WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/25/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Who's to blame for a fatal accident involving a police officer?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And, it's a precious commodity that's becoming even more scarce. Some are searching high and low for water and still coming up dry.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, the high school hoopla continues this week with regional action. UNC 's quarterback is transferring.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Falcons open the door for Vick to start full-time as they cut Chris Chandler.
(------------)

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

A drastic tipping of the temperatures scales. By midweek, daytime highs will drop by more than 30 degrees. The harsh numbers coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:32:10-1:32:16 on Tape 1]
[IN Q=I have never had...]
((I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS... NEVER HAD ONE OF MY OFFICERS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC FATALITY, NO.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=in a traffic fatality, no.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]
Until Saturday night. Now, the chief of Vinton Police is looking for answers in a fatal accident involving one of his own.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=News 7 at Six]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young. Keith has the night off.

[Vinton-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-62 TC1:37:21]
[GRAPHIC=Accident Invest.]
[***ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION***] Virginia State Police spent yesterday reconstructing the accident that killed 72-year old Audrey Bryant St. Clair and her 67-year old sister, Onita Bryant late Saturday night. The State Police will hand its report over to the Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. But until then, dozens of questions will go unanswered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Officer John Munsey says he was following a speeder...]
[SUPER=03-Vinton/Saturday Night;]
[SUPER=01-Herb Cooley/Vinton Police Chief;]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Ray Allen/Vinton Baptist Church;]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=more often than it does.]
((Officer John Munsey says he was following a speeder when his cruiser struck the sisters' car in front of their house on Washington Avenue just before midnight Saturday. But how fast was he travelling? And were his lights and siren on? Chief Herb Cooley doesn't know but says anytime an officer chooses to follow a suspect he's taking a chance.
[SOT 1:30:59--1:31:18 ON TAPE 1]
[IN Q=Basically, the officer must assess...]
((CHIEF HERB COOLEY/VINTON POLICE: BASICALLY, THE OFFICER MUST ASSESS AT ALL TIMES THE DANGER FACTORS INVOLVED IN A PURSUIT AND IS CATCHING THIS VIOLATOR WORTH THE RISK IN CONSIDERING TRAFFIC FLOW, THE AREA HE'S IN AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THE VIOLATOR.)) [RUNS:19]
[OUT Q=important it is to get the violator.]
The sisters were known as night owls and were returning from grocery shopping at the time of the wreck. They'd lived in Vinton for years and had deep roots in the community.
[SOT 7:45-7:51 ON TAPE 2]
[IN Q=they were very bright senior citizens...]
((REV. RAY ALLEN/VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH: THEY WERE VERY BRIGHT SENIOR CITIZENS. THEY NEVER MISSED ANYTHING.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=never missed anything.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 7:55-8:04 ON TAPE 2]
[IN Q=Audrey particularly continued...]
((REV. RAY ALLEN/VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH: AUDREY PARTICULARLY CONTINUED TO LOOK AFTER ELDERLY PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T PERCEIVE HERSELF AS BEING ELDERLY.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=herself as being elderly.]
Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Meantime, Officer Munsey and a U.S Marshall who'd been riding with him are recovering from minor injuries. Officer Munsey is on adminstrative leave. And the department is struggling to answer questions it hoped it would never have to address.
[SOT 1:31:46-1;32:09 on TAPE 1]
[IN Q=Well, you're always stunned...]
((CHIEF HERB COOLEY/VINTON POLICE: WELL, YOU'RE ALWAYS STUNNED BUT YOU CAN'T BE SURPRISED BECAUSE, IN CATCHING SPEEDERS YOU HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY ENGAGING IN GOING AFTER VIOLATORS. WE'RE PROBABLY LUCKY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN IT DOES.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=more often than it does.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]
Vinton Police are conducting an internal investigation into the accident. Chief Cooley he'll know which direction to head in after reading the report by State Police.

[Henry-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-05 TC46:55]
[GRAPHIC=Henry School Consol.]
The Henry County school board hit a snag today with its controversial school reconfiguration plan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape; ]
The school board asked the board of supervisors for a roughly 700- thousand dollar advance in funding to get started on the project. The school board is planning to consolidate four high schools into two. Today the supervisors, in an unanimous vote, said NO to the school board's request. A spokeswoman for the school system says the school board is still planning to move forward with the reconfiguration plan...and that the advance in funds would have allowed work to be done before students return to school in the fall.
(------------)

[Bank-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:02:28]
[GRAPHIC=Bank Robbery]

First Virginia Bank customers and employees on Colonial Avenue were today surprised by an armed robber just after the bank opened.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

