2 more deaths involving former staffers at KIMT and KSO

Don Harman, FOX4KC.com image

This blog has turned into the obituary page of the internet.

Earlier this week we learned former WHO and WOI TV anchor Bobbi Bergman Silvernail Brunscheon died.

Then it was Tom Bedore, or as he was known on KSO-AM, Tom Collins.

Now word is former KIMT meteorologist Don Harman has passed.

This Pitch.com story was posted this morning about Harman. (It has since been pulled or is missing from the site and now moved to here.)

The note below was posted on the Fox4 Facebook page this morning:

Good morning.
We know many of you have questions.
We appreciate your concern, and we consider you our friends.
But please remember that family comes first.
We’re honoring that right now, and we ask that you join us in that.
Please bear with us for a little while longer.
-Loren & Mark

As of 930, there’s been no official word on the station website, but former co-workers have posted status updates asking for prayers and support for the family. The Facebook post has generated a large amount of traffic.

Harman was at KIMT in Mason City in the mid-90′s, including the time when Jodi Huisentruit disappeared.

Don worked in West Virginia at two different stations during his career before going to Kansas City to work at Fox 4 where he worked on the morning show.

From the station bio:

Throughout his years in television, Don has played an active role in the communities in which he worked. He has a passion for educating children about science and enjoys teaching them about weather with his Doppler Don segments. In 2001, he was nominated for an Emmy and was a Missouri Broadcast Award winner for his educational childrens’ reports as Doppler Don. The best part of teaching weather for Don is seeing the kids’ eyes light up when they realize science can be fun.

When he’s not forecasting the weather or working with children, Don enjoys spending time outdoors. His favorite activities include hiking, camping, and skiing. Don, his wife, Monica, and their daughter, Avery, live in Kansas City, Mo.

Harman had a good sense of humor and his former co-workers I’ve worked with, always had great Don stories to share.

Another passing happened over the weekend. This one involving former 1460 KSO DJ Tom Collins, who died Saturday in Appleton, Wisconsin. Collins was part of the Tom and Jerry Show in Des Moines.

Bedore had been doing voice work and field production for radio and TV commercials.  His career also took him to New York, California, Iowa and eventually Wisconsin.

Part of Thomas’ obit is below, the full story is here:

Tom is survived by his parents, John and Dolores, Appleton; three brothers, John Jr. (Sue Swamer) Bedore, Timothy (Karen) Bedore, and James (Carrie) Bedore; and a nephew, Ben, and nieces, Annie and Claire.

A memorial mass for Tom will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1617 W. Pine St., Appleton, with Fr. Dennis Ryan officiating. Friends may call on Saturday at church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tom’s name may be made to Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Memorial Contributions, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN, 38120. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the caregivers with ThedaCare Hospice for your loving and good-humored care. Tom loved you all.

Please let this be the last of the death notices for media members for awhile.

IBNA Membership Drive

Hello readers.

Many of you are working in a radio or television newsroom right now as you read this. Thanks for your support. Now I’m asking for your support again. I am a board member of the Iowa Broadcast News Association. We are currently looking to improve our membership roles.

Historically, stations will pay one fee and all members of a newsroom are covered. We are now asking each individual journalist to join as some stations have cut this item from the budget. Membership is only $15 and you can take that with you when you head to your next job.

The following is a letter being sent out across the state. Please take time to consider joining IBNA (it is for journalists, PR pros, students and others interested in our mission. Visit this site for more factual IBNA information)

We are holding the 2011 convention at the Stoney Creek Inn just off 86th street in Johnston. The big day is April 30. The convention begins at 8:30 and will close with our dinner and awards that night. Bob Franken is our keynote this year. There’s also a big gathering planned for Friday night at the State Historical Building in Des Moines to honor Jack Shelley.

We hope you can join us.

Dear Iowa Broadcasters, the IBNA wants you.

Your dedication to the advancement of broadcast journalism in Iowa is vital to our state, not to mention our industry.

We are in a trying time in our industry. Journalism is under attack with claims of political bias, budget constrains and demanding bosses wanting more with less. While our ownership groups have profits in mind, we have good stories, responsible reporting and keeping our jobs as motivators.

