[7Strickler]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-18]
[GRAPHIC=Strickler Execution]
Convicted killer Tommy David Strickler died last night still proclaiming his innocence in the murder of Salem native Leann Whitlock nine years ago.
Steve Smallshaw reports from Jarratt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Witnesses say]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt; :05QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Larry Traylor/DOC Spokesman; :18]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=News7, Jarratt.]
(( Witnesses say 33- year- old Tommy David Strickler was calm but noticeably nervous when he was brought into the death chamber just before 9 p.m.
In a quiet, broken voice that was hard to understand, Strickler continued to deny he helped kill Salem native Leann Whitlock in 1990.
[SOT Traylor]
Strickler's last appeals had failed three hours earlier when both the Supreme Court and Governor Jim Gilmore refused to intervene in his execution.
Defense claims of new evidence carried no weight with the high court or with execution witness Wayne Pike.
Pike says justice was served.
[SOT Pike]
[Standup]
Members of Leann Whitlock's family had been scheduled to witness this execution tonight, but they did not show up.
Tommy Strickler was the 9th inmate to die in Virginia this year, the 22nd under Governor Jim Gilmore. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Jarratt.))
[7E-Murder-Suicide]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-26 43:14]
[GRAPHIC=Pulaski Co. Murder Suicide]
Two people died in an apparent murder-suicide in Pulaski County yesterday morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
It happened at the Camelot apartments in Fairlawn.
Neighbors say a woman was delivering some kind of document to her ex-boyfriend, when he pulled her inside and locked the door.
Neighbors say the woman's teenage daughter was outside the apartment when it happened and called police, who found two bodies just inside the front door.
Investigators say no names will be released until they finish notifying family members.
(------------)
[7S-Sullivan ]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-20 1:13:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A plea agreement has led to a gulity plea in the case of the Dublin woman who tried to hire a "hit man" to kill her boyfriend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Peggy Jo Sullivan admitted to possession of an unlawfully- made, unregistered bomb.
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co./January 19]
Police found the device in the front seat of her pick-up truck near a crowded restaurant in January.
Sullivan will be sentenced later.
(------------)
[7E-Druckenmiller]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-37 16:33]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller on Trial]
The prosecution wrapped up its case yesterday in the rape trial of former Virginia Tech quarterback, Jim Druckenmiller.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
The athlete, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, is accused of raping a 22- year old college student at a party in Blacksburg, back in March.
Yesterday the young woman took the stand telling jurors she passed out and that when she woke up she found Druckenmiller on top of her.
She says she never yelled for help because she was disoriented and scared.
She also told the jury she had NOT been flirting with the athlete earlier in the evening.
(-------------)
[anchor=]
[ss=hold]
Her testimony conflicts with that of several defense witnesses who testified that the young woman had been coming on to Druckenmiller during the evening.
The defense will continue its case today.
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Looking at today's weather... it will be partly sunny and humid with a chance of thunderstorms high's in the low to mid 90's. Tonight there will be isolated storms then clearing highs in the mid 70's. Tomorrow there will showers and storms with highs in the upper 80's and Friday night will turn clear nd muggy with high's in the mid to upper 60's.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny & Humid/Chance of Storms/90-95/Isolated Storms/Then Clearing/72-77;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 7/23/99
Friday:
[SUPER=130-/Ebone' Jones/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-65/Shirrel Cox/Axton]
Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-50th/Beverly & Edith Hunter/Christiansburg]
[SUPER=130-1/Quasia Eggleston/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-6/Taja Manning/Salem] (pronounced - Tasia ---ie: Asia)
[SUPER=130-4/Jacob Waller/Ridgeway]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-45/Annette Phanelson/Roanoke]
[SUPER=131-50/Hazel Stratton/Roseland]
[SUPER=131-36/James Newby/Roanoke]
[SUPER=131-65/Bill Carroll/Lynchburg][cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[45E-Druckenmiller]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-37 16:33]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller on Trial]
The prosecution in the rape trial of former Virginia Tech quarterback, Jim Druckenmiller wrapped up its case yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
The athlete, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, is accused of raping a 22- year old college student at a party in Blacksburg, back in March.
Yesterday the young woman took the stand telling jurors she passed out and that when she woke up she found Druckenmiller on top of her.
She says she never yelled for help because she was disoriented and scared.
She also told the jury she had NOT been flirting with the athlete earlier in the evening.
