WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/21/96

12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
SS=None
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VO-NAT

White supremacist and author William Pierce is ordered to pay thousands to compensate for a racially motivated killing in North Carolina,
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ANCHOR=Melanie
and hundreds are feared dead as a ship sinks in Tanzania.
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TALENT=patrick
SS=None
(ad lib)
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ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Don't go away, the news is next.

ship

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

Nearly 600 passengers are feared dead in a ship sinking off northwest Tanzania (tan-zah-NEE'-uh).
State radio reports 40 survivors and 21 bodies have been pulled from the water in Lake Victoria.
Witnesses on passing ships report many passengers were trapped in the sunken vessel.

Horton

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-29
GRAPHIC=horton

The Roanoke woman who drove around for three days with the owner of the car locked in the trunk was sentenced today to serve 14 years in prison.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Mitzy Horton indicated she was abusing drugs and alcohol at the time of the incident last November.
Horton got into an argument with Vernon Laughton, choked him until he lost consciousness and put him in the car trunk.
Under cross examination in court this morning, Horton admitted she thought she'd killed the man.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:50:40
IN Q=And I thought
((MITZY HORTON: AND I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH HIM. AND I COULDN'T COME UP WITH NO DECISION. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO, SO I PUT HIM IN THE TRUNK. ANN GARDNER/PROSECUTOR: AND WHY DID YOU PUT HIM IN THE TRUNK? BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH HIM. WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL? I WASN'T THINKING THAT WELL.))
SUPER=01-Mitsy Horton/Abductor; :00
SUPER=02-Ann Gardner/Prosecutor; :08
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=thinking that well.
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VO-NAT

Judge Dianne Strickland sentenced Horton to serve a total of 14 years in prison for robbery and abduction.
During two years of the sentence she will be diverted to a drug and alcohol treatment program before she's released from custody.
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Pierce

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=rjo
TAPE# edit of
GRAPHIC=none

A white-supremacist in West Virginia has been ordered to compensate a black family in North Carolina.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=04-60 Minutes;

William Pierce is the author of the "Turner Diaries," a book that describes the overthrow of the federal government and the elimination of blacks and jews.
A jury in Bryson, North Carolina says the book inspired a white-supremacist to kill a North Carolina black man in 1991.
The panel ordered Pierce to pay 85-thousand dollars to the family of the murdered man.
The killer sold his home to Pierce at a huge discount to protect it from being turned over to the family originally.
The money is profit Pierce made when he re-sold the home two years ago.
Pierce is appealing.
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VALUJET

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=plane crash investigation

In the Florida Everglades today, divers have begun the dangerous job of entering the crash crater of Valujet flight 5-92.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dade Co., FL;

Divers equipped with special protective suits entered the crater early this morning.
They hope a new ground-penetrating radar will guide them to the cockpit voice recorder.
The jetliner crashed May 11th, killing 110.
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wipe/wipe/wipe

TN-LANDING

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Chattanooga, TN;

A U.S. Air flight en route to New Orleans from Pittsburgh made an emergency landing in Chattanooga last night.
The first and reportedly only sign of trouble was smoke in the cabin.
U.S. Air officials suspect the problem was an overheated air conditioning duct.
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SOT
IN Q=
8:01:31 (( RACHAEL MORGAN/ U.S. AIR PASSENGER: THE CAPTAIN DID DOME ON AND SAY THE AIR CONDITIONER GIVES OFF SMOKE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE SHUT IT DOWN AND WE STARTED DECENING PRETTY QUICKLY BEORE THEY TOLD US WE WERE MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING. CANDANCE CREELY/ U.S. AIR PASSENGER: WE SMELLED THE ODOR FIRST AND THEN YOU COULD SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND IT WAS KIND PF SCAREY HEARING ALL THE REPORTS RECENTLY ABOUT AIRPLANES. ))
SUPER=01-Rachael Morgan/U.S. Air Passenger;
SUPER=01-Candance Creely/U.S. Air Passenger; :14
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=about airplanes
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VO-NAT

The 47 passengers and five crew members got another U.S. Air plane and continued on to New Orleans.
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M'ville-Hospital

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-36
GRAPHIC=legal scales

Two Martinsville hospital employees involved in a controversial mock hostage drill are cleared in court.
Yesterday a General District Court ruled the security officials were acting in the safety of Memorial Hospital, and dismissed charges of aiding and abetting and brandishing a firearm.
Kimberly McBroom reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Security Director
SUPER=03-Martinsville/Yesterday; :00
SUPER=@File; :15
SUPER=01-Randy Smith/Martinsville Commonwealth's Atty.; :31
SUPER=01-Roscoe Reynolds/Defense Attorney; :43
SUPER=@Kimberly1; 1:07
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville

