Football Frenzy
by Adam Kohler
08/20/10

High school football is back!  August 20th has been a date circled on the calendar of the sports office all summer long.  It's without a doubt the most popular prep sport we cover, and therefore, it's also the most intensive.  Fans want and expect (deservedly so) all the details and highlights of their favorite team every Friday night.  What they may not understand is all the work that goes into putting on a good Friday Night Frenzy show every week. 

Tonight's hour-long preview show is the culmination of 4 weeks of planning, driving, editing, writing and researching.  Without cooperation from the schools, covering35+ high schools would be impossible. The work doesn't stop there.

Each Friday night, games end between 10pm and 11:30pm.  We have to go on air with the scores we've received at 11:15.  For the most part, coaches or a team official will call us with the score.  However, there are many times we are unable to track down the score of a specific game. 

That's where you come in. If you attended a game, please feel free to post the final score on our Facebook Page, or e-mail them to sports@wlos.com.   We may already have the score, but we may not.  With your help, we can deliver the Friday night highlight show you all deserve. Thanks for watching, and good luck this year!

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Watching the World Cup
by Adam Kohler
06/14/10

I don't regularly watch soccer.  I played the sport growing up. I was even a rec league referee for a few years.  I know they play on a pitch, not a field.  Its a match, not a game, and I know the rest of the world thinks of American soccer as an annoying kid brother.

With that being said, I am captivated by the World Cup.  Maybe it was the months of ESPN repeating over and over the global importance of the beautiful game until I was muttering the phrase in my sleep.  May be it was because I don't have to pay my cable company an extra 5 bucks a month to get the soccer tier added to my account. Whatever the reason, I am watching soccer for the first time since Brandi Chastain taught me that women could have six-packs too.

Some of you are not watching the World Cup. There's too much flopping, the rules are confusing and baseball's regular season is taking up all your TV time. I understand the reasoning, but I'm here to offer you the seat next tome on the bandwagon. 

For the first time in World Cup play, the U.S. team isn't just happy to be there.  A year ago, they made it to the FIFA Confederations Cup final, defeating some top ranked teams along the way.  Its not a stretch to think this same team can make a deep run this year.  Soccer has no timeouts and halftime is just 15 minutes.  It'll take less than 2 hours to watch an entire match.   You can't say the same about baseball, right Joe West? 

So give up the fight against the World Cup. It'll be over in a month and then you can get back to researching for your fantasy football draft.  I'll be right there with ya, but right now, Ive got some soccer to watch.  How about you?

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April Fools Day
by Larry Blunt
03/31/10

On Thursday, April 1st, I'm speaking to the Asheville Rotary Club. When I asked what they would like me to talk about, the topic made sense.  April 1st, April Fools' Day, "maybe you could talk about foolish moments you've witnessed in your news career" they suggested.  No problem!  I've got several of those, some that involved me (I'm not proud to say). Using the word "foolish" seems kind of harsh though. "Human" moments might be a kinder more politically correct description.  In news, especially live television news when there are no retakes, there are lots of "human" moments.  Very early in my career (I won't say how long ago)I had to pronounce the word "antibiotics".  Simple word, right?  At the time, not for me.  And after six attempts during a live newscast, I gave up and said... "drugs." I really felt foolish. I laugh now but not at the time.  If you could have seen how red my face was and that "deer in the headlights" look, you would laugh, too.

One thing I've learned is that we should not take ourselves so seriously.  That's not to say that we shouldn't be serious when we bring you serious news.  There's a time for that.  But there are many more times that aren't.   Another thing I've learned that is just as important, is when we do have a "foolish" moment, try not to overreact to it. That can make it look and seem worse.  Sometimes it's best to just acknowledge that you messed up, smile and move on.  It's been my experience that when people acknowledge their humanness, they really don't seem so foolish at all.  They seem like everyone else.  Just human.

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Happy Birthday, John Billingsley
by Heather Graf
03/30/10

It's been more than two months since our co-worker and friend died in a terrible accident, and not a day goes by that I don't think about photojournalist John Billingsley. I miss his impressions, I miss his funny stories, I miss riding around in the news car with him, and I still haven't been able to bring myself to listen to ESPN radio without him.

