WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/02/03

[1-News-Head]

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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Several students injured in an early- morning school bus accident.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And a major TV networks banks on the streets of the Richmond. More on tonight's new show.

[SportsHead]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
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[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, NASCAR visits the White House, Al Groh talks about going back to Charlotte for the Tire Bowl, Frank Beamer discusses the stadium expansion
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[ENG#=2]
[VO-NAT]

and sources say Tech running back Kevin JOnes is leaving for the NFL.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

All is fine on the weather front for Wednesday but after that, we get either grazed or glazed by winter weather. We'll explain.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
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[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:05:18]
[IN Q=One boarded]
((ONE BOARDED AND ANOTHER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BOARDING THE BUS WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE BUS.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=back of the bus.]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

An accident involving a Bedford County schoolbus sends nine children and the driver to the hospital.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Now a Vinton man is facing a charge of reckless driving.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Bedford-Ax]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC1:58:40]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[ENG#=4]

Twenty-five elementary, middle and high school students were on board Bus Number 159 when the crash occurred.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
Nine of them suffered bumps and bruises in the accident just south of Bedford.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It could have]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Harold Jones/Bedford Co. Schools Transportation; :24]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford County.]
(( It could have been a lot worse.
Around 7:45 Tuesday morning, a Bedford County school bus had stopped here on Joppa Mill Road to pick up students when it was hit from behind by a Chevy pickup.
The impact sent the truck's driver, the bus driver and nine children to the hospital.. none of the injuries were serious.
School officials say that's because buses are among the safest vehicles on the road.
[SOT 14:03:24]
((HAROLD JONES/BEDFORD CO. SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION: THE BUSES ARE REALLY BUILT TOUGH, THEY'RE BUILT TO SUSTAIN CRASHES AND THIS ONE HELD UP EXTREMELY WELL. I DON'T KNOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE HITTING IT, BUT THE BUS WAS STOPPED TO PICK UP CHILDREN AND TOOK QUITE AN IMPACT IN THE BACK END THERE.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=back end there.]

State police say 39-year-old Curtis Dale Wood of Vinton was going about 40 when he hit the bus.. Wood told police the morning sun blinded him and he never saw it in front of him.
School officials say it's a reminder to motorists to be more cautious on the roads at that time of the morning.
[SOT 14:04:28]
((JONES: IT'S A GOOD SIGN WHEN YOU SEE THOSE BUSES ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WILL BE MAKING STOPS AND WILL BE PICKING UP KIDS. EVEN THOUGH THE SUN CAN BE IN AN AWKWARD POSITION AT THAT TIME OF THE MORNING, YOU'VE GOT TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL BECAUSE IT'S PRECIOUS CARGO THEY'RE HAULING.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=cargo they're hauling.]

The bus driver.. 61-year-old Sandy Bays.. is being held overnight at the hospital.
Wood was treated and released.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County. ))

[81-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
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[GRAPHIC=I-81 Accident]
[ENG#=None]

An accident that brought traffic on Interstate 81 to a crawl has been cleaned up, but drivers are still not moving through smoothly.
State police say the accident backed up northbound traffic for eight miles between Elliston and Christiansburg.

[City-Audit]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC59:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

The Roanoke city schools' Director of Maintenance has been placed on leave, a week before school board members are scheduled to receive a follow- up audit of the department.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

School officials confirm that William Sharpe was placed on administrative leave with pay yesterday.
Assistant Superintendent for Operations Dick Kelley says the decision was the result of management issues, and does NOT involve any allegations of fraud.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Sharpe was brought in about a year ago, AFTER a city audit revealed that maintenance department employees had falsified bid information. The city auditor is expected to present a follow-up report to the school board next week.
Efforts to contact Sharpe this afternoon were unsuccessful.

