[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR= 2-Shot]

Coming up on News 7,
Another winter storm prepares to strike our area.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]


And the drivers behind some big-wheels donate some little wheels this Christmas to kids in need.
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[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Tonight in sports, women's hoop highlights from the Cassell, and
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[ENG#=2]
[VO-NAT]


William Fleming tries to become the first team from Roanoke to win a state title since 1973.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]


Winter weather advisories and storm warnings indicate the wide variety of precipitaation types we are likely to receive tonight. Details in just a moment. [Open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=#303;]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=@Travis1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]


[Video-Open]
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[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Get ready to break out the scrapers and shovels... another dose of winter weather is headed our way.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]


Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

[Snow-Coming]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Storm Warning]
[ENG#=4]


The storm has been pushing its way through the Midwest, and it is now moving in on us.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kansas City, MO;]

This is how it looked in the Kansas City area today. The storm has now tracked eastward through states from Illinois to Kentucky, while picking up more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Those states saw snow and only snow, but a lot of us are likely to see a nasty mix of winter precipitatation overnight.
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[First-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Robin]



(Toss to Robin)

[Toss to Robin]

[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER Position #1


[WXPRO/FULL]RADAR ANALYSIS CURRENT WARNINGS FORECAST TRACK
[TOSS BACK TO MYRANDA]

[Cancellations]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Many churches and organizations are already cancelling or postponing events planned for tonight and tomorrow. We also expect many more church service announcements tomorrow, and we'll run them on the screen throughout the morning.

(+++++++)

[Take WDBJ Winter Web FS] And for a complete list of weather-related announcements at any time, you can go to our web page at wdbj7-dot-com.
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[81-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-50 55:18]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Accident]
[ENG#=1]

Weather may become tricky in the next few hours, but state police say reckless driving was the cause of an accident today that blocked northbound I-81.
(+++++++)

[Take Accident Map FS] It happened in Botetourt County, about three miles north of the Troutville exit.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Investigators say a southbound tractor-trailer ran over the guardrail, crossed the median and went into the northbound lanes before rolling over. As busy as I-81 may be normally, there was no NO northbound traffic at THAT spot, at that very moment ... so no other vehicles were involved. But all northbound traffic was blocked for almost two hours until the wreckage could be cleared. State police have charged the driver, 23 year old Tony Strickland Junior of Fort Smith Arkansas, with reckless driving.
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[Fatal-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-53 13:57]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
[ENG#=2]


Icy roads may have contributed to a deadly accident in Roanoke this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Police responded to an overturned vehicle in the 4700 block of Old Mountain Road just after six this morning.
Investigators believe 21 year old Stuart Brandon Jones of Roanoke hit a patch of ice causing his Chevy Tahoe to run off the road and flip over.
Jones was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are still trying to determine what time the accident happened.
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[Monty-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

That was just one of two fatal accidents in the region that were not discovered until this morning. The other occurred along Union Valley Road near Riner in Montgomery County. State police say 20 year old Randall Snuffer, Junior ran his car off the road sometime overnight and struck a tree head on. He was pronounced dead at the scene.



[Kroger-Strike]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-41 1:27:45]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger]
[ENG#=3]


In other news, now that the Kroger strike is over in West Virginia it should benefit some here at home and have others thinking about their future.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-West Virginia]


33-hundred union workers ratified a new contract Thursday after a strike that lasted nine weeks.
The main sticking point was over medical coverage.
Company officials believe rising health costs could be an issue in future contracts including the one in Virginia which expires in 2005.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:51:29]
[IN Q=They're actually]

((PETE WILLIAMS/PRESIDENT OF KROGER'S MID-ATLANTIC MARKETING AREA: THEY'RE ACTUALLY PARTICIPANTS IN A DIFFERENT HEALTH AND WELFARE FUND THAN OUR WEST VIRGINIA EMPLOYEES SO THE FINANCES OF THAT FUND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN ARE REALLY UNKNOWN BUT IT COULD BE AN ISSUE OR MIGHT NOT BE AN ISSUE IN 05.))
[SUPER=01-Pete Williams/Kroger Mid-Atlantic President]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=ISSUE IN '05]
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]


Meantime, 60 workers here locally have been re-hired since the strike is over.
They were not Kroger employees but rather contracted drivers and warehouse workers.


