WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/20/99

[7E-Druckenmiller]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Cut Ins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-24 1:00]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller Trial Begins]

The rape trial of a former Virginia Tech quarterback in just a few hours.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Jim Druckenmiller, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, is accused of raping a college student in Blacksburg, earlier this year.
It took prosecutors and defense attorneys approximately eight hours yesterday to select a jury.
Several of the prospective jurors dismissed were let go after revealing that they attend or work at Virginia Tech and were concerned about remaining impartial.
Another man was excused after stating he was a fan of Druckenmiller's on the football field-- and, thus, felt he was NOT guilty.
(----------------)

[7S-Strickler]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-20 1:11:54]
[GRAPHIC=Strickler]

A federal appeals court has still not ruled on the fate of Tommy David Strickler.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

His attorneys are asking the U.S. Fourth Circuit to stop tomorrow's scheduled execution.
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./1990;]

Last Friday, a U.S. District judge declined to rule on the merits of Strickler's case.
Strickler is set to die for the murder of Leann Whitlock, a James Madison University student from Roanoke.
(------------)

[7City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut ins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-17 TC1:34:59]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]

Storms that shook Roanoke over the weekend barely rippled the water at Carvin's Cove, which is still more than 25 feet below the spillway.
Eric Earnhart more on the latest update from water officials .
[SOT]
[IN Q=The flood warning rain guage]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Sunday; :16-quick]
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager; :27]
[SUPER=01-Diane Akers/Acting Assistant City Manager; :53]
[SUPER=01-Carroll Swain/Council Member; 1:16 ]
[SUPER=01-Kit Kiser/Roanoke Utilities Director; 1:24]
[SUPER=@Eric1; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=EE, News-7]

((The flood warning rain gauge at Carvin's Cove keeps an un-necessary vigil this summer, it's solar powered antenna beaming data into a mostly dry sky to its Internet site... where recent rainfall totals come up as a long line of zeros.
Even the heavy storm that pounded parts of Roanoke Sunday, flooding some streets, only registered 3 tenths of an inch at the Carvin's Cove filtration plant.
The good news, water conservation in Roanoke is working.
[SOT 02:16:52]
[IN Q=we are getting]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER; WE ARE GETTING RESULTS, MOST OF OUR CITIZENS APPEAR TO ME TO HAVE TAKEN THIS PROGRAM TO HEART, THEY'RE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO US GETTING THROUGH THIS SITUATION. ))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=this situation]

But even with MOST people complying, consumption was down 8 percent in the first two weeks of July, the City's goal is 20 percent.
[SOT 02:38:10 ]
[IN Q=Mandatory water]
(( DIANE AKERS/ASST. CITY MANAGER; MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 7TH, SO FOR ABOUT HALF THE TIME, MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION HAS BEEN IN EFFECT, AND WE'VE HAD 8 PERCENT REDUCTION SO THAT IS GOOD NEWS AND AS TIME GOES ON WE'LL KNOW MORE. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=know more]

For council, the sense of urgency is increasing, as they anticipate the next level of water restrictions to hit around labor day.
[SOT 02:29:01]
[IN Q=if the weather conditions]
(( CARROLL SWAIN/COUNCIL MEMBER; IF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT IMPROVE AND WE DO NOT GET MORE RAIN, MORE WATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS SHORTFALL EVENTUALLY.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=shortfall, eventually]
[SOT 02:29:26]
[IN Q=we know]
((KIT KISER/ROANOKE UTILITIES DIRECTOR; WE KNOW IF IT DOESN'T RAIN OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WE WILL HAVE A SHORTFALL, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MANAGE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE HAVE LEFT UNTIL WE DO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT RAIN.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=significant rain.]
[take microwave full] [standup]
If the rain does NOT come, and Carvin's Cove becomes unusable, there are not enough alternate sources to replace it, and not enough time to create an alternate water source.
Expect the calls for conservation to get louder, and the City buys time.
In Roanoke, Eric Earnhart, News 7.))

[45S-Valleydale]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-22 1:36:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It could be a walk on the picket lines this weekend for meat packers at Valleydale.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape]

Their contract expires Sunday.
The union that represents 200 workers says MOST contract talks go down to the wire.
The union says workers want a substantial pay hike.
The average employee earns about eight- dollars- an hour now.
They'll vote on the company's latest offer this weekend... just hours before their current four-year deal runs out.

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

[45E-81-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=99-23 1:14:54]
[GRAPHIC=81 Fatal Accident]

Two people remain hospitalized in Roanoke following a fatal accident on Interstate 81.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL SCREEN]
It happened at about 3-30 yesterday afternoon, just north of Buchanan in Botetourt County, near the Arcadia exit.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

State police say a car traveling north went out of control, crossed the median and hit the van head-on.
The car caught fire; both people inside were killed.
The five people in the van were taken to Roanoke hospitals.
The two that remain hospitalized are listed in stable condition.
(------------)

[45M'ville-Sheriff]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A Martinsville Sheriff's deputy is nursing a gunshot wound this morning, and another deputy appears to be RESPONSIBLE for the injury.
But Martinsville police say the shooting was accidental, not life-threatening, and that both men involved are close friends.
The deputy was shot in the thigh yesterday inside the city municipal building.

No other details on the shooting have been released.[45Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]

It was an unsual protest last night against A-E-P's proposed power line.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.]

