WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 07/04/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Joy]

Today on News 7 at 6, celebrations of the birth of the nation kick off around the region
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[VO-NAT]
and on the nation's 227th birthday , we'll meet one local woman who has been alive for nearly half of those.
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[Sports-head]

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

Tonight on News 7 Sports, more reaction on the ACC expansion, Winston Cup drivers try to get a handle on the Daytona International Speedway, and
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[VO-NAT]

former Virginia Cavalier Billy McMullen preps for Eagles training camp which is just three weeks away.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Isolated thunderstorms will fade quickly tonight allowing local communities to light up the skies with fireworks. Details ahead.
[ANCHOR=Joy]
News 7 at 6 starts now. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
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[VO-NAT]

Fireworks and music will fill the sky tonight, as America's hometowns celebrate our nation's Independence.
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[ANCHOR=Joy]

Good evening, I'm Joy Sutton.

[Music-Americas]

[ANCHOR=myr]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC-58:25]
[GRAPHIC=4th of July]

Definately not the same old thing. That's how organizers for this year's Music for the Americans describe this years' Roanoke event.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Joy / Myranda Microwave;]
Myranda Stephens is at Victory Stadium with a preview of what we'll see. Myranda.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

[LIVE INTERVIEW]

[SUPER=01-Jan Wilkins/Event Producer; ]

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[VO-NAT]
[PRODUCER CALLS FOR VIDEO]

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[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

[DOUBLE BOXES=Joy/Myranda Microwave;]

[Concord-Parade]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-18 1:59:01]
[GRAPHIC=4th of July]

Everyone, it seems, loves a parade.. especially on the Fourth of July and especially in Campbell County.
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[SOT ]
((NATSOT OF SIREN))
[RUNS=03]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

In Concord, hundreds of people turned out for the annual Ruritan Fourth of July parade through downtown.
Emergency vehicles, motorcycles and patriotic music were the order of the day as residents lined the roadway to watch the procession pass.
And it was hard to find anyone who wasn't sporting a red-white-and-blue theme.
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[SOT 10:37:08]
[IN Q=I'm very patriotic]
((MARGUERITTE JORDAN/PARADE WATCHER: I'M VERUY PATRIOTIC. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY AND OUR COUNTRY, FLAG. I JUST LOVE PATRIOTIC MUSIC, I LOOKED AT JERRY FALWELL OVERNIGHT AND MY HEART WAS LIFTED TO THE BRIM.))
[SUPER=01-Margueritte Jordan/Parade Watcher]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=to the brim.]
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[VO-NAT]

Many parade watchers said they felt a special need to celebrate the Fourth this year after the events of the last few months in Iraq.
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[Lexington]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC-33:24]
[GRAPHIC=July 4th]

Americans celebrate Independence Day in many different ways.
That was evident today in Lexington where the festivities began with balloon rides over the city, and a bicycle parade down Main Street.
Joe Dashiell went along for the ride.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
[SUPER=01-Larry Broomall/Sunrise Rotary Club]
[SUPER=01-Carla Moore; ]
[SUPER=@joe2;]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=STD]

((With flags flying downtown, Lexington wears it patriotism with pride...
But as the sun rose on this Independence Day, colors also unfurled on the VMI Parade ground. [NAT SOUND OF BALLOONS]
The hot air balloons had to wait for the fog to lift, before they could safely launch.
But the skies cleared, and the BB&T Balloon Classic was under way.
[SOT]
[IN Q=My wife and I went up last night]
((MY WIFE AND I WENT UP LAST NIGHT AND HAD A WONDERFUL RIDE. AND THEN YOU COME OUT AND WATCH ALL THE BALLOONS TAKE OFF, ALL THE COLOR AND THE PEOPLE UP THERE EXCITED. IT'S JUST A THRILL.))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=it's just a thrill.]

A thrill on Main Street as well, where Uncle Sam lead the way on his unicycle... and a few hundred children followed on their bikes.
The bicycle parade is another fourth of July tradition that Lexington families look forward to.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

The children saddled up and peddled from the Rockbridge Regional Library to the campus of Washington and lee University.
It was a quick trip, and for many who decorated their bikes with flags and colorful streamers, the patriotic preparations lasted longer than the ride. [NAT SOUND]
Joe Dashiell News 7 Lexington))

[Poplar-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-17 1:20:19]
[GRAPHIC=July 4th]

One of the men most responsible for why we have a Fourth of July to celebrate spent a good portion of his time in central Virginia.
At Poplar Forest, thousands of people turned out to learn more about Thomas Jefferson and his contributions to our country.
Steve Smallshaw brings us the sights and sounds of today's celebration.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=natsot ]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Karen Sherbin/Poplar Forest; :25]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=to find that out. (music fades out).]

