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"Not leaping around on Leap Day"
2/29/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Happy Leap
Day...ahhhhhhh...ahhhhhhh. The guy below looks better than me... so no News Blab
stories today. My boss sent me home today. I guess I must have looked real
bad...
Unknown graphic artist
"A big pot of chicken soup for the flu?"
2/28/08: Colorado Springs, CO - I guess, from
listening to all the news reports, the flu is hitting us hard around here.
I've been battling it for a week now... with lots of chicken soup, and OJ.
Oh yea... and lots of tissues too.
Eat two pots... and call me in the morning.
"Talk to the hand...?"
2/28/08: Colorado Springs, CO - I thought this
pic was kinda cool. While I was stopped at a local stoplight, I snapped it.
"IMHO, KOAA Ch 5/30 violated a trust"
2/27/08 - 8:00 PM: Colorado Springs, CO - The
meeting is over, so now it is safe to post this story... something the CSPD
asked to be done... something KOAA Ch 5/30 News First completely ignored, IMHO.
This evening a "Sexually Violent Predator Community Notification
Meeting" was held at a local school. The intended attendees were,"
residents and area businesses where the Sexually Violent Predator currently
resides". The media was invited to attend but was specifically asked, "not
to publicly announce the meeting until after its completion."
So... what did KOAA Ch 5/30 do??? They
went LIVE during their 6 PM newscast, just a matter of minutes after the meeting
started, from outside the building where the meeting was being held. That
would have been okay, if they stopped there... but NOOOOO...
Then they announced the meeting was going on
inside, AND THEN..... opened the side door, stuck their LIVE camera inside and
panned the audience, back and forth for almost a minute, while the reporter did
a voice over report.
Okay...., what part of, "Media representatives
are invited to attend, but are asked not to publicly announce the meeting until
after its completion."... didn't KOAA Ch 5/30 understand???
Here is the CSPD News Release as published:
----------
Sexually Violent Predator Community Notification
Meeting
By For News Release questions, please contact our PIO
The Colorado Springs Police Department will host a Sexually Violent Predator
Community Notification Meeting at 6:00p.m. at Monroe Elementary School, located
at 15 S. Chelton Road.
The intended audience for this meeting is residents and area businesses where
the Sexually Violent Predator currently resides. Media representatives are
invited to attend, but are asked not to publicly announce the meeting until
after its completion.
----------
Just to make sure other stations understood the request, I called KRDO News
Channel 13 (since they too have a 6 PM newscast). A rep told me they did
not say anything about the meeting, even though they were aware of it. The
reason being, they were specifically requested in the release not to talk
about it before it was over.
Below are a few screen shots from KOAA's LIVE
broadcast/announcement of the meeting, as it was just getting underway (a few
minutes after 6 PM).
Note: I blacked out the faces. They were
not blacked out in KOAA's LIVE shots. As I said, they panned the attendees
for about a minute.
Here's a question to ponder: Since we do not know the exact reasons the CSPD
asked the media to only announce the meeting after it was complete, is
it possible that by KOAA doing what they did, they could have done more than
just, violate a trust???
Screenshots from KOAA's 6 PM newscast
"Did KOAA Ch 5/30 violate CSPD trust with sweeps
stunt?"
2/27/08 - 6:30 PM: Colorado Springs, CO - This
story will not be posted until after 7 PM per the request of CSPD, but that
didn't stop KOAA from, at the least, pulling a fast one and going against a
direct request by the CSPD. KOAA may have even done worse than that,
depending on why this specific CSPD request was made. Stay tuned...
"Yes Virginia, there was a waterfall in MVP"
- A News Blab history lesson -
2/27/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Yesterday I
wrote about a waterfall being located at the north end of Monument Valley Park
(MVP). Yes, there was once a waterfall there, as there was once a moose
there... but alas, both are now gone.
The waterfall was just east of the geologic
column, and south west of the 12,500,000 gallon reservoir (now Boddington Field)
that was built to hold water from the El Paso Canal. That canal water was
used to water much of early Colorado Springs, including most of Monument Valley
Park. The water from the reservoir flowed over the waterfall and into the
first of four lakes in MVP, located there at that time. Only two lakes
still survive.
Check it out...
This is where the MVP waterfall once flowed.
Then it ran out this way. The lake would have been there in the distance,
to the left.
At the top of the MVP waterfall, looking down.
A bench sits near the top.
Part of the old water flow path, before it got to the waterfall.
The MVP Geologic Column.
"Leah Ann's bench"
2/26/08: Colorado Springs, CO - A couple of
weeks ago I was taking a nice walk in Monument Valley Park, in a section of the
park I hadn't really been to in a long while. It was the area where I had,
at one time, spent a great deal of time, during the Moose's stay here, and
after. The northern section of MVP is where a tall waterfall once ran,
dumping H2O which flowed from a small reservoir (now a soccer field) into
a large pond (now a playground and grassy area).
