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But not gone.
That became clear when, after Mike announced hiring Octavia Zabel for an anchor spot, Leona said, “But only when the skiing’s not good.”
That required more explanation from Mike, to which he added, “And we’re looking for at least one more anchor to complement Octavia’s schedule.”
“Any advance on a news director? GM?” Walt asked.
“Not that I can share now, but we’re exploring ideas. And if anyone has recommendations...”
That got a laugh, which built when Walt said, “Sure. Leona.”
She whacked him, Mike groaned, the rest laughed.
Before the meeting broke up, Mike said, “Diana and Elizabeth, will you two please stick around a bit.”
We did, as the rest of them filed out amid congratulations to Leona.
With the two of us left and the door closed, Mike immediately asked, “Diana, why don’t you want to replace the NewsMobile?”
The rat.
I’d told him he had to ask her, but I’d intended that to be between them. With her knowing my feelings on the topic, it might make her defensive.
“I don’t need something big and shiny.”
“Not what I asked,” he said mildly. “Why don’t you want to replace it?”
She gusted out exasperation, but hard to tell if it was at us or herself, especially when she looked away.
“The station sinks a lot of money into a new microwave truck and you’re going to want to get the most out of it. If that’s my station vehicle, then I’m going to be out on breaking news whenever it happens. With the age the kids are I want to be home more for them—”
Also, I suspected, for our sheriff, Russ Conrad. But I can keep my mouth shut when it’s called for.
“—whenever I can. They’ll be off to college soon — Jess really soon — and we won’t have this time again. So, no, I don’t want the big, new truck with all the tech, because I don’t want the work-hour strings that come with it.”
“Make it clear you aren’t using it after your shift. As long as it’s available for someone else to use—”
“You know that’s not how it works. Jenks has come around a lot, but techy he is not. It will take forever to train him or the others on the newest tech—”
Mike interrupted us by laughing. Loud.
“You think we’re buying something with the newest tech? State of the art? Really?” He went off again. Apparently catching a closer look at our expressions, he restrained himself with a few more gulping guffaws. “Sorry. You were stalling because of that? No need, because there’s no way we’d make that sort of outlay for a single piece of equipment. Especially one that could get hit by a semi or go off the road or run into a cow or deer or moose.”
I’d noticed Mike expressing concerns befitting an insurance agent more often since becoming majority owner of KWMT.
“Well, what are you planning to get?” Diana asked.
“Something used with better tech than we have now, which means, basically, anything since World War II. But now that I know how you feel, maybe I’ll look at just getting you a vanilla van — because the NewsMobile is an embarrassment to have our name on—”
“Hey!”
“It is,” I said, loyally supporting the station majority owner, as well as reporting factually.
“—and save for a more recent live van. Probably could get a satellite truck used at a better discount with them not being used as much, but—”
“Not satellite,” Diana said emphatically. “But what about two used live vans?”
Ah-hah. Not having the only one wouldn’t make her feel obligated to be on hand for every story, but she’d still have one.
