North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now First Anniversary

Tonight we celebrate North Carolina now its first birthday.

Good evening everyone I'm with rickets. Mary Lou good to have you with us this evening. Tonight we have a very special show for you it's North Carolina now its first birthday. We have all of our reporters with us in our studios and we have some visitors here as well.

Elizabeth Hardy and Bob Garner are over in studio and with some of our founding viewers. There are people who tune in for that first show one year ago. And we've invited them to join us tonight for a party to celebrate our birthday.

And joining them are some of the people who have been on our show this past year being interviewed about the important issues facing our St. Michel Louis is with us too.

And so is Maria Lundberg and John very soon will join us later in the show. It was just one year ago tonight that North Carolina now went on the air. It was a brand new concept for you and CTV and nightly news and magazine program that was to become the best source of information for you our audience about the state we live in.

And tonight we want to celebrate a milestone in the process we've been going through trying to make now exactly that. We'll be looking at how much the show has already evolved and how our reporters will share some of the highlights of their first year on the show.

Well let's get to Roger during this past year our reporters have traveled the state to bring you stories about the people places and events you're interested in learning about.

Maria Lundberg will be up first to share her first year memories with us. Maria Thanks Audrey for me the past year has been one of traveling all around the state from the Cherokee Indian reservation in the mountains to Harker's island on the coast near Beaufort. It's been a year filled with meeting fascinating people and seeing lots of interesting places. And many of them have made a lasting impression on me.

A visit to the Oak Lawn a lefty Indian village in Cherokee was a wonderful opportunity to develop an appreciation for our state's earliest residents. These artisans demonstrate the skills and crafts practiced by the Cherokees more than 200 years ago a living link to beautiful customs and traditions from preserving the past to making a difference for the future.

Last spring I attended a conference where alls timers researchers from Duke University explained their discoveries the impact of these findings is astounding since it could lead to treatment for this disease and improve the lives of billions of Americans. I was deeply moved when I visited with Mike and Karen at Rada and their son Jordan during the holidays. They courageously told me about the death of their oldest child. A few years ago and how a group called The Compassionate Friends helped them get through the experience their courage in sharing their story offered hope and help to others in the same situation. The beauty and skill of pottery making was the focus of my visit to Cedar Grove where Potters like Nell Cole graves and Ben are when the third continue the strong legacy of generations of North Carolina Potters.

Successful in the Big Apple the energy of these people truly inspiring.

Another inspiring assignment was covering the inaugural flight for American service between Raleigh Durham and London England. I spoke with Governor Hunt about the potential impact this will have on our state's economy and I even managed to squeeze in a few minutes to feed the birds in Trafalgar Square.

And I certainly had a chance to talk with the animal during the trip. It was great fun and a trip to the zoo very grateful but I don't have to cook for nine hundred hungry appetites every day.

But I was truly impressed with the commitment of the curators to preserve and for all of us who share this world.

Thanks Maria and thanks for bringing us so many wonderful stories this past year. And now Elizabeth Hardie shares highlights of her year on North Carolina now.

During the past year we've spent a lot of time on the road traveling highways that we eat to interesting people just work places on them. What is this from the state North Carolina now started as a celebration of our state.

Video travel logs from the mountains to the post. But for me the road seemed perfect. I want to learn more about the state's most valuable resource its people. I love telling their stories accounts that intrigue anger and inspire. Of course during our yearlong journey we took a few roads. We came across some interesting characters like the wrestling Mira von Khan the World War and the roadkill gourmet Tom scryer. We didn't stay for our meal with raw performance either more Hirst might share his grub with after watching him devour pound of collards mixed with ketchup in less than 30 seconds. We decided we would grab a bite on the way to our next destination that my data pair. One thing I have learned is that there is not a shortage of on usual tales in the Tarheel State. Getting back on the main highway brought us to what I consider the most important part of our mission educating viewers about some of the stories that are more difficult to tell. The unresolved issues that all North Carolinians must contend with the future for tobacco farmers managing the state's limited aquaculture resources how taxpayer dollars will be spent and the increasing number of people with AIDS. These are only a few of the issues we've looked at and will continue to follow until 1995. No doubt our second year covering the state will be filled with more stories that will inform educate and entertain.

It's been a privilege to bring you all of these stories and I know I speak for the other reporters and crew members when I give a big thanks to everyone who has a lot of the common interview down and here to share their stories and even their struggles with us. Thank you and I look forward to telling more of your stories in the coming year.

Thanks. And we look forward to it as well. One of the most important elements of our show tonight is our newsmaker interview. We've had so many guests come in to talk with us about a great variety of subjects from public policy issues to new discoveries in science and health.

We've had CEOs and sports celebrities are this actis authors and more. And tonight we have a poetic tribute to them all.

