WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/14/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Are Roanoke City students more violent than it appears?
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[VO-NAT :05]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And a local girl not expected to recover from a fall shocks her doctors.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - former Knick Dave DeBusschere is dead tonight, UNC's chancellor tells us why he voted no for ACC expansion,
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[VO-NAT]
and Frank Beamer doesn't want to wave goodbye to the Big East unless the ACC officially comes calling.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Clouds with thicken up overnight. You should plan on showers tomorrow. Details ahead.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think that there are problems]
((I THINK THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND MORE PROBLEMS THAN I AM COMFORTABLE WITH.)) ((MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS SAFETY AND I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=take it very seriously.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Concerned parents say statistics on school violence don't add up.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

But tonight school officials in the city of Roanoke say they stand by the numbers.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[School-Violence]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC09:18]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The prospect of losing a resource officer at each of Roanoke's high schools has prompted parents to speak out.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Last night, the leader of one parent teacher group said she believes the Roanoke City Schools are downplaying the number of violent incdents reported to the state. [***NEWS 7 @ 6]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD /Newsroom;]

Tonight, school officials say their numbers are correct, and Joe Dashiell is in the newsroom with that story.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL]
[SUPER=@joe1;]

Keith and Shannon, parents spoke out again last night as the Roanoke School Board.
Their concerns about school violence start with the way the school system is documenting the problem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=My concern is that ]
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/Patrick Henry Parent; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :14]
[SUPER=01-Annie Harman/Executive for Student Services; :33]
[RUNS=:48]
[OUT Q=explain the data to them.]
(([SOT 21:23]
[IN Q=My concern is that as a community]
((MY CONCERN IS THAT AS A COMMUNITY IF WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND HOW TO FIND SOLUTIONS IF THERE ARE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION WHEN WE START.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=need to have accurate information when we start.]

Alice Hincker says she reviewed suspension reports, records from the police department, and the school resource officers, and compared them with statistics the school system reported to the Virginia Department of Education.
She says the numbers don't match.
But Annie Harman, Roanoke's executive for students services says she's double checked the figures and believes they are accurate...
[SOT]
[IN Q=One incident]
((ONE INCIDENT COULD INVOLVE TEN PEOPLE, BUT WE DON'T REPORT IT. WE REPORT IT AS TEN DIFFERENT SUSPENSIONS, BUT ONLY ONE INCIDENT.)) (( I THINK THEY SHOULD KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT THEY NEED TO ASK SOMEONE WHO CAN SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE DATA TO THEM.))
[RUNS= :17]
[OUT Q=explain the data to them.]))
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[LIVE= JoeD /FULL]
(adlib)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JOeD /NEwsroom;]

[Bus-Shot]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Someone shot out a window in a city school bus in Martinsville this afternoon. The bus was on the way to deliver the last child on board, a "special needs" student. It happened at the corner of Spruce and Mulberry between 2:30 and 3:00. Neither the driver nor the student was injured. The bus driver told police he saw someone run back into a house after the shot was fired. At first glance, police say it looks like the shot was fired by a pellet gun or B-B gun.

