WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/21/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]

Coming up on News 7,
At least one person is dead after a church bus rolls down an embankment in Henry County.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And straight from Holland to the Roanoke Valley. A Vinton church sets itself apart by the ring of its bells.
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[Sports-Head]

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Tonight in sports, it's Week 16 in the NFL, the Stagg Bowl has at least two more years in Salem,
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[ENG#=2]
[VO-NAT]

and the Hokies take a look in the mirror, just 5 days away from their Insight Bowl date with Cal.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

Today was nice, but Monday gets even better. Lots of sunshine with highs in the 50's. Your full forecast including the Chistmas holiday coming up.

[Bus-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

One person is dead after a church bus ran off the road and went down an embankment.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE ACCIDENT MAP FS] The accident happened shortly after 2-thirty on Route 57 West of Martinsville. The Freedom Baptist Church in Martinsville bus ran off the road, and rolled about 50 feet down an embankment. Several other victims were flown to the hospital. There is no word on their conditions. We have a crew on the scene, and we'll have more on this story tonight at 11.
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[County-Fire]

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A neighbor's phone call may have saved the life AND home of one Roanoke County man.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
A fire broke out around ten this morning on Ballard Street. Officials say the blaze started out as a chimney fire, but quickly spread throughout the home. Investigators say the man who lives alone in the house did not have a phone and tried to put the fire out himself. Someone close by, however, saw the smoke and dialed 9-1-1. Officials say the man was not hurt in the blaze. Estimated damage is 15-thousand dollars.
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[Rke-Fire]

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A house in Roanoke on Westover Drive suffered minor fire damage this afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The fire started shortly before four o'clock in an upstairs bedroom. The blaze was contained to that room, but there was some water damage to the first floor. Nobody was hurt in the fire, and officials are still investigating the cause.
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[M'ville-Fire]

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Another house fire in Martinsville, but this one destroyed the home and left two people injured. 67 year old Oscar Stevens, Jr. and his wife were forced to jump from a window when their Liberty Street home caught fire early this morning. Stevens is said to have suffered second degree burns. His wife injured her arm in the fall. Both were transported to Virginia Baptist Hospital. Their son, however, was able to escape the home without injury.

[Church-Bells]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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Sounds of the season hang in the air in many places, but a Vinton church is generating a tune that's all its own.
As Jennifer Wishon reports, the sounds at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church ring from half way around the world.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Nats of bells]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :00]
[SUPER=01-Earle Goodwin/Thrasher Memorial Music Director; :27]
[SUPER=04-December 2002; :47]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; :56]
[SUPER=01-Luke William/Music Student; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Michael Boland/Music Student; 1:34]
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[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Vinton]

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[SOT 18:20:16]
[IN Q=Ringing]
((BELLS CHIMING))
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[OUT Q=Ringing]
The ringing of church bells is not uncommon this time of year, but Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church rings one of a kind.
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[SOT]
((RINGING OF BELLS))
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Thrasher boasts the only real carillon in a church in the entire Roanoke Valley.
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[SOT 18:00:30]
[IN Q=When the church]
((EARLE GOODWIN: WHEN THE CHURCH WAS BEING REMODELED TO CELEBRATE OUR 200TH ANNIVERSARY IT WAS DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CARILLON AND WE DECIDED, NO LET'S NOT DO THAT. LET'S LOOK TOWARD REAL BELLS.))
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[OUT Q=toward real bells.]
24 real bells valued at 50- thousand dollars. Four church members traveled to Holland to witness the casting of the bronze bells and last year they were delivered to the church. All together the carillon weighs just under one ton ensuring that installation would be a challenge.
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[SOT 18:22:45]
[IN Q=Two volunteers lifted]
((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: TWO VOLUNTEERS LIFTED ALL 24 BELLS FROM THE BALCONY UP THROUGH A HATCH. THEY THEN LIFTED THEM ANOTHER 30 FEET INTO THE BELL TOWER USING A CRANK.))
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[OUT Q=using a crank]
The carillon is programed to sound five times a day, but the bells can also be played manually on a key board.
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[SOT 18:12:16]
[IN Q=I first of all]
((LUKE WILLIAMS: I FIRST OF ALL STARTED LISTENING TO MY MOM AND MY DAD PLAYING STUFF AND THEN I TRIED TO COPY THEM, BUT AT FIRST IT DIDN'T GO TOO WELL.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=didn't go too well]
Didn't go well at first, but now the 8- year- old is on his way to mastering both the piano and the bells. 10- year- old Michael Boland also plays under Goodwin's instruction and thinks it's a good idea for anyone who's musically inclined.
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[SOT 18:17:36]
[IN Q=I just want them]
((MICHAEL BOLDEN: I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND IF YOU'RE NOT DOING IT YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND TRY.))
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[OUT Q=ahead and try]
Church members should be able to try their hand at playing for centuries to come.
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[SOT 18:10:28]
[IN Q=The longevity of]
((EARLE GOODWIN: THE LONGEVITY OF BELLS IS 400, 500 HUNDRED YEARS BELLS ARE STILL PLAYING... I LIKE THAT. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=think it's wonderful]
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[SOT]
((NATS OF BELLS))
[RUNS= 03]
Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Vinton.))

