WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 07/24/01

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[ANCHOR=Jean]

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Today on News 7, a Presidential Commission says Social Security is in major trouble.
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[VO-NAT]
Also authorities discover what caused those streaking lights in the sky last night.
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[Weather-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
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Showers and thunderstorms are now popping up across the area...I'll have your hometown forecast....

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tbr]
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Also today, state authorities find evidence of the West Nile virus.
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[VO-NAT]
Plus.. we'll show you a piece of baseball history that is up for sale to the highest bidder.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]

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[SOT 14:02:22]
[IN Q=]
((HEY HEY HO HO.. BUSH AND WALL STREET HAVE GOT TO GO.))
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=have got to go.]
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[VO-NAT]

These people are shouting out.. in Washington. They're against President Bush's plan that would allow Amerians to invest part of their social security money.
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[5-Social-Security]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=jja]
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Your retirement money. It's the hot topic again in Washington.
Today word that social security checks may be a lot less than you anticipate- the System is in BIG trouble.
It may not seem like anything new... but that's the finding of a presidential commission report released today.
So just how does America fix it?
Drew Levinson has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC ]
[Super=01-Richard Parsons/Commission on Social Security;]
[Super=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News;]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Richard Gephardt/House Minority Leader;]
[SUPER=01-Darrell Shideler/Worker;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Washington.]
((FOR THOSE OF YOU HEADING TOWARDS RETIREMENT..YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK MAY BE A LOT LESS THAN YOU ANTICIPATE. THE SYSTEM IS IN BIG TROUBLE ...ACCORDING TO A PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION. BUT HOW TO FIX IT.. THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION ? DREW LEVINSON REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON. THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM MAY SOON BE BROKE AND IT NEEDS FIXING. THAT'S THE CONCLUSSION OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON SOCIAL SECURITY. PANEL MEMBERS SAY BY THE YEAR 2016 THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE AT A CROSSROADS. IF IT WANTS TO CONTINUE PAYING RETIREMENT BENEFITS IT MUST EITHER RAISE TAXES, CUT SPENDING ON OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, BORROW MONEY FROM FINANCIAL MARKETS OR REDUCE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. Richard Parsons/Commission on Social Security There is a problem with our Social Security system. It's not sustainable in it's current form and people are losing confidence that the beneifits will be there down the road.
"PRESIDENT BUSH APPOINTED THE PANEL TO LOOK INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM AND REPORT BACK ON HOW IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. THE DEMOCRATS CHARGE THE DECK WAS STACKED AND BUSH INVENTED THE CRISIS TO WIN SUPPORT FOR PRIVATAZATION." SO IN ADDITION TO BELT TIGHTENING..THAT MEANS SETTING UP PRIVATE ACCOUNTS FOR WORKERS TO INVEST PART OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES IN STOCKS AND BONDS.
OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT'S TOO RISKY. Richard Gephardt/House Minority Leader: "and these latest scare tactics are part of a 66-year drive to gut social security and let people fend for themselves at age 65." SOME WORKERS DISAGREE--THEY FEEL AMERICANS SHOULD CONTROL THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS, BUT THEY MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. DARRELL SHIDELER/Worker: "I think americans can probably handle their own funds and investment, but for a large proportion of them, they need to be educated in an appropriate fashion so they can invest in the appropriate manner."
THE PANEL IS EXPECTED TO MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE WHITE HOUSE LATER THIS YEAR. DREW LEVINSON, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.))

[5-Bush-Kosovo]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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While the fight over Social Security goes in Washington.. the fighting goes on... on the GROUND in the balkans-
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[VO-NAT 07.5]
[SUPER=03-Tetovo, Macedonia;]

It was the worst fighting in Macedonia since the cease fire there.
Today President Bush met with U-S troops there...
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[SOT 10"03:01]
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((BUSH: EACH AND EVERYDAY YOUR WORK IS IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION AND TO THE PEACE NATO IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING HERE.))
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[OUT Q=to building here.]
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[VO-NAT 13]
[Super=03-Camp Bondstell, Kosovo;]

Bush told the troops the goal is for Kosovo to keep the peace on its own... so U-S troops can go home.
That got a shout of praise from the troops.
54-hundred American G-I's are stationed in Kosovo.
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[5-Libertarians]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[TAPE#=501-08 39:15]
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For the first time ever, Libertarian candidates are on Virginia's ballot this fall for governor and lieutenant governor.
And for the first time, Virginia will identify the candidates with "party labels."
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]

