Stephanie's Scoop

What I'll Miss About the Big Country

2010-11-24T20:28:00.001-08:00

What will I miss about Abilene and the Big Country? All of it.

This place has been my home, my life, my passion. My best friends are from here, and some of my favorite places in the whole world have been right around the corner my whole life. I just want everyone to know that I never took my time here in Abilene for granted. I cherished every minute of it, and I can't wait to bring my kids here to see where I grew up.

Through our different community outreach programs, I have seen more generosity in this place than I have and ever will in any other. I will miss the West Texas sunsets, I will miss high school football, I will miss my family and friends. And I will absolutely miss my work. I will miss the opportunity to be in your homes every night. I will miss my fabulous co-workers, who are some of my best friends in the world. And I will miss all of you, the faithful viewers of KRBC.

Thank you so much for the support you have given me. This has been the best experience of my life!

Last Hurrah

2010-11-04T00:05:00.001-07:00

If you didn't see the news at ten, then I need to fill you in on a bit of news in my life. In a little under a month, I will be leaving KRBC as well as the Big Country. So how do I put into perspective what this place has done for me? I owe everything to this area. This is the place where I grew up. It's the place where I went to school, watched high school football, learned my multiplication tables. This is the place where I found my passion, my career for the last 5 years. This is where my family lives, and where I feel like I am always home. So to say that my departure is bitter sweet is a drastic understatement. My husband and I will be moving to Malibu California. He took a job at Pepperdine University. It is an exciting new chapter in our lives. I can't wait to see what life has in store for me. Before I go however, on KRBC I will be crossing things off of my Big Country Bucket List. Everything from restaraunts I have always wanted to try, to conquering a fear of mine. It will be my last hurrah, for now, in the friendly frontier.

New Subway with Drive-Thru

2010-10-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

I am a hypocrite. I go to Subway in order to try and live a healthy life. Yet I drive across town, passing up two perfectly good Subways, in order to not have to get out of my car to eat a sandwich. The new drive-thru at the Subway across from Abilene Regional is my latest addiction. I am obsessed with Subway's Chicken Sandwich, and now I can get it through my driver side window. Why didn't Subway do this earlier? We may never know. But I do know this; my dinner breaks will never be the same. No longer must I watch the Subway sandwich artists make my sandwich through those oddly shaped windows. No longer will I get the "Subway Odor".(You know that really strong bread smell) Thank you Subway… from the bottom of my couch potato heart.

Spider Attack At Ten!

2010-09-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

One of my worst nightmares happened on the news set. First off, you should know that I have this weird trait. Spiders seem to follow me wherever I go. When I was a kid, a spider jumped on my face while I was watching a horror movie about giant spiders that attack people, I swore up and down that it came from the TV. When I was a little older, I went to see a movie at the theater and a spider came all the way from the tall ceiling and decided to slide down its web in front of my face and land right in my popcorn. Just last week, a giant wolf spider was lurking in my bedroom, waiting for me to come home and then pounce. Our reporter Tim Johnston had to come kill it for me. I got a package in the mail the other day. What was underneath? You guessed it… a tiny death machine with 8 legs. So you can imagine how I reacted when I was doing the news, and a spider dropped down attached to a web from the ceiling of the KRBC studio… during the beginning of the show no less. We are reading these serious stories, and an arachnid is preying on me like an insect stuck in its web. I was of course terrified, but what made me lose it was the look on Randy's face. He stared down the spider like a hunter on the prowl. So what does he do? He immediately smacks it with his script, but in my direction! So the whole first part of the newscast, I just KNOW, that the spider is crawling all over me. Luckily, during the commercial break, Randy stepped on the spider, getting rid of my arachnophobia at least for a little while...until I get home and have to leave all the lights on! Anybody have a cure for a spider curse?
View this link to see the spider drop from the ceiling!
http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=296235

Abilene High on ESPNU

2010-09-16T22:35:00.001-07:00

It's not everyday you get to see one of your home teams play on national television. Randy and I along with the rest of the KRBC crew had a great time broadcasting live before the big game. Thousands of Big Country residents showed up to get in on the action. A High quarterback Ronnell Sims scored four touchdowns. This sent the warbirds into a win of 27 to 17 against the Plant Panthers from Florida. I'm not sure though if I had more fun watching the game or watching all the rowdy fans in the stands. It was a sea of black and gold at Shotwell Stadium. I saw so many people with face paint, noise makers, I even saw a woman in a black and gold wig. What a fun night. Way to go Eagles!

