WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 04/27/98

[News-heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
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Up next on NEWS 7 at 5, it's the first day back to school in Edinboro, Pennsylvania as students try to deal with a deadly shooting at a weekend dance.
(-------------)
[VO-Nat] and two young people are arrested after a series of arsons last night in Appomattox.
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and Salem is becoming title town for Virginia high school sports.[Wx-Heads]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Hard to dress on a day like today. Warm one minute, cold the next. Looks like rain gear might be the way to go lat

er this week.[medical-head]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=amo]
[TAPE#med heads ]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
In medical news --
Obesity is linked to another health problem.
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[VO-NAT]

Doctors find certain foods can help with memory loss.
And nurses discuss the biggest health issues facing women in Southwest Virginia today.
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[2-SHOT][open]
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[SUPER=19-Jean/Jadhon;]
[SUPER=19-Tonya/Flory;]
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[SUPER=@robin1;]

[SUPER=19-Mike/Stevens][Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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(/////SOT/////)
[SOT10:02:10]
[IN Q=]
((it was a shock and a tragedy and i think now the reality is just beginnign to set in))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=to set in.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The reality that a teacher is dead- a student charged- Students in Edinboro, Pennsylvania try to return to normal.
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[5-School-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

Good Evening. I'm Jean Jadhon.
Students sang hymns before classes began today at the Pennsylvania middle school-
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[vo-nat]
[super=03-Edinboro, PA]

Then a prayer service was held so students could mourn the death of teacher John Gillette.
A 14 year old student sis accused of killing the teacher Friday night at a school dance.
(///////sot///////)
[IN cue:] ((HE POINTED A GUN AT ME I TOLD HIM IF HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT ME GO AHEAD NOT SHOOT ANYONE ELSE. HE SHOT AND HEMISSED.))
((10:02:16)) ((WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON MR. GILLETTE FAMILY AND THEIR LOSS. IT'S TRAGIC TO THEM. JOHN WAS A HUSBAND A FATHER OF THREE>))
[SUPER=01-Justin Fletcher/Student; ]
[SUPER=01-Kip Allen/Edinboro, PA Mayor; 08]
[RUNS=:14]
[OC...FATHER OF THREE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gillette who was 48 will be buried tomorrow-
Police refuse to talk about a motive but say it appears the 14 year old student chose Gillete at Random.
Andrew Wurst is in the Erie County Jail charged as an adult.
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[5-Appomattox-Fires]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#598-20 33:30]
[GRAPHIC=Arson]

An 11-year old boy and his 14-year old sister are facing arson charges after a series of fires in Appomattox last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/Last Night;]

Police say the pair set fire to a truck and a warehouse at the J-E Sears Company, causing more than one hundred thousand dollars in damage.
Racist graffitti was also spraypainted around the property.
Another three fires were set nearby.. but eyewitnesses spotted the children and notified the sheriff's department.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:33:38]
[IN Q=They went]
((SHERIFF WILSON STAPLES/APPOMATTOX CO.: THEY WENT TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE THE TWO CHILDREN WERE AND SPOKE WITH THEM, AND EVENTUALLY DURING THEIR CONVERSATIONS, THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND LATER CHARGED WITH THE ARSON AND THE SETTING OF THOSE FIRES.))
[SUPER=01-Wilson Staples/Appomattox Co. Sheriff; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=of those fires.]
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[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile business owner Al Sears says the community has been very supportive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:42:09]
[IN Q=Lot of curious]
((AL SEARS/OWNER: LOT OF CURIOUS PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PHONE CALLS WITH WELL- WISHERS, AND YOU REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT YOU, I GUESS, SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE.))
[SUPER=01-Al Sears/Owner; :00]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=people out there.]
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[VO-NAT]

The two children are being held in a juvenile detention home pending their first court appearance.
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[5-Frat-Prank]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=598-19 25:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Washington and Lee fraternity will NOT be held responsible for the prank that led to the arrest of five students last week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]

