WDBJ 7 news at 11 for 07/07/01

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up on News 7-
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
For the first time, Congressman Gary Condit admits he and Chandra Levy were more than just friends. For more than a week she was missing-- today Jennifer Barker tells her story to News 7. And, police make an arrest in a six year old Smith Mountain Lake murder case.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
News 7 is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last night the search for Jennifer Barker came to an end. Franklin County police found Barker, Dewy Lee Summerlin, and his teenaged son in Rocky Mount.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=TERESA]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]

Good Evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.[Jennifer-Barker]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-34 7:10]
[GRAPHIC=Barker]
After police cornered Summerlin he reportedly took his own life. Today Barker is talking about the week long abduction and says Summerlin was out for revenge after she filed at least 7 restraining orders against him for stalking her the last three years. Kate Weidaw sat down with Barker, who did not want her to go on camera because she is exhausted from the ordeal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/June 28;:00]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Friday; :32]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 2:07]
[RUNS=2:30]
[OUT Q=kw news7]

((Around six in the morning on June 28-th Jennifer Barker says she had just parked at the post office on Fifth Street... when the red van pulled up. She says Dewy Lee Summerlin opened the sliding door and pulled her into the vehicle - holding a sawed off shot gun to her neck. The driver of the van was Summerlin's 15 year old son.

[SOT 12:04:23]
[INQ=]
((JENNIFER BARKER: WHEN WE LEFT THE POST OFFICE HE TOLD ME TO STAY DOWN HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO SEE WHERE HE WAS TAKING ME BUT WE ENDED UP AT HIS APARTMENT AND THAT'S WHERE HE DRUGGED ME.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 11]

Over the next few days Summerlin drove to Maine and then to North Carolina and back to Virginia. Barker says the plan was to always be on the run.

[SOT 12:05:34]
[INQ=]
((JENNIFER BARKER: HE SAID I WAS GOING TO SUFFER FOR ALL THE TIME HE WAS IN JAIL THAT I WAS GOING TO BE AT HIS HOLDING AND THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE ANY OF MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS AGAIN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 11]

[sot 12:12:03]
[inq=]
((I FINALLY PERSUADED HIM TO DRIVE BACK INTO VIRGINIA AND WE WOULD GET MARRIED BECAUSE THAT IS ALL HE BEGGED FOR HE WANTED TO OWN ME.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 11]

Barker says she tried several times to escape - even from this hotel in Franklin County.

[SOT 12:13:15]
[INQ=]
((JENNIFER BARKER: I SCREAMED AND HOLLERED HE'S GOING TO KILL ME HE'S GOING TO KILL ME WELL THEN I KNEW I WAS DEAD.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]
[BUTT, BUTT, BUTT]
[SOT 12:13:52]
[INQ=]
((NOBODY HELPED ME NOBODY CALLED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 4]

On Friday - Summerlin decided he needed to get rid of the green Honda police were looking for. Barker persuaded him to let her call her friend David Prillaman to switch cars with him. That's when Prillaman called police. Around 10 o'clock Lieutenant David Cunndiff with the Franklin County Sheriff's department pulled up to the Honda in the Ippy's parking lot in Rocky Mount.

[SOT 12:17:30]
[INQ=]
((JENNIFER BARKER: LEE SAID THE COPS ARE HERE AND I SAID PLEASE DON'T RUN I SAID PLEASE JUST SIT HERE AND LET US TRY TO TALK TO THEM PLEASE DON'T RUN. I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF. I KNEW IT WITH OUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 12]

Authorities cornered Summerlin and fired two shots into his legs, then Summerlin reportedly put the gun to his head and fired the fatal shot.

