WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/19/99

[Prison-Seige]

[ANCHOR=Denise]

[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=NEWS 7 SUNDAY MORNING]

The Cuban detainees who held hostages at a Louisiana jail could be on their way back to Cuba.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Martinville, LA;]

They surrendered yesterday.
It all started when the six Cubans seized the hostages last Monday.
The hostages appeared unharmed though some were taken from the jail on stretchers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't think]
[SUPER=01-Charles Fuselier/St. Martin Parish Sheriff;]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=experience again]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials aren't talking about what led to the surrender.
But the mother of one of the hostage-takers, says the Cubans surrendered ``because they are going back to Cuba.''
(------------)

[Venezuela-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=FLOODING]

More than 500 bodies have already been recovered in the wake of flooding in Venezuela.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Caracas, Venezuela;]

The downpours began Wednesday.
The country's president Hugo Chevez says officials are looking for places to bury the dead since the cemeteries in Caracas are covered in mud.
Chevez fears the death toll will continue to rise since more than six thousand people are still missing.
Authorities say it's one of the worst natural disasters in the nation's history.
(------------)

[Walmart-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun-am]
[WRITER=che]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=ARMED ROBBERY]

In Danville, one man has been charged with armed robbery, while another suspect is still wanted in connection with a robbery in the Walmart Parking lot last night.
Police say at about 8:30, two suspects approached a 24-year-old woman, pointed a gun, and demanded her purse.
They fled with the bag, until one of the men was apprehended outside the nearby Piedmont Mall.
32-year-old Waverly Kim Hood of Southerland, Virginia, already a convicted felon, has also been charged with possession of a firearm, in addition to the armed robbery charges.

[11Tech-Graduation]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-47 34:22]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech VPI]

He was chosen unanimously by graduating Virginia Tech students -- to deliver the commencement address.
And it was fitting occasion for Tech's President Paul Torgersen -- who like the students is moving on to a new phase in life.
Joy Sutton has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the last ]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:00]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Gillis/Virginia Tech Graduate;30 FAST]
[SUPER=01-Paul Torgersen/Virginia Tech President;:52]
[SUPER=@Joy1;1:02]
[SUPER=01-David Meyer/Virginia Tech Football Player;1:11]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Midget/Virginia Tech Football Player;1:19]
[SUPER=01-Ike Charlton/Virginia Tech Football Player;1:35 FAST]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=n7 Blacksburg]
(([nat sound of names called]
[RUNS= 03]

This is the last time Virginia Tech's President Paul Torgersen will graduate students from the university.
Over the years more than 60-thousand students have received diplomas with his signature.
And that's why students of the fall class of 19-99 felt it only befitting -- to have him as this years commencement speaker.
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[ nat sound of torgersen]
[IN Q=]
((nat sound of torgersen speech))
[RUNS= 5]
[OUT Q=]
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[SOT 1:09:18]
[IN Q=There would be ]
((KELLY GILLIS/GRADUATE; THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER CHOICE. HE'S AN EXCELLENT PRESIDENT AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HAD HIM WHILE WE WERE HERE))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUT Q=we were here]

Torgersen has had a 33 year career at the University -- 6 of those as president.
He started as the head of the Department of Engineering, later became the Dean of the College of Engineering -- and eventually president.
And Torgersen says it's great to retire at a time when the university is doing so well -- and the Hokies are making history.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:50]
[IN Q=It's exilariting]
((PAUL TORGERSEN/TECH'S PRESIDENT:IT'S EXHILARATING, ABSOLUTELY EXHILARATING. IT'S GREAT TO BE A PART OF THIS UNIVERSITY AND IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO CLOSE ON SUCH A HIGH NOTE))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=high]
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[SOT1:04:03]
[IN Q=This is also]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTER: THIS IS ALSO A SPECIAL DAY FOR SOME TECH FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO ALSO GRADUATED, BUT THESE HOKIES STILL HAVE ONE MORE BIG DAY TO GO BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=all over]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:07;52]
[IN Q=The three of]
((DAVID MEYER/HOKIE: THE THREE OF US GOT THIS DEGREE IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND WE'RE REAL PROUD OF THAT, BUT THE SUGAR BOWL IS WHAT WE'RE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT AND READY TO GO FOR))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=go for]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:08:15]
[IN Q=I'M JUST HAPPY]
((ANTHONY MIDGET/HOKIE; I'M JUST HAPPY I GOT THIS DEGREE. COME JANUARY 4TH I'M GOING TO BE JUST AS EXCITED TO GO OUT AND WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END MY CAREER))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=end my career]

