WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 07/01/99

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=Heads]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Today on new 7 at 5, at least one person is dead as a small plane crashes in Augusta County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and 20 people are killed as a cable car plunges nearly a mile and a half in the French coutryside.
(------------)

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

More widely scattered showers and thunderstorms than in recent days. That pattern will likely continue overnight.

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#med heads]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

On Health Check, we'll have an update on a state program that is trying to bring health insurance to the state's needy children.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus -- Virginia dentists are doing a lot more then protecting children's teeth.
(----------------)
[2-SHOT]
[open]
[SUPER=#4063; Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]
[SUPER=@Tonya1;]
[SUPER=@Patrick1;]
[SUPER=@robin1;]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]

[5-Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Plane crash]

At least one person is dead after a plane crash in a mountainous section of the Augusta County.
(-------------------)
[TAKE MAP]
The Federal Aviation Administration says the six or eight seat Piper Navajo crashed near Route 629 in the George Washington National Forest around two this afternoon.
The F-A-A says the plane was flying from Jonesboro, Arkansas on the way to Staunton.
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=JEAN]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Someone who was outside his house near the plane crash says said the plane sounded like a speeding car when it went down.
State police reports say at least one person was killed. It is not immediately known how many people were on the plane.
We'll have more on this story tonight on News 7 at 6.

[5-Cable-Car]

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

It's being called the worst cable car accident in French history-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-France;]

The cable car plunged to the ground today killing all 20 people aboard.
The gondola was carrying workers to an observatory on top of the mountain- when something went wrong and the gondola crashed 260 feet to the ground.
Authorities say the cable apparently snapped near the top of the lift, but they don't know why.
(------------)

[5-Serial-Killer]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Ramirez Manhunt]

Federal officials are trying to explain how a man with a 20 year criminal record could be captured and released- not once, but over and over again.
The man is question is suspected railroad killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez.
Lee Cowan reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Eric Holder/Dep. Attorney General;]
[Super=01-Doris Meissner/INS Commissioner;]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Lamar Smith/(R) Texas;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Washington DC]
(( A CASE OF THE NATION'S MOST WANTED HAS NOW BECOME A CASE OF THE NATION'S MOST EMBARRASSING.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING WHY TWO OF ITS LEADING CRIME FIGHTING UNITS LET A SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS - NOT ONCE, BUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. ERIC HOLDER, DEP. ATTORNEY GENERAL "We're obviously very concerned about that." RAFAEL RESENDES RAMIREZ - NOW SUSPECTED OF 8 MURDERS IN 3 STATES - HAS BEEN ARRESTED, PHOTOGRAPHED AND FINGERPRINTED AT THE MEXICAN BORDER BY THE INS - BUT WAS RELEASED - AT LEAST 5 TIMES -- DESPITE A CRIMINAL RECORD DATING BACK SOME 20 YEARS. THE PROBLEM: A CASE OF CYBER MISCOMMUNICATION - THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR I-N-S COMPUTER ISN'T COMPATIBLE WITH THE F-B-I'S MAIN COMPUTER - AND THEREFORE THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE NEVER FIT TOGETHER. DORIS MEISSNER//INS COMMISSIONER: 'The systems that we have for checking this information, they have contained the information in various pieces, but it did not come together as fully as it might have." THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN DEADLY. JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE INS LET HIM WALK THE LAST TIME - HE'S BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED AN 73 YEAR OLD WOMAN IN WEIMAR, TEXAS. A DAY LATER HE SUSPECTED OF KILLING A 26 YEAR OLD SCHOOL TEACHER.
- TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, - TWO MORE BODIES --- AND RAMIREZ IS STILL ON
THE RUN. ON CAPITOL HILL - ACCOUNTABILITY FELL DIRECTLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE INS. REP. LAMAR SMITH/R-TX: "The INS has spent more than 65 million dollars on a system that does not protect the public." LEE COWAN//CBS NEWS "But that is an unfair characterization the INS says - the system has been responsible for numerous arrests and is the most successful tool so far in protecting the border - but it is not perfect - a flaw that may very well prove to be a fatal one. Lee Cowan, CBS News, Washington."))

