Almanac North
Body Cameras, 60-Years in Broadcasting, VOTR
12/11/2021 | 27m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department has a plan to purchase body-worn cameras
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department has a plan to purchase body-worn cameras for its deputies, and it wants to hear from the public on the purchase and implementation of the devices. We'll celebrate 60-years in the broadcasting business for our host Dennis Anderson. And Heidi Holtan from KAXE Community Radio in Grand Rapids is our guest for "Voices of the Region".
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Almanac North is a local public television program presented by PBS North
Almanac North
Body Cameras, 60-Years in Broadcasting, VOTR
12/11/2021 | 27m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department has a plan to purchase body-worn cameras for its deputies, and it wants to hear from the public on the purchase and implementation of the devices. We'll celebrate 60-years in the broadcasting business for our host Dennis Anderson. And Heidi Holtan from KAXE Community Radio in Grand Rapids is our guest for "Voices of the Region".
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipJULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"
DENNY: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ASKING FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THEIR PLAN TO OUTFIT DEPUTIES WITH BODY WORN CAMERAS.
WE'LL FIND OUT HOW THE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO DEPLOY THOSE CAMERAS.
JULIE: WE'LL CELEBRATE DENNY'S 60 YEARS IN BROADCASTING WITH A VIDEO WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH HIS FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES.
DENNY: AND HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS IS OUR GUEST FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.
JULIE: THESE STORIES AND MORE, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH!"
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JULIE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING!
DENNY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT OUR LOOK BACK AT YOUR 60 YEAR CAREER.
THAT'S COMING UP A BIT LATER TONIGHT!
DENNY: I'M NOT SO SURE.
BE GOOD TO ME.
JULIE: BE VERY AFRAID.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.
DENNY: THANKS, JULIE!
DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, MINNESOTA IS EXPECTING A $7.7 BILLION BUDGET SURPLUS HEADING INTO THE NEXT BIENNIUM.
THE PREDICTED SURPLUS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 IS THE LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY, ACORDING TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
MINNESOTA'S DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE GEARING UP FOR A FIGHT OVER HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY IN THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
JULIE: THE COST TO REPLACE THE BLATNIK BRIDGE BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR COULD BE AS HIGH AS $1.8 BILLION, ACCORDING TO HIGHWAY OFFICIALS.
THE MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS HELD A VIRTUAL MEETING THURSDAY TO DISCUSS REPLACEMENT OPTIONS.
OFFICIALS HOPE TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH IS SLATED TO BEGIN IN 2028.
DENNY: FORMER DULUTH MAYOR AND STATE LAWMAKER BEN BOO PASSED AWAY DECEMBER FIRST AT THE AGE OF 96.
BOO SERVED AS MAYOR FROM 1967 TO 1975 AND LATER WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS A REPUBLICAN.
AS MAYOR HE HELPED THE CITY DEVELOP SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AND HE LATER BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR SANITARY DISTRICT.
BOO IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE MARY, FIVE CHILDREN, THIRTEEN GRANDCHILDREN AND TEN GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
JULIE: AND MINNESOTA IS LEADING THE MIDWEST IN CHILDREN GETTING THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE.
GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED THAT 25% OF CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 11 HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE FIRST MONTH OF ELIGIBILITY.
AS OF TUESDAY, MORE THAN 128,000 5-11-YEAR OLD MINNESOTANS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE VACCINE DOSE.
DENNY: THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL ASK THE COUNTY BOARD TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF 110 BODY-WORN CAMERAS FOR DEPUTIES AT ITS MEETING NEXT WEEK.
BUT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ASKING FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE CAMERAS.
HERE WITH MORE IS WADE RASCH, SUPERVISING DEPUTY IN THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DULUTH OFFICE.
AND JON SKELTON IS A ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPUTY FROM THE VIRGINA OFFICE.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE HAD BODY WORN CAMERAS FOR YEARS.
WHAT KIND OF REACTION ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHER DEPUTIES IN THE DEPARTMENT?
WADE: VERY POSITIVE.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS, STATE AND NATIONWIDE, BODY CAMERAS HAVE BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE.
OUR DEPUTIES ARE EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET THESE.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PURCHASE FOR YEARS NOW.
AND DUE TO FUNDING, DATA STORAGE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT HAS TAKEN US A WHILE TO COME THIS FAR AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO FINALLY PUT THESE ON OUR DEPUTIES.
