WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 07/22/02

[News-Heads]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

It's a real nail- biter on Wall Street, as the Dow struggles for stability.
But WorldCom officials say it's not because of their company's bankruptcy filing.
The latest, coming up.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And we're approaching a new record low level at Carvins Cove.

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=LEO]
Another warm and humid day across the region but a few changes are heading our way....I'll have your hometown forecast....
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...
[Noon-open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]
[SUPER=@Leo1; ]

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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[SOT 9:30:00]
[IN Q=nat sound of opening bell on Wall Street]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Stocks drop at the open, then recover. But it's been mostly down ever since.
(------------)

[Worldcom]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=News7atNoon]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
SOME of today's early losses on Wall Street are directly linked to to the WorldCom bankruptcy filing.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Since the filing was expected, it's not having a major impact on trading today.
WorldCom's C-E-O is telling the company's customers that they shouldn't be affected by the bankruptcy move -- and that it should be ''business as usual.''
It's the largest bankruptcy filing in U-S history.
(------------)

[Stock-Market]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meanwhile, predictions of another day of near- panic selling on Wall Street haven't materialized, at least not yet.
But it's already shaping up to be a volatile day for the markets.
Drew Levinson is in New York this afternoon with the latest.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News;]
[SUPER=05-New York, NY;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
[SUPER=03-Clinton, MS;]
[SUPER=01-John Sidgmore/WorldCom C. E. O.;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=05-New York, NY;]
((

(LOCATOR: NEW YORK)
Those smiles on Wall Street this morning were only the masking the fear of what was about to happen.

(NATSOUND OPENING BELL)

As soon as the opening bell rang the Dow continued its freefall from last week--dropping 70 points and putting it below eight thousand--the Nasdaq was down to nearly 13-hundred.
But within 15 minutes both markets had rebounded--the Dow was even--then up--the Nasdaq was also up.
Even before the US markets opened--stocks were already down in Europe and Asia.
It's this sort of roller coaster ride that is giving investors financial indigestion. The problem--a lack of confidence due to the stunning series of corporate woes here in the United States.

(LOCATOR: CLINTON, MISSISSIPPI)
The latest coming as WorldCom seeks protection for what could be the largest bankruptcy filing in history...Dogged by accounting scandals--it is more than 30 billion dollars in debt.
Now the Mississippi telecommunications giant- which owns MCI--second largest phone company--is dialing long distance--asking a New York bankruptcy judge for help.

(SOT JOHN SIDGMORE/WORLDCOM CEO)
"I HAVE TO SAY UPFRONT I REGRET THE POSITION WE ARE IN TODAY. WE FOUGHT HARD AND FRANTICALLY TO AVOID THIS BUT ULTIMATELY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDED THAT TAKING THIS ACTION WAS THE VERY BEST WAY TO HELP THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE."
Worldcom CEO..John Sidgmore says customers should see business as usual and he hopes to complete the reorganization within a year.
))

[11Carvins-Cove]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-25 TC-53:52]
[GRAPHIC=Drought]
Carvins Cove has now equaled the lowest level in its history .. and barring some rainfall in the next 24 hours, it is very likely to set a record low tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

This morning's reading shows the level of the city's main reservoir is 29- point- two feet below the spillway. That matches the historic low recorded in the summer of 1999.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Any time you set a new record]
((MIKE MCEVOY: ANY TIME YOU SET A NEW RECORD THERE'S ALWAYS SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN THAT. AND I THINK IN THE FUTURE YEARS, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE OUR NEW RECORD AND WE WON'T SEE ANYTHING LOWER THAN THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Mike McEvoy/Roanoke City Utilities Dir.;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=won't see anything lower than that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The next ten days will also bring some progress in the city's efforts to supplement its water supply. A temporary filter system at Crystal Spring, and a new well in southeast Roanoke should add about five million gallons a day by the end of the month.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Stage Four of the city's water conservation plan kicks in when the level of Carvins Cove hits thirty feet below the spillway.... but right now officials say they are NOT planning any tougher restrictions when the water falls below that level.

[11Smith-Water]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-18 TC-1:34:58]
[GRAPHIC=Drought]

You can be sure the water crisis will take center stage later this week when Mayor Ralph Smith delivers his "State of the City" address.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

The Mayor says Roanoke is doing everything it can to prevent the water crisis from happening again.
Smith says it is important to look to the future and not point fingers as to what happened in the past.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 40:46]
[IN Q=You have to realize]
((RALPH SMITH/ROANOKE MAYOR: YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THEY DIDN'T SEE THE HISTORY, YOU CAN'T SEE AROUND THAT. IT'S THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. WAS IT FULLY THOUGHT OUT? WELL, YOU CAN DEBATE THAT BUT WITH THE FACTS THAT THEY HAD AT THOSE TIMES IT'S REALLY HARD TO ANALYZE THOSE NUMBERS TO CRITICIZE THOSE BEFORE ME.))
[SUPER=@smith]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=those before me]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

