Boise Morning Man Goes Homeless

Kevin Miller (pictured) of KIDO says he lived the typical life of a homeless person who has nowhere else to go in Boise, Idaho. "I left all my contacts and means or transportation at home. I moved into the Boise Rescue Mission for Men. It's a home for the homeless, veterans, folks with drug problems and inmates just released from prison."

Miller says he worked with KIDO and the staff of the rescue mission for two months prior to moving in to set it up. "We did the radio show every morning from the home and supported the effort with photos and videos.  Our goal was to allow our listeners to use me as a conduit into the homeless community. Most people believe that homeless folks are the ones they see on the side of the road with a sign begging for money.  I wanted to dispel those myths and highlight the programs designed to help get people back on their feet without government help.  In the old days it was those people, today we all could be homeless due to circumstances beyond our control.

Miller says the experience was humbling and it gave him a greater appreciation for what he has. "I feel guilty for having as many clothes as I do that I don?t use everyday.  I worked in the clothing room and saw how many men would come in looking for a pair of pants and a nice shirt to wear for an interview. I did a different job everyday just like a real guest at the mission; from doing laundry, serving food, to working the clothing room."

Have questions for Kevin, reach him at Miller, Kevin kevin.miller@peakbroadcasting.com

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Billboard Bits: Sly Stone Homeless, Melissa Etheridge Caught in Custody Battle

Billboard Bits serves up the best bite-sized nuggets of music news and gossip.

Psychedelic Legend Sly Stone Revealed To Be Homeless
Sly Stone, ringleader of rock-funk fusion act Sly and the Family Stone is reportedly homeless, living out of a van parked in Los Angeles' rough Crenshaw neighborhood. Just four years ago, the singer of hits such as "Everyday People" was living in a Napa Valley Mansion, though years of drug abuse, personal turmoil and poor business decisions (he sold his music publishing rights to Michael Jackson back in 1984) have clearly taken their toll. Although he hasn't performed in several years, the 68-year old continues to record music on a laptop inside his van. (New York Post)

Melissa Etheridge, Ex Tangled in Custody Battle
Since splitting in April 2010, singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge and nine-year partner Tammy Lynn Michaels have engaged in a messy legal tug-of-war. According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the two women are battling over child support, visitation rights, and custody of their 4-year old twins, fathered by an anonymous sperm donor. Additionally, Etheridge is claiming their vows were technically non-binding, which would deny Michaels significant financial compensation. (TMZ, Rolling Stone)

Antoine Dodson Arrested for Skipping Court After Blasting Music
Antoine Dodson, the man who coined the phrase "Hide Ya Kids, Hide Ya Wife" via his wildly popular Auto-Tune the News clip, was arrested Saturday (Sept. 24) after violating the noise ordinance in Huntsville, A.L. Police said Dodson was blasting his music at 6:20 p.m., was subsequently stopped, and it was discovered that there was a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court for pot possession back in April. He was released on $516 bail. (The Wrap)

Justin Bieber Taking Dating Tips From Adam Sandler
We've heard of private screenings, but this is a new one. After selling out the Staples Center for the third time, Justin Bieber was awarded with a night to himself in the L.A. arena for free. Inspired by a scene in Adam Sandler film "Mr. Deeds," Bieber treated his girlfriend Selena Gomez to a private showing of the 1997 classic "Titanic" following a Demi Lovato concert at the nearby Nokia Theatre. (TMZ)

Arcade Fire's Win Butler Stars in Charity Basketball Team
A recent charity basketball game held in Montreal's Molson Stadium gym pitted a team dubbed "Jocks" (featuring local college players) against "Pops," featuring Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler and Vampire Weekend drummer Chris Tomson. With Butler leading the way on the court and Arcade Fire frontwoman Regine Chassagne pumping up the crowd on keyboards, The Pops won easily. Who says indie rockers don't like gym class? (Rolling Stone)

(Reporting by Chris Payne, Maggie Doherty)

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More Radio People Homeless In Joplin Missouri.

As we've been reporting, the Zimmer Radio Group was hit hard by the Missouri tornado, some losing everything they owned. There is another radio group that serves the Joplin market that has been getting very little attention and they were hit just as hard. American Media Investment Group owns 8 stations in the Joplin and Pittsburgh, Kansas area and has been providing the local community much needed information although getting very little credit.

KKOW Music Director Ben Woolery tells Radio Ink that "our group of 8 stations had the tornado warning on the air quickly as we are the primary EAS stations in the Joplin MO and Pittsburg KS market.  We were tracking the storm for 2 counties before it hit Joplin.  Our stations continued getting the additional weather warnings out.  Part of the time we were wall to wall coverage as well."

