Mike Parker Was Here...

The Mighty Conewago: Four for the Price of One...

MikeParker — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:32:00 GMT

One thing I've learned over the years, is that you can't always judge a fishing trip, based only on the size of the fish you catch. As I was recently reminded, quantity can sometimes be just as rewarding as quality... I've always enjoyed fishing on overcast days. So, when the opportunity presented itself on a recent Tuesday morning, I decided to check out a local creek I hadn't previously fished. Most local anglers will have...(read more)

Congrats to Hummelstown Fire Co...

MikeParker — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:18:00 GMT

Thanks to Captain Rich Fanning of the Hummelstown Fire Company for passing along these photos... Several members of the department were honored recently, for their role in the dramatic rescue of two people trapped inside a house fire. During the early morning hours of February 25th, the fire department responded to a house fire in Derry Township, Dauphin County. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters learned that a woman, her husband, and the couple's...(read more)

CBS 21 Softball Team...

MikeParker — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:42:00 GMT

Like Senators' fans flocking to the Spot at the Park for a "Classic with Cheese"... The CBS 21 Broadcast Bombers are flocking to local softball fields in search of competition. Once again this year, our team of misfits and road warriors is challenging area softball teams to games for charity. So far in 2008, we have a record of 1-1... ...with a loss to Halifax Communities That Care All-Stars, and a rare win over the daunting Wormleysburg Wreckers. If you'd like to challenge our team to...(read more)

Streamside with the Guys...

MikeParker — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:56:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about what you'll do when you retire? Sure, its a long way off for a lot of us. But I can already picture myself on a sunny island somewhere, sipping on some icy drink I can't pronounce, and listening to steel drum music with my wife by side... Then of course, there's the other 51 weeks out of the year...! Part of me believes I'll still be right here in Central Pennsylvania, probably riding around the yard on my old lawn tractor, sipping a Yuengling and yelling...(read more)

Car Fires and Action Hero Poses...

MikeParker — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:26:00 GMT

In the television news business, you ask a lot of questions... But, you also get a lot of questions from the people you meet... One of the most-frequently asked is "Is your job fun?" Without question, the answer is "Yes." I mean, sure there are stories that are not fun to report. But overall, the experience of being a news reporter or photographer is a lot of fun. You find yourself in a constantly-changing environment, often in situations you never would have guessed you would end up in. Or,...(read more)

Going Bald on LIVE Television...!

MikeParker — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:53:00 GMT

You saw it LIVE on CBS 21 News... Now check out these photos of local firefighters shaving their heads and facial hair for the Saint Baldrick's Foundation... Myself and CBS 21 Photojournalist Frank Krepps getting ready to go LIVE outside the CBS 21 Studios in Harrisburg. Chief Mark Simpson of the Camp Hill Fire Department was first in the chair. He raised nearly $2,000, which will help fund childhood cancer research. The Chief shows he's more than happy to sport his new, sleek look! Asst....(read more)

Spring Trout and Trail Camera Surprises...

MikeParker — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:46:00 GMT

As a life-long central Pennsylvanian, I'm pretty used to the Winter by now. In fact, the early Winter is one of my busiest times of year for deer hunting, and I even did a little ice fishing this past season. What a great time! But it never fails. With the exception of the occassional March blizzard to keep me on my toes, there's a time period between mid-February and late March that just makes you want... do nothing! Its too cold, often windy, and let's face...(read more)

CBS 21 Prom Reporters... A Stylish Statement

MikeParker — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:05:00 GMT

Now you can watch many of the CBS 21 Stylish Statement news and movie segments online...! Here's the link...

http://www.whptv.com/content/stylishstatement/default.aspx

There are also more pictures on the "photos" section of CBS 21 Community.

CBS 21 News is teaming up with local high school students to make Prom safer, and more stylish than ever this year...! Here are some photos taken during our recent Stylish Statement shoots across the area...