John would have turned 28 years old on March 18th. I imagine he would have had some big celebration planned, because John loved to bring people together, and his circle of friends was huge.

A few weeks after his passing, Russ Bowen suggested we honor John with a scholarship in his memory. Through the hard work of Russ and John's parents, the idea has now become a reality. It's been set up at Isothermal Community College (where John earned a degree in 2002), and will cover tuition for a second-year Broadcast Production Technology student. Contributions can be made to the scholarship fund by sending a check to the following address:

Isothermal Community College
Attn: John Wallace Billingsley Scholarship
P.O. Box 804
Spindale, NC 28160

John was an incredibly talented photographer, and it's our hope that this scholarship will allow Isothermal students to perhaps follow in his footsteps. Happy Birthday, John Billingsley. We miss you more than you will ever know.

Attachments:

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The First Two Months
by Katie Killen
03/04/10

Two months. That's how long I've been the Rutherford County Bureau reporter. And what a two months it's been!

It sounds silly, I know, but I finally feel comfortable referring to Rutherfordton as "Ruffton" (however, I'm still not sure how to spell it). In fact, I was talking to one of my News 13 colleagues the other day and threw in a "Ruffton"...just to see how it sounded. I'm happy to report, I didn't feel too ridiculous. The colleague...he first asked if he heard me correctly. I assured him that he had. Then he congratulated me on fitting in. I just hope the locals don't think it's too soon. I have only been here two months, after all! Still--4 syllables(Ruth-er-ford-ton) are just too much for every day conversation.

Now, please don't think I'm complaining (because I'm not...really). But, I did think when I moved south that the winters would be, well, just a little more pleasant. Yet, everyone from my mailman to the lady at the grocery stores assures me this is, by far, the worst winter in years. How convenient that it shows up just in time for my arrival in NC. Nonetheless, daily phone calls from my family in Pennsylvania remind me that, in fact, this weather is not so bad. The high in Ebensburg, PA today: 32 degrees. The high in Spindale, NC today: 51 degrees. Enough said.

Really, I've had a blast so far in Rutherford County. The weather is balmy (by PA standards, anyway). I've seen some incredible places (just last week I visited the Kid Senses Museum...if you haven't checked it out, go! It's great!). The views on my way home from work are amazing and this is my first time seeing Carolina red dirt. I even had my first my square dancing lesson in Lake Lure recently (I'm sure my partner's toes are still sore).

So, thanks Ruffton, for the warm welcome!

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Kindness in the Cold
by Andy Coates
02/05/10

As we all prepare for yet another round of snow I am reminded of the one that got away...
Covering snow is a different battle for photographers. If you stay outside too long, your lens will fog. If you keep the camera in the car too long,your lens will fog. And most of all, if you even think of going inside somewhere, your lens will fog. You can also bet that your microphones will act up if for no other reason then to make you take off your gloves. Each time is pretty much the same. Having shot news and grownup in Indiana, I have gotten accustomed to it.

Last Saturday I was assigned to cover snowy roads with John Le. We met up with a Highway Patrol trooper who took us around to the dangerous areas. Every turn we made, someone was in a ditch or stuck in the road unable to make it up a hill. The trooper just kept stopping and helping in anyway he could, but I noticed something else. At every stop there was someone else who just stopped. In the snow, in the wind, in the slush,they stopped their presumably warm vehicles to get out and push complete strangers. Then they would just rush back to their cars and drive off. Each didn't want to be interviewed or to be in front of a fogged up lens, they just wanted to help someone who needed it. On our last stop we hit what looked like an impound lot on Long Shoals Road.Cars cluttered both sides of every exit. Among the people trying to clear off the encased vehicle, I spotted a suitcase. Immediately I asked whose it was and an older gray haired gentlemen said it was his.I asked if he had to stay the night at a hotel because of snow and he said that he had flown in from Chicago, but could not get home in East Asheville. I then asked which car was his and he pointed to a cleared off Camry sitting in a parking lot. I looked at him confused and hesaid he got his out first but couldn't leave everyone else. I felt terrible to ask him to tell me that story again on camera and he felt terrible to tell me no. But as he said, if his wife saw him without ahat on, he would be a dead man, not a hero.

