WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 02/07/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

America goes back on "high alert" for terrorist threats.
We'll hear from the head of Virginia's anti-terrorism task force.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And should white stuff automatically result in black-outs on the calendar? Roanoke City Schools re-evaluate their cancellation policy.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

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

Tonight on News 7 sports - Ferrum gets preseason baseball props. While we're set with this week's edition of the Atlantic Coast Connection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And last year he raced with a bullseye on his chest - now Jimmy Spencer is hunting down his down car owner with a lawsuit.
(------------)

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

Good melting today, less expected tomorrow with colder temperatures. That story and a couple of snow pictures from our viewers coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:08:22]
[IN Q=WE'VE BEEN]
((HALLIE CARR/WILLIAM FLEMING HS PRINCIPAL; WE'VE BEEN VERY SPOILED BY HAVING SO MANY MILD WINTERS SO WE HAD NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR A WHILE.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=FOR A WHILE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Another day off for many students in our area.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
At least one school system wants to make some changes to help adjust to mother nature.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[School-Snow]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC46:53]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Most school systems say, at this point, they're not exactly sure how they will deal with all the snow days.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
But in Roanoke, the snow is already prompting the City School system to reevaluate a long standing policy.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]

Rachel Cannon is outside William Fleming High School with more on the story. Keith and Shannon, At next week's school board meeting, the Superintendent will ask the members to address the city's blanket cancellation policy.
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; ]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
It automatically cancels after-school activities when there is no school that day. If they do away with the blanket policy, decisions on whether to hold the events would be made on a case by case basis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS basketball game]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January 21; :00]
[SUPER=01-Hallie Carr/William Fleming H. S. Principal; :12]
[SUPER=01-Scott Meadows/Roanoke City Schools Spokesman; :39]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL]
((NATS William Fleming and Northside High School were supposed to meet on the hardwood tonight for another match-up. Snow sidelined the teams. The game is rescheduled for Monday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:05:12]
[IN Q=sometimes]
((HALLIE CARR/PRINCIPAL WILLIAM FLEMING HS; SOMETIMES WE EVEN HAVE TO RESCHEDULE THE RESCHEDULED GAMES BUT THEY'RE FACING THE SAME THING SO EVERYONE IS IN THIS QUANDARY TOGETHER SO WHILE IT HAS BEEN TIME CONSUMING AND DIFFICULT ON THE TEAMS IT HAS NOT BECOME A REAL HASSLE TO DO.))
[OUT Q=TO DO.]
Principal Carr says it has been about 5-years since snow has had such an effect on school activities. Rescheduling has meant that some teams have even had to play 3 to 4 games a week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:58:41]
[IN Q=usually it's]
((SCOTT MEADOWS/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS SPOKESMAN; USUALLY IT'S ATHLETICS BUT IT ALSO COULD BE PERFORMANCES, DRAMA PERFORMANCES, INFORMATION SESSIONS.))
[OUT Q=SESSIONS.]
Superintendent Wayne Harris says it's time to re-evaluate the long standing blanket cancellation policy. Carr is pleased at the idea but confident that safety will always come first.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:06:30]
[IN Q=SO WHAT]
((SO WHAT THIS WILL DO IS GIVE US A LITTLE LEEWAY ON DAY WHERE MAYBE THE SUN COMES OUT AND THE TEMPERATURE GOES WAY ABOVE FREEZING AND THINGS ARE FINE BY THE NIGHT BUT I STILL FEEL REAL SURE THAT THINGS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL EVENT OR OCCASION WILL BE LOOKED AT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.))
[OUT Q=BASIS.]
School officials say they are also looking to surrounding district's policies. When it comes to athletic events, you have to consider all involved.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:59:42]
[IN Q=the weather]
((THE WEATHER OBVIOUSLY BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAMES YOU TAKE INTO THE CONSIDERATION THE DISTANCE THE TEAMS HAVE TO TRAVEL THE TIME OF DAY THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL.))
[OUT Q=TO TRAVEL.].))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
The Roanoke City School Board will meet next Tuesday at which time the blanket policy will be considered. The school spokesman says they could pass the measure and that it would go into affect immediately.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
But it would be addressed further if there were questions or concerns.

[Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info.]