(-------------)
[anchor=]
[ss=hold]
Her testimony conflicts with that of several defense witnesses who testified that the young woman had been rubbing against Druckenmiller and telling him she wanted him.
The defense will continue its case today.
[45S-Sullivan ]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-20 1:13:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A woman from Dublin will be sented today in connection with a plot to kill her boyfriend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday, Peggy Jo Sullivan admitted to possession of an unlawfully- made, unregistered bomb.
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co./January 19]
Police found the device in the front seat of her pick-up truck near a crowded restaurant in January.
Police say she conspired to hire a hit man to kill her boyfriend.
(------------)
[45Lewis]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-17]
[GRAPHIC=Verna Lewis]
A conviction in the case of a Salem Physician charged with tax evasion.
Keith Humphry has the verdict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Dr. Lewis is]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=@file; :16]
[SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Dr. Lewis' Attorney; :26]
[SUPER=01-Joel Miller/Federal Tax Prosecutor; :57]
[SUPER=01-Karen Peters/Federal Prosecutor; 1:12]
[SUPER=@keith1; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=courthouse in Roanoke.]
(( Doctor Lewis is a pysiatrist- -specializing in rehabilitative medicine at Lewis Gale since 1988.
She admitted under oath that she'd falsified documents, even asked others lie to the I-R-S about work they'd done for her.
She said it was her accountant's idea.
C-P-A Bill White was not a defendant in the case, though the revenue agent who investigated Dr. Lewis recommended Councilman White be prosecuted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:37:40]
[IN Q=Bill White received]
((TONY ANDERSON/DR. LEWIS' ATTORNEY: BILL WHITE RECEIVED A FULL GRANT OF IMMUNITY. I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE A GRANT OF IMMUNITY, YOU DON'T NEED ONE. BUT IF YOU DO GET ONE, THERE MUST BE SOME REASON FOR IT.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=reason for it.]
Lewis was convicted of filing false tax returns, claiming a two-story addition to her Daleville home as an office expense- -including the weight room.
Aside from the condo in the Bahamas Lewis claimed as an educational expense, the prosecution pointed out Lewis deliberately altered documents in an attempt to fool the I-R-S.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:32:05]
[IN Q=Not just negligence]
((JOEL MILLER/U.S. TAX PROSECUTOR: NOT JUST MISSTATEMENTS THAT WERE HONEST OR INNOCENT, BUT WILLFUL VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW WHEN SHE KNEW BETTER.
KAREN PETERS/PROSECUTOR: PEOPLE DON'T GET TO THIS POINT FOR MESSING UP ON THEIR TAX RETURNS. WHAT EVERY CITIZEN FEARS: "OH, IF I MAKE A SMALL MISTAKE ON MY TAX RETURNS, THE IRS WILL BE AFTER ME" THAT ISN'T THE CASE.))
[RUNS24]
[OUT Q=isn't the case.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Dr. Lewis will be]
((DR. LEWIS WILL BE SENTENCED LATER. WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHETHER SHE SPENDS TIME IN PRISON IS THAT SHE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LOSE HER LICENSE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN VIRGINIA, HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF EIGHT FELONIES. KEITH HUMPHRY AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN ROANOKE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=courthouse in Roanoke.]))
[45E-Security-Bands]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-21 1:05:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A little comfort for new moms and dads as security is tightened at the Maternity Care unit at one local hospital..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; ]
Lewis-Gale Medical Center now has infant anklets to match their baby I-D bracelets.
Transmitters with alarms are fastened around the baby's leg
- the alarm goes off if the baby is taken off the maternity floor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 10 19 45]
[IN Q=It was]
((ROSEMARY WINSLOW/DIR. MATERNITY SERVICES: IT WAS SOMETHING WE DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BEFORE ANYTHING WAS IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT HERE IN VIRGINIA.))
[super=01-Rosemary Winslow/Maternity Services Director;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=in Virginia. - DOUBLE OUT-Q!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The transmitters are applied just after delivery and don't come off until the baby is discharged from the hospital.
(------------)
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Checking the Thursday forecast...
Partly sunny and humid today, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Highs in the low to mid 90s.
Isolated storms tonight, otherwise clearing skies and lows in the mid 70s.