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Covering Winter Weather
by Karen Wynne
02/01/10

Flexibility and preparation. I've found out these qualities are essential when it comes to covering winter weather here in the WNC mountains. And, I have A LOT of room for improvement, but am getting better. On December 18th, we knew the snowfall would be huge. Yet, somehow, I was astonished that my trusted Honda Accord would not make it out of the station parking lot that Friday night. Thank goodness, photographer and good friend Todd Robbins was able to take me home in a 4-wheel drive station vehicle, so I could gather up some overnight supplies, kiss my family goodbye and move into a hotel near the station, along with many other News 13 employees, for what was planned to be one night. That turned into 2 nights after my husband called to say the roads to our house had become impassible. Short on clothing and sleep, I worked both early and late Saturday and Sunday shifts, shuttled to and from the hotel by several photographers. I was thrilled to finally make it home safely Sunday night, and enjoyed sharing my adventure with family and friends!

This past weekend, I was ready, or so I thought. My overnight bag was packed Thursday night, with enough supplies for the entire weekend, including food. The snow came later this Friday, so after my shift, I joyfully drove my car out of the station parking lot, only to get it stuck in the hotel parking lot. Photographer Matt Bingham & some awesome hotel guests were able to push it into a parking space. The next morning, it was time to do live shots from I-26 for the Saturday A.M. show. My trusted gloves and new snow boots failed me with numb fingertips and toes. An extra pair of socks and my husbands heavy duty ski gloves-like the ones I borrowed from photographer Derek Bryant-will be on the packing list next time. After night 2 at the hotel (which now felt like a second home to many of us) it was a Sunday doing weather for the early and late shows. Much of the snow melted Sunday afternoon, but not enough to get my car into my driveway. After the late shift, my husband met me around midnight around the corner from our home, shovel in hand, to dig our car out of, yet another snow drift.

Now we're getting ready for another winter event this weekend. This time, I'll trust my Honda less, rely on my photographers 4-wheel drive vehicles more, protect my hands and feet better in the cold, prepare to work any shift and long shifts-Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer was on duty for close to 24 hours-and know at the end of it all, I'll be exhausted, but happy to help keep our viewers safe and informed and knowing it will be another adventure to share and remember.

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It's all relative...
by Julie Wunder
01/13/10

What a winter! We aren't even officially a month into the season and I'm already ready for my daffodils to come up... Is it spring yet?

We all have our "war" stories of dealing with the wacky winter weather we've had so far-- including the HUGE snow storm and extreme cold weather. My stories are a reminder that when it comes to weather-- it's usually all relative!

My first reminder came with a trip to Arizona in early December. In a place that's normally dry and warm, I faced several days of rain and highs in the 50's. Not exactly the desert get away I was planning. However, back here in the mountains it was in the 30's and snowy! We kept reminding ourselves-- the weather could be worse.

When the snow storm hit Asheville mid-December, I was already at the station. I went into overdrive-- working nonstop to bring you half hour updates on the situation. It was exhausting, but necessary, especially considering how serious the forecast was and how bad it was turning out to be. In early afternoon I turned the reigns over the Jason Boyer and went home to rest just in case I was called back in to work. I was confident my 4 wheel drive would get me back to the station if necessary. By the time I woke up from my nap, I discovered, like many folks, I was completely snowed in for the first time in my life! Even though we predicted the snow, it was just too much for road crews to get to so quickly. Luckily they didn't need me back at work, so I hunkered down hoping the power would not go out. When I called in to the station, I learned that just getting snowed in was probably a best case situation. There were thousands of people without power and hundreds of cars stranded on the interstate. Many of my coworkers were stuck in the traffic jam or without power. Once again, my weather struggles were all relative.

My last dose of winter weather came in an unlikely place. I took my annual trip to Florida for the holidays last week. It's a trip that is often a great break from the cold Asheville winter. But, the cold followed me all the way to Florida! The Florida governor declared a state of emergency for a week long string of days with lows below freezing and highs in the 40's. There were record breaking chills for a state not ready for it. So much for my shorts! But, while I was enjoying highs in the 40's I was reminded through Facebook that all of my friends in Asheville were only seeing highs in the 20's. Maybe DisneyWorld in a coat is not so bad!

