WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 05/27/04

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[VO-NAT]

Today on News 7 at 5, Logan Bowman's mother takes to the stand to talk about the boy's disappearance.
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Also the owners of a Botetourt County day care center will not face charges in the death of a young boy.
[Weather-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
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We are in a welcome lull from storm action at the moment but Friday looks a lot more unsettled. Details of the forecast in just a few minutes.

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Also today, a deal could end fighting for one Iraqi hot spot.
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[VO-NAT]
In Bedford County, a teacher gets the surprise of her year.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
Plus Brent Watts will tell us how to grow tomatoes indoors. News 7 at 5 is next.

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[VO-NAT]
A decision has been made in a fatal lawn mower accident that left a four-year-old boy dead.
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[5-Mower-Death]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Criminial charges will *NOT* be filed against a Botetourt man who ran over 4-year-old Justin Simmons with a lawn mower.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daleville/April 2004]
That's the decision announced today by Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom. Orville Reedy was mowing his lawn on April 22nd when the mower stalled and rolled over four-year-old Justin Simmons.
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[SOT@16:07:44:06]
[IN Q=It's a matter...]
((JOEL BRANSCOM, BOTETOURT CO. COMMONWEALTH ATTY: IT'S A MATTER OF DEGREE. I THOUGHT THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUPPORT CHARGES UNDER CRIMINAL NEGLIENCE STATUE, BUT THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS IN PROSECUTION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVICTION IS SOMEWHAT REMOTE.))
[SUPER=01-Joel Branscom/Botetourt Co. Commonwealth's Atty.]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=... somewhat remote.]
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[VO-NAT]
News 7 was the first to tell Orville Reedy he won't face criminal charges in connection with the accident. He wouldn't talk on camera, but he said this has been tough for all involved, and there are no winners in this case.
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[5-Schermerhorn]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG#=1]

Testimony began today in the homicide case of Dennis Schermerhorn.
He's accused of murdering five year old Logan Bowman last year.
Today Logan's mother testified for the first time about the disappearance of her son.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Cynthia Davis said she was in an abusive relationship with Schermerhorn and feared for her life.
Davis claims Logan accidentially burned himself in the bathtub and Schermerhorn would not let her take him to the hospital. She says when she woke up the next day, Logan was gone.
Logan's body was never found, but Schermerhorn was charged with felony homicide and child endangerment.
His defense attorneys are questioning Davis right now and are trying to discredit her story.
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[ANCHOR=JEAN]
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SHE entered a guilty plea to felony murder charges in April.

[5-Danville-Body]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A woman whose remains were found in Pittsylvania County earlier this year was from the area.
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[VO-NAT :22]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./April;]
The skeletal remains of 39-year old Lisa Marie Ayers were found April 22nd in a field a few hundred yards from Inman Road. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide although authorities would not discuss the cause of death. Police are looking for information about Ayers dating back to 2001. There's a 1-thousand dollar reward being offered in the case.
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[5-Okita-Terror]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Authorities have arrested a man they believe has ties to both Al Qaeda and the Taliban- the suspect may have also been organizing a terrorist training camp in the U-S.
This comes as officials warn of a possible terrorist attack in the U-S.
As Teri Okita reports, police are already beefing up security in Washington, D-C.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-James Stichka/WWII Veteran; :25]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Budden/WWII Veteran; :33]
[SUPER=@Ashcroft; 1:02]
[Super=@Okita1; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Washington.]