[Church-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC03:04]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Investigators are trying to determine whether a fire at a church in Christiansburg is connected to last week's shooting that killed a police officer.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Fire officials responded to a suspicious fire yesterday morning at Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. It's the same church where funeral services will be held this weekend for Christopher Holmes, the man who shot and killed Christiansburg police officer, Scott Hylton.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1418]
[IN Q=I can tell]
((DAVID MOORE/SCHAEFFER MEMORIAL BAPTIST: I CAN TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE, RUMORS FLYING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT MAY BE ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT STOPPED BY THAT THOUGHT THE FUNERAL WAS YESTERDAY, AND THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CALLED WHO THOUGHT THE HOLMES FUNERAL WAS THAT DAY, SO THAT THOUGHT DID COME TO MIND.))
[SUPER=01-David Moore/Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=come to mind]
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[VO-NAT]
The fire was out when officials arrived at the church, but the front doors were damaged. The investigation has been turned over to federal authorities.
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[ACC-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=03-12 TC57:44]
[GRAPHIC=TECH/ACC 6240]
The vote by the ACC presidents late yesterday to expand the conference has left Tech fans and administrators alike wondering what the future holds. [***TECH/ACC/BIG EAST IN MONITOR]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Mike & Shannon/Pulpit]
Mike Stevens spent today on campus in Blacksburg where folks are on pins and needles. Shannon it's the waiting that is always the hard part.
[LIVE=Mike Full/Pulpit]
[SUPER=@mike1;]
And right now Tech doesn't know if it will get new home on Tobacco Road or end up homeless in the Big East.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Football Coach; :08]
[SUPER=01-Billy Hite/VT Assistant Coach & UNC Class of 1974; :46]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Henrickson/VT Women's Head Basketball Coach; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=...PRETTY QUICK."]
(-----------)
((FRANK BEAMER:)) (( The optimism is what you would expect from Beamer - what Tech fans would like is some level headedness. North Carolina alum Billy Hite - has been working his ACC connections on behalf of the Hokies asking for help and for common sense to prevail. ((BILLY HITE:)) Beamer and Hite were busy trying to keep Tech in the game, a game that for many fans started and now may end way to abruptly.)) ((BONNIE HENRICKSON:))
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[LIVE=Mike Full/Pulpit]
This is one of those things where friends have become enemies and visa versa. A several people told me today - we're finding out that there are a lot of snakes in grass.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Mike & Shannon/Pulpit]

[AFC]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC39:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Leaders of a Lynchburg non-profit group say they'll turn up the heat on two city council members who voted to cut their funding last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night; :00]

Julian Adams and Robert Garber voted against giving 44-thousand dollars to the Alliance for Families and Children.. money that would have helped fund child care and substance abuse programs.
Adams and Garber say the city doesn't have the money to give non-profit groups.. and that it's wrong to fund an agency that employs councilwoman Joan Foster.
Foster's allies disagree.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:14:49]
[IN Q=Ms. Foster has]
((LARRY HOLLOWAY/ALLIANCE BOARD CHAIRMAN: MS. FOSTER HAS WORKED HARD FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE SHE SHOULD BE PERSECUTED FOR THE GOOD JOB THAT SHE HAS DONE AND DEFINITELY THE CHILDREN AND THIS ORGANIZATION SHOULDN'T SUFFER BECAUSE OF THE PETTY POLITICS.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Holloway/Alliance Board Chairman;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=the petty politics.]
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[VO-NAT]

The money represented 20 percent of the child care program budget and 40 percent of the substance abuse program.

Alliance officials say they'll look for funds to keep the programs going elsewhere.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Relatives say a little girl who fell 30 feet down an embankment is beating the odds tonight.
We'll have the latest on her condition when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And see how crews are creating a solid foundation for an area historic home.
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[University-Diversity]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC46:18]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2 Shot]
The debate over Affirmative Action for admissions is usually found on college campuses.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2 Shot]
But some area high school students also have plenty to say about the issue, since they're the ones most directly affected.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith-Shannon/Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens joins us now in our continuing look at University Diversity. Keith and Shannon, I sat down recently with some juniors at Christiansburg High School
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

