12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=
SS=None
(----------------)
VO-NAT

A Henry County mother is charged in connection with a fire that killed one of her children,
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ANCHOR=Melanie
and Steve Forbes conquers the wild west and hopes to stake his next claim on New York.
(/////////////)
TALENT=patrick
SS=None

A few showers overnight provide a harbinger of change in the weather.
Look for sharply colder conditions later this afternoon, tonight, and tomorrow.
I'll have all the details from the News 7 Weather Center coming up.
(//////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Don't go away News 7 at NOON is next.

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Henry-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=bmy
TAPE# edit of 95-111
GRAPHIC=fire investigation

A Henry County woman is charged with abuse and neglect in connection with a fire that killed her baby.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./February 8;

Vivian Thomas's three children were inside the home at the time of the fire on February 8th.
Two- year- old Latasha and one- year- old Deonte were injured.
Six- month old Keysha died of smoke inhalation.
Investigators say the children were alone when the fire started in the kitchen, and that an oven had been left on 500 degrees for about three hours.
Kerosene located near the stove caused a large volume of smoke throughout the home.
Thomas is being held at the Henry County jail under 25-hundred dollars bond.
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Bottoms

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-4
GRAPHIC=Bottoms

A Virginia judge has once again ruled that a lesbian's lifestyle makes her an unfit mother for her four-year-old son.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Sharon Bottoms
SUPER=03-Henrico Co./Yesterday; :00
SUPER=01-Richard Ryder/Kay Bottoms' Attorney; :24 (Quick)
SUPER=01-Donald Butler/Sharon Bottoms' Attorney; :43
SUPER=01-Steve Pershing/Va. ACLU; :48
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:29
RUNS=1:44
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Henrico Co.

(( Sharon Bottoms and April Wade were back in court to prove how Sharon's life was in order -- and Sharon's mother Kay's was NOT.
They even got some unexpected help from the attorney appointed by the court to represent four year old Tyler.
Torrence Harmon recommended Sharon regain custody -- and warned she was profoundly concerned about Tyler's development in the care of his grandmother.
SOT 06:43:38
((RICHARD RYDER: WELL I DON'T CONSIDER HER AS BEING OBJECTIVE.))
RUNS=:03

But the judge ruled in Kay Bottoms' favor again, turning the guardian's advice on its head.
Judge William Boice favored the jubilant grandmother -- saying Sharon had "plateaued as an underachiever," ironically using the phrase psychologists used to describe Tyler under Kay's care.
Sharon's attorney had little to say.
sot 06:34:04
((DONALD BUTLER/SHARON BOTTOMS' ATTORNEY: THAT'S A GOOD ANALOGY. What is? A KICK IN THE GUT.))
runs=:04


SOT 06:38:34
((STEVE PERSHING/VA. ACLU: IMAGINE HOW THAT WOULD FEEL TO YOU. TO BE SUED BY YOUR OWN MOTHER FOR CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD.))
RUNS=:06


sot 06:41:55
((RICHARD RYDER: THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT HAS SAID IN MORE THAN ONE CASE IF YOU ENGAGE IN HOMOSEXUAL OR LESBIAN BEHAVIOR WHERE THE CHILD IS SUBJECTED TO IT, THEN THAT MAKES YOU AN UNFIT PARENT.))
runs=:11

The judge said little about homosexuality, but a lot about a contract for a made for TV movie that appalled him.
SOT 06:36:58
((STEVE PERSHING/VA. ACLU: FOLKS BADGERED SHARON AND APRIL FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, AND HER LAWYERS TOO. ...THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM GOING AND SEEKING MEDIA ATTENTION.))
RUNS=:16


SOT 06:50:11
((AFTER SHARON BOTTOMS HEARD THIS VERDICT SHE DROPPED HER HEAD AND BEGAN SOBBING. SHE AND HER PARTNER WISHED TO AVOID THE MEDIA CIRCUS FOR WHICH THE JUDGE HAD BLAMED THEM. INSTEAD THEY SLIPPED OUT THE BACK. THIS CASE WILL BE APPEALED. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, HENRICO COUNTY.))
RUNS=:15))

