Behind the Scenes: Powell at National Infantry Museum Grand Opening

June 19, 2009

By Ashley Ball
Reporter

Whoa baby, what a day.

Some of our crews started pretty early this morning, staking our claim on the media platforms outside the Museum. Ninety-five degrees and three hours later, I officially have the coolest ever press pass tan line around my neck.

Not the most attractive look but hey, you do what you have to do. The highlight of my day, talking to General Colin Powell in a media interview. All the media outlets were whisked away to the second floor of the museum immediately after the ceremony where we gawked in a semi circle around the General. After what seemed like a half hour and a dozen questions I didn’t get to ask, I finally sputtered out my two questions before the General called it a day.

Our Chief Photographer, Kevin, finagled his way inside the museum early so he was ready when the media stampede came bursting through the doors on the
second floor, all the reporters fighting to stand next to their camera. I lost my battle and I ended up four feet away, but oh well, I had a great view of the General.

You can check out my story right here http://www.wrbl.com/rbl/news/local/article/powell_speaks_at_national_infantry_museum_grand_opening/78488/

It’s 7:10 here and I am cutting out. I sure am glad it is Friday, but I am also very grateful for being a part of a pretty monumental event in Columbus history, and I have to tell you- if you haven’t been to the Museum, it really is amazing.  The hoopla is pretty accurate, and remember it is completely free to check it out.

 

 

 

 

Anticipation For Grand Opening

June 18, 2009

By Ashley Ball
Reporter

Today I got to meet the Lead Exhibit Designer for the National Infantry Museum, Brent Johnson. He is from a design firm in Boston, and what a hoooot!  He’s been in Columbus for three weeks straight ironing out the kinks.

Johnson told me before they could even get started on the project Major General Jerry White made the whole team spend one week in Army Basic Training. Johnson also told us early on in the process (before basic), General White actually made him drop and do push ups. Luckily, he says he didn’t out do the General.While the process may not have been easy for the design team, Johnson says he has a developed a great respect and admiration for General White, a feeling that is mutal among the majority of Museum staff and organizers.

Johnson calls the National Infantry Museum a world class facility that will be hard to top. You can see all of Johnson’s work as well as the rest of the team, Friday at noon when the doors open to the Public.

Stay with News 3 for more behind the scenes info from the ceremony.

Gotta run—off to do a Skype live shot!

Our First Skype Live Shot

By Kelly O'Connell
Reporter

So yesterday, we did our first Skype live shot here at WRBL!
Our Chief Photographer, Kevin Roble, and I were live at Lake Oliver for our story about the fire department practicing water rescue procedures.
Many nation media outlets, as well as Oprah, have recently been using Skype for live shots and it was really exciting to try it out here in Columbus,
Yes, the video is a little grainy and the audio is a little off, but it’s a work in progress and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
We are working to tweak the quality so that it can be the best possible but it’s designed to be a little graining.

Kevin and I had a blast getting it started and doing the live shot.
It’s very simple to set up and it takes about 5 minutes; a normal live shot takes about 30 minutes for everything to be up and running.

Let us know what you thought of the Skype live shot and please be patient as we work out the kinks.

Thanks for watching!

GREAT VIDEO Water Rescue

June 10, 2009

By Ashley Ball
Reporter

Our Chief Photographer Kevin Roble captured the moment when firefighters pulled a stranded man out of the Chattahoochee.

You can read our story and see the video here http://www.wrbl.com/rbl/news/local/article/last_minute_water_rescue/75743/

We talked to one of the firefighters on the rescue. He told us just minutes after that it was a last minute decision to make the rescue, but they are thankful they did.

Just remember (all you swimmers and fishers), if you go out on the rocks in the Chattahoochee and you do get stranded, you are not only risking your life, but the lives of the firefighters that will have to come rescue you.  THINK SMART FOLKS!

Rainy Day In Opelika

June 04, 2009

By Ashley Ball
Reporter

Shucks…...... today, I definitely left my galoshes at the office.  Bummer.

I spent the day in Opelika at the BF Goodrich Plant and at Auburn University.

My story at the BF Goodrich Plant was about lowering the American Flag. It is amazing how passionate people get when it comes to the flag. If only we could all apply that patriotism to other areas of our lives? 

I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that over 850 people will lose their job at this plant, while another company will be bringing in close to 1,000 jobs just an hour away.  It never is an even trade. One of the union workers walked into Union Headquarters today and said the plant was like a living funeral…...