who in a few months will start filling out college applications.
(+++++++)
[University Diversity FS] So it's no surprise then that they too are interested in the debate, and whether the outcome will have any impact on their futures.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Veronica Park; :00]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/March; :13]
[SUPER=01-Marlin Reeves; :24]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :35]
[SUPER=01-Brittiny Shadel; :46]
[SUPER=01-Jason Diggs; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Becka Rankin; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=SOON FIND OUT]
(([SOT 2025]
[RUNS10] ((VERONICA PARK: I JUST DON'T THINK A MINORITY SHOULD BE ADMITTED OVER A WHITE PERSON WHEN THEY ARE LIKE...THEY HAVE LOWER GRADES OR THEY'RE LESS QUALIFIED 2035)) [FOOTAGE OF PROTESTS] When Virginia Tech's board of visitors voted earlier this year to end affirmative action, the decision angered not only some of its own students, [FOOTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL] but many prospective ones as well.
[SOT 3130]
[RUNS11] ((MARLIN REEVES: THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ME. AND IT MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN THEIR HEADS AWAY FROM VIRGINIA TECH AND SAY, 'WELL YOU KNOW IF THEY COULD DO THIS THEN THEY MUST NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT HAVING A DIVERSE CAMPUS.' 3141)) But for others, the reaction was just the opposite. Brittiny Shadel says she wants to attend Virginia Tech to become an engineer, but she doesn't want special treatment because she's a girl.
[SOT 3405]
[RUNS07] ((BRITTINY SHADEL: A THOUGHT THAT RAN THROUGH MY HEAD WAS WELL THAT MEANS WHEN I GET IN IT'S ON MY OWN STANDING AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN OVER A GUY WHO WAS MORE QUALIFIED 3412)) While Virginia Tech may not be on the top of all of their lists, the students say they do want to attend a college that has a diverse population.
[SOT 24:27]
[RUNS21] ((REPORTER: DOES IT MATTER TO YOU THE SIZE OF A MINORITY POPULATION AT A COLLEGE AS FAR AS YOU CHOOSING TO GO THAT COLLEGE? JASON DIGGS: YES, MOST DEFINITELY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO STEP OUT OF TOUCH WITH MY CULTURE. I WANT TO GO TO A PLACE LIKE MARLIN SAID EARLIER WHERE I'M COMFORTABLE LEARNING48))
[SOT 3431]
[RUNS13] ((BECKA RANKIN: I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MIXTURE JUST BECAUSE I LIKE TO HEAR DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND JUST COMING FROM A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE HIGH SCHOOL I DON'T THINK I'M GETTING THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE OF A MIXTURE 3444)) [MONTAGE OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS] Whether affirmative action is the only way to make sure that happens is something these five students, along with the rest of the country will soon find out. ))
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[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether race can be a factor in college admissions no later than next month.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith-Shannon /Microwave;]
Keith and Shannon tomorrow we will wrap up our University Diversity with a look at a minority program at Virginia Tech that is now under fire as a result of this Affirmative Action controversy.

[National-Guard]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC1:10:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The 229th is coming home next week.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 27;]
The Army National Guard Chemical Company will return to its Roanoke quarters one week from today, less than three months after leaving for Fort Lee. The unit will remain on active service through June 7th, but the convoy home is due to arrive here next Wednesday.
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[Trailer-Park]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-20 TC18:35]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Residents of the Bath County Trailer Park may be allowed to stay.
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[VO-NAT - :30+]
[SUPER=03-Bath Co./February 7;]
Cedar Creek Associates has agreed to buy and maintain the park effective June first. The company is based in Pennsylvania, but has ties to the area. The park's current owner had told residents that unless he could sell the park, he would clear most of the lots. Bath County officials say they're optimistic they'll get a 1-point-4 million dollar grant from the state. If approved, the grant would pay for upgrades to the park's roads and sewer system, as well as provide financial assistance and workforce development services for residents.
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[Stocks]

