[1-News-head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

Four of Roanoke's City "fathers" have quit- -and there may be more to come.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]



Also coming up on NEWS 7, a silo collapses, spilling diesel fuel in the process.
(------------)



[Sports-head]


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


in sports, Tech's football program signs another high school all american, H\Jeff Gordon talks about rasing the NASCAR Bar,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]



and an emotional day for Chicago bear legend Walter Payton as he announces his fight for his life.
(------------)

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


Shadow or no shadow, it's still very mild outside and will be for the remainder of this week. And WeatherSchool is in the clouds tonight. More just ahead. [open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Steve1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]



[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=56]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video-Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=03 (approx)]
[OUT Q=]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith]

The phone lines are lighting up, as gas customers wonder why they're getting billed twice?
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]


Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.


[Gas-Bills]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#99-3 29:16]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Bills]

Cold weather in January has produced bigger gas bills for Roanoke Gas customers, but SOME people are getting some real whoppers.
[Double Boxes=Keith & David/Newsroom]

David Johnson has details from the NEWS 7 newsroom.
[Live= David full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@David1;]

Keith, Roanoke Gas says it's the result of a simple billing error, and several hundred customers are sure to notice it.
(Rollcue: sure to notice it.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The phones have]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05]
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/President & CEO; :20]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=and December.]

(( [NAT-SOUND/] ((Phones ringing and operators answering.)) [RUNS03] The phones have been ringing almost non-stop at Roanoke Gas. Customers are inquiring about their January bills. Part of the problem was the daily cycle billing process. This past Christmas Eve, about 25-hundred people did not get their monthly bill due to a processing error.
[SOT=00:07:19]
[IN Q=TOWARD THE END]

((JOHN WILLIAMSON/PRESIDENT & CEO; TOWARD THE END OF JANUARY WHEN THAT SECOND PROCESS ROLLED AROUND, CUSTOMERS WERE GIVEN A BILL WITH USAGE FROM DECEMBER AND JANUARY ON A SINGLE BILL.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=SINGLE BILL.]

The billing mistakes were made in three of the city's four quadrants, including Preston Ave. and Milk-A-Way Dr. in Northwest, Kentland Dr. and Longhorn Rd. in Southwest and Liberty Rd. in Northeast. Officials warn that the unseasonal weather has also caused billing concerns.
[SOT=00:09:33]
[IN Q=WHEN IT'S A]

((JOHN WILLIAMSON/PRESIDENT & CEO; WHEN IT'S A WARM DAY AND YOU GET YOUR BILL.....UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.))
[SUPER=01-John Williamson/President & CEO;]

[RUNS19]
[OUT Q=AND DECEMBER.]))
[Live= David full/Newsroom]


To resolve the processing problem, the company is sending a letter to each of the 25-hundred or so customers. Those letters will explain the problem and apologize for any inconvience.
[Double Boxes=Keith & David full/Newsroom]

Those letters are going out tonight. In addition, Roanoke Gas is also waiving all late payment fees. Keith??

[Bill-Amount]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-80 1:25:09]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Bills]

The unseasonaly warm winter has been bad for Roanoke Gas business but good for its customers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

[Pre-Pro]
The average bill last December was just over 56-dollars, compared to nearly 105-dollars in December of 1997.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

That has resulted in reduced revenue, forcing the company to tighten its financial belt by making budgetary adjustments. But officials say it will not create layoffs.
(------------)


[AEP-SML]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Smith Mountain Lake]

One of the area's biggest ELECTRIC utilities is still working to handle a longer-running problem .. water levels at Smith Mountain Lake. American Electric Power has federal approval to maintain a reduced water discharge from Smith Mountain Lake for another 45 days. The goal is to return lake levels to normal .. after last year's very dry summer and fall.

