WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/14/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The Roanoke Times is pressing for a new printing plant.
But opponents say the paper's fudging facts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Plus, Lynchburg struggles under the weight of a request to remove two pieces of artwork from public property.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, the latest on the Redskins quarterback search, Mike Stevens checks in on Bruce Smith
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and speaking of former Hokies, one is coaching the quarterbacks at Northside.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Several showers popped up today but they are fading fast. The less humid details are straight ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:08:45]
[IN Q=You will not be able to conceive]
((YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE OF A MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH LESS IMPACT ON ITS SURROUNDINGS.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=impact on its surroundings.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The Roanoke Times defends the plan to build a new printing plant downtown...
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But opponents will have to wait to air their objections.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Roanoke-Times]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC15:43]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The Roanoke Times says a new state of the art printing plant will enhance the city, and keep 400 employees downtown.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Today the newspaper took the proposal to the Board of Zoning Appeals,
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /Microwave;]

But, as Joe Dashiell reports, this debate is not over yet.
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Keith and Shannon, the newspaper says it needs the new press with 21st century technology, and has said it might move out of downtown if it can't build here.
Today, representatives of the paper argued that the facility will fit with the area it will occupy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Board of Zoning Appeals]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :]
[SUPER=01-Stan Barnhill/Roanoke Times Attorney; :19]
[SUPER=01-Roger Roberts/Building Owner; :44]
[RUNS=:57]
[OUT Q=it would all be beautiful.]

((The Board of Zoning Appeals took a closer look at the newspaper's plans.
Attorney Stan Barnhill described a 60- thousand square foot, state-of-the-art printing plant about the same height as the current newspaper building.
A project that he says would have less impact on the neighborhood than other construction the current zoning allows.
[SOT 10:39]
[IN Q=A hotel, a motel]
((A HOTEL, A MOTEL, A FIRE STATION, A POLICE STATION A COLISEUM A STADIUM, A HOSPITAL.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=a hospital.]

Critics of the newspaper's plan have argued the area is better suited to a mix of residential and commercial uses.
Building owner Roger Roberts says a manufacturing facility wasn't part of the plan when he was encouraged to renovate.
[SOT 00:22:49]
[IN Q=I was lead to believe]
((I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A GRENERY, THAT THEY WOULD PLANT TREES AND THAT FUTURE PROJECTION FROM ROANOKE THAT THERE WOULD BE A BOARD WALK IN FRONT OF WAREHOUSE ROW. IT WOULD ALL BE BEAUTIFIED.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUT Q=it would all be beautified.] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Roberts and other opponents did not get a chance to speak today... Two members of the board were absent and the newspaper decided to withdraw the request when it appeared one of the board members might vote against it.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD/Microwave;]

So Keith and Shannon, this debate continues... The board is scheduled to consider the project again on September 7th.

[L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-20 TC10:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg leaders still aren't sure what to do with some controversial artwork hanging in two city courtrooms.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

One painting in family court shows a white farmer and his slave hauling tobacco to market.
And minority leaders say brass sculptures of blacks and Indians in the circuit court are "grotesque".
They want the artwork removed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:49:35]
[IN Q=We are very]
((REV. JAMES COLEMAN/COURT ST. BAPTIST CHURCH: WE ARE VERY PRAYERFUL THAT WE WON'T SEE THIS AS AN UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE OF DOLLARS, TO TAKE THAT DOWN AND REPLACE IT OR WHATEVER. BECAUSE IT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL, AND IT IS A HINDRANCE TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN OUR CITY.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. James Coleman/Court St. Baptist Church]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=in our city.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The city estimates it will cost more than 70- thousand dollars to remove the two murals.
Council did not take any action during this afternoon's work session.
(------------)

[Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A traffic accident has taken the life of an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Franklin County.
State police say Hubert Ruff, Junior died at the scene of the crash early this morning.
Ruff was heading north on Route 220 near Rocky Mount, when he ran off the road, crossed four lanes of traffic, and overturned.
The 54-year-old attorney had been with the Franklin prosecutor's office for 12 years.

