Training and more training

The next many months ahead look to be enlightening, full of growth as well as maybe a few steps back every once in a while, expanding our skill sets, intermixed I'm sure with a little craziness and "topsy turvy-ness!" (I know topsy turvy-ness is not an official word, but it gets the point across!!).

For me, it will be a double latte shot of 'crazy.' Just as we are getting trained on our new computer and editing systems, I am slated to be off --really for the rest of the month.

Fortunately, I think I have our computer system down. I know how to do everything I need to do on the new system--for now! I'm looking forward to learning a new task every day once it's full speed ahead, but I'm navigating pretty well! Very proud of that because I admit, I'm a computer mutant!

I used to edit a million years ago....so I understand the concept of editing and hopefully will gradually get our new super editing system soon as well. I really enjoy that portion of our business--putting a story together with pictures and sound. One day, I really hope to be able to assist on editing stories for all of the shows during my hours.

I really love running the desk, researching, writing, doing lots of stuff for our various websites, and now soon, hopefully taking it one step further with videotape editing.

Training means very long days...and so far, it's been well worth it! Fingers crossed, wish me luck!


And remember, I'll be OUT hanging with my best friend and saying good bye to 'my' Cleveland Indians over the next few weeks so Swing By and Spray will be on hiatus.

Hopefully I will NOT forget everything I just learned and not be paralyzed once I return!

Everyone take care and have a good few weeks!

Public Official #1 has been arrested

County Commissioner Jimmy DiMora being brought out of his home in handcuffs is a picture that I, and probably most everyone else, will not soon forget.

I am not going to rehash the facts and figures of the Cuyahoga County Corruption Story which has been going on for the last two years. I will leave that to our wkyc team of experts which includes Senior Political Reporter Tom Beres, The Investigator Tom Meyer, Dick Russ, Chris Tye, Dave Summers, Jeff Maynor, and the rest of our reporters who have covered the biggest story in Cleveland over the course of the last two years.

From a news assignment desk standpoint, I know this has to be our biggest story of the year (besides LeBron James).

Keeping track of each public official, when they are going to be in court, the status of their case, and so forth is a full time job in itself.

Keeping tabs with the Department of Justice, the F.B.I., the U.S. Marshals, the County Prosecutor's Office, and each judge and bailiff has been a daily challenge.

The stories that have evolved out of the hundreds of pages of the various indictments boggle the mind.

A good read to say the least.

There aren't too many stories that never get old. For me, this is one of them. Our reporters continue uncovering and digging up new details to keep this story rolling along.

And in today's times, we have to be on the top of our game on all platforms --distributing details via the television but also wkyc.com, facebook, twitter, and your cell phone.

Once the arrest happened, it was only a matter of minutes until the story wound up on all platforms for most news agencies.

Being in this business as long as I, I actually have fond memories of Jimmy DiMora as the Channel 3 All-Stars softball team would play DiMora's team each summer. I don't think either team really got blown out year after year. After each game, we all wound up sharing food and drink and stories with the various city officials including Jimmy DiMora himself.


Lesson to be learned, you just never know....

Flying on 9/11

WOW!

I was lucky to enjoy a long weekend away from the news assignment desk as I headed south to catch the Cleveland Browns opening game in Tampa against the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium.

When I booked my flight, oh let's say 5 or 6 months ago, I never realized I'd be flying on September 11th.

Once it set in, it did not bother me. Let's face it, 9/11 is probably THE safest day to fly, and I witnessed it first hand.

There was only one economical flight going and coming. Thankfully, it was the 1st flight of the day so I could enjoy as many hours as possible in the 90's and the sun.

I was dumb founded when I arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at what I saw at the crack of dawn.



Not only did I have to stand in the longest security line I've ever stood in before but I, for once, was part of the 'in' crowd!


It seemed that everyone flying Saturday morning was heading to either FLA for the Browns' game or to Columbus for the big OSU vs Miami game.



You looked down ever corridor and saw only scarlet and gray or brown and orange.





It was W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!





There was a bond, a unity, a camaraderie that lasted the entire trip to and from our destinations.





I really felt as if I was part of a big news story all weekend long.





When I arrived in Tampa, right across from where I was staying, there was a huge sign that greeted me saying: "The Official Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Tailgating Headquarters!" What more could I ask for??!!!





My best friend lives right across from Raymond James so we just walked to the Stadium. Reminded me of how I walk to our home Browns Games. And there were tailgaters, 1/2 of them Cleveland Browns' fans! Again, it was fantastic!





Once inside, at least half of the stadium, if not more, painted the seats orange and brown. So at home yet 2000 miles away. The 95-100 degree temps gave it away that we were not in Cleveland, Ohio!





What an absolutely amazing 56 hours! And, as soon as I landed, buzzed straight into the news assignment desk for another exciting weekend of running the mother ship!

Truth is stranger than fiction, even on Labor Day

Working Labor Day was a labor of love, with absolutely no 'laboring' involved.

Working holidays are usually much fun, very productive, and oftentimes filled with breaking news.

An absolutely wonderful day, where I only had to work until 3:00 p.m.

Working this particular weekend always a blast because the air show is in town. You constantly hear the planes buzzing around up until 5:00 p.m. or so. Oftentimes, family members of co-workers come to the station to watch segments of or all of the air show from the roof.

My family, too, came down. They went upstairs a few hours before I could join them.

But before they went upstairs, my niece told us all a hilarious story. You never know where you will find news. Case in point.

My niece and her boyfriend were at Beachwood Place, of all places--one of the main department stores there. They noticed some strange activity but did not think anything of it at first. As they came back to the main department store, the flurry was still happening. They finally realized a woman shoplifter had been observed and finally pursued by police. She dodged officers quite a few times. They had her cornered. But, finally, they all stopped. My niece was not sure why all of a sudden they stopped the chase. As they got closer, they realized the female shoplifter apparently had to use the facilities but could not make it to them or was being blocked from using the proper facilities so she just let loose.

Not a pretty sight.

After she did her thing, she was taken into custody.....and believe it or not, officers were taking pictures of the 'extra evidence' she left at the scene. They put up yellow police tape, even around the 'extra evidence.'

My niece and her boyfriend could not believe their eyes.....

Which proves that news is always happening, anywhere and everywhere....and oftentimes, truth is stranger than fiction!

Off to the roof.......