WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 10/31/02

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Garrison Bowman says he didn't kill the Short family. God KNOWS he didn't do it, he says in his first television interview here on NEWS 7.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And a candidate without a home base... OR would that be a political opponent without a winning strategy?

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
The Friday Football Extra schedule for week number nine is on the way - plus it's a big day for hoops as the ODAC holds its preseason men's basketball media day at the Salem Civic Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And NBA commissioner David Stern drops in on the Star City this afternoon to help get the upcoming NBDL season rolling.
(------------)

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

No weather tricks tonight for kids heading outside. Be safe out there and bundle up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:17:29]
[IN Q=]
((I'M GOING TO STAY HERE TIL THE LAST NAIL'S DRIVEN.))
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=last nail's driven.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Garrison Bowman is out of jail and ready to clear his name.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Tonight, an exclusive television interview with the man held as a material witness in the Short family murders.

(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Bowman]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC26:39]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Gary Bowman is back in North Carolina.
He's staying with friends until he appears before a federal grand jury on November 12th to answer questions about the case.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

He says he's got nothing to hide and sat down this afternoon for a one-on-one interview with Marya Jones. [***BOWMAN IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Marya /Pulpit;]

So, Marya, what does he want people to know now that he's out?
Mainly, Keith and Shannon, that he's innocent and will continue to cooperate with investigators, even though he's no longer described as a focus of the investigation.
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Pulpit]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]

He says his 26 days in jail seem like a bad dream now.
He's staying in a safe place with friends in North Carolina and says he's eager to set the record straight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It finally sunk in]
[SUPER=01-Garrison Bowman; :00]
[SUPER=03-Stokes Co., NC; :09]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday; :31]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=get in my head.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:16:41]
((IT FINALLY SUNK IN... LISTEN TO THOSE IRON BARS ALL NIGHT LONG.)) [RUNS:07]
For Garrison Bowman, it's good to be home. But he looks forward to the day he can clear the cloud of suspicion that surrounds him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:22:30]
((I'VE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE. GOD KNOWS I'M INNOCENT. ... YOU CAN'T SCARE ME. EVEN IF YOU EXECUTE ME.))
[RUNS=:]

Bowman's never been charged with ANY crime related to the Short family murders.
He was held as a material witness for a week and questioned twice before a judge freed him Wednesday, saying he'd cooperated.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:17:58 ]
((I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THE FAMILY ... DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY LIVED.)) [RUNS:04]
Bowman says he's not sure why a man who was his friend implicated him in the murders.
His former landlord has declined to comment but his claims are laid out in a search warrant:
He told investigators Bowman had threatened to kill a Virginia mobile home mover and left behind maps marked with the location of the Shorts' home.
Bowman say all of the allegations are false.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:29:38]
((NOW I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE PUT IN JAIL WHO WERE INNOCENT OR EVEN EXECUTED. .... YOU DON'T WANT TO GET IN MY HEAD.)) [RUNS:12]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Pulpit]

Bowman says he spent his first day out of jail getting a haircut, going clothes shopping and lining up a potential carpentry job.
He says everywhere he went, people recognized him. And the reactions were both positive and negative.
Today, investigators returned from searching his van in Canada with a few items to be examined at the crime lab in Roanoke.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Marya /Pulpit;]

Bowman says that's fine with him. They're welcome to search any of his belongings.

[Pledge]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC1:10:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The attorney for former Roanoke police officer Fred Pledge is trying to get his client a shorter prison sentence.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Pledge is currently serving an eight-year sentence for accepting bribes from drug dealers on the streets of Northwest Roanoke.
Federal prosecutors said Pledge's conduct amounted to robbery which carries a more severe sentence than extortion.

[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Pledge's attorney asked the U.S. Court of Appeals today to reconsider the charges.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:53:53]
[IN Q=THE SENTENCING COURT]
[SUPER=01-Chris Kowalczuk/Pledge's Attorney]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=BY SEVERAL YEARS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Should the court rule in Pledge's favor, his time in prison could be reduced by as much as five or six years.
(------------)

[Cline-Elrod]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC1:26:17]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2002]