[Victory-Stadium]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC44:32]
[GRAPHIC=Victory Stadium]
[ENG#=3]

Supporters of Victory Stadium renewed their call for renovation of the Roanoke landmark today, as they paid tribute to the veterans the facility was built to honor.
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[SOT 10:49:36]
[IN Q=God Bless America]
((GOD BLESS AMERICA. LAND THAT I LOVE.))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=land that I love.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Salute Victory Committee marked the 61st anniversary of the stadium's dedication with a ceremony this morning in the National Guard Armory.
Speakers described the site as hallowed ground, and they urged the city not to dismantle one of the last vestiges of World War II.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I just feel like we can't]
((BOB SLAUGHTER: I JUST FEEL LIKE WE CAN'T FORGET THOSE PEOPLE. I'M ALMOST 80 YEARS OLD AND MOST OF THEM ARE GONE. AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE FORGOTTEN.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Slaughter/D-Day Veteran;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=going to be forgotten.]
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[VO-NAT]

City Council hasn't decided what to do with Victory Stadium, but with a new facility now under construction, supporters of the Roanoke landmark fear it will be torn down to make way for other development.
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[King-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC18:18]
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[ENG#=4]
The old First Street Bridge could become a tourist attraction in itself, once it's re-built, re-opened and named in honor of Martin Luther King, Junior.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
A new committee met today to begin molding the bridge into a memorial. Committee members talked about making the century-old span a destination in itself, as well as a means of getting downtown from the Henry Street area. They discussed ways of identifying the bridge as a memorial to the late civil rights leader... whether by a sign, a plaque, or statue... and how to recognize LOCAL civil rights leaders. The committee gave itself six months to come up with specific recommendations.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

They're used to digging into the past at the Virginia Museum of Natural History... but today they started digging for the future.
We'll explain when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Plus a Christmas tradition turns into a holiday headache when two dance companies schedule the same show, the same weekend.
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[1st-Wx]
[Dueling-Nutcrackers]
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[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC2:02:40]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[ENG#=1]

It'll take more than the sugar plum fairy to sweeten the bottom line for two Roanoke ballet companies.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Both are relying on The Nutcracker to bring in holiday dollars.
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[***ANCHOR TAG***] But competing performance dates could result in one company being upstaged.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Even without costumes or set]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :17]
[SUPER=01-Terri Post/Southwest Virginia Ballet Exec. Director; :50]
[RUNS=1:35 (fade music down)]
[OUT Q=not showing very good judgement. (Dissolve Out)]
(([SOT ]
[RUNS] Even without costumes or sets, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is easy to recognize. The story of Clara and her doll is perhaps the most famous of all ballets and, for many dance companies, is a holiday staple. This year there are TWO local productions to choose from.
[SOT 9:14:12 - 9:14:22]
[IN Q=People have got to be confused...]
((PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO BE CONFUSED. THEY'RE SEEING, OKAY THE NUTCRACKER... WHERE IS THAT? (LAUGHS))) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=where is that?]
Terri Post's Southwest Virginia Ballet will take the stage at the Roanoke Civic Center December 13th and 14th. That same weekend, the seasonal favorite will also be performed at the Jefferson Center by Roanoke City Ballet and the Radford University Dance Department.
[SOT 9:03:10 - 9:03:25]
[IN Q=We don't feel very good about it.]
((WE DON'T FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT IT. WE'VE HAD THESE DATES FOR THREE YEARS. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE DECISION FOR THE OTHER COMPANY TO DO THE NUTCRACKER WAS LAST MINUTE.)) [RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=nutcracker was last minute.]
We spoke briefly by phone with City Ballet, which even organized a rehearsal for taping. But our later calls for an interview went unreturned. Post says it's not unusual for multiple ballet companies to offer the Nutcracker and may even be expected because of the potential revenue. That's why choosing to go head to head with another company could mean stepping on some toes.
[SOT 9:03:27 - 9:03:38]
[IN Q=It would not have been as bad...]
((IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS BAD I THINK IF IT HAD EVEN BEEN ON A DIFFERENT WEEKEND BUT DIRECTLY OPPOSITE US IS NOT SHOWING VERY GOOD JUDGMENT.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=not showing very good judgment.]))
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[ANCHOR=SHAN]
[SS=None]
Southwest Virginia Ballet will hold two performances; Roanoke City Ballet, three.
Tickets range from about eleven to thirty dollars.

