WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/04/99

[2-11Tech-Traffic]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=99-??]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Traffic]

Thousands of motorists will be headed to Virginia Tech today and that could mean holiday travel delays.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Thousands of tickets have been sold to Virginia Tech's first home football game against James Madison University.

In fact, Virginia Tech Police say they are expecting 52-thousand people at the game with many of the ticket holders coming from JMU.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:33:30]
[IN Q=They're coming from]
((SGT JACK RIDINGER/VIRGINIA TECH POLICE: THEY'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH DOWN I-81. IT WILL BE JAMMED. DO TO ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA.)) [RUNS7]
[OUT Q=in that area]

To alleviate some of the congestion near the Tech campus, Police are asking motorists to use the West Side Entrance.
And they say if you're not going to the game try to avoid the area.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Traffic]

But if you are headed that way today, you can get the latest traffic information. Tune in to 1260 A-M on your car radio.

[11Derail]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-43 2:43]
[GRAPHIC=Train Derailment]

The train is back on track and Route 419 in Roanoke County is open again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The roadway was shut down from Starkey to Chaparral, so Norfolk- Southern crews could get the derailed coal cars off the bridge over the four-lane highway.
It took spot- welding, a lot of heavy equipment- to pull the cars free.
The derailment also chewed up segments of track that had to be replaced.
No word yet on the cost or a cause of the derailment.
(------------)

[11NM-Inmates]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-35 42:04]
[GRAPHIC=Imported Inmates]

Some of New Mexico's worst citizens were en route to a Virginia prison yesterday when two vehicles escorting them crashed.
State police say there were no injuries and no escapes.
The 120 inmates are newest residents of the Wallens Ridge Correctional Facility at Big Stone Gap.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Albuquerque, NM]

The prisoners were shipped out on a specially designed jetliner yesterday after a rash of killings and prisoner uprisings at three privately run prisons in New Mexico.
Wallens Ridge can hold 12-hundred of the state's most dangerous inmates, but it's only about half full.
(-------------)

[tobacco]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire]

A victory for big tobacco.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[5:58:53]
A Florida appeals court yesterday ruled that damage claims in a landmark smoking case must be considered one smoker at a time.
That is likely to free the tobacco companies from a multi- billion dollar settlement covering 500 thousand smokers.
In July, a jury found that the tobacco industry produced a defective product that causes numerous diseases.

(---------------)[dennis]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=TS Dennis]

As predicted, Tropical Storm Dennis is picking up speed as it moves toward the North Carolina coast.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kitty Hawk, NC;]
[6:01:09]
Forecasters say the storm's center could be near the Outer Banks by late tonight.
The storm sideswiped North Carolina beach resorts earlier this week as a hurricane, and within a day returned as a tropical storm, lingering off the coast.
The state Department of Transportation has called in bulldozers and other equipment to clean sand and debris.

(-----------------)[6Websites]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-29 TC54:43]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign Financing]
Raising campaign funds over the Internet is considered the wave of the future. Two Virginia politicians are using the web to spread their message and raise money more effectively. Ellen Qualls has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What about]
[SUPER=01-Jay Timmons/Allen for Senate; :22 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :41]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]
(([nat sot 14:04:08]
((GEORGE ALLEN: WHAT ABOUT THOSE FAMILY VALUES THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR SPEECHES?)) [runs:05]
It looks like a campaign from mid-century.
But if you take into account it's basically free-- viewable 24 hours a day on the Internet-- it's NOT a bad way to connect people to your candidate.
Republican George Allen's had what they call streaming video on his Senate campaign website since June.
[sot 14:22:44 ]
((JAY TIMMONS/ALLEN FOR SENATE: I GOT BACK A LOT OF MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE SAYING "WAY TO GO GEORGE," "KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK." AND THESE ARE FROM PEOPLE THAT IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN POLITICS, I'VE NEVER COME ACROSS BEFORE. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW SET OF INTERESTED VOTERS.)) [runs:18]
The opposition-- Democrat Chuck Robb-- had a campaign website up first, but with only a letter to supporters, the personal touch being the signature.
Democratic state Senate candidate Emily Couric may be the only General Assembly candidate streaming video she cut in a TV studio.
[SOT 01:01:04]
((COURTESY EMILY COURIC FOR SENATE: I'VE BEEN...ENRICHED CURRICULUM.)) [RUNS:05]
But back to George Allen, who's using the technology most effectively...
[nat sot hoedown music]
[runs:04]
... in what may be over-use of technology, you can visit George's jukebox at GeorgeAllenHoeDown.Com and buy tickets to his annual September fundraiser.
[sot 14:27:45]
((TIMMONS: I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A FIRST. AND YOU KNOW I THINK THE DANCING BOOTS ARE PROBABLY A FIRST AS WELL.)) [runs:07]
Hey, whatever brings in the bucks.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

[11Beanie-Babies]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=599-10 1:16:03]
[GRAPHIC=Beanie Babies]

Beanie Babies are flying off store shelves in record fashion, even as many Beanie fans question talk of the toy's retirement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

In Danville, the owners of The Beanie Barn say they saw their sales increase to EIGHT TIMES what they were before the announcement.
That's why they're not making any plans to leave the beanie business any time soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:23:28 - :35]
[IN Q=What the announcement has]
[SUPER=01-Mary Beth Holley/Beanie Barn Co-Owner;]
((MARY BETH HOLLEY/BEANIE BARN STORE OWNER: WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS DONE IS IT'S CREATED A BUYING FRENZY. PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THEIR COLLECTIONS AND THEY'RE WANTING TO FINISH THEM OUT.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=to finish them out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Store co-owner Derek Holley says that Ty's announcement sounds like a marketing ploy to drive up prices for retired Beanie Babies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:21:45 - :54]
[IN Q=If I had a]
[SUPER=01-Derek Holley/Beanie Barn Co-Owner;]
((IF I HAD A 250-MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS, I DON'T THINK THAT I'D WALK AWAY FROM IT, HANDS DOWN. SOMETHING ELSE, I BELIEVE, IS COMING AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE. .))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=what it's going to be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But just to be safe, the Holleys say they're starting to stock the store with the latest fad toy... (Pok-ee-mon) Pokemon.
(------------)

[CO-SHOOTING]

[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=SATMORN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Four people are dead after a shooting at a Colorado shopping center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grand Junction, CO;]
[5:37:15]
It happened last night in Grand Junction.
Authorities say a man went to a store where his estranged wife 7
He killed his wife and two others before turning the gun on himself.
Police say the woman filed for divorce three weeks ago.
(------------)

[mideast-peace]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=mideast peace]

Israel and the Palestinians later today will sign a new West Bank land-for-security agreement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israeal;]
[5:55:39]
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright helped bring about the deal, which charts the course for a final peace accord by September 2000.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[5:56]
[IN Q=THE CHAIRMAN AND I...]
((MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE : "THECHAIRMAN AND I HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD MEETING TONIGHT AND I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE WYE AGREEMENT,"))

[SUPER=01-Madeleine Albright/Secretary of State;]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=IMPLEMENT THE WYE AGREEMENT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The agreement is a revision of the deal signed nearly a year ago at the White House.
Under it, Israel will withdraw from eleven percent of the West Bank in three stages.
Israel also pledged to release hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.
(------------)

[Waco]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=satmorn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Janet Reno is promising to name an independent investigator to get to the bottom of the Waco controversy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-FBI Tape;]
[5:57:10] This is the latest F-B-I surveillance tape made public by the Justice Department.
The voice you hear is an agent describing the effect of combustible tear gas canisters fired at a bunker next the main Branch Davidian compound.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((pause ....YEAH, THE MILITARY GAS DID NOT PENETRATE THAT, UH, BUNKER WHERE THE BUS WAS. COPY. Pause IT BOUNCED OFF.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=it bounced off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

For six years, the FBI has insisted the devices were never fired at the compound.
But this tape and at least one other seized by the Justice Department seem to contradict that.
Attorney General Janet Reno says even she was misled.
(///////sot//////)
[IN=WE'RE DEDICATED...]
[SUPER=01-Janet Reno/Attorney General;]
[RUNS=;07]
[OUT= GOING TO STOP UNTIL WE DO.]
(----------)

The head of the Senate Judiciary Committee has set a September 10th deadline to receive all official documents regarding the use combustible tear gas canisters during the raid.

(-------------)[11Tech-Traffic]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-28 1:08:12]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]

The Labor Day weekend means lots of traffic on the roads.
Add in construction and thousands of motorist headed to Virginia Tech today ... and you have the potential for major delays.
Joy Sutton has details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Thousands of]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Jack Ridinger/Virginia Tech Police; :15]
[SUPER=@Joy2; :23]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=N7 Blacksburg ]
(( Thousands of tickets have been sold to Virginia Tech's first home football game against James Madison University.
In fact, Virginia Tech Police say they are expecting 52-thousand people at the game with many of the ticket holders coming from JMU.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:33:30]
[IN Q=They're coming from]
((SGT JACK RIDINGER/VIRGINIA TECH POLICE: THEY'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH DOWN I-81. IT WILL BE JAMMED. DO TO ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA.)) [RUNS7]
[OUT Q=in that area]

On I-81 there will also be traffic headed out of town and those going to the Hillsville Labor Day Flea Market and Gun Show.
And once you get off at exit 118 you're in for more delays on route 460 because of construction at several locations including the Christiansburg by pass.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:34:51]
[IN Q=Christiansburg by pass]
((CHRISTIANSBURG BY PASS IS DOWN TO ONE LANE COMING WEST BOUND 460 THAT SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT OF A BOTTLE NECK AREA.)) [RUNS5]
[OUT Q=somewhat of a bottleneck]

To alleviate some of the congestion near the Tech campus, Police are asking motorist to use the West Side Entrance.

