For nearly eleven years I have worked at the same TV station, WSIL. I've made many friends while here, including Edan Schultz, the 6 and 10 o'clock anchor and managing editor for the station. Edan had been with the station more than 19 years and just recently announced that he was leaving for Florida. His wife found a great job there. Friends, colleagues, and family members recorded heartfelt well wishes to the long time journalist. The theme was the same in all of them: Edan is a great guy. A mentor. A friend to all who knew him.
New Year's Eve 80's Style
Edan: Blockbuster guy, Me: Papa Smurf, Chad: Mr. Mullet
I echoed those same sentiments in my goodbye to him. We've shared plenty of good times together, including New Years Eve celebrations, Thanksgiving dinners, and time out on Crab Orchard Lake. My kids used to call him Uncle Edan and we'd ring his doorbell every year at Halloween. We hung out with various coworkers until the wee hours of the morning talking about everything you can imagine.
Edan with my daughter
One of my favorite Edan memories from work happened when I first started working at WSIL. It was before I'd moved to the morning show and was reporting nightside on a new "gentlemen's club" that had moved into the area. There was a church group protesting the club and I was doing a live shot from the parking lot for the 10 o'clock news.
Hanging out at the lake
I remember standing there, ready to go on, somewhat nervous as drunk college guys staggered behind me before we went on air. Then I hear Edan's toss to me and he says "News 3's Kevin Hunsperger has been at the strip club all night, and join us with more." It took everything I had to not laugh at that, as I wondered if our viewers thought I was inside with dollar bills in hand waiting to file my report. Even though I'm a few months older, I always looked up to Edan. He's been a great mentor to me and countless others. Our boss called him the backbone of the newsroom, and I think that's a very fitting description. Edan sleeps, eats, and breathes news, and we're all the better because of it. He'll be missed. And even though some viewers confuse the two of us, I hope I have just a fraction of the impact Edan has had on this region. I realize that some of this sounds like I'm writing his eulogy, but I've been thinking about the idea of telling the people you appreciate and respect while they're still around to hear it. I look back a couple of years ago when I gave my grandma's eulogy and I wish now that I'd said those things TO her and not ABOUT her. So I think it's perfectly fine to show a little (or a lot) of love to the people you think are worthy of it. So be ready for more appreciation blogs here on My 1-2-3 Cents.
By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter August 2004 I was asked to be the fill-in anchor on News 3 This Morning on WSIL-TV. It was supposed to be a temporary gig. Mark Kiesling, who had anchored the show up until that point along with Lindy Thackston, was filling in on the 5 o'clock news because then anchor Angie Wyatt was going on maternity leave. About a month into the gig, it was announced Mark was staying on the 5 with Angie and I would be the permanent co-anchor with Lindy. Back then, my wake up time was 3:15 a.m. I would jump in the shower, get dressed, and head to work. I'd get there by 4, eat my breakfast (back then it was Debbie Cakes and Mt. Dew), and help write scripts. The show was only on from 6 until 7.
I believe this was 2006 or 07
National Dispatchers Week
Through the years, the show evolved, not just with content, but start time. In 2007, we launched a 90 minute show, with a start time of 5:30 a.m. That meant getting up earlier. I stopped showering in the morning and started showering at night to get an extra 20 minutes of sleep. When the alarm goes off at an ungodly hour, every minute counts.
Marking National Squirrel Appreciation Day
By September 2012, the show moved to two hours. We begin at 5 a.m. Now I get up at 1:30 and am at work before 2. It's an adjustment, but I enjoy my job and coworkers immensely. Never did I dream ten years ago that I would still be doing this. I appreciate those who have supported me and stuck behind the show as it evolved into what it is today.
Celebrating my 40th birthday on the air
In the ten years that I've been anchoring News 3 This Morning, I've had six "permanent" co anchors and countless fill-in co anchors. There have been four "permanent" meteorologists (and a handful of fill-ins along the way). I've had nine producers. Five directors and five chyron operators. And since August 2004, I've worked with 39 associate producers. Reading that list, some may think I'm hard to work with. I'd like to think I've helped everyone find new and exciting opportunities. Despite being sleep deprived, I do have a really good thing going with News 3 This Morning. I'm glad to be a part of this team and grateful to have been in the right place at the right time. Thanks again to all of you. Now enjoy a new round of bloopers with a few old favorites in there.
January 19, 2004 I started a new journey in my career. After spending nearly four and a half years in West Lafayette, Indiana at WLFI, it was time to move on to something new. I grew up near St. Louis and went to school at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, so moving to the region had always been a goal of mine. I had talked with past news directors at all three TV stations in the market on more than one occasion.
Finally, in October 2003 I had a chance to interview with the news director at WSIL, Mike Snuffer. There was no formal interview set up, I just called and said I'd be in the area and wanted a few minutes to meet with him. I had a couple of co-worker friends from WLFI working at WSIL at the time, so they kept me in the loop. I thought the interview went well, but about a month later Mike emailed me and told me he'd hired someone else for the position. He encouraged me to stay in touch, as he anticipated more openings after the first of the year.
Then in early December, Mike emailed me again, telling me the woman he offered the job to accepted an offer elsewhere. He wanted to see an updated tape, which I sent it to him immediately. On December 26, 2003, he called me to offer me the job (general assignment reporter).
Covering a big fire in Carterville
When I joined the team, I had no idea what life would be like for me here at WSIL. I was given the opportunity to fill in on the anchor desk, and by August 2004, the news gods were on my side and I was asked to become the co anchor of News 3 This Morning.
I've had so many amazing co workers and friends here. In my nearly ten years on the morning show, I've had six different "permanent" co anchors and countless fill-in anchors. There have been four weather people, nine producers, five directors, three graphics operators, and 33 associate producers. I promise they haven't all left because of me.
Besides have great co workers and friends, I've met some of the most inspirational people while sharing their stories with the public. Some of the moments that stick out in my memory include meeting Sean and Natalie DeMello. Their young son Evan was in need of a heart. The four year old finally got the organ transplant, but sadly died from complications of the surgery. I remember talking with his parents before the operation and after, and their optimism and upbeat attitude, even after losing their son made an impression on me.
I met the DeMellos because at the time I was also the health reporter at WSIL. That position allowed me to meet many people with a variety of medical conditions. Some of those people are no longer with us, but their stories were important to tell and may have saved other lives in the process. Bobbi West, Cheryl Collins, and Deanna Heal are just a few of those who have passed away. I appreciate their families staying in touch and allowing me to share their stories with the region.
Wyatt Eisenhauser
An American Hero
In 2005, I interviewed the family of Wyatt Eisenhauer, shortly after the Perry County native was killed in Iraq while serving our country. His family's strength that afternoon as they recalled their hero was truly inspiring. I've stayed in touch with them, as they continue to honor and pay tribute to others who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Eisenhauers remind us all that freedom isn't free.
Tasering
There are have been plenty of fun moments too over the last decade. I've interviewed "Happy Days" star Marion Ross, "The Incredible Hulk" Lou Ferrigno, and more professional wrestlers than you can shake a stick at.
My job also led me to getting into the ring and having a match. I've whacked a grown man with a metal folding chair live on the air. I've been the sparring partner for an MMA fighter, and I've been zapped with a taser. People still ask me about the tasering incident, and honestly, it hurt in a way I can't really describe other than to say it was shocking.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on forever here, but people would get bored. I know I'm forgetting people and stories too, and if that I'm sorry if I left you out. Thank you all who have watched and supported the last decade here. Words can't express what it means to me and my family.