But the ballot that lists Bill Redpath and Gary Reams will identify them as "Independents."
That's because the state only recognizes political parties that got ten percent or more of the vote in either one of the last two statewide elections.
So the Libertarians are suing, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.
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[SOT 13:48:18]
[IN Q=All parties other than Republicans]
((KENT WILLIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: ALL PARTIES OTHER THAN REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS END UP BEING SECONDARY PARTIES AS FAR AS VOTERS ARE CONCERNED. THE OTHER IS IT'S VERY MISLEADING TO VOTERS. INDEPENDENT HAS MEANING ITSELF. IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT RUNNING WITH A PARTY, OR MAYBE IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE MANY PARTIES THAT USES INDEPENDENTS IN IT. BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE WITH THE REFORM PARTY, OR THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY, OR THE GREEN PARTY.))
[SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=party, or the Green Party.]
[TALENT=Jean]
[SS=None]

The State Board of Elections says absentee ballots for voters outside of Virginia will be printed in the next few days.
The lawsuit seeks a temporary injunction of the ballot printing, and a court order to put the word "Libertarian" on the ballot.

[5-Explore-Park]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=ejo]
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Roanoke County taxpayers are rescuing one big area tourist attraction.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

The County Board of Supervisors voted 4-to-1 to fill a void in state funding for Virginia's Explore Park.
The county will provide 300-thousand dollars, along with a 250-thousand dollar loan to the park.
Explore Park had been counting on money from Richmond, but state support fell from 850-thousand dollars to zero in the past year.
One supervisor says Roanoke County taxpayers should NOT bear the burden of supporting an area tourist attraction. We'll hear from him on News 7 at 6.
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[5-Meteor]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Just what was it in the sky last night? Whatever it was ... it has people talking from Virginia to New York. Many saw bright lights in the sky- possibly a meteor.
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[vo-nat ]
People in Buffalo New York definitely saw something.
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[SOT 15:37:17]
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((IT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF BRIGHT LIGHT LONG TAILED FIREBALL METEOR THAT YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES.)) ((IT CAME RIGHT FROM THAT WASY AND IT WAS A BLACK BALL INT HE FRONT AND JUST A FLAME COMING OUT THE BACK.))
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[OUT Q=coming out the back.]
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In Central Pennsylvania.. witnesses reported seeing a big scorch mark left in a cornfield-
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[SOT 15:37:49]
[IN Q=]
((THE WHOLE THING WAS PROBABLY OVER BEFORE IT EVEN REACHED THE GROUND. THE THING IS IT CAME AND SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HIT THE GROUND, POSSIBLY JUST A LITTLE RAIN OF TINY PEBBLES.))
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[OUT Q=OF TINY PEBBLES.]
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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And mother nature strikes again... this time in St. Louis-
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[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO]

Take a look at these pictures-
Lightning hit the St. Louis Arch-
The storm rolled through the city causing some damage and flooding- but no injuries.
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[(toss to R)]
(toss to Robin)
[Robin-Tease] [07/24/2001]
[SS=NONE]LEO IN WX-CENTER

[WXPRO/FULL] WEATHER TODAY TOMORROW FORECAST WEATHERSCHOOL QUESTION

[SS=NONE]LEO TOSS BACK[Tease#1]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Health officials find the first evidence of the West Nile virus this summer. We'll have the details after this break.
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[VO] Also residents near Sicily are afraid they could lose their homes- as lava from Mt. Etna threatens their village.
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[5-Volcano]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Italy's Mt Etna volcano is spewing ash and dust on local Sicilian neighborhoods-
while the effort is on to divert the lava flow.
As Jonathan Hunt report, residents hope it works- otherwise they could be forced out of their homes.
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[SUPER=03-Near Catania, Sicily; :00]
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[OUT Q=slopes of Mt. Etna.]

[5-West-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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State Health Officials say a dead crow has tested positive with the West Nile Virus.
The bird was found in Alexandria.
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[VO-NAT:22]
[SUPER=03-Prince Edward Co./File Tape;]

Health officials say testing some birds helps them to determine if there is virus activity in the area.
West Nile Virus is transferred to birds, humans, and other mammals through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Last year, seven crows tested positive in Virginia. The State Health Department is urging citizens to report all dead birds to their local health department.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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The West Nile Virus can cause serious illness --such as encephalitis and meningitis. But most people who come in contact with virus will not get sick. The elderly are most at risk.