And they say if you're not going to the game try to avoid the area.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:34:06]
[IN Q=We will have]
((WE WILL HAVE ONE WAY TRAFFIC INTO CAMPUS AND ONE WAY TRAFFIC OUT OF CAMPUS AFTER THE GAME. SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE GAME YOU MAY BE FILTERED INTO HERE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT)) [RUNS8]
[OUT Q=We will have one]

To get the latest on traffic when you're near Tech, try 1260 A-M on your car radio.
V-Dot and Virginia Tech Police are already saying you can expect some delays.
Joy Sutton, News7, Blacksburg.))

[6City-Water]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-33 TC1:02:12]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions]

The city of Roanoke may drop plans to raise water rates to encourage conservation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

Once the level in Carvins Cove hits 30 feet below the spillway, customers who use more 5-thousand-250 gallons a month would pay a higher rate.
Acting city manager Jim Ritchie says council won't have to do that.
Ritchie says that's because people are saving so much water, and the city's buying a lot from other localities.
The cove is currently 29 feet below the spillway .
(------------)

[11Baptismal-Tank]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=SAt morn]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-34 34:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Perhaps it was DIVINE intervention...but the Reverend Frank Feather thinks it's at least a good idea.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The Reverend Feather has decided to join Roanoke's "Wave to Save" by recycling BAPTISMAL water at Forest Park Baptist Church.
The pipe system works the same way as a rock garden....and bleach keeps the water clean for months at a time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:41:44]
[IN Q=Like everyone]
((REV. FRANK FEATHER/FOREST PARK BAPTIST CHURCH: LIKE EVERYONE, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. SO, EVEN IF THEY ANNOUNCE TO US THAT ALL THE WATER SYSTEMS WERE SOLVED, THAT WE COULD USE AS MUCH AS WE WANTED, WE COULD STILL TRY TO CONSERVE THE WATER.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Frank Feather/Forest Park Baptist Church;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=conserve the water]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Feather estimates the recycling system will save the church about 45- hundred gallons of water each year.
But he's still a little concerned that the relaxing sounds of the babbling water might put his parishioners to SLEEP.
(------------)

[11Jet-Skis]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-32 45:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The accident rate for personal watercraft has dropped 13 percent and game wardens say that trend continues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]

Perhaps it's because newer models are bigger and more sturdy.
Unlike the old two-seaters, these have rear view mirrors and go in reverse.
Sea Doo just came out with a four-seater.
The company says it's going to make personal watercraft with less horsepower, so they top out at 65 miles per hour.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:10:53]
[IN Q=It's not about]
((IT'S NOT ABOUT SPEED ANYMORE. THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT PERSONAL WATERCRAFT JUST BECAUSE IT'S FASTEST.))

[SUPER=01-Jim Mills/Webster Marine;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=because it's fastest]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Also -- state law requires people between 14 and 16 to take a boating safety course.
Over a thousand people of all ages have volunteered to take the course at Smith Mountain Lake this year.
Game wardens say the drop in jet ski accidents is due to better education and enforcement.
(------------)

[Para-Sailing]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Saturday A.M.]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]

Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Do you want to try out an EXTREME sport that requires NO athletic skills...just a weight of at least 80 pounds and some steely nerves?
Then Para-Sailing is for you.
Kimberly McBroom takes you to Smith Mountain lake for a lesson in this week's "Time Off".
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you've never tried it]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Waters/Bridgewater Marina; :18]
[SUPER=07-Debbie Allgood; 1:06]
[SUPER=07-Ashlyn Allgood; 1:14]
[SUPER=07-Autumn Allgood; 1:30 quick!!!!]
[SUPER=07-Gene Allgood; 1:34 quick!!!!!]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:45]
[RUNS=1:54]
[OUT Q=McBroom, News 7, Franklin County.]