We have a few school announcements to pass along tonight.
(+++++++)
[Take Schooltouch Full] Central Virginia Community College has canceled night classes, but the National College of Business and Technology, which earlier announced it would close for the entire day, will conduct night classes. Patrick Henry Community College has canceled its evening classes. And tomorrow, the W-V-P-E-C "Career Switcher" classes are canceled.
(------------)

[VDOT-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC25:15]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

This latest storm broke the bank at V-DOT and its 48-million dollar snow-removal budget.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Last Night]

A spokeswoman says Virginia had already spent 42-million dollars to clear snow from the roads, and the department will assuredly spend more than six-million dollars on this storm.
She says it's NOT uncommon for the state to exceed its annual snow removal budget.
V-DOT spent 120-million bucks on snow removal in the winter of 1995-96, when a January blizzard dumped several feet of snow on the state.
(------------)

[Hager]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:27:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Bush administration has raised the national terror alert from yellow to orange, the second-highest level.
It says the change is based on an increase in intelligence pointing to a possible attack timed to coincide with the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
Attorney General John Ashcroft says terrorists might attack lightly-guarded apartment buildings and hotels as well as targets in the transportation and energy sectors.
The head of Virginia's anti-terrorism task force says there is no specific threat to Virginia but that security in the state has been "kicked up a level."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

John Hager participated in a conference call this morning with Tom Ridge, the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Hager says raising the threat level to orange means the state has increased security around monuments, airports, bridges, tunnels and high rise buildings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:33:16]
[IN Q=WE PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AT PLAY]
((JOHN HAGER/CHAIR, SECURE VIRGINIA PANEL: WE PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AT PLAY. WE PROTECT HIGH PROFILE INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, IN SECTORS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE.))
[SUPER=01-John Hager/Secure Virginia Panel Chairman]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

He says Ridge is recommending that Virginia take additional protective measures.
Hager says citizens don't need to do anything differently but should stay alert.
(------------)

[Local-Alert]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:10:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Local law enforcement officers say, unless there's a threat to a specific local target, their role in homeland defense is to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 12;]
Since the beginning of 2002, Roanoke Police have held six homeland defense classes to educate other law enforcement agencies and the community about the issue. Local officers are aware of the heightened terror alert but say, for the most part, business will go on as usual.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 17:10:18-17:10:38]
[IN Q=The biggest change you'll see...]
((CHRIS BOLLING/HOMELAND DEFENSE OFFICER: THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'LL SEE IS THAT OUR OFFICERS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DILIGENT TO SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. THEY'LL STOP AND QUESTION PEOPLE AROUND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, MORE DILIGENCE THERE. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WON'T BE MUCH DIFFERENCE. OUR OFFICERS ARE GONNA CONTINUE WITH WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Bolling/Homeland Defense Officer;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=continue with what they do every day.]
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
As far as protecting your family, Officer Bolling says you don't need to change your plans.
Just be more observant of people and activities around you.

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

A Halifax County man admits killing three people. Now he hopes a judge will spare his life.
That's next on News 7 at Six.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus a landlord says it's too much to handle.
But it's the residents at an area trailer park who may have their work cut out for them.
(----------------)

[Hudson]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC1:16:43]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A man accused of killing his neighbors today pled guilty in Halifax County court.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

James Bryant Hudson was charged with killing his neighbor Walter Stanley Cole, his brother Thomas Cole, and Pasty Cole.
Today, Hudson pled guilty to two counts of capital murder and one count of first degree murder.
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./July]

Prosecutors say the murders stemmed from years of controversy over a private access road.
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker plans to ask for the death penalty.
A judge will make the decision at a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 14th.
(------------)

[Taylor]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC1:43:44]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
A Grand Jury in Roanoke County today indicted drifter Danny Ray Taylor for capital murder in the death of an 88-year old Nursing Home resident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Helen Cadd was found dead in a closet of someone else's room at Shenandoah Homes last fall.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./October 3]
The career nurse was an unofficial care taker at the Home. Taylor also stands charged with inanimate object sexual penetration. At a hearing last month Taylor predicted he would spend the rest of his life in prison for something he said he hardly remembers. Of course, a capital offense can be punishable by death.
(------------)

[Meningitis]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Meningitis]

Health officials say the Virginia Tech student who contracted meningitis is in stable condition at a Fairfax hospital.
The 19 year old sophomore lived in the Maine Eggleston dorm.
Tech is now in the process of identifying those students who had close, prolonged or intimate contact with her.
Symptoms of the bacteria include sudden high fever, an intense headache, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally a rash.

