WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/12/01

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

Assessing the shortage of state funds for local museums and cultural organizations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the story of a Bedford County man who's giving up his own land, a place to build a new home for the rescue squad.

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

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Friday Football Extra celebrates its football season tonight at the Salem Civic Center more on the Stagg Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Ricky Bustle is in Louisiana interviewing for a head coaching Job.
(------------)

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

Day 2 of drizzle and fog. The Thursday forecast will be wet again but temperatures should push into the 60s. Details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT - 9:13:37]
[IN Q=As we look...]
((JIM SEARS/CENTER IN THE SQUARE; AS WE LOOK TO NEXT YEAR FOR FUNDING, I FIND OUR SITUATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA AS BAD AS OR WORSE THAN LAST YEAR.))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=or worse than last year.]
(------------)
[V/O-NAT] Pessimism from local arts and cultural organizations, as they prepare for what could be another year without state funds.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News 7at 6]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
Shannon is off tonight.

[Museum-Budgets]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:57:28]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Six]

Some local museums and other non-profit organizations that rely on state funding aren't expecting to get any money from the state next year. The organizations are facing what could be another round of cutbacks. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Richard/MB SET;]

Richard Lesko is here in the studio tonight.
SO, Richard, they think the outlook for next year is not good?
[LIVE=Richard MB Set]
[SUPER=@Richard1;]
Well Keith, a handful of local non-profit attractions has been operating without funding from the state since the beginning of July. Now, more than 5 months later, they are continuing to feel the pinch.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Sears/Center in the Square; :23]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=he may not be able to.]
(( The Mill Mountain Zoo lost 20-percent of its operational income, about 1-hundred fifty thousand dollars, and has put a hiring freeze on open positions. The Science Museum of Western Virginia has cut all of its part time employees, and nearly half of its full time workers. The director of Center in the Square says cultural organizations may have to make more cutbacks next year.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 19:17:27]
[INQ=We're looking again at...]
((JIM SEARS/CENTER IN THE SQUARE; WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HOURS AND THE ELIMINATION OF STAFF POSITIONS. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY AND YET WE STILL ARE GOING TO HAVE A 350-TO-400 THOUSAND DOLLAR SHORTFALL.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=four hundred thousand dollar shortfall.]
One third of the center's budget has come from the state in previous years. Officials say the facility has received an increase in public donations, but it's not enough to cover operating expenses, such as heating and electricity. As for next year, the outlook is just as bleak.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 9:13:47]
[INQ=I don't think...]
((JIM SEARS/CENTER IN THE SQUARE; I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE A GREAT LEVEL OF EXPECTATION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE COMING YEAR. IN FACT IT MAY BE THAT WE GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE SAME KIND OF CUTS, WHICH, BY THE WAY HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUTQ=have been devastating]
Sears adds that Governor-Elect Mark Warner may have his hands tied on the issue when he takes office next month.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 9:16:13]
[INQ=I think the governor...]
((JIM SEARS/CENTER IN THE SQUARE; I THINK THE GOVERNOR-ELECT IS SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUT HE IS FACED WITH A HUGE BUDGET SHORTFALL AND WHILE HE MIGHT LIKE TO DO SOMETHING, HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.))

[RUNS= 12]
[OUTQ=may not be able to.]))
(-------------)
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[LIVE=Richard MB Set]

Many area museums will draw up their budgets in the first months of the new year...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Richard MB Set]
and Keith, in the meantime they're waiting to see how the new administration and the General Assembly address the problem this winter.

[E-Toys]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-62 TC11:33]
[GRAPHIC=E Toys]

e-Toys dot com is back but under different management and helping its new owner, KB Toys, become one of the largest on-line toy retailers in the world.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blairs/Last Month]

Both websites will ship toys from the Blairs distribution and call center in Pittsylvania County.
Last year at this time, most employees were out of work after e-Toys filed for bankruptcy and went off line.
Now 200 new jobs are expected to be created over the next year.
The e-Toys name is still so popular among on-line shoppers, KB decided to try again-- this time promising that both companies will be more fiscally responsible.
(------------)

[Room-Store]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=netS]
[GRAPHIC=Heilig Meyers]

Three former Heilig-Meyers Stores in our area are up and running in again.. but this time under new management.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

