[7-Sugar-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-60]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl Matchup]

[****ANCHOR TAG****]
We've guessed it for a week, but now it's official.
The Hokies will play Florida State for the national championship at the Sugar Bowl.
And as Joy Sutton reports Tech fans are going wild.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=At least]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mark Conover/Virginia Tech Student; :25]
[SUPER=01-Matt Wasatonic/Virginia Tech Student; :50]
[SUPER=@joy2; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Greg Dunn/Virginia Tech Alumnus; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=N7 Christiansburg]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Tech's Athletic Department will receive 16-thousand tickets for the January 4th game.
But the ticket office has more than 24-thousand requests for those tickets.

[7-E-Blairs-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-60 :13]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


A Pittsylvania County fire fighter lost his home to fire last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]


The house belonged to a volunteer in the Blairs community.
The house was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived shortly after six.
It took 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control.
No one was home at the time.
So far no word on a cause -- officials say the house is a total loss.
(------------)



[7-5-Motorcycle-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=599-10 1:52:24]
[GRAPHIC=Accident (generic)]


Salem police say charges are pending against the driver who's car collided with a motorcycle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


It happened near Lewis Gale hospital, yesterday morning.
26- year old Scott Jones of Salem was the driver of the bike.
He was taken to the hospital but was NOT seriously injured.
Police have NOT released the name of the other driver.
(------------)



[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]



Here now is a look at your Monday forecast...
Expect showers to end with some partial clearing.
High temperatures today in the mid to upper 50s.
Tonight, partly cloudy and windy.
Temperatures fall to the low to mid 30s.
The extended forecast shows...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Showers Ending,/Partial Clearing/55-59/Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 10-20/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[45-Tech-Bowl]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl Matchup]


It's official. The Virginia Tech Hokies are headed to New Orleans to play for the National Championship...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]

and Hokie fans couldn't be more excited.
At least 300 people packed the Gobbler Town Restaurant in Christiansburg to hear that Tech will take on Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Many say that this remarkable season is one they never expected.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I really didn't]

((GREG DUNN/VIRGINIA TECH ALUMNUS: I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN THIS FAST. I WAS REALLY THINKING THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS WE MIGHT GET THERE. IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE YEAR. WE'RE VERY HAPPY, VERY ELATED, SHOCKED ALMOST.))
[SUPER=01-Greg Dunn/Virginia Tech Alumnus;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=shocked almost]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Tech's Athletic Department will receive 16-thousand tickets for the January fourth game.
But the ticket office says it has received more than 24-thousand requests for those tickets.
(------------)



[45-Switched-Babies]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]


A judge in Stafford County is expected to rule this week on visitation rights for several relatives of a four-year-old girl who was switched at birth at U-V-A Medical Center.
The biological grandparents and two aunts of Callie Conley are seeking to have her one weekend a month and for an unspecified amount of time during holidays and the summer.
Paula Johnson, who has custody of Callie, sought custody of the other child in the switch last month in a Buena Vista court.
Instead, she was granted visitation to see Rebecca Chittum, her biological daughter.

[45-E-Prices-Fork]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-59 :11]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A strong suggestion against town status for the community of Prices Fork.
(---------)
[VO-NAT 99-31 10:11]
[SUPER=03-Prices Fork/July]
Several meetings have been held to get input from residents--- and while some are pro-town status others are agains

t the idea.
The Commission on Local Government concluded that Prices Fork would be unable to provide basic services like water and garbage removal.
A judicial panel still must review the petition -- that will happen next month.
(-------------------)



[45-E-Blairs-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-60 :13]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


He's used to responding to fire calls but last night a firefighter in Pittsylvania County was the fire victim.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]


Firefighters fought a blaze at the home of a volunteer firefighter in the Blairs Community.
The house was fully engulfed when crews arrived shortly after six.
It took 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control.
The firefighter who lived there was NOT home at the time.
So far no word on a cause -- officials say the house is a total loss.
(------------)