The meningitis case is the second in Virginia this year.

[XGR]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC05:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Republican officeholder is getting more money while the Democrat is getting less.
Now some are accusing lawmakers of playing politics with the state's budget.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The House and Senate voted to CUT the Lieutenant Governor's staffing allowance but BOOST the Attorney General's budget.
Delegate Morgan Griffith says it's not personal.
But he says the lieutenant governor's staff allowance should be in line with the House Majority Leader's.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:22:43]
[IN Q=HE IS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: HE IS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE, JUST LIKE THE LEGISLATORS AND WHY HE HAS ENOUGH STAFFING ALLOWANCE TO HAVE SIX PEOPLE OR SEVEN PEOPLE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE SHOULD HAVE CUT IT BACK YEARS AGO.)) ((LT. GOVERNOR TIM KAINE: HE'S NOT MENTIONED IN THE CONSTITUTION. HE'S NOT IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE GOVERNOR, I AM. HE DOESN'T GO TO CABINET MEETINGS, I DO. HE'S NOT CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE'S DISABILITY COMMISSION. I AM. THIS ISN'T ABOUT LOOKING AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE ARROGANCE OF POWER.))
[SUPER=@Griffith; :00]
[SUPER=@Kaine; :10]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=THE ARROGANCE OF POWER.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kaine, who has four full-time employees, says he already reduced his budget voluntarily in light of the state's fiscal crisis.
He says cutting his budget further is "nothing but partisanship."
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Stocks went into retreat again as the Bush administration announced that the probability of a terror attack has increased. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/65.07/7864.23/y/19.26/1282.47;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW dropped 65 points.
NASDAQ lost 19.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.95/39.35/i/0.78/21.22/i/0.18/57.82/i/0.48/67.94/i/0.14/10.36;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.85/6.00/i/0.07/53.98/i/0.17/40.00/i/0.19/22.70/h/0.47/4.04;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.24/40.38/i/0.26/14.10/i/0.08/19.16/i/0.08/2.99/h/0.09/37.62;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.05/9.20/i/0.41/54.82/i/0.84/37.18//Unchg/34.58//Unchg/46.79;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Bath-Trailers]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC1:35:24]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Some residents of a Bath County Trailer Park say it's as if their homes are being taken away from them.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
They are being told they will have to pack up their trailers, and move out in just a few months. Richard Lesko has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bath Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Justin Richmond/Park Resident; :13]
[SUPER=01-Steven Crouse/Park Resident; :27]
[SUPER=01-Claire Collins/Bath Co. Administrator; 1:02]
[SUPER=@Richard2; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=RL, N7, Bath County.]
(( For some residents of the Bath County Trailer Park, moving snow isn't their biggest worry. They are thinking more of where they will move their homes.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 03:02]
[INQ=We bought the trailer...]
((JUSTIN RICHMOND/PARK RESIDENT; WE BOUGHT THE TRAILER THINKING AT LEAST THIS WOULD BE OURS, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING AGAIN, BUT HERE WE ARE THREE YEARS LATER, WE HAVE TO MOVE. AND WE AIN'T FIGURED OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO MOVE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF US LOOKING FOR A PLACE.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUTQ=looking for a place.]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 11:36]
[INQ=Me and my wife...]
((STEVEN CROUSE/PARK RESIDENT; ME AND MY WIFE, WE GOT THREE KIDS AND WE'RE LOOKING ALL OVER THE COUNTY FOR LAND TO PUT OUR TRAILER ON, BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T VERY MUCH LAND IN BATH COUNTY TO GET.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUTQ=in Bath County to get.]
The owner of the park declined an on-camera interview, but said keeping up with unpaid rent, and the demands of the park's sewer system just don't make good business sense. The owner has to test the lagoon sewage system twice a day, and pay thousands of dollars to keep it running. He says will shut down the system on May 31st, and all residents will have to move their trailers by then.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 25:06]
[INQ=Any owner of...]
((CLAIRE COLLINS/BATH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; ANY OWNER OF ANY BUSINESS IN WHICH THEY RENT OR LEASE ANY PROPERTY CAN WITH ANYBODY SAY THAT IN A 30 TO 60 DAY TIME FRAME, OR BASED ON A CONTRACTUAL SITUATION THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE LIVING THERE.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUTQ=going to be living there.]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 4:19]
[INQ=He just said...]
((JUSTIN RICHMOND/PARK RESIDENT; HE JUST SAID HE'S TIRED OF RUNNING THE PLACE IT'S HIS PLACE HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS WITH IT I RECKON))
[RUNS= 6]
[OUTQ=with it, I reckon.]
For residents their next move will be trying to convince the Board of Supervisors to step in and help them find a place to call home. Richard Lesko, News 7, Bath County.))

