With the help of some friends/former classmates, Lake Fenton High School’s weekly video news program “Blue Devil Talk” is back, at least for one episode!

I was at the Homecoming game Friday night, and the excitement was overwhelming! It took me back to being in high school, when I would document much of what happened for our weekly 10-12 minute newscast.  But unlike those sometimes too-serious newscasts, Blue Devil Talk took the topics of the day, weekly school announcements, and some of the funniest sports updates and rolled them into a fun, yet educational spotlight for the Lake Fenton Blue Devils. It aired for four semesters (or seasons), from February 6, 1995 through January of 1997.

Much more to offer than just a monotonous reading of the school announcements, BDT got student opinions on current topics with Faces in the Crowd and highlighted a Teacher of the Week. The BDT cast & crew also had many “On The Road” episodes that took place at Applefest and Christmas at Crossroads.

Kathy Kearns and I created BDT because, at the time, I was at Skill Center during 1st and 2nd hour, and I never knew what was going on because I missed the morning announcements.  After some behind the scenes insight on how it worked from Melitta Krusina, we decided to piggyback off the school’s Channel One television system and create our own video news.  In addition to airing in the school, it would also run on Channel 19 via Fenton High School’s video department and the help of Grant Belinger.

After a year and a half of growth and success, Gerald Laskey hired me to return for one semester after I graduated to keep Blue Devil Talk going, and teach younger Blue Devils how to do it.  By the end of 1996, we had everything set, from script-writers to camera operators, and more than enough anchors and reporters. But because of a lack of interest in editing the show together each week, sadly it became apparent that the end was coming.

On January 10, 1997, Rachel Sharpe and Bill Shreck anchored the final 2-part episode of BDT.

However I am pleased to announce that for this week, at least, Blue Devil Talk has returned to celebrate Lake Fenton’s 2018 Homecoming.  GO BLUE DEVILS!!!