WDBJ 7 morning news for 07/31/99

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

[roll cold out of the open]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=19-Denise/Allen;]
[SUPER=19-Andrew/Freiden;]

City police continue the investigation into an alleged rape and abduction in southeast Roanoke...
(------------)

and...Is there water on the moon?..today a NASA experiment tries to find out.
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[2-shot toss to Hello][11City-Rape]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=sat.am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roanoke City Police are investigating an alleged rape and abduction.
A woman says she was forced into her car at knife point after leaving a video store between 7-30 and 8 Thursday night in southeast Roanoke.
Joy Sutton has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The victim tells]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :17]
[SUPER=01-Melissa Ratcliff/Nurse; :51]
[SUPER=@joy1]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=JS News 7]

((The victim tells police she was leaving the Movie Starz Video at the 21-hundred block of Bennington Street, southeast...when she was grabbed from behind.
The victim say a man held a knife to her and told her to walk to her car or he would kill her.
She says she was then forced to drive to a gravel driveway off of Coopers Cove Road in Franklin County, where the man raped her and then fled on foot.
Later the woman went to Roanoke Community Hospital where underwent standard sexual assault procedure.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:10:55]
[IN Q=We do a physical]
((WE DO A PHYSICAL EVIDENCE RECOVERY KIT)) [RUNS2]
[OUT Q=kit]

Inside this room at the hospital the victim receives a complete examination and evidence is gathered. A colposcope is used to take pictures of internal and external injuries which can be magnified up to fifteen times normal size.
This information along with a word for word victim account of what happened are turned over to the authorities investigating the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:12:57]
[IN Q=Our role]
((NURSE MELISSA RATCLIFF/ROANOKE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL:OUR ROLE AS A CLINICAL FORENSIC NURSE IS TO COLLECT EVIDENCE AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH EVIDENCE POTENTIALLY YOU CAN EITHER CLEAR THE INNOCENT OR CONVICT THE GUILTY.)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=convict the guilty]

In this case,authorities are now searching for the suspect who is described as a white male in his 30's, with a medium , muscular build. He has dark brown curly hair, and an unshaven face.
He was wearing gray shorts and a dark-colored shirt.
(-----------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Franklin County]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTER:THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO ASSISTING WITH THE INVESTIGATION SINCE THE ALLEGED RAPE HAPPENED IN THE COUNTY. JOY SUTTON, NEWS-7.)) [RUNS8]
[OUT Q=News-7]))

[11Water-Negotiations]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-18 1:43:40]
[GRAPHIC=Water Supply]

Roanoke's city manager says don't expect a quick fix with the water problem.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Jim Ritchie says Roanoke County's plea to work out a water deal by August 20th is not realistic.
The county has plenty of water and wants to sell it to the city.
But the city wants to look at alternatives ... an approach that has some critics saying it looks like the county is working harder to solve the city's crisis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:58:27 ///// 1:59:10]
[***bump sots***]
[IN Q=i've heard that]
((JIM RITCHIE/ACTING CITY MANAGER: I'VE HEARD THAT. AND I CHARACTERIZE THAT AS VERY UNFAIR//////////1:59:10 -- I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD BE MORE INTERESTED THAN THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY ADMINISTRATION IS IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=THIS PROBLEM]
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[VO-NAT]

Ritchie says city and county water teams will continue negotiating next week.
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[Danville-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. AM]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal accident]

An early morning accident claimed the life of a Danville man.
Twenty-eight year old Kenneth Lee Graves died this morning after running his motorcycle off Memorial Drive and hitting a guard rail. No other vehicles were involved.

Danville police say they do not know what caused the accident.[11Franklin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-22 1:42:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Franklin County man died when his tractor flipped and trapped him underneath it.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]

55 year-old Robert Madden was riding on his tractor yesterday, when it started to slide down a bank on his property off Route 220 South near the Henry County line.
Madden tried to jump off, but the tractor tipped over, pinning him between the left fender and the ground.
Madden was Congressman Virgil Goode's brother-in-law.
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[Lunar-Satellite]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

NASA scientists are watching the moon closely this morning to see if there is water on the moon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Lunar Prospector, a NASA spacecraft, was due to slam into the moon's surface shortly before six this morning.
Scientists are waiting to see is the impact sends water vapor into space.
The Prospector is also carrying the ashes of astronomer Eugene Shoemaker.
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[11Blair-Witch]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-31 19:01]
[GRAPHIC=Blair Witch Project]

The Blair Witch Project- -an independent, experimental film- is now playing in 2 theaters in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Paramount Pictures]

Thanks to an enormous "Internet buzz," it's now playing at a theater near you- -at Valley View and the Grandin.

