[1-News-Head]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Lynchburg's fire chief quits... not to leave the department, but to go back to battalion chief.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
And V-M-I officials find themselves back in federal court, defending the way the First Captain was drummed out fo
r pressuring female cadets into sex.[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sports-head]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Tonight in sports, our weekly Friday Football Extra preview show originates from Floyd County. The Yankees put another one in the win column.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Serena Williams needs just 68 minutes to advance to the third round at the US Open.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Blue skies are replaced by cloudy skies as we head for the holiday weekend. Dennis may have the final word after all.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We don't...]
((WE DON'T REALLY SEE HIM AS STEPPING DOWN. WE SEE THIS REALLY AS A STEP UP FOR HIM.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=..step up for him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The wife of the Lynchburg fire chief says she hopes her husband can "get his life back" .. now that he's leaving.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Fire-Chief]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-35 38:08]
[GRAPHIC=Fred Mills]
Lynchburg's top firefighter resigned his post today, saying the demands of the job were taking too great a toll on his family life.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Steve/L'Burg Bureau]
Steve Smallshaw knew this one was coming. This wasn't exactly unexpected, was it, Steve?
[Live=Steve Full/L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]
It was not, Keith. Rumors of Fred Mills departure have been flying for at least a week. Mills says he is leaving to spend more time with his family, but some of his staff say there are bigger problems inside the Lynchburg Fire Department.
(rollcue... fire department. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/June 1996; :00]
[SUPER=01-Donna Mills/Wife; :18]
[SUPER=01-Fred Mills/Lynchburg Fire Chief; :29]
[SUPER=01-Robert Lipscomb/Firefighters Union Pres.; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=I think he was prepared for.]
(( When he became fire chief in 1996, Fred Mills said he's realized a life-long dream.
But over the last three years, that dream apparently has become a nightmare, and Mills resigned his post, saying the job was taking too much time from his family.
It was a decision his wife supported.
((DONNA MILLS/WIFE: AND I THINK IT TAKES A BIGGER MAN TO SAY HEY, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD, I WILL PUT GOD AND MY FAMILY FIRST, IN FRONT OF MY JOB.))
[Runs11]
Mills and City Manager Charles Church deny he was being forced to step down.
But his has been a department in turmoil for several months.
Many firefighters say Mills hasn't done enough to address staffing shortages and problems with minority hiring.
And a new proposal to cross-train firefighters and E-M-S personnel is not sitting well with many of the staff.
((FRED MILLS/LYNCHBURG FIRE CHIEF: I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M RESIGNING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT POLICIES THAT WE'VE INITIATED WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FOR THE GOOD OF THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE CITIZENS THAT WE PROTECT.))
[Runs15]
Mills and Church say it's a small percentage of employees who are resisting those changes.
But union president Robert Lipscomb says he represents 140 of the city's 180 firefighters, and almost to a man, they don't have confidence in Mills' ability to lead.
((ROBERT LIPSCOMB/PRES., FIREFIGHTERS UNION: I THINK THE FACT THAT BEING PROMOTED FROM COMPANY CAPTAIN TO CHIEF WAS TOO GREAT A STEP AND I THINK THAT THE JOB REQUIRES MUCH MORE THAN I THINK HE WAS PREPARED FOR.))
[Runs11]))
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
Lipscomb says any new chief the city hires should have substantial administrative experience.
Fred Mills will stay on as fire chief until his replacement is named. Then he will go to field duty as a battalion chief.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Steve/Microwave]
The city hopes to have a new chief on board by January.
[Derailment]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-32 45:11]
[GRAPHIC=Derailment]
A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Roanoke County late this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
It happened about two hours ago, near Route 419 and Chapparal Drive.
The railroad says about 25 cars loaded with coal ran off the tracks.
The train was headed from Roanoke to North Carolina. The crew wasn't hurt.
Norfolk Southern says it doesn't know yet when the line will be cleared.
(------------)
\[Lee]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Giles County teacher has been cleared of charges that he had a sexual relationship with a student.
A circuit judge dismissed the case against 41-year-old Ricky Gene Lee.
Lee was set to be tried this week on charges of taking indecent liberties with a minor and conspiracy.
But the judge ruled that the law Prosecutor Garland Spangler used to indict the health and phys-ed teacher didn't apply.
And Spangler couldn't find any other statute that would.
Lee had denied the allegations.
He's been suspended from his job at the high school. Officials are going to review the case before deciding whether he'll be reinstated.
[VMI]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-25 1:33:15]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]
V-M-I was back in court today...
This time trying to deflect questions from the media surrounding the expulsion of a top cadet in June on sex charges.