MDA Telethon Success

2010-09-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

What a great telethon! We collected over $165,000 for people living with Muscular Dystrophy, ALS, and other neuromuscular diseases this year. I also had the privilege of meeting my new friend Brady Smith between one of the cut-ins we did that day. He reminded me that events like this are the reason I do what I do for a living. It is because of guys like Brady that so many people in the Big Country supported this year’s telethon. He gave me and others hope that we will find a cure for MD. Thanks Brady for our new friendship and thank you to everyone that supports MDA.

West Texas Friday Nights

2010-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

It's time. Time to dust off the cleats. Time to grab the stadium chairs and cowbells. Time to fill plastic jugs full of pennies. Time to revolve our lives around something besides work, school, television, shopping. Time to believe that camping out all night for something isn't crazy. Time to believe that this could be the year. Time to paint our faces. Time to stock up on bug spray. Time to use words that we haven't used in a while: yellowhammers, pied pipers, blizzards, indians, cougars, eagles, badgers, bulldogs, and even bears. Time to fight for parking. Time to eat frito pies, sausage wraps, and nachos with extra jalapeños. Time to savor the glory of victory, and despise the agony of defeat. Time for our young heroes to run out of giant inflatable objects. Time for shoe polish on windows. Time for pep rallys. Time for kickoff, halftime, and really really loud horns after touchdowns. Time for FNL. Time to dig into the trenches. Time to go over the middle. Time to run the "Dirty Bird". Time for the cross-town showdown. Time to fight for extra yards. Time to believe in the impossible. Time to ride on the yellow dog. Time to turn on the lights that have been dimmed for 8 excruciating months, sit back, do anything but relax, and enjoy the show. It's time, for football.

The Real Housewives of Houston?

2010-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

We've had Housewives from Orange County, New York, Atlanta, New Jersey, and D.C., but now are The Real Housewives are coming to the lone star state?
I am a reality t.v. junkie (I know it's sad but true) and I have been hearing that there will soon be a new installment of the Bravo show coming to the Houston area. I googled it and several entertainment websites are reporting that it's true.
Oh, I can't wait for the drama to unfold. Check out this link, they believe that these ladies may make the final cut as the newest cast members... I guess we will have to wait and see.

http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/05-25-10-look-out-the-real-housewives-of-houston-are-coming-producers-are-casting-now/

Do You Want Some Wemonade?

2010-06-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

At KRBC, we love being involved with the MDA telethon to help Jerry's Kids. It's one of our favorite things to do. It's an absolute passion. So I have been challenged with raising money for MDA. And I have figured out the perfect way to do that. It happens in three easy steps:

1. Buy some lemonade.
2. Set up a table.
3. Use every cute kid you can find to be your employees.

I decided to start a lemonade stand in order to help raise some money for a good cause. So I found some cute kids in my family to help me. First was my 3 year old nephew. We set up our stand outside my parents video store. I think he was more interested in eating candy, but when he put his mind to it, that kid could flat out sell some lemonade. The cute factor was just too much to handle.

Our second stop was outside of shoe carnival. The management there was just wonderful to us. They even made announcements in the store about us being there to help out MDA. For this round, I hired my cousins' two little boys. They, like my nephew, are also cute, so we had no trouble selling lemonade. The youngest one would scream at the top of his lungs to everyone that walked by, "Do you guys want some WEMONADE!" and then he would say, "It's to get money for MBA".

We had a fantastic day, shared some laughs, and made a little money for some people in need. But our efforts really hit home when we met one couple. They saw what we were doing, and shared with us that their son has muscular dystrophy. A devastating case of it as well. They applauded us for our efforts, and donated to the cause.

I thought the lemonade stand would just be an effective way to make a little money. But I had no idea that it would hit so close to home for me. It made me realize that we can all make a difference. We can all help to find a cure for this terrible disease. Your efforts can make big money, or small money, but they will always be large in the difference making department.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2010-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

If you ever spent any time around Officer Rodney Holder, you knew that servant was a fitting description. So too was beloved father, fun-loving co-worker, and friend. His death, besides being tragic, hit especially close to home with me. My brother is now a police officer in our city, and he now proudly tries to carry on the legacy Officer Holder left behind.