[Frito-Lay]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

The crunch of layoffs in Louisville may be Lynchburg's gain.
Pepsi is cutting 750 jobs and closing a Frito Lay plant in Kentucky.
The company is streamlining its snack food and beverage operations.
The plant in Louisville will close in the next few months.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape;]

Its production will be redirected to five other Frito-Lay factories including the one in Lynchburg.
The Hill City plant makes some types of Doritos, Tostitos and Lay's brand chips.
Pepsi employs 142 thousand people worldwide.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#V10]

Investors took a break from Wall Street's latest rally. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/45.41/9853.64/y/9.75/1980.07;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW lost 45 points.
NASDAQ fell 10.
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[TV-show]
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[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC1:16:08]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The Hollywood spotlight will be shining on Richmond, Virginia tonight.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The state's capital city is the setting for a new television show
but is Richmond getting the kind attention it wants?
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Meghan/State Microwave;]

Meghan Muldoon is here to explain.
Line of Fire is a new drama about FBI agents in Richmond fighting crime
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

But the show's crime theme may be hitting a little too close to home.
[ENG#=1]
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[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND FROM MOVIE]
[SUPER=04-ABC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Anson Mount/"Line of Fire" Actor; :18]
[SUPER=@Kaine; :44]
[SUPER=01-Rudy McCollum/Richmond Mayor; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=MANY OF THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT IT CAN HAVE.]
(([SOT 01:38:38 nat sound]
[IN Q=IT'S JUST NOT THE BEST TIMING]
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=EVEN HAVE AN APARTMENT?]

Virginians watching the new television series, Line of Fire may recognize the white building in the background.
It is the Thomas Jefferson-designed State Capitol in Richmond, making its prime time debut.
[SOT 01:12:21]
[IN Q=I DON'T KNOW IF]
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=SET IN RICHMOND BEFORE.]

Being the star of a network TV crime drama may be a first for Richmond but the subject matter is, unfortunately, nothing new.
High homicide rates and gang violence in the early 1990s earned the city an unwanted distinction: as the nation's murder capital
After years of relative calm, the city's murder rate is back on the rise.
[SOT ::]
[IN Q=]
((:13 WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH YEAR ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR FOR US IS ONLY HALF OR 60 PERCENT OF WHAT IT USED TO BE SO WE'RE THANKFULLY GETTING USED TO A SAFER CITY.)) [RUNS:10]
But a weekly show linking crime with Virginia's capital city does little to maintain Richmond's image as a safer city.
Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine is the city's former mayor.
He says the attention on Richmond is exciting.
[SOT ::]
[IN Q=.]
((:30 WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME PROBLEMS HERE IN RICHMOND 07:34 IT WILL JUST BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME FAMILIAR PLACES ON TV EVERY WEEK )) [RUNS:07]
Local actors appear in the pilot.
And the show spends money in Richmond every time a scene is shot on location.
Those economic benefits and not the image of a crime-ridden city is what Richmond mayor Rudy McCollum says show biz is all about.
[SOT ::06]
[IN Q=]
((:06 AS I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT HOLLYWOOD, IT IS NOT AS MUCH FACT AS IT IS FICTION. THE WHOLE ISSUE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND ISN'T SOMETHING I SEE AS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND SO I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS AS I AM ABOUT MANY OF THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT IT CAN HAVE.)) [RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=MANY OF THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT IT CAN HAVE.]))
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[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Richmond has seen a lot of Hollywood action in the last few years.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

Major scenes from the movies "Hannibal" and "The Contender" were also filmed here.