[SOT 12:19:33]
[INQ=]
((JENNIFER BARKER: IT WASN'T OVER IN MY MIND UNTIL I HEARD THE GUN SHOT OVER ACROSS THE STREET.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

[STANDUP]
[INIQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW: BARKER RETURNED HOME FRIDAY NIGHT TO HER 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER - WHO NEVER LOST HOPE THAT HER MOTHER WOULD BE FOUND ALIVE. AS FOR SUMMERLIN'S 15 YEAR OLD SON, HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION AND ANOTHER CHARGE OF POSSESSING A FIREMAN IS PENDING. HE IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD AT THE CORNER SPRINGS JUVENILE FACILITY. JENNIFER BARKER SAYS SUMMERLIN'S DEATH ENDS THREE YEARS OF CONSTANTLY LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7))

[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]
))

[SML-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-21 - 1:34:10]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

A North Carolina man has been charged with killing his estranged wife at Smith Mountain Lake more than six years ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]
A grand jury indicted Roy Sluder this week in the death of Loria Thurman Sluder of Roanoke. She died after being shot once in the head in June of 1995. Roy Sluder told police that his wife shot herself in the head while the two were at the lake. Police originally investigated her death as a suicide, and will not disclose what information has changed the case to a murder investigation.
(------------)

[Van-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=01-38 17:41]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the church van crash that killed a Roanoke girl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 01-31 TC09:40]
[SUPER=03-Asheboro Co., NC/Sunday]
13-year-old Jessika Lewis died this week after the accident on Route 220 in North Carolina. The Virginia Heights Baptist Church van was returning from Myrtle Beach when a tire blew and the van flipped several times. A spokesperson with the N-T-S-B says bus and student transportation is a special emphasis of the organization.
(------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[graphic=Hold]

Three other teens remain hospitalized.[Water-Line]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-37 tc-14:56]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]
A water line broke earlier tonight in Roanoke leaving at least one home flooded and several without water.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Around five this evening the waterline on the corner of 27th and Crystal Springs broke, flooding a nearby home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:20:00]
[IN Q= Opened the front door]
((MARTHA BABB; OPENED THE FRONT DOOR AND I SAW MY NEIGHBORS RUNNING AROUND AND THEY SAID THE MAIN WATER LINE IS BROKEN AND WATER'S IN YOUR BASEMENT SO I WENT IN THE BASEMENT AND THE WATER WAS ABOUT UP TO HERE.))
[SUPER=07-Martha Babb;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q= up to here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Water poured out into yards, disturbing flower beds and running into the street. A city official says the break will probably leave the whole block without water until the break can be fixed.
(------------)

[Missing-Man]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lexington police want the public's help locating an Alzheimer's patient who disappeared from a nursing home this morning. Authorities say it was around 9:30 when Herman Bennett was last seen in the Mayflower home on South Main Street.
(+++++++)
[TAKE FS DESCRIPTION] Bennett is described as an 86 year-old white man, who carries a cane and walks with a distinct limp. [TAKE PAGE 2 FS DESCRIPTION] He was last seen wearing a green-striped shirt, tan slacks, and a tan-colored hat that says New Jersey.
(+++++++)
[anchor=Teresa]
[graphic=None]
Bennett is also wearing a necklace that identifies him as a Mayflower resident.
(+++++++)
[TAKE PHONE NUMBER FS] If you have any information on Bennett - you can call Lexington police at (540) 463 9177.
(+++++++)

[Intern-Missing]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Police in Washington D-C say they're comfortable with Gary Condit's answers. The Congressman was interviewed for a third time on Friday about his relationship with Chandra Levy. Aleen Sirgany reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For weeks]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Terrance Gainer/DC Assistant Police Chief; :17]
[SUPER=01-Aleen Sirgany/Reporting; 1:31 ]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=co-operating with us.]
((
FOR WEEKS, CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN GARY CONDIT HAS DESCRIBED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MISSING INTERN, CHANDRA LEVY, AS JUST GOOD FRIENDS. BUT WASHINGTON, D.C. INVESTIGATORS SAY SOME ISSUES WERE STILL UNCLEAR. SO THEY MET WITH CONDIT FOR A THIRD TIME FRIDAY NIGHT.

