WDBJ 7 news at 11 for 07/20/04

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Shan]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE=Heads]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Coming up on News 7-
A girl falls more than 30 feet at a Giles County waterfall.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The final buzzer sounds for Roanoke's hockey team. Plus, a gun-battle of sorts breaks out in some Virginia restaurants. The business owners say they're finding the state's open-carry law hard to stomach.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
News 7 is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=VidOpen]

[ENG#=2]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

After years of skating on thin ice, the Roanoke Express falls through.
The team is dissolved and fans are distressed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:49:37]
[IN Q=Definetely a huge]
((KARINE PIERCE: DEFINITELY A HUGE LOSS, AND DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL SHOW.))
[Runs=03]
[OUT Q=IT WILL SHOW]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young. Jean is off tonight.

[Express]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC1:04:38]
[GRAPHIC=Express Folded]
[ENG#=3]

The owners of the Roanoke Express had until one o-clock this afternoon to score a legitimate offer to buy the team.
When that deadline passed, the ECHL pulled the plug.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Season]

The Express has played in Roanoke since the 1993-94 season and made the playoffs every one of those years.
Tony MacAulay would have been coaching in his third season for the Express.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's part of]
((TONY MACAULAY/EXPRESS HEAD COACH; IT'S PART OF THE BUSINESS. IT'S A PART OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S RAISED ITS UGLY HEAD. IT'S HAPPENED TO DIFFERENT TEAMS AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE . IT'S A SAD DAY FOR BASICALLY EVERYBODY AND WE'VE BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THE FANS AND THE BOOSTER CLUB, OUR MEDIA PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE TEAM SO CLOSELY. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY THAT FOLLOWED HOCKEY.))
[SUPER=01-Tony MacAulay/Express Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=that followed Hockey.]
(------------)

[React-Express]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC50:10]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

They followed it and now fans must learn to live without it. [***END OF AN ERA GRAPHIC IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Justin /NEwsroom;]

Justin McLeod is in the newsroom tonight with reaction. So Justin what are fans saying?
Shannon, as you might imagine they're disappointed.
[LIVE= Justin /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@justin1]

They're also frustrated with the lack of support for the Express.
But these fans also remain hopeful the Roanoke Valley will be able to net another team in the future.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF PLAYING HOCKEY]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Karine Pierce/Express Fan; :22 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Jim Van Cleaf/Express Fan; :56]
[SUPER=01-Roger Barker/Express Fan; 1:15 (QUICK)]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=SAVE THE SITUATION]
((((NAT SOUND OF PLAYING HOCKEY))
News traveled almost as quickly as the hockey puck, and it seems everyone here at the Ice Station had a similar reaction to the Express packin it in.
[SOT 17:48:07; 17:54:50; 17:53:49]
[IN Q=Shocked, disappointed]
((KARINE PIERCE: SHOCKED DISAPPOINTED.)) ((ROGER BARKER: I'M SORRY TO SEE IT GO.)) ((MATT VANSCOOTER: I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=PRETTY DISAPPOINTED]

Disappointed but not necessarily surprised.
Rumors had been flying for months but many long time fans remained hopeful.
[SOT 17:48:28; 17:53:02]
[IN Q=Knew it could]
((KARINE PIERCE: KNEW IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY, DIDN'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN.)) ((JIM VANCLEAF/EXPRESS FAN: I EXPECTED SOMEONE TO COME IN AND SAVE THE DAY AGAIN)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=save the day again ]

After all, several owners have saved the Express in the past.
But attendance kept going down.
In its 11 seasons in the Roanoke Valley, the team attracted a high of more than seven thousand fans per game but lately the team was lucky to get half of that.
[SOT 17:54:08]
[IN Q=It's hard to keep]
((MATT VANSCOOTER: IT'S HARD TO KEEP SOMETHING OPEN WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN IT.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=INTERESTED IN IT]

