WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 06/07/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

The Speaker of Virginia's House is keeping mum about allegations of sexual harrassment.
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[VO-NAT]

And the jury returns with a verdict in a case that, at first glance looked like a suicide, but ended in a murder charge.
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[Sports-head]

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

In sports, Winston Cup qualifying at Pocono is cancelled, we will tell you why, high school state championship semifinal action in softball and boys and girls soccer,
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[VO-NAT]

and can the Kidd and his Nets slay the mighty Lakers tonight in game two?
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Nothing could be finer than the weekend forecast we have for you this evening. We'll explain in a minute. [Open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=#303;]
[SUPER=@Shannon1;]
[SUPER=@Steve1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]

[Sluder]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-17 1:01:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Bedford County man accused of killing his estanged wife is guilty of 2nd degree murder. A jury considered the evidence against Roy Sluder for 3-and-a half hours before returning the verdict late this afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford;]
Sluder was facing a charge of first degree murder in the shooting death of his estarnged wife seven years ago at their Smith Mountain Lake home Authorities first believed Loria Sluder killed herself but they later charged Roy Sluder with murder after retesting evidence from the scene.
Prosecutors argued that Sluder killed his wife after learning she was seeing another man.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Members of the jury left the courtroom half an hour ago to begin considering Sluder's sentence.

[Clower]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-11 1:47:49]
[GRAPHIC=Clower]

Suspended Henry County Administrator Sid Clower will have his trial moved OUT of Henry County, and most likely TO Roanoke.
Clower is accused of stealing nearly 800 thousand dollars from the county's Public Service Authority.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
Because defense attorneys said all Henry County taxpayers could be viewed as victims in the case, Circuit Court Judge Martin Clark approved a motion to move the trial out of the county.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((DON CALDWELL/SPECIAL PROSECUTOR; ROANOKE IS GOOD A LOCATION AS ANY, ASSUMING THERE'S A COURTROOM AVAILABLE TO DO THE CASE, THAT'S THE STICKING POINT RIGHT NOW.)) ((GUY HARBERT/CLOWER'S ATTORNEY; IT'S MY OBLIGATION TO MISTER CLOWER TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS A JURY THAT WILL DECIDE THE CASE ON THE EVIDENCE AND THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT ISSUES OTHER THEN THE EVIDENCE WILL AFFECT THEIR DECISION.))
[SUPER=01-Don Caldwell/Special Prosecutor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Guy Harbert/Clower's Attorney; :09]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=affect their decision.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Clowers' trial is scheduled to begin July 30th. If a courtroom in Roanoke is not available, the case may be heard in Radford.

[Glenvar-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-16 46:31]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Two people are being held in connection with an overnight break-in at Glenvar High School.
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[VO-NAT :30]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Roanoke County Police officers checked out the school early this morning after noticing broken glass in one of the doors. Two suspects inside ran away, but were later detained. 20-year old James R. Weeks of Roanoke County is charged with burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police also plan to charge another suspect, a 16-year old boy, with burglary. It's undetermined which items were stolen and how much property damage the school sustained.
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[581-Ax]

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

Traffic on Interstate 5-81 experienced some big backups during rush hour today.
State police say a van overturned, and at least 4 other cars were involved in a pileup shortly before 5-o'clock. The accident happened on the southbound lanes of 5-81 near the Elm Avenue exit. There is no word on the extent of any injuries.

[React-Wilkins]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-22 50:42]
[GRAPHIC=Wilkins]

House Speaker Vance Wilkins is facing questions today about his leadership following revelations that he settled a sexual harassment complaint.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Meghan/Pulpit;]

Meghan Muldoon has more on the reaction of Wilkins' colleagues and state leaders.
[LIVE=Meghan full/Pulpit]
[SUPER=@Meghan1;]

Shannon, its too early to know what the political fallout will be but both Democrats and Republicans consider these serious allegations.
Lawmakers in Richmond are already indicating that if the allegations are true, Wilkins political future is in trouble. ((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If its true it]
[SUPER=01-Delegate Winsome Sears/(R)-Norfolk;:00 (Quick!)]
[SUPER=@Warner;:04(Quick!)]
[SUPER=@Kilgore;:50]
[SUPER=01-Bob Holsworth/Political Analyst;1:25]
[RUNS=1:]
[OUT Q=inside Virginia GOP circles.]
((
[SOT 14:22:27]
[IN Q=IF ITS TRUE, IT]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q= REPREHENSIBLE CONDUCT.]
[SOT 14:28:38]
[IN Q=THE ALLEGATIONS ARE SERIOUS]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q= DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS.]

