Monday, September 08, 2008

As Hanna skirted up the Carolina coast… and we entered our 4th straight hour of coverage following this tropical storm as it weakened and passed, I received an email update on the latest death toll in Haiti.  We still don’t know the actual loss of life today, but at that moment headline read “Haitian police find 495 corpses following floods.  My closest friend Donna who just returned from there on a mission trip has stayed in close contact with aid workers and missionaries there.  She traveled there only weeks ago to help minister to orphaned babies and children.  I saw the photos of these little ones only days after she returned, their eyes staring straight at the camera as if to beg for help. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

It continues to amaze me, how news anchors are often perceived.  I was having a conversation with a gentleman at church a couple of weeks ago.  We were just talking about what news people do in a typical day.  He seemed stunned at my answer to his question… “so you all actually write your stories?” My answer “of course we do”. 

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Stories about horrific acts against children have taken center stage in the news.
There have been times when I think many of us just felt like crawling in a corner in the fetal position when we hear about them.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

An eight year old boy has stolen my heart.  His name is Evan Hale, and he’s had heart surgeries since long before he can remember (8 days old).  I learned about him in preparations for the upcoming Heart Ball, when I interviewed Evan and two other brave individuals who’ve experienced major health concerns involving their hearts.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

As Nickie Boone and I anchored the 5 o’clock news together today, and we watched the story of how 11 year old Ian Dew was reunited with his family after being missing overnight last night, we were packed with emotions.  What a relief, what a blessing that they found that little boy safe from harm, and how anxious we all felt in the newsroom leading up to the amazing reunion.

Friday, February 01, 2008

America’s children today are marketed more than ever before.  So when the news came in about the South Carolina Department of Education doing a deal to market our children on school buses, it didn’t shock me, but I’m pretty disappointed.  Especially when you consider this marketing will be targeted to children of all ages, from kindergarten on up.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The fanfare is over; the red carpet is replaced at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center; the “Mount Myrtle” sand sculptures of the Republican and Democratic Presidential hopefuls are demolished.  All is pretty much back to normal in the day-to-day of Myrtle Beach goings on.  Looking back, it’s pretty amazing how smoothly those two events, so close together on the calendar, came off.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Standing outside the Palace Theatre tonight, reporting live on the upcoming Democratic Presidential Debate, all I could think about was “Wow, is this different?” Tonight, it was a bone-chilling cold.  And it will be even colder when the Democratic hopefuls walk into the Palace Theatre on Monday night. 

Monday, January 14, 2008

A few blogs back, I gave some advice that I am now am trying to follow.  “Breathe!  Deeply. Often.” (It’s on a little the card taped to my computer monitor). I had a the perfect view to watch with wonder the orchestration of last Thursday’s Republican Debate at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  Everything from the creation of the “Mount Myrtle” featuring the heads of Republican Presidential hopefuls, to the setting up of media amenities, to the actual debate itself, organizers never let us see them sweat. 

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

It’s bizarre- the two topics topping the news right now.  The Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Presidential Primaries have dominated the national news, right alongside the questioned mental health of Britney Spears.  Coverage of two topics on the morning news, daytime talk shows, 24 hour news sources, entertainment news and evening news programs. 

That’s the biggest thing I have noticed today about every single organizer, volunteer, worker, and sand sculptor.  They are ALL smiling!  Regardless of the stresses brought on by these historical Presidential Debate events, the energy is running high, and the smiles are multiplying.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Most everyone I run into is buzzing today about the Presidential debates coming to town.  With both Republican and Democratic debates coming here, people who want to talk to me about it are pretty open about their political persuasion.  Well actually, blatant about it.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

It never ceases to amaze me, the giving that comes from volunteers I’ve been blessed to know and work with through the years.  Tonight, I got a little closer to a couple of folks who volunteer their time for local organizations- LOTS of time.  Their names are Dick and Carolyn Sukey, and without them, non-profit organizations like the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association (my former employer) would have a huge struggle getting the job done.  We used to say, “We’re a small staff doing big things,”, and the reason we were able to accomplish big work was the multitude of giving people who stepped in everyday to help us out. 

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I am really enjoying interviewing the folks working on the debates.  My big “take away” this week was the realization that it takes a ton of hard work- physical and mental- to plan and execute a major event. 

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The title of this blog is actually posted on a little card that sits on my computer monitor.  It was given to me by a dear friend, and I find it to be very good advice.  Myrtle Beach is ramping up very quickly to be on the world stage.  Along side the Senior PGA Golf Tournaments in the ‘90’s, these Presidential debates promise to be among the best, if not THE best chance for the world to see, and get to know Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  So the pressure is on for all involved in getting ready, and pulling off these very big events.