(( [natsot 11:30:55]
((HAVE A FLAG WHILE YOU DECIDE WHERE TO GO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.))
[RUNS= 05]
[SOT 11:52:28]
((I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THOMAS JEFFERSON'S POPLAR FOREST. OF COURSE, MR. JEFFERSON WAS THE DRAFTER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SO YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME ON THE RIGHT DAY.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=the right day.]
[natsot music ]
[RUNS= 03]
[SOT 12:09:22]
((KAREN SHERBIN/POPLAR FOREST: THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO REALLY CELEBRATE AMERICA. IT GIVES PEOPLE AN IDEA OF WHY WE HAVE THIS COUNTRY TO BEGIN WITH. THOMAS JEFFERSON AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO SWORE ALLEGIANCE TO FREEDOM AND THEY WORKED VERY HARD AT IT TO FORM A NEW COUNTRY WHICH WE'RE ALL BENEFITTING FROM TODAY.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=from today.]
[natsot music ]
[RUNS= 02]
[SOT 12:10:07]
((SHERBIN: THIS YEAR'S ALSO VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION. SO WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL LIVING HISTORY INTERPRETERS HERE TO HELP BRING ALIVE THE STORY OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, WHICH REALLY BEGAN BECAUSE OF THE VISION OF JEFFERSON WHO WANTED TO EXPAND DEMOCRACY ACROSS THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=Clark expedition.]
[natsot blacksmith 11:56:52]
[RUNS= 02]
[SOT 11:57:11]
((THEY COULD MAKE ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 100 NAILS AN HOUR OF VARIOUS SHAPES, SIZES AND TYPES.))
[RUNS= 06]
[natsot music ]
[RUNS= 01]
[SOT 12:00:15]
((AS IT TURNED OUT, THEY DID HAVE ONE FATALITY.. ONE GUY DIED OF APPENDICITIS.))
[RUNS= 06]
[SOT 12:12:30-:40//12:12:58-03]
((SHERBIN: IT'S A SPECIAL HOOK TO BRING PEOPLE TO POPLAR FOREST. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A NATIONAL TREASURE IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD YOU TEND TO FORGET. BUT THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO REMIND PEOPLE WE'RE HERE. SO THERE'S A LOT HERE AND THE FOURTH OF JULY IS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS TO FIND THAT OUT.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=to find that out.]
[natsot music]
[RUNS= 02] ))

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on the newscast, we'll stay in the patriotic spirit with a man who has transformed his yard into a showcase,
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[VO-NAT]
and also, thousands of people checked out some American classics that rolled into Downtown Roanoke today.
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[Car-Show]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=eki]
[TAPE#=502-03 TC-2:00:41]
[GRAPHIC=4th July]

Classic cars lined the Roanoke City market today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke ]

The second annual Star City Motor Madness cruised into town drawing thousands of car enthusiasts and admirers.
So many unique cars parked downtown that it was difficult to see just how many there were.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=God, I don't have...]
((CHUCK CANNADAY: GOD, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE. THERE IS ROW AFTER ROW OF EM. NOT AN UGLY ONE OUT HERE. ))
[SUPER=01-Chuck Cannaday;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=ugly one out here.]
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[VO-NAT]

This Independence Day, car lovers showed off their hard work giving a glimpse of a time past.
Money from the event will go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation Automotive Gallery.
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[Statues]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-20 TC-57:32]
[GRAPHIC=4th of July]

A Christiansburg man is showing his patriotism all over his front lawn.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
John Harmon retired from the Army in 1973 after serving for more than 21-years. But he's now traded in his military skills for woodcarving. Harmon says it took him about a week to make these servicemen statues, which will be added to his vast collection of other carvings.
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[SOT 6:19]
[IN Q=well i just]
((JOHN HARMON/RETIRED SOLDIER: WELL I JUST SAW IT IN THE BOOK AND I'M RETIRED SO IT GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO 624))
[SUPER=01-John Harmon/Retired Soldier;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=something to do]
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[VO-NAT]
Harmon picked up his hobby two years ago...he says he has no idea how many carvings are in his collection.
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on the newscast, today the nation is celebrating its 227th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
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[VO-NAT]

and one Radford woman is celebrating that and her 1-hundred-fifth birthday. We'll have her story when we return.
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[Henry-Economy]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=502-09 TC-1:33:27]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A familiar face will become Henry County's latest economic director.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Collinsville]

Beth Braswell has been the county's Vice President of Marketing for the Office of Commerce since November 2001.
The Board of Supervisors has now promoted her to economic developer.
She plans to work to diversify the economy while still working with Henry County's troubled textile industry.
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[SOT 8:25]
[IN Q=It is imperative]
((BETH BRASWELL/ECONOMIC DIRECTOR: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE COMPANIES THAT YOU HAVE AND YOU WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THOSE COMPANIES ARE SUCCESSFUL AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN NOT ONLY TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN WHAT THEY HAVE BUT TO HELP THEM GROW.))
[SUPER=01-Beth Braswell/Economic Director]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=them grow]
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[VO-NAT]

Braswell takes over for Wayne Sterling who recently resigned to take a similar position in Kentucky.
Braswell worked for Sterling in South Carolina before coming to Henry County.
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[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Her contract with the county is for two years.
Her salary is less than half the 200-thousand dollars Sterling was making.

