I am pretty new to Twitter.  I don’t have my own account but tweet at least once a night from the CBS Atlanta station account.   I’m generally tweet about what’s happening while at work and what story I’m working on for the 11pm news.   I’ve covered a few stories about Twitter and it’s been pretty interesting to see how this new social media works.

In one story, an Atlanta City Councilman tweeted about a person who needed medical attention.  A local 911 center feared if people start using Twitter to ask friends to call 911 in an emergency, it could clog the lines and real people needing help might not get it.

And you may remember Ashton Kutcher and CNN competing to see who could be the first to get 1 million followers.  During the competition, Kutcher said he’d ding dong ditch Ted Turner if he won.   Kutcher got to a million first and a few weeks later he was in Atlanta filming a movie.  Kutcher sent out a tweet asking his Atlanta followers to meet him at the fountain at Centennial Olympic Park in an hour.   It was amazing.  Within 20 minutes, people started showing up at the fountain.  So did Ashton Kutcher and his wife Demi Moore.  They led people to a parking lot where they handed out 800 “ding dongs” to leave at the front of Ted’s Montana Grill.  People left their Hostess treat at the door and then rang a bell.  In the end Kutcher said that was a diversion and let banners drop with his Twitter name over the big CNN logo on the downtown CNN Center.http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/19458454/?taf=lnta

 

What do you think about the power of Twitter?

Ashton Kutcher

I first met the Murphy family last year, but I heard about them way before I ever met them.  I read a People magazine article in 2005 and when I moved to Atlanta I hoped I’d have the chance to meet them.  John and Jeanette are incredible.  They have four biological children and over the years they’ve adopted 24 children, most with down syndrome.  It hasn’t been an easy road the whole way.  Six children have passed away. 

Their home is filled with so much love.  You can feel it from the moment you enter the door.  On Monday I was greeted in the driveway by a few of the Murphy kids.  Mia walked me inside, holding my hand.   I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for the next few hours.     

They’ve spent 22 years in their current home.  And as the kids have grown so has the needs of the family.  They’ve added on to the home twice but the space seems to shrink.  A few years ago the Keenans Kids Foundation (www.keenanskidsfoundation.com) started raising money to build the family a new home, designed specifically for their needs.   That home is almost complete and the family can’t wait to move in!   Each Murphy will finally have their own space, there’s a classroom, a bigger kitchen, plenty of bathrooms.  You name it, this home has it!

 Here’s a link to the story:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/19414947/?taf=lnta

Here’s a link to the first story on 10/31/08: 

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/17859433/?taf=lnta

For information on how to contribute to the huge Murphy House Project go to www.murphyhouseproject.com

 

 

Monday I did a story on a business owner in Chamblee who received an outrageous gas bill.  Paul Hsu was used to paying $600-800/month.  This bill was for nearly $50,000!  He was in disbelief.  Hsu tried calling his billing company as well as Atlanta Gas Light, who reads the gas meter.  AGL checked the meter multiple times for leaks and found nothing.  They maintained the reading was accurate.  So the billing company told Hsu he owed the $50,000.  Hsu feared he would lose his restaurant, Ocean Garden, and everything else he’s worked for in life.  Hsu called me last week, and asked me to look into the bill.  Within two days, AGL admitted there was a problem with the meter and they would be looking into it so make sure Hsu received a new, lower bill.  They issued this statement, “…the customer was incorrectly charged.  We apologize to the customer and are wokring to correct his account information.” 

On Tuesday I received an email from Hsu’s daughter.  In her email she wrote, “You saved our business — my dad can’t stop talking about it!”

Pretty awesome.  This is what doing TV News is all about.

Interviewing Paul Hsu

Memphis Lafferty

I met an incredible little boy last week, Memphis Lafferty.   He’s 3 years old,  full of energy and has plenty of smiles to share.  When Memphis was just 6 months old, he was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.  The only way doctors could save his life is by amputating all of his limbs.  Memphis gets around his own way.  In fact, he doesn’t seem to notice he’s any different from anyone else.  Once a week Memphis has physical therapy where he uses his prostetic legs.  The great part about my job is I get to meet so many neat people and I get to share their stories!

Check it out:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/19084934/?taf=lnta

I grew up fishing on the lakes in Minnesota with my parents and two brothers.   It was a great way to grow up and spend time with family while doing something we all enjoyed.  I can still remember how much fun it was to reel in a fish, and how proud I was when I caught one.  

I got to re-live some of that last weekend.  I met my parents down in Florida to go deep sea fishing.  We were in Ft. Myers Beach and fished in the Gulf about 5 miles offshore.  Boy, was it fun! I was the first one to catch a fish.  Soon after, my mom and I both caught a few small snappers.  We call them “bait stealers.”  Then my dad had something big on the line.  We didn’t know what it was, but it was putting up a fight!  It took my dad about 15 minutes to reel the fish in.  It ended up being a Barracuda and it was big.  And, they have huge teeth.  I think watching my dad reel him in was the best part of the weekend.  You see, my dad loves being out on the water and on his boat.  This was the first time I was able to be on the boat with him and it was magical.  I felt  like a kid the entire time, and now I know why he loves it so much.

