The Pee Dee

Did You Hear Me?

Did you hear me Pee Dee?

I was on the radio with Ed Palmer, 92.9, for the "Drive @ 5".

It was so much fun. I was able to introduce my station, WMBF and talk more about it and our launch, as well as, picking the winner of two tickets to Nashville Star.

You know being on television, in front of a camera, to some people seems scary. I think I was more nervous getting behind a microphone in a booth to go on the radio, than I am to get in front of a camera. Because of this I attempted practice runs, which failed. So it was just going to have to work doing it live. And it did. Practice in the field of broadcasting really doesn't work and is hard. You just gotta go for it when you're live and learn from that. That's your practice, being live. I prefer it that way because your adrenaline is going and it's fun.

By the way, the winner of the tickets, Linda Norris of Florence. Yup, I chose her by closing my eyes on live radio. And if you don't know, that's slightly risky. I could have hit all types of random buttons and who knows what that would have done. Thank goodness I didn't though. I am known for being clumsy and accidentally doing things.

Well, I hope everyone had their stations tuned into 92.9 today to hear my first live radio experience. If not don't fret, you'll get to hear me Monday through Friday in the afternoons giving you an idea of what you'll see on WMBF from the Pee Dee.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Lindsay Housaman | lhousaman@wmbfnews.com

WANTED

WANTED.

It's the word of the Pee Dee right now as the Florence County Sheriff's Office and the Florence City Police Department are looking for suspects.

Let’s begin with the Florence Police Department. On July 14, 2008 there was a shooting at the Waverly Acres Apartments in the 800-block of Waverly Avenue. Police say they are looking for 19-year old John Marquis Johnson who they have identified as the shooter. Police say he shot a 20-year old in the hip. Police do believe this incident was a continuation of a fight the night before. Though investigators do not know how many people were involved, they do say there were a number of people outside when it happened. Johnson is facing a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill.

As for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, it is looking for two unidentified men who broke into and then set fire to the

Wilson Express on US HWY 52 in Scranton, SC. This incident occurred on June 26, 2008 between three and four in the morning. Investigators with the sheriff’s office say one male broke the glass door to the business and once inside poured an ignitable liquid onto the counter tops before setting them on fire. This all while the other man stood outside as a look-out.

Anyone with any information in these two cases is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of the Pee Dee at 843-667-TIPS, the Florence City Police Department at 843-665-3191 or the Florence County Sheriff’s Office at 843-665-2121 ext. 382.

Lindsay Housaman | lhousaman@wmbfnews.com

The Perfect Time for Rain

Happy Monday!

Here is sarcasm at its best.

Rain, rain go away, come back another day. This is the little song I sing almost on a daily basis now since I have returned to the South and to South Carolina. Although I was only gone for a year in Colorado, I quickly got use to the sunny skies and occasional quick rain storms during Monsoon Season. Since I've been back in South Carolina I do believe it has rained about 65% of the time.

Of course the rain isn't going to hold off when I have to go out on the scene for news coverage, but one would think it might be considerate. Wishful thinking.

Monday (today) I heard a call go out over the scanners that there had been a shooting in Florence. Now, of course everything is in code here so I must look up the codes I hear. Once I did that it was a shooting. It occurred in the 800 block of Waverly Avenue. When I arrived on scene there were about ten law enforcement cars, and the Florence City Police were busy trying to find out exactly what happened. People who live in the apartment complex were sitting outside looking onto the scene in front of them. Florence Police Department's Carlos Raines told me that a 20-year old young man had been shot in his hip. He was transported to the hospital and his condition was unknown at the time. The Police Department is currently investigating.

How rain ties into this equation...

When I was on my way it started raining, which was fine. When I arrived on scene it started up a little more. Now having the equipment WMBF has, you just don't want to get it wet. So I covered it up, but then something even better happened, joking, the lens fogged. Humidity. This means I wasn't just shooting video necessary for a story, it's that it looked like you had just gotten out a hot, steamy shower and tried to look in the mirror and couldn't see until you wiped it off and allowed for all the steam to dissipate. Well I had the fix, used some lens wipes to clear up the view again. (had to repeat the process over and over again)

And it's not just that, but you get all wet. Sad face. Now I'm going to start sounding like a princess, and though I like to think I am sometimes, I know I'm not and I won't melt. I'll leave the melting part up to the Wicked Witch of the West.

And before I end for the day, I must thank those at the Monday Rotary here in Florence and Sheriff Boone. I was fortunate enough to be a guest of his at the meeting today. I met some wonderful people who I may end up talking to for a story.

