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- Written by Melanie Morgan
Nearly $300,000 for care packages for our troops! Thank you America! Troopathon 2015
Nearly $300,000 for care packages for our troops! Thank you America! Troopathon 2015
Hey Everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted because, well, I'm busy. I'm working very hard on my show "Sonoma County's Morning News with Melanie Morgan" and having a great time, plus congratulating my husband Jack Swanson on his new job.
I also wanted to share with everyone that KSRO is sponsoring a radio version of "Troopathon 8" this May 18th. I'll be fundraising for our care package program throughout the week with special features involving our United States military, local veterans, movie stars, talk show hosts and dogs. Yes, one very special dog named "Yak."
Also very exciting for me is that Move America Forward, the organization that I co-founded in 2004, is getting recognized for the great work our volunteers and staff do for our troops. "Great Non-Profits" has given us a Top Rating for 2014. http://greatnonprofits.org/org/move-america-forward It looks like we'll get another nod in 2015, too. :-)
"GuideStar" has also given us their Gold Level rating. http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/84-1627277/move-america-forward.aspx
And don't forget we have our special live web broadcast coming up June 25th featuring Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, and many other stars from TV, Film and Sports.
Okay. I think we are all caught up now. See you on the radio!
xoxo, Mel
Update on 12.19.2014
Bernie Ward, the former KGO Radio Talk Show Host who spent 7 years in federal prison for transmitting child pornography, was scheduled for release from jail today. Where is his going? Are your children safe from this pedophile? Is he truly rehabilitated as he claims in his prison blog? Only Bernie can answer those questions. My prediction is that he will apply for his old job back, claiming he has much to say about the prison system. And he will blame the media and George W. Bush again for his problems.
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker piercing blue eyes peered at Bernie Ward from the bench, saying he was 'troubled by the message content of pornographic images' that he had viewed from the privacy of his own home computer. Judge Walker told the liberal San Francisco former talk show host for KGO radio that he was very disturbed to read the Instant Messages to a dominatrix with whom he was communicating explicit sexual fantasies about touching the genitalia of his own children and wanting to have sex with their friends (plus photos she sent to the police.)
I sat in the back row of the federal court building today watching the disturbing conclusion of a chain of events that led to my former colleague receiving seven years and 3 months in the federal slammer for transmitting child pornography on the Internet. Federal prosecuters recommended 9 years, the defense asked for five and I hoped for the maximum of ten.
I watched as Bernie Ward's wife Colleen locked arms with three of her four children seated on a hard wooden bench while prosecutors described the victimization of 2 and 3 year old babies who were photographed being tortured, raped and fondled by Bernie Ward's perverted email pals.
Grimly, I listened as the Judge described the terms of his sentence. Country club jail at Lompoc. Supervised release for the rest of his life. Drug testing. Special assessments. Sex offender evaluation, sex offender registration. The special treatment that Ward recieved with a delay to report for jail until 12:00 noon tomorrow.
"I regret my actions, the harm to my family, my friends and this court. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am sorry" said Ward to Judge Walker.
Sorry for what? That he got caught? That he got fired? That he is humiliated? I did not hear Bernie Ward apologize to the children in the pictures or their families for victimizing them by passing the pornography around, or especially to his own kids, whom he discussed in sexual terms with the woman who ultimately turned him into the FBI.
"No question we are dealing with a personal tragedy for the defendant, his family and the community. I have read many eloquent letters of support and Bernie Ward's work as a broadcaster was highly laudable", Walker said. "But Mr. Ward, you come from a strongly religious background. You were sexually abused as a child. It's difficult for me to understand why you didn't try to get help after experiencing abuse yourself, and seeing it in your own Catholic church."
Yes, that is the pertinent point. Instead, Bernie made up a pack of lies about how the Right Wing conspiracy and the evil George Bush were out to get him. He apparently still believes that, because that is very close to what his wife told reporters after the sentencing conclusion today.
ABC 7's I-Team reporter Dan Noyes, who broke this shocking story, says that during a sidewalk interview outside the federal building, Ward's wife Dr. Colleen Halloran, a San Francisco pediatrician, lashed out at the government prosecution.
You could almost hear echoes of Bernie Ward’s radio show in his wife’s statement: “This whole proceeding has been crushing with an anvil. The justice department sure hasn't got any of the real terrorists out there, they got us into a war that was based on a lie, they can't control the economy, they can't control gas prices, but oh boy they got that really dangerous criminal Bernie Ward off the street and have destroyed his family, I thank you all very much.”
Jack Swanson, KGO's Vice-President of Programming (full disclosure; my husband) had no comment for reporters today, saying only that he came to the proceeding to get some closure.
But I do. Bernie may have been an alcoholic, sexually molested survivor, but he still has not taken responsibility for his actions. (I predicted many years ago that we would someday hear that Ward was sexually abused.) This is a man who mouthed the words, but contrition wasn't part of the deal.. you know, like a sociopath, with no empathy for his victims.