[5-Lake-Drought]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=599-4 28:48]
[GRAPHIC=Drought]

The Fourth of July weekend is the height of boating season and the busiest weekend of the year at Smith Mountain Lake.
Still some residents cannot use their boats because of this drought we're in.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

Take, for example, Tom Maynard.
The water's so low that if he tried to take his boat down, the bottom would scrape against rocks.
(/////////SOT /////)
[SOT 16:10:57]
[IN Q=I hate to put it in the water]
((TOM MAYNARD/SML RESIDENT: I HATE TO PUT IT IN THE WATER WHEN I'M NOT CERTAIN I CAN GET IT BACK OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Maynard/SML Resident;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=GET IT BACK OUT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

This not only affects boat owners but also tourists and renters.
The shallow water hides rocks, debris and shoals that will destroy your engine.
Many marinas will charge boaters at least 150 dollars for a mangled propeller-
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:18:53]
[IN Q=For renters]
((TOM WIBERG/CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS MARINA: FOR RENTERS OR TOURISTS THAT COME OUT HERE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S MUDDY IT'S NOT MUDDY, IT'S ACTUALLY SHALLOW.))
[SUPER=02-Tom Wiberg/Captain's Quarters Marina;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=actually shallow]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Boaters say it's best to stay at least 150 feet from the shore to avoid shallow areas.
(------------)

[(toss to R)]
(toss to Robin)
[Robin-Tease] [07/01/1999]
[SS=NONE]ROBIN IN WX-CENTER
[WXPRO/FULL] WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST FIVE DAY FORECAST
[SS=NONE]ROBIN TOSS BACK

[Tease#1]

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

Still to come on the newscast, the city of Danville fires its city manager even after he resigns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and a 21 year old woman is the lucky winner of last night's 150 million dollar Powerball lottery.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Tonya]

Today on health Check, we'll see how a state program is doing in its efforts to provide health insurance for needy children.
[ANCHOR=JEAN 2-Shot]

We'll have that and Steve Mason speaks live with the N-F-L's Barber twins.

[5-Danville-Manager]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=599-7 1:46:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Danville's City Manager was supposed to resign with dignity.
But today he was fired.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

City Council voted to dismiss Ray Griffin Junior... ending his seven years of work with Danville.
Council members reluctantly spoke for the first time today about WHY they wanted Griffin to leave.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:02:57 - 1:03:13]
[IN Q=Criticize in private and praise]
[SUPER=01-Pete Castiglione/Danville Vice Mayor;]
((PETE CASTIGLIONE/DANVILLE VICE MAYOR: CRITICIZE IN PRIVATE AND PRAISE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC. ISSUES THAT LED TO RAY GRIFFIN'S DISMISSAL WERE NOT FLY BY NIGHT, THEY WERE NOT NEW, AND THEY WERE NOT PICKY. THEY WERE REAL AND ONGOING CONCERNS THAT CAME UP OVER A COURSE OF YEARS.))
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=course of years]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Earlier, Council reached an agreement with Griffin that would have allowed him to stay through the end of the year.
The former City Manager wouldn't go on camera, but made this statement: "Today's action is a serious breach of verbal contract regarding my separation and I'm very disheartened by it."
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=None]

We'll have more for you at 6 on what caused the relationship between Griffin and Council to sour... and what the future might hold for Danville's former City Manager.

