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.

Lots of Hot Air and Balloons on Parade

Noah steps out into traffic to get a good view of the 2012 Festival of Trees parade. November 17, 2012.

Going back to the Quad Cities is like old home week for our family. We see some relatives, friends and a few former co-workers.

Our trip to the 2012 Festival of Trees parade was no different. We decided to take the boys back to the parade we enjoyed so many times during our stay in the QC. Noah had never seen the parade as we moved west before the 2006 parade.

Before we found a spot to stand along the parade route, we had stepped back into the time machine.

Theresa Bryant, Gary Metivier, Paula Sands, Mike Ortiz, Anne Hughes, Beth Marsoun, Randy Biery, Jim Mertens and Michelle Makelbust were some of my former KWQC-kinfolk. Mertens, anchor at ‘rival’ WQAD, was like a co-worker to me.

Bettendorf City Administrator Decker Ploehn carries the city on his shoulders dressed as character from the Nutcracker. He’s the one in red.

We found a spot, not on the curb, but behind the first wave of parade goers in downtown Davenport. Then a nice family sitting in front of us, asked if the boys wanted to sit on the curb to have a front-row seat. We thanked them, sat down, and watched the big balloons march by our vantage point.

Noah enjoyed the parade. Levi befriended a woman in our group whose party we crashed. She asked him if he wanted to be held up higher to see what was coming our way. After the first lift, Levi asked the woman if she was a grandma. She said yes. With 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, she knew the joys little children can bring.

The WQAD crew walked by. John David marches on with Cassie Heiter, Rebecca Smith, Terry Swails and Matt Hammill try to keep up.

Levi had to get a boost because the group ahead of us in the parade decided this was an event you stood in the street to see. Not just standing-up-during-an-entire-rock concert, but almost IN the parade. And really, they had no qualms about doing it. A little respect for your fellow parade-goers can go a long way.

We did have a nice view of Antonella’s Pizzeria, the pizza place President Obama visited just days before the 2012 election.

This experience made me appreciate the Urbandale parade “enforcers” who draw a chalkline along the route to keep kids from being squashed like mis-thrown Tootsie Roll. Kids are one thing, adults are another.

Again, thanks to the wonderful people who allowed us to sit in front of them. We were able to see the B100 van, the WQAD newsteam and even Bettendorf City Manager, Decker Ploehn.

Levi was so tough, he didn’t need gloves.

My old Team Weekend pal, Erik Maitland is back in the Quads and now chief meteorologist at Channel 6. He stopped, said hello and even gave us a candy cane. I just hope he didn’t think I was Eugene Kennedy. That would have been awkward.

We even experienced a dance recital.

Again, thanks to our hosts and even some viewers with entirely too good of memories to remember some old weekend anchor. It is humbling to think we made that much of an impression.

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

 

What has happened? Part 2

Dan Wardell hosts Cameron McCoy in the IPTV Kids Clubhouse during Festival 2012.

Apparently, I left out a few things from the month of March in my last post.

There was the rushing of the bishop, the conversation with a son-of-a-bishop and the texts with the bishop’s assistant. We also drove past the site of the last Bishop’s in the QC where the legendary voice of Ed Lewis asked, “How do you say goodbye to chocolate pie?” on the last day of restaurant in Duck Creek Mall. Ed was interviewing customers on that last day at the place with the great dessert. And table lamps.

I love lamp.

Seriously, I liked the movie “Anchorman”, but what will they do in “Anchorman 2″ to make it funny? Murph and Andy on KXNO/WHO-HD are correct, how many comedy sequels are funny? How many of them turn into the Baby Ruth in the pool?

I did work the month of March at IPTV. That month is kind of a big deal for us. It is Festival. I don’t have direct responsibilities those days, but Market To Market keeps churning out the hits like oil, gas, commodities … squirrel!

The POET ethanol facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

This story was last week’s adventure from my boss, John Nichols.

Fellow producer Dave Miller and I took a road trip to Emmetsburg for a groundbreaking of a new ethanol facility in northwest Iowa. It was weird to see no snow that far north in mid-March.

I took Murder’s Row to Waverly for a meeting. Thanks to Jesse Gavin for the name.

We saw a touching tribute about former Wartburg All-American wrestler Aaron Wernimont as done by a Wartburg TV student.