A number of customers and tellers were in the bank when a man entered and demanded money.
Police say he was armed with a silver handgun.
No one was injured and there's no word yet on how much he got away with.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He did]
((SHELLY ALLEY/ROANOKE POLICE SPOKESPERSON: HE DID FLEE THE BANK ON FOOT AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE SCOURING THE AREA TO TRY TO DETERMINE HIS LOCATION.))
[SUPER=01-Shelly Alley/Roanoke Police Spokesperson]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=his location.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police believe the man may have run around the back of the bank, crossed Colonial Avenue and passed by the First Union at Towers Shopping Center.
They are hoping surveillance video from either bank will lead them to their suspect.
(XXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO CRIME LINE FS]
If you have any information on the bank robbery, police ask that you call Crime Line at 344-8500.
(------------)

[Dry-Wells]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-57 TC1:36:04]
[GRAPHIC=Water Supply]

A prolonged drought has left many people in our area who depend on wells for their water high and dry.
As Marya Jones reports, many homeowners are finding a new well to be an unexpected but essential expense.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Walke; :15]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :38]
[SUPER=01-Stephen Brooks/Richard Simmons Drilling; :57]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Franklin Co.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[NATS 1:12:18] ((NATS JOHN WALKE: THOSE WERE DRY.)) [RUNS:02]
As a Franklin County health inspector, John Walke usually helps people get water into their homes.
But when he moved into his OWN ... he dug five wells ... and all ended up dry.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:08:55 - 1:09:04]
((JOHN WALKE: AFTER YOU GET TO A POINT YOU THINK YOU'RE SNAKE-BIT... YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT'S NOT WORKING RIGHT, SO YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU SAY YOU PICK THE WELL, YOU PICK THE AREA, I DON'T WANT TO. )) [RUNS:09]
(///// SOT /////)
[NATS 1:02:23 ??] ((QUICK NATS: WATER SHOOTING OUT.)) [RUNS:02]
Today, he's making a SIXTH attempt... drilling down more than one-thousand feet to hit water.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:03:58 - 1:04:07]
((JOHN WALKE: AT 6-7 DOLLARS A FOOT AND A FEW THOUSAND FEET. SIX WELLS LATER. YES, IT'S EXPENSIVE.)) [RUNS:10]
Walke is not alone in his predicament.
Two back-to-back droughts have placed the area's rainfall at about two feet below normal.
Well drilling companies like Richard Simmons Drilling are working overtime to meet the demand for new or deeper wells.
The company's business tripled after the drought set in.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 55:55 - :56:10]
((STEPHEN BROOKS: OUR BACKLOG DOESN'T SEEM TO GO AWAY. :57 WE'VE HAD 30 - 40 WELLS IN FRONT OF US SINCE NOVEMBER. 56:02 EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND DRILL 4, 5, 6 WELLS, SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE THAT MANY PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF WATER IN THE MEANTIME.)) [RUNS:15]
(///// SOT /////)
[SU 1:15:14 - :27] ((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: FOR MANY RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THE DROUGHT, THE PROSPECT OF DEEPENING A WELL OR DIGGING A NEW ONE COULD COST MORE THAN 5-THOUSAND DOLLARS. FOR JOHN WALKE, IT WAS A LOT MORE THAN THAT. MJN7, FRANKLIN CO.)) [RUNS:13]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

Tonight Bedford County Supervisors will talk about helping some 500 homeowners whose wells are low or dry.
The county may extend public water service.
We'll have more on that tonight on News 7 at Eleven.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Robin/WX Center]

Will they get any help from Mother Nature?
Let's talk to Meteorologist Robin Reed.

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

Governor Warner goes to Washington... but it's not a courtesy call.
Find out why he and President Bush aren't seeing eye to eye when News 7 returns.
(XXXXXXXX)
[LIVE=JoeD Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

A referendum roller coaster here in Richmond today, I'm Joe Dashiell and I'll have the story from the state capitol in just a moment.
(----------------)

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

[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC44:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The prospects for a statewide sales tax referendum are dimming.
This afternoon, a House committee killed legislation that would have scheduled a statewide vote to raise money for public education.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & JoeD /State Microwave;]

Joe Dashiell has been covering the story, and has more tonight from the steps of the State Capitol.
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Shannon, this is the bill Governor Warner had thrown his support behind... it was viewed as the best hope for supporters of the statewide referendum... but this morning the House Finance committee gutted the measure, and this afternoon the House Appropriations Committee killed it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This morning I had Senate Bill 170]
[SUPER=03-Richmond ; :06]
[SUPER=@thomas; :24]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Chuck Colgan/(D) Manassas; :53]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=we could have brought it back.]
(([OPENS ON SOUND OF COLGAN 14:19:24]
[IN Q=This morning I had Senate Bill 170]
((THIS MORNING I HAD SENATE BILL 170, AND A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY UP TO THIS COMMITTEE.))
[RUNS= :05]
[OUT Q=up to this committee.]

