WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 11/24/98

[News-heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=Heads]
[graphic=none]

Coming up on News 7, Two teenagers charged in the murder of a Liberty High School student face a preliminary hearing.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and suspicious fire engulfs a van at an area rest stop.
The story, ahead.
(------------)

[Wx-Heads]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

Clouds on the increase tomorrow and maybe a sprinkle on Thanksgiving. Details ahead.

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#med heads]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
The government is recalling nearly ten million playpens.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And new diabetes drugs show promise in preventing kidney disease and blindness.
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[2-SHOT]
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[SUPER=19-Jean/Jadhon;]
[SUPER=19-Tonya/Flory;]
[SUPER=19-Patrick/Evans;]
[SUPER=@robin1;]
[SUPER=19-Mike/Stevens]

[5-Vaughn]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#598-23 1:59:51]
[GRAPHIC=Vaughn]
A 38-year old Roanoke man will spend his life in prison for murdering his toddler son and trying to kill two police officers.
[Double Boxes=Jean/Tina--Microwave]
Tina Tenret was in court with Kelvin Vaughn today.
[Live=Full/Tina]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]
[SUPER=05-Salem;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: three year old son Tyree.)
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[IN Q=TYREE MEANT EVERYTHING]
[SUPER=01-Kim Carter/Victim's Mother; :00]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :09]
[SUPER=04-Last March; :15]
[SUPER=01-Bob Rider/Defense Attorney; :53]
[SUPER=01-Fred King/Salem Prosecutor; 1:05]
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[OUT Q=SOME FORM OF PLANNING.]

[Live=Full/Microwave]
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[Double Boxes=Jean/Tina][5-Liberty-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=598-24 1:32:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Charges against two young murder suspects were sent to the grand jury today in Bedford County.
But the hearing was closed to the public.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./September;]

16-year-old Randy Ross is charged with capital murder, accused of shooting (juh-MELL) Jamiel Poindexter in September.
Ross's 16-year-old girlfriend (KEER-sten) Keirstin Davis is also charged with murder.
(------------)

Today a juvenile court judge excluded reporters from the three hour hearing at the request of Ross's lawyers.
The judge certified the charges against both defendants to the grand jury that meets in early December.[5-Clements

]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=net-D]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two court-appointed attorneys will represent the man accused of burning a downtown apartment building and killing half a dozen people in the process.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 98-60]
Michael Jerrod Clements was arraigned in court today, where he was formally charged with six counts of murder and one count of arson.
[SUPER=@File;]
He's charged with igniting the Church Avenue fire in mid-May. If convicted, he could be sentenced up to seven life terms in prison. Prosecutors say his trial could begin by early February.
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[5-UN-Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net-A]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Conflict]

A warning goes out yet again to Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq]

This time because Iraqis have refused to turn over documents on chemical and biological programs.
The Secretary of Defense says Iraq's compliance with the UN deal is in doubt.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:49:44]
[IN Q=It is clearly]
((WILLIAM COHEN/DEFENSE SECRETARY: IT IS CLEARLY IN DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF THE UNSCOM INSPECTORS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR AND DEMANDED A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS THEY HAVE YET TO RECEIVE THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY'RVE EITHER BEEN DESTROYED OR THEY'RE QUOTE IRRELEVANT.))
[SUPER=01-William Cohen/Defense Secretary]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=QUOTE IRRELEVANT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Cohen says the United States will maintain a significant show of force in the Gulf area in case military strikes become necessary.
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[5-Truck-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=598-26 1:50:04]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
No one was injured, but traffic was backed up on Interstate-81 this afternoon, after two vehicles caught fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]
A tractor trailer was southbound when the driver noticed fire shooting from the back of his truck. The man pulled over to the side of the road. Responding firefighters quickly extinguished the flames. Officials suspect the brakes on the truck ignited the fire.
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[WIPE, WIPE, WIPE][5-Van-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=598-27 1:53:11]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE, WIPE, WIPE]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
Meanwhile, just twelve miles down the road in Botetourt County, a van suspiciously caught fire at a rest stop. Witnesses noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. By the time the owner of the van returned, it was fully engulfed. Trouville firefighters had the blaze under control within minutes. They have not determined how the fire started.
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[(toss to R)]
(toss to Robin)
[tease#1]

[HARD MUSIC UNDER]

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

Still ahead, a local man on death row dies in jail.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus a look at toys that appear harmless, but could prove deadly for children.
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[ANCHOR=Tonya]

On HealthCheck, it's giving "the Pill" an all-new meaning.
A look at the latest marketing tool for one birth control pill.
[ANCHOR=JEAN]
and Patrick Evans takes a look at "Greening of the Market". [cc sponsor]
[Comm Break#1]

[5-Price]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=COPY]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Danville man on death row in North Carolina has died of a heart attack.
Ricky Lee Price died early yesterday morning in a Raleigh hospital.
Price was convicted and sentenced to death for strangling a Danville woman in 1984.
Brenda Smith's body was found in Person County, North Carolina.
Price was also convicted of a murder in Virginia, where he received a life sentence.
At the time of his death, Price's case was being appealed and no execution date had been set.