Millersburg senior Brett Derr looks over a news script with Halifax sophomore Stacey Geyer. CBS 21 Photojournalist Garth Millen zooms in... as Brett and Stacey prepare to tell us about a State Police DUI Checkpoint.

Allison Mione of Williams Valley H.S. reports from a State Police DUI Checkpoint along Route 209. A special thanks to Troopers with PSP Lykens for their cooperation.

Upper Dauphin's Alayna Peters explains the consequences of DUI.

I offer Halifax Area High School student Sage Spini some last-minute tips before he files a CBS 21 Traffic Alert from beautiful downtown Halifax.

Upper Dauphin's Nicole Schade surveys traffic through the Elizabethville.

Anja Nace of Millersburg Area High School also files a traffic report from her own town square. Her report will also include potentially life-saving tips for fellow teenagers heading to Prom.

Williams Valley's Evan Welker says traffic is heavier-than-usual heading into Wiconisco on Prom night.

Halifax's Fernando Vega is all business as he stands next to a hearse. Its a somber background for his Exclusive interview with the Dauphin County Coroner.

Kylie Manning of Millersburg wants to look over the script one last time.

Kelly Baker talks about the Coroner's grim encounters with teen DUI accidents.

UDA's Kelly Schreffler doesn't want her friends to end up in one of these.

Prom Reporter Jenny Kaufman of Halifax is ready to deliver Breaking News from the State Police Barracks.

Williams Valley's Dylan Smith delivers the sad news about a Prom Night accident.

Ashley Fisher from Upper Dauphin wraps up her report.

Our Special Edition CBS 21 Newscast will be shown as part of the Stylish Statement Prom Fashion show... and you're invited! Its your chance to see local students model the newest 2008 Prom gowns and tux designs... months before you'll see them anywhere else!

Here are some pictures of last year's Fashion Show...

Hope to see you at this year's big show...! Here's the info:

Thanks to the more than 300 people who attended this year's show! What a success!

Special thanks to our parnter schools:

Halifax Area High School

Williams Valley High School

Millersburg Area High School

Upper Dauphin Area High School

*** CBS 21 News is looking to add more partner schools for future editions of Stylish Statement. For more information, email Mike Parker... mikeparker@cbs21.com

The Anatomy of a Cubicle...

MikeParker — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:32:00 GMT

They say you can tell a lot about a person by going through their garbage... and there's all sorts of books and theories about what your dreams say about you. But what does your workplace cubicle say about you?

Just for fun, Here's a few photos of my own personal CBS 21 News "home away from home." I'll give you a good look at several key "zones" of my desk.

The Wide Shot:

Zone # 1: The Printer Area

While it is called the Printer Area, the printer is not really mine. This noisy monster is shared by dozens of other CBS 21 News employees throughout the day. And on some days, they're nice enough to leave half-opened rheems of printer paper on the corner of my desk or on my chair. I also think its causing some long-term hearing loss in my left ear.

To give this zone a personal touch, I have added a painting that my aunt once found at a yard sale... and it begins one of the ongoing themes around my work area... Deer.

Zone # 2: The Bulletin Board

Notice right away, that this area has been hijacked by a recent practical joke. While I could certainly use the space to remind myself of important business appointments, I'm instead reminded that a CBS 21 News Producer named Scott was my Secret Santa.

Zone # 3: Awards and other Wood-Framed Things

If I ever get a real office someday, I picture it something like this, on a larger scale. Dark wood and shiny brass everywhere, accented by pictures of my wife and family. And while these few plaques are not my only awards through the years, you don't really want to over-do-it... In a cubicle, I've always believed less is more. (and there really isn't much room)

Zone # 4: The Mirror

Another luxury I'm afforded in the newsroom is being one of the most-distant from the bathroom. As you can imagine, as an Anchorman, an out-of-place hair can be worse than a broken leg. To avoid possible injury and exhaustion during a spontaneous trip to the Men's Room, I've installed this high quality mirror to the right of my computer screen.

