WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/27/04

[1-News-Head]

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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]
Air passengers being re-united with their luggage barely in time for the flight home.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And we'll get an earhquake and tsunami damage report in Sri Lanka from a local physician who's family home was most likely destroyed.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

In sports, the Hokies take on Morgan State in men's hoops tonight at the Cassell, the Virginia Cavaliers go to overtime against Fresno State in the MPC Bowl,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and before Tech can go bowling in New Orleans, the Hokies must meet with the Big Easy Police.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Clear skies and a light wind will lead for a very cold evening indeed. That story coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Christmas is over, but holiday headaches continue for airline passengers.
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]
Lost time and lost luggage sour the Christmas spirit for many.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Jean Jadhon.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Airport]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-43 TC1:16:28]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The Christmas rush has moved from the shopping malls to the airports.
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]
Airports were not just busy- but also dealt with massive flight cancellations and lost luggage.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Jean & Susan /Microwave;]
Susan Bahorich is at the Roanoke Regional Airport tonight. Susan, were officials there ready for the rush?
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
Jean/Keith- Travel through the Roanoke Regional Airport is up seven-percent compared to this time last year. So, officials were ready for what they call their busiest travel day of the season.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Miriam Radcliff/Airline Passenger; :13]
[SUPER=01-Deanna Hunt/Airline Passenger; :36]
[SUPER=01-Chelsea Batey/Waiting for Passenger; :58]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Amanda DeHaven/Roanoke Regional Airport; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=TO OUR REGULAR PASSENGER LOADS]
((Long lines greeted travelers who had already been through enough.
Miriam Radcliff and her 22 month old daughter, Julia dealt with lines, then delays. It was just one thing in a series of events.

[SOT@17:53.01]
[INQ=I got my luggage..]
((MIRIAM RADCLIFF, HOLIDAY TRAVELER: I GOT MY LUGGAGE YESTERDAY SO I WENT THREE-DAYS WITHOUT MY LUGGAGE, SO AT THIS POINT WHY I'D EVEN PACK. BUT THAT'S OKAY. I GOT IT.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUTQ=.. i got it.]

Radcliff wasn't alone. Throughout the country airlines had delays, complaints and lost luggage. Deanna Hunt had her luggage lost and was trying to beat the rush when she was told there were no more flights out of the city.

[SOT@9:24.00]
[INQ=I've never flown...]
((DEANNA HUNT, HOLIDAY TRAVELER: I'VE NEVER FLOWN TO ROANOKE -USUALLY I DRIVE BUT I DECIDED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND TAKE A FLIGHT IN, WHICH I'M NOT SURE I'LL DO AGAIN AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUTQ=.. as that's concerned.]

Comair- a Delta carrier- canceled 11-hundred flights system-wide. Here in Roanoke - things seemed to be returning to normal with flights boarding and schedules moving forward, but people were still waiting.

[SOT@16:04.14]
[INQ=Her dad..]
((CHELSEA BATEY, WAITING: HER DAD CALLED SAYING THEY LEFT 25-MINUTES LATE, SO WE'RE NOT SURE WHEN SHE'S GOING TO GET HERE.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUTQ=.. to get here.]

[SOT@21:04.16]
[INQ=Airport officials say..]
((SUSAN BAHORICH, REPORTING: AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY TODAY IS THEIR BIGGEST TRAVEL DAY, BUT ARE LOOKING TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK WHEN PEOPLE WILL BE LEAVING FOR THE SUGAR BOWL.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUTQ=.. the Sugar Bowl]

[SOT@11:00.08]
[INQ=In particular this weekend...]
((AMANDA DEHAVEN, ROANOKE, REGIONAL AIRPORT: IN PARTICULAR THIS WEEKEND WILL BE VERY BUSY WITH THE SUGAR BOWL ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THOSE WILL BE SOME OF THE BIGGEST TRAVEL DAYS AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHARTERS WE'LL BE EXPERIENCING COMPARED TO OUR REGULAR PASSENGER LOADS....)) [RUNS:16]
[OUTQ=.. regular passenger loads.]))
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[LIVE= Susan /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
To get an idea about this weekend Sugar Bowl traffic- DeHaven says there will more than 400-charter passengers on Friday and more than 600 on Saturday- that's in addition to regular travelers.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Jean & Susan /Microwave;]
Jean/Keith- she suggests EVERYONE traveling out of Roanoke this weekend arrive an hour and half to two-hours ahead of time and be ready to wait.