What we do know is that Wilkins paid at least one hundred thousand dollars last year to a 26-year-old woman in Amherst County.
Jennifer Thompson says the 65-year old Republican lawmaker made unwanted advances, groping her and pinning her against office furniture.
Thompson is a former employee of Wilkins Construction Company in Amherst where it is alleged the harassment took place last summer.
Thompson did not formally file suit.
She and Wilkins apparently reached an out-of-court settlement late last year.
Wilkins' lawyer says the Speaker denies the allegations but beyond that, he isn't commenting.
The latest allegations are raising questions even among Republicans about Wilkins' continued leadership in the House of Delegates.
[IN Q=if the facts are true]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q= AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.]
[IN Q=Behavior like that]
[Runs=:04]
[OUT Q=cannot be accepted.]

Some Democrats are already calling for a formal House investigation.
Delegate Ward Armstrong of Martinsville says the House can't ignore such serious allegations.
The General Assembly doesn't convene until January, but an ethics investigation can be launched before then.
The question is whether or not Wilkins has enough political power in Richmond to weather eavesdropping scandal and this newest controversy.
[SOT 14:21:34]
[IN Q=It was a bombshell]
[RUNS: :15]
[OUT Q=inside Virginia GOP circles.]))
[LIVE=Meghan full/Pulpit]

News 7 did try to reach Wilkins and the woman who has accused him of sexual harassment.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Meghan/Pulpit;]

Shannon, Neither one is talking right now.

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

Seniors may feel ill over this one. Still ahead, why many may soon lose their low-cost prescriptions.
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[VO-NAT]

And what else could you call her, but "Bugsy"? Meet a dog whose purpose in life is to hunt ... for termites.
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[First-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER Position #2
[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST WATER LEVELS
[COMMERCIAL]

[Health-Department]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=02-24 05:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

For years the Health Department has been a safety net for seniors who could not afford their medications.
But as of June 30th the department will only offer low cost medications to its *patients*.
As Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton found out, the change will force nearly 2-thousand people to find other options.

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[SOT]
[IN Q=For the past two years Elwood Journell]
[SUPER=03-Salem;00]
[SUPER=07-Elwood Journell;11]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Molly O'Dell/Health Dept. Director;35]
[SUPER=@Joy2;1:03]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=joy sutton news 7]
((
For the past two years Elwood Journell has depended on the health department for low cost medications.
That's the only way he can afford his 16 medications on a fixed income.
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[SOT1:41]
[IN Q=Of course now it worries you]
((OF COURSE IT WORRIES YOU PRETTY BAD WHEN YOU REALIZE MAYBE YOU CAN'T GET YOUR MEDICINE. WHAT DO YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION)) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=in that situation]

He's concerned that Medications that now cost him 2-hundred dollars a month could cost up to 6-hundred dollars.
But the Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts were forced to change their polices when it was uncovered that offering low cost prescription to anyone other than their patients was a contract violation.
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[SOT16:35]
[IN Q=If they're not enrolled in a public health]
((IF THEY'RE NOT ENROLLED IN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM THEN THEY CAN'T ACCESS IT IN OUR DISTRICT)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=it any district]

The Health Department says it helping connect seniors with other pharmacy programs .
But Journell says he's tried that route before --it took months to get medications --and there's a lot of red tape.
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[SOT3:48]
[IN Q=It's jut really frustratin, its]
((IT'S JUST REALLY FRUSTRATING. IT'S JUST REALLY DEPRESSING. IT DEPRESSES YOU)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=it depresses you ]

And for many seniors like Journell this is just one more reason why Medicare should offer prescription drug coverage.