(SOT: TERRANCE GAINER/ASSISTANT CHIEF, DC POLICE) - 18:56:35
"The congressman, with his attorney present, answered every question that we put to him. And so he clarified those issues that we needed some more information about, and we were comfortable with his answers."
POLICE ARE NOT CONFIRMING NOR DENYING NEWS REPORTS THAT CONDIT ADMITTED TO HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH LEVY ... DURING THE HOUR AND A HALF LONG MEETING. THE 24-YEAR OLD COLLEGE GRADUATE FROM MODESTO, CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE APRIL 30TH.
RECENTLY, LEVY'S AUNT TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST THAT THE TWO WERE INDEED HAVING AN AFFAIR. AND A FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHO CLAIMS SHE ALSO HAD AN AFFAIR WITH CONDIT, SAYS HE ASKED HER TO LIE ABOUT IT TO THE FBI.
HOWEVER, D.C. POLICE INSIST CONDIT IS NOT A SUSPECT IN THE CASE.

(SOT: TERRANCE GAINER) - 19:07;42
"We said weeks ago he wasn't a suspect. He wasn't a suspect midday yesterday. he wasn't a suspect during the interview. And he is not a suspect now. But we don't know what happened to Chandra Levy and we still have to figure that out."
OFFICIALS ALSO SHOT DOWN REPORTS THAT A GRAND JURY WOULD BEGIN HEARING EVIDENCE IN LEVY'S DISAPPEARANCE, AND THAT IT WOULD FOCUS ON CONDIT.

(SOT: GAINER) - 19:00:50
"There is no sitting grand jury. The congressman is not under investigation. And we wouldn't need the forced testimony because the congressman is cooperating with us."

(STANDUP)

ALEEN SIRGANY, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON ))

[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[WRITER=rle]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
Coming up on News 7, looking for a quiet place to cool down? Shannon Young shows us a spot on the James River that might fit that bill...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
and a Florida boy survives a scary brush with a shark. We'll have details on that in just a minute. Stay with us...

(-------------)

[Shark-Attack]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some good news from doctors in Florida on an eight year old boy whose arm was bitten off by a shark. A team of surgeons in Pensacola has been able to reattach the arm. Randal Pinkston has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The attack]
[SUPER=03-Pensacola Beach, FL;:00 ]
[SUPER=01-Tony Thomas/Lifeguard;:13]
[SUPER=01-Hans Walter/New York Aquarium; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Capuzzo/Author; 1:33]
[SUPER=01-Randal Pinkston/Reporting; 1:47]
[RUNS=2:10]
[OUT Q=CBS News, NY.]
(( THE ATTACK HAPPENED JUST AFTER 8 O'CLOCK LAST NIGHT - IN THE SHALLOW WATERS OF PENSACOLA BEACH. AN 8 YEAR BOY'S FROLIC TURNED TO TERROR... ATTACKED BY THIS SHARK... THE CHILD'S ARM, TORN OFF...

SOT: TONY THOMAS-LIFEGUARD
They stuck the baton in the jaws of the shark.
VO2: AFTER RESCUING THE BOY, PARK RANGERS SAY HIS UNCLE DRAGGED THE SHARK TO SHORE.

SOT: TONY THOMAS-LIFEGUARD
we could see the arm was still in the shark's mouth. everybody backed up . the park ranger brought out the pistol and shot the shark 3 times and once again stuck his baton in and I reached in and pulled the arm out of the shark mouth.
VO3: DOCTORS WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT TO RE-ATTACH THE ARM... THE LITTLE BOY, WHO HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION .

(show rp and hans walking.. no sot up )
VO4: WHILE SHARK ATTACKS ARE ON THE RISE WORLD WIDE, IT IS STILL UNUSUAL FOR SHARKS TO ATTACK HUMANS, SAYS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM.

SOT: HANS WALTER/ NEW YORK AQUARIUM
sharks are perfectly capable of viewing people as food, but by and lage they don't //if they did view people as food routinely, we'd see a lot more shark attacks.
VO5: THE SHARK'S NATURAL HABITS MAY HAVE LED TO THE ATTACK ON THE LITTLE BOY. SHARKS FEED AT DAWN AND DUSK.. THE LITTLE BOY WAS SWIMMING AT DUSK.

