Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993 TAG: 9309020333
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Melanie Hatter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Mr. McFeely - he runs Speedy Delivery and is always dropping by to leave Mister Rogers a package - will appear with his friend Purple Panda at Tanglewood Mall on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon. He will also visit Community Hospital's children's wards today Friday at 1 p.m.
McFeely, played by David Newell, has been with ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' since its inception in 1967. Purple Panda appears on the show occasionally. This year marks the series' 25th season. It first aired nationally on public television in 1968.
Newell, who has a background in theatre arts, has been properties manager and associate producer for the children's show. He is director of public relations for Family Communications Inc., which produces the show.
``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' is an outlet for Fred Rogers' ministry. Rogers was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1962 with a charge to continue his work with children and families through the media.
The show airs daily at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on WBRA (Channel 15).
\ Kate Campbell, a fourth-grade teacher at Roanoke Catholic School, took a three day trip to Las Vegas recently and landed a spot on Caesar's Challenge, the new NBC game show hosted by Ahmad Rashad.
Campbell will appear on three shows, taped earlier this month, that begin airing Tuesday, 7/27 at 11 a.m. on WSLS (Channel 10). She won $16,500 worth of prizes.
``I was more excited than nervous,'' she said. ``I got nervous when I thought `we could really use the car [that was offered as a prize]'.''
Campbell flew to Las Vegas with her mother, Margaret Doherty and sister-in-law Pat Doherty. It wasn't until they were in Las Vegas that they decided to try out for the show, filmed before a live audience at Caesar's Palace. All three filled out an application, but after half a day waiting to find out who'd made the cut, only Campbell made it on to the show, where contestants answer trivia questions for a chance to unscramble a word.
``Those words, I just knew what they were,'' Campbell said, ``and somehow I'd won the game and didn't even know I'd won.''
Campbell won a trip to St. Thomas, furniture and jewelry.
\ Are you worried that your children are watching too much television? Do you wish there was a way to control what they watch when you're not at home?
The North Carolina Public Television Foundation in Raleigh has come up with TimeSlot TV, a credit card system where parents can distribute viewing time to their children.
Parents plug the TimeSlot device into the television set, assign a credit limit of hours for each card and lock the system with a ``unique-shaped key,'' explained Aleisa Jones, spokesperson for the foundation. In traditional credit card style, each child gets a plastic card that slides through a slot, much like in a department or grocery store.
For example, dad can give his daughter eight hours of viewing time in a week. (The device can be programmed daily, weekly or monthly.) If she uses up her time in two days, she cannot turn on the TV set until more time is added to her ``account.'' If she tries to watch TV, it's similar to having the clerk say your credit card company is denying your purchase ... without the embarrassment. Daughter then has to renegotiate with dad for more time.
``It helps kids understand that it can max out,'' Jones said. ``They have to be careful how they use it.'' One parent told Jones their child was turning the TV off during commercials to save the time, she said.
Parents also can block out periods of time.
The unit comes with four cards - more can be purchased if necessary - and costs $129.95. An additional adapter, at $24.95, is required to use the unit with cable.
The devices can be purchased from the foundation. For more information, call Jones at (919) 549-7132.
\ Changes are stirring in Martinsville radio.
Beginning this month, the country station WODY (900 AM) has moved up the dial to 1160 AM and is playing more Christian country music, according to its new owner, Vernon Baker of Blacksburg. It has increased power from 500 to 5,000 watts.
WODY's former owner, Terry Arnold, retired from radio after about 30 years and sold the station to Baker. The station at 900 AM will return to the air as WCBX after its outdated equipment is rebuilt, Baker says.
Baker's son, Edward A. Baker, owner and vice president of Paging Inc. in Blacksburg, will direct WCBX (900 AM). Edward and Vernon Baker own stations in Earlysville and Smithfield, Virginia, and others in Maryland, Kentucky and North Carolina. Both AM stations, as well as a proposed FM station will operate from WODY's Martinsville studios and offices.
by CNB