[Silo-Collapse]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-81 52:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A pair of grain silos collapsed in Pittsylvania County. [Take GFX MAP]
It happened sometime overnight at the Dry Fork Milling Company, about four miles south of Chatham.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]


The silos contained 140-tons of cereal and soybean grain, ingredients used to make dog food.
When they toppled, they knocked over a diesel fuel tank.
The Department of Environmental Quality was called in to oversee the cleanup.
The D-E-Q says the fuel spill does NOT pose a safety threat to any neighbors of the mill.
The company is trying to salvage as much of the spilled grain as possible.
(----------------)

[***WIPE***WIPE***]



[Industrial-Folo]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-73 1:48:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[***TAKE ENG HERE***]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Jan. 30;]

Roanoke police have identified the victim in a fatal industrial accident over the weekend. 50-year old (Ar-mon-do Fur-uh-GOT-toe) Armando Feregotto was a contractor working for "Roanoke Electric Steel" Saturday when an electrical box fell on him. He was dead on arrival at the hospital.
Feregotto was from Italy working in the States on a visa.

(-----------)[City-Officials]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-78 54:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Four and counting. That's the number of senior officials set to retire from Roanoke City Government this year.
And as Joe Dashiell reports tonight, the list may not end there.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Since City Manager]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :14]
[SUPER=01-Wil Dibling/City Attorney; :24]
[SUPER=@Joe1; :40]
[SUPER=@Bowers; :57]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=Joe D News 7 Roanoke]


((Since City Manager Bob Herbert announced his plans to step down at the end of April?, three other key employees have followed his lead. Public Works Director Bill Clark, Building Commissioner Ron Miller, and now City Attorney Wil Dibling.
After 22 years in city government Dibling is leaving to practice municipal law for a local firm... He says it was an attractive offer, not frustration with his current job that caused him to leave .
[SOT DIBLING]
[IN Q=I'm very appreciative]

((WIL DIBLING/CITY ATTORNEY: I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE HAD OF THIS COUNCIL AND PREVIOUS COUNCILS. THEY HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE IN THEIR SUPPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY AND HIS STAFF AND HAVE HONORED MY OPINIONS EVEN WHEN THEY WERE UNPOPULAR OR INCONVENIENT.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=inconvenient.]

[STAND-UP BRIDGE]
For Dibling and Herbert, the controversial two for one pension benefit may have been a factor in their decision, but the departure of four senior officials at one time appears to be a coincidence.
As Mayor David Bowers helped to celebrate Groundhog Day at Mill Mountain Zoo, he said the city will weather its latest challenge.
[SOT BOWERS]
[IN Q=I think the city's in good hands]

((DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE MAYOR: I THINK THE CITY'S IN GOOD HANDS. WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM OF TOP ADMINISTRATORS AND A GOOD TEAM OF PEOPLE AT THE SECOND LEVEL WHO CAN MOVE IN RIGHT AWAY TO TAKE OVER THE POSITION OF CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY MANAGER.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=city manager.]


More employees may have to "move in right away". Other senior city officials are said to be contemplating retirement in 1999.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))[Tease#1]

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

Jerry Falwell says he made a mistake, and he apologizes. The details are still ahead on News 7 at six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Virginians remember a governor who made in history in many ways. That story is next.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]

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

[Roll]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=NONE]
[SUPER=80-56/33/0.05''/53/33/0.19''/51/32/0.00''/54/36/0.00'';]
[SUPER=81-50/36/0.07''/55/34/-.--''/50/36/0.00'';]
[SUPER=82-0.70''/plus 0.60''/4.40''/plus 1.68'';]

[SUPER=83-Down 1.71 feet/Down 0.56 foot;Lake levels][Godwin]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-77 1:06:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]


He was Virginia's longest serving governor... the only one in state history elected twice ... and the only governor in the nation elected once as a Democrat and once as a Republican.
Mills Edwin Godwin, Junior was laid to rest today.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First sworn]
[SUPER=03-Chuckatuck; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Chuck Robb/(D) Former Governor; :07 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Gerald Baliles/(D) Former Governor; :12]
[SUPER=01-Linwood Holton/(R) Former Governor; :49 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) Former Governor; :53 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Mills Godwin/November 1995; 1:03 QUICK!]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:08]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Chuckatuck.]