SOT: MICHAEL CAPUZZO/AUTHOR
I really do think that the fear is in our blood
VO6: UNTIL 1916, SAYS AUTHOR MICHAEL CAPUZZO, SCIENTISTS BELIEVED THAT SHARKS WOULD NOT HURT HUMANS. THEN CAME A SERIES OF SAVAGE ATTACKS AND HORRIFYING DEATHS IN EARLY JULY ALONG THE NEW JERSEY COAST.

SOT: MICHAEL CAPUZZO/ AUTHOR
This great white shark came up matawan creek,right here, 17 miles formthe open ocean and killed, an 11 year old boy...4 people were killed in 12 days, the greatest series of shark attacks in history.
RANDALL S.U.: AS TERRIBLE AS SHARK ATTACKS ARE, EXPERTS SAY BEACHGOERS SHOULD TAKE SOME COMFORT FROM THIS STATISTIC: AROUND THE WORLD, THE ARE FEWER THAN 100 REPORTED SHARK ATTACKS EACH YEAR, AND MOST VICTIMS SURVIVE.
VO7: STILL THOSE NUMBERS DON'T DIMINSH THE HORROR OF THE ATTACKS.....EVENTS WHICH REMIND ALL SWIMMERS THAT THE OCEAN IS THE SHARKS' DOMAIN. RANDALL PINKSTON, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK. ))

[Slavery-Museum]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=01-24 - 1:01:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The first Africans to arrive in America arrived at Jamestown in 1619.
(--------------)
[vo-nat from 00-41 TC 39:15]
[super=@file;]
But former Governor Doug Wilder has reportedly given up on Jamestown as the location for the National Slavery Museum.

[super=03-Jamestown/November 2000]
A source says the historically siginificant location at Gospel Spreading Farm in James City County fell through months ago.
(------------------)
[anchor=Teresa]
[graphic=None]
Taxpayers have given a million dollars for the project which Wilder first proposed in 1993... Supporters had hoped there would be a groundbreaking for the museum this summer... Wilder is now apparently considering Richmond, Hampton or Fredericksburg as possible locations for the museum.

[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[writer=rle]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]

Coming up on News 7, Roy Stanley will have highlights from action on the track, as well as efforts from the fans to keep the Express from leaving town...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
but before that, the Roanoke Civic Center was purring with activity today. We'll have all the hairy highlights coming up...
(----------------)

[WEB-ADDRESS]
(///// SOT /////)
[Web Address Announce] [Pinnacle 4885ess]

[Canoeing]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]
If peaceful time by the water is calling your name, you might want to escape the lake and head down the river. In this week's Time Off - Shannon Young takes us canoeing down the James with Bent Creek Adventures.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are no throngs of people...]
[SUPER=03-Bent Creek; :00]
[SUPER=01-Steve Conner/Bent Creek Adventures; :17]
[SUPER=@Shannon2; 32]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=STD]
(( There are no throngs of people, no stereos, no screaming motorboats. Just the sound of the breeze and the ripple of water off your paddle. This is the allure of the James River as seen from a Bent Creek Adventures canoe.
[SOT 1:00-1:16]
[IN Q=It's a clean river here...]
((It's a clean river here, see a lot of wildlife. It's shallow. The water moves a little bit. It's not real whitewater but the water moves enough that you're not just sitting in a pond with a canoe and you get to see a lot of fish and birds and eagles and things.)) [RUNS :16]
[OUT Q=birds and eagles and things.]
Inner tubes are also available for those who'd rather get wet. Trips range from 3 to 12 miles and you can take as long as you like as long as you're back by late afternoon. And, if you'd rather extend your time outdoors you can arrange to camp, with someone ELSE doing all the work...
[SOT 00:41-00:55]
[IN Q=You park your car in our parking lot...]
((You park your car in our parking lot and we load the safety equipment , paddles, lifejackets, give you a briefing and we put you in a van and take you up the river and let you float back to us. Or we put you in here and we come and get you at a certain time.)) [RUNS :14]
[OUT Q=come and get you at a certain time.]
The water level varies from 6-inches to about 5-feet. And because the river's slow moving Bent Creek Adventures are ideal for beginners. You'll also get a crash course in, well, crashing.
[SOT 1:27-1:34]
[IN Q=There's a safety briefing on how to...]
((There's a safety briefing on how to use a canoe and how to steer and what to do if you run up on rocks and stuff so that you don't turn over or get hurt.)) [RUNS :07]
[OUT Q=that you don't turn over or get hurt.]

