Foundation Dinner to Honor Scholars Mark Your Calendar: by Henry J
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Fellowship • Scholarship • Education And the Best View in Town VOLUME 61 • NUMBER 14 APRIL SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 5 Foundation dinner to honor scholars Mark your calendar: By Henry J. Cordes OPC’s Hall of Fame OPC Foundation to induct 6 on June 2 here are obviously a lot of great events ince 2007 the Omaha Press Club at the Omaha Press Club each year, has been honoring the most notable Tbut to me, it’s hard to top the an- Sarea journalists from both the past nual Scholarship Dinner. On that night, and present. Each year our Journalists of the Omaha Press Club Foundation awards Joanne Stewart Carol Zuegner Excellence Hall of Fame dinner proves to nearly $50,000 in scholarships to future be an amazing evening. This year our inductees will undoubt- journalists and communications profession- I can’t talk about the scholarship pro- edly create an evening of both honor and als at Creighton University, the University gram without also recognizing the donors reverence, but most assuredly generate of Nebraska at Omaha and the University who have made it possible. In particular, much laughter and love for their industry of Nebraska-Lincoln. As the new chair of the families of former First National Bank friends and family. Those to be honored the foundation’s scholarship committee, I executive John Davis and of former World- on June 2: wanted to tell you about this year’s dinner, Herald reporters Jim Denney and Howard • Harold Dow, KETV, CBS (posthu- set for Friday night April 27. Silber make significant annual contributions mous) The 20 future communicators that to continue the scholarships in their names. • James D. Fogarty, Legacy Preservation will be honored that night represent the Your attendance at the dinner also assures Publishers, Omaha World-Herald, KETV most gifted and promising at the schools. future scholarships, as part of the proceeds • Cate Folsom, Omaha World-Herald And while the money is nice, many of the of the night go into the scholarship program. • Ron Hull, NET, University of Nebras- honorees would tell you what’s even more In addition to the students, I’m also ka-Lincoln • Jeff Jordan, KMTV, Omaha World- significant is the validation that comes with pleased to announce the distinguished me- Herald (posthumous) the award -- the recognition that they have dia professionals who will be honored that • Bob Runnels, KMTV the skills to succeed. Such encouragement night: Joanne Stewart, who recently retired Please call or email the Omaha Press is all the more important in these times, as after more than four decades as an editor at Club to reserve your seat at this year’s din- the media business takes some lumps during the Omaha World-Herald, and Dr. Carol ner. We will be honoring our outstanding conversion to the digital age. It’s important Zuegner, the chair of Creighton’s Depart- journalists, starting with a cocktail hour that we all show that good journalism -- and ment of Journalism, Media and Computing. at 5:30 p.m. and followed by dinner and the impact it has in our community -- is So call the club now and make your reserva- our induction ceremony. This is always a something we value and want to see con- tions for April 27. Help us honor the best of fun, fast-paced evening with some stories tinue in the future. These kids represent that journalism – past, present and future. you’ll hear nowhere else and some you future. may have enjoyed a hundred times! Whether you’ve been in journalism for 50 years or only five months, the Hall of Ashford, Eastman set for April 19 debate Fame event is not to be missed. We en- courage you to invite your family, friends, he two Democrats vying to unseat and current or past colleagues. The price Republican Congressman Don Bacon is $55 ($45 per person for OPC members). Tin this November’s general election, Call 402- 345-8008 for reservations or Brad Ashford and Kara Eastman, will debate email [email protected] or the issues April 19 at the Press Club. The go to omahapressclub.com and click the 2nd District Democratic nominee will be RSVP button. decided in the May 15 primary election. Please share this contact information Ashford is seeking a second term in the with others who may wish to attend. This U.S. House of Representatives after being evening is open to non-members and defeated by Bacon two years ago. A busi- Kara Eastman Brad Ashford members alike. We look forward to seeing nessman and a lawyer, Ashford served four Continue on Page 3 you in June. ASHFORD, EASTMAN, continued from Page 1 NON-PRESS CLUB MEM- Omaha’s opioid terms in the Nebraska Legislature before BERS ARE WELCOME. CALL being elected to Congress