Q’s Hats in Review, Prepping for Rocky

The complaining about how much snow we “didn’t” get is taking up too much room in cyberspace. It is time to just enjoy TV reporters and the hats they are wearing out on the elements.

The last post had some doozies. Thanks for the submissions. If you have a photo to submit, send them in an email to me at IPTVPaul@gmail.com or just put them on Twitter @paulyeager.

Taylor Umland, KWQC, Davenport.

But one of the best ones came directly onto my Facebook wall. Here is the bar for today. A Wartburg College hat being worn on my old TV station, KWQC in Davenport. Taylor Umland was rocking the orange and black during his morning reports in the QC.

One of my former co-workers at KWQC was Matt Davis. Mr. Matt was a nightside reporter when I started and we would do liveshots without a hat. A certain morning radio duo named Dwyer and Michael’s would razz him on-air about not wearing a hat and looking cold on his evening live reports.

The radio guys decided to send a gift to Matt of a hat, which he would sometimes wear and other times it was just sitting on his desk, ready for the call of duty.

Bailey Dietz, KWQC, Davenport.

Sticking at KWQC, we bring in Bailey Dietz from her nightside live shot Thursday.

Former TV6 intern and now reporter at WGBA in Green Bay, WI, Jonathan Gregg is in on the action.

Jonathon Gregg

Jon is a former board member of the Iowa Broadcast News Association. I’m sure he’s already made plans to attend this year’s convention on April 20 in Johnston at the Stoney Creek Inn.

Now to some of the morning crew.

Arielle Nixon was wondering why she had to take a picture of herself wearing earmuffs. She wasn’t sure what the request was all about, but thanks to Pat Dix for this.

Pat’s Tweet.

Thanks for playing along.

Arielle Nixon, WHO, Des Moines.

Thanks to the MW ESPN bureau for this submission of KARE photojournalist Nate Anderson.

Nate Anderson, KARE, Minneapolis.

Jason Rantala, WOI, West Des Moines.

Kim St. Onge, KCCI, Des Moines.

My little reporter, Levi. That’s a hat OVER his hooded sweatshirt.

Megan Ruether is always a good sport about trying new hats and thanks to Travis Jungling for lighting up Megan Friday morning for this picture.

Megan Reuther, WHO, Des Moines.

But it was Megan’s former station that wins the day. You may remember Nikki Newbrough from last year with the space cadet interview subject.

This year she’s gone above and beyond with a sombrero and a friend, Danielle Wagner. I think Danielle is the Ice Princess? Did I get that correct?

Danielle Wagner and Nikki Newbrough of KWWL, Waterloo.

Thanks again for the submissions. We’re only a couple of days away from doing it again with Winter Storm Rocky approaching.

The Q-Tiful Hats

Winter Storm Q, at least the name The Weather Channel has given it, is alive and well.

It is also putting reporters out in the field to tell you to be careful, be safe and if you don’t have to, not travel.

I did start a Tumblr blog that is just the reporters and their hats. Check it out sometime.

This blog will still post pictures of reporters wearing hats while out standing in their field.

Megan Salois, WHO, Des Moines.

Jill Kasparie, KCRG, Cedar Rapids.

Kevin Phelps, KWQC, Davenport.

Now to the Omaha/Council Bluffs market and Cheryl Lemke.

Cheryl Lemke WOWT, Omaha.

Wait a minute, where is Becca’s hat?

Becca Habegger of KWWL, Waterloo.

Arielle Nixon, WHO.

Chris Conoan, WOI, West Des Moines.

Thanks for taking time to read the blog.

Patrick Bell, KCCI.

Phil Prazen, WOI, West Des Moines.

Vanessa Peng, KCCI.

Jessica Daley, WOI, West Des Moines.

And finally, WHO’s new reporter is setting the standard we haven’t seen in quite some time. Enjoy the photo of Jodi Whitworth. A big thanks to Lee Rouse for the snapshot. He’s a legend and he did it again.