[Henry-Stabbing]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Two people have been charged in connection with a murder Christmas morning in Henry County. 41-year-old Charles Custer of Fieldale was found dead just after seven Saturday morning, near a garage on Cool Springs Road. An autopsy showed he died from a stab wound to the leg.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE BOWMAN FS] Investigators say Custer got into a fight with the garage owner, 43-year-old William Bowman of Bassett over some stolen wheels. But, they say Bowman and his friends then tried to cover up the stabbing, by making it appear as though Custer was in a fight with SEVERAL people. Bowman has been charged with murder. [TAKE STUMP FS] Authorities have also charged 27-year-old Jennifer Stump of Fieldale with being an accessory to murder.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
Authorities say the other parties involved in the incident will not face charges.

[Pulaski-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-44 TC1:10:08]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
[ENG#=1]
The Pulaski Sheriff's Office has released the name of the man accused of trying to kill a deputy on Christmas.
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[VO-NAT]
31 year old Edward Wade Coffey is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer. Around 2:30 Christmas morning a deputy tried to stop a van being driven recklessly.
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
After a brief chase, investigators say Coffey got out of the van and fired a 12 gauge shotgun at the windshield of the police cruiser. Several rounds were exchanged, but no one was injured. Coffey is being held at the NRV Regional Jail.
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[Quake-Aid]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-46 TC50:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Millions of people are homeless, more than 23- thousand are dead following yesterday's tsunamis in south asia. The U.S. government has committed 15 million dollars in initial aid, and here in the Roanoke Valley residents with ties to the devastated region are organizing their own relief. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & JoeD /Newsroom;]
Joe Dashiell is in the newsroom tonight with more on that effort.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
Jean, Sri Lanka was the country hardest hit when an earthquake produced the massive waves.
Now, a Roanoke County Doctor and his family are doing what they can to help the victims.
[ENG#=2]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The pictures of devastation]
[SUPER=03-Sri Lanka; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Sam Samarasinghe; :18]
[SUPER=01-Kathy Samarasinghe; :52]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=near the Summit Apartments.]
((The pictures of devastation along the southern coast of Sri Lanka were almost incomprehensible to Sam Samarasinghe.

The region where the Roanoke County doctor grew up, and where his family has often visited was considered safe from natural disasters, and was ill-prepared for the massive waves.
[SOT]
[IN Q=The country did not]
((THE COUNTRY DID NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OR DISASTER PLAN, BUT THEY NEVER HAD EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS SO THE GOVERNMENT WITH THEIR MODEST RESOURCES, THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM, BUT 70 PERCENT OF THE COASTAL LINE IS TOTALLY DEVASTATED AND ISOLATED WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE.))
[RUNS= :20]
[OUT Q=with all these people.]
As he and his family showed photographs of scenic seaside resorts, and the family's ancestral home all likely destroyed by the tsunami... they said they hope to have an impact on many who are suffering.
[SOT 07:41]
[IN Q=How could you]
((HOW COULD YOU LOOK AT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND NOT FEEL COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE A WHOLE LOT OT BEGIN WITH AND NOW JUST THE LOSS OF LIFE IS PHENOMENAL.))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=loss of life is phenomenal.]
Authorities in Sri Lanka are requesting a variety of items including plastic sheeting, duct tape, linens and blankets, candles, canned food, bottled water, clothing and over the counter pain medications.
Donations may be dropped off at the Comprehensive Pain Management Center located on Franklin Road near the Summit Apartments.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]

The couple were planning to leave Saturday for an extended vacation in Sri Lanka.
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEan & JoeD /Newsroom;]

But Jean, they now plan to stay here, and do what they can to marshall disaster relief.

[India-Quake]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-49 TC37:31]
[GRAPHIC=Noe]
[ENG#=3]
Seismographs in Blacksburg even picked up this weekend's devastating earthquake near Indonesia.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Even though it happened a third of the world away, a seismograph at the Blacksburg Airport showed quite a bit of the activity. This is what the nine-point-oh magnitude quake looked like on Blacksburg readouts.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 37:47:00 ]
[IN Q=WITH THE ]
((MARTIN CHAPMAN: WITH THE TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS THAT WE OPERATE HERE IN VIRGINIA WE CAN RECORD EARTHQUAKES AS FAR AS MAGNITUDE FIVE ALMOST ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD. AND WHEN WE HAVE A MAGNITUDE NINE EARTHQUAKE LIKE THIS, IT'S JUST.. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING MAJOR HAS HAPPENED.))
[SUPER=01-Martin Chapman/VT Seismologist;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=something major has happened.]
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[VO-NAT]
The earthquake is the strongest since 1964 when a quake rocked Alaska. Blacksburg's seismic information has already been sent to the U-S Geological Survey.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[WRITER=dse]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Some area elementary students were supposed to get a new school over Christmas break.
Still ahead on NEws Seven, why it's now on hold.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]