Marya Jones reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are still some unanswered]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :15]
[SUPER=01-John Falcone/Roanoke Times' Attorney; :22]
[SUPER=01-Col. Mike Bissell/VMI; :35]
[SUPER=01-Mike Strickler/VMI Spokesman; 1:00]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=MJN7.]
(( There are still some unanswered questions about what happened between V-M-I cadet Jerry Webb the second and three female students.
After V-M-I expelled Webb in June, federal Judge Jackson Kiser ordered the school to submit a special report on the incident.
But that report is sealed.
And, today in a Danville courtroom, Roanoke Times' attorney John Falcone argued that it should be made public.
[sot 1:33:49 - :55]
((JOHN FALCONE/ATTORNEY FOR ROANOKE TIMES: THE BASIC FACTS CAN BE REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC, WHILE STILL PROTECTING PRIVACY OF STUDENTS. ))
[runs:06]
But V-M-I officials told the judge that though the report contains NO names of the women involved, they still could be identified by their classmates.
[sot 1:40:48 - :1:41:00]
((COL. MIKE BISSELL/VMI: I THINK THE CORPS IS SO SMALL THAT ANY TIME YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF IT, IT CAN GET OUT TO PEOPLE AND THEY'LL START THINKING WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM AND SO FORTH.))
[runs:12]
Bissell told the court that the three women had to be URGED by the administration to return to V-M-I this year... because they were afraid of being named.
V-M-I spokesman Mike Strickler says the school has made too many strides in integrating women to lose their trust now.
[sot 1:38:30 - :46]
((MIKE STRICKLER/VMI SPOKESMAN: IF WOMEN DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN COME FORWARD IN CONFIDENTIALITY, THAT MAY BE A DETERRENT IN THEM COMING AT ALL.))
[runs:16]
[SU 15:15:44-:58]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS 7: JUDGE KISER DIDN'T MAKE A RULING ON UNSEALING THE REPORT TODAY. INSTEAD, HE ASKED ATTORNEYS TO TRY TO REACH A MIDDLE GROUND... ONE THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW AND THE STUDENTS' RIGHT TO PRIVACY. THOSE PROPOSALS ARE SOMETHING THEY'LL PUT BEFORE THE JUDGE NEXT WEEK. MJN7, DANVILLE.))
[RUNS:14]))
[Bank-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]
Patrick County authorities are looking for a man who robbed a bank in Ararat this morning.
They say the suspect is a white male, in his forties, wearing jeans and a tee shirt.
The man walked into the BB-and-T branch, gave a note to the teller and ran off, with an undisclosed amount of money.
No one saw a weapon. No one was hurt.
[Sparks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-30 1:15:28]
[GRAPHIC=Phil Sparks]
An old hand at the economic development game is taking a new job.
Phil Sparks has been picked to run the Roanoke Valley Partnership.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1995]
He's been the chief business recruiter for the city of Roanoke for six years.
Sparks replaces Beth Doughty.
A study's underway to see whether economic development agencies in Roanoke should be combined.
The Partnership says it's taking part in that study, but didn't want to wait any longer to pick a new leader.
(------------)
[Connex]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-27 1:01:09]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
A Botetourt County factory that shut down last year will soon be back in business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville/September 1998]
Connex Pipe Systems is going to resume production sometime next month.
The company says it will be hiring about 50 people.
That's less than half the number that worked there a year ago, when Connex closed.
Officials blamed the economic crisis in Asia for the shutdown.
Connex made heavy-duty pipe, and just about all of it was sold overseas.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Avoiding the bottom of Smith Mountain Lake and the big charges that can go along with it.
We'll have some advice for boaters as the big Labor Day weekend gets closer.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, it's her first trip to Atlantic City and she'll go there as Miss Virginia.
We'll have more on the sendoff for Crystal Lewis later on News-7 at Six.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib]
[Roll]
[Lake Level]
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]
[Roll]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=NONE]
[SUPER=80-89/53/0.00''/87/56/0.00''/85/45/0.00''/82/55/0.00'']
[SUPER=81-86/62/0.00''/87/58/0.00''/82/44/0.00'']
[SUPER=82-0.00''/minus 0.12''/23.04''/minus 4.70'']
[SUPER=83-Down 4.17 feet/Down 1.06 feet]
[SUPER=84-Down 28.9 feet/Mandatory Conservation][Damaged-Props]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-40 22:09]
[GRAPHIC=Smith Mt Lake]
If you're thinking of renting a boat this holiday weekend, you could get hit with a hefty surprise bill, especially where lake levels are low.
