Bag-off! I challenge the best bagger in Michiana... and lose... terribly.

A local worker is going national in a competition that combines speed, accuracy and mental toughness.  Martin's Supermarket Employee Rob Mow is heading to The Super Bowl of Grocery-Bagging in Las Vegas.  



Professional Bagger Rob and I shake before the competition



In sports, and bagging groceries, they say practice makes perfect... so I challenged Rob to a friendly bag-off.

"You do know that your boss said if you lose to me, you don't get to go to Vegas," I told him before we shook hands.

"Ok," he said laughing.  Rob wasn't worried.  For good reason.  He finished in 30 seconds, then came over to help me bag the rest of my groceries. 

This guy's good.

He won the store competition, took home first place in the corporate bagging challenge and will compete at nationals in February at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Contest in February.

  

Manager Maria is the Official Timer



Manager Maria Werder has already taken home the honor of second-runner up at a national competition.  She says Rob has talent you just can't teach.  "The natural ability just comes and it helps a lot.  He's got it," she says.

Werder says Rob has a great chance at bringing home the 2012 title.  "He's newly married, got a new family and stuff," she says.  "I'd just be so happy for him and for Martin's."



Rob has worked at Martin's for Seven Years.  He says he loves his job.



The top prize at nationals is $10,000.  "I'd use half for a down payment on a house," Rob says.  "And the other half to catch up on some bills."

"I'm very happy to have the support I've gotten," Rob says.  He hopes to bring the title and the prize home for his family.  "They're extremely proud of me."

 

If you don't think this is a serious competition...

check out this documentary!

http://readysetbag.com/home.html

 



Dinner on the Set With Tom and Traci

http://www.fox28.com/link/536611/bid-on-a-chance-to-have-dinner-with-traci-and-tom



The Vine's Executive Chef Doug Schultz stopped by the FOX 28 Studio Wednesday to figure out exactly how he's going to pull off a bit of a challenge.... turn a TV Studio into a place fit for fine dining!

Chef Schultz has never served a fancy meal in this environment before!  But he has plenty of skill when it comes to creating awesome meals.  He plans on dishing up a four-course meal that would impress even the most picky foodie!  FOX 28 is teaming up with the VINE to auction of "Dinner on the Set with Tom and Traci."  The winning bid will help the Salvation Army's new KROC Center expand programs to help Michiana Families.

"I think when people spend a lot on dinner, they should be getting something they just can't cook at home. All of the stuff that I'm thinking about doing, nobody in their right mind without some sort of training could cook at home," Chef Schultz says.

Some of the potential menu items include Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Cauliflower Risotto, Duck Carpaccio with Baby Greens and Triple Berry Vinaigrette, Beef Wellington or Duck Roulade Stuffed with Goat Cheese!

Yum!

How about for Dessert?  Perhaps a Fresh Rasberry Tiramisu, Creme Brule or Flourless Chocolate Cake.

 Place your Bid: 

http://www.fox28.com/link/536611/bid-on-a-chance-to-have-dinner-with-traci-and-tom

Directing For Decades: HD Transition means veteran FOX 28 employee will wear a new hat

5...4...3...2...1... You're Live!

24 years ago Lawrence Jackson walked into WSJV for his first day on the job.  He's been floor directing ever since, during FOX 28 News at 10.

Friday LJ directed his last Standard Definition show from the floor of the FOX 28 Studio.  "It's bittersweet," he said during a commercial break.  "It's something different."

LJ has seen a lot of changes in his two-plus decades of service to the company.  He's watched different sets come up and come down.  He's watched on-air folks come and go.  But if the news was on at 10, Lawrence was there.  Sick days?  Forget about it!  Lawrence has taken two sick days in all that time.  That's less than one sick day per decade.  "I enjoy it," he says.  "I don't think about the paycheck." 

FOX 28 News Anchor Traci Capellman started at WSJV 15 years ago.  LJ has been on the floor directing for nearly every show Traci has anchored.  "You just don't find people like Lawrence very often," Traci says. 

Lawrence says one of the most rewarding parts of his job is getting to tell people where he works.  When he says, "FOX 28" ... the most common question he gets is, "What's John Fischer like?"

LJ says John has the same sense of humor in person. 

Lawrence isn't going anywhere.  He just won't have the exact same job now that technology has produced robotic cameras.  We're glad he'll still be here... directing us in one way or another. 

We're all better for it!

Ready to Kroc!

You've heard it before, "You really have to see it to believe it." Sure, it's cliche, but I tell you what... that saying perfectly describes how I felt walking through the brand new Kroc Center at 900 W. Western Avenue in South Bend. 

"In 2009 this was just a one-dimensional thing on paper, " said Salvation Army Major Bob Webster.  "Now look at this."  Webster's eyes lit up as he entered each new space.  He was like a kid who had worked hard on a project and was excited to finally show it off to the world.  

 

I bet you'll be impressed right when you walk in the front doors.  The first thing you'll notice is a unique modern glass chandelier.  It sits in the center of a spiral staircase that leads down to about a dozen thoughtfully designed rooms.  Teens could play air hockey in the activities room one day.  Then the next you might find them in the HD studio recording something in front of a green screen that would make a professional meteorolgoist blush. 

If you stay upstairs and walk straight ahead you'll eventually make your way to a state-of-the-art gym with machines.  Some are still covered in plastic-wrap. 

You can just imagine what this place will look, feel and sound like once the public gets inside on January 29th.  Folks will be on the treadmill with their iPhones hooked into the computer, perhaps passing their workout time by streaming a movie or reading a book. 

Chefs would be jealous of the kitchen downstairs.  They're still installing equipment, but once the Kroc Center opens the kitchen will host classes.  One will be taught by a master chef who will show students how to cook healthy meals using items available at the Salvation Army's food pantry.

Instructors are already flexing their teaching muscles, preparing to take on classes of folks from the community looking to get leaner.  The center has tried to hire top professionals in all fields.  The resumes of the staff from the trainers to the marketing and communications specialists would appeal to even the best for-profit companies looking to make an impact. 

I've only scratched the surface on this place.  For more info visit the center's website: http://mykroc.org/index.php