[5-Volvo-Trucks]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=599-8 25:25]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo]

The Volvo plant in Pulaski County is on its way to becoming the company's largest heavy truck plant in the world.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

The company is in the process of expanding its Dublin facility.
The 148- million dollar project is expected to create nearly 13-hundred new jobs.
At a groundbreaking today--- company officials announced they've already hired 600- new workers and added a new shi
ft.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's a ]
((MARC GUSTAFSON/VOLVO TRUCKS PRESIDENT: IT'S A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS AND PRIDE, MIXED EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAPPY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE PLANT OBVIOUSLY BUT ALSO PROUD WE CAN DOD IT HERE, BECAUSE OUR FIRST AMBITION FOR FROM DAY ONE ALWAYS TO DO IT HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Marc Gustafson/Volvo Trucks President; :00]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=do it here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Construction won't begin until December.
But company officials say once the project is complete-- they expect to be producing 50- thousand commercial trucks a year at the Dublin plant.
(-------------)

[Tease#2]

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

Robin Reed is coming along in just a moment to give us a detailed look at what our holiday weekend will be like.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and then a little later we'll tell you how an actor's posthumous gift will help him get a head in show business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:40:35]
[IN Q=Remember Death]
((REMEMBER DEATH IS ONLY TEMPORARY. I'LL SEE YOU SOON))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=SEE YOU SOON]

[STOCKS] [Stats] [07/01/1999] [THREE SHOT TOSS] [WALK INTO] [CK/WXPRO]RADAR PIX [CK/VIEWERNET] [COMMERCIAL] [CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES]REGIONAL FORECASTS [ESS/FULL]EXTENDED FORECAST [ESS/FULL]WX SPONSOR [AUDIO CART] [WALK OVER FOR 3 SHOT] [Forecasts]
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[SUPER=X5000]
[SUPER=330-Passing/Showers/68-70/Afternoon/Thunderstorms/90-92]
[SUPER=331-Thunderstorms/Likely/68-72/Afternoon Thunder/Likely/90-92]
[SUPER=332-Passing/Thunderstorms/65-68/Partly Sunny/Chance of Rain/86-88]
[SUPER=333-Scattered/Storms/66-68/Humid With/More Showers/84-88]
[SUPER=334-Evening/Thunderstorms/65-68/Partly Sunny/And Humid/84-86]
[SUPER=X5001][tease#3]

[health music under]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#tease 3]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Coming up in Sports, several local N-F-L stars are meeting their fans. Steve Mason will report live.
[ANCHOR=Tonya]
Next on health check -- Trigon members will see some changes in their health plans -- starting today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And dentists in Virginia are getting training in preventing more than just cavities.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ub 11 25 05]
[IN Q=Less than]
((DR. GEORGE LEVICKI/DELTA DENTAL: LESS THAN POINT-FOUR PERCENT OF THEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY DENTISTS, THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S SO CRITICAL TO RAISE THE DENTAL COMMUNITIES AWARENESS OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHILD ABUSE.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=child abuse]
[health bump]
[Comm Break#3]

[5-Child-Health]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=599-9 35:11]
[GRAPHIC=Childs Well being]

The Gilmore administration proudly unveiled a million dollar grant yesterday, aimed at getting kids signed up for a new health insurance program.
It's targeting children of the working poor, who make too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Today, Ellen Qualls looks at how the eight month old program is doing.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The good news ]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Suzanne Johnson/Action Alliance; :13]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :20]
[SUPER=01-Clarence Carter/Virginia Social Services; :25]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :45]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News7, Richmond.]

(( The good news, according to state officials, is that 16- thousand children now have health insurance who didn't have it last fall.
But child health advocates point out that's only 19- percent of the eligible children.
[SOT 14:07:44]
((SUZANNE JOHNSON/ACTION ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH: VIRGINIA HAS STOOD OUT THUS FAR AS DOING A SPECTACULARLY POOR JOB IN ENROLLMENT.))
[RUNS=:05]

State officials defend their initial use of a toll free number and brochures... saying they're bothered now by--
[SOT 14:16:58 ]
((CLARENCE CARTER/VIRGINIA SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER: A LITTLE TOO MUCH FINGER POINTING. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE... WHO SHOT JOHN IS NOT IMPORTANT TO AN UNINSURED CHILD.))
[RUNS=:19 ]

So the Robert Wood Johnson foundation grant will fund three pilot projects, one in a mobile health unit that serves Amherst and Bedford-- to help get kids signed up.
[SOT 14:07:57]
((SUZANNE JOHNSON/ACTION ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH: IT TAKES A PERSONAL TOUCH... AVAILABLE TO THEM.))
[RUNS=:15]

