13 Perfect Years TWICE

I have to tell you about the attendence record set at Southern Alamance High School this year.

It's hard enough for any given student to put together a perfect year, attending school every day. Certainly more difficult to do it for more than one year.

But imagine this. 13 straight years of perfect attendance from Kindergarten through 12th Grade.

When Jeremy Vaughn finished 8th Grade at Southern Alamance Middle School 4 years ago he got up on awards day to get his 9th straight perfect attendance certificate, with his mind already set on what he accomplished this year.

What he learned that day in 2005 was there was another young man at the school doing the same thing. During that 8th Grade awards ceremony 2 names were called for perfect attendence. When Zack Pickard took that stage with Jeremy Vaughn they learned that each had accomplished the same thing....9 straight years of perfect attendance.

Over the next 4 years the boys wouldn't hang out much more than their Athletic Schedules would allow. Jeremy playing football and baseball, Zack playing football and soccer, they kept track of each other's progress through each successful perfect year of high school.

Each of them managed to avoid major sickness or catch illnesses during holiday breaks or long weekends. Jeremy even attended at week of 6th grade with laryngitis, unable to speak.

The boys are stellar athletes and it's probably no coincidence the dedication of a grade school athlete that carries over to the classroom. And that drive to succeed also reflects in their grades. Both of them will graduate near the top of the 2009 class and they're both headed to good colleges in the fall.

Probably the only regret each of them have is Jeremy's 2 weeks off the football field for a knee injury and Zack, well he didn't mention any missed games, but instead says he played 2 soccer games and a football game with a sprained ankle.

Now the young men have their next challenge clearly in sight. College. And they both plan to continue their perfect attendance tradition.

Jeremy is headed to Averett Unitversity where he will play baseball and study Criminal Justice.

Zack is going to Virginia Tech to play Football and study business.

Watch the story HERE -

Chris Daughtry Premature Examination

When I arrived at work this morning I was ready to pick up Melissa Painter and head out on a trio of consumer stories scheduled across our day but when I saw our operations manager scurrying around the parking lot rumaging through newscars looking for spare equipment I knew something was up.


He asked me if I could get my gear together because Chris Daughtry was on his way and I was the first shooter to hit the parking lot. And honestly, I was one of only a handful of shooters even at work today.




I was already scheduled to help Stewart "Lenslinger" Pittman with this very shoot...on Wednesday...but for whatever reason...Chris Daughtry thought the interview was Tuesday...and you just don't tell a rock star to go away and come back tommorrow.

As I rushed to the Production studio and the production and creative services crews had lights up and chairs out. Melissa pushed our first shoot back an hour or so and I grabbed the three cameras and locked their timecodes.



Chris Daughtry was right on time...just 24 hours pre-mature. That's OK. We had our best guys on it...except for Lenslinger. He was one of those guys enjoying an extra day of a holiday weekend.


But never fear....Weaver's here. (oooh. that's way to cheesy and maybe a bit narcisistic.)




We had it covered though. I had primary camera and Carter took the reverse angle. Our Operation's Manager Timmy Hawks even grabbed a camera and was our roaming handheld. We even had a web guy taking stills, a creatives services dude shooting for an instant promo, and Chris Morton from production taking the photos you see here with my little Canon.



As always when the fodder is American Idol, Shannon Smith was the glue in this operation. She held it all together with her extensive knowledge of all things idol and the close relationship she's maintained with Chris since interviewing him when he was in line for the auditions almost 4 years ago.



The topics of the hour long interview covered areas like the new album coming out in July, his adament declaration that he'll always live in North Carolina, how he keeps his private life private and his new found love of Twitter. (He declares MySpace and Facebook too time consuming.)




After the interview was complete Chris didn't rush off, he stuck around for a bit, shooting the breeze with his Fox 8 fans from around the building.

Even Stewart "Lenslinger" Pittman made an appearance at El Ocho on his day off.



We couldn't keep him away but we didn't let him work...but he wouldn't miss a chance to stop by to say hey....Hell Stewart was right there with Shannon when Chris was just a guy in line to try out.


And this time Stewart even brought his wife for the perfect photo op.



The interview will air Thursday on the morning show. It'll be on the web. And it'll probably be in some of our other newscasts too.

Now that we've shot it...Lenslinger needs to get to work...editing.

Travel Channel Academy Segment from WUSA

Here's a short web-segment from WUSA-9 and USA today about the Travel Channel Academy in DC. Interesting the numbers that are thrown out...that only a small percentage of graduates produce video that the Travel Channel deem air worthy.

