NEWSTIPS

Nope, sorry. No pay for play here. But I'll have nothing but nice things to say about you...

What trail did your theft happen at? Did you report it to police or not report it due to perceived indifference by the KC Sheriff's office? Would you be available to do the interview this morning/early afternoon?

Thanks for all your help guys. The infortmation has been useful. I am still lacking someone to go on camera who has actually been a victim of trailhead thefts (and it seems like there are plenty of folks affected by this)...in which case the story will die because there's no story if there's no "victim". Sad, but true fact of the news business. I can't make it seem like we're the ones complaining about it when it is clear that there are plenty of people out there who are pissed off about the safety situation out there on the trailheads because something has actually happened to them. If anyone who has had a car break-in at a trailhead wants to do an interview with us, please don't hesitate to call us or drop me an e-mail. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I'm sure the thieves are ready to start up their summer business again! Elizabeth Berman Assignment Editor KING 5 TV (206) 448-3850 eberman@king5.com

Thanks for the info. That's exactly the angle we're looking to do...about the credit cards and such being scanned. Do you know anyone who has fallen victim to this guy? My King Co maps don't give trail names..what trailhead is that at exit 38?

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, coming to Leavenworth is a bit of a stretch for us. Thanks for the input, though. I'll keep it in mind in case we're ever out that way on another story. Perhaps we can make it a two-fer!

I do not recall getting any e-mail from you, but I was on vacation from 4/20 to 4/27 so if you sent it to newstips@king5.com, someone else got it. My individual work e-mail is eberman@king5.com. Feel free to mail me there. and please re-forward me the message you sent back in April. I would like to read it.

Hi CC.com folks. It's your favorite (or despised?) news gal looking for feedback on a story I am trying to do this weekend (Sunday, May 9). I know you guys are more climber than hiker oriented, but I am hoping that some of you are hikers as well and can help me out with this story. We received the e-mail pasted below and are working on a story on this matter for this Sunday. I have lined up to tlak to the King Co Sheriff's Dept about what sort of problems they are aware of and what they are doing to combat the thefts. I am wondering if any of you know someone whose car was broken into or who was a victim of this type of credit card theft (which I had not heard of before) who would be willing to talk to KING 5 about the problem. From what the sheriff's Dept is telling me, this is a recurring problem...not really increasing in scope, but not really decreasing either. Does anyone have any constructive feedback? Message we received as follows: Hello all !!! I have a friend who is a King County police officer, in North Bend, and he has told me to be aware of an escalating amount of car thefts at all trailheads along the I-90 corridor. Do not leave your wallets, checkbooks, cell phones, etc. in your cars (put them in your packs while hiking). He also told me of some instances where people vandalize the car, scan information such as credit cards, then leave the car looking as if it hadn't been bothered. Those hikers find out later of huge purchase amounts on their credit card accounts. Anyway, be proactive and pack your valuables out!! Please warn your fellow hiking comrades!!! --------------------------------------------- Thank for any help you guys can give. Elizabeth Berman Assignment Editor KING 5 TV (206) 448-3850 or (800) 456-3975

Thanks for the input, guys. I have checked out the other thread (although admittedly, not until after I had made my preliminary posting).

Oops. I see now you were talking about the spin mentioned in the posting below mine. Sorry. Guess I started drinking too early today...

Spin? I'm not quite sure what you mean. I'm looking to do an informative story about the proposal and what merits and drawbacks each alternative has.

Hey there CC.com folks. It's your friendly (?) KING 5 lurker checking to see if a story idea that was suggested to me is a viable one for the climbing community. The Everett Herald had a story on Saturday, Nov 22 about the proposal to open Mt. Rainier guide services to companies other than RMI. The link for the story is here http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/03/11/22/17777274.cfm My question is this: How important an issue is this to the climbing community? I am considering doing a story on this proposal this coming Saturday, Nov 29 or Sunday, Nov. 30. Would any of you guys be willing/able to speak about this proposal and whether it's a good idea or a bad one? You may reply here, or send e-mail directly to me at eberman@king5.com. Please include a phone number where I can reach you during this weird holiday week if you want me to call you back. Thanks again for your assistance and please keep me abreast of any other stories that are important to the climbing community.

