So Long To 2012 Part 2

June  June was a pretty busy month, starting with the State Democratic Convention, it wasn't mentioned in the blog, but the evening before, we went to Benaroya to watch Marvin Hamlisch lead the Seattle Pops.  We did not realize that Hamlisch would pass away soon afterward.  We took a trip to Seaside Oregon with my cousin and her husband and of course, an ever growing Dasher.  The 5th District Democrats sponsored a debate between candidates for the 1st District Congressional race.

July  The entire month is encompassed by the remodel at work.  The whole family got to ride on The Big Wheel that was after birthday dinner at The Spaghetti Factory , Seattle's latest tourist attraction, on my birthday.  We hosted the Wagners while Ethan pitched in a Pony League Baseball tournament in Enumclaw. 

August  We watched Kenny Loggins in concert at the Snoqualmie Casino, Seattle TV anchor and WSU classmate Kathi Goertzen passed away.  The King, Felix Hernandez, pitched a perfect game for the Mariners.  First man on the Moon Neil Armstrong died. Also, the Seahawks signed NFL bad boy Terrell Owens in an experiment that went awry and we watched the figure 8 races at the Monroe Fair.

September For the second year in a row, we went to Walla Walla with the Wagners to visit the wineries. Dasher took second place at the Fido Fest at University Village.  The Seattle Seahawks beat Green Bay after Golden Tate made literally a last second controversial catch on Monday Night Football.

October Everything is politics as every high profile race in the state is up for grabs.  1972 Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern died.  Bob and Robyn Scola sponsored an online debate watch party on Facebook.  The Seattle Times angers the state by offering free advertising to Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, perhaps dooming his campaign.  We celebrated Dasher's 1st birthday.

November  Big Democratic Sweep.  Obama is reelected, Jay Inslee is elected governor, Mark Mullet becomes the first Democrat in 20 years to represent the 5th district in Olympia.  Debra appeared on New Day Northwest morning TV show to talk about The UPS Store.  Larry Hagman died, just when Dallas is resurrected.

December  Former Walla Walla rock and roll DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran's death inspired an article in the UB.  Seattle Rock Group Heart is chosen for induction into the Rock Hall Of Fame.  The Seattle Seahawks make the play-offs  The Holidays.

Happy New Year!

So Long To 2012

It's time to look back on 2012, as reported in this blog.

January  Seattle area is hit with a huge snowstorm, making driving to work and back a real chore.  I also learn that my old co-worker from KYYX, Randi Thomas had died a while back.  New York Giants beat New England in the Super Bowl, perhaps signaling the end of Boston professional sports dominance.

February  We get a break from winter, taking a trip with in-laws and nephews to Annaheim, we visit Knotts Berry Farm and Disney California Adventure. We also took a trip to Hollywood and watched the set up for the Academy Awards which would take place soon after we left.  On a sad note, February saw the death of two pop music legends, Whitney Houston and Davy Jones. In addition, word was received that a Seattle native who became a successful financier, was working with the Mayor on a plan to build an arena in the hopes of bringing the NBA back to Seattle.

March  Marshawn Lynch signed a contract for 4 years 31 million dollars with the Seahawks.  The Seahawks also managed to sign Green Bay Packers back up quarterback Matt Flynn.  It seemed at the time that the Matt Flynn era was starting in Seattle, we would soon learn otherwise.  Also, My nephew Ethan turned 13, officially becomming a Teenager.  My friend, Rick and I managed to get up to Snoqualmie pass to do some skiing, the first times that I had hit the slopes in over 10 years.

April  Former WSU quarterback Ryan Leaf caught breaking into houses more than once. American Bandstand Host Dick Clark passes away.  The Space Needle turns 50 and a bear is seen in Maple Valley, prompting a helicopter search.

May Democrat Mark Mullet kicked off his campaign to represent the 5th District in the State Legislature.  KIRO710 announces it will carry Cougar sports. Senator Cheryl Pflug announces she is leaving her state senate position for a spot of the Growth Management Commission, she would later endorse Mullet for Senate.  Fred Meyer opens it's store in Maple Valley.  This blog celebrates it's 7th birthday.

To be continued!

A Holiday Trip To Woodinville Wonderland

For the second time in 3 years, we visited the Woodinville Wonderland, a private home that is decorated for Christmas in a spectacular fashion. It has it's own radio station playing Christmas music that syncs to a light show that would put Las Vegas to shame.  Better still, the owner has two golden retrievers. The house is located at 23620 NE 183rd on  a quiet street corner just outside of Woodinville.  For more pictures and info, you can find the web site here.  Donations are requested for Special Olympics.

Seahawk Sherman Will Not Be Suspended

The NFL has ruled that Seahawk star corner back Richard Sherman will not be suspended for using performance enhancing drugs.  The ruling was based on the finding that proper testing procedures had not been followed.  Teammate and fellow corner back Brandon Browner did not wait for his appeal and as such, is serving a 4 game suspension.  Browner's suspension will end as the post season begins.

Seahawks Are In The Mix

The Seattle Seahawks, arguably the NFL's hottest team, will be gunning for it's 2nd Super Bowl Appearance.  The team blew out the San Francisco 49ers 42-13 in front of the entire nation last Sunday to clinch a playoff spot.   Rookie Quarterback Russell Wilson (above) appears ready to take the team toward a possible title.  However there is still plenty of football to be played.