Thousands of friends and family members attended the funeral today, and thousands more found other ways to pay tribute. All of us tried to make sense out of something senseless, and tried to find strength during a time of great sadness. Ironically enough, the strongest person in the room was not one of Abilene's finest, but rather a 13 year old boy.

You can tell Kyler Holder is a Daddy's boy. He loved what his Dad did, he even used his Dad's call sign "Tom 23", to select scripture for his Father's funeral (Psalm 23, he said they sounded similar). It is abundantly clear that Rodney Holder was his family's foundation. So what would they do without him? Kyler Holder did what his Dad would have done in a tough situation. He picked himself up, dusted himself off, and showed strength that a thousand men couldn't muster. Nobody can replace what Rodney Holder did for his family or his community. But luckily enough, Kyler Holder has what it takes to be the new man of the house, with mom right by his side.

Panhandling For Cash

2010-04-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

Many of us are fortunate enough to have never wondered...Where is my next meal coming from? The homeless in abilene face this question all the time. I wanted to find out what is it like to be a pan handler.I caught up with someone who is living the life...And took a walk in her shoes as well. My experience taught me to give, even if i don't know the motives of the people that are receiving.
Are they really hungry? Are they taking advantage of people's generosity?
It may be impossible to know, but i found that it's a risk a lot of people, are willing to take. What would you do?

A Heavy Dose of Perspective

2010-04-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

I spent an hour doing something I never thought I would do. I experienced things that were new to me, and hopefully the challenges I faced will never happen to me again. I have a new outlook on those who face similar obstacles on a day to day basis.

On April 29th, be sure to watch KRBC at ten to see how my life changed forever.

Randy's Talkin Panties!

2010-03-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

It's really not fair. My co-anchor Randy Turner has the best poker face in the world. Whether he's reading about renovations at the zoo or an underwear thief, Randy stays cool and collected. As for me...not so much. After Randy read the "Panty Thief" story on the ten o'clock news, I lost it. Have you ever had a case of the giggles that you just couldn't get rid of? It's as if no matter what you do, you aren't going to shake them? It happened to me on the news. That's one of the great things about Randy; what you see, is what you get. What I saw was Randy reading about a panty crook, and what I got, was nothing but laughs. Take a look. Oh and be sure to watch until the very end of the clip, that is when the laughter sets in!CLICK HERE

My New Life

2010-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

I just got home from my Lasik procedure. What an incredible experience! I was a little nervous going in, but the people at the Abilene Eye Institute were great. The whole procedure, from being in the chair until I walked out of the office, was only about a half-hour. They fixed my vision problems that I have had since I was a child in 30 minutes! The actual process of correcting my vision was only 10 minutes per eye. It was quick, virtually painless, and an amazing experience. I am so happy and I can't describe how great it is to have a new "vision" on life.

Melissa's Thoughts on The Biggest Loser

2010-02-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

Melissa Morgan came to the Krbc Studio's after we said bye to her Tuesday night on the biggest Loser. Here our some of her thoughts on being on a hit t.v. show and changing her life for the better.

Melissa writes....

"I am humbled and honored that KRBC has asked me to write a blog about my experience on The Biggest Loser. I will start with a short blog about being a contestant and over the next several weeks I will share some insider tips and tricks that you can use to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.

"Being on The Biggest Loser was the adventure of a lifetime. I mean, really, who ever thinks they will be chosen when they send in an application to a reality show. I certainly didn’t. I sent in an application and video for me and Lance beginning with Season 6 and we were finally chosen for Season 9.

"Being a contestant on the show was both horrible and wonderful at the same time. Obviously it was wonderful because I learned so much about nutrition and exercise. But at the same time it was horrible because I was being physically pushed farther than ever before.

"I met some of the most wonderful people and hope to continue those friendships well after the show has ended.

"If I had to choose one thing to be my legacy for the show, it would have to be patience. Anyone that watched the show knows that I struggled on the scale in weeks two and three. There was some speculation that I was “playing the game” given my zero net loss over those two weeks. I hope that my +1 in week six helps people realize that I was not playing the game, but rather I truly struggled with my weight. The “roller coaster” weight loss has continued since I’ve been home. However, I have to be patient and remember that if I give myself time, I will eventually see the number on the scale go down. During my time on the ranch and since I’ve returned home, I’m fortunate that I’ve lost nearly 60 pounds. That is a huge accomplishment and I am proud of each pound. For anyone else that struggles with the scale each week, don’t give up. If you are patient, you will see results."