[Floyd-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC1:31:20]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
An out of control vehicle crashed in Floyd County today, killing its driver and injuring a passenger.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]
Authorities say 41-year-old Larry William McLemore (Mac-Lamore) was driving the Chevy Blazer on Dusty Rock Road when it flipped several times. The Pulaski County resident was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. 25-year-old Eugene Brock Snider of Christiansburg was treated and released from the New River Valley Medical Center. State Police says the car traveled more than 3-hundred feet, scattering the its contents on the road, before landing in the woods. They believe speed and a lack of seat belts were factors in the wreck.
(------------)

[Missing-Woman]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Botetourt County Sheriff's Department is turning to the public for help.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE] The agency's trying to locate 45- year old Betty Jo McNeil who's been missing since yesterday. Family members say the last time they talked to McNeil she was on her way to the Fincastle Library.
(--------)
[anchor=]
[ss=]
The sheriff says there is no evidence of foul play but adds that leaving without telling someone is out of character for McNeil who did not take any extra money or clothing with her.

[Wal-Mart]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-32 TC58:07]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A federal judge in Roanoke has thrown out a 3-quarter million dollar jury verdict against Wal-Mart.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
Lisa LaFranca worked in the meat department at WalMart and said she was sexually harassed by co-worker Billy Hilton. Judge James Turk says her claim of emotional distress was based solely on her own "self- serving testimony." He doubts whether it would have held up even IF she'd had medical or psychiatric testimony to back it up. She did not. Finding the 750-thousand dollar damage award out of proportion to the actual injury, Turk ordered a new trial.
(------------)

[Dove-Hunters]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC1:45:26]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The owner of a local hardware store admitted in court today that he baited Morning Doves during hunting season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
William Guthrie- -of Guthrie's Hardware in Brookneal- -told a state game warden he'd been baiting doves for a "good many years." The Warden says the grains of wheat were an inch deep in the Halifax County field where Guthrie, his son-in-law and a friend went hunting on opening day last year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=It wasn't as]
((WILLIAM GUTHRIE/DOVE HUNTER; IT WASN'T AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS. IT'S BAD TO SPREAD BAIT, BUT THERE WAS MORE TO IT THAN WHAT YOU SAW. Tell me about that. NO. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO FOOL WITH YOU TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-William Guthrie/Dove Hunter]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=fool with you today.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Guthrie will have to pay the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 2-thousand dollars. The magistrate told him and his son-in-law, Tom Short, to spread the word that baiting is a serious offense.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:29:15]
[IN Q=Dove hunting season]
((JENNIE WAERING/PROSECUTOR; DOVE HUNTING SEASON STARTS SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND WE HOPE HUNTERS WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND NOT HUNT IN BAITED FIELDS AND NOT BAIT FIELDS.))
[SUPER=01-Jennie Waering/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=not hunt in baited fields and not bait fields.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A third man, James Hickson of Bedford, also admitted to hunting over a baited field. He and Short had to pay 1-thousand dollars apiece to the Wildlife Fund.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

An area company gets a visit from the other side of the world.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

Find out why a Chinese company wants a closer look at Optical Cable next on News 7 at six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And after more than six decades in the car-business, a Roanoke dealership is closing its doors.
(----------------)

[Warner-Education]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-29 TC1:09:02]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Democrat Mark Warner's firing back on education.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And he has the help of a Floyd County school teacher.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As someone who teaches math]
((AS SOMEONE WHO TEACHES MATH, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLITICIANS IN RICHMOND CAN'T GET THE BUDGET TO ADD UP.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=get the budget to add up.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]

Warner's new education ad starts running statewide this week.
Yesterday, Republican Mark Earley unveiled a teacher competency testing plan in Roanoke.
The Virginia Education Association -- which has already endorsed Warner -- says Virginia already has the highest cut scores for new teachers on its PRAXIS exams... and all teachers must be recertified every five years.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:28:03]
[IN Q=Well I think the first reaction]
((JEAN BANKOS/VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOC.: WELL I THINK THE FIRST REACTION IS THAT AT SOME PLACE ALONG THE LINE IN THIS TEST-CRAZED ENVIRONMENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT DOES REALLY ADDING ANOTHER TEST IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. HOW ABOUT ADDING MORE TEACHERS, HOW ABOUT ADDING MORE QUALITY PROGRAMS TO OUR SCHOOLS. HOW ABOUT REPAIRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING NEW BUILDINGS AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.))
[SUPER=401-Jean Bankos/Virginia Education Association;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=all of those kinds of things.]
(-------------)
[Anchor=Shannon]
[SS=Campaign 2001]

Both Warner and Earley are promising to raise teacher pay to the national average.
Warner's cost estimate for the project is much higher than Earley's.

