[7-VA-Trooper]

[ANCHOR=Scott]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]



The state trooper who crashed his patrol car and suffered third degree burns has died.
Daniel Lee Williams crashed his car on Friday night.
He was chasing a motorist who turned to avoid a police checkpoint in Cumblerland County .
Authorities who discovered the wreckage say Williams was pinned beneath his burning car.
Williams was 38 and leaves behind a wife and three children.

[7-E-House-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-49 24:32]
[GRAPHIC=fire]


A fire at a Montgomery County home has left the family living there homeless.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]


It happened shortly after seven last night on Unicorn Lane-- just off Yellow Sulphur Road.
Fire officials say the fire started in the back of the house and spread quickly through the home.
Crews from Christiansburg and Blacksburg were able to save the structure but the family lost all their possessions.

No one was home at the time... and investigators say it appears it was accidental.
(------------)



[7-S-Firefighters]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-51 11:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]


After last week's deadly fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, a Roanoke firefighter is remembering how working in the line of fire almost cost him his life.
Joy Sutton has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As searcher recovered.]
[SUPER=03-Worcester, MA/Yesterday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robert Early/Roanoke Firefighter; :18]
[SUPER=04-July 1998; :26]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=JS News 7]


(( As searchers recovered the bodies of the six firefighters who died in the line duty inside a warehouse in Worcester, Massachusetts-- one local firefighter was reminded of his own close encounter with death while battling a fire.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:54:57]
[IN Q=I remember the porch falling ]

((I REMEMBER THE PORCH FALLING, LANDING ON TOP OF ME, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GUY WAS BEHIND ME))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=me]

Roanoke firefighter Robert Early was fighting a fire at this house on Campbell Avenue last year -- when without any warning the porch collapsed trapping him underneath.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:58:17]
[IN Q=There is always]

((THERE IS ALWAYS THAT ONE TIME. WHEN NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL YOU'VE BEEN, NO MATTER HOM MANY PEOPLE YOU GOT HELPING YOU TO BE SAFE SOMETHING HAPPENED))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=happened]


Early says fellow firefighters were able to pull him out from the burning debris. And he views himself as fortunate to have suffered a broken back and broken ribs-- considering he could have lost his life.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:59:43]
[IN Q=I feel like]

((I FEEL LIKE I'M LUCKY EVERYDAY THAT I CAN COME BACK TO WORK))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=back to work]


But Early says the firefighters who lost their lives in Massachusetts hits home -- reminding him that it can happen anywhere at anytime.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:58;52]
[IN Q=It was an accident]

((IT'S AN ACCIDENT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO LIKE THEY'VE DONE FROM OTHER ACCIDENTS TRY TO FIGURE WHAT HAPPENED AND LEARN FROM IT SO IT DON'T HAPPEN TO YOU))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=to you]


And as the city of Worcester mourns the death of six fallen heroes -- it's a reminder to Early of the risks he takes serving the city of Roanoke.
Joy Sutton, News 7.))





[7Weather]


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


Here's a look at today's forecast...
Expect a steady rain today, heavy at times.
Highs in the mid to upper 40s.
Tonight, the rains taper to showers with light winds.
Low temperatures in the lower 40s.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Steady Rain/Heavy at Times/45-49/Tapering to Showers/Light NE Winds/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[45-VA-Trooper]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


He suffered third-degree burns when he crashed his patrol car on Friday.
And he died yesterday.
State Trooper Daniel Lee Williams crashed on Friday night.
He was chasing a driver who turned to avoid a police checkpoint in Cumblerland County .
Authorities who found the wreckage say Williams was pinned beneath his burning car.
Williams was 38 and leaves behind a wife and three children.

[45-E-House-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-49 24:32]
[GRAPHIC=fire]


A fire in Montgomery County took no lives ... but took everything one family owned.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]


It happened shortly after seven last night on Unicorn Lane-- just off Yellow Sulphur Road.
Fire officials say the fire started in the back of the house and spread quickly through the home.
Crews from Christiansburg and Blacksburg were able to save the structure but the family lost all their possessions.

No one was home at the time... and investigators say it appears it was accidental.
(------------)



[45-Fireman]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


Last week's deadly fire in Worcester Massachusetts reminds one Roanoke firefighter of what almost happened to him.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


Last year,Robert Early was fighting a fire at a home on Campbell Avenue when the home's porch collapsed, trapping him underneath.
Fellow firefighters pulled him out of the burning debris. He suffered a broken back and broken ribs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I remember]

((ROBERT EARLY/ROANOKE FIREFIGHTER: I REMEMBER THE PORCH FALLING, LANDING ON TOP OF ME, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GUY WAS BEHIND ME.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Early/Roanoke Firefighter;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=behind me]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Early says the tragedy in Massachusetts is a reminder that accidents can happen anywhere at anytime.
(------------)