To qualify for CMSIP-- the Children's Medical Security Insurance Plan, a child must NOT have been insured for 12 months.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

[5-Panda]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=599-10 35:47]
[GRAPHIC=Child abuse]

A new program in Virginia is helping dentists identify and report suspected child abuse cases.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Panda Coalition is made up of delta dental -- a non-profit service corporation that sponsors dental care programs, the dental association and the department of social services.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub ub 11 20 03]
[IN Q=65-percent]
((DR. GEORGE LEVICKI/DELTA DENTAL: 65-PERCENT OF THE INJURIES THAT OCCUR IN CHILD ABUSE ARE TO THE HEAD AND NECK AREA, AREAS WHERE THE DENTIST HAVE HIGH VISIBILITY AND ARE VERY EASY TO SEE, THOSE AREAS INCLUDE, EARLOBES, THE CHEEKS, THE LIPS AND INJURIES TO THE INSIDE OF THE MOUTH.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. George Levicki/Delta Dental; ]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=of the mouth]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Panda stands for Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 11 23 26]
[IN Q=Dentists are]
((DR. GEORGE LEVICKI/DELTA DENTAL: DENTISTS ARE IN A GREAT POSITION TO RECOGNIZE AND POSSIBLY SEE SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE BECAUSE CHILDREN MAY SEE DIFFERENT PHYSICIANS FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS BUT TYPICALLY THEY USE THE SAME DENTIST AND THEY ARE AT THAT DENTAL OFFICE A REPEAT NUMBER OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. George Levicki/Delta Dental; ]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=period of years.]
[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[SS=HOLD]
Virginia now joins 36 other states that use the Panda program.

[5-Trigon]

[ANCHOR=Tonya]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=599-11 24:39]
[GRAPHIC=Trigon]

Virginia's largest managed health care company is making health plan changes to provide more benefits for seriously ill members.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Additional benefits go into effect today for Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield members under the BlueCare, Keycare and Healthkeepers plans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 14 12 11]
[IN Q=They can now ]
((BONNIE WINGER/REGISTERED NURSE: THEY CAN NOW WILL HAVE THE COVERAGE TO HAVE THE TESTING DONE FOR THE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS AND THAT TESTING WILL VBE COVERED AS PART OF THE POLICY HOLDERS WHO IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE TRANSPLANT, SO THE COVERAGE WILL BE UNDER THEIR POLICY HOLDERS CONTRACT.))
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Winger/Registered Nurse; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=holder's contract.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Other benefits include coverage for pancreas and kidney transplants, diabetes services and clinical trials for cancer.

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

[S5-Barbers]

[ANCHOR=JEAN/STEVE]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The All-Stars clinics football camp took today off, but that doesn't mean Tiki and Ronde Barber are doing any less for the valley's kids.
[DOUBLE BOX=JEAN/STEVE Microwave]

Steve Mason has been following the camp all week and tonight we find him at the Kroger on Route 221 in search of signatures.
[LIVE=STEVE Full]
[steve will ad lib interviews]
[Super=@steve1; ]
[Super=05-Roanoke Co.; ]
[Super=01-Tiki Barber/N.Y. Giants Tailback;]
[Super=01-Ronde Barber/Tampa Bay Cornerback;]
[Super=01-John Henry Mills/Vikings Special Team Star;]
[Super=01-Doug Karczewski/N.Y. Jets Guard; ]
[super=05-Roanoke Co.;]
[super=@steve1;]
[steve will wrapup and toss to the break]

[5-Powerball]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
A 21 year old woman from Minnesota is the sole winner of last night's Powerball Lottery.

Maureen Maher introduces us to the country's latest multi-millionaire.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-St. Paul, MN; :00]
[SUPER=01-Farrah Slad/Powerball Winner;]
[SUPER=01-]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
(SOT, NO SUPER, "THE GROSS AMOUNT BEFORE TAXES, 78.8 MILLION AND SOME
CHANGE." (APPLAUSE UNDER.)

