WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 08/31/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]

The Labor Day weekend is here...
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[VO-NAT]
which means families will be hitting the road. Just ahead... a look at safety measures that are now in place to improve Interstate 81.
(------------)
Plus, a 14 year old girl is in critical condition after crashing into a tree in Montgomery County.

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 Sports, rain rules again at Darlington, Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan patch things up, plus
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[VO-NAT]

the Hokies talk about hosting the defending SEC champs.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

Cloudy and cool conditions across much of the viewing area. Some folks seeing some showers while others not even a drop. I'll let you know what's in store for the rest of the Labor Day weekend, coming up in the forecast. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 21:11:13]
[IN Q=In simple terms]
((JASON BOND: IN SIMPLE TERMS IT'S DEFINTELY ANOTHER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'VE MADE, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY.))

[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=all about safety]
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[VO-NAT]

V-DOT delivers some good news for travelers along Interstate 81.
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[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]

Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.

[81-Guardrail]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-38 TC-5:53]
[GRAPHIC=News7 at 6]

Many of you will gather up the kids, load up the car, and hit the road this Labor Day weekend.
And you'll be happy to learn there are new safety improvements on Interstate 81.
As Justin McLeod discovered one feature in particular may prevent one of the most deadly type of accidents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Stephanie Turner/Motorist; :09]
[SUPER=@justin1; :29]
[SUPER=01-Jason Bond/V-Dot Spokesperson; :59]
[SUPER=01-Steve Royall/Motorist; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Botetourt Co.]
((((NAT SOUND OF CARS FLYING BY ON TAPE 1 AT 29:54))
Anyone who has ever driven along Interstate 81 usually has the same complaint.
[SOT 35:15; TAPE 2]
[IN Q=It's definetely always crowded]
((STEPHANIE TURNER/MOTORIST: IT'S DEFINITELY ALWAYS VERY CROWDED, LOTS OF TRUCKS. IT'S DANGEROUS.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=it's dangerous]

A dangerous road that is forcing V-Dot to make improvements.
This summer, work crews have been replacing guardrails on I-81 in Pulaski and Botetourt County.
Compared to the old ones, these guardrails are more crash resistant and built to last longer.
[SOT 21:35:05; 29:10]
[IN Q=Another thing you'll notice]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: ANOTHER THING YOU'LL NOTICE ABOUT THESE NEW GUARDRAILS IS THAT THEY ARE DOUBLE SIDED. THAT'S TO PREVENT CROSSOVER ACCIDENTS WHICH CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM HERE ON I-81.))
[Runs= 11]
[OUT Q=here on I-81]
((NAT SOUND OF CARS DRIVING WITH GUARDRAIL IN THE SHOT))
The double sided guardrails are located in specific places where vehicles have been known to cross the median.
Crews have also installed new guardrails in areas that haven't had them in the past.
The total project is costing more than six million dollars.
V-Dot says it's money well spent.
[SOT 21:07:16]
[IN Q=No one really knows]
((JASON BOND/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE TO WIDEN I-81 SO IN THE MEANTIME V-DOT HAS PROGRAMED SHORT TERM SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR 81.))
[Runs= 09]
[OUT Q=improvements for 81]

They are improvements motorists say will help save lives.
[SOT 32:49]
[IN Q=In case someone]
((STEVE ROYALL/MOTORIST: IN CASE SOMEONE FALLS ASLEEP AND TRIES TO FALL ASLEEP AND CROSS OVER INTO THE ON-COMING LANE SO IT'S GOOD FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT I HADN'T NOTICED I HADN'T PAID ANY ATTENTION, ONCE I GET ON THE ROAD I JUST DRIVE.))
[Runs =11]
[OUT Q=I just drive]

It is a drive that will soon seen even more safety improvements.
V-Dot plans to install new guardrails in Roanoke County and Montgomery County by next spring.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Botetourt County. ))

[Monty-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
An accident in Montgomery County killed one teen and hospitalized another early this morning. Officials say 16-year-old Garrett Adam McCoy of Christiansburg was killed when the car he was riding in ran off the road and hit a tree. The driver of the car - a 14-year old female who police are NOT identifying - is listed in critical condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The accident happened around one o'clock, on Route eight near Laurel Ridge Mill Road.

