WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/12/03

[1-News-Head]

[ENG#=1]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
A pair of Asiatic bears break out and break bad near Natural Bridge.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And the city is cited for the hazardous chemicals that keep turning up on the site of the new stadium.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, the Express battles its old coach and the new rivalry is taking shape, the football state championships have the teams' basketball seasons anxiously waiting
[ENG#=2]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and they rolled out the mats at Hidden Valley today.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

A winter storm watch will be in place tomorrow afternoon as snow and sleet head into the region. It may continue as freezing rain by Sunday.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

[ENG#=3]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 35:02]
[IN Q=It's not something you]
(([COVER BITE] IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO WALK UP ON IN THE DARK. THAT'S FOR SURE.))
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=that's for sure]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
A bear from a Rockbridge County zoo is on the loose.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
She and her mate broke out of the zoo and into a couple's home last night.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Bear-Followup]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC28:23]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
24 hours after two Asiatic Black bears wandered out of their cage at the Natural Bridge Zoo one is dead and the other is wounded and on the run.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[***BEAR SCARE IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jennifer/Newsroom;]
Jennifer Wishon retraced their tracks today and joins us with more. Keith and Shannon, the bears, named Festus and Sarah, had recently been moved to a breeding operation to settle down for the winter.
[LIVE=Jennifer/FULL]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1;]
The two made a break for it yesterday evening after one of their keepers came to feed them and forgot to secure the gate behind him. What happened next was like something out of a holiday movie.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They're used to us]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; : ]
[SUPER=01-Karl Mogensen/Natural Bridge Zoo Owner; : ]
[SUPER=01-Russell Smith; : ]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=DO THAT UNDER STRESS]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:25:03]
[IN Q=They're used to us]
((KARL MOGENSEN: THEY'RE USED TO US AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO US FOR FOOD. THAT'S WHY THEY WENT IN THE MAN'S HOUSE.)) [RUNS 04]
[OUT Q=in the man's house]
These Asiatic Black Bears are the same species as the escaped bears. Mogensen says they're tame creatures that were bottle fed as cubs, but last night, the pair left unerasable marks on Russell and Marilynne Smith's property.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:37]
[IN Q=He went across the trunk]
((RUSSELL SMITH: HE WENT ACROSS THE TRUNK, CAME ACROSS THE ROOF. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DENTS AND STUFF ON THE TOP.)) [RUNS 04]
[OUT Q=on the top]
What's been described as playing caused 25- hundred dollars worth of damage to Russell Smith's car. When Smith heard the bears outside he thought he'd just call a zoo keeper and have the pair tranquilized... He had no idea one bear would be dropping by for a visit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 27:09]
[IN Q=I heard the window break]
((I HEARD THE WINDOW BREAK IN HERE SO I GRABBED THE PHONE AND ABOUT THAT TIME THE BEAR CAME AROUND THROUGH HERE AND HE WAS STANDING UP WHEN HE SEEN ME.)) [RUNS 09]
[OUT Q=when he seen me]

[BUTT BUTT BUTT]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:34:13]
[IN Q=The one bear]
((KARL MOGENSEN: THE ONE BEAR WAS IN HIS HOUSE JUST DESTROYING THE HOUSE LOOKING FOR THINGS AND CANNED GOODS AND ANY TYPE OF PASTRY OR BREAD THEY HAD LEFT THERE SO THE BEAR HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED, THERE WAS JUST NO ALTERNATIVE.)) [RUNS 12]
[OUT Q=just no alternative]
Mogensen first fired his tranquilizer gun, but because the bear had already put on his winter weight it didn't take effect. The Smith's bullet riddled kitchen bares the marks of the more than 20 gunshots it took to finally bring the bear down. The second bear was also shot in the shoulder, but she managed to escape and hasn't been seen since.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:37:02]
[IN Q=We have her cage]
((KARL MOGENSEN: WE HAVE HER CAGE STOCKED WITH FOOD AND CHANCES ARE SHE'LL PROBABLY GO RIGHT BACK INTO HER CAGE WHERE SHE FEELS SECURE. MOST ANIMALS DO THAT UNDER STRESS.)) [RUNS 08]
[OUT Q=that under stress]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer/FULL NEwsroom]
The Rockbridge County Sheriff, along with a handful of deputies, responded to the Smith's home during the ordeal, but missing was the county animal control officer.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Jennifer/NEwsroom;]
Keith and Shannon, County Administrator Don Austin says that's because state law only requires the officer to respond to disturbances made by domestic animals.