By the time Senator Chuck Colgan reached House Appropriations his bill had been hijacked.... stripped of the statewide sales tax referendum that would raise more than 300 million dollars a year for school construction across Virginia.
Delegate Vic Thomas said it was a terrible bill he was prepared to support...
[SOT VIC THOMAS 14:58:13 ]
[IN Q=we've got problems ]
((WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, WITH 81, WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND SO FORTH. BUT I TELL YOU I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BILL TO KEEP SOMETHING ALIVE HOPING THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER SOME MINDS WILL COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE THE PROBLEM AND ADDRESS THEM.))
[RUNS= :20]
[OUT realize the problem and address them.]
But Thomas's vote wasn't enough... Though the amended legislation addressed education and transportation needs in northern Virginia only... it failed by a vote.
[SOT SEN. COLGAN 15:14:24]
[IN Q=I'm disappointed it's not here]
((SEN. CHUCK COLGAN: I'M DISAPPOINTED IT'S NOT HERE. I THINK WE NEEDED A VEHICLE TO WORK WITH, BUT IT WENT SO FAR ASTRAY, I'M NOT SURE WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUT Q=could have brought it back.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Efforts to bring it back aren't over. Late this afternoon, we learned that House Speaker Vance Wilkins is working behind the scenes to get the northern Virginia referendum bill back on the table.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & JoeD /State Microwave;]

So Shannon, while the prospects for a statewide referendum on education are slim at best... the debate may not be over yet.

[Judges]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC30:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Four candidates for two Roanoke Valley judgeships met with lawmakers today in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The candidates fielded questions from members of the courts of justice committee in public, and with delegate Morgan Griffith and Senator Bo Trumbo in private.
The decision will be made later this week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:00:50]
[IN Q=We had four excellent candidates]
((WE HAD FOUR EXCELLENT CANDIDATES. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY ARE ALL W&L GRADUATES. SO IT WILL BE A TOUGH CHOICE, BUT WE'LL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SENATE AND COME OUT WITH SOME NAMES AND GO FROM THERE.))
[SUPER=@griffith;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=go from there.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The city bar association endorsed Frank Rogers, and General District Court Judge Bill Broadhurst.
The Salem - Roanoke County Bar recommended Charlie Dorsey and Roanoke County Commonwealth's Attorney Skip Burkart.
Lawmakers could consider other names, but today Delegate Griffith said those four are the only candidates called to Richmond for interviews.

[Bush-Warner]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-04 TC27:34]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]

Governor Mark Warner and his counter-parts from across the country were on a mission in Washington today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]

They asked the President to rethink his plan to slash federal road construction funding ... this while they attend the National Governors Association winter meeting.
[SUPER=03-Springfield/File Tape]

Governor Warner says Virginia needs the money to fix major highway problems in Northern Virginia.
He also took time to meet with fellow Governors to discuss Virginia's budget shortfall.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Try to learn]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: TRY TO LEARN WHAT THEY TRIED IN THEIR STATES, PARTICULARLY AS WE ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION, THE BUDGET SHORT FALL. WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS BUDGET SHORTFALL. 3.8 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 20 MONTHS. STILL WAITING TO FIND THAT SILVER BULLET FROM ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES.))
[SUPER=@markwarner;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=one of my colleagues]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

President Bush plans to cut federal highway funding by 27 percent.

[Stocks]

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

Some optimistic corporate news and an upbeat economic report gave Wall Street a big boost. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/177.56/10145.71/x/45.34/1769.88;]

The DOW climbed 177 and a half points.
NASDAQ gained 45.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.10/45.00/h/0.67/42.61/h/1.93/63.25/h/0.69/17.65/h/0.30/7.40;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.18/58.70/h/0.88/52.55/h/1.11/39.20/h/1.29/26.43/i/0.05/43.60;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.34/21.50/h/0.02/22.04/i/0.05/0.72/h/1.19/53.80/i/0.06/11.99;]
[SUPER=274-h/1.28/62.60/i/0.98/74.80/h/1.39/46.69/h/1.01/32.37/h/0.70/60.65;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Protester]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-58 TC1:26:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Lynchburg law requiring protesters to get a permit before holding a demonstration may be headed for a Constitutional challenge.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

The A-C-L-U is backing a local man who says police are trying to clamp down on his rights to free speech.
Steve Smallshaw is here to explain.
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

Shannon, the A-C-L-U says it's a matter of freedom versus order.. and that concerns for public safety shouldn't outweigh a person's right of free speech.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Everyone agrees it]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/November 9, 2001]
[SUPER=01-Jack Payden-Travers/Protest Organizer; :24]
[SUPER=01-David Baugh/Defense Attorney; :40]
[SUPER=01-Ed Lustig/Prosecutor; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=meets that balance perfectly.]
(( Everyone agrees it was a peaceful demonstration.. and if it had been just five protesters instead of eight, they wouldn't be in court today.
But police cited Jack Payden-Travers for organizing this November 9th protest without getting the proper permit.
With the help of the A-C-L-U, he's appealing his 50-dollar fine, claiming the city ordinance restricts free speech.
[SOT 13:10:15]
((JACK PAYDEN-TRAVERS/PROTEST ORGANIZER: THE MONUMENT TERRACE STEPS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT AMERICANS HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TO PROTEST ON THE VILLAGE GREEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR NATION.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=of our nation.]