Blown away as our newsmakers have their say. Stars with great aplomb like handsome young Nicholas kitchen and possibly if they think they could a double of the sprightly songstress Margaret of course always and Simpson is never bland. But sometimes he has a serious side. Coming live by satellite and new challenges taking up their time. Governor Hunt appealed from his heart to give our children a smart start senators balance and bass and I deal with crime and joint Dennis Wicker to toe the line as did Dave bomber and speaker blue. They each had thoughts on what to do. And then Mike Easley was here to say if you break the law then you must have great city mayors Vinroot and Campbell had a lot to share and tell. We also had some good advice from Harvey Gantt and David Price. While politics are not for the birds we did find Robins with some hooks. Professor Robin Dorfman so sadly noted how you Americans got out and voted while Robin expressed his doubt on welfare proposals how they'd work out what Coby is John Medlin talked on the economy predicting he hoped more sudden prosperity. Another highlight of the year was with Jim Graham at the Great State Fair of birds and bees we learned a lot with John Ambrose and Brad prove it. Southern writers visited by the score. Lee Smith Doris That's Clyde Edgerton and more like Reynolds Price and Margaret Marin. Charles Kuralt. This goes on. We met a lady who broke new ground when Chancellor Patsey boss Dick Reid was in town. Thanks so much to doctor her health advice was truly handy when Coach Sylvia had chills lady. Again thank you. She shared with us how they play the game and coach Clarence Big House gang's was here to talk about his great career. Olympic chairman Leroy Walker on Pan African Games was quite a talker. Other moments come to mind but we're almost out of time. Dr. Norfleet gentle touch which sad life means so very much. Bill Luxembourg's tales about baseball and Ken Burns work were enjoyed by all this mess as Ruby was a sight to see the world's largest. It's said to be keep watching now and throughout the year and meet all the people who join us here.

And weather year it has been. Now when our first went on the air Mary Lou hadn't joined us yet and my original co-host was John Bass and now John's gone on to cover the legislature and he worked on election coverage did our 40th anniversary documentary. But he's here tonight to reminisce with us about those early days of the show.

Now John besides working with us what other great moments have you had in the last year on North Carolina now the good old days of sitting on the couch there.

Basketball politics in North Carolina very interesting and we had two guests here that probably stand out in the political ring interviewing the first lady was quite a treat that was something that was unique and I never thought I'd have a chance to do and that was a very interesting interview as I recall very technically challenging as well and interviewing Sylvia Hatchell the U.N. a women's basketball coach just a few days after they had won the national championship on that dramatic shot her head was still spinning.

Well we're happy to have you with us to reminisce a little bit. Good to have you.

Thanks. Thanks for pulling away from your hard work as your own.

And now dapper Michel Louis has some favorite North Carolina now moments to share manage.

Thanks Roger you don't look too bad just self. North Carolina now has given me the chance to travel around and do stories about the rich history and unique cultures represented in the Tar Heel State. And I had a chance to look into at least one of our state's darkest moments as well. Here are highlights from a few stories that had an impact on me.

One of the first North Carolina now stories I did was one Wilmington author fielder Rudd's historical novel theorizing the story dealt with the Wilmington riot of 1898 in which white Democrats revolted against black Republicans who held many of the top political positions in the port city. Gerard and I visited Wilmington Staley and Hall where X Confederate officer Colonel Alfred Morano had rallied the white crowd to take action.

He claimed that he would rid the state of Negro domination if it meant that he would have to choke the current of the Cape Fear River with the carcasses of his enemies. He said if you see the Negro out voting send him home from the polls if he won't go shoot him down in his tracks and he electrified the crowd.

Another historic site I visited with Spencer shops in Spencer North Carolina. Spencer shops was a major artery of the Southern Railway Company as its largest steam locomotive servicing facility and the south.

This was the halfway mark with Lee Washington D.C. and Atlanta for the Southern Railroad in 1896 a selected it because it is heavily all locomotives up until a diesel change the locomotive power passed. 25 all the people we're doing it's a day 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

I focused on North Carolina's diverse cultures and several of my stories this Native American powwow in Durham was a cultural event.

When I saw the young and the young at heart celebrate Native American family traditions such as dancing singing and most of all respect young people trying to instill good values good principles bring up the family. And this is something all American Native Americans blacks were known to have good family values family unit. That's Arthur Cornell that dreamed of got away from all of us. Now we've got kids hanging out on the corner and we're trying to save them from themselves just as Native Americans strive to keep their traditions alive.

North Carolina now is developing its own traditions of bringing you North Carolina's history and all of its cultural diversity.

So true Michel. Now Bob Garner meanwhile says quite a few of his favorite stories during the program's first year revolve around gamesmanship of one sort or another.

Well despite two cataclysmic events during North Carolina now first year the sun still comes up in the morning and we're all still here. Not only was there no pennant race and no World Series but there was a political revolution as well.

Ken Burns is epic baseball arrived just in time to coin side with the beginning of the national baseball strike in North Carolina. The minor leagues kept right on playing and attracted the attention of Streit star of national publications like The Sporting News. That was just one development we reported in our own six part look at North Carolina's rich baseball heritage. I was thrilled to get an autographed baseball from Jim Catfish Hunter. But my favorite segment was a story about the reunion of the members of an All Black team from Durham.

These were major league caliber players who never had the chance to go to the big leagues because of segregation.