(( First sworn in as a Democrat in 1966, Mills Godwin towered over the modern Virginia he helped shape.
[sot 13:58:34]

((SEN. CHUCK ROBB/D-FORMER GOVERNOR: WE SAY IT... END OF AN ERA.))
[runs=:04]



[sot 13:55:19]

((GERALD BALILES/D-FORMER GOVERNOR: HERE WAS A MAN... STATE'S FUTURE.))
[runs=:14]


For Democrats like Baliles, "courage" was levying the state's first major new tax in 100 years-- the sales tax-- and ending a Byrd era pay-as-you-go tradition by borrowing money for colleges and mental health.
But the Democrats became too liberal for Godwin.
So he formed a sometimes uneasy alliance with the Republicans he still called "you people."
Republican Linwood Holton served between the two Godwin terms.
[sot 13:57:46]

((LINWOOD HOLTON/R-FORMER GOVERNOR: I MISS ... HE'S GONE.))
[runs=:04]



[sot 14:01:46]

((GEORGE ALLEN/R-FORMER GOVERNOR: HE WILL ALWAYS... IN VIRGINIA.))
[runs=:06]


But George Allen represented a brash new breed of Republicans that made Godwin less comfortable.
[sot 08:22]

((MILLS GODWIN/R-FORMER GOVERNOR: CHANGE... PERFECT.))
[runs=:05]



[SOT STANDUP 14:14:03]

((GOVERNOR GODWIN'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL LEGACY MAY BE HIS EARLY EMBRACE OF MASSIVE RESISTANCE TO RACIAL INTEGRATION....AFRICAN AMERICAN EQUALITY.))
[RUNS=:15]



[sot 13:50:48]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I THINK THAT HE WAS AN EDUCATION...TO SUCCEED.))
[runs=:08]


He's survived by his wife Katherine Godwin.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Chuckatuck.))


[Seat-Belts]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-76 1:20:55]
[GRAPHIC=Va Capitol]


A bill that would let police pull you over solely for NOT wearing a seat belt has come un-done
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


The seat belt bill got tangled up with the so-called "driving while black" issue in committee.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09:42:42]
[IN Q=There's a]

((RICHARD FERRIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: THERE'S A MARYLAND STUDY THAT INDICATED-- IT WAS DONE I THINK LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE-- AND IT INDICATED ON THE I-95 CORRIDOR IN MARYLAND, THAT 73-PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE PULLED OVER WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. WHEREAS THEY ONLY MADE UP 14 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY.))
[SOT 09:40:08]

((DEL. BRIAN MORAN/D-ALEXANDRIA: THEY OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT BE STOPPING A VEHICLE BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVING IS BLACK. THAT'S NOT WE CONDONE, AND IN FACT WE SHOULD CONDEMN IT. BUT THIS ISN'T THE METHOD BY WHICH-- TO DEFEAT A WELL-INTENTIONED SAFETY MEASURE THAT WILL INDEED SAVE LIVES. THAT IS NOT A GOOD REASON TO KILL THIS BILL.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Ferris/Virginia ACLU; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Brian Moran/(D) Alexandria; :15]
[RUNS=:42]
[OUT Q=kill this bill.]
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=None]


The bill is still alive in a Senate version -- for now.

[Falwell]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Falwell]

The Reverend Jerry Falwell says he's sorry now he said it ... that the Antichrist is a Jewish man who is probably alive today. Falwell made an unscheduled appearance at a Christian prayer breakfast in Nashville this morning. He apologized to Jews and Christians for creating any kind of rift and says he "should have known better."


[Stocks]


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


A down day on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ]
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/71.58/9274.12/y/46.67/2463.42;]


The Dow lost nearly 72 points to close at 92-74.
Nasdaq fell almost 47 points.

[SUPER=431-hb/43/i1d/91r/i1&/63$/hf/60/if/17g;]

[AE/ATT/Bank of America/Bell/Columbia]
[SUPER=432-u/41/u/6c/ia/43r/ir/51!/ia/46c;]

[Dana/Dimon/Dominion Resources/First Union/First VA]
[SUPER=433-i@/102/ic/64c/i%/26d/he/12g/he/46e;]

[General Electric/Kroger/Norfolk Southern/Optical Cable/Philip Morris]
[SUPER=434-i!/15!/i1e/68e/ib/34/i1&/86%/id/83c;]

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

[Griffin]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-83 36:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A Roanoke man has been charged with burning down a house, killing his roommate.
David Lee Griffin is accused of the murder of James Cline in the fall of 1997.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 17, 1997]