[Stadium-Amphitheater]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC24:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

The discovery of solid waste on the site of Roanoke's new stadium and amphitheater continues to cause problems for the city.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has cited Roanoke for violating state regulations.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Notice of Violation follows three recent incidents in which workers discovered waste on the construction site.
D- E- Q officials have not determined the amount of the penalty, but agency officials say it will probably amount to less than 10- thousand dollars.
Roanoke's Environmental Administrator, Paul Truntich (trun-tich) says the city is now reviewing the notice and officials plan to issue a response next week.
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[Flu-Vaccine]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-47 TC47:58]
[GRAPHIC=Flu Season]
The growing number of flu cases in Virginia has claimed its first lives.
[ENG#=2]
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[VO-NAT]
Health officials say three central Virginians recently died of flu-related illnesses. All three were over 50. In far western Virginia, Buchanan County closed schools today because so many students were sick. And the state health department says it has distributed all the doses of flu vaccine that were already ordered.
(------------)
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Joy/BAM;]

But Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton says health officials are expecting to get more.
Shannon, state Health officials say they will get 24-hundred doses of the vaccine from the CDC either today or Monday.
[LIVE=Joy Full/BAM]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]

However, that will have to be distributed among the 35 health districts in the state. And it's not guaranteed that every district will get some.
Meanwhile, the search is on for many people trying to find some place offering the flu shot.
Today, Montgomery Regional Hospital held a clinic --and in a matter of hours its supply was gone.
[ENG#=3]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This year many people]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; 00]
[SUPER=01-Loretta Alls;07]
[SUPER=01-Suzanne Nagle/Montgomery Regional Hospital;28]
[SUPER=01-Kate Harshberger;46]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=had to get the flu shot]
(( This year many people say they aren't taking any chances when it comes to the flu.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=It's been at least 20 years since I've]
((IT'S BEEN AT LEAST OVER 20 YEARS SINCE I'VE HAD THE SHOT. AND I WAS LISTENING TO THE NEWS AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE )) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=the reason i'm here]

And with few places still offering the flu shot -- the 370 doses Montgomery Regional Hospital had available were gone in matter of hours.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=We thought it would be a good opportunity]
((WE THOUGHT IT WILL BE GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO THE REST OF OUR VACCINE BUT WE HAD NO IDEA THAT WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE WAITING AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING STANDING IN LINE TO GET A SHOT)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=to get a shot]

Some even traveled from as far away as West Virginia.
This is Kate Harshberger's fifth attempt to get the shot.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=The Flu this year is suppossed to be a lot]
((THE FLU THIS YEAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LOT MORE INTENSE AND HARDER TO GET OVER 30 I TEND TO CATCH EVERYTHING ANYBODY EVERY HAS SO I FIGURED I HAD TO GET THE FLU SHOT )) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=I had to get the flu shot]))
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[LIVE=Joy Full/BAM]

If you don't already have an appointment --it may be hard to find a place offering the shot. I checked many hospitals, doctors offices, and health departments all around the region with no luck.
For some people FluMist is still an option. But it's only for healthy people ages 5 to 49.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Joe/BAM;]

Shannon,

[School-Board]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Six people are vying for a single spot on the Roanoke City School Board.
Members of city council are preparing to fill the vacancy created by Melinda Payne's resignation.
Today was the deadine for applications, and the list now includes Chris Craft, Harry Davis, Carla Terry, David Dabay (duh-BAY), Alice Hincker and Alvin Nash.
City Council will invite comments on the candidates at a public hearing Monday night.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

Presidential candidates go down to the wire to file for Virginia's Primary.
Who's in and who's out next on News 7.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus see how some area metalworkers plan to ring in the new year in big city style.
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[1st-Wx]
[Dem-primary]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:56:56]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And then there were eight....
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Nine Democrats are vying for the chance to take on President Bush next year but one of them won't be on Virginia's primary ballot.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Meghan/State Microwave;]

Meghan Muldoon is here to tell us which one.
5:00 today was the deadline for presidential candidates to file signatures with the State Board of Elections to get their names on the ballot.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Of the major Democrat candidates, only Carol Moseley Braun, the only female in the race, failed to make the cut.