JULIE: HAVE THERE BEEN SPECIFIC INCIDENTS WHEN A CAMERA WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL EITHER IN PROSECUTING CASES OR IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST DEPUTIES?
JON: OUR DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY SINCE 2016 HAS HAD SEVEN, WADE CAN CORRECT ME, SEVEN SITUATIONS WITH OUR DEPUTIES.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE WITH OUR CURRENT SHERIFF AND OUR UNDERSHERIFF WHO SUPPORT TRAINING.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE DO RELY ON TRAINING, HIRING GOOD PEOPLE, BUT WHEN THOSE INCIDENTS DO HAPPEN, IT IS ONE MORE COOL WE HAVE TO SHOW THE INTERACTION BETWEEN OUR DEPUTIES AND THE PUBLIC AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE DEALING WITH.
DENNY: DO YOU SUSPECT THE BODY CAMERAS ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY?
JON: I THINK THEY DO, ABSOLUTELY.
THEY ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF OUR DEPUTIES AND THE PUBLIC.
IT CREATES TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED.
JULIE: WADE, YOU HAVE ONE OF THE CAMERAS WITH YOU.
SHOW US WHAT IT IS AND SHOW US HOW IT WOULD BE USED.
WADE: OK.
THIS IS THE BODY CAMERA, SIMILAR TO THE MODEL WE WILL BE GETTING.
IT SIMPLY MOUNTS TYPICALLY ON THE CHEST OR AT THAT LEVEL OF AN INDIVIDUAL OFFICER.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE.
SIMILAR TO OUR CELL PHONES AND HOW THEY HAVE JUST GROWN IN AMAZING CAPABILITIES, IT IS THE SAME FOR THE CAMERA.
WHEN IT IS TURNED ON, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECORD BUFFER BACK TO THE PREVIOUS 30 SECONDS OF VIDEO TAKEN.
THE CAMERA IS ALWAYS BUFFERING IN THAT WAY.
FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT THAT HAPPENED BUT YOU DID NOT HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON, IT WILL GO BACK AND CAPTURE THAT.
IT ALSO HAS THE CAPABILITY WITH GBS -- GPS, AND EVEN A LIVESTREAM CAPABILITY.
IF A DEPUTY IS RECORDING AND FOR SUPERVISORS, ADMINISTRATION MAY BE A COMMAND POST WANTS TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING, YOU CAN LIVESTREAM THAT FROM THE CAMERA ITSELF.
DENNY: WITH THESE BEFORE ROAD DEPUTIES?
>> ALL UNIFORMED DEPUTIES WOULD HAVE THEM ON AT ALL TIMES.
WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS.
THEY WOULD HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO HAVE IT MOUNTED.
AND THE EXPECTATION IS BEING PLANNED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHETHER IT BE A TRAFFIC STOP OR WARRANT COMIC THEN PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS WOULD PUT THEM ON THEIR PEOPLE -- ON THEIR PERSON.
JULIE: DO THEY TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THERE IS A SITUATION?
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
>> THEY WOULD TURN THEM ON THEMSELVES.
SIMILAR TO THE SQUAD CAR CAMERAS WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
WHEN THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED, THE CAMERA WOULD ACTIVATE AND THAT CAN TRIGGER THE BODY CAMERA TO ACTIVATE AS WELL.
SO, IF WE ARE TALKING FOR UNIFORMED DEPUTIES DRIVING IN A SQUAD CAR, THE LIGHTS GO ON AND THE BODY CAMERA WOULD GO ON BUT OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE UP TO AN INDIVIDUAL DEPUTY.
DENNY: WOULD YOU HAVE TO INFORM PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE BEING RECORDED?
JON: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INFORM THEM WHEN THEY ARE BEING RECORDED.
ONE THING, WE DO ASK -- WE DO GET ASKED WHY DO WE HAVE BODY CAMERAS?
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
FINANCIAL, TRAINING, MAINTAINING THE INFORMATION, HOW WILL WE REDACT THE INFORMATION BECAUSE IT IS PRIVATE.
DENNY: YOU ALMOST NEED A LIBRARIAN.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DATA SAVED.
JON: CORRECT, WITH 110 DEPUTIES CARRYING THESE CAMERAS, THAT IS A LOT OF DATA.