[Ferrell]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC-1:02:00]
[GRAPHIC=4th of July]

While the country celebrates its birthday, one Radford woman is celebrating her birthday as well...she's 105-years-old. And as New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens tells us, it's the little things that keep her going.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=it's one thing]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Stella Ferrell/Turns 105 Today; :21]
[SUPER=01-Alma Shelburne/Ferrell's 83-Year-Old Daughter; 1:04]
[SUPER=@Myranda2; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=News 7, Radford]
((It's one thing to live to be a century old,
[SOT 5344]
[RUNS05] ((REPORTER: HOW DO YOU STAY LOOKING SO GOOD? STELLA FERRELL: I DON'T KNOW THAT.)) but try adding on another five years. For Stella Ferrell the secret is in her green thumb.
[SOT 55:25]
[RUNS12] ((VOICE OF STELLA'S GRANDDAUGHTER: GRANDMA? WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO LIVING SO LONG?. STELLA: (LAUGHS) BEING OUTDOORS. WORKING.)) Stella grew up in Radford and graduated from R-U in 1917. To this day, she proudly wears her class ring. After college, Stella worked at a bank in Riner, but was let go when the man she replaced returned from the war.
[SOT 55:51]
[RUNS13] ((FIRST WORLD WAR THEY TOOK ALL THEM BOYS AWAY AND PUT ME IN THE BANKS.)) Stella and her husband John later had three children. Alma, the oldest surviving child, says she has always tried to follow in her mom's footsteps.
[SOT 1:40]
[RUNS08] ((SHE ALWAYS LIVED A GOOD CHRISTIAN LIFE THAT'S THE MAIN THING. AND SHE WAS GOOD TO HER CHILDREN 148)) Who in turn gave Stella five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Afterall, working in the garden is just one of the things that's kept her going. Myranda Stephens, News 7, Radford.))

[Sports tease]

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

Coming up, longtime ACC man Skeeter Francis weighs in on the ACC expansion process, Billy McMullen is ready to fly as an Eagle, and
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[VO-NAT]

Lynchburg's Donna Andrews takes aim at the leaders at Pumpkin Ridge, the site for the US Women's Open.
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[S-Skeeter]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-139 20401TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC/TECH/MIAMI]

The formal acceptance of Virginia Tech and Miami into the Atlantic Coast Conference earlier this week was a mere formality for some folks. But for the man most consider to be "Mister ACC" - the Hokies' arrival in the league was long overdue.
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[SOT]
[IN Q="Virginia Tech...]
[SUPER=01-Marvin "Skeeter" Francis/"Mister ACC"; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...THE CONFERENCE."]
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[VO-NAT CON'T]
[super=03-Greensboro, NC/Tuesday Night; :00]
Francis was a longtime assistant commissioner and service bureau director for the ACC. Before joining the conference in 1969, he served as sports information director at Wake Forest for 15 years. He's seen it all in the ACC's 50 years including the first time it created itself for football reasons.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=YOU KNOW...]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=...a football conference."]
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[S-Billy]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-149 TC12807]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]

NFL training camps open later this month around the country. For former Virginia Cavalier Billy McMullen reports to Eagles camp in Bethlehem, PA on July 25th. McMullen, who finished his college career with 210 receptions is looking forward to playing with Donovan McNabb in a system similar to Virginia's.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Billy McMullen/Eagles Third Round Pick; :00]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=about the same stuff."]

[VO-NAT]

McMullen has been working out in Richmond this summer since mini-camp, to get ready for the accelerated pace of the pro game.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=had a pretty good mini-camp."]
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[ANCHOR=Travis]
[GRAPHIC=nfl]

Coming up tomorrow, we'll hear from McMullen's former Cav teammate Merrill Robertson, who will also be in camp with Philly as a free agent.

[S-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-150 TC0051]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]

Dale Earhardt, Junior starts on the pole for tonight's Winn Dixie 250 Busch race at Daytona. Tomorrow night, the Cup cars take over the spotlight in the Pepsi 400. The third restrictor plate race of the season should be all about handling.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Rusty Wallace/Miller Lite Dodge Driver; :00]
[SUPER=01-Greg Biffle/Grainger Ford Driver; :13]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=at Daytona still."]
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[anchor=travis]
[graphic=nascar]

Happy Hour for the Pepsi 400 is just underway at the World Center of Racing.

[S-Golf]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-142 TC15604]
[GRAPHIC=LPGA]

Mhari McKay of Scotland continues to lead the US Women's Open at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon, but Donna Andrews had a sniff of the lead earlier today in the second round.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-North Plains, OR/ESPN; :00]

The Lynchburg native birdied three of the first five holes today and then check out the nice save from the sand at 14. Andrews would tap that in for par.
Only a triple bogey at 16 kept her from a great round. Andrews fired a 72 and sits at 1-under, just five shots ba(------------) ck of the lead headed to the third round. About half of the field is still on the course out west.