[5-Summer-Education]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[TAPE#=501-13 14:03]
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Most kids are spending their summer on the beach, on the couch, or on the job....anywhere but school.
But for some learning is their "fun in the sun."
Danville Bureau Chief Justin McLeod visits two area programs where summer education has no limits.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound of clay machine]
[SUPER=01-Rashee Durant/Camp Counselor; :16]
[SUPER=01-Adena Dannouf/Camper; :39]
[SUPER=01-Aubrey Hall/Program Founder; :50]
[SUPER=01-Vernard Harrington/Program Instructor; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Michelle Millner/Student; 1:21]
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[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((NAT SOUND OF CLAY MACHINE))
The Jacob's ladder program at Chatham Hall is helping to mold and shape kids from all over Virginia and North Carolina.
Its a summer enrichment program for gifted children who are at risk of falling through the cracks.
[IN Q=Everyone has had hard times]
((RASHEE DURANT/CAMP COUNSELOR: EVERYONE HAS HAD HARD TIMES IN THEIR LIFE AND YOU TRY TO TELL THEM NOT TO GIVE UP AND KEEP GOING AND IF THEY KEEP GOING GOD WILL BE ON THEIR SIDE AND HE'LL HELP THEM OUT AND GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.))
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[OUT Q=where they need to be]

To be here, kids must come from poverty or broken homes.
The program prepares students not only academically but also teaches them about character and leadership.
Long after the camp is over, students continue to ride high (kid on horse) on its success.
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[IN Q=My mom would not be able]
((ADENA DANNOUF/CAMPER: MY MOM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SEND ME TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND SO I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO THERE IF I WASN'T HERE.))
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[OUT Q=i wasn't there]

So much so, organizers cannot mask (shot of mask painting 42:48) the program's accomplishments.
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[IN Q=All the kids that have]
((AUBREY HALL/FOUNDER: ALL THE KIDS THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM HAVE GONE TO HIGHER EDUCATION.))
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[OUT Q=to higher education]
((NAT SOUND OF COMPUTER PROGRAM))
There's also a program in Danville for low income high school students.
Its called the Summer Training Academy for Rising Stars.
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[IN Q=We want to make sure]
((VERNARD HARRINGTON/PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR: WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXPOSED TO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TODAY AND TOMORROW.))
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[OUT Q=today and tomorrow]

STARS is a three year program designed to teach high school students how to use a computer and the internet.
At the end of the summer, students are able take home their computers.
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[IN Q=I can take it to]
((MICHELEE MILLNER/STUDENT: I CAN TAKE IT TO SCHOOL AND GET ON THE INTERNET THERE OR I CAN HOOK IT UP AT HOME AND DO A REPORT AT HOME, ANYTHING I NEED TO DO.))
[Runs=05]
[OUT Q=i need to do]

Both programs are hoping students log on to better lives, and saddle up for success.
Justin McLeod, News 7.

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Still to come on the newscast, Leo will join us with the steamy forecast,
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[VO-NAT]
but talk about keeping cool. We'll see how some downtown Chicago businesses are using 30 MILLION pounds of ice a day to do just that.
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[Commercial Break #2]

[5-Ice-Melting]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tbr]
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The hot weather that has smothered Chicago is putting a new cooling system to the test.
As David Kerley tells us about 20 percent of the downtown buildings are cooled using ice.
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[SUPER=03-Chicago; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Schinter/Exelon Thermal Tech.; :13]
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[Stats] [07/24/2001] [CK/ESS]FIVE BACKGROUND
[CK/CHYRON/VIEWERNET]
[SUPER=#573;Danville]VIEWERNET LOCATION

[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS WEATHER FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST WEATHERSCHOOL Q & A
[WALK OVER FOR 2 SHOT TOSS]

[Tease#3]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[graphic=None]
Coming up in Sports, Martinsville Speedway is making some changes. Denise Allen will tell us what's new.
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[VO] Also we'll tell you why a high end auction could become a Field of Dreams for fans of Shoeless Joe Jackson.
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[5-Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=jen]
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[GRAPHIC=Stockmarket]

More bad new on the economy today as Lucent Technologies said today it plans to cut another 15- to 20-thousand jobs from its payroll. That further worried already nervous investors who went on a selling spree.
With that here's Alexis Christoforous.
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[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/CBS Marketwatch; :00]
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[S5-Golf]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-95 55:40]
[SUPER=ticker]