in 2016. crisis knows no Kara Eastman came to Omaha in 2006 402-345-8008 FOR RESERVA- and started the Omaha Healthy Kids Alli- TIONS, EMAIL JEANIE@OPC. boundaries ance, a nonprofit organization that aims to protect children from lead poisoning and OMHCOXMAIL.COM OR RSVP By Kay Kriss Weinstein other environmental hazards. She is also a ON LINE AT OMAHAPRESS- member of the board of Metropolitan Com- he Omaha Press Club’s Education munity College. CLUB.COM. RESERVATIONS Forum on March 15 looked at both The luncheon debate is sponsored by the the police and treatment aspects of MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY T Press Club and League of Women Voters. the much-publicized opioid epidemic. WOWT is partnering in the debate and AN OPC MEMBER NUMBER Paul Yakel, a psychologist and coor- will record it for rebroadcast on Channel 6. dinator for the Douglas County Adult WOWT’s Brian Mastre will serve as mod- OR CREDIT CARD. THE 48- Drug Court, and Omaha Police Sgt. erator. HOUR CANCELLATION Dave Bianchi, narcotics unit supervisor, Lunch, at $17 per person, will be served were the featured panelists. From a law beginning at 11:30 a.m. The debate will be- POLICY APPLIES. enforcement perspective, Bianchi said gin promptly at noon and conclude at 1 p.m. Omaha could see the opioid problem coming from the East and West coasts The Omaha Press Club remembers before it arrived, and the Police Depart- ment was prepared. In his 26 years with OPD, Bianchi has seen the local drug crisis change from crack to meth to opioids and noted that much local crime is fueled by the eco- nomic need for those addicted to pur- chase their drugs illegally. Yakel said, “The opioid epidemic is just the current flavor of the day.” Both panelists agreed that opioid Joe McCartney Robert McCartney abuse started with patients seeking pain management and that in turn led to their addiction. Joe McCartney, 79 Robert McCartney, 85 Yakel was critical of the massive ongtime OPC member Joe McCartney ob McCartney, an OPC member who advertising campaigns by drug compa- died March 3. A member of the Press joined his son, Rob, on stage at several nies marketing prescription drugs to the LClub’s Journalists of Excellence Hall BPress Club gridiron shows, died Feb. public. of Fame, McCartney was an OPC board 14. The two agreed that the epidemic in member from 1982-86 and president of the McCartney (no relation to Joe McCart- Omaha knows no boundaries economi- ney) was a career Air Force officer and pilot club in 1987. cally or geographically, and both said that McCartney began his journalism career who retired as a colonel in 1983 after duty that included wartime missions in Vietnam the opioid epidemic is just the visual part at WOW radio and TV while a student at of bigger and more numerous societal Omaha University. He started as an assistant and Southeast Asia and later assignments at to sports broadcaster Jack Payne and later Offutt AFB. problems that need to be fixed. became a reporter and documentary pro- Civilian life eventually brought him back ducer for Channel 6. to Nebraska and years of volunteer service in the Omaha area with church, scouts and the After earning a master’s degree from the Civil Air Patrol. University of Minnesota, McCartney taught In addition to son Rob, an anchor with journalism for 15 years at UNO and then KETV News, McCartney is survived by his became head of public relations at Union wife, Nancy, and daughters Heather and Pacific Railroad. He founded the McCart- Heidi. ney Group in 1990 and retired in 1999. The Press Club’s Steve and Christine Vil- He is survived by his wife, Jo; son Tom; lamonte said they remembered Bob McCa- daughter Kathy Schneider; sister Mary rtney as a long time member and supporter McCully; six grandchildren, and two great- of the club with a great sense of humor who Paul Yakel, left, and Sgt. Dave Bianchi discuss the opioid grandchildren. was always willing to share a compliment. epidemic. Photo by Gary Willis. Page 2 APRIL 2018 Cathy Hughes, Radio One founder, will be honored on May 18 Legendary media mogul with Omaha roots to be next “Face on Barroom Floor” By Tom O’Connor While at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred In 1980, Hughes purchased her first radio Face on the Floor Committee Heart at the age of 17, Hughes became preg- station, WOL-AM, in Washington D.C., and nant and had a son, Alfred Liggins III. After pioneered yet another innovative format -- athy Hughes, who has become a legend- two years of marriage to Alfred Liggins Jr., 24-hour talk from a black perspective. With ary figure in the media world after leav- Hughes divorced and moved to Washington, the theme “Information is Power,” she served Cing her humble beginnings in Omaha, D.C., with her young son.