[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

"Who're you going to lose to this week?" It's not only demoralizing to high school ball players,
(------------)
[v/o-NAT SOT]

Franklin County school officials aren't going to stand for it any more.
The play book for a new game plan tops NEWS 7 at SIX tonight.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]


And the playbill for a new dinner theater with a big screen instead of a stage.

[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


In sports, we will check in on former PH star and now Duke all -acc defensive tackle Chris Combs, does Florida football have a new Bud?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]


and the Express says. it's tired of Hampton Roads coach John Brophy pushing people around!
(------------)

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


A two day warm-up on the weather horizon and then a quick chill down. The complete weather story is just ahead. [open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Steve1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]



[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We're just a joke..."]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q="...something's gotta give."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A school board gets so fed up with decades of poor football records, it approves sweeping policies that reach from high school to Kindergarten.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Franklin-Football]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#98-72 1:40:52]
[GRAPHIC="Tired of Losing"]


There's nothing like a losing high school football record to rile up a community.
The Franklin County School Board is so fed up, it's implementing top-to-bottom changes designed to turn the team's record around, changes that will be felt throughout the school system, and the county.
Tina Tenret is in our newsroom with the latest.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Tina/Newsroom]


Keith, this past season the Franklin County Eagles won just one game.
[Live= Tina full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]


This follows decades of losing streaks.
So now players, parents and community members are all being recruited to win.
(Rollcue: recruited to win)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Franklin Co. school board]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Fall 1998; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kelvin Bowles/Franklin Co. Resident; :11]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Little/Football Coach; :48]
[SUPER=01-B.A. Davis III/Retired Judge; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=as good as any school]


The Franklin County school board has come up with a new game plan to tackle its team's losing record.
And the Eagles are in for more than a pep talk.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:10:35 ]
[IN Q=You gotta change]

((KELVIN BOWLES/FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT: YOU GOTTA CHANGE THE OUTLOOK OF THE STUDENTS TO WANT TO WIN. ASSURE THEM YOU'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH A WINNING PROGRAM AND LET THEM KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST WINNER IN TWENTY YEARS.))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=TWENTY YEARS]


From now on, football skills will be taught not just in high school, but as early as kindergarden.
The middle school will hire its own football coach.
The best players will be bumped up to high school games.
And parents are also being yanked off the bench.
They must promise IN WRITING that their athlete will weight-train.
Parents are also expected to review past games on tape with the team.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:43:22]
[IN Q=It's very damaging]

((JERRY LITTLE/FOOTBALL COACH: IT'S VERY DAMAGING FOR OUR PLAYERS TO HEAR WHO'RE YOU GOING TO LOSE TO THIS WEEK. AND I'VE ACTUALLY WITNESSED THAT IN GROCERY STORES AND IN STORES, VERY INNOCENT COMMENTS MADE BY ADULTS BUT VERY DAMAGING TO OUR PLAYERS.))
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=to our players]


But critics have their own ideas for damage control.
Some want to fire the coach and the superintendent -- and hire a new coach from a winning team like Pulaski or Salem.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:32:12]
[IN Q=It's personnel]

((B.A. DAVIS III/RETIRED JUDGE: IT'S PERSONNEL, COACH AND PERSONNEL. YOU CAN'T BLAME IT ON THE KIDS. IF THE KIDS DON'T PERFORM AND THEY'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO PERFORM IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE. I THINK OUR CHILDREN, OUR ATHLETES ARE AS GOOD AS ANY SCHOOL.))
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=AS ANY SCHOOL]
[Live=Tina full/Newsroom]


The school board is not about to let this team fumble.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Tina/Newsroom]


It's requiring monthly progress reports from the coach.