IT IS A USER-FRIENDLY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WAS STILL TO MAINTAIN IT AND RETAIN THE INFORMATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED AT THIS POINT YET BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL OR TWO TO DO THAT JOB.
THAT COMES WITH A COST.
JULIE: YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
WHAT KIND OF INPUT ARE YOU THE -- ARE YOU SEEKING FROM THE PUBLIC?
>> ONE IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW.
AND NUMBER TWO, IT IS ALSO A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.
THE LEGISLATION WROTE IN THAT A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WOULD BE NECESSARY.
SO FAR, AS DENNIS SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WE DO PLAN TO GO TO THE COUNTY BOARD NEXT TUESDAY IN DULUTH AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING TO SOLICIT PERMISSION TO PURCHASE THE CAMERAS.
THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
DENNY: AND WITH THAT GENTLEMAN, WE HAVE TO CALL IT QUITS.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
DEPUTIES WADE RASCH AND JON SKELTON.
THANK YOU.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ DENNY: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES DENNY: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."
EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.
THIS WEEK OUR REPORTER IS HEIDI HOLTAN FROM KAXE RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.
♪ ♪ HEIDI: THIS WEEK, I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH A MINNESOTA AUTHOR, A PROFESSOR OF INDIAN STUDIES.
HER NEW BOOK IS OUT.
STORIES AND HISTORY.
IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A BOOK OF COMPELLING STORIES OF SACRED PLACES AND BELOVED PEOPLE AND MYTHS AND LEGENDS AND TREASURED MEMORIES.
IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE THE RIGHT TIME TO TALK TO HER.
SNOW IS ON THE GROUND.
AND IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE ONE BOOK READ NORTH LAND HAS CHOSEN THIS BOOK AS THE 2022 READ TO.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES IN THE BOOK IS CALLED RAIN, FOG, GOES SPIDER.
IT SHOWS US HOW SOMETIMES RANDOM CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE ARE WAY MORE THAN WE THINK.
>> HE WAS A MAN THAT CAME TO SEE ME WHEN I WAS WORKING AS SECRETARY THERE.
HE WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM DOWNTOWN ON A RAINY DAY.
HE WANTED TO TALK WITH ME ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOLS AND ABOUT THE EFFECT ON HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND UNDERSTANDING ALSO HOW MEN ARE OFTEN SHY AND HUMBLE.
HE WANTED A RIDE DOWNTOWN AFTER WE WERE DONE SPEAKING.
HE HAD A LIFE THAT IN SOME WAYS WERE SIMILAR -- WAS SIMILAR TO MANY OF THE MEN IN MY FAMILY.
I THINK IT GAVE BOTH OF US AN IDEA OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, BETWEEN FAMILIES, BETWEEN PLACES, OUR SHARED PAST AND OUR LIVES TODAY.
♪ HEIDI: COMMUNITY COLLEGES ALL ACROSS OUR REGION CONTINUE TO IMPRESS US WITH HOW A NIMBLE THEY ARE.
THEY ARE MAKING PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS IN COMMUNITIES.
AT CENTRAL LAKES, THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH POLARIS INDUSTRIES TO CREATE A ONE YEAR PROGRAM TO TRAIN SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
THERE WAS A SURGE OF INTEREST IN OUTDOOR VEHICLES.
DEALERS HAVE BEEN FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND OF NEW SNOWMOBILE AND ATV VEHICLES THAT NEEDED SERVICE.
WE SPOKE WITH BRIDGET MICK LEMMON.
>> THAT DEALERSHIP HAS HAD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP FOR A WHILE.
WHAT THEY HAVE STARTED DOING IS SAYING OK, WE HAVE THESE GREAT TECHNICIANS GOING TO THE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A CRITICAL NEED AT OUR DEALERSHIP.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING MORE HANDS-ON LEARNING THROUGH THE POWER SPORTS AND MARINE PROGRAM?
HOW DO WE PUT THOSE THINGS THEY ARE LEARNING IN PRACTICE IN A REAL WORK ENVIRONMENT?
IT IS KIND OF LIKE AN APPRENTICESHIP WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND GETTING HANDS-ON LEARNING AT THE COLLEGE BUT THEN THEY ARE CONNECTED TO POLARIS AND THE DEALER TO REALLY APPLY THOSE LESSONS.
