unexpected end of input, bind9 zones

[dave]

Hello,
    I'm trying to configure bind 9.2.2 on an rh9 box. I've got the zone
files in place, and confirmed they're syntax wise at least right by running
named-checkconf. I start named, it starts up alright, but i don't get name
resolution and in my logs i am seeing information about unexpected end of
input and so forth. I especially don't get the '$' error, the top of my zone
file i have:
$TTL
statement as needed by bind9.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
Dave.

May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: starting BIND 9.2.2 -u named
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: using 1 CPU
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: loading configuration from
'/etc/named.conf'
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named: named startup succeeded
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: no IPv6 interfaces found
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: listening on IPv4 interface lo,
127.0.0.1#53
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: listening on IPv4 interface eth0,
192.168.0.5#53
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: command channel listening on
127.0.0.1#953
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: zone 0.0.127.in-addr.arpa/IN: loaded
serial 1997022700
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: dns_master_load: example.local:1:
unknown $ directive '$'
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: zone 0.168.192.in-addr.arpa/IN: loading
master file example.local: syntax error
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: dns_master_load: example.zone:2:
ignoring out-of-zone data (example.net)
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: dns_master_load: example.zone:10:
unexpected end of line
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: dns_master_load: example.zone:9:
unexpected end of input
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: zone example/IN: loading master file
example.zone: unexpected end of input
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: zone localhost/IN: loaded serial 42
May  8 01:54:36 wserv named[21865]: running