I discovered Gotye. You can see him on Saturday Night Live later this month.

And this old commercial from Ameritrade.

I found that one night while on the treadmill. I’ve been reviewing all my VHS tapes to pare down the stacks of stuff I have everywhere.

That sounds like something I should have done in the month of March while being snowed in my house.

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 .

New Hats for the New Year of 2012

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

Welcome to 2012 and the return of TV reporters/photographers/producers wearing hats on the job.

You’ve all seen a reporter “braving the elements so you don’t have to.”

Sometimes they bring a hat to the liveshot to mix things up a bit.

This year we begin the look around the state and beyond with wonderful hats of winter. The winter that took forever to arrive.

We begin with Morgan Ottier of KWQC. The morning reporter hit a home run outside the Davenport studios this morning. I got to meet Morgan during my recent trip to the Quad Cities for the QC Media Night on Broadway Holiday Winter Spectacular Extravaganza.

Thanks to Joanne Phillips and Alan Campbell for pointing me in the direction of this hat. I know a couple of people are loyal readers of the blog, so thanks for the help. If you’ve seen a hat on your TV and get a screen grab, send it to me at IPTVPaul@Gmail.com.

Jill Kasparie, KCRG TV out in the snow.

Another entry comes from the best friend a guy can ever have in Michael Graham. Chef Mike sent this shot of KCRG reporter Jill Kasparie.

Jill has a twin in Iowa TV. Sister Kelly is a producer at WHO-TV.

I know that can’t be the only two hats out there today. Please consider your sisters and brothers outside your TV market who want to see the best in hats in 2012.

Again, send any pics to IPTVPaul@gmail.com
I can leave your name out of credit if you choose.

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.

Buzz check from Dan Pearson, please

Dan Pearson at KWQC TV in September of 2006.

There are only few people like Dan Pearson.

Now that I think about it, I don’t know many others that come close to DP.

Dann-o is the now former KWQC sports anchor. The creator of the Highlight Zone has hung up his “Big Game” shoes and started a new chapter in his life.

For 29 years, Dan has called television sports his career. Now, he’ll move into a more involved role with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. (a great tribute here by John Marx of the Argus/Dispatch) (here’s a nice page on KWQC.com about his departure) (and a note from Bill Wundrum of the QC Times)

Many of you know Dan as the Friday and Saturday night sports anchor/reporter/photographer on KWQC-TV 6. He’s the man responsible for the Emmy-award winning Highlight Zone. There are few high school football and basketball shows like it.

To Dan, every game was a big game. Even if the teams were 2-6 and 1-7, that game meant something to those kids, parents and community. We know through the book/movie/TV show “Friday Night Lights” how big high school football can be for the above mentioned items. For him, Friday night’s were big and he had the staff to make them that way.

Sure, he spent a little bit of the company’s overtime budget on paying photographers to drive to two or games in far-flung locales to cover the Pretzels, greyhounds and Tigers. But he was trying to get the highlights edited and fed back, many times 25 seconds before they aired. The photogs were the glue of the Zone. The St. Ambrose or Augustana students were learning the craft the best way possible, by scorching hot deadlines.

The Zone Intern was responsible for the Wacky (I’ll get to that in a bit), logging the big plays as they happened complete with time code and cut-a-way options and then writing the script that would be fed back to the Grand pu-bah Zone Intern Brian Stocking. Stockpile would take the scripts, put the plays into the computer if time and then get that to the set for not just Dan to read, but Gary, Sharon and even Terry.

This was just another Friday night for Dan. Teaching college, sometimes high school students, the ropes of TV news and sports at a fast and in a fun environment.

Dan would create a theme for the Zone each week, write about 6-9 intros to fit inside the theme, usually about one for each intern. That crew would go into the stands, find some willing volunteers and record their wacky. This gave the intern some face time and a chance for the crew to mix with the locals. Those interns would move on to permanent jobs at TV6 or somewhere else, but would always have that foundation.

Pearson embraced the intern, taught them and stayed in contact with many of them.

If you stay in TV long enough, you will know everyone. Especially if you work in the market you grew up in.

Dan and his 56 brothers were Geneseo guys. Dan lived there himself, often launching his day from his Henry County home well before his shift should start and pick up a cross country meet or volleyball tourney before 11 AM. A 12-hour day was a light day for Mr. Pearson. His drive made competitors cuss because they had to do the same or they’d be left behind.