It began at a Wednesday night party at the Sigma Nu fraternity house on campus.
One fraternity member passed out and two women visiting from Sweetbriar college allegedly shaved his pubic area.
Several hours later the victim and two other frat members allegedly drove the women 30 miles away and tried to do the same to them.
The men are charged with abduction, the women, with aggravated sexual battery.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we'll handle it]
((BRIAN SHAW/UNIVERSITY SPOKESMAN; WE'LL HANDLE IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL CASE, ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE MEMBERS OF THE FRATERNITY WILL GO BEFORE THE STUDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS INDIVIDUALS, WE DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS BEING A VIOLATION OF ANY INTRA-FRATERNITY COUNCIL RULES OR THINK OF IT AS A FRATERNITY PROBLEM. ))
[SUPER=01-Brian Shaw/University Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=fraternity problem]
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[VO-NAT]

The five students are facing felony charges. They were all released on bond.
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[(toss to R)]
(toss to Robin)[tease#1]

[HARD MUSIC UNDER]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#tease 1]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Children playing on the phone are causing problems for Montgomery County's 9-1-1 system. We'll have that story in a moment.
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[VO-NAT]
and a little later, we'll meet a local woman who made good on her promise to run away and join the big top.
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[ANCHOR=Tonya]
On Health Check, local nurses are learning ways to spot the signs of domestic violence. [Two-Shot]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
and Patrick Evans is spending the afternoon preparing to clean up Smith Mountain Lake. [cc sponsor]
Comm Break#1

[5-Father-Found]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The sisters whose father is charged with kidnapping them 20 years ago- are standing by their dad.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA]
The women spoke of their fathers devotion as he raised them on his own in Florida.
(////////////////////)
[SOT13:02:24]
[IN Q=]
((IT IS RARE THAT A CHILD GETS TO SHOW THE LOVE AND DEVOTION THAT IS SHOW TO HER BY PARENTS AND SO I WILL STAND PROUDLY BY MY FATHER AS HE HAS DONE SO OFTEN FOR MY SISTER AND I.)) [13:04:17] ((he was and is the BEST MOTHER, FATHER AND FRIEND ANYONE COULD AS FOR ON BEHALF OF RACHEL AND I WE'D LIKE TO SAY DADDY WE LOVE YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Rachel Martin/Stephen Fagan's Daughter;]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Martin/Stephen Fagan's Daughter;12]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=Daddy, we love you.]
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[VO-NAT]
Fagan is accused of taking Lisa and her sister Rachael from their mother nearly 20 years ago. He told them their mother was dead. The two did not mention their mother at a Boston news conference.
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[5-Hunting-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A Bedford County deputy accidentally shot his father while turkey hunting last week.
The father, 55-year-old Marshall Adams of Bedford, died the next day.
A state game warden says Adams was shot in the chest by his son, 27 year old Kevin, who said he thought he was shooting at a turkey.
The case is under investigation. So far, no charges have been filed.

[5-Monty-911]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#598-18 29:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Montgomery County sheriff's department intends to crack down on folks who repeatedly dial 9-1-1 and hang- up.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Since August, dispatchers have received nearly one thousand hang ups and most are NOT true emergencies.
They're either children playing on the phone or adults who've dialed the wrong number.
But dispatchers still have to treat each call as if were an emergency which means calling the person back.
If the line is busy or the caller doesn't answer a deputy is sent to their home.
(/////SOT/////)
[6:16:02]
[SOT]
[IN Q=We don't]
((NEAL TURNER/MONTGOMERY CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.:WE DON'T WANT ANYONE WHO NEEDS OUR ASSISTANCE NOT TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT BUT WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TO GO AROUND AND IF WE'RE TIED UP WITH FRIVOLOUS CALLS THEN SOMEONE IS POSSIBLY GOING TO SUFFER FROM A CRIME OR INJURY OR WHATEVER LONGER BECAUSE WE WOULD BE TIED UP WITH THAT CALL. ))
[SUPER=01-Neal Turner/Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=with that call.]
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[VO-NAT]

Turner says the problem is so serious that the sheriff's department is planning to crack down on serious repeat offenders by charging them with falsifying an emergency.
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[5-State-Troopers]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=598-17 29:20]
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Franklin County needs a few good troopers.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

