WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/01/04

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[VO-NAT]
Coming up on NEWS 7: We'll meet the Virginia couple who won the world's second largest lottery payoff ever.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
And try to find out why a soldier from Carroll County can't get a flight out of Iraq even though his tour of duty's done.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
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Tonight on News 7 sports - Steve Mason visits with Rick Kowalsky, while JMU's coaching search continues.
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[VO-NAT]
And Virginia decides to keep Pete Gillen - as the administration throws its support behind the veteran head coach.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Our cold forecast holds together for another 24 hours but some gradual changes after that. We also have our April almanac right after sports. [Open]
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[SOT 33:10]
[IN Q=I'M GOING TO SPEND IT WISELY]
((I'M GOING TO SPEND IT WISELY I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. I'M GOING TO SHOP UNTIL I DROP.))
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[OUT Q=NAT SOUND LAUGHTER]
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[VO-NAT]

A Virginia couple becomes instant mega-millionaires.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry. Shannon is off tonight.

[Lottery-winners]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[TAPE#=04-04 1:08:22]
[GRAPHIC=MegaWinners]
[ENG#=4]

A retired truck driver is hauling it in.
Today a Winchester man and his wife showed up with the winning Mega-Millions lottery ticket and claimed the 239 million dollar jackpot.
Meghan Muldoon has more on the winner who says the instant dough is "no big thing."
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I TOLD SWEETHEART, WE'RE GOING]
[SUPER=01-J.R. Triplett/Mega-Millions Winner; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :30]
[SUPER=01-Kelley Barnett/Family Friend; :]
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(([SOT 11:34:36]
((J.R. TRIPLETT/MEGA-MILLIONS WINNER: I TOLD SWEETHEART WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MONEY OUT OF THIS.))
[RUNS= :05]

Six weeks ago J.R. Triplett and his wife Peggy discovered they had just won Virginia's largest jackpot and the second largest undivided jackpot in U.S. history.
[SOT 11:34:55]
((J.R. TRIPLETT/MEGA-MILLIONS WINNER: I SAID SWEETHEART WE'VE GOT THAT NUMBER AND SHE KINDA BROKE DOWN GOT DOWN ON HER KNEES. IT DIDN'T UPSET ME TOO MUCH OR EXCITE ME.))
[RUNS= :14]

The retired truck driver and grandfather of two said he waited six weeks to collect the prize in order to consult with an attorney and get his ducks in a row.
[SOT 11:40:50]
((J.R. TRIPLETT/MEGA-MILLIONS WINNER: I SAID SWEETHEART WE GOT OURSELVES A MESS WE WON THAT LOTTERY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.))
[RUNS= :07]

The Winchester couple opted for the lump sum payment which before taxes comes to 141 million dollars.
They plan to invest in real estate and will probably take a second honeymoon.
But their very first purchase was a headstone for J.R.'s boyhood friend whose family couldn't afford one.
[SOT 11:43:09]
((J.R. TRIPLETT/MEGA-MILLIONS WINNER: I TALK TO THE LORD A LOT AND I SAID LORD IF YOU EVER GIVE ME A FEW EXTRA BUCKS, I'M GOING TO BUY MY FRIEND A TOMBSTONE SO ITS ON THE WAY.))
[RUNS= :10]

Kelley Barnett grew up in Winchester and went to school with the Tripletts' son, A. J.
[SOT 11:52:26]
((KELLEY BARNETT/FAMILY FRIEND: THEY'RE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT DESERVE TO WIN THE LOTTERY, VERY SIMPLE, NEVER HAD A LOT, NEVER NEEDED A LOT SO I THINK ITS GREAT.))
[RUNS= :07]