Jodi Whitworth, WHO, Des Moines.

If you have a hat to share with others, send me a photo to IPTVPaul@gmail.com

Summer Breeze of Media Moves

We know that the Godfather (John Walters) has moved from ABC5 to Iowa State University.

More sports shorts…

John Sears comes back to Des Moines and adds four numbers to his station channel assignment. Sears goes from KCRG TV 9 to WHO-TV13. He’ll work under Keith Murphy and replaces Zach Borg.

Molly Nelson has already left KCCI for a position at DMACC.

Another TV8 staffer departs soon. Keri Gavin will leave the news business and KCCI within days.

My old pal Beth Marsoun had the interim tag removed and now is News Director at KWQC in Davenport. Beth started as an intern, then tape editor, producer, executive producer and now is the boss.

Across the river, WQAD is settling into a new main female anchor. Denise Hnytka is new 5, 6, and 10p anchor at the ABC affiliate.  Hnytka replaces Rae Chelle Davis.

Jonathon Gregg has pulled up stakes at CRI in Oskaloosa and become a Packer fan in Green Bay at NBC 26. WGBA hired him to one-man-band, among other things. His boss is former KWWL sports director Bob Healey. Jon’s former boss at CRI was Tami Wiencek, another past-KWWL’er.

Gregg served on the IBNA Board of Directors until April. Another board member Dean Borg, is recovering after a weekend fall. Borg broke an ankle, leg and also had a pacemaker installed. Dean is efficient in his medical visits. He’ll probably show the scars this weekend on Iowa Press. Yes, he wants to be back on air this weekend.

And making his debut on the journal of rural America is Mike Pearson. The Grinnell banker steps to the mic to succeed his father, Mark. The elder Pearson passed away in June.

What else needs to be reported? Drop me a line: IPTVPaul@gmail.com

 

The Godfather departs

John Walters official WOI photo.

One of the good guys is departing local TV.

But don’t tear up yet for John Walters. Just because WOI’s sports director is leaving in June, he’ll still be doing the job he’s gained the most recent fame from as the voice of the Iowa State Cyclones football and men’s basketball.

The Godfather will work full-time for the ISU Athletics in a move he’s been hoping to land for quite some time.

Walters is a graduate of Drake University. He spent time at KCCI and has been sports director at WOI since 1996.

Here's a photo of Iowa State Football Radio network team taken the day ISU beat Nebraska in Lincoln. L to R - Eric Heft (color), Ben Bruns (sideline), some old man found sleeping in the press box, John Walters (pbp). "Wally" is holding up 9 fingers for the 9 points that were all it took to win. (Bob Foster photo and caption copy writer.)

Here’s a photo of John and the rest of the ISU Football Radio network crew. The picture was taken after the Cyclones beat Nebraska in Lincoln on October 24, 2009. That was the same day Iowa beat Michigan State in East Lansing on the Marvin McNutt slant route and Michael and Jen Graham were married….(Mike still doesn’t care about what happened in the Cyclone game.)

Sorry, back to the photo… my first play-by-play teacher Bob Foster, provided the picture. He’s the between Ben Bruns and John. Eric Heft is on the far left of the picture. The nine fingers represent the points ISU scored en route to 9-7 victory.

Some of John’s Cyclone calls were heard around the world. This video is from the great plays in the Oklahoma State Football game when the Cyclones shocked the world.

Another big game in the era of Paul Rhoades was this Cyclone win at Texas.

One of my favorite John Walters memories comes from his early days at Channel 5. He was anchoring and the tape wasn’t ready. So John had to stretch. A lot. He finally resorted to “We now go to the Dean Smith four-corner stall…” all while smiling on camera, waiting for the tape to play. I’m pretty sure the tape still hasn’t rolled….

Best to John as he leaves the grind of TV news for a life in academics, errr, athletics.

The WOI press release is below. The full story can be found here.