[Football-Record]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=98-80 1:05:20]
[GRAPHIC="Tired of Losing"]

So just what kind of record drives a school board to formally implement such major changes?
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

[NO SUPER!]
Well in Franklin County's case .. it's 25 wins in the last ten years, an average of two-and-a-half a year.
Since 19-50 .. almost a half century, .. there have been only four years the Eagles won at least seven games.
And its last winning record came a full generation ago .. it's been 20 years.
(---------------)




[High-School]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-74 51:33]
[GRAPHIC=Franklin Co. Schools]


While school officials plot the future of Franklin County football, they're also making plans for FOUR new schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]


The school board is considering two options to deal with overcrowding.
Both plans call for a new elementary school between Boones Mill and Burnt Chimney.
They would also turn the current middle school into a second high school and build two new middle schools.
The big difference is one plan would keep sixth graders in middle school -- the other would drop them down to the elementary schools.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KEITH]
[SS=Hold]


Franklin County parents will receive a written survey for their opinion.

The county supervisors will have the final say on which option is chosen.[Schools-Reopen]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-77 36:37]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


In other school news, Christmas vacation is officially over for students in the New River Valley.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


A combination of sleet, snow and freezing rain last week kept many kids from returning to school until today.
At Blacksburg Middle school many students have to venture outside to change classes, which can be hazardous in bad weather.
Luckily, the main walkway thawed by today.
But it was a far different situation several days ago.
(/////SOT/////)

[14:30:41]
[SOT]
[IN Q=We were]

((GARY MCCOY/BLACKSBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:WE WERE UNFORTUNATE IN THAT WE HAD A MAIN WATER LINE BREAK UP THE ROAD HERE AND ALL THAT THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER CAME DOWN, THE TOWN OF BLACKSBURG DID COME DOWN AND GOT IT UP BUT FOR A WHILE THE AREA AROUND THE SCHOOL WAS JUST AN ICE RINK. ))
[SUPER=01-Gary McCoy/Principal; :00]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=a skating rink.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


To make up for the lost days, students in Montgomery and Giles counties will extend the school year.
Pulaski County has NOT decided what it will do.
Wythe County will remain on scheduled.
(----------------)




[Wilderness-Academy]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-73 1:10:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The state Department of Education says a Botetourt boarding school is well on its way toward regaining its license -- but first it must stop the boys from playing dangerous games.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./November;]


The Department of Education says a boy at the Wilderness Leadership Academy was nearly sexually assaulted with a broom handle, as he and his classmates played "Pass Out."
That means the student held his breath, while another student punched him in the stomach, knocking him unconscious.

The student came to, just in time to prevent a sexual assault.
Officials say the school IS improving its facilities and brochures.
The Wilderness Leadership Academy must undergo a full three-day review later this month to earn its license.
(------------)


[Education]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=98-71 1:29:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]


At Roanoke's Fallon Park Elementary School, students are learning more than just the "Three R's"...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


They're also learning how to build CHARACTER.
It's not taught from a book...
The "Character Counts" program uses visuals to instill such traits as trustworthiness and responsibility.
Some students say it's made a real difference in their attitudes and behavior.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:40:11]
[IN Q=Sometimes when we]

((JEMAR JOHNSON/FOURTH GRADER: SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO WORK, I JUST SAY, "WELL, I GOTTA DO IT." I JUST THINK OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND I START TO GET TO WORK.))
[SUPER=01-Jemar Johnson/Fourth Grader;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=get to work]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The program appears to be working--
Suspensions are down by two- thirds at Fallon Park.
This week, State Senator John Edwards will introduce a bill to make character education part of EVERY elementary school's curriculum in the Commonwealth.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:45:44]
[IN Q=It's not designed]

((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS/D- 21ST DISTRICT: IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE FAMILY, OR THE CHURCH, OR THE SYNAGOGUE. BUT RATHER, THESE ARE BASIC VALUES OF CITIZENSHIP WHICH ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS, ALL CULTURAL GROUPS CAN BUY INTO.))