The mayor will deliver his state of the city address at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday morning.
[WX-Tease] ((TOSS TO LEO)) [7/22/2002]
[SS=NONE]LEO IN WX-CENTER

[WXPRO/FULL] SATELLITE STORY

[SS=NONE]LEO TOSS BACK

[Avila]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Prosecutors will soon decide whether to seek the death penalty against (Ah-lay-HAHN- droh ) Alejandro Avila, the man arrested in the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Samantha Runnion.
He faces arraignment later today.
Vince Gonzales reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Stanton, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Erin Runnion/Samantha's Mother; :08 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Lewis Davis/Alleged Victim's Uncle; :43 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Vince Gonzales/CBS News; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=Gonzales, CBS News, Los Angeles.]

[Roanoke-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Back in our area, a southeast Roanoke Woman had a rough night at the gas station. Police say 43 year old Betty Goad was standing beside her car at the Melrose Avenue Z-Mart early Sunday morning .. putting her money away .. when a car pulled up next to her. Investigators say the passenger grabbed Goad's arm as the driver started backing up.
They got her money and drove away.
The victim lost her cash, and required hospital treatment for a possible broken hand.

[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

These bikers deliver. Still ahead, help arrives for the food bank on two wheels.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And the Pope will deliver his message to the faithful .. in his first visit to North America since the sex scandals broke.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

[Pope]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Pope John Paul, the second is expected to travel to Canada tomorrow to celebrate World Youth Day.
It's the first trip the 82- year- old Pontiff has taken to North America since the news broke about the sex abuse scandal involving priests.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ontario, Canada;]

His first stop will be Toronto, where there has been a series of new allegations of sexual abuse of children by catholic priests.
Many abuse victims like John Caruso believe Canada has a worse problem than the U-S.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's rampant.]
((JOHN CARUSO/ABUSE VICTIM: IT'S RAMPANT. IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS THAN THE UNITED STATES. ))
[SUPER=01-John Caruso/Abuse Victim;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=the United States]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sexual abuse cases typically get less publicity in Canada, and requests by several victims to meet the Pope during his visit have been denied.
The Vatican says it'll have its hands full just getting the Pope through the PHYSICAL ordeal of his trip.
(------------)

[11Cascades-Fall]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC-19:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A West Virginia woman is fighting for her life .. after falling nearly 70- feet from the top of a waterfall at the Cascades.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./Friday; ]
31- year old Joyce Thompson of Peterstown, West Virginia is in extremely critical condition with head trauma and internal injuries. Officials say Thompson was at the Cascades in Giles County with her two young daughters and cousin when she fell Friday afternoon. Rescue crews and National Forest personnel had to use four-wheelers to carry Thompson two and a half miles to a waiting ambulance. Thompson is being treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
(------------)

[11South-Boston]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
South Boston Police are trying to determine who killed a Halifax County man, and why. The body of 33- old Robert Franklin Bray was found in his car Saturday night on the 300 block of Easley Street. Police say Bray died of multiple gunshot wounds. So far no one has been arrested... and police are urging anyone with information on the crime to call the South Boston Police department .

[11Bikers-Food]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-31 TC-3:35]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A local food bank has plenty more to distibute today .. after area bikers rev up their engines and deliver.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF MOTORCYCLE REVVING UP]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Star City ABATE organization has been collecting food at various locations for the last several weeks.
More than thirty bikers collected that food and delivered it the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:10:19; 1:00:22]
[IN Q=It's obvious that a lot]
((JOE NASH/ORGANIZER: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT A LOT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND GET FOOD. I THINK OVER A THOUSAND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN GETTING THE FOOD BANK AND WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE SOMETHING GOOD FOR US TO GET INVOLVED IN.)) ((KITTY TABOR/SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK: RIGHT NOW IN THE FOOD WE HAVE A LOT SNACKS AND SODA AND WE NEED CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND SOUPS AND WHATEVER NON-PERISHABLE FOODS THAT CAN COME HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Nash/Organizer; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kitty Tabor/Second Harvest Food Bank; :09 ]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=can come here]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The bikers collected more than 500 pounds of food.
They plan to hold a similar drive around Thanksgiving.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
A baby seal makes a rare summer appearance. Still ahead, an unusual sight in Virginia Beach.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And it's really big .. and it's a squid, and scientists say it could be a species never before known.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[11Egypt-art]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-26 TC-30:33]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An artifact just five feet long is creating a disagreement that spans thousands of miles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The legal ownership of this Egyptian artifact in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is under debate.
An Egyptian government official says the piece is stolen and they want it back.
The five-foot-long granite relief has been in the museum's collection since 1963.
Museum officials say they're mystified by Egypt's claim, and that they have no evidence the artifact was stolen.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:51:35-48]
[IN Q=WE HAVE NO PROOF AT THIS POINT]
((Kathleen Schrader/VA Museum of Fine Arts: WE HAVE NO PROOF AT THIS POINT THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS PIECE WAS ILLEGALLY EXPORTED FROM EGYPT AND I GUESS I'M JUST GONNA CONSIDER IT INNOCENT UNTIL ITS PROVEN GUILTY.))
[SUPER=01-Kathleen Schrader/VA Museum of Fine Arts]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=UNTIL ITS PROVEN GUILTY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Museum officials say they will return the artifact if Egypt proves it is stolen.
(------------)

