My last two crime stories as an intern

A concerned citizen called police about burglary in progress at a neighboring home yesterday. Police arrived to find two male juveniles--a 10 year-old and 14-year-old- inside the home. Both were issued summons for criminal mischief.

Tracey Daniels of Holmes Street also reported a residential burglary yesterday. An unknown subject entered her home and took $3,000.00 cash.

Not really gong out with a bang, but I guess that's a good thing for the city; it's really a catch 22.

This is it and I'm not talking M.J.

Well, today is the last day at my internship and I must say this experience has been well worth it. I've gotten real-world training and experience that I can use in the future. Not only that, but the station has asked me to stay on after this week, so I will be working while I'm in school. The experience is going to help me when I start to look for a job in another market, plus I'm going to get paid for something I enjoy doing. This is it for this blog, but definitely not the end for me or my career in radio.

I DID IT!!!

Today Joe was out of the studio attending a meeting, so I was left to do the noon news--by myself. Yesterday we did a trial run, and I did pretty good, but today I was left to fly solo. Things went really well. I just came in and did the same thing I've been doing for 8 weeks, but this time I did it with no assistance. Joe returned to the studio before I was completely done, but he just sat back and watched except for including his story in the broadcast. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to have this internship and even more excited to be able to continue through the year. Tomorrow is officially my last day as an intern; on Monday I become an employee!!!!

BIG DAY!!!!!!!!

The last days of my internship are turning out to be some of the most exciting. Today I got to write, record, edit and produce the noon news by myself--with the help of Joe of course. I had a few tutorials about working the board before, but today I actually got to sit at the main mic and record and work the sound board; It was amazing. Not only that, but I also was offered a part-time position with the station after my intership concludes this week!!!! I'm so excited to be able to continue working for the station, this is only going to help me when I finish school. As time goes on I may have more responsibility and who knows I might get my own show. lol

LAST WEEK!!!!

Oh my gosh, I think it's finally setting in that this week is my last week at the radio station; I'm going to miss working. I love turning on the radio and hearing my voice; I love being in the studio; I love gathering stories; I love the whole process that is radio. I am so very greatful for the opportunity that I had this summer to get my feet wet. Now that I have eight weeks of experience behind me, it might be a little easier getting a job. I'm glad we were requried to get an intership because going in blind to a job would have been terrible, at least now I've had the opportunity to make mistakes. I won't actully be looking for a job for at least another year because I start graduate school in August, but I still think I'm ready.

Lead Anchor--AGAIN!!!

Whoo Hoo!!! Yesterday I was the lead anchor for the noon and 5 p.m. news cast. It's exciting being the voice that people listen to for their news. I've been out on different assignments for work and have been talking to people who recognize my voice or my name from the station. What's even more exciting is that no one has been very critical of my reporting or my on-air presence. This summer has really been exciting for me and has really shown me that being on the radio is what I want to do. I feel so comfortable behind the mic and love interacting with people. I'm coming down to my final two wks of work and I'm really going to miss the station and the people who work there.

Slow Weekend

I havent had a story on the air since Thrusday because the crime reports have been kind of slow. I have been scrapping for stories, but nothing has really come up. On Friday, however, I was allowed to read the news report used by the station. An actuall, Friday was the first time I head myself on air. from somewhere other than the station. It was kind of nice hearing myself on the radio. I don't cringe as much when I hear my own voice anymore. . . I gues it just takes some getting used to.

I interviewed another police juror on Friday too. Out of all the jurors that I've interviewed, he seemed the most interested in the problem at hand instead of trying to save face. He was passionate and honest; I liked that. We added two more questions to the lists that we want each juror to answer, so I'm going to have to call the other back into the station-if they'll come. There are still some jurors I have not gotten in contact with. I make it my business to call at least twice a week, but still no responses. I don't understand why people who took a public position don't want to speak to the public or want the public to know what's going on--people have a right to know.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have a report worth airing . . .we'll see.

Learning the Ropes

Today I was not able to record my stories for the air because my co-worker who usually produces the news was out. he was coming in later and was going to use my story for the 5 o'clock news. He has taught me the basics of recording and producing in the studio, but I haven't actually done it yet because we usually do the news together. Today I think we realized that it's time that I get more hands-on just in case this happens again. I will probably be producing the news by myself shortly.

More drugs off the streets (report 7/15/10)

Two early morning traffic stops turned into drug busts and arrests. Officers arrested Roy Lee Brumfield of Mansfield on charges of: possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana, possession of crystal meth, open container and resisting. The 28-year-old is detained at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. In a separate incident, police arrested 43-year-old James Landon Mathis of Natchitoches. he is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting. He is detained at NPDC.

