WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 08/25/03

[News-Heads]

(---------------)

[VO-NAT]

Two deadly bombings, and more than 40 people confirmed dead in India.
Authorities suspect Muslim militant groups may be responsible.
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And investigators in Roanoke say they have an idea about who was behind a suspicious fire over the weekend.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[SS=None]
After a beautiful Sunday the heat and humidity's on the rise. I'll have your work week forecast.
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=KIM 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...

[Verizon]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC-1:46:11]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon]

Verizon and its labor union could soon settle their differences.
Negotiators with the company and the union representing 78 thousand of its east coasts emplyees are said to be close to an agreement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 03-29 tc 1:16:51]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday; ]

Union employees began their fourth week without a contract. Local workers held a picket in Roanoke Saturday, saying talks with the company had slowed down. Negotiators say they made significant progress at the bargaining table over the past several days -- enough so, that the end appears to be within reach.
A spokeswoman for the Communications Workers of America says talks yesterday centered on a few remaining issues --but she declined to be specific.
Talks resume today.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon]

Both sides have been negotiating since June. Government mediators joined the talks to avert a strike planned for earlier this month that could have affected service from Virginia to Maine.

[Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC-1:58:27]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Roanoke investigators say a weekend fire was of a suspicious origin. They also believe they know who may have set it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday Night;]
Firefighters got the call Saturday night to 924 Ninth Street Southeast, near 9th and Murray. When they arrived, they found flames spreading from the back of the building into the attic. Investigators were brought in to help determine the cause.
They quickly learned the home was vacant and had apparently been so for some time. Yesterday, neighbors were looking at the damage and making sure their own homes were intact.
[SUPER=04-Yesterday;]
Officials estimate the loss at 25 - thousand dollars.
(------------)

[India]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]

Officials now say explosions in Bombay, India have left at least 42 people dead and 150 others wounded.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bombay, India;]

Authorities say the blasts happened in a crowded jewelry market and at a historical landmark.
They says the bombs were hidden in the trunks of taxicabs, and exploded within five minutes of each other.
There's no claim of responsibility, but officials say the incidents come on the same day as the release of a long- anticipated archaeological report.
Both Hindus and Muslims claim a religious site in northern India.
The report indicated there was an ancient structure there, but didn't confirm who actually owned it.
(------------)

[Colombia-Blast]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

There was a similar scene in Colombia yesterday--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Meta, Colombia;]

The army says two bombs ripped through a crowded riverboat in central Colombia, killing at least six people and injuring 28 others.
A six- year- old boy was among the victims.
Officials blame the bombing attack on anti- government rebels.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

In Iraq-- strange bedfellows.
The U-S is allegedly recruiting former Saddam Hussein spies, as the Red Cross begins pulling out.
Kimberly Dozier is in Baghdad with the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kimberly Dozier/CBS News; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nada Doumani/International Red Cross; :16]
[SUPER=03-Najaf, Iraq/Yesterday; :26]
[SUPER=01-Paul Bremer/U. S. Administrator in Iraq; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=Dozier, CBS News, Baghdad.]
((
THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IS DRAWING DOWN ITS STAFF HERE, AFTER IT HAS RECEIVED WORD THAT IT MAY BE THE NEXT TERRORIST TARGET, AFTER LAST WEEK'S ATTACK ON UN HEADQUARTERS.

(ROLL TAPE) Reuters
The Red Cross says it will leave only about fifty foreign staff in Iraq.

(SOT -)
Font: NADA DOUMANI Spokesperson, ICRC (Reuters) "Given the volatile environment in which we are working, and the level of violence that is prevailing, still in this capital, we canot but take the appropriate measures."
Font: -Najaf, Iraq, yesterday (Al Jazeera)) The violence continues... Saddam loyalists are being blamed for this attack on a leading Shia cleric in Najaf, south of Baghdad Sunday, killing three bodyguards. The cleric is known for his moderate approach to occupation forces.

