WDBJ 7 news at 11 for 10/01/03

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]

Coming up on News 7-
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[VO-NAT]

A missing teen is found and tonight she tells her story to News 7.
The fight over a methadone clinic in Roanoke County may end up in court.
Plus a huge interstate pileup kills seven people-
and reality TV isn't always fun.. this show goes to prison.
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[ANCHOR =JEan]

News 7 is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

She's been missing for ten days.
Tonight Jenni Northrup's back safe with her parents and telling her story to News 7.
(------------)
[ANCHOR =JEan]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]

[Missing-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC19:25]
[GRAPHIC=Jenni Northrup]

Jenni Northrup was reunited with her parents tonight miles from where she was last seen in Roanoke. [***NORTHRUP GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEan & Teresa /NEwsroom;]

Teresa Hamilton has more on the missing girl's journey across the state.
Jean, 16- year old Jenni Northrup spoke to us by phone tonight. She said she was kidnapped ten days ago in Roanoke.
[LIVE= Teresa /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]

After escaping from her abductors, she says she then wandered the city and eventually hopped a coal train that took her across the state.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week;]
[SUPER=04-Yesterday;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=ended up in Crewe]
((Jenni Northrup's long journey ended in Crewe, Virginia west of Petersburg. That's where just hours ago, the teenager was reunited with her parents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:41:12]
[IN Q=My dad hugged me]
((JENNI NORTHRUP; MY DAD HUGGED ME AND EVERYBODY HUGGED ME AND WAS CRYING. AND MY DAD TOOK OFF THIS SHIRT THAT HAD MY PICTURE ON IT AND SAID JENNI'S MISSING AND GAVE IT TO THE LADY I WAS STAYING WITH. )) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=i was staying with.]

Jenni's ordeal started September 21 in Roanoke.
While going for a walk on Williamson Road, she says she stopped at a car wash and asked someone for a cigarette.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:41:46]
[IN Q=I got into this]
((I GOT INTO THIS TRUCK TO GET THE CIGARETTES OUT AND HE JUST TOLD ME TO STAY IN THE TRUCK. )) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=stay in the truck]

Jenni was able to call her father from a payphone at the Roanoke Weiner Stand across town and used a code word to let him know she was in trouble. She says she was able to escape a day or so later, but was afraid to call her parents again.
Jenni's father says she has a history of bi-polar disorder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:44:37]
[IN Q=I was really]
((I WAS REALLY SCARED TO CALL MY PARENTS BECAUSE I THOUGHT WOULD PUT ME IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL AND I WOULDN'T SEE THEM UNTIL I WAS 18 BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WOULD RUN AWAY. AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT. )) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=go back to that]

Jenni says she stayed in a house in Roanoke for a few days until she heard police coming. She left and eventually hopped a coal train and ended up in Crewe.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Teresa /FULL Newsroom]

Jenni says she was staying with a woman in Crewe until she told her she was underage. They both went to the police and called her parents.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & Teresa /Newsroom;]

Jean, the Northrups will be meeting with Roanoke police for Jenni to go over the events of the past ten days-- before heading back home to North Carolina.

[Methadone-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC1:58:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The company that wants to put a methadone clinic in Roanoke County is prepared to do battle. The Life Center of Galax wants to locate the drug treatment clinic at the corner of Colonial Avenue and Ogden Road against the objections of people who live nearby.
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[VO-NAT 03-39 tc 42:11]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; ]
Today the company issued a statement saying it is willing to look at alternative locations in Roanoke County but is also NOW looking at pursuing its rights to the Colonial Avenue site. The Life Center of Galax says it reached this conclusion after the county originally said zoning at the Colonial Avenue site was conducive to a clinic and then yesterday denied the center a business license. Supervisor Fuzzy Minnix says the bottom line is that the area is not suitable for a drug treatment center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:06:10-- 29]
[IN Q=I THINK ]
((FUZZY MINNIX/ROANOKE CO. SUPERVISOR: I THINK MOST ANY SOUND THINKING INDIVIDUAL COULD SEE THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR THIS AND AS A RESULT OF THE EFFORTS ON EVERYONE'S PART WE CAN FIND ANOTHER PLACE OR COULD TO SOME KIND OF DECISION THE CLINIC SHOULD NOT BE THERE. ))
[SUPER=@minnix; ]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=SHOULD NOT BE THERE.]
(------------)
[anchor=Jean]
[ss=None]
Minnix says the county knew denying the business license would open the county up to possible legal action.