Thoguht you guys might be interested to know this...from the Associated Press. BC-WA--Turbo Dies,196< Turbo, tireless rescue dog, dies of cancer< wenpaevb1-oa< WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- Turbo, a golden retriever who spent his life helping lost humans, has died of cancer. The 9-year-old search-and-rescue dog died Oct. 5, about three weeks after being diagnosed, said his owner and handler, Scott Stroming. Turbo had participated in wilderness searches and rescues since 1996, said Stroming, an emergency room physician at Central Washington Hospital. "He was a tenacious searcher," Stroming said Friday. "Turbo would work as hard as he could to get the job done." The dog trained with Chelan County Mountain Rescue and the National Park Service at Stehekin. Turbo was a member of the Back Country Rescue K-9's and the Chelan County sheriff's office dog team. For the past four seasons, Turbo worked with the Mission Ridge Ski Patrol as an avalanche dog, Stroming said. He was also trained to be attached-- with Stroming -- by rope to a helicopter so they could reach rugged terrain where the chopper couldn't land. Before moving to Wenatchee with Stroming, Turbo trained with the Absaroka Search Dogs in Montana. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV 10-12-03 1607PDT<

Oops. Freudian slip. Meant to say that you shouldn't assume I hold the same views and beliefs as others in my profession.

By that logic, I would have to assume that all climbers are assholes who enjoy reading "The Book of the Customs of the Dead" (definition I found for Necronomicon). I don't make that assumption that your comments represent the views and opinions of all climbers so you should not make the assumption that I represent the views and beliefs of other members of my profession.

I received this same message as a PM and respoinded to it. Since Necro felt the need to make his sentiments public, I feel it only appropriate that I respond publicly. --------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for writing. I appreciate your comments even if they were personally insulting and not constructive in the least. To respond to your concerns: 1. The posting that I made did not give the name of the deceased climber. We do not know who he is. His family has not been notified and that is why his name has not been released. 2. I can't speak for the rest of my industry, but MY purpose is not to exploit anyone. I know that members of this board want to be informed of incidents such of this one so I was merely passing the information along, as I have more immediate access to information than others might have. Please note that I did not ask if anyone knew the poor climber who fell, nor have I made any attempts to solicit any other information pertaining to this accident or the people involved from the members of this board. 3. Yes, I did think about people's feelings before making that posting. I try to think about people's feelings before making phone calls about news stories, posting information about news, and in all aspects of my life, both professional as well as personal. Your personal attacks on my character were unwarranted. I don't know you and would never presume to call you names, so please extend me the same courtesy. Elizabeth

Just wanted to pass this along to you guys from the Associated Press. (Leavenworth-AP) -- A climber fell about 400 feet to his death on the Snow Creek Wall, a popular climbing destination near Leavenworth. The Chelan County sheriff's office says the accident yesterday took the life of a 28-year-old from Glacier, near Bellingham. Rescuers then helped his climbing partner who was shaken up but uninjured in the accident. He was identified as a 27-year-old graduate student from Bellingham, Matt Burns.

That's a shame....I had my 6 pack all ready to go and meet you guys

Hello Cascade Climbers! I am writing to solicit more story ideas from any of you who have an issue that you think affects your community and needs some media attention. We appreciate the help we received from you recently regarding stories we did not only about the Climbers who were jumped at Squamish, but also the car breakins at one of the lots frequented by climbers. If you've got any other issues you think deserve attention, please let me know so I can persevere to educate our viewers (and myself in process) about climbing and other issues that affect climbers even if they don't directly relate to climbing. And just so you know, I continue to attempt to make our Police spokespersons draw a distinction between hikers and climbers when they talk about SAR operations. Thanks. Elizabeth Berman Assignment Editor KING 5 TV

I just got a news release from a group of Canadian businessmen who say they are hosting Shannon, Jeremy, and Jason for a weekend in Vancouver from today (Aug 15) thru Sunday.

We'd like to report this development and update the story on KING 5, but I was unable to find the story online. Can you post a direct link to the story?

Trask??? Is that you??? Or perhaps just a like-minded twin.....

If I may respond to this blanket generalization, I thought you should know that I was alerted to this attack by a fellow cc.comer who thought that the public might be interested in knowing about this. Out goal is not to sensatinalize everything that happens. This attack is clearly something that is of interest to you guys (evidenced by the large number of postings on this topic) so if you're talking about it, don't you think others might be talking about it as well?

For what it's worth, I am researching this attack for a possible news story and the RCMP confirms that the attack was reported on July 1. I still don't know any details, though.

Yes, the Walther is a good choice. Relatively lightweight, can easily be packed or worn in an ankle holster, and not outlandishly expensive (around $300, I think). And the gun safety couse would allay concerns about when to use it. Good luck!

The story we're efforting is not scandalous, but it IS investigative. It's not the type of story we can do all in one day and our investigators unit has been assigned to look into it. I'm not saying there is criminal activity going on associated with the funds, I'm just saying that we're trying to assess whether the funds have been used in the most efficient way. And because TV is a visual medium, I was wondering if anyone had photos to support arguments about how the money could be better spent. That's all.