WEST DES MOINES, IA — ABC5 News announced today ABC5 Sports Director John Walters will be leaving ABC5 News in June to take a full-time position with the Iowa State University Athletics Department. John has served as Sports Director for ABC5 since June, 1996. In addition to his daily duties with the station, John also anchored a wide variety of sports series and specials, including an 11 year run with “Friday Night Blitz”. John, a 1984 graduate of Drake University, has been part of the local sports broadcasting landscape for nearly thirty years. First, as a sports reporter for KCCI-TV, under the mentorship of Pete Taylor, and then serving as Sports Director for the last 16 years for ABC5. John has been honored as “Iowa Sportscaster of the Year” three times since 2005. In 2001, John and the ABC5 News Sports team were recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for their coverage of high school sports, including their half-hour high school football show “The Friday Night Blitz.” In 2003, John began his role as the radio play-by-play announcer of the Iowa State Cyclones. He also hosts the “Paul Rhoads Show” and the “Fred Hoiberg Show” on ABC5. John and his wife, Joni, have three daughters, Kate, Annie and Kelli. John is making this move with mixed emotions, “I am very excited about this new opportunity with Iowa State, but at the same time I will greatly miss all my colleagues whom I have enjoyed working with here at ABC5. I know the sports department is in great hands with Dave Zawilinski, there is no doubt in my mind he is ready for the challenge.

Iowa State University will announce details of John’s new position on Friday.

At ABC5, Dave Zawilinski will assume the responsibilities as ABC5 Sports Director after John’s departure in mid-June. Dave, a 2005 graduate of Drake University has been with ABC5 for ten years. In 2005, Dave joined ABC5 full-time as a Sports Reporter, and has served as Weekend Sports Anchor since 2010. Zawilinski says, “Over the last 10 years I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with one of the best sportscasters in the business – the things I have learned from John have prepared me for this opportunity. I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to the challenge. I wish John nothing but the best in his endeavors at Iowa State.”

ABC5 News Director Scott Frederick says, “John Walters will be missed. To be sure, it will be difficult to replace someone of John’s caliber, but Dave Zawilinski is just the guy to do it.”

 Best to John. Maybe we’ll see him around the neighborhood more often.

Just because they may be thin, doesn’t mean the hats aren’t mighty

Nikki Newbrough, KWWL - TV Waterloo.

Thank goodness winter is here. We needed the snow to help bring out the hats.

We had one crop already this season. This would be the second round of lids.

We begin with Wartburg grad and now KWWL reporter Nikki Newbrough. She is the morning reporter for the NBC affiliate. Translation: She can be silly when needed.

Nikki's live shot on earth.

Earlier in the day, Nikki was at the University of Northern Iowa campus asking students about the cold and snow. Her interview almost stole the show. He was in a NASA-type space suit.

Earth to UNI dude, nice hat.

You can see in this picture, Nikki put the space helmet on her head for this still frame.

Brian Boesen, KWQC - HD, live on Brady Street Hill in Davenport.

Brian Boesen is reporting on Brady Street Hill in Davenport. I’ve done that shot a few times in my career.

The KWQC reporter and I met backstage at the Girl Scouts Night on Broadway a couple of months back.

I also met the clubhouse leader for hats in 2012, Megan Ottier that night in Bettendorf. More on her in a moment.

Back to Brian… I did ask him if he was related to the Des Moines Boesen’s. Specifically, former Dowling Catholic TE Ben Boesen who is now playing football at Iowa State. No relation between the two. Yes, I was that guy who asked.

Angie Hunt, KCCI - TV Des Moines.

Back to Central Iowa and an ‘ole favorite for hats here at PP&M and that would be Angie Hunt.

The Ames bureau reporter has been captured with many great lids on her head the last few years. She gets the plum assignments in all corners of the viewing area, many northern points, so wearing a good head topper is vital to her good health.

Thank you to Angie.