(UN HQ rubble) (CBS)
U.S. officials are getting tired of simply reacting to the barrage. As they continue to search for solid evidence at what's left of the UN

(Reuters)
headquarters...the Americans are launching a new offensive - an intelligence offensive.
They are recruiting members of the old Mukhaberat - Iraq's secret police.
(soldiers at bomb site)

U.S. officials will not confirm the report - they merely say, they are leaving no stone unturned, until they catch the killers.

(SOT
Font:PAUL BREMER US administrator, Iraq Saturday (Reuters)
"THEY MAY PULL OFF AN OPERATION OR TWO, OR MAYBE 10, BUT THEY WILL FAIL. "

(DOZIER ON CAM CLOSE) BUT AL QAEDA AND AN IRAQI GROUP CALLED MOHAMMED'S
ARMY SAY THE CAMPAIGN HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN. BOTH GROUPS CLAIM TO HAVE CARRIED OUT LAST WEEK'S ATTACK ON THE UN - BOTH PROMISE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. KIMBERLY DOZIER CBS NEWS BAGHDAD. ))
[WX-Tease] ((KIM TOSS TO LEO)) [8/25/2003]
[SS=NONE]LEO in WX-CENTER

[WXPRO/FULL] SATELLITE TEMPS WX STORY

[SS=NONE]

(LEO TOSS to KIM)

[Human-Services]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Another piece of Lynchburg's downtown revitalization puzzle fell into place this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Local and state officials helped dedicate the city's new Human Services building on Ninth Street.
The city's overhaul of the former J-W Ould (old) building is one of about fifteen projects that are helping reshape the appearance of downtown.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:13:24]
[IN Q=It is a]
((CARL HUTCHERSON/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: IT IS A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON DOWNTOWN FOR YEARS TO COME. EACH TIME WE HAVE ONE OF THESE CEREMONIES, I BELIEVE IT SPARKS A RENEWED SENSE OF ENERGY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN DOWNTOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Mayor]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=being done in downtown.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new building will provide social services to thousands of clients and their families.
The project was about ten years in the planning.
(------------)

[Church-Abuse]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Authorites say a Massachusetts state prison inmate will be charged in the murder of a pedophile priest.
An autopsy is scheduled, but prison officials say John Geoghan (GAY- gun) was beaten and strangled inside his jail cell.
Jennifer Donelan reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA;]
[SUPER=01-Michael Linscott/Abuse Victim;]
[SUPER=01-John King/Abuse Victim;]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Donelan/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Donelan, CBS News.]
((
AN AUTOPSY WILL BE PERFORMED TODAY ON THE MAN WHO HELPED PLUNGE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH INTO THE PITS OF A SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL. FATHER JOHN GEOGHAN WAS MURDERED IN A MASSACHUSETTS MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON OVER THE WEEKEND, ALLEGEDLY AT THE HANDS OF FELLOW INMATE JOSEPH DRUCE.

sot: MICHAEL LINSCOTT/ABUSE VICTIM
"HE GOT OFF EASY, ITS THE REST OF US WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIFE ON A DAILY BASIS."
VICTIMS OF THE CONVICTED PEDOPHILE PRIEST ARE EXPRESSING MIXED REACTIONS.

SOT: JOHN KING/ABUSE VICTIM
"I DON'T FEEL ANY JOY IN ANY OF THIS I FEEL SADNESS."
OFFICIALS SAY DRUCE, WHO IS ALREADY SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE AND ADMITS TO BEING A NEO NAZI, WILL BE CHARGED WITH MURDER...A CRIME THAT NOW APPEARS PREMEDITATED. ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PRISON GUARDS UNION...DRUCE JAMMED THE DOOR OF GEOGHAN'S CELL CLOSED...BEFORE TYING UP, GAGGING AND STRANGLING THE DISGRACED PRIEST TO DEATH.
DRUCE'S FATHER TOLD A BOSTON NEWSPAPER HIS SON WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD.
AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE HOW GEOGHAN, A MAN ACCUSED OF MOLESTING MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN, MOSTLY BOYS...COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE WITH DRUCE. BUT IT APPEARS THAT JUST ONE PRISON GUARD WAS ON DUTY IN THE UNIT, WHERE PRISONERS IN NEED OF SPECIAL PROTECTION - ARE CONFINED.
JENNIFER DONELAN, CBS NEWS
))[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Is the next generation of high tech cars going to help or hurt distracted drivers? We'll look at that after our break.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Plus we'll see why one entertainer is in trouble with the law... again.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