[GOPAC]

[ANCHOR=SHannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-31 TC40:24]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The skirmish over campaign finance law continues in the Warner-Earley race.
Yesterday, Republicans claimed political action committees supporting Warner's campaign were NOT properly registered with the state.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=403-Richmond;]

Today, some Democratic lawmakers blasted GOPAC -- the national Republican PAC formed by Newt Gingrich -- for contributing to a "massive volunteer training effort to mobilize and organize" Republican "ground troops" according to the party's own web site.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:21:11]
[IN Q=There's certainly nothing wrong with]
((DEL. FRANK HALL/D-RICHMOND: THERE'S CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT, AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS A VIOLATIONG OF LAW IS THE FACT THAT THAT OPERATION, GOPAC, HAS SIGNED A STATEMENT, GIVEN TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, IN WHICH THEY WERE TERMINATING ACTIVITIES IN VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=401-Del. Frank Hall/(D) Richmond;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=were terminating activities in Virginia.]
(-------------)
[Anchor=Shannon]
[SS=None]

Republican Party of Virginia director Ed Matricardi called the charge "embarrassingly weak."
He says GOPAC is lending one trainer to a few workshops -- and contributing NO money to the Republican effort in Virginia this fall.

[Woodson]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=501-14 TC43:04]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]

After 64 years in business, a local car dealership is closing its doors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Rick Woodson, owner of Woodson Pontiac, has decided to retire.
Berglund will buy Woodson's entire inventory of cars and the building on Williamson Road.
No word yet on what that facility will be used for.
Rick Woodson Honda will continue to operate and is not part of this transaction.
(------------)

[Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC1:53:26]
[GRAPHIC=Optical Cable]

It's all in who you know.
And for Optical Cable Corporation of Roanoke County, getting to know influential Chinese manufacturers could increase business ten-fold.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Officials from a company based in Shanghai called World Best visited Optical Cable today.
After touring the facility, they discussed the possibility of helping Optical Cable market fiber optics to the Chinese.
C-E-O Bob Kopstein says World Best's connections could help Optical Cable penetrate the Chinese market.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In China they]
((BOB KOPSTEIN: IN CHINA THEY ARE LOOKING TO CONNECT EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY APARTMENT BUILDING, EVERYTHING WITH FIBER OPTICS. SO IT MEANS OVER THE NEXT FE YEARS THEY WILL NEED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRODUCTS SIMILAR TO OURS.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Kopstein/Optical Cable President]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=products similar to ours.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A few months ago Optical Cable flooded the market with shares in hopes of finding more investors.
World Best officials say they ARE interested in investing in Optical Cable, but wouldn't comment further until a deal was put in writing.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The market is still idling- -going nowhere- -awaiting next week's meeting of the fed. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/3.74/10412.17/y/17.72/1964.53;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW lost four-points.
NASDAQ fell 18.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.01/44.65/i/0.04/19.87/i/0.73/62.56/i/0.33/23.55/i/0.30/9.20;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.09/61.11/i/0.36/35.54/h/0.13/48.15/i/0.38/41.85/i/0.04/46.25;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.78/26.87/h/0.29/20.65/i/0.35/7.99/h/0.17/44.44/i/0.34/16.66;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.36/69.95/h/0.27/67.28/h/0.04/53.68/i/0.88/71.28/h/0.16/52.36;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Keister-Shuler]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC42:57]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
Experience is the selling point from two Democratic Delegates today as they formally announce campaigns to return to Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]
[SUPER=403-Dublin;]
Benny Keister and Jim Shuler say they will seek re-election for the House of Delegates...though this time in different districts. Both victims of re-districting, Shuler will run in the 7th District after representing the 12th for eight-years. Keister, still recovering from a recent stroke, says he will move with his constituency base and run in the new 6th District.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 33:31:02]
[IN Q=I had to move I sold]
(( BENNY KEISTER/(D) 6TH DISTRICT DELEGATE CANDIDATE; I HAD TO MOVE, I SOLD MY HOUSE AND I MOVED THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND SO I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS THING OR I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE THAT FAR.)) (( JIM SHULER/(D) 7TH DISTRICT DELEGATE CANDIDATE; WITH OR WITHOUT REDISTRICTING PROVEN LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS WILL ADVANCE THE PRESENCE OF THE NEW RIVER VALLEY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WE COMPETE WITH MORE POPULOUS AREAS.))
[SUPER=401-Benny Keister/(D) 6th District Delegate Candidate; :00]
[SUPER=401-Jim Shuler/(D) 7th District Delegate Candidate; :12]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=WITH MORE POPULOUS AREAS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Shuler is up against Prices Fork Republican Dave Nutter while Keister faces Wytheville Republican Billy Ashworth.
(------------)

