WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/21/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]

Coming up on News 7,
Giles County authorities continue to search the property of a missing couple.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And the nation's Christmas tree makes a stop in our neck of the woods.
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[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]

Tonight in sports, the NBA sets suspensions for several Pacers,
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[VO-NAT]

and Kurt Busch tries to win the second straight Cup for Jack Roush.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
Despite those clouds, temperatures managed to climb into the 60's across most of the region. A good steady is on the way later in the week, but will it stick aroung for those Thanksgiving Day plans? The answers in the full forecast is coming up.[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
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[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 21:26:12]
[IN Q=We've had a few leads]
((Lt. Lucas:WE'VE HAD A FEW LEADS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO RUN DOWN AND THAT TOOK US AWAY FROM THIS AREA BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY AN INVESTIGATION GOES.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=the way an investigation goes.]
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[VO-NAT]
The search continues by land and air today as investigators look for answers to a suspicious death.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]

Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

[Giles-Search]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC-1:52:39]
[GRAPHIC=Daniels/Jones]
[ENG#=4]

After a suspicious fire burned a Giles County home to the ground Thursday, search teams returned to the scene after finding a body nearby yesterday. Now they are trying to find clues, or possibly another victim. Jeremy Butterfield explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two friends, 40 year old]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.; :22]
[SUPER=01-Lt. William Lucas/Giles Co. Sheriffs Department; :39 QUICK]
[SUPER=19-Jeremy Butterfield/jbutterfield*wdbj7.com; 1:36]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=News 7, Giles County.]
(( 40 year old Niklan Matt Jones and 44 year old Susan Jean Daniels were last seen on Wednesday. Thursday morning, the home that Daniels was renting burned to the ground, in a fire that authorities consider suspicious. And early Saturday morning, a group of volunteer searchers found the body of Jones about 500 yards from the burn site early Friday morning. Police are waiting for autopsy results that will likely show the cause of death but did say there were no visible burn marks on his body. Sunday the search continued, as teams looked for Daniels, and any evidence that might help aulthorities solve the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:25:35]
[IN Q=We've got dogs there to search]
((LT. LUCAS:WE'VE GOT DOGS THERE TO SEARCH THE FIRE SCENE ITSELF AND THE REST OF THE PROPERTY AND ADJOINING PROPERTY. STATE POLICE HELICOPTER OUT OF LYNCHBURG IS HERE TO ASSIST AND OF COURSE THE FRIENDS AND COWORKERS THAT WERE HERE YESTERDAY ARE HERE AGAIN TODAY.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=are here again today.]
Daniels is a Biology student at Virginia Tech and was last spotted on campus.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:29:04]
[IN Q=We're still working on]
((LT. LUCAS:WE'RE STILL WORKING ON NUMBER ONE HOPING THAT WE FIND HER ALIVE.)) [RUNS :04]
[OUT Q=that we find her alive.]
State police arson investigators are working to find the cause of the house fire. That investigation is leading to more questions than answers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:28:22]
[IN Q=From physical evidence that we]
((LT. LUCAS:FROM PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT WE RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE THERE INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE BETWEEN SOMEONE THERE AND WERE NOT RULING THAT OUT CERTAINLY.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=not ruling that out certanley.]
Investigators say time counts in a case like this and hope the break they are looking for turns up soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:26:20]
[IN Q=24 to 48 hours is so crucial]
((LT. LUCAS:24 TO 48 HOURS IS SO CRUCIAL YOU DON'T WANT TO LET ANY LEAD LAY FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT COULD BE THE ONE THAT REALLY MAKES A CASE FOR US.))
[RUNS=: 11]
[OUT Q=really makes a case for us.]

[BUTT BUTT BUTT]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:08:36]
[IN Q=While the search for Susan Daniels]
((LT. LUCAS:WHILE THE SEARCH FOR SUSAN DANIELS CONTINUES OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT RULED OUT ANY POSSIBILITIES AND ARE ALSO TRACKING DOWN LEADS IN BLACKSBURG. JEREMY BUTTERFIELD, NEWS7, GILES COUNTY.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=Reporter tag]))

[Deer-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-42 TC-28:13]
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[ENG#=1]