But can you completely blame the fans? Some are clearly divided.
[SOT 17:55:07; 17:49:19; 17:52:43]
[IN Q=Partly fans]
((ROGER BARKER: PARTLY FANS, PARTLY OWNERS.)) ((KARINE PIERCE: MY OPINION, THE OWNERS.)) ((JIM VANCLEAF: I THINK THE BLAME PROBABLY COULD GO AROUND ALL THE WAY. I THINK THERE ARE SOME FANS WHO COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUPPORTIVE.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=been more supportive]

Die hard fans want to move beyond the blame game and now concentrate on the game they love so much.
They'll still be able to play hockey but as far as watching a professional team locally those plans are now on ice.

[SOT 17:54:54; 17:48:55; 17:51:55]
[IN Q=There's nothing else]
((ROGER BARKER/EXPRESS FAN: THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO GO TO AROUND HERE UNLESS YOU GO TO A MOVIE OR GO OUT TO EAT SOMEWHERE.)) ((KARINE PIERCE: DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. DEDICATE MYSELF TO WORK.)) ((JIM VANCLEAF: HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL COME IN AND SAVE THE SITUATION.)) [Runs11]
[OUT Q=save the situation]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Justin /FULL Newsroom]

That is a possiblity.
The Roanoke Civic Center says it recently received some interest from the U-H-L.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Justin /Newsroom;]

But Shannon, officials concede it is so late in the game they'll be lucky if a team is here by next season.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

Later in sports, Mike Stevens has more on what 40 empty dates means to the Civic Center's finances.

[Cascades-Fall]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=bda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A girl was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital earlier today after a fall at the Cascades in Giles County. County officials say the girl fell some 30 to 40 feet, but will make a full recovery. She struck the rocks at the bottom of the waterfall, causing trauma to her face, arms and legs. Officials are not releasing her identity - they say she went far beyond signs reading "do not go beyond this point."

[Verizon]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-32 TC05:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
Signs promoting sales have been overshadowed by apologies for several businesses in the Roanoke Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
An underground fire Sunday cut off phone service to about 17-HUNDRED Verizon customers, forcing some businesses to close their doors, and others shuffling to work around it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:38]
[IN Q=it cuts down]
((7:38 IT CUTS DOWN ON YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR SALE. IN THE SERVICE DEPT. WE TRY TO DO CALL BACKS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLES CAN BE READY, WHEN THEY CAN PICK IT UP -- IF YOU CAN'T GET A LINE GOING OUT BECAUSE IT'S ALL STATIC THEN YOU'RE IN LIMBO.))
[SUPER=01-Renee' Turk/Saturn of Roanoke Valley;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=in limbo]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some phone lines have been restored, but Verizon officials say it may be another two or three days before all of the lines are back up. In the meantime, the Roanoke is making temporary 9-1-1 cellphones available to the elderly and people with special medical needs.
(------------)

[Berger]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=bda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger is stepping down as an informal adviser to John Kerry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]
Berger is under investigation for taking secret documents from the National Archives while preparing to testify before the nine-eleven commission. His attorney says he does not want to have the investigation used as a partisan issue. Berger argues that he forgetfully walked away with some documents he'd been studying, but the charges say he purposely took them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :39 - :53]
[IN Q=Everything that I]
((SANDY BERGER/FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER; EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE DONE ALL ALONG IN THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIDING AND SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE 9-11 COMMISSION. AND ANY SUGGESTION TO THE CONTRARY IS SIMPLY ABSOLUTELY WRONG.))
[SUPER=01-Sandy Berger/Former National Security Adviser;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=absolutely wrong.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Sources say the investigation is ongoing-but there has been no decision on whether to pursue criminal charges.