School Board Meeting Recap (on-air report 7/14)

The Natchitoches Parish School Board held a committee meeting at the School Board office yesterday at 5:00p.m. Several committee member addressed the board giving updates and presenting new ideas for improving the school system and saving the district money. "Saturday H.O.P.E.," a project started last January at L.P. Vaughn Elementary and Middle School, allows students with frequent absences to make up school days, while receiving one-on-one help from staff and community volunteers. Supporters of the project hope to see the initiative used at other schools in the coming year. There was some discussion on eliminating some bus routes in the approaching year. A representative with Durham Transportation suggested combining at least six routes, which could save the district $150,000 yearly. Board members voiced concern over overcrowding and timeliness of the proposed changes, but will continue to work with the company to settle the matter. The board will meet Wednesday at the Parish School Board office.

***I continue to receive more responsibility at the station. I was the only staff member to attend the school board meeting. Using what I have learned for covering City Council meetings with my co-worker, I was able to cover this meeting solo and received accolades for doing so.***

Lafayette Street Closure (on-air reports 7/13/10)

The Natchitoches City Council held a public hearing yesterday at the Natchitoches Arts Center to discuss the closure of Lafayette Street from Ducournau to Washington Street for the Construction of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The state had already called for the closure of the front part of the street running between the Front Street condos and the Pub; the additional closure was called for by the city; it will be used as a staging area and to house a job trailer. The area will also allow large cranes and other building equipment to be utilized for the project. the major concerns for retail and residential owners affected by the closure are safety and access during emergency situations. Community Development Director Randy Lacaze, who is working closely with the state on the project, assures the residents that the access points at each end of the street will allow emergency vehicles to get in and residents to get out in a timely manner and if necessary, the city can see about additional fencing to help keep out unwarranted traffic. A spokesperson from VCC, the contractor for the project out of Irvine, Texas, said the company is ready to begin the 18-month-project and the street will be closed as early as Wednesday.

Several reports of interior auto theft have come from customers at the Mariners Restaurant located on Highway 3110 in the last five days, the latest coming form Ginna Anyan of Winnfield whose vehicle was broken into last night and a suspect took several electronic items valued at $4,300.


***Today I had the honor of being the lead anchor for the noon and 5 o'clock news reports. As I progress through this internship, I think my boss and co-workers are beginning to trust me a little more and I'm beginning to believe in myself a little more. At the end of this internship I think I'm going to be set to be able to get a job with station.***

Man Victim of Random Crime; Wal-Mart Employess Get Caught (on-air reports 7/11/10)

James Davis was driving down Anita Street in Natchitoches Friday evening when his toolbox and lawnmower fell of the back of his truck. He stopped to retrieve the items when "several male subject in the area jumped on [him]," according to Davis. No items were reported stolen and Davis was transported to the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for his injuries.

Three Wal-Mart employees were arrested Saturday for theft in separate incidences. Store managers had been watching cashier Paula Calhoun for sometime taking money. She is charged with felony theft for an amount totalling over $2,800. Police also arrested 22-year-old Dewaski Fuller for theft of goods over $500. He was released on a $15 bond fee, scheduled to return August 20. Kia Fields was arrested for felony theft and issued a summons with a court date on Aug 20.

Interviews underway

Today I conducted interviews with 4 of the 11 Police Jury members. For the most part the interviews went as I expected and each juror seemed to be very concerned with the financial situation they are facing. Once all interviews are complete, the profiles are going to be posted to youtube in the weeks that follow, so they are available to citizen. One juror refused to speak on the matter, therefore there will be at most 10 profiles available.

Today was one of the most enjoyable days I've had at my internship this entire summer. For the first time I did something I had never had the opportunity to do and it felt great. My co-worker and I were really on the move today. He had people in a out of the studio, I had people in and out of the studio and together we go a lot accomplished in a small amount of time.

I was informed today that I will be getting the opportunity to do a community spotlight interview very soon. I'm very excited because I think I'm ready to take the next step. I'm becoming more comfortable behind the mic and am reacting a speaking better than I was when I first start, which is great because this experience is about growth. I am really looking forward to what is to come.

Setting a New Agenda; Royal Persuit (on-air reports 7/9/10)

Congressman John Flemming conducted a town hall meeting Thursday afternoon at the Natchitoches Events center as part of the America Speaking Out campaign. "America Speaking Out is an official effort of the House Republican Conference to engage Americans across the country and give them a voice in creating a new governing agenda for Congress." At the forum, Fleming with a group of community members comprised a list of issues most important to the people. Topping the list was government deficit spending, followed by health care, immigration, homeland security, and jobs in that order. Fleming said in other town hall meetings and in polls, these same issues top the list of what's important to Americans. Voters were able to voice concerns pertaining to specific topics and offer ways to resolve the issues. Congressman Fleming hopes these town hall meeting will set the agenda in Washington based on citizen concerns. Americans can speak out in person or online at
americaspeakingout.com.


The wait is finally over! It's official; LeBron James is leaving Cleveland to join Dewayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami to play for the Heat. James made the announcement last night from the Boys & Girls Club in Connecticut in a one-hour special aired on ESPN. Fans in Miami rejoiced, while Cleveland fans lashed out in disappointment by burning his #23 jersey in the street. The Cavs owner went so far as to release a letter to Cleveland fans calling James narcissistic and selfish even declaring that James was cursed and would take that curse with him where ever he went. James on the other hand said he made that decision that was best for him and had the support of friends and family--most notably his mother. The 2.5 million dollars raised from last night's special will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Police Jury Q & A . . .coming soon.