♪ HEIDI: AND FINALLY, A NEW SERIES FOR US ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUSING IN ON FOREST.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MARK JACOBS WHO INTRODUCED US TO STEPHEN HAMLER, A CLIMATE CHANGE SPECIALIST FOR THE NORTHERN INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE.
I THINK IT IS REALLY EASY FOR US THAT LIVE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO NOT SEE CLIMATE CHANGE WHERE WE LEFT BECAUSE FOR MANY OF US, IT IS NOT SO BAD TO NOT HAVE EXTENDED 40 BELOW WINTERS.
BUT HE TALKED ABOUT HOW MINNESOTA AND MINNESOTA TREES EXPERIENCE CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> NORTHERN LATITUDES ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE CHANGE FASTEST.
SO, MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN, NAMED, ALASKA CERTAINLY, THESE ARE THE PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE SEEN THE MOST WARMING IN THE LAST 50 OR 70 YEARS.
MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THOSE COOL STATES WHERE YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ECOLOGICAL BIOMES OR ZONES CRASHING TOGETHER.
AND SO IN MINNESOTA, YOU HAVE A MIX OF SPECIES, SPECIES THAT DEPEND ON COLD, HARSH WINTERS TO GET THEIR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
THOSE ARE TREE SPECIES LIKE BLACK SPRUCE, WHITE SPRUCE, THOSE SPECIES HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE WHEN THE GROWING SEASON IS SHORT AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE COLD ENOUGH TO KEEP SOME COMPETITORS AT BAY.
WHEN OUR WINTERS ARE BECOMING MILDER, THAT RESETS THE COMPETITIVE BALANCE BETWEEN SOME OF THESE SPECIES SO THEN YOU HAVE MORE TEMPERATE, MORRIS SOUTHERN TREE SPECIES THAT START TO GET MORE COMPETITIVE WHEN WINTERS ARE MILD.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JULIE: 60 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND, DENNY, BEGAN HIS CAREER IN BROADCASTING.
HE WAS A WEEKEND "DISC JOCKEY" AT WHLB IN VIRGINIA WHILE HE WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1961.
NOW, ALL THESE YEARS LATER, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SITTING NEXT TO DENNY EVERY FRIDAY TO WATCH HIM CONTINUE TO ENJOY HIS CRAFT.
PRODUCER GREG GRELL TOOK A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH SOME OF DENNY'S FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES OVER THE YEARS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
♪ ♪ >> THE ONE AND ONLY PERSON I HAVE MET WHO HAS CROSSED OVER FROM A BROADCAST PIONEER TO A LEGEND IS DENNIS ANDERSON.
>> HE STARTED UP ON THE RANGE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA IN RADIO.
I THINK WE BOTH HAVE -- HAD THAT LEVEL OF BROADCASTING AND THE IDEA THAT BROADCASTERS SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHEN YOU GROW UP ON THE RANGE, EVERYONE KNOWS DENNY.
HE IS FROM MY HOMETOWN.
I REMEMBER HIM BEING LIKE A BIG DEAL ON TV.
WHEN I STARTED WORKING HERE, I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I GET TO WORK WITH DENNY.
>> DENNY AND I GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER AND DENNY WAS THE NEWS DIRECTOR WHO INTERVIEWED ME AND HE SAID, WELCOME TO DULUTH.
I GOT MY START IN 1979 WITH DENNY AS THE NEWS DIRECTOR.
>> IT WAS A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO FINALLY MEET THE GUY.
ONCE I DID AND GOT TO WORK WITH HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS, I THOUGHT, THIS GUY IS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL AND A JOY TO BE AROUND.
>> AS A YOUNG GUY COMING INTO THE BUSINESS, IT IS LIKE, IF HE HAS LASTED THIS LONG, HE IS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MAN.
>> HE CARES ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HIS HOME.
LIKE MANY OF US, THAT CARRIES THROUGH.
THAT IS PART OF BEING EFFECTIVE AT WHAT WE DO.
AND DENNIS IS THE OPINION ME OF THAT LIVING HIS WHOLE LIFE IN THE IRON RANGE IN DULUTH.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT DENNIS ANDERSON AS THE QUINTESSENTIAL NEWS ANCHOR.
>> WHEN DANNY'S -- WHEN DENNY SPOKE, I LISTEN TO.
