WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/26/99

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Teresa]

Coming up next.

It's the start of yet another holiday.
Joy Sutton will have a live report from a local (KWAHN-zah) Kwanzaa celebration.
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[VO-NAT]

And-- the local American Red Cross offers some last minute Y2K survival tips.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
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In sports, The N-F-L playoff picture came into focus today the Express was back at the Roundhouse.
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[VO-NAT]

And Mike Stevens will check in with a report on the Hokies quick defense.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Andrew]
[SS=None]

Wind Chill Advisories are up-- it's windy, and it'a about to get really cold. Details coming up.

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[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
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[Kwanzaa]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

Many Virginian's celebrate another holiday this time of year.
It's called Kwanzaa -- and today marked the start of the annual celebration.
[Double Boxes=Teresa/Joy Microwave]

Joy Sutton is outside Saint Gerrard's Church in Roanoke -- where people have gathered to kick-off this seven day holiday.
[Live= Joy/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joy1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

[SUPER=03-Roma Willis-Turner/Kwanzaa Coordinator]
(ad lib) (interview)
(OUTCUE FROM VO: THANK YOU ROMA)
[Double Boxes=Teresa/Joy Microwave]
Teresa,

[XMas-Returns]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-44 1:38:22]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]

Post Christmas shoppers packed area malls today returning gifts and searching for bargains.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Retailers at Tanglewood Mall and across the country hope large discounts will the clear shelves.
For some stores the post Christmas frenzy is lucrative and offsets sometimes disappointing sales before the holidays.
Analysts say last year shoppers did 11 percent of their buying AFTER Christmas.
And, a national survey finds nearly half of Americans return between one and ten holiday gifts each year.
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[Robb-Allen]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

A new poll shows Virginia Senator Chuck Robb and former Governor George Allen are in a dead heat for next year's Senate race.
According to the poll -- conducted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch -- if the race were held today, Republican George Allen would get 42 percent and his Democratic opponent would receive 41- percent of votes.
The race is one of the most closely watched in the nation and spokesmen for both candidates say they know it will be a tough one.
The election will be held next November.

[Y2-K]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-41 1:40:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]

When the clock strikes midnight December 31st, it will be the test of time to see who is actually Y2-K compliant.

Will the electricity go out? Will the ATM's stop working? Nobody knows for certain.
However the American Red Cross says be ready just in case.
Joy Sutton has more.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=American Electric Power]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September 9;:00]
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[SUPER=01-Izzy Menchero/American Red Cross;:40]
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(( American Electric Power is just one of many local companies that has tested its system this year to make sure it's Y2-K compliant.
While tests have shown the company is in good shape -- No one knows for sure what will happen when the year 2-thousand begins.
Some residents say they're doing little to prepare for potential problems.
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[SOT 02:09:59]
[IN Q=I just don't believe]
((JACK EANES: I DON'T BELIEVE ALL THIS STUFF THAT'S BEEN GOING AROUND I JUST THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER NEW YEARS.))
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[OUT Q=new years]
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[SOT 2:12:08]
[IN Q=No stocking up]
((GEORGE JAMISON: NO STOCKING UP, NO EXTRA FOOD, NO EXTRA WATER. HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL WORK THE WAY IT SHOULD. and if it doesn't.WELL EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE IN THE SAME BOAT))
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[OUT Q=in the same boat]

But the American Red Cross says it's important to be prepared just in case.
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[SOT :40]
[IN Q=We tell the public]
((IZZY MENCHERO/AMERICAN RED CROSS:WE TELL THE PUBLIC TREAT AS A SNOW STORM, AND ICE STORM THAT IS COMING THAT MIGHT INTERRUPT SERVICES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO STAY HOME FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS.))
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[OUT Q=three]

The American Red Cross is urging people to stock up on additional water -- at least one gallon per person per day -- and to have plenty of canned food on hand.
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[SOT2:48]
[IN Q=Flash lights]
((IZZY MENCHERO: FLASHLIGHTS, PLENTY OF BATTERIES AGAIN WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO USE CANDLES FOR LIGHTING. WE RECOMMENDED A BATTERY OPERATED RADIO TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE NEWS. CELL PHONE WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE JUST IN CASE THE TELEPHONE SERVICE GETS INTERRUPTED))
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[OUT Q=gets interupted]

And if you are on medication it's recommended that you have at least a weeks supply on hand.
The American Red Cross in Roanoke will be staffed 24 hours starting New Years eve to assist with any problems.
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[SOT 4:21]
[IN Q=We will be staffed]
((IZZY MENCHERO: WE WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOING SMOOTHLY AND IF WE HAVE ANY EMERGENCY THAT WILL HAVE A LARGE IMPACT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND SEEK HELP IF IT'S NECESSARY))
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[OUT Q=if it's neccesary]

Menchero says its better to stock-up and be safe rather than sorry come January 1st.
Joy Sutton, News 7.))