(( Security Director Jeff Bledsoe and Security Guard John Cassell probably never imagined their scripted E-R drama would have such an effect.
Both testified in court they meant no harm to the nurses on duty the night of the emergency hostage drill.
Meanwhile, the nurses testified they were frightened by the group of phony gunmen who invaded the hospital January 25th.
But the court ruled there was no criminal intent-- something even the prosecution admitted was difficult to prove since it was a planned drill. ((RANDY SMITH/MARTINSVILLE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY:MOST EVERYBODY EXCEPT THE NURSES THEMSELVES AND THE SECRETARIES ON THE DESK WERE REALLY ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A DRILL. SO, THEY WERE SOME OF THE FEW PEOPLE NOT ADVISED IT WAS A DRILL.)) ((ROSCOE REYNOLDS/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE INVOLVEMENT THEY HAD WITH POLICE, OFFERING THE POLICE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PLANS BEFORE THEY HAPPEEND, EVEN TAKING PART IN THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE OFFICER NEGATED ANY CRIMINAL INTENT.))
Both sides agreed on the importance of the testimony of Bledsoe's supervisor-- who says periodic emergency drills are required for hospital accreditation. ((KIMBERLY MCBROOM/NEWS 7: THE CASE DOESN'T END HERE, THOUGH. THREE NON- HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES WHO ALSO POSED AS MASKED GUNMEN WILL HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT JUNE 28TH. KIMBERLY MCBROOM, NEWS 7, MARTINSVILLE. )) ))

Hutcherson

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-27
GRAPHIC=l'burg seal

Lynchburg city council officially has a new member.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg;

Reverend Carl Hutcherson Junior took the oath of office in City Hall this morning.
Hutcherson ran as an independent to win the special election for the at- large council seat.
He says he's ready to go to work.
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SOT 1:49:44
IN Q=I have been
((REV. CARL HUTCHERSON/NEW L'BURG COUNCIL MEMBER: I HAVE BEEN MEETING, I HAVE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH AN OVERALL ORIENTATION WITH THE OTHER TWO NEW COUNCILPERSONS, BUT I'M GOING TO KIND OF START EARLY, SINCE I'LL BE GOING EARLY, THERE'S SOME WORK WE'LL HAVE TO DO RIGHT AWAY.))
SUPER=01-Rev. Carl Hutcherson/New L'burg Council Member; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=do right away.
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VO-NAT

State law required Hutcherson to take office within thirty days of his victory.
He replaces Republican Robert Vogel, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by delegate Preston Bryant.
The other two new council members will be sworn in July 1st.
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tease#1
HARD MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

When we return-
The navy bids farewell to Admiral Mike Boorda,
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VO-NAT
and some say these birds taste like beef, but their meat classification is making it hard on growers.
We'll have the details when we return.
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WX ad lib viewernet music up full comm1

BOORDA

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mel
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=clinton, bill

President Clinton at this hour is attending a memorial service for Admiral Mike Boorda.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;

The service is taking place at Washington National Cathedral.
Boorda has been buried near the Pentagon, where he worked as the Navy's top officer.
Family members held a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in a sweltering heat.
The Chief of Naval Operations committed suicide last week amid questions about whether he earned Vietnam combat pins worn on his uniform.
A successor to Boorda could be named within days.
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scotus

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#from net a
GRAPHIC=us supreme court

A dramatic victory for gay rights.
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VO-NAT

Yesterday, the Supreme Court struck down a Colorado measure that would deny homosexuals protection from discrimination.
Anti-gay groups had described the decision as destructive to American culture.
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SOT
IN Q=
((WILL PERKINS/GAY RIGHTS OPPONENT: WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE TODAY COULD RIP THE FOUNDATION OUT OF OUR CULTURE. PRISCILLA INKPEN/GAY RIGHTS SUPPORTER: WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DESTROY THE FAMILY. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DESTROY AMERICAN VALUES. WE WANNA UPHOLD AMERICAN VALUES.
))
SUPER=01-Will Perkins/Gay Rights Opponent; (quick!!!)
SUPER=01-Priscilla Inkpen/Gay Rights Supporter; :06
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=American values.
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VO-NAT

Another Supreme Court ruling is being seen as a bonus to business.
The court threw out a two million dollar award against B-M-W.
An Alabama doctor won the damages in a suit claiming B-M-W painted over acid rain damage on his new car.
The justices declared the award "grossly excessive".
Other manufacturers may use this case to curb what they see as "unfair" awards.
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ENDEAVOUR

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Melanie
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour has recaptured a two-thousand pound satellite.
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VO-NAT

The crew sent the Spartan satellite into space yesterday, attached to an inflatable antenna.
The atenna has since broken away and is expected to plummet through the atmosphere and burn up this afternoon.
The 14- million dollar experiment proves lighter and cheaper technology can work in space.
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Ostrich-Farm