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campaign-96

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=campaign 96

Fresh from a victory in Arizona, presidential candidate Steve Forbes turns his attention to New York, and the state's March 7th primary.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Newark, NJ/This Morning;

The millionaire publisher shocked rivals Pat Buchanan and Bob Dole with a victory yesterday in Arizona's G-O-P primary.
After winning all of the state's 39 delegates Forbes now holds the lead with a total of 60 delegates.
Forbes said today that he believes he has a ''very good chance'' of winning New York, with 93 delegates.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((STEVE FORBES: WE HAVE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS: A FLAT TAX WHICH IS A TAX CUT, RETURNING CONTROL OF EDUCTION TO PARENTS. I WON'T ADDRESS SPECIFIC AUDIENCES IN NY, I TALK ABOUT ISSUES ON HOW TO PUSH THE NATION TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL AS A NATION. SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE IN NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR THE NATION AS A WHOLE, SUCH AS WITH CRIME. ))
SUPER=01-Steve Forbes/(R) Presidential Candidate;
RUNS=:31
OUT Q=resonance nationwide.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

Bob Dole meantime, is focusing on Saturday's primary in South Carolina.
The Senate majority leader captured his first two primaries yesterday in North and South Dakota.
He attributed Forbes' Arizona victory to the publisher's multi- million dollar ad campaign.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((BOB DOLE:I CAN'T SPEND 4 MILLION DOLLARS IN ARIZONA, YOU OUGHT TO REPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING, THIS GUY'S TRYING TO BUY THE ELECTION. ))
SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Dole/(R) Presidential Candidate;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=by the election.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA;

Meantime, Pat Buchanan got shut out of the victory column yesterday.
He served notice today that he's going after Forbes.
Buchanan says he'll unmask Forbes as a pro-abortion social liberal.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=FALWELL;

And while Buchanan attacks Forbes, the Reverend Jerry Falwell is calling on the Republican leaders and candidates to stop attacking Buchanan.
In a statement today Falwell defended Buchanan's views and said efforts to smear Buchanan will only backfire.

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Ireland

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Britain and Ireland have agreed to begin Northern Ireland peace elections June tenth.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-London;

That word follows a summit today between the British and Irish prime ministers.
The two leaders are trying to to revive the peace process in Northern Ireland.
It took a fatal blow three weeks ago when the I-R-A resumed its bombing campaign.
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WIPE/WIPE/WIPE/

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ISRAEL

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Jerusalem/Sunday;

Three days after two suicide bombings that killed more than two dozen in Jerusalem and Ashkelon, Isreal's Prime Minister has announced a series of moves to improve the country's security.
Shimon Peres said today he will keep the West Bank and Gaza Strip sealed for the time being.
That means two million Palestinians, including 60-thousand workers, are unable to set foot in Israel.
Peres also says he'll deploy more security forces in Jerusalem and in the areas bordering the West Bank.
(----------------)




tease#1
HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Still to come, some Roanoke residents say the Henry Street project isn't taking the right path,
(--------------)
VO-NAT
and speaking of renovations, some are in order for a Roanoke couple who went through a homeowners' nightmare this morning.
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music up full
comm1

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Hall

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-5
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

The defense has rested, after calling just two witnesses at a Floyd County murder trial.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Floyd Co./Yesterday;

34- year- old David Joel Hall is charged with killing his girlfriend in the Willis section of the county.
SUPER=03-Floyd Co./June 14, 1995;

June 14th Sheriff's deputies found the body of 18 year old Ellen Marjorie Plocki in a small room inside a garage.
The two had apparently been living there.
She died from a severe beating to the head.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:14:07 tape 1
IN Q=A blood clot
((WILLIAM MASSELLO/ASST. CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER: A BLOOD CLOT THAT LAYS OVER THE SURFACE OF THE BRAIN AND IS A RESULT OF A BLOW OR IMPACT OR SEVERAL IMPACTS TO THE HEAD OR FACE AREA. ))
SUPER=01-William Massello/Asst. Chief Medical Examiner;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=face area
(----------------)
VO-NAT

