DATE: Sunday, May 18, 1997                  TAG: 9705160218

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

WVEC INTRODUCES `SURPRISING SUFFOLK' TO ITS VIEWERSTHE ANCHORS BROADCAST FROM ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND JOE FLANAGAN GETS A JOB.

Fie on channel 13. They came to town - unprepared.

They set up shop, Tuesday, in the courtyard of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where they broadcast the 5 and 6 p.m. news.

They brought all the proper equipment, their staff, and some freebees.

Still - they were unprepared.

``They shoulda bought fire trucks and pumps,'' said Christopher Jenkins, a bright, talkative 4-year-old. ``And - they don't have any Popsicles.''

They did have the familiar news crew of Mike Lewis, Regina Mobley, Jeff Lawson and some other well known Hampton Roads and vicinity television personalities, including Joe Flanagan who came to town for a Joe's Job segment.

He went nuts, high-tailing it over to Planter's Retail Store to learn the art of peanut roasting.

Flanagan then offered the fruits - or, nuts - of his labor to friends and fans, but most of them declined.

They opted for the chocolate covered jobs made by the shop's peanut pros.

The visit to Suffolk is part of a ``13 Listens'' campaign. It's a program aptly called ``Neighborhood News Tour.''

Monday, they will be in downtown Smithfield.

``Suffolk is nice,'' said Lawson, the meteorologist. ``The hospitality's been wonderful - the people are great.''

About 35 of those great people gathered for the 5 p.m. news.

Between newscasts, there was a lot of friendly chatter and autograph signings.

WVEC gave away photos of their news stars, as well as pens that do not write well, and some handsome T-shirts.

The gift-laden table was a mini version of what you see at concerts. The major difference was - no charge.

Some of the youngsters charged for the camera. At times it panned over the people, and they were ready to wave.

One little girl tried to get her friends over to the proper spot to get on-camera. They moved too slowly for her.

``Pay attention,'' she yelled at them. ``The camera is over here.''

When the cameras were off, the 13 crew came over to the brick wall surrounding the courtyard where fans were lined up, pictures in hand, for autographs.

Christopher had a photo of Jeff Lawson, but was not interested in the weatherman's signature.

``I wanna sign it,'' the 4-year-old said. Then, he had second thoughts and went over to another 13 person, asking him for an autograph.

``I'm an engineer,'' the man said, with a grin. ``We don't sign things.''

By the time WVEC signed off, their fans were quite satisfied.

Christopher had a good time, ``but,'' he said, ``I wish they'd've bought some Popsicles.'' MEMO: WVEC will broadcast Monday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. from outside the

Smithfield Station restaurant on South Church Street. The public is

welcome. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER

Anchor Mike Lewis, signs autographs for fans during a break in the

broadcast done in front of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

WVEC fans, above, lined the brick fence surrounding St. Paul's

Episcopal Church, while Christopher Jenkins, 4, is all eyes as he

takes in the excitment of the May 13 news broadcast.

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