Baby carjacked: NOT!

On the day after sweeps ended and our news director, Rita Andolsen, treated the newsroom to ice cream cake because of our tremendous ratings results, breaking news continued with a flurry.....ratings or no ratings.

Late Thursday evening a call came over the scanner that a car had been taken from the area of Lamontier and there was a baby inside....

Believe it or not folks, this HAS happened before, many times.

Every time, we've been totally on top of it....Paul Thomas and company covered one of these in the area of E 55 and Woodland years ago.....where it was caught on tape.

You hate to hear the call, but got to run on it.

Dave Summers and truck operator/videographer Dan Medsker and Brian Johnson headed out to the scene.

Producer Amanda re-arranged her show to fit the 'breaking news' in should it be legit.

Though you should never go on the air with scanner information, it is quite valuable to the crews and reporters working in the field --a spring board so to speak for them to ask questions and check out locations.

As soon as new details came over the scanner I relayed them to the crews in the field.

Something was not right.

After about 20 or 25 minutes, the car had been found near Woodland and Woodhill BUT there was no baby inside.

That's usually never the case. What happens is the suspect or suspects realize there is a child inside and abandons the vehicle so they don't get pegged for kidnapping as well.

This case was just humming along too smoothly with information coming from family members, the grandfather saying there is a picture of the child in the visor above the driver's seat.....

Where is the child?

Literally one minute before air time, Dave called into the producer and said--yes the car had been stolen but there was never a child inside. The grandfather, who was taking care of the baby, made that up to get the Cleveland Police to the scene quicker.

Had this been real, we were way ahead of the competition......

Grandpa is in big trouble!

Love having lunch with our Lake County firefighters!

Being an assignment editor allows you to have phone contact and phone relationships with hundreds if not thousands of people.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Ah, it's finally nice to actually put a face to your name!"

Today's event is one I attend (usually Lisa, Amy, and I) almost every year! What a treat to put faces to the names of the brave firefighters who encompass all of Lake County, Ohio.

They invite the media to their annual Media Day and Awards Presentation Luncheon.

One year there were folks in attendance from all the tv stations, newspapers, and many more.

Then it seemed as if the only station to attend was wkyc --which is ok by us!

The Lake County Fire Chief's of Ohio strive to continue the great relations they have between themselves and their staff and the local media, be it tv or print. They (as do we) love putting names to faces. This event is always a good place to hand out business cards with yours on top so when the next big Mentor Marsh fire ignites, you are the first person they call!

This year I sat at a very 'fun' table --I had the Fairport Harbor Chief, a Captain from Perry and the big wig Hazmat specialist from Lubrizol....surrounded by amazing firemen who risk their lives day in and day out.

But more importantly, at least in my eyes, is the Good Samaritan Hero Awards portion of this event.

Every year, the Lake County Fire Chiefs honor a few folks for rising to the occasion and making a difference in the community.

This year's recipients were Andrew Kalar and Kevin McCollum, Brian Dorsey, and Raymond Phelps.

Andrew and Kevin helped rescue 2 kids who were playing around in Lake Erie off of Willoughby back in July, 2009....they drifted too far from shore and had one heck of a time getting back on their own. They asked a News Herald Photographer to call 911 while they began swimming to the kids. They made it to them within about 20 minutes and started bringing them back when Willoughby Firefighters arrived and took over the rescue. Willoughby Fire Chief Alan C. Zwegat said, "Being there and witnessing the fatigue and cramping both boys were exhibiting after being in the water for 1.5 to 2.0 hours, I know that if it were not for the efforts of Kevin McCollum and Andrew Kalar, I know that the outcome would have been more tragic."

Next up for the hero award: Mr. Brian Dorsey. Mr. Dorsey heard a smoke detector in his apartment complex on Lakeshore Blvd in Willoughby March, 2010 and immediately started getting residents out of the building. He went to the apartment where the fire apparently began and saw the couch on fire. Dorsey broke open the door and started discharging his fire extinguisher which bought the fire department valuable time. Unfortunately, there was still someone trapped inside. The 69-year-old resident was injured quite badly, but because of Mr. Dorsey, he survived and is still recovering today.

The final hero award went to Raymond Phelps, who spotted a house fire in his neighborhood in Perry April, 2009, took his fire extinguisher and put out the fire and got everyone, including 3 dogs, out of the home. The teens had been cooking and the oil ignited. Mr. Phelps did not hesitate to help his neighbors, even to the point of sustaining smoke inhalation but said he was ok. He stopped the fire from spreading thereby saving his neighbor's home, and more importantly, helped the teens as well as providing support and a safe place for them after the fire.

This years shindig took place at The Firehouse Grill and Pub Restaurant on Rte 6....a great little place with delish food. But the irony of it all is that this restaurant used to be an old firehouse converted. The firemen who have worked in this area forever remember every nook and cranny of this firehouse and began telling us the history....