But you MAY GET addicted... to the peace, quiet and rythym of the river.
[SOT 1:37-1:41]
[IN Q=It's a fun thing to do.]
((It's a fun thing to do. You'll really enjoy yourself, relax and have fun.)) [RUNS :04]
[OUT Q=relax and have fun.]
Shannon Young, News 7, Bent Creek.))

[Cat-Fanciers]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-19 1:24:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It was a cat lovers dream today at the Roanoke Civic Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 11.5]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Star City Cat Fanciers show is being held in the "Exhibition Hall" this weekend. Those taking part say turnout has been great so far with nearly 300- cats being judged. But that's not all.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:08:30]
[IN Q=At this show]
((KELLY TANNER/EXHIBITOR: AT THIS SHOW WE HAVE VENDORS WHERE YOU CAN BUY EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE FOR YOURSELF OR FOR YOUR CAT, BESIDES THE EIGHT RINGS OF JUDGING YOU CAN WATCH THEM BEING JUDGED, TALK TO THE EXHIBITORS ABOUT THEIR BREEDS.....AND THERE ARE KITTIES UP FOR SALE AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS OFFERING KITTIES FOR ADOPTION.))
[SUPER=01-Kelly Tanner/Exhibitor;]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=kitties for adoption.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 6.5 plus pad]
The show continues tomorrow at the Roanoke Civic Center .. from ten in the morning until five P-M.
(------------)

[Myrtle-Beach]

[ANCHOR=Tereas]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tornado]
A tornado touched down in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina yesterday causing millions of dollars of damage.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 21 plus pad]
[SUPER=03-Myrtle Beach, SC;]
The tornado started over the ocean, moved ashore and then spun down Ocean Boulevard, which parallels the beach. There were some minor injuries from the storm which caused some eight million dollars in damage. South Carolina's Governor today toured the area... saying his emergency management team will evaluate whether the damage qualifies for federal disaster area status.
(------------)

[S-Race]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-92]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona Logo]

Dale Earnhardt Junior used a move his father made famous and he wins the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/NBC SPORTS; :]

Sterling Marlin started on the pole and he was the leader after 7 laps of the race.
But Dale Earnhardt Junior had the strong car he covered the field and was leading with 133 laps to go.
Then with just over 70 laps to go Michael Waltrip moved into the picture he would battle Mike Skinner for the second spot.
Moments later the first caution would fly when Andy Houston hits the wall in turn four.
Right before the final pit stop several cars including Sterling Marling, Jeff Gordon and Mike Skinner crashed in turn 4 bringing out the caution with 19 to go.
Another caution slowed the race but Little E came from six back with six to go working his way through the traffic to win the Pepsi 400.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="he was...]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=.....even now."]
[ANCHOR=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

Michael Waltrip was second, Elliott Sadler third, Ward Burton fourth and bobby Labonte fifth.

[S-Trucks]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-96 (1:04:42)]
[GRAPHIC=Trucks Logo]

History was made in the Craftsman Truck series yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kansas City, MO/ESPN; :]

As his parents watched from pit road.
Ricky Hendrick would lead the final laps and take the checkered flag winning the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 in Kansas City. With the win his first, Hendrick becomes the Youngest driver to win a truck race.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Every since...]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Hendrick/O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q.......do there."]
[TALENT=Roy]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]

Ted Musgrave was second followed by Dennis Setzer, Jon Wood and Bill Bigley.

