The Reporter
38th and Chicago
“I have to go there.” was all I said.
Soon after George Floyd died while in police custody, I visited the intersection in south Minneapolis where it happened. My time there marked one of the most powerful assignments I ever took on.
This whole story - minus, the still images tied to the incident, of course - was shot with my iPhone. It’s amazing what we can now do!
Wear Green For Jayme
The disappearance of Jayme Closs in October of 2018 was a saga that gripped western Wisconsin - and eventually, the nation. It was resolved 88 days after she was abducted, when she was found safe.
During her disappearance, two communities close to the Closs family - Barron and Ladysmith - met for a girls basketball game and Jayme’s favorite color filled the gymnasium.
We also talked with Carter Closs - Jayme’s cousin - about how the abduction impacted him and the message he carried within his soul.
Giving A “Lyft”
When I called for a Lyft ride one night and Dave Alderson pulled up, I did a double-take. Sure enough, his license plate was “LYFT.”
Naturally, we had to feature him and use his “authentic gimmick” to teach our viewers a lesson on how to stay safe when using a rideshare service.
End Of Watch
There was a six-month stretch where three law enforcement officers died while in the line of duty. I was assigned to cover two of those funerals - Rusk Co. deputy Dan Glaze and Wisconsin State Patrol trooper Anthony Borostowski.
We found out that one person in our area was the chief organizer of all three services. So, we wanted to know what went into this meticulous orchestration.
Goodbye, Old Friend
What matters the most to you? For the community of Whitehall, it was a Norwegian Spruce stood in the center of town since 1928.
When the state Dept. of Transportation said it was an obstruction to a train crossing and it had to be removed, there were those in Whitehall who did not want this dear friend of 73 years to go away.
Moose On The Move
Yup. I once went searching for a moose.
They’ re rather rare in Wisconsin - especially, in my part of the state. So, when one was seen south of Eau Claire in 2018, I was put on “moose patrol” … and, I found it - as did, many others!
Since I was doing this story, I naturally had to add a couple good one-liners in my intro and tag.
Adeline’s Gift
A woman originally from a small Wisconsin town saw that her church had a need and stepped in to help. Her donation allowed for the house of worship to become wheelchair accessible.
I was there the day she came back to town to see what she helped create. It was fun following her around the church, as she took pictures with her phone.
It still ranks as one of my mother’s favorite stories during my time reporting for WEAU.
Saluting
Billy Noss
Growing up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, I knew Billy Noss. He was such a fixture at almost every sporting event in town. He always had that smile and would not hesitate to toss a “Hey, guy!” if he saw you.
When he passed away in 2018, we led our 10 p.m. newscast with a tribute to him and it meant a lot for me to produce the piece.
Homicide Reaction
I was sent to cover a crime scene one Friday night. It turned into a homicide investigation and the suspect was still on the loose.
The next day, I went back up to the area and talked with neighbors. Unfortunately, this was not the first high-profile recent homicide which happened near their homes.
Jesse Horne Meets
Jesse Horn
I was the only one who could do this story.
A champion sport stacker has taken his craft and used it to teach important lessons in living with autism. HIs name - Jesse Horn.
It also offered a chance to show I was not as good stacking as he is.
In The Middle of Severe Weather
In the late-summer of 2018, dangerous storms rolled through the southern part of our viewing area, causing substantial flooding. I was sent down to cover the story, and found myself stuck in another round of pounding rain and strong winds.
I only made it to the small Village of Wilton. However, the stories there were well worth the trip. There’s even a “special delivery” at the end of this story.
Super Bowl Rideshare
Covering Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis meant more for me than the Patriots and the Eagles. The stories also involved Sarah Irwin. We went to high school together and she was a rideshare driver the week leading up to the big game, raising money for a good cause.
It also gave me a chance to report live from the site of the game, which was not far from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Voice Of The Super Bowl
During my time at KUSA in Denver, I knew of Alan Roach. He has one of the best voices in broadcasting and you heard him everywhere in the Mile High City - on the radio for KOA or as the public address announcer for the Denver Broncos and Colorado Avalanche.
By the time of Super Bowl LII, he moved back to his home of Minnesota and was the PA voice for the Vikings. I caught up with him about what it was like to call these major events.
High-Priced Cards
One of my daily duties at WEAU in Eau Claire was looking at criminal complaints at the county courthouse. When I saw that a theft case involved trading card games, running into the tens of thousand of dollars, we decided to break out on the appeal of these games.
We also talked with the store owner who was robbed about what was behind these cards.
Flooding Rescue
Sometimes, dramatic news happens while we are on the scene. This happened for me in August of 2016.
Heavy flooding hit the town of Gilmanton along Elk Creek. When I arrived, the water was still rising. Then, we noticed two men trapped and unable to make it back to land.
We watched the saga unfold with the girlfriend of one of the men. This was a true story of loss and survival.
Craft Beer’s New Frontier
Anyone who knows me understands my love for craft beers. A perfect getaway is trying a couple new breweries and finding out what went into their newest taste sensations.
So, when the Wyoming Brewers Festival rolled around, I moved from sports to news to cover this important story.
… and, before you ask, that beer was a prop for the standup. No sampling while I’m on the clock.