[Tate]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC33:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

A Danville man charged with murdering his girlfriend was convicted on UN-RELATED charges today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
32-year-old Stanley Tate is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Tamika Davis.
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./May 24; ]
She was found shot to death inside Tate's Franklin County home in May. Tate has been held in Danville on drug possession charges, which he was convicted of this afternoon. Sentencing is set for September. Tate's preliminary hearing on the murder charge is scheduled for next month in Franklin County.
(------------)

[Gun-law]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC 2:05:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

The debate over packing heat is getting hot.
Virginia is an "open carry" state but some restaurants are trying to keep out those who exercise their right to carry a gun in plain sight.
Meghan Muldoon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE OWNER OF THIS RICHMOND RESTAURANT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Byrne/Banned Guns from his Restaurant; :20]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; :26]
[SUPER=01-Philip Van Cleave/Virginia Citizens Defense League; :36]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]
(( The owner of this Richmond restaurant thinks that drinking a beer while carrying a gun makes a dangerous cocktail.

[SOT 13:14:15]
((MIKE BYRNE/BANNING GUNS FROM HIS RESTAURANT: I JUST THINK YOU OUGHT TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER.)) [RUNS:02]
Even though it is perfectly legal in Virginia to openly pack a pistol, Mike Byrne has posted a sign prohibiting gun carriers from drinking or eating at his restaurant.
[SOT :12:56]
((MIKE BYRNE: IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND PERMIT TO CARRY A GUN I THINK THAT'S TREMENDOUS BUT WE DON'T WANT IT IN THE RESTAURANT WHERE THERE'S ALCHOHOL.)) [RUNS:05]
Supporters of the law defend their right to openly carry guns in public.
They say the streets are safer when law-abiding citizens can arm themselves.
[SOT 14:55:25]
((PHILIP VAN CLEAVE/VIRGINIA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE: I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY GUN IN MY CAR WHERE A CRIMINAL CAN STEAL IT. THAT'S NOT GOOD. AND THERE'S NO POINT IN BEING DISARMED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE THERE'S NO SECURITY IN A PARKING LOT. IF YOU CHECK THE REPORTS ACROSS THE STATE THERE ARE CRIMES THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME IN PARKING LOTS AND RESTAURANTS.)) [RUNS:13]
Gun owners say the fear that they will start shooting after doing a shot is unfounded.
They argue that those who openly pack heat have proven to be law-abiding citizens.
[SOT 14:57:40]
((PHILIP VAN CLEAVE: A LOT OF WHAT IFS. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WHAT IF THIS WHAT IF THAT BUT I LIKE TO POINT OUT, IT'S NOT HAPPENING. THERE AREN'T ANY PROBLEMS.)) [RUNS:07]
Now Attorney General Jerry Kilgore has stepped into the fight.
He issued an opinion saying that Virginia remains an "open carry" state
but that basically, business owners have a right to keep gun-slingers out of their saloons.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[AIDS-Grant]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC1:20:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Centra Health is the recipient of a 1-point-3 million dollar grant to provide care for low-income or medically under-served AIDS patients in central Virginia.
That grant apparently put a dent in the finances of a similar clinic in Charlottesville, which saw its funding drastically reduced.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:39:00]
[IN Q=We defined a]
((TOM URTZ/CENTRA HEALTH: WE DEFINED A GEOGRAPHY THAT WE WANTED TO SERVE, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR THAT AND WE JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION THAT YES, OUR DEFINED GEOGRAPHY IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Urtz/Centra Health; ]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=going to cover.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

The money will help serve patients who drive more than an hour to other clinics around the region.
[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]

A Virginia Senator isn't ready to give up on the hunt for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.
Details when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And these old soldiers thought their military days were over.
Why these nearly 70 year old men are now headed back to war.
(-------------)

[Sports-preview]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=2]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=THE BIG 7."]
(( Hey folks Mike Stevens back in the News 7 Sports office as we continue to hash out the demise of the Roanoke Express. The Dazzle meanwhile rolls on as the team announces it schedule for the upcoming season. The Hillcats struggle against the Warthogs, and Lance takes the lead in France. Tonight on the Big 7.))
[Filipino-Released]

(MINI OPEN)