[45-5-Motorcycle-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=599-10 1:52:24]
[GRAPHIC=Accident (generic)]


A motorist may face charges in connection with a weekend collision with a motorcyle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


It happened yesterday morining in Salem near Lewis Gale hospital.
Twenty-six year old Scott Jones of Salem was the driver of the bike.
He was taken to the hospital but was NOT seriously injured.
Police have NOT released the name of the other driver.
(------------)



[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast...
Showers ending this morning, with partial clearing.
Highs about where temperatures are now, in the mid and upper 50s.
Skies will turn partly cloudy overnight, with cold northwesterly winds and lows in the lower 30s.
The five day forecast includes sunshine for the next couple of days, and showers possible by Friday.
Highs in the 50s...lows mainly in the 30s.


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[SUPER=314-Showers Ending,/Partial Clearing/55-59/Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 10-20/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]





[8-Switched-Babies]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]


A Stafford County judge is expected to decide this week whether to grant visitation to relatives of a four-year-old girl who was switched at birth.
The biological grandparents and two aunts of Callie Conley are seeking to have her one weekend a month and for an unspecified amount of time during holidays and the summer.
Paula Johnson, who has custody of Callie, sought custody of the other child in the switch last month in a Buena Vista court.
Instead, she was granted visitation to see Rebecca Chittum, her biological daughter.

[8-5-Motorcycle-Ax]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=599-10 1:52:24]
[GRAPHIC=Accident (generic)]


Salem police say charges are pending against a driver who hit a motorcycle this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


It happened near Lewis Gale hospital, yesterday morning.
26- year old Scott Jones of Salem was the driver of the bike.
He was taken to the hospital but was NOT seriously injured.
Police have NOT released the name of the other driver.
(------------)



[8-E-Prices-Fork]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-59 :11]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A government panel says the community of Prices Fork becoming a town is not a good idea.
(---------)
[VO-NAT 99-31 10:11]
[SUPER=03-Prices Fork/July]
Several meetings have been held to get input from residents--- and while some are pro-town status, others are again

st the idea.
The Commission on Local Government concluded that Prices Fork would be unable to provide basic services like water and garbage removal.
A judicial panel still must review the petition -- that will happen next month.
(-------------------)



[8-Tech-Bowl]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl Matchup]


Their fate has been sealed. The Virginia Tech Hokies are going to New Orleans to play for the National Championship...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]


...and Hokie fans couldn't be more excited.
At least 300 people packed the Gobbler Town Restaurant in Christiansburg to hear that Tech will take on Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Many say that this remarkable season is one they never expected.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I really didn't]

((GREG DUNN/VIRGINIA TECH ALUMNUS: I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN THIS FAST. I WAS REALLY THINKING THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS WE MIGHT GET THERE. IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE YEAR. WE'RE VERY HAPPY, VERY ELATED, SHOCKED ALMOST.))
[SUPER=01-Greg Dunn/Virginia Tech Alumnus;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=shocked almost]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Tech's Athletic Department will receive 16-thousand tickets for the January fourth game.
But the ticket office says it has received more than 24-thousand requests for those tickets.
(------------)



[8-EH-Theater]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]



A local theater and college are teaming up to bring a bit of show-biz to the school.
Officials of the Barter Theatre and Emory and Henry College have joined forces to create a theater education program at the school.
The program, called the Barter Theatre Conservatory, was formed last week.
It will have a director and four professors and integrate drama study with the experience of the professional Barter stage in Abingdon.
Emory and Henry President Tom Morris and Barter artistic director Rick Rose say the partnership is good for both institutions.


[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Turning your attention now to weather...
Showers ending this morning, with partial clearing and temperatures topping out in the mid and upper 50s for highs.
Things will cool down sharply by this evening, with partly cloudy skies and lows in the lower 30s.
Expect sunshine for the next couple of days....and rain possibly on Friday.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Showers Ending,/Partial Clearing/55-59/Partly Cloudy/Winds NW 10-20/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]


by SS