Paul Yeager and Dan Pearson going over a script. You can see the weekend anchor wardrobe is in full effect, ties and shorts.

I got to sit next to Dan for 6 years on Saturday nights. It was always fun and you always had to pay attention. You never knew who would pop up on-screen or what phrase would come out of his mouth. I could count on the Wartburg football score in the fall and the Cardinals highlights in baseball season.

“Dan’s in next with sporrrrrrrrrttttttttttsssssssssss,” was my favorite part of the week.

He’s professional, uplifting, inspiring and most of all, humble.

Somehow how he maintained an excellent family, raising two wonderful girls. I think a lot of the credit goes to Gina, but Dan did everything he could to see as much as he could of his family.

Dan did what I think local television should do, he put as many local kids on the news as possible. There’s local stories, then there’s every local team. Dan covered them all.

I know many consultants don’t like all that high school stuff. Fine. Give ‘em more Hawkeyes, Cyclones or Illini is the the usual marching orders now. He could do that, but also give coverage to HS bowling, wrestling and track and not just lip service. He did stories on all the teams, all the time.

Kris Oetzmann, Paul Yeager and Dan Pearson on the old KWQC TV set.

For that Quad Cities, I’m sorry. I hope you get another anchor like him. His disciples are out there, Kory Kuffler and Matt Randazzo being two of them at WQAD. Kuff spent a lot of time with Dan and now is trying to replicate that. The sports office atmosphere was the place the cool kids would hang out and share one whopper of a story on top of another.

So, when you google, “Where is Dan Pearson?” or “What happened to Dan Pearson?” You can answer it this way: The Bradley graduate who’s been in the TV biz since 1987 is ready to lead young men and women in their journey of faith and sports. Sounds like a winning combination.

Best of luck, boys.

Here’s a link to his final goodbye package on air that is now on KWQC.com.

Graduations, returns and get wells for friends

The master, the doctor and the bachelor all together. (Photo from UNI.edu)

A few old friends are making news.

First we begin with my old English teacher (must not have been THAT great at his job if you visit this site on a regular basis) Roark Horn and his family recently hit a big milestone at the University of Northern Iowa. Horns aplenty is the title of this story. Mr. Horn, now head of the AEA 267, along with daughters Shannon and Megan all received degrees from UNI. One a PhD, a master’s and a bachelor’s.

I’ll never forget that speech from him at prom, back when the teacher’s still did a speech. He also was one of my baseball coaches and served as golf coach during my time at Jesup High School.

A friend from Wartburg who now lives in Jesup, posted the following story Thursday. The Today Show occasionally will put together a great story and not just blather about Arnold/Lindsey/Natalee Holloway.

This story was about a former Simpson College national champion wrestler named Nick Ackerman. He now is in a line of work helping others like him. Oh, did I mention he doesn’t have any feet? He’s an amputee giving others legs to stand on. He became a wrestling champ without legs; now he builds them for others.

A person I got to know in college while we were interns at WHO-TV, later became my boss at KWQC-TV in Davenport. April Samp came to the QC via OK City and Kansas City. She eventually moved on to Cedar Rapids to run the newsroom at KGAN/KFXA. During that time she became a mother. Becoming a parent changes a reporter or producer. She won’t admit it, but I think it changed her hard charging ways. April took a job in 2010 in Virginia at WAVY-TV as news director. Friday was her last day. She’s coming back to Iowa and for now, getting out of news.

Fran Riley and Paul Yeager in the KWQC-TV6 Newsroom in September of 2006.

And a note about another KWQC employee. Everyone’s friend Fran Riley is recovering from his brain tumor. The station did post this storyabout him awhile back.

I just wanted to make sure we all have the story on what happened to him. The full story is below as posted on KWQC.com.

Also, continued prayers for Paula Sands as she deals with ovarian cancer. The station has set up a place to send notes to Paula and Fran.

Click here to send a note to Paula.

Dave Marcoulier and Mark Amadeo in the Freirich Field press box in Urbandale. 2009 photo.

And finally I want to say congratulations to Mark Amadeo.

The real voice of the West Des Moines Dowling Catholic Maroons will be enshrined into the DCHS Hall of Fame at the football game with Ankeny. So, on September 30, we’ll have Mark back on the radio.