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=bda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=1]
The Philippino hostage being held in Iraq has been freed and is in good health, but is still waiting to get home and reunite with his family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]
Angelo dela Cruz, seen here in the Philippine embassy talking to his wife on the phone, was released by his captors today. The president of the Philippines spoke to dela Cruz shortly after he was freed, and says that he is in high spirits and he sends his best wishes to every Filipino for their thoughts and prayers. While dela Cruz's family celebrates, the Philippine government is receiving widespread criticism for making the deal that set him free.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :59 - 1:09]
[IN Q=I made a decision]
((GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO/PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT; I MADE A DECISION TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME A FEW DAYS EARLY IN ORDER TO SPARE THE LIFE OF ANGELO. I DO NOT REGRET THE DECISION.))
[SUPER=01-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo/Philippine President;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=regret the decision.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
US and Iraqi leaders say that giving in to such demands will only encourage more kidnapping.
(------------)

[Warner-WMD]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
[ENG#=2]

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee says Iraq was clearly ignoring U-N mandates despite the fact that no weapons of mass destruction have been found in the country. Virginia Senator John Warner says more information is coming to light about Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons programs.

(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
Warner commented on the searches being conducted by the Iraq Survey Group after a meeting of the panel on Capitol Hill today.
(///// SOTat :07/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not suggesting dramatic...]
((SEN.JOHN WARNER/R-VIRGINIA: I'M NOT SUGGESTING DRAMATIC DISCOVERIES, BUT INCREMENTALLY, STEADY BITS AND PIECES THAT SHOW THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS CLEARLY DEFYING THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY REGULATIONS.))
[SUPER=@johnwarner;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=United Nations Security regulations.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Warner said more information would be forthcoming when the ISG presents its report in September, and that the new Iraqi government is also interested in the results of the search.

[Old-Soldiers]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq US Troops]
[ENG#=3]

War is typically a young person's game. Unless you happen to have experience the military values over youth. Lee Cowan introduces us to two senior citizens once again answering the call of duty.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For John Wicks it was a matter...]
[SUPER=01-Marty Wicks/Son; :11]
[SUPER=01-Col. Charles Ham/U. S. Army; :49]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/CBS News; :54]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=CBS News, El Paso]
(((TRACK - still pics of Wicks) For John Wicks it was a matter of conscience. At 68-years-old ... long retired when the Army knocked on his door again ... he had no good reason to say no.
(SOT/MARTY WICKS/SON) THERE MUST BE A DEMAND IF THEY'RE GONNA CALL SOMEBODY WHO IS 68-YEARS-OLD TO IRAQ.
(TRACK) His 39-year-old son Marty couldn't believe it.
(SOT/Marty Wicks) HE'S GOING TO THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW AND WERE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT HIM.
(TRACK) His Dad is by anyone's count a last resort. A psychiatrist by trade, he's needed to fill a shortage of mental h
ealth professionals helping troops cope with stress.
(NAT)
(TRACK) Charles Ham is another psychiatrist who just got his senior citizenship-out notice.
(he's taking up one of my closets)
At 67, his Golden Years are starting to look a lot more khaki.
(SOT/CHARLES HAM/DEPLOYED SENIOR) I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT YOUNGER PEOPLE RATHER THAN AN OLD MAN LIKE ME.
(COWAN STANDUP / Fort Bliss, Texas) THE PENTAGON PREFERS THE TERM EXPERIENCED RATHER THAN OLD AND IS DIGGING DEEP TO FI
ND THOSE WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN THE FACE OF LOW MORALE AND GROWING NUMBER OF SUICIDES.
(GRAPHIC) The Army recently concluded the suicide rate among soldiers in Iraq is 35 percent higher than it is for soldi
ers serving anywhere else ... 17 out of every 100 thousand.
(TRACK) With no age limit on officers John Wicks told his son in an email he had little choice.
(SOT / Wicks reading email) IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY SERVING IN IRAQ, SAY YEAH, 'I KNOW THE OLDEST SOLDI
ER THERE.'
(TRACK) Not a fresh face in war, but pushing 70, he's one of the freshest to head into THIS combat zone. Lee Cowan, C
BS News, El Paso.))