Krystle Kacner , WHO - HD Des Moines

Newly hired reporter Krystle Kacner of WHO-HD is now getting into the hat game. She’s new to the area and to the station.

But her hat is one of veteran caliber.

As she settles in, we’ll get her to tweet a couple of pictures of herself wearing a hat.

Chris Earl, KCRG Cedar Rapids

And back to eastern Iowa and KCRG reporter/anchor Chris Earl.

Mr. Earl deserves special attention for this furry wonder on his head.

Would you call that Cousin Eddy’s hat from Christmas Vacation? Or is that more Daniel Boone?

Now back to the hat that I received the most in my inbox.

Morgan Ottier of KWQC opens the competition with a home run.

Megan’s hat is spectacular. But some question if the hat is for show or if she’s serious about wearing the hat. Better yet, is she serious while wearing that hat?

I know many reporters were looking forward to getting out in the elements this weekend to talk about the ice and snow, but it looks like those pictures will have to wait, as the next winter death storm is staying to the west.

So Lauren Squires, bring us your hats from the Omaha market.

If you know of a hat to share, send the pic to IPTVPaul@gmail.com .

Lip sweaters plus battles between hot reporters and meteorologists

The leaves are all but gone from the trees and some of your favorite reporters and anchors have vanished, too. And in one case, an entire news department.

We’ll go west to east in Iowa.

Zach Tecklenberg

Humboldt native, Drake and WHO-TV alum Zach Tecklenburg has pulled up stakes from KTIV in Sioux City. He’s travelled south on I-29, around the formerly flooded Missouri River and landed in Kansas City at NBC Action News.

That’s KSHB-TV 41 on your dial.

That is also the same station of former WOI and WHBF reporter Sloane Heller.

Mike Peasley (submitted photo to SC Journal).

Former KCAU reporter Mike Peasley is now in Dallas. That’s not the news, but the former sports director at KICD Radio in Spencer covered another big sporting event, the World Series between your Texas Rangers and the new world champion St. Louis Cardinals. This write-up in the Sioux City Journal relives one of my favorite Mike stories from his first election night covering Congressman Tom Latham‘s win. Mike though, is one being affected by the NBA lockout. He was covering the Dallas Mavericks. Now there’s now Mavs to cover. Thanks owners and players for dinking my friend and his family that doesn’t make the NBA league minimum.

The stork is coming back to Iowa’s News Leader. KCCI morning anchor Katie Ward is expecting. She said so in a promo with anchor Steve Karlin. This is her second child. Also in the spot are Wes Callison and the new traffic reporter, Jackie Schmillen.

New Raygun shirt.

Wes is also featured on a new Raygun T-shirt. The Village of East Des Moines t-shirt shop put the meteorologists from KCCI and WHO.

The chiefs are in the middle of the ring. John “Umbrella of Pain” McLaughlin and Ed “Pressures Rising” Wilson are shirtless and gloved to do battle. Also on the shirt, Kurtis “Flash Flood” Gertz, Metinka “Hail Damage” Slater, Wes “Patchy Fog” Callison of Channel 8.

The Channel 13 line up card: Jeriann “The F5″ Ritter, Megan “Mega Doppler” Salois and Brett “Tornadic Activity” McIntire.

Great shirt. Great fun by all. Also makes a great stocking stuffer for your favorite weather geek, or even media blogger.

Keith Murphy sporting the Stache. (Image from KXNO.com)

Also from the folks at Channel 13, the razors appear broken at Keith Murphy‘s house.

WHO-HD sports director and show host at KXNO has a lip sweater this month. He’s taking part in the Movember  or Stash For Cash cause to benefit cancer awareness. This also got John Bachman to porn stache on TV. Awesome.

Also taking part is KCNZ’s Jesse Gavin.

Natasha Chughtai and Eileen Loan ring bells for the Salvation Army. (Photo from KWWL Facebook page).

KWWL-TV has brought in a new female anchor. Natasha Chughtai replaces Sunny Layne who left the station in October. Chughtai’s most recent stops were in Oregon and Alaska. She’s a native Minnesotan.

Layne’s co-anchor had changed in the last six months when Jeff Eliasoph came to work at E. 4th Street. Jeff’s in for Bob Waters who was moved back down the lane to weekends. Layne is looking to move closer to home.

WithOutCoverage is complete. Clear Channel made more cuts to operations across the country, this time slicing WOC AM 1420′s Newsteam. Gone is last man standing, Nick Lindberg. Already out the door were Mark Minnick and Phil Roberts. QC reports are anchored at the “hub” of Des Moines to provide for the “spoke” of Davenport.  Dan Kennedy and Jim Fisher are the last local program offerings from WOC.

Tiffany Tift needs your votes.

Former KWQC -TV6 reporter Tiffany Tift needs your votes. Tift is now a reporter in Orlando at WOFL Fox 35. A local radio station is holding Central Florida’s Hottest Broadcaster poll. Tiffany is asking for your votes. Click here for the contest.

I wouldn’t openly solicit votes on her behalf if I wasn’t such a fan of hers. She was brave to take her first TV job in the QC after spending most of her life in Florida. That winter was life experience.

Another former QC reporter is changing jobs. Meredith Wood is now closer to home. The Alabama native former WHBF reporter is now at WAAY-TV in Huntsville. She will be the noon and 4p anchor at the end of November. She comes from WCHS-TV in West Virginia. Here’s a look at her welcome video.

Tom Hudson gets a little mic treatment while talking to Andrew Batt.

Iowa Public Television (my employer) recently partnered with the National Association of Manufactures for a Republican candidate forum. Tom Hudson of the PBS program Nightly Business Report. Hudson is a Davenport native, Central High grad and former reporter for WOC Radio. Hudson

And on another personal note, I’ll be headed back to the Quads for a good cause. Coming to the stage on December, media members do their best to entertain and help the Girl Scouts of Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa. According to my friend through the event, David Burke, this started in 2003. So, that would be the year I donned a toga for the cause.

What will I do this year? I’ve been asked to return. Not sure what exactly I’ve agreed to. You’ll just have to click here to help the organization.

The list of entertainers includes: Steve Ketelaar and Mark Manuel MC’s. Performers: Bailey Deitz, Meredith Dennis, Lori Evans, Ron Evans, Jason Fechner, Johanna Klossing, Erin Lounsberry, Susan McPeters, Mike Mickle, Art Monroe, Brian Nelson, Morgan Ottier, Marissa Pendergast, Paula Perez, Tami Seitz and me.

See you December 8th for the fun.

Hats start your day off right

Amanda Lewis, KCCI-TV8

And we’re back with another fun time with hats, hoods, or even ear muffs, as you’ll see in this latest post on the Iowa media and their hats. A new installment came your way recently featuring mostly Quad City media members. Because you know, hats aren’t just for breakfast in the QCA. We begin with KCCI’s Amanda Lewis. We’ll get to her new anchor pairing in a bit.

Mark Tauscheck, KCCI-TV8

Here’s KCCI part-timer and new daddy Mark Tauscheck. The former TV13 reporter occasionally picks up shifts for Iowa’s News Leader. Mark recently became a new dad and I hope he’s enjoying some special time in those early weeks of life. His classic headband was needed on this report.

Megan Salois, WHO-TV13

My thanks to everyone’s friend RHS76 for this shot of Megan Salois. The weekend meteorologist for TV13 has been busy since Jeriann Ritter delivered her baby. Megan and Brett McIntyre have pulled a lot of shifts to cover Jeriann’s well-deserved leave.

Jessica Daley, WOI-TV

Now to the ABC5 family of reporters. We had a good one from weekend anchor Christina Palladino in the last hat post, now it is time for Jessica Daley to bring her hat. Boy did she ever. This classic hat is back in fashion and back on television. You can follow Jessica on Twitter if you’re into that kind of thing.

Joe Augustine, WOI-TV5

Sticking with the ABC5 family based in West Des Moines, not Ames, here’s Joe Augustine. This reporter is usually drawing the shortest of all the short straws. He’s usually the one in the cold, snow, rain and whatever other elements Iowa can throw at him. Actually, it is whatever his assignment desk and producers throw at him. The weather just happens to be part of the story. That is the glory of the job.

Megan Reuther, WHO-TV13

The original title of this series of posts dedicated to hats, talked about breakfast. How many of you have eaten breakfast when you see this smiling face on TV? TV13′s Megan Reuther is on your TV most mornings. Even when pregnant, she’s still out and about. Thanks to trusty photojournalist Trent Reicks or Roger Riley, you’ll have Megan in your living room. That morning reporter gig is a tough one, but fun if the right story comes along. Or easy. During the most recent set of storms, Megan couldn’t get out of her driveway, so the live truck came to her so she could do her morning live shots. How many of us want that to happen to us when work comes to us, even on snow days?

Eric Hanson, KCCI-TV8

Now it is time for the white, Norwegian rapper. I’m talking about Eric Hanson. He’s not going all Justin Bieber on us, but wearing the good old ear muffs. A TV reporter has to protect his hair. Especially those who are rappers. But usually the rappers wear stocking caps. C’mon, Eric, a little consistency with your reputation.

Emily Price, KCCI-TV8

KCCI weekend anchor Emily Price also gets some outdoor time during big storms. Here is Mrs. Dave Price. Emily’s husband also anchors weekends, but on Channel 13. It would be tough to be in the same house and have the same job, but at different stations. I’m sure there’s a little couch talk between Dave and Emily about work and stories. I can only imagine how hard it is to not tell the other about your story ideas. But there’s still a fire in each one to beat the other, so that keeps them tight-lipped with the other. They are Mizzu-rah grads after all.

Molly Nelson, KCCI-TV8

Molly Nelson is another one of those morning reporters. You’ll find her on the air at the same time as Megan Reuther, but on KCCI’s Newschannel 8 This Morning. Now that show is anchored by Steve Karlin and Katie Ward. Plus you’ve got the new morning meteorologist Wes Callison in the house now that Bryan Kerrick has moved north. Molly is a former Drake basketball player and like Brett McIntyre of Ch. 13, the pride of Fort Dodge.

Marcus Macintosh, KCCI-TV8

The former holder of the male morning anchor chair was Marcus Macintosh. He’s now anchoring Saturday and Sunday mornings on KCCI. He’s now teamed with Amanda Lewis. I still get a lot of inquiries about what happened to Marcus Macintosh? He’s still on Channel 8, just different days. The official reason given for the change was to give experience and help to the expanded weekend newscasts. Now that he’s not anchoring as many days, he’s now being thrown into the reporter mix like he was this day on assignment in Prairie City. Ahhhh, PC, home of Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, the buffalo preserve and much of my family.

Megan Brown, WHO-TV13

Here’s a look at WHO-TV multimedia journalist Megan Brown on the air back in December. You can’t really see her face as the picture was a little washed out, but you can clearly see her hat in the dark night sky. That’s a great backdrop for live shots from the TV13 basement/garage door. It is not as good as the old Des Moines skyline shot as viewed from the employee door, but it will work.

Hat Guy.

I’m not sure who this guy is. He was in a KCCI story one day and I thought he deserved to be in the hat posts. Could you imagine if this trend caught on with reporters? You wouldn’t have to identify them with name keys on the bottom of the screen. You would just have to listen to the sound of their voice and their story. I guess that type of thing already exists. It is called radio.

A white, rapping Norwegian, in church

I can’t make this up.

But when TeeVee’s Eric Hanson told me…

I do get to stretch my boundaries and participate in Hope’s kids Christmas program this coming weekend. I’m the only adult, playing a reporter (imagine that) with hundreds of kids in front of 10,000+ Hopesters… and (get ready) I have to rap to a Justin Bieber song. Yes, this could be interesting for a Norwegian Lutheran!

Now, we have video proof of Mr. Eric Hanson of KCCI fame serving as a “reporter” during Lutheran Church of Hope’s children’s Christmas program. Eric is a member there in West Des Moines at Mr. Mike Householder‘s congregation.

Also to share, Eric’s former work place and mine, KWWL, put together this fun video. It appears to feature every employee in the building. I saw many friends who are behind the scenes, including assignment editor, also Wartburg grad, Jason Mortvedt in the video. Another Wartburg grad Leslie Ortner is in the video as well.

Think Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets the crew on E. 4th Street.

Here’s “Twist and Shout” that includes a dancing Ron Steele.

Then there’s the Dubuque Bureau’s version..

Now, if I couldn’t only get all of those KWWL’ers to wear a hat. Lauren Squires wore one last year for our hat posting. I did catch a few of the other Channel 7 reporters in hat last week in this post. Mr. Hanson had a hat on last year as well as documented in this post.

New winter, new hats

It is the most wonderful time of the year. Reporters being sent out into the snow to tell of ghost stories and travels of long, long ago.

It is time for a new crop of TV reporters to head out and into the winter.

Emily Carlson on Saturday night.

Here we go.

We begin with the Blizzard of 2010.

This is Emily Carlson of WHO-TV13 during her 6p live shot. The snow and wind made it entertaining to watch.

I gotta say, those HD live shots look great. You can really see snow falling and the lights and blowing snow in those freezing arse shots.

Joe Augustine WOI-TV.

Here’s Joe Augustine of WOI-TV. This looked like what we call a “look live” shot, but he still had to go out into the storm.

His hat held him tight and all of us at home were really warm.

Joe is wearing the standard black stocking cap. Much like our friend Matt Davis would wear during his KWQC TV6 days. That was when Dwyer and Michael’s would make fun of him, but felt sorry enough for him to send Matt a couple of new hats to wear on the air.

Ah, I miss those Two Dorks and their pumpkin drop and adult Easter egg hunt.

Laura Nichols, KCCI-TV

A new reporter to the Des Moines market is Laura Nichols of KCCI-TV. This Channel 8 reporter is a Missouri graduate and is full into the Iowa winter.

I could really get into the make and knit of the hat, but won’t do that. Maybe we’ll get a hat expert to do that. She, too, was sent out Saturday night, during the height of the storm to get the story.

Megan Brown, WHO-TV

Another new market member is WHO-TV’s Megan Brown. She is a new multi-media journalist for Rod Peterson’s crew.

Translation, she’s a one-man band. She shoots her own video, edits it and appears on air. Here she is during a Sunday morning live shot.

Best to her in trying to stay warm this winter.

Molly Nelson of KCCI was out in the elements this weekend.

Now we bring in Molly Nelson of KCCI. She was featured in the teaser post for this season.

Molly is an experienced reporter of the market.

The Fort Dodge native is married to a college friend’s brother. Confusing? Her husband is Perry Peterson‘s brother. Perry and I were members of the class of 1998 at Wartburg College.

She’s also a former Drake basketball player, who in my opinion, has made great strides in her career at Channel 8 since starting.

Emily Carlson, still with WHO-TV

Here again is Emily Carlson of WHO-TV.

Different day, different hat.

Same style, but different color of lid. Almost same camera location, but that back door of 1801 Grand provides many views of Des Moines. There used to be a great live shot place with a beauty shot of the DM Skyline, but a loft blocked that view.

I think that loft is mostly empty today.

Recognize her? It’s Emily Carlson again of WHO-TV.

I have a theory of what’s going on here, but won’t share it but with my IPTV lunch crew. I believe Julie, Dave and Brian have heard the story too many times before.

At least I’m not talking about a certain morning anchor who’s changing shows.

Andy Ireland, KCCI-TV

Good to see the sports guys wearing protection.