Where does he actually live? Questions about a candidate's residency have heated up the special election for the 24th House of Delegates seat.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Richard /Newsroom Pod ;]
Richard Lesko joins us with more. Republican candidate Ben Cline calls his parents' home in Rockbridge County his permanent residence.
[LIVE=Richard/FULL]
[SUPER=@Richard1;]
However, recent ads from Democrat Mimi Elrod claim he hasn't lived there in years. Cline, who has worked for Congressman Bob Goodlatte for 8 years bought a condominium about a year ago in Washington D-C. That's something Elrod says proves Cline is out of touch with the district.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mimi Elrod/(D) 24th House District Candidate; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Ben Cline/(R) 24th House Disctrict Candidate; :21 ]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :34]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=would not have presented about himself.]
(((//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 19:16:02]
[INQ=He does not...]
((MIMI ELROD/(D) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES; HE DOES NOT HAVE A RESIDENCE IN THIS DISTRICT. HE HAS A CONDOMINIUM IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. HE HAS NO PHONE LISTING HERE, HE DOESN'T LIVE HERE. HE'S LIVING WITH HIS PARENTS.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=living with his parents.]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 19:59:45]
[INQ=My home is...]
((BEN CLINE/(R) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES; MY HOME IS HERE, MY PERMANENT RESIDENCE IS HERE. LIKE BOB GOODLATTE, I MAINTAIN A PERMANENT RESIDENCE HERE, AND HAVE A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE WASHINGTON AREA. LIKE BOB GOODLATTE, MY PERMANENT RESIDENCE IS HERE, AND I TEMPORARILY SPEND TIME THERE. THOSE ARE THE FACTS.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=are the facts.]
Cline says the ads are a desperate measure, but Elrod says her opponent just doesn't like the facts.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 20:02:39]
[INQ=My opponant...]
((BEN CLINE/(R) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES; MY OPPONENT HAS DECIDED TO IGNORE THE ISSUES BECAUSE SHE CAN'T IGNORE THAT SHE'S LOSING GROUND, AND BEHIND IN THE POLLS.))
[RUNS= 8]
[OUTQ=behind in the polls.]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 19:17:19]
[INQ=I don't see this...]
((MIMI ELROD/(D) CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES; I DON'T SEE THIS AS NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DISTORT WHAT HE'S SAID, OR MADE UP THINGS ABOUT HIM. THE FACTS ARE THERE. WE'RE PRESENTING THE FACTS THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE PRESENTED ABOUT HIMSELF.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUTQ=presented about himself.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Richard/FULL Newsroom Pod]
Elrod adds that Ben Cline pays no real estate taxes in the county, but instead to Washington D-C.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Richard/Newsroom Pod ;]
But, Shannon, Cline says he has maintained his voter registration and drivers license in Virginia, and pays personal property tax on his pickup truck to Rockbridge County.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

State lawmakers say the budget picture's going to get worse... but a tax increase is still not in the cards.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus a church battles a bar over an A-B-C license.
(----------------)

[State-Budget]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-38 TC1:11:56]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

State lawmakers say a bad budget is only going to grow worse.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Today, local officials pleaded for help from Richmond, but talk of a tax increase was met with skepticism.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:31:13]
[IN Q=The facts are that sooner or later]
((SONNY TARPLEY/SALEM MAYOR: THE FACTS ARE THAT SOONER OR LATER SOMETHING HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE LOCALITIES, THE LINE IN THE SAND IS BEGINNING TO BE DRAWN RIGHT NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Sonny Tarpley/Salem Mayor]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=to be drawn right now.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Local elected officials from the Alleghany Highlands, the New River Valley and the Roanoke Valley joined forces at the Salem Civic Center.
They said state cuts are having a major impact on essential services, and they advocated a tax increase, if necessary.
But House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith said he doesn't believe that is likely.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:21:49]
[IN Q=I would be hesitant]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH; I WOULD BE HESITANT TO SAY WE SHOULD RAISE TAXES. I WILL NOT RULE IT OUT COMPLETELY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU IT WILL BE THE LAST RESORT FOR ME NOT THE FIRST.))
[SUPER=@Griffith;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=last resort for me not the first.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The budget shortfall may eventually total two billion dollars in the next biennium, but Griffith said the budget will still be larger than the one before.

[Goode]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-36 TC1:22:21]
[GRAPHIC=Virgil Goode]
He's won as a Democrat and an Independent. Now, the congressman representing the 5th district wants the title as a Republican. Tonight we profile Virgil Goode.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's his fourth run for...]
[SUPER=04-August;:00]
[SUPER=10-Virgil Goode/(R) 5th District Candidate/August;:27]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/Last Week;:45]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/Monday;1:19]
[RUNS=2:10]
[OUT Q=old lines of loyalty.]
((It's his fourth run for the 5th District Congressional seat, but his first as a Republican. After winning the office on the Democratic ticket for the first time in 1996, Virgil Goode went on to win again in 1998, but switched to become an Independent soon thereafter. Then, earlier this year, he jumped political lines *again* to become a proud member of the GOP. Through it all Goode maintained the label was just that.
[SOT 1:09-1:25 TAPE 02-36]
[IN Q=Some might, if you're a straight and narrow...]
((VIRGIL GOODE/(R) 5TH DISTRICT CANDIDATE: SOME MIGHT, IF YOU'RE A STRAIGHT AND NARROW DEMOCRAT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE IT, IF YOU'RE A STRAIGHT ARROW REPUBLICAN, MAYBE YOU WILL LIKE IT, BUT THE STAND ON THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE FIVE YEARS AGO. I VOTED CONSERVATIVELY AND IF I'M REELECTED I WILL VOTE CONSERVATIVELY IN THE FUTURE.)) [RUNS:16]
[OUT Q=conservatively in the future.]
Goode's not only adjusting to a new party, but a new district, as well. Recent redistricting guidelines are forcing the 56-year old Rocky Mount resident to cover new ground, walk unfamiliar streets, knock on a fresh batch of doors. But he says the process is the same.
[SOT 12:07:54-12:08:11]
[IN Q=We'll I'm concerned about any campaign...]
((WELL, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ANY CAMPAIGN IN NEW OR OLD DISTRICT LINES AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING SO HARD TO GET TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR OUR POSITION WHICH IS CREATING JOBS IN AMERICA AND NOT SENDING THEM TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.)) [RUNS:17]
[OUT Q=sending them to foreign countries.]
Goode agrees with Democratic Challenger Meredith Richards that the main issue facing the 5th District is economic development. But he has other focuses, as well, from national security, about which he says troop presence along America's borders would help enforce immigration laws, to healthcare.
[SOT 12:08:15-12:08:33]
[IN Q=Having a prescription drug benefit...]
((HAVING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT FOR OUR SENIORS. WE'VE PASSED A GOOD PROGRAM IN THE HOUSE THAT PROTECTS THE NEEDIEST AND ALSO PROVIDES CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SENATE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE HOUSE AND PASS PRESCRIPTION DRUG LEGISLATION.)) [RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=and pass prescription drug legislation.]
Goode, who's raised 631-thousand dollars to Richards 169-thousand, is favored to emerge victorious in yet another election. But only Tuesday will tell if, in spite of his everchanging political identity and newly re-drawn district, voters will walk the old lines of loyalty.))
(-------------)

[Stock-Market]

[ANCHOR=Kieth]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC50:33]
[GRAPHIC=Stock Market]
In business news, a local financial advisor says people getting back into the stock market should move slowly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16.5]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
After three weeks of tremendous gains ... this week's trading shows the market leveling off. Legg Mason's Brian Gottstein says while some investors may still be shell shocked by the long-term bear market - others believe it's hit bottom and the only way to go is up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:01:22 - :35]
[IN Q=the likely]
((BRIAN GOTTSTEIN/LEGG MASON ROANOKE; THE LIKELY REASONS FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS OF GAINS IN THIS MARKET WERE INCREASE IN HOUSING STARTS AND NEW HOME SALES COMPANIES NOW REPORTING BETTER THAN EXPECTED EARNINGS WE JUST GOT THROUGH EARNING SEASON.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Gottstein/Legg Mason Roanoke;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=EARNING SEASON]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Federal Reserve will meet next Tuesday. Gottstein says most analysts believe interest rates will be lowered again - this time byt at least another quarter of a point.
(------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It was a mixed day for stocks. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/30.38/8397.03/x/2.98/1329.71;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW dropped 30 points.
NASDAQ gained three.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.30/53.55/i/0.26/25.64/i/2.88/63.00/i/0.65/69.80/i/0.20/10.00;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.02/6.14/h/0.66/48.00/i/0.24/37.43/h/0.10/25.25/i/1.01/7.10;]
[SUPER=273-i/3.99/43.49/i/0.61/14.80/i/0.57/20.20/i/0.01/1.84/i/0.59/40.75;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.25/10.65/i/0.51/60.84/i/0.48/37.76/i/0.45/34.79/i/0.25/53.55;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Conner]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC1:07:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More charges against a former Blacksburg employee accused of having sex with a minor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Phillip Conner, the former supervisor of the Blacksburg Community Center, now faces more than 30-additional charges.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]

According to court documents, Conner is accused of sexually abusing six people over a 13-year-period.
Conner resigned from his position in July, shortly after the first charge was brought against him.
He is currently out on bond, and is expected to be tried next month.
(------------)

[Galax-ABC]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-33 TC1:58:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The new owner of a restaurant and lounge in Galax says she's losing business...and she's blaming it on the pastor across the street.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Shannon/Microwave;]

New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens is here with more.
Shannon, he says it's immoral.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