It was in this large grassy area, on this day
covered with snow, where I decided to rest for a short time before continuing my
walk. I made my way over to one of the brown metal benches in the area,
and sat down... but not before I read the dedication plate that was affixed to
this memorial bench.
The name on the plate read, Leah Ann Trutna.
It also contained a few more words, words that made one think... and some
graphics of a girl, in a track outfit, running, and a pair of runners shoes.
Yes, there were other memorial benches in the
area, ones I could have chosen to sit down on, but now... for this instant I was
sitting on Leah Ann's bench. Who was Leah Ann Trutna, I wondered?
Who was this person that this memorial bench was
dedicated for? And who are all those people who have other benches
dedicated to them? Benches that fill Monument Valley Park, as well as
other parks in Colorado Springs. The City offers a program for one to dedicate a
bench or a tree.
And yes, I did take the time to find out who
Leah Ann Trutna was... and after reading about her I can see why a bench was
dedicated to her. She was a person who lived life, and who was loved by
many. She was an athlete of superior talent. And she was tragically taken
from her family and friends through no fault of her own, at an age where most
are just beginning to spread their wings.
Below are just a few of the many other memorial
benches that you can come upon during a walk through MVP.
To read more about the memorial bench program,
go here:
http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=134
"Battle of the News Noon-er 'A' Block"
2/25/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Since I was home
sick today I decided to check out the three noon newscasts, looking to see who
had the best "News Noon-er". A "News Noon-er" being defined as, - The
station with the best update of recent/current local news during their "A"
Block.
Below is how I rated each of the three for their
noon newscast, today.
#1 KKTV 11 News (4 stars ****)
#2 KRDO News Channel 13 (3 stars ***)
#3 KOAA News First (1 star *)
"Possible downtown kidnapping"
2/25/08 - 11:10 AM: Colorado Springs, CO - A possible
kidnapping occurred downtown Colorado Springs on Tejon St. at approximately 11
AM, today. The possible male victim was reported to have been taken by 3
people, in the victims own car. Police are currently searching the area.
UPDATE:
12: 45 PM - The suspects involved in the earlier
kidnapping, as well as the victim, have been located at a local bank. The
suspects have been taken into custody by the CSPD. Detectives are en-route
to the bank.
The investigation of this event has spanned over
three CSPD divisions, with leads or occurrences happening throughout the City.
The quick and thorough resources of the CSPD may have helped prevent this crime
from becoming an even more dastardly deed. Congrats and thanks to the
CSPD!!!
UPDATE: Here is the
CSPD blotter entry about the incident:
Incident Date: February 25, 2008
Time: 10:55:00 AM
Division: Investigations Shift I
Title: Other
Location: 519 North Tejon Street
Summary: On 02/25/08 at approximately 10:55 am, officers from the Gold Hill
Division responded to the above address concerning a possible kidnapping
incident. An adult female was reporting that her 34-year-old husband was being
held against his will by people who were trying to force him to pay money for a
drug debt. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Section responded to assist with
the investigation. According to the female, her husband was last seen inside a
car with the suspects in the area of 519 N. Tejon. The female also reported that
she too had been held against her will and robbed by the same suspects a short
time earlier. She had managed to get away from the suspects prior to calling the
police. At approximately 12:30 pm, the male victim and four other adult males
were located by Sand Creek Division officers at the TCF bank at 3175 East Platte
Avenue. These four males were then detained for questioning. Two of those men
were subsequently arrested for Kidnapping and Robbery. The other two individuals
were released pending additional investigation. No injuries were reported as a
result of the incident. Weapons were threatened by the suspects, but none were
seen.
Adults Arrested: Denard Thompson, age 27 and Andre Bethea, age 18
"Now this is COOL!"
2/25/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Along with KRDO
TV sporting a new look... their website (KRDO.com) also appears to be taking on
a new appearance. I just checked it and found the following banner:
I clicked on it and got to watch LIVE video of
the breaking news they referenced, in this case the accident on I-25.
Wow... do we have a news channel in town that will also be paying more attention
to web viewers, adding a new dimension with breaking news streaming video,
etc...???
"Partial wall collapse injures workers"
2/25/08: Colorado Springs, CO - The new CarMax
superstore being constructed on Tutt Blvd was the scene of a partial wall
collapse this morning. Emergency units were dispatched to the scene after two
250 pound beams fell from a height of about 12 feet, hitting and injuring a
couple of construction workers, working on the ground under the beams.
One worker was hit in the shoulder and stomach by the two, 250 pound
projectiles, and was taken by AMR to the hospital. The condition of the other
worker is unknown.