And one Hokie says that he has had more anxiety over graduation than playing in the Sugar Bowl.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:07:18]
[IN Q=More nervous today]
((IKE CHARLTON: MORE NERVOUS TODAY. JANUARY 4TH WE WON'T BE NERVOUS WE'LL BE READY TO PLAY))
[RUNS= 6]
[OUT Q=ready to play]

For Torgersen and these graduates it's the end of an era - the beginning of a Millennium -- and the Sugar Bowl will top it off.
Joy Sutton, News 7, Blacksburg.))

[11Toys-For-Tots]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-46 43:29]
[GRAPHIC=Toys For Tots]

People from all over the area took part in Operation Toy Storm at Tanglewood Mall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The United States Marine Corps hoped to get enough toys to fill three trucks.
Many people were in the holiday spirit dropping off a variety of toys.
It's all part of the Toys for Tots program.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT7:40]
[IN Q=I know that a childs]
(( I KNOW THAT A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO BE MADE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BRINGING OUT TOYS AND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE ARE GOING TO BE FORTUNATE THIS YEAR. THANKS TO EVERYONE'S COOPERATION AND HELP ))
[SUPER=01-Joseph Collins/U. S. Marine Corps.; ]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=and help]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Folks from all over the area have been lending a helping hand.
Tech. Sergeant Dwayne Anderson with the U.S. Air Force was driving from Florida to Baltimore when he heard about the toy drive on the radio -- and decided to stop by.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:45]
[IN Q=A detour]
((A DETOUR TO HELP THE MARINES OUT. IT'S A WORTHY CAUSE AND THE MARINES ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE GLAD TO ACCEPT A LITTLE HELP FROM THE AIR FORCE AND WE'RE ALWAYS GLAD TO LEND A HAND))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Dwayne Anderson/U. S. Air Force; ]
[RUNS=7]
[OUT Q=lend a hand]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

The toy drive will allow several children to get the hottest toys of the season including Pokemon.
(------------)

[11Peter-Pan]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#99-48 32:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some local children went on a magical trip to Never land with Peter Pan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Six year old Elizabeth Hill and seven year old Will Claytor won a raffle contest at Mill Mountain Theater to have this magical experience.
Elizabeth and Will say it was a lot of fun -- and they weren't afraid to fly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:20;14]
[IN Q=I got use]
((ELIZABETH HILL: I GOT USE TO IT AND IT WAS NOT TOO MUCH))
[SUPER=07-Elizabeth Hill]
[RUNS=7]
[OUT Q=too much]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:20:51]
[IN Q=I felt like i was]
((WILL CLAYTOR: I FELT LIKE I WAS REALLY HIGH UP AND I COULD SEE ALL THE SEATS AND STUFF))
[SUPER=07-Will Claytor]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=and stuff]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Theater officials say this was a Christmas gift for the children and a chance to let the community know the theater also caters to young people.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:21:31]
[IN Q=About 43 percent]
((ABOUT 43 PERCENT OF OUR AUDIENCE LAST YEAR WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNDER 18 THAT WAS BOTH IN EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND IN PERFORMERS, CHILDREN WHO ACT ON OUR STAGE AND CHILDREN WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE))
[SUPER=01-John Levin/Mill Mountain Theater]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=of the audience]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Denise]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Peter Pan is currently playing at the Mill Mountain Theater and will run until December 23rd.

[Reel-Open]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Reel Open]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Newsreel]

In less then two weeks, we'll close out 1990's and ring in the new year.
Before we leave this decade, we look back at few of the stories that made headlines in Central and Southwest Virginia. In this week's Virginia Newsreel we'll focus on 1995.