[Anniversary-vigil]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary that the D-C area sniper shootings began-
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockville, MD]

Tonight in Rockville Maryland people came out to remember-
People held candles, sang songs ... and said prayers in this interfaith service.
Relatives of the victims killed were among those attending tonight...
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[wipe wipe wipe]

[Sniper-Court]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Court Sketches;]
Both sniper suspects were in court today for a pre trial hearing.
John Lee Malvo, the teenage suspect took the fifth when it came to discussing his relationship with John Allen Muhammed. It is the first time the two have seen each other since they were arrested last year. Malvo spent about five minutes on the stand in Manassas. He was asked questions about his name and age -- but refused to answer questions about Muhammad. Muhammad appeared to stare at Malvo throughout the questioning.
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[Vinton-Industry]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC05:14]
[GRAPHIC=NEw Jobs]

The town of Vinton is celebrating the biggest "economic development win" in its 119-year history.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton;]

Cardinal Glass Industries is bringing a plant to the Vinton Business Center. It's a window glass coating business.
It will be the first tenant in the new industrial park on the old McDonald farm... and a 24 million dollar investment in Vinton and Roanoke County.
The company says it will break ground in about a month ... and hire 200 people over the next year.
Cardinal wanted to be near one of its big customers, Marvin Windows and Doors, which is also in Roanoke County.
(------------)

[Verizon-Labor]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon]

Verizon Communications is offering to buy out more than 70 - thousand non union employees in management. The plan includes two weeks of pay for each year of employment up to 35 weeks -- plus a 15 thousand to 30 thousand dollar bonus. A separate buyout offer will be made to at least 12 thousand union technicians and phone operators eligible for retirement.

[EPA-Search]

[ANCHOR=JEan]
[NEWSCAST=11PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC1:31:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating a local plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Special Agents with the E-P-A spent all day executing warrants at KIK (Kick) Virginia in Salem.
The company which makes household products is located on Mill Lane across the street from Sheetz on West Main Street.
Agents on the scene told News 7 they are investigating whether something from the building is causing recent chemical spills in the area.
The company did not return a phone call in search of more information.
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[King-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC1:23:43]
[SS=None]
The federal government will help pay for renovating a historic Roanoke bridge.
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[VO-NAT :28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;]
Congressman Bob Goodlatte today announced the allocation of half a million dollars for the restoration of the First Street Bridge. The span was built in 1891. The plan is to strengthen and widen the bridge and then re-name it in honor of Martin Luther King, Junior. Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham says the project is vital to infusing the Gainsboro neighborhood with new life. Mayor Ralph Smith called the funding a "first step towards a major victory" for the city.
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[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]

Teach more, get paid more. That's the cry of Radford University faculty.
More on their fight for a raise when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus the latest on the deadly crash of a tour bus.
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[Sports-preview]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=SPORTS PREVIEW]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=big 7."]
((Hey folks Mike Stevens back in the News 7 sports office as the ACC athletic directors break out their schedules for the next two seasons. On the surface it appears that Tech got the goldmine and UVa got the shaft. Plus, Derik Screen gets defensive at VMI. The fish get offensive in San Francisco. And the Skins get to keep their logo. Tonight on the Big 7.))