More than a dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution.
(----------------)

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Roanoke-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=jda
TAPE#96-11
GRAPHIC=fire

Less than a week after they moved into their new apartment, a Roanoke couple winds up with a leaky ceiling and a hole in the wall.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Firefighters were called to the 400 block of Walnut Avenue this morning.
Flames burned a large hole through the second floor.
Dottie Glass and Roy Dalton had just moved into the building on Friday.
They say their living room was soaked by a leak in the ceiling before the fire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We went to sleep
((ROY DALTON: WE WENT TO SLEEP. I WOKE UP ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK TO TAKE A SHOWER. I WENT IN THE BATHROOM TO TURN THE LIGHT ON AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. HAPPENED TO SMELL SMOKE AND COME OUTSIDE AND THE ELECTRICAL BOX ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.))
SUPER=07-Roy Dalton;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=was on fire.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Investigators say the fire was sparked by an electrical short and caused about five- thousand dollars damage.
No one was injured.

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Renovations

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-17
GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal

Roanoke officials want to restore Henry Street to its glory days, but many residents say they feel left out of the planning process.
They voiced their concerns at a public hearing last night.
Kimberly McBroom files this report..
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The community is sick
SUPER=07-Rev. Leonard Hines; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :14
SUPER=07-Robert Gravely; :35
SUPER=01-Bev Fitzpatrick/Henry Street Revitalization Comm.; 1:00
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:10
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT TAPE 1 7:30:43
((REV. LEONARD HINES: THE COMMUNITY IS SICK AND TIRED OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING TO US. NOW, YOU MESSED UP GAINSBORO, AND WE DECLARE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MESS UP HENRY STREET WITHOUT A FIGHT. ))
RUNS=:12

That was the sentiment of most who attended the meeting-- that the 18- million- dollar proposal to renovate Henry Street is an indecent one.
While planners promise blacks will be encouraged to open businesses again on Henry Street-- many questioned how that would be made possible.
Perhaps the biggest opposition came from those who feel the project has been pushed over on them.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 1 7:46:32
((ROBERT GRAVELY: YA'LL DIDN'T ASK US WHAT WE WANT OR WHAT WE NEED. YA'LL COME UP WITH A PLAN OUT OF NOWHERE FOR US. YA'LL GOING TO BRING OUR CULTURE BACK-- WHY CAN'T WE BRING IT BACK? ))
RUNS=:12

Such passionate debate was what city officials and organizers had asked for by hosting the public hearing.
And one official says he understands residents' concerns-- and wants them to continue speaking out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape 2 9:22:22
((BEV FITZPATRICK/HENRY STREET REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE: I MEAN, THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS IT IS ANYBODY ELSE'S AND RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS FIND OUT IF THERE'S COMMON GROUND AND MAKE SURE IF THERE IS, THAT WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK ))
RUNS=:08
Standup here please tape 2
As one speaker put it, black people are more than soul food and jazz-- and many here say the proposed plan overlooks what their community really needs.
They say more public input is necessary if the Henry Street Revival is to be welcomed in their neighborhood.
Kimberly McBroom, News 7.))

