Next, the ski patrols found the body of a missing man on a big mountain.
A diabetic driver is sentenced for the deaths of three people and snowpack numbers are in.
That and your weather and sports up next.
You're watching NBC Montana, the news leader with Wade Neal Hall, Heidi Mile, Mark Kaplan,
and Todd Reed.
This is the News at Ten.
Good evening.
I'm Heidi Mile.
I'm Wade Muehlhoff.
Searchers have found the body of a missing man on a big mountain.
Elise Stoll was on the mountain today and has this story.
As telemark teams warmed up for another day of competition, another group of teams were
forming with a very different mission.
We're going to comb the grounds and just look for any signs of Sam.
But within an hour of setting out, the worst was confirmed.
The body of 21-year-old Sam Veste, a ski instructor and employee at the Hell Rowing Restaurant,
was found in a creek bed below chair one, just a few feet from the main parking lot.
It's sad that he was so close to the parking lot and so close to being out, but I think
that I wouldn't expect anybody to have seen him.
Friends say the New Zealand native was walking down to catch a ride home when he probably
fell into the snow drift, either being knocked unconscious or passing out.
We knew right away he was face down in the gutter.
Even though friends couldn't save him, the fact that over 40 people came out to help
in the search shows just how much of an impact Veste made in just the three months he lived
here.
We are one big family up here on the mountain and that's how we're going to have to treat
this as we lost one of our own, unfortunately.
Hopefully everybody can get together and try to deal with this and say goodbye to our friends.
On Big Mountain, I'm Lee Stoll reporting.
Officials say the death probably was an accident, but because many people become disoriented
after drinking, medical examiners will do an autopsy and a toxicology test.
If you're with somebody that you can see is obviously getting very intoxicated, don't
let them go by themselves.
Stay with them, be with them, get them to stop drinking and get them to a safe place.
Again officials say Veste likely died from hypothermia.
A diabetic driver responsible for killing three family members near Lolo in the spring
of 2000 is facing nine years probation.
Aliyah Mahi has this story.
William Andrew Johnson sat slumped over through the two hour sentencing, showing few signs
of emotion, listening to family members from both sides, sharing a glimpse of who they
lost.
William Johnson, I hope the first thing you think about each morning when you wake up
is that you killed three innocent children.
Judge Ed McLean sentenced Johnson to nine years probation for the car crash that killed
22 year old James Neumeyer Jr., his year old daughter and 18 year old Amber Knudson.
McLean ruled that Johnson, who suffers from diabetes, had been warned not to drive when
his blood sugar was low and said previous accidents should have reminded Johnson of
the importance of taking his insulin.
Jessica Neumeyer, James' wife, asked Johnson why he didn't take care of himself and expressed
her anguish over raising the one child she has left alone.
Nothing is ever going to bring them back, no matter if he goes to the death chair.
I don't hate the man, but I don't think you can trust him either.
Johnson apologized for the accident, but Jessica says it doesn't change what's been done.
I don't think there's ever going to be any sort of closure to this.
Reporting in Missoula, I'm Aliah Mahi.
If Johnson is caught driving, he could go to prison for 60 years.
A judge has sentenced the man who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, then led police on a manhunt
through Glacier National Park, to life in prison.
Officers arrested Joseph Aceto.
Back in 2000, he was convicted of two counts of attempted homicide and aggravated kidnapping.
Saying Aceto's 21-odd felony charges make him a danger to society, the judge sentenced
him to 210 years in prison without parole.
Aceto's lawyer filed a motion for a new trial.
And in just one week, Nathaniel Barjonah will go to trial, in Butte, on charges of kidnapping
and assaulting three Great Falls boys.
As Cindy Reese reports, officials still making last-minute preparations.
Local officials say security preparations and other details went a lot smoother this
time because they had practice.
Accused child killer Nathaniel Barjonah's trial was supposed to start on September 10th,
but lawyers asked for more time to sift through evidence.
Now almost five months later, that trial is ready to go.
Now that local officials went through a practice round of preparations, all systems are a go
for the real thing.
Since we already had the walls built, since we already had that type of stuff taken care
of, we just had to advise the courthouse staff of what was going on again and the type of
plans we were going to do.
