2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 177
BY SENATORS BARROW, FIELDS, FOIL, KLEINPETER, LAMBERT, MCMATH,
MIZELL, POPE, PRICE, WHITE AND WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate 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
was 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 ratings 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, the audience relies on the
gold standard of weather radar networks provided by the National Weather Service
(NEXRAD), WAFB-TV's "First Alert Radar Network" provides additional and exclusive
radar technology in the 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 tool chest 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
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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's "I-Team Investigates" has done an excellent job of
exposing, informing, and revealing corruption, 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 viewers praise for seventy years of
exceptional broadcasting.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate WAFB television station upon the celebration of its
seventieth anniversary of broadcasting and does hereby extend best wishes for continued
success for many years.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Joe Sciortino, General Manager of WAFB-TV.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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