It's about three film-makers producing a documentary on the mythical legend of the Blair Witch.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Film Maker and Professor of script- writing Mary Johnson taught the five young movie makers at the University of Central Florida.
As good as they are, she says: "they check their egos at the door" and work extremely well together.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:00:55]
[IN Q=Even though they're]
((EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ALL VERY BRIGHT AND TALENTED AND GOOD WILL GO OFF ON THEIR OWN AND HAVE THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE CAREERS AND BE SUCCESSFUL, THEY WORK VERY WELL COLLABORATIVELY.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Johnson/Film Professor]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=collaboratively.]
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[VO-NAT]

Johnson just finished teaching a graduate course at Hollins.
She says it cost 30-thousand dollars to produce the Blair Witch Project .
Her young prot�g�s now stand to make more than a million dollars from the sale of the film to Artisan Entertainment.
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[11Bush]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-24]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

Republican presidential frontrunner George W- Bush is coming to Roanoke for a fundraiser luncheon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/June 22]

A thousand dollar per plate luncheon on August 19th is at the Airport Marriott.
Similar lunches in Richmond and northern Virginia have raised Bush three-quarters of a million dollars in Virginia.
Analysts say Governor Jim Gilmore is delivering a lot of support.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:19:00]
[IN Q=Gilmore is]
((LARRY SABATO/UVA POLITICAL ANALYST: GILMORE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CASH IN THOSE CHIPS. IF NOT IN 2001, BEFORE HIS TERM ENDS. THAN AS HE LEAVES OFFICE AS GOVERNOR. HE'LL BE IN AN EXCELLENT POSITION FOR APPOINTMENT TO A MAJOR POSITION.))
[SOT 13:57:09]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I JUST HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MY FOCUS IS ON BEING GOVERNOR. SO THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES ARE THINGS THAT I JUST HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT OR TAKEN UP. FOCUS IS ON BEING A GOOD GOVERNOR.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Sabato/U.Va. Political Analyst; :00]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :18]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=good governor.]
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[VO-NAT]

Virginia could be key ground for Bush in February, when polls show he'd likely win a GOP primary in the Commonwealth-- one of the first big states in the presidential season.
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[11Halifax-Planner]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-29 22:57]
[GRAPHIC=Hog Farm]

Another Halifax County hog farmer is telling the county's planning director to stay off his property.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.;]

County planner Jerry Lovelace was charged for the second time this week with trespassing on a hog farm.
Lovelace's boss, County Administrator Dan Sleeper, says Lovelace was just doing his job. He was checking out an odor complaint on James Wilson's Virgilina farm earlier this month.
Wilson said that he was there without permission.
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[11Tobacco-Panel]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]

Two Southside tobacco growers will help decide how to spend Virginia's tobacco settlement money.
C. D. Bryant from from Danville and Don Anderson of South Boston were appointed by Governor Gilmore yesterday to a panel comprised of lawmakers and citizens.

They'll help determine how money will be paid out to farmers.[Sports-Plays]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sports plays]
[GRAPHIC=Braves]

The Braves are out of first place in the National League East for the first time since April 23rd.
Atlanta lost the game, had their starting pitcher, catcher and manager ejected, in last night's loss to Philadelphia.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/Braves-WTBS;]

Here's what happened. This sets the stage, Eddie Perez at bat is hit by the Phillies' Paul Bird. Bird had hit Perez in the Braves-Phillies matchup last week in Philadelphia.
Then a power outage delays the contest for more than a half hour.
Now here's what led to Bobby Cox's ejection. Perez is called out in the force out at second and argues the call. Manager Cox's words disagree with the ump and he's out of there.
Later in the game, John Smoltz on the mound nails Alex Arias. Smoltz is then tossed and erupts at the ruling.
In the top of the fourth, Perez behind the plate meets Philadelphia pitcher Paul Bird at bat, remember Bird hit Perez earlier in this long evening, a shoving match and then bench clearing brawl ensues.
The Phillies win the battle that counts in the standings notching the nine to two win.
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[2Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[ROLL COLD OUT OF THE OPEN]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]

Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning......
The investigation of an alleged rape and abduction in Roanoke continues...
(------------)
and more on the deadly shootings that happened in an Atlanta office building on Thursday...
we will have more on those stories coming up in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot hello][2-11City-Rape]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-23]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roanoke City police and the Franklin County Sheriff's department are investigating an alleged rape and abduction.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Authorities say it happened between 7:30 and 8 Thursday night in Southeast Roanoke. The victim tells police she was leaving the Movie Starz Video at the 21-hundred block of Bennington Street, southeast...when she was grabbed from behind.
The victim says a man held a knife to her and told her to walk to her car or he would kill her.
She says she was then forced to drive to a gravel driveway off of Coopers Cove Road in Franklin County, where the man raped her and then fled on foot.
Later the woman went to Roanoke Community Hospital where underwent standard sexual assault procedure.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:12:57]
[IN Q=Our role]
((NURSE MELISSA RATCLIFF/ROANOKE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL:OUR ROLE AS A CLINICAL FORENSIC NURSE IS TO COLLECT EVIDENCE AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH EVIDENCE POTENTIALLY YOU CAN EITHER CLEAR THE INNOCENT OR CONVICT THE GUILTY.)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=convict the guilty]
[Anchor=Denise]
[ss=none]
In this case,authorities are now searching for the suspect who is described as a white male in his 30's, with a medium , muscular build. He has dark brown curly hair, and an unshaven face.
He was wearing gray shorts and a dark-colored shirt.

[Office-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The man blamed for Thursday's office shootings in Atlanta, had lost at least 105-thousand dollars in stock trading in less than two months.
Investigators are still looking for answers to why Mark Barton killed nine traders and employess as well as his family.
Lisa Hughes has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Mercer/Henry County Chief Police; :18]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/CBS News; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=CBS News]
((LOCATOR: ATLANTA
(NATS)

It was a chilling clue from a disturbed and angry man. The suicide note from Mark Barton, the gunman who went on a killing spree in Atlanta.When it was over -- 12 people were dead-- and then Barton killed himself.

(SOT: CHIEF JIMMY MERCER/HENRY COUNTY POLICE)
"I don't plan to live very much longer, just long enough to kill as many of the people that greedily sought my destruction."
The former day-trader who reportedly recently lost more than 100-thousand dollars in the stock market-- killed nine people in two office buildings. He's already killed his wife and children. In the note-- Barton described their murders.

(SOT: Mercer)
"There was little pain. All of them were dead in less than five minutes. I hit them with a hammer in their sleep and then put them face down in a bathtub to make sure they did not wake up in pain. To make sure they were dead."
It was quiet at the two Atlanta office complexes as employees left for the weekend. Some dropped off flowers for the victims.... undoubtedly remember the terror of the day before. Police released these 911 recordings -- made just moments after the first shots were fired.

(911 TAPES)

(STANDUP)
))

[Gun-Debate]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Gun Control]

The aftermath of another mass murder has put gun control back in the spotlight once again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA;]

As Americans learned more about Thursday's office shooting, Lawmakers were taking the next step in the battle over gun control.
Some want more comprehensive backround checks.
Others say there are alreay 22-thousand gun control laws on the books and no way to enforce them.
After the Columbine shooting this spring congress did put some gun control in the juvenile justice bill, but it is doubtful that bill will pass.
Congress could start negotiating the bill next week.
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[11School-Shootings]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-19 1:33:05]
[GRAPHIC=School Shooting]

Rescue workers, lawyers and school employees from eight states are in Roanoke this weekend .. preparing for a call they never hope to hear .. a school shooting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Conyers, GA/May 20;]

When a teen gunman shot and injured several students at a high school in Conyers Georgia two months ago, Tommy Morgan was the fire chief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:04:36]
[IN Q=This could happen]
((TOMMY MORGAN/FIRE CHIEF: THIS COULD HAPPEN IN MOST ANY COMMUNITY. IT CAUGHT US BY SURPRISE BUT WE FELT WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES.))
[SUPER=01-Tommy Morgan/Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=THE OTHER AGENCIES]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Firefighters who have handled school shootings suggest blocking off traffic, keeping medical data with each patient, setting up a media center and counseling everyone involved on a longterm basis.
The Roanoke Valley fire chief says he's going to hold more frequent practice drills with regional rescue workers so they'll be ready to work together.
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[Tax-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat am]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]

Congressional negotiators will probably start working on a tax cut package compromise today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington;]

Yesterday the senate approved a 792 billion dollar tax plan.
President Clinton says he will veto the GOP plan because it does little for Social Security and Medicare.
The main elements of the Senate plan include a reduction in the bottom 15 percent income tax bracket to 14 percent and expansion of the number of taxpayers eligible for that bracket.
The big difference in the House bill is that it provides for an across-the-board ten percent cut in tax rates.
(------------)