[Distracted-Driving]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

There's nothing unusual about chatting on your cellphone, or eating lunch while you're driving.
But doing those things can be dangerous.
Three out of every 10 car accidents are believed to be caused by distracted drivers.
But as Jon Frankel reports, some automakers are now tackling this problem head- on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Dearborn, MI; :00]
[SUPER=04-AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety; :57]
[SUPER=01-Robert Darbelnet/AAA; 1:35 QUICK]
[SUPER=04-General Motors Corp.; 2:02]
[SUPER=01-Ron Miller/Ford Motor Company; 3:12]
[SUPER=01-Jon Frankel/CBS News; 3:17]
[RUNS=3:21]
[OUT Q=Frankel, CBS News, Dearborn, MI.]
(( SCRIPT

(font: Dearborn, Michigan)
(nats hydraulics-- then b-roll of distracted woman inside the lab)

(TRACK 1) INSIDE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY... IS A DEVICE RIGHT OUT OF
SCIENCE FICTION.... BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED LAB ... TO MEASURE DRIVER DISTRACTION.
FORD CALLS THIS CONTRAPTION "VIRTTEX" (VER-tex): (short for) VIRTUAL TEST TRACK EXPERIMENT.
LAB DIRECTOR JEFF GREENBERG TOOK ME FOR A TEST DRIVE.

(SOT -- Jeff off cam) "Why don't you go ahead and just dial your
office, okay, using the handheld phone." (:05)

(TRACK 2) IT'S NOT EASY BEING UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.... KNOWING EVERY
EYE MOVEMENT, EVERY RESPONSE TO A SWERVING CAR IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED.

(SOT -- Jon-- looking haggard) "How many times did I miss the guy
behind me?" (;02)
(SOT --voice off cam) "Just observing you, I think you did not miss
any." (Jon) "Wow".

(font: AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety)
(over great vo of tape from the study)
(TRACK 3) BUT OUT IN THE REAL WORLD, A RECENT STUDY BY THE TRIPLE-A
FOLLOWED DRIVERS FOR TWO YEARS... AND EVEN WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT CAMERAS WERE ROLLING, DRIVERS DID WHAT DRIVERS OFTEN DO.
READ BEHIND THE WHEEL....
WRITE BEHIND THE WHEEL....
AND EAT BEHIND THE WHEEL.

(quick nats, then vo from ford tape of guy driving while eating a bagel,
talking on his cell phone, and downloading e-mail from a PC, while a computerized voice shouts instructions and another voice says, 'you've got mail')
(TRACK 4) THIS TAPE MADE BY FORD IS A SPOOF OF HOW EASILY DRIVERS
CAN GET DISTRACTED. (Nat pop: 'you've got mail!') BUT FOR MANY DRIVERS- (optional) AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE- THIS ISN'T TOO MUCH OF AN EXAGGERATION.

(nat break, highway noise)
(our b-roll of good people doing bad things while driving)
(TRACK 5) AMERICAN ROADS ARE FILLED WITH DISTRACTED DRIVERS, OR AS
SOME MAY CALL THEM... ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. SINCE ALMOST A THIRD OF ALL CRASHES CAN BE TRACED TO INATTENTIVE MOTORISTS.....
( gfx 1-- states that have distracted driving laws)

. ...EVERY SINGLE STATE IS NOW AT LEAST CONSIDERING A LAW AIMED AT DISTRACTED DRIVERS
BUT ONLY ONE-- NEW YORK-- HAS GONE SO FAR AS TO BAN THE USE OF HANDHELD CELL PHONES, WHILE DRIVING.

(Accident scene- vo sound under)
(SOT Robert Darbelnet/AAA: 15:16:00) "This year some 42,000 people
will perish on our highways.// (pop him up and font) (15:16:22) "The bottom line is that drivers need to keep their eyes on the road and their minds on driving."