Zone # 5: The Desktop

The clearing-house of my personal work space, the Desktop contains several items that are not so much designed to do anything... but more-or-less just to take up some space. The first two pictures are tributes to my roots. The third... what can I say, it was a gift.

Zone # 6: Calendar Row

Its a constant struggle on Calendar Row. My instinct as a man tells me to keep the deer calendar up for another year, and just guess the date...

And then there's this... Yes, another practical joke at my expense. However, once again, it is grounded in truth. While this 2008 calendar is full of show-worthy Bichon Frises, I actually am the proud owner of two Bichons of the more ordinary, less-poofy type. (Give me a break, guys, they run in my wife's family!) Out of respect for the gag, I've decided to leave it up.

Okay, so there it is... My little slice of Heaven.

Until next time...

-- Mike

Is it too early to decorate for Christmas...?

MikeParker — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:08:00 GMT

We recently reported a story about a local family who's outdoor Christmas decorations were ransacked and damaged... But it wasn't just a simple case of vandalism.

You tell 'em, Sherry!

Every year, Dovelle Smith spends three days decorating his home with Christmas spirit.

But as you can see in the picture below, not everybody appreciates the timing of it. The culprit made his or her message quite clear. The hand-painted note left on the Smith's front yard says "It's not even Thanksgiving yet"... followed by an expletive.

While I think anyone with any class can agree, this was not an appropriate, acceptable, or even sane way to react to the Christmas display.

But, in discussing this story with some others in the community, I've been surprised to hear how many people think that the vandals have a point, even though they made it the wrong way.

What do YOU think?

Is it wrong to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving even arrives?

I'll start by offering MY answer.

No. I love the Christmas season, and the decorations. I love the sights, the lights, the songs, the smells... And while I'll probably never have an elaborate outdoor display like the Smiths, my home is already decorated for Christmas inside. (No tree yet! We're not crazy!) But I've always loved the feeling of being around Christmas stuff, and my wife is a great decorator. So, last week, yes, two weeks before Thanksgiving... we broke out the decorations.

Now, let's hear what YOU think...!

-- Mike

(Want to see the whole story?... Here's the link: www.whptv.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=27589257-281e-482d-90ed-a53deca8f26a )

Pass the Fork!... Its Time to Judge some Pie!...

MikeParker — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:04:00 GMT

Being a pie judge is kind of like being married... I think its great.

But much like a young man being called "husband" for the first time, coming to terms with your inner Pie Judge can catch you off guard...

I'll explain in a minute...

This weekend, I had the great honor of judging apple pies at the famous New Cumberland Apple Festival.

Pictured below is myself, along with the other judges and organizers.

Back to my original point... Being a Pie Judge takes a level of commitment.

Have you ever heard someone say that a man wearing a wedding ring is actually more attractive to the opposite sex...?

Well, previous pie-judging experience must make you more attractive to the organizers of other pie judging contests.

Do these pies look great or what!

Here I am with New Cumberland Mayor DJ Landis. She's the one who asked me to be a Pie Judge for this year's Apple Festival.

So, I took her hat.

This one was in the "Under 18" category, which means it was baked by a young person. Looks like they've got a real future in the dessert business!

Back to my credentials...

MIKE PARKER

Pie Judge

Experience:

-- 2006 Upper Dauphin Community Day

-- Apple Pie & Shoe Fly Pie Judging Contest

-- 2007 Pennsylvania Farm Show

-- Official State Apple Pie Contest (67 pies, by county)

-- 2007 Upper Dauphin Community Day

-- Apple Pie Contest

-- 2007 New Cumberland Apple Festival

-- Apple Pie Contest

Once you enter into the world of pie judging, you can never go back... And you'd better come to the table hungry!

A rookie Pie Judge may rush to judgement... I mean, just look at the crumbled bits of chocolately goodness staring you in the face!... But a Pie Judge must stay focused!

Here, New Cumberland Borough Council member Mary Landis shows off one of the blue ribbon winners...

