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'Your Hometown' Tour is a big hit as WJBF-TV broadcasts live here
The news team, with anchors Brad Means, Jennie Montgomery, and George Myers, reporters and crew, had rolled into Washington about noon on a big tour bus, visiting Washington-Wilkes Elementary School, the Pliant Corporation, a historic home, and other sites, in preparation for broadcasting its 90-minute newscasts from 5 to 6:30 p.m. live from The Square. "The children were just amazed at the fact that they got to meet people they saw every day on TV," said W-WES Principal Wanda Barton Jenkins. "And everybody from Channel 6 was so impressed at how well-behaved our students were." Each of the Channel 6 anchors gave a short encouraging speech to the students at the assembly, and four students read their "My Hometown" essays. Essay contest winners Destiny Reid, Jennifer Bruce, Madison Powell, and Ashlyn Holley won a bracelet with a heart charm. Jillian Andrews' Pre-K class won Channel 6's $200 cash prize.
Friday's live broadcasts started at noon with Channel 6 weather anchor Matt Monroe broadcasting the weather live from the Washington Farmers Market. "After the broadcast, Matt and his crew also spent about an hour and a half at the market talking to market shoppers and interviewing our vendors," said the market's Katherine Stoltz Barber. Through the afternoon, a dozen local folks traveled with the news crew to give them a running commentary about the sights and the people they saw. "Channel 6 loved the townspeople and had a blast every place they went throughout the day," Barnett said. "We traveled to Pliant Corp, the Washington Historical Museum, and to Robert Aiken and Robert Geiger's historic house as well, and they were so impressed. They were overwhelmed at what Washington and Wilkes County had to offer, the gracious people, the wonderful businesses."
The evening's 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m. newscasts also featured stories about Washington-Wilkes people and places throughout the evening, and Washington advertisers were featured heavily during the commercial segments. The local ads had also seen heavy play during the week before the live broadcast. To provide local music at points during the broadcast, a gospel choir from community churches sang and a Tiger Band ensemble played on cue. Crowds of children and adults lined the green as meteorologist George Myers and other personalities broadcast live, and predictably many kids worked hard to be on television whenever possible. The crowds observed the process of a live broadcast with interest, and stayed after the newscasts were over to talk with the broadcasters and get autographs. "I am so thankful for Channel 6 for giving us the opportunity to showcase Washington," Barnett said. "It's going to have a real impact on bringing visitors to our businesses. Our phones have been ringing the past two days, and many of the businesses who advertised with Channel 6 have had calls asking about their store and products."
"We've had a wonderful welcome here," Brad Means said as he signed autographs on The Square. "We really appreciate the friends we've made coming to Your Hometown, and we'll be back to Washington soon."
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