WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 11/25/99

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

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[VO-NAT]

On this Thanksgiving 99, a gourmet chef lends his talents at the Roanoke Rescue mission.
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[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And an accident on Interstate 81 slows down holiday travel.
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[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

[81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=81 AX]

An accident has traffic on Interstate 81 moving at a crawl.
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[TAKE MAP FULL]
State police say the accident involving a tractor trailer and a car happened in the Southbound lanes at mile marker 168.
That's near the Arcadia exit in Botetourt County.
The tractor trailer is jack-knifed in the median.
Southbound traffic is moving slowly on the shoulder.
There are injuries, but there's no word on their severity.
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[Elliston-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-46 Tc24:36]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Investigators are looing into last night's fire in the Elliston section of Montgomery County that destroyed two mobile homes.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

Firefighters got the call at about eleven o'clock.
They believe some sort of explosion caused the blaze near the intersection of North Fork Road and Delta Lane.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=There were 2 parallel]
[SUPER=01-Pug Wells/Elliston Fire Chief]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=started in there.]
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[VO-NAT]

Firefighters were slowed by a one lane, wooden bridge leading to the property.
The owner of the trailers was not home at the time.
Fire officials were not sure if anyone actually lived in the trailers.
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[Lynchburg-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-36 2:03:32]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

The woman shot outside a Lynchburg restaurant has died.
36 year old Tammy Smith died yesterday.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

The shooting happened early last Sunday morning outside the Pisces Restaurant.
37 year old Bruce Johnson of Lynchburg was arrested and charged with malicious wounding.
No word on if those charges will be upgraded.
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[Thanksgiving-Chef]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-48 TC22:42]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]
A chef from a local resort is serving a free gourmet dinner today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Chef Ronnnie Blankenship of the Homestead is whipping up Thanksgiving dinner at the Rescue Mission. He cooked 30 turkeys, 240 potatoes and gimlet gravy with of course his own secret seasoning.
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[SOT 11:50:33]
[IN Q=I was born]
((I WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA ... THE OLD FRENCH STYLE.))
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Blankenship/Chef;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=the old French style]
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[VO-NAT]
Blankenship and his kitchen crew are all volunteers.
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[SOT 12:01:27]
[IN Q=I didn't]
((I DIDN'T EAT NO BREAKFAST ... THIS THANKSGIVING.))
[SUPER=01-Oscar James/Resident;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=this Thanksgiving]
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[VO-NAT]

The meal continues from now through the evening.
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[Macys-parade]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

For some it just wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving without the Macy's Day Parade.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

It rained on this year's parade, but that didn't seem to dampen spirits.
Big crowds turned out to watch the 73rd annual parade.
And this is what they came to see, the giant helium filled balloons, like the rug rats.
[SUPER=03-Detroit, MI;]

There were a number of parade's in other parts of the country, including Detroit.
This parade included a performance by Little Richard.
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[SOT]
[11:08:06-15]
[IN Q=I woke up this...]
[SUPER=:09]
[OUT Q=lucille, please.]
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[V0-NAT] [3:39:34]
Meantime, retailers are gearing up for tomorrow--- traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

With the economy humming along, analysts predict a busy buying season.
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[NATIONAL-TRAVEL]

[ANCHOR=MELANIE ]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]

Airways, highways and railways have been jammed with holiday travelers.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
[3:39:34]
But it hasn't been a smooth ride for everyone.
Passengers at O'Hare International in Chicago were delayed when a Christmas decoration caught fire at the United Airlines terminal.
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA;]
[7:01:01]
And three people were arrest at Boston's Logan Airport for unruly behavior.
Authorities say one man's drunken behavior forced an unscheduled land of a Dallas-to-London flight.
[3:04:39]
Besides planes and cars, Americans are also using trains and buses to get where they need to go this Thanksgiving.