The five day forecast is partly cloudy and hot through the weekend...highs near 90...lows near 70.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny & Humid/Chance of Storms/90-95/Isolated Storms/Then Clearing/72-77;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[8E-Murder-Suicide]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-26 43:14]
[GRAPHIC=Pulaski Co. Murder Suicide]
In Pulaski County yesterday morning, two people died in an apparent murder-suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
It happened at the Camelot apartments in Fairlawn.
Neighbors say a woman was delivering some kind of document to her ex-boyfriend, when he pulled her inside and locked the door.
Neighbors say the woman's teenage daughter was outside the apartment when it happened and called police, who found two bodies just inside the front door.
Investigators say no names will be released until they finish notifying family members.
(------------)
[8E-Prices-Fork]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-31 10:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Should one community become a town.
One community rich in history is divided with it's future.
Kate Weidaw has the story of a community at odds with the idea of becoming a town.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=Most of the folks]
[SUPER=01-Steve Moore/Opponent; :00]
[SUPER=03-Prices Fork; :09]
[SUPER=01-Louise Sumler/Opponent; :39]
[SUPER=01-Jim Noonkester/Supporter; :51]
[SUPER=@Kate2; :55]
[RUNS=1:34]
(([OUT Q=KW News7]
[SOT22:55:55 #2]
[INQ=Most of]
((STEVE MOORE/OPPONENT:MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE CHOOSEN TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE IT IS OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND IF WE WANTED TO LIVE IN A TOWN WE WOULD BE IN ONE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:]
The proposal to turn the community of Prices Fork into a town is not settling well with residents.
During a public hearing residents voiced their concerns over new and additional taxes, funding for a new form of government, police and fire departments, as well as new water and sewage hookups.
For the last 35 years Louise and Don Sumler have lived in the community of Prices Fork and say the change would cost to much money.
[SOT 23:55:04 #1]
[INQ=]
((LOUISE SUMLER/OPPONENT: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS A LOT OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE ADDED EXPENSES.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:06]
Jim Noonkester, a real estate agent in Blacksburg, came up with the idea.
[SOT 5:27 #1]
[INQ=]
((JIM NOONKESTER/SUPPORTER: WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY A LOT OF HERITAGE AND WE WANT TO PROTECT THAT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:]
But some residents think Noonkester has alternative motives for wanting the town. The real estate agent owns land in the community which he could profit off of with the change. Noonkester says that simply isn't true.
[SOT 7:00 #1]
[INQ=]
((JIM NOONKESTER/SUPPORTER: PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THAT ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO IT BECOMING A TOWN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:]
Supporters of the change say locals running the town would be more commited to the needs of the community.
But many residents say if they get their way the 200 year old community will preserve their history by not changing. Kate Weidaw News 7.))
[8S-Bassett]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-27 27:09]
[GRAPHIC=Bassett-EPA Settlement]
Bassett Furniture, one of the Henry county's biggest employers is paying more than half a million dollars. The business is settling a federal complaint that it polluted the air.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Bassett Furniture will pay 575-thousand dollars for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act.
The Environmental Protection Agency says that for years the company's boilers put out dust and soot above legal limits.
The company says those boilers have been fixed.
Bassett will also spend one-point-six million dollars to help prevent future pollution.
(------------)
[8E-JFK-Books]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jbi]
[TAPE#=99-19 1:19:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Roanoke Public Libraries are giving people a chance to offer their condolences to the Kennedy family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
That's where area resident Duane Howard has placed memorial books.
He says that signing the books might help people cope with what he sees as a national tragedy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:58:32]
[IN Q=It sort of]
((DUANE HOWARD/ MEMORIAL ORGANIZER: IT SORT OF SEEMED LIKE A NIGHTMARE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WERE GOING TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY WERE GOING TO FIND HIM ALIVE AND WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Duane Howard/Memorial Organizer]
[RUNS=8]
[OUT Q=and well]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Howard says he remembers the Kennedy family fondly from his days at American Airlines and as a limo driver in Washingtpn D-C.
He plans to send all the books to Senator Ted Kennedy in a couple of weeks.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news to check weather....
Partly sunny and humid again today, with a few thunderstorms.
Highs climbing into the mid 90s.
Isolated thunderstorms possible overnight...then clearing conditions with lows in the mid 70s.
The extended forecast is partly cloudy and hot...with highs around 90..lows around 70.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny & Humid/Chance of Storms/90-95/Isolated Storms/Then Clearing/72-77;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS