WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/07/99

[7-Quinn-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A former Franklin County administrator is behind bars this morning.
Sammy Quinn is accused of shooting his 76 year old mother Pauline in the head.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]

It happened shortly after 4 yesterday afternoon at this house on Towne Creek Road in the town of Henry.
So far authorities are working to determine a motive for the shooting.
Quinn was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the mid 80's and has had several run ins with the law.
Authorities say they were not shocked when he called 911 yesterday afternoon.
(//////SOT\\\\\)
[SOT 46:33]
[INQ=]
((W.Q. OVERTON/FRANKLIN CO. SHERIFF: IT DIDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HENRY VILLAGE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT ACCORDING TO THE LAW WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-W. Q. Overton/Franklin Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUTQ=couldn't do anything]
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[SS=HOLD]

Quinn's mother was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she is listed in critical condition.
Quinn is charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Right now he is being held in the Franklin County jail without bond.
Quinn served as a Franklin County administrator from 1973 to 1978.

[7-E-Henry-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-28 1:49:14]
[GRAPHIC=Henry Co. Murder]

Henry County deputies are calling the death of the man found yesterday "suspicious."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

They say 34-year-old Jose Santos Mora-Soto may have been strangled to death.
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

His body was found by two relatives in a creek near his house.
His cousin says they went out to look for Mora after he disappeared Monday morning.
Investigators say they'll know more about Mora's death after an autopsy tomorrow.
(------------)

[7-E-Accident-charges]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-35 1:17:54]
[GRAPHIC=Accident Investigation]

Authorities say drunk driving was the cause of the accident that killed three people in Roanoke last Friday. And they say the driver had been charged with driving under the influence before.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 1]

Timothy Wayne Sayers was driving on a restricted license when his car slammed into a tree on Hershberger Road at 2 A-M Friday.
The Commonwealth's Attorney's office says speed and alcohol were factors in the accident. Sayers was indicted yesterday on three counts of vehicular manslaughter.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Sayers had been charged with D-U-I last December, but the charge was reduced to reckless driving.

[7-E-Park-Graffiti]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-32 1:19:20]
[GRAPHIC=Wasena Grafitti]

The Roanoke Valley Skate Park is generating some complaints.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;]

Much of the facility was covered with graffiti before crews cleaned most of it away on yesterday.
It's been a recurring problem that troubles park visitors, and city officials.
It also worries skaters who fear the work of a few will threaten a facility that many appreciate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:50:29]
[IN Q=It's not really art]
((WILLIAM KITTS/SKATE PARK USER: IT'S NOT REALLY ART LIKE SOMETHING THAT'LL MAKE THE PLACE LOOK A LITTLE BETTER, YOU KNOW JUST NOT AS PLAIN. IT'S MOSTLY JUST LIKE PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THEIR NAMES AND STUFF, THEIR MARKS AND STUFF AND THAT'S STUPID, POINTLESS, PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO PUT THEIR NAME ALL OVER THE PLACE.))
[SUPER=01-William Kitts/Skater]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=all over the place.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Roanoke's Parks and Recreation Manager says if the problem continues - the most likely solution would be to fence the Park and charge admission to cover the operating costs.
(------------)

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Here's a look at today's forecast...
Sunny today with light winds, highs around 70.
Expect lows tonight in the lower 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Winds 5-10 MPH/65-70/Clear/Light Breeze/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-E-Gilmore]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-42 16:53]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore 2090]

Governor Gilmore was in Roanoke for his 50th birthday and he brought along a friend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Laura Bush joined the Governor at Forest Park Elementary School.
The wife of presidential hopeful George W. Bush talked about her husband's so-called "compassionate" education plan ... requiring all states to have tests like Virginia's Standards of Learning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:45]
[IN Q=He is not]
((LAURA BUSH/TEXAS FIRST LADY: HE IS NOT FOR A NATIONAL TEST ... STATES SHOULD DEVISE THEIR OWN CURRICULUM LIKE VIRGINIA HAS DONE AND HAVE THEIR OWN TESTS. HE'S FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOLS. ))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bush/Texas First Lady]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=local control of schools]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

After the photo-op ... it was on to a 500-dollar-a-plate luncheon.
Over the next few days, Governor Gilmore will host a series of fund-raisers with members of the Bush family ...raising a million dollars for Virginia Republicans.
(------------)

[45-S-Marye-Jones]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-31]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign '99]
State Senator Madison Marye says his challenger is spreading false information.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Republican Jim Jones charges in a mailer that Marye voted to increase class sizes. But the Democratic senator says he asked only for more guidance counselors. Marye also brought up Jones' conviction for misdemeanor assault six years ago and asked the governor and attorney general to withdraw their endorsements.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=Campaign '99]
Jones says when Senator Marye voted to put more guidance counselors in school systems he took away money from needed teacher positions. Jones says despite the judge's ruling, he never committed assault.

