Julie-Luck's Blog

Neill McNeill is celebrating his 25th anniversary at WGHP.  In 1983, he began as a young, bright and tenacious reporter shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Since then, he quickly rose the ranks.  

Many viewers have grown up watching Neill.  He has been the source of information, a trusted journalist and a voice of reason.  

Neill is a very humble man who doesn't like to call attention to himself but his years of service should be recognized.  Congratulations Neill for your 25 years of hard work!

As promised, we followed up with 13 year-old Felesha as she copes with being a new mother.  A few changes were noticeable since we last saw her.  Physically, she has lost a lot of her her baby weight while baby Joshua has gained weight.  He weighed 12 pounds 11 ounces as of his most recent visit to the pediatrician.

We also witnessed the "newness" has worn off.  When we last interviewed Felesha when Joshua was just two weeks old, the new mom didn't seem too overwhelmed with the responsibility of parenthood.  Yes, she was tired from the constant crying/feeding/burping/changing diapers in the middle of the night but overall, she seemed to be transitioning.

When we interviewed her a few days ago, it was evident reality is setting in.  While she loves her baby, she admits she misses being a regular kid.  Gone are the carefree days of hanging out at the mall with friends.  Felesha's number one priority is now Joshua.  Raising a child at any age is difficult, but at the age of 13, it is that more of a challenge.

Some viewers will criticize that we are documenting Felesha's journey and addressing the controversial subject of teen pregnancy and parenting.    Some blog posts from the previous stories about Felesha suggest we are making her a celebrity.  While Felesha may be gaining recognition for our stories, she is far from being a celebrity, rather, she is a living example. 

As we stated when we aired the first two parts of Felesha's story last month,  the goal was to stress the importance of abstinence and safe sex.  Part 3 should further our mission.  Felesha is living proof of the sacrifices, the hardships and the struggles of a teen parent.  Felesha admits herself she wishes she didn't have a child at her young age.  Her goal is to share her story to prevent other teens from following in her footsteps.

Almost half of teenagers are having sex.  You may object for religious, moral or practical reasons but the numbers do not lie, according to teenpregnancy.org.   Here are some alarming facts:

-47% of high schoolers (9-12th grade) reported having sex

-More than 750,000 teens get pregnant a year.  Of those, 80% are unintended

-The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancies and births in the Western industialized world

Felesha Wiles, a new teenage mother in Davidson County, is an example.  She got pregnant at 12 and gave birth at 13.  Her baby, Joshua, is now 8 weeks old. 

Felesha wanted to tell her story.  She believes she can set an example to other teens to be more responsible, whether it be practicing safe sex or abstinence. 

While she loves her baby, she realizes her circumstance is far from ideal.  In fact, statistics show only a third of teen mothers receive their high school diplomas.  80% end up on welfare.

Felesha is now being home-schooled.  She hopes to break the cycle of pregnancy and poverty despite a tremendous responsibility at a very young age to raise a child.  Her story is meant to create dialogue between parents and their children and to talk about the consequences of unplanned pregnancy.

Experts say teens who have have a strong bond with their parents are less likely to become sexually active at an early age and less likely to have an unplanned pregnancy.

Just when air traffic at the Piedmont Triad International Airport seemed to be taking off, a possible setback.

It was just recently that PTI credited Allegiant Air and Skybus for helping attract travellers to fly out of PTI.  In fact, PTI reported traffic increased 4 and a half percent from Nov. 2006-Nov. 2007.  But FOX 8 News has received word that one of the discount carriers, Allegiant Air,  is suspending its flight schedule.

Allegiant Air blames rising fuel costs for cancelling its flights from PTI to the Orlando and Tampa areas in Florida.  Service will discontinue at the end of May.  Coincidentally, it was May of last year when Allegiant Air began its service at PTI.

For those of you who have flown Allegiant Air, what do you think of this news?  If you travel to the Orlando or Tampa-areas often, what is your back-up plan?  Is this just a sign of the times?  You may recall Skybus recently announced it was cutting some of its flights at PTI as well... also because of the rising cost of fuel.

I must admit.  I am jealous.  Today, Davidson College trustees announced it will pay for students to attend the Sweet 16 game versus Wisconsin.  That's right!  300 Davidson College students will travel to Detroit for the Midwest Regional at NO CHARGE!  Free bus ride, two nights of lodging and a ticket to the game.  Now that is a Sweet 16 Deal! 

