A week of breaking news

Don't blink or you'll miss a new, unfolding spot news story.

Holy cow! What a whirlwind since the very beginning of the new year.

Some of this week's highlights include a home invasion/stabbing in, of all places, Pepper Pike. Dave Summers and Randy White started out on this story...which began with a wkyc viewer calling me the minute I stepped on the news assignment desk asking if we were going to do anything on the incident in Pepper Pike overnight? I had not even logged on the computer but took down the man's information...looked in our computer and when I did not see any information tossed a call to Pepper Pike. They were very forthcoming in what happened and immediately faxed over the information. In our effort to be first online, with Twitter, on Facebook and everywhere else, we tipped off the competition to this story. However, they did not get as much as Dave and his crew.

Now normally the aforementioned story would lead the news....unless you wind up stumbling onto a standoff /hostage situation in the Walgreens in Barberton.

Akron wizard extraordinaire Eric Mansfield received a call from a contact telling him about the situation....he made a few calls, pinned down exactly what was happening and we re-routed Dave Summers and his crew Randy out that way. I also dispatched a live truck to meet them in order to feed back video and go live.

In the meantime, we had another soldier killed overseas, and on the lighter side, the story we had been tracking about the Yorkie theft had a break in the case. The suspect was busted and the cute little Yorkie rescued.

While the reporters and producers are writing this all up for air, I'm going as fast as I can to get the ever flowing 'new' news on our website--hopefully before the competition.

If that was not enough, houses and gas lines started catching fire in Fairport Harbor....what an amazing story. I can not even believe how fast this story spread (no pun intended). Our crews were out at the scene for at least 2 days non-stop bringing the latest developments to our viewers on air and on-line. We had so much video coming back to the station and being fed back, it was hard to keep track of every element. We also really implemented our new Mobile 3 Live Gear which we recently put into play. Without getting technical, it's live gear basically in a backpack which allows you to pretty much go live from almost anywhere....Pretty snazzy stuff.

When Dominion East Ohio and the Mayor held their first presser, I listened in while they were feeding it back live.....and immediately put an update on wkyc.com. At the same time, our producer was doing the same to get the story ready for air....

But wait, there is more.....a few days later, Summit County officials uncovered a house having Ricin inside. Hmmm, interesting. For the next few days, officials, FBI, Homeland Security, Sheriff, men in funny HAZMAT suits roamed every inch. Another story Eric Mansfield and Carl Bachtel won hands down. They checked the house each day and were allowed closer than any other tv station. In fact, one day Carl was on the scene solo. No other stations were there. They were digging and searching with all kinds of activity. There was a press conference away from the scene where everyone else did their live shots....then I got the call from Carl saying "I'm here all alone." While he was giving me the lowdown on his scene, I was relaying to the producers and newsroom. For a few minutes, it was quite confusing because the press conference going on simultaneously with the search never mentioned that a concurrent search was happening. But, let's face it. When you have a stellar crew on site, seeing with his own eyes what's shakin' you have to go with it and totally trust your crews in the field.

And folks, all of the above is why I love what I do, where I do it and no day is EVER boring or uneventful!

Gearing up for Station project

If you've seen the current promo airing on Channel 3, then you have an idea of the fervent atmosphere engulfing the newsroom, and really the entire station, the last number of weeks.

It's been exciting to assist in this project which involves all employees working together on one, single story.

I've actually done extensive leg work for this project and have submitted quite a bit of input --probably invisible to most, but all working toward the final result of this mammoth project.

A big thank you to all of my Facebook friends who REALLY came through! Thank you everyone for your invaluable input!!!!


Stay tuned, everyone, and join us Thursday during every newscast for priceless information that could save your life or the life of someone you know!

iAlert System & so much more...news is closed!

Wednesday, thus far, has been an extremely busy news day. And that is why I am in this business! Factoring in the weather and school closings alone would be enough. These tasks are my sole focal point today.

But wait, there's more.

We have Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones in house speaking live on air during our 7pm Show with Senior Political Reporter Tom Beres, Carole Sullivan, and Eric Mansfield about the Medical Mart.