(( If you've never tried it....Para- sailing is just what it sounds like-- sailing with a parachute some 600 feet into the air.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT **b-roll some of this please 10:47:42 ]
((RYAN WATERS/BRIDGEWATER MARINA: DEPENDING ON THE WIND, I CAN FLY..I MEAN, IF THE WIND'S RIGHT, I CAN FLY ANYWHERE ON THE LAKE. USUALLY, I'M DOWN HERE BETWEEN SMITH MOUNTAIN AND BERNARD'S LANDING JUST BECAUSE THE LAKE'S NICE AND OPEN DOWN HERE AND YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR FOR 10 MINUTES AND TO ME, IT'S A BLAST. YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING UP THERE. YOU CAN SEE... IT'S THE BEST VIEW ON THE LAKE. IT'S AWESOME.)) [RUNS:17]
And if you're wondering....riders DO occasionally end up taking an unplanned dip into the lake.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:48:24]
((RYAN WATERS/BRIDGEWATER MARINA: IF THAT HAPPENS, THE PARACHUTE, YOU JUST FLOAT VERY GENTLY DOWN TO THE WATER AND HIT THE WATER ABOUT AS GENTLY AS IF YOU'D JUMPED OFF THE SIDE OF THE BOAT. IF YOU WERE TO GO IN THE WATER, THE PARACHUTE WOULD LAND BEHIND YOU AND YOU JUST SIT THERE AND YOU'RE FLOATING. YOU JUST UN-CLIP YOURSELF AND COME AROUND AND I'LL PICK YOU BACK UP. IT'S VERY GENTLE.)) [RUNS:13]
Waters says para- sailing began back in the 19-50s as part of Army training with parachutes.
He flies an average of a thousand people each year...everyone from small children to 90- year- olds.
Debbie Allgood likes adventure...having bungee jumped before.
She says para- sailing is far less scary, and even brought her three children along for the excursion.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:32:29]
((DEBBIE ALLGOOD: THIS IS JUST, THERE'S NO FEAR AT ALL IN THIS AT ALL. IT'S JUST VERY RELAXING AND SOOTHING AND LIKE YOU'RE FLOATING ON A CLOUD.)) [RUNS:07]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:33:40 ]
((Kimberly McBroom/News 7: What did you like best? ASHLYN ALLGOOD: WHEN WE WERE UP IN THE AIR REALLY HIGH, THE HIGHEST. McBroom: Do you think you'd like to do it again? You would? )) [RUNS:09]
While Ashlyn rode with their Mom, her brother and twin sister rode together.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:44:57]
((AUTUMN ALLGOOD: IT JUST FELT LIKE YOU WERE SORT OF SITTING THERE AND YOU WERE JUST FLOATING AROUND.)) [RUNS:05]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:45:45]
((GENE ALLGOOD: I THOUGH IT WAS PROBABLY THE FUNNEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.)) [RUNS:03]
Morning flights cost 35- dollars per person, afternoon trips over the lake run 40- dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:52:10 stand up here]
((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: EVEN THOUGH THE SEASON IS WINDING DOWN, YOU CAN STILL ENJOY PARA- SAIL RIDES ON WEEKENDS THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.. AND KEEP IT IN MIND FOR NEXT YEAR, TOO. KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7, FRANKLIN COUNTY.)) [RUNS:10]))
(------------------------)
[TALENT=ANDREW]
[GRAPHIC=Web Address]

If you'd like to try your luck sailing ABOVE Smith Mountain Lake, you can find directions to Bernard's Landing, where the para- sail rides are offered on our website at W-D-B-J-7-DOT-COM.

[Did-you-see-that]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=satmorn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

They're cute, cuddly and from California.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Oklahoma City, OK;]
[6:22:01]
Of course it has to be Koala bears.
These three adorable Koalas are now calling central Oklahoma home.
They recently traveled cross country from the San Diego zoo.
Oklahoma City zoo visitors got a chance to greet the new fury arrivals yesterday.
(------------)

[Profile-Preview]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=WeekendAM]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=VA-Profiles]

If you don't drive on Richmond's toll roads, you're missing out.
(/////SOT/////)
[NAT SOT]
[IN Q=You're]
((YOU'RE TERRIFIC AND I'M FANTASTIC.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=fantastic.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Inga Pershing's been collecting tolls on Richmond's expressways for ten years.
If she wasn't bubbling over with enthusiasm just once--
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:18:32]
[IN Q=All Richmond]
((INGA PERSHING/RICHMOND TOLL COLLECTOR: ALL RICHMOND WOULD FAINT. I CAN'T DO THAT TO THE POOR CITY. BESIDES, I'M ALWAYS FANTASTIC. GOOD EVENING, HOW YOU ALL DOING?))
[SUPER=01-Inga Pershing/Richmond Toll Collector;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=you all doing?]
(------------)
[TAKE FS GRAPHIC 9403] (------------) Meet the woman who makes tolls fun, tomorrow on NEWS7 Sunday Morning.