ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701130062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
Historic church is burned
SCOTTSVILLE - A historic Baptist church in rural Buckingham County has burned to the ground in what authorities said could have been arson.
Glenmore Fire Chief Pete Agee said Friday he requested an arson specialist from the state police to investigate the cause of the blaze that burned Ridgeway Baptist Church, which has a predominantly black congregation, in the rural community of Centenary.
When firefighters arrived minutes after the 2:15 a.m. alarm, the church had already burned most of the way to the ground, Agee said.
``How did it burn up that fast in that short a time period?'' he said. ``All the pews were burnt out, and the roof had already collapsed. It really doesn't add up.''
The church, which dates back to 1867, was recently vandalized, said church caretaker Russell Woodson. Two weeks ago, a window was broken in an apparent attempt to enter the church, he said. A rock and a few cigarettes were found just inside the window.
Between 75 and 100 people attended the church on an average Sunday.
All that remains of the church are two cinder block chimneys and a charred heap of metal roofing.
``If someone did do this, I can't believe how they could do it,'' said church member Terry Jones, who drove to the church look at its remains. ``What's sad is that it was a church - a house of God. Now it's nothing.''
- Associated Press
7 arrested in gang slaying
GLOUCESTER - Seven people have been charged in the gang-style slaying of a West Point man whose body was dumped in Gloucester County, state and local police said.
Six of the suspects are adults; one is a 16-year-old. Two of the adults are a Gloucester couple, while the others live in the West Point area, said Capt. Mike Nicely, chief investigator for the Gloucester Sheriff's Office.
All seven are charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Cleveland Lee Christian, 32, whose body was found Jan. 5 in a residential area. Christian had been shot once through the head.
Nicely said the suspects were arrested Wednesday night and early Thursday in raids on homes in King and Queen and Gloucester counties.
Gloucester authorities expected the cases ultimately would be tried in New Kent County, where the slaying is believed to have occurred.
Nicely declined to discuss a possible motive, but did say that no drugs were found, either on the victim's body or during the arrests of the suspects.
- Associated Press
No-name artist a no-show
HAMPTON - Now you can call him The Artist Formerly Coming to Virginia.
The eccentric rock star - who changed his name from Prince to an unpronounceable symbol - apparently has decided not to perform at Hampton University.
A spokesman said the artist won't be playing Wednesday - or several other dates on his ``Love 4 One Another Charities Tour 1997.''
No reason for the cancellation was given. A spokesman for Capitol/EMI Records noted that although a Jan. 15 date was confirmed, no contract was ever signed.
The fate of seven other shows on the tour remains in question, though four of the shows have been confirmed.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB