In Jefferson City, the people have spoken.
And Rod Smith has his job back.
Anyone that has watched Jefferson City local television over the last couple of decades has likely, at one time or another, run across Rod Smith. For more than 22 years Smith has worked at KRCG-TV, the past 19 years as its Sports Director.
Smith, age 45, has been a popular figure in the Jefferson City area. “Rod’s Big ‘Ole Fish” has been a regular weekly feature of KRCG sports, featuring photos submitted by the community of area anglers and their big hauls.
However that changed on May 22, as the station fired Smith in an apparent staff-reduction move. That triggered a public outcry. An Internet petition produced nearly 2,600 signatures to get Smith back on the air.
The petition helped move the station to reconsider, and on Thursday KRCG announced that Smith was returning. He will resume his duties at the KRCG sports desk after signing a five-year contract.
Apparently the decision to fire Smith came from parent company Barrington Broadcasting, a Chicago-area company that owns KRCG and about 20 other stations around the Midwest. Barrington purchased KRCG three years ago.
Earlier in the year Barrington had notified all of its stations that they would be trimmed to just one sportscaster. However, KRCG’s other sportscaster, Tony Mullen, will stay on as well after Smith returns.
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Jays’ Renovation
Staying in Jefferson City, a huge renovation project at Jefferson City High School’s Adkins Stadium is on schedule despite the year’s rainy weather.
Adkins Stadium is undergoing a $4.9 million renovation project. The target date for completion of the project is Sept. 1. Both Jefferson City High and Jefferson City Helias play their home football games at Adkins Stadium. The Waynesville Tigers will host Helias this year and will play at Jefferson City in 2009.
The project started in mid-December and includes new stands, new lights, field turf and an all-weather track. Stands on the home side will seat 5,100 fans, while bleachers on the visitor’s side will seat 600.
Earlier a new locker room and press box were build at the stadium. The location of the scoreboard has also been changed.
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State Champs
The Lebanon Babe Ruth age 16-under girls’ fast-pitch softball team captured the Missouri state championship last weekend in Washington, Mo. Lebanon defeated host Washington 2-1 Sunday, July 6 in the state title game.
Lebanon belted Heartland 14-0 in the first round and then survived a 12-inning semifinal marathon by beating Sikeston 3-0.
In that long semifinal game Lebanon pticher Brooke Brenton struck out a whopping 26 batters.
Also, Lebanon’s age 14-under team placed second in state tourney action. Both Lebanon teams have advanced to Babe Ruth Regional action, to be held July 17-20 in Denver, Col.
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