Plus a closer look at the system that's literally keeping an eye on inmates at one area jail.
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[1st-Wx]
[Stolen-Badge]
(MINI OPEN)
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC1:38:20]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Danville police hope to stop someone from impersonating an officer, before they get the chance.
[ENG#=1]
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
Officer Billy Chaney was off-duty Thursday night, when he parked his personal vehicle in the parking lot of the Rock Ola Cafe' on Crown Drive. Chaney says when he returned to his car, he discovered his badge, handgun and other credentials had been stolen. Police now warn against impersonators.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4309]
[IN Q=if they're just]
((LT. MIKE MONDUL/DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT; IF THEY'RE JUST FLASHING A BADGE, ASK TO SEE THEIR CREDENTIALS TO MAKE SURE THE PICTURE MATCHES UP, MUCH THE SAME WAY THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE DOES 15 TO TRY TO MATCH IT 16 ANY OFFICER THAT IS A VALID POLICE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU ASKING THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Mike Mondul/Danville Police Department; ]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=you asking that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Chaney's Pittsylvania County Sheriff's deputy badge was also stolen.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE CRIMESTOPPERS FS] Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police or Danville Crimestoppers at 434-793-0000.
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[Jail-Security]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-47 TC51:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
An inmate escaped from the city jail last week simply by pretending to be someone else.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
That couldn't happen at the Roanoke County-Salem Jail. They keep an eye on the population in the COUNTY jail. A machine looks 'em right in the eye. Inmate Matthew Graham isn't due for release until July. He agreed to demonstrate the system for us. The uniqueness of his iris takes the place of fingerprints, ID cards or wristbands. Given an image of Graham's right eye, the computer sorts through the entire data base. About ten seconds later it displays Graham's intake photo and personal history.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:21:30]
[IN Q=Is it invasive]
((IS IT INVASIVE AT ALL? DOES IT BOTHER YOU? MATTHEW GRAHAM/INMATE: NO. IT JUST TAKES A PICTURE OF YOUR EYE. THAT'S YOUR IDENTIFICATION. SGT. BRIAN KEENUM/ROANOKE CO SHERIFF'S DEPUTY: THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN TAMPER WITH THEIR EYE. SO, WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT WITH THEM ALL TIMES. IT WOULD BE FAIRLY ACCURATE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Matthew Graham/Inmate; :02]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Brian Keenum/Roanoke Co. Sheriff's Department; :07]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=be able to use it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The system can identify the right eye of any of the 300 inmates currently housed here. It also knows all the inmates who've been through the jail in the year and a half since the system was installed plus everyone on the visitors list.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Wall Street took a break after last week's rally. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/50.99/10776.13/y/6.40/2154.22;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW lost 51 points today.
The NASDAQ dropped six.
[SUPER=271-h/0.13/41.87/h/0.02/60.85/i/0.29/34.60/i/0.04/46.66/i/0.11/42.30;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.37/16.98/i/0.03/6.47/i/0.46/67.30/i/0.20/36.57/h/0.04/14.82;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.07/39.15/h/0.09/17.12/i/0.29/35.75/h/0.13/5.84//Unchg/21.90;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.90/73.45/i/0.14/40.61/h/0.07/52.81/h/0.24/52.79/i/1.36/112.84;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[RAMS]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=04-40 TC1:57:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Students at the Roanoke Academy of Math and Sciences were supposed to begin classes in a brand new school after Christmas break- but they'll have to wait a little bit longer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The new RAMS school on 19th street is not ready.
Principal Toni Belton now says the move's been delayed until January 25th-
While students are on break, it's clear construction workers are not.
Belton says workers are putting a priority on getting classrooms and the cafeteria ready for the new move-in date. The new school - which cost nearly 11 million dollars- is next door to the old school.
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[Tech-Bet]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-42 TC1:26:41]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl]
[ENG#=2]
Blacksburg is betting Tech will win the Sugar Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
This morning Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth made a friendly wager over the phone with Auburn Mayor Bill Hamm. Tech and Auburn will meet January third in the Sugar Bowl. Today the two mayors agreed the town council of the losing school will have to wear the winning teams jerseys at their next meeting. The loser will also have to send a gift basket to the winning community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:26:30:00... :38 TO :52 ]
[IN Q=You can count]
((ROGER HEDGEPETH: YOU CAN COUNT ME IN FOR SURE... :38 OF COURSE YOU HAVE THAT CONFIDENT SOUNDS THAT YOU WON'T BE SENDING A BASKET TO BLACKSBURG. BUT I THINK THESE TEAMS ARE FAIRLY WELL MATCHED. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT SUGAR BOWL FOR EVERYONE.))
[SUPER=01-Roger Hedgepeth/Blacksburg Mayor;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=SUGAR BOWL FOR EVERYONE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Blacksburg's Mayor says he's confident, he won't be the one sending a basket or wearing a jersey.
(XXXXXX)
[WIPE TO MIKE LIVE BOARD FS]
WDBJ-7 is your place for Sugar Bowl coverage.
Mike Stevens will be in New Orleans with the Hokies and their fans and will have live reports starting Thursday.
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[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=APRISA]