The Natchitoches Police Jury is going through a financial crunch at the current time and has to find ways to deal with it's ever depleating budget. The 11-person jury has had to close its administrative offices on Fridays as a way to help cushion the budget. I have been assigned the task of finding out where each juror thinks the situation stands presently and what course of action will be taken. I have a list of five question that I will be asking each of the 11 to see if they are all on the same page. The questions and answers will be posted to my blog as well as the KNOC youtube account. Interviews should be done by the end of this week, so look for the completed project next week. What we discover should be interesting.

Police arrest potential drug dealer (on-air report 6/7/10)

Police recovered drugs out of the J.W. Thomas apartment complex yesterday afternoon and arrested a man in connection to them. 17-year-old Dequincy Rushing was charged with possession of crack cocaine with the intent to sale, as well as two counts of resisting an officer, interference and obstruction. He is detained at the Natchitoches parish Detention Center, scheduled to appear August 20.

AP Style

As I was writing my stories today, I realized that there is not as much emphasis on AP style as I once thought, especially for radio writing. My stories are written to be heard and listeners really won't know the difference, therefore my supervisor reads and edits for sound and not sight. I wrote a story not to long ago about a gun and in my story I wrote out 22 caliber instead of .22, since that's how I was going to read it for the news. There are some things like referring to a person by last name only after the first reference that still matter, but other style rules seem unimportant. If I were writing for print, the style rules would apply a lot more, but for broadcast purposes I can get away with a lot of style errors.

Burgler on the roof, Underage DWI (on-air report 6/6/10)

Police stopped a burglary attempt early Monday morning at Jeff's Guns on Texas Street after responding to an alarm activation. After arriving at the location, a foot pursuit ensued and police were able to locate two suspect; a third subject was later discovered on the roof of the building. Approximately $500 worth of damage was done to the roof.

Officers arrested 20-year-old Matthew Wilkerson for driving while intoxicated and simple criminal damage to property. Police observed Wilkerson trying to drive his truck up the large grassy hill on the riverbank at 1:00 this morning. Wilkerson was released after paying a $15 bond fee and is scheduled to return August 9.

Business Burglary 6/2/10

Acme Refrigeration of Natchitoches, located on Highway 3110 reported a theft yesterday. Ricky Norman told police that sometime on Monday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., a suspect took 12 bottles of refrigeration valued at $2100.

Children left in cars in summer heat, Police chase suspect through city

Two infants were locked in vehicles yesterday in two seperate incidences. After locking her keys and five-month-old in the car, Preanne Williams called police for assistance. The child was in the car for approximately 20 minutes before the car was unlocked, but was unharmed. Police also safely rescued Temetria Wallace's small child after she accidentally locked the child in the car. The internal temperature of a vehicle can raise more than 60 degrees higher than the external temperature in 20 minutes, such temperatures could cause serious injury or death. Louisiana is one of 14 states with laws against leaving children unattended in vehicles.

Police arrested and charged Johnny Ray Hamilton for armed robbery. The 35-year-old was described to police by an eye-witness after robbing a woman. Hamilton pulled a knife on a woman and took her purse then fled toward Howell Street where he lives. He is detained at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center, no bond has been set.

Man jailed for inappropriate acts with family member

Thirty-three-year-old Rocky Dale Sims was booked by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office and charged with aggravated incest yesterday. If convicted, Sims could be fined up to $50,000 or imprisoned for no less than five years and up to 20 years. Sims is jailed at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center and was given no bond.

Summer Blaze

Two fires were reported in the city Monday. Police and the Natchitoches Fire Dept. responded to a house fire on Williams Ave. The blaze was contained within 30 minutes and no injuries were reported. Another fire, involving a camper trailer behind the Sibley Lake mini mart, took just under an hour to contain. The sheriff's dept. reported the incident and again, no on was injured.

After being gone for almost two weeks, a Frog Pond resident returned home to discover he had been the victim of a robbery. Andrew Dada reported that an unknown suspect kicked down the door of his apartment and stole a laptop valued at $200 and two pairs of Jordan tennis shoes valued at $162 a pair.

Murder Suspect Found (On-Air report 6/24)

The suspect in Wednesday's early morning shooting has been found and arrested. Rodney Barnes is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Chackawanda Moore Beard. The two were involved in a conflict at their home on Northern Street, during which the 35-year-old, mother of six was shot. Beard fled from the home with her children to a neighbor's house where she died on the porch from a single gunshot to the neck.

In an unrelated shooting, 26-year-old Lester Fisher Jr. was arrested for three counts of attempted murder after firing shots at the intersection of Rowena and 6th Street yesterday. One victim, Damrio Davis was "knicked" on his leg, but was not seriously injured. Fisher is also charged with four counts of criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal carrying of a weapon.