With just over two weeks before Election Day, I took part in AETN’s Arkansas Week largely to discuss actions taken by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Five of the seven judges are challenging charges by the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission which said the court failed to give notice or an opportunity to respond to Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen when they said he could no longer hear execution-related cases. The drama started in April 2017 when Griffen was photographed taking part in an anti-death penalty demonstration outside the Governor’s Mansion. We also discussed a ruling by the state’s high court disqualifying a tort reform proposal which was to be considered by voters next month.
The first half of the program featured a debate with a supporter and an opponent of a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage. Then I joined Hoyt Purvis and Heather Yates for the round-table discussion. The embedded video below is set to start at the second half of the program.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
Healthcare coverage, an ongoing corruption investigation involving state legislators and a major reorganization of state government were among the key topics in the only debate for governor of Arkansas that featured all three candidates. I was one of three journalists who questioned candidates during the AETN debate on Friday, October 12, joined by Lance Turner of Arkansas Business and Yuma Lee of KHBS-KHOG television.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
After a debate between those for and against Issue 4, which would allow full-fledged casino gambling in Arkansas, I joined the panel on Arkansas Week about 12 minutes into the program to discuss Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proposal to extensively reorganize state government operations. We also discuss rising revenue and the fierce battle over U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
Guy Winters on March 12, 1975 in a photograph that accompanied a front page story for the Oklahoma Times. The caption said “Guy Winters, road foreman of engines for the Rock Island railroad at El Reno, examines a track joint in the switching yard.” Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection.
I’m sad to report that Guy Winters, who worked for the Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas and other states, has died. He was 84. Jerry Oates, president of the Rock Island Club, says Oates died Wednesday, October 3, 2018 after suffering a stroke a few days earlier.
I sat down with Guy at his house in Ward to record an interview with him on February 7, 2016 to document his experiences with the railroad. He was one of several members of his family to work for the Rock Island. He started as a messenger at the Little Rock passenger station, soon got a position as a brakeman, then engineer in Arkansas. Later, Winters became road foreman of engines at El Reno, Oklahoma, and for a brief time also worked out of Des Moines, Iowa.
He had a lot of great stories, including one that opened up with, “I don’t know if I should tell this…” always an indicator you’re about to hear something dramatic. It was about a mistake he made that could have caused a horrific accident by his train plowing into the backed of a parked passenger train. Another vivid story involved him slipping from a floorboard while a train was moving at a fast speed, which left him dangling from the side. If you have a chance, listen to my interview with Guy. He had some fascinating stories with great, vivid details..
His memorial service will be Saturday, October 6 at Rest Hills Cemetery in Sherwood, which is just off U.S. 67 near the Kiehl Avenue exit, beginning at 10 a.m.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
On August 21, 2018, I spoke at the Department of Arkansas Heritage about my research on the Rock Island Railroad, and a project underway to move and save from demolition the railroad’s 100-year-old depot in Perry, Arkansas. Also present was Buford Suffridge, president of the Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society, which has been overseeing the preservation effort. I invited him to the podium to share his thoughts about the project which seemed like such a long shot a year ago when we first discussed the idea.
I also included a slide show, mostly of photos featured in my book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas, which was released in 2017. I also featured a few recent photos of the depot that we’re hoping to preserve. Thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage for inviting me to speak as part of its Pen to Podium lecture series.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
This is the online home of broadcasting news veteran Michael Hibblen. I've worked for newspapers, radio and TV stations around the country, with this website telling the story of my career, including audio, photos and videos. Also featured are various interests I've researched, primarily about radio and railroads. Today I'm Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, overseeing production of Arkansas Week and the streaming of events on the Arkansas Citizens Access Network. The posts on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Arkansas PBS or my former employers.
My Book
Released by Arcadia Publishing in 2017, Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas delves into the history of the railroad which once had a huge footprint in Arkansas, as well as other states in the middle of the U.S. The book features historic photos and tells the story of the Rock Island, which was shut down in March 1980. READ MORE
For 13 years, from May 2009 to December 2022, I worked for NPR station KUAR-FM 89.1 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. That included 10 years as News Director while continuing to anchor and report. You can read and hear reports from that time on Little Rock Public Radio's website.