So, here's hoping that our long term forecasts are wrong and the rest of winter is not so rough. But just in case, remember there is always a silver lining out there-- you just have to look for it. And it never hurts or is too late to actually get one of those winter emergency kits ready.
Meanwhile, I'm still longingly waiting for the buds in spring.

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A New Year is Here
by Stan Pamfilis
01/07/10

The holidays are over, time to get back into the swing of things.
Holiday season started off with a trip to Atlanta for a surprise 80th birthday party for my mother.
The day we left, snow started, there was heavy rain in Atlanta, and of course 12 inches of snow in Asheville.

I called Adam Kohler to tell him about phone messages I had forwarded to him and he said he had been stuck on I-26 for an hour. We kept in touch on the hour for the next 6 or so. There was nothing I could do for him but offer support and keep hoping help would be on the way. He called me after 11 pm saying he was finally out of the jam! He was among the many stuck for hours in that mess.

The birthday party was a big success, all my 80 year old aunts were there to honor my mother, along with grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. The "aunt" table lined up with walkers, it looked like pit road of a NASCAR race, but with walkers.

When we got back, a lot of great exercise, shoveling snow for a couple of hours, just so we could get to the house. The white Christmas everyone hopes for arrived and all I can say is Bing Crosby can have White Christmas, give me a warm,sunny one.

I got a new putter, which so far has just seen the living room rug. The cat thinks the golf balls are her present, so I know if I play a course where you have to putt around a cat, I should score very well!

Happy New Year!

Stan Pamfilis

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Be Prepared for Winter!
by Karen Wynne
12/17/09

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit our National Weather Service office in Greer, SC. Several of us from the media attended. The purpose was to strengthen the relationship between N.W.S. meteorologists-those who issue watches and warnings, and broadcast meteorologists. We talked about ways we can better share information with each other, such as damage reports. We hope this good working relationship between the N.W.S. and the media will ultimately help all of us get you, the viewers, more timely information to keep you safe and make planning your lives easier.
Then it was on to winter weather discussions. Meteorologist Tony Sturey gave some disturbing statistics about how underprepared most people are for the cold, snow and ice. Sturey quoted a study on Denver residents who left their homes on a day that a major snow event was forecast. According to that study, only 8 percent of those people had extra food in their vehicles, 17 percent had extra clothes and 20 percent had winter gear such as shovels and candles!
This got me thinking about our big snow event in Western North Carolina on March 1st. While I, personally, was impacted: longer work hours, one missed workday when my daughter's school AND childcare closed, the inconvenience to my family was nothing compared to the big story going on an hour south in the Upstate. Less snow, but enough to cause one huge traffic jam that left some travelers stranded for 2 days in frigid conditions! I wondered how many of those folks had loaded up their vehicles with winter gear. After all, we usually don't think of Upstate South Carolina as a snow trap with treacherous travel conditions! But, we're headed into winter, which means almost anything can happen. I hope you're prepared with a few extra things in your vehicle that you hopefully won't have to use!

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Catch You on the Flip Side
by Courtney Ward
11/30/09

After two, of what seems like some of the quickest years in my life, my time here in Western North Carolina has come to an end. I promise I won't get all sappy or anything like that, but I do want to say "Thank you." Thank you to my "newsies" (what I like to call my News 13 friends). You all are some of the coolest, and funniest, people I have ever met and it's been a blast to work, and hang out, with you for the last couple of years. I wish you all the best. But I can't leave the mountains without saying "Thank you" to the News 13 viewers. Thank you for being nothing but warm, kind, and generous to me (even offering me a seat at your Thanksgiving table since my family wasn't in town). You all are great, and like my newsies I wish you nothing but the best as well.

Working in the mountains has been a good experience (although there are a few extremely cold early morning liveshots I could have done without) -- I've learned some important lessons from my newsies, met some of the nicest people, and am walking away with more fabulous friends than I had when I arrived.

So, in closing, this isn't goodbye but more of a "See you later" as I hope to come back and visit.