Anyone who follows college hoops knows getting a ticket to an NCAA Sweet 16 game is difficult and expensive.  Furthermore, to witness your team (the darlings of the 2008 Tourney), battle it out to advance to the Elite Eight will be an unforgettable experience.

As many people will tell you, the college years are the best years of your life.  Congratulations to the basketball team for beating the odds and making it to the Sweet 16 in almost four decades.  Congratulations to the Wildcat fans who got the golden ticket to Michigan.  Consider yourselves fortunate for an opportunity that you will remember for the rest of your lives. 

What would we do without our mothers?

They always are there to lend an ear, to congratulate, to console, to support.

 

Never have I felt more fortunate to have such a loving and caring mother than this past weekend.  I had to undergo minor surgery and guess who was there at the surgical center (besides doctors and nurses, of course)?    My Mom.  She flew all the way from California to take care of me.  She volunteered to come.  She booked her flight the moment I told her about the procedure.

While I am recovering, she is cooking enough food to feed a small army, checking on my progress, walking the dog, cleaning the house, the list goes on and on.

 

There is no way I can ever repay her (not just for this but for all the years of being a great mom.)  All I can do is always be grateful, never forget how special she is, and remind myself how lucky I am to be her daughter.

I know I am not alone.  Why do you love your mom so much?

Paying your dues.  Earning your stripes.  Climbing the ladder.  Whatever you want to call it, success comes after plenty of hard work and investing lots of time.

Let's take doctors for example.  In order to practice medicine, they must receive an undergraduate degree, go to medical school, complete an internship, suffer through residency, and pass the difficult medical boards.  This grueling process takes years and not everyone can rise to the challenge.

I know I am comparing apples to oranges but there's a similar process for broadcast journalists.  Take my friend and colleague, Neill McNeill for example.  After graduating from UNC in the 1980's, he started his journalism career at WGHP as a general assignment reporter.  He's worn many hats since then... as weekend, morning and noon anchor and now primary anchor.  For more than two decades, Neill worked his way up at WGHP and continued to be promoted by proving himself as a serious journalist, gaining the trust of viewers, and earning their respect.

There's a woman who recently was awarded the same title of Anchor.  Her name is Lauren Jones, the 'star' of the reality show Anchorwoman which will make its debut tonight.  Her experience:  former wrestler and bikini model.  She has no background in television news except for the fact that she's been on TV before. 

Is this fair?  What do the other employees at the station in Tyler, TX think about Ms. Jones catapulting her way to the top of the ranks, without any experience? 

I'm sure at some point in your life, you've been passed over for a job by someone who had less experience than you. It's happened to me.  And it sure doesn't feel good. 

According to the reviews, Ms. Jones apparently has some talent, which is fortunate since she has said that she wants to continue a career in TV News.  She is lucky to be given this rare opportunity as a beginner.  Most likely, she will become an instant star thanks to the reality show, but she can't become an instant credible journalist.  That takes years.

My new weekend pasttime is visiting the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market.  It's easy to get lost in all the different produce on display.  I didn't know there were so many different varieties of tomatoes!   Silver King and Silver Queen corn, what's the difference?  Melons, blackberries, flowers and herbs... the list goes on and on.  Plus, the prices can't be beat!

What I like most about buying farm fresh produce is knowing that I'm supporting our local farmers.  That inspired me to focus on a movement called Slow Food for an Inspired Living segment.  Essentially, Slow Food is a concept that promotes local products and supports area farmers. 

Not only are individuals supporting the idea, businesses are taking part.  Check out my TV story entitled "Slow Food."  In the piece, I was fortunate to interview Brad Semon, the new owner of Revival Grill in Greensboro, and its chef, Bryan Long.  While they say it's almost impossible to use 100% local ingredients in all their dishes, they do try. 

Several restaurants are embracing the Slow Food Movement.  For more details on Slow Food and a list of restaurants taking part,  check out:  www.slowfoodpiedmont.org

Happy eating!

Thank you to everyone who supported the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event this past Saturday, May 5 in Winston-Salem.

It was a huge success!  12,000 people participated and 85-hundred ran the 5k race (including myself, meteorologist Emily Byrd, reporters Eric White and Leah Beno, and our boss Karen Koutsky)...  not to mention the walkers such as Cindy Farmer and Cindy's Team.

Despite the gray weather, 700 more people participated in this year's event compared to last year.  The race raised at least a half a million dollars! 