[IPMS]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=99-30 24:38]
[GRAPHIC=none]

If idle hands are the tools of the devil then this club is helping pave the way to heaven.
Members of The International Plastic Modelers Society keep their hands building everything from sci-fi space crafts to scenes depicting historical events.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Don Moser/IPMS; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tommy Carr/IPMS; :23]
[super=01-Ronnie Drain/IPMS; 1:07]
[super=01-Jeff Hinchee/IPMS; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=to the contest]
((
(/// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:53:03]
[IN Q=anybody with any]
(()) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=like this]

Member of the IPMS of the Roanoke Valley meet monthly to share new techniques in model building.
Tommy Carr showed members how to put rust spots on a model of an old pick up truck.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:52:02]
[IN Q=I believe]
(()) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q=you ruff it up]

You may have seen samples of IPMS members' work at their displays in the shopping malls..
They have also built a diorama that will be used at the Bedford D-Day Memorial
Members say model building is also a good way to teach children history.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:53:57]
[IN Q=they can]
(()) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=actually used]

For many of these modelers building is a form of relaxation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:56:01]
[IN Q=sense of satisfaction]
(()) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=against other modelers]

And Ronnie will have a chance to compete against modelers from up and down the east coast at next weekend's Virginia Shootout.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:50:31]
[IN Q=it's going to]
(()) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=to the contest]
))

[11Rifles]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jbi]
[TAPE#=99-20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Colonial Williamsburg's Master Gun Smith is in town looking for Pre-Revolutionary rifles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ferrum]
The Salem native is looking specifically for a type of long rifle made in the Shenandoah Valley--called the "Kentucky rifle." Wallace Gusler knows of more than 30 different craftsmen--all with differnt styles and signatures--but every once in a while he finds a new maker.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:17:32]
[IN Q=Today]
[SUPER=01-Wallace Gusler/ Gun Smith]
((WALLACE GUSLER/ GUN SMITH: TODAY THERE'S A RIFLE HERE THAT APPEARS TO BE FROM GREENBRIAR, WEST VIRGINIA THAT IS A MAKER THAT I'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE AND IT'S A GOOD CLEAR SIGNATURE AND SO WE'LL BE BACK IN THE COURT RECORDS LOOKING FOR MR. FOG WHO MADE THIS RIFLE.))
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=this rifle.]
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[VO-NAT]
He will take pictures of the guns and document them for a book he's writing on the history of rifles in Virginia.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Anyone who thinks they have a Kentucky rifle--dating from the 1730's to the 1850's--should contact the Blue Ridge Institute in Ferrum.

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT]
Still to come on News 7 Saturday Morning....... In sports.....Mike Stevens has highlights from the Redskins Training Camp

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=ANDREW]
and if you are looking for a little adventure this summer, try whitewater rafting. Kimberly McBroom went down the rapids and will tell us more about it in this week's Time Off.

but first here are the bestselling books of the week.
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[no 2 shot go straight to the bestsellers]

[soft music under][11Tripp-Indictment]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=sat Am]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Linda Tripp is facing possible time in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - 20NA - 20:11:43]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; ]
A Maryland grand jury handed up a two-count indictment against Tripp yesterday. The federal charges are for violating Maryland wiretap laws for taping conversations with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky without Lewinsky's permission.
(------------)

[Durham]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A Roanoke judge will allow a psychiatrist to examine a woman charged with killing her husband to see if she suffered from battered women's syndrome. Dorothy Durham asked for the examination in hopes of convincing a jury she acted in self-defense when she stabbed Ronald Durham to death in a Roanoke Hotel room.
Doctor Susan Fiester will examine Durham. Fiester has testified dozens of times on battered women's syndrome, including the highly publicized

1993 case of Lorena Bobbitt. [11Shipyard-Strike]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Steelworkers at Newport News Shipbuilding are going back to work.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/June 25]
[From 598-39 1:44:55]
They went on strike more than 16 weeks ago, and even brought their picket line to a company meeting in Richmond last month.
Yesterday, the steelworkers approved a 58 week contract.
They'll return to work over the next four weeks.
(------------)

[Whitewater-Rafting]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Saturday AM]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]

In the midst of a year-long drought, you might be looking for an escape where the water flows freely, even WILDLY.
Ever considered whitewater rafting? It's steadily growing as a recreational activity for families.
In this week's "Time Off", Kimberly McBroom and photographer Greg Moore test the waters just a few hours away in West Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nicknamed the "Grand Canyon"...]
[SUPER=03-Fayette Co., WV; :00]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Workman/Trip Leader; :34]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1; :58]
[SUPER=01-Michael Gray/Mountain River Tours, Inc.; 1:32]
[RUNS=2:17]
[OUT Q=McBroom, News 7, Fayette Co., WV]

(( Nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the East", the New River Gorge is even more impressive looking UP....
For a quarter- century, Mountain River Tours has taken rafters on both the New and Gauley Rivers.
THIS rapids trip on the Lower New River is a fairly tame one..
The ride still gets bumpy at times.....just ask our photographer.
But tour officials say the most typical injury during whitewater rafting, is sunburn.
For seven years, Wayne Workman has introduced the sport to many first- timers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:09:37 ]
((WAYNE WORKMAN/TRIP LEADER: I MAKE IT AS EASY ON THEM AS POSSIBLE. I GO OVER, JUST BASICALLY STEP BY STEP WITH THEM.
I MAKE THEM FEEL REAL COMFORTABLE. I REASSURE THEM EVERY TIME, ESPECIALLY ON THE RAPIDS. I ALWAYS COMPLIMENT THEM STARTING OUT. I TELL THEM THEY DID A GOOD JOB. IT MAKES THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH BEING IN A BOAT.)) [RUNS:24]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT standup 15:18:07 ]
((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: THESE ARE SAID TO BE THE BEST WHITEWATER RAPIDS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. BUT BEFORE YOU SET OFF ON YOUR RIVER ADVENTURE, KEEP SAFETY IN MIND. HELMETS AND LIFEJACKETS ARE REQUIRED GEAR, AND ALSO BE SURE TO WEAR CLOTHING YOU DON'T MIND GETTING WET.)) [RUNS:13]
On the more tranquil sections of river, you might even be tempted to take a quick dip....that is, if your trip leader approves.
Despite the drought, reservoirs on both the New and Gauley Rivers keep a steady supply of water.
The New River's watershed runs 45- hundred square miles.
This allows for a long rafting season...Mountain River Tours accomodates more than 20- thousand people each year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:14:18]
((MICHAEL GRAY/MOUNTAIN RIVER TOURS, INC.: I THINK PARTICULARLY IN THE LATE '90S, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO BE RE- CONNECTED TO NATURE. AND TO RAFT A RIVER, NATURE'S NATURAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE. SO, YOU'RE SEEING A LOT MORE PEOPLE WANTING A MORE ACTIVE VACATION.)) [RUNS:15]
Gray says much of his marketing is done by word of mouth, and by way of an active itinerary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:15:56]
((MICHAEL GRAY/MOUNTAIN RIVER TOURS, INC.: WE OFFER SO MANY ADVENTURE PACKAGES, DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF RIVERS, THEY CAN RUN ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS, OVERNIGHTS ON THE RIVER. WE COMBINE WITH OTHER ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MOUNTAIN BIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING, ROCK CLIMBING, ALL HERE WITHIN THE NEW RIVER GORGE, WHICH IS A NATIONAL PARK.)) [RUNS:16]
But with all the potential for adventure, you might not want to return to land for a while.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7, Fayette County, West Virginia.))
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[TALENT=DENISE]
[GRAPHIC=TIME OFF]

Mountain River Tours' typical Saturday rates run 89- dollars a person...weekday trips are cheaper at 69- dollars a person.
Directions to Mountain River can be found on our web site at W-D-B-J-7-DOT-COM.

[Profile-Promo]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=VA Profiles]
[GRAPHIC=Va Profiles]

A Pittsylvania County couple quit tobacco farming and found a more fruitful venture.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]

Doug and Susan Tedder grow strawberries and blackberries on their farm outside of Danville.
They also make 14 kinds of jams and jellies, from pumpkin butter to green pepper jam.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I had always wanted to]
[SOT 50:44 - 55]
((SUSAN TEDDER: I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO DO MY OWN PRODUCTS, USING THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WE RAISED AND DECIDED TO GO INTO THE JAM AND JELLY BUSINESS. AS A HOBBY, WELL, IT'S TURNED OUT AS MORE THAN A HOBBY, THANK GOODNESS.))
[SUPER=01-Susan Tedder;]
[SOT 1:01:07 - 11]
((DOUG TEDDER: WE HAVE SHIPPED GIFT BASKETS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM HAWAII TO BOSNIA.))
[SUPER=01-Doug Tedder;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=from Hawaii to Bosnia.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Tedders are the subjects of this week's Virginia profile. [take FS Pinnacle 9403]
We'll have the story of how they made the switch from tobacco to jelly tomorrow at 8-AM for News 7 Sunday Morning.
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