[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]


Still ahead, meet some people doing some serious running around for the holidays.
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[VO-NAT]

And the Christmas spirit on wheels. It started out as a small idea .. and has grown far beyond anyone's dreams.
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[BREAK #1]






[Bikes]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-49 23:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]


The Marines are on a mission this weekend.
For 36 hours straight, they are collecting new unwrapped toys for the "Toys for Tots" program.
And as Justin McLeod shows us, a big donation rolled in this afternoon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=(NAT SOT)]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Staff Sgt. James Guzman/U.S. Marine Corps; :10]
[SUPER=@justin1; :23]
[SUPER=01-Ginny Kendrick/Star City Corvette Club Member; :54]
[SUPER=01-Billy Teaford/Star City Corvette Club President; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]

(( ((NAT SOUND OF UNLOADING TRUCKS))
What you see here is called Operation Toy Storm.
It's put on by the U.S. Marines.
[SOT 2:55:07]
[IN Q=This is very much]

((STAFF SGT. JAMES GUZMAN/U.S. MARINE CORPS: THIS IS VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EVENT AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WE COULDN'T MAKE THIS HAPPEN AT ALL.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=happen at all]


It happens thanks to groups like the Star City Corvette Club.
Rather than buy each other gifts this year, members decided to hold a toy drive.
[SOT 3:06:06]
[IN Q=It started off as]

((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: IT STARTED OFF AS A SIMPLE FUNDRAISER, RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY MAYBE FORTY OR EIGHTY BIKES, BUT WORD QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND WITHIN WEEKS, THEY RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY OVER 500.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=BUY OVER 500]

((QUICK NAT SOUND OF TRUCKS PULLING OUT))
Even more amazing is how the group got the bikes from one place to another.
It took three tractor trailers and more than fifty volunteers to unload it here at the Tanglewood Mall.
Their job was made easier by the fact everything was donated, from the storage space to the rigs that transported the toys.
[SOT 3:03:36]
[IN Q=I tell you what]

((GINNY KENDRICK/STAR CITY CORVETTE CLUB MEMBER: I TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE PRETTY HUMBLED BY THIS AND I AM SINCERE. THIS COMMUNITY IS FULL OF BIG HEARTS AND THEY ARE RIGHT HERE.))
[Runs= 09]
[OUT Q=are right here]


But they won't be here for long.
Within the next few days, these bikes will be given out to hundreds of needy children throughout the Roanoke Valley.

[SOT 3:02:26]
[IN Q=Everybody you talked to]

((BILLY TEAFORD/STAR CITY CORVETTE CLUB PRESIDENT: EVERYBODY YOU TALKED TO THE NEXT THING THEY WANTED TO SEE WAS SOME KIDS WILL GET A BIKE THAT WEREN'T GOING TO GET ONE AND THAT WAS THE MAIN GOAL TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO FOR THE KIDS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. (laugh)))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=pretty good (LAUGH)]


It not only looks good but it feels good as well.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))

[Bedford-Parade]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-48 42:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]


The city of Bedford also got into the holiday spirit today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:26:13]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF SANTA CLAUS SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=NAT SOUND OF MRS. CLAUS SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]


Mr and Mrs. Claus were one of hundreds who turned out for the city's annual Christmas parade in downtown.
The event had everything from floats, bands, antique cars, to the Grinch himself.
The theme for this year's parade was "A Colonial Christmas" in honor of Beford County's upcoming 250th birthday celebration next year.
The parade ended with an awards ceremony and an opportunity for children to meet with Santa.
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[Jingle-Run]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-54 21:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]


And they were not dashing through the snow just yet, but they were jingling all the way today in downtown Roanoke.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The Arthritis Foundation held its 13th annual Lewis-Gale Jingle Bell Run and Walk this morning.
This year's fundraiser featured more than six-hundred participants and raised more than 40-thousand dollars.
The money will help fund research to ease the pain of arthritis sufferers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:03:58]
[IN Q=We just kinda]

((MARQUERITE DANIELS/ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION: WE JUST KINDA WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE OVER ONE HUNDRED DIFFERENT FORMS OF ARTHRITIS SO AND IT SPANS ALL AGES, ALL GENDERS, ALL RACES SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, MAKING SURE EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Marquerite Daniels/Arthritis Foundation]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=knows about that]
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[VO-NAT]


It is estimated there are more than 78-thousand people in the Roanoke area alone who have arthritis.
This year's fundraiser was one of the largest ever and included a costume contest and a diaper run for kids.
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

Three teams go for state titles. Travis Wells takes us to all three games just ahead in sports.
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[VO-NAT]

And when Santa makes a morning visit, it's a lot more than just breakfast. That story is next.
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[BREAK #2]






[Santa-Breakfast]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-46 53:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Hundreds of kids in our area got an early Christmas present from Santa Claus today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The Child Health Investment Partnership or CHIP held its fourth annual "breakfast with Santa" at the Hotel Roanoke this morning.
Nearly five hundred kids got the chance to eat breakfast with Old St. Nick as well as have their pictures taken with him.
Proceeds from the event benefit medically underserved children up to six years old who live in the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:14:45]
[IN Q=We provide access]

((ROBIN HALDIMAN/CHIP's EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES TO MAKE CHILDREN HEALTHIER AND READY TO START KINDERGARTEN AND TO HELP PARENTS DEVELOP THEIR PARENTING SKILLS AND FEEL MORE SUPPORTED.))
[Runs=:12]
[OUT Q=feel more supported]
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[VO-NAT]


The organization also collected unwrapped toys and raised funds through a silent auction.
Today's event raised more than ten thousand dollars.
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[Puppet-Show]


[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-44 1:08:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]