Western North Carolina, it's been real. It's been fun. It's been real fun!

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Thankful For Thanksgiving
by Heather Graf
11/24/09

Working in television news, we expect to work holidays. It's just a part of the business that we all knew about long before we chose this career path. Here at WLOS, our managers try to rotate the crews working on the holidays, so that all of us get at least one holiday off. Last year, I was lucky enough to get Christmas off. This year, though, when I started thinking about the holiday schedule, I decided to sign up to work Christmas, in hopes of getting Thanksgiving off. I realized I have not spent Thanksgiving with my family in five years. Too long!

I head home to Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday, and will get to spend Thursday and Friday surrounded by my family and friends and yummy food. Definitely a lot to be thankful for!

P.S. - If you have any story ideas for Christmas day, send them my way. I will be working, but I don't mind too much. It's only fair!

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The Mad Turkey
by Jay Siltzer
11/23/09

Julie Wunder warned Leigh Ann and me last week (on air) not to put up our Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving... lest the "Mad Turkey" take revenge for having his holiday of thanks upstaged.

It's some nonsense Julie's college roommate came up with years ago.

Living on the edge, Kelly and I put up our tree Sunday afternoon.
We moved a couple of pieces of furniture to make room for the tree.
(When you do that, you must vacuum to remove the year's worth of dust now exposed.)

Anyhow, the vacuum cord became tangled around my foot, squeezing tighter and tighter. Kelly couldn't hear me yelling... because of the noise from the vacuum cleaner itself. She continued pushing the machine; I got wrangled like a rodeo animal; I subsequently landed on my butt while Mally laughed hysterically.

I now believe in the Mad Turkey, just as much as the Great Pumpkin, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Please, for your own safety, don't put up any Christmas decorations before Friday.

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Volunteers Spell Success
by Jay Siltzer
11/18/09

I spoke at the Hendersonville Salvation Army Volunteer Awards Luncheon earlier this week.

I'm always amazed by the generosity of people with their money, time and talents. Here's what I had to say:

Thank you for having me here today.

More importantly, THANK YOU for volunteering.
You have made the Asheville-Hendersonville area 12th in the nation for volunteer service in a mid-size city.

Your efforts responding to crises SPELL results in your community.
They SPELL results!

There is no doubt, spelling is NOT my strong point.
I never made it past the first or second word at spelling bees in elementary school.

In spite of the fact I can't spell well, I chose journalism as a career... first working straight out of college as a newspaper reporter.

Misspellings have landed me in trouble more than once.
Nearly 20 years ago, I wrote a story about a young girl volunteering countless hours at a hospital.
Her family members were none too happy when they read she was a candy stripper, rather than a candy striper.

Another time, I was writing about a historic site in South Carolina, Star Fort. However, I misspelled "fort" with an "a" instead of an "o." I was never invited back; go figure.

Over the years, my spelling has not improved.
But my appreciation for volunteers has.

VOLUNTEER, I can spell that.
V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R

V -- The V is for voice. You are the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

O -- O is for outreach. You are helping, as the Bible commands, the least, the last and the lost. You feed them; you clothe them; you witness to them.

L -- L is for love. You love people who may not have known love... and may not be capable of it. Love is the greatest of all gifts, according to the book of Corinthians.

U -- U is for unselfish. You have donated hour after hour, day after day, week after week to a cause you believe in. You ask for nothing in return, yet receive unexpected blessings for your service.

N -- N is for never failing. You show up in the rain, in the snow, in the heat, knowing the work must be done... whether folding clothes, ringing a bell, or serving food.

T -- T is for teaching. You show others the way.

E -- E is for excellence. That is what you bring to every task.

E -- The second E is for endless effort.

R -- R is for results. Your work matters and makes a difference.


I know firsthand how important a V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R really is.

I remember 10 years ago when I battled cancer.
Volunteers wheeled me around the hospital, as doctors tried to diagnose my condition and find the best treatment.

Volunteers with the American Cancer Society answered a toll-free hotline and directed me to care in Indiana.

Volunteers only a few years earlier raised the money that paid for the invention and perfection of the chemotherapy that saved my life.