Joy Sutton, News 7.))[Falwell]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=02-13 1:18:58]
[GRAPHIC=Falwell]

The Reverend Jerry Falwell is already planning appeal .. to keep a parody web site from using his name, without his permission.
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[VO-NAT]
[NO SUPER]
The "World International Property Organization" denied Falwell's complaint against the owner of w-w-w-dot-jerryfalwell-dot-com.
The site pokes fun at the Lynchburg preacher, who says he should have a common-law trademark on his name.
The web site's creator set up the page after Falwell held gays and others at least partially responsible for the 9-11 terrorist attacks .. statements for which he later apologized.
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[Fire-Training]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kar]
[TAPE#=02-26 04:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An old warehouse that's about to be torn down is serving a much different and helpful purpose in its final days.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Roanoke County and City firefighters have used this Carilion warehouse to conduct search and rescue training this week.
Area firefighters don't usually have the luxury of training in a 200 by 200 foot space.
The training consists of real-life scenarios involving trapped civilians and firefighters.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-4:52]
[IN Q=these guys saved]
((CHARLIE KING/ROANOKE COUNTY CHIEF - THESE GUYS SAVED A CITIZEN INSIDE, ACTED LIKE A CITIZEN, AND SAVED HER AND ALSO A FIREFIGHTER THAT GOT TRAPPED LIKE A WALL HAD FALLEN. SO IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie King/Roanoke County Chief]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=for us today]
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[VO-NAT]

The training is another joint venture between Roanoke County and City firefighters.
Chief King feels it's important for the teams to work together.
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[Stocks]

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

Stocks plunged this morning .. then rebounded later in the day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/34.97/9589.67/y/19.40/1535.48;]

When it was over, the Dow finished DOWN 35 points. NASDAQ lost 19 points.
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[VO]
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[SUPER=273-h/0.20/21.80/h/0.28/21.29/h/0.04/0.54/i/0.27/55.93/h/0.25/13.88;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.49/67.06/h/0.90/105.60/h/0.48/41.48/h/0.04/37.49/h/0.33/54.43;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Bug-Dog]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-12 1:40:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Did you know an exterminator can inspect only 15-percent of a home?
Termites can fester for up to three years behind walls without ever being seen, that is, until now.
A local exterminating company has enlisted the help of man's best friend.
Jennifer Miele got a whiff of "Bugsy" the bug sniffing dog.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Niniger/Bug Man Exterminating;:24]
[SUPER=01-Chris Niniger/Bug Man Exterminating;:57]
[SUPER=@jennifer1;1:08]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(( [NAT SOUND] [RUNS03]
This puppy is appropriately named Bugsy. She's trained to sniff out bugs that could hide for years from a human exterminator.
Bugsy is now the top dog at Bug Man Exterminating.
And her owners won't quit barking about her, especially after she sniffed out termites in their own home.
[SOT]
[tc:00:25:52] ((CHRIS NINIGER/BUG MAN EXTERMINATING: WE WERE TRAINING HER THERE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TERMITES SET A LONG ONE WALL AND SHE SAT. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND I WENT AND GO MY SUIT ON AND FLASH LIGHT AND WENT UP UNDER THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOME. AND OF COURSE THERE WERE TERMITES THERE.)) [RUNS10]
Bugsy was scheduled to be put down at a Florida animal shelter, until a trainer picked her from the bunch.
She spent 600 hours learning to sniff out termites. [nats sniffing] [RUNS03]
She came highly recommended from the Virginia Pest Control Association.
So the Bug Men spent 30 thousand dollars on the dog, her training, and their own marketing. [TC:00:29:13] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: BUGSY IS A 14 MONTH OLD LABRADOR RETRIEVER. SHE'S UNDERGONE THE SAME TRAINING AS DRUG AND BOMB SNIFFING DOGS. AND THE BUG MEN SAY HER TRAINING IS WELL WORTH IT.)) [RUNS09] [TC:00:20:11]
[SOT]
((TIM NININGER/BUG MAN EXTERMINATING: IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT TO KNOW YOUR HOME IS CLEAR. IF A HUMAN SAYS ITS CLEAR, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR. WE CAN'T GET BEHIND THE WALLS LIKES SHE CAN SMELL BEHIND THE WALLS.)) [RUNS08]
Bugsy only eats when she's working or training, so she's always eager to search for termites.
The Bug Men say she's also found her way into their hearts.
[SOT]
[tc:00:21:16] ((TIM NINIGER: I PICKED THE BEST ONE THERE WERE 15 DOGS DOWN THERE. WE GOT THE BEST ONE OF THAT GROUP ANYWAY.)) [RUNS09]
Proving Bugsy isn't the only one with a sharp sniffer.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.))