Proving that in the end, with commitment, focus, and true love for the pie, there is great reward for all!

Until next time,

-- Mike

A Second Chance to be Wild...

MikeParker — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:57:00 GMT

Sometimes it takes a face to really connect people to a story... In this case, that face has a long, brown snout and a big black nose.

This Whitetail Deer fawn was rescued earlier this summer in Dauphin County, after its mother became the victim of poachers. The large doe was found shot, and left to die in a field. This fawn, still too young to fend for itself, was found still living with the adult doe corpse.

The Dauphin County fawn was rescued, and taken to the Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill County. While there are a number of wildlife rehabilitators licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there are very few with the knowledge or facilities to care for fawns.

At Red Creek, the fawn was kept in a large pen with several other fawns that were rescued from other parts of the state. Some are also victims of poaching, others are orphaned when an adult doe becomes a roadkill.

While our CBS 21 News cameras were able to get up-close-and-personal with these fawns for a few minutes, don't mistake their natural curiosity for tameness. The fawns are still very wild. Throughout their rehabilitation, the small deer will only be in contact with one human on a regular basis. While an incoming fawn is given vaccinations, and food during its stay at Red Creek, their handler makes every effort to reserve unnatural interaction, or signs of affection.

In other words.......... NO PETTING!!!

Personal attachment is reserved for other species at the Wildlife Center... Here, operator Peggy Hentz holds a turtle that came in recently.

One turtle had a badly-damaged shell, caused by someone carving initials into it with a knife. Other turtles may be hit by cars, or farm equipment.

This Sulcata Tortoise is native to Africa, but ended up at Red Creek when someone made a poor decision to keep the massive reptile as a pet. It likely outgrew its intended living space, and was set free. A tortoise like this could not survive a Pennsylvania winter if it were not rescued.

Believe it... This amazing Turkey Vulture was also kept as a pet, before being abandoned.

You've probably never seen a Bard Owl in the first place... Let alone, this one that came to the Wildlife Center missing an eye!

And these beautiful red-tailed hawks are in various stages of recovery. Most of the birds will eventually be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, some of the hawks have never honed their natural hunting skills, and will have to rely on people to feed them for the rest of their lives. One hawk, not shown here, was rendered flightless after being shot.

Okay... Remember the fawns?

Last Saturday, after more than a month at Red Creek Wildlife Center, the small deer weighing up to 50 pounds each, were released back into the wild. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)

Rescuers don't like to divulge the location of the release, but tell CBS 21 News that these two doe and five bucks will find a new chance at life in the northern "big woods" areas of Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lynn Dierwechter)

The last picture is the toughest to see... But its the perfect end to our story. Peggy says as they drove away from the release point, the small doe rescued from Dauphin County seemed to turn its head one last time before disappearing into its new home.

I'd like to think it was saying "thanks."

For the video coverage of this story as seen on CBS 21 News, use the following link...

http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=125667@video.whptv.com

For more on the Red Creek Wildlife Center, use this one...

http://redcreekwildlifecenter.com/

Until next time... -- Mike

Marijuana Growers Will be Missing Something...

MikeParker — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:30:00 GMT

Now that's a lot of pot!... It's that time of year when police begin searching for illegal marijuana plants growing in fields and wooded areas across our area. These 300 plants were discovered on Tuesday in Latimore Township, Adams County...

CBS 21 News photojournalist Laura Stufft takes a few shots of the green stuff.

According to Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner, the plants siezed would be worth $600,000-$1,000,000 if it were dried, processed, and sold on the street.

Wagner says whoever planted the illegal crops knew what they were doing, and went great lengths to keep their marijuana growing strong.

Police say the plants were being fertilized, and potting soil found around the root ball indicates that they were first grown inside a pot, and then transplanted outdoors later.

Samples of the marijuana plants will be saved as evidence for a potential trial, if suspects are caught. The plants were placed inside the State Police impound area for a brief time, and will then be destroyed just a few hours after being pulled from the ground.

