Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 21

TODAY Lansing State Journal Monday, October 25, 1993 Kathleen Lavey, Features Editor 377-1251 Page 1C TASTE Time for some patch work. Here's. what to do after you've picked out the pumpkins. Your daily guide to what everyone's talking about and what's happening around town. i (.

I -''a. Kv-. -m v-- Prescription advice is available Do you have questions about over-the-counter medications that you take? Now you've got a chance to ask a pharmacist about them. In observation of National Pharmacy Week, pharmacists will answer questions at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte. Call 543-9509 between 8:30 a.m.

and 5:30 p.m. You can ask about over-the-counter and prescription medications, drug interactions, storage and labeling information. Breast-fed babies, better teeth Another benefit for breast-fed babies: straighter teeth than their bot tle-fed counterparts. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health studied 10,000 babies, and found that those breast fed for more than a vear tended to Lansing State JournalMARGIE GARRISON The WILX (Channel 10) news team: Joe Kopecek, Roger McCoy, Liz Talbot and Tim Staudt. New anchor faces, money prepare WILX for battle By MIKE HUGHES Lansing State Journal have straighter teeth than those breast fed for less than a year or those who were fed with bottles.

Bottle-fed babies tend to thrust their tongues forward while they eat, putting pressure on their front teeth. Breast-fed babies control the flow of milk with their mouth muscles instead of their tongue, leaving their teeth alone. The Academy of General Dentistry, which reports the Johns Hopkins results, suggests that mothers consider the dental benefits to iheir babies when deciding how to feed them. o) Monday doesn't have to be dull After an exciting weekend, nothing rains on your parade like a mundane Monday. But we're here to let you know that the beginning of the week doesn't have to be dour.

So, sit up and listen! The music scene is having a blackout right now. Don't worry, the problem will be fixed at the stroke of midnight. But until then, there ROGER McCOY Age: 37. Last stop: Co-anchored only newscast (10 p.m.) on Detroit's Channel 50. Previously: Reporter in Kansas City.

Coverage includes: Skywalk collapse, political conventions. Roots: Grew up in Lawrence in shadow of University of Kansas. Both parents are professors. Moving in: House in suburban Detroit is up for sale. Then plans to move to Lansing with his wife and 3-year-old; second child expected in February.

LIZ TALBOT Age: 31. Last major stop: Anchored only newscast (9 p.m.) on Milwaukee's Channel 1 created the news operation from scratch. Previously: Reported in Rockford, anchored in Wausau, Wis. Coverage includes: Prairie fires near Wausau; Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee. Roots: Grew up in suburban Chicago, where both parents are teachers high school gym for her father, pre-school for her mother.

Moving in: Bought a condo in Okemos and arrived last week. Single. than being demoted. Gruber stays, reporting and substitute anchoring. WILX pondered such names as Joe Glover, Joanne Wangler and Dan Springer as replacements.

Two breaks made new people available: WVTV, an independent station in Milwaukee, was sold, In March, its new owner dumped the news hour; Talbot who had created and anchored it retreated to radio work. WKBD (Channel 50) in Detroit was demoting McCoy. He began looking for a new job: WKBD began looking for a replacement. In mid-September. David Scott took over.

Three weeks later, McCoy was hired by WILX. This was a city-style deal, including a contract requirement that his office has a window; it has two. Talbot brings a basic, to-the-point style. This is the daughter of a gym teacher in Chicago suburbia, rooted in Americana. "My father taught at a high school that was right across the street from the pre-school where my mother works," she said.

She also brings a range of reporting experience, from Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee to prairie fires near Wausau, Wis. McCoy brings something else, a golden-guy image. He's 6-foot-2. handsome, runs 20 miles a week and is married to an aerobics instructor. Beneath that yuppie image, however, are substantive roots.

McCoy's father is an American history professor at the University of Kansas. His mother, retired as director of continuing education at the University of Michigan, teaches life cycles at North Carolina. His wife free-lances as a news writer. At times, McCoy is as folksy as his Kansas boyhood. is a spirit to the people of the Midwest." he said.) "We have anchors who are also good field reporters," Santimore said.

"Liz Talbot wants to go out in the field It's not inconceivable that you'll see Roger McCoy at the conventions, where he's been before." Convention coverage? That's been beyond Lansing's budget. "Until now," Staudt said, "the first question has always been. How much can we Now. we didn't ask that." The words bouncing around WILX (Channel 10) seem like a foreign language for Lansing. They are words like "hightech" and "high-concept" and really "high-price." That's not the way local TV works.

"You get what you pay for." said Tim Staudt, the station's news director. Now, he says. WILX is paying plenty. At 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

today, it unveils its revamped newscast, with a cross-country feel. There are anchors from Detroit and Milwaukee, music from New York, a set from Lansing and hairstyles and makeup from Douglas J. Weaver of Okemos. There's also money from Memphis. That's key.

Often, local stations haven't been big spenders. "When I started in 1970, 1 don't know if I was any good," Staudt said. "But I didn't have to be." Back then, Lansing was almost a one-station town. WJIM now WLNS, Channel 6 dominated. It hired weather people at $10 a show; it turned Staudt then an MSU student into its sports director.

WILX caught up once, after hiring away Staudt in 1 980, but then slipped back. WLAJ (Channel 53) tried briefly, then dropped out. Now WILX is launching a fresh attack. It brings a transfusion from Paul Brissette, its Memphis-based owner. That included enough money to hire big-city anchors.

"When my agents saw the size of the offer, they were flabbergasted," says Roger McCoy, who will anchor with Liz Talbot. The anchors are important, says Grant Santimore, the station's vice-president and general manager. "We wanted people who would make an impact." More money was needed for: The studio, near Edgewood Boulevard. The old Jackson facility is being sold; the station will rent an office there with a part-time reporter. are alternatives.

