[7humphries]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

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A third defendant in the 1976 car-bombing death of a Greenbrier County, West Virginia, man goes on trial today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington/September 1998;]


Carroll Eugene Humphries is accused of hiring a hitman to kill romantic rival Billy Ray Abshire.
Pre-trial publicity forced the case to be moved from Greenbrier County to Putnam County.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=]
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Abshire's wife-- Kitty-- also faces charges.
Gene Gaylor and Robert Vernon Brown have already been convicted for acting as the hitmen.

[7Feedback, July 25]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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The rape trial of Jim Druckenmiller was one of the topics in our viewer mail this week.
Here's assignment editor Joe McKean, with News-7's Feedback.
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[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Thursday; :05]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Monday; Quick!; 1:14]
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((After four days of testimony and argument, a jury in Montgomery County circuit court found the former Virginia Tech quarterback not guilty of raping a female student last March.
But one viewer believed we were guilty of bad judgement.
"The graphic details reported in the Druckenmiller rape trial during the last several broadcasts were unnecessary, offensive and outrageous," he wrote. "These details were immaterial to the story...Such information is better left in the court record rather than beamed into the homes of thousands across the region. I am deeply disturbed at such signs that my hometown station continues to depart from its tradition of accurate and tasteful reporting for the latest tactics characterizing the Springerization of journalism."
Al Bedrosian's spanking of a child in a hospital emergency room brought these comments:
"We need to start rediscovering good old fashioned discipline in an attempt to save our future from anymore Columbine-like disasters. Scapegoating does not solve the problem. Simple discipline, not abuse, will solve the problem...Personally, if my infant's arms were being pulled on despite my admonition to stop that behavior, I would have corrected that child's behavior in the same manner as Mr. Bedrosian."
And there was praise for the piece on the tent revival in Botetourt County.
"I could not have been more pleased with the story that was aired. It was a fair, accurate and honest piece and I simply wanted to say thanks. May God bless you."
Send your letters to News-7 at P.O. Box 7, Roanoke, 24022-0007.
Our fax number is 540-343-7269.
The e-mail address: news@wdbj7.com.
There's also a moderated on-line forum, at wdbj7.com.
Joe McKean, News-7.))

[7Pool-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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A 9 year-old boy nearly drowned Friday afternoon in a swimming pool at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Justin Moon is now in critical condition at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Hospital Spokesman Tom Urtz says several children swimming at the time spotted Moon lying at the of bottom the pool.

Moon was unconscious when he was pulled to the surface, he was stabilized and later flown to UVA.
Urtz says the hospital believes that the boy was by himself with no adult supervision.
The hospital provides the pool for employees of Centra Health and their families.
Hospital policy requires all children under the age of 14 to be accompanied by an adult.
The incident has been now turned over to the Lynchburg Police Department.
They were unavailable for comment.

[7WEATHER]


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Taking a look at today's weather...it will sunny and hot with temperatures in the low-to-mid 90's. Tonight will be clear skies with a light breeze cooling off to low-to-mid 60's. Tomorrow will be partly cloudy high's in the upper 80's. Tuesday night looks like it will be mostly clear skies with a light breeze, temps in the low-to-mid 60's.



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[7BIRTHDAYS!] 7/27/99
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-6/Stephanie Dowdy/Monroe]



[SUPER=130-13/Jonathan Newman/Calloway]


Anniversary:
[SUPER=130-2nd/Kevin & Gail Karsian/Salem]



[SUPER=130-61/Bob Crotty/Collinsville]



[SUPER=130-3/Brittany Critzer/Buena Vista]


No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-49/Janice Hancock/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-54/Rosa Mays/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-52/Margie Price/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-7/Kianna Lopez/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-86/Ila Krum/Roanoke]



[SUPER=131-10/Jodie Ham/Roanoke]


Anniversary:
[SUPER=131-61st/Hanford & Helen Watson/Moneta][cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]


[45Power-Problems]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
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[GRAPHIC=Heat Wave]


A week-long heat wave is keeping a tight grip on parts of the nation's midsection. Seven people died in Ohio over the weekend.
Locally power companies are putting out an urgent call to conserve electricity.
Virginia Power expects near record demand today--- and a pres release from American Electric power it expects -quo

te- "a serious electric power problem" all week.
Both companies are asking customers to cut back on power consumption.
(XXXXXXX)

[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
They suggest customers avoid using washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and ranges.
Turn off unnecessary lights and use air conditioning only if necessary.
They also suggest either turning up the thermostat or just turning the air off.
(-------------)


[45humphries]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
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In West Virginia, a trial gets underway today for a third defendant in the 1976 car-bombing death of a Greenbrier County man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington/September 1998;]


Carroll Eugene Humphries is accused of hiring a hitman to kill romantic rival Billy Ray Abshire.
Pre-trial publicity forced the case to be moved from Greenbrier County to Putnam County.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Abshire's wife-- Kitty-- also faces charges.
Gene Gaylor and Robert Vernon Brown have already been convicted for acting as the hitmen.