[First-Night]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-56 11:24]
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While some are preparing for Y2k -- others are preparing for First Night -- a New Year's Eve tradition for the past 9 years in downtown Roanoke.
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[VO-NAT tape 98-96]
[SUPER=04-Last Year]

And organizers of this years First Night say the celebration should be even better then last year.
First Night is a celebration of the lively arts --with a variety of activities for the entire family.
And organizers say this New Year's celebration promises to be even more exciting-- with the ringing in of the year two-thousand.
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[SOT 4:53 first night tape]
[IN Q=We have]
((WENDI SCHULTZ/FIRST NIGHT ROANOKE: WE HAVE AN ALCOHOL FREE CHAMPAGNE TOAST A MIDNIGHT. WE'LL HAVE DANCING IN THE STREET TILL ONE, BANDS. IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION AND THEN OF COURSE FIREWORKS AT MIDNIGHT))
[SUPER=01-Wendi Schultz/First Night Director]
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[OUT Q=at midnight]
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[VO-NAT]

First Night is an alcohol free event. [TAKE PINNACLE FULL SCREEN 8770ESSC]
Advanced admission is 7 dollars for adults and 3 dollars for children.
The price goes up to 9 dollars at the door.
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[ANCHOR=Teresa]
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Admission buttons are available at WDBJ and at various locations throughout the Valley.

[Tease#1]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on News 7, a local man is shot and killed after breaking into a home in Franklin County.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus, Tonya Flory will check in with a look back at the week's top health stories-- right after the break.
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[Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
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A shooting early this morning in Franklin County has left one man dead.
Investigators say 26- year old Cletis Roberts, Junior of Bath County was shot in the torso after breaking into a house where his estranged wife, Katherine, was staying.
It happened around two twenty on Hopkins Road in the Coles Creek section of the county.
The homeowner, 38- year old Arthur Simpson has been charged with firing the fatal shot.
Katherine Roberts' father has also been charged in connection with the crime.
Harold Nelson is accused of breaking into the house with his son-n-law and is also charged with the malicious wounding of his daughter.

[Health-Week]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=Health Check]
[GRAPHIC=health Check]

Martinsville Memorial hospital and Virginia Tech were in the news this week.
The hospital is at odds with the city's health insurance and Virginia Tech has become the first university in southwest Virginia to concentrate on the health of future students and faculty.
Tonya Flory takes a look back in this week's health check.
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[SOT]
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[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Joe Roach/CEO Memorial Hospital; :22]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :48]
[SUPER=01-Marjorie Young/MRH Lactation Consultant; :57]
[SUPER=01-Mary Potter/New Mom; 1:22]
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[OUT Q=Health Check.]
((Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County will no longer participate with Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Incorporated, an insurance company that covers 300 employees in Martinsville city and the school system. Memorial Hospital's president Joe Roach says the hospital has been trying to settle billing and reimbursement problems with MAMSI for almost a year.
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[SOT tc 01:01:49]
[IN Q=We gave them]
((JOE ROACH/CEO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THINGS TO OUR SATISFACTION AND THEY DIDN'T SO, IT SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM ANYMORE.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=with them anymore.]
Several local primary care physicians have also dropped out as participating providers with MAMSI. The city says they have no plans to end their contract with the insurance company at this time. MAMSI says they will try to negotiate an agreement with the hospital. And Virginia Tech is working with Montgomery regional Hospital to set up lactation rooms around campus for new mother's to breast feed in private.
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[SOT tc 01:37:51]
[IN Q=We will provide]
((MARJORIE YOUNG/LACTATION CONSULTANT: WE WILL PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT THE PUMPS AND THE SUPPLIES, ALSO PRENATAL EDUCATION, POST NATAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR MOMS WHEN THEY ARE FIRST HERE DELIVERING IF THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND SEE A LACTATION CONSULTANT WE'LL HAVE THAT IN A BENEFITS PACKAGE.)) [RUNS:16]
[OUT Q=in a benefits package.]
Tech officials say allowing employees to breast feed at work improves well-being. Studies prove breast fed babies are healthier, which means less sick days taken by mothers.
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[SOT tc 02:199:32]
[IN Q=I take less]
((MARY POTTER/NEW MOTHER: I TAKE LESS TIME OFF WORK IF MY BABY'S HEALTHY. SO THE END BENEFIT IS TO VIRGINIA TECH, IT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT, HE SAYS YES TO.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=says yes to.]
Tonya Flory, News 7, Health Check.))

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
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It's a movie that sparks a range of emotions.
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[VO-NAT 10:30:00-10:30:18]
[SUPER=04-Paramount Pictures]
Coming up on News 7...we'll show you why some critics are calling Angela's Ashes one of the best movies of the year.
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[Movie-Review]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Movie Review]

Christmas Day is one of the year's biggest days for movie openings.
One such film that opened yesterday in selected cities was Angela's Ashes-- a popular book that's made its way onto the silver screen.
Dennis Cunningham has the review.
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[SOT Friday 10:29:06]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-"Angela's Ashes"; :]
[SUPER=04-Paramount Pictures; :]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Cunningham/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=2:18]
[OUT Q=CBS News]
(( (ON CAM DENNIS) YES, THE PULITZER-PRIZE WINNING NOVEL, "ANGELA'S ASHES," THOUGH WRITTEN LIKE FINE FICTION.. IS REAL. THE BEAUTIFULLY-WRITTEN MEMOIRS OF FRANK MCCOURT, GROWING UP VERY POOR IN RAINY, GRIMY, LIMERICK, IRELAND.. HIS MOTHER WAS ANGELA. IT WAS A BEST-SELLER FOR YEARS, STILL IS, IN PAPERBACK, WHERE IT WILL LONG REMAIN. THE MOVIE, OF COURSE, CAN'T BE THE NOVEL.. SOME THINGS MUST BE LOST. STILL.. IT'S AN ESPECIALLY COMPELLING FILM EXPERIENCE.

