News Blab 2008 - It's about News

3/18/08: Here's just a few more of the entries that rolled down Tejon during this year's St. Patty's Day parade.

Photos by News Blab

3/18/08: WARNING: Rumor until confirmed -

Okay... someone tell me this ain't so. I just got word via the anonymous "Got a tip?" form that Joe Myers and Molly Schmitt were let go over at KZNT News Talk 1460, yesterday.

If this turns out to be true... don't they know that Joe is Mr. News in Colorado Springs, and Molly is one of the only news radio reporters I see at most of the news happenings in the area. I was just standing next to her in Monument Valley Park yesterday, at that dead body scene.

As I said... someone tell me it ain't so!

"Local TV station part of missing man found dead story?"

3/17/08: News Blab has learned that one of the local TV stations may be very much involved in the story of the missing man found dead today in Monument Valley Park. As a matter of fact, that station may have a story within a story, one that could be award winning material. I'm guessing the reporter is currently working that angle... so we'll have to just stay tuned. Even though I know about some of the beans...I won't spill them just yet.

Photos by News Blab

Family members of a man found dead in Monument Valley Park

arrive on-scene (left), crossing a foot bridge to talk with police.

While another family member and a friend who found the body talk with police (right).

A police officer walks near the area where the body is laying, in a ditch.

Members of the coroners office place the body in a body bag.

Members of the CSFD carry the body to an area where it will be pulled up the embankment.

"It's confirmed... KKTV 'let-go' at least 6"

3/17/08: I've received numerous confirmation messages telling me that at least six people were let go over at KKTV 11 News either last week or this week. Although no on-air people were among those terminated, some who no longer are employed by KKTV had been with the station for a long time. Terminations came as a complete surprise to some affected.

Although I won't provide names, I will add that the positions of those who were terminated comprised... sales, promotions, computer support, and business management.

"And the 2007 CBA winners are..."

3/17/08: Click on the graphic to expand... Congratulations to all those who won!

UPDATE: Something I didn't include in my initial post:

For the 17th time in the past 21 years, KOAA-TV was named �Station of the Year.� This award is based on points accumulated in 21 categories. KOAA received the highest overall score.

Click this graphic to enlarge

"Happy St. Patrick's Day... You're Fired?"

3/17/08: WARNING - Rumor until confirmed

News Blab has received word, (via the anonymous "Got a tip?" form), that six people have possibly been fired at KKTV 11 News. Stay tuned for more, if it becomes available...

"Media coverage of St. Patty's Day Parade"

3/17/08: The media was out in force to cover the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday. Of special interest this year, a group that made news last year when they were removed from the parade and arrested.

This year that group was once again allowed to march with their signs, after last year's charges were dropped, some saying because our City didn't have the funds to continue a trial and risk a law suit... but that's another story.

With their return the media made sure they included them in their parade stories. Here are some pics of that media coverage.

Photos by News Blab

A couple of clowns... but KKTV wasn't clowning around, as you'll see in the next shot.

They attached their mic to one marcher, and...

... marched right along with the group, doing the interview.

While other stations decided to interview the group before they marched in the parade.

CS Indy photog L'aura walked in front of the group as they marched too,

getting some good photos as well as crowd reaction.

Both, the Gazette and Indy talked with members of the group before the parade.

Fox 21 zoomed in on the group as they passed.

KRDO gets a shot of flag waving by members in the peace bus as it passes the police command post.

"Watch out for the poop, Lisa"

3/16/08: Well, it wasn't exactly a life saving effort... but it did help keep KOAA news anchor Lisa Lyden from stepping in some horse poop that was in her path. She was trying to keep her hat from flying off as she approached those road apple delights that had been dropped just a few moments before.

I wasn't sure she saw the obstacle, so I yelled, "Watch out for the poop, Lisa.", from the sidewalk where I stood with a few others. The others laughed when I yelled the warning, but it worked. Lisa diverted her step, and averted getting a foot-load of stinky stuff. She was able to continue along the route making kids happy with the candy she and Rob Quirk were passing out as they walked beside their KOAA peacock parade entry.

I talked with Rob, Lisa, and James before the parade start. We had a very nice discussion. Here's a few pics, including the horse poop incident.

Photos by News Blab

Lisa Lyden & Rob Quirk.

Lisa with candy for the kids.

"Watch out for the poop, Lisa."

Rob passing out some candy.

"St. Patty's Day runners"

3/16/08: Okay... let's start out yesterday's St. Patrick's Day celebration coverage with the runners. A 5k run was held about two hours before the parade start. Here are some pics from that race. You may recognize some of the runners, as they're members of the local media.

Photos by News Blab

The runners get a police motorcycle escort up Tejon St.

The front runner, and eventual winner approaches my position.

Lots of runners.

A couple of SpringsTV sprinters near the front of the pack.

Joel Smith (green shirt third from left) from SpringsTV passed my location...