Heavy security will surround the courthouse, including Judge Whalen's chambers.
The small room will be built outside of his courtroom, with a walk-through metal scanner
in front of the doors.
With 200-plus jurors expected to line the courtroom the first couple of days of the
trial, parking could be a tough problem.
We are going to try to shuttle people from the Civic Center up to the courthouse in buses.
The jurors, not the public, but the jurors will have that available to them if they want
to use that and we encourage that.
Captain Skolich says he's confident with the manpower issue and security procedures.
One thing he's worried about is packing 200 jurors into a small courtroom.
It's the smallest courtroom we have up there, so it's going to be difficult, but the judge
from Great Falls feels confident that they'll be able to accomplish it.
Captain Skolich also says that some of the details like where Barjona will be held are
confidential.
The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.
At the courthouse, I'm Cindy Reese, now back to you.
And Barjona is scheduled to be tried in Missoula.
That will be in May on murder charges.
The biggest high school in the state could be undergoing big changes as District 5 trustees
in Kalispell attempt to tackle overcrowding.
Katie Cannevy reports.
I'm here at Kalispell Junior High School where tonight District 5 trustees discussed some
hot topics that could help shape the future for Flathead High School in Kalispell.
Tonight, school board members heard from experts about rising real estate costs and limited
possible locations for a 60-acre new school site.
State parents came out to voice their opinions, most in support of buying land before prices
get too high and building an additional high school as soon as possible.
We want to stay in Kalispell.
I live within spinning distance of the Flathead High School now, and I'd be more than happy
to have that Sylvia High School if we could have another one and give twice as many kids
chances to be on the football team, to be in the school play.
Even if it means for a few years some things are cut, eventually parents will support and
the community will support two schools and things will get back.
Now tonight, school board members did decide to begin looking for a new suitable piece
of land for a new high school.
That land will have to go before voters for approval, but it's possible no additional
levies will be needed to purchase the land.
So that means it's good news for the voters.
Reporting at Kalispell Junior High School, I'm Katie Cannevy.
Some environmentalists say they could accept some salvage logging in the Bitterroot National
Forest, but they won't bargain away the public's right to take part in forest management decisions.
That's the latest from the federal mediation that's underway all over the Bitterroot Burned
Area Recovery Plan.
Now it continues tomorrow in Missoula.
Earlier, Judge Don Malloy put a stay on plans to log 44,000 acres approved by the Department
of Agriculture.
News out this week show Montana's snowpack was 90% of average and 161% of last year's.
West of the divide, snowpack was 97% of average, 79% to the east this week.
But Montana's drought isn't over.
Despite this snow, soil, streams and banks are dry.
Experts say what water there is will have to soak into the ground before flowing downstream.
Because we're in a continuous drought until we have the April and May numbers in place.
We see how things are shaping up and then there will be a review made to see if we're
still in a continuous drought, if we are, which areas we are, which areas have recovered
and those types of things.
And at least the researchers say there's a bit of good news with the stream flow.
They predict it will be a little bit higher than last year's.
Good news.
Yeah, let's bring in Mark Haken now who can help us get through this a little bit better.
We're better off than last year.
We still need more snow and it's even worse east of the divide.
And again, we're in a weather pattern conducive to heavy mountain snow west of the divide,
but just windy, dry conditions east of the divide.
Let's take a look from way up above and see what's going on.
We have a couple of systems taking aim at Montana.
One is actually moving through right now.
It's very weak and pretty much just producing a few flurries and snow showers in the mountains.
But a stronger storm system to the west of us will affect us later this week and over
the weekend.
But this first system is producing mainly winds and high wind warnings are in effect
for the Rocky Mountain front tonight.
That includes the east side of Glacier Park.
I've stayed overnight in the St. Mary's area a couple of times and one time the wind must
have been blowing 80 miles an hour.
That area gets it a lot and expecting it again tonight.
Anyway, I'll have your complete precision storm team forecast a little later.
We could call Mark our first hand weather guy.
He's been through it all.
On the spot, isn't he?
Well, coming up in just a few minutes, the military in Montana.
Even though we feel like we might be isolated from it, our servicemen and women are helping
in the war effort.
That was Weather and Sports coming up.