(DENNIS VO/CLIPS)

ON CAM DENNIS) IT'S THE FILM OF THE YEAR AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.. NOT JUST FOR THE SPLENDID ACTING, OR ALAN PARKER'S SHARP DIRECTING.. OR THE AMAZING SCREENPLAY BY MR. PARKER AND LAURA JONES, OR THE GLORIOUS MUSIC BY HOHN WILLIAMS. BUT A FINAL NINE, ABOVE ALL, FOR THE WIDE HUMAN LANDSCAPE IT COVERS.. OH, SO VERY WELL. I'M DENNIS CUNNINGHAM FOR CBS NEWS.)

[Sports Tease]

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[WRITER=rst]
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And coming up, The Hokie defense gears up for Florida State in the Sugar Bowl several N-F-L teams can pack it up until next year.
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[VO-NAT]
While the Minnesota Vikings earned a spot in the playoffs and all but eliminated the New York Giants.
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[S-Rush]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-60 :25TC]
[GRAPHIC=SUGAR BOWL]
The Hokies are still listed as underdogs for their January 4th date with Florida State. But one matchup in particular has given Tech fans hopes of pulling off the upset ever since the mathcup with the Seminoles was announced. Mike Stevens explains.
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[SUPER=01-Corey Moore/17 Sacks This Season; :26]
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[SUPER=01-Chris Weinke/FSU Quarterback; 1:01]
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[OUT Q=...news 7 sports."]
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(( Even casual college football fans have noticed that Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke isn't exactly the most mobile thing on two legs. The Tech defense on the other hand is lightning quick. The Hokies posted a mind boggling 58 quarterback sacks this season and depending on how Florida State decides to play them, the nation's top defense is confident it can add to that total. ((COREY MOORE/17 SACKS THIS SEASON:)) ((JAMEL SMITH/TECH'S LEADING TACKLER:)) ((CHRIS WEINKE/FSU QUARTERBACK:)) And with each passing day that wait gets just a little bit shorter. Mike Stevens News 7 sports.))

[S-Giants]

[ANCHOR=S-Giants]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-47 (1:33:09)]
[GRAPHIC=Vikings/Giants]

The Minnestoa Vikings all but ended the New York Giants season today beating the Giants 34 to 17.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-East Rutherford, NJ/FOX SPORTS; :]

Leroy Hoard carried the Viking load in the first half here he scores his second T-D of the game on the short run to make it 14 to 6 Vikings.
Minnesota opened the third with a trick play. Receiver Randy Moss gets it on the end around but instead of running
he hits Chris Carter on the 27 yard T-D pass and the Vkinigs took a 21 to 6 lead.
[SUPER=30-Minnesota/34/N.Y. Giants/17/;]

The Giants added a field goal in the third then on the kickoff Mo Williams finds a crease and he takes it 85 yards for the score and the Vikings beat the Giants by a score of 34 to 17.
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[S-Panthers]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-57 (31:19)]
[GRAPHIC=PANTHERS/STEELERS]

The Pittsburgh Steelers handed Carolina a set back in the Panthers march to the playoffs.
The Steelers beat the Panthers 30 to 20.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsburgh, PA/CBS SPORTS; :]

The snow flakes falling in Pittsburgh today.
The Steelers defense comes up with this big play. Fred Lane fumbles the ball into the end zone Travis Davis catches it in the air follows his blocking down the sideline on his way to a 102 yard fumble return the second longest in N-F-L history to make it 10 to nothing Pittsburgh.
Carolina trailed 16 to 7 in the second quarter then Steve Beurlein goes to the air and hits Patrick Jeffers on the 88 yard touchdown pass play to make it 16 to 13.
[SUPER=30-Pittsburgh/30/Carolina/20/;]

Still in the second Mike Tomczak hits Hines Ward on the 9 yard T-D pass play and the Steelers win it 30 to 20.
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[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
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A total of 11 games on the N-F-L schedule lets check the rest of the scores.
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[OUT Q=...LAST SCORE."]
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[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Blizzard]

The Roanoke Express was back on the ice at the Roundhouse this afternoon after the holiday break. Roanoke and Huntington are still playing and Roanoke leads it 3 to 2 in the third period.

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[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER] [12/26/1999] [SS NONE] [ENG/FULL]LOCAL WEATHER VIDEO [ADD CHYRON/ENG/FULL]HIGHS & LOWS CURRENT STATS [MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL] [CK/CHYRON/VIEWERNET] [CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES] FORECASTS [ESS/FULL] EXTENDED FORECAST[Forecasts]
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