A record number of motorists were killed in collisions with deer last year.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file; ]
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 210 motorists were killed in 2003 after crashing into a deer. That is double the number from 1993. November is the peak time of year in Virginia for these types of accidents, especially at night. V-Dot officials say that because of the time change, and advise motorists to watch for deer on their way home from work-- as it gets darker earlier.
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[Xmas-Tree]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC-54:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
Christmas may still be more than a month away, but plans for the center piece of our nation's celebration have been in the works for more than a year. Today, Susan Bahorich caught up with the Capitol Christmas tree in Salem as it continued its statewide tour of the Commonwealth.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It's the birthplace...]
[SUPER=03-Highland Co./November 2nd; ]
[SUPER=01-Mike Tripp/U.S. Forest Service; :22]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :32]
[SUPER=01-Keith Garman/Camrett Logistics; 56]
[SUPER=@SUSAN2; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=SB, News 7, Salem.]
(( It's the birthplace of eight American Presidents, and this year, Virginia is the home of the Capital Holiday tree.
((nats of something))
The tree was cut from the George Washington National Forest on November 2nd. Since that time, crews have worked to prepare the tree, which initially weighed more than nine-thousand pounds and spread nearly 35 feet.

[SOT@32:48.21]
[INQ=The tree right...]
((MIKE TRIPP, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: THE TREE RIGHT NOW IS 67-FEET TALL, IT'S WEIGHS 5,500 POUNDS. IT'S 79-YEARS OLD, IT'S A RED SPRUCE. IT CAME FROM HIGHLAND COUNTY.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUTQ=...Highland, County.]

Now the spruce is on tour across Virginia on a specially built trailer. An average tractor trailer is about 55-feet long, this one is 17-feet longer.
Camrett Logistics, which has shops around the state- including Salem- has the task of transporting it. Keith Garman is the lucky guy who gets to drive the final leg into D.C.

[SOT@37:35.13]
[INQ=I think it's a...]
((KEITH GARMAN, CAMRETT LOGISTICS: I THINK IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US, FOR OUR COMPANY TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR NATION'S CHRISTMAS TREE. IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE DONE WITH THE COMPANY BEFORE.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUTQ=.. company before...]

The truck left Salem Sunday morning to wrap up the last leg of its two-week tour across the Commonwealth. The tree will make its way back into our neck of the wood by mid-week and on November 29th, travel to our nation's capital to "spruce" up Christmas.
((nats sound driving away))
SB, News 7, Salem.))

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[TAKE WDBJ7.COM FS] If you'd like more information about where the tree will be this month, just visit our website and click on websites in the news.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[WRITER=rle]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Still ahead on News 7 at 6, could rising phone costs be passed along to you? One phone company is asking for just that.
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[VO-NAT]
and also, the U-S is pushing for a new peace agreement in the Middle East.
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[1st-Wx]
[Verizon-Rate]

((MINI OPEN))

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Verizon has petitioned Virginia's State Corporation Commission to raise its phone rates for both residential and commercial customers in rural areas. If the commission approves the request -- the some rates in the state could go up by 10-percent. Verizon officials say the company is struggling in rural areas because the rates they charge are below the operating cost. A public hearing on the matter will be held tomorrow at the State Corporation Commission in Richmond.

[Middle-East]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

The death of Yasser Arafat created what President Bush called new opportunities for peace. Colin Powell is now in the Middle East, trying to secure a deal with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Drew Levinson has the story.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel; ]
[SUPER=01-William Burns/Asst. Sec. of State; :21]
[SUPER=01-Saeb Erekat/Palestinian Cabinet Minister; :]
[SUPER=01-Marc Regev/Israeli Foreign Ministry Official; 47]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News; ]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Jerusalem.]
((Colin Powell is in Israel to prove to the Israelis and the Palestinians the US wants to be part of renewed peace process. The outgoing U-S Secretary of State meets Monday in Jerusalem with Israeli leaders and later in Jericho with Palestinian authorities.
Number one on both sides agendas the Palestinian elections in January.

(SOT: WILLIAM BURNS/ASST. SEC. OF STATE APTN 1300 MIDEAST )

WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD AHEAD BUT THE UNITED STATES IS DETERMINED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP OVERCOME THEM.
The Palestinians want Israel to cut back on its military operations prior to the elections.

(SOT SAEB EREKAT/PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER)

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF OUR PEOPLE, CANDIDATES, VOTERS, PARTIES IS AN IMPERATIVE IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA. Israel says to do that.it needs Palestinian assistance..
(MARC REGEV, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL)
IF THEY COULD HELP US BY COMING DOWN ON THE TERRORISTS, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR ISRAEL TO DO OUR REDEPLOYMENT.
(THE WEST BANK)
(NATSOUND AT ROADBLOCKS)
Israels main concern is that relaxing its border security might make it easier for suicide bombers to get into its cities.
(STANDUP: DREW LEVINSON/JERUSALEM)
POWELLS VISIT COMES A CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. WITH YASSER ARAFAT DEAD, PRESIDENT BUSH WANTS TO CAPITALIZE ON WHAT HE CALLS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE.
(NATSOUND ON THE STREETS)
On the streets both Israelis and Palestinians wonder if Powell, now a lame duck, can do anything.
(SOT AVITAL FAST/ISRAELI)
HES RETIRING, I DONT THINK HES CARRYING THE SAME CLOUT HE HAD BEFORE. But others say this could be a step in the right direction.
(SOT PALESTINIAN)
MAYBE ITS GOOD, MAYBE ITS BAD MAYBE ITS THE BEGINNING OF TO DO SOMETHING. Everyone, however, does agree on one thing it will take more than one man to unite this divided land. DL, CBS News, Jerusalem.))

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[WRITER=rle]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Still ahead on the newscast, it's a vaccine that for some, could be more important than the flu shot. We'll have details in just a moment.
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[VO-NAT]
and the chase for the Nextel Cup comes down to a shootout. We'll wrap up the action a little later in sports.
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[COMMERCIAL]

[Health-Review]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=Health Review]
[GRAPHIC=Health Review]
[ENG#=1]

The FDA will have to decided if it will allow a new heart pill to target African Americans.
And the flu shot may not be the only vaccine you need to consider this year.
Joy Sutton has those stories and more in health review.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For certain risk groups]
[SUPER=01-Katherine Brown/Public Health Nurse; :08]
[SUPER=01-Dr. John Schmedtje/Roanoke Heart Institute; :47]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Richard Moore/Radford University Clinics Doctor; 1:03]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:23]
[SUPER=01-Janet McDaniel/Radford University Clinics Director; 1:33]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=that's health review]
[TAPE#=504-12 17:49]

((For certain risks groups getting the pneumonia vaccine may be just as important as the flu shot.
[IN Q=It's about 36-thousand die from flu every year]
((IT'S ABOUT 36-THOUSAND DIE FROM THE FLU EVERY YEAR AND ABOUT 40-THOUSAND FROM PNEUMONIA SO IT'S LOOKS PRETTY COMPARABLE)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=pretty comparable]

The vaccine is recommend for people 65 and over, those with chronic health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, and people who have compromised immune systems.
Some people think a flu shot will protect them from pneumonia, but that is not necessarily the case, even though pneumonia can be a complication of the flu.
[TAPE#=504-12 15;26]

A heart failure medication, called BiDil could become the first drug targeted to African Americans.
Patients who used the drug in combination with traditional therapy increased their survival by 43 percent, reduced their first hospitalization by 33 percent, and improved their quality of life.
(///// SOT /////)
[IN Q=We think the mechanism of heart disease]
((WE THINK THE MECHANISM OF HEART DISEASE IN AFRICAN AMERICANS MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT IN THE CAUCASIAN POPULATION SO WE BELIEVE THIS MEDICINE MIGHT BE MORE EFFECTIVE)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=might be more effective]
[TAPE#=504-07 45:53]

In other news,the addition of a new doctor at the Radford University clinics will mean expanded care for patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT22:06:40]
[IN Q=We're able to see patietn with problems]
((WE'RE ABLE TO SEE PATIENTS WITH PROBLEMS THAT BEFORE NEEDED TO BE REFERRED ON. AND I'M ABLE TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT THESE OTHER PRACTITIONERS WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE AND I'M ABLE TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN DEPTH OF COVERAGE)) [RUNS17]
[OUT Q=depth of coverage]

Last year the clinics treated five-thousand patients who uninsured or underinsured. With Dr. Moore on board, they will now be able to care for those on Medicaid or other government programs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT21:57:58]
[IN Q=The uninsured rate in almost all]
((THE UNINSURED RATE IN ALMOST ALL THE AREAS AROUND US RUNS AT ABOUT 20 PERCENT AND IN THE UNINSURED POPULATION HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES IS A BIG PROBLEMS)) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q=is a big problem]

That's health review, I'm Joy Sutton.))
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=Webaddress fs- E522]

To find out more on these and other local health topics. You can go to the news page on our web site and clinic on the link for local medical stories.
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[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Coming up, the Chase for the Nextel Cup goes to the wire, we'll talk to Bryan Randall about the possibility of capturing ACC Player of the Year honors, and
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[VO-NAT]

week 11 highlights from the National Football League.
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[S-Race]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-185 TC12723]
[GRAPHIC=Nextel Cup Chase]
[ENG#=1]

Kurt Busch began today's Ford 400 at Homestead on the pole with an 18 point lead over Jimmie Johnson and a 21 point edge over Jeff Gordon. And Nascar got just what it wanted out of its new chase format as the title wasn't decided until the final lap.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Homestead, FL/NBC Sports; :00]