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L'burg-Council

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-18
GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal

Meantime, over in Lynchburg, city council not only wants trash bagged -- but tagged.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;

City council last night approved a resolution awarding the garbage collection and recycling contract to the City's public works department.
But council also decided to spend up to five thousand dollars on a survey, that'll determine whether residents want to keep the trash tag system.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 7:00:29
IN Q=I do get
((JIM WHITAKER/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: I DO GET THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON AND DO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I ALSO KEEP HEARING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT `I DON'T LIKE THE TAG SYSTEM, I WISH WE COULD GET RID OF THE TAG SYSTEM'. AND SO THERE'S THAT SENTIMENT OUT THERE, THAT IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, LET'S CONTINUE TO LOOK.))
SUPER=01-Jim Whitaker/Lynchburg Mayor; :00
RUNS=:17
OUT Q=continue to look.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Council also allocated nearly 28 thousand dollars to help pay for the demolition and cleanup of the old Lukens building which burned Christmas Day.
The city has placed a lien on the property in hopes of recovering that money.
Authorities want to get the property and the rest of the riverfront cleaned up before the annual Festival By The James in June.
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Tease#2
SOFT MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Still to come --
A furniture company nails down hundreds of new jobs for Patrick County,
(----------------)
VO-NAT
and skaters take to the ice to remember a fallen comrade.
Don't go away, that's next on News 7 at Noon.
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music up full comm2

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SKATE-TRIBUTE

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Nineteen champion skaters took to the ice last night to pay tribute to an Olympic champion.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hartford, CT/Last Night; (quick)

It was an emotional farewell to Russian Pairs skater Sergei Grinkov.
SUPER=03-Hamar, Norway/February 13, 1994; :05

The 28-year old died of heart failure in November while practicing with his wife and skating partner Ekaterina Gordeeva.
Gordeeva took part in the tribute, skating alone for the first time since his death.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=(nats of Ekaterina skating)
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Gordeeva began skating with Grinkov when she was eleven and he was fifteen.
They later fell in love, won two Olympic gold medals and had a daughter together, Daria, who is now three.
You can see the tribute to Sergei Gringov "A Celebration of Life" Friday night at nine right here on Your Hometown Station.
(----------------)
wipe wipe wipe

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GRAMMYS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=wipe/wipe/wipe
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
RUNS=:07
OUT Q=gazing out of her window.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And tonight beginning at eight you can catch the 38th annual Grammy Awards.
T-L-C is among the performers fine- tuning for tonight's show.
The group is up for best record.
Other performers include Joan Osborne, nominated in five categories including record of the year and best female pop performance, and Seal singing the Batman-ballad, "Kiss From the Rose".
Canadian artists Alanis Morissette and Mariah Carey stand to win the most, each with six nominations.
(----------------)

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Vaughan-Furniture

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=Business News

A local furniture maker will also be in the business of creating jobs when it moves to Patrick County.
Vaughan Furniture of Galax is building a plant in the county's new Industrial park, which could mean 300 new jobs.
The company makes bedroom furniture.
The announcement is good news for the county, which has one of the highest jobless rates in the state.

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MONEY

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

Micrsoft founder Bill Gates is no longer the world's wealthiest businessman.
U-S-A today reports that Nebraska businessman Warren Buffet has surpassed Gates with stock holdings valued at 16- point- six billion dollars.
Gates is reportedly worth around 14 billion.

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ECONOMY

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=national economy

Consumer prices are up, and the government says it's largely due to cold weather that sent energy costs spiraling.
Overall, prices rose four-tenths of a percent last month.
And the government says the trade deficit rose to just over one hundred and elven billion dollars last year -- the worst showing in seven years.
One reason for the bad report is that the trade gap with China and Mexico hit record levels.

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Stocks

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=stocks

Stocks have been spending the day in positive territory, after two days of declines.
On Wall Street at Noon the Dow was UP 27 points.
tease#3
SPORTS MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie

Patrick "hoops" it up next,
(----------------)
VO-NAT
from Region C to the Northwest Regionals, we've got high school basketball coming up, on News 7 at Noon.
(---------------)
MUSIC UP FULL comm4

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Glenvar

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#S6-2
GRAPHIC=Region C

Up at Highlander Heaven, Glenvar had four players in double figures in a 72 to 58 Region C win over Lebanon.
(----------------)
VO-NAT ENG#
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Highlanders vs Pioneers; :