[Interstate-AX]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A huge pileup on an Illinois interstate-
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hampshire, IL]

At least seven people are dead and six more are critically injured.
Police say a tour minibus, at least two tractor trailers and a pickup truck were involved in the crash.
It happened on Interstate 90 about 50 miles west of Chicago- shutting down traffic in both directions.
It's not clear yet what caused the wreck.
(------------)

[RU-Salaries]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC28:30]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]

Radford University's faculty members say they're fed up with being at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to salaries. And as New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens tells us, they're ready to do something about it... even if that means finding a new president.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=our salaries]
[SUPER=01-James Lollar/RU Faculty Senate President; :00]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :24]
[SUPER=01-Warren Self/RU V. P. of Academic Affairs; :55]
[SUPER=@Myranda1; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:53]
[OUT Q=myranda stephens, news7]
(([SOT 4508]
[RUNS10] ((OUR SALARIES HAVE SLIPPED ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO OUR PEERS AND IT'S MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALITY FACULTY 18)) According to studies, Radford University faculty members teach more credit hours than any other professors in the Commonwealth. Yet, it ranks dead last when it comes to salary, unlike at William and Mary where faculty teach the fewest hours. And what's more disheartening, senate president James Lollar says, is that now the state council of higher education is recommending an increase, but only by four-percent.
[SOT 4629]
[RUNS16] ((JAMES LOLLAR/RU FACULTY PRESIDENT: WE KNOW FROM LOOKING AT OTHER DATA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE LOWEST AVG FACULTY SALARIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND TO SEE THAT WE'RE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE LOWEST POSSIBLE INCREASE, WAS EVEN FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE 45)) And Lollar says it starts with the president.
[SOT 349]
[RUNS10] ((WARREN SELF/RU VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF A PRESIDENT WHO DOESN'T CARE. IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS.)) Academic Affairs Vice-President, Warren Self, says the real problem is the way SCHEV comes up with its salary recommendations--by comparing each state university with other peer institutions nationally. Self says it can work in favor of some schools like U-V-A, which is matched up with schools like Stanford. But, for schools like Radford, the results aren't as favorable.
[SOT 00:02]
[RUNS07] ((THERE IS NOW SOME DISCUSSION AMONG STATE COUNCIL STAFF AND WITH SOME UNIVERSITIES TO REVISIT THIS SYSTEM.)) )) ((REPORTER: SELF SAYS THE UNIVERSITY IS TAKING MATTERS INTO ITS OWN HANDS. IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN CURRENT FACULTY SALARIES AND STATEWIDE AVERAGES. BUT, MANY FACULTY MEMBERS SAY IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE, AND THEY PLAN TO MEET NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS MORE OF THEIR OPTIONS. MYRANDA STEPHENS, NEWS 7.))

[Warner-education]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC1:00:51]
[GRAPHIC=MArk Warner]

Governor Warner is asking Virginia high school students to take their senior year more seriously.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Warner says many seniors waste their final year in high school.
He wants them to use the time to get the additional training and education most jobs require.
Dubbed Senior- year- plus, the governor says it will allow students to earn up to a semester's worth of college credit.
Seniors not going on to college can earn industry certification for a trade or technical job, at public expense.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 05:49:39]
[IN Q=THIS PATH INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: THIS PATH INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION WILL EMPOWER LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF VIRGINIA SENIORS WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT ENTER THE WORKFORCE NOT PREPARED FOR THE JOBS OF THE 21ST CENTURY.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=FOR THE JOBS OF THE 21ST CENTURY/]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner says he expects Senior Year Plus to be implemented in every high school in the state by 2007.
(------------)

[Do-Not-Call]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Do Not Call]

It is Do Not Call day- but the phones are still ringing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Apparently those telemarketing calls haven't stopped entirely- and people are complaining.
That's according to the Federal Communications Commission where complaints are coming in.
By the way, the do not call list includes numbers of 11 executives with a telemarketing group that's fighting the registry.
(------------)

[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]

Do you call yourself a Southerner? Fewer people are.
More on the decline when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus find out why MTV is headed to jail.
(----------------)

[Commercial]