... and Devra Ashby (green shirt far right) from SpringsTV.

The leader of the pack, on the way back.

The finish line on Bijou.

Joel Smith from SpringsTV at the finish line.

Joel finished 10th in the Male Age Group: 30 - 34. His time was 20:11.45

He finished 53rd in the overall men's category.

Note: Devra Ashby from SpringsTV finished 33rd in the Female Age Group: 30 - 34. Her time was 27:21.75

She finished 159th in the overall women's category.

Hey, I know that guy, Marshall Zelinger. from KRDO Ch 13.

Marshall finished 8th in the Male Age Group: 25 - 29. His time was 20:11.45

He finished 48th in the overall men's category.

Hey... number 567 is Tak Landrock. from KRDO Ch 13.

KRDO photo Daryl gets Tak as he crosses the finish line. Tak told me this was his first 5k.

Tak finished 60th in the Male Age Group: 30 - 34. His time was 33:01.05

He finished 497th in the overall men's category.

KRDOers Eric Singer, Marshall Zelinger, and Tak Landrock discussing the race.

Eric finished 35th in the Male Age Group: 50 - 54. His time was 32:49.65

He finished 493rd in the overall men's category.

Two current KRDOers talk with previous KRDOer, Antoine Glover.

Antoine is now on the staff at Gold's gym.

Some even held hands as they crossed the finish line.

I only saw one injury, and CSFD medical units were on-scene to care for that.

"St. Patrick's Day celebration coverage"

Photo by News Blab

3/15/08: Coming up on News Blab... have we got your St. Patrick's Day celebration coverage!

Media, marchers, police, parade goers, animals, racers, walkers, sellers, & more!

- See which local media members ran the 5k race, one for his first time...

- See the coverage from KOAA, KRDO, KKTV, and KXRM...

- See what KKTV did, that I didn't see the others do...

- See which media members passed out candy to the kids...

- Meet a new photog for the Indy...

- See which one-time KRDOer is now working at a local gym...

- See the St Patty's Day Seven as they march this year...

- See the activity at the CSPD command post, as last years protesters pass by...

- See the one heckler who taunted the peace walkers as they passed...

- See which radio station brought in a bit of orange (Hooters Girls), to mix with the green...

- See all this and much more. Stay tuned....

"Historic hanky-panky in Colorado Springs?"

Photos by News Blab

3/15/08: Charles L. Tutt and Spencer Penrose were the co-owners of the famous and exclusive Broadmoor Hotel back when Colorado Springs was a much younger City. But even though we weren't a big bustling city like New York, we still did have some things like New York has; things they have grabbed recent headlines for ... hanky-panky.

Oh yes... even right here in little ole' Colorado Springs, way back then, it is reported that a prominent leader may just have been stepping out with a "soiled dove", just as New York's governor was caught doing within the last couple weeks.

In the governor's case that "soiled dove" was Ashley Dupre , but in the case of our purported leader, the "soiled dove" was Laura Bell McDaniel, a popular prostitute who ran a business in Colorado City.

And who was the leading citizen who is said to have been "visiting" Ms. McDaniel on a regular basis?

That would be, Charles L. Tutt.

As described in the book, "Brothels, Bordellos & Bad Girls: Prostitution in Colorado 1860-1930, written by Jan MacKell, Charles L. Tutt and Laura Bell McDaniel had an affair going on, back then.

( http://www.coloradosprings.com/relocation/fullstory.php?id=2640 )

And although Mr. Tutt was responsible for many things that happened in and for Colorado Springs, including being the namesake for the library on the Colorado College campus, I'm guessing his name wasn't in the papers too much for his "other" activities.

Laura Bell McDaniel, who came to Colorado City in 1888, was our area's most famous prostitute. She ran a bar on the west side, and her last brothel, at 2612 W. Cucharras St., is today part of the Mountain View Care Center nursing home.

McDaniel is now buried in Fairview Cemetery, while Tutt is across town in Evergreen Cemetery.

Do you know of any other "city leader" hanky-panky? Let me know...

Gravesite of Laura Bell McDaniel

Gravesite of Charles L. Tutt

"Mother Nature versus CNN"

3/15/08: Mother Nature made her way through downtown Atlanta last night, in the form of heavy winds and a possible tornado. She damaged buildings in the area including some windows at the CNN Center, even knocking out the word "Center" on their big red marquee sign which hangs on the building's front. Only the big red "CNN" was still visible after the winds subsided.

Debris filled the streets around the Omni Hotel, which shares a building with CNN. People were evacuated from that hotel and the Georgia Dome, where a game between Mississippi State and the University of Alabama was going on at the time the storm hit.

From CNN.com

"Denver's 850 KOA reported wrong death too"

3/14/08: A short while back I told you about how the Denver Post and Denver's 630 KHOW radio falsely reported the death of Denver business woman and City supporter Leslie Fishbein. Well, today I received the following link which documents that Denver's News Radio 850 KOA also reported her death, when she wasn't dead.