After losing the Pioneer District tournament title the Highlanders were up for the Regional game.
Glenvar's Corey Willis pulls up and nails a three pointer for three of his 15 points and the Highlanders lead by three.
Lebanon reamains in the game, thanks to freshman Ben Carpenter--he hits 7 three pointers and finishes with 30 points in the game.
But Glenvar's Josh Williamson comes SUPER=33-Glenvar/=72/Lebanon/=58; up
big with 19 points as the Highlanders advance with the 72 to 58 win.
(-------------)
wipe wipe wipe

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Bath

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-1
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Wytheville/Chargers vs. Maroons; :00

In the other Region C tournament contest, George Wythe hosted Bath County.
Bath lights up the scoreboard first as David "The Birdman" Buzzard gets the rock to Stewart Alexander.
He looks inside, but decides to pull up and hit the jumper.
Buzzard, again...this time he drives to the hoop and dishes back
SUPER=33-George Wythe/=66/Bath Co./=55;
outside to John Rogers who scored to put Bath up by four in the first half.
The Maroons come back.
Ted Ring misses, but Brian Barnes is there for the put back.
George Wythe advances in the regionals with the 66-55 win.
(-------------)

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Altavista

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-3
GRAPHIC=Region III

Over in Region III, Rustburg served as the site for an Altavista/Fieldale Collinsville showdown.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Rustburg/Colonels vs. Cavaliers; :00

Altavista's Dennis Brown goes to the boards and puts back the missed shot for the hoop.
The Cavs' Brad Harmon takes the entry pass and banks it in for the bucket.
The Colonels' Kurt Reighard drains
SUPER=33-F. Collinsville/=46/Altavista/=43;
the net with the trey from the top of the key.
But Fieldale Collinsville advances.
Harmon with another hoop.
The Cavaliers win 46-43.
(-------------)

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Fleming

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Roy
TAPE#S5-28
GRAPHIC=Northwest Region

The William Fleming Colonels advanced to the second round of the Northwest Regionals last night with a 68 to 64 overtime win over Halifax County.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Roanoke/Colonels vs Comets; :

On this play Shannon Martin takes it in for the slam dunk and foul--the Comets cut Fleming's lead to 3.
Fleming's Sterling Tate ends the third quarter with five points and the Colonels lead 48 to 44.
Carlos Jackson makes a big play, scoring the layup after a steal and sends the game into overtime 56 to 56.
But Fleming's James Stokes SUPER=33-William Fleming/=68/Halifax/=64;
scores 7 of his 29 points in overtime.
Fleming beats Halifax 68 to 64.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=First audio
((JAMES STOKES/SCORED 29 POINTS: IF THIS WAS OUR LAST GAME, I WANTED TO GO OUT STRONG. I WANTED TO LEAVE ON A GOOD NOTE. WE SUCKED IT UP AND PLAYED GOOD.))
SUPER=01-James Stokes/Scored 29 Points; :
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=.............PLAYED GOOD."
(-------------)
wipe wipe wipe

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PH

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=BB96-1
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Danville/Patriots vs. Eagles; :00

G.W. Danville ended Patrick Henry's season.
Woody Deans gave the last pep talk of his illustrious career to his Patriots.
The Eagles' Nathan Poole makes the steal and gives to Marcus Cunningham who hits the short J.
Patrick Henry answers.
Brian Jackson dishes to Brooks Berry who scores and gets the foul half way
SUPER=33-G.W Danville/=85/Patrick Henry/=47;
through the second half.
But the Eagles stay strong.
Tyrone Robertson takes it in for the jam and G.W Danville advances with the 85-47 victory.
(-------------)

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WRAP

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=AMO
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE
(*******PATRICK AD LIB*******)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

And coming up in tonight's Health Check --
One in ten people are afflicted with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine.
But proper screening could prevent problems later on in life-- including painful surgery.
That story and more news of the day on NEWS-7 at Five, and stick around for That's it for News 7 at Noon. Have a great afternoon. NEWS-7 at SIX.