[MTV-Jail]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Reality television is going to jail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX;]
M-T-V is planning a documentary series that follows some first time offenders through the Texas judicial system. Film makers told jailers they want to dispel the notion that jail time is a badge of honor on the streets.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:48:32]
[IN Q=I THINK THE POSITIVE ]
((DEE ANDERSON/TARRANT CO. SHERIFF-I THINK THE POSITIVE PORTRAYAL THAT WILL HOPEFULLY COME OUT OF THAT ACROSS THE NATION ONCE THIS BECOMES A NATION WIDE SHOW, I THINK ANY INCONVENIENCE WE HAVE WILL CERTAINLY BE OFFSET BY THIS, NOT TO MENTION AGAIN, THE ASPECT OF TURNING YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES AROUND))
[SUPER=01-Dee Anderson/Tarrant Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=PEOPLE'S LIVES AROUND]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
M-T-V is interviewing people this week -- looking for the young and frail. The Sheriff says producers chose Tarrant County because of the fascination with Texas justice.
The fact that the jail houses inmates and guards in the same room could also make more story ideas.
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[Vanishing-Southerners]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Are "Southerners" on the way out? A Vanderbilt University study found the number of people living in the South who call themselves "Southerners" is declining. Partly because of transplants -- Also because others reject the label. From 19-91 to 20-01, the number of people who identified themselves as "Southerners" dropped from 78 percent to 70 percent. The study found that only Republicans, conservatives, and the wealthy kept the same percentage of self described "Southerners."

[WX-Almanac]

[ANCHOR=Brent]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

September has come and gone but it seems the cooler weather is here to stay. What do we normally see for the month of October? Here's Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner with this month's Alamanac.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@leo1; :28]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner.]

[MUSIC CONTINUES FOR ADDITIONAL 1:30]

[S-Extra]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-151 & Extra]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The ACC breaks down its scheduling for next season - we'll hit the high points for you and have the schedules for Tech and UVa. Plus, Steve Mason checks in with VMI's Derik Screen and the big league playoffs roll on.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]
First tonight's Extra Point - a federal judge has ruled that the Redskins can keep the trademark on their nickname. This overturns a 1999 ruling that could have taken away the team's exclusive rights to market its name and logo. The judge says there's insufficient evidence to conclude that the name is disparaging to American Indians.
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[GO TO SCORES] [go to scores]
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[SUPER=0092-j/Florida/9//San Francisco/5//Series Tied 1-to-1//Chicago/3/j/Atlanta/5//Series Tied 1-to-1/;]
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[SUPER=0091-/Minnesota///New York///Game Two - Thursday 8pm//Boston/1//Oakland/3/4/Game One/;]
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[SUPER=0113-j/United States/1//Norway/0//Women's World Cup/j/Sweden/2//Brazil/1//Women's World Cup/;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUTCUE=last score."]
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[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-156 4805TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC-VT-MIAMI]

The Atlantic Coast Conference's 9 member schools welcomed athletic directors from the new kids on the Tobacco Road block - Virginia Tech and Miami to Charlottesville for two days of meetings this week. The session wrapped up this afternoon with the scheduling the big accomplishment and the big conversational item.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :00]

Virginia, Wake Forest, North Carolina and N.C. State found out today that they must play heavyweights Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech each of the next two seasons. Those three teams are ranked in the top 5 of the polls right now. The Hokies also found out that they will NOT play Florida State or Clemson in each of the next two years.
(xxxxxxxxxx)
[wipe to tech schedule pinnacle] The Hokies will play eight conference games and their four home contests next season at Lane Stadium will feature Duke, Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia. The Hokies will face UNC, Ga. Tech, Miami and Wake Forest on the road. Those teams will stay the same, but the sites will flip flop in 2005.
(xxxxxxxxxx)
[GO TO UVA SCHEDULE PINNACLE] Virginia gets Maryland, Clemson, UNC and Miami to come to Charlottesville next year. While the Cavs will travel to Va. Tech, Duke, Florida State and Ga. Tech. Again, those opponents are set for the next two years.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=acc]
The ACC athletic directors also worked on the basketball situation and determined that the men will play 16 games and the women 14.
[GRAPHIC=TECH HOOPS]
Each school will have two permanent partners. The Tech men will play home and away with UVa and Miami.
[GRPAHIC=UVA HOOPS]
While the Virginia men's team will have the Hokies and Maryland as its permanent partners. The women's teams in the league will have four permanent partners.