No more Conan

2010-01-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Randy and I say bye to Mr. O'brien!

Take a look

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=212242

Go Red Team!

2010-01-19T17:53:00.000-08:00

Aspermont couple Lance and Melissa Morgan survive week three of The Biggest Loser, but not without a little controversy! Lance lost twelve pounds while Melissa only lost one! This lead trainer Jillian to believe that she was throwing the weigh in! Whether she did or not...we still get to show support for the local couple for another week, as they move on to week number four. Good Luck!!

Now if you want to become your own biggest loser here locally Gold's Gym is holding their own version. The twelve week challenge is open to people who want to transform their bodies and take advantage of the gym's facilities and programs. Gold's will have weigh-ins the next two saturday mornings. There is a fifty dollar sign-up fee, but one local winner could walk away with two thousand dollars in prizes! For more information call 325-695-8900.

Did I just say that?

2010-01-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know what's wrong with me, but this is twice now that I have said a bad word on air! I promise you I really didn't mean to say it, the word just came out wrong.

To see my on-air screw up,

click here.

Cold Weather Recipes

2010-01-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

Tortilla Soup Recipe

CRISCO® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
8 6-inch corn tortillas
Salt
2 tablespoons CRISCO® Pure Canola Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 can (15 1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juice
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
1 package (1 1/4 ounces) taco seasoning mix
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 tablespoons lime juice
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Lime slices (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a baking sheet and both sides of the corn tortillas with Crisco No Stick Cooking Spray. Slice the tortillas into strips; sprinkle lightly with salt. Place on baking sheet; bake for 12-15 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven or soup pot, heat Crisco Canola Oil over medium high heat. Add onions and saute until soft. Add chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, chilis and taco seasoning; stir to combine. Add chicken broth; stir. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, 10-15 minutes. Stir in lime juice.
To serve, place a few tortilla strips into soup bowl; ladle soup over. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Top with remaining tortilla strips. Garnish with sour cream and a lime slice.

Read More http://food.ivillage.com/recipefinder/display/0,,9tmzxqq7,00.html#ixzz0c2rTkf4f
Sign up for iVillage Special Offers

Pampered Chef's Lean N' Green Chilli

Ingredients
8 (6 inch) corn tortillas, divided
2 teapoons vegetable oil, divided
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup chopped poblano pepper (1-2 medium)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, finely minced
2 (14 ounce) cans reduced-fat chicken broth
2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/4 cups salsa verde (green salsa) or
1 (10 ounce) can green enchilada sauce
2 tablespoons minced cilantro

Directions
1Preheat oven to 400°F.
2Cut 4 tortillas in half and stack them one on top of the other. Cut into 1/2-inch strips & toss with 1 teaspoon oil.
3Spread tortilla strips in a single layer in a baking pan. Bake 10-12 minutes or until crisp, stirring once. Remove from oven and set aside.
4Fold each of the remaining 4 tortillas into quarters & and coarsely grate using a box grater or your favorite method. Set aside. (Cook's note - I opted to just finely chop the tortillas rather than grating).
5Toss chicken pieces with cumin.
6Heat remaining 1 teaspoon of oil in a large soup pan, add chicken and cook 5 minutes. Remove chicken.
7Add poblano peppers, onion and garlic to pan. Cook and stir 3 minutes.
8Stir in chicken, broth, beans, salsa and grated tortillas.
9Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes.
10Stir in cilantro, ladle into soup bowls and top with baked tortilla strips.

Big Country Biggest Losers!

2010-01-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

NBC has begun its ninth season of the popular prime time show, The Biggest Loser. It's a show that tells the story of obese people trying to loose the weight, and regain control of their lives and this season the Big Country will be represented!
This year Melissa and Lance Morgan from Aspermont are on the show. They may come from a small West Texas town but this couple has made it all the way to Hollywood to make a change for the better!

You can watch Lance and Melissa right here on Krbc every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Leave your comments to show your support, for the Big Country pair!

Thank you Big Country

2009-12-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

So here's the scoop. The big Country never ceases to amaze me. Our state and our nation is going through one of the most difficult economic times in recent memories, yet people got in their cars, braved the cold weather, to make a difference for people in need. Thanks to all of you we raised close to half a million pounds of food for The Food Bank of West Central Texas. So from all of us at Krbc thank you for making this the best Share Your Christmas ever! Because of your charity there will be less people in the Big Country wondering where their next meal will come from.