We all also caught a few King Mackerel’s.  5 minutes of a fight with one of those was enough for me.  See the picture of me reeling it in, and proudly holding the fish.

Reeling It In!

The Big Catch!

Can you believe there’s snow in Atlanta?  And it’s sticking to the ground???  Hundreds of flights are cancelled, lots of people are staying in and others are just playing in the snow while it lasts! 

I’m a Minnesota girl…I grew up in the cold weather, with long winters and lots of snow…  It’s interesting to see how people react to the snow and how they drive, or should I say, “try to drive” in the snow.  I’m working today, covering this big weather event.  We’ve already seen one accident where a girl told me she lost control of her car because of the slick conditions, hit a guard rail and two other cars.  Fortunately no one was severely hurt.   Other people tell me they wish they had stayed at home…and that’s where they were headed after talking with me…home.   In Minnesota people are out all the time in the snow.  It’s just part of daily life.  But here, the best advice is to stay off the roads

I took a picture on my cell phone of the snow in Union City.  It looks similiar to one I took outside my parents house in Minnesota over Christmas.  Take a look!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Merrick’s Walk and the Eating Disorders Information Network!  Despite the cool temperature on Sunday, the sun was out and so were the walkers and runners.  Nearly 400 people showed up for Merrick’s Walk and 5k Fun Run. 

CBS Atlanta News was one of the sponsors of the event, and I emceed the walk.  Leading up to the event, I interviewed the family of Merrick Ryan.  The walk is named in her honor.  She was 19 years old when she died of complications due to anorexia.  I spoke with her mom Helen, and her sister Sara about Merrick’s life, her struggle with the disease and how her death affected their family.   

To see the story on Merrick Ryan go to: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/18758275/?taf=lnta

And if you or someone you know is looking for help with an eating disorder go to www.myedin.org

I am really excited about a charity event coming up on Sunday, February 22nd.  It’s called Merrick’s Walk and CBS Atlanta News is the media sponsor.  I’ll be hosting the event. 

Merrick’s Walk is a fundraiser through EDIN or the Eating Disorders Information Network, an Atlanta based non-profit dedicated to preventing eating disorders through outreach, education and action.  I serve on the board of directors for this charity and am really passionate about this cause.  I have had several friends touched by this disease, and my best friend lost her battle with anorexia shortly after we graduated from college in 2000.  She was living here in Atlanta.  

Merrick’s Walk is in honor of 19 year old Merrick Ryan, who lost her battle with anorexia that same year.  The walk begins and ends at the Galloway School at 215 West Wieuca Rd. in Atlanta.  The walk is 2.6 miles around the PATH at Chastain Park.  The cost is $25.  The walk starts at 1pm, but music starts at noon, and I’ll probably start talking around 12:30pm. 

For more information about the Eating Disorders Information Network and Merrick’s Walk, go to www.myedin.org

On any given day we can be sent on just one story, or we could be sent all over, chasing different stories.  A lot of times we don’t know what the story is until we get there.  That’s especially true when it comes to breaking news.  Yesterday is a good example.  I was working with Ray,  my photographer for the day.   In route to one story, Ray and I got switched to another.  We were sent to a neighborhood in Norcross in Gwinnett County.  All we knew was hazmat was on scene, as well as police and fire.  We did not know why.   When we got to the scene, police kept us pretty far back.  We were about to go live with the breaking news at the top of the 4pm show,  and I needed to know what happened.  Moments before we went on air, we got some information.  Police told us a woman had been set on fire, and her daughter was the suspect.  She was already in custody, but not yet charged with a crime.  We were the first to break the story.  The other stations showed up a few minutes later.   By 6pm we had learned the daughter, Na Yong Pak, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.   The woman had been taken to Grady with life threatening burns.  At 11pm we spoke with a high school student who saw the woman and called for help.  Each hour, each show, more of the story unfolded.  Chasing tips doesn’t always turn into news.  But this was news.   This morning, we learned the woman, Myong Pak, did not survive.  Her burns were just too severe.   The daughter now faces murder charges.

What do you think of when you hear, “Doggies on the Catwalk?”  Well, it’s exactly what you think…dogs strutting their stuff down the catwalk.  I was lucky enough to be involved in the event for the second year.  It’s the brain child of Atlanta’s Grady High School teacher, Vincent Martinez.  He teaches a fashion design class at Grady, and also teaches students to give back to the community.  Students design outfits for a “model” and their dog and they put on a charity fashion show.  All the money goes to PALS, Pets Are Loving Support (http://www.palsatlanta.org).   Several Atlanta news, radio, PR and pageant winners  participated in the event.  

Senior Sarah Lawrence designed my outfit and I walked a dog named Simone.   The fun part about participating in ”Doggies” is you get to step out of yourself and dress up for the night.   They had hair and make up people that donated their time for the event.   But what’s even more amazing is the student designers.  Each outfit was unique, and you know they put hours of work into each one.  It’s pretty incredible to see this kind of talent at such a young age.   Each senior designer also completes a line that is showcased in the spring.     It’s an event not to be missed!

Better Mornings Atlanta Corinna Allen, Miss Georgia USA and Jennifer Mayerle

Jennifer, designer Sarah Lawrence and Simone