[5-Mag-Lev]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#598-29]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Tech]

A Florida based company that wants to build a test bed for what could be the world's fastest train won't be teaming up with Virginia Tech, after all.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./File Tape;]

American MagLev had hoped to build the nearly two mile demonstration project along the so called "Smart Highway".
[SUPER=04-American MagLev Tech.;]

But Virginia Tech recently decided the 20-million dollar project did not provide enough research opportunities.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In other]
((LARRY HINCKER/VIRGINIA TECH SPOKESMAN:IN OTHER WORDS THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO DO, AND THUS, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHY THEN WERE WE INVOLVED AND AFTER TAKING A STEP BACK LOOKING AT IT WITH OUR PARTNERS WE FELT THERE WASN'T ANY ROLE FOR US. ))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Virginia Tech Spokesman; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=role for us.]
[ANCHOR=JEAN]
[SS=none]

A Richmond lobbyist for American Maglev says the company is looking at other test sites in Virginia.
But the lobbyist was unsure if the company will able to keep a seven million dollar loan approved by the General Ass

embly now that Virginia Tech is no longer interested.[5-Killer-Toys]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net-B]
[GRAPHIC=Toys]

Did you ever think a balloon could be dangerous for a child?
It's tops the list of dangerous toys to avoid- because children can choke on balloons.
Lee Cowan tells has more on one groups annual list of unsafe toys.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With most]
[SUPER=01-Ed Mierzwinski/U.S. PIRG;]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/CBS News;]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=cbs News, Charlotte]
(( WITH MOST ANALYSTS PREDICTING A CRUSH IN THE HOLIDAY TRAFFIC
AT THE CASH REGISTER --- CONSUMER WATCHDOG GROUPS ARE PREDICITING MORE
FATAL ACCIDENTS IN THE TOY AISLE.
ED MIERZWINSKI//U.S. PIRG: Choking on small toy parts, small balls and balloons, continues to be the leading cause of toy related deaths. RESEARCH DONE BY THE U-S PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP IN WASHINGTON SHOWS 13 CHILDREN DIED JUST LAST YEAR FROM TOY RELATED INJURIES - THE LITTLE TINY CLOCK DROPS RIGHT INTO THE CHOKE TUBE.
-- 11 OF THEM CHOKED TO DEATH ON REMOVABLE PARTS SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN A CHILD'S AIRWAY. I THINK THESE ARE HAZARDS THAT CAN BE AVOIDED, I THINK THESE ARE DEATHS THAN CAN BE AVOIDED. COMMON SENSE IS PART OF IT BUT SO ARE TOUGH LAWS.
THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISION'S STANDARDS ARE BY NO MEANS CHILD'S PLAY. BUT THE GROUP STILL FOUND MORE THAN TWO DOZEN TOYS CURRENTLY ON STORE SHEVLVES THAT MAY PRESENT A HAZARD. GOVERNMNT TESTING IS NOT UNIVERSAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHEMICAL THAT MAKES SOME PLASTIC TEETHING
TOYS SOFTER HAS RAISED SOME HEALTH QUESTIONS OVERSEAS --- IT HAS RAISED
LITTLE MORE THAN EYEBROWS HERE.
AND SOME TESTS AREN'T EVEN REQUIRED - LIKE WHETHER A TOY CAN DAMAGE YOUR CHILD'S HEARING. ONCE AGAIN, THE TESTING IS UP TO YOU.
rings- If you hold it up to your ear and it hurts, then don't buy it. This one hurts (rings)."
THE GROUP IS NOT WITHOUT IT'S SUCCESSES. OVER THE YEARS SOME 0F TOY RECALLS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT AS A RESULT OF THEIR ANNUAL SURVEYS. AND THIS YEAR, THE GROUP ADMITTED TO HAVING A HARDER TIME FINDING TOYS THAT VIOLATED SAFTY STANDARDS.
LEE COWAN/CBS NEWS: BUT STILL, MORE THAN 65-THOUSAND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 FOUND THEMSELVES IN EMERGENCY ROOMS INSTEAD OF PLAYROOMS. ADULT SUPERVISION SHOULD NOT BE SIMPLY A SUGGESTION, THEY SAY, IT SHOULD BE A RULE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PACKAGE MAY SAY. LEE COWAN, CBS NEWS, CHARLOTTE.))

