Katrina

No other natural phenomenon is named like a hurricane. We don't name earthquakes. We don't name tornadoes. Why? Perhaps because no other form of mother nature captures our attention like a hurricane. Maybe because they last so long. Whatever the reason, everyone has now heard of Katrina. I've done my fair share of chasing these behomoths, and believe me, I don't want any part of this one. Sure, we in the media immediately run to the coast when a hurricane threatens. But, Katrina is nothing to go running to.



Stewart Pittman, aka Lenslinger, posted last night about Hurricane Katrina and was nice enough to post some pics of yours truly shooting Hurricane Isabel a couple of years ago. I hope he doesn't mind my showing off those shots on my blog, as well.


What's funny about us media folk is the fact that we're gettin' our asses kicked by these storms and telling people not to go out in it, yet there we are, smiling like some idiots. I guess we're not the smartest breed in the world, huh?


Anyway, just wanted to say thank God for all those in the path who were able to get out of the way, and I'm still praying for those who couldn't. I have friends and family in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio who are still in the path of this horrific storm. So I say, hunker down and be safe. Leave the foolishness to us idiots in the media.

Hangin' with The Prez

During election years Congressmen, Senators, even the President seem to make themselves very available to the press. I don't have a problem with this, I just find it amusing how you can always tell when it's an election year because suddenly the President is visiting every small town in the U.S. President Bush was making a visit to Winston-Salem a few years ago that didn't have anything to do with an election. As a matter-of-fact, Mr. Bush had just given his first ever State of the Union Address the night before.

The reason I bring this day up is because I often take for granted the cool things we do in this job. This was one of those "cool" days. Not so cool just because the President of the free world was coming for a visit. No, we've had a few visits in the area. North Carolina seems to be one of those states politicians like to focus on because it's a swing state with more than a few electoral votes. But I'm not here to spout political rhetoric. The reason this was such a cool day for me was because my station was chosen to be the "pool" camera for the local stations. And my station chose me to do the honors.

The day started pretty early as we had to be at Piedmont Triad International Airport for check-in more than a few hours before The President's scheduled arrival. This visit was January 30, 2002. Yes, just a few months after 9-11. It was that very tragic event that brought Mr. Bush to our area in the first place. It seems the community of Winston-Salem was being held up as a model for the rest of the country in preparing for disasters.

So, after having the Secret Service check every pocket, fanny pack and orafice on me I was cleared to make my way to the tarmac. I was able to get up close and personal when the president arrived in Air Force One. I didn't realized how much more exciting this trip would become. After rolling on the prez coming down the steps and greeting the Guilford County sheriff, BJ Barnes, then-Congressman, now Senator Richard Burr, and of course, Congressman Howard Coble, I was instructed to climb into the media van provided to us in the pool. I was joined by still photographer Chris English from the Winston-Salem Journal, a radio personality from WSJS, and my partner for the day, Cameron Kent, from my competing station. It's not every day that we work with someone from another station but the experience was a pleasure because Cameron is the consumate professional.

As we left the airport in the motorcade I couldn't help but notice all the guns pointed at us from atop the many buildings along the route. The military presence was just amazing. But, what impressed me most was the sheer number of people lining the roadways from Greensboro to Winston-Salem. The flags waving, the people cheering, it was very emotional to see so many come out and show support. When we pulled into downtown Winston-Salem and saw the crowd at Fourth and Spruce, we were overwelmed. I can't imagine what the president feels when he sees this everywhere he goes.

I finally got a chance to get up close to Mr. Bush while he was speaking to some local dignitaries at the Center for Community Safety. This was the main reason the president came to find out what they were doing and how to tell other cities to do the same thing. I found Mr. Bush to be very engaging and sincere. I still feel like he does his best speaking when he doesn't have something prepared.

After a short break in the action we headed to the Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum for his "big" speach. We had it covered from all angles with our lead anchor Neill McNeill leading the charge from his perch in a box seat above the action. Brent Campbell was wrapping up coverage downtown as the president made his way to the coliseum and reporters who've most likely left our fine establishment were outside the arena for more on the visit. Although, I'm sure our Bob Buckley was there. If it breathes politics, Bob is there.

Time to go to bed, but I'll post more later.

Creepy Crawlies

Japanese beetles. Popillia japonica. Pest. Call them what you will, they've descended upon the Piedmont with a vengeance, and grape growers (vineyards) are taking the wrath of this ravenous beast. OK, maybe beast was a little much but one vineyard owner we talked to today said, "they eat, and eat, and eat, and never get full." According to the University of Kentucky Entomology website a single beetle may not eat that much but a group feeding can cause major damage.