Tonight, Jay's all new with Rebecca Romaine Stamos, Howie Mandel, Willie Nelson and Olympic
preparations.
And Friday after the opening ceremony, catch the Olympic Tonight Show live.
And Monday, Laura Bush, Britney Spears and Olympic action Jay Stiles.
Catch the Olympic Tonight Show starting Friday every weeknight on NBC and on Conan Roseanne.
I hardly ever leave my house.
Why is that?
I'm crazy.
Managing the voices in my head is like a full time job.
Well then, she'll get along just fine here.
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In the Walmart rollbacks, working hard to save you even more.
Working our way, working.
His name is Bill, and he's the man that I'm working for.
Working our way, working.
His name is Henry, Clay Henry.
He's a fireman and a chariot fan from Subway.
He got real big on burgers and fries.
Now he's down to a smaller size.
Gets his might from his veggie delight.
Great taste each day from his local Subway.
He's Henry, Clay Henry.
With the help of exercise and the great taste of Subway's seven sandwiches with just six
grams of fat or less, people like Clay Henry are inspirations for everyone to find.
And they're going to follow.
Subway, eat fresh.
Closed captioning is brought to you by Miracleer, Missoula, Hamilton, Kalispell, and Whitefish.
America is at war.
What role does Montana play?
Well, yesterday we had a brief overview of military history in the Treasure State.
Today we go behind the gates of Mount Straming Air Force Base for a look at our current role
in the war on terrorism.
We're going to go to work today?
Guard mount.
The men and women charged with keeping 200 nuclear missiles safe and operating, prepare
for duty.
Ensure that we have proper nuclear security in accordance with what you're doing.
They're part of the 10th Strategic Missile Command, one of four missile squadrons at
Mount Stram Air Force Base.
They patrol nine counties, drive four to six million miles a year.
The stock weather, last couple days we've been driving on 87.
They just turned into green last night.
They guard and keep more than a third of our nation's Minuteman III missiles on alert,
ready to launch.
We never take things lightly.
Every time we go out there and we post out in the field, it's a very serious matter and
we take it very seriously.
The Cold War may be over and America may be reducing its nuclear arsenal, but Mount Stram's
commander says the base's role in the current war is as important as ever.
We are allowed to deploy forces like we have over in Afghanistan and around the world because
we are sitting here on what's called strategic deterrence alert, protecting the backside
of those people that have deployed overseas.
When the U.S. is at war, we're at war.
Just because we're 100 feet underground in the middle of Montana doesn't mean that we're
eating candy bars and putting our feet up.
Lieutenant Menke trains the officers responsible for launching the missiles should the president
ever give the order.
Got us.
0-30 for reporting.
301, 302.
200 missiles, all controlled at consoles like this with the turn of a key, but it's not
as easy as you may think.
Step one, launch key inserted.
A command to launch starts with the president, then the Joint Chief of Staff, U.S. Strategic
Command and finally the missile launch site.
Launch sites are in groups of five and he can cancel a launch.
Two separate launch sites, each with two officers, must verify the command codes and initiate
the launch.
We have never launched one of these things and we tend to believe and I think it's true
that the mission of these ICBMs is the fact that they're on alert and launchable at the
direction of the president of the United States and that in itself is the deterrent.
A deterrent that keeps Montana a key player in our military's effort to keep America
safe.
So so far we've looked at the past and the present of Montana's military.
Tomorrow we'll meet the future, the cadets of U.M.'s ROTC program.
Heidi?
It's neat to get a look inside there.
Thank you, Wade.
A Montana State University professor is supporting the HESSI spacecraft that scientists launched
today.
It will focus a spectrometer on the sun, creating images of X-rays emitted by solar flares.
HESSI stands for High Energy Spectroscopic Imager.
From MSU, Richard Canfield will monitor communications to and from scientists in Berkeley, California
and 100 observatories centered all over the world.
The bright light of X-rays and gamma rays is really high energy light.
Takes place, we just don't know.
So it's a problem in physics, which is why we here in the physics department of MSU are
studying the topic.
And Mark is next with weather.
I'm Jim Olliverson, Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where the improvements in healthcare
never stop.