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5p]
[SS=None]

STill to come, Patrick Evans is decking the halls of the Downtown Market in Roanoke. [take Patrikc live]
[SOT]
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[Feature]

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

We're still two days away from Thanksgiving, but it's already beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
[Double Boxes=Jean & Patrick/Microwave]
Patrick Evans is on hand for the annual Greening of the Market, despite some unusually warm weather.
[Live=Patrick Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@patrick1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

[NO TAPE -- ALL LIVE]

[SUPER=01-Dara Saunders/Downtown Roanoke, Inc.;]

[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

[Double Boxes=Jean & Patrick/Microwave][Forecasts]
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[SUPER=330-Clear And/Chilly/31-33/Mostly Sunny/Wind E-10/60-62;]
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[SUPER=X5001;][tease#3]

[health music under]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#tease 3]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, the Tech-U-V-A game is set for this Saturday - but will it be played at this time of year in the future?

Mike Stevens will explain.
[ANCHOR=Tonya]
On Health Check --
A playpen that's been around for half a century is NOW being taken off the shelves for fear it can cause strangulation.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

And researchers are finding promising results in curing one of the biggest symptoms of diabetes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:35:12]
[IN Q=Diabetes is]
((DIABETES IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF NEW BLINDNESS IN THE UNITED STATES.))
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=United States]
[health bump]
[Comm Break#3]

[5-Confederate-Treasure]

[ANCHOR=Keith -- NEWSROOM]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=598-]
[GRAPHIC=Treasure Trails]

Good Afternoon. I'm Keith Humphry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

We've been treasure hunting with a man who calls himself "Big Ed."
Though he relies a lot on two decades of research conducted by J- Frank Carroll, Big Ed has taken the search several steps further.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:17:15]
[IN Q=The Confederate]
((THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT IS STILL HERE... IN A SENSE... WITH THAT CONFEDERATE TREASURE STILL BURIED IN DANVILLE. So it's inevitable that somebody's going to unearth it one of these days. OH SURE. IT WILL BE DONE. AND I WOULDN'T DOUBT BUT THAT IT WOULD BE DONE IN THE NEXT YEAR.))
[SUPER=01-Ed Powers/Treasure Hunter; :00]
[SUPER=01-J. Frank Carroll/"Confederate Treasure" Author; :05]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=the next year.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

We know for certain the Confederate Gold and Silver was transferred by train to Danville at the end of the war. So where is it now?
(------------)
[Treasure Trails graphic]
Join us for Treasure Trails on NEWS 7 at SIX and 11 tonight and tomorrow.
(------------)

[5-Playpen-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=598-30 1:45:56]
[2-SHOT]
If you have a playpen, you'd better check it carefully, because nearly ten million are being recalled.
[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[GRAPHIC=Playpen Recall]
What consumers should be looking for are rivets sticking out on the outside top rails of the playpen. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it knows of eight toddlers who strangled themselves in their playpens when pacifier strings or clothing got caught on the playpens' protruding rivets.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC; ]
The playpens being recalled carry the brand names Bilt-Rite, Evenflo, Gerry, Graco, Kolcraft, Playskool, Pride-Trimble and Strolee. The playpens are portable mesh models that can be stored by folding in half. Some of the models being recalled were made 40 years ago. Others came from the factories as recently as May.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:37:06]
[IN Q=And don't just]
((ANN BROWN/CPSC CHAIRMAN: AND DON'T JUST CHECK THE ONE YOU'RE CURRENTLY USING. GO TO YOUR ATTIC, GO TO YOUR BASEMENT, CHECK AT YEARD SALES OR YOUR DAYCARE CENTER OR YOUR SECOND HAND STORES. NO ONE SHOULD TAKE THIS LIGHTLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOUR CHILD.))
[SUPER=01-Ann Brown/CPSC Chairman; ]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=for your child.]
(------------)
[Pre-Pro]
Consumers can call the CPSC at 301-504-0580 or toll free at 800-794-4115 for more information, or go to the wdbj7.com home page and click on web watch.
(------------)

[5-Diabetes-Drug]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=598-32 1:19:58]
[GRAPHIC=Diabetes]

