WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 01/24/01

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

N-S Chairman David Goode goes on line to explain the railroad's cost- cutting moves.
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[VO-NAT]

And we'll see what's behind the decision NOT to re-appoint Roanoke County Judge Roy Willett.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 sports, our week-long Hometown Super Bowl hero series continues as Steve Mason zeroes in on the three player from the greater Lynchburg area. Michael Vick fires his agent.
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[VO-NAT]
And the best high school football player in the nation shocks his home state by snubbing Penn State at picking the Hokies this afternoon. Thoughts from running back Kevin Jones are coming up tonight in sports.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

From 50s to 30s. The weather forecast is getting cold. Might be some snow showers in the air as well. The details are just ahead.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[tc: 01:10:30]
[IN Q=Our organization]
((T.R. MCCOY/UNION LEADER: OUR ORGANIZATION AND ITS MEMBERS ARE SENDING E-MAILS AND LETTERS ASKING HIM TO STEP DOWN AND RESIGN BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE.))
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=gets any worse]
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[VO-NAT]

Union leaders want Norfolk Southern's president to find a better way of saving money or get out.
Cutbacks are still in the works, even though the railroad's earnings are up.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[NS-Earnings]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-45 TC1:28:38]
[GRAPHIC=NS EArnings]

Norfolk Southern presented some relatively GOOD news today. Earnings were UP in the last three months of 2000.
But employees are still in the dark about the company's restructuring plan, and they aren't happy about it.
Some are even calling for a change of management at the top.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Jennifer /Microwave;]

Business Reporter Jennifer Miele is here with the latest. Jen, if the company is making money, why are cutbacks still in the works?
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Keith, in an Internet broadcast this morning, Norfolk Southern CEO David Goode says changes still need to be made.
He says a slowing economy and high fuel prices are forcing the company to tighten its purse strings.
But Goode still won't reveal who will stay and who will go.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Norfolk Southern reported]
[SUPER=01-Brian Gottstein/Legg Mason Analyst; :10]
[SUPER=01-T.R. McCoy/BMWE Union Leader; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=can't move freight.]
(([PRE PRO]
Norfolk Southern reported today net income was up 13 million dollars from the last quarter of 1999.
But analysts still paint a bleak picture of the rail industry in general. [tc: 00:59:30] ((BRIAN GOTTSTEIN/LEGG MASON: WHEN THE ECONOMY SLOWS AND PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING AS MANY NEW CARS, OBVIOUSLY THE RAILROADS AREN'T SHIPPING MANY RAW MATERIALS TO DETROIT, AND THEN THEY ARE NOT TAKING A LOT OF FINISHED AUTOMOBILES OUT OF DETROIT TO DISTRIBUTE THEM NATIONWIDE.)) [RUNS15]
Goode singled out the decline of the auto industry today as a main reason for the company's restructuring plan.
Norfolk Southern will reduce its workforce by about 6 percent and sell thousands of miles of track to cut costs over the next 12 months.
But where will cutbacks come from? [tc:: 20:09:04] ((DAVID GOODE: WE WANT TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO GIVE YOU SPECIFIC TARGETS, INSTEAD WE WILL TRY TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU THE SAVINGS THAT WE SEE THE SPECIFICS EARLY IN THE QUARTER.)) [RUNS15]
That's the most reporters could get out of Goode.
And his methods of saving money are angering union leaders. [TC:01:10:40] ((T.R. MCCOY/UNION LEADER: THE ANSWER IS JUST NOT CUTOFFS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MOVING FREIGHT ON A CLASS ONE RAILROAD AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF ABOUT 2.1 MILE AN HOUR. I MEAN WHO WANTS TO SHIP ON A RAILROAD WHO CAN'T MOVE FREIGHT.)) [RUNS15]))
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[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

We'll be waiting and watching for when and where these cutbacks will happen,
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer and Keith /Microwave;]

Keith.

[Bedford-Rape]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC1:15:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Less than two weeks after he was released from prison, a convicted sex offender is back behind bars, charged with rape and attempted capital murder.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

35- year- old Edward Jonathan Cash was arrested Monday in a home near Vinton.
Police say he raped, sodomized and tried to choke a 60- year- old family member there.
The woman escaped and called police from a neighbor's home.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]

Police say Cash had just been paroled January 11th after serving 17 years on abduction and aggravated sexual battery charges.
He's being held without bond.