UVa falls to Fresno State in overtime in the MPC Bowl, before the Hokies can meet Auburn, they will visit with the New Orleans men in blue,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Seth Greenberg's basketball team plays its final home game of 2003 tonight against Morgan State.
(------------)

[S-MPC]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-188 36:28]
[GRAPHIC=mpc bowl]
[ENG#=1]

The 8th MPC Computers bowl proved to be the most excited as Fresno State outscored 18th ranked Virginia 30 to 13 after the Cavaliers went up 21-7 in the first half in an overtime thriller.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boise, ID/ESPN; :00]

UVa was looking for a third straight bowl win while Fresno State was making their sixth consecutive bowl appearance.
Alvin Pearman would scored first on a 13 yard touchdown run. Pearman did not play the second half though due to a knee injury.
The Cavs score two unanswered TD's as Hagans hits Michael McGrew on a seven yard touchdown pass and
then he runs the rock in from 8 yards away, 21-7 UVa. Tied at 24 all in the fourth, Wally Lundy scores from 20 yards out to put UVa back on top 31-24.
[SUPER=34-Fresno State/37/Virginia/34;]But on 4th down with 11 seconds left in the game, Fresno State quarterback Peni
gar finds Jeron Fairman in the corner for the TD and we are going to overtime tied at 31.
After a UVa field goal, the Bulldogs get their offensive chance and Paul Penigar capitalizes with a TD completion to his tight end Steven Spock and the game is over, Uva loses 37-34 and finishes 8 and 4.
(------------)

[S-Bourbon]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-185 15404TC]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL]
[ENG#=2]
The Hokies head to New Orleans tomorrow to begin a week's worth of workouts for the Auburn Tigers. One of first activities will be a visit with New Orleans' finest. Mike Stevens has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Third Trip to the Sugar Bowl; :17]
[SUPER=@Mike2; :30]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Stinespring/VT Offensive Coordinator; 1:03]
[SUPER=04-2000 Sugar Bowl; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(( Welcome to New Orleans - where the freaks come out at night - and any other time during the day for that matter. Things that will get you thrown in jail in southwest Virginia will get you a strand of beads in on Bourbon Street. ((BITES:)) Two previous trips to the city in 1995 and 1999 have taught Tech valuable lessons on how to deal with the temptation and excess. Plus there's a constant reminder. In 1995 - Hokie Keith Short missed curfew and was sent home on a Greyhound bus. ((BITES:)) The Hokies will be headquarterd at the New Orleans Marriott - which is in shouting distance of the French Quarter. Mike Stevens News 7 Sports.))
(-------------)

[S-VT]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-183 31:50]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
[ENG#=3]

The Virginia Tech men's basketball team is at home tonight at seven against Morgan State.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

The Hokies have lost four of their last five but they are still 4 and 2 at the Cassell thanks to a challenging practice enviroment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Allen Calloway/Va. Tech Junior Forward; :04]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...good for us at home"]
(-------------)

[Retail-Sales]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=04-45 TC45:39]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Santa was good to many local retailers this year.
[ANCHOR=Jean 2-Shot]

He brought them lots of shoppers.
[ENG#=1]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 06.5]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Managers at Valley View Mall tallied the numbers today from last week- and they looked good.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:54:38]
[IN Q=]
((LOUISE DUDLEY/VALLEY VIEW MALL: WE CALLED 25 PERCENT OF OUR TENANTS THIS MORNING TO GET THEIR SALES SO WE COULD TURN THEM INTO CORPORATE OFFICES THE SALES WERE VERY STRONG.))
[SUPER=01-Louise Dudley/Valley View Mall]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=were very strong.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 12]

Dudley says sales are up from last year and she says jewelry sales were especially strong this year-
That's good news- because the weeks around Christmas are critical for most retailers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:54:23]
[IN Q=]
((DUDLEY: HOLIDAY SALES PROBABLY ACCOUNT FOR 30 TO 40 PERCENT OF OUR SALES SO WE HAVE TO MAKE IT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LAST TWO WEEKS OF DECEMBER.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=TWO WEEKS OF DECEMBER.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 09 plus pad]

Dudley says online shopping does cut into retail sales at the mall but she says people still want to come out and buy items in person. (--------------)