LEW JETTON'S BLOG

Friday, April 27, 2007

No more TV 4 Me

Well....it's been announced at work, so I might as well tell you...all my many friends.....

At the end of the month, I'll be leaving WPSD-TV after 18 wonderful years. I've taken a Marketing Management position with the Paducah Area Transit System. By the way, I'll also be doing Meteorology Consulting for them.

At PATS, I'm looking forward to moving into a management position for a company which provides a vital service, especially for the elderly and infirmed, for which they are a true lifeline, as they're the ones who make sure they get to the doctor, or for seniors, to their appointed rounds. They truly are wonderful folks at PATS and it's very much like a family. I already feel so at home there. I'm going to be doing and learning so many things which are new and exciting, such as writing grants, advertising, promotion and coming up with marketing campaigns to let those who so desperately need this service, that help is available. It's a wonderful place to work with caring people whose hearts are in the right place. I think I'll go ahead and get my CDL too....so who knows, someday you might "Dial-A-Ride" and Get-A-Lew.

Over the past almost 20 years at WPSD I've had so many wonderful experiences and made so many lifelong friends that's it's tough to part, and touching to reflect on. I grew as a journalist to the point of winning awards in News Writing, Feature Reporting and News Series Reporting. I grew as a Meteorologist by finishing my formal education and using my years of experience to try to keep viewers out of harm's way. I'll never forget the folks who came up to me after the 2003 Massac County Tornadoes and told me how they sat in their storm cellars that night, with me, on the radio, being the only link they had while killer tornadoes tore through their neighborhoods and destroyed their homes. That brings home the seriousness of what we do, and it has many times prior to that terrible night, and since. Just last year, my wife's cousin lost her infant child in the tornadoes which ripped through Newbern, TN. I'll still be tracking storms, and will have more time for storm chasing. For me, the people have been the difference: The literally thousands of people I've met through WPSD, and the dozens of dedicated co-workers with whom I became like family. I wish WPSD the best, and I know it'll continue to grow the base which I, and so many before me, so carefully nutured.

With the blessing of WPSD, I was able to expand my horizons through music and grow it to the point where I had a hit CD on XM Radio most of last year, making new friends and fans, not only in the US, but abroad as well. I was able to entertain and play in front of literally hundreds of thousands in this area, and from Kansas City to St. Louis to Mississippi over the past 15 years, to the point that the Father of Rock n Roll, Chuck Berry came and sat in a front row seat to see ME play. (I know....I can't figure it out either....but it happened) It grew to the point that most of our many fans, across the country and beyond, had no idea what I did in my "other" life, as a meteorologist. After a break from live performances, I'll resume playing and maintaining a musical presence in the area and beyond in a couple of months.

I won't miss the 2 AM wake up calls. I won't miss working Christmases and other holidays. I won't miss working weekends, but I will miss many of my co-workers and all of the viewers terribly. Some "media-types" complain when viewers approach them in stores or restaurants and want to talk to them. Not me. I always had the attitude that if you had time to watch me, then I have plenty of time to talk to you about anything you want. I always will, too....even though soon, you can't watch me anymore. I'll cherish the extra time I'll have with those who I love, and those who love me. Keep on comin' up and hollerin' at me though....we'll talk about the "old days." They really were the best....

Bless you all,