[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Leo says Mother Nature's turning the heat up.
The forecast when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And remembering giant leap 35 years later.
(----------------)

[Commercial]

[Bikers]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-30 TC07:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
They come from all walks of life, from across the country and as far away as New Zealand for an annual event which is held in Roanoke this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
25-hundred bikers are in the Star City as part of Yamaha's Star Touring and Riding Association - "Star Days." Each year the group of bike enthusiasts gather in a different part of the country to see the latest in bike innovations and technology. The Visitors Bureau estimates the group will pump one-point-six million dollars into the area economy.
(------------)

[S-Extra]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=extra & SP-180 37:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
The Express is history tonight - Steve Mason has official reaction and a look at what might be in the future. The Dazzle does have a schedule, Shaq has his own spin on age and the Hillcats were home tonight. But first your Extra Point -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Villard de Lans, France; :00]
Lance Armstrong took over the lead and won today's 15th stage of the Tour De France today. Armstrong outsprinted his top two challengers to win the first stage in the Alps and close in on a record sixth straight title. Armstrong moved past Ivan Basso and 1997 Tour champion Jan Ullrich to claim his second stage victory and over the overall lead in the Tour.
(------------)
[GO TO SCORES]
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[GO TO SCORES]
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[SUPER=x5011;]
[SUPER=0093-j/Winston-Salem/7//Lynchburg/5//Hillcats Now 7-and-16//Salem/0/j/Potomac/4//8 Straight Losses for Avs/;]
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[SUPER=0105-j/Danville/10//Pulaski/5///j/Bluefield/6//Burlington/4///;]
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[SUPER=0091-j/Baltimore/12//Kansas City/3///j/New York/4//Tampa Bay/2///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0091-j/Boston/9//Seattle/7////Detroit/4/j/Minnesota/5//Final In 14/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0092-j/St. Louis/11//Chicago/8////Atlanta/3/j/Philadelphia/4//Final In 10 Innings/;]
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[SUPER=0092-j/Pittsburgh/2//Montreal/1////Milwaukee/2/j/Cincinnati/6///;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OC=LAST SCORE]
(--------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-182 27:28]
[GRAPHIC=express]
[ENG#=1]

The Roanoke Express hockey team announced today that the team is dissolving after 11 seasons in the Roanoke Valley. It's a loss for Express fans, the Civic Center and the city of Roanoke. Steve Mason has more on what happened and why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/January, 2004; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tony MacAulay/Former Express Head Coach; :24]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; 1:14]
[SUPER=01-Mina Boyd/Civic Center Facilities Director; 1:53]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 2:02]
[RUNS=2:29]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports"]

((ECHL league president Byran McKenna visited with Express ownership this past January. After Express ownership failed to meet its deadline to have a legitimate buyer for the team, the league board of governors voted to terminate the membership of the Roanoke Express effective immediately. The ECHL went on to say that the termination of the membership comes as a result of the Express ownership group's inability to operate the team next season. ((TONY MACAULAY/EXPRESS COACH FOR TWO YEARS:)) The Express began in the 1993-94 season and has made the playoffs all 11 season in the league. Attendance peaked at nearly 5700 in 1996. But this past season only 2, 918 fans came out each night. Express general manager Chris Pollock worked tirelessly and was instrumental in bringing up the Express attendance up by almost 400 fans this past season, but the numbers were still the second lowest in franchise history. The Express players are now unrestricted free agents. The United Hockey League could be a possible home for them. The UHL is already in Richmond and Roanoke would be a natural new rivalry. MacAulay, a solid coaching commodity, Knows the UHL wants to expand. ((:))
Roanoke Civic Center facilities director Mina Boyd, must now fill nearly 40 vacated dates and make up substantial revenue the Express provided.)) ((:)) ((MINA BOYD/ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER FACILITIES DIRECTOR:)) ((STEVE MASON:THE END OF THE EXPRESS MEANS THE BEGINNING OF QUESTIONS THE DEFUNCT FRANCHISE WILL BE ASKED. 2004-2005 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID WILL BE WONDERING WHEN THEY WILL BE GETTING THEIR MONEY BACK. LEAGUE COMMISSIONER BRYAN MCKENNA SAID TUESDAY EVENING THAT THE ECHL IS STILL INTERESTED IN ROANOKE. BUT WILL THE UNITED HOCKEY LEAGUE GET HERE FIRST OR WILL THERE BE ANY HOCKEY IN ROANOKE AT ALL THIS COMING SEASON. THE SEASON STARTS AROUND OCTOBER AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT. STEVE MASON NEWS 7 SPORTS.))
(---------------)
[ANchor=MIke]
[graphics=express]

