eChaser: July 2008 / p3

James Scott Was a Loser; Everybody Knew That

When Adam Pitluk began researching the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 for the book that would become “Damned to Eternity: The Story of the Man Who They Said Caused the Flood,” he didn’t set out to prove James Scott innocent of compromising the levee that led to West Quincy, Mo., being submerged. Then again, Scott never thought he’d be doing life in the maximum-security Jefferson City Correctional Facility for an act he says he did not commit.

The issue came down to sabotage, Pitluk told an animated SPJ gathering at Joe T. Garcia’s in June. The owners of the 14,000-plus acres of choice flooded farmland could never collect assistance for losses incurred by an “act of God.” Sabotage, on the other hand, paid off like $7 corn.

More than two dozen politically savvy lawmakers profited from the conviction. Scott, a low-grade troublemaker since his youth, was convicted for the greater good. Or not. If the author knows, he isn’t telling.

Scott is the only person ever tried and convicted of “intentionally causing a catastrophe,” a Class A felony, but this wasn’t his first legal skirmish. “James Scott was in no way a good man,” Pitluk said. “As a child, he helped set fire to his grade school, then at the age of 17 he burned down an automotive garage.” Still, the case against him was based on circumstantial evidence, and there were no witnesses. The judge threw out expert evidence indicating that no one man could be responsible for the levee’s collapse.

Scott is pursuing his second appeal, this time with a pro bono New York lawyer at his side, and ABC News “Primetime” will cover the story this month. Pitluk said Scott found religion in prison and has confessed to every crime on his rap sheet.

Except for breaking that levee.

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PEOPLE & PLACES

The Kennedale City Council has named the Kennedale News, run by SPJ member Tammy Jones, the official newspaper of the city. ...

You have to be in shape to work at Que Public Relations, lest you keel over from all the trips to the awards stand. The 2008 haul features the two IABC Fort Worth Bronze Quills noted on p. 1 plus two Hermes Creative Awards, a gold and an honorable mention, from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals and a Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications based on migrating public relations from a web 1.0 to web 2.0 format. Que queen Linda Jacobson will accept the Clarion at a dinner in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27. ...

Paul Sturiale, CEO of the Paolo Group, recently received certification from the Laredo Group Interactive Media Training company for completing its multi-course program on planning and buying internet media. Sturiale also just returned from Chicago, where he spent four days in workshops and seminars at the Internet Retailer ’08 show, the largest trade show in the nation devoted to internet commerce. ...

Former SPJ chapter president John Dycus, already perilously overcommitted, has created a web page trumpeting his perceived editing skills and gauging the depth of his marketability. Is it the Chamber Deep in the Mariana Trench or more like the Brazos River out near Seymour? And how will he ever know if he doesn’t ask around? The happy hype is here.

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GET A JOB

TransCore, a leader in transportation technology, seeks a freelance, business-to-business writer with high-tech experience to do case studies, brochures, ad copy, direct mail and e-newsletters. There will be occasional meetings, either on the phone or at the Carrollton office. Send résumé, description of experience and fee guidelines to marcom_writer@transcore.com.

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NEW MEMBERS

PRSA ... Kay Colley, UTA ... Tamara Castleberry, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Laura Van Hoosier, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

As the oldest child, I’ve always had a mind of my own. My mother says that by 2 years old I was giving her direction on our next steps. Now I’ve been inspired by my fellow GFW PRSA members to start a blog, and it’s perfectly in line with an independent spirit.

For me, it’s really just a “live, work, play” online journal (nothing as interesting as my high school diary that my mom read) — a wonderful forum to post web sites, updates about my daughters, family happenings and anything that’s in my world. I sent the link to a few close family members, and my aunt in Hawaii wrote back, “BLOG! BLOG! BLOG! We enjoy keeping up with you this way.”

Blogger.com was the easiest way to get started, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Each morning I wake up thinking, “What will I post today?” But it won’t matter one iota if I’m the only one who ever reads it. Already I have enjoyed looking back to reference articles, facts, funny things the girls did, photos, etc.

Lisa Gail Barnes, Richie Escovedo, Linda Jacobson, Sarah McClellan-Brandt, Terry Morawski and I are blogging away at fortworthprsa.blogspot.com/. To join us, e-mail the link to webmaster Richie at richie.escovedo@gmail.com, and he’ll post it.

You’ll hear how Richie and others have forayed into new media at the July 9 meeting. It ‘ll be a hands-on program, so bring your laptop, and the presenters will walk you through useful tools and tactics you can implement right away for your organization.

Here’s to our country’s independence. Yours and mine, too.

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Betsy Deck, IABC Fort Worth

Greetings from cool Colorado. Wish you were here. The high is 71 as I write this with a slight breeze from the north. IABC takes July off, so enjoy your summer break. Everything begins fresh again next month.

Congratulations to all of our Bronze Quill winners. Great work and thank you for sharing your secrets to winning an award.

Until August!

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

If ever a photo was destined to be a screensaver, Tom Burke’s shot of Hohenschwangau Castle is it. We’re all fans of each other’s travelogues when the visual memories are this good. ...

Closing words: “I feel like a million bucks. I think I’ll do that again tomorrow.” — Sen. Edward Kennedy to his wife, Vicki, after a 3 1/2-hour procedure June 2 to treat his cancerous brain tumor