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Sources say Kevin Jones is making the leap to the NFL next season, we will have the latest, Frank Beamer talks about Jones's value in Blacksburg
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[VO-NAT]

and UVa says the comfort level is high when it comes to going back to the Tire Bowl in Charlotte
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[S-Jones]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=SP-153]
[GRAPHIC=Kevin Jones]

[ENG#=1]

It looks like Tech running back Kevin Jones will head for the NFL, and skip his senior season in Blacksburg.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

Sources told ESPN that the junior will forgo his final year of eligibility and declare himself eligible for next years NFL draft. Jones has run for 1,494 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Hokies. He is a finalist for the Doak Walker award. Coach Frank Beamer talked about how valuable Jones has been to the program today.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/17 Seasons at Virginia Tech; :00]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=...BEING A PART OF HIS FOOTBALL TEAM."]
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[anchor=steve]
[graphic=Jones]

Virginia tech has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow at one o'clock. [S-Beamer]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-157 12114tc]
[GRAPHIC=INSIGHT BOWL]

[ENG#=2]

Virginia Tech's trip to the Insight Bowl on December 26th will feature a date with the California Golden Bears - the only team in the land to beat second ranked USC this season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THEY'VE WON...]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/17 Seasons at Virginia Tech; :00]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=...IS GONNABE PRETTY GOOD."]
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[VO-NAT CON'T]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
Outside of Beamer's office today, crews began getting ready to start the massive West Side expansion of Lane Stadium.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=...to move forward."]
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[VO NAT CON'T] The workers had to bring in an extra crane to get the huge light poles safely to the ground. The first attempt failed, leaving one of the poles leaning against the back side of the stadium.
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[S-Vick]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-164]
[GRAPHIC=mike vick]

[ENG#=3]

Barring any setbacks, Michael Vick likely will make his first start of the season Sunday night against the Carolina Panthers.
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[VO-NAT]
Vick says his right leg feels great and he's just looking forward to getting back to the field. He played this past weekend and the experience has been key for starting this week.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Falcons Quarterback; :03]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=....game plan back in"]
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[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-158 ]
[GRAPHIC=Tire Bowl]

[ENG#=4]

UVa battles Pitt in the Second annual Continental Tire Bowl December 27th at Ericcson Stadium in Charlotte. The 7 and 5 Cavaliers are excited to be going back to what is becoming a second home.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=....would indicate"]
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[S-NASCAR]

[ANCHOR=steve]
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[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-150 1:40:19]
[GRAPHIC=nascar]

[ENG#=2]

President Bush hosted several NASCAR drivers at the White House today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]

The president welcomed the drives to the South Lawn where the racing circuit made history, putting a stock car on the lawn for the first time ever. The pres congratulated Winston Cup champion Matt Kenseth and in the process got caught up in the Busch series for obvious reasons.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=.....the name of that series"]
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[Museum]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC1:15:02]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[ENG#=1]

The city of Martinsville is investing in it's future by re-investing in the past.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
City and state leaders broke ground today on the new Virginia Museum of Natural History. Officials say the new building will be nearly five-times the size of the old one, allowing the museum to increase its displays and improve its research abilities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 438]
[IN Q=we're already]
((BUD OAKEY/VMNH BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR:WE'RE ALREADY TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD DOING RESEARCH AND BRING THAT BACK HERE TO MARTINSVILLE, THIS WILL BRING A LOT MORE OF THAT TYPE, OR THAT CALIBUR OF RESEARCH HERE, AND PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH IT TO THE COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Bud Oakey/VMNH Board of Trustees Chair;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=to the community]
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[VO-NAT]
Right now, the museum has more than 21-MILLION animal and plant specimens, but because of its limited space, can only exhibit a few at a time. The new 15-million dollar facility will be located next to the Y-M-C-A on Starling Avenue and is scheduled to open in 2006.
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