Bob Cooks Italian For WRBL Staff

July 10, 2009

Only two dollars a plate for Spaghetti and voila more $$$ came in. Guilt or just hunger? It worked. They couldn’t resist

For 93 years, the West Central Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross has served as a HERO to countless men, women and children in our community—families who lost their home and everything in it to fire, people devastated by tornadoes, and military families who rely on the Red Cross 24/7 in times of emergencies. Please join me in serving as a HERO FOR Red Cross.

I have committed to serve as a HERO volunteer in support of the Red Cross mission and I am asking for your help. HEROES for Red Cross is a campaign to raise money for our local Chapter, with every penny raised staying right here in our community. I am asking for a donation to reach my goal of $5000. Any amount would be appreciated and your donation may also be pledged over a period of several months prior to December 31.

I know there are many worthy organizations requesting financial help during this struggling economy. I am especially grateful for your consideration in helping me reach my goal, but more importantly, to support Red Cross and our community. The success of HEROES for Red Cross insures the Chapter is always there to offer Help and Hope when it’s needed most.

May I count on your help in reaching my goal as a HERO for Red Cross? Your donation may be mailed to:

American Red Cross
3940 Rosemont Drive
Columbus, GA 31904

In the FOR section, please indicate HERO Bob Jeswald, so the Red Cross knows I am honoring my commitment as a HERO for Red Cross and for our all our neighbors who depend of them to light a candle of hope.

Sincerely,

Bob Jeswald
HERO for Red Cross                

Alabama Drive-In Runs Out Of Road

By WRBL Staff

Before I even start my rant, I want to say, upfront and honest. I LOVE drive-ins.

They feel like such an adventure, but yet such a tradition. If your feeling like a rebel you can sneak in your dinner in the backseat (as opposed to paying the small charge). I have been known to carry in a gallon of ice cream complete with Hershey’s syrup.

Let’s talk about the mystery of drive-ins….... You can take your shoes off, talk on your cell phone, text without anticipation, cuddle up in a blanket. You don’t have to wear makeup and you can actually wear your pajamas in “public”.

Kevin (our Cheif Photog) and I spent three or so quality hours at the Field of Screens in Crawford, Alabama earlier in the week. It is nestled between the corn fields and quail pens on a 200 acre family farm. The screen looks like a patchwork quilt of plywood. But I have to say it is utterly AWESOME. It’s located on “Hollywood Blvd” off Highway 175 or Bleeker Road. It’s slightly hard to find, but that makes it oh so much more charming.

The coolest thing about the whole venture. It is run by a group of four friends. They’ve been together for decades, high school, college and beyond. They told me there have no regrets about this escapade and they had a great four month run. 

I now know the three biggest enemies of a drive-in: Location, weather and the economy. Unfortunately, you can’t really fight mother nature or Wall Street, and as for location, picking up a 28x44 screen sounds easier than it is.

Bad news for everyone that is now enticed to drive out there…. They are only taking bookings for special events. I asked, out of curiousity, what that would run. They say roughly $250-$300 bucks for one movie (you pick the title).

I am thinking a “Sex and the City” themed birthday party. Look for your invitation soon.

The Power of People

July 09, 2009

By WRBL Staff

Kevin and I spent the morning watching people work. We were technically working too, but not quite as hard as them (although the camera is heavy).

These guys were out in full force roofing, painting, cleaning the streets and putting up siding.  200 teenagers, or I should probably say young adults, helped eleven homeowners on 5th Avenue spruce up their property. The kicker- it was all free (to the homeowner).

Highland Community Church on 5th Avenue has been working with an association of 13 churches from Tennessee and Kentucky. These churches sent teams , for a week, to work on these projects. They are troopers too. They have been sleeping on classroom floors and in the gym at Cavalry Baptist. In fact, many of these guys were around 18. I would say it is a pretty safe assumption that most 18 year olds are not spending a week of their “Farewell to High School Summer “cleaning gutters.

