WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/08/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Authorities in Grayson County make what could be the last search for a missing five year old boy.
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[VO-NAT :05]
And, a frosty winter made for a bumpy ride. Now VDOT wants help spotting those potholes.
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[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
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[SOT 2:21:54]
[IN Q=If he's alive]
((JENNIFER SHAFFNER: IF HE'S ALIVE I WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT AND FIND HIM ALIVE, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO FIND HIM DEAD.))

[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=find him dead]
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[VO-NAT]

A community comes together in hopes of finding a missing boy from Grayson County.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young, in for Teresa Hamilton.

[Missing-Child]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC-15:50]
[GRAPHIC=Logan Bowman]

Five year old Logan Bowman has not been seen or heard from since early January.
Today, more than hundred people gathered to search for the missing boy.
Justin McLeod has more on the search and why investigators now believe the boy is dead.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Garry Goad/Searcher; :13 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Wilson/Grayson County Sheriff; :40]
[SUPER=@justin1; :58]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Shaffner/Searcher; 1:29]
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[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Grayson County]
((((NAT SOUND OF SEARCHING))
They came from all over community, the state, and even North Carolina..... ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF SEARCH))
It's all in effort to find this five year old boy.
[SOT 2:20:29]
[IN Q=As you walk out there]
((GARRY GOAD/SEARCHER: AS YOU'RE WALKING OUT THERE, IN A WAY YOU WANT TO FIND HIM IN A WAY YOU DON'T WANT TO FIND HIM.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=to find him]

Finding him has been difficult from the beginning.
Logan Bowman was last seen on January 8th.
But his mother Cynthia Davis only reported him missing January 26th.
She and her ex-boyfriend Dennis Schermerhorn have since been charged with child endangerment.
Investigators concede the boy is probably dead since there are no concrete leads on his whereabouts.
[SOT 2:15:00]
[IN Q=It's very frustrating]
((JERRY WILSON/GRAYSON CO. SHERIFF: IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING YOU KNOW TO HAVE A CHILD MISSING AND THERE'S NO CLOSURE UNTIL YOU FIND THE BODY, IT'S HARD ON EVERYONE.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=hard on everyone]

It is hard not only on investigators but the community as well.
None of those who volunteered for Saturday's massive search had even met Logan Bowman but they came anyway.
[SOT 2:49:33]
[IN Q=Search crews are concentrating]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: SEARCH CREWS ARE CONCENTRATING THEIR EFFORTS IN AND AROUND WHERE LOGAN LIVED. THAT'S BECAUSE FBI PROFILERS HAVE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT IF A FAMILY MEMBER IN FACT KILLED LOGAN HE OR SHE WOULD MOST LIKELY BURY HIM NEARBY.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=bury him nearby]
((NAT SOUND OF SEARCHING))
Volunteers had to deal with rough terrain.
They searched under trees, in ditches, and even mines.
It is grueling work but everyone you see here says it needs to be done.
[SOT 2:22:27]
[IN Q=He's a darling]
((JENNIFER SHAFFNER/SEARCHER: HE'S A DARLING LITTLE BOY. HE LOOKS JUST LIKE A LITTLE ANGEL AND JUST A LITTLE NORMAL KID THAT WOULD COME OUT HERE IN THE WOODS AND PLAY AND YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND FIND HIM ALIVE BUT I JUST DON'T THINK HE'S ALIVE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND A BODY SOONER OR LATER.))
[Runs= 14]
[OUT Q=sooner or later]

That may have to come later.
The sheriff says no more searches are planned until any concrete leads come in.
Until then, these searchers walk away with more questions than answers.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Grayson County.))

[Giles-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-36:48]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Another search continued today, this one in Giles County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.]

