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Reported by: Ashley Olmstead
Email: AOlmstead@TheCoastalSource.com

I consider myself part of a lucky breed as a journalist; as a group we generally cross paths with a wide variety of people we’d otherwise never meet. We meet politicians, celebrities, heroes, victims and criminals to name a few.


We also get to learn a little bit about…well, everything. I know how to shoot an M-16 (under strict supervision, I must add), how soldiers and marines prepare for war, how families cope with the stress of seeing loved ones leave for war. I know about cutting edge medical technology, how companies expand in poor economic times, and of course –I’m always learning about the legal system, as we often cover crime.


Similarly to meeting a lot of people and learning about a lot of subjects, every day I feel a lot of emotions. It’s not rare to experience boredom, nervousness, excitement, joy, laughter and sadness in a single day… talk about an emotional rollercoaster! The truth is this – stories can be enticing because they have a “wow” factor; they can be fun because they’re active and visual; they can be stressful because they’re complicated and I’m working against a tight deadline; and they can be exhausting because they’re emotional.


“Troy Davis” and “Mark MacPhail” were well-known names in the Savannah community long before I arrived in the market… since I’ve been here I’ve covered both sides of the story and spent time with family members of convicted killer Troy Davis and murdered Officer Mark MacPhail. I have to say, both families are made up of genuinely nice people, and both families are hurting in different ways. I enjoy interviewing and learning more about the case from each family and I always try to tell their stories fairly, keeping in mind there are always THREE sides to each story… what the MacPhail’s say, what the Davis’ say and what really happened that night… a side of the story we may never truly hear.


I found myself in a unique situation earlier this week. Monday I interviewed the Davis family, and my story was followed by a poll question related to the on-going murder case, which I also asked on my facebook page. A viewer responded to our request for comments saying HER father was supposed to work the night Officer Mark MacPhail was killed. Her name was Paulette Nelson and her dad was Officer MacPhail’s Sergeant in the police force; she said he carried immense guilt for a long time because it could have been HIM who was murdered if MacPhail hadn’t worked his shift. Her conversation with me was the first time she’d really opened up about her family’s connection to the MacPhail’s.


I asked her if I could interview her about her emotions and coincidentally I was interviewing Mark MacPhail’s son, Mark MacPhail Junior the very same day…his interview was scheduled for about an hour later than hers. I asked if she wanted to stay and meet him and through tears she said, “No…I don’t know what I’d say… what do you say to someone in this situation?” When our interview was over, we said goodbye…and that was that.


Mark MacPhail, Jr. arrived for our interview on time and while we were waiting for the photographer to set up his camera, we talked about how he was feeling as the 20^th Anniversary of his father’s murder approached. He never knew his father, and his feelings weren’t describable. The twenty-year old sat with a somewhat expressionless face as I told him about my conversation with Paulette. He was expressionless not because he didn’t care…but I believe because he didn’t know what to feel. He said he felt bad she felt guilty…and he wanted to tell her not to feel guilty, it was his “father’s time to go…not her father’s.” I was in an interesting position, both Paulette and Mark Jr, were sharing their feelings toward each other with me.. .they had never met, yet had such a strong bond…and I was the ONLY person who knew both of them and talked with them about their connection… I didn’t know how to feel…I continued with my work for the day, watched my story about their strange connection air on television, then went home… and tried to leave my feelings about work in the newsroom.


The following day: Wednesday, August 19, 2009. This was the 20^th Anniversary of Mark MacPhail’s murder and dozens of supporters gathered on honor of him and his family. The rally outside the courthouse was an emotional one, tears…anger…and then cheering as the MacPhail family called for what they believe is justice. Paulette was one of those people in the crowd… when the rally came to a close after an emotional speech from MacPhail, Jr… she came to me with tears in her eyes and said she was ready to meet him. She asked me to introduce her to him.


I felt involved in my stories…I felt emotionally connected to both as I introduced two people who had such a strong connection over a tragedy. And as I introduced them, all I had to say is, “Mark…this is Paulette.” The two hugged. They cried. And they said very little. Mark said, “Please don’t feel guilty. It was my father’s time… it was his time to go.” And Paulette just said she’s never stopped praying for him.”


And it was after these emotional few days… Monday with the Davis family, then Tuesday and Wednesday with the MacPhail’s that I had to return to the newsroom and write a fair story for our viewers. And though I was emotionally drained… I think I told their stories fairly – because as I said… in my eyes, there are always three sides. I’ve told the MacPhail’s. I’ve told the Davis’ and I’ll probably never be able to tell “what really happened” on August 19, 1989… because at this point, I don’t know if we’ll ever find out….  