We talked to several homeowner on the street. They were thrilled and humbled that such a large group would devote so much time and money to their homes. Highland Community Church itself raised somewhere in the ball park of $13,000 dollars. Pastor Rob Strickland says the whole project cost around $20,000. The groups raised somewhere around $4,000. $13,000 plus $4,000 still leaves them $3,000 short. Strickland says the Church will make up the difference.

It was a humbling experience for me. It was also refreshing. Refreshing to see that so many young people were willing and ready to donate so much of their time to help people they may never see again. Humbling, because I realized I should be doing more of the same.

A Year In The Life…......

June 29, 2009

By WRBL Staff

So…... while I am well past my year anniversary at WRBL, I thought I would take a moment to recap some of my crazest memories here in Columbus.

February 18th: My first day at WRBL (moved to Columbus without a place to live, signed a lease after work)
March 4th: 3rd week on the job- Auburn University student is murdered. It was amazing to see the community and the campus come together to honor this young woman (I spent the week trying to figure out what the new girl could do to help)
Some time shortly after: Man kidnaps his three kids
March 19th: Police find man and his three kids dead in their car. It was probably one of the saddest things I have ever heard.
March 27th: Just over one month on the job- Shooter kills 3 innocent people at Doctor’s Hospital (I am completely traumatized by crime, trying to figure out where in the world I moved). It is still heartbreaking to watch the families mourn.
Some time in May: Started working weekends…....... Friday’s became my Monday’s…. bummer right?
June: About to die from Georgia heat…..... (no one told me it would be this hot!)
July 11th: A house on 431 goes up in flames just hours after family leaves for beach vacation. I snap this picture with my cell phone because my video camera batteries were dead when I got to the scene.
August 5th: Body of Missing Pittsview Man found (It was one of the most difficult pieces I’ve had to do, but his family was kind enough to share some memories with me)
August 27th: Plains Peanut Festival- I had a “ball” spending the day in Plains, talking to folks from all over. Stood in line for half an hour to get books for my grandparents autographed.
October 4th: Dinner on the farm- area farmers host organic dinner to raise money for trip to Italy.
October 5th: Soldier Homecoming at Ft. Benning…. Family welcomes their dad back after over a year in Iraq…. daughter and mom fight over who gets the first kiss.
October 27th: The highlight of my life…. President Jimmy Carter KISSES me on the cheek durnig a photo opp after our interview (gotta find that picture)
November 3rd: An area church hosts an election prayer vigil the night before the Presidential election. Snapped this picture as I was leaving the sanctuary. Faith is a powerful thing.
November 11th: Interview WWII Veteran who broke his hip on his way to vote…... funniest 92 year old I have EVER met.
November 16th: Get thank you note from WWII Veteran and his wife about the story.
November 22nd: SOA Protest at Gates of Fort Benning…..... It’s a reporter’s nightmare and a photograhers’s dream. I spent two days navigating through thousands of people trying to tell both sides of the story.

Okay for all those with a calendar, yes I have fallen short, I have run out of steam. More pictures and stories to come later.

And just a note, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has let me inside their lives over the past year. I have seen the worst and the best in people, and I am truly humbled by some of these stories and the quiet strength people show in times of crisis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Miss Georgia

By Tiffany Simmons
Reporter / Videographer

Everything happens for a reason. That’s the impression that I was left with after meeting with the new Miss Georgia today.

Emily Cook was the kindest person to talk with today. She has only been competing in pageants for the past 2 years and she says things like winning the Miss Georgia pageant was just a dream at one point.

Today I got to see her pick up the keys to her brand new car at Kia. She says she was driving her moms “hand-me-down” for a while and now she is so excited to have a car of her own with new technology.

I asked her what she thought about Miss Capital City relinquishing her crown and she says it just was not the right time for her. She says it has worked out wonderfully for her.

There’s still questions as to whether Miss Capital City knew what all of her responsibility’s would be going into the pageant. Cook says this year she realized that if she were to win the pageant it would be a full time job.

You could still tell that it had not hit her yet. Let’s all hope she does a wonderful job in representing Georgia in the Miss America pageant!