Some use Old Saint Nick, others use the nativity scene to deliver the true meaning of Christmas.
One area church does something a little different.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Shenandoah Baptist Church in Roanoke held its annual musical puppet show today.
The church started a puppet program three years ago as a way to reach out to young people.
This year, the group made up of seven teens performed its Christmas program for the community, at several schools, and a retirement home.
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[Sports tease]


[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=Tease3]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V-10]


Coming up, Fleming, Bath County, and Gretna all go after state titles, and
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[VO-NAT]


The Tech Women stay unbeaten with a twenty point win over Maryland.
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[S-Fleming]


[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=FFE-4]
[GRAPHIC=Fleming/Powhatan]
[ENG#=1]


We start our state championship coverage over in Lynchburg. The last state champ from Roanoke was Patrick Henry back in 1973. William Fleming hoped to end the long drought and bring home the hardware against undefeated Powhatan in the Group Two-A Division Four title matchup. Steve Mason has more on what turned out to be a defensive struggle.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Division Four State Final; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dere Hicks/4 of 12, 47 Yards Passing; :26]
[SUPER=36-Powhatan/6/William Fleming/0/;]
[SUPER=01-Casey Corner/William Fleming Defensive End; 1:25] QUICK!!
[SUPER=01-Keith Smith/William Fleming Head Coach; 1:29]
[SUPER=@steve1; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
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[S-Bath]


[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-1 1849TC]
[GRAPHIC=BATH/SUSSEX]
[ENG#=2]


The news is no better in Harrisonburg where previously unbeaten Bath County was shutout by Sussex Central 20-to-0. Mike Stevens has the story of the Division One championship game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Harrisonburg/Division One Title Game; :00]
[SUPER=01-Will Fields/Bath Co. Head Coach; :12]
[SUPER=01-Jacob Phillips/43 and 4 As Starting Quarterback; :35]
[SUPER=@mike2; :50]
[SUPER=36-Sussex Central/20/Bath Co./0; 1:30]
[SUPER=01-Curtis Jefferson/Sussex Central Head Coach; 1:39]
[RUNS=2:10]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports."]
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(( It was not the post game talk that Bath County coach Will Fields wanted to give his young men, but it is reality after the Chargers state championship setback to Sussex. ((WILL FIELDS/BATH CO. HEAD COACH:)) What made Bath County's day so tough was Sussex Central's amazing defense. The Tigers held the Chargers normally explosive offense to just 19 yards of total offense in the entire first half as a frustrated Bath County offense was held scoreless for the first time this season. ((JACOB PHILLIPS/BATH CO. SENIOR QB:)) The Tigers got all the points they would need in the first quarter when running back Aljamonte Rose sprinted into the end zone from 15 yards out giving Sussex Central a 6-to-nothing lead after a quarter. In the second, Rose helped widen that lead to 14. This time he sheds three would be Bath County tacklers on a 45 yard TD run that put the Tigers on top 14-to-nothing at halftime. But it would have been much worse - twice Bath County's defense stopped Sussex inside the Bath 15 yard line - once on this Josh Pritt interception at the goal line which gave the Chargers some momentum heading into the third. But that Momentum was short lived as Sussex stopped two Bath drives inside the 20 in the second half. The Tigers defense pitches a shutout to claim the school's first state title in 12 years - 20-to-0 the final. ((CURTIS JEFFERSON/SUSSEX HEAD COACH:)) ((WILL FIELDS:)) The Chargers finish the season 13-and-1. Mike Stevens News 7 sports.))



[S-Gretna]


[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=FFE-3]
[GRAPHIC=Gretna/Monticello]
[ENG#=3]


The Gretna Hawks could avoid the area shutout by beating Monticello in the Division Three Final in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Division 3 State Final; :00]


It appeared that the whole town of Gretna made the short trip to the Hill City.
We pick it up in the first quarter from the Monticello 20 yard line. Rico Reynolds goes left and finds the endzone for a 6-nothing Hawks lead.
Three and a half minutes later, Gretna strikes again. Vic Hall does the honors with the 17 yard touchdown run. The two pointer was good and it was 28 to 6 Gretna at the half. The Hawks went on to win it 48-18. We'll hear from the state champs at 11.
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[S-Ladies]


[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-163 TC2835]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]
[ENG#=1]


Virginia Tech won't officially join the ACC until next season, but today the ACC came to Cassell Coliseum, in the form of the Maryland Terps, for some women's hoop.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Terps vs. Hokies; :00]


It took Bonnie Henrickson's club a while to get untracked.
Early on, Ieva Kublina shows some range as she steps out and buries a triple. She finished with the 17th double-double of her career scoring 14 points to go with 10 boards.
Carrie Mason led the way for Tech throwing in 16 points of her own, including these two along the baseline. Hokie Bird was enjoying himself.
[SUPER=33-Maryland/43/Virginia Tech/63/;]

Kerri Gardin then posts up down low and Mason finds her for two more. The Tech ladies stay unbeaten moving to 7 and oh with a 63 to 43 win.
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[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER]
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[WEATHERNET/FULL] CLIMATE STATS CURRENT STATS
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
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