The A-C-L-U says the city's standard of more than five people is too arbitrary and doesn't adapt well to every possible situation.
[SOT 13:08:56]
((DAVID BAUGH/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: UNDER THE STATUTE THAT YOUR CITY COUNCIL HAS CRAFTED NOW, FOUR KLANSMEN WITH RIFLES ON THEIR BACKS COULD STAND DOWN ON THAT SAME PLACE WHERE MR. JACK PAYDEN-TRAVERS WAS AND NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=require a permit.]

But prosecutors say police have a right to know when more than five people plan to demonstrate so that public safety is not threatened.
[SOT 13:12:40]
((ED LUSTIG/PROSECUTOR: THE GREAT HALLMARK OF OUR COUNTRY IS THAT WE FIND A WAY TO BALANCE.. WE'RE A SOCIETY THAT CHERISHES OUR FREEDOMS BUT RESPECTS THE RULE OF LAW AND I THINK THIS ORDINANCE MEETS THAT BALANCE PERFECTLY.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=that balance perfectly.] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

Judge Mosby Perrow did "not" issue a ruling today..
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

If he rules against the protesters, the A-C-L-U says it may appeal.. or sue the city over the Constitutionality of the law.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7, Carolina loses its quarterback, Jayson Williams surrenders, and Vick gets the green light.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, the high school basketball regionals open tomorrow night with a Cave Spring team at home and at full strength.
(------------)

[S-UNC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-112 10316tc]
[GRAPHIC=UNC]
University of North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant announced this afternoon that he is leaving the program.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chapel Hill, NC/This Afternoon; :00]
Durant told reporters this afternoon that personal reasons were responsible for his departure. He refused to elaborate saying only that the move has nothing to do with the Carolina coaches. Durant set single-season freshman records for touchdowns, completions, yards and total offense last year. He says he isn't sure where he'll transfer to in the future.
(------------)

[S-Jayson]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-118 2148TC]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

Former NBA star Jayson Williams surrendered to authorities today and was charged with manslaughter in the shotgun slaying of a limo driver on his property.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kingwood, NJ; :00]
Williams arrived at the New Jersey state police barracks, had no comment and was later freed on a $250 thousand dollar bond. Williams contends the shooting was an accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Joseph Hayden/Williams' Attorney; :06]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...is innocent."]
(--------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] Williams faces 5 to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty.
(--------------)

[S-Cave]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP_113 54:53]
[GRAPHIC=Northwest region]

A rigorous early season schedule and a healthy J.J. Redick translates into a Cave Spring team seasoned and ready for it's Northwest region tournament opener tomorrow night against Brooke Point. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Billy Hicks/Cave Spring Head Coach; :14]
[SUPER=04-December 17, 2001; :28]
[SUPER=01-Daniel Payne/Cave Spring Guard; :53]
[SUPER=01-J. J. Redick/27.7 Point Average in Last 4 Games; 1:25]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=....NEWS 7 SPORTS"]
(-------------)
((Rarely will you hear a high school coach say that he is more confident going into the regionals with a 12 and 10 team than a 19 and 2 squad. But that is exactly how Billy Hicks feels about this team compared to last seasons squad. ((:))
Critics said the Knights season was over when All-American J.J. Redick suffered a foot injury in late January. Cave Spring lost four in a row and then won two without their star. When he returned the Knights had new balance with four players scoring in double figures in three of the last four games. ((:)) ((:))
Duke Coach Mike Kweweshenki's visit and aggressive, attacking therapy on his foot has Redick averaging nearly 28 points a game since his return.)) ((:)) ((:))

[S-Jordan]

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

JJ's foot has healed, but Michael Jordan's knee is in bad shape. Jordan's chronic knee injury may put him on the injured list and that means he will miss at least five games. Unfortunately, the tendinitis in Jordan's knee has coincided with the Wizards five game losing streak. Doctors have had to drain fluid off of the knee three times this season.

[S-Olympics]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-111 5721TC]
[GRAPHIC=FALCONS]

The Michael Vick era is about to begin in Atlanta - full time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greenville, SC; :00]
This afternoon the Falcons cut veteran quarterback Chris Chandler, the man who led them to the Super Bowl in 1999. The 14 year veteran has been plagued by injuries, but the big reason he's begin let go it that the Falcons need to rid themselves of some high priced veterans. This means Vick will be the starter when the Falcons report to mini-camp late in upcoming spring. (------------)