Big Country, We Need You

2009-11-29T19:05:00.001-08:00

Let me take you back to this past Thursday. It's Thanksgiving, a couple of hours before the turkey comes out, and your belly starts to grumble. You simply can't wait until someone carves the thing and it ends up on your plate. Now take the feeling of hunger, couple it with intense fear and worry, and try and relive it, every single day. That's not just a once a year, two hours before the turkey timer goes off kind of thing for an astounding amount of people in are area. Hunger has become a dangerous reality.

To me one of the most disturbing aspects of life is the persistence of hunger. According to our local food banks website, around 50,000 people live in poverty and miss meals or experience hunger right here in the big country. That number was shocking to me.

But there is something so simple that we can do. On December 9th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., come by the KRBC studios, and bring us a can of food. If you don't have one or can't find one, bring us a dollar. Whatever you can do to help those in need in the Big Country, please do it. There are too many families worried about where their next bite comes from, instead of where they will eat their Christmas ham.

Black Friday Deals

2009-11-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

Black Friday is finally here! I listed some websites that preview the best holiday deals. Happy shopping.

Blackfriday.info
Bfads.net
black-friday.net
SlickDeals.net
FatWallet.com
SundaySaver.com
salesCircular.com
TGIBlackFriday.com
PriceSpider.com
BargainShare.com
Shipgooder.com
CouponCabin.com

Popcorn Was Flying Everywhere

2009-11-22T21:34:00.000-08:00

So here's the scoop, Black Friday came a bit early for me this year. You know how you see those videos of people trampling each other going into stores to get the best deals? Well I didn't go shopping Sunday, and it wasn't the day after Thanksgiving. But there was almost a small riot at Century Theatres. Me, my mom, and one of our friends decided to go see the next chapter of the Twilight saga, "New Moon". We were probably about 25 people or so from the front of the line, so I wasn't really worried about finding a good seat. Come to find out, my mom was. As soon as they opened the doors to the theatre, the people in front of us casually moved their way inside to find seats. But once Patti Harris made her way in, she was on a mission. Next thing I knew, I heard my mom screaming at the top of her lungs, "GO LEFT? GO RIGHT? WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO GO?" And our friend nervously said, "Uhhh, GO LEFT!" Then, my mom bolted for our chairs, popcorn flying everywhere, people looking on in fear. This sent the rest of the crowd into a panicked state. You should have seen all the "tweens" climbing over each other to get seats. My mom, all 5 foot of her, almost created a mob scene in Abilene. Say what you want, but we had the best seats in the house, and the movie was awesome. Post a comment and let me know what you guys thought of "New Moon". I am very excited to see "Eclipse".

It's My Bread and Butter

2009-11-10T23:43:00.000-08:00

So here's the scoop. I can't dance. Not a lick. I've been to some clubs and dance halls in my day, and boy can I clear a room. You see most people think that all girls have rhythm, or at least know how to fake it. I have neither of those abilities. But there is one thing I can do to try and level the playing field on the dance floor. It's my move. It's my bread and butter. I'm talking about a move that changed the world of dancing forever. It's name...The Robot. I believe that The Robot needs to make a comeback. It's a dance craze that inspired a generation. And now I am doing my part, to pass on this epic move to a new generation. I am giving it to a new class, a new bunch that will bring The Robot back to the national spotlight. Take a look...

My nieces have got some pretty good moves, huh? I hope this could make you smile!

Casinos, Flames, and Fake Babies

2009-11-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

So here’s the scoop…

I spent the weekend in Little Rock. My cousin was getting married, so my family and I decided to make the 8 hour drive to the Natural State. Well, it was supposed to be an 8 hour drive.

We left at 4 in the morning. My sister-in-law and I decided to take the first shift of driving, so Rob and my brother decided to catch up on some sleep. We figured it’s a pretty straight shot, so no one worried about getting there. A couple of hours later, the boys wake up, and take over the wheel. We pulled into a big city that we figured was Texarkana, except there was something peculiar about where we were. I think my brother summed it up best when he said, “I didn’t know there were casinos in Arkansas!” After purchasing three maps and some candy, we made our way from Shreveport, Louisiana to Little Rock, Arkansas. So we figured the wildness was behind us right? I mean, weddings are supposed to be calm and peaceful.