The Room Store took over Heilig-Meyers stores in Roanoke, Salem and Lynchburg.
The new furniture retailer was able to retain many Heilig-Myers employees, and hired dozens more.
A Room Store manager says business is doing well, and if the current pace continues, she's hopeful more people will be hired in the new year.
Heilig-Meyers stores were closed in Christiansburg, Radford, Martinsville, Collinsville and (Rain-ell) Rainelle, West Virginia after the company filed for bankruptcy.
(------------)

[Rescue-Station]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-51 TC1:40:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Bedford County officials call it a prime example of a citizen stepping up to the plate to help his community.
If that's the case, Al Stroobants (STROH-bonts) hit a homerun for residents in the New London area today.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Al Stroobants knows]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Stroobants/Land Donor; :13]
[SUPER=01-Jack Jones/Emergency Services Director; :36]
[SUPER=01-Bill Rolfe/Bedford Co. Administrator; 1:06]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford County.]
(( Al Stroobants knows the value of emergency medical care.
A survivor of five heart bypass surgeries, Stroobants wants to make sure his Bedford County neighbors get quick, efficient medical help if they ever need it too.
[SOT 22:07:36]
((AL STROOBANTS/LAND DONOR: I THINK THAT ANYTHING A CITIZEN CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE LIVING, I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=should be done.]

So Stroobants is donating twenty acres of prime farmland on Route 460 in New London to be the site of a new volunteer fire and rescue station and satellite sheriff's office.
The move would put firefighters and E-M-T's that much closer to one of the fastest-growing areas of Bedford County.
[SOT 22:13:37]
((JACK JONES/EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR: PARTICULARLY IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE CALL VOLUME HAS JUST GONE UP, WE REALLY CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH FIRE TRUCKS AND RESCUE WORKERS OUT THERE, SO THAT'S GOING TO FURTHER MEET THAT NEED AS THE CALL VOLUME INCREASES.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=call volume increases.]

The fire and rescue facility is just one part of a much bigger project the county has its eyes on.
On Monday, supervisors voted to enter into an option to purchase another 475 acres of surrounding land from Stroobants.. that will become a new business and technology park that officials estimate could employ as many as ten thousand people in the next twenty years.
[SOT 22:10:40]
((BILL ROLFE/BEDFORD CO. ADMINISTRATOR: WE THINK IT'S A REAL ASSET AND WE FELT LIKE HAVING FIRE AND RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DOWN HERE IS KIND OF A PREMIERE THING THAT YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU COME INTO THE PARK, BECAUSE WE'RE PLANNING THE ENTRANCE WILL BE.. THE MAJOR ENTRANCE WILL BE RIGHT HERE AND THAT'LL BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU COME INTO THE PARK.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=into the park.]

Fundraising for the fire and rescue station will get underway immediately.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County.))

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

Still ahead on News 7 at Six, an all-Virginia race team gets ready to roll in the upcoming Winston Cup season.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And from the Air Force to the Elf Shelf... see how one serviceman's spending his holiday leave helping others.
(----------------)

[Franklin-Troopers]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-55 TC37:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The head of the state police met with Franklin County officials today.
County leaders are asking for more troopers to combat a record number of fatal accidents.
Colonel Gerald Massengill didn't make any decision on that,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./File Tape]
but did say he'd make sure the 12 trooper positions assigned to Franklin County are always filled.
Twenty-one people have died on Franklin County roads so far this year.
It's a geographically large county with a small population ... yet it ranks SEVENTH in the state for traffic fatalities, behind urban areas like Richmond and Fairfax County.
(------------)

[Rutzinski]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-52 TC59:12]
[GRAPHIC=None ]
A local serviceman-- home from serving his country-- is helping his community for the holidays.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15.5]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
Paul (Rut-ZIN-ski) Rutzinski is lending a hand at Radford's Elf Shelf. The annual effort provides Christmas gifts for needy children. The 34-year-old is a weapons technician with the Air Force. He was already on assignment in Saudi Arabia on September 11th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:46:21]
[IN Q=our mission]
((PAUL RUTZINSKI/AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT; OUR MISSION DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH BUT IT WAS A LOT DIFFERENT ATTITUDE ABOUT WHY WE WERE THERE AND THE SUPPORT THAT WERE GETTING BACK FROM THE STATES AND ALL OUR FAMILIES CALLING US AND TELLING US WHAT WAS GOING ON THAT MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO EVERYBODY.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Rutzinski/Air Force Staff Sergeant; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=A WHOLE LOT TO EVERYBODY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Rutzinski will spend the holidays at home this year...but already has orders to be in Turkey next Christmas. The Elf Shelf in Radford is still accepting donations.
(------------)