Tina Tenret tells us propeller repairs can add a lot, if you're not careful.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Along with your rental]
[SUPER=01-Vic Bupp/Parrot Cove Marina; :35]
[SUPER=01-Linwood Ransom/W&L Prop Repair; 1:14]
[SUPER=@Tina2; 1:54]
[RUNS=1:59]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:30:25]
[IN Q=Along with]
((ALONG WITH YOUR RENTAL WE DO TAKE A DAMAGE DEPOSIT. AND THAT COVERS THE PROP DAMAGE ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR.))
[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=back of the motor]
Rick Knight paid 600 dollars to rent a houseboat for a weekend at Smith Mountain Lake.
Plus an extra 200 bucks that the marina can keep if he hurts the boat.
In this drought, boaters are banging up propellers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:30:40]
[IN Q=This is because]
((THIS IS BECAUSE YOU'VE HIT ROCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.))
[RUNS:03]
[OUT Q=THINGS LIKE THAT]
Parrot Cove Marina gives renters a map with water depths.
And before takeoff, they'll check that propeller with you.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:03:49]
[IN Q=THAT PROPELLER]
((VIC BUPP/PARROT COVE: THAT PROPELLER HAS A LITTLE DAMAGE FROM THE GRAVEL SO I'M JUST GOING TO MARK THAT FAIR. SO WE BOTH KNOW WHEN YOU GO OUT, YOU DON'T HAVE A BRAND NEW PROPELLER ON THERE. AND I HOPE WHEN YOU COME BACK IT'S NOT ANY WORSE.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=NOT ANY WORSE]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:51:34]
[IN Q=How much is it]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST ME IF I COME BACK WITH A DAMAGED PROP? VIC BUPP/PARROT COVE: ANYWHERE FROM $150 TO $200.))
[RUNS:04 ]
[OUT Q=150 to 200 dollars]
Bupp says so far this summer, no one's had to pay the full 200-dollars -- mostly, he says, a repair charge of about $55.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((nat sot repairing prop))
[RUNS:03]
Linwood Ransom fixes boat propellers but refuses to serve most lake marinas.
He says many CHARGE the customer for a new propeller then just patch up the old one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:45:01]
[SOT 13:44:27]
[SOT 1:52:04]
[IN Q=SOME MARINAS]
((LINWOOD RANSOM/W&L PROP REPAIR: SOME MARINAS, IF THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE PROPELLERS, THEN AS THE CONSUMER YOU NEED TO SAY OKAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE PROPELLER LET ME TAKE THE OLD PROPELLER WITH ME.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
LINWOOD RANSOM/W&L PROP REPAIR: I WOULD DEFINITELY CHECK INTO IF YOU DAMAGE SOMETHING IF YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE PERSON OF YOUR CHOICE TO HAVE THE BOAT REPAIRED.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
TINA TENRET/NEWS7: IF I WANT TO TAKE IT TO MY OWN PROP SHOP, COULD I DO IT? VIC BUPP/PARROT COVE: NO, NO.))
[RUNS:25]
[OUT Q=NO, NO]
So -- to avoid getting taken for a ride -- marina owners suggest watching that depth finder, avoiding the shoreline, and NOT boating when it's dark or you've been drinking.
Tina Tenret News7))
[Poultry-Farmers]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Drought of 99]
Virginia poultry farmers have finally gotten some help from Washington.
Governor Jim Gilmore says the U-S-D-A has changed its guidelines, allowing poultry farmers to get drought disaster relief assistance, too.
The previous guidelines excluded chicken and turkey farms from emergency water help because they're raised inside buildings.
Also, emergency hay deliveries began today.
The National Guard began water deliveries Friday.
The Governor says total crop losses exceed 124-million dollars in 33 Virginia localities so far.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Anxiety about another interest rate hike drove the stock market lower today.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/94.67/10843.21/y/16.56/2734.24;]
The Dow lost 95 points, closing at ten-thousand- 843.
NASDAQ lost 17 points.
[SUPER=431-h!/36b/i$/46*/ig/59!/ic/61c/ir/23d;]
[SUPER=432-i1f/41e/i!/4$/ib/45c/i1!/41a/ir/43r;]
[SUPER=433-ig/112*/h#/22*/ia/26a/ha/10/ig/36d;]
[SUPER=434-u/17/h!/65a/ie/36#/i1r/77g/hr/45r;]
[Miss-Virginia]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-24 1:59:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It'll be her first- ever trip to Atlantic City, and Miss Virginia Crystal Lewis is hoping to come back with a very special souvenir...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A send- off party was held this morning for Lewis as she prepares to compete for Virginia's SECOND consecutive Miss America title.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:40:14]
[IN Q=I really don't]
((CRYSTAL LEWIS/MISS VIRGINIA: I REALLY DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE, YOU KNOW. I FEEL EVERY YEAR IS A NEW YEAR AND WHEN YOU GO INTO THIS SORT OF THING, YOU'RE GOING ON YOUR OWN MERITS. SO, WHETHER I WIN OR LOSE, I'M GOING TO DO IT ON MY OWN.))