FARRAH SLAD CAME TO THE MINNESOTA LOTTERY OFFICE IN ST. PAUL TO CLAIM
HER PRIZE, A LUMP SUM PAYMENT OF 78.8-MILLION DOLLARS BEFORE TAXES. WHEN SHE FIRST CHECKED HER TICKET, SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

(SOT, FARRAH SLAD, POWERBALL WINNER, 14:07:59, "WE LOOKED IT OVER A
HUNDRED TIMES AND IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM REAL. I'M STILL SHOCKED.")
FARRAH'S NOT A REGULAR LOTTERY PLAYER. SHE BOUGHT 5 TICKETS AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT WHILE GETTING GAS.

(SOT, FARRAH, 14:08:18, "I ONLY PLAY WHEN THE JACKPOT'S BIG. AND I THINK
THE LAST TIME I PLAYED WAS LAST YEAR.")
IF SHE HAD GONE FOR THE 25-YEAR ANNUITY, SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE FULL 150-MILLION DOLLAR JACKPOT. AND AFTER TAXES, THAT 78.8 MILLION DOLLAR LUMP WILL BE WHITTLED DOWN TO A MERE 50-MILLION. WHAT WILL SHE DO WITH THE MONEY?

(SOT, FARRAH, 14:28, "WELL, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS. MY
FIRST PURCHASE MIGHT BE A NICE CAR, SOMETHING I WANT TO GET RIGHT AWAY. JEEZ, I CAN'T EVEN THINK. A HOUSE, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.")
FARRAH WON'T QUIT HER JOB AT A MORTGAGE COMPANY RIGHT AWAY, SAYING SHE'LL STAY LONG ENOUGH TO TRAIN HER REPLACEMENT. AND, THE QUESTION ON THE MINDS OF THE SINGLE MEN IN THE AUDIENCE...

(SOT, 14:09:10, "Q: ARE YOU MARRIED? A: NO I'M NOT. LAUGHTER")

NO WORD OF ANY PLANS ON THAT FRONT. MAUREEN MAHER, CBS NEWS, CHICAGO.)

[5-Second-City]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Many entertainers leave behind a legacy of talent and stardom after their deaths.
But comedian Del Close wanted to leave even more behind.
Maureen Maher tells us why his gift adds new meaning to the old saying "He who laughs last, laughs best."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Robert Falls/Artistic Director; :30]
[SUPER=01-Charna Halpern/Olympic Improv; :49]
[SUPER=01-Maureen Maher/CBS News; :55]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS CHicago]
(SOT/Del Close "Go ahead adjust whatever you want to adjust-see if I
care."
If you didn't care who Del Close was while he was alive-you may find him a little more interesting now that he's dead.
For the last 30 years, Close was known as the Father of Improv, mentoring the likes of John Belushi, Bill Murray and Mike Meyers-but four months after his death-he will play out a final role on stage in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

(SOT/Robert Falls/) "...and he said to me one time, I'd like to play
Yorick, -and I said Del- Yorick is the skull used in the graveyard scene- and goes -that's right!"
Robert Falls never believed he would actually inherit the skull of his long time friend- but today, the artistic director for Chicago's Goodman Theater will accept the gift from Close's business partner Charna Halpern.

(SOT/Charna Halpern/Olympic Improv/) "He just wanted to keep working and
basically have his last laugh on the world."

(Reporter/STAND-UP/Maureen Maher) "That fact that he's going to live on
in this way -as an actor in this new way - and there's something kind of wonderful about that."
Falls says he will find a role-or a place for Del on every set at Goodman Theater.

(SOT/Bob Falls/ "That fact that he's going to live on in this way-as an
actor in this new way-and there's something kind of wonderful about that."
...Kind of wonderful for a man who just wanted to keep us all laughing a little longer.

(SOT/Del Close/) "...remember death is only temporary-I'll see you
around."))
[Close-ID] [5pm] SUPER=x4035; fax/copyright [SUPER=x4034;email/copyright]