New Press Photo

Thank You ODOT!

Today is the first day of winter. Since the first snowflake fell this season, we have been hearing about this phenomenon known as a "salt shortage". Cities claiming that they do not have enough road salt to get commuters through this typical snowy Ohio winter. This incites panic in many drivers, including myself. I do not enjoy driving in the snow. I am a white knuckle driver. I have had a near miss on an icy hill already. This has not only made me more grateful for not colliding with another car, but it has made me more aware that it is "that time of year" again. Now, you may pass me any time you like. If you think I am not driving fast enough...have at it! I am going to get there in two pieces...me....and my car.

Commuting for me is a blessing and a curse. It is a curse in that my drive is nearly 40 miles one way and it takes me almost an hour to get to work. The blessing is that I don't work a standard 9-5 shift, so I am not fighting rush hour on either side. If I did work a standard shift, it would take me well over an hour. I also work on weekends, so two days a week while you are fighting traffic and snow, I am warm and toasty in bed. But Saturday and Sunday I am out in it while you are snoozing. One observation I have made working this non-traditional shift is that even though you are not in "rush hour" there are still quite a few cars on the highways. Whether it is last minute shoppers for the holiday season or folks like me who have odd shifts..the highways are a-buzz. Even on my way into work this morning...at 7:00 am, 271 N had more than a handful of cars on it.

My point is, is that the roads were plowed and salted..on early Sunday morning, and my commute to work was safe. I am truly grateful. I have heard stories of problems in certain areas of untreated roads at points south of my location...so I am not so naive to think that there really isn't a problem, but I just wanted to say "thank you" to the folks that keep me safe and punctual.

I heard a story not too long ago on the news about a company that donated all of its expired garlic salt...to a city (can't remember which one) so that they may use it on their roads this winter. What an awesome and fragrant idea!! "It's beginning to smell alot like pizza....."

So, until next time...."When it's freezy, drive easy"...

GlitterBell.com

Phil-iz Navi-Ferguson

And then there's this....

Thank You Sgt. Casey....Thank You Paul

An email from my husband....

My first ride with the Patriot Guard by Paul Hickman

2 Nov 2008
It’s 6:45 am and it’s a sweltering 37 degrees outside when I straddle my Heritage Softail and fire up it’s 96 cubic inch motor. I am wearing two jackets and a winter coat, along with ear warmers, gloves, and my helmet. Squeeze the clutch, pop the bike in 1st gear, roll back on the throttle and head on down the road. I am thinking to myself “this isn’t too bad, I am dressed warm enough”, then I pull out on to Rt 8 south and the realization sets in that the temperature drops drastically at 65 mph! I begin to question my decision to take this trip this morning. I decide I can handle the cold for an hour and press on to Canton.
Shortly before 8am I arrive at my destination, and I think it has actually gotten colder too. I am one of the first bikes to arrive at the Reed funeral home in Canton. I am joining up with a group of patriots who have a strong desire and duty to honor our fallen heroes. Today we are honoring Sgt. Nicolas Casey age 22 who was killed serving our country fighting in the war on terrorism. Sgt. Casey was coming home today and we where there to escort him and his family.
At 9am approximately 50 motorcycles fire up their engines and line up two by two, as we slowly begin following the Hearse from the funeral home to the Akron-Canton Airport. Amazingly folks understand what is going on and no one attempts to invade the procession. Bikes of all makes and sizes wind slowly through the streets of Canton before heading north on I-77. It is a short ride on most sunny days, but today it is cold and the trip seems to take forever.
We arrive at the rear section of the Akron-Canton Airport where the charter companies operate. We then line up two by two again and shut down our iron horses. Shake off the cold and begin assembling flag poles and attaching American flags. The ride captain briefs us on not taking pictures of the casket or the family. We then file into the hanger and take up our place on the hanger floor. We stand in somewhat of a resemblance of a military formation. Many of the riders are in fact veterans themselves. A LtCol of the United States Army addresses the group of riders and tearfully thanks us for coming, and tells us how much our support means to the men and women serving and especially to the families who have lost a son or daughter. He then makes it a point to shake everyone’s hand.
A few minutes later the hanger door slowly begins to open, and off in the distance you see a small white jet coming in for a landing. A few minutes later, that very same jet is taxiing carefully into the hanger. The piercing whine of the jet’s engine is almost painful, some people are covering their ears as the jet taxis closer and then stops. Moments later the door of the jet opens and a member of the aircrew lowers a small ladder and assists Sgt. Casey’s father from the plane. The men and women of the PGR stand tall and motionless as tears fill many an eye, including my own. The honor guard commander gives the command “Present Arms” and those of us who are veterans stand at attention and salute while Sgt Casey’s flag draped casket is removed from the plane. We hold the salute until the command “Order Arms” is given.
The family approaches the casket with cries of sorrow and pain for their lost hero, as we the PGR share in their suffering with tears flowing freely. The Army Chaplain stands with the family and says a prayer while the honor guard stands rigidly at attention. As the family walks back to their place in the hanger a family member turns to our group and says “Thank You”.
The soft shuffle of Army boots fills the hanger as the honor guard slowly marches towards Sgt. Casey’s casket. The command present arms is given again and we all salute as the casket is carried to the waiting Hearse. Once Sgt. Casey is securely in the Hearse the command order arms is given, and the hearse slowly pulls out of the hanger.
With many of us wiping tears from our eyes, we head back to our motorcycles and get prepared for the cold ride back to the funeral home. A Sheriff’s deputy on a motorcycle leads the procession followed by a Sheriff’s car, the PGR, Sgt. Casey, and then his family. As we rounded the corner to get back on to I-77 south we encountered a group of about 20 people with American flags and signs of condolences, and thank you for the family. I saw many more riders wiping their eyes as we passed the group of supporters.
As the procession made its way down the interstate, you could see the Deputies who job it was to stop traffic, saluting as the procession went by. And as we passed by Sgt. Casey’s high school we where met by a group of young adults paying their respects to Sgt. Casey.
When the procession arrived at the funeral home, we parked our bikes around back and made our way back to the front of the funeral home, where we lined the parking lot and faced the hearse. The command present arms was given as Sgt. Casey was slowly removed from the hearse, and as his casket was taken into the funeral home, the command order arms was given. I watched with eyes swelled with tears as Sgt. Casey’s father hugged a family member, as I realized he was now holding a Gold Star flag. Making him and Sgt. Casey’s mother members of a sacred group of Americans, Gold Star Parents.
As we stood there lining the parking lot, another of Sgt. Casey’s family members thanked us, We where the ones saying “Thank You” it was our Honor to be there.