[ENG#=1]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=retired army general wesly clark of]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jane Gephardt/Wife of Dick Gephardt; :]
[SUPER=01-Kerry Donley/Democratic Party of Virginia; :]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=with the exception of her.]

(( Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas filed his signatures last month.
So did former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.
Earlier this week Senator John Kerry filed the necessary papers as did Senators Joe Lieberman and John Edwards.
This morning it was Congressman Richard Gephardt's turn.
His wife shrugged off any suggestions that former vice president Al Gore's endorsement of Dean has all but assured him of the nomination.
[SOT 13:45:49]
((JANE GEPHARDT/WIFE OF CONGRESSMAN DICK GEPHARDT: IT'S NOT THE POLITICIANS THAT PICK THE CANDIDATES ITS THE PEOPLE AND I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE A GOOD ASSESSMENT OF DICK TO MEET HIM PERSONALLY AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO HURT HIM. IN FACT IT MAY HELP HIM.)) [RUNS:15]
Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich will also be on the state's primary ballot on February 10.
Virginia Democrats moved the primary to an earlier date in order to play a bigger role in presidential politics.
The chairman of the state party says he is disappointed that the only female candidate did not get the necessary ten thousand signatures.
[SOT 12:56:14]
[IN Q=IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PREFERABLE]
[RUNS:20]
[OUT Q=WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HER.]))
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[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Lyndon LaRouche, who is a frequent candidate, also filed papers to qualify for the Democratic presidential primary in Virginia
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

Even though the Virginia's Party does not recognize him as a Democrat

[Foreign-Trade]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC07:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

A classroom project may help open a whole new world to the New River Valley.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

A group of Tech students says the region could do a better job of marketing it's 3-year old Foreign Trade Zone and Port of entry.
[SUPER=03-Dublin/August 2002;]

The zone and port are located at the New River Valley airport in Dublin and serve a 90-mile radius. They help local companies save money on imports and exports.
After a 6-month study, the students say more awareness of the trade zone could bring more economic development to the region.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:2l:23:09:00]
[IN Q=We're hoping]
((ARIC BOPP: WE'RE HOPING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. IT'S A SERVE THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEIR COMPANIES, IT CAN REALLY HELP SAVE JOBS AND IT CAN REALLY HELP MAKE COMPANIES MORE PROFITABLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Aric Bopp/New River Valley Econ. Dev. Alliance]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=looking to do.]
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[VO-NAT]

State budget cuts have taken away major funding for the port and trade zone. The region needs to raise more than 170-thousand dollars next year to keep them going.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

Wall street finished the week with a win. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/34.00/10042.16/x/6.68/1949.00;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW gained 34 points today.
NASDAQ rose seven.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.73/78.72/h/0.06/53.15/i/0.05/28.30/i/0.04/73.39/i/0.04/75.85;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.17/38.17/h/0.10/17.04/i/0.02/6.97/i/0.12/60.82/i/0.29/30.11;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.35/6.87/i/0.54/41.32/i/0.01/17.33/h/0.51/23.61/i/0.04/5.66;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.34/9.76/h/0.08/70.46/h/0.09/33.43/h/0.20/45.98/i/0.31/52.50;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Bedford-Y]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC1:11:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

It's hard to imagine a Y-M-C-A without a gymnasium.. but that's what members of the Bedford-area "Y" have had to endure for years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

That's about to change, thanks to a 1-and a half million dollar addition to the facility.
The new gym will feature six basketball goals and an indoor jogging track. The entrance to the building and the locker rooms will be upgraded.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:55:02]
[IN Q=We lost a]
((MARY JO BOONE/BEDFORD YMCA DIRECTOR: WE LOST A LOT OF MEMBERS WHEN WE CONVERTED WHAT WE HAVE NOW A STATE-OF THE ART FITNESS CENTER, WAS THE OLD GYMNASIUM AND WE LOST A LOT OF MEMBERS WHEN WE LOST THE GYMNASIUM. BUT IT WAS A STEP IN THE PHASE OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS SO NOW WE WILL OPEN THAT UP, WITH THE NEW GYM NOW WILL BRING ALL THOSE MEMBERS BACK.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Jo Boone/Bedford YMCA Director]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=those members back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new gym is part of a five year, three- million dollar overhaul of the Bedford Y.
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[Meeting-Prayer]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC53:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

The practice of bowing your head in prayer is raising a few eye brows in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Gareth McAllister is the Facilities Manager for the city of Roanoke.
He put out a memo yesterday advising employees that he now plans to have a prayer before meals and the beginning of staff meetings.
McAllister writes it is voluntary and employees can leave the room if they don't want to participate.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

McAllister's bosses have a problem with it and we'll have more on that tonight on News 7 at 11.