The county usually has eleven troopers -- now it has only eight.
Three were recently promoted.
And they will not be replaced until the new class graduates in July.
That means it could take a little longer for a trooper to arrive at a wreck.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:11:04]
[IN Q=Normally we try]
((SGT. B.G. RATLIFF/STATE POLICE: NORMALLY WE TRY TO KEEP MORE THAN ONE TROOPER WORKING IN THE COUNTY, BUT HIS RESPONSE TIME COULD CONCEIVABLY BE MAYBE 40 TO 45 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON HIS LOCATION IN THE COUNTY. NORMAL RESPONSE TIME SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 15 OR 20 MINUTES IN MOST CASES.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. B.G. Ratliff/State Police;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=in most cases]
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[VO-NAT]

State police are teaming up with sheriff's deputies to make up for low numbers.
And with Memorial Day right around the corner, troopers will be asked to work their days off.
The state will use federal grant money to pay for their overtime.
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[tease#2]

[ANCHOR=JEAN]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

If you love spending time on Smith Mountain Lake, the time is coming soon to prove it. Patrick Evans is standing by with the details. [LIVE PATRICK FULL MICROWAVE] [ STOCKS]

[COMM BREAK#2][5-LAKE-CLEAN]

[ANCHOR=JEAN]
[NEWSCAST=FIVE]
[WRITER=pev]
[TAPE#598-14 40:44]
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Residents and businesses at Smith Mountain Lake are busy preparing for the summer season, despite the cold weather today.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]

Coming up next month, a community clean-up will take place, and you're invited to help out. Patrick Evans has all the details today.
[Live= Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Patrick1;]
[SUPER=05-Bedford Co.;]
[SUPER=07-Jerry Waters;]
[***WE HAVE :35 of B-Roll once we establish Waters;]

[ESS/FULL=]BOARD
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[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave][Forecasts]
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[SUPER=330-Variable Clouds/Early/36-38/Partly Sunny/Wind NE-10/60-62;]
[SUPER=331-Clearing And/Cool/36-39/Partly Sunny/Wind NE-10/60-64;]
[SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/Wind E-10/33-35/Partly Sunny/Wind E-10/58-60;]
[SUPER=333-Clearing And/Chilly/34-36/Mostly Sunny/Wind NE-10/60-62;]
[SUPER=334-Clearing And/Cold/32-34/Sunny/Wind E-10/56-58;]
[SUPER=X5001;][tease#3]

[health music under]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
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In sports, college basketball's Player of the Year will NOT be playing next year in Chapel Hill.
[ANCHOR=Tonya]

And next on health check --
local nurses are learning about trends in health care affecting women's health.
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[VO-NAT]
and a new study says there's a link between eating green vegetables and alzheimer's disease.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=I think]
((CAYTON I THINK WE COULD SAY EATING YOUR VEGETABLE AND EATING A HEALTHY AND VARIED DIET IS GOOD FOR ALL OF YOU INCLUDING YOUR BRAIN.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=including your brain.]
[health bump]

[Comm Break#3][5-Vegetables]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=598-15 19:06]
[GRAPHIC=Alzheimers]

There's further proof that eating your vegetables is good for you.
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[VO-NAT CBS FEED of green veggies 7:37:50]

Scientists at Oxford University say a regular dose of folic acid found in many green veggies could protect millions of people from Alzheimer's Disease.
The study finds that people with an imbalance of certain brain chemicals are more likely to develop alzheimers.
Furthermore the imbalance seems to come from not eating enough green vegetables.
But this doesn't necessarily mean eating broccoli will prevent Alzheimers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT CBS FEED 10:32:40]
[IN Q=My Own view]
((HARRY CAYTON: MY OWN VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS MOST LIKELY THAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WILL TURN OUT TO BE A MULTIFACTORIAL DISEASE, A DISEASE THAT HAS MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN AND WHICH ALSO HAS MANY CAUSES, //// SO THERE WILL NEVER BE A SIMPLE ANSWER TO ALZHEIMER';S DISEASE. IT'LL NEVER BE AS SIMPLE AS JUST EATING THE BROCCOLI. ))
[SUPER=01-Harry Cayton/Alzheimer's Disease Society;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=eating the broccoli.]
[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[GRAPHIC=Alzheimers]

Still many researchers stress more studies are needed to establish a direct link between Alzheimer's and folic acid.

