SHE BAGS 5TH BEST IN U.S.

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 11, 1993                   TAG: 9302110146
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ED SHAMY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
SHE BAGS 5TH BEST IN U.S.
Debbie Bland, the best, quickest grocery bagger in all of Virginia, finished fifth in the national bagging contest Monday in San Francisco.
Bland scrapped through the elimination rounds, in which 35 would-be bagging champs vied for the title, and competed in the finals against four others.
A clerk and bookkeeper at Wade's Supermarket in Blacksburg, Bland couldn't be reached for comment.
She's expected back in Blacksburg on Friday evening.
Nora Briggs of the National Grocery Association, which sponsored the event at its annual convention, said all of the finalists - including Bland - finished bagging about three dozen common grocery items in less than 40 seconds.
They were judged on style, speed and weight distribution.
Bland won the title as Virginia's quickest grocery bagger in October.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB