8 Years Ago

May 19th, marks exactly 8 years since I began my career at Channel 19. On that day I began my internship. I had just finished up my sophomore year at Alabama. I guess it's kind of strange that I started at 19 on the 19th.

I was trying to recall what I remember about that first day. I can remember walking in the door and the receptionist calling back to the newsroom. Dana Williams, who was the morning editor, came and got me. She took me into the control room where she was finishing up running tapes for the morning show.

I watched her and then went back to the newsroom. I don't remember going to the morning editorial meeting. I think I just watched Dana edit for the noon show.

I do remember going to the afternoon editorial meeting. I remember standing there and looking at these people I'd always seen on TV. Jerry was there and Hollie McGruder.

Bryan McGruder was our 5pm male anchor at the time. He also worked the assignment desk sometimes in the newsroom. Late in the afternoon, just as I thought I'd be going home, he sent me out with the Sat Truck operator. I believe his name was Jason Moore. We went to Decatur to do a live shot. Dion Hose was the photographer, he's still at the station, and Karen Brady was the reporter. I have no idea what the story was about. Too many years have passed.

That was my first day. The memories are very fragmented now.

The other intern that summer was Melissa Riopka. I think she's now at WDEF in Chattanooga.

About two weeks after I started my internship, I got the job of editing the weekend newscasts. Amy Gunnin, now George, was the anchor, James-Paul did weather and John Pearson did sports.

James-Paul was actually reporting three days a week back then. He was doing a story one day about a new state law that said stores had to check for ID before selling tobacco products to anyone who looked under 25. So of course, I became the bate to see what the stores would do.

They hooked me up with Spycam 19. The camera was in a long sleeve shirt and you had to wear a fannie pack on your side. It was the middle of the summer. I had to have looked pretty obvious.

So I go into store number one with the assignment of buying some cigars. I go in, she gives them to me and I walk out. JP comes in and confronts her. She opens up a book and shows us that cigars aren't included in the law.

So next JP tells me to go in a store and ask for some Skoal. I walk up to the counter and said, "Yes, I'd like some Skoal." The clerk says, "what kind." I say, "hummm, hummm, any kind will be fine." I didn't know there were different kinds. She got suspicious and asked for ID.
At the final store someone finally sold me the goods without checking my ID. James-Paul interviewed me. That tape is somewhere in the building. I should probably find it, before someone else does.