[Willett]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC39:24]
[GRAPHIC=Roy Willett]

Judge Roy Willett's days on the bench may be numbered.
After 24 years as a judge- -first in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, now a Circuit Judge- -Willett has not been re-appointed. The judge's current term expires February 15th.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Other judges and]
(( Other judges and lawyers in the area say this did not come without warning.
One attorney sums up the problem, by saying of Willett: "He never works, and he's abusive to lawyers."
In addition to a short temper, cited by lawyers who practice before him, Willett's fellow judges feel he spends too much time away from the courthouse, leaving them to balance the case load.
State Delegate Morgan Griffith sent out a letter to members of the Salem-Roanoke County bar last year, soliciting opinions about the two judge's coming up for re-appointment: Willet and J-and-D Judge Joe Clarke. Clarke's re-appointment is NOT in trouble.
Sources indicate Griffith heard from more than 50 lawyers who said Willet should NOT be re-appointed.
Some UN-solicited letters came from ROANOKE lawyers who wanted Willett replaced.))
[SUPER=03-Salem/1997]
[RUNS=46]
[OUT Q=wanted Willett replaced.]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Judge Willett declined to discuss any of this today.
Sources say the judge was offered a deal allowing him to retire next year when he turns 60. A letter from the Judge to that effect apparently did not satisfy Griffith.
A legislative source says Griffith just wanted to get Willett's attention, and that they may still work out some arrangement for his re-appointment when they meet with the judge Friday.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Busses may bring better business to downtown Roanoke-- by bringing in students from all over Southwest Virginia.
That's just one story still ahead on News 7 at Six.
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[VO-NAT]

And the Henry County school board takes an hour-long bus ride to get a first hand view of the down-side of school consolidation.
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[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:47:34]
[GRAPHIC=VA Capitol]

From voting to driving drunk.
The rights and responsibilities of every citizen were the business of Virginia's General Assembly today.
Ellen Qualls has an overview.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Responsibity]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Edwards; : ]
[SUPER=01-Christian Webb/East Salem Elem.; :]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tommy Norment/(R) James City Co.; ]
[SUPER=01-Del. Flora Crittenden/(D) Newport News; : ]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob Marshall/(R) Prince William Co.; ]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob Hull/(D) Fairfax; : ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; : ]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]
((
[sot XGR 2 11:45:45]
((RESPONSIBILITY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY.)) [runs:03]
East Salem Elementary's fourth graders brought their character counts extravaganza to the Capitol.
The Governor walked by, but didn't stop to watch.
But the Senator who mandated the character education program statewide was ecstatic.
[sot XGR 2 11;59:43]
((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS/D-ROANOKE: IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT YOU'RE SINGING CHARACTER COUNTS UNDER THE STATUE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON... COULD NOT TELL A LIE.)) [runs:10 ]

[sot XGR 2 12:02:29]
((CHRISTIAN WEBB/EAST SALEM ELEMENTARY: YOU CAN GROW UP TO BE A GOOD PERSON, BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW TO ACT AND BE RESPONSIBLE.)) [runs:06]
It's a lesson that the Senate Floor Leader was reminded of yesterday-- when he -- the patron of the point-08 blood alcohol level -- was charged with drunk driving.
[sot SENATE 42:03]
((SEN. TOMMY NORMENT/R-JAMES CITY CO.: SOME MIGHT SUGGEST IT IS IRONIC THAT I FIND MYSELF IN THIS AWKWARD SITUATION WHICH IS SELF-CREATED...NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.)) [runs:24 ]
Those who felt the law ignored them got a voice from the black caucus.
Two bills that would make motor voter forms even easier got a boost.
[sot xgr 2 11:30:11]
((DEL. FLORA CRITTENDEN/D-NEWPORT NEWS: WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS WHICH WERE NOT SIGNED BY THE APPLICANT WERE HELD BY DMV.)) [runs:10]
For the record, the DMV says it held NO unsigned voter forms... only drivers license applications that didn't have the voter registration part signed.
[sot XGR 1 10:33:39]
((DEL. BOB MARSHALL/R-PRINCE WILLIAM CO.: IN GOD WE TRUST. IT'S ON THE MONEY. THIS IS THE NATIONAL MOTTO.)) [runs:06 ]
A bill to put In God We Trust in every classroom got out of committee, despite concerns.
[sot XGR 1 10:38:07 ]
((DEL. BOB HULL: AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, WE'RE NOT RAISING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HEATHENS...DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.)) [runs:10 ]
The Salem fourth graders might agree on the heathen part.
[sot xgr 2 11:41:40 ]
((NO DIVISION, WE ARE ONE GREAT NATION.)) [runs:09]
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

