Behind the Scenes (er, Lens), January 2011

It's been a while since Goose or I updated the blog, and for that I apologize. But I've been busy documenting some of the "daily routine" with my BlackBerry's somewhat-decent camera, so here's some photos to start the new year....



The KTAB/KRBC News Department received two very generous Christmas gifts, courtesy of our parent company, Nexstar Broadcasting Inc.  For the first time in four years, we were able to purchase brand new vehicles for our news car fleet, both 2011 Nissan Rogue SUVs.  Pictured here is the new Unit 5, which replaced a dilapidated 2003 Honda Civic.  When this picture was taken, it had about 9 miles on the odometer.  Just over a month later, it has about 4,500 miles on it.



Our other new Rogue, Unit 10, is silver with a black interior.  It replaced a 1999 GMC Jimmy that had over 200,000 miles on it.  Both new cars take their place among our existing fleet of Honda Civics, Ford Focuses, a Chevy Trailblazer, a Honda CRV, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and three live vans.  Unfortunately, Civic Unit 4, pictured in the foreground, was involved in an accident a few days ago.  It's likely totaled.  Thankfully, Manny Diaz (who was driving) wasn't injured.

KRBC's Morgan Bond smiles for the camera after a live shot from a grass fire near Hawley in late December.  She and I were using our live remote van dubbed "ENG-9."  In the background, KTAB's Priscilla Luong and Goose get ready to go live on the KTAB side while standing on the roof of our other primary live van, ENG-32.

A heartbreaking sight....two days before Christmas, and a family loses everything when their home is destroyed by fire.  This is just off FM 707 north of Tye.

While driving along Barrow, I noticed a CityLink bus several blocks ahead of me, with a large KTAB logo on the back.  I had never seen it before, and when I finally caught up with it at the intersection of S. 7th and Sayles, I had to take this pic....

This Cessna ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing on an I-20 access road in northeast Abilene.  Talk about luck!

Just after 11am on January 4, Abilene firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 1200 block of Cypress Street.  Upon arrival, they found this detached garage and upstairs apartment involved in heavy smoke and flames.  No one was hurt, but the owners lost many items in the fire.

Bob and Lane anchor the 6pm news live, while Sam chills out in the forecast center.  Notice the television set on the top right....that's what's being broadcast at that moment.

The biggest news story of this young year, unfortunately, has been the disappearance of Colorado City teenager Hailey Dunn.  CNN/HLN host Nancy Grace has been closely following the story, and routinely interviews Hailey's mother, Billie, from her Colorado City home.  KTAB/KRBC are CNN affiliates, so we get to use their Dallas-based satellite truck whenever it's in C-City.

On the left is the CNN camera crew's fancy setup for the Nancy Grace show, while on the right is my meager camera shot for KTAB's 5 & 6 newscasts.

Here's Goose, editing a news story inside the CNN satellite truck.  Our company has our own "sat truck" based out of Lubbock, but it's not nearly this nice!

On Friday, Jan. 21, Dyess AFB received its 5th C-130J.  Eventually the base will be home to 28 of the brand-new planes.

Sam Nichols and I are live at the Abilene Civic Center, previewing the West Texas Rehabilitation Center's 2011 telethon and auction.

Our news director, Austin Kellerman, and his wife Laura, hosted an "After-Christmas Christmas Party" at their home.  It was a fun time for the KTAB/KRBC news family!