4 employees of American Media were also hit hard by the storm. Three employees lost everything they owned and Woolery suffered major damage to his home and belongings. "I was personally in the path of the storm giving details on the air when the station told me to get out of there as the storm was coming to my location. 3 of us are still trying to find a new home.  I am still trying to find a temporary home as well until my home can be repaired.  My wife's car was totaled and her work, St. John's Regional Medical Center was destroyed.

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Zimmer Employees Still Homeless. There's No Place to Go.

We spoke to Zimmer Radio Group Chad Elliot last night whow gave us an update on how the Zimmer family is doing. President Obma visited Joplin Sunday to give the residents in that tiny community some hope that the feds will be around to help for years. The sign you are looking at in this picture is actually Joplin High School, which was totally destroyed by the twister. The kids carved the "H" and "E" into the sign. The school parking lot actually hosted a Memorial Day service yesterday. Elliot tells us he is living with his wife's grandmother. "We're thankful to have a place to live." Elliot also says 7 other Zimmer families are still looking for a place to stay. Part of the problem is that available properties are limited.

The Associated Press is reporting that FEMA is considering bringing in trailers much like New Orleans after Hurricance Katrina if enough homes are not available. FEMA's first option for housing the thousands of displaced is to find them existing rental housing within a 55-mile radius of Joplin, because isn't much housing left in in the city of nearly 50,000 residents that was left badly damaged by the May 22 tornado, spokeswoman Susie Stonner told The Associated Press. Nearly a third of the city was damaged by the violent storm.

Stonner told the AP that despite the distance, putting people in permanent housing is preferable to trailers ? especially in an area prone to tornadoes and severe weather. "Wouldn't you prefer to be in a stable building over a mobile home?" she asked. Stonner also noted that getting things like water, sewer lines and developing pads for trailers would take substantial time. Temporary housing will be made available for up to 18 months. Some people along the Gulf Coast still live in FEMA trailers nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina.

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Homeless Zimmer Radio Families Can Use Our Help

The latest report we have from Zimmer Radio CEO James Zimmer is that the 7 people he employs who lost homes to a tornado have been accommodated for the next two weeks. Several staff members will be living out of an RV that was donated, by the way, by Clear Channel in Springfield, Missouri. We asked Zimmer if there was anything the rest of the industry can do to help his team out, and there is. Our hats are off to Zimmer's Joplin, Missouri team as they continue to serve their community. Some are doing it without a home to return to.

Here is the message from Zimmer: "If any of our fellow brethren want to donate specifically to our "homeless" staff members they can send donations to our stations in Joplin. Thank you, and I will keep you posted with any new developments."

Chad Elliot, OM,
Zimmer Radio, Inc. 
2702 East 32nd Street
Joplin, MO 64804

Radio Ink has also restarted our Tornado Relief Fund at PayPal so we can transfer any donated funds over to the station quickly if you would like to donate online today. Here is the link if you have a PayPal account:

Check out Eric's Blog on the subject

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Zimmer CEO Says 7 Employees In Joplin Homeless

The tornado that tore through the town of Joplin Missouri has made a very dramatic impact on one of radio's family members. As we've been telling you about since early yesterday the Zimmer radio group has been delivering news and information non-stop to the community since it was clear the killer twister was headed their way. Late last night we reached Zimmer CEO Jim Zimmer who says he cannot put everything into words yet because it's too raw. "Seven people from the staff and their families are homeless. We?re trying secure housing for them and a couple of RV?s at the station to accommodate our on-air personnel and families.  Storms are still brewing coming our way.  Please pray for Joplin."

Zimmer says words cannot describe what his staff has and is doing on and off-air. "It is indescribable for me. When the tornado hit Joplin yesterday I was out of the state with my family. It was the one year anniversary of the death of my oldest son.  Around 4pm I started getting the phone calls from Joplin. The programming staff, always diligent, had seen the storm cell brewing in Kansas just west of Joplin and started crashing the station to go wall-to-wall with severe weather coverage about an hour before it hit Joplin.  They have been on the air ever since.  It is a truly remarkable team from programming to sales to local management.  Too many stories convey right now. Most will probably be forgotten or never heard outside of Joplin.  All I will tell you is that a better team you will never find than the working for Zimmer Radio in Joplin, MO."

(5/24/2011 3:50:11 PM)
its James Zimmer not Jim

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