As J.R. chewed on a toothpick and hugged his wife and her twin sister, it was easy for one to think well, if it couldn't be me, then I'm glad the money went to someone like them.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[Salem-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
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[TAPE#=04-08 1:04:20]
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Salem police are trying to determine why a Radford man pulled his car into the path of an on-coming train this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
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It happened just after 9:30 off Apperson Drive. Witnesses say 63- year- old Cary Tolbert crossed the tracks once, turned around and then pulled in front of a Norfolk- Southern train.
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[IN Q=There are no gates]
((B. R. NUNLEY/SALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT: THERE ARE NO GATES HERE, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, THE BELL WAS RINGING AND THE TRAIN ITSELF - THEY WERE SOUNDING THE HORN TRYING TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL TO STOP - WHICH HE DID NOT.))
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[OUT Q=which he did not]
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[VO-NAT]
Upon impact the train pushed Tolbert's Toyota down the tracks for about 50- feet where it was tossed aside. N-S employees quickly separated the train, so rescue personnel could get to the car. Tolbert is recovering at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he's listed in good condition. No charges have been filed.
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[Craig-Murder]

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Charges against a New Castle man accused in a weekend fight have gone from malicious wounding to first-degree murder.
(+++++++)
[Take Gallimore FS]
32-year-old Jay Alan Gallimore is charged in the death of 49-year-old Stanley Ray Crawford.
Gallimore is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to face first degree murder and felony assault charges.

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[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Officials say the men got into a fight early Sunday morning and Crawford later died from his head injury.

[Galax-Troops]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[TAPE#=04-01 1:33:07]
[GRAPHIC=Delayed Homecoming]

After more than a year in Iraq, a Carroll County soldier can't seem to get a ride home.
First Sgt. Steven Burnette and several other Virginia soldiers of the 9-46th Transportation company have now been bumped three times from their flights home.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel/Microwave;]

As New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa found out going to war may be easier than getting home from it.
[LIVE=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
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That's right Keith, The military is shuffling a lot of people around in Iraq right now, so those precious flights home are hard to come by.
But for the Burnette family, the precious time without their husband and dad is getting even harder to take.
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[SUPER=01-Whitney Burnette/ Galax Soldier's Daughter;:10]
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[SUPER=01-Krista Burnette/Galax Soldier's Wife;:30]
[SUPER=01-Betty Grubb/Galax Soldier's Aunt;51]
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[OUT Q=matter of days.]

((426 days. That's how long First Sgt. Steven Burnette's been in Iraq... and it's how long the Burnette family's been waiting for dad to come home.

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[SOT:29:39:00 ]
[IN Q=Ii'm proud]
((WHITNEY: I'M PROUD OF HIM BEING OVER THERE, I'D LIKE HIM TO BE BACK HERE. I'LL BE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE WITH MY TWO YEAR DEGREE AND I'D LIKE HIM TO BE HOME BY MAY. THAT'S MY GOAL. )) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=my goal.]

Burnette was transporting fuel in Iraq through November and has been on guard duty ever since. He's been waiting for a flight home for several weeks now.

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[SOT: 23:16:00 ]
[IN Q=They actually]
((KRISTA BURNETT :THEY ACTUALLY ARE HAVING TO STAY LONGER THAN UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE LESS TIME. AND A LOT OF THE UNITS THAT ARE ACTIVE DUTY ARE GIVEN PRECEDENCE AND SENT HOME BEFORE THE RESERVES ARE.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=the reserves are.]

The family already went through this once before, 10 years ago during Desert Storm. Congressman Rich Boucher had to requisition a special plane to get him home.

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[SOT: 35:57:00 ]
[IN Q=It's dejavu]
((BETTY GRUB: IT'S DE JA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. THEY GET A PLANE AND GET HIM THERE. AND THEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO COME HOME THEY DON'T GET A PLANE TO GET HIM HOME. IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT FAIR TO HIS FAMILY.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=to his family.]

And Boucher may have do it all over again for a family proud of Burnette's service and ready to tell him about it... face to face.

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[SOT:1:46:43:00]
[IN Q=I have contacted]
((RICK BOUCHER: HE'S IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE COMMANDING OFFICER FOR THE GALAX RESERVIST AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL BEFORE THE END OF THIS DAY THAT WE WILL HAVE THE ASSURANCE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CAN BE RETURNED TO THE US WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS. )) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=matter of days. ]))
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I spoke to the family by phone a few hours ago and gave them the news.
They are very thankful to soon be having a real date their soldier is coming home.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel/Microwave;]

Keith the family is very proud of Burnette's service, and thankful he's made it this far.
They tell me they just want him home safe as soon as possible.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
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[ENG#=V10]
Botetourt school officials say they won't wait for Richmond. Still ahead, raises are on the way.
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[VO-NAT]
And the budget battle moves to Southside today, when Governor Warner is talking compromise.
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[1st-Wx]

[First-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Robin]

[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER Position #1

[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST
[COMMERCIAL]

[Warner-Budget]

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(MINI-OPEN)
[MINI-OPEN]
With each passing day and still no state budget, Virginia's fiscal crisis continues to worsen.
That was the message from Governor Mark Warner in Southside today as he urged local leaders to pressure their delegates to compromise.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
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[OUT Q=News7, Danville.]