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=V10]

Old friends are becoming new rivals as the Express battles Perry Florio, the Titan wrestling tournament hit the mats,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Fleming's Mickey hardy is one of three high school hoops coaches waiting for some state championship bound football players.
(------------)

[S-Schedule]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-162 29:28]
[GRAPHIC=ffe]
[ENG#=1]

William Fleming, Grtna and Bath County all compete for State championships tomorrow in football while each schools basketball team supports and waits.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hot Springs; :00]
Bath County has four varsity basketball starters playing football i including Jacob Phillips who in four years has missed 80 days of hoops because of football.
[SUPER=03-Gretna;]

Gretna has 12 basketball members playing football and all five hoops starters.
[SUPER=Roanoke;]

Fleming's logo stands for "with football right now. head coach Mickey Hardy is practicing with six players because six of his players are on the football team.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mickey Hardy/William Fleming Head Football Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Keith Smith/William Fleming Football Coach; :12]
[SUPER=01-Vic Hall/Gretna Quarterback and Hoops Starter; :18]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=without us"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gretna has had five games postponed in a season that began December second. Bath County has postponed two games including one with rival Alleghany. Fleming is the luckiest, the Colonels play their first game the 19th.
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[S-Stagg]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-164 3100TC]
[GRAPHIC=STAGG BOWL]
[ENG#=2]
The road to the December 19 Stagg Bowl reaches the semi-finals tomorrow . St. John's of Minnesota takes on R.P
.I. and Bridgewater travels to Mt. Union in a rematch of the 2001 Stagg Bowl.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Michael Clark/Bridgewater Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...FOR MISTAKES."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT CON'T]
[SUPER=03-Bridgewater; :00]
A lot of folks will be pulling for Clark including his former coaching pal Bud Foster - who was with Clark at both Murray State and Va. Tech.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=YOU KNOW I...]
[SUPER=01-Bud Foster/VT Defensive Coordinator; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=....OF A FOOTBALL GAME."]
(----------)

[S-Titan]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-154 TC12022]
[GRAPHIC=Titan Toughman Wrestling]
[ENG#=3]

The Titan Toughman Wrestling Tournament has invaded Hidden Valley this weekend. Travis Wells has more from the mats in Roanoke County.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Titan Toughman Tournament; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Hall/Tournament Director; :18]
[SUPER=01-Ron Long/William Byrd Head Coach; :25]
[SUPER=@travis1; :42]
[SUPER=01-John Mueller/Glenvar 145 Pound Weight Class; :56]
[SUPER=01-Thomas Stevens/Blacksburg 145 Pound Weight Class; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(-------------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-12 1:45:20]
[GRAPHIC=express]
[ENG#=4]

The Express hosts Florence tonight and Perry Florio's dismissal form the Express is still a topic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Former Express Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=......come out on top"]
(------------)

[New-Years]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC1:27:49]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[ENG#=1]

Some Roanoke metal workers are hoping that they will have a ball with Salem residents this New Years' Eve.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Workers with Specialty Sheet Metal of Roanoke have constructed a 6 foot lighted ball that will ring in the New Year in Salem. It's modeled after the ball seen in Times Square in New York City, just without the Waterford Crystal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The other gentlemen involved...]
((SCOTT REPSHER/CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEER; THE OTHER GENTLEMEN INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT HAD COME UP WITH AN IDEA, AND I WANTED TO DO THE ELECTRICAL PART, SO WE STARTED DESIGNING AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM THAT WOULD FLASH THE LIGHTS, DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE LIGHTS, DIFFERENT SEQUENCES OF OPERATION. AND THEN IT GOT MORE INVOLVED, AND IT BECAME BIGGER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE INITIALLY.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Repsher/Control Systems Engineer; ]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=was going to be initially.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The ball weighs 3-to-4 hundred pounds, and will be hoisted above the Valleydale Meats building in Salem. Then the ball will drop, welcoming in 2004.
(------------)