WKYC News & Notes: 3/27/13

By Frank Macek

It's time for another "behind the scenes" look at what's happening inside the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center.

WKYC's Rita Andolsen (left) receiving award

Channel 3 received a big honor on Tuesday, March 26th, as the station was presented with the "Friends of Education Award" from the Cleveland Metropolitan School district at Glenville High School. Channel 3's Rita Andolsen, Director Advocacy & Community Initiatives, accepted the award honoring all of the station's efforts to inform voters about the Issue 107 school levy that voters passed overwhelmingly back in November.

Our Indians Opening Day coverage is all set and Channel 3 will be the place to be on Tuesday, April 8th, as the Indians welcome the New York Yankees to Progressive Field. Our live coverage will begin with a live 2 hour special called "Tribe Time: Opening Day" at 1 p.m. with Russ Mitchell, Kris Pickel and the entire Channel 3 team. Then at 3 p.m,  our "Indians Live" pregame show hits the air followed by the game as the Tribe takes on the Yankees. Catch all the action, all afternoon long on WKYC-TV.

Channel 3 will present a special one hour broadcast on Thursday, April 18th, from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. called "Heroin: Old Drug, New Epidemic." The show will feature WKYC Senior Health Reporter Monica Robins and examines how heroin and other opiate abuse and overdose has reached epidemic proportions throughout Northeast Ohio - now affecting all ages and all socio-economic groups. Dd you know, more people die from drug related overdoses in Ohio than car accidents. On average, that's 4 lives lost per day due to drugs. Monica will have interviews with medical experts, law enforcement officers, addicts and their families who offer insights into the epidemic that often ends badly for users either with jailtime or death.

Dave Summers

Finally, our WKYC team is saying goodbye to a longtime reporter/fill-in anchor at Channel 3 News. Dave Summers has decided to start a new chapter in his career and is joining the team at KNSD-TV/NBC7 in San Diego, California. We are certain that Dave will enjoy warmer weather and be able to get a natural tan. Summers has been with WKYC for nearly 13 years and has been breaking stories and providing excellent coverage of Northeast Ohio. His last day at the station is this Friday, March 30th. We wish him all the best.

Happy Easter from the Director's Cut Blog!