[Kiwanis-Christmas]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-50 TC1:21:57]
[GRAPHIC=Noen]

Some underprivileged Roanoke children found the presents they wanted under the Christmas tree today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:58 - 01]
[IN Q=nats]
((NATS: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY. HO, HO, HO.))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=HO, HO, HO.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Santa Claus made a special early appearance at the Patrick Henry Hotel to hand out the gifts.
About 50 children from Roanoke's West End Center found what they asked for under the Kiwanis Club Christmas tree.

They sang Christmas carols and sat on Santa's lap.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He brings us]
[SOT 8:02 - :06]
((CALVIN NOELL: HE BRING US A WHOLE LOT OF PRESENTS. HE BRING US THE PRESENTS THAT WE WANT.)) [butt butt butt]
[sot 13:37 - :47]
((RYAN MURRELL: LAST YEAR I REALLY WANTED ONE OF THESE BUT MY MOMMA COULDN'T REALLY BUY IT. SHE WAS GOING TO BUY SOME PRESENTS FOR ME BUT SHE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.)) [butt butt butt]
[SOT 10:17 - :28]
((JAZMINE HENDERSON: I GOT AN N SYNC DOLL AND SOME CLOTHES. I GOT SOME PERFUME AND IT SMELLS GOOD. I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME TO MY MAMA.))
[SUPER=01-Calvin Noell; :00 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Murrell; :05]
[SUPER=01-Jazmine Henderson; :15]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=some to my Mama.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Kiwanis Club also played Santa for the Carilion Children's Pediatric Center.
The group gave the pediatric trauma unit a check for 56-hundred dollars.
(------------)

[Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Optical Cable]

New trading reports for Optical Cable show another 12 million of company president Bob Kopstein's shares have been sold.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE 1011]
There are about 56 million shares outstanding of Optical Cable. [ADD 1012]
In August, Kopstein owned 54 million of them. [ADD 1013]
As of December 1st, he's down to 20 million.
(-----------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=Bob Kopstein]

U-B-S Paine Webber has been selling his shares to get back money Kopstein owes them.
Kopstein was fired from Optical Cable two weeks ago.
Board members claim Kopstein's personal financial troubles are taking a toll on the company.

[Stocks]

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

Optimism about an economic recovery returned to Wall Street late in today's session. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/6.44/9894.81/x/9.46/2011.39;]

The DOW gained six and a half points.
NASDAQ gained nine and a half.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/1.46/42.30/i/0.16/41.55/h/0.43/62.88/h/0.02/13.76/h/0.29/6.60;]
[SUPER=272-h/1.00/57.20/h/0.29/49.66/h/0.26/37.05/h/0.44/23.77/i/0.10/39.00;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.02/19.94/i/0.39/18.16/i/0.02/1.15/h/0.15/45.34/i/0.04/14.99;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.25/62.92/i/0.57/64.43/i/0.49/47.37/h/0.18/31.45/h/0.25/54.33;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Rail-car]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-59 TC15:08]
[GRAPHIC=Gator Bowl]
Have you figured out how you're getting to the Gator Bowl? You can always drive to Florida. Of course, you could fly to Jacksonville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
OR you and nine of your friends might take the train. A refurbished Pullman passenger car will pull out of Richmond New Year's eve, bound for the Gator Bowl.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:20]
[IN Q=This way you]
((CHUCK AKERS/AMTRAK ENGINEER; THIS WAY YOU SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE COUNTRYSIDE AS IT GOES BY. NO TROUBLES. NO WORRIES.
WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Chuck Akers/AMTRAK Engineer]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=we take care of everything.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
"Everything" includes dinner and breakfast- -transportation, obviously- -and a sleeping birth for two nights in a classic old rail car.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:25:55]
[IN Q=Built in 1923]
((BUILT IN 1923 BY PULLMAN IN CALUMET CITY, ILLINOIS, IT LAST SAW OFFICE CAR SERVICE IN BREWSTER, OHIO WITH NICKEL PLATE IN 1964.))
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=ohio with nickle plate in 1964.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL/January 1, 2001]
Though at least 15-thousand Tech fans are expected to attend the game on New Year's Day in Jacksonville, no one- -not ONE, so far- -has come forward to take Akers up on his offer.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
Maybe it's the price tag: 610 dollars per person, if there are ten of you tooling along at the tail end of an AMTRAK train to the Gator Bowl.