Reported by: Michael D. Sullivan
Email: msullivan@wjcl.com
Last Update: 4/27 7:53 pm

I often wonder if we do our jobs too well when it comes to national alerts about health scares. Swine Flu comes to mind as the national media has punched out warnings and sick alerts in various states on a continuing hour by hour basis. Georgia and South Carolina are not involved…yet. Should we back off until Swine Flu lands in the states we serve or continue to report national counts? Should we find the local experts who can speak to the implied threat involved or ignore reporting anything?

Right now, we are reporting news about it in our local broadcasts because I see it as our job to get the word out in the early stages of what might just become a pandemic. And, to assure the public that all states, including Georgia and South Carolina will soon have access to anti-virals. Seems we are all being advised to keep our hands frequently washed and avoid those with coughs. It is all in the common sense how-to-handle mode.
Let me know your thoughts.

As a youth, I vividly remember the fear of polio spreading. Our Catholic grade school in Pittsburgh was chosen as a site for the experimental Polk vaccine and we lined up in fear waiting our turn to get the shot. You can imagine how just how lost our faces looked. Would we survive the shot? Would we get polio anyway? Years later, an oral vaccine was developed and used. How many times since then have we heard about life ending or altering health emergencies that scared us all, motivated us, or turned us into cynics and non-believers.

We learned that herpes is forever and AIDS was not curable. On the pop health media alert side, we feared killer bees from South America invading us and killing us with deadly stings.  In the 90’s, the government invested millions in brain research to report positive findings in the world of minds that don’t work. Terms like bi-polar disease emerged. We began to understand Alzheimer disease for what it is.

The thing that strikes me about Swine Flu is that a person can have it three or four days without knowing it. It might also mutate into something worse. The last mass pandemic was the Hong Kong flu in the 60’s. Also, so far writing this blog, three cable networks carried stories of 150 kids in a New York prep school sick for two or three days with flu like symptoms. The school involved ordered the kids to stay home for a few days.

And right now testing for swine flu is going on in South Carolina and we are awaiting results. Seems this story may be landing here quicker than we might have realized. And that surely dictates our coverage.

Reported by: Jennifer Beale
Email: JBeale@TheCoastalSource.com
Last Update: 4/27 1:55 pm

We are almost through with this season of "American Idol" and you may have noticed there was no "Idol Gives Back" this year. However, money from last year's "Idol Gives Back" is helping a local charity. The Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia received money for a mobile kitchen that can drive through communities and feed kids. It's part of the organizations Kids Cafe program.

For those of you that aren't familiar with Kids Cafe or how its started...here's the story. In 1989 here in Savannah, two young brothers were discovered late one night in the kitchen of their housing project's community center after the older brother broke into the kitchen to feed himself and his younger brother. In response to this glaring example of child hunger, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia started the first Kids Cafe. In 1993, America's Second Harvest launched the national Kids Cafe program !

Kids Cafe programs provide free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of existing community locations where children congregate such as Boys and Girls Clubs, churches or public schools. In addition to providing hot meals to hungry kids, some Kids Cafe programs also offer a safe place, where under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in educational, recreational and social activities that draw on existing community programs and often include family members.

So anyways next week on WJCL and FOX 28, I am going to ride along with the truck as they feed kids in Statesboro. You can check out the story next Wednesday. This truck will become quite handy this summer once the kids are out of school and it's all thanks to "American Idol". I never realized that any of the millions of dollars raised would ever trickle down to a place like Savannah where I can see it being put to good use, but that is exactly what I will get to witness next week.

Reported by: Jessica Kiss
Email: JKiss@TheCoastalSource.com
Last Update: 4/22 12:42 pm

(Savannah, GA)-  Over the past few days, I've had the opportunity to hear Amber McHague's personal stories about carrying and giving birth to triplets.   

I asked many questions about her pregnancy and about the care her three boys received after their birth.  I needed the information as background for this morning's interview, sure.  Much more than that, however, is what she had to say greatly interested me.  

Twenty-one years ago, my younger cousin was born months too soon.  I was not yet even 10 years old when Robbie was born, but still I remember the June he was born like it was last month.  

There were tears of fear and tears of joy.  My cousin was the length of his daddy's hand.  I remember peering over the playpen wanting to hold him but I couldn't until he got bigger... and stronger.  By the way, I didn't even see my cousin until he came home from the hospital, which was weeks and weeks after he was born. 

I don't think that many families have personal stories of premature births.  One thing I know... the families who do, never forget the feeling.  Looking at a child fighting so many odds.  Fragile...yet strong.    

The McHague triplets, Alexander (Lex), Brody, and Collin may have entered this world as tiny miracles, but they'll grow up to make a BIG influence on those they meet.  Robbie does.  


(Click here for the web article and video story with Amber McHague)