Two men, one from Roanoke and one from Vinton, are believed to have capsized their boat on the New River Friday night.
Police say the men were seen getting on board the boat at the boat landing around 6:30.
They were apparently supposed to get out at Ripplemead bridge near Pearisburg.
Rescue crews searched several hours last night and again today but that search turned up nothing.
Crews did locate the small fishing boat around one this afternoon.
They plan to resume the search tomorrow.
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[Potholes]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-1:31:33]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Virginia Department of Transportation officials say you can help save your shocks and tires.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]
The rough winter has made countless potholes on roads throughout the commonwealth. Repair crews will work seven days a week for the next two weeks to make temporary repairs to potholes on interstates, primary roads, and major secondary roads with high traffic volume. But VDOT is asking for your help in finding the trouble spots.
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[TAKE VDOT PHONE FS] If you want to report a pothole on state maintained roads, you can call VDOT at 1-800-367-ROAD.
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[Butch-Church]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC-42:04]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Candidates are already lining up to replace State Senator Bo Trumbo.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Roanoke County Supervisor Joe "Butch" Church officially announced today he will seek the Republican nomination for Trumbo's seat in the 22nd district.
Church told supporters he wants to be a "real go to" Senator and hopes to help solve the budget woes in Richmond.
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[SOT 2:24:16]
[IN Q=I'm not going to go]
((BUTCH CHURCH/CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATE: I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND ADVOCATE TAXES FOR PEOPLE. I AM GOING TO FIRST SEE WHERE WE CAN CUT UNNECESSARY REVENUES AND TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR PEOPLE. FOR ME TO TELL YOU THAT I GOT PLANS TO CHANGE RICHMOND WOULD BE A LITTLE FACETIOUS ON MY PART BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO SITS IN THE CORNER.))
[SUPER=01-Butch Church/(R) Candidate for State Senate; ]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=sits in the corner]
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[VO-NAT]

Church's announcement will open a seat on Roanoke County's Board of Supervisors.
Meantime, Former State Senator Brandon Bell tells News 7 he plans to also run for Trumbo's state senate seat.
He will make a formal announcement in a couple of weeks.
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[S-Radford]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-149 TC1116]
[GRAPHIC=Basketball/Big South]

The Radford Highlanders were looking for one more upset and a ticket to the Big Dance. But RU fell behind early and never recovered against UNC-Asheville in the Big South Championship.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg, VA/ESPN Plus; :00]

To the Vines Center in Lynchburg we go.
Peanut Arrington did his part for the Highlanders bombing away for three.
But UNC-A scored 26 of the last 34 points in the first half including this prayer at the halftime horn.
The Bulldogs led by 16 and in the second half, the wheels fell off for Radford. Coach Byron Samuels was teed up twice within the span of about a minute and subsequently shown the door. His ejection didn't help his team.
[SUPER=33-Radford/71/UNC-Asheville/85/;]
Asheville pulled away to win it 85-71 advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
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[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-142 TC5030]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]

Virginia Tech closed out a long season today at West Virginia. The Hokies still had a slim chance of making the Big East Tournament, but needed a win over the Mountaineers and a Saint John's win at Miami.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Morgantown, WV/Fox Sports Net; :00]

Ricky Stokes looking for something positive to finish the season.
Bryant Matthews tallied 13 first half points and Tech led by one at the break.
The Hokies led by as many as 11 in the second half, but missed 17 free throws and shot just 33 percent.
[SUPER=33-Virginia Tech/67/West Virginia/71/;]
Drew Schifino led a West Virginia comeback, including that capper along the baseline. West Virginia rallied to win 71-67. Tech finishes at 11 and 18.
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[anchor=travis]
[graphic=tech hoops]

The Tech women fared much better today, beating West Virginia in Big East Tournament play 66 to 60. Ieva Kublina led the way with 14 points.

[S-Columbus]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-144 2854tc]
[GRAPHIC=BASKETBALL KOFC]

The Roanoke Valley also is hosting some March Madness this weekend in the form of the 33rd annual Knights of Columbus tournament.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Knights of Columbus Tourney; :00]
Hundreds of young people from the Roanoke Valley, Botetourt and Franklin Counties are playing for fun and trophies. Each year the tournament attracts some of the top rec league players in the area, and Council 562 of the Knights of Columbus gives them a first class stage on which to perform.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We start up...]
[SUPER=01-Dave Preston/Knights of Columbus Tourney Committee; :01]
[SUPER=01-George Palmerio/Knights of Columbus Game Announcer; :18]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=...all about."]
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[VO-NAT con't]
Tomorrow afternoon - the championship games are scheduled at Roanoke Catholic, along with the annual cheerleading competition and one-on-one finals. All of the proceeds go to charity.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=All of the money...]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=...THAT WE HAVE."]
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