[Virginia-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tsa]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC1:27:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia race fans will now have a hometown team of sorts in the NASCAR circuit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

C-F Sauer Company and Donlavey Racing, both Virginia based companies, will sponsor the number ninety Sauer Ford in the Winston Cup Series next year.
Rockbridge Baths native Rick Mast will drive the car.
Governor Gilmore was on hand for the announcement today and says the new race team will have major benefits for the Commonwealth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This announcement is just...]
((GOVERNOR JIM GILMORE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS JUST GOING TO BRING MORE PROSPERITY TO VIRGINIA. IT'S GOING TO BE DRAWING TO THE RACES NEW FANS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS CITY, THIS COMMUNITY, THIS COMPANY, THIS OWNER AND THIS DRIVER.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=...and this driver]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Three non-profit charities will also be involved with the team's promotions, including the Victory Junction Gang, a children's retreat founded by Kyle Petty.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're very excited to have...]
((KYLE PETTY/VICTORY JUNCTION GANG FOUNDER: WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM AS A PART OF THE SPORT, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE CONNECTION AND WE JUST COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH OUR CAMP AND THE OTHER CHARITIES.))
[SUPER=01-Kyle Petty/Victory Junction Gang Founder]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...and the other charities]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Owner Junie Donlavey has been a part of racing for fifty-two years but this is the first all Virginia team he has ever assembled.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

It's a big night out for the News 7 Sports Department...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Mike & Keith=Starlink]
Let's talk to Mike Stevens who's all dressed up at the Salem Civic Center
[LIVE=Mike Full/Starlink]
(Mike Adlibs Tease)
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=06-Salem]

[S-Banquet]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-107]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
Tonight marks WDBJ-7's 18th annual Friday Football Extra awards banquet. That means we're all dressed up and ready to pass out some early Christmas presents. [Toss to Mike live at SALEM CIVIC CENTER] Mike Stevens is LIVE at the Salem Civic Center community room along with more than one hundred very special guests.

[SUPER=@mike1;]
[SUPER=06-Salem; ]

[MIKE WILL ADLIB WITH LIVE INTERVIEW]

[SUPER=01-Chris Jones/Bath Co. Head Coach;]
[SUPER=03-Harrisonburg/Saturday;]

[B-ROLL NEEDS TO COME IN ON SECOND QUESTION.] [IT RUNS AT LEAST A MINUTE - CUT OUT WHEN NEEDED]

[SUPER=06-Salem;]
[SUPER=@mike1;]

[S-Bustle]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-106]
[GRAPHIC=Ricky Bustle]

Sources tell News 7 sports that, this afternoon, Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Ricky Bustle arrived in New Orleans and then traveled two and a half hours by car to University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

Bustle could be Lafayette's next head football coach, sources say the job is his if he wants it. Sources in Lafayette told us that Bustle was in meeting with University officials at five PM and is scheduled to take a tour of the campus and it's facilities.
(------------)

[S-Stagg]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-101]
[GRAPHIC=STAGG BOWL]

The standing room only tickets for the sold out Stagg Bowl will go on sale this Friday morning. Two more days is nothing when you consider that the folks in Bridgewater have been standing around for decades waiting for a moment like this one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Michael Clark/Bridgewater Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=...a part of it."]
(------------)

[S-VMI]

[ANCHOR=roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-108 38:37]
[GRAPHIC=VMI basketball]

Tonight at seven, VMI hosts Charleston Southern in basketball at Cameron Hall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Keydets vs. Hokies; :00]

The Keydets come into the game with a 2 and 3 record and this is the second meeting ever against Charleston Southern.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[SUPER=01-Bart Bellairs/VMI Basketball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=.....a lot of veteran ball players"]
(------------)

[S-KJ]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-103 1:40:18]
[GRAPHIC=KJ Hippensteel]

Roanoke native and now Stanford senior tennis star KJ Hippensteel is once again the number one ranked college player in the country.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

KJ started the season ranked number five in the nation in singles but climbed to the top spot after the fall season of the individual intercollegiate championships. Hippensteel won the All-American Championships in Atlanta, Georgia in October and winning that tournament propelled him to number one in singles. KJ is also ranked number seven in the country in doubles. (------------)