None of these pressures can give us an excuse to take our craft any less serious. The Iowa Broadcast News Association wants to make sure members have the tools necessary to perform your job the best you can.

IBNA is committed to you and your efforts

This means IBNA has to understand what you’re doing and needing. The board of directors serves as your connection to what the organization does, and what we can do, to best help the profession of journalism.

We ask for your support in membership

We will continue to fulfill our mission to improve electronic media news gathering and presentation for our stations and the public we serve. IBNA also provides free legal assistance over issues of open and public records and court proceedings.

Each year, Iowa’s best journalists are honored during our annual convention and awards presentation. What better way to understand the state by meeting those who work here with you in neighboring towns and competing stations. Convention sessions are driven to cover relevant topics in all our newsrooms.

The organization also has a strong interest in philanthropy and educating future journalists. We offer scholarships to the best and brightest students who are entering this field.

IBNA members also receive quarterly publications including trade news, educational opportunities and job listings.

What else does membership get you? If that doesn’t sound good enough, how about some cool member cards that double as press credentials?
Membership fees are minimal and cover costs of operation. No one is making a profit.

There’s strength in numbers

That’s where you come in to this conversation. Consider joining IBNA today to continue working on your future.
We thank you for your membership support in the past and want to make sure you sign up for another year. Just $15 keeps you active in IBNA. Tell your friends, co-workers and competitors. We want to see you all in Johnston in April 30th and beyond.

Sign up today by visiting this website: http://ibna.org/membership.html

Thank you for your time,
IBNA Membership Committee

Matt Breen, KTIV – Sioux City
Bob Fisher, KGLO – Mason City
Amy Fleming, KIMT – Mason City
Jonathon Gregg, Communications Research Institute – Oskaloosa
Beth Malicki, KCRG – Cedar Rapids
Gary Metivier, KWQC – Davenport
Paul Yeager, Iowa Public Television – Johnston

Spring Awakenings (and media movements)

Ryan Burchett has increased the size of his kegerator.

The February book is well, in the books and already there’s change happening all over Iowa’s TV and radio newsrooms.

We’ll start in the east in the Quad Cities. KWQC Chief Meteorologist Ryan Burchett is now a civilian. He’s giving up TeeVee (that’s the way QC Times columnist Bill Wundrum writes it) to head to the hills of LeClaire and make booze with his brother. The pair have opened the Mississippi River Distilling Company. It is possible thanks to new Iowa laws and is called a microdistillery which will make River Baron Vodka and River Rose Gin at first.

Ryan and I go back to Mason City and KIMT. He moved to KGAN then a huge leap to Lafayette, LA and KLFY TV. David Paul (another Mason City alum) left WQAD to go to Channel 10 and  became chief when Ryan moved back to Iowa.

Erik Maitland, back to the QC.

A familiar face to TV6 fans is returning. Erik Maitland is leaving his post in Minneapolis at Fox9 to come back to be the new chief. He’ll be battling his old office-mate Terry Swails as TS is now at WQAD. Maitland, also worked in the River City, just a couple of years before me and after WHO’s Ed Wilson.

Back to the ABC affiliate in Moline, (Alan) Baker‘s Boys and Girls debuted a new set this week. The HD ready set is sharp and matches what TV6 did a few months back in ripping out the familiar and replacing it with the HD shine.

I’ve looked through some old VHS tapes this week and found some old WQAD newscasts with Mark Martin at the helm in the mornings. He was paired with Julie Sisk who is still with the station, now paired with Jim Mertens. Jimmy said the new HD set will replace the gray in his hair. Now that’s TV magic.

Miranda Khan (www.MirandaKahn.com)

I’ve also reconnected with former main female anchor Miranda Khan. She’s out of TV news and into corporate TV. You may see her in a commercial or infomercial soon. She’s living/working in south Florida.

She was WQAD’s main female anchor during the 2000s and was paired with Matt Hammill.

KWWL is making changes as well.