Kalispell has had a hospital for more than 100 years, and now we are implementing major
changes for a second century with our current remodeling and addition.
These improvements will allow us to deliver the healthcare you need and want.
It is our goal to improve your satisfaction and convenience.
We appreciate your patience as we grow.
This is your appetite talking, and this is a tasty alert.
You're not gonna believe this, baby.
Right now, five Arby's roast beefs are just $5.95.
Oh, that slow roasted beef.
So tender, so juicy.
And those sauces.
That's what you want, baby.
Get five Arby's regular roast beef sandwiches for just $5.95, but not for long.
If you want the tasty, you gotta be hasty.
Give in to your grown-up taste.
I am rugged.
I'm hardworking.
I am tough.
I'm a rare breed.
I am full super duty.
And I am Montana.
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We've got the product to fit any job in nine convenient locations, so there's sure to be
one in your neighborhood.
Western Building Center, where the contractor shops, and so should you.
KZFW9, make it an appointment.
Well, the sun is very nice, but I know so many people are wanting moisture.
We need the snow, but you know, if it's not going to snow, let it be sunny.
And we've had some very fine winter days the last few days, all the way since late last
week.
But we do have snow in the forecast, even in the valleys in the extended forecast, but
especially mountain snow back in the forecast.
Let's take a look at statewide temperatures.
Hmm, 63 at Bozeman and 13 degrees in Butte.
No, no, no.
The computer making a little error here in Bozeman, in fact, at last report 12 there.
But even with the computer error, the computer is keeping up with the color scheme here from
the dark green, where it's warm, to the purple and pink, where it's cold.
It's definitely cold over southwest Montana to salmon Idaho.
That area directly under high pressure, the farther away you get from that high pressure,
the milder it is.
And also with down slope winds, you get the milder temperatures in the Highline and Rocky
Mountain front areas.
28 degrees, mostly cloudy in Missoula, a few flurries developing in the mountains, south
winds at six and a rising barometer.
35, the clouds keeping the temperature up in the Kalispel area, put an east wind at
10 miles per hour.
That makes the wind chill down to 21 degrees.
Our highs today, 36 at Missoula and in Kalispel after early morning lows of 16 and 12.
So although it's sunny in the days, of course, nighttime temperatures are allowed to fall
a little bit more with the clear skies as well.
We're not going to get that cold tonight thanks to the increased cloud cover we've been experiencing
the last few hours.
Temperatures for highs from our weather observers, pleasant, all the way up to 48 at Big Forks,
35 at Whitefish, 39 at Rexford, 52 degrees in Arleigh, 35 at Grant, Texas.
At Creek and 45 degrees reported at Hamilton Heights.
Around the nation, notice, and I showed you the Butte-Bosman temperatures in the low teens,
from there down to Salt Lake, it's in the low to mid teens thanks to that area being
directly under a core of high pressure.
Elsewhere, the coldest temperatures in the nation up in the northern New England state's
Caribou down to five above zero.
Notice where the snow is.
No, not Minnesota, not Montana.
Arkansas, and on the western sections of Tennessee, it's ski Arkansas and water ski Louisiana
tonight.
Heavy rain around Shreveport, turning to heavy snow around Little Rock, and even into Atlanta.
A mixture of rain and snow, maybe an icy situation there.
A very weak system moving across our area right now, providing a few, mainly mountain
snow flurries and snow showers, partly cloudy skies.
This is a very weak system, but it's a sign of things to come.
We're going to have a series of these coming through, and those will be breaking down the
upper level ridge, and eventually that means an increasing threat of precipitation.
Just some sporadic flurries and mountain snow showers here and there, but nothing major.
You folks in the northwest corner in the mountains could see an inch or two tonight as this first
wave moves through, windy to the east of the divide, then tomorrow just partly cloudy to
cloudy, but another stronger system moving ashore, bringing rain and snow to the far
western sections of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.
That one will then bring an increased threat of some light snow late tomorrow night and
Thursday, and then another stronger system comes in, bringing a better chance on Friday
and over the weekend, but temperatures remaining relatively mild for this time of the year.
Mountain snow one to two inches, maybe in the Kootenay area and around West Glacier,
otherwise just a slight chance in the northwest valleys tonight.