Yet another successful event to connect with contacts, garner a few more story ideas, enjoy delicious fare, and honor those in the community who went above and beyond!

Three of many great stories which happen day after day, year after year. The Lake County Fire Chiefs acknowledge that without the help of their citizens, there could be more tragedies each year. I take my hat off to you all as well!

Monkey on the highway

No, this is NOT the monkey from the highway!

But that WAS the blatant call screaming from the scanners loud and clear!

The 2 interns I had on the desk with me at the time, Lauren and Sierra, could not believe what they had just heard!

But, it was a true call.

So someone called the Cleveland Police telling them they spotted a monkey on I-90 near the vicinity of West Blvd in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Police sent a few cars out there....and the police officers responded back to their dispatcher asking if they had contacted the zoo? They both told the dispatcher they really had no experience with tracking down monkeys....

Just listening to the back and forth banter was worth the price of admission.

Unfortunately, after not hearing an immediate response back from the cars, or some frantic radio call for backup, assumed it was a false call.

And when MY crew arrived on scene and nosed around, he had the same luck as the officers, 'nothing showing, a false call.'

Melt packs 'em in

The social media taking the world by storm, Facebook, gives each user a little different spin on anything and everything, depending on what they are looking for.

Obviously, in the news media, you can not take what you read on Facebook and just run with it before verifying and getting all sides....

But, for a light, fun story--why not!

The newest craze on the east side was the grand opening of Melt --which opened Friday night --at Cedar and Taylor Roads in Cleveland Heights! Whew hoo! Finally!

My nephew's roommate works there as well as many of his friends.

In fact, the band my nephew is in was included for posterity in one of the many murals painted on the walls of Melt!


Friday night was quite a hopping night in the newsroom --had at least 4 stories alone for just one of my cameramen to cover.....he started close, worked his way east and then south for 2 stories......

His second story was popping in to shoot the grand opening of the new Melt.

Periodically throughout the night, I was able to track the success and popularity of this new venue.

I had friends and family who were attempting to dine there....and by the Facebook updates, was informed that at one point, there were hours and hours of wait time not only for an in restaurant table BUT for take-out! Holy cow!

Kinda fun to track this 'unscientific' data for a very fun story!!

Can't wait to hit the new Melt, hopefully wait free!

WKYC Interns Facebook page

(former wkyc intern, Mark Zinni, who has made me proud with all of his accomplishments!!)

WKYC has been the leader in social media from the very beginning of the social media craze!

I'm proud to share that our recent group of interns have been feverishly working to establish a WKYC Intern page on Facebook.

It's quite exciting!

Every quarter we get a group of interns here at WKYC in pretty much every department including STO.

This quarter Vince Fratiani and Kristen Jantonio were invaluable in their help to the Channel 3 News Department and wkyc.com.

Kudos to you both!

It's always a pleasure hobnobbing with these kids to get their spin on tv and news as well as learning the latest lingo and staying on top of college life.

Hopefully, a little of our expertise is rubbing off on them as well!!

So this quarter, Vince took the bull by the horns and started WKYC Interns on Facebook.

For all of you former WKYC interns, please join the page, tell us where and what you are up to right now....share your experiences and feel free to give feedback to our current group of young interns!

We feel this is just a wonderful networking tool to link former and current interns, advice can be given or shared, and former interns may be able to lend an ear or even a job opportunity to the newer interns looking for their 1st chance!

I personally will never ever forget my two internships at WEWS with the 'Live on Five' Show and then in their videotape editing department. They gave me a chance and 25 years later, I'm still ticking in the news business loving what I do and where I do it!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

This week's Hidden Gem: Archie's Lakeshore Bakery/Archie's Hough Bakeries

MMMMM, good!

For those of you who are old enough to remember Hough Bakery, Archie's will conjure up such sweet memories of childhood days and happy celebrations.

For those of you who are not, a new experience to tantalize your taste buds.

The other day it was as if I got a tall glass of cold water thrown in my face as we started talking about old Hough Bakery memories and one of our interns had never heard of Hough. Made me realize how truly old I am but then quickly got over that as I handed him an Archie's cupcake and proceeded to watch his reaction.

Favorable. Quite favorable.

Archie's has been around for a while but I guess I never quite believed that anything could be as good as 'THE' Hough Bakery.

I was wrong!

After Hough Bakery closed back in 1992 --seems so long ago--baker Archie Garner embarked on a new venture opening Archie's Lakeshore Bakery.

He sells amazing cakes, cupcakes, coconut bars, and the 'oh so famous' and 'hard to find' petit fours.

Have not been able to find the petit fours ever since Hough closed. We'd always get them at Christmas and Easter. Have searched high and low and though some establishments have tried to replicate, no one has.

I ordered a Hough Bakery cake for my sister's birthday --it was perfect! White cake with white frosting and a whole slew of light pink flowers.