[SUPER=01-Crystal Lewis/Miss Virginia;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=on my own]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Even if she doesn't repeat Nicole Johnson's success at the Miss America pageant, Lewis says she'll enjoy spending the next week at Disney World with her fellow contestants.
Before she took off for Orlando this morning, Lewis received a gold star and the key to the city from Roanoke Mayor David Bowers.
After her trip to Disney World, Lewis will fly to Atlantic City for the Miss America Pageant, which will be televised on September 18th.
(------------)
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=ROY]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sports tease]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Tonight on News 7 sports the big leagues were busy this afternoon as the Yankees win again.
Some more big names advance at the U.S. Open.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And tonight, the Floyd County Buffaloes are in the Friday Football Extra spotlight.
Mike Stevens and coach Windred Beale will join us with this week's schedule of games right after this quick break.
(------------)
[S-Floyd]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-48 1521TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE LOGO]
We're just about 24 hours away from another big night of high school football.
Tonight, Floyd County is in our Thursday evening Friday Football Extra spotlight.
Mike Stevens checks in from the home where the Buffalo roam.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="And the only...]
[SUPER=@mike1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Winfred Beale/Floyd Co. Head Coach; :25]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan/Last Friday - Floyd In White; :32]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg/Last Friday - Giles In Red; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Steve Ragsdale/Giles Head Coach; 1:18]
[RUNS=3:12]
[OUT Q=...up here in Floyd."]
(----------------)
[S-MLB]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-45]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
The big leagues have been busy this afternoon with the Royals, Tigers and Yankees posting wins.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/Fox-Yankees; :00]
The AL east leading Yankees picked up their 82nd win of the year at Oakland's expense.
Paul O'Neill had two rbis and he keyed a four-run third inning as the Yankees
[SUPER=35-Oakland/3/New York/9;]
came from behind to beat the A's 9-to-3. El Duque got his 15th win of the year.
(------------)
[S-Tennis]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-37]
[GRAPHIC=US OPEN TENNIS]
The second round action at the US open tennis championships saw most of the favorites advance today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York,NY/USA & CBS; :00]
Two-time Open champion, Monica Seles easily won her second round match this afternoon by beating Italy's Silvia Farina 6-2 and 6-3.
Serena Williams also advanced to the third round of play with a straight set win of her own. She topped Jelena Kostanic 6-4 and 6-2.
Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios and Richard Krajicek also won today.
(------------)
[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-89/53/99/1953/46/1967]
[SUPER=306-87/48/26/NE-13mph/30.02s/6:52am/7:46pm]
[WEATHER]
[6PM WEATHER]
[09/02/1999]
[SS NONE]
[ENG/FULL]LOCAL WEATHER VIDEO
[ADD CHYRON/ENG/FULL]HIGHS & LOWS
CURRENT STATS
[ESS/FULL]AMS SEAL
[AUDIO CART]
[MUSIC UNDER]
[COMMERCIAL]
[CK/CHYRON/VIEWERNET]
[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS
[CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES] FORECASTS
[ESS/FULL] EXTENDED FORECAST[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#578]
[SUPER=X5000]
[SUPER=330-Partly Cloudy/Wind NE-10/60-62/Partly Sunny/And Breezy/83-85]
[SUPER=331-Increasing/Cloudiness/60-64/Cloudy And/Breezy/78-82]
[SUPER=332-Clear With/Light Winds/55-58/Partly/Sunny/80-82]
[SUPER=333-Partly/Cloudy/60-62/Partly Sunny/And Breezy/78-80]
[SUPER=334-Clear And/Cool/48-52/Sunny/Wind NE-10/80-83]
[SUPER=X5001][Promo]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Real estate agents say it's an all-time high for Franklin County and it's not a good statistic.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]
Jean Jadhon joins us from the newsroom with more.
[Live=Jean full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jean1]
Keith, in the last five or six months, agents say the number of home foreclosures has hit record levels.
And it's not just a problem for new home owners, it's also affecting families that have owned their homes for years.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
A number of Franklin County plants, including Pluma and Virginia Apparel, have closed in the last year.
That's left lot's of people without a job.
(-----------------)
[LIVE=Jean full/Newsroom]
Tonight on News 7 at 11 find out just how serious
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]
the problem is and if it is spreading to other parts of the viewing area.
[Close]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
(Weekday 6 only)
[SUPER=x4032; e-mail/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS]
SUPER=x4033; Fax/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
(Weekend 6 only)
SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS
SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS
by SS