(B-roll guy on a cellphone)
(TRACK 6) BUT ARE CELLULAR PHONES GETTING A BAD RAP?
(gfx 2-- what people do while driving)

THE TRIPLE-A STUDY FOUND THAT ON THE ROAD, ONLY 30% USED THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING, COMPARED TO 40% READING OR WRITING, 46% GROOMING, AND 71% EATING OR DRINKING.

(nats up-- GM video cartoon)
(TRACK 7) ANOTHER AUTOMAKER HAS ALSO TAKEN AIM AT DISTRACTED DRIVERS.

GENERAL MOTORS HAS A PROGRAM CALLED "SENSEABLE (sensible) DRIVING". VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE COULD SOON BECOME A STAPLE IN DRIVERS ED CLASSES.

(GM TAPE --nats up): "whoooooaaaa", (then narrator) "This guy's lucky he didn't end up in the ditch"

(b-roll tiny cameras and dashboard displays)
(TRACK 8) BACK AT FORD, THIS S-U-V HAS ALL THE NEWEST BELLS AND
WHISTLES.

(SOT - tight of screen--Ron Miller/Ford Motor Co.) "Pre-crash system
technology, being able to see things (screen changes), wireless proximity is another one...."

(vo weather display, then screen for radio/cd/satellite radio)
(TRACK 9) PLUS THINGS LIKE THE LATEST WEATHER REPORTS.... AND A WIDE
CHOICE OF ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS...

(SOT - Jon) "What else can I take into account right now? What can I
change the screen to?"
(SOT 5:11 - tight of screen-- Ron) "There's the temperature of each
tire, and then there's the pressure..." (:03)

(Vo of cool stuff on the dashboard)
(TRACK 10) ALL THESE GIZMOS MAY LOOK COOL, BUT WHAT CONCERNS FORD
ENGINEERS IS HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM JUST STARING HERE.... (vo p.o.v. looking out front window-- 6:26) RATHER THAN HERE.

(SOT 8:35- Jon behind the wheel) "A lot of the thing that you're putting
into these cars, which suggest that you're trying to make them safer
(:05) // is that ultimately what it's gonna do, or is it offering up
more distractions, so that in your effort to make it safer, you're actually making it more dangerous?" (Pan over to Ron) "uh, well we hope not to do that."

(outside the suv, use dashboard display video to cover last part of
bite, plus pad):
(SOT - Ron) "We want you to be safe and we're gonna make sure we can
give you all that technology but we want to do it in the most non-disruptive manner possible."

(TRACK 11) JON FRANKEL, CBS NEWS, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
))

[Bobby-Brown]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

There's no telling what might have "distracted" singer Bobby Brown.
He's behind bars again for violating his probation, and NOT showing up for court- ordered community service, drug counseling, or a drug test.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Brown was arrested Friday night while having dinner at an Atlanta restaurant with his wife, Whitney Houston.
A patron spotted him in the restaurant and phoned police. Authorities say Brown remains in jail, awaiting a court appearance.
A warrant for Brown's arrest was issued last month.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up next on the newscast,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
we'll tell you why one Roanoke retiree had faith he could make a bicycle trip across the country.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[11School-Prayer]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-21 TC-1:52:09]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The new school year began today for many students in our area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Last night many students attended a Back to School Prayer Festival at Elmwood Park. The goal was to encourage teachers, staff and children to pray for a successful school year. A Roanoke pastor got the idea last year after organizing a similar event for his church members.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:34:35:25]
[IN Q=My inspiration is to]
((BOYD BULLOCK/HAVEN OF HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH PASTOR: MY INSPIRATION IS TO GIVE THE TEACHERS, FACULTY, STAFF, THE ENTIRE CITY THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE IN YOU, YOU'RE CAPABLE AND THIS SCHOOL YEAR'S GOING TO BE THE BEST YEAR EVER.))
[SUPER=01-Boyd Bullock/Haven of Hope Community Church Pastor;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=the best year ever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Bullock says teachers are blessed with the job of molding tomorrow's leaders.
(------------)