(( In sports, an overtime period usually produces a winner.. in Virginia's General Assembly, an extra-long session has only produced a budget stalemate.
As the House and Senate wrangle over what taxes to raise and how much, Governor Mark Warner says the state is dangerously close to losing its triple-A bond rating.
Local government leaders who talked with Warner in Danville Thursday say there's a trickle-down effect that is crippling their own budgets.
[SOT 11:28:27]
((DAN SLEEPER/PITTSYLVANIA CO. ADMINISTRATOR: THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS EVERY TIME RICHMOND COUGHS, WE BASICALLY HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE 80 PERCENT OF MOST LOCAL BUDGETS COME OUT OF RICHMOND'S MONEY.))
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Law enforcement is also suffering, where local sheriffs say they can't afford to pay a rookie deputy more than 24-thousand a year.
[SOT 11:36:49]
((HAROLD PLASTER/PITTSYLVANIA CO. SHERIFF: IT OUGHT TO BE EMBARASSING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY. THESE GUYS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE 24 HOURS A DAY AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOT PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR FOOD STAMPS.))
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[OUT Q=for food stamps.]
[Standup 11:54:02] ((Warner says he's actually more optimistic about the budget situation now than he was ten days ago, because he feels Republican delegates have gone home and heard from their constituents that they're tired of the stalemate and that now is the time to get the job done.))
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[OUT Q=get the job done.]
[SOT 11:41:33]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: THEY'VE GOT TO SHORE UP THEIR COURAGE A LITTLE BIT, NOT PUNT THIS PROBLEM DOWN TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE TO THEN RAISE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES.))
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[OUT Q=twenty percent.]

Warner hopes to see some compromise reached within the next two weeks
Most House Republicans, however, maintain any tax increase should be approved by the voters in a statewide referendum.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Danville. ))

[Boty-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Even as it awaits a final state budget, the Botetourt County School Board has finalized its own budget for the next school year.
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[VO-NAT]
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Last night, members approved a nearly 39-million dollar budget, one based on Governor Warner's proposal.
It includes a two-percent raise for teachers, five-percent for administrators and supervisors and an increase in the retirement rate.
Botetourt county administrators previously paid 3-point-7 per cent to retirement, and with the increase, they will pay more than eight percent.
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[IN Q=We are spreading..]
((JACK THOMAS, BOTETOURT CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: WE ARE SPREADING THE WEALTH, WE'VE GOT SOME POSITION IN THERE, WE'VE GOT SOME SCHOOL BUSES IN THERE AND MAINTENANCE. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET EVERY AREA SHORED UP.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Thomas/Botetourt Co. School Superintendent]
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[OUT Q=.. AREA SHORED UP.]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Dr. Thomas says if the General Assembly returns a different budget than Governor Warner's, the school board would have to amend its budget.

[Stocks]

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With an eye toward second quarter earnings statements, investors edged the markets up. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
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[SUPER=440-x/15.63/10373.33/x/20.79/2015.01;]

The Dow gained 16 points. Nasdaq rose 21.
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[SUPER=273-h/0.35/8.89/h/0.46/41.08/h/0.07/16.71/i/0.06/22.03/i/0.12/5.96;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.10/14.00/h/0.31/70.02/h/0.36/36.90/h/0.26/47.26/i/1.34/58.35;]
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[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Richmond-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 pm]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=04-14 07:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
[ENG#=1]