19 for a low at Kalispell, 26 in Polson, partly cloudy to cloudy tomorrow, a high of 35 at
Kalispell, 39 in Libby.
West central sections, maybe a mountain flurry or snow shower, partly cloudy, 21 at Missoula,
closer to that high pressure though, salmon down to seven above zero.
Tomorrow partly cloudy to cloudy, 36 Missoula, 38 degrees at Hamilton.
Here is the situation.
Right now we have that flattening ridge and there's the high over eastern Idaho, that's
why it's colder down in salmon, but more of a direct flow coming in Friday and the weekend,
and that means increasing especially mountain snow windy conditions east of the continental
divide.
And there it is, a few snow showers Thursday, a better chance of snow Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, highs 35 to 40 throughout the period, lows pretty much in the 20s to around 30s.
So Heidi, more of that mountain snow in the forecast.
We'll take it.
Thanks, Mark.
News for your health is next.
It's the ultimate sporting competition in the world, the Olympics right here on KCFW9.
America's Olympic heroes brought to you locally by Mountain West Bank.
As a young girl, Kristi Yamaguchi wanted to be the next Dorothy Hamilton.
And of the 1992 games in Alburoville, she fulfilled her dream, becoming the first American
since Hamilton to claim the ladies figure skating gold.
Mountain West Bank, proud to support the local broadcast of the Winter Olympics from Salt
Lake City.
Reviewing our last fiscal year, the numbers from January were slightly better than the
numbers from February.
However, the numbers in January were identical to the numbers in March.
The numbers in April were slightly lower than the numbers in March, but identical.
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Dollar for dollar, the world's best steaks.
A daily dose of fruits and vegetables may be the key to controlling blood sugar.
Here's Dr. Kevin Soden with the details.
We all know that eating a balanced diet can help us stay healthy, but when it comes to
fighting diabetes, avoiding high fat calorie foods may not be enough.
New research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds what you add to your diet is
just as important as what you leave out.
A 12 year study of more than 42,000 men published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that
those who ate a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and poultry had a much
lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who ate a western diet full of red meat,
fried foods, high fat dairy products and sweets.
The implications of this study are straightforward, to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, people
should avoid a western diet and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
The findings are important for all of us.
Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in the United States.
About 16 million people have this most common form of diabetes which can cause blindness,
kidney failure and heart disease.
I'm Dr. Kevin Soden for NBC News.
Americans have type 2 diabetes and left untreated, it can cause blindness, kidney failure and
heart disease.
Stick around, Todd Reeds in next with sports.
Vans joins the competitive spirit of the winter games to bring you some gold medal values.
The new Sony camcorders now arriving at Vans are early favorites.
Make home a Sony digital camcorder for just $4.99 or a very competitive Sony Hi8 camcorder
with LCD screen for only $2.99.
Select Sony's best 36 inch HDTV monitor and Vans will provide the pedestal.
Get a gold medal view of the winter games without leaving Montana.
From your neighbors, Vans.
We've got a really cool business called Westpaw Design and what we do is we manufacture fabric
done in cat products.
The state fund has really come in and helped us, they actually sent a work specialist here
to evaluate what we do and what each different station does.
They highly recommended we get into a stretching routine.
Every hour we take a minute to stretch.
We have a little fun with it by playing music and the employees have loved it.
Montana state fund has given us suggestions that we could implement and we've chosen to
do that.
We're working together.
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This is how we can get new ideas to save energy.
That's the reason that they built this store.
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Wal-Mart is definitely a good example.
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We have 288 solar panels, 180 skylights in the building.
This store is an investment in saving energy.
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Actions speak louder than words.
It's a smart thing to save energy.
Everybody should care about it.
KZMW9, make it an appointment.
Lady Grizz doing great in conference play, but now time to take the show on the road.
Yeah, and that's really going to tell the story of what happened, you know, because
they had such the luxury in the first half of playing a predominant number of their games.
How about the vocabulary tonight?
Throwing out quite several nice words, large in nature, several syllables.
Well, let's continue as we talk about the Lady Grizz undefeated in conference play.
But now Robin Selvig's team faced with the challenge of hitting the road, four of six
on the road.
One of the big things that being at home helped them do is regain their shooting cut.