[Henry-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-46 1:38:06]
[GRAPHIC=Henry School Consol.]
Most adults rarely venture onto school buses.
But the Henry County School Board stepped aboard for a ride today, hoping to learn more about a controversial issue facing students and parents. Teresa Hamilton explains.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Members of the ]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Kathryn Wickline/School Board Chairwoman; ]
[SUPER=01-Sharon Dodson/Henry Co. Superintendent; ]
[SUPER=01-Paula Burnette/Henry Co. Supervisor; ]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; ]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7.]
(( Board members boarded bus number seven to see for themselves what it's like.
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[sot 01:28:01]
[in q= All bus ]
((ALL BUS STOPS IN GENERAL TAKE 45- SECONDS.)) [runs05]
[out q= 45- seconds.]
To save money... the board is CONSIDERING a plan that would consolidate four of the county's high schools into two. Students would either attend Bassett or Magnavista high schools. The remaining two high schools would become middle schools.
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[sot 01:41:28]
[in q=We have]
((KATHRYN WICKLINE/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRWOMAN: WE HAVE 21 SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY AND IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER EVERY YEAR TO BE ABLE TO FUND THAT MANY SCHOOLS.)) [runs12]
[OUT Q= that many schools.]
But some parents in the Mountain Valley community say if the plan goes through, their children would have to ride the bus for an hour or longer if bussed to Magnavista. Sharon Dodson is the county's new superintendent.
(///sot////)
[sot 01:38:58]
[in q=I don't]
(( SHARON DODSON/HENRY CO. SUPERINTENDENT: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S REASONABLE BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL, IT'S NECESSARY.))
[runs07]
[out q= it's necessary.]
(///sot////)
[sot 01;32:08]
[in q= I'm not ]
((PAULA BURNETTE/HENRY CO. SUPERVISOR: I'M JUST NOT REAL HAPPY WITH THE WAY IT STANDS.)) [runs05]
[OUT Q= it stands. ]
Henry County supervisor Paula Burnette opposes the plan. This morning, it took 61 minutes to travel from Mountain Valley to Magnavista. Burnett says that's without weather problems.
(/////SOT////)
[SOT 01:33:29]
((PAULA BURNETTE/HENRY CO. SUPERVISOR: WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING FOG, DARKNESS OF NOT HAVING SUNRISE YET, YOU KNOW THE ROAD'S NOT WET AND SLICK.)) [runs10]
[out q= wet and slick.]
The school board has not made any firm decisions regarding the plan. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7.))

[School-Closing]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

We have one school announcement to make tonight.
The Carlisle School in Martinsville will be closed tomorrow and Friday because so many students and teachers have the flu.

[Radford-Ford]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:23:53]
[GRAPHIC=FORD]

Ford Motor Company has shut down a Radford car dealership.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]

The automaker closed Radford Ford yesterday, telling employees to clean out their desks.
A Ford Motor Company spokesman says it's because the dealership was failing financially.
The company says it has no plans to keep the dealership open.
It began removing cars off the lot this afternoon.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A relatively quiet day on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/2.84/10646.97/x/18.76/2859.15;]

The DOW was off three points.
NASDAQ gained 19.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/1.00/43.13/h/0.88/24.19/h/0.69/51.06/i/0.69/18.06/i/0.50/5.69;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.69/62.69/h/1.25/33.25/h/0.13/45.94/i/0.38/46.31/i/0.04/36.45;]
[SUPER=273-/Unchg/24.00/i/0.75/15.56/i/0.81/15.31/h/0.56/44.50/i/0.06/12.25;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.38/63.94/h/0.75/61.00/i/1.94/51.88/h/0.63/67.63/h/0.13/53.50;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Gilmore-Pulaski]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC1:05:56]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

The NO car tax governor says NO apology.
Governor Jim Gilmore says he will NOT say he's sorry to the Pulaski Board of Supervisors.
He still thinks the four Democrats and one Republican should be thrown out of office for raising the car tax.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I certainly]
[sot xgr 1 10:04:30]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR. WHEN THE QUESTION WAS PUT TO ME, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. SO IT'S CERTAINLY NO PERSONAL CRITICSIM IMPLIED HERE. IT WAS A PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT. WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE CAR TAX.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=the car tax.]
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[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=Gilmore]

The Board voted Monday to demand an apology from Gilmore.