That’s when it happened. My grandma is the sweetest, most caring woman I know. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. She looks a lot younger than she really is. She also has great hair ladies. She takes great pride in it, and that’s why this next part is a little sad. The wedding was a beautiful ceremony, and was well lit with candles. To make a long story short, my grandma got too close to one of them. A section of her hair on the back of her head went up in flames! My aunt’s husband Jessie was quick to respond, and extinguished the fire quickly. She was fine, and in fact, was surprised that a young man was smacking the back of her head! So my grandma survives a hair fire, smooth sailing the rest of the way right?

That’s when it happened. My poor cousin is taking a high school home-economics class, and he was given the assignment of taking care of a baby doll that is supposed to simulate what being a teen parent is all about. I mean this baby doll was intense. It would cry if it needed changing, needed to be rocked, you name it. So there we are at the wedding, sitting close to the front of the church, next to a fake baby. But it wouldn’t be a big deal right?

Wrong. The baby cries in the middle of the vows. My cousin has to take the fake baby out of the church to rock it, and give it a bottle.

These stories are what make my family great. You never know what to expect, but you do know that it will make lasting memories.

Boo at the Zoo

2009-10-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

I want to use "The Scoop" this week to send a quick thank you to all the parents of Abilene. I was very impressed with the turn out at Boo at the Zoo. Now by turn out I don't mean how many people were there (there were a ton, which was great!), I mean the costumes that I saw. Now it is certainly possible that a child can come with the idea to turn themselves into Mac N' Cheese, and then create a masterpiece of a costume by combining a yellow jumpsuit with giant noodles that stick to them. But my gut tells me that great parents were behind the fabulous costumes at Boo at the Zoo. Not to mention, the kids were so well behaved! On paper, the idea of handing out candy to kids at about 2 dozen locations among wild animals seems not only insane, but dangerous as well. But it was so much fun to see all the smiling faces, and watch the kids just let loose and have a great time. Boo at the Zoo is a great idea. It's safe, it's clean, it's really well run, and I know for a fact that all the people who volunteer their time to help with the event get much more in return than what they give. So thanks for making it another great year at the Zoo, and thanks to the parents for making it happen.

Farm livin' is the life for me

2009-10-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

So here's the scoop, I just spent the weekend in Houston with some of my family and they suggested that we take the kids to a farm near their house. The Merkel girl inside of me who grew up in the country immediately thought of tractors, cows, and hay fields. But when we got there, I was completely shocked. The place was called Dewberry Farm. It was far more amusement park than West Texas farm. This place had it all. Pumpkin patches, pig races, hay rides, rubber duck races, petting zoos, corn cannons, pvc pipe slides (as uncomfortable as they sound), corn train rides, and even a zip line! As if you couldn't tell from the pictures, the kiddos had a phenominal time. If you are ever in a bad mood, or having a rough day, seeing a joyful kid will do the trick. It was awesome to see my nieces and nephews without a care in the world. They seemed so happy and free. I learned that we all need to find our "Dewberry Farm" in life. Whether it's cooking, shopping, reading a book, taking a walk, whatever it may be. Find what makes you feel like a kid again.

Gummy Bears and Windshields

2009-10-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

So here's the scoop, have you ever had one of those days where you just can't seem to get it together? You know, those days where you tear up the entire house in search of a pencil when the darn thing was behind your ear the whole time. I seem to have days like that more often than not.

My most recent moment was when I was leaving Hobby Lobby on my dinner break. I was in my zone, I just found some great deals, I was munching on a bag of gummy bears and when I walked to the parking lot, I noticed something was wrong with my car. I put the candy on the ground and went to inspect. I had a crack in the windshield. Not really a big deal but I couldn't remember ever seeing it before.

Now, my windshield was a little dirty and the sunlight was hitting the window just right so I thought just maybe it was a dirt streak and I could clean it.
So I took my hand and gave it a go, to no avail. I picked up the gummy bear bag and slid it across the glass, again nothing. So without even thinking twice, I licked my hand and tried to clean the window. Gross I know. I think I even said that immediately after doing it. But I think we all have these little moments where we do things that we immediately say afterward, "not a good idea."

In the end, I should have just let it go and hopped in the car, and that is exactly what I did next. I hit the unlock button and went to open the door, but for some reason the door wouldn't open.