Walla Walla Teen Memories--The Hi-Fi Show

Contests and rock radio go hand in hand, KTEL had a daily contest that was somewhat unusual.  The Hi-Fi Show, I remember from 1970 on.  Hosted usually by Dave "Rockin" Cochran, it started with the Coca Cola jingle (it's the real thing).  Then Cochran would introduce the show and instruct everyone that a Hi-Fi card was needed to play.  For those too young to get a driver's license or a credit card, the Hi-Fi card was a must have for the wallet.  Each card had a number, many cardholders still incredibly remember their number.  My first was 1572-B.  Cochran would tell the listeners how to get the card.  The KTEL offices "high atop the Book Nook Building". Back then, KTEL had a downtown office and studio, while the transmitter and tower were on 2nd and Tietan, the night broadcasts were at the transmitter site.  The contest was usually to name the song and the artist of a song that he played.  When someone would get a correct answer, Cochran would cut in on the record and say "No more calls please, we do have a winner"  The winner would get a six pack of Coca-Cola, but I think some people just enjoyed getting their name on the radio.

Fred Meyer Has A Guest

Santa may live at the North Pole, but he does know the way to Maple Valley.  This was taken Saturday at the Fred Meyer store here. 

Union-Bulletin Does Feature On Late Walla Walla DJ

Annie Chernley Eveland wrote a full page piece on Dave "Rockin" Cochran in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin, bringing back memories to Walla Wallans coming of age when he dominated the town's evening airwaves, some excerpts...
"WALLA WALLA — The sound of a prop plane roaring in for a landing at the Walla Walla Airport opened the 1970s Night Flight radio show hosted by local rock ’n’ roll DJ Dave Herbert Cochran, recalled Richard “Rich” Greenwood, who as a teenager caught his broadcasts. Cochran died Nov. 27.

Burial was Friday at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hood River, Ore.

Variously known on air as “Rockin’ Cochran,” “Dynamic Dave” and “Sebastian,” among others, the Hawaiian shirt-clad Cochran was part of area radio activity from the late 1960s into the 1970s. He died at age 62, shortly after Thanksgiving, and was found at his Walla Walla home at 11 E. Chestnut St., said Greenwood, the Walla Walla County coroner.

Despite being a bit of a loner, Cochran reached thousands over the airwaves. Some of his first audience was captive.

It started in his early teens when he built a transmitter. He lived near the Washington State Penitentiary and had a pirate radio station in his basement with a six-block range. “His broadcasts hit the pen and inmates listened to him,” Greenwood said"

The article continues to speak of his KTEL days as well as after radio life in the town he loved.  There were rememberences from family and friends as well as excerpts that I provided from this blog. 

Forever In Our Hearts

20 children, 6 adults lost at Sandy Hill Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut.

Seattle Rock Band Heart To Be Inducted

 

 

 

As if the Seahawks 58 to nothing thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals wasn't enough to celebrate, Seattle got word that Heart, the hometown rock band made good has been voted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.   The induction ceremony will be this April 18th at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.  The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is in Cleveland Ohio.

Walla Walla Radio Legend Cochran Dies

Word has been received that former Walla Walla Rock DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran has died.  Cochran worked for KTEL in the late 60s and early 70s when the station played Rock and Roll at night.  At the time, employees at KTEL were basically "day laborers", the full timers would put in an 8 hour regular shift while taping programs off the network feeds, cutting commercials, etc for a seemingly laughable wage, all in hopes of getting the big break.  For Rockin' Cochran, being on KTEL seemed to be all that mattered. To the listeners, he was bigger than life, to the management,  from what I've pretty much heard, he was a major headache.  His talent and rebellious spirit came really came across on the air.  Much of the music that I've come to love over the decades was introduced to me by listening to Rockin' Cochran. 
Cochran was let go from KTEL towards the mid 70s, he did voice over  commercials on the local cable TV channel and even a Yakima/Tri Cities station before reappearing again in the summer of 1976 as a rock DJ on KUJ, which had recently been purchased by out of town interests, it was a short lived engagement as management there grew weary of Cochran's free form ways. 
Dave Cochran may be gone, but former Walla Walla teens who wanted to be part of the scene, decades ago will never forget him.

Happy Hannukkah!

In Fond Memory

Remembering Rusty, who passed away exactly one year ago.

Gasman Leaving KJR

It's said that "all good things must come to an end" and today's Seattle Times announced that Mike Gastineau, known as the Gasman on KJR, is leaving the station.   When KJR, one of Seattle's venerable radio stations became a sports talk station in the early 90s, many of it's on-air personalities were abrasive toward both the players and fans who called in.  Gastineau had a much different approach, fair and even handed. Gastineau had a friendly way of educating his callers, who may not have seen the full picture.  As the station has evolved, there are fewer call-ins and more interviews and commentary.  Gastineau has been afternoon drive at KJR for almost 20 years, almost 3 lifetimes in big market radio.  He has been with KJR  for 21 years.  His community service includes hosting the Fred Hutchinson Award and the KJR Kares-A-Thon Charity Auction..  He has said that he will persue other opportunities.

Seattle AM Station To Host Sports Talk

Sources say that KPTK AM1090 will soon abandon it's Progressive talk format in favor of sports talk.  At this time, the Seattle market has two of it's top tier stations doing sports.  Sportradio950 (KJR) and ESPN710 (KIRO) both stations have deep roots in the community.  Sport broadcasts are not new to AM1090,  the past couple seasons, it has broadcast the Seattle Storm,Seattle's WNBA team.  Whether that partnership will continue beyond contractual obligations remain to be seen. 
It should be noted that KVI, abandoned it's Conservative talk a few years ago, in favor of oldie music hits, it returned to conservative talk recently.  AM1090 is owned by CBS Radio.