They also talk about using your furlough time to go take the Academy. lol.

Live at 39,000 feet

Internet on an airplane at 39,000 is cool enough but The Today Show did a live shot through the internet connection...and it looks good. I've gotta figure out what equipment get's the camera's video/audio so cleanly into the laptop to send out over the net.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

All in a Day's Drive Darn School Bus

On the way back from gathering the newest video and information about Sunday's Carthage Shootings, Nicole Ferguson and I were face with a challenge that many people face if they're anywhere on the road in the early afternoon....a school bus...and this school bus stopped 4 times...in a quarter mile.

I was beginning to worry that we might not make it back to the station in time for our six o'clock story slot. But the bus took the next left and we were good to go.

It's a good thing. We didn't leave Carthage until after 3 o'clock because of all the hustling we had to do just to flesh out a story in the first place. Being day 3 after the fact, most of the nuts and bolts information has been said. The key players who can or will talk have been talked to and the rest of the people who may have something to do with the case won't or can't talk.

Take the 911 operator who took the calls from the nursing home. She handled herself so camly that we wanted to give her 15 seconds of fame. Her bosses said no.

And the ex-wife of the the gunman, she had given interviews in previous days, but she said one of the other news crew had ambushed her for that interview and as nice as she was and as nice as Nicole could be, the former Mrs. Stewart declined our request for 2 minutes of face time.

A neighbor who knew Robert Stewart 10 years ago reluctantly went on the record for us and that gave us a basis for a story but we thought we could do a little better.

When we got back to town from Stewart's old neighborhood we noticed white ribbons popping up all over the place. A quick step into one of the businesses and we soon discovered that the local florist was making ribbons and giving them out all over town.

A quick glance across the street and, believe it or not, there she was. We followed her around for about 20 minutes as she popped in on businesses and hung more ribbons. Now we had a story. Something a little different and a nice way to wrap up this 3rd day of coverage.

Deal or Dud - Strap Perfect

You know, some stories are just plain fun to shoot. Take our consumer franchise 'Deal or Dud' for instance.

This week's Deal or Dud - Strap Perfect was one of the more interesting...ahem...visually appealing.....and fun to shoot segments.

Deal or Dud Lady, Melissa Painter and I started our shoot in our studio with Creative Services Producer Jeff Fabrizio as our "still photographer" so we could shoot our model Wendy in her natural enviroment.

From the studio we went to a clothing store where a stylist met us to try out the Strap Perfect under several different outfits. Of course...I didn't get pictures in the other settings...you'll have to watch the video for that.

After the clothing store we headed off to see how comfy the Strap Perfect would be over time...during a workout. We went to Planet Fitness and let Wendy jog on a treadmill for 15 minutes to see of the piece would aggravate her.

Today I spent 9 hours going through video, making edits, finding music and re-adjusting scripts. All so you, the viewer, can enjoy, just as much as I did, our Emmy Nominated Deal or Dud segments...especially this one.

Watch the Story Here

Sat Truck Crash on Black Ice

A Salt Lake City TV Station's satellite truck went for a wild ride when the driver hit a patch of black ice...

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Frankensticks Miller

Remember Frankensticks?



It's moved on to a new home.



I now have Miller. Solo, that is.



I carbon fiber beauty and I don't think it weighs but about 8 pounds.

Martinsville Ride Along

I had to go up to Martinsville Speedway on Tuesday for a Raybestos Brakes press conference about new brake parts the NASCAR guys will be using for the first time at Martinsville.

As I arrived at the track I took my news truck around the track to get into the pits.

But the best part was the ride along with NASCAR Rookie of the Year for 2008, Regan Smith. Smith took me out in the Toyota Camry pace car for some hot laps - as hot as a street car can take you anyway - and I captured it all on video...



That makes my video of leaving the track in my news truck look tame...

The Real ThingNCAA Cover Up

Remember in the 80s when New Coke came out and people boycotted and clamored for 'The Real Thing'.

Well the NCAA Tournament is coming to town again and they're bringing the 'Cover Up' with them. You know...they have to cover up any advertising in the arena, including all those Pepsi ads on the cupholders on all 10,000 some odd seats.

Both my station and our CBS competitor brought the "New Cover Up" to area viewers tonight at 10 and 11 but I'm here to tell you...nothing's better than 'The Original'...'The Real Thing'...the Emmy Award winning - "NCAA Cover Up"

But you decide if you wish...When the 2 new versions from WGHP and WFMY are online I'll post 'em here...