[Henry-Parks]

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

Henry County and Martinsville are thinking about combining their recreation departments.
Officials want to know if a combined department could provide more services and save money.
A committee of county and city officials and recreation group members will study the issue.
City Manager Earl Reynolds and County Administrator Benny Summerlin both say they are actively looking for ways to work together and reduce the cost of government.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - the fun continues at Daytona as practice for the shootout opens. Ferrum's baseball team is back on a pedestal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Steve Mason has this week's edition of the Atlantic Coast Connection including comments from Gary Williams - whose Terps were topped by the Cavs last night.
(------------)

[S-Coast]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-142 23:35]
[GRAPHIC=50th ACC anniversary]
Wake Forest and Maryland are tied for first, Duke and N.C. State are both 5 and 3 and Virginia has pulled even with Georgia Tech at 4 and 4.
[graphic=wdbj atlantic coast connection]
The parity is just part of Steve Mason's WDBJ-7 Atlantic Coast Connection.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-College Park, MD/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gary Williams/Maryland Head Basketball Coach; :12]
[SUPER=01-Chris Duhon/Duke Point Guard; :35]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC; :47]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :57]
[SUPER=01-Johnny Dawkins/Duke Associate Head Coach; 1:11]
[SUPER=04-ACC Tournament File Tape; 1:32]
[SUPER=01-Davis Whitfield/ACC Director of Championships; 1:46]
[RUNS=2:08]
[OUT Q=.....atlantic coast connection"]
(----------------)

((Maryland joins Duke and Wake Forest as the three ACC teams ranked in the top 25. The defending national champions were stunned 86-78 by Virginia Thursday night, a team with a 1 an 6 road record. ((GARY WILLIAMS:MARYLAND HEAD BASKETBALL COACH:))
The Terps fall to the unranked as did Coach K and his Blue Devils to unrated Florida State, proving just how tough the ACC is this season. ((CHRIS DUHON/DUKE POINT GUARD:))
J.J. Redick is still Duke's second leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points a game. ((STEVE MASON:)) ((JOHNNY DAWKINS/DUKE ASSISTANT COACH:))
The intense competition in the conference should make the 50th anniversary celebration ceremony at the ACC men's basketball tournament March 13th through the 16th at the Greensboro Coliseum even more exciting. ((:))
Catch the Seminoles and the Tarheels right here on WDBJ Saturday at one. Then Sunday on your Hometown Station, Maryland takes on Georgia Tech, also at one o'clock. Steve Mason for your WDBJ 7 Atlantic Coast Connection.))

[S-Marlin]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-136 5911TC]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]
The 19 drivers who are entered in tomorrow night's Bud Shootout are getting in two practice sessions today. The last one is set to begin at 6:45 this evening. Tomorrow they will compete for 70 laps in the first "Shootout" to be held under the lights. Sterling Marlin will have to watch that race because although he won 2 races last year he did not win a pole. But starting Sunday - he's through watching. Missing the last 7 races of last season has made him hungrier than ever.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Sterling Marlin/14 Top Ten Finishes Last Year; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...AND WIN THIS THING."]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD NASCAR]
Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart were fastest in this afternoon's practice.

[S-Spencer]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-146 2220tc]
[GRAPHIC=nascar]

Marlin's teammate last year was Jimmy Spencer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NASCAR;:00]
Today it was disclosed that Spencer has filed a breach of contract suit against his former car owner Chip Ganassi. Spencer is not only upset about being fired, but the suit accuses Ganassi of interfering with his career. Spencer is seeking 600-thousand dollars for the difference between the salary he was to be paid this year by Ganassi and what he's set to make this year with Ultra Motorsports.
(------------)

[S-Ferrum]

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

The Dixie Conference may be changing its name to USA South, but some things stay the same - Ferrum in the conference's preseason pick to win this year's baseball championship. Ferrum finished 31-and-8 last year and got a share of the title. The Panthers are picked ahead of Methodist and Christopher Newport in the poll that was voted on by the coaches.