“'The jobs are gone' - Columbus Dispatch” plus 4 more

'The jobs are gone' - Columbus Dispatch
The Solution for Driving Under the Influence of Technology - PR Inside
Workers bare souls in GM plant closing film - Cincinnati.com
Show: Most Recent Comment First - Tulsa World
by: Staff Reports - Tulsa World

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 03:28 AM PDT

Given that almost 1,100 autoworkers in Moraine were about to lose their jobs, it's hard to believe that The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant began in comparatively innocent times.

"Someone mentioned the possible bankruptcy of General Motors when we started shooting in June (of 2008), and everyone, including us, said, 'Oh, that's not going to happen,' " said documentary co-director Steven Bognar.

"The idea of GM going bankrupt was like the U.S. government going bankrupt: It was really inconceivable."

GM did file for bankruptcy -- a year later, in June -- after months of speculation. Yet Bognar and co-director Julia Reichert, residents of Yellow Springs, resisted any urge to turn their intimate portrait of soon-to-be-displaced employees into a comprehensive look at the troubled U.S. auto industry.

The result is a 40-minute film dominated by the personal stories of workers left jobless when the facility, just south of Dayton, closed on Dec. 23.

The employees express frustration and anxiety in the months preceding the closing, along with great pride in the jobs they performed -- in some cases, for more than two decades.

Little news footage is used. Talking heads don't appear.

"We saw it as something that was going to have a huge impact on our community, and we thought that was worth documenting," said Reichert, a two-time Academy Award nominee, for the documentaries Union Maids and Seeing Red.

"We didn't really see this as a national thing."

Regardless, the documentary will be viewed by a national audience: T he Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant will be shown at 9 tonight on HBO and continue to be carried on various HBO outlets throughout the month.

It was chosen to conclude the summer documentary series -- an especially appropriate choice for Labor Day, when the nation commemorates the social and economic achievements of American workers, said Lisa Heller, vice president of HBO Documentary Films.

A DVD, meanwhile, is forthcoming.

"We were looking for a human way to show the economic crisis," Heller said, "and the fact that Steven and Julia were from a community where this was happening was a huge draw for us.

"It wasn't outsiders parachuting in and leaving afterward."

Heller also admired the filmmakers' previous works, including A Lion in the House, an Emmy-winning 2006 film that follows families battling cancer. The almost-four-hour documentary, created from more than 500 hours of footage, was completed over nine years.

The Last Truck, from its first day of shooting until its premiere for former plant employees last month at the Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton, took about 15 months. More than 150 hours of footage shot between June and December 2008 was edited to 40 minutes.

"We're used to a much more deliberative process of editing where we do more test screenings and take time off to live with it for a little bit," said Bognar, who explained that initial funding was provided by an Ohio Arts Council grant.

"Here, we had to really trust our instincts more."

The film was well- received by former employees who attended the Dayton premiere -- some of whom shot footage inside the plant after receiving mini-lessons in cinematography from the filmmakers.

Many of the workers shown in the film have yet to find new jobs.

"Unfortunately, the jobs are gone and we're not getting anything back," said Kim Clay, 48, of Dayton, an electrician at the plant for eight years.

"So I hope the documentary draws attention to the plight of the worker. There is a skilled work force here which is going to have to disperse to find work. That work force won't be here forever, but we're here now and need jobs."

Kate Geiger, 45, of Centerville is taking classes through Sinclair Community College for a degree in visual communication. The former forklift operator worked at the plant for 24 years.

She went to see the film as well as friends.

In front of the Schuster center sat the last truck produced by the plant: a white GMC Envoy.

"When Steve and Julia (first) showed up, everyone was like 'Oh, God, who is that standing at the gate?' " Geiger said. "But, deep down, I think a lot of people wanted to tell their story.

"They were really grateful that somebody asked."

The worker stories have already proved powerful enough to raise eyebrows outside Dayton and the HBO offices in New York. The film was also picked to play at the Telluride (Colo.) Film Festival, ending today.

Bognar and Reichert, a couple as well as filmmaking partners, credited the film's subjects with creating a welcoming environment during a trying time.

"It's a two-way street," Bognar said. "You have to make yourself open and vulnerable to the people who trust you -- just like they make themselves open and vulnerable to you and your damn camera."

nchordas@dispatch.com

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The Solution for Driving Under the Influence of Technology - PR Inside

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 03:14 AM PDT

2009-09-07 12:09:03 -

The Solution for Driving Under the Influence of Technology

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Workers bare souls in GM plant closing film - Cincinnati.com

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 02:38 AM PDT

HBO's "The Last Truck" really isn't about the last GM vehicle made at General Motors' Moraine Assembly Plant near Dayton.

The 45-minute film, appropriately premiering on Labor Day, is about the 2,200 men and women who lost their jobs when the plant closed Dec. 23.

You've heard the grim labor statistics about job losses for nearly a year. On "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant," you meet the laborers behind the statistics who lost a sense of community, plus a paycheck.

"It's like a whole 'nother family here," says one man leaving work.