WGHP -



WFMYs version...I took away the EMBED because there was no way to keep it from rolling...STUPID -

And Now...enjoy 'The Real Thing' - ;-0

"Picking Cotton"

In the part of the state where I grew up that's something that happens every summer on the sun baked fields of Eastern North Carolina.

But now it's the title of a book and the subject of a 2 part series that I finished editing today and aired on our 10 o'clock news.

Jennifer Thompson was brutally raped in her Burlington, NC home in July 1984. Through her recolection, a composite sketch and a couple of police lineups she picked Ronald Cotton as her assailant. She was wrong.



Ronald spent 11 years in prison before DNA evidence and a chance prison yard encounter with the real rapist set him free.

Jennifer and Ron met each other some time after he was released...and now they are great friends...and they both take up the cause of helping those who are falsely accused.

Here is the 2 part Buckley Report - Picking Cotton...

Social Networking for Employment Twittering Your Way to a Job

Sometimes the backstory on a story is better than the story itself. The story I produced today is in the embed below. I think it's pretty good but how it came to be is pretty entertaining too.

Friday our Web Producer Jason (@jerseyfreeze on Twitter) pitched a story about how people are using Social Networking to help find jobs for themselves. I was given the task of making this idea a TV story so I immediately turned to my Twitter and Facebook accounts looking for ideas.

At about the same time Greensboro Realtor Casey Durango (@CaseyDurango on Twitter) Retweeted (reposted) a Tweet (<140 character message on Twitter) from Jennifer Ruggiero (@jruggiero on Twitter) that she was looking for a new job.

Then, as happens in the news business, my story changed.

The bosses directed me to try to get into a naturalization ceremony at the Federal Courthouse. Well they don't let cameras in the Federal Courthouse so as I waited for them to call me back I added Jennifer to my Twitter Friends and tentatively set up a shoot with her at a time to be determined.

The Feds decided to let me into the courthouse for the ceremony so I planned with Jennifer to meet on Monday.

Then more news altered my plans. A winter weather system dumped 4-6 inches of snow on North Carolina paralyzing putting us into weather coverage mode.

I rescheduled with Jennifer and finally arrived at her place at 1030 Tuesday morning. I had also put in calls with the local Universities to find a business expert to speak about using the internet to network for jobs.

Without a call back by the time I was interviewing Jennifer I was pleased when she announce mid-interview that she knew someone who had successfully hired people based on Twitter networking. And that person...was one of the newer followers on my Twitter List. (WOW)

So she called Scott Brewster (@jrmozart on Twitter) and we set up an interview for just after lunch.

After I finished up shooting the interviews and corresponding cover video I made my way back to the station to transcribe the video, write the story, and borrow the voice of our nightside reporter Angela Rodriguez.

Of course the edit process was less than fun when the PC decided to burp, chuckle and freeze. I had no sooner pushed the send button to transfer my finished edit to the playback server when Neill and Julie were introducing a story they didn't even think was done.

Snow Day 2009 - Pictures

I never take as many pictures as I should, usually because I'm focused on shooting video of whatever it is that I should also take pictures of.



Anyway, this was the backyard. My wife measured 5.5 inches of snow.



After grabbing just enough video for the noon show I drove to the station.









After a day of driving around, shooting video, writing and editing my story (see previous entry) I jumped back in the truck for one more shoot for sports. Is it just me or does my truck seem to have grown teeth-sicles.



By the time I got home the evidence of the wife and kids' hard day at home was plain to see.

Snow Day 2009 Gravity - A Kid's Best Friend

I always try to get up a litle earlier than normal on a snow day to get a jump on the action. I got up today, warmed up the news car, got enough video for the noon news and drove in. I kind of figured the bosses would want a feature type of story from me today.

As Lenslinger would attest, working primarily alone is the perfect way to steer clear of lead stories. (Not always - did this 2 weeks back as the 6PM LEAD)

But today I did draw the feature pick of the day....kids playing in the snow....and since this was the first MAJOR snowfall in almost 5 years some of those kids haven't ever seen a snow worth playing in.

Now they have.

Snow Day 2009 - A NC Blizzard (sarcasm)

On my way back from Raleigh today in the heavy rain that has now turned to snow, I was listening to the NASCAR race from Sunny LasVegas when one of the PRN radio announcers who call NC home mentioned the impending winter weather. He jokingly called it "the Blizzard of 2009, that's what you call 2 inches of snow in North Carolina."