I DON'T EVEN DO THAT WITH MY WIFE.
WHEN DENNY SPOKE, I AM LIKE, HE IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO REMEMBER AND A LOT OF TIMES HE DID.
>> HE ALWAYS WENT OUT THERE PREPARED.
WHEN THINGS WENT WRONG, HE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE AT AD-LIBBING AND PLAYING IT BY EAR AND TAP DANCING IF YOU WILL AND AS ANY EXCELLENT NEWS ANCHOR WILL TELL YOU, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> THAT WAS A REOCCURRING THEME WITH DENNY.
HE WAS ALWAYS CALM AND COLLECTED.
YOU COULD NOT MESS HIM UP ON THE AIR.
SOME NEWS ANCHORS MAY TELL YOU THAT HE WOULD TROT -- THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO MESS HIM UP.
>> A DOOR AT THE THEATER WAS LEFT OPEN AND A PAIR WENT IN TO TAKE A LOOK.
CAMPUS POLICE NOTICED THE BEAR CHECKING OUT CLASSROOMS.
POLICE SAY THE BEAR SEEMED CONFUSED AND NO DOUBT A BIT UNHAPPY WITH HIS SUMMER SCHEDULE.
HE SHOULDERED HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR AND CLIMBED INTO A TREE.
POLICE MANAGED TO GET THE NEWEST STUDENT OUT OF THE TREE BY BEATING HIM WITH BLUEBERRY BAGELS.
THAT MAY NOT BE A BAD IDEA BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS A COLLEGE STUDENT NEVER TURNS DOWN FREE FOOD.
>> AS PROFESSIONAL AND AS STOIC AND AS MUCH CREDIBILITY AS HE HAD, HE ALSO HAD A HECK OF A SENSE OF HUMOR.
>> HE IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.
AND I THINK IT IS PARTLY BECAUSE HIS DUE -- HIS DELIVERY IS SO AUTHORITARIAN AND YET HIS SENSE OF HUMOR IS IN COMPLETE CONTRAST.
>> NOW, THEY HAVE A CONTEST TO SEE WHO'S TENNIS SHOES SMELL THE WORST.
>> HE IS A FUN GUY THAT JUST LOVES TO JOKE AROUND.
HE LOVES TO LAUGH.
AND IF YOU EVER HEARD DENNY LAUGH, IT IS CONTAGIOUS BECAUSE HE HAS THAT DEEP, BOOMING VOICE.
AND IF YOU REALLY GET THEM GOING, HE STARTS SNORTING.
[LAUGHTER] >> HE SOUNDS OFF THE AIR LIKE HE DOES ON THE AIR.
THE PEOPLE -- THE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T HEAR IS DENNY CLEARING HIS THROAT.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> THERE WAS A VIDEO OF A BUNCH OF GUYS IN INDIA ON ELEPHANTS AND THE ELEPHANTS WERE KICKING SOCCER BALLS.
WE WERE PLAYING SOCCER.
HE PULLED OUT THE GREATEST ALLITERATION I HAVE EVER HEARD IN TELEVISION.
HE SAID THEY WERE PRECARIOUSLY PERCHED ON A PRANCING PACHYDERM AND I BLEW OUT LAUGHING RIGHT THERE AND OF COURSE DENNY LAUGHED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS BRILLIANT.
>> THEY SAY YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE NOT WATCHING THE NEWS BUT I STILL BE PEOPLE ON THE STREET WHO ASK HOW DENNY IS DOING.
>> WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS, MORE THAN ONE POTENTIAL CANDIDATE SAID TO ME, I DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE DENNIS ANDERSON.
BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN REPLACING THE PERSON REPLACES DENNIS ANDERSON.
>> DENNY GAVE ME VERY LITTLE ADVICE BUT IT WAS IMPACTFUL.
HE SAID, DARREN, JUST BE YOURSELF.
AND YOU WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THIS AUDIENCE.
AND ON THE NORTH LAND.
DENNIS IS TRUE TO HIMSELF.
HE DOES NOT PULL ANY PUNCHES.
HE DOES NOT BOWL -- PUT ON ANY ERRORS.
>> IT WAS JUST ABOUT HIM DOING HIS JOB, BEING PROFESSIONAL AND THAT WAS ENOUGH.
THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
>> AT THE HEART OF DENNY IS HE IS A REALLY GOOD PERSON, A GOOD HUMAN BEING AND WE ARE IN A PROFESSION THAT CAN BE VERY COMPETITIVE WITH BIG EGOS.
PEOPLE CAN BE RUBBED THE WRONG WAY.
BUT DENNY, AT HIS HEART IS A GREAT HUMAN BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST.
THAT MAKES THEM SO EASY TO WORK WITH IN SUCH A BLESSING TO ALL OF THE PLACES HE HAS WORKED AT AND THE PEOPLE HE HAS DEALT WITH.
JULIE: AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A TAGLINE LIKE HE HAS EITHER.
DENNY: BE KIND.
JULIE: WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOOD AT FOR 60 YEARS.
>> I WAS AT "ALMANAC NORTH" FOR 50 YEARS AND WHEN WE SWITCHED, IT WAS A NO-BRAINER.
I SAID DENNIS, YOU HAVE TO DO "ALMANAC NORTH."
AND HE SAID, NO, I WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY.
IT WAS GRATIFYING THAT HE DID NOT WALK AWAY COMPLETELY.
WE STILL HAD HIM EDUCATING US AND TEACHING US AND INFORMING US AND STILL BEING THAT REASSURING VOICE TO THE NORTH LAND EVEN TO THIS DAY AND IS STILL BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM SAY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE AND BE KIND.
IT IS A GOOD THING FOR ALL OF US.
DENNY: I AM DENNIS ANDERSON, GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY AND BE KIND.
JULIE: I REMEMBER HOW EXCITING IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, OR SO, WHEN I LEARNED THAT DENNIS ANDERSON WOULD BE JOINING OUR "ALMANAC NORTH" TEAM.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, I HAD WATCHED HIS NEWSCASTS ON WDIO FOR DECADES AND HAD A GREAT RESPECT FOR HIM AS A JOURNALIST AND AS A PERSON.
I KNEW HE WOULD ADD GREAT DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE TO OUR PROGRAM -- AND HE DELIVERED.
I MARVEL EVERY WEEK AT HOW MUCH HE KNOWS ABOUT OUR REGION AND THE FORCES AT WORK WITHIN IT.
DENNIS ALSO IS JUST A GENUINELY NICE, THOUGHTFUL AND RESPECTFUL PERSON WHO MAKES EVERY GUEST FEEL WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE.
I FEEL HONORED TO CALL HIM MY CO-HOST AND FRIEND.
CONGRATULATIONS, DENNY, ON 60 YEARS IN BROADCASTING.
NEXT STOP 75!
DENNY: I HOPE SO.
THANK YOU.
MY FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS THAT I AM SPEECHLESS.
I AM.
JULIE: I DID HEAR YOU SNORT A LITTLE BIT AS YOU ARE LAUGHING AT SOME OF THOSE OLD CLIPS.
DENNY: YOU ARE VERY KIND.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S OUR TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
CHECK OUT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION AND UPCOMING EVENTS.
AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS ANY TIME YOU'D LIKE.
THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!
WITH JULIE ZENNER, I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE, AND BE KIND!
>> DENNY, WDSE IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR "ALMANAC NORTH" AND THE INDUSTRY.
>> 60 YEARS IN BROADCASTING, CONGRATULATIONS, DENNY.
>> IT HAS BEEN A REAL HIGHLIGHT IN MY CAREER TO WORK WITH YOU TWO TIMES.
CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 YEARS IN BROADCASTING.
>> DENNY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON 60 YEARS AND THE BROADCASTING BUSINESS AND I WAS SURELY AN HONOR TO HAVE SPENT 20 OF THOSE YEARS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOU ON THE ANCHORED DESK.
>> I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON AN AMAZING CAREER AND 60 YEARS IN BROADCASTING.
>> 60 YEARS -- THAT IS A PRETTY AMAZING NUMBER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 YEARS IN THE NEWS INDUSTRY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, DENNY, 60 YEARS, 60 YEARS AS A BIG NUMBER.
YOUR WIFE IS ONTO SOMETHING.
THERE IS A LITTLE CRAZY IN YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 YEARS, DENNY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE IS TO MANY MORE YEARS AND BROADCASTING.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, DENNIS ON 60 YEARS AND BROADCASTING AND 60 YEARS OF BEING KIND.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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