They are: Check out Betty Joplin at Mr. Kenny's Ribs and Jazz, 5919 S. Cedar from 4-7 p.m.; it's free. For info call 394-7675. There are Jammin DJs at Fratelli's, 7216 W.

Saginaw from 6-10 p.m. For info, dial 886-1330. Opprobrium will quench your thirst for some live music at Rick's American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road, East Lansing. For info, dial 351-2285. There will also be Swish Belly appearing at the Small Planet, 220 M.A.C.

Ave. in East Lansing. For more information, dial 351-6230. Let's do the time warp again You should start making your plans now. You'll need to get toast, squirt guns, umbrellas, rice and more.

You also may need a newer and rowdier set of friends. In short, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show-is making its TV debut, at 8 p.m. on Channel 47. Watched passively, this movie is kind of interesting and kind of repetitious. Watched in a joyous crowd (in a movie theater or your living room), it's an adventure.

People squirt during the rain, throw rice during the wedding, throw toast (well, why not?) during the toast. They also sing and dance and such. All of this has been a windfall for people like producer Lou Adler. He's interviewed on Page 7C. news director.

A sports man taking over news? As it happened, Staudt's interests go beyond pucks and dunk shots; he enjoys quoting from books about management. Staudt says he suggested hiring Santimore as his new boss. Santimore had scored in radio, then became general manager of WLNS. Why switch to WILX? "What really excited me was the chance to build something new," he said. "And if he ever sells it, I have first right of refusal." Santimore planned to eventually restore the noon and 5:30 p.m.

newscasts. Staudt talked of a new emphasis, with less police-blotter news. First, however, they planned to replace anchors Kathy Schmaltz and Steve Gruber. Schmaltz left Aug. 27, rather The news desk, with redwood base and gray top, created by local Omnitech.

The backdrops. One anchor will be backed by bluish-green, the other by variations on brown and gray. The music and opening credits, from a New York firm. The look. Weaver is consulting on the hair and makeup.

"I've been working 23 hours a day." Staudt said, exaggerating for effect. Still, he was upbeat. "All I have to do is think back to where we were in April." Staudt was vacationing in Florida then, amid rumors that WILX was in trouble. For a time, Brissette had put all his stations up for sale. Instead, he went in the opposite direction: He promised to invest heavily and asked Staudt to be Ever wanted to be in "A Christmas The Buckham Alley Theatre in Flint is holding auditions todav, from 5:30 p.m.

to 9:30 p.m.; call (313) 695-2882. On this day in 1760, George III ascended the British throne upon the death of his grandfather. King George II; in 1929, former Interior Secre Meet a witch with too many pets CATS IN THE WELL Once upon a time a wicked witch lived at the bottom of a deep, dry well with 96 cats. She sent I tary Albert Fall was convicted of accepting a $100,000 bribe in connection with the Elk Hills Naval Oil Reserve in California; in 1962, U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson presented photographic evidence of Soviet missile bases in Cuba to the U.N.

Security Council; in 1983, U.S. Marines and Rangers, assisted by soldiers from six Caribbean Do you want to hear this story read to you? Pall ARR-731fi and nrpss them off to perform evil deeds, and when they returned home, she fed them treats. By and by, the cats grew spoiled and lazy. One night the huge orange torn with shining yellow eyes set up a howl. "What is it you want?" the witch cried angrily.

"Bring me some cream," he howled. "Bring me crab meat!" TELL ME A STORY "ea9an da at the order of President Ronald Reagan, who said the action was needed to protect U.S. citizens there; in 1988, first lady Nancy Reagan, addressing a United Nations committee, said the United States was responsible for its own drug problem, and charged every American drug user was "an accomplice to every criminal act" committed by drug barons. horse and a purse full of gold." The young man shrugged and said, "I'll do me best." He told the witch: "Go down into your well and tell your brood they're all invited to a great feast at the inn over the hill." The young man stood outside the door to welcome the brood to the feast. Now the cats were so greedy that they did not notice a great pan filled with holy water that stood just inside the door.

They rushed for the table, and as they did, each cat, one by one, fell into the pan, turned into fire and shot up the chimney. These were not real cats. They were but wicked spirits in disguise. The holy water changed them into their true form. "I'm most grateful," said the witch to the young man.

and she handed him a purse heavy with gold. That moment they heard a squeal. "Help me!" The witch and the young man whirled around and looked into the pan. There they saw a kitten. "Help, please," it squealed.

The young man pulled the cat from the water. squealed a tabby. "That's difficult," the witch began. An old Manx scratched at the witch's bare toes. "I want a shepherd's pie!" "And tender steak," wailed a Siamese.

Soon all 96 cats were wailing. The witch put her hands to her ears. She kicked and flailed her arms. "Stop it." she cried. Soon the witch was at her wits' end.

Soon a pleasant young man happened by. "What seems to be amiss, good mother?" he asked. "Ninety-six cats!" said the witch gloomily. The young man laughed. "That's quite a few." The witch's yellow eyes lighted up.

"If you can rid me of my cats." she said, "I'll give you a new 7 The little cat looked up and said, "If you please. Mother. I'm not a demon. I'm a real cat." The young man bent down and picked up the poor cat. "Let her be," said he.

"Very well," said the witch. People say the witch and the black cat lived happily together ever afterward. Stories are adapted by Amy Friedman and illustrated by Jillian Gilliland. You can reach them co Universal Press Syndicate, 4900 Main Kansas City, Mo. 64112.

Kids today suffer less from tooth decay, but they need mom and dad help to establish good habits. Caring for Kids, Page 2C. Compiled from staff and wire reports..