They had a little stretch where they got a little off the mark, but coach says, you know,
they're back on it.
Well, we've been, you know, and we didn't shoot poorly in the Montes Day game, but we
had been shooting the ball great.
And obviously that helps.
And so we're hoping and we did go on the road in the first half and beat Weber State in
one of our better games of the year, maybe the best and a pretty good Idaho State club.
So it's not like we shouldn't feel like we can go and do the job, whether it's home or
road.
But we do understand that these are good teams and our ladies aren't stupid.
They know that they know we're going to have to play great to win.
And then every game is just huge now when you're starting to get closer and closer to
the end.
And every win will notch the Lady Grizz one step closer to a conference championship.
See, I started out so well.
Then what happened?
I just coming out of that.
It's just like stuff going on anyway.
Every win closer to a conference title.
That means they would host the Big Sky Conference tournament if they could capture that.
And that's always a huge advantage trying to earn that berth into the NCAA tournament.
See, now I'm back rolling again.
Watch out.
Here we go.
NBA stuff with the Washington Wizards at home.
You know, they've won three in a row.
Michael Jordan's team 24 21 taking on that man, the Toronto Raptors and Vince Carter's
team tonight.
They are in second place in the central division to the MCI center and Vince, nobody guarding
him outside so he varies the three 38 34 Raptors on top.
Then third quarter now will take you to the second half.
Carter with another triple 73 to 66 Toronto.
But watch out.
Here come the Wizards.
MJ only had three points in the first half.
Not the case in the second two here makes the Wizards pulled within two.
Michael in the fourth.
Now how about the baseline?
Man, that's his money for him.
Isn't it?
Hits it.
How many of those is he hitting his career?
87 to 86 the Wizards and MJ more offense.
This time another bucket 9186 and not only doing it shooting, but how about the assist
had like five or six of them tonight here to Popeye Jones.
That was the one that sealed the deal for the Wizards.
They're gonna pump the fist, baby.
Final score.
Washington goes on to win it 99 to 94.
A couple other high school basketball scores are I should say one and a volleyball score
to tell you about tonight.
Libby at home, a winner over Troy 76 to 67 and in volleyball, Ronan beats Polson three
games to one.
Well, let's talk about the Olympics because today was a big day.
A lot of athletes this week starting to make their way to Salt Lake City and check into
the Olympic Village.
NBC's Michael Williams tonight with a look back at what took place today.
The treasure every Olympian seeks gold, silver and bronze is ready for shipment Tuesday to
a secret location.
Shaped like the river rocks of Utah's rivers and streams, the Olympic medals are carved
from raw materials found in a local mine.
Now US athletes officially welcomed at Olympic Village hope raw athletic talent refined by
years of training will pay off.
I hear the national anthem go up.
Hopefully that's not the last time that we all hear it.
Preparation includes picking out Olympic wear for opening ceremonies.
Yeah, it's incredible.
I mean, we just filled up a shopping cart with Olympic merchandise.
It's overwhelming how much stuff we're getting.
Amidst the final tuneups, the media crush builds.
Skater Jennifer Rodriguez maneuvered through one.
It is exciting to get the attention.
Finally, people are recognizing what we all work hard for.
Sport and its ultimate prize on the minds of US and international athletes.
The controversy is over.
Our goal now is to skate fast and there's nothing we can do.
The security, other people are taking care of the security and we're going to skate fast.
Security planners hope they have provided just that, a setting that keeps the focus
on fun and games.
And the images of spirited, respectful competition and international friendship are the ones
that all concerned hope will frame the lasting memories of the Winter Olympic Games set to
begin Friday.
In Salt Lake City, Michael Williams for NBC News.
And the New England Patriots celebrating today with their thousands, make it hundreds of
thousands of fans that took to the streets of Boston today to welcome the Patriots and
their Super Bowl trophy.
And showing up a lot of folks at extra time from lunch today, the city giving their workers
an extra hour so they can go take in some of the festivities that took place downtown.
So those guys are having a lot of fun today.
Anytime you want a Super Bowl, you got to drag that celebration out.
Big festivities.
Check out the rest of the scores.
The
will do it for us this evening.
Have a great night.
Thanks for watching.