Attempts to reach majority owners Ashby Coleman and Mike Lonchar today were unsuccessful.
[graphic=echl]

IN one other ECHL note, the Greensboro Generals were also dissolved today.

[S-Cowan]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-181 27:05]
[GRAPHIC=NHL]
[ENG#=2]
Meanwhile, former Express forward Jeff Cowan has signed a new deal with the NHL Los Angeles Kings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Cowan was traded to Los Angeles from the Atlanta Thrashers last March. In five years in the NHL, he has 32 goals and 27 assists and 387 penalty minutes. Cowan played under Frank Anzalone in Roanoke during the 96-97 ECHL season.
(------------)

[S-Dazzle]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-168 13837TC]
[GRAPHIC=DAZZLE]
[ENG#=3]

The end of the hockey in the valley as we know it - comes on the same day that the Dazzle announced its schedule for next season. And even without hockey's collapse, the NBA-backed Dazzle had already secured a home schedule to its liking.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Kent Davison/Dazzle Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=...an watch you play."]
(-------------)

[S-Shaq]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-174 5340tc]
[GRAPHIC=nba]
[ENG#=4]

Speaking of the NBA - Shaquille O'Neal finally checked into his new home in Miami today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :00]
Shaq joined Miami front office personnel including Pat Riley at the podium to show off his new jersey and let folks know that he's far from being over the hill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Shaquille O'Neal/Miami Heat;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...LEFT ...LAUGHTER FADES!]
(-----------)

[S-Hillcats]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-173 5750TC]
[GRAPHIC=HILLCATS]
[ENG#=1]

The second half has been brutal so far for the Lynchburg Hillcats who are buried in last place in the Northern Division.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Warthogs vs. Hillcats; :00]
This is what minor league baseball is all about. City Stadium at Calvin Falwell Field were completely packed tonight with over 5000 fans. The Hillcats fell behind 1-to-nothing before Victor Mercedes tried to ignite a rally on the basepaths. He steals second, the throw heads into right-center field, so Mercedes tries to take third, and he gets it - but it left stranded on the corner. Later all with another runner at third, all the Cats needed was something to the right side of the infield. Instead, the ball is hit right to the third baseman who eventually runs Chaz Lytle into the out at home.
[SUPER=37-Winston-Salem/7/Lynchburg/5;]
The Cats then gave one away as Ryan Mottll throws one in the dirt and doesn't even cover home. Lynchburg falls to 7 and 16 with the 7-to-5 loss.
(------------)

[Apollo-Anniversary]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

The "Eagle landed" 35-years ago today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :38]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
It was July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. For NASA, it was sweet victory in a space race fueled by the Cold War. The Soviet Union had already launched the first satellite into orbit and sent the first spacecraft to the moon. Armstrong marked the moment by declaring, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." NASA canceled the moon program after Apollo 17 in December 1972.
Now, NASA is planning to return to the moon. President George Bush has set up the President's Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond and has called for a return no later than 2020.
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