The NBC affiliate is sending Bob Waters back to weekend nights to replace Brady Smith. Channel 7 management is looking to bring in a new face for the mornings with Sunny Layne. Waters replaced Chris Carter.

Shawn Terrell in his WHO-TV days.

 

 

Shawn Terrell used to work at KCRG and soon he’ll be talking past tense with WHO-TV in Des Moines. The Channel 13 sports reporter/anchor is not signing a new contract and is headed in a new direction. He’s looking for a new gig that doesn’t necessarily mean spending every Saturday night at work.

Fun connection with me and Shawn, he grew up in the northwest Iowa town of Peterson. He played basketball under Jesup HS alum Kendall Rachuy at Sioux Central. I went to senior prom with his sister Dena. Congrats to her on completing a half-marathon recently.

Katelyn Ford Smith.

During the noon Wednesday on WHO-TV, a familiar face to Iowa and Illinois TV viewers appeared. Katelyn Smith was doing a story out of Pennsylvania and did a stand up to intro the piece. Smith, is married to former WOI-TV reporter Joel Smith. The two met while at Channel 5. Back then, Smith, went by Ford. She was moved from WHBF to WOI a few years back. Also at WGAL in Lancaster, PA is former KGAN anchor Brian Roche.

Tuesday marked the last day for Matt Perrault on the radio in Des Moines. At least for now. The New Englander is heading back home to be the new co-host of The Hometeam on WGAM in New Hampshire and will get to do some fill-in work on WEEI, the power sports station in Boston. He was partnered with Ken Miller on KXNO afternoons following Murph and Andy. No word on a replacement yet of if Rob Howe of Hawkeye Insider will return in making appearances on 1460.

That makes two big fills now needed at Clear Channel in Des Moines. Joel McRea and Van Hardin are also looking for an afternoon host on WHO-AM to replace Steve Deace.

Greg Berry of KIMT.

Perrault spent some time in Alabama which is where Greg Berry will soon be heading. The current KIMT news director is headed south at the end of March to begin as assistant news director at CBS42 in Birmingham.

Greg started as weekend sports guy (we overlapped by 5 days at KIMT back in 2000), switched to morning news anchor and eventually to news boss.

And to think it all started on Blue Blazer Sports. It is a shame they didn’t have YouTube back in the 90s and those tapes are lost forever…. what a shame. (right guys, those tapes are lost, right?)

Brent Balbinot, formerly of KXIC.

And this just came out today, AM800 KXIC in Iowa City has let sports director Brent Balbinot go. He was the host of Good Call. He’s also the voice of Iowa Women’s basketball and Iowa baseball. Those positions are through Learfield and at last check, he was keeping those positions.

So, the next time you ask, whatever happened to… we’ve got you covered on who got fired, why did they leave and where did they go.

Other notes we should post? Send them to me IPTVPaul@gmail.com

Bell, Mizzu-rah and other IA media moves

Patrick Bell is now at KCCI-TV.

An old face returns to the Des Moines media market this week as Patrick Bell is back in the Capital City, but this time he’s on KCCI-TV8.

Bell was a reporter at WHO-TV before he departed for Columbus, Ohio. Before Bell arrived back in Des Moines, Channel 13 alum Mark Tauscheck was doing some freelance reporting for Dave Busiek‘s bunch on 8th Street.

Bell replaces Geoff Greenwood on KCCI who left for a job with the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

Laura Nichols of KCCI.

Also new at KCCI, Laura Nichols. She’s a recent graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, a frequent supplier of talent to the Des Moines TV market. Patrick Dix and Dave Price of WHO-TV and Emily Givens Price and others have been Missouri Tigers one day and Des Moines TV reporters the next.

All of you mentioned would be great members of the Iowa Broadcast News Association. Send me an email to IPTVPaul@gmail.com on how to enroll in the IBNA. We’ve got a couple of tweaks to categories that we will post here.

Other media bits

Fox 18 out of Davenport is now having their news produced by WQAD-TV in Moline. Previously the folks at Independent News Network were doing the news for KLJB. WQAD is owned by the same people who run WHO-TV in Des Moines. Channel 13 produces the 9 o’clock news on Fox 17. See a pattern?