Here's the link for KOA's mistake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiUim2xzFmk

"Fact or Fiction - Is H.H.J. really buried at the top of 7 Falls?"

3/14/08: In my never ending attempt at keeping the record straight, when others may try to deceive or cause deception, here is another News Blab Fact or Fiction segment.

Is famous author and Indian supporter Helen Hunt Jackson really buried on Inspiration Point at the top of 7 Falls...???

Site where Helen Hunt Jackson was once buried

Answer: No
Helen Hunt Jackson was at one time buried where that huge pile of rocks sit at the top of 7 Falls... but she's not there anymore, and hasn't been for many years.

She died on August 12th, 1885 in San Francisco and lay in temporary interment. Her body was then moved to the spot above the Falls. It lay there for only 5 or 6 years before it was exhumed a second time and moved to Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, where she can be found today.

Photos by News Blab

Helen Hunt Jackson's grave in Evergreen Cemetery

According to one Colorado College author:
-----
In a letter Helen requested that she be buried in silence with as little fanfare as possible. The instructions of the letter were followed and on the last day of October she was laid to rest beneath a cairn of stones, on Cheyenne Mountain in her private place above the Seven Falls.
The land where the author was buried belonged to the James Hull family. Hundreds of people climbed the mountain and paid respect by placing more stones on the authors grave. By the end of the first summer the grave was a huge monument of gray stones. Her private garden was no longer a place of solitude as she had wished. Will tried to buy the land, in order to forbid the flow of tourist, but the Hull family refused to sell.

A toll gate was installed at the entrance of South Cheyenne Canyon and the Hull family charged tourist ten cents to see the falls and Mrs. Jackson's grave. One shrewd tour wagon guide, contributed some allure to the site by making up stories such as a tale of how ten Indian chiefs carried the authors body to the resting place on Cheyenne Mountain and buried her with dramatic rituals.

Actually, there were only a couple of wagons with a hand-ful of people who followed the rough old Gold Camp Road up Cheyenne Mountain. The men who had been hired to dig the grave carried the casket from the road to the private place of burial. There was no "fanfare" as Mrs. Jackson had requested. Even October's Bright Blue Weather, obliged with a mist.
-----

Another interesting tidbit concerns a women who was seen riding a bicycle around Colorado Springs for many years. Her name was Helen Jackson... minus the Hunt.

There is sometimes confusion with the two... but Helen Jackson was born 10 years after Helen Hunt Jackson passed on. Helen Jackson is the daughter of Helen Hunt Jackson's husband, after he remarried. Helen Jackson died in 1987, but she did live in Helen Hunt Jackson's house for a time.

Helen Jackson riding her bicycle (1965)

Helen Jackson's gravesite near Helen Hunt Jackson's grave

"Weather guessers... You're Fired!"

3/14/08: I walked out of my house this morning, and some of the last words I heard before I turned off the TV were, "You won't have to worry about this snow sticking to the roads today, except in the higher elevations...".

I was listening to a weather guesser on one of the local stations. I don't know if other station's weather guessers were saying the same thing or not, but the one I was listening to said what I said was said.

That being said...., I said goodbye to my wife, and mentioned to her about not having to worry about her morning drive, because the weather guesser told me the snow would not be sticking to the roads except in the higher elevations.

What I didn't figure this weather guesser meant was... "higher elevations" encompassed 99.9% of the Colorado Springs area... because guess what.... snow was gathering and STICKING to every road I drove on this morning. It STUCK so bad that, once it turned to slush, even more was able to STICK on top of that.

Snow stuck to everything this morning.... including me. I looked like a snow man when I walked through my office door. I received a new nickname when co-workers saw me arrive...

What did I do, besides typing this...??? Once I got to my desk I called the newsroom for the station I had been watching and explained to the person who answered what I had just witnessed and experienced, some of the worst early morning driving conditions of this season. I also made it quite clear to have their weather guesser STOP telling people, "You won't have to worry about this snow sticking to the roads today, except in the higher elevations..."

When they asked who I was... I just said, "Frosty"...

UPDATE: I received a call from the meteorologist who I was listening to this morning. It was explained to me about the many aspects of forecasting and what is used for local road condition predictions, etc. I was also told I could have been directly under the worst of it, at the time I was on my way to work. After our discussion, I can understand the why's, what's, and how to's... and how difficult it is to cover every aspect of what we viewers expect to see and hear.

After my weather lesson... I am now more versed in what to watch for... and I now understand that they (the Mets) do try to cover all the angles... but sometimes, some of those angles are just... out of sight.

For the record... the broadcast I heard took place just before and after 6 AM this morning, when the weather system was just starting to hit us hard. Also, here is the path I took... a path that had snow and slush covered roads... between 6:10 AM and 6:30 AM.

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