It's the price we pay to be with family.
But For most of us, its more than worth it.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=For me, I would do a....]
(( TRAVELER; FOR ME, I WOULD DO A MILLION TIMES THIS TO GET WHERE I NEEDED TO BE WITH THEM. TRAVELER:IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT ))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=What are you going to do about it.]
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[VO-NAT]

And just think the travelers have to do it all again-three short days from now.
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[China-shipwreck]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More than 150 are dead after a ferry caught fire and cracked open off the coast of eastern China.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Near Yantai, China;]
[10;13:30]
Officials say more than 100 people are missing.
The ship was carrying 312 passengers and crew as it was pummeled by violent winds and towering waves.
Rescue operations have been hampered by nearly freezing temperatures.
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[Egyptair]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Egyptair Crash]

A new development in the EgyptAir crash story.
The relief co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing Flight 9-90 reportedly ordered another co-pilot out of his seat, by ``pulling rank'' on him.
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[VO-NAT]
[20:18:56]
The New York Times says the plane began its fatal plunge about five minutes after the switch.
Meantime, The investigation already hampered by diplomatic haggling...took a bizarre turn yesterday when a senior Egyptian transportation official publicly proclaimed the jetliner was brought down by an in-flight explosion.
U-S investigators privately dismissed the explosion theory as nonsense.
Publicly, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was more diplomatic.
(///////sot////////)
[IN=]
((MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, SECRETARY OF STATE: "WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE EGYPTIANS AND WILL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO DO SO, AND I THINK... SPECULATION IN THIS CASE DOES NOT HELP AT ALL." ))
[SUPER=01-Madeleine Albright/Secretary of State;]
[runs=:09]
[OUT=NOT HELP AT ALL.]
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[VO-NAT]

In fact, data from the plane's black boxes virtually rules out a bomb...or any type of in flight explosion.
Instead, all of the evidence...to date...supports the suspicion that Flight 9-90 was deliberately taken down by relief co-pilot Gamil Al-Batouti.
Investigators now have completed an Arabic transcript of the cockpit tape and will finish the English version in the next few days.
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[yeltsin]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Boris Yeltsin]

Boris Yeltsin is sick again.
The Kremlin says the 68-year-old Russian president has a viral infection, accompanied by acute bronchitis.
Yeltsin has had several health problems in recent years -- including an ulcer, back problems and pneumonia.
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[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still ahead on News-7 at noon, check out Roanoke's birthday party fit for a star.
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[VO-NAT ]

And if Governor Gilmore doesn't like Turkey, maybe he can try some venison and other wild game-- thanks to Virgnia's eight Indian tribes.
First let's talk to Patrick Evans.
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[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[E-Cabin-Lake]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-50 35:49]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]

Fire destroyed their homes on Thanksgiving two years ago-- Now attorneys for 122 tenants who lost everything say they expect to withdraw their lawsuit next month.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/November 1997;]

250 people lost their homes in the fire at Cabin Lake Apartments in Danville.
122 of them signed on to sue the management company and owner's association for 12-million dollars.
An attorney for the tenants says plans to withdraw the lawsuit on December first should not be interpreted as negative or meaning there won't be a resolution to the case.
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[Anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=HOLD]

The plaintiff's attorney won't comment on the possibility of settling, but says she hopes all sides will come out satisfied.

[E-Indian-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-37 1:57:43]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]

Paying taxes may NOT seem like a gift to the government...
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

But two of Virginia's eight Indian tribes think so-- partly because they worked out a sweet deal in 1646.
The Mattaponi (MATTA-pa-NYE) and Pamunkey Indians brought deer, beaver pelts, a peace pipe, and words of praise to Governor Gilmore yesterday.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:36:50]
[IN Q=We stand]
(("SWIFTWATER" MILES/PAMUNKEY CHIEF: WE STAND READY TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN IN SERVICE FOR THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE RECENT ELECTION RESULTS.))
[SUPER=01-"Swiftwater" Miles/Pamunkey Chief;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=nat sot music]
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[VO-NAT]

