Jack Boston has been named the new morning show host of WPTF. He is only the fourth morning show host since 1952 to grace the station's airwaves.

Boston replaces the oft-controversial and much dispised Kevin Miller, who left in August. Miller joined WPTF in 2003. He quickly made enemies of many who worked with him.

After only a few months on the job as the Program Director, Miller replaced long-time WPTF personality Maury O'dell. Many accused Miller of forcing the venerable "Uncle Maury" off of the perch he had held for 26 years.

Boston is talented. He has a storied history and is responsible for probably about 85% of the various voice overs on Curtis Media Group's 16 station's in-house commercial production.

While talent is necessary in continuing (many would say rebuilding) the WPTF legacy, one former We Protect The Family staffer questioned whether or not Boston has the gravitas to give North Carolina's Morning News the shot in the arm it needs.

Overall, Boston is a good guy. He is funny and has an easy going personality. That's true both on and off the air.

Still, don't let Phil Zachary's typical PR spin make you think this was a coveted spot that many were challenging Boston for. Quite frankly, I can't imagine anyone at CMG world headquarters in Raleigh ever being paid what a typical top-45 market morning host should pull down. Hence: Don wouldn't pay for talent beyond a certain point.

Time will tell if this marriage will work. If not, it will go down as just another nail in the coffin of 82-year-old WPTF's now forgetable history.

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

Stop Carrying Da Poop!

Okay, I've had it. I think it is absolutely absurd how "caring" and "considerate" people are these days when it comes to walking their pooch.

Everyday on the way home from work, I see person after person walking their dog on Grove Barton Road -- 90% of whom are carrying a bag of dog crap.

Now, maybe you think I'm crude. But, look at it from my perspective: when did people start carrying plastic bags filled with fecal material up and down the sidewalk?

Look, I'm just a country boy. Bred, Born, and Raised in the small Vance County town of Henderson -- we lived a little differently. I can assure you of this -- in 20 years of living in Vance County, I never once -- NOT ONCE -- saw a single individual carry doggie doo with them during a leisurely walk.

God had a plan for dog dump -- let it fertilize and replinish the nutrients in the soil. It usually hardens in a few hours or a day. Trust me -- it ain't that big a deal!

And, my friends, this ridiculous problem is spreading. Every night while I enjoy my supper at the bay window of my home, I watch a neighbor religiously walk their dog to the same spot -- where he defecates -- same fido time, same fido station.

Now, I don't know about you, but my idea of a good meal is not watching fido drop his log and then see my neighbor pick it up with a plastic food lion bag when I'm chewing tonight's meatloaf.

It is time for this insanity to end. The next time you see one of these poor lost souls carrying around a sack of $*&#, stop and ask them "Excuse me, but do you find yourself attractive carrying around that foul fido funk?"

I mean, come on! My dog did her business in the back yard, side yard, front yard, neighbor's yard, -- you name it -- growing up as a child. And how often did I step in the doggie doo? Once in a very, very, very blue moon.

And you know what we did in our little country abode? We wiped our shoes off in the grass.

But ... not in Raleigh. No -- we have to be more civilized. (Folks -- this isn't civility -- it's stupidity!) It's become so systemic, there are even doggie trash cans and little baggies on some of the freakin' sidewalks.

And finally, if any of you are some of the afforementioned poo-poo heads who are participating in this nonsense -- STOP NOW! Please think of how utterly ridiculous you look in your athletic wear, walking your dog, trying to stay in shape ... all the time carrying dog crap.

And that's part of our world...

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com

SAFE

US AIR FORCE MAJOR JILL METZGER FOUND SAFE...
WAS COHERENT BUT DISORIENTED WHEN FOUND...
FAMILY OVERJOYED...
SAYS SHE WAS KIDNAPPED BY THREE MEN AND A WOMAN...
SEDATED AND BEING DEBRIEFED...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/08/world/main1985454.shtml
http://www.wral.com/news/9813036/detail.html
http://www.hendersondispatch.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-09-08-missing-major_x.htm

I have not seen Jill Metzger since she was a senior, and I a junior at Northern Vance High School in Henderson. While it's been 15 years since we last crossed paths, the news of her disappearance this week struck a deep chord with me.

Jill has been portrayed fairly and accurately. She was an all-american girl. Lettering in 4 sports (the first and only Vance County female athelete to do so) she was always energetic -- vivatious.

Her family is close knit. I had her brother in several classes. Her father was the ROTC instructor and a teacher at Northern Vance/Vance Senior High.

And while I can't claim to have been a close friend of Jill's, I can attest to this: She's a neighbor, a citizen, a friend. When it's someone from your hometown, someone you saw practically every school day, someone who was always friendly, caring, compasionate -- it really hits home.

Like many other Hendersonians, I too was praying for Jill's safe return. We had our prayers answered tonight. It was a fortunate ending to a story that too often ends another way. And, most importantly, a stark reminder of the perils and dangers our military men and women face on a daily basis. It's not just in Iraq. It's not solely in Afghanistan. The dangers are real around the globe.

Lest We Forget.

DEVELOPING...
EXCLUSIVE HIGH SCHOOL PICTURES FORTHCOMING...

Randy Gupton, fivesecondstoair.blogspot.com