Mike O'Mara covered a story that hits close to home for me. He went to the arraignment of Dr. Yazeed Essa, who has been charged with poisoning his wife, Rosemarie, back in February of 2005. I went to high school with Rosemarie's sister, Deanna. Every time we hear from the DiPuccio family, see Deanna in our video or hear the awful story behind this case, I get chills knowing that someone I know is living this nightmare.

Our newsroom has been bustling today. A few folks from The Plain Dealer dropped in to look around and talk to staffers --why? Honestly, I am not privy to why at this time, and if I were, I'm betting I could not share with you! I'm sure we will all read about it in the PD over the coming days or weeks.

The email continue coming in...and I've learned that even if the email comes in before or after I arrive, I still need to wade through every single piece. It may not be addressed to the entire news desk or some of it may be falling through the cracks due to the mass amount we are dealing with....so better safe than sorry! But, this too, takes up a good bulk of my time!



As many of you already may have heard, we have updated our iAlert School Closing System.

There are now 3 bars of information for our viewers including a 'just in' line for newer closings and delays.

With any new venture or project, there are bugs that need to be worked out...a 'work in progress' so to speak.

So far, my experience with the system has been a dream! It is much quicker, easier and can allow us to type the day closed, status, and include a time for the closing to expire.

I've spoken to many customers who have voiced their concerns, though, about the system.

Many callers say the screen is too much. Others say with their new fancy HDTV's, they can not see the very bottom line or the sides get cut off.

Still other administrators who are trying to use the phone-in system get cut off and can not type in the status they desire. I've been trying to get everyone to log onto the website and do it that way, which is so much easier.

I'm sure, part of the problems are the school folks getting used to the new system, and some user error.


Many supers and program directors claim they never received a new packet of information....


This will be a learning process for all involved. But again, overall, it has been a dream on this end.


I urge superintendents, school and church administrators, company bosses, business leaders who want to be a part of the iAlert System to send or email a request on company letterhead to either newsdesk@wkyc.com or asisak@wkyc.com or fax 216.344.3314. Our system administrator will get back to you with an ID and Password and packet of information on how to use the upgraded system.

And remember for the future, do this BEFORE the snow falls!!!!! It will make your life much easier!!!

Changes unveiled at WKYC-TV

I'd love to give you the skinny on some exciting changes about to happen here at Channel 3 News.

The irony of it all. I can't!

You would think the person who has her hand in just about everything....who dabbles in many tasks....wears many hats.....and keeps in contact with staffers as part of her job description would have a handle on 'things.'

Think again! An announcement was made at the station today. Our managers summoned everyone near and far for a briefing in our newsroom conference room. Everyone except yours truly.

I had to man the news assignment desk and answer phones! Someone had to do it.

I am getting bits and pieces from various folks who were in attendance. So, as not to spread false information, which never happens in tv, let me give you a place to go to find the particulars.

If there is one thing I've learned about myself, it's this! I do not know everything. BUT, if I don't know something, I usually know where to go to find the answer!!!!

Frank Macek, director extraordinaire, attended the meeting first hand. Frank has a tremendous blog, which I try to emulate as best I can in many respects (while keeping with my view 'through an assignment editor's eyes' perspective).

Log onto Frank's Blog or Eric Mansfield's Blog for details on upcoming changes here at wkyc tv!

Thanks for watching Channel 3 News and logging onto wkyc.com.

We have some exciting changes in store. Please stay with us and send us your feedback! We'd love to hear from you on what YOU WOULD like to see when you tune into Channel 3 News.

Thank you Swing by and Spray readers and fans of Channel 3 News!

Fond Farewell

It is going to be very strange tuning in at 630pm or 10pm and not seeing the Akron-Canton News.

Or not having Hyser or Kim tell me they are using one of my reporters LIVE during their shows....or not having to send a live truck to Akron for an Akron-based story needing a microwave truck....

Friday, May 30th was the fond farewell of our Akron-Canton news show.

Everyone working in the Akron-Canton newsroom did a great job for the 7 + years that it aired. It was a joint effort. Everyone in the Cleveland newsroom, control room, studio and master control contributed to the broadcasts as well...

Eric Mansfield lead the charge and did an absolutely tremendous job reporting the stories that were important to the residents south of Cleveland.