The annual Thanksgiving tradition also commemorated the 100-th birthday this week of former Pamunkey Chief (TA-COME-SAA) Tecumseh "Deerfoot" Cook.
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[E-HOPE]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:06:02]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]

Spending time with family and friends, either in person or by phone, is a Thanksgiving tradition for many people.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Yesterday, the homeless and less fortunate did just that at the Roanoke Rescue Mission.
U-S Cellular supplied cell phones for folks to call any where in the United States for free.
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[SOT 2:30:23]
[IN Q=It's a gift]
((JOY SYLVESTER JOHNSTON: IT'S A GIFT GOING TWO WAYS ITS A GIFT FOR THE FOLKS HERE AND ITS A GIFT FOR THE FAMILIES ALL OVER THAT ARE HEARING FROM THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Joy Sylvester-Johnston/Roanoke Rescue Mission]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=hearing from them.]
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[VO-NAT]

This is the first year for the program that many hope will return every holiday.
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[E-Russian-Orphans]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:14:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Pittsylvania County couple has seven new reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]

That's how many Russian orphans Brian and Anita Robbins adopted nearly three months ago.
The kids spent two years in a Russian orphanage after their mother died of cancer.
They were going to be split up until the couple and their two biological sons decided to make them part of the family.
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[SOT 1:14:00 - :18]
[IN Q=Sometimes I just sit and]
((ANITA ROBBINS: SOMETIMES I JUST SIT AND CRY JUST WATCHING THEM... JUST THE FUN THAT THEY HAVE. AND JUST LOOKING BACK AT PICTURES OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE THERE AND KNOWING WHAT THEIR LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THERE.))
[SUPER=07-Anita Robbins; ]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=would have been like there.]
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[VO-NAT]

That's not to say that there haven't been some growing pains for the family.
It takes 70 pancakes to feed the whole family at breakfast.
AND the Robbins are turning their two-bedroom house into a five-bedroom house.
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[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

If you hate leaving your pets home alone during the holidays, there are some new options out there.
That's just one of the stories still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
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[VO-NAT ]

And he has gifts on his sleigh, but he's not Santa--He's Rufus the skiing turkey.
Take a ride with him when we return.
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[COMM BREAK #2]

[dog-hote]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[graphic=None]

The most wonderful time of the year can be the saddest for man's best friend.
With so many people in the air or on the road for holiday travel it can get pretty lonely for Fido who's left behind.
But Bobbi Harley has found the perfect place to let Rover go roving.
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[SOT]
[102355]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY; :04]
[SUPER=01-Sherry Fields/Paws Inn Owner; :34]
[SUPER=01-Tony Fant/Soho Grand Vice President; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Bobbi Harley/Reporting; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=New York]
(((LOCATOR: NEW YORK CITY)
Poor puppy. Had it with the Hamptons it seems? And now New York is going to the dogs! GOING TO THE DOGS? Well, catering to the dogs is more like it. For a walk or a weekend, a pooch can sniff out a lot of fun here. And not just in the park...from trendy Soho to Midtown, hotels are rolling out the red carpet (instead of the newspaper) to show the canine crowd a good time. At the Paws Inn -- you can leave your master behind -- but not home sweet home-- and here -- nobody cares if you jump on the furniture.
SHERRY FIELDS/PAWS INN OWNER SOT:
"we try to make it as much of a home atmosphere as possible, hence, the furniture, the beds, no cages, nothing like that...they find constant attention, they are pretty much never left alone for more than ten, fifteen minutes at a time". TRACK: ... that is-- by people. The dogs themselves bond-- all the time...socializing in a common room or exercising on the roofdeck. There's no room here for master's... but at the Soho Grand-- they pamper man and his best friend. But it's hard to tell who comes first. The hotel takes its artistic cue on how to treat dogs-- from some of its high profile (or famous) visitors.
TONY FANT/EXECUTIVE VP. SOHO GRAND SOT:
"we basically took some of the feedback from our customers... so we created the program where we can have the dogs walked, we can have the dogs pampered, taken to a stylist, where they are going out and pampered all day". TRACK: But-- theres a kingly price for living like top dog. This suite goes for 15 hundred dollars a night. So youll probably think twice about shredding the New York Times on the carpet. But dont worry, you can always overnight at the Paws Inn for 35-to-42 dollars... and leave your master -- out in the cold. OC: Bobbi Harley for CBS News. ))