-- Mike

On the Pond with a World Record Holder...

MikeParker — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:57:00 GMT

He catches largemouth bass like it's going out-of-style... And quite frankly, Dave Romeo proves that he's the man in this CBS 21 News interview...

Dave Romeo of Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County holds the Guiness World Record for the most bass ever caught and recorded in a single season. Check it out... According to the 1987 Guiness Book, Dave caught 3,001 bass in just 77 days. The record is still in tact.

On Tuesday, photojournalist Garth Millen and I along for a morning of fishing at a pond in Mount Joy Township.

It didn't take long to see what this guy is made of. Check out the monster 19-inch bass Dave caught using a bright yellow spinner bait!

After Dave catches each bass, he measures it for length, and releases it back into the pond.

Sure, that four-pounder would look great in a frying pan, but Dave likes to think his catch-and-release approach will accomplish two things: He has the chance to catch the bass again, and the larger fish will continue to breed more big fish for the future.

To keep accurate records, Dave carries a counter. In 25 years of fishing, he's caught bass in the triple digits 8 different times!... Today, he was only on number 16... Rough day!

Before leaving each pond, Dave fills out a journal of his latest catches. Location, species, length, etc... He's been doing this since 1981.

Last Saturday, Dave reached the milestone of catching his 25,000th bass since he began recording. But now, he's setting his sights on new record.

In 25 years, Dave's average for catching bass in a season has gone up and down. His first few years as an inexperienced angler on the pond have held him back considerably. (He only caught 39 bass his entire first season!)

Now, he's working extra hard to catch another 200 or bass this year, so his average over a true quarter century of time will be slightly above 1,000 bass caught per season.

He's almost there.

I wonder if he'll get a new license plate?...

It might not surprise you that Dave is a motivational speaker by trade, and uses his bass fishing experience as a motivator for others.

Best of luck, Dave!

Until next time,

-- Mike

Getting Messed Up with The Kiss FM Morning Mess...

MikeParker — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:27:00 GMT

Nothing like drinking on the job... to prove a point!... Our CBS 21 News cameras recently spent the morning with our sister radio station 99.3 Kiss FM's "Morning Mess"...

As usual, Mike and Emily used their creativity to grab the attention of their young listeners. But on this particular morning, they were using the airwaves to make a very adult point...

Take note of the six-packs of beer on the left side of the picture... and the blue bottle of vodka, and cranberry juice.

In light of recent reports of so-called Pop Celebs like Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton getting busted for DUI, the Morning Mess decided to put their own sobriety to the ultimate test.

Under the supervision of Penbrook Police Officer Daniel Baldwin, Mike and Emily will spend the morning drinking their alcoholic beverages, and submitting to breathalizer tests.

CHEERS!...

After his first beer, Mike's breathalizer test revealed a blood-alcohol-content of .024. That's well below Pennsylvania's legal limit of .08

Emily watches in disbelief as the breathalizer analyzes her blood alcohol content after drinking just one shot of vodka mixed with cranberry juice. After a few seconds of calculating, she showed a BAC of .037.

As the morning went on, each of Mike and Emily's subsequent breathalizer tests showed higher levels of alcohol.

For instance, after just three beers, Mike's BAC was .114, well over the legal driving limit, and enough to charge him with DUI, if he were caught behind the wheel.

Officer Baldwin also used the opportunity to show off another type of device that detects your blood-alcohol level. Commonly called a Balloon Test, these are available in stores, and even at some bars.

If a person has a question as to how impaired they are after drinking, they can blow into the red-tipped straw at the end of the bag, inflating it like a balloon.

Its a little tough to see here, but if the air inside the bag reveals a BAC above .08, the yellow bubbles inside the straw will turn green. The red line also indicates how high a person's BAC is.

Hope you learned something, and make sure to check out the 99.3 KISS-FM "Morning Mess" every Monday-Friday from 5:30am-10am.