To me, that was funny, if only because it's true. I'm from here, but I don't fret the snow. Maybe one day I'll post video I have from when I was 14 and we'd pile into the family car during a snowstorm and drive around looking at the snowy sights.



My dad was a trucker and he could navigate the streets with care and ease. That probably set me in a perfect position to be a News Photographer because now when it snows, not only do I want to get out and see what's happening, I'm expected to.



So I'm giddy that we're getting some overdue snow. It's been since 2004 that we've had a really good "Blizzard". And this still may not be it. It's expected to add up to 7 inches in spots and we've already got 2 or so.



I'm gonna get some sleep so I can get out early.

Made in North Carolina Rockwell Casket Company

One of the more popular franchise series at my station is 'Made in North Carolina' Like the name implies the series highlights companies in North Carolina that make thing.

Simple enough. Of course, for the better part of a year now we've been doing this segment weekly.

I wonder how long we can keep this up...within a day's round trip too....maybe we should call it...made in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point TV market. Hmmm.

I digress.

In the litle town of Rockwell in Rowan County they've been making caskets since just a few years after the railroad laid the last tie in 1890.

So, after a year of 'Made in North Carolina's'...here's my first...shot sans reporter...written...again...sans reporter...voiced...by Chad Tucker...an eloquent baritone.

The Judge A Falconer

I've always liked Hawks and other birds of prey so I became curious when Michael "the mangler" McQueen dropped a few random hints on Twitter about his secret project in Rockingham County. I was so curious I almost acted on it but I have been patient.

Now that I've seen it...I must copy. Is that so bad? I mean...how's that old saying go..."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Here's Michael's story with the Judge who is also a Falconer.

Deal or Dud - Smooth Away

As far as our Deal or Dud segments go this one's pretty average but it's what aired today that I edited a couple of weeks ago.

I shot another one today....have to edit a third on Thursday.

Hopefully I can find some kind of mojo when I edit that one to put some magic back in 'em. I haven't had a kick ass Deal or Dud in a while.

Exotic Animals; Beware!

Exotic Animals in the United States may soon be invited to go the way of the busted illegal immigrant....deportation.

OK, so that's blowing it out of proportion but that's the gist of a bill (HR 669) that was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives.

The 'Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act’ would give the Secretary of the Interior the authority to direct The United States Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a list of banned non-native wildlife.

Of course they would also have to establish a list of allowed non-native animals.

But to pet shop owners the bill is very broad, vague and potentially restrictive to their business.

(and thanks to my station's new website, I bring it to you...freshly embedded)

Snow Day - Inaugruation Day - Cold Day

It snowed today. I didn't take any pictures. Or Video. Instead I was planning to head to a local school and watch the kids watch Roberts and Obama mangle the constitution. Did I mention it snowed?



With my wife's pictures proving that school was OUT it was time for plan B. At first, to get a feature on what Wednesday Newspaper front pages would be like. That story got moved to another crew when their story fell apart.(Apparently their story fell apart due to lack of attendence and the refusal of the organizers to change the TV to our channel instead of our competition who wasn't even there. *SLAP*)



So at 11:25 I was scrambling to find a child care center with more than 4 kids in the place that was willing to let me barge in and mic up a child, a teacher and the TV. And of course as soon as I'm about to roll into the parking lot of the agreeable YMCA I got the spot news call of the day.



A child has fallen throught the ice into a river in Eden. Well, Eden is a 1 hour drive. But the roads were fine by that time so off I went. I got a call on the way that the child was out of the river so I kinda new that there wouldn't be much in the way of video by the time I arrived.



I was pretty much right. The child got out of the river on his own and was fine. Cold but fine. Not much in the way of video. The area where the kid fell in is out of visual sight. It's a place I'd been before for a previous news story about the town wanting to build a park.



I didn't think I was going to get any video until I found and almost hidden access drive to the old shut down railroad. Bingo. I had to walk the planks out to near the middle of the span to get a clean shot but it was worth it. Cold but worth it.



I found out where the kid lived but no one would answer the door. I could hear them moving around inside, even saw the blinds being lowered as I walked up but they didn't answer. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that the 8 year old that fell in and his 6 year old brother were 300 yards from home at a frozen river...ALONE. The Eden Police say they're working on that.

So for inauguration day 08...I drove 125 miles and produced 30 seconds of TV.

Exciting.