"We shared a lot of things (with each other). Every day. All day," says body shop employee Kathy Day. "I spend more time with them than I do when I'm at home with my kids."

After GM announced the plant closing in June 2008, Yellow Springs filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert spent seven months interviewing employees outside at the sprawling plant. At its peak, Moraine produced a new SUV every 58 seconds, or 280,000 a year.

Instead of focusing on why GM shut down the plant, the filmmakers produced a eulogy in the workers' voices. There is no narrator.

"It's a film about the blue-collar middle class, and what's happening to them in this country. This is a snapshot of that, right here in Dayton," says Reichert, who won a 2007 Emmy with Bognar for "A Lion in the House," a four-hour PBS film about Children's Hospital Medical Center cancer patients.

It's a view of the auto-making industry - or the culture inside any plant - rarely seen on TV. The employees talk about their work ethic, and the identity that comes with having a job they love doing.

"You see how important work is to the American person," says Melissa Godoy of Mount Airy, a line producer and interviewer on the film. "Work that we love is so precious, and when it's taken away, it's so painful."

Says GM worker Louis Carter: "This is our plant. We don't own it, but this is our plant. "

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Show: Most Recent Comment First - Tulsa World

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 02:38 AM PDT

TULSA

Beard, George R., 65, retired NAAPA Auto Parts Store owner, died Saturday. Visitation 4-8 p.m. Monday, Butler-Stumpff Funeral Home, and graveside service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Hogans Cemetery, Locust Grove.

Jackson, Allen Ray, 41, construction driver, died Friday. Services pending. Floral Haven, Broken Arrow.

Lenox, Christopher David, 35, electrician and journeyman, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Moore's Rosewood Funeral Home Chapel.

Lester, Christina Lynn, 13, student, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Dana Lynn, 47, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Laura Kathleen, 16, student, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Stephen Thomas, 47, physician, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Mendenhall, Connie L., 53, Turley Tag Agency clerk, died Friday. Graveside service 1 p.m. Wednesday, Rest Haven Cemetery, Sperry. Johnson, Sperry.

Neil, Ronald Edwin "Ronnie," 44, died Saturday. Graveside service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Walker Cemetery,

Welch. Thomas, Welch.

Nulf, Glenda, 73, homemaker, died Sunday. Services pending. Moore's Southlawn.

Sheram, Bernie, 85, office administrator, died Saturday. Services pending. Stanleys.

Simpson, Betty, 79, homemaker, died Sunday. Services pending. Moore's Southlawn.

Thompson, Zelda M., 86, retired Special Olympics Staff member, died Saturday. Services pending. Ninde Woodland.

Veteto, Ken, 50, physician, died Saturday. Memorial service 1 p.m. Tuesday, Park Plaza Church of Christ. Moore's Southlawn.

STATE/AREA

Funeral home, church and cemetery locations are in the city under which the death notice is listed unless otherwise noted.

Afton — Marilyn Payne, 69, Drake's Restaurant cook, died Saturday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Monday and service 1 p.m. Tuesday, both at Adcock Funeral Home, Fairland.

Bartlesville — Geraldine Tripett "Jerri" Fry, 92, died Saturday. Private family services. Stumpff.

— Dwight Leslie Liston, 47, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church, Dewey. Stumpff.

— Margaret Lowe, 89, died Sunday. Services pending. Stumpff.

— Cleo L. Summers, 88, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel.

Bristow — Helen Blanche Sweet, 84, homemaker, died Saturday. Services pending. Hutchins-Maples.

Broken Arrow — Earl Cline Jr., 75, janitorial supply owner, died Saturday. Services pending. Moore's Southlawn, Tulsa.

— Bob B. Cooper, 75, aviation engineer, died Sunday. Services pending. Moore's Southlawn, Tulsa.

— Carlene B. Schrupp, 31, homemaker, died Friday. Services pending. Add'Vantage, Tulsa.

— Braston Tyler Starr, 10, died Saturday. Visitation noon-9 p.m. Tuesday and service 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, both at Floral Haven Funeral Home.

— Marian L. Wilkinson, 64, Dollar Thrifty International Credit employee, died Saturday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Hayhurst Funeral Home, and service 1 p.m. Wednesday, First Baptist Church.

Checotah — Inas Jones, 76, homemaker, died Sunday in Muskogee. Services pending. Garrett Family.

Chelsea — Janice L. "Claire" Smith, 63, medical office receptionist, died Friday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Rice Funeral Home, Claremore, and service 1 p.m. Wednesday, Cowboy Junction Church, Vinita.

Claremore — Mildred May "Dutch" Barnes, 84, died Friday. Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church. Stumpff-Nowata, Nowata.

Cleveland — Troy Adams, 24, Davis Pipe Testing employee, died Saturday. Visitation 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Chapman-Black Funeral Home, and service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Western Heights Baptist Church.

— Andrea Merriman, 21, surgical technician, died Saturday. Visitation 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Chapman-Black Funeral Home, and service 2 p.m. Thursday, Western Heights Baptist Church.

Coffeyville, Kan. — Mary Jane Norfleet, 90, Phillips Petroleum Co. employee, died Saturday. Service 11 a.m. Monday, David W. Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.

