Something’s in the air

Tanker mess
You can tell it’s sweeps when WLOSers take to the air for a story. That was the decision Monday when a tanker started leaking a chemical on Interstate 26 in Polk County and emergency workers shut down the interstate for five or six hours.

WLOSers, apparently sure that they’d get some exciting video of a tanker explosion to go with the boring-as-hell video of an empty stretch of interstate, sent Sheraldo and Michelle Boudin to do the shout reports.

And because WLOSers made such a huge investment in the story, they went long with it as the big story at 6, even though by the time they hit the airwaves, the news was over. By the time Sheraldo and Michelle started yelling us the story, the interstate had been reopened. Nobody was injured. The story was over. But that never stopped a WLOSer live shot, especially during sweeps.

As usual, Sheraldo delivered, with lots of active verbs about how the vapor cloud caused by the leaking chemical DMT might touch off a massive explosion at any minute. He interviewed the head emergency worker dude, who sounded like the crew really didn’t know what they were dealing with. They went in with the spacesuits and everything, but then Sheraldo had close-up video of guys standing around with shovels, cleaning up the hardened chemical.

But Michelle had the real fun. She got to go up for the “bird’s eye view” of the non-action. She talked to people sitting in cars who said they were tired of waiting in traffic an had to pee. And she showed us video of herself, in a plane, with a headset on. There’s no greater rush for a reporter, than to report from a plane at a time when all hell might break loose.

Orchard contaminated
The Old Francis Orchard in Haywood County may be contaminated with pesticides, WLOSers reported. This could be a big story, much like the Barber Orchard in Haywood County. That old apple orchard had top soil contaminated with pesticides and it cost millions to clean up.

Now comes the Old Francis Orchard. WLOSers said contaminated soil was found a vacant lot, but public health officials want the whole area tested. They sounded nervous. And while WLOSers made no mention of the Barber Orchard mess, you can bet they’ll be doing a follow-up. This could be a big deal. Russ, where are you?

Gibson trial
O, there was Russ “Beefcake” Bowen, covering the other big Haywood County story of the day, the beginning of the trial of Michelle Gibson, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a her 8-year-old boy Devin. Devin was found dead in the trunk of a car where she was keeping him while she worked.

It’s a horribly sad story. Michelle Gibson clearly loved her son, but her options were limited. She was working, but had no day care. So the story is that she would put her son in the trunk of her car and keep him there all day while she worked. Her story touched a cord among some, said Russ, who talked to a group that has been visiting Gibson in jail and corresponding with her. One woman said Gibson signs her letters with her dead son’s name.

In court, Michelle Gibson was distraught and crying. Her attorney argued that she could be guilty of manslaughter, but not murder. Jury selection is supposed to continue today.

Invasive plants
Jay Seltzerwater investigated some weeds invading the N.C. Arboretum. They could take over, only arboretum workers go around with weed killer to get rid of them, Seltzer said.

In other news…
A counselor at a Macon County children’s home got 12 to 21 years in prison for having sex with some of the kids at the home… a former Sylva town board member was ordered to pay back $21,000 she embezzled from Savannah Baptist Church. The woman said she was a gambling addict. She was also barred from stepping foot on the property of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

Deadbeat parents
Short-timer Mary Jedlicka brought us a News13 Investigates sweeps yawner about parents who don’t pay child support. Just like all of WLOSers other sweeps report, there’s nothing new, no substance. Mary even went knocking on doors to find deadbeats, but came up dry. Yawn.

What’s up with the weather?
It will probably finally rain at some point today, but Cuervo Cuevas and company have been calling for rain since Friday. Yet, nothing has happened except some clouds have moved in. What’s up, Cuervo? We heard you making excuses last night about how that low didn’t push quite as far south or something. Whatever, dude.