[5-Drug-Shortage]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Drug Prices]

Federal health officials are meeting today to investigate why a vital drug is in such short supply.
Intravenous immune globulin helps patients with weakened immune systems.
Without it, they are vulnerable to dangerous infections.
Now the Health and Human Services department wants to know if the drug companies are doing enough to end the shorta

ge or if they're using the crisis to increase profits.[5-Asthma]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=598-13 38:17]
[GRAPHIC=Asthma]

There's new evidence that obese people are more likely to develop Asthma.
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[VO-NAT]

Two separate studies find overweight people are three times more likely to develop the condition.
Experts say the extra weight may be tightening airways to the lungs, making them prone to conditions that trigger asthma.

(------------)[5-Medical-Conference]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=598-16 31:27]
[GRAPHIC=Healthcheck]

Virginia nurses are getting updated and educated on current health issues and how they can better serve their patients.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]

A conference of women's health, obstetric and neonatal nurses is being held in Roanoke.
Local nurses say it's an opportunity for those who might not have the ability to travel to hear from national speakers.
One topic looks at women's health care through a feminist lens focusing on the uniqueness of their needs.
Nurses say one of the biggest health problems facing women in Southwest Virginia today is violence in the family.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT UB 09 06 34]
[IN Q=One of the]
((JUDITH LEWIS/VCU NURSING SCHOOL:ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS NURSES NEED TO DO EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PATIENT OR CLIENT, WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS. I THINK A LOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HASN'T BEEN DEALT WITH BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED.ANDI ISENHOUR/REGISTERED NURSE:SO THEY'RE NOT HESITANT TO ASK PATIENTS TO HELP IDENTIFY PATIENTS AND HELP THEM IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES IS A BIG STARTING POINT IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM))
[SUPER=01-Judith Lewis/VCU Nursing School; ]
[SUPER=01-Andi Isenhour/Registered Nurse; ]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=tackling the problem.]
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[VO NAT]
Other topics of discussion include new methods in birthing like the use of Jacuzzi tubs.
And how nurses can make the birth experience less painful for women emotionally.
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[2-Shot-Toss]
[ANCHOR=Jean]

Coming up in sports, the Civitan Club recognizes its best girls basketball team of the year.
[ANCHOR=Tonya]

And the City of Salem is GUARANTEED to crown some state champions in all sports. Here's Mike Stevens to explain.[S5

-VHSL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-1]
[GRAPHIC=Sportsticker]

Good afternoon. We open the workweek ticker with big news in Salem.
[SS=VSHL]

Now the City of N-C-Double-A Champions is title-town for the Virginia High School League as well.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

The V-S-H-L and Salem officials announced today that the city will host the championships for all high school spring sports.
The hope is to create an Olympic style competition.
It took nearly 16 months to set up the championship weekend for May 29th and 30th.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:10:19]
[IN Q=we're hosting]
((CAREY hARVEY CUTTER/SALEM CIVIC CENTER: WE'RE HOSTING GROUP A AND DOUBLE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOCCER, TENNIS, BASEBALL, AND SOFTBALL.)) ((KEN TILLEY/VHSL EXEC. DIR.: I THINK SALEM AND THE ROANOKE VALLEY HAS THE FACILITIES THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE IN VIRGINIA. IT'S VERY RARE ONE AREA CAN ACCOMIDATE ALL THOSE SPORTS.))
[SUPER=01-Carey Harveycutter/Salem Civic Center; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ken Tilley/VHSL Executive Dir.; :07]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=ALL THE SPORTS]
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[VO-NAT]

10-thousand people are expected to descend on Southwest Virginia for the championship weekend.
This will be the first time in the league's 85 year history that all spring sports are being held in the same area.