There’s another guy who is putting his family first as he stepped aside for a couple of years to see his son play football at Prairie City Monroe. This year, his son’s coach will be former DCHS assistant coach Greg Bonnett
Greg Bonnett. Greg was a standout player as a Mustang.

And now the full note on Fran.

Long-time KWQC-TV6 reporter Fran Riley was covering a story on a family struck by tragedy when suddenly, he found himself fighting for his own life. On Friday April 1st, Riley just wrapped up an interview with Don Reed of Morrison, Illinois. Reed’s father was murdered in a two-state killing spree in 2008. Riley was getting ready to head back to the station when he started to feel ill. He was taken to the hospital. Mr. Reed and KWQC-TV6 Photographer Mike Colon stayed by his side until Riley was transferred to University Hospitals in Iowa city where doctors determined he had a brain tumor.

On Thursday, April 7th Fran Riley underwent 12 hours of surgery to remove the tumor on the front of his brain. One week later, he is back at home, recovering. We kept quiet about the surgery out of respect for his privacy. But he recently granted a live telephone interview with Quad City radio personalities Dwyer and Michaels, and for those who know him, it’s no surprise that he was humble and gracious.

“This morning it was flowers, cards, food. The outpouring of support has been just tremendous,” said Riley who joked about the incident occurring on April Fool’s day.

Riley says he’s surprised by the response from the public because he’s “just a guy doing a job he likes to do.”

Riley credits everyone’s prayers, his doctors and his wife for pulling him through.

Big Stage Ahead for TV Anchor, PSL

Paula Sands in 2002 (QUAD-CITY TIMES FILE PHOTO)

There are three named institutions in the Quad Cities. John Deere, Happy Joe and Paula Sands. Everyone knows all three in town and for good reasons. They’re dependable, have good taste and in a class by themselves. That’s just Paula.

Des Moines may have John Bachman and Kevin Cooney. Sioux City has Larry Wentz, the Cedar Valley has The Ron Steele, but they’re no Paula.

The KWQC-TV6 mainstay is the face of the NBC affiliate in Davenport and all the QC TV sets.

If you believe the legend, Paula Sands walked into the WOC (Channel 6′s call letters until 1986) station in 1982, got a job as a receptionist and quickly moved in to a roll on the syndicated PM Magazine, as the youngest host of the show. Then she hosted Live at Five and eventually Paula Sands Live.

Name me another TV personality in Iowa with their name in the show?

Paula now anchors PSL at 430p and the 6p news on KWQC.

Paula delivers her news on her show, May 12, 2011. (image from KWQC.com)

Now she’s in the middle of a story of a fight against ovarian cancer, her own. Paula announced in a pre-taped segment on Thursday that its been 3 weeks since her diagnosis of Stage II ovarian cancer. According to a Quad City Times story by David Burke, Sands said on-air “I am equipped for the battle.” She later added, “we’re gonna start out having a little bit of fun with this.” Another article in the Argus/Dispatch includes quotes from news director Denise Killian about Paula’s battle, including details about the .

This is the 3rd health issue to strike the folks on Brady Street Hill. Chief Photographer Randy Biery‘s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. Reporter Fran Riley was diagnosed with a brain tumorand is recovering. He hopes to return to work in the next couple of weeks.

Whenever I would make a public appearance for the station, one question I would always get was, “what is Paula really like?” For me and anyone inside the walls, it was the same, professional, upbeat and identical to her on-air personality.

For those not familiar, I would describe PSL as Martha Stewart meets Oprah with some Rachel Ray thrown in for fun. A typical show has a cooking segment, movie reviews, visit from the zoo, a fashion show and usually a visit to some new speciality shop in the Quad City area.

Paul and Amy holding Noah with Paula. A day short of 5 years before Paula went through her first cancer surgery.

I was on PSL several times. Amy was on as well. Once we made our favorite holiday desert. Amy was a great and Paula wanted her on more. The next time for Amy was when Paula visited our hospital room as we were about to go home from the hospital with Baby Noah.

Each I got to anchor with Paula, it was fun and nerve-racking. This was The Paula Sands you were sitting next to. There was that one time I sang in a toga and even got to talk about Ron Burgandy’s Anchorman movie as the three TV6 male anchors spent time on Paula’s couch. Good thing no one put anything on YouTube back then….

Best to Paula and David in this trying time ahead for them both.