((TOURISTS CANT WAIT TO GET A PEEK OF THE NEWEST ATTRACTION IN WASHINGTON, D-C. TWO DAYS BEFORE ITS DEDICATION, THE WORLD WAR TWO MEMORIAL BECKONS YOUNG AND OLD BUT ITS A SNAPSHOT OF WAR FROM DAYS GONE BY WHEN SOLDIERS KNEW THEIR ENEMY. NOW, WARNINGS OF A POSSIBLE ATTACK COME WITH NO SPECIFIC TIME OR PLACE. BUT THREAT ALERTS WONT KEEP THESE PROUD VETERANS AWAY. James Stichka/WWII Veteran:
SOT: Having been in the two biggest Naval battles in all history during World War II in the Pacific, I dont think this
is much by comparison. Kenneth Budden/WWII Veteran:
SOT: Weve been waiting so many years for this, I wouldn't let a threat deny me.
BUT AUTHORITIES WARN LARGE GATHERINGS THIS SUMMER MAY BE TARGETED BY TERRORISTS. WHILE WASHINGTON POLICE STEP UP SECURITY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PUBLIC IS ASKED TO KEEP ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR THESE SEVEN TERROR SUSPECTS. AND THE HUNT DOESNT STOP THERE. BRITISH AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED ANOTHER MAN, ABU HAMZA ON 11-TERRORISM CHARGES. OFFICIALS SAY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE TRIED TO SET UP A TERRORIST TRAINING CAMP IN OREGON. John Ashcroft/Attorney General: Hamza is also charged with providing material support to Al Qaeda, for facilitating violent jihad in Afghanistan, as well as conspiracy to supply goods and services to the Taliban. IN THIS ELECTION SEASON, SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE SUGGESTED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION MAY BE EXAGGERATING THE THREATS TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM IRAQ. Ron Klain/Democratic Strategist: We have to be able to trust the administration when it speaks out on matters of national security. That trust has been broken, but we really have no choice but to continue to trust them. Teri Okita/Reporting: Ashcroft has rejected any claims that the warnings are politically-motivated. The FBI has created a new task force to focus specifically on the summer threat. Teri Okita, CBS News, Washington.))

[5-Iraq-deal]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Another attack on one of Iraq's Governing Council members. Salamaal al- Khafaji (ka-fah-gee) survived the ambush-
Al-Khafaji is one of three women on the governing council.
She was returning to Baghdad from mediation efforts in Najaf.
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[Vo-Nat]
[Super=03-Najaf, Iraq;]

A peace deal has been reached there- drawn up by rebel shite cleric Muktada al -sadr.
It calls for withdrawl of Sadr's forces, the return of Iraqi security police and a limited U- S troop presence in Najaf.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19]
((MOUWAFAK AL-RUBAIE/INTERIM IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: IT WILL ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF NAJAF WHO HAVE BEEN TERRORIZED AND BEEN LIVING IN TOTAL PARALYSIS TO RESUME THEIR NORMAL LIVES.))
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mouwafak al-Rubaie/Interim Iraqi Nat'l Security Advisor;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=their normal lives.]
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[VO-NAT]

The deal did fall short of what the coalition wanted- that al sadr disband his militia and surrender to authoroties.
Still, today's deal is being called the best hope yet for an end to fighting in Najaf.
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[Tease1]

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Still to come on the newscast, Virginia makes its drunk driving laws even tougher.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus for the first time some students failing marks on the SOL tests could stop them from graduating.
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[COMM #1]

[5-Kobe]

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[MINI-OPEN]

[ENG#=1]

It may be game day for the L-A Lakers, but star guard Kobe Bryant had court time in Colorado first.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA]

Bryant's lawyers are fighting to keep a key player on the defense team- a veteran detective who testified int he O-J Simpson murder trial.
[Super=03-Eagle, CO;]

He's expected to go on the record to say detective botched evidence in the sexual assault case against Bryant.
Experts say police made mistakes because they did not confiscate the chair where the alleged assault took place... and because they did not examine the carpet near it.
The judge is expected to set a trial date by day's end.
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[5-School-Board]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG#=2]

With graduation now two weeks away, some high school seniors in the city of Roanoke are still sweating the S-O-Ls.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Year;]

This is the first year, that students must pass end- of- course Standards of Learning tests to earn credits toward graduation.
Two dozen students in Roanoke have completed all course requirements, but still need a passing grade on the SOLs.