It's been feast or famine for Kasey Kahne this season. He brings out one of 13 cautions with this spin that also sidetracked the car of Travis Kvapil.
Ryan Newman was leading the race, but cut down a tire with just four laps to go setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Gordonn, Johnson, and Busch all were in the top five at the time.
While Greg Biffle took the checkered flag holding off Johnson and Gordon, Busch finished fifth and that was good enough to win the championship by just 8 points over Johnson. It's the smallest margin of victory in Nascar history, and the second straight title for Roush Racing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kurt Busch/Nextel Cup Champion; :09]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=we pulled through."]
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[wipe to boards]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5013;]
[SUPER=0106-1. Kurt Busch//2. Jimmie Johnson/-8/3. Jeff Gordon/-16/4. Mark Martin/-107/5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr./-138/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-6. Tony Stewart/-180/7. Ryan Newman/-326/8. Matt Kenseth/-437/9. Elliott Sadler/-482/10. Jeremy Mayfield/-5
06/;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...last driver]
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[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-183 TC12418]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
[ENG#=2]

On the same day that his brother Eli made his first start in New York, Peyton Manning showed that big brother knows best leading the Colts to a rout of the Bears.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL/Colts vs. Bears; :00]

Manning tossed this bomb to Reggie Wayne in the end zone for his 200th career TD pass. He had four today and now has 35 on the season. Indy went wild in a 41 to 10 whipping of Chicago.
[SUPER=03-Cincinnati, OH/Steelers vs. Bengals; :]

In Cincinnati, the Steelers kept rolling despite the fact that Ben Rothlisberger was sacked 7 times. Former UVA star James Farrior returned a pick for 6 and Pittsburgh got a 129 yards rushing from Jerome Bettis to beat the Bengals 19-14. Now all of today's NFL numbers.
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[S-Scores]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=]

[go to scores]
[SUPER=#556;]
[SUPER=x5022;]
[SUPER=0100-/San Francisco/3/j/Tampa Bay/35///j/Denver/34//New Orleans/13///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Detroit/19/j/Minnesota/22///j/Tennessee/18//Jacksonville/15///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-j/N.Y. Jets/10//Cleveland/7///j/Pittsburgh/19//Cincinnati/14///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-j/Indianapolis/41//Chicago/10////Arizona/10/j/Carolina/35///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/St. Louis/17/j/Buffalo/37////Dallas/10/j/Baltimore/30///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Washington/6//Philadelphia/7/3///San Diego/13//Oakland/7/3//;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Miami/7//Seattle/17/3///Atlanta/14//N.Y. Giants/0/3//;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Green Bay///Houston///8:30 PM/;]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUTCUE=last score."]
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[S-Randall]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-181 TC13831]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]
[ENG#=3]

The Virginia Cavaliers jumped up two spots in the new college football polls released today. The Hoos are now 16th in the AP and Coaches polls.
[GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA TECH]

This week's opponent Virginia Tech is now 11th in both polls as the Hokies try to win back the Commonwealth Cup this weekend.
Bryan Randall will most certainly have a say in the outcome. While Miami's Brock Berlin is probably the favorite to win ACC Player of the Year honors, the Hokies say give Randall some love. The senior has 15 TD passes and another three rushing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Hokies Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jeff King/Hokies Tight End; :31]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/15 TD Passes this Season; :51]
[RUNS=:57]
[OUT Q=towards the ACC Championship."]
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[S-Noke]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-180 TC15155]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke College]
[ENG#=4]

The Roanoke College Maroons squared off with Goucher this afternoon in the championship game of the Salem Bank & Trust tourney at the Bast Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Goucher vs. Maroons; :00]

Page Moir was firin' up the troops for their second test in as many days.
Early on, Clint Zimmerman works the rock inside to Kevinn Hunter and he goes to work off the window for the deuce and things were tied midway thru the opening half.
But check out Garrett Smith for Goucher. The throw down along the baseline off the nice dish and Goucher was hangin tough.
[SUPER=33-Goucher/68/Roanoke/81/;]
The Maroons Josh Laporte then gets two back for the Noke. The home team went on to win it 81 to 68.
(------------)

[S-Fight]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-179 TC12055]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

[WIPE TO ENG!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Auburn Hills, MI/Fox Sports; :00]

By now most folks have seen the ugliness that was the Palace at Auburn Hills on Friday night. Several outlets are reporting today that the Pacers Ron Artest will be suspended 30 games for his involvement in the fracas with Pistons fans. His teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal will get 20 games off and the Pistons Ben Wallace will sit for (------------) 5 games. The official announcement from the NBA is expected later tonight.