[45-E-Shockley]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-29 1:28:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An endorsement by Pulaski County's Fraternal Order of Police leads to some changes in the local prosecutor's office.
The local F-O-P is backing Democrat Mike Fleenor-- who's challenging long time incumbent Everett Shockley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

It's an endorsement that's apparently upset the veteran prosecutor, who's been in office now for some 20- years.
Sources tell NEWS 7-- Shockley was so angry he asked one of his assistants to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper criticizing local police.
Mike Costanzo refused to write the letter and ultimately quit.
Marty Dowdy is a local police officer and member of the Pulaski F-O-P.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our lodge]
((MARTY DOWDY/PULASKI CO. F. O. P. MEMBER: OUR LODGE IS MADE UP OF PROBABLY 15 OR SO MEMBER AGENCIES, IT'S NOT JUST THE PULASKI POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S COUNTY WIDE AND BEYOND AND FOR HIM TO STAND UP AND SAY NO, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT, IS-- MY HEART SWELLS.))
[SUPER=01-Marty Dowdy/Pulaski Co. F.O.P. Member; :00]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=heart swells.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mike Costanzo refused to comment for our story -- as did Everett Shockley who says it's a personnel matter.
(----------)

[45-Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex]

Martinsville's second largest employer is announcing more layoffs.
Tultex says it's laying off 135 SALARIED employees and 25 more HOURLY workers.
This comes just two weeks after the apparel company closed a Bland County sewing plant and laid off 125 employees.
Tultex also says it's closing 12 retail stores.

[45Weather]

[8-E-UVA-Admissions]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-33 1:46:25]
[GRAPHIC=UVA Admissions]

Some U-V-A students are defending affirmative action when it comes to their admissions policy.
Ellen Qualls explains.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's not]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Thomas Sikes/Affirmative Action Opponent; :28 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; :39]
[SUPER=01-Stephanie Taylor/Advocates for Diversity in Ed.; 1:05 ]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Ellis/Affirmative Action Supporter; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News7, Charlottesville.]
(( It's NOT just a philosophical debate--
[sot 14;23:15 ]
((IF WE TAKE AWAY... ))
[runs= :14 ]

For years, the University of Virginia's policy has been: if all things are equal on paper -- minority students should be given preference in admissions, to create a more diverse student body.
The policy has critics.
[sot 14;26:10]
((THOMAS SIKES/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OPPONENT: YOU SAY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION... ON A CRITERIA.))
[runs= :12]
[sot STANDUP]
(( ))
[RUNS= :18]

The Governor says he trusts the Board of Visitors.
The Rector says he's looking to the University's President.
A source on the Board says the President's "tweaking" the policy to avoid legal challenge.
[sot 14:36:50 ]
((In Michigan...their lawsuit.))
[runs= :17 ]

[sot 14:43:34]
((I WOULD HATE TO COME BACK HERE FOR HOMECOMING AND SEE THIS SCHOOL ONE PERCENT BLACK.))
[RUNS= :04]

When the Board meets next week, NO resolution to scrap affirmative action is expected.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Charlottesville. ))

[8-E-Balcony-Collapse]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-37 56:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meantime, three lawsuits connected to the 19-97 balcony collapse at U-V-A have been withdrawn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/May 1997]

The collapse killed one woman and injured several at commencement.
The lawsuits that were withdrawn today had all been filed by injured parties.
Attorney General Mark Earley says the withdrawals will allow lawyers on both sides to focus on reaching settlements.
Two suits connected to the incident remain active against the state.
(------------)

[8-E-Teen-Outreach]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-27]
[GRAPHIC=]
Several Roanoke high school students once targeted as dropouts won awards yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A teen outreach program turned 145 at-risk Roanoke high school students into volunteers last year. They learned to control their anger and make responsible sexual decisions. Yesterday, city leaders gave awards to the best and brightest of these volunteers. Surveys show that after graduating the program, half as many kids wanted to have many sexual partners, and 26 percent fewer students felt the need to fight.
(------------)

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Let's take a final look at your Thursday forecast...
Sunny and pleasant today with light winds, highs around 70.
Expect lows tonight in the lower 40s.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Winds 5-10 MPH/65-70/Clear/Light Breeze/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]