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[SOT 22:33]
[IN Q=We anticipate]
((WE ANTICIPATE THAT MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL IN FACT, MANY OF THOSE 24, WILL VERIFY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION SO THEY CAN BE ISSUED THEIR DIPLOMA.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke City School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=issued their diploma.]
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[VO-NAT]

Students who are still waiting on test results will be allowed to take part in graduation ceremonies, but they won't receive a diploma until they meet the state requirements.
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[5-Drunk-driving]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG#=3]

Drunk driving laws in Virginia are about to get tougher, especially for repeat offenders.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Governor Mark Warner signed more than two dozen drunk driving bills into law today.
Most of the bills crack down on repeat offenders and heavy drinkers.
The new laws require them to serve mandatory jail time and to forfeit their vehicles.
The 25 new measures make Virginia's drunk-driving penalties among the stiffest in the nation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:22:45]
[IN Q=THIS REALLY IS AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: THIS REALLY IS AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT ON DRUNK DRIVING AND THE MESSAGE WE ARE SENDING LOUD AND CLEAR IS THAT IF YOU DRINK AND DRIVE OR USE DRUGS AND DRIVE YOU ARE NOT WELCOME ON VIRGINIA'S ROADS AND IF WE CATCH YOU WE ARE GOING TO PROSECUTE YOU TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.))
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[OUT Q=YOU TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.]
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[VO-NAT]

Most of the new drunk driving laws are scheduled to take effect on July first.
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[5-West-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG=4]

The West Nile Virus is expected to be widespread this year.
Last year 32 Virginians contracted the virus, including some in our region.
[ANCHOR=JEAN 2 shot]

Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton joins us tonight with advice from local health officials on how to protect yourself.
Joy what is their advice?
[ANCHOR=Joy 2 shot]

Jean,
The best thing to do is to eliminate mosquito breeding areas around your home. Mosquitos can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water.
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And the sporadic rain, and hot weather we've been experiencing lately are ideal for breeding.
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[IN Q=It's mosquitos that transfer the west nile]
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[SUPER=01-Dick Tabb/Environmental Health Manager; :14]
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[OUT Q=factors in play.]
((
It's mosquitos that transfer the West Nile virus to humans. But health officials say only a very small percentage are actually infected.
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[SOT1:56:29]
[IN Q=Mainly the mosquitos that are involved]
((MAINLY THE MOSQUITOS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH WEST NILE ARE CONTAINER MOSQUITOS. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO EMPTY OUT CONTAINERS IN BACK YARDS AND ELIMINATE STANDING WATER 37 YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE ALL THE WATER BUT ELIMINATE WHAT YOU CAN AND THIS WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE MOSQUITO POPULATION)) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q=reduce the mosquito population]

Health officials will be monitoring the mosquito population --but they will only be setting up traps in targeted areas where they've received complaints.
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[SOT1:56:56]
[IN Q=It's setting up to be a large]
((IT'S SETTING UP TO A LARGE MOSQUITO SEASON JUDGING BY THE COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVED WE'VE ALSO DONE SURVEILLANCE WE'RE FINDING ACTIVE MOSQUITO LARVAE OUT ON OUR COMPLAINTS THAT WE INVESTIGATE )) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=that we investigate]

To protect yourself from mosquitos, wear long, loose, light colored clothing. Use insect repellent and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds around your home such as in old tires and gutters.
But even if you do get bitten by an infected mosquitos that doesn't mean you will get the virus.
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[SOT1:58:59]
[IN Q=Folks over 50 years of age]
((FOLKS OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE OR MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE WEST NILE VIRUS. PEOPLE WITH IMMUNITY PROBLEMS WILL BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS IN PLAY)) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q=factors in play]))
(++++++++++++)
[Take Mosquito Full Screen] If you have a mosquito problem you can contact the Health Department for help by calling 857-7800 extension 124.
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[ANCHOR=Jean/Joy 2 shot]
Jean,

[Tease2]

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[ENG=1]

Up next on the newscast, gardening season is here, and that means Brent Watts is back with the first installment of Growin' It.
[SOT]
[IN Q=A nursery in Salem...]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...stay with us.]

[5-Growin-It]

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[ENG#=1]

For many years, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous and were grown solely for their ornamental value. Things have certainly changed since then and that's good for one Salem nursery. For our first installment of Growin' It, Brent Watts gets some tips on growing tasty tomatoes...indoors.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We're not in...]
[SUPER=@brent1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Feldberg/Riverside Nursery; :11]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :34]
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[OUT Q=...for this week's Growin' It.]