[Henry-County]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC-17:49]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The American Red Cross is getting the thumbs up from investigators and volunteers in Henry county.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
The Red Cross has been supplying much needed food and drinks for those working the case and assisting in the search for nine year old Jennifer Short. Others in the community have also been helping out-- from supplying posters of Jennifer to distributing them around the area. Investigators from surrounding communities have also been helping out over the past two weeks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:27:09]
[IN Q=WE'VE RECEIVED ]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Kimmy Nester/Henry Co. Sheriff's Office; ]
((WE'VE RECEIVED A MULTITUDE OF ASSISTANCE FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THIS HAS JUST BEEN A POSITIVE RESPONSE BY THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND US.))
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=NEIGHBORS AROUND US.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Investigators say they are no new leads to report in the search for Jennifer and the person who killed her parents.
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[Blood-Drive]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-36 TC-27:05]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The American Red Cross hopes this Labor Day will turn into a labor of love.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Blood donations are typically down around the holidays.
So today, the American Red Cross held a blood drive at the Tanglewood Mall.
The current blood supply for the entire Appalachian Region is less than two days.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:03:26]
[IN Q=I think a lot of that]
((NANCY LARSEN/AMERICAN RED CROSS: I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ON HOLIDAY TAKING KIDS OUT FOR LAST VACATION AND THE LAST TYPE OF THING BUT WHAT FOLKS NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT IS THE TIME WE NEED BLOOD THE MOST IS ANYTIME AROUND A HOLIDAY BECAUSE THE USAGE IS HIGHER.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Larsen/American Red Cross]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=usage is higher]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Red Cross says it continues to have critical need for "O" negative blood.
More than a hundred people came out for today's blood drive which collected nearly 84 pints of blood.
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[MDA-Firefighter]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-32 TC-1:25:32]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Area firefighters also kept busy today asking for help.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem firefighters teamed up today for the valley-wide "Fill the Boot" campaign.
Today, they collected money at area Kroger stores to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association which is holding its annual telethon this weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:16:17]
[IN Q=The partnership with the MDA]
((DANNY IRVIN/ROANOKE CO. FIREFIGHTER: THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MDA AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWENTY SOME YEARS. THE IFF IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PART OF THAT AND HOPE TO GROW THIS PROGRAM BIGGER AND BIGGER AS THE YEARS COME.))
[SUPER=01-Danny Irvin/Roanoke Co. Firefighter]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=as the years come]
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[VO-NAT]

Today, area firefighters raised several thousand dollars through the "Fill the Boot" campaign.
All proceeds raised will help M-D-A patients and their families in Southwest and Central Virginia.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on News 7 at 6, a rare flower with a powerful aroma finally blooms at Virginia Tech...
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[VO-NAT]
and they're not your average barnyard pets... We'll take a trip to a pint-sized fantasyland. But first, let's check in with Brent in the WeatherCenter...
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[Tech-Plant]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-33 TC-44:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Something stinks in Blacksburg and hundreds are lining up to see it.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

The big stink is over this Indonesian native A-Titanum (ty-TAY-num) flower which is now blooming at the Virginia Tech Biology Greenhouse.
Nicknamed the corpse flower, the plant produces a rotten fish like smell.
But that hasn't stopped the public's curiosity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:55:22]
[IN Q=It just overwhelms them]
((DEBBIE WILEY: IT JUST OVERWHELMS THEM THEY COVER THEIR NOSE OR THEY'LL KINDA CRINKLE UP AND GO UGH.))
[SUPER=01-Debbie Wiley/Greenhouse Coordinator; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=crinkle us and go ugh]
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[VO-NAT]

This only the 20th time this plant has bloomed since it was first introduced to the U-S in 1937.
It will only bloom probably for another day or so.
You can see it for yourself at the Virginia Tech Greenhouse from ten until two tomorrow.
It is located down the road from Lane stadium.
(------------)

[Fantasyland-Animals]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#= TO #4 TC 28:42]
[GRAPHIC=]

It's not unusual to see animals roaming the Virginia countryside. But some of the livestock in Bedford might easily be overlooked. In this week's Time Off Shannon Young takes us to Fantasyland Animal Park.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They are not your typical backyard pets.]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :08]
[SUPER=01-Bob Pauley/Fantasyland Animal Park; :21]
[SUPER=@Shannon2; :26]
[RUNS=2:07]
[OUT Q=STD]

