Local Celebrations Go Too Far? (WABE 7 News)

*****WABE 7 NEWS**** Anchor Susan Vachez 10 PM News Cast


*Evening News Intro Plays, graphic intro flashes on the screen introducing the news team and camera one opens on a smiling brunette woman in a navy colored jacket.*

"10 Police Officers are Dead or in Critical Condition tonight, I'm Susan Vachez," Susan looks to her left.


*Camera Two opens on a blond haired man in a matching suit jacket with an equally bright smile.*

"And I'm Eric Johnson, this is WABE Evening News."


*Camera One opens back on Susan, cue graphic that shows festival with a police car in the lower left hand corner and an skull and blood text that reads "Night of Terror."*


"Lamar Metro Police Department reports to WABE News that 7 officers are confirmed dead and 3 are in critical condition after Saturday Night's Day of the Dead Festival. All officers were working sobriety check points on rural roads leading in and out of the city.

Police have released these artist renderings of persons of interest whom they would like to question with regard to these horrible crimes."


*Cue sketches of seven different men ranging in ages from 17-35, black, hispanic and one white.*

"LPD asks that anyone with information leading to the location of these persons of interest, please call the number at the bottom of your screen. Again these are just persons of interest and LMPD officers stress that they are not suspects at this time. Eric..."

*Camera Two shows Eric with a graphic of people celebrating and words written over it that say, 'Gone Too Far?'*

"Already citzens of Lamar are saying that the Day of the Dead festival has gotten out of hand. Could this be the last year for this annual celebration? Several civic and religious organizations are hoping so as they make plans to go to city hall with a motion to curtail this celebrations' evening events.
Mayor Gillespie had this to say."


*Cue Gillespie interview footage 5/8/10*
"It's always sad when someone loses their life in the line of duty. It is worse when such a thing happens on a day of celebration. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the fallen officers and our thanks for the ultimate sacrifices they have made. But any motions to change city traditions will have to be considered in full council."