This means Chris Williams is back in the anchor chair. Williams replaced a guy named Paul Yeager at KWQC-TV6 on weekends back in 2006. Williams was a budget cut before ending up at WQAD Channel 8. Williams is paired with Kim Johnson and James Zahara. The Fox 18 news in Davenport when it was produced by INN had several faces from Greg Wilson, Scott Kinrade, formerly of KIMT and also AgDay, to now Mike Mickle. Mike is doing the Fox42 news for Omaha. Also at that station is a new reporter, former Channel 13 intern and Waverly-native Shelly Russell.

Phil Doherty was the Sunday evening news anchor for the last few years while serving as a new producer as well for INN. Phil and I were involved in the Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley’s Media Night. We would sing and dance for the Girl Scouts of the Quad Cities. Phil is quite the singer who will now do more with his voice.

Also an alum of KJLB weekend team is WHO TV’s Chris Hassel.

If I don’t mention congratulations to Megan Reuther and Randy Schumacher (Mizzu and Wartburg alums respectively), I would be failing in my duties. The couple welcomed their third child into the world this week. Cathryn Ann was born September 21st. She has two older brothers.

For the record, Jeriann Ritter is still pregnant and Bryan Karrick is still not at KCCI.

But Amanda Krenz and Rachel Pierece are both back on the anchor desk. I believe this is the first time the two have been paired together when neither one of them was pregnant. Congrats to both of the WOI ABC5 anchors on their recent births.

All of you mentioned would be great members of the Iowa Broadcast News Association. Send me an email to IPTVPaul@gmail.com on how to enroll in the IBNA. We’ve got a couple of tweaks to categories that we will post here.

Other media moves to report? Send me an email to IPTVPaul@gmail.com

June 27, 1995

When I applied to work at KIMT-TV, I knew the history of the station.

Maybe not everything, but I knew the most recent, and likely largest, part of their history.

JEFF HEINZ/Globe Gazette file photo Mason City Police Department records manager Lowell Willock (left), officers Tiffany Creekmur and Craig Prahm and investigator Susan Linkenmeyer investigate the apparent crime scene at the Key Apartments parking lot on the day KIMT-TV morning anchorwoman Jodi Huisentruit (inset) disappeared in 1995. (image from GlobeGazette.com)

“That was the station Jodi worked at, right?” was the question I would get every time I mentioned to someone outside of North Iowa the letters KIMT.

Yes, that was Jodi’s station. I didn’t know her, but know and worked with plenty of people who did.

Jodi Huisentruit didn’t show up for work 15 years ago today. She was the morning anchor for Channel 3. She and Amy Kuns worked together on that broadcast each day. That day, Amy called Jodi, wondering where she was. She reached Jodi, but never talked to her again. (The Globe Gazette of Mason City published this story Sunday.)

Jodi went missing and hasn’t been heard from, or seen since.

No one really knows what happened that morning at the Key Apartments just east of East Park in Mason City.

But they know the apartment scene, the front of the TV station on North Pennsylvania and what the newsroom looked like.

The video scenes were played out for the time immediately following her disappearance as stations would come in, grab some video and interviews and go front their stories.

People remembered for a while, yellow ribbons were worn by the anchor staff for years. Even when I started in 1998, just 3 years after she disappeared, faded yellow ribbons were still on the desks of her newsroom co-workers, Pete Hjelmstad, JD Miller, Doug Merbach and Amy Kuns.

For awhile, there were interviews on national TV shows with those former co-workers and each time I’d learn something new. But there was never ever enough “new” information to help crack the case.

What happened to Jodi was a stark reminder of the reality of the TV business. Especially those working the early shift, who would be to work at 2 or 3 AM which meant leaving a quiet house, on a dark street or dark apartment complex to come to work, not knowing who exactly was around the corner.

There was a lot of looking over each other’s shoulder around the anniversary time of Jodi’s disappearance. There were many of us guys who would walk the girls to their cars, even at other TV stations, just to make sure everything was alright.

I was there for the 3rd and 4th anniversaries and left just before the 5th. I still think about her and hope you all do too.