I guess in the scope of things, my ride this morning wasn’t really that cold after all.




Thank You

Semper Fi

Paul Hickman

Guitars for Grunts

Sending guitars to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

http://www.guitarsforgrunts.com/

330-338-4001

The Truth

Enough Said....

Happy Swedish Day!

uhhhhhh.......

Sarah Smiles

Political Punnies From The Mind of a Gutless Emailer

**The comments, views and opinions in this blog are not necessarily my personal views. But they are my jokes...(as far as Juneau!)**


What does McCain say when he doesn't know his running mate's stand on an issue? "I dunno. Alaska".

How can you tell if a nursing home is Republican? You always here "McCain! I want McCain!"

Why vote Democrat? Because Republicans "Palin"comparison.

What is the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? If you don't know don't give me a ride to practice!

Ever hear of the city, Ketchikan , Alaska? Perhaps you have heard of it's Ohio counterpart, Adopt-A-Can.

(Can't you just hear the rimshots??)

If you don't take your vacations in the month of August, does that make them "unconventional"?

If Oprah married Barack Obama, her intials would be O.O.

This blog will be repeated on my MySpace page.....because I can.

I'm an online comedic wannabe....and I improved this message.

A Message From Maggie...

Hi!
Here is the info on the fundraiser. We are helping Heaven-Can-Wait pet rescue (as heard on the WNIR Tom Erickson show...it's the one his daughter Heather runs). 100% of the proceeds go to Heaven-Can-Wait.We have a 5 person relay team set up to run in te Akron marathon on 9/27. We are accepting donations of 75 dollars to have your name or company logo on the team shirts.It's good advertising!

Checks should be made payable to:
Heaven-Can-Wait Pet Rescue

Mailed to:
WNIR 100.1 FM
c/o Maggie Fuller
PO Box 2170
Akron, Ohio 44309

Now, on Friday the 19th we will be auctioning off the space on the back of my running shorts during the morning show. You can have your company logo, name or whatever you want on my butt if you're the highest bidder.Thanks for your interest and the furry faces at Heaven-Can-Wait thank you too. Please forward this email to others who might be interested.Thanks and have a great week!

Maggie

Fire Up The Generator! (oh...uhhhhhh...never mind)

It would seem that the windstorm we have encountered has taken WNIR down for the count...Not sure how long it has been down or when it will be back up, so I thought to myself, "Self," why not commemorate this suspicious occasion with a song?"....

Sung to the tune of the WNIR Morning Show Theme song...

WNIR's off the air...
Good thing it's Sunday
and nobody's there.
Can't join the fun now the radio's gone
on 100.1

It left without a warning
Let's hope it's back by morning.
What else will rhyme with morning?
Good Morning Morning Morning.....

Never Forget...

Sarah Palin's Pets

The moose are loose! (Or is it mooses?)

Star Wars Meets Seattle Grace

What the Frak???

Happy.......

Quote of the Day (as heard on "Frasier")


"Celebrating a dance that brings more snakes into the world is like toasting a law school graduation."

(No offense, Couch Burner.)

[ Copy this Start New Full Size ]

Introducing...Trunk Monkey

For those of you who may have missed the conversation on Friday...this is Trunk Monkey!

Welcome To The Nut House!

Hello Friends!


The purpose of this blog is for fans and friends and nuts of the WNIR Morning Show to showcase comedic talents and comments that may otherwise be missed.

***This space is NOT to bash or ridicule ANYONE. That will NOT be tolerated. If you can't play nice, your comments will be deleted....so loudmouths and haters need not apply. I also do not take off for spelling or grammatical errors (but I might laugh a little...) And please remember that the comments, views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily the views of anyone on WNIR, it's sponsors, or your hosts...(legalese...legalese...legalese.....disclaimer...disclaimer...disclaimer)***

That being said, let's kick back and have some fun!

Did you have an answer to the contest but couldn't wait for the beep? Are you a "gutless emailer" (like me) who sometimes winds up at the bottom of the pile? Did you spoon Stan in Vegas? My hope is that we can exchange ideas (like golf ball warmers and flatuliners), humor and stories here! Of course, there are no prizes here...just be a player!