Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 14, 1993                   TAG: 9309140232
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN VIRGINIA

RICHMOND - About three dozen protesters picketed Monday outside the State Corporation Commission while a hearing examiner heard testimony on the health consequences of Virginia Power's proposed 500-kilovolt power line.

Residents from the affected counties - Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa and Spotsylvania - claim new Swedish and Danish studies show electromagnetic fields created by power lines can cause cancer, leukemia and other ailments.

"There is now a consensus among scientists that these lines are extremely dangerous. How and why is very complex and mysterious," said Harriet Hodges, chairwoman of Arcs Inc., which is fighting the proposed line.

Virginia Power officials say studies on the health effects of electromagnetic fields have been inconclusive at best.

"We've sought out the best scientific evidence available. Based on that, we have to conclude that exposure to electric and magnetic fields does not constitute a health hazard," said Virginia Power spokesman Charles Taylor.

"About 70 studies have been done to date, some showing a possible link and others no link," he said. "We think it's too early to overreact to what may not be a problem."

He said Virginia Power has a responsibility to its customers to provide electricity at the lowest possible cost. He said power imported from the Midwest and transmitted on the new line would be cheaper than building new generating plants in Virginia.

Taylor said about 40 homes are within 500 feet of the middle of the proposed line's 105-mile right-of-way. He said the $94 million project is scheduled for completion in 1998.

The new line would connect in Campbell County to a 765-kilovolt line Appalachian Power Co. wants to build from Oceana, W.Va., to Cloverdale. Another SCC hearing is set on that matter today, and Hodges said there will be another protest. - Associated Press

Richmond student shot at high school

RICHMOND - A high school student was in stable condition Monday after being shot twice in the school cafeteria, officials said.

The gunman walked into George Wythe High School about 11:25 a.m. as about 200 students were gathering for lunch, a witness told WRVA radio. The victim was shot twice in the side.

He was taken to the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, where he was in stable condition. His identity was not released.

The assailant was not a student, said Paulette Haskins, a Richmond schools spokeswoman.

"This was not an issue of guns in schools or violence in the schools," she said. "It's a situation of violence in the community that's permeating every part of society, including schools."

The shooting stemmed from a weekend argument, Haskins said. "Whatever happened prompted this person to show up in our schools."

School officials said no changes in security are planned. George Wythe has no metal detectors, but the school is patrolled by security specialists, Haskins said.

Counselors and crisis teams talked to the 817 students who attend the school, which closed at its normal time of 2:15 p.m. Classes were to resume as scheduled today. - Associated Press

Police say woman killed self, children

WAYNESBORO - A woman intentionally filled her house with carbon monoxide gas Monday, killing herself and her two daughters, police said.

Ann M. Miller, 28, used a metal pipe to funnel the exhaust fumes from her pickup truck into the basement of her house, Waynesboro police said. Officers found the bodies of Miller and her daughters, Samantha J. Miller, 5, and Amanda J. Almarode, 9, about 5:35 a.m. in the living room after responding to a call from a neighbor who said he observed "suspicious activity."

The family pets, two Border collies and a poodle, also were found dead.

Police found a note from Miller that indicated she intended to kill herself and the children, but no reason was given, Lt. W.R. Maki said.

Miller filed an assault complaint last week against her estranged husband, Fred "Butch" Miller, and the couple appeared in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Thursday, Maki said. The lieutenant said he was unsure why the couple appeared in court.

"She was just as nice as she could be and she loved children," said Helen Roberson, Miller's next-door neighbor. - Associated Press