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[SOT]
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[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=stop animation]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[95-Reel]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Virginia Newsreel]
[GRAPHIC=wipe]

[wipe wipe wipe wipe]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=21-Roanoke/1995; :01]
[SUPER=21-Franklin Co./1995; :34]
[SUPER=21-Lynchburg/1995; :42]
[super=21-Keith Humphry/Reporting; :52]
[super=21-Roanoke/1995; :59]
[SUPER=21-Amber Medlin/Miss Virginia 1995; 1:08]
[SUPER=21-New Orleans, LA; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=I'm KH]
((1995 started out with one of the largest stories of the year. On New Years Day, police pulled five murder victims from a home in Old Southwest Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT Yearender tape 10:09]
[IN Q=I woke]
((John Brymar/Neighbor: I woke up to gunshots))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:11]
[IN Q=While I was on the phone with dispatch there was another gunshot]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=gunshot]

The gunman was Robert Michael May, who eventually pled "no contest" to five counts of capital murder.
In August of 1995, he was sentenced to life in prison.
----------

Rain pounded the area in June. Flood waters swallowed up cars and homes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:35]
[IN Q=Been real bad]
((been real bad. been real bad real sad))
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=real sad]

The downpour in Franklin County caused multiple deaths. Three men were killed when their pickup truck fell into a 25 foot hole.
In Lynchburg, water washed out Timberlake dam. Two people died, one of them was a rescue worker. ______________
On July 1-st, Andrea Ballengee (B-al-in-gee) was crowned Miss Virginia. Three weeks later she was stripped of the title. Pageant organizers said she lied about her academic record, claiming to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a first-year law student at the University of Miami.
Runner up Amber Medlin became the new Miss Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:46]
[IN Q=It's just as]
((AMBER MEDLIN/MISS VIRGINIA 1995: IT WAS JUST AS HONORABLE TO RECEIVE THE MISS VIRGINIA TITLE IN THIS WAY RATHER THAN ON JULY 1-ST))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
------------------

It was a big year for Virginia Tech sports. The men's basketball team captured the N-I-T Title. In Football, the Hokies wound up co-champions of the Big-East.
On New Years Eve, Virginia Tech was crowned Sugar Bowl champ by defeating Texas 28 to 10. That's a wrap of some of the news stories from 1995. For Virginia Newsreel, I'm Keith Humphry.))

[Serial-Killers]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Sunday Morning]

A Gay and Lesbian anti-violence group wants the New York Police Department to form a task force to catch into a possible serial killer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Harlem, NY/Friday Night;]

Two black gay men, have been killed in similar fashions.
Both frequented Saint Nicholas Park in Harlem, were stabbed to death in their own apartments and their phones were ripped out of the wall.
The killings happened in the same neighborhood.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we want]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tom Duane/N. Y. State Senate;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=out there]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police are now checking to see if a 1997 death of a white gay man is related to the other killings.
(------------)

[Suicide-Bomber]

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

Sri Lanka's president is recovering this morning from an attempt on her life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Colombo, Sri Lanka;]

Officials say the suicide bombing killed 33 people and wounded more than 130 others.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga suffered shrapnel wounds to the face.
Separatist Tamil Tiger rebels are suspected in the attack.
(------------)

[Danville-Body]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun am]
[WRITER=che]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Danville authorities want more information about what led to the death of a 35-year-old woman, whose body was found in a grassy lot at the corner of Betts and Winslow Streets.
Police say there were no visible signs of injury to Angela Terry Newman.
She was found in a residential area in the South Central part of Danville.
Results of an autopsy in Roanoke are pending.

[Discovery]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Space Shuttle]

NASA will decide later today if the shuttle Discovery will attempt its last launch of 1999.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kennedy Space Ctr., FL]

Bad weather forced another scrub yesterday--the ninth delay.
Forecasters are calling for better conditions today. But if the shuttle doesn't blast off, Y-2-K fears will keep the space-plane grounded until the middle of next month.
A launch today would shorten the mission to only three spacewalks instead of four, but officials say the crew would still be able to complete the task of fixing the Hubble Space Telescope.
(------------)

[11Ashes-Orbit]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The late director of the Hopkins Planetarium in Roanoke is set to become the city's first space traveler.
On Tuesday, Gary Close's ashes will be launched into orbit on a rocket that will blast off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California..
Close died February first at age 59.
His cremated remains will be joined by those of 35 others from five countries.

[11Opera-Back]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-38 1:19:58]
[GRAPHIC=none]

W-V-T-F listeners can hear the Metropolitan Opera once again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-44 1:18:10]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

On Monday, the station dropped the lineup which resulted in several complaints.
The Met began its 60th season of radio broadcasts two weeks ago, and longtime listeners said they were astounded by the station's decision.
W-V-T-F's manager was NOT available to comment on why the station decided to switch back.
(------------)

[Profile-Open]

[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=sun Am]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Profile]
[GRAPHIC=VA Profiles]

Every year Santa Claus comes to Southwest Virginia, and not just on Christmas Eve.
The jolly old guy stops in to meet with friends and share the spirit of the season before the big day as well.

