2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 65
BY SENATORS BARROW, FIELDS, FOIL, KLEINPETER, LAMBERT, MCMATH,
MIZELL, POPE, PRICE, WHITE AND WOMACK AND
REPRESENTATIVES ADAMS, BACALA, BRASS, CARPENTER,
ROBBY CARTER, DAVIS, EDMONDS, EDMONSTON, FREIBERG,
FRIEMAN, HODGES, IVEY, JORDAN, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR,
MACK, MARCELLE, MCKNIGHT, MINCEY, MUSCARELLO,
SCHEXNAYDER, SELDERS AND WHEAT
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To commend WAFB television station upon the celebration of its seventieth anniversary of
broadcasting.
WHEREAS, WAFB, the first television station in Baton Rouge, signed on April 19,
1953, by broadcasting a parade and quickly became a strong information source when there
were no live network services available; and
WHEREAS, WAFB-TV's tradition of excellence now broadcasts into nine parishes:
Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena,
Tangipahoa, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana; and
WHEREAS, many children entered into the WAFB-TV family through the Buckskin
Bill Black segments where he taught them, "You're never completely dressed until you put
on a smile," on his "Monday Morning March" programs; and
WHEREAS, the anchor team of George Sells and Donna Britt propelled WAFB-TV
newscasts to some of the highest rating in the entire nation; and
WHEREAS, Mike Graham, Chief Meteorologist Jay Grymes, alongside Diane
Deaton and Dr. Steve Caparotta, helped pave the way for WAFB-TV weather dominance in
south Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, like many regions around the United States, relies on the gold standard
of weather radar networks provided by the National Weather Service (NEXRAD), WAFB-
TV "First Alert Radar Network" provides additional and exclusive radar technology in the
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WAFB-TV parishes; and
WHEREAS, Chief Meteorologist Jay Grymes describes the importance of the new
system as: "The addition of this Doppler radar system to our technology toolchest will
provide the Storm Team with never-before-available radar details for those areas that will
enhance our ability to warn residents of threatening weather especially the parishes of East
and West Feliciana"; and
WHEREAS, Sports Director Steve Schneider launched "Sportsline Friday Night" in
1990 to bring viewers scores and highlights of high school football from across Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, Paul Gates and Chef John Folse's popular cooking segment "Stirrin' It
Up" still airs today after starting many years ago; and
WHEREAS, WAFB-TV "I-Team Investigates" has done an excellent job of
exposing, informing, and revealing corruptions, health issues and other problems faced by
the residents of their viewing parishes; and
WHEREAS, "Sky 9 WAFB Camera Network" provides live coverage of events from
the sky in various areas; and
WHEREAS, managing editor, Greg Meriwether, best known for his nightly "Street
Beat" segments and for keeping it real with the viewers, remains popular today; and
WHEREAS, many WAFB-TV alumni have gone on to share their talents on larger
and national stages; and
WHEREAS, WAFB-TV's continued goal is to serve the community with truth and
facts, sponsoring countless community events, highlighting our heroes, and helping to raise
millions to build Baton Rouge's first freestanding children's hospital; and
WHEREAS, WAFB-TV is proud to be called Louisiana's News Channel; and
WHEREAS, WAFB-TV continues to be a leader in news, sports, special
programming, and weather and has certainly merited its viewer's praise for seventy years of
exceptional broadcasting.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend WAFB television station upon the celebration of its seventieth anniversary of
broadcasting and does hereby extend best wishes of continued success for many years.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Joe Sciortino, General Manager of WAFB-TV.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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