1991 Weekend Crew Windom Memorial

On January 25th, 2007 KTVB lost one of their best switchers and master control operators. Judy Windom was tragically murdered, her 16 year old son entered a guilty plea for the slaying.
Judy was one of the most reliable and harderst workers of the operation. She worked the toughest shifts signing the station on every Saturday and Sunday at 5-am. She was never late and never complained and was always cheerful and smiling. She worked her way through BSU getting a Special Ed degree and paid her own way while raising two kids.

I remember the weekend she graduated and how proud she was...We got video of her at commencement and ran it on the weekend news. After getting her degree she concentrated on teaching and left KTVB and we missed her, we still do.

1991 Newsroom Liveshot

At KTVB the end of a long work day was always capped by a liveshot or newsroom. Sometimes the exhaustion was unbearable, you rush all day for your 1:10 of glory, and god forbid if you stumble on a word! On this day I made the deadline with 4 vsots a Pkg and a newsroom, I delivered the story and nailed the liveshot, it was a perfect day. After the newsroom its back to the desk for the rewrites...I never figured out why the anchors couldnt help out...they only do a fraction of the work...but then I remembered the 3 hour lunch break and it all makes sense.

Lowman Firestorm

It was a hot Saturday back in July of 1989. Tom Hadzor and I had just finished working the dayshift when we heard the anguished cries over the scanner calling for fire engines and hand crews, as many as posible. It was the big Lowman blowup, it was ominous, in the fire world it was Big Wednesday. We broadcast emergency announcements urging people to evacuate the town.

Hadzor had been promoted to photographer just the week before but I knew this guy had talent. I asked him if he was up to a night on the fireline and we drove into the jaws of the fire. We made it through the first 3 roadblocks but then the firestorm hit and the only traffic moving was coming from Lowman. We spiked out at the basecamp and talked to firefighters coming in off the lines they were spooked saying the storm packed high winds and 40 foot flames.
The PIO's promised a shot at first light, they said they had shut and pulled all firefighters out of Lowman.

We slept under a water truck that night, the only reporters at Morris Creek Summit...all other media was stuck in Idaho City. When we got into Lowman we couldnt believe the destruction....everything was flattened. Dead cows and horses were strewn about but there were no fatalities. Our story was an exclusive and John Patterson booked a Sat truck for us, this was my first satellite live and it went well.

Office Olympics

In 1988 Downtown Boise looked like a warzone. The Wells Fargo Building was under construction and streets were blocked, the city fathers decided to stage an event to cheer up all the workers and businesses that endured the contruction projects. The Office Olympics was a huge success.
Charlie Ehlert is one of the best photogs to ever strap on a TK-76 battery belt and did an amazing job editing this piece; also special thanks to Leni Riefenstahl.

Movie Premier

Back in 1989 Frank Marshall and Universal Studios decided to hold the world premier of Back to the Future Part II, KTVB's Jake Putnam covered the premier and interviewed Frank Marshall.
John Patterson and Gretchen Anderson manned the anchor desk, Dan Goicoechea directed and produced the liveshot.

KC 10 refueling

Back in October of 1988, Charlie Ehlert and I went on a refueling mission with 190th Fighter Squadron out of Gowen Field. We boarded a tricked out KC-10 and got to ride in the Boom. While we were in the big plane, fellow reporter Pat Kelly was in the backseat of a F-4 getting vids from the fighter. What a rush.

Fringe Benefits

I covered the military during my 14 years at KTVB. I often got to tag along on training missions...In July 1990 the USAF decided to fly me on a mission that prophetically mirrored Desert Storm mission profiles flown 14 months later. Some say the F-111 is like flying commercial...true it's a smooth flight but when you pull 6-g's upside down...its a vomit ride.

Mary Shore, Dan Sullivan

Mary Shore was a young, talented reporter at KTVB. She could sniff out a story and a tough interviewer. She loved spot news and chased stories with passion and cool efficiency. She always delivered under deadline on the difficult night shift without complaint.


In September of 87 I was dispatched to Hailey to cover an explosion and fire in Hailey but assignment editor Lindsay Nothern couldn't find photographer Charlie Ehlert. Mary didn't hesitate and flew out on the story just after 4:30. At 8:00 pm on the way back Photographer Dan Sullivan loaded his gear on the Cesna 210 piloted by Lynn Hoppe. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff and Mary, Lynn, and Photographer Dan Sullivan were killed. In the minds of the Photogs and Reporters of KTVB, Dan, Mary and Lynn are still out on the story and will be forever.

Idaho Migrant Workers and the new Dallas Attorney

20 Years ago Idaho Farmers were dealing with new migrant reporting rules and regulations. Twenty years later farmers await a new set of rules and regulations, somethings never change...and farm labor problems two decades ago are identical to today's situation. Kelly Love and intern translator Laura McConnell did a great job on this story.

Jake Putnam knocked out a story on Claude Dallas' change in legal representation. Boise Attorney Lance Churchill replaced Bill Mauk on escape charges.

Gun Nuts and Haz Mat Incinerators

In May of 1987 we were all amused at Congressman Craig and his bold attempt at going after the immensely popular Governor Cecil Andrus for a comment made about the NRA. Andrus dismissed the grandstanding from the green junior Congressman and echoed what many Idahoans already thought about the NRA.

Jake Putnam interviews Maj.Gen Gordon Sullivan

USA Today Publisher Al Neuharth visits Andrus

May 18th, 1987 was an interesting day. USA Today publisher Al Neuharth visited Governor Cecil Andrus. Newbie photographer Charlie Elhert and I were sent to the Statehouse to bring the story home.

Neuharth was intelligent and graceful and got along famously with Andrus. Neuharth called Andrus, Mr. Secretary as sign of respect for the former Secretary of Interior.

This was a strange news conference because Neuharth was interviewing Andrus and we were bystanders interviewing him. It was a joy and pleasure to see the old newspaperman interview the Gov. His questions were studied and I think we were all amazed at how well Neuharth knew and understood Idaho.

After the interview we got to tour the bus...I noticed that back in Neuharth's compartment was an old portable typewriter. Al told me he had been writing stories and columns on the old underwood for decades.

KTVB--The Glory Years

KTVB during the 80's 90's and into 2000 was the dominant news organization in Idaho. I joined Idaho's News Channel in March of 1987. Roger Simmons was the senior reporter back then and I immediately studied him and copied his style. I started a rolodex and wrote down every contact.


This story is not my first...when this story was filed back in April of 1987 I had two months of experience under my belt. Assignment Editor and acting News Director Lindsay Nothern liked the way I dug up my own stories. Robert Loughery had called the desk and wanted me to come and do a story on this new idea called Live at Five. Dee Sarton and I liked the sound of it so we did the story. It's amazing how much downtown Boise has changed, I credit Dirk Kempthorne and visionaries like Loughery.