[45S-Valleydale]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
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[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-31 13:58]
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Valleydale union workers avoid the picket line today after ratifying a new contract.
Joy Sutton has the details.
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[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :06]
[SUPER=01-Kris Hutchinson/Valleydale Worker; :14]
[SUPER=01-Marlene Dempster/Valleydale Worker; :45]
[SUPER=01-Donald Cash/Union Leader; :59]
[SUPER=@joy2; 1:16]
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[OUT Q=News-7, Salem]


(( The new five year contract was supported by an overwhelming majority of the workers.
The local union represents about 200 Salem meat packers.
Many of the workers say they were very pleased with what the company had to offer.
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[SOT 00:12:10]
[IN Q=I think they did]

((KRIS HUTCHINSON/WORKER:I THINK THEY DID REAL GOOD. THEY CAME UP ON OUR INSURANCE. OUR INSURANCE IS EXCELLENT NOW. WE HAD CRAPPY INSURANCE. WE GET THE MONEY THAT WE WANTED )) [RUNS8]
[OUT Q=wanted]


The new contract will increase wages by 35 cents the first year, 25 cents the third and fourth years, and 40 cents the fifth year.
And workers no longer have to pay a 250-deductible for health care coverage.
But Marlene Dempster voted against the contract.
She says the health benefits are better, but the pay increase isn't high enough..and the company's 401 K plan is useless.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:18:29]
[IN Q=What's the use]

((MARLENE DEMPSTER/WORKER: WHAT'S THE USE OF HAVING A 401 K IF THE COMPANY DOESN'T MATCH YOUR FUNDS)) [RUNS6]
[OUT Q=put in]


Union Representative Donald Cash says that although the pay increase is not as much as some would like, the company is spending a lot of money on health benefits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:16:31]
[IN Q=I don't want]

((DONALD CASH/UNION REPRESENTATIVE:I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE MISLED WITH THE WAGE INCREASE, BECAUSE THE SIGNIFICANT COST THE COMPANY IS GOING TO BE FACED WITH IS HEALTH CARE AND THAT GOES INTO AFFECT RIGHT NOW WHICH MEANS THE SAVINGS IS PASSED ONTO OUR MEMBERSHIP RIGHT AWAY)) [RUNS18]
[OUT Q=right now]


Many workers say they feel a renewed sense that the company truly cares about their concerns by providing them with quality benefits and fair wages.
Joy Sutton, News-7, Salem.))

[45S-Franklin-Manor]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
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A patients advocate is questioning the relocation of residents of the Franklin Manor Adult Rest Home .
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-19 1:06:42]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]


On July 13-th the L-A-P Care Services announced they were closing their doors by the end of the month.
So far about 50 patients have been moved to other L-A-P owned homes in North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.
However some say residents think their only choice is to move to a home owned by the same company.
This could mean the resident could be further away from their family.
L-A-P's regional director says he speaks with each patient to ensure they are comfortable with where they are being moved.
(------------)


[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
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Taking a moment now to check the forecast...
Sunny and hot again today...with highs in the low to mid 90s.
Clear overnight with a light breeze and lows in the low to mid 60s.
The five day forecast is partly cloudy with a scattered thunderstorms possible...look for temperature to cool off a little..but stay around 90 for the high, 70 for the low.


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[8humphries]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal scales]


The trial for a third defendant in the 1976 car-bombing death of a man gets underway toay in West Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington/September 1998;]


Carroll Eugene Humphries is accused of hiring a hitman to kill romantic rival Billy Ray Abshire.
Pre-trial publicity forced the case to be moved from Greenbrier County to Putnam County.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Abshire's wife-- Kitty-- also faces charges.
Gene Gaylor and Robert Vernon Brown have already been convicted for acting as the hitmen.

[8Pool-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A 9-year-old boy is in critical condition after nearly drowning on Friday.
Justin Moon was in the swimming pool at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Hospital Spokesman Tom Urtz says several children spotted Moon lying at the of bottom the pool.
Moon was unconscious when he was pulled to the surface, he was stabilized and later flown to UVA.
Urtz says the hospital believe the boy was by himself with no adult supervision.
Hospital policy requires all children under the age of 14 to be accompanied by an adult.
The incident has been now turned over to the Lynchburg Police Department.
They were unavailable for comment.

[8S-Franklin-Manor]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-18 1:19:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The doors are shutting at Franklin Manor Adult Rest home at the end of the month.
But, a patient's advocate group is saying that residents are being moved without any say as to where they are going.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-19 1:06:42]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]


On July 13-th the L-A-P Care Services announced it would close by the end of the month.
So far about 50 patients have been moved to other L-A-P owned homes in North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.
However some say residents think their only choice is to move to a home owned by the same company.
This could mean the resident could be further away from their family.
L-A-P's regional director says he speaks with each patient to ensure they are comfortable with where they are being moved.
(------------)


[8WebWatch]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
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Woodstock 99 rocks the web...
And around the world internet users are saying goodbye to John F. Kennedy Junior, his wife and sister-in-law.

More in this week's WebWatch.
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[IN Q=Many Mourners chose]
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[OUT Q=ee, news-7.]

(([intro] [RUNS :05]
Many mourners chose to express their grief and condolences to the families involved through websites, such as JFKjrmemorialonline.com. You can attach a message to a virtual flower on a memorial wall... or post your thoughts on the forum.
The site also tells you how to send condolences to the victims families directly.
If there's a movie you REALLY love, why not take a piece of it home with you? Major studios are setting up their own on-line auction site and are bolstering the bottom line by selling off movie props.
Newline Cinema is selling Mini-Me's grand piano from the latest Austin Powers movie... the price is up to 4 thousand.
And over at Universal, the sword of Xena, Warrior Princess could be hanging over YOUR mantle... starting bid... 2 thousand bucks..
There was plenty of peace and love streaming across the internet over the weekend.
[natsot]

[RUNS :05]
Woodstock online offered a glimps of the performers, people and parties that makes the festival unique.
After it's all over, you can still check out the photo gallery...
There are also video archives of memorable events, like the Dave Matthews Band performance, and the traditional woodstock mudfight.
For links to these sites, click on Webwatch, on the WDBJ website at WDBJ=7.dot.com.))



[8WEATHER]


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Shifting gears now to the forecast...
Sunny and hot again today, with highs in the low to mid 90s.
Staying clear overnight with a light breeze and lows in the 60s.
The next five days will cool off a little at times...otherwise stay near 90 for the high with partly cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms.


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by SS