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[ENG#=V10]
Still to come on the newscast, a municipal golf course that's under construction finally gets a name,
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[VO-NAT]
and a local attraction receives a major donation, all in the name of science.
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[1st-Wx]

[Safety-Building]

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Roanoke County officials are looking into a new home for their public safety department.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The department's current building is located on Peter's Creek Road in an old school house that was built in the 1930's. County Supervisor Michael Altizer says the building is outdated from a security standpoint and too small to meet the needs of the county.
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[SOT 11:20:58]
[IN Q=We're at a point where]
((MICHAEL ALTIZER/ROANOKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR: WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO EXPAND AND IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO START LOOKING AT THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW PROGRAM THAT WE CAN REALLY DO AND HAVE COMPETING FIRMS COME IN AND ACTUALLY PAY TO DO A LOT OF THE PRELIMINARY WORK ON THAT SO IT'S A BENEFIT TO COUNTY CITIZENS, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE USING.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Altizer/Roanoke County Supervisor;]
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[OUT Q=that we're using]
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=none]
One location county officials are considering is near the school board's administrative building off Cove Road.

[Biz-Review]

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[TAPE#=Biz Review 11/02 tc 1:32:09]
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A Franklin County business expands, while a Southside company closes its doors. Plus parking in Downtown Blacksburg may soon get easier. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./February 2002; :06]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :36]
[SUPER=01-Phillip Essig/Ronile Chief Executive Officer; 1:01]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; 1:26]
[SUPER=01-Marc Verniel/Assistant Town Manager; 1:35]
[SUPER=19-Donald Graham/Reporting; 1:47]
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[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Up ahead on the newscast, your full holiday forecast is just a few minutes away...
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[VO-NAT]

and are there still names left on your shopping list? We'll have some last minutes gift ideas that will fill those empty stockings.
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[Science-Donation]

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The Kiwanis Foundation has awarded the Danville Science Center with an early holiday gift.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/September;]
The Center recently received 165- thousand dollars from the Foundation. The money will be used to support the butterfly station and help fund new visiting exhibits. It will also go towards creating a phone system between the existing center and a new space in the Southern Railway Administration Building. Director Jeff Liverman says the gift will help provide unique learning opportunities for southside's youth. The Danville Science Center is open seven days a week.
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[AMVETS-Gift]

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Some local Vets boxed up all the fixings for a holiday feast this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Members of the AM-VETS of Post 40 started boxing everything from turkey breasts to bananas at six this morning and by 8 o'clock 150 food baskets were ready to make someone's holiday meal. Each basket is filled with about 100- dollars worth of food and will be delivered to needy families across the Roanoke Valley. The group also remembered troops overseas who won't make it home for the holidays.
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[SOT 22:19:20]
[IN Q=We sent over close to]
((BILL ONDELL/AMVETS COMMANDER POST 40: WE SENT OVER CLOSE TO 400 PACKAGES TO THE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND THIS WAS DONE FROM OUR LADIES AUXILIARY. THEY ALSO SENT COUPONS OVERSEAS TO THE PX'S OVER THERE WHERE THEY DON'T GET THEM AND LAST YEAR THEY SENT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF COUPONS TO THE BASES OVERSEAS.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Ondell/AMVETS Commander Post 40;]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=to the bases overseas]
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[VO-NAT]
The coupons can be used at Military Commissary Stores. All funds for the project were raised by the groups 450 members. Ondell estimates the organization puts 65- thousand dollars back into the community each year. Anyone who's actively serving in the military or has been honorably discharged is welcomed to join.
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[Gift-Ideas]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
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[GRAPHIC=Holiday Shopping]
[ENG#=3]
Those who've waited until the last minute to finish holiday shopping can still find some of the season's hottest toys in area stores.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Michelle Rogers shared some of the gifts Toys 'R' Us still has available on News 7 Sunday Morning. She says Wiggles dolls sell for 17-99 and are popular for preschoolers. Meanwhile Super Slicks have been on the market a few years and are a hot toy for children eight years and older.
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[SOT 2:14:55]
[IN Q=This one is a ]
((MICHELLE ROGERS/TOYS 'R' US: THIS ONE IS A MODEL YOU ACTUALLY BUILD AND THEN YOU CAN USE A REMOTE CONTROL TO OPERATE IT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THE MICRO ONES, BUT IT'S SELLING REALLY WELL THIS YEAR FOR $19.99.))
[SUPER=01-Michelle Rogers/Toys 'R' Us;]
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[OUT Q=this year for 19.99]
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[VO-NAT]
Rogers says older kids are also asking for Hand Bands-- The virtual device is worn on the hands and users are able to pick different instruments to play. Meanwhile, Moms and Dads can help potty train toddlers with Baby Borns. That doll sells for just under forty dollars.
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[Sports tease]