FOX 8 crews took plenty of pictures.  Here's the link to the photo gallery. 

http://media.myfoxwghp.com/komen/index.htm>

Look closely.  You may see yourself.  Thanks again for participating and helping find a cure for breast cancer.

Greensboro Mayer Keith Holliday announced today that he will not seek re-election.

A tough decision, he admits, but he decided he needs to simplify his life, focus on his full time job as a banker, and spend more time with his family.

Dubbed the "Mayor for Life" since he continued to run for office without real opposition, Holliday served on city council for more than eleven years... seven as mayor.

With this announcement, the city of Greensboro will have another major search in recent times.  Last month, Tim Bellamy was named Chief of Police after serving as Interim Chief for more than a year after David Wray resigned.

Who do you think could be Mayor Holliday's successor?

 

After two days of deliberating, the Guilford County School Board approved the plan for students at Eastern Guilford High after a fire destroyed the school.

9th and 10th-grade students will go to the former School for the Deaf on North Summit Ave near Bryan Park. Classes will begin Tuesday, Nov. 14.

11th and 12th-grade students will go to the GTCC campus on Wendover Ave. The school hours will be Noon to 6pm. School will begin Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Students and parents, let us know what you think of the decision. Do you approve or disapprove? How will you be inconvenienced, if at all? What do you think of the student body being separated? If you are a junior or senior, what are your thoughts of the new school hours? Do you look forward to sleeping in or will the later hours encroach on your extra-curricular activities.

As affected students, teachers, staff and parents adjust to this unexpected tragedy, we here at FOX8 would like to know your opinions. Please respond and don't forget to leave your name and hometown.

One day after a fire destroyed Eastern Guilford High School, hundreds of students and their parents are wondering what happens next.

The Guilford County Board of Education held an emergency meeting last night to figure out where students will attend classes but no final decisions were made. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday.

Last night, several educators from other Piedmont schools attended to offer assistance, such as GTCC, Southeast High School and Southeast Middle Xchool.

Dozens of Eastern Guilford High students also showed up to try to voice their opinion at the closed door meeting. Many seniors expressed wherever they end up, they want to stay together.

As the school board ponders the future for the students, what are your thoughts?

If you’re a part of the Eastern Guilford community, please respond to this posting with your thoughts and ideas. Please include your name and hometown in your post.

After paying rent for more than a decade, perhaps I should consider taking the plunge and buy a home.

There are perks to both. There are also downsides to both.

What do you think? If you're a homeowner, please list the positives and the negatives. Renters, I would love your feedback as well.

Often times, the media can focus too much on the negative.
But we must remember that not all in the world is bad.

One of many fortunate aspects of living in the Piedmont is that the area is relatively safe. Not to mention, we are part of a close knit community.
We should not forget we live among people who make a difference.

My Inspired Living stories focus on inspirational individuals or programs that better people's lives.

Here are some examples I've featured over the past few months: a Greensboro dentist who travelled to Uganda in March to treat 125 orphans. In May, I showcased a cooking program catered to people who are allergic to wheat. Most recently, I introduced viewers to a volunteer at Randolph Hospital in Ashboro who has been volunteering for eleven years and just celebrated his 90th birthday.

You probably know someone (it could be you) or know of a program that has helped touch lives. Please inform me of any examples. These unsung heroes or helpful programs should be recognized.

Embarassingly, I must admit I am resistant to change.

Fact: My dad gave me an ipod for my birthday but it remained unopened for at least six months as I refused to retire my tried-and-true portable cassette-player.

Fact: I finally succumbed to purchasing a DVD player THIS year.

Fact: The digital camera my mom gave me this past Christmas has never been used (sorry mom).

Call me technologically-challenged or a clinger onto simpler times.... whatever the description, I'm the woman who doesn't understand the attraction to Best Buy or Circuit City. The latest gadgets and gizmos seem to get smaller and smaller every year and it's overwhelming.

With the advent of myfoxwghp.com and with the urging of my colleagues such as Van and Emily to blog, I find myself in an unsettling situation. Computers are not going away (gulp!) so I better step into the 21st century.

I must admit (once my friend programmed my ipod) I'm addicted. My VHS collection is slowly but surely being replaced by DVDs. But the digital camera still has not seen the light of day.

I may be slow, but I am a work in progress.
Maybe I'll figure out this blogging phenomenon.
It all begins with the first step, err I mean, the first click.