[Sports tease]

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

Last words from both camps as game two of the NBA finals is tonight, spring jubilee state semifinal spftball and soccer for ya,
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[VO-NAT]
and Travis Wells shows us how Radford University is planning to reel in student athletes at the spring jubilee.
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[S-Pocono]

[ANCHOR=stve]
[NEWSCAST=6m]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]

Winston Cup qualifying for Sunday's Pocono 500 was cancelled today. Heavy rains last night and over the last five days have saturated the ground, causing water to seep through the asphalt in some areas of the track. The qualifying order will be based on Winston Cup owners points. Points leader Sterling Marlin starts on the pole, followed by Jimmie Johnson and then Jeff Gordon. The Pocono 500 is Sunday at 12:30.

[S-Byrd]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-126 0012TC]
[GRAPHIC=Group AA Soccer]

The race is on for state championships this weekend in the New River Valley. The William Byrd boys soccer team took the field this afternoon against Chancellor in the double-A state semifinals.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Chancellor vs. William Byrd; :00]

Blacksburg has been the achilles heel for Jeff Highfill's Terriers in recent years, but today it was Chancellor.

Midway thru the first half, Byrd's Brad Collins makes a great move to get free and then Collins finds the back of the net, breaking a 1-all tie, and putting the Terriers on top 2-1.
But just before the half, Sean Hinkle gets Chancellor even, knotting the score at two with this goal off the free kick.
Hinkle strikes again in the opening minutes of the second half. His second goal of the contest was the
[SUPER=34-Chancellor/3/William Byrd/2/;]
game winner and Chancellor knocks off William Byrd by a final of 3 to 2.
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[S-Soccer]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-125 0012 TC]
[GRAPHIC=Group AA Soccer]

The William Byrd ladies hoped to fare a little better than the boys team in their matchup against Western Albemarle.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Western Albemarle vs. William Byrd; :00]

Defense dominated throughout. Both goalies made several spectacular saves which led to a scoreless regulation period, followed by a scoreless five minute overtime. But in the second extra session, Western
[SUPER=34-Western Albemarle/1/William Byrd/0/;]

Albemarle broke the drought, just two minutes into sudden death and the Lady Warriors defeat William Byrd by a final score of 1 to nothing.
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[S-Knights]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-118 14017 TC]
[GRAPHIC=Group A Softball]

The James River Lady Knights carried the local banner in Group A softball. Sophomore sensation Angela Tincher took the mound again today looking to continue her post-season dominance.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Randolph-Henry vs. James River; :00]

Randolph-Henry stood in between the Knights and the state title game. Tincher cruised through the first 4 innings. In the 5th, with two runners on, she works out of a jam with a strikeout keeping this one scoreless.
But in the 6th, Tincher ran into trouble. Randolph-Henry's Megan Holt scampers home on the passed ball giving the Lady Statesmen a 1-nothing lead.
The Knights get the run back in the bottom of the inning when Hollie Hall smacks a shot to short scoring Brooke Harlow sending the game to extra innings.
[SUPER=34-Randolph-Henry/2/James River/1/;]

But in the top of the ninth, Randolph-Henry pushes across the winning run ending James River's season 2 to 1.
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[S-RU]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-117]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 sports]

The athletes are not the only ones looking to come out on top at the spring jubilee this weekend. Travis Wells explains how Radford University is competing just as hard as the participants but for potential students, not state championships.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Greig Denny/Radford Athletic Director; :19]
[SUPER=01-Travis Wells; :37]
[SUPER=01-Lew Kent/Radford University Baseball Coach; :45]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=News 7 sports"]
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[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-120]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
Game two of the NBA finals between the Nets and the Lakers is tonight at the Staples Center. L.A. leads the best of seven series 1-OH.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Shaquille O'Neal/Lakers Center; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jason Kidd/Nets Point Guard; :14]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=......2 time defending champs"]
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[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER] [06/07/2002] [SS NONE]
[WXPRO/FULL]CLIMATE STATS
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
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[SUPER=#578]LOAD VIEWERNET LOCATION

[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Close]

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(Weekday 6 only)
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