Powerline opponents lit up flouroscent bulbs using the emissions from the existing powerline running through Wythe County.
The protesters don't want the seond line which would West Virginia through Tazewell, Bland and Wythe Counties.
The utility says the line is needed for future power needs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:51:37]
[IN Q=]
((DAVE MUHLEY/OPPONENT: A SECOND ONE WOULD BE AN UNBEARABLE ASSAULT ON THE CITIZENS OF WYTHE COUNTY FOR NO REASON BUT TO SHIP ELECTRICITY AND PROFITS.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Muhley/Power Line Opponent]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=electricity and profits]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Opponents say the powerline would bring pollution as well as health hazards that are already linked to the exsisting power line.
(------------)

[45Crusade]

[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-25 TC53:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An Old Fashioned tent revival is underway in Botetourt County, the first one in the valley in nearly half a century.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:02:09]
[IN Q=You can bow]
((YOU CAN BOW NOW OR YOU CAN BOW LATER BUT YOU WILL BOW. AMEN.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=Amen]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Pastor Rick Via -- formerly of Rainbow Forest Baptist Church in Roanoke -- leads the crusade.
The goal was to unite non-churchgoers with Christ.
More than 400 people showed up last night alone.
Brandy Cash says she was saved.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:44:12]
[IN Q=I was coming]
((BRANDY CASH: I WAS COMING BACK. I'VE BEEN SAVED BEFORE. I JUST FEEL LIKE I'D BEEN AWAY AND I REALLY NEEDED TO DO IT.))
[SUPER=07-Brandy Cash;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=TO DO IT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A Baptist church and two independent churches organized the event -- but pastors say choosing a particular denomination can wait.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:50:24]
[IN Q=This is a]
((RICK VIA/PASTOR: THIS IS A GREAT TIME JUST TO GET TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND REJOICE IN THE ONE COMMON HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Via/Pastor;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=in Jesus Christ]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The revival runs through Wednesday night.
(------------)

[8E-Druckenmiller]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-24 1:00]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller Trial Begins]

Now that a jury is in place, opening arguments are set to begin today in the rape trial of former Virginia Tech Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Druckenmiller, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, is accused of raping a college student in Blacksburg, earlier this year.
It took prosecutors and defense attorneys approximately eight hours yesterday to select a jury.
Several of the prospective jurors dismissed were let go after revealing that they attend or work at Virginia Tech and were concerned about remaining impartial.
Another man was excused after stating he was a fan of Druckenmiller's on the football field-- and, thus, felt he was NOT guilty.
(----------------)

[8S-Strickler]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-20 1:11:54]
[GRAPHIC=Strickler]

Tommy David Strickler's latest chance of avoiding execution lies with a federal appeals court in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./1990;]

His attorneys are asking the U.S. Fourth Circuit to stop tomorrow's scheduled execution.
So far, there hasn't been a decision.
Last Friday, a U.S. District judge declined to rule on the merits of Strickler's case.
Strickler is set to die for the murder of Leann Whitlock, a James Madison University student from Roanoke.
(------------)

[8E-Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-19 1:15:27]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Proposed Line]

Opponents to A-E-P's proposed new power line demonstrated last night that the CITIZENS of Southwest Virginia have the REAL power.
The utility says it wants to build the new line from West Virginia through Tazewell, Bland and Wythe Counties to meet future power demands.
But opponents say it will do more harm than good.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It didn't take]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Andy Kegley/Power Line Opponent; :08]
[SUPER=01-Dave Muhley/Power Line Opponent; :25]
[SUPER=@Kate2; :50]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=Wythe Co.]
((It didn't take an outlet to light these fluroscent bulbs its the emissions off the powerline running through Whythe County.
[SOT]
[INQ=]
((ANDY KEGLEY/OPPONENT: WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND DEMONSTRATE EVEN THOUGH AEP HAS THE POWERLINES HAS THE TOWERS, PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS: 13] The proposed power line would run between Wyoming West Virginia to Jackson's Ferry. Opponents came out to say one powerline is enough.
[SOT]
[INQ=]
((DAVE MUHLEY/OPPONENT: A SECOND ONE WOULD BE AN UNBEARABLE ASSAULT ON THE CITIZENS OF WYTHE COUNTY FOR NO REASON BUT TO SHIP ELECTRICTY AND PROFITS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:11] Protestors say the powerline would bring pollution as well as health hazards that are already linked to the exsisting one.
[SOT]
[INQ=]
((ANDY KEGLEY/OPPONENT:WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF VARIOUS HEALTH PEOPLE THAT IF YOU WANT TO BUILD A POWERLINE YOU FIRST HAVE TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE EXSISTING ONE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:08] And these folks say they'll keep fighting to keep a second powerline from running through their county. Kate Weidaw News 7 Wythe County.))

[8Crusade]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-25 TC53:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

They're singing God's praises in Botetourt County during this week's tent revival..
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:02:09]
[IN Q=You can bow]
((YOU CAN BOW NOW OR YOU CAN BOW LATER BUT YOU WILL BOW. AMEN.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=Amen]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Pastor Rick Via -- formerly of Rainbow Forest Baptist Church in Roanoke -- leads the crusade.
The goal was to unite non-churchgoers with Christ.
More than 400 people showed up last night alone.
Brandy Cash says she was saved.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:44:12]
[IN Q=I was coming]
((BRANDY CASH: I WAS COMING BACK. I'VE BEEN SAVED BEFORE. I JUST FEEL LIKE I'D BEEN AWAY AND I REALLY NEEDED TO DO IT.))
[SUPER=07-Brandy Cash;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=TO DO IT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A Baptist church and two independent churches organized the event -- but pastors say choosing a particular denomination can wait.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:50:24]
[IN Q=This is a]
((RICK VIA/PASTOR: THIS IS A GREAT TIME JUST TO GET TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND REJOICE IN THE ONE COMMON HOPE WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Via/Pastor;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=in Jesus Christ]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The revival runs through Wednesday night. (------------)