Testing is underway on two experimental drugs that could reverse the life threatening damage that diabetes causes.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Antonio, TX; ]
The pills are designed to stop the progression of diabetes, and maybe even reverse some of the damage that's already occurred -- like loss of sight and kidney disease.
Elevated blood sugar causes clogging of the vessels in the eye. This makes the vessels more breakable.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:34:22]
[IN Q=And these blood vessels]
((DR. SHERWYN SCHWARTZ/ENDOCRINOLOGIST: AND THESE BLOOD VESSELS LEAK. AND WHEN THEY LEAK THEY BLEED AND AFTER BLOOD FORMS A SCAR APPEARS. THE SCAR THEN DETACHES FROM THE RETINA AND YOU GO BLIND))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Sherwyn Schwartz/Endocrinologist; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=go blind]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new drug stops the accumulation of blood vessels by stopping the chemical reaction in the bloodstream first.
The kidney drug is also designed to stop a chemical reaction that causes the organ to become brittle and break down, resulting in kidney disease and sometimes death.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:35:01]
[IN Q=I am very]
((HELEN PRADO/DIABETIC KIDNEY PATIENT: I AM VERY HOPEFUL. EVEN FOR MYSELF. I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP.))
[SUPER=01-Helen Prado/Diabetic Kidney Patient; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=give up.]
(------------)
[VO NAT] If these new drugs work as expected, they should be available in about four years.
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[5-Tricyclen]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=598-33]
[GRAPHIC=Birth Control]

A particular type of birth control pill is skyrocketing in sales. The growing popularity has nothing to do with pregnancy prevention.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL; ]
Tri-cyclen has become the number one oral contraceptive in the nation because it prevents acne. These ads have prompted prescriptions for tricyclen to triple. The pill reduces testosterone that causes oil to build in pores. The treatment gets rid of the oil and bacteria that cause blemishes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT tc 10:31:42]
[IN Q=Often times]
((DR. ANDREW SCHEMAN/DERMATOLOGIST: OFTEN TIMES YOU'LL SEE DRAMATIC RESPONSE. SOMETIMES THEY WILL STOP HAVING MONTHLY FLAREUPS, THEY WON'T GET THE DEEP PIMPLES ANYMORE AND THEY WILL REALLY HAVE A MUCH CLEARER COMPLEXION.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Andrew Scheman/Dermatologist; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=clearer complexion.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some medical experts say women are switching pills for no reason.
Other birth control pills have the same effect, but they are not directly marketed as being good for skin.
(------------)

[S5-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-25 ]
[GRAPHIC=TICKER]

Welcome everybody to the two minute ticker that begins with a little of Tonya's HealthCheck.
[GRAPHIC=TECH/UVA]

Yesterday UVa celebrated its Peach Bowl bid at its weekly media gathering.
Today, Frank Beamer
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Saturday; :00]

opened the Hokies weekly newsconference by announcing that starting quarterback Al Clark has tonsilitis.
He is expected to play on Saturday and he is not expected to miss any practice time this week.
Earlier today, I also talked with Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver about the chances that in the future this game with UVa will be played earlier in the season or at least before the Thanksgiving Holiday.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="My feeling...]
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Va. Tech Athletic Director;:00]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Va. Tech Head Coach; :28]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=...OF THE YEAR."]
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[S5-Hoops]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=TECHHOOPS]

The Tech women's team is back in action at the Cassell Tonight. The Lady Hokies host JMU in a seven o'clock tipoff.

[GRAPHIC=LIBERTY]

The Tech men are in Lynchburg tonight looking to rebound from last week's loss to East Tennessee State. This evening's game with the Flames tips off at 7:30.
The Hokies shot a dismal 30 percent in that loss to the Bucs.

[S5-Rodman]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-25 tc 1:41:29]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

Dennis Rodman has filed for an annulment citing fraud and an unsound mind.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

But our question is: Who's unsound him or wife Carmen Electra.
The Chicago Bull married the actress 10 days ago.
Electra's publicist say the two have mutually agreed to end their wedded bliss.
(------------)

[S5-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(---------------)
[pinnacle 7504]
And if you're planning your turkey dinner around the pigskin, keep in mind that this Thursday Your Hometown Station is serving up the Steelers and Lions for you from Pontiac, Michigan.
(---------------)
[pinnacle 7505]
And on Friday at 2:30 join us for the West Virginia-Pittsburgh game in the renewal of the annual backyard brawl.
(---------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=ticker]

Much more coming up for you at six tonight.
Take care everybody. I'll see you then. [take a break]

[5-Kicker]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=vga]
[TAPE#=net-C]
[GRAPHIC=None]

There was a presidential pardoning today--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[editing=14:01:03]
[SUPER=03-Washington,DC]
--of poultry. In a tradition that began over 50-years ago, the life of a Thanksgiving turkey was spared, thanks to the nation's President. It's an annual event that President Harry Truman started in 1947.
This year's lucky "Tom" comes from Minnesota and will now make it's home at a petting zoo in Virginia.
President Clinton was pleased to "pardon" the turkey saying that it will now be surrounded by friends, not peas and sw(------------) eet potatoes.