"KRDO sporting a new look"
2/25/08: Colorado Springs, CO - KRDO News
Channel 13's newscast sported a new look and sound after last night's academy
awards show. With new logos, new graphics packages, and even a new tune or
two... the News Channel 13 10 PM edition looked a bit different, as did this
morning's show.
KRDO's hopes are to cement a solid second place
position in this news viewing market... maybe even inching their way to the top
spot, eventually...??? A new look, feel, and sound might just help a
bit... adding to an already documented better news product that they've been
putting out.
The previous 2nd place holder, KKTV 11 News just
announced the addition of a new ND, one that was previously the assistant ND.
And although a new moniker of -delivering excellence- is a part of their new
self touting promotional venue, this viewer still sees KKTV's news product as
needing a bit more work, before they can even think about moving up from the
third, and possibly forth place position.
A new ND can only do so much in a newsroom
filled with "attitude", when that attitude may not be focused on news gathering.
"Ah Oh... another body found"
2/24/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Kudos to KOAA Ch
5/30 for informing their viewers of this discovery on their 5:30 PM newscast.
It wasn't until I saw their report with a reporter LIVE on-scene that I figured
to check the blotter.
We'll just have to wait for the official word to
see how this one will be ruled.
From today's blotter:
Incident Date: February 24, 2008
Time: 3:52:00 PM
Division: Gold Hill Shift I
Location 1100 South Nevada Avenue
Summary: At approximately 3:52pm,the Colorado Springs Police Department was
notified of a male floating in Fountain Creek adjacent to Dorchester Park.
Officers arrived and with the assistance of the reporting party found a white
male deceased in the creek. The Colorado Springs Fire Department assisted in
recovering the body of the deceased male who is approximately 55 years of age.
Information obtained from the reporting party indicated that the victim may have
been drinking earlier in the day and at some point walked to the edge of the
creek and fell in face first.
.****UPDATE******
The deceased party has not been identified at this time. The deceased party and
the reporting party were local transients drinking in the park. The reporting
party fell asleep for a few hours after drinking with the deceased party, and
awoke to find him in the creek.
"Early morning SWAT & robot action"
2/24/08 - 7:45 AM: Colorado Springs, CO - It was
early to bed, early to rise, early to deploy CSPD robot this morning at a house
on Kingsley Dr, near the Citadel Mall. CSPD officers and members of
the special tactical units, including SWAT, EOD and the robot section arrived
pre-dawn to perform an extraction of an individual who could have possibly had
access to multiple weapons, being a threat to himself and the community.
After numerous bullhorn commands failed to bring
attention, the CSPD robot was deployed and used to breach various points around
the house, trying to gain a visual with their special devices. This
eventually got the attention of the subject inside, who came out, complying with
police commands. The residence was then cleared.
KRDO News Channel 13 arrived about a half hour
after me, and was setting up for a LIVE shot when I was leaving. When
their news van pulled up to where I was, reporter Nicole Darin was busy fixing
her hair in the vanity mirror, and didn't see me. Nice hair is a good
thing on camera... and Nicole looked very nice during her LIVE shot.
Note: A couple of you over there
at KKTV could follow Nicole's hair care tips... and you know who you are.
Photos by News Blab
Deploying the CSPD robot
Blocking all the streets around the area
The Command Post and EOD vehicles in place
From another angle
KRDO News Channel 13 arrives, as I leave
"Memorial benches... ever wonder where you sit?"
2/23/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Have you ever
sat down to rest after a long walk around a local park and wondered whose
memorial bench you were sitting on? Most people probably don't even take
the time to read the name plate on the back, but when they do... like these two
in the photo below, I'll bet they at least wonder a little bit about the person
who the bench is in memory of. I do... and I'll be sharing a bit about
those benches with you. Stay tuned...
Photos by News Blab
"A bit of girder grind... yea, that's the
ticket!"
2/23/08: Colorado Springs, CO - Gazette reporter
Lance Benzel didn't know who I was when he walked up to me during my Cimarron
Bridge girder gazing, something he told me after I gave my name. I could
only imagine what he thought after he wrote down one of my more interesting
quotes, one answering a question he asked.
I said something that wouldn't surprise those
who know me, or have read News Blab for a while. Yes, I'm a news junkie,
and seeing that crane tip over while hoisting one of those massive girders,
without hurting anyone of course, would have been a much better breaking news
picture than watching what I WAS watching. But then again, I knew it wouldn't be
happening today, since those construction guys did know what they were doing.
That part of the quote wasn't added to Lance's
article, printed in today's Gazette. But he did quote me about the
tipping, which surprised the heck out of me. Thanks Lance... and it was
nice to meet you.
If you'd like to read Lance's article about
people's reaction to the Cimarron bridge girder gazing, go here:
http://www.gazette.com/articles/bridge_33442___article.html/construction_colorado.html
Photos by News Blab
Gazette reporter Lance Benzel gets gazer's reaction.
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