[Nickens]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-23 TC1:37:25]
[GRAPHIC=Harry Nickens]
A longtime Roanoke County Supervisor wants to serve another term.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=403-Roanoke Co.;]
Harry Nickens today announced his candidacy for the November election. After being appointed to the board of supervisors in 1982, Nickens was elected to represent the Vinton district for four consecutive terms. He says his top priorities include education and public safety. He's also determined to boost support for Explore Park. The board recently agreed to spend more than three million dollars over five years to keep the attraction afloat.
(///// SOT at :25 /////)
[SOT 14:36:59-14:37:14]
[IN Q=In years past we supported Explorer Park from the beginning...]
((HARRY NICKENS/ROANOKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR: IN YEARS PAST WE SUPPORTED EXPLORER PARK FROM THE BEGINNING. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT FOR OVER 15 YEARS... WHEN WE WERE MEETING IN HOMES FOR POTLUCK LUNCHES TO EXPLAIN EXPLORE TO THE PEOPLE. THEY WEREN'T EMBRACING IT AT THAT TIME. THEY EMBRACE IT NOW IN THAT COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=401-Harry Nickens/Roanoke Co. Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=embrace it now in that community.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=Campaign 2001]
For the first time, Nickens has competition for the seat. He's running against Mike Altizer, a district manager for Monroe Muffler and former vice president of the Mount Pleasant Civic League.

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Dave Meyer is coaching Northside's signal callers while he awaits a pro opportunity, the Redskins work out Danny Kanell today
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Bruce Smith has been working out hard in hopes of taking the Skins back to the playoffs.
(------------)

[S-Dave]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-105]
[GRAPHIC=Tech football]

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Dave Meyer hopes an NFL team comes calling tomorrow, but he's not exactly waiting by the phone.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
Northside head coach Jim Hickam has added Meyer to his coaching staff for the time being.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I went]
[SUPER=01-Dave Meyer/Northside Assistant Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=....up coming season"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meyer competed at Indianapolis's training camp but was then released after the Colts signed veteran quarterback Mark Rypien. Despite being cut Meyer had a blast.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=....alos appreciated it"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]

Meyer is hoping an NFL team will pick him up as a practice player, and then that will lead to a spot on a team in NFL Europe.
(--------------)

[S-QB]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-100]
[GRAPHIC=redskins]
The Redskins search for a back up quarterback continues. Sources close to the team say the Redskins were close to signing Danny Kanell last night. Today, the Skins put Kanell through a workout in Carlisle at training camp. No word yet on if they have signed him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]
The Redskins NFC rival Dallas Cowboys cut quarterback Tony Banks today, releasing the man they said would be their starting quarterback this coming football season. The job likely falls to their top draft pick, Quincy Carter out of Georgia. He was 6 for 14 for 54 yards in two pre season games.
(------------)

[S-Bruce]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-95 10917TC]
[GRAPHIC=REDSKINS CAMP]

The Redskins resumed training camp today after a day off from the Kansas City game. Bruce Smith didn't make the trip and will likely miss Friday's game against the Falcons. But Mike Stevens says "Big Bruce" is still confident he can ride the Skins into the playoffs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BRUCE SMITH...]
[SUPER=03-Carlisle, PA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Smith/17th Season in the NFL; :35]
[SUPER=04-Last Thursday; :59]
[SUPER=@mike1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(( Bruce Smith is now in his 17th season in the National Football League. During that time the Tech hall of famer has seen it all, and some of what he's seen he would just as soon forget. Last season Bruce was just one piece of a high prized menagerie of NFL stars who were supposed to take the Skins to the playoffs and instead ended up in the pits. For that reason Bruce won't give up on this season after one meaningless preseason game. ((BRUCE SMITH:)) Bruce has shown amazing resilience over his career starting 229 of a possible 233 games in the league. Earlier this preseason he suffered a minor shoulder injury, but he says he's not quite ready to call it quits.)) ((BRUCE SMITH:)) ((MIKE STEVENS:))

[S-Crash]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-94]
[GRAPHIC=Earnhardt crash investigation]
NASCAR's final report on Dale Earnhardt's crash investigation comes out a week from today. Part of that report should address the safety of the cars. A crash safety consultant for NASCAR's automakers says improvements to the Winston Cup cars should focus on the cockpit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona, FL/February 18th; :00]
John Melvin tells The Associated Press that a combination of head and neck restraints, six-way seatbelt harnesses, safer seats and safety nets would do more to protect drivers than changes to the outside of the cars. (------------)