Andy Ireland of KCCI was sent to Iowa City this week for coverage of the Hawkeye Football team. I believe you call Andy a journalist in this situation.

Is his camera operator a member of the media? A press person? That’s another discussion for another day. Maybe we’ll let Rob Howe of the Hawkeye Insider and Matt Perrault of KXNO discuss that another time.

Keri Gavin, KCCI-TV

And we have Keri Gavin of KCCI back in the blog.

She made an appearance last season with her hat.

Glad to have her back on the beat reporting from the Iowa Statehouse in her standard hat. There was a white construction hat one would wear on a tour of new facility or something, if my memory serves me.

Now time to bring in some other hats from around the state.

Kera Mashek, KWWL-TV

We head to my home area of northeast Iowa.

This would be the entry from KWWL-TV’s Kera Mashek. She’s standing out from of the Channel 7 studios along E. 4th Street in Waterloo.

Notice the school closing listed below her. How fitting that Jesup comes up at the exact moment of her hat’s appearance.

As Col. Hannibal Smith would say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

She is one of several new faces at KWWL. I guess that again is a reference to the A-Team. Not sure who the call Murdock in the station McElroy, Price and Buckmaster built.

Colleen O'Shaughnessy, KWWL

Thanks to a couple of friends in the market, I first went to KWWL.com to find a picture of Colleen O’Shaughnessy. A few pals said she had a good hat on her head Saturday night.

This was a story about driving north on Highway 63 and said she had trouble getting past Highway 3. I guess that’s why they call it Dead Man’s Corner. Although the original road has changed, many NE Iowa natives know exactly where I’m talking about right now.

Katie Gannon, KTIV

How about a look to the west and KTIV in Sioux City?

Here we find Katie Gannon out on the porch of Sioux City’s Channel 4. KTIV is the sister station of KWWL in Waterloo, so occasionally, you may see Katie pop up on Channel 7 while still doing work for Channel 4.

I don’t know if Katie was in the infamous We Built Sioux City video, but how about taking another look just to make sure?

If you’ve got any other hats or reporters we should look out for, let me know at IPTVPaul@gmail.com and we’ll get them posted. You know this won’t be the only post on reporter hats this season. We’re just getting started, after all.

Bob Nielson, former Wartburg coach.

Now to a couple of obscure, but fun lids found while cruising the interwebs.

Thanks to Romelle Slaughter for the lead on a NFL network reporter NOT wearing a hat in Chicago last week ahead of the Bears/Patriots snow bowl.

I found RHS76 had posted a picture of Minnesota Duluth head football coach Bob Nielson. Romelle knows Coach well, as Nielson was at Wartburg our first two years on campus in Waverly.

Now, Bob is coaching UMD. The Bulldogs are playing in the Division II national championship game this weekend in Alabama. Best to the man who inspired Bob’s Band back in the 1990′s.

Ed Werder, ESPN

And thanks to the news and sports director at KCNZ, Jesse Gavin, for this picture of ESPN’s Ed Werder. The reporter for the Mother Ship is standing in front of the deflated dome in Minneapolis. I was promised some Twin Cities pictures of reporters. We’ll see what we can do for next time.

Until then, thanks for reading the blog. Glad to have you aboard.

Preview of New Hats for the New Season

Molly Nelson of KCCI was out in the elements this weekend.

You have been warned.

I have lots of new pictures of TV reporters wearing hats during last week’s blizzard and the cold weather that has lingered this week.

One reporter is trying to set a market record for different number of hats she’s worn in consecutive liveshots. Those pictures will post later.

For now, a teaser of what lies ahead. Thanks to Molly Nelson of KCCI-TV in Des Moines for the shot. Her shot is really not a hat, but a great parka hood. Very cool.

If you’ve got a shot of a friend in their hat, send it to IPTVPaul@gmail.com and we’ll get it posted.

For the record, that post is now live. Enjoy.