Even before the broadcast came about, he had the strongest Akron Bureau in town. He was (and still is) first on any breaking news in his area..has contacts galore who not only tip him off on breaking news but constantly give him viable news stories that make a difference and affect our customers in our southern counties.

TV and the TV business is changing. We have to remember it IS a business which relies on revenue. When the revenue is not there, something has to give.

The good news is that Eric Mansfield and Videographers Carl Bachtel and Larry Baker will continue pounding the pavement in our Akron-Canton Bureau bringing our viewers the latest, top of mind stories affecting the Akron-Canton area.

Eric also tells me that PBS 45/49 and WKSU are moving into our current Akron-Canton Newsroom on July 1st and will house the space along with our WKYC group. Eric says this partnership allows the taping of "NewsNight Akron" in our Akron office, which still caters to the Akron area, their issues, top of mind questions, regional issues, and so many other topics.

I want to thank everyone in the Akron-Canton newsroom for their dedication and commitment over the last 7 years. Thank you to Eric Mansfield, Chris Hyser, Kim Graves, Larry Baker, Carl Bachtel, Tim Coffey, Mark Smilor, Vic Gideon and to the countless others who have worked in the Newsroom over the years!

A Marine's journal helps him on 'The Long Road Home'

Eric Mansfield's compelling week-long series began Monday night at 11pm and continues every night this week on Channel 3 News at 11.

Please click the attached link for Eric's first special report. Eric Mansfield knows first hand what it is like to try and get back on track after coming home from war.

Get a glimpse through Eric's eyes of what it was like in the trenches.

Be sure to check out Eric Mansfield's blog as well for more insight into this issue.

Eric Mansfield's 'The Long Road Home'

Akron-Canton News Anchor Eric Mansfield kicks off his week long series, "The Long Road Home" on Monday, May 12th. The series will air every night at 11pm thru May 16th.

Eric's hope is to see how local veterans back from combat are coping and transitioning back into daily living. He'd like to hear from those who have served and from their families on their experiences, what programs or techniques may have helped ease them back into everyday living, and also share their current hurdles or challenges. We'd love to hear from our viewers, veterans, their families, and anyone really who has a story to tell on the adjustment back to civilian life.

Eric knows first hand how tough the adjustment can be after returning from war. He battled and risked his life to protect our freedoms back here in the United States. However, while he was fighting for us, the world around him moved forward. Sometimes the adjustment to a sense of 'normality' is quite challenging.

We were quite lucky and blessed to be able to keep in touch with Eric while he was away. He or his wife, Lisa, would periodically send an email and even pictures to give us a taste of how combat and just plain daily living was in his neck of the world. While we were discussing this upcoming series, he said I could relay some of his thoughts and photos which he began sharing with me back in April and May of 2003. Be sure to check out Eric's Blog as well!

I must admit, I refrained from showing you the graphic picture of the little varmints who shared a bunk with Eric. Eric said, "the mice are driving me crazy..eating all my food..had 'em up on my bunk with me twice while trying to sleep yesterday in the heat..one time, a sergeant hit my back trying to knock a mouse to the ground and woke me up.." Eric resorted to making homemade mouse traps out of the duct tape they had on hand. Eric said he was able to get a few of them within the first few minutes of his surveillance!

Getting Eric back to the states was a tug-of-war. There were a few false alarms as to when he may be coming home and his tour of duty would end. He was able to come home and see his family around the holidays but had to deploy again January 2004. Eric's one year anniversary came and went BUT on a brighter note, at the time, he had been told he may be home within a few months. We were all keeping our fingers crossed and praying. Even when he was told, 'you are coming home,' he knew he would not be home immediately. He had to make a few stops: Indiana, Dayton for the official 'welcome home' and then ease back into family life. Toward the end of his tour, communication shut down. His tent had to be torn down and the 'internet cafe' was not the greatest...so there was a halt to communication for just a little while. Finally, Eric sent word that his release date was moved up...he could be airborne sooner than later. He was confident he would be airborne around the first round of the 2004 NCAA Playoffs and home for Easter celebrations. And he was!

"Ahhh, the crisp morning air.."