[45-S-Execution]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-52 27:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Opponents of the death penalty have launched a new, high-profile campaign.
The lights illuminating Rome's Coliseum will change from white to gold for two days whenever someone in the world is spared from execution.
The campaign is sponsored by the Vatican, Amnesty International and others.
A video played during yesterday's ceremony featured Sister Helen Prejean (pray-ZHAHN) giving the campaign a "thumbs up" sign.
She's the American nun whose fight to end the death penalty was dramatized in the movie "Dead Man Walking."
(------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 1;]


Earlier this year-- Prejean came to Virginia to speak at Roanoke College about her views and experiences.
(///SOT////)
[IN Q= I've accompanied]

((I'VE ACCOMPANIED 5 PEOPLE TO EXECUTION, JOSEPH ODELL WAS ONE OF THEM, THIS MAN YOU EXECUTED HERE IN VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=01-Sister Helen Prejean/Author; ]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q= in Virginia.]
(-----------)
[anchor=Scott]
[ss=none]


Last week, Andre Graham became the 14th death row inmate to be executed in Virginia this year.
That's the most in any year since the state resumed executions in 1982.

[45Weather]


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


Checking the Monday forecast now...
Morning showers will become a steadier rain by this afternoon, with highs in the upper 40s.
The rain will taper off to showers overnight, with lows in the lower 40s.
The five day forecast stays wet through tomorrow...with dry weather expected for the rest of the work week.
Highs in the 50s...lows in the 30s and 40s.


[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Steady Rain/Heavy at Times/45-49/Tapering to Showers/Light NE Winds/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[8-E-House-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-49 24:32]
[GRAPHIC=fire]


A fire takes everything from a Montgomery County family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]


It happened shortly after seven last night on Unicorn Lane-- just off Yellow Sulphur Road.
Fire officials say the fire started in the back of the house and spread quickly through the home.
Crews from Christiansburg and Blacksburg were able to save the structure but the family lost all of its possessions.
No one was home at the time... and investigators say it appears it was accidental.
(------------)



[8-S-Execution]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-52 27:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]


There's a new high-profile campaign against the death penalty.
The lights illuminating Rome's Coliseum will change from white to gold for two days whenever someone in the world is spared from execution.
The campaign is sponsored by the Vatican, Amnesty International and others.
A video played during yesterday's ceremony featured Sister Helen Prejean (pray-ZHAHN) gaving the campaign a "thumbs up" sign.
She's the American nun whose fight to end the death penalty was dramatized in the movie "Dead Man Walking."
(------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 1;]


Earlier this year-- Prejean came to Virginia to speak at Roanoke College about her views and experiences.
(///SOT////)
[IN Q= I've accompanied]

((I'VE ACCOMPANIED 5 PEOPLE TO EXECUTION, JOSEPH ODELL WAS ONE OF THEM, THIS MAN YOU EXECUTED HERE IN VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=01-Sister Helen Prejean/Author; ]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q= in Virginia.]
(-----------)
[anchor=Scott]
[ss=none]


Last week, Andre Graham became the 14th death row inmate executed in Virginia this year.
That's the most in any year since the state resumed executions in 1982.

[8-Tech-Success]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl]


15 years ago, on-field heroics by Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie boosted applications to the school by 30 percent.
Virginia Tech officials are hoping success on the field will do the same for their school.
They believe the publicity will pay off in applicants, alumni gifts and other revenue.
Already, sales at the school bookstore are up 33 percent over last year.
A Tech official said annual licensing revenues of 340-thousand dollars should at least double.

[8-S-Weiner-Wedding]


[ANCHOR=Scott]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-46 37:36]
[GRAPHIC=none]


One Roanoke man relished the opportunity to marry his bride where he works.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


He works at the Roanoke Weiner Stand -- and that's where Gus Chackness and Beth Carter exchanged their vows.
For this couple -- let's be frank -- this tiny restaurant was the ideal place to gather family and friends for the holy ceremony.
The two first met at the Weiner Stand four years ago -- when Beth came to the restaurant to buy a coke. And ever since then the two have been inseparable.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:02:04]
[IN Q=Beth is the type person]

((BETH IS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT LIKES UNUSUAL THINGS. IT'S THE FIRST TIME A WEDDING HAS EVER BEEN HELD HERE AND IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT))
[SUPER=01-Betty Wirt/Bride's Mother]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=Something different.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The newlyweds are topping their hot-dog wedding with a honeymoon in Cancun.
(------------)



[8Weather]


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


Taking a break from the news now to look at the forecast...
Bring along those umbrellas, rain will become steady by afternoon with highs in the upper 40s.
Tapering off to showers during the overnight period, with lows only cooling off into the lower 40s.
The extended forecast stays wet through tomorrow...with dry weather expected for the rest of the work week.
Highs in the 50s...lows in the 30s and 40s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Steady Rain/Heavy at Times/45-49/Tapering to Showers/Light NE Winds/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]


by SS