5/4/08: Just recently you may have read about a local
metro mobility bus that 'scalped' a lady who had fallen to the ground behind the
bus. Well... I'll bet most people in the area don't know about another
'scalping' that happened near the intersection of Platte and Cascade, before
those roads were even there. I didn't until I saw it in the book, Pilgrimage
Into The Past.
It happened in what is now named, Boulder Crescent Park.
The park is at Platte & Cascade, on the northwest corner. A 'massacre marker' is
attached to a boulder at the northeast corner of the park. It tells the
story, check it out...
5/3/08: KOAA's Lisa Lyden provided the most touching,
in-depth, and informative tribute to Mayor Bob Isaac, during the News First 10
PM newscast last night. Although both KRDO and KKTV also had Issac's death
as a top story, neither station had the quality and feeling of the KOAA report
(IMHO).
Lyden interviewed two family members during her story,
which added a very nice emotional touch.
Rob Quirk reported that KOAA had the news of Issac's
passing because Isaac family members called Lisa Lyden to share the sad news.
It took a long time member of the local news community to do
it right when reporting about the passing of a community fixture, such as Bob
Isaac. Someone who was familiar with Mayor Bob, someone who was there
doing the news about Mayor Bob, when he was Mayor Bob.
5/3/08: The Jereme Lamberth trial landed the local media
more than just a story; it landed many of those who covered the proceedings a
bunch of tickets too. That according to numerous "Got a tip?" forms from
photogs/reporters, and one e-mail I received from a station ND.
What prompted those responses was my request to help
answer a "Got a tip?" form question ... does ticket fixing still happen
between the police and media?
I received 9 responses in-all and all said that ticket
fixing DOES NOT happen, but that sometimes the stations will pay for some
parking tickets depending on the circumstances, (the Lamberth trial being used
as one example). If the stations don't pay, the photog or reporter has to
pay it, some responses said.
One station employee even said their employer will give
paid time off so the person can negotiate down traffic points, if required.
So.. to the person who had asked the original question,
there you have it. And thanks to all who answered. I appreciate it!
Note: One response did mention a station employee
from a competing station told the responder that tickets were fixed at their
station, but a phone call clarified that. The station pays the tickets, doesn't
get them fixed.
From the
Bristol Elementary School Historical Wall of Colorado Springs
5/2/08 - 6:05 p.m. KOAA News First has announced the passing of
former Colorado Springs Mayor, Robert Michael 'Bob' Isaac.
Last month an article in the CS Indy stated that Isaac was
in a nursing home, in failing health according to one of his five children.
Mayor Bob, as he was known, served as Colorado Springs' Mayor from 1979 - 1997.
5/2/08: While driving around town I see things... things
that make me think. Things that I place into my mental file, with the
tag... 'That might make a good story sometime'. I file it away and then,
sometimes do it, and sometimes not.
When I saw the news story about the Metro Mobility Bus
accident, it triggered one of those mental file things. On more than one
occasion I had noticed how a Metro Mobilty Bus was being driven; kind of
aggressively. I'm not saying that all the drivers who drive these buses,
drive this way... it's just that since I happened to notice it a number of
times, it stuck in my mind. I filed it away... until now.
So... now I wonder if it's time to do a story on the
drivers of those Metro Mobility Buses. Should I do it, or... hey I have an
idea... a "sweeps piece"... hint, hint.
From the CSPD blotter:
Incident Date May 1, 2008
Time 1:48:00 PM
Division Stetson Hills Shift II
Title Traffic Crash
Location 1785 N. Academy Blvd.
Summary: On 05/01/08 at approximately 1:38pm a Metro Mobility Bus was coming to
a stop at the rear of 1785 N. Academy Blvd, when a pedestrian, getting a walker
out of a vehicle, fell backwards. As the pedestrian fell to the ground, the
right rear tires ran over her hair, partially seperating her scalp. As the bus
stopped, the driver heard the screaming , exited the bus and summoned help. The
driver has been identified as Javier Camacho, 47yrs old, of Colo Spgs. The
pedestrian, Amanda Blakely, 25 yrs old , of Colo Spgs, was hospitalized at
Memorial Hospital (Central) in critical, but stable condition. After a thorough
investigation, no citations will issued to those involved.
Adults Arrested N/A
There just might be more to this story, than meets the
eye...???
5/2/08: I received the following "Got a tip?" form
yesterday:
message: "When I lived in CS if a marked tv truck was
ticketed we would take it to the city PR office and they would "take care of
it." We didn't pay fines for marked news trucks. Is that still the case? I
worked as a photog there more than 10 years ago and had many tickets fixed. It
was no big deal."
Now... I'm not even gonna waste my time and call the
City... cause I seriously doubt I would be given the real scoop, if the fixing
IS still happening. So, I guess I'll be hoping some media people will drop me a
"Got a tip?" form, answering this person's question. Thanks...
5/1/08: Hey... isn't that the morning guy from KRDO-TV in
this month's Colorado Springs Style magazine? I could have sworn that I
saw him just this morning, with a moth on his lapel...
Date: May 1, 2008
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Position: TV Newscast Producer
NEWSCHANNEL 13, in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado, located on the Front
Range of the Colorado Rockies, is looking for a Television Newscast Producer in
the News Department.
Job Description:
Responsible for the details required to produce a top quality, fast-paced,
aggressive and compelling television newscast consistent with "Where The News
Comes First". Specific duties include: Check and rewrite reporter stories for
accuracy, clarity and impact; write and delegate writing of stories in the
newscast; stack the rundown, decide the treatment of each story and check for
format accuracy; act as supervisor on duty handling all aspects of newsroom
management; monitor scanners, answer phones and make phone calls to catch
breaking news; supervise editors; communicate story ideas and planned treatment
to anchors, writers, directors, reporters, photographers and editors.
Required Qualifications:
Must have a degree in Journalism, Mass Communications or related field. Also
must possess excellent communication, organizational and writing skills. Must be
a good team leader, be able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced,
high-pressure environment.
ROCKFORD — Former WIFR-23 news anchor Mimi Murphy has
sued the television station’s parent company, Gray Television Group, for age and
sex discrimination and breach of contract.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Rockford’s federal court, alleges that the station
interfered with her TelePrompTer during newscasts, forced her to cancel all
personal appearances and created obstacles to interfere with her job
performance.
The station then fired her and replaced her with a much younger news anchor, she
said, all because she was a woman older than 40.
5/1/08: Per their website - When launched in 2009, BTNC will be a 24/7 cable news network that provides
original news programming with a distinctly African-American perspective,
filling a major gap in coverage of African Americans by today’s mainstream
media.
The official word -
Washington, DC — April 14, 2008 — Black Television News
Channel (BTNC), the nation’s only African-American news network, today announced
a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast (CMCSA, CMCSK), the country’s
leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and
services. BTNC is scheduled to launch in 2009.