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=NONE

From a shuttle flight to birds that can't fly at all.
Rat-ites, -- flightless birds like ostrichs, emus and rheas (REE-uhs), -- are gaining popularity in Virginia.
And it looks like the birds aren't the only ones that are grounded.
Farmers say complicated state regulations are keeping the INDUSTRY from taking flight.
Tracy Altizer reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=At Feather Quest Farm
SUPER=03-Giles Co.; :00
SUPER=01-Cindy Harmon/Va. Ostrich Assoc. Pres.; :16 QUICK!
SUPER=01-Mel Kurtz/Va. Emu Assoc. President; :28 QUICK!
SUPER=@Tracy1; :41 (SCREEN LEFT!!)
SUPER=01-Russell Fallin/Va. Ratite Assoc. Pres.; :50
RUNS=1:30
OUT Q=Altizer, News 7.
(( At Feather Quest Farm in Giles County, ostrich, emu and rhea burgers were the special of the day.
Similar in taste to beef, ratite meat is about as low in fat and cholesterol as turkey.
The appeal to farmers is catching on.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:41:49
((CINDY HARMON/VA OSTRICH ASSOC. PRES.: IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF LAND OR A WHOLE LOT OF TIME INVESTMENT IN ORDER TO RAISE THEM. ))
RUNS=:00

And it's not just the meat that's appealing.
Emu oil is being researched for medicinal and cosmetic uses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:47:45
((MEL KURTZ/VA EMU ASSOC. PRESIDENT: I MEAN IT'S JUST GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, THIS OIL. WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO, IT'S REALLY EXCITING. ))
RUNS=:06

Ostrich leather has long been popular, even its feathers find a variety of uses.
But while those markets are expanding, the meat, at least in Virginia, has seen slower growth. suIn Virginia, ratites are classified as livestock, but their meat is classified as exotic. That puts growers at a competitive disadvantage.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:52:02
((RUSSELL FALLIN/VA RATITE ASSOC. PRES.: SOME RESTAURANTS WOULD BE HESITANT TO BUY IT UNLESS IT'S INSPECTED SOME KIND OF WAY, WHICH I CAN'T REALLY BLAME THEM. ))
RUNS=:06

But exotic meat is not included in the U.S.D.A. mandatory inspection program, so ratite farmers have to pay inspectors themselves, 35 dollars an hour.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:46:31
((WE FEEL IT'S REALLY UNFAIR AND ALMOST UNCONSTITUTIONAL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY AS EMU FARMERS WHERE OTHER FARMERS, CATTLE FARMERS OR WHAT HAVE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY. ))
RUNS=:05

Kurtz says ratite farmers are organizing to mount a lobbying effort to change the meat classification.
Meanwhile they'll continue selling to individuals and gourmet shops, and IMPORTING the meat from states where inspections are mandatory, to supply to restaurants in Virginia. Tracy Altizer, News 7.))
Tease#2
SOFT MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Next on News 7 at noon-
The heat wave continues to close schools early.
We'll have the list,
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VO-NAT
and life may be doing more than imitating art.
When we return we'll show you the story of life destroying art.
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TORNADO

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

In Canada last night, it was a case of life imitating art as an audience watching the movie Twister apparently experienced the real thing.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Thorold, ON/Last Night;

It happened at a drive- in, in Ontario.
The movie screen was destroyed right before moviegoers' eyes.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((THE TORNADO TURNED THE CORNER, WENT RIGHT THROUGH HER AND NEVER TOUCHED THIS OTHER BUILDING JUST WALKED RIGHT THROUGH HERE. ))
RUNS=:05
OUT Q=RIGHT THROUGH HERE.
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VO-NAT

The storm's path of destruction stretched all the way down to the U-S border.
No one was injured.
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Schoolwatch

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=spring heatwave

It's not twisters, but high temperatures we're sweating over in our area.
SS=school information

Because of the heatwave, the following schools are closing early...
(mel ad lib)

Quibell

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#edit
GRAPHIC=Quibell

A Roanoke sparkling water company has been put on the selling block.
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VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;

The president of the Soho Beverage Company says it's negotiating to purchase all the assets of the Quibell Corporation.
Quibell halted production last month after a dispute with its bottle supplier, and according to court documents it owes Nationsbank close to 900- thousand- dollars.
Soho says it plans to continue producing Quibell products in its Roanoke facility if the deal goes through.
Right now it says several issues must still be resolved.
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Stocks

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

On Wall Street at noon the Dow was DOWN more than three points.
tease#3
SPORTS MUSIC UNDER
ANCHOR=Melanie

Coming up on News 7 at noon-
We'll chat with Cave Spring's new head basketball coach,
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VO-NAT
and the Salem Avalanche and Lynchburg Hillcats finish a game, 15 days after it started.
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MUSIC UP FULL comm4