((They are not your typical backyard pets. But Bob Pauley's 23-acre slice of Bedford landscape is home to a host of animals, from zebra to deer to pot bellied pigs and a couple curious ostriches.
[SOT 43:59-44:06]
[IN Q=They have powerful kicks...]
((BOB PAULEY: THEY HAVE POWERFUL KICKS. THEY COULD KICK A FOOTBALL FROM HERE TO BEDFORD, NO PROBLEM.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=here to Bedford, no problem.]
You're invited to get acquainted. Some, like the goats, can't wait to make friends.
[SOT 52:44-52:48]
[IN Q=He's Billy the Kidd...]
((BOB PAULEY/FANTASYLAND ANIMAL PARK: HE'S BILLY THE KIDD. HE ONCE WAS A KIDD AND WE NAMED HIM BILLY.))
[RUNS= :04]
[OUT Q=and we named him Billy.]
But it's the center pen that draw the most attention. For 37-years Pauley, a former horse breeder, has been fascinated with miniatures.
[SOT 46:3-46:43]
[IN Q=It was a challenge to me to ...]
((BOB PAULEY: IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO ME TO BREED THE SMALLEST IN THE WORLD, WHICH I'VE DONE.))
[RUNS=: 05]
[OUT Q=which I've done.]
From 11-to 22-inches tall at birth to about two feet tall at full height, the horses weigh from 70 to 200-pounds. That's about a fifth the weight of a full size horse. They are Arabians, Appaloosas, Paints and Pintos, to name a few, and Pauley says all can expect a long, healthy life.

[SOT 58:08-58:22]
[IN Q=They live actually, for the most part..]
((BOB PAULEY: THEY LIVE ACTUALLY, FOR THE MOST PART, LONGER THAN BIG HORSES 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT RIDDEN, DROVE HARD, WHATEVER YOU DO WITH BIG HORSES.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUT Q=whatever you do with big horses.]
Fantasyland's fondness for smallness doesn't stop there. Take a gander at the giftshop.
[SOT 1:16:23-1:16:30]
[IN Q=This is a miniature stagecoach...]
((BOB PAULEY: THIS IS A MINIATURE STAGECOACH THAT WAS USED IN THE MONROE-MADDUX SHOCK COMMERCIAL.))
[RUNS= :07]
[OUT Q=Monroe-Maddux shock commercial.]
[SOT 1:16:37-1:16:49]
[IN Q=And this is an exact...]
((AND THIS IS AN EXACT DUPLICATE OF THE CONESTOGA WAGON IN THE SMITHSONIAN IN D.C. EXCEPT IT'S JUST A MINIATURE.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=except it's just a miniature.]
The little attractions appeal to little people. From mid-March to mid-November the park welcomes youngsters of all ages, especially those in school groups, youth groups, church groups and day care centers.
[SOT 41:49-41:54]
[IN Q=Well, I think it's quite educational...]
((BOB PAULEY: WELL, I THINK IT'S QUITE EDUCATIONAL, GETS KIDS AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER GAMES.))
[RUNS= :05]
[OUT Q=away from the computer games.]
... and back to nature. Shannon Young, News 7, Bedford.))
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
(++++++++)
For more information about Fantasyland Animal Park log onto our website at wdbj7 dot com and click on News 7 Saturday and Sunday Morning.
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Up ahead on News 7 at 6, some high-profile matchups on the first full Saturday of the college football season, Travis Wells will have highlights in sports...
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and also, rain or shine there's something to sing about at this festival... We'll have more on that coming up.
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[Folk-Festival]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC-1:07]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Folks are having a great time at Virginia's Explore Park this weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:17:55]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF MUSIC]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=NAT SOUND OF MUSIC]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Music is just one of many things that makes up the seventh annual Appalachian Folk Festival.
The event celebrates the traditions of western Virginia's Appalachian heritage.
Organizers want to remind the public the event goes on rain or shine.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:23:24]
[IN Q=Over the years, we've]
((ROGER ELLMORE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER BETTER ATTENDAGE AND WE NOW HAVE SOME INDOOR THEATERS AND VENUES TO DO THE ENTERTAINMENT SO WE PUT THIS ON WHETHER IT IS RAIN OR SHINE AND WE JUST HOPE EVERYBODY COME OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Roger Ellmore/Executive Director]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=have a good time]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Folk Festival continues tomorrow from 11 to 7 and then Monday from ten to six.
(------------)