I'm really looking forward to August 8th when WMBF launches and gets on air so we, WMBF, can show the public just how excited we are to be delivering them all of their live, local, and late breaking coverage.

Lindsay Housaman | lhousaman@wmbfnews.com

Dateline NBC Hits Home

A rule of thumb is to never get too close to a story you are covering, or so I've been told. I've never been very abiding to this one.

A story that hits close to my heart, a story that received national attention for the last year and a story I covered on numerous occasions throughout the year I lived in Grand Junction, CO was that of Paige Birgfeld. Paige went missing a year ago. She lived in Grand Junction with her three children in a beautiful home right down the road from where I lived. The story unfolded with her car found torched down the street from my TV station , then articles of hers were found miles away on a highway headed south, and not to leave out her double life. Paige had her own escort service. A part of her life her friends and family told me they didn't know about, but did know Paige would do anything to take care of her children.

I remember the day I became close to the missing mother of three, her family, and her friends. I was sitting at one of the volunteer search headquarters talking with her dad, Frank Birgfeld. We must have sat there an hour or more talking about our lives, and about Paige. The Birgfeld's and I had a lot in common. After talking for a while, Frank picked up his phone and called Paige's voice mail. He had me  listen to it once it came on, and I just sat there wondering what could have happened to such a kind voice.

It's so hard to know a year later, Paige is still not found, and her family is still not at peace. I still get to talk to Frank here and there, but last night I got to see him on Dateline.

Keith Morrison did an hour long special on the story talking with Paige's friends, family, first ex-husband, the Mesa County Sheriff, and her second ex-husband's lawyer. I thought the way he did the story was awesome. And aside from that, some of the video I shot for my stories, he used in his. It always makes you feel good to see your video go elsewhere, but on Dateline, amazing. Never did I think in my first year as a reporter, anything I did would go on a national show.

After knowing those who were close to Paige, I know there's a lot more to the story, and I think Keith Morrison brought questions about in his special that needed to be out, but in the end, it's up to the investigators to sort through everything and figure it out. Aside from that I hope and pray that one day Paige will maybe walk through the door, or be found, so everyone who loved her so dearly can be put at ease.

Lindsay Housaman | lhousaman@wmbfnews.com

Lunch Time in the Pee Dee

Hello to everyone in the Pee Dee. You know I normally let the Pee Dee in on the latest with the area and with what I am doing around town every Monday, but yesterday was a busy day for sure. So I'm here now sharing some thoughts while chowing down (South Beach Lunches to go, a perfect reporter lunch).

Monday took me back to Marlboro County to meet more of the people in the towns, including Bennettsville, McColl, and Clio. I've never seen so many beautiful landmarks and architecture before. I really love that old plantation style look. One day I'll own a home that will bring you back to the early 1900's, along with the other things on my wishlist which some would say are out there, example being a brown and white cow that I will name Bessy Sue Heffer. (Trust me, when I say, one day)

After Marlboro County, I headed onto Dillon County where my first stop was the Sheriff's Office. I went by there to get the latest information on the five year old boy who was shot in his cheek last week during a drive-by. Chief Deputy Douglas Pernell said they arrested another person in the case. While I was there we heard "chase" come over the scanners and of course my ears perked up and my adrenaline started flowing. The Dillon ICE unit attempted to make a traffic stop when the driver took off on I-95 headed South towards Florence. Everyone was jumping in their cars and hitting the road. With Deputies and ICE agents hot on the trail, the driver of the vehicle became reckless. Authorities said the chase became very dangerous after almost five accidents occurred during the process. Once something like this occurs, law enforcement says they'll back off because it's not worth the risk of injuring innocents. But they do say that if the driver was wanted for something more than just a traffic stop, like for a shooting, then the chase would have continued and the hopes would be for everything to turn out okay. And just to add, one of the ICE agents had the pants scared off of him during the chase. I learned that after meeting with the Dillon Police Department, when I was leaving and the guys arrived back. Before heading home to Florence, I visited with agencies in Latta.

Monday was a day behind the wheel.

As for today, Tuesday, I met with Quantum Radio here in Florence. WMBF won't just be live, local, and late breaking in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand on television, but on radio too. You'll be able to find me on the local radio stations while you're driving, and not just while you're enjoying your time at home.

Now that lunch is over, I'm gonna hop in the car and make my way to Darlington County.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday and remember only a few days left until Independence Day, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, and only a little more than a month until you can tune into WMBF NEWS for all of your LIVE, LOCAL, AND LATE BREAKING information.

CHOW

Lindsay Housaman | lhousaman@wmbfnews.com