[S-Braves]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-154 4211TC]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]

The big leagues division playoffs continues at this hour. The Red Sox and A's are playing game one in Oakland.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/ESPN; :00]
Already tonight the Braves beat the Cubs 5-to-3 to even up their best of five series at one game a piece. This two run pinch hit RBI in the bottom of the 8th inning by Atlanta's Mark DeRosa was the game winner and Atlanta wins it 5-to-3.
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA/ESPN;:00]
The Florida Marlins also got even this evening as they beat the San Francisco Giants 9-to-5. Juan Pierre went four for five and the Marlins banged out 14 hits to tie that series at a game apiece.
(------------)

[S-Fish]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-155 4837TC]
[GRAPHIC=SOCCER]

In Foxboro, Massachusetts tonight the United States women's soccer team advanced to the World Cup semi-finals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Foxboro, MA/espn2; :00]
The Americans beat Norway 1-to-nothing thanks to this header by Abby Wambach in the 24th minute off the long pass from Cat Reddick. It's Wambach's third goal of the tournament. After heading on in the net the U.S. also inadvertently kicked
[SUPER=34-U.S.A./1/Norway/0;]
the Norwegians in the head. The US plays Germany of Russia on Sunday in Portland.
(------------)

[S-Screen]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-158 46:52]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

VMI takes on Liberty Saturday night in a huge Big South game. Steve Mason takes a look at one of the reasons VMI is much improved on defense heading into the contest - former Heritage star Derik Screen.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-Derik Screen/58 Tackles This Season; :20]
[SUPER=01-Cal McCombs/VMI Head Football Coach; :36]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :41]
[SUPER=01-Gene Williams/VMI Cornerback 1971-1973; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(-------------)

((The senior linebacker moved from the outside to the inside this spring. The adjustment has hardly thrown off his game. After five games, Screen leads the Keydets in tackles and is tied for first in interceptions with two. But for Screen, its all about the team and being a part of rebuilding VMI football. ((:)) Screen's VMI defense is giving up just 20 points a game, two touchdowns less than last year. Cal McCombs is Screen's biggest fan. ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:)) ((:)) ((GENE WILLIAMS/VMI all-American CORNERBACK:))
Screen and the Keydets will try an improve to 4 and 2 This Saturday at Liberty in VMI's Big South opener. Steve Maso

n News 7 sports.))[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

And the Roanoke Express is now selling individual game tickets for the upcoming season. Tickets for all Express games range in price from $8.95 to $16.95. The team opens the season on Friday night October 17th against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. The team also has a home exhibition game at the Ice Station next Thursday night at eight against Greenville.

[Airman-Homecoming]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC1:11:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An airman from Roanoke says there's no place like home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Tech Sergeant Tim Gibson arrived home this afternoon at the Roanoke Regional Airport after spending 15 months in Korea.
Although he never made it to Iraq, Gibson did help with support missions during the war.
He says the toughest part was not the mission but being away from his family for so long.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:51:36]
[IN Q=Fifteen months is a long]
((TECH SGT. TIM GIBSON/U.S. AIR FORCE: FIFTEEN MONTHS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN BEING BEHIND ME, SEPARATED FOR 15 MONTHS IS JUST MURDER AND I AM GLAD TO BE BACK, I AM VERY RELIEVED TO BE HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Tech Sgt. Tim Gibson/U. S. Air Force]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=relived to be here]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gibson says he will spend the next few days getting reacquainted with his family and getting plenty of sleep.
He'll be home for thirty days before being redeployed yet again, possibly back in Korea or even Iraq. (------------)