Investigators have determined the fire that destroyed 29 buildings in downtown Richmond was an accident.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond, VA]
Lieutenant Keith Vida (VEE'-dah) says the rear of an unfinished apartment building still under construction was the first to catch fire. Witnesses say the fire started in a trash bin and spread quickly. Many VCU students and local residents say they lost everything they owned in the flames. Vida says an investigation is still underway to determine when and how all 29 building caught fire.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
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[ENG#=V-10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - Gillen is staying out at UVa, but Matt isn't a match for JMU.
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[VO-NAT]
And the Express player known as Killer now has another spiller to deal with - Steve Mason talks with Rick Kowalsky about balancing being a dad and a hockey player.
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[S-Pete]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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[GRAPHIC=UVA HOOPS]
[ENG#=1]
The University of Virginia has decided to keep its truct in Pete Gillen for at least another season. This afternoon UVa athletic director Craig Littlepage announced that Gillen WILL be back next season.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-This Season; :00]
Gillen has been at UVa for six seasons, and while he has maintained the program - he has done little to elevate it especially in the postseason. His job was in question for the final two months of this season, and his players responded by playing well down the stretch and finishing with 18 wins. Littlepage and President John Casteen say that Gillen has their full support - something he has always had from his players.
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[OUT Q=...IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION."]
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[S-JMU]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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While UVa has its man JMU still does not have a coach.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-2002-03 Season; :00]
Matt Doherty, for former North Carolina and Notre Dame boss, was offered the job yesterday, and turned it down this afternoon. Sources in Harrisonburg are now telling News 7 that current Ga. Tech assistant coach Dean Keener will be given the job. Keener should be familiar with area fans - he was an assistant at Virginia Tech under Bill Foster.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=JMU]
Again, Dean Keener will be the man at JMU.
[GRAPHIC=DUNKENBERGER]
As for the Tech women's job - we have learned tonight that Beth Dunkenberger the head coach at Western Carolina has talked with Tech. Officials at WCU tell us Tech asked for and received permission to talk with her about the coaching vacancy.

[S-Killer]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-161 1:41:22]
[GRAPHIC=Express]
[ENG#=3]

There are only 18 players in ECHL history with more points that Express right wing Rick Kowalsky. But Steve Mason says he's met his match at home.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=In late March,]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00 ]
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[OUT Q=......Round House Wrap Up"]
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((In late March Rick Kowalsky became a father for the second time when wife Deb gave birth to daughter Sydney. The hockey player known as killer will be the first to tell you there is NO comparrison between hockey and home life. ((:)) Kilwasky's sleepless nights followed by hard hitting games and long road trips have been tough but helpful to others.

((TONY MACAULAY/EXPRESS HEAD COACH:))
Kilwalsky has one ECHL championship and, among active players, ranks fourth in ECHL goals and sixth in assists. But personal accolades are not what he's most proud of.)) ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:RICK KOWALSKY WILL BE 33 NEXT SEASON AND WILL TAKE SOME TIME DURING THE OFF SEASON TO DECIDE WHETHER TO REITRE OR COME BACK AND PLAY. BUT KILLER'S STATS INDICATE HE'S GETTING BETTER WITH AGE. OVER THE LAST THREE SEASONS HE'S PRODUCED THE BIGGEST NUMBERS OF HIS CAREER WITH 83,82 AND 72 POINTS. STEVE MASON ROUND HOUSE WRAP UP.))

[Wx-Almanac]

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[WRITER=ejo]
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[ENG#=1]

The last few days have been a chilly reminder that it is too early for spring plantings but this is also a month of very fast weather changes. Let's check in with meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner for other April events in our monthly almanac.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=The flowers are]
[SUPER=#305;Leo AMS :00]
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[OUT Q=I'm meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner.]

[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER]
[SS NONE]
[WEATHERNET/FULL] CLIMATE STATS CURRENT STATS
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
[CK/SKYTRACKER]RADAR ANALYSIS
[CK/WXPRO] WEATHER MAPS LOCAL FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

(TOSS & CLOSE)

[Close]

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(Weekday 6 only)
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(Weekend 6 only)
SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS
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[AM-6Promo]

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[ENG#=None]
Mickey Rooney is a Hollywood legend. He's appeared in more than 200 films since his days as a child actor in the 1920's. At one time he was one of the industry's hottest stars. He's 83 now, and Mickey Rooney is in Roanoke. We'll explain why and hope to have a word with him on NEWS 7 at Six.