During my orientation assignment I talked to Jenifer Flink who is the executive director and curator of the Boone County Historical Society. She told me a lot about Boone County and Missouri’s history. She told me that the Lenior and Nifong family helped found Boone County and came here by covered wagon. Flink said that the Lenior-Nifong family’s farm site is now the Maplewood House. She said in 1818 the Gordon family—another founding family—lived in Gordon Manor where modern day Stephens Lake Park is located. Flink said that the house burned down and the Gordon family gave the land to Boone County. Flink said in 1820 Boone County was founded and in 1821 Missouri became a state.
Tag: Journalism
Two great athletic facilities nearby
I went to the ARC (Activity and Recreational Center) for my orientation assignment and I saw that they had a really nice pool. It looked like a nice facility, and they are celebrating their 10 year anniversary in October. I think it would be interesting to find out how many people in Columbia pay for the Mizzou rec center versus the ARC and to see what differences the two have from one another. I think doing a story comparing the two might be a good idea. Traveling around Columbia has been interesting because not only have I gotten lost a bunch, but I get to see the more suburban, neighborhood parts of Columbia versus the same few stretches of roads and highways I see.
Bed bugs were bat bugs?
I interviewed Dr. Richard Houseman associate professor of urban entomology in the college of agriculture. We talked of course about none other than bed bugs. I thought it was a beneficial interview because I was able to learn more about the origins of them and how they spread. Houseman said that they started out in caves feeding on bats but once humans starting living in caves they evolved to feed on them. I also learned that another way to get bed bugs besides traveling is through buying used furniture. He said that if the furniture is stored in a warehouse there is potentially other furniture infested. Even if someone buys new furniture it can be infested if they use the same truck that carried an infested couch, etc. I also learned that bed bugs evolved through natural selection, where they adapted to feed on human blood and be able to be immune to certain pesticides. He also said that bat bugs and bed bugs look very similar but they both prefer different blood. 
The Year of Peril: Thought Provoking Political Cartoons
When I was working on my orientation assignment I went to the State Historical Society of Missouri and they had an exhibit about Thomas Hart Benton. I talked to the security guard, Kevin Walsh, and he told me a lot of interesting information. He told me that his paintings were political cartoons in 1941-42 about if Nazi’s invaded the U.S. entitled “The Year of Peril.” He said they were ironic in a gruesome way. He said it was the largest propaganda campaign ever and the exhibit has the whole original set because he personally gave them to the museum because he was a native of Missouri. When I looked at the paintings I thought they were shocking but interesting. I, of course, thought they were well done but were thought provoking. I think that was their purpose and they serve it well. Walsh said that when kids come to the exhibit on field trips it is “nice for kids to have a real learning experience.” He said that they recognize war and appreciate the art. When I was that age I don’t think I would notice the violence but appreciate the paintings.
Legislation passed in February about bed bugs
In my research, I discovered in the Missourian archives an article that said a bill was passed regarding bed bugs in February of this year by Sen. Kevin Engler of Missouri. The article said the legislation is, “requiring tenants in multi-family homes to report any bedbugs they see to their landlord within 48 hours. The landlord would then have up to three weeks to inspect the rental unit and get rid of the tiny insects. Landlords would not be responsible for any bedbug damage to a tenant’s property unless they knew about the pests and chose to do nothing.”
It also said that this legislation came to pass because bed bugs were and are becoming a pest in Missouri. I think this is important because people should recognize that bed bugs are neither a myth nor a problem just for other countries anymore. They are coming to not only the U.S. but Columbia, Mo. It is important to know what to do if you are stuck in a “pesty” situation and won’t have to worry because you and your exterminator will have it covered.
Bed bugs do not transmit diseases
Sorry to inform you about bed bugs this week, it’s creeping me out, but nonetheless is informative. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases they are just a pest. They feed on blood and live in mattresses.
According to EPA’s website: “Experts believe the recent increase in bed bugs in the United States may be due to more travel, lack of knowledge about preventing infestations, increased resistance of bed bugs to pesticides, and ineffective pest control practices.”
I talked to the Environmental Public Health Supervisor of the city of Columbia, Kayla Gunier, and she said they have been getting less calls lately. She also said just because it isn’t a problem now, “doesn’t mean it won’t be in two weeks.” I’ve decided that after I publish this story I might want to keep up with the envrionmental public health department in Columbia just to see if they are more of a problem during football season. Even though that’s a scary thing to think about it, it is possible, and it’s better to be aware of what could happen.
“Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Eeek!
I’m working on a story about bed bugs because they have become more of a problem in Columbia. Steve’s Pest Control Inc.’s Jerry Block said they get 10-15 calls a week and 3-4 treatments when in the past it was one a week. He said they are more prevalent when you travel, are the SEC games gonna bring more bed bugs? Ew! I’m doing further research and talking to more people and experts to see what’s up. Richard Houseman, an entomologist of plant sciences at MU, has a video about bed bugs and how they permeate in Columbia.
Reporting about a victim
I spent a six hour shift in the newsroom today and I hadn’t written anything for that day until the second I walked in the door at my house. There was a release from the police that a woman was sexually assaulted late Saturday night. I wrote up a quick summary of the report for my ACE and he told me that I should keep the release as minimal as possible when it comes to details. The release did not have much information and I had to be careful of racial profiling and identifying the victim before the perpetrator was arrested. I think this was a good learning experience because not only do we learn in class on how to report on a rape or sexual assault, I was able to learn the concept first hand in a deadline setting.
Music in the newsroom!
It started as a typical morning in the newsroom. We had a budget meeting and all was going well. My editor was speaking about the budget and current stories one minute, the next minute he was playing guitar with another journalist playing cello!
They will be performing next thursday at Cooper’s Landing River Port Marina with Thai barbecue being served, yum!
He sang about the tropical storm Isaac and gave the newsroom a relaxing feel from the stress of deadlines. I was very surprised, but it definitely was a pleasant one.
I’ve realized that when working in the newsroom and interviewing people I’ve been able to learn more about the community and about other people. The environment, although stressful, can be fun and enjoyable because everyone is relatively good-natured.
I’ve been more able to discover the community and learning communications skills in the process.
Finding inspiration through other’s work
I found a story today that is relatively similar to my Burr Oak tree story. It’s about the Benton-Stephens tree being cut down because it causes a hazard because of its age. A limb fell from the tree about a month ago because the inside was hollow and becoming frail. The Columbia Parks and Recreation decided to cut it down because many people frequent the park it was in.
Some residents of that area were not notified and were surprised that one day the tree was there and the next a stump. Some people said that the tree resonates and is important to the community. They thought it was a shame that it had to come down.
I think that this could tie into my potential story because people appreciate the big Burr Oak tree as well. The same audience that read the Benton-Stephens tree could have the interest in reading my story because they might want to go and visit the tree and give it more recent press.
It’s interesting how not only is it the biggest tree in Missouri, it is a national landmark and people recognize that. Seeing that other people care in the community about an old tree being cut down shows that there are still some tree-huggers out there.
KC Digital Marketing | Becky Neems 