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[SOT]
[IN Q=animation]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=stop animation]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[VA-Profiles]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Virginia Profiles]
[GRAPHIC=wipe wipe]
[anchor tag anchor tag] [wipe wipe wipe wipe]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg; :14]
[super=07-Lauren Sheid; :24]
[super=07-Cathy Ceritano; 1:19]
[RUNS=2:09]
[OUT Q=FOR THEM OF COURSE]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:26:00]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

Children come to sit on Santa's knee for more than just the promise of presents.
For many it's a tradition to visit this man each year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:45:27]
[IN Q=he takes]
((HE TAKES TIME TO LISTEN TO ALL THE KIDS AND HE'S REALLY NICE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=REALLY NICE]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 164808]
[IN Q=SOME OF THE]
((SANTA: SOME OF THE KIDS STAND IN LINE FOR AN HOUR OR SO BUT I CAN'T JUST MAKE MYSELF HURRY UP WITH THE KIDS.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=WITH THE KIDS]

This Santa is the real one, all his young friends say so. They'll tell you he has a reasonable answer for every question they ask.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:49:05]
[IN Q=one of the]
((ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS FROM A CHILD WAS "WILL Y2K EFFECT YOU SANTA" I SAID I DON'T THINK SO COMPUTERS HAVE NOTHING TO DO MY SLEIGH AND REINDEER.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=AND REINDEER]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 164138]
[IN Q=HOW CAN]
((HOW CAN YOU DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT'S REAL. HE'S WARM. HE'S KIND. HE'S SANTA CLAUS.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=SANTA CLAUS]

All of those characteristics make Santa a person children trust.
When they open up, it's not just to ask for presents. They tell Santa their problems and the children often ask him to bring their parents gifts.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

Santa says parents can make the spirit of the Christmas season last all year long. He has these suggestions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((I WOULD ADVISE PARENTS TO LISTEN TO THE CHILDREN. TO LOVE THE CHILDREN AND TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY AND TO SET LIMITS FOR THEM OF COURSE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=OF COURSE]))
(---------------------)
[ANCHOR=DENISE]
[SS]
Santa says while the wish lists of his friends may have changed during his hundreds of years of service, the look of hope and anticipation in their eyes remains the same.

[Sports-Extra]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Sunday Morning]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-45 11653tc]
[GRAPHIC=CHRISTMAS SHOPPNG]

If you still haven't been able to find the right gift for the sports fan and video game lover on your shopping list, we have some tips for you. 989 Sports began making video games for the ultra-popular Sony Playstation consoles in 1995. This year the company is leading the way in sports software sales. Mike Stevens gives us a peek at what might end up under your teenager's tree this year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=@mike2; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Smith/Former Jackson St. All-American; :27]
[SUPER=01-Trajan Langdon/Former Duke All-American; 1:04]
[RUNS=2:01]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(-------------)
(( With the Hokies making a run for the national title - what college football fans wouldn't enjoy playing NCAA Game Breaker 2000. Being able to choose all 114 division one schools including Tech and Florida State makes it fun. Hearing Keith Jackson's voice and watching the motion capture animation makes it real. ((JIMMY SMITH/FORMER JACKSON ST. ALL-AMERICAN:)) If you prefer pro football there's NFL Xtreme 2, and the popular NFL GameDay 2000 - one of the more popular games on the market. But college basketball is also cranking up these days. And NCAA final four 2000 could be just what the hoop-aholic in your house needs. More than 300 colleges are available in the menu along with playbooks designed specifically for each team. ((TRAJAN LANGDON/FORMER DUKE ALL-AMERICAN:)) One of the most realistic of all the games is NHL Faceoff 2000. Chicago Blackhawks' winger Tony Amonte helped create the life like movements during this work session in which he was outfitted with the florescent balls that capture his movements. The legendary Scotty Bowman is responsible for developing much of the playbook for this one. And for the nontraditional sorts nut - there is always Jet Moto 3, the high flying cold natured Cool Boarders 4, and Super Cross Circuit for the motor head in the family. Happy Holidays! Mike Stevens News 7 sports.))