Hicks

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#S6-9
GRAPHIC=HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS

One of the three high school head basketball coaching vacancies in the Roanoke Valley was filled last night as Cave Spring elevated assistant Billy Hicks to the top spot.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="You know...
((BILLY HICKS/NEW CAVE SPRING HEAD COACH: I'M HERE TO OFFER STABILITY. I WENT TO CAVE SPRING AND PLAYED THREE YEARS OF VARSITY BASKETBALL THERE. MY WIFE AND I AND MY FAMILY ARE INTRENCHED IN THE COMMUNITY. WE DON'T PLAN ON GOING ANYWHERE. I PLAYED FOR RUDY LACY, WHO WAS THERE FOR 26 YEARS. I PLAYED FOR HIM HIS LAST TWO YEARS, THEN GARLAND BARRY. SO, I PLAN TO MAKE A GOOD TENURE OF IT. ))
SUPER=01-Billy Hicks/New Cave Spring Head Coach; :00
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=...TENURE OF IT."
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VO-NAT CON'T
SUPER=04-1995-96 Season; :00

Hicks not only hopes to give the program stability, he also hopes to build rapport with the parents whom he says have been unfairly criticized in the past.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I want..
((BILLY HICKS: THE PARENTS AT CAVE SPRING HAVE GOTTEN A BUM WRAP. I WAS THE HEAD COACH AT HIDDEN VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FEEDER SCHOOLS, FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND I WAS ASSISTANT AT CAVE SPRING FOR TWO, AND OUR PARENTS HAVE BEEN ALL THAT WE COULD ASK.))
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=...we could ask."
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Championship

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-10
GRAPHIC=Blue Ridge

William Byrd topped Salem in the Blue Ridge District baseball tournament championship last night at Salem Memorial Stadium.
Steve Mason says there were some major league highlights at this minor league park.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=first audio
SUPER=03-Salem/Terriers vs. Spartans; :00
SUPER=@Steve1; :23
SUPER=01-Justin Likens/1.29 Season ERA; :34
SUPER=34-William Byrd/==4/Salem/==0; :57
SUPER=01-Rodney Spradlin/William Byrd Coach; 1:19
SUPER=01-Scott Atkins/Salem Coach; 1:29
RUNS=1:42
OUT Q=...News 7 sports"
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((This district championship might just be the sweetest of the 4 Byrd has won in the last 5 years.
The Terriers opened the tourney with a rather low .267 team batting average.
Better have great defense! The terriers did. NAT SOUND
That's Ben Smith making the major league catch. ((STEVE MASON:)) ((JUSTIN LIKENS/1.68 SEASON ERA:))
Salem's defense was also spectacular. Avalanche general manager sam lazzaro watched son Sam junior make this incredible play at second base.
The Terriers scored first in the bottom of the 4th. Matt mcGuire nails this single to to center that plates Smith for a 1-nothing Byrd lead.
Parker Humphrey's, then doubles down the left field line scoring McGuire and Ross Blankenship for a 3-zip lead.
The Terriers went up 4 nothing before the Spartans made one final run. All district catcher Ricky Eubanks doubled off the wall in the seventh but Byrd beats Salem for the 18th straight time, a streak that dates back to 1989. ((SCOTT ATKINS/SALEM COACH:)) ((RODNEY SPRADLIN/WILLIAM BYRD COACH:)) The Region Three tournament begins next Tuesday for Salem and William at Amherst high school. In Salem Steve Mason news 7 sports."))
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Avalanche

ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#CL-96
GRAPHIC=AVALANCHE/HILLCATS

The Salem Avalanche and Lynchburg Hillcats opened a three game series last night in the Hill City, but first they had to take care of some unfinished business.
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VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Salem/May 5; :00

On May 5th, W-D-B-J's LIVE telecast of a Sunday afternoon game between these two teams was halted shortly after catchers Mike Higgins and Jonathan Sweet collided at home plate.
Higgins' tag kept the Hillcats from taking the lead and preserved a tie when rain and lightning postponed the game.
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Avalanche vs. HIllcats;

Last night they resumed the game in the top of the 8th in Lynchburg with Salem as the home team.
Lynchburg had two chances to score with two runners on but again Higgins makes the big play and stops big Erskine Kelly.
The Avalanche loads the bases in the ninth and John Guidice unloads and knocks in the winning run.
SUPER=34-Salem/3/Lynchburg/2;

It takes Salem 15 days and nine innings but they win it 3-to-2.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=patrick
SS=HILLCATS/AVALANCHE

Salem takes the nightcap as well winning 11-to-one.

WRAP

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=AMO
TAPE#NONE
(********patrick toss to mel***********)