[SUPER=@Edwards;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=can buy into]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Edwards says he expects co- sponsors for the bill and easy passage.
(-----------------)[Tease#1]

[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

You may be in for a one-time CREDIT on your electric bill. That's right. The details are still ahead.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

But postage rates are up, and that has created a new shortage. You may have to wait to buy stamps you need.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]

[wx ad lib] [Roll] [Lake Level] [MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]

[Roll]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=NONE]
[SUPER=80-43/29/0.00''/42/26/0.00''/40/23/0.00''/43/21/0.00'';]
[SUPER=81-46/25/0.00''/46/20/0.00''/34/19/0.00'';]
[SUPER=82-1.46''/plus 0.63''/1.46''/plus 0.63'';]


[SUPER=83-Down 4.27 feet/Down 0.46 foot;Lake levels][Stamps]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=98-81 28:01]
[GRAPHIC=Postage Rate Up]


The cost of mailing a letter has gone up a penny.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


ONE lousy cent. But post offices in the Roanoke area ran out of one-cent stamps before noon today.
There was a steady stream of would-be postal patrons being turned away before they got in the door.
The South Roanoke office sold 40-thousand one-cent stamps in three days.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:02:25]
[IN Q=This is the]

((THIS IS MY FIRST TIME GOING THROUGH A RATE CHANGE LIKE THIS. SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Ingram/U.S. Postal Service]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=honest with you.]
(------------)

[* * * Keith on ENG * * *]
Ingram admits they just weren't prepared for the demand.
This was just ONE stop, making the rounds of local post offices... in search of the illusive one-cent stamp.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If I had]

((IF IT HAD A STORE THAT SOLD SNOW SHOVELS, AND I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO SNOW TOMORROW AND DIDN'T BUY ANY, WOULD YOU THINK PERHAPS I WAS AN IDIOT?))
[SUPER=01-Jim Hyams/Would-be Postal Patron]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=an idiot.]
(------------)
[v/o-nat sot]


The Postal Service expects to have more one-cent stamps TOMORROW.
(---------------)





(------------)



[AEP-Rates]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-83 17:10]
[GRAPHIC=AEP]


If you're a customer of American Electric Power, you're about to get a refund, and a smaller monthly bill.
The State Corporation Commission staff and the utility have agreed to a 40-million dollar refund, and a six million dollar cut in A-E-P's rates.
That refund works out to a one-time credit of about 68 dollars per user.
Here's how the rate cut would work.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

[NO SUPER!]
A typical homeowner using a thousand watts of electricity a month paid just over 60 dollars, before A-E-P's rates went up in 1997.
That interim increase raised that bill to more than 64 dollars a month.
If this latest plan is approved, the bill would be just over 59 dollars.
All this still has to be approved by the Commission itself.
(------------)


[Pluma-Stores]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-65 1:54:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Activewear maker Pluma is doing more than closing sewing facilities.
It's also closing six outlet stores.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham;]


One of those stores is in Chatham.
Pluma used its outlets to get rid of irregularly-sewn clothing and close-outs.
The compnay said closing the Chatham outlet won't have any significant impact on personnel.
Last week Pluma announced it is cutting 24-hundred jobs at sewing plants in Rocky Mount and Eden, North Carolina.
(------------)


[Dinner-Theater]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-75 1:52:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Here's a different kind of business tory. If you enjoy dinner and a movie, why not both at the same time!
Thanks to a West Virginia couple, you will soon have the chance. David Johnson shows us how.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The "Star City]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Steele/Co-Owner & President; :07]
[SUPER=01-Ron Wellman/Steele's Brother; :42]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=Djo, News 7, Roanoke.]

(( The "Star City Cinema Grill" is part of Randy and Debbie Steele's retirement dream.
[SOT=00:01:22]
[IN Q=JUST WANTED]

((DEBBIE STEELE/CO-OWNER & PRESIDENT; JUST WANTED TO GET INTO A FRANCHISE AND GOT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS. IT SOUNDED INTERESTING. SOMETHING WE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS. MOVIE, EATING. YOU ALWAYS EAT BEFORE OR AFTER A MOVIE SO WHY NOT DO BOTH.)) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=NOT DO BOTH.]

The Cinema Grill is one of 47-nationwide franchises. This one is still under construction. When complete, the theater/restuarant will offer a full menu and table service for customers as they watch movies. You have to be 18-to get in or accompanied by an adult because beer, wine and champagne will be served. The format will be second run movies. There will also be other forms of entertainment.
[SOT=00:17:09]
[IN Q=WE'RE PLANNING]

((RON WELLMAN; WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING SOME EVENTS LIKE SUPERBOWL GAMES. MAYBE SOME WRESTLING AND ALSO NASCAR ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.]