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

Worries that the economy may remain sluggish in the months ahead sent stocks lower. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/31.43/8647.82/y/4.77/1534.91;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW fell 31 points.
NASDAQ dropped five.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.68/52.20/h/0.25/33.43/i/0.04/25.57/h/0.09/71.05/i/0.38/73.94;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.14/9.28/i/0.01/6.27/h/0.27/59.97/i/0.20/41.61/h/0.06/28.61;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.05/6.54/h/0.91/33.33/h/0.46/15.25/i/0.03/21.68/h/0.19/5.89;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.07/6.96/i/0.21/59.06/h/0.03/37.42/i/0.25/39.33/i/1.59/53.90;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Parkway-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC3:12:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Relatives say a Roanoke girl severly injured in a fall is beating the odds.
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[VO-NAT :18.2]
Tessa Milliner suffered head injuries after slipping more than
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Sunday;]
30-feet down an embankment along the Roanoke River Sunday. Earlier this week the nine year old's family quoted doctors as saying she had "no chance of recovery". She is still in critical condition but, her aunt, Rebecca Miller, says Tessa is getting better.
(///// SOT AT :18.2 /////)
[SOT 16:53:47-16:54:03]
[IN Q=She's showing some improvement...]
((REBECCA MILLER/AUNT: SHE'S SHOWING SOME IMPROVEMENT AS FAR AS RESPONDING TO STIMULI AND SQUEEZING HER MOM'S HAND. SO SHE'S DOING A WHOLE LOT BETTER. I MEAN, THEY GAVE HER A SLIM TO NONE CHANCE SO THIS IS PRETTY MUCH A MIRACLE THAT SHE'S IMPROVING DAY BY DAY.))
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Miller/Aunt;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=improving day by day.]
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[VO NAT :05] The nine year old's being treated at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville.
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[Roberson-House]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAS=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC-1:30:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A piece of history in Lexington is getting a lot of support these days.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
Restoration work on the Roberson-Phalen (RAH-ber-sun FAY-len) house has begun. Last week crews lifted the house nearly 5 feet with hydraulic jacks so a new foundation can be built to shore up the home. In December, the Historic Lexington Foundation bought the property and plans to sell it to a private buyer who would then make further renovations. The house was built around 1826, and once served as a Methodist Church. Work on the foundation is expected to take about 6 weeks.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 Sports - more from the Hokies on what is Tech-nically a concerning conference situation. We'll also hear from one of the men who voted no for expansion,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and former New York Knicks great Dave DeBusschere is dead tonight after suffering a heart attack.
(------------)

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-145 12129TC]
[GRAPHIC=acc/big east]

The ACC-Big East rumblings are certainly being felt in Blacksburg this evening. The Hokies are working the phones and every possible source they can to try and make sure they get an invitation to join the new 12 team Atltantic Coast Conference.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Football Coach; :25]
[SUPER=01-Seth Greenberg/Va. Tech Basketball Coach; 1:05]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Henrickson/Va. Tech Women's Head Coach; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=...ALL OF US."]
(( Despite the appearance of this serene drill field moment, it has not been a beautiful day in the neighborhood for the Hokies. From the athletic fields on the western side of the campus to the administrative offices - there is uncertainty about the Hokies' future and which conference the school's athletes and coaches will end up serving. ((FRANK BEAMER: 412TC)) Beamer spent part of the morning meeting with athletic director Jim Weaver and school president Charles Steger. Weaver told us that due to the urgency of the matter he did not have time to talk and refused to do an interview. His latest hire believes that Weaver will get the job done. ((SETH GREENBERG: 1236TC)) Maybe so - but football drives the athletic department and if Tech doesn't get in the ACC and the Big East falls apart - every team on campus will feel the fallout.)) ((BONNIE HENRICKSON: 933TC))
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[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=ACC/BIG EAST]
The Big East meetings are begin this Saturday in Ponte Vedra, Florida. There will no doubt be a major push to keep the conference intact. Most feel the odds of that happening are not that great, unless Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese can somehow pull a Notre Dame out of his hat.

[S-UNC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-141 13951tc]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST/ACC]

North Carolina and Duke voted NO on the ACC expansion issue. Their reasons are simple -
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :00]
Both schools cherish the conference's basketball roots and neither is ready to let football instead of roundball make the rules.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THERE IS THE SENSE...]
[SUPER=01-James Moeser/North Carolina Chancellor; :02]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...ARE BIG."]
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[S-Dave]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-139 TC13944]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

The NBA is mourning the loss of 62 year old Dave Debusschere tonight. The 62 year old suffered a massive heart attack earlier today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA; :00]

In 1997, Debuschere was voted as one of the league's 50 greatest players. He won NBA titles in 1970 and again in 1973 with the Knicks.
Debusschere who averaged just over 16 points per game during his 12 year career was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.
(------------)

[S-FFE]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Dan River High School has a new head football coach. Van Turner is the new head Wildcat replacing Ken Meadors who left to take the head job at Barlett Yancey High School. Turner comes to Dry Fork from Weddington High School in Unio n County, North Carolina just outside of Charlotte.