Good afternoon everyone, welcome to your two minute ticker which starts on the links.
[GRAPHIC=Golf]

The Roanoke Valley Women's Golf Association City-County tournament teed off today at Countryside.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

52 golfers are competing in this years tournament. Marilyn Bussey fired a first round six over 77 and is
tied for second place with Valeta (VA-leeta) Pittman.
There is a four way tie for first between JMU bound Meg Davies, Nancy Snodgrass, Holly Updike and Dot Bolling. Bolling is gunning for her seventh straight City-County title. The 54 hole event heads to Hanging Rock tomorrow before finishing up at Botetourt.
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[S5-Games]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-103 tc 16:40]
[GRAPHIC=Commonwealth games]

The Commonwealth Games Junior golf Tournament is just wrapping up.
It not only brings revenue into the Valley during the event but Hanging Rock Golf Club has seen repeat business because of the tournament.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Junior golfers are finishing up the two day tournament in Roanoke County this afternoon.
The coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals are on the line.
Hanging Rock Gold Club has been involved with the Commonwealth Games for 10 years.
Pro Billy McBride says when participants and their families return home after the tournament, they spread the word about Hanging Rock.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=you get]
[SUPER=01-Billy McBride/Hanging Rock Head Golf Pro;]
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[OUT Q=do with it]
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[S5-track]

[ANCHOR=denise]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
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[TAPE#=SP-104 17:37]
[GRAPHIC=Martinville Speedway]

The Martinsville Speedway is giving the track another face lift.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]

Last week, the half mile track began construction on a 160 foot pedestrian tunnel under turn four.
At this time there is no turn four but workers should be finished with the tunnel and have the fourth turn re-surfaced and back in place in a couple of weeks.
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[SOT]
[IN Q="this is]
[SUPER=01-Clay Campbell/Martinsville Track President; :00]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=.....into the future"]
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[ANCHOR=denise]
[GRAPHIC=hold speedway]

Coming up at six, Steve Mason will have more on the construction, including thoughts from the two primary builders who are working to complete the project.

[S5-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-101 tc 24:53]
[GRAPHIC=Yankees]

Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens past his mentor Tom Seaver on the all time strikeouts list.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bronx, NY/WNYW;]

Clemens became the American League's first-14 game winner when the New York righthander recorded a 7-to-2 win over Toronto.
He fanned eight and moved into fourth place on the all-time strikeouts list with 36-hundred-43.
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[S5-Tour]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-102]
[GRAPHIC=Tour de France]

American Lance Armstrong seems well on his way to a third straight Tour de France win.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pau, France/Outdoor Life Network;]
The Texan finished 40th in the main pack in today's stage but maintained his five-minute--five-second lead over Germany's Jan Ullrich (yahn OOL'-rihk).
The remaining stages are flat which means Armstrong should be wearing the yellow jersey when he crosses the finish line Sunday in Paris.
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[anchor=Denise]
[ss=ticker]

Tonight at six, you'll meet an Avalanche outfielder who is coming on strong after an injury.

Jean will be back to wrap up this half hour after the break.[5-Webday]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

A special auction on the internet has sports fans wondering if they bid on it, will it come.
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[VO-NAT]

Shoeless Joe Jackson's favorite baseball bat is on sell on E-bay. Jackson used the bat he called "Black Betsy" for 13 seasons in the major leagues.
One historian says this is one of the most valuble baseball collectibles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:52:35 Jackson Bat tape.]
[IN Q=This is the bat]
[SUPER=01-Vince Malta/Bat Authenticator;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=Holy Grail of Bats]
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[VO-NAT]

While most modern bats weigh 32 to 34 ounces, Black Betsy comes in at 40 ounces and is made from hickory. It will also carries a hefty price tag. Bidding is expected to BEGIN at half a million dollars.
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[SOT 13:50:33 ]
[IN Q=I think]
[SUPER=01-Lou Costanzo/Reallegend.com;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=to hit the market.]
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[VO-NAT]

You must register to bid and THAT requires a 25 thousand dollar refundable deposit.
Shoeless Joe Jackson hit .356 over his major league career before his career ended in the Black Socks Scandal of 1919.
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[Take Pinnacle full]
You can find the Shoeless Joe Jackson auction through a link to our site at WDBJ-7-Dot COM. [Close-ID] [5pm] SUPER=x4035; fax/copyright [SUPER=x4034;email/copyright]