And what about the noise level?
[SOT=00:04:51]
[IN Q=I'VE BEEN TO]

((DEBBIE STEELE; I'VE BEEN TO THE OTHER GRILLS AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM. PEOPLE DO TALK A LITTLE MORE THAT IN A REGULAR THEATER. BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=A PROBLEM.]

The family brought their business to Crossroads Mall after failing to find a suitable site in their Huntington hometown.
[SOT=00:19:26]
[IN Q=THIS THEATER]

((RON WELLMAN/STEELE'S BROTHER; THIS THEATER WAS PERFECT FOR US BECAUSE IT STILL HAD ITS PROJECTION EQUIPMENT AND SOUND EQUIPMENT. ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS PUT A KITCHEN IN, PRETTY IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND INVIE SOME FOLKS DOWN TO SEE US.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=TO SEE US.]

[STAND-UP/00:22:57] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; THE STAR CITY CINEMA GRILL WILL EMPLOY ABOUT 25 PEOPLE. MOST OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE PART-TIME. OPENING NIGHT IS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND THE END OF THIS MONTH. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, ROANOKE.))

[RUNS11]))[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


Mixed results on Wall Street to begin the week. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/23.43/9619.89/x/39.69/2384.02;]


The Dow fell 23 points to finish the day at 96-20... while Nasdaq gained nearly 40 points.
[SUPER=431-i!/47e/h#/85b/u/69*/i1r/54*/he/22e;]

[ AE/ATT/Bank of America/Bell/Columbia]
[SUPER=432-h$/42&/h!/7!/if/45e/i1/64!/u/48c;]

[Dana/Dimon/Dominion Resources/First Union/First VA]
[SUPER=433-i2&/99%/u/57@/ir/30&/ic/12g/hc/55e;]

[General Electric/Kroger/Norfolk Southern/Optical Cable/Philip Morris]
[SUPER=434-i1e/15f/id/78*/h&/36a/hg/89g/i1d/81c;]

[Roanoke Electric Steel/SunTrust/Trigon/Wachovia/Walmart]



[Rockbridge-Firefighters]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-78 38:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Five juveniles who allegedly helped firefighters light a series of arson fires in Rockbridge County have been found guilty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./November;]


They were charged after a 19-month police investigation.
The juveniles -- all teen-agers -- will be sentenced this spring.
They could spend time in a detention center or be asked to perform community service.
The adults, who have not yet gone to court, could face time in jail if they're convicted.
(------------)


[Special-Olympics]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-76 48:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]


They've come from all across Virginia.. athletes that live with mental disabilities, but who still have an intense desire to compete and win.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co.]


The 30th annual Special Olympics winter games got underway this afternoon at the Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County.
More than a hundred athletes will be competing in downhill ski events.
For many, it was their first time on the slopes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:12:11]
[IN Q=It's pretty tough]

((KENNY TROTTER/ATHLETE: IT'S PRETTY TOUGH, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST THOUGH, TO DO IT.)) ((STEPHANIE LOVELACE/TRAINER: ATTITUDE AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH THE KIDS, GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR 20 YEARS, NOT WITH THIS GROUP.. THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR WITH THIS GROUP.. AND THE KIDS ARE REALLY EXCITED. A LOT OF THEM NEVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED.))
[SUPER=01-Kenny Trotter/Athlete; :00 (quick!)]
[SUPER=01-Stephanie Lovelace/Trainer; :06]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=they're really excited.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


More than 20 Roanoke- area athletes are taking part in this year's Olympics.
(----------------)


[Sports tease]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


John Brophy finds himself in hot water with the Express and the Roanoke City Police.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]


and Duke All-ACC defensive tackle Chris Combs is bulking up for his final season under a new coach.
(------------)


[S-Brophy]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-30]
[GRAPHIC=Express]


The Express has filed a complaint with the ECHL during this week's All-Star break that refers to Hampton Roads coach John Brophy's tirade after last night's Roanoke win over the Admirals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :00]


Brophy left the ice and then pushed civic center events coordinator Richard day, and a Roanoke City police officer and then a civic center security official. The Express will also send it's tape of Admiral Jeff Corbett's cheap shot on Roanoke's jeremy Schaeffer.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the guy]
[SUPER=01-Tony Mancuso/Express General Manager; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=leaving the ice"]
(-------------------)
[ANCHOR=steve]
[GRAPHIC=centered]


Roanke City police is reviewing the Express tape and will decide tomorrow whter or not to press charges against Brophy.