[Stats]
[CK/WEATHERNET]CURRENT STATS
[CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS LOCAL FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST
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[Tease#3]

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Coming up next, Mike Stevens will have some early Major League highlights.
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[VO-NAT]
Then a little bit later, a fire drill turns into a big surprise for one Bedford County teacher.
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[COMM#3]

[S5-MLB]

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[ENG#=1]

Good afternoon everybody plenty to talk about on this Thursday including
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cincinnati, OH/MLB; :00]
on Big league battle that already is in the books. The Florida Marlins finally found a way to cool down the Cinncinnati Reds. This afternoon the Fish beat Cincinnati 5-to-2 and as Alex Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs.
[super=34-Florida/5/Cincinnati/2;]
The Reds' Sean Casey raised his average to to 379 on the season
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[S5-ACC]

[ANCHOR=mike]
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[ENG#=2]

The ACC baseball tournament continued this afternoon, but it won't continue tomrorow for UVa. The Cavs were beaten for the second straight day losing to NC State 7-to-6 - and Virginia is now eliminated. The entire tournament will head to Florida next season. Many of the players and coaches have enjoyed competing in Salem's professional baseball stadium.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

The Salem Memorial Stadium staff and the city of Salem have tried to give the ACC teams a real taste of what minor league baseball atmosphere is all about.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Boggs/Georgia Tech Outfielder; :00]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=.......so it's a good park(double out)]
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[ANCHOR=mike]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
Tickets are available for all remaining games in the tournament including tonight's.
The quarter final round gets underway Friday at 10 am. The semifinals are Saturday at Noon and 3:30 and the championship is set for Saturday night at eight.

[S5-Avs]

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[ENG#=3]

With the ACC in town - the The Salem Avalanche is on the road until June 7th.
The 14 day bus trip pulled out of Kinston last night where the Avs lost the series but did manage to get one win against the talented K-tribe.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Russ Nixon/Avalanche Manager; :03]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=better against the m that's all"]
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=BAM]
Salem begins a four games series at Potomac tonight.

[S5-WVEC]

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[ENG#=4]

The college football season seems like a long way off in the distance - but this afternoon organizers for the Western Virginia Education Classic got together downtown at Beamer's
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
to announce some big news for their September 11th game. Pepsi, which has been a sponsor of the contest for all five years of its existence, is taking its involvement to a new level. Pepsi will place an ad for the game on one million Pepsi cans that will be distributed throughout southwest and central Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=01-Tim Swecker/Pepsi Director of Foodservice Sales; :00]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=...this great cause."]
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[vo nat con't] The game, which supports TAP's efforts to get dropouts back in school, also is getting support from Virginia Tech. More on the Western Virginia Eduction Classic tonight on News 7 at Six. Take care everybody and safe night.
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[5Marketwatch]

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[ENG#=1]

On Wall Street today, investors were encouraged by new signs of economic strength from a positive report on the gross domestic product.
Alexis Chrsitoforous has more.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/CBS Marketwatch;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=News 7 at 5.]

[Stock Roll]
[5-Stock-Roll]
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[SUPER=283-h/0.15/27.55/h/0.24/30.36/h/0.53/73.46/h/0.10/40.50/h/0.12/32.49;]
[SUPER=284-h/0.23/53.53/h/0.51/35.40/h/0.22/23.78/h/0.03/10.72/i/0.60/40.97;]
[SUPER=#555; RESET]

[5-Bedford-Teacher]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG#=2]

It was the most exciting fire drill students at a Bedford County school had ever experienced.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

When faculty and students at New London Elementary filed out of their classrooms this morning, they learned one of their teachers had won the county's "Teacher of the Year" award.
Kathy Rodriguez is a 14-year veteran who teaches fifth grade at New London.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:00:23]
[IN Q=She's very attached]
((JAMES BLEVINS/BEDFORD CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: SHE'S VERY ATTACHED TO HER JOB, SHE LOVES WHAT SHE DOES, AND THAT CARING ATTITUDE JUST GOES THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT SHE REALLY DOES. WHEREVER SHE IS, AT ALL THREE SCHOOLS SHE'S BEEN AT, SHE JUST KIND OF MOTIVATES OTHER TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST.))
[SUPER=01-James Blevins/Bedford Co. School Superintendent]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=to do their best.]
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[VO-NAT]

Rodriguez hauled in more than eight thousand dollars in grants and gift certificates.
She also won the use of a new car for the next year.
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