN A GUY'S COMING FROM THIRD AND KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL 'CAUSE HE'S THROWING HARD MOST OF THE PITCHERS OUT THERE DO.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:32:34]
[IN Q= STRIKE.]
((STRIKE. I'M CALLING THOSE CONNERS. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=ON THE BALL]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:25:55]
[IN Q=HE'S BEEN]
((SHIRLEY HENRY/PARKS AND REC DEPT.: HE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG HE'S ABOUT AN INSTITUTION. I APPROACHED MY BOSS ABOUT HAVING THIS FIELD NAMED AFTER HIM.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=NAMED AFTER HIM]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:21:12]
[IN Q=THEY HAVE]
((THEY HAVE RESPECT FOR MY CALLS. I DON'T GIVE NOBODY NO BREAKS AND I CALL THEM LIKE I SEE THEM.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=I SEE THEM]

Shirley Henry has been keeping score for Connie for three years. Each season she asks to work with Connie because his love for the game is contagious.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:26:55]
[IN Q=HIS MOVEMENTS]
((HIS MOVEMENTS. HE JUST GETS EVERYONE INTO THE GAME. IT'S EXCITING . IT'S A LOT OF FUN.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=A LOT OF FUN]

But his words aren't just about baseball. He also encourages the children to stay in school and do their best in everything they try.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:22:54]
[IN Q=I'm just going]
((I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING UNTIL THE GOOD LORD SAYS RETIRE. BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP ON DOING IT. WORK WITH THESE KIDS OUT THERE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:48:07]
[IN Q=strike three]
((STRIKE THREE. THAT WAS A GOOD PITCH.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=GOOD PITCH]

Denise Allen NEws 7 Sports.))

[S-Wimbledon]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-39 (1:25:54)]
[GRAPHIC=Wimbledon Logo]

It was victory for Pete Sampras yesterday who won his sixth Wimbledon title.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wimbledon, England/NBC Sports; :]

Sampras and his buddy Andre Agassi squared off in the men's singles finals at Wimbledon.
Sampras completely dominated the match and he would breeze through the first two sets 6-3, 6-4.
Agassi would make a run in the third set and was tied at 5 to 5 before Sampras took over again.
He would win the match with his 17-th ace to win his sixth Wimbledon crown in 7 years and overtake Bjorn Borg for the most titles in the Open era.
(------------)

[S-Women]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-29 (1:44:03)]
[GRAPHIC=Steffi Graf]

On the women's side at Wimbledon, Steffi Graf played for a final time lost to Lindsay Davenport in 2 sets.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wimbledon, England/NBC Sports; :]

Davenport would take on seven time champion Steffi Graf.
The third seed played her usual baseline game and cruised to a straight set, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Graf.
It's the second Grand Slam title for Davenport, who's the 1998 U.S. Open champ. Davenport was playing in her first Wimbledon final and she did not lose a single set during the tournament.
(------------)

[Dragon-Boat]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Hundreds of people raced out to watch the annual Dragon Boat race in Hong Kong.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hong Kong, China]

27-countries took part in this years event that commemorates Chinese poet-statesman Chu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Milo River in central Hunan 2-thousand years ago.
In the men's event... the Chinese team won the 700- yard race in 2-minutes 47 seconds with the Hong Kong team coming in second.
The highlights of the event was the crazy bath tub race...
THe Universal Candle Dragon Boat Team WASHED away the competition to become this years winner of the 24 year old race. Apart from the race, spectators are treated to an assortment of entertainment including dancing, food, live bands and plenty to drink. (------------)