Volunteers brought food to me in the hospital, though I often couldn't eat because I was getting chemotherapy in one arm and blood transfusions in the other.

Volunteers helped with my rehabilitation: physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Volunteers have made a difference in my life, perhaps even saving my life.

You are making a difference.
Don't forget that.

The people you help may not always say thank you.
But, I will.
and I'll spell it: T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U.

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All Good Things...
by Jay Siltzer
11/09/09

"All good things must come to an end" is proving a tough lesson for my 21-month-old son, Malachi.Many children might be terrified when sitting inside a vehicle at an automatic car wash: soap bubbling, water spraying and blowers drying. Not Mally. He cries when the wash ends and it's time to drive away. He thinks the car needs "more bath," which it probably does.
Recently, at a restaurant, his portion of fried okra ran out before the rest of his meal. He melted down faster than butter on hot rolls. A bite of pie, a piece of biscuit or a taste of mac and cheese would not console. Kelly and I made a hasty exit with Mally, knowing our welcome had been worn out by shouts and tears.On Halloween, the most frightening thing proved to be that "Trick or Treating" ended. Lying down screaming on wet concrete steps in a tiger costume assured us he was appropriately dressed as a wild animal.In spite of Mally's tantrums, he is observing everything, developing preferences and voicing his opinions. That's a good thing I hope doesn't end.

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The Kindness of Strangers
by Frank Fraboni
11/06/09

I often wonder what would happen if I were thrust into an emergency. A recent story I told documented how some bystanders came to the aid of some complete strangers who had to ditch a plane in a corn field. One of the men was trapped. This young woman dragged her two children, ages 12 and 8, across the field running on foot until they reached the plane which was laying upside down. The mom and another bystander wasted no time trying to get the two men inside free before the professionals arrived. Her recollection of grabbing a crowbar and breaking the pilot's seat so he could breathe was amazing to me. Stories like hers are really worth celebrating, giving all of us reason to reflect on what we would do for complete strangers.

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Buy Local
by Julie Wunder
11/05/09

I love local food. I think it's great to eat what is grown nearby. It's really cool that Asheville has been a leader in this movement and so many local restaurants embrace the idea. I've learned so much more about how to prepare it from different chefs in the Carolina Kitchen.
Today a new company came in for Carolina Kitchen. It's run by two local ladies and it's called Winter Sun Farms. They are part of Blue Ridge Food Ventures. Winter Sun Farms partners with local sustainable farms during the summer. They take fresh locally grown produce and freeze it during the summer at peak harvest. You can "subscribe" to the "farm" and get a share of the foods during the winter. They prepare the veggies and pack them in great portable containers ready for use. If you subscribe you can pick up the veggies from December to March. Its a way to get locally grown food year round.
It's a fun new idea that supports a local business and local farmers... Plus they made some really yummy dishes in the Carolina Kitchen today.
If you are interested their website is www.wintersunfarmsnc.com

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Election Day
by Julie Fries
11/03/09

News organizations work weeks before each election to be ready to bring you the results on election night. Many times, we start working on an upcoming election the day after the last election so we are prepared. We call the boards of elections in every county we cover to get sample ballots. In Western NC alone, that's at least 15 counties. Many of them now have data and ballots available online, which makes that process easier. Then we input the races, precinct numbers and candidate names into our computer system. Our art department prepares graphics and images for on air and on line. Our engineers help trouble shoot and make sure that all systems are ready.

On election night, many day shift employees work a double, coming in around 9:30am and staying until we go on air at 11pm. When the polls close, we call and check election board websites for results and input the data into our system. As soon as we have counties reporting results, we run a crawl at the bottom of your screen and send the results to our website. Reporters are out covering the candidates. Anchors and producers are here planning for the late news.

Even on off years, when there are no statewide races, there is an air of excitement about elections within the newsroom. It's an amazing process that greatly impacts other news that we will report in the coming year or years, depending on who's elected into office. According to the Buncombe County Board of Elections, more than 64,000 people are registered to vote in Asheville and only 20-25% of them are expected to actually vote in the municipal election. More people should get involved in the political process. The results can influence every aspect of our lives and our news.

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