My partner in grime, Brent Campbell and I, set out to find this menace and here in the western part of the Piedmont we have no shortage of vineyards to hunt for the flying nuisance. A couple of phone calls to local wineries and we struck gold at Laurel Gray Vineyards. A beautiful little spot in Yadkin County right in the middle of the Yadkin Valley, now famous for it's vineyards.

Brent and I were greeted by Kim Myers, co-owner of Laurel Gray. She and her husband, Benny have been in the business of growin' grapes for the last four years but after talking to Kim, you'd think they'd been at it all their lives. She was what we call in the business a "sound bite machine." After little more than 45 minutes of looking over the vineyard and showing us how the beetles have begun to decimate the tops of vines she had given us enough sound for a mini-series. (yep, we'll be coming back to her in the future)

As we left, and my stomach was telling me we were cutting into lunch time, Kim and her mom told us to head down the road to the Amish Community in Hamptonville and get the best deli sandwich this side of Pennsylvania. They weren't wrong, I polished off the turkey and farmer's cheese sandwich in nothing flat. If you're ever in the area you should definitely stop in the little country store run by the Amish. Traveling west on Hwy. 421 just take exit 267, that's the one just past I-77. Take a left at the top of the ramp and go about 4 miles to Shiloh Baptist Church. The store is behind the church and it's only about 30 minutes from Winston-Salem. They have plenty of other things to tempt your palate, like fried apple and peach pies, assorted jellies and homemade breads. So, next time you're in Yadkin County, visit a local winery and don't forget to go to the Amish Country Store.

Cancer's Many Victims

Over the past few weeks I've seen more about cancer than usual. I'm not sure why. I found out my cousin in California has early stages of breast cancer and she's starting radiation treatment. Last week I met a lady whose daughter is washing cars to help raise money for cancer patients because mom was diagnosed with cancer. And, today we worked on a story about what Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is doing to help with early detection of lung cancer.

Back to last week, our newest weekend anchor, Nico Belha, and I went to Walkertown to meet little Taylor Strassburg. Taylor and her friend Julia Barnes came up with the idea when Taylor's mom, Tracy, was having chemo treatments. It seems Taylor and Julia were getting bored this summer and wanted something to do. They washed their mom's cars, and then a few more. Suddenly it dawned on them that they could get money for the washings and donate it to the families Taylor had met at the Cancer Center where mom was getting treatments.

I was so impressed with a little girl who would think of others at a time when she must be worried about her mother. Taylor said she knew people at the Cancer Center liked it when kids came in to talk to them. So she wanted the money to go to the Forsyth Regional Cancer Center, about $200 when Taylor and Julia were done. I can't help but think about how brave Taylor is to stand up to this disease and say, "my mom has cancer." And, "I like her new haircut." Yep, she's a brave one. She's making a difference.

The doctors at Wake Forest's Comprehensive Cancer Center are making a difference, too. I learned today they have a study going on with over 1000 people in the Piedmont who get regular chest CAT-Scans. The hope is to prove that early detection of lung cancer can help save lives. With the recent death of long-time anchorman Peter Jennings fresh on the minds of many we set out to find out what technological break-throughs are on the horizon.

Suffice to say the doctors are on the forefront of new medicine, treatments and technology that will someday help those with cancer.

Bang the Drum LOUDLY

I recently had the privilege of meeting some very dedicated musicians. No, they weren't famous, far from it in fact. These were some folks from California who spend their summers competing against other marching bands. What struck me was the fact these competitors are not paid. They don't even have their expenses paid for. Every single one pays out of pocket to do this.


The Drum Corps Association was holding a "Preview of Champions" in Winston-Salem last weekend and Brent Campbell and I were "previewing" the "Preview." We went to where the Renegades were banging their drums and tooting their horns, behind an elementary school near downtown. The Renegades, from San Francisco, are touted as one of the best "marching" bands in the country. I didn't have a chance to see them perform but just watching them practice was a treat indeed.


If you ever get a chance to check out these dedicated musicians, you should. If it weren't raining cats and dogs the night of this competition it might have been something our family would enjoy. For now, I'll have to wait and see if they ever come back to our area again. There is a chance that the national championship could come to Winston-Salem so we'll keep our ears open for news of that.