[S-Cave]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-31]
[GRAPHIC=High school hoops]


The inclement weather last week forced several high school basketball games to be postponed. Cave Spring and Patrick Henry
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Knights vs. Patriots; :00]


are making up one of those right now. The game tipped off at 5;30 at PH.
The Knights get fancy early on with this lob to a waiting Michael Hamler. Hamler finishes with the lay-in.
The P-H offense takes over breaking the press and finially getting it into the hands of Jerry Dulin for the score.
This one's still going on we'll have the final at 11.
(------------)


[S-Bud]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-29]
[GRAPHIC=Tech football]


Va. tech head coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver are in Nashville, Tennessee for the national Coaches Convention. Beamer said from his hotel room that
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

]
he and Weaver will meet with defensive coordinator Bud Foster tonight. One of the definite topics, whether or not Foster will be offered and take the Florida defensive coordinators position. Tech's defensive ranks in the nations top 10.

(------------)


[S-Combs]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-32]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 sports]


The Holiday break is just about over for most local college athletes.
[GRAPHIC=combs]


Former Patrick Henry standout and now Duke star Chris Combs heads back to school tomorrow. Today, He talked about, among other things, his new coach, former Florida assistant Carl Franks.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=01-Chris Combs/All-ACC Defensive Tackle; :00]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC/1998 Season; :24]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Today; :28]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/1997 Season; 1:09]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=...opportunity for me"]
(---------------)

((:)) ((Fred Goldsmith's dismissal was made easier for Combs when he learned the entire defensive staff has been retained by Franks, enabling Chris to focus even more on training this Holiday break at the Roanoke Athletic Club. ((:))
Combs has added 65 pounds of muscle to his now 280 pound 6 foot 6 frame. He heads into Spring practice as Duke's only first team all-ACC selection. In just three season's Combs has set Duke's career record for tackles for loss. Despite's Duke's 9 and 35 record since Chris began playing, he spells double trouble around the ACC. ((:))
Combs is well known for his work ethic, and he's hit the books just like the weights; hard, posting a 3.2 GPA this past semester. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out his approach to his last season.)) [Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-43/29/66/1975/0/1982;]
[SUPER=306-39/23/52/S-7mph/30.14s/7:34am/5:23pm;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=335-It occurs every 2.7 years/and never in February./It is a:/A. Solar Eclipse/B. Blue Moon/C. Hurricane;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX]

[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#577;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=330-Partly/Cloudy/30-32/Partly Sunny/And Milder/50-53;]
[SUPER=331-Partly Cloudy/Wind SW-10/28-32/Partly Sunny/And Warmer/50-55;]
[SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/And Breezy/25-30/Partly Sunny/Then Cloudy/45-50;]
[SUPER=333-Cloudy With/Flurries/30-32/Cloudy But/Milder/45-50;]
[SUPER=334-Cloudy With/Flurries/30-32/Cloudy And/Warmer/45-49;]
[SUPER=335-It occurs every 2.7 years/and never in February./ It is a:/A. Solar Eclipse/B. Blue Moon/C. Hurricane;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=335-It occurs every 2.7 years/and never in February./ It is a://B. Blue Moon/We have 2 this year!;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer]

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[ANCHOR=Keith]
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Some of us may be tired of this recent cold snap, but the recent "Wintry Mix" was a welcome sight for Virginia's ski resorts.
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Jean Jadhon has more on that story tonight.
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Keith, they got off to a rough start in December, but now that the mercury
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has plumetted, ski resort profits are on the rise.
The Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County says it's rebounded from a slow start in December brought on by unseasonably warm weather.
All slopes are open and skiers and snowboarders are returning in droves.
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We'll have more on that on News7 at 11.[Close]


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