She says he needs to mind his own business.
But, what it comes down to is a matter of beliefs versus booze.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=a bar]
[SUPER=03-Galax; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pastor Ronny Harrison/Landmark Baptist Church; :07]
[SUPER=01-Gail Slicker/"The Branding Iron" Owner; :34]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=intended to be.]
((A bar with no drinks is like a restaurant with no food. But, for Gail Slicker, that's business.
[SOT 19:06]
[RUNS :08] ((GAIL SLICKER/OWNER, THE BRANDING IRON: UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE WOULD COME AND DISCOVER THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SERVE ANY ALCOHOL AND THEY DECIDED TO GO ELSEWHERE 19:14)) The thing is, Slicker was given an ABC license shortly after opening her restaurant and lounge in June. She just hasn't been able to serve alcohol.
[SOT 6:03][COVER ENTIRE BITE PLEASE!!!]
[RUNS :06] ((BIBLE SAYS WINE IS MOCKER, STRONG DRINK IS RAGING AND WHOSOEVER DECEIVED IS THEREBY NOT WISE 6:09)) Standing in her way is the pastor of the church across the street.
[SOT 9:36]
[RUNS :11] ((PASTOR RONNY HARRISON/LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH: WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL THEM HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, BUT, WE DO HAVE RIGHTS AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO OPPOSE THE ABC LICENSE AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE DONE 9:47)) Last week, Pastor Harrison and his supporters filed an appeal to the ABC board over Slicker's license. He says it's not anything against her, but, the bar's longtime reputation.
[SOT 3:37][COVER SOME PLEASE!!!]
[RUNS :18] ((WE WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BEER CANS AND BEER BOTTLES AND JUST TRASH OVER ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY IMMORAL ACTS TAKING PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT))
[SOT 24:55]
[RUNS :12] HE WANTS IT TO BE A LARGE BUFFET THAT EVERYONE WILL ATTEND. EVERYONE WILL COME AND EAT. HE'S QUITE SURE OF IT, HE'S VERY CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL BE SUCCESS BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE 25:07))
(-------------)
[LIVE=@Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Both parties will appear in front of the A-B-C board next month, where it will make the final decision.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Shannon/Microwave;]

But Shannon, even if it upholds the license, Harrison can still appeal to a circuit court.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SPORTS TEASE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - NBA commissioner David Stern was in town today. The NBDL draft is underway -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the preseason ODAC men's basketball poll is out and while Hampden-Sydney is rated highly - the Tigers are not number one.
(------------)

[S-NBDL]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-133 TC12940]
[GRAPHIC=NBDL]

NBA Commissioner David Stern made his first ever visit to Roanoke this afternoon. Travis Wells caught up with Stern to find out if the D-League can be "fan-tastic" like its NBA counterpart.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Stern/NBA Commissioner; :28]
[SUPER=@travis1; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Kent Davison/Dazzle Head Coach; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(-------------------)
((David Stern was given a key to the Star City Thursday afternoon, and now the NBA Commissioner would like to find the key to jumpstarting the NBDL in its second season. The league average for attendance in its inaugural season was just over 1600 fans per game in the eight D-League arenas. Stern hopes to not only improve those numbers but also the ones for team revenues and corporate sponsorship. If marked improvement is seen this year, league expansion might not be too far down the road.
Stern:
The Commish promoted the league as one of opportunity. Twenty two NBDL players started training camp with an NBA team this season, and four have started the season on NBA rosters. Stern believes that Roanoke provides the perfect training ground for tomorrow's stars.
Stern: Travis: Stern:
Davison :

The Dazzle opens training camp on Sunday and the regular season will get underway on November 15th. In Roanoke, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-Hoops]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-127 1:26:07]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA]

The Division III men's basketball pre season polls are littered with ODAC teams. Steve Mason introduces us to some of the top 2002-2003 schools in the league from the conference's annual media day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem/2002 ODAC Championship Game; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tony Shaver/Hampden-Sydney Head Coach; :05]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Lafave/Washington & Lee Fourth Year Coach; :23]
[SUPER=01-Mike Rhoades/Randolph-Macon Fourth Year Coach; :45]
[SUPER=01-Page Moir/241 Wins as Roanoke's Head Coach; :52]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(------------)
((Hampden-Sydney enters the season having won five of the last six ODAC tournaments. ((TONY SHAVER/HAMPDEN-SYDNEY HEAD COACH:))
But the Tigers are picked to finish second behind Randolph-Macon. Roanoke is picked to finish third. The parity of the league this season is evident in some of the lowers selections. ((:))
The ODAC poll is sharing the spotlight with its' national brethren. The yellow Jackets, who like Sydney return five starters, are Street and Smith's number four pick and the Tigers are the D-III News six pick.)) ((:)) ((:))

((:))[S-Express]

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

Former Roanoke Express forward Vern Fiddler has made it all the way to the big show!
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/2001 Season; :00]
Fiddler was called up by the Nashville Predators today. He will make his NHL debut on Saturday night in Los Angeles against the Kings. (------------) He began this season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.