[11Ritchie]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-37 TC-00:35]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Jim Ritchie is a man on a roll.
He has spent much of his summer on a cross country bicycle trip. Jennifer Wishon tells us what motivated his journey.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Not too many people]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Bicycled across America; :12]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2; :48]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Roanoke]
(([SOT 10:51:58 ]
((HOW YA DOING)) Not too many people get past Jim Ritchie without hearing a kind word. Maybe that's because he's just returned from a trip where he learned a lot by talking.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:37:58:03]
[IN Q=If I'd been in a car]
((JIM RITCHIE: IF I'D BEEN IN A CAR I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE PEOPLE I MET THIS SUMMER AND ALMOST HOURLY I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING AND WHAT I WAS DOING.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=what I was doing]
Ritchie's trip fulfilled one of his goals of retirement... Bicycle across America, while sharing his faith.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:40:56:20]
[IN Q=Physically I was ready]
((PHYSICALLY I WAS READY, THANK GOD I WAS READY, BECAUSE THE SECOND DAY OUT OF SEATTLE WE STARTED CLIMBING. [INSERT PICTURE HERE] CLIMBING STEVEN'S PASS WHICH WAS A 25 MILE CLIMB.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=a 25 mile climb]
The 60- year- old cycled 4- thousand miles in less than three months with a group called Wheel Power. Surprisingly, the plains posed the biggest challenge.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:42:20:22]
[IN Q=The toughest physical]
((THE TOUGHEST PHYSICAL PART OF THE TRIP WAS NOT THE MOUNTAINS, IT WAS THE HEAD WINDS IN SOUTH DAKOTA.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=in South Dakota]
Ten of them made it all the way across the country with [INSERT ROAD DIRECTIONS HERE 10:48:29] instructions like these to guide their way. But for Ritchie, living his dream has been an uphill battle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:44:14]
[IN Q=A year and a half]
((A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I WAS PREPARING TO DO A SELF CONTAINED TRIP WITH ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, I SUFFERED BLOCKED ARTERIES AND HAD ANGIOPLASTY.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=and had angoplasty]
Ritchie's team burned thousands of calories per day, but they picked up [INSERT ROAD TREASURES HERE 10:49:16] plenty of "road treasures" to make up for them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:46:40:19]
[IN Q=I thank God everyday]
((I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AT MY AGE AND PHYSICAL CONDITION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND TO RIDE A BICYCLE ACROSS AMERICA AND TO SHARE MY FAITH.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=share my faith]
Ritchie says too often we speed through life without stopping to enjoy it, that's why he enjoyed cruising through a summer at 13 miles per hour. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Roanoke.))
[Weather] [NOON WEATHER] [8/25/2003] [TWO SHOT]

[WXPRO/FULL]

[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]

[SUPER=#582;]
[CK/VIEWERNET;]
[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [WXPRO/FULL] FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN 61 points. The NASDAQ has dropped 13.

[super=460-y/61/y/13;]

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Still ahead in sports, the Martinsville Astros hope to win a league championship before the week is done.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And we'll tell you why some long time football coaches are not happy about this season's changes.
(----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Baseball]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-154 TC1825]
[GRAPHIC=Baseball]

The Martinsville Astros will close out the Appalachian League season tonight at Danville, but then the Astros turn their attention to the Appalachian League's Championship series. The best of three gets underway tomorrow night in Elizabethton.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jorge Orta/M-Astros Manager; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=is gonna be wonderful."]
(------------)

[S-Hickam]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-156 TC2339]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

The high school football season gets underway just four nights from today, and the Blue Ridge District is now a league divided. Five teams remain in the Blue Ridge, while six former members will create the River Ridge District. And two of the area's veteran coaches aren't particularly fond of that change.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[SUPER=01-Jim Hickam/30th Season as Northside Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Willis White/21st Season as Salem Head Coach; :27]
[RUNS=:43]
[OUT Q=MOVE ON WITH THAT."]
(---------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
The split puts Northside and Salem in opposite districts - the Vikes stay in the Blue Ridge, while the Spartans now anchor the River Ridge. Northside will be the next team featured in our preseason Friday Football Extra previews tonight at six.
[Quickcast]

[WXPRO/FULL] LAST LOOK
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