Come to find out...I was trying (and failing) to commit grand theft auto. It wasn't my car! I called my husband (again, not a good idea), and he hasn't stopped teasing me about it. One of those days I guess. At any rate, my windshield is fine. My dignity...not so much.

Downing Bolls

2009-09-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take some time to honor a co-worker who made me a better journalist, anchor, and person.

It has been an honor to work with Downing for the past four years at KRBC. With Downing what you see is what you get. The same person you have grown to love and welcomed into your home for over 20 years is the same guy we see whistling in the halls at work everyday. He has brought a level of professionalism and responsibility to this station that has made everyone around him strive to be better at what they do.

On a personal level, I know I wouldn't be a news anchor without Downing. I started working at KRBC when I was younger, and always wanted to deliver the news to Abilene and the Big Country. Downing took me under his wing, gave me the guidance and push I needed to make my dream a reality. Downing would of course never take the credit for helping me, so I wanted to say thank you here.

Downing, thanks for the laughs. Thanks for being the walking encyclopedia. Thanks for making sure that all of us were happy. Thanks for being our guide, and our friend. But most importantly, thanks for being you.

Dog + Vinyl Interior = Big Trouble!

2009-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

So here's the scoop, I got a new car recently. I love it. I try not to even let my husband ride in it if I can help it (just kidding honey). So when I took my dog Maggie for a ride in it, I took all the necessary precautions to avoid catastrophe. I brought a towel for her to sit on in the passenger seat. I even loaded up on paper towels and cleaning supplies in case of emergency. It was all for naught.
I went shopping and found some fantastic deals (can I hear it from all the clearance rack ladies out there?). And so when I got back, I had an arm full of clothes to bring in. I called Rob to come out to the car and help me unload everything, and that's when it all went down.
I could see it in Maggie's eyes. It was a combination of fear, and maybe a little bit of rebellion. As you can see from the picture, our puppy has a flat out mean streak. To make a long story short, she had an accident and now I need help getting it out of my upholstery. Can anybody help out there?

Welcome to the Scoop

2009-09-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

So here's the scoop, for those that don't know me just yet I want to give you a better insight as to who I am. I have been with the KRBC family for almost four years now and I have worked in a number of positions. You may have seen me in the mornings on Abilene Today, or for the last few months on First At Five with Randy Turner. Now I'm taking on a new challenge and moving to the evening shift and I couldn't be more excited! I have always been a night owl so this new shift fits me perfectly. (I'm the type of person who is still sitting on the couch with a chocolate bar well after Conan goes off the air). I don't know why but since I was little, I always enjoyed staying up late. My husband on the other hand is the complete opposite.I will be carrying on a conversation with him and the second the dude hits the pillow he is out like a light! If he snored, we would have a major problem.

Speaking of my husband, if you start following my blog you are going to hear a lot about him. There are a few ways that I would describe him..laid back, always puts his family first, loves sports and is a Disney fanatic! It's strange when we go to Disneyland and he stumps the park employees with Disneyland trivia. I can't decide if it is cute or completely embarrassing. Yep, that pretty much sums him up in a nut shell. He is actually on the couch right now watching Sunday night football. I made it through the first five hours but I pretty much zoned out after the Cowboys game finished. Whenever he says, "Honey, I am going to watch the game...", I always think he means just that one game. I think that if you are married to a big sports fan you know that they mean all day and night! It was a good run from January until now, but my husband is MIA until the Superbowl.

As for a little more about me, I grew up in the area. I went to school fifteen minutes from here and lived out in the country with my parents and brother. He is married and has a little boy. One of my favorite things to do is babysit my nephew. (he's the cute one in the picture playing in the water) And one of his favorite things is when I bring him the latest Lightning McQueen toys. My family is very important to me, and we have always been a very tight knit bunch.

Abilene is my home and I am so proud to be representing the viewers of the Big Country for KRBC. We will continue to bring the most cutting edge newscast to you each and every night, and I will always bring you the latest "scoop" in my life in this blog. If by "scoop" you mean things like: who I want to win the "Biggest Loser"(whoever Jillian trains), or what my favorite fried food is at the fair (fried Oreos), or why my husband refuses to take out the trash in a timely manner (because he loves to play what he calls "Trash Jenga"). This blog is going to be a lot of fun for me and I hope it is for you too.