[11VA-Seal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
He's underweight, with congestion and a fever. So he's heading to New Jersey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 19:25:12]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;]
"He" is baby seal .. who made a rare appearance in Virginia Beach this weekend.
They're usually spotted later in the year when the weather gets cooler.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well the first thing]
[SUPER=01-Susan Barco/Research Scientist;]
((WELL THE FIRST THING WE THOUGHT, WAS ITS JULY, ITS HOT, ITS VIRGINIA, A SEAL SHOULDN'T BE HERE PERIOD. JUST KNOWING THE SEAL WAS IN THE AREA WAS CAUSE FOR ALARM. ))
[SUPER=01-Susan Barco/Research Scientist; ]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=cause for alarm.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The baby seal, named Jordan, is anywhere from six to ten weeks old. After being examined, scientists discovered that he was underweight, had a high temperature and was more congested than normal. Jordan is resting up and receiving antibiotics to help him return to full health. He will soon be headed to a stranding rehabilitation center in New Jersey.
(------------)

[Giant-Squid]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=NEt]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Another creature from the sea- this one could be a previously- unknown species.
It weighs 550 pounds and has eight tentacles.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tasmania, Australia;]

A giant squid washed up on a beach in Southern Australia over the weekend.
Experts say it has some unusual traits, including long, thin flaps of muscle attached to each of its eight arms.
They say they haven't seen such traits on other squid.
Giant squid are found in all oceans of the world.
They're believed to be the origin of many ancient maritime legends about mysterious creatures from the deep.
(------------)
[Weather] [NOON WEATHER] [7/22/2002] [TWO SHOT]
[WXPRO/FULL]

[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]

[SUPER=#576;]
[CK/VIEWERNET;]

[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [WXPRO/FULL] FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

On Wall Street at this hour,
[super=460-y/201/y/39;]
the Dow is now DOWN 201 points. Nasdaq DOWN 39 points.

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
No promise of a return to Roanoke. Still ahead, the Steam closes its season amid plenty of questions.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a new track surface may have helped pave the way for Ward Burton ... but turned out to be trouble for others...
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Race]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-128 TC1533]
[GRAPHIC=Nascar]
A local driver took home the win this weekend at the New England 300. Virginia's Ward Burton found his way back into victory lane- but not everyone's trip to the track turned out so well.

A newly- repaved surface at the New Hampshire International Speedway was to blame for 14- caution flags on the day...

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Loudon, NH/TNT; :00]

We'll start at lap- 74, when John Andretti and Casey Atwood get together on the front stretch. The two lock up into the wall. Andretti finished 25th. Atwood was 36th.
Late in the race, Dale Earnhardt, Junior who had been among the front runners, gets into a scrape with Geoffrey Bodine and finishes 23-rd.
Matt Kenseth had a dominant car most of the day, but had a tire go down in the closing laps. That enabled Ward Burton to get by. Burton pulls out the win for the second time this season, the first since the Daytona 500.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ward Burton/2nd Win this Season; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=all day today."]
(------------------)

[S-Results]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=motion]

[GO TO NASCAR BOARDS] [WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5013;]
[SUPER=0106-1. Ward Burton//2. Jeff Green//3. Dale Jarrett//4. Rusty Wallace//5. Ryan Newman//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-6. Todd Bodine//7. Robby Gordon//8. Kurt Busch//9. Kevin Harvick//10. Elliott Sadler//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-11. Jimmy Spencer//12. Jeff Burton//13. Bobby Labonte//14. Sterling Marlin//15. Jimmie Johnson//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-16. Mark Martin//17. Ricky Rudd//18. Jerry Nadeau//19. Jeremy Mayfield//20. Michael Waltrip//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-21. Ricky Craven//22. Terry Labonte//23. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.//24. Ken Schrader//25. John Andretti//;]
[SUPER=#555,reset;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=.....last driver."]
(------------)

[S-Avalanche]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-121 TC4326]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]
The Avalanche hits the road today after a seven- game homestand. Last night they were hoping to close their series with Wilmington with a win.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