[Skiing-Turkey]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Thanksgiving]

This time of the year Turkey's end up on a carving board.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mt. Bachelor, OR;]
[3:28:22]
But one Oregon bird instead hopped on a snow board.
His name is Rufus and this is his annual holiday ski trip down the slopes of Mount Bachelor.
He's got lots of toys in his sleigh and most importantly, he has a lot more to be thankful for than most Turkeys do this time of the year.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

Wall Street is closed today in observance of Thanksgiving.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still to come in sports, national recognition keeps pouring in for U-V-A football star Thomas Jones,
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[VO-NAT ]
and Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer learns the meaning of sacrifice this Thanksgiving season. Patrick has the details, next.
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[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Jones]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-54 (46:12)]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Jones]

The national honors just keep coming for U-V-A's Thomas Jones.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :]

Yesterday, Jones was named to the Football Writers Association of America All America team.
It's the second All-America team Jones has been named to in as many days.
Jones set the A-C-C single season records for most yards rushing and all purpose yards. He's third in the nation in all purpose yards.
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[S-Beamer]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-55 2216tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH Football]

Members of the Virginia Tech football team have much to be thankful for today.
A win over Boston College at Lane Stadium tomorrow would give the Hokies a perfect record for the regular season.

And now comes word that the Bowl Championship Series has made a change in its ranking system -- a change that makes it more likely that Tech, and not Nebraska, will make it to the Sugar Bowl.
Under the revised system, Tech's win over James Madison will NOT count against the Hokies in the "strength of schedule" rankings.
Still, the players are having to celebrate Thanksgiving away from their families.
And Mike Stevens says no one is making a greater sacrifice this week than head coach Frank Beamer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Va. Tech Head Coach; :30]
[SUPER=@mike1; :37]
[SUPER=01-Shane Beamer/Va. Tech Senior Snapper; :51]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
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((NAT SOUND OF SHANIA TWAIN)) (( Shania Twain - Frank Beamer's favorite entertainer, ultimate dream date and borderline obsession- will be performing in a CBS Special here on Your Hometown Station Thanksgiving night. ((FRANK BEAMER:)) That's Thanksgiving night Frank at eight! - you know the night before the biggest game in Tech history? ((FRANK BEAMER:)) ((STANDUP BRIDGE:)) ((SHANE BEAMER:)) Eventually Shane will get his Mom's good cooking and as for Frank and Shania - well News 7 photographer Greg Moore, who orchestrates much of the station's music industry interviews recently pulled some strings and got Beamer a calendar personally autographed by the one and only Shania. ((FRANK BEAMER:)) Now, his sights are set on meeting her when she performs in Richmond next Monday night. ((FRANK BEAMER:)) In Blacksburg, Mike Stevens News 7 sports.))

[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[WIPE TO PINNACLE BOARD VT-BC]
And keep in mind folks that theTech-BC game is a complete sellout, and the only place to catch it is here on Your Hometown Station starting at 2:30 Friday.
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[wipe to pinnacle hokie high 6642]
Plus, the News 7 sports team will have a LIVE half hour post game show for you at seven o'clock from Lane Stadium.
Friday just keep it right here on WDBJ-7.
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[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE PAGE 7507]
And today beginning at 4 you can catch the Miami and Dallas match up right here on your Hometown Station.
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[Wrap]

[ANCHOR=PAtrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rae ((RAY)) Carruth has been arrested in the drive-by shooting of his pregnant girlfriend. He's been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.