Cline was found dead in the bedroom of his home on 13th Street Northeast, after fire filled the building with smoke.
Griffin told police that he saw the smoke, tried to get to Cline, but was overcome by the fire and fled.
He tried to go back in, but bystanders kept him back.
Authorities aren't saying what led them to charge Griffin after more than a year has passed.
He has NOT been arrested yet.
(-------------)


[Lane]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-82 40:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Murder charges against a Lynchburg man have been forwarded to a grand jury.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/December 22]


66- year- old Ray Lane Senior was arrested three days before Christmas after an altercation at this home on Rivermont Avenue.
Police say Lane stabbed 40- year- old Michael Lessard (les-SARD) once in the abdomen while the two men were fighting.
Lessard died a few hours later.
A grand jury could indict Lane on the murder charge next month.
(----------------)


[pipe-bomb]


[ANCHOR=keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=98-74 1:24:12]
[GRAPHIC=Pulaski Co. Pipe Bomb]


Pulaski County investigators are still trying to determine who made the pipebombs found in a Dublin woman's pick- up truck two weeks ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]


A judge today gave investigators permission to take palm prints from 39- year old Peggy Jo Sullivan to assist them in their investigation.
[SUPER=03-Dublin/January 19;]


Sullivan was arrested last month in the parking lot of a Dublin fast food restaurant after she allegedly tried to hire an undercover agent to kill her former boyfriend.
Sources have identified the man as Scott Hammond of Floyd County.
Investigators discovered the bombs shortly after Sullivan was taken into custody.
(------------)





[Sports tease]


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


Walter Payton must now tackle a life threatening medical condition, A hockey Christian has the high power working for him,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]



and Jeff Gordon talks about how he relishes being the one every other driver is gunning for.
(------------)


[S-Payton]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-39]
[GRAPHIC=Bears]


Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton rushed for an NFL leading 16 thousand, 726 yards. But his next yard might be his longest and toughest as he fights a life threatening medical condition.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rosemont, IL; :00]


Payton has a rare liver disease and needs a transplant, his doctor said Tuesday.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="am]

(())
[SUPER=01-Walter Payton/NFL Leading Rusher; :00]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=...doctors hands"]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

The 44 year old talked openly about his condition during his weekly radio show, but broke down at it's conclusion.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="a message]
[SUPER=01-Walter Payton/NFL Career Rushing Leader; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...be with you also"]
(----------------)


[DO NOT NEED BIG EAST GRAPHIC!!!!!][S-Tech]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Football]


Tomorrow is the national signing day for high school football players around the nation, and the Virginia Tech Hokies got another big time committment this afternoon.
Andrea Harrison, the high school all-american from Warwick high school in Newport News, announced this afternoon he's headed to Tech.
The six-three, 185 pound receiver runs a 4.4 40 yard dash.
He had 127 catches for 28 hundred yards and 25 touchdowns in his 3 years of high school.


[S-Eagles]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=sp-36]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT WIPE TO #ENG!!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]


G.W. Danville linebacker and Friday Football Extra scholar athlete of the year Sean Talbert will hold a news conference tomorrow at 1pm to announce his appointment to the U.S. Naval academy. Talbert was an all western district selection and held a 4.24 GPA.
(------------)


[S-Williams]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-35]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]


Virginia forward Chris Williams is the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the week for the fourth time this season.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]


Williams earnes the award for his play in UVa's backs to back wins over Virginia Tech and Florida State. He scored 35 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in both games combined. He also shot 62 percent form the field. he is averaging about 18 points a game.
(------------)


[S-Gillen]


[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-31]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(------------)
[VO-NAT WIPE TO #eng!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]


Williams has been one of many positves for first year coach Pete Gillen who has already surpassed last years win total of 11 victories. At 12 and 10 and seven ACC games left to play before the tourney, Gillen is excited about the mountain in front of him.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="it's]
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...cold up there"]
(----------------)



[S-Gordon]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-34]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA]


The Winston Cup cars will be arriving in Daytona later this week, and once again everyone will be gunning for Jeff Gordon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Season; :00]


With 40 wins and three Cup championships in the last four years, Gordon and the Rainbow Warriors have raised the bar to unbelievable heights.
Now, everyone else is playing catchup.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="When we hear...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Gordon/42 Career Wins; :00]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=...very tough."]
(------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE PAGE 1020]
And be sure to join News 7 sports this Saturday at Noon for a special half hour NASCAR special entitled, "Back to the Beach."
It's the first of five NASCAR specials coming your way in 1999.
And Saturday right after we wrap up out special at Noon.
(------------)
[talent=steve]
[graphic=daytona]


You can watch first round time trials for the Daytona 500 at 12:30 - right here on on Your Hometown Station.

