Back To The Classroom

L=play. V=insert edit. E=in point. This what I have been dreaming for the last week. And it's not a dream.
It has been a year or two since I have sat in a classroom as a student. In fact, I can't remember the last time I had some formal technical training about anything.
We often have workshops to sharpen skills on writing, editing video, shooting stories with a camera. I always walk away from those, hoping I can put into practice the good things which have been demonstrated (and disregard some of the other stuff).
But KTAB has purchased some new equipment which will help us better tell the news stories we deliver to your tv set and computer every day. It's the equipment you don't see. The computers used to assemble the video, audio and graphics which our reporters, photographers and producers use to tell the stories which we show throughout the day.
The new system requires a great deal of training. And Curtis has flown in to help us through it. So with 8 computers side by side on the big table in the conference room, we hear about "connection manager", "transfer manager engine", and "workspace." It is really a terrific system, and Curtis leads us in, around, and over the topics for today's class. The skills will help us bring you the news of the day and the people who are the news. It's an ongoing process. Kind of like learning the new edit syst!@#$%^&.
(I'm dreaming that Ctrl Z (Undo) will fix everything.)

Rain, Rain Go Away.....

It isn't often that folks in West Texas say enough is enough when talking about rain. But, enough may be enough. For one thing, mosquitoes. (Is that one thing, or a million?) And then the meteorologist's favorite term "Feels Like". That's when the real air temperature is 90 and the relative humidity is 99% making it "Feel Like" 170. Construction, roofers, road work, car washes..... a big impact on lots of jobs. And then there is walking the dogs where there is only mud.
But Sam says the La Nina and El Nino are about to stop and start, or start and stop. That means we're probably heading into a dry spell. That's West Texas summer afterall. So that 7" we are above normal rainfall, may quickly evaporate.
And the joy of scalping water from the Clear Fork of the Brazos River into Lake Fort Phantom Hill may come to a halt. (Phantom less than 2' below the spillway.... 90% full. When was it we were talking about the lake being nearly 6' low?) There is just never enough water (except flooding of course.)
So at least for now, enough is not enough.....

Welcome Lane

Welcome Lane Stone. Lane has actually been at the station for about 3 weeks, meeting contacts in the community, learning our editing and writing computer programs, co-anchoring with Ron at noon..... now Lane begins what will be her normal routine. She is the co-anchor and producer of KTAB News at 5. That means she writes and organizes the 5pm newscast and co-anchors it with Victor Sotelo, and Sam Nichols does the weather.
After the news, interviews and banter at 5, she turns right around to co-anchor the 6pm with me, and then helps get things ready for the 10 o'clock.
It will be a long day, but after just these short weeks, Lane is easily picking up all our systems, our news values, and learning to deal with the various characters in the newsroom.
She is definately a news professional, knowing what counts as a news story. But she is also a "people person" interested in what is happening to residents of the Big Country. She has a dog and cats, too. Lane likes sports. So she has lots of interests, which means she likes to know about things that you like to know about.
We're happy to have Lane with us, and look forward to continuing Coverage You Can Count On and doing it in the Spirit of the Big Country.

Farewell Angela

Angela surprised me tonight. She has been doing a series of stories on Big Country people who helped her when she first moved to Abilene 5 years ago, and those who have impacted her life since. Tonight, she talked about me. That was very kind.
But, Angela has made a great impact on the Big Country too. She is a hard worker. A reporter, writer, video editor, producer, anchor. She has covered the Cross Plains fires, health issues, the need for a sidewalk at a new Abilene school, bad weather. She interviews guests on KTAB News at 5 who are interesting, provide good information, and do fun things.
And outside of news hours, she helps athletics causes, judges community events, co-anchors telethons. She has played an active role in what we do at KTAB and what happens in the community.
We all wish her well as she stays in the news business to anchor newscasts at 4029TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Angela has several days left with us, so be sure and say thanks when you see her around. Angela, Justin and Turner will have a wonderful time with this new opportunity. Our final farewell will actually be Memorial Day.

A Tough Day

Very sad. That's the only way to describe the loss of Abilene Police Officer Rodney Holder. I had known Rodney from about the time he joined the force. I would not put myself in the category of a "best" friend like the "Police Brotherhood", but certainly we were friends. I often saw him working and contacted him for information about an incident that he had investigated.
My wife, my children, and I all know his wife from elementary school events. His son is a dynamo. His daughter presented him with two grandchildren.
He was a nice guy who liked people and wanted to help them. And he did a lot of that.
We will miss his helpfulness, his humor, his smile.
Very sad.

Something Different

Why do you like what you do? Your job or spare time or school or retirement. Or maybe you don't like what you do. That's kind of how I felt about school. Just wasn't my thing. Retirement I haven't tried yet. So, that leaves jobs and spare time about which I can comment.
I haven't had a lot of spare time over the years, with five children and my wife to keep me entertained. I enjoy flying, music, reading. Yard work is there, most of the time.
But my job. Behind my family, my most enjoyable pastime. And the reason..... there is something new and different everyday. I sit behind a computer all day, and have the deadlines, but the stories we air are always fascinating. Accidents are not joyous, but you can learn things. Did you know its a bad thing to keep your cruise control on while driving on wet or slippery roads? Trooper III Sparky Dean says with cruise control, your tires will keep rotating at the same speed on dry pavement or wet, so going over a puddle of water can spin the vehicle out of control. Happened last weekend near Eastland. Two people died. Several injuried. That's not the type of story we like to report, that accident, but if we can save a life with that cruise control info.... well, that's what we do.
Did a story tonight about Abilene Police Officer Jeremy Holmes. On routine patrol. Flagged down by a mother whose baby was in trouble. Officer Holmes used the Heimlick Manuver to dislodge food in the child's throat. Officer Holmes, salute.
Will be doing stories leading up to Big Country Appreciation Day at Dyess Air Force Base. Dyess and Air Force people have meant so much and done so much for the Big Country. This is the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the first B-1B Lancer. KTAB was covering the arrival live from the flight line. I said, "Look up Abilene", as the B-1 approached from downtown and flew (fast) to Dyess, made a few passes and landed. Those are the kinds of stories that keep a newsman coming back for more. That's why I like what I do.

Spring Has Sprung

Its starting to feel like spring. And on the 20th, it is. You remember winter. We'll all remember the winter of '09-'10 for a long time. 5 major snow events. A very white Christmas. Total moisture accumulation putting us more than 3 inches ahead of normal. And cold a lot. I know that's how winter is supposed to be, but with 1 minor snow the normal in the Big Country, this one was unusual.
But now, the birds are back. The weeds are growing in the lawn. Time to start transitioning so we can complain how hot it is, instead of how cold. We're just never satisified. And there's nothing we can do about it.
Spring means "spring break" for lots of folks. School is out. Families travel. This year, while two of our daughters are with their husbands and baby, the third is getting a break from her job and will be home for a few days. And the boys are both traveling along the east coast and to Washington, DC.
Seems like a quiet week ahead. Sleeping late, afternoon naps. But, of course, there are those weeds.....