It was a great night for baseball over at Salem Memorial.
The Blue Rocks struck first in this one. Tony Americh hits a shot to left. It would go for a triple, and Justin Cowan scores to make it 1-nothing Wilmington in the second.
[SUPER=37-Wilmington/2/Salem/3/;]

Scott Dohman went five strong innings for the Avs, striking out four.
Salem scored twice in the ninth to win it 3- to- 2.
(------------)

[11Steam]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-19 TC-1:14:30]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Steam]
The season is over for the Roanoke Steam .. and at this point, it's uncertain whether Arena Football is over for good in the Star City. Justin McLeod has more on questions surrounding the team's future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:32]
[IN Q=Nat sound of fans walking through the gate]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Marc Pr'Out/Steam Fan; :11]
[SUPER=01-Ed Jenkins/Team General Manager; :23 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Matt Eres/Arenafootball2 League Official; :43]
[SUPER=@justin1; :55]
[SUPER=01-Richie Ingram/Steam Fan; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]
((((NAT SOUND OF FANS WALKING THROUGH THE GATE; TAPE 1 21:32))
As the fans walked through the gate (QUICK NAT SOUND OF THE GAME) and the team took the field, many wondered if the game is over for the Roanoke Steam.
[SOT 27:41]
[IN Q=What would it be like]
((MARC PR'OUT/STEAM FAN: WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE NOT TO HAVE THEM AROUND? I THINK IT WOULD GET PRETTY DULL REALLY.))
[Runs= 06]
[OUT Q=dull, really]

And that is a real possibility according to team officials.
[SOT 8:40]
[IN Q=What are the chances]
((ED JENKINS/TEAM GENERAL MANAGER: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THE STEAM WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR? I THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN 50/50. RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING TO A LOCAL INVESTOR WHO IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT KEEPING THE TEAM IN ROANOKE.))
[Runs= 10]
[OUT Q=team in Roanoke]
((NAT SOUND OF THE GAME))
The Roanoke Steam has been around for three seasons.
It was run by a local group until May when the owners filed for bankruptcy.
The arena football-2 league then came in and took over the team.
[SOT 15:28]
[IN Q=I think the biggest]
((MATT ERES/ARENAFOOTBALL2 LEAGUE: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A LOCAL GROUP THAT COMES IN HERE TO RUN THE TEAM. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE TEAM IS HERE TO STAY.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=here to stay]

The league would like to have those new owners in place by the end of the summer.
[SOT 5:47:22]
[IN Q=Part of the problem]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: PART OF THE PROBLEM IS ALSO A LACK OF FANS. THE STEAM RANKS NEXT TO LAST IN THE LEAGUE FOR HOME ATTENDANCE, AVERAGING JUST UNDER TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE PER GAME.))
[Runs= 11]
[OUT Q=people per game]
((QUICK NAT SOUND OF FANS CHEERING))
That is down from a high of just more than three thousand fans per game two years ago.
This season, overall attendance is up nearly twenty five percent but down significantly since the teams ownership problems came to light. ((NAT SOUND OF DRUM PLAYING; TAPE 1 24:26))
Loyal fans hope to drum up support by word of mouth.
[SOT 25:41]
[IN Q=I'm trying to get people]
((RICHIE INGRAM/STEAM FAN: I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME HERE FROM THE ROANOKE ATHLETIC CLUB. A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE WORK WITH AT PITT OHIO, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE DOWN HERE. I DON'T THINK THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY'RE MISSING.))
[Runs= 08]
[OUT Q=they're missing]

And unless an owner is found quickly, they may be missing it for good.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))

[Sand-Castle]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Finally, it takes more than a bucket and a shovel to build a great sand castle--
It also takes a healthy dose of imagination.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA;]

The top sand sculptors in the U-S gathered at Imperial Beach in San Diego this weekend for the annual U-S Open Sand Castle Competition.
At stake, a few thousand dollars in prize money and plenty of praise from spectators.
And the judges know very well what they're looking for--
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well, you want]
((R. G. "BLUE" COOK/SAND CASTLE JUDGE: WELL YOU WANT TO BE CREATIVE AND YOU WANT TO SHOW SOME ARTISTIC SKILLS, SOME ARTISTIC MERIT. YOU WANT TO SHOW SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY. YOU WANT TO SHOW THEM THAT WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE THIS SAND AND MAKE THE SAND DO WHAT WE WANT." ))
[SUPER=01-R. G. "Blue" Cook/Sand Castle Judge;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=what we want.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The judges were also on the look- out for things contestants shouldn't use like cement and glue...
(------------)

[Quickcast]
[WXPRO/FULL] FINAL LOOK AT THE WEATHER
[REPRS@CL] SUPER=X4031; Fax/Copyright Noon/Weekends [SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]