Times after time they would minute people to say you should be in the majors should be in the majors. But it was really tough. And I realized it had to be tried to get it out of the mammoth walk to get it.

One of my favorite election stories was a look at the only Republican from Castle County to be elected to the state senate this century. You Webster. It's interesting to note that the last time there was a Republican state senator in Castle he was murdered right in the county courthouse in Yancey Hill America's biggest bicycle race the Tour de Ponte once again planned its final leg for North Carolina. We enjoyed covering the racers arrival in Asheville where they spent the night at the luxurious group Park Inn in producing a five part series on the Appalachian Trail. I was inspired by the story of Bill Irwin a deeply religious blind man from Burlington who with his guide dog Orient hike the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine several years ago. I also gained new respect for the many volunteers who put in thousands of hours to keep the Appalachian Trail in good repair so that others may enjoy in the horary for the little guy Department. I love the story of Jimmy reams the VCR repairman from Hendersonville who wrote a great song about North Carolina.

Jimmy couldn't get anyone to pay much attention to the song so we decided to do our own version of a music video with Jimmy's composition which he calls My Sweet Caroline is what she used.

Please stop taking so long to claim it's really sweet.

What other memorable highlight from our first year. A sweet lady from Burnsville Vera Steele called to tell us she was unable to get out much and asked us which BBQ place among those I've reviewed might mail her some BBQ. Well as it turned out very large shark was going to Burnsville on vacation the very next weekend so we were able to get Misty has some great BBQ and hand deliver it deliver it to our compliments of North Carolina now.

Thanks Bob it was sure nice to meet her. Only last year you have seen our reporters very competence and poise in their stories from the field. But tonight you will see them in another light. That's right. We've got some bloopers footage never seen before on TV and probably never to be seen again.

And I hope not. What you will continue to see however on North Carolina now are changes made to improve the show in the one year we've been on the air many of those improvements have been made thanks to the suggestions of the viewers.

Here's a trip down memory lane.

If you are one of our founding viewers you remember this. Who can forget when the boxes used to be our hosts would read the news from behind these boxes. We've since bag the boxes bag to a news recap where used to do at the end of the show recapping the news tonight. Recapping tonight's news recapping tonight's news of course something that's not change that's been an issue with some viewers is our theme music.

But we've tested other things.

Something else that hasn't changed is the hard work our crews put is to provide good stories for the show monitoring.

There was my video. Do you have the money anyway.

You just wouldn't believe the dedication of the staff of North Carolina now. Take for instance videographer David Hardy who shot my story on skiing at Sugar Mountain last winter. Well shoot me he was hit by another skier on the slopes and managed to not hurt the camera. Then those videographer William Evans who well testing a shot in New York City almost gets hit by a bus. All for the show.

What do you do with that. But hey don't think the reporters never make mistakes. I had a tough time talking while white water rafting before even a right water rafting act.

It is that in fact that sometimes it's tough to talk and walk.

Sorry I got caught on the grab and all that.

Still. Well looking back at the last year I couldn't help but notice how much trouble we seemed to have with critters or animals they say never work with animals and now knows why Maria could never get this polar bear to cooperate Mitchell On the other hand had a whole new language on this shoot is determining a common standard for eating home go to.

Yeah you know to make sure one major problem researchers are facing is developing a common standard for ratings want to know a person's fingerprint is just you understand what to do you believe.

When I was conducting an interview with this man on a hillside when a cow decided he wanted to make a statement in the story. And I'm trying to finish this up for the county.

I think you got it in there a little bit of as good or evil. Oh this is great. I don't know baby.

And Elizabeth tried to avoid a remake of the movie The Birds during this shoot at the Raptor Center.

Got right to get close to the net benefit but it seems the only time the animals cooperated was at the state fair.

But the classic of the mall is perhaps our best known series here on North Carolina now. BBQ with Bob Garner. Don't think this was an easy assignment. You can't just do this in one take you know.

Another house specialty is their chicken and pastry.

I'm going to go buy got them one more time. One more time.

Took me forever to get out. This is hard. Now who says we're not professional. Simple recipe consisting of corn meal salt and water is also quite a bit of grease in there too. Michael a big green is what I call it.

We get a lot of fun in the past year bringing you these stories and even though nobody's perfect we try that you guys have my assignment.

But always hope you know reminiscences and are bloopers and we hope you've enjoyed North Carolina now as first year on the air as much as we've enjoyed bringing it to you.

And of course we also hope you'll continue to watch this coming year. We want to thank our special guests in Studio A founding viewers and our 1994 newsmakers who joined us tonight. Well come over and join you in the other studio in just a minute for our birthday party.

We also want to acknowledge tonight all the people who support our show by contributing wardrobe for all of us. Look at this guy do our hair and have contributed to the beautiful artwork we have on our set.

All those folks whose name you see each night roll on our credits and so many people do work on the program we thank them all and we are going to celebrate we have our wonderful birthday cake here and we're going to go over there.

So when I get out of line guys here have already have a birthday to us on the count of three when I was three.

OK we'll be over to join you in just a minute. Thanks for watching everyone. Good night.