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Coming up, the Hokies head for the desert, the Express dukes it out with Greensboro, and
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[VO-NAT]

NFL highlights from Charlotte where the Carolina Panthers help the Lions achieve an NFL record that they won't be proud of.
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[S-Panthers]

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The Carolina Panthers rested 5 starters for today's game against the Lions but still came up with one of their easiest wins of the year.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/Fox Sports; :00]

Jake Delhomme accounted for both Carolina TD's, first hooking up with Steve Smith for a 20 yard scoring strike.
Later, Delhomme hit DeShaun Foster on a 10 yard touchdown. The Panthers won it 20 to 14 for their
[SUPER=30-Detroit/14/Carolina/20/;]
first division title in 7 years. The Lions have now set an NFL record with 24 consecutive road losses.
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[S-Skins]

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[ENG#=2]

Redskins Coach Steve Spurrier watched his former QB at Florida, Rex Grossman carve up his defense today in the Windy City as the Bears beat the Skins.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL/Fox Sports; :00]

The Bears quarterback of the future tossed two touchdown passes, completing 19 of 32 passes for 219 yards.
Tim Hasselbeck matched Grossman with a couple of TD passes of his own. But Paul Edinger, who had missed two earlier field goals made one when it counted. This 45 yarder with 5 ticks left lifted the Bears over the Redskins 27-24. Now the all of today's NFL digits.
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[go to scores]
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[SUPER=0100-/Arizona/3//Seattle/21/3///Denver///Indianapolis///8:30 PM/;]
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[OUTCUE=last score."]
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[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=TRAVIS]
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[GRAPHIC=insight bowl]
[ENG#=3]

The Virginia Tech Hokies flew out of Greensboro earlier today for Phoenix to begin the Arizona leg of their Insight Bowl preparations. The Hokies face a Cal team that has been hot of late, but more than that, they face the ultimate gut check to see if they have any heart left inside themselves.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I THINK...]
[SUPER=01-Doug Easlick/VT Senior Fullback; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Lewis/VT Sophomore Tackle; :22]
[SUPER=01-Michael Crawford/VT Senior Rover; :40]
[SUPER=01-Justin Hamilton/VT Sophomore Receiver; :57]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=...THAT MUCH FUN TO PLAY."]
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[TALENT=TRAVIS]
[GRAPHIC=INSIGHT BOWL]
The Hokies remain three point favorites for the 8pm kick-off on Friday night, December 26th.

[S-Stagg]

[ANCHOR=travis]
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[GRAPHIC=Stagg Bowl]
[ENG#=4]

Now that the 31st Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl is in the books, the City of Salem can now look to the future of the D3 title game. Earlier this year, the city was awarded a two year extension to host the game through 2005.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Carey Harveycutter/Salem Director of Facilities; :00]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=those have been substantial changes."]
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[S-Express]

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[GRAPHIC=Express]
[ENG#=1]

To the ice, where two of the ECHL's highest scoring teams met today at the Roundhouse as the Express battled Greensboro.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Generals vs. Express; :00]

Goaltender Jason Wolfe has been stout between the pipes for the Express of late. Check out the nice save right here from Wolfe as he sacrifices his body to keep the puck away.
A few minutes later, the 6-5 Wolfe wasn't so fortunate. Kurtis Drummond scores on the power play for the Generals who led it 2-nothing after a period, despite being outshot by the Express 16-13.
At last check, Greensboro led it 5 to 1 in the third period.
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[S-Hoops]

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[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]
[ENG#=2]

On the court this afternoon, the Virginia Tech women took care of JMU in Harrisonburg 60 to 53. Bonnie Henrickson's team used a 17-1 run midway thru the second half to put the Dukes away. Erin Gibson led Tech by scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. It is the ninth double-double of her career.
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

Bart Bellairs and the VMI Keydets had a little tougher time today, losing at home to Saint Francis of Pennsylvania 66 to 62.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA/Sunshine Network; :00]

Saint John's played its first game since the firing of Coach Mike Jarvis today against Georgia Tech, and the Jackets had no sympathy for the Red Storm.
B-J Elder scored 15 points for the Ramblin' Wreck which improved to
[SUPER=33-St. John's/66/Georgia Tech #5/79/;]
(------------) 10 and oh with a 79-66 win.