The very cake we'd get for EVERY occasion: birthdays, 1st communion, confirmation, anniversaries, retirement, welcome home, new baby--you name it, we'd think of an excuse to have a Hough Bakery cake.

Picking up the cake an adventure in itself. You don't even walk inside and smell the delectable aroma...and once inside, totally surrounded by the distinctive scent.

The phone never stopped ringing with orders as the steady stream of 'picker uppers' entered the small bakery.

I had time so I let the baker working the front vestibule take his phone orders first so as not to lose any customers. Finally, got the goods and was extremely happy!


When I walked in with the cake in the famous Hough box, everyone swarmed around me. My nephew, who hardly eats and tries to stay way from sweets, not only had a piece of cake on the spot but took a big chunk home!


Fantastic how a sweet tradition can conjure up so many wonderful memories, bring a group of people together, and cause the entire room to smile!


If you are on Facebook, become a fan of Archie's Lakeshore Bakery.



If you have heavenly memories of Hough Bakery, or have never heard of it, I suggest you visit Archie's on Lakeshore, and you too, will become a fan for life and see why Archie's Lakeshore Bakery is this week's Hidden Gem!!!

Tornado & flood season: enter stage right

Mother Nature has been flexing her muscles and showing just who is boss!

Last Friday night turned out to be the real first day of Spring Storms including numerous weather watches and warnings. At least one tornado even touched down.

Paul Thomas and Chris Kunz covered the worst hit area--Lakewood, Ohio --as they found flooding, trees down, wires and poles down, power out, lightning strikes and much more in the short stretch they covered. Great job by the guys!

It's advantageous having weather alerts and breaking news on your cell phone to give the latest on any storms rolling in to this area. My cell phone never stopped 'dinging.'

Strap yourselves in for a wild ride this Spring and Summer.

Fortunately, wkyc recently introduced a new Interactive HD Radar.

If you have not seen how this works, head on over to your computer at wkyc.com and test it out.

It's wonderful. YOU are in charge of what you want to see, what conditions interest you most and what situations to track.

In HD, on air and on line, you have the latest at your fingertips whether it be temperatures, lightning strikes, wind speeds, earthquakes here and elsewhere, and Lake Erie's water temperature...plus so much more.

As always, Betsy Kling and the Channel 3 Weather Team will have all the latest information to keep you and your family safe during stormy weather.

Betsy and the gang will break in to programming, if warranted. It's a responsibility they have to the Channel 3 viewers during weather situations.

Stay with wkyc on line and on air for your most complete spring and summer storm coverage!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

This week's Hidden Gem: Daffodil Hill

I would never have believed it had I not seen it with my own two eyes.

I thought I had died and gone to Heaven it was so beautiful.

Believe it or not, my Aunt, Sister, and I had just come from my Uncle's funeral when my Sister said we should cruise by 'Daffodil Hill' at Lakeview Cemetery. It was that perfect time of the year.

I did not know how well that would go over with my Aunt, but once we saw the whole hillside, it was the right choice and well worth it.

I am in awe of Lakeview Cemetery and have always been. I get weird looks when I speak of taking so-called 'field trips' to the cemetery periodically but that's ok. I even went on a date there--and it was delightful.

It's been around since 1869. Going to Hiram College, I have a warm place in my heart for James A. Garfield, who is buried at Lakeview Cemetery, among others such as Eliot Ness, Rockefeller, and Ray Chapman--the Cleveland Indian shortstop killed after being hit in the head with a baseball during a Yankee-Indian game back in 1920.

Lakeview Cemetery as a whole can be, and one day will be another one of my Hidden Gems, but today I am focusing on 'Daffodil Hill.'

When you enter the cemetery, they have signs pointing out the flower tour. You follow the arrows and after seeing the beautiful horticulture throughout, come upon the most amazing hillside covered with thousands of yellow daffodils.

I've heard this hill has been blossoming since the 1940's.

I could not believe my eyes. It was intoxicating and unbelievable.

I am so glad I got the chance to experience this phenomenon with my own eyes this year.

Seeing it once, this will be a yearly pilgrimage for me each and every spring.

Please, if you have not made your way through Lakeview Cemetery, it's quite the exquisite adventure. But, I hope you definitely take time to drive through next spring and take a gander at 'Daffodil Hill.' Then, you too, will see why it is this week's Hidden Gem!

Congratulations to this year's Emmy nominees!

Last week the Emmy nominees for the 41st annual regional Emmy Awards were announced and WKYC received 18 Emmy nominations!

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the Lower Great Lakes Chapter held their annual Emmy nomination party to make the announcement.

WKYC captured 18 nominations while STO received 6 nominations. I'm blessed and honored to be included in those nominations!

The 41st Annual Emmy Awards will be held Saturday, June 19, 2010 in downtown Cleveland at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Good luck to all the nominees!

To see the entire list of nominations, please CLICK HERE!