[S-Express]


[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-28]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Johnstown]


The Express begins a three games in three nights run this friday against Johnstown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning; :00]


This morning, the team went through rigourous practice. Among the ojectives, teaching Dan Oconnell how to defend himself. Tim Christian's monsterous January included a plus 12, 9 goals and 6 asisssts in 15 games.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I]
[SUPER=01-Tim Christian/Has 17 Goals This Season; :00]
[SUPER=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :12]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...attitude"]
(------------)



[Groundhog]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-4 33:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Spring is in the air, especially if you're a GROUNDHOG.
First the famous Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow in Pennsylvania, predicting an early spring--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


It took a lot of coaxing, but Roanoke's new resident rodent, Kirby, wowed the crowd by NOT seeing his shadow, either.
This Groundhog's Day is Kirby's FIRST in the spotlight.
Mill Mountain Zoo BEGAN its annual Groundhog Day ceremony last year with a BORROWED groundhog.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:17:36]
[IN Q=Last year, ]

((BETH POFF/ZOO DIRECTOR: LAST YEAR, WE HAD A CONFLICT. SO, IT WAS A KIND OF COMPETITION TO SEE WHO WAS RIGHT. BUT BETWEEN PHIL, AND I BELIEVE THE GROUNDHOG IN ATLANTA, ALSO DID NOT SEE ITS SHADOW. SO, NOW WITH KIRBY, THAT'S A THREE- VOTE "NO SHADOW". SO, HOPEFULLY, SPRING'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.))
[SUPER=01-Beth Poff/Zoo Director;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=around the corner]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Poff says the zoo also started the annual Groundhog Day event to let people know that it's open year round-- no matter what the weather is like.
(------------)


[Wx-Tape]
[SUPER=305-56/33/76/1989/9/1976;]
[SUPER=306-52/41/66/SW-8mph/29.80r/7:22am/5:46pm;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=335-The term "alto" in/altocumulus clouds/describes their:/A. Cloud base height/B. Color/C. Moisture content;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX]

[Forecasts]
[SUPER=#577;]
[SUPER=X5000;]
[SUPER=330-Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/40-42/Sunny/Wind W-10/52-55;]
[SUPER=331-Partly/Cloudy/38-42/Mostly Sunny/Wind W-10/52-55;]
[SUPER=332-Cloudy/Patchy Fog/36-40/Mostly/Sunny/50-55;]
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[SUPER=334-Cloudy With/Patchy Fog/34-36/Becoming/Mostly Sunny/45-50;]
[SUPER=335-The term "alto" in/altocumulus clouds/describes their:/A. Cloud base height/B. Color/C. Moisture content;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in question]
[SUPER=335-The term "alto" in/altocumulus clouds/describes their:/A. Cloud base height/Altocumulus are classified/as "m

iddle" clouds;]
[SUPER=X5003; Dissolves in answer]

[SUPER=X5001; Clears FX][Promo]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
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State officials say there's NO evidence of racism in Lynchburg schools, but where does the city go from here?
[double boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]


Jean Jadhon is in the newsroom with more on that..
[LIVE=Jean Full/Newsroom]


Keith, state educators DO say there's room for improvement in the Lynchburg schools..
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They'd like to see teachers find alternatives to suspensions for disruptive students.. and do more to encourage minority students to enroll in advanced courses.
The state also says Lynchburg needs to actively recruit more minority teachers.
The school board is expected to discuss this report during its meeting tonight.
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[DOUBLE BOXES=KEITH & Jean/Newsroom]


We'll have their response on News7 at 11.. [Close]


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