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[S5-Northside]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-2 29:02]
[GRAPHIC=Civitan Sportsmanship]

The Lady Vikings walked away with the prize this afternoon.
Northside High School's Girls Basketball team won the Roanoke Civitan Club Women's Sportsmanship Award.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Inaddition to this trophy, The Civitan gives the school a 500 dollar scholarship.
The schools are judged on how the athletes treat other players, the facilities at the school, and how the fans conduct themselves at the game.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:04:10]
[IN Q=I think]
((BETTY JO ANTHONY/ROANOKE CIVITAN CLUB: I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE GIRLS AND BOYS. SPORTSMANSHIP IS THE POINT OF HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT RECOGNITION.))
[SUPER=01-Betty Jo Anthony/Roanoke Civitan Club;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=OF THAT REGOGNITION]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

This is the fourth year the Civitan has given the women's sportsmanship award.
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[S5-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-13 14:04]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

The NBA also handed out an award today as San Antonio Spurs
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA; :00]

rookie Tim Duncan was named the league's rookie of the year.
Duncan led all rookies in scoring, rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage.
He received all but three of the 116 votes cast, with Keith VanHorn getting those.
[super=03-Chapel Hill, NC;]

Also, Antawn Jamison the North Carolina all-american announced today that he is jumping to to the NBA a year early.
The six nine forward will have his degree from UNC before he leaves.
He will graduate this summer.
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=ticker]

More basketball news coming up at six, including a look at the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-state boy's basketball teams.
Have a safe night everybody.

[take a break][5-Circus-Dancer]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#98-40 2:56]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Have you ever dreamed of running away to join the circus? Seven years ago one Roanoke native did just that, and this weekend marks her homecoming. Steve Pardon has her story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=My mom]
[SUPER=01-Marissa Richardson/Ringling Brothers Dance Captain; :00]
[SUPER=03-Charleston, WV; :12]
[RUNS=2:19]
[OUT Q=Steve Pardon, News 7]

(3:07:34) MOM ACTUALLY HAS PICTURES OF ME ON OUR LITTLE TRAPEZE BAR ON OUR SWING SET SO I GUESS I WAS DESTINE TO BE IN
THE CIRCUS. (3:07:40)
Although she didn't end up flying through the air, destiny did bring Roanoke's Merissa Richardson to Ringling Brothers.
The last time the world famous circus was in town, the Cave Spring graduate auditioned as a dancer. Two days later she was offered a job.

(about 3:10:40) AND I SAID SURE . FIGURED I'D BE HOME IN 6 MONTHS. BUT THEY SAY SAWDUST GETS IN YOUR VEINS AND I'VE
LOVED IT EVER SINCE. (3:10:45)
7 years later she is the dance captain for The Greatest Show On Earth, a job which she equates to being like a mother to 14 girls. Her typical day includes checking costumes and floats to be sure all is in order and checking the floor to make sure her team will be able to enter and exit the rings safely. Of course she says she has other important things to do each time she arrives in a new city, find the Laundromat, post office, grocery store and of course...

(3:07:47) OH YES, I LOVE TO SHOP.

the mall.
In just about any city you can find her cruising the shops with friends which is one of the things that she says makes life on the road a lot like home.

(3:06:23) THE SIMILARITIES ARE THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND ROANOKE WHEN I WAS THERE I KNEW A LOT OF PEOPLE. I C
OULD SAY HI, GO TO THE MALL AND KNOW SOMEBODY, HERE EVERY WHERE I GO I KNOW SOMEBODY EVEN IF IT IS IN A MALL IN A DIFFERENT TOWN BECAUSE WE ALL TRAVEL TOGETHER. (3:06:36)
As for the people she travels with she says the dancers and the clowns are pretty close not only because they are in a lot of acts together but because their train cars are next to one another. When you live on a mile long moving city, that's like being in the same neighborhood. Of course there is one clown in particular she is very good friends with...her husband Max.
Marissa says she thinks with its diverse cultural background the circus would be a great place to raise a family, but their aren't any little ones on the way just yet.

(3:09:58) I HAVE A DOG- AND MY HUSBAND'S A CLOWN SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME. HE'S A BIG KID. (3:10:04)

And now after 7 years, with the big kid by her side, she will finally get to put her best foot forward in front of the home crowd.

(3:15:43) OH I'M SO EXCITED. ITS ALL I CAN TALK ABOUT. THE GIRLS ARE LIKE OK OK WE'RE GOING TO ROANOKE, SO YEA...I'M R
EADY. (3:15:51) Steve Pardon, News 7.