Bernie turned down a five year plea bargain because he insisted that we believe the crazy claim that he was practicing good journalism in writing a book to expose the "hypocrisy" of conservatives and our alleged "perversions."
But the only twisted one going to jail is the Lion of the Left ....and no one else.
Prayers for these people. Hurry, they need God's help.
From Melanie Morgan, KSRO Morning Show Host and Move America Forward Co-Founder:
Hello Everybody,
The spirit of Christmas is alive and well around the world, and in my corner, too! Our care package donation drive got off to a sour start shortly after Thanksgiving when a thief struck our donation bins at the Veterans Building in Santa Rosa, California.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's office, assisted by Sgt. Cecile Focha, launched a replacement drive that far exceeded my wildest imagination. KSRO Radio and all of the fine folks around Sonoma County can be proud of the effort going towards making sure our military men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and West Africa are going to receive care packages in time for Christmas and beyond. Move America Forward, a non-profit 501(c) 3 that sends packages year round is profoundly grateful to everyone involved, especially to Terra Vina Restaurants who also donated $500.00 plus a $100.00 check from one of their employees.
Thank you everyone,
God Bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS
From Sgt. Cecile Focha and the Sheriff's Office with the final tally...
North Coast Truck Inspections $ 200 - check to be mailed to MFA (doubled the donation I expected)
Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs' Association - $500 (maybe even more) check to be mailed to MFA
Personal check from SCSO member - $100 to be mailed to MFA
Biagi Brothers Trucking $ 500 - used for purchase of the truckload of items
Carla Miller Skincare $ 100 - used for purchase of the truckload of items
Gary Breazeale (pronounced Brazil) owner of Breazeale’s Automotive - picked up items at Coscto with me, stored the goods, helped repackage into boxes and used his truck for transport (for three days – what a guy!)
Gina Follansbee service manager of Auto Life Center - rallied friends and clients to donate hundreds of items (amazing people!!)
Ken Bauer DDS - donated a box full of toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and other dental hygiene items
Deputies of all ranks and civilian staff members of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office - items, cash toward purchases, letters of support
My son James took the day off to do last minute pick-ups and load the final donations into the Breazeale truck (had to keep it all dry until Jim Dutra of Move America Forward showed up!)
There was so much stuff donated that it filled the bed of the truck to the top of the camper shell and I had to put some things inside the cab. The bed of the truck holds 36 square feet -it was packed full of the boxed items. I am sure that we exceeded the two stolen bins. There was thousands of dollars worth loaded into the Jim’s trailer and heading back to Sacramento to the capable hands of the Scout Troops for packaging.
I couldn’t be more proud of the outpouring of support demonstrated by my fellow Deputies, co-workers, private businesses and the citizens of Sonoma County. We showed that our spirit will not be damped by the actions of a thief. The men and women of the armed forces are not forgotten and Sonoma County supports them – today and everyday – until they come home!
What a happy ending!!
You might be wondering why I haven't been a regular poster recently. Let me explain: I have a new(ish) job at KSRO Radio in the San Francisco Bay Area. For those who are only casual followers (and I know who you are) I voluntarily resigned my job at KSFO in San Francisco over a year ago. I wasn't happy there, and I decided to take an early retirement. I was all set-up to travel around the world with my fabulous husband Jack, and continue my volunteer work with Move America Forward, the largest pro-troops, grassroots group in the country. But my friend Michael O'Shay at KSRO called up and said "let's meet." The next thing I know is I'm the News Director and Morning Show Host, with editiorial control over the 3-hour long program and beyond. I could not be happier. In fact, I would say this is probably the most inspiring time of my professional career, or at least for many many years. I get to work with Jim Murphy, the Operations Manager for the Sonoma Media Group, Lawrence Amaturo, owner of SMG, and of course Michael, one of the finest broadcasters in the business. For those of you who remember Lee Rodgers, Melanie Morgan and Officer Vic, thanks for all your support over the years. Lee passed away two years ago, but Officer Vic and I have re-united at KSRO 1350 AM and 103.5 FM and we are having a blast. Check us out on our stream if you don't live in the area www.ksro.com and click on the listen live button.
In the meantime, I'll throw up some fun pictures that we've shot in the past 8 months. Any questions? Drop me a line.
xoxo, Mel
Where in the World is Melanie Morgan?
Where in the World is Melanie Morgan?
Troopathon 2014
Troopathon 2014
With Tony Landucci at KSRO
With Tony Landucci at KSRO
Officer Vic, together again
Officer Vic, together again
Mom on left (as usual) Romain Morgan with her best friend Pat Martin
Mom on left (as usual) Romain Morgan with her best friend Pat Martin
Mel at a friends party
Mel at a friends party
With son Chris Swanson
With son Chris Swanson
With Martin Yan
With Martin Yan
With Joanie Greggains, Health and Fitness Expert
With Joanie Greggains, Health and Fitness Expert
KSRO Thanksgiving Food Drive
KSRO Thanksgiving Food Drive
Out and About
Out and About
Troopathon 2014
Troopathon 2014
Troopathon 2014
Troopathon 2014