[S-Demonstration]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11PM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-98 tc 24:22]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

Hard core hockey fans have been counting the days to the start of the 2001-2002 season since the end of last year's final game.
It's been a tramatic off season for those diehards and as Denise Allen reports a mob of them gathered in two rallies yesterday to demonstrate their support of the team.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Shellie Taylor/Event Organizer; :18]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Coach; :32]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Season; :48]
[SUPER=01-Gary Caldwell/Six Year Season Ticket Holder; :58]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Woolwine/Express Fan; 1:15]
[SUPER=01-Mike Doyle/Express GM; 1:28]
[SUPER=@Denise2; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports]
((
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

About hundred Express fans made up the groups rallying in support of their team-- one outside the Roanoke franchise's office and later in the morning on a march to the RoundHouse.
Fans also put their money on the table in the form of deposits for season tickets.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:06:25]
[IN Q=we want]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=20 seasons left.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:09:23]
[IN Q=to actually]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=showing it]

These gatherings were organized with just two days notice to the fans--after a week of speculation of who would buy the team and where the franchise would take up residence.
Friday it was announced the Express would skate at least one more season in the Round House.
These fans say just a few changes off the ice, will bring more people to the games.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:25:19]
[IN Q=we need]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=can survive]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:29:04]
[IN Q=NASCAR night]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=always big night]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:18:42]
[IN Q=no matter]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=doing it]

The ownership uncertainity has put Perry Florio behind in signing players. Last year at this time he had 13 under contract.
Florio says he's preparing a list of players he wants to recruit. GM Mike Doyle says Florio may be able to start bargaining with these players as early as next week.
Denise Allen News 7 Sports. ))

That's going to do it for sports, have a great day everybody.[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-97 (21:25)]
[GRAPHIC=MLB LOGO]

The New York Yankees saw their win streak end at 9 games yesterday as the Mets scored 3 in the top of the 10-th to beat the Yankees 3 to nothing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/FOX SPORTS; :]

Joe Torre watches from the dugout as the game remained scoreless.
Then in the top of the 10-th with a runner on second Mike Piazza hits a shot to right field scoring Desi Relaford to make it 1 to nothing Mets.
[SUPER=35-N.Y. Mets/3/N.Y. Yankees/0/;]

The very next batter Timo Perez comes through with this single to left field scoring Edgar Alfonzo to make it 2 to nothing and the Mets get the 3 to nothing win.
(------------)
The fans show support for the Roanoke Express, more later on Sunday Morning.

[S-Scores]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-99 (22:47)]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cleveland, OH/FOX SPORTS; :]

The Indians hosted the Cardinals at Jacob's field this afternoon.
Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire broke out of his slump today sending this pitch over the left centerfield wall for a grand slam and the Cardinals led 6 to 2.
But the Indians rallied and in the bottom of the 10-th Cleveland's Jim Thome gets all of this pitch for a solo homer to right field and the Indians win it 7 to 6. And here are tonight's numbers.
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[WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5011;]
[SUPER=0093-/Salem/3/j/Kinston/7///j/Lynchburg/4//Winston-Salem/2///;]
[SUPER=X5010;]
[SUPER=0113-j/N.Y. Mets/3//N.Y. Yankees/0//10 Innings//St. Louis/6/j/Cleveland/7///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-/Montreal/8/j/Toronto/9//11 Innings//Seattle/1/j/Los Angeles/2///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-/Florida/3/j/Tampa Bay/4////Atlanta/1/j/Boston/3///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-j/Chicago/10//Detroit/6////Cincinnati/6/j/Minnesota/7///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-/Philadelphia/4//Baltimore/3/8///Pittsburgh/1/j/Chicago/4///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-/Anaheim/9//Colorado/2/7///Houston/8//Kansas City/7/7//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0092-j/Milwaukee/13//San Francisco/3///;]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=...last score."]
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[S-Tennis]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-95 (48:11)]
[GRAPHIC=Wimbledon Logo]

Rain wiped out all of today's action at Wimbledon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wimbledon, England/NBC SPORTS; :]

Defending champion Venus Williams will now meet Justine Henin of Belgium tomorrow to decide the women's championship.
While Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic will complete their semi final match tomorrow also. They are on serve in the fifth set with Ivanisevic up 3 games to 2.
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