[College-Days]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC39:25]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
The city of Roanoke is busing students, but not to school. As part of the College Days program students at local colleges are offered a chance to visit the city on certain Saturdays. The city foots the bill for the bus trip into town.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
This weekend, Ferrum College students will take in a movie at the historic Grandin theater and have some time to shop and sightsee downtown. Roanoke's City Manager says the goal is to educate students about all the city has to offer.
(///// SOT AT :13////)
[SOT 18:57:59-18:58:16]
[IN Q=Knowing of the desire...]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER; KNOWING OF THE DESIRE BY THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE JOBS AVAILABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, AND KNOWING OF THE NEED FOR US TO ATTRACT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY, IT SEEMED LIKE A FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO LET THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AREA KNOW WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=we're all about]
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[VO-NAT]
Radford University was the first take advantage of the program last month. Burcham says she hopes students will like Roanoke so much that they'll come back again on their own.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports Michael Vick fires his agent. Prep superstar running back Kevin Jones commits to Tech.
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[VO-NAT]
And Steve Mason's super bowl series continues with a look at three Hill City Heroes looking to bring home the gold in Tampa.
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[S-Jones]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-88 5030tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH FOOTBALL]

We begin tonight with recruiting news concerning Virginia Tech and high school all-american Kevin Jones.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/This Afternoon; :00]
This afternoon at Cardinal O'Hara high school in Philadelphia, Jones stunned his home state when he pulled out a Penn State jersey, put it away and then quickly pulled off his sweater to unveil a Virginia Tech Michael Vick jersey. Jones, who is considered by many of the experts to be the best high school player in the nation, picked Tech over Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, and Notre Dame.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="IT WAS A...]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Jones/Commits to Virginia Tech; :00]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=...FOR ME."]
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[VO NAT CON'T] Jones also is an excellent sprinter and he plans to run track at Tech. Jones say at this time he has no plans to redshirt.

(---------------)[S-Vick]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-89]
[GRAPHIC=VICK]

Michael Vick is apparently finding that the road to the NFL is anything but a smooth ride. The Daily News is Newport News is reporting tonight that Vick has fired his agent Andrew Joel out of Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Newport News/January 11; :00]
When Vick announced he was turning pro on January 11th he said he didn't have an agent, even thought Joel says Vick signed with him a week earlier. The report also says Vick likely will sever ties with Jim Kelly's Marketing agency.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=VICK]
Vick will now have to wait five days before he can sign with another agent. Word is that the agent for Vick's cousin - former UVa quarterback Aaron Brooks is the man to watch. That agent is Leigh Steinberg.

[S-Lynchburg]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-83 1:05:09]
[GRAPHIC=Super Bowl 35]
Lynchburg will be well represented in Super Bowl 35 this Sunday. Steve Mason and photographer Scott Ayres have more on three Hill City heroes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Owings Mills, MD; :00]
[SUPER=03-East Rutherford, NJ; :07]
[SUPER=01-Keith Hamilton/Giants Defensive Tackle; :13]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Poindexter/Ravens Safety; :22]
[SUPER=01-Cornell Brown/Ravens Linebacker; :28]
[SUPER=04-1993 State Championship; :39]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/1994 Season; 1:08]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/1988; 1:16]
[SUPER=03-Tampa, FL/This Week; 1:30]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:43]
[RUNS=2:25]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(------------)
((While many years and miles now separate Anthony Poindexter from Jefferson Forest, Cornell Brown from E.C. Glass and Keith Hamilton from Heritage, these three favorite sons of Lynchburg hold the Hill City close to their hearts. ((KEITH HAMILTON:)) ((ANTHONY POINDEXTER:)) ((CORNELL BROWN:)) Cornell wore number 45 while leading the Hilltoppers to a pair of regional titles. For the first time in years, he's a back up and a special teamer for the Ravens. He gets a kick out of his hometown connection with Poindexter. ((:)) The former Virginia Tech All-American and his older brother Ruben, a Buffalo Bill and former Pitt Panther, have strong ties to Hamilton, a teamate of Ruben's at Pitt. At Heritage, Hamilton was aggressive to say the least. ((:)) From the day he learned to tie his shoes, Hamilton was educated in survival from his Lynchburg peers. ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:)) ((POINDEXTER:))
While predicting the outcome of super bowl 35, one thing is for certain, in less than a week, the town of Lynchburg will be able to boast of producing a Super Bowl champion. Steve Mason news 7 sports.))