[Minor-League]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-24 TC-1:39:38]
[GRAPHIC=Baseball]
Major league baseball could learn a lot from the minor leagues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; quick ]
That's the opinion of Woody Farrar who teaches a course in American sports history at Virginia Tech.
Farrar says southwest and southside Virginia are extremely fortunate to have a number of minor league teams--- from Bl
uefield to Pulaski, Salem and Danville. But Farrar believes there is a reason so many minor league teams have settled here.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:06:51:13]
[IN Q=What America]
[SUPER=01-"Woody" Farrar/VT Associate Professor; ]
((WHAT AMERICA BEST REPRESENTS YOU CAN FIND IN THE ROANOKE AND NEW RIVER VALLEY AREA AS I SAID THIS TO ME IS WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT, IF YOU WANT TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT YOU GO DOWN AND SEE THE RANGERS OR THE AVALANCHE.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=or the avalanche.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Farrar says major league players could learn a few lessons from the minor league. He says the area's minor league teams are successful-- because they're extremely fan friendly.
(------------)

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up in sports, the upset bug was out and about in the college football world today, the Hokies are set to entertain LSU tomorrow in Blacksburg, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and we'll check in on Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan as the Giants prepare for the NFL opener on Thursday night.

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

[S-LSU]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-129 4726TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]

Tomorrow afternoon the Hokies take on LSU in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Mike Stevens has some pregame notes including a look at a local player who is anxious to get back on the field.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Sunday; :00]
[SUPER=01-DeAngelo Hall/Two Touchdowns Last Sunday; :17]
[SUPER=01-Mike Imoh/VT Freshman Back & Receiver; :29]
[SUPER=01-Bud Foster/VT Defensive Coordinator; :58]
[SUPER=01-Lamar Cobb/Returns to Team Against LSU; 1:15]
[SUPER=@MIKE1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports."]
(-----------------)
(( The biggest crowd to ever see a college football game in the Commonwealth will wedge its way into Lane Stadium to see if the Hokies are anywhere near as good as they looked against Arkansas State. ((DE ANGELO HALL:)) ((MIKE IMOH:)) Perhaps no one if more excited about returning to the field on Saturday than senior Lamar Cobb from Gretna. Cobb was one of three players suspended for the season opener - before that he already had lost his starting job at defensive end.)) ((LAMAR COBB:)) ((BUD FOSTER:)) ((MIKE STEVENS:))

[S-Huskies]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-124 TC10250]
[GRAPHIC=Football]

On the field today, the marquee matchup featured number eleven Washington at 13th ranked Michigan as the Pac-10 and Big 10 butted heads.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ann Arbor, MI/ABC Sports; :00]

The Big House was rockin' and rollin' this afternoon, for the Huskies and Wolverines.
Chris Perry rushed for 120 yards and three scores for Michigan in this one. The Wolverines led 14 to 13 at the half.
But in the fourth quarter, check out Rich Alexis. He scampers 59 yards down the sideline to setup a Washington TD and a 29 to 28 Huskies lead.
Late in the game, Michigan fails to convert this third and ten. But there's a flag on the play. Washington had 12 men on the field, so instead of a 59 yard field goal attempt, Phillip Brabbs lines it up from 44 yards out and he nails it. Brabbs who had missed two field goals earlier in the day goes from goat to hero, and
[SUPER=36-Washington/29/Michigan/31/;]
Michigan beats Washington 31 to 29. Now here's today's scoreboard with a few upsets, including a big one from the ACC.

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

[S-Tiki]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-127 TC4100]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]

The NFL preseason is complete and the regular season is set to get underway later this week. In New York, the ongoing feud between Roanoke's Tiki Barber and his teammate Michael Strahan seems to be a thing of the past as the Giants get set to play San Francisco on Thursday night.
(------------)

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Michael Strahan/Giants Defensive End; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tiki Barber/Giants Tailback; :14]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=it was behind us."] Double out!!!
(---------------)

[S-Busch]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-132 TC3717]
[GRAPHIC=Nascar]

Rain washed out qualifying yesterday in Darlington for both the Busch and Winston Cup series. Today, Mother Nature is having her way again in the Palmetto State.
Greg Biffle started on the pole after the field was set according to points, but just as the field took the green flag, rain drops showed up again. After a four and a half hour delay, the race finally got underway and about 80 laps of 200 are in the books. We'll have some highlights tonight at 11.
(------------)

[S-Tennis]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-133 TC3600]
[GRAPHIC=Tennis]

We finish up on the court at the U.S. Open where Monica Seles and Lleyton Hewitt both advanced but not without surviving scares.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Flushing Meadow, NY/CBS Sports; :00]

Seles blew a big lead and then rallied to beat Joon-Yoeung Cho. Seles took the first set 6-1 and led 5-1 in the second before surrendering 5 straight games. But she did rally to win and move into the fourth round.
As for Hewitt, he struggled most of the day against James Blake. The defending Open champ outlasted Blake in a fi(------------) ve set marathon to also move into the next round.