Collinsville — Patsy Ruth (Hembree) Priddy, 70, died Friday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Rejoice Free Will Baptist Church, Owasso. Mowery, Owasso.

Coweta — Ronny Lewis Hood, 47, pharmacy technician, died Thursday. Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, First Methodist Church. Wright.

Enterprise — Helen J. Highfill, 70, died Sunday. Services pending. King & Shearwood, Stigler.

Foyil — Avenelle J. Myers, 77, homemaker, died Saturday. Services pending. Add'Vantage, Tulsa.

Glenpool — Kevin G. "Moose" Green, 44, Primus International Aircraft supervisor, died Friday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Leonard & Marker Funeral Home, Bixby, and service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Faith Church.

Haskell — Ivalene Clay, 79, died Sunday. Services pending. Bixby Funeral Service, Bixby.

Heavener — Jimmy Don Cowan, 61, died Friday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dowden Funeral Home Chapel.

Hodgen — Welton Kelly, 82, died Sunday. Service 1 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church. Dowden, Heavener.

Jay — Georgia Ann (Jones) Proctor, 87, died Friday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Monday, Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, and service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Piney Baptist Church.

Jennings — Mark Gaches, 23, professional mixed martial arts fighter, died Saturday. Visitation 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Cleveland, and service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Western Heights Baptist Church, Cleveland.

Keota — Levi Bruce Pennington, 55, security guard, died Friday. Service 7 p.m. Wednesday, Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel, Spiro.

McAlester — Della (Caves) (Whorton) Eckstein, 95, Haywood School cook, died Friday. Visitation 5-8 p.m. Monday and 5-7 p.m. Tuesday and service 2 p.m. Wednesday, all at Bishop Funeral Home.

McCurtain — Brandon Jordan, 26, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Tuesday, New Life Ministries. King & Shearwood, Stigler.

Muskogee — Thelma O. Chandler, 91, retired nurse, died Sunday. Services pending. Ragsdale.

Nowata — Jerry D. Hanna, 68, died Saturday. Services pending. Stumpff-Nowata.

— Carl Lee Long, 81, rancher, died Saturday. Services pending. Benjamin.

Oktaha — Jack R. Mitchell, 64, ACME Engineering employee, died Sunday. Services pending. Shipman's, Pryor.

Owasso — Grace Dill Lanier, 93, homemaker, died Saturday. Service 10 a.m. Thursday, Farmerville First United Methodist Church, Farmerville, La. Mowery.

Ponca City — John Howard Taiclet, 89, pipefitter and welder, died Saturday. Graveside service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Odd Fellows Cemetery. Grace.

Poteau — Dusty Nichole Loggains, 36, home health care worker, died Thursday. Graveside service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Vaughn Cemetery, Monroe. Evans & Miller.

— Alford "Steve" Nichols, 60, automotive mechanic, died Saturday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Evans & Miller Funeral Home Chapel.

Sapulpa — Pearl M. Cosby, 85, retired hotel housekeeper, died Friday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Moore's Memory Funeral Home Chapel, Tulsa.

— Gerald Dean Skaggs, 81, retired from Sun Oil Co., died Friday. Service 2 p.m. Tuesday, Green Hill Funeral Home Chapel.

Stilwell — Lillian J. McLemore, 80, educator, died Friday. Visitation 1-4 p.m. Monday and service 10 a.m. Tuesday, both at Hart Funeral Home.

Tahlequah — Onnie Harlow, 80, truck driver, died Saturday. Visitation 1-8 p.m. Monday, Green Country Funeral Home, and service 2 p.m. Tuesday, First Baptist Church.

— Cynthia E. Tackett, 96, died Sunday. Services pending. Hart.

Wilburton — Erma Dean Slater, 83, died Saturday. Graveside service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dammon Valley Cemetery. Waldrop.

U.S.-WORLD

Ron Raikes , a former Nebraska state senator who oversaw major changes in rural and urban school districts, has died after an accident on his farm in Saunders County. He was 66.

Raikes died Saturday night after getting caught in a hay machine, Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz said.

He took office in 1997 and served for 11 years, gaining attention for his work as chairman of the Education Committee. He drew the ire of many when he backed a plan to force some of the state's smallest schools to combine with their larger neighbors in the name of efficiency.

Raikes, who held a doctorate degree in agricultural economics, ran a large cattle operation and grew corn, soybeans and wheat.

"I know of no one who conducted himself with more dignity, integrity and intelligence in both public and private life than Ron Raikes," University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken said.

Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson , a Jamaican reggae producer and keyboardist for Bob Marley, has died in New York at age 47.

Fellow producer Cleveland "Clevie" Browne says Johnson died Tuesday at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital on Long Island, following a heart attack.

Browne says Johnson was diagnosed with kidney failure in December while in New York City. He says doctors told Johnson he had a blood clot in his brain.

Johnson was known for his innovative work on some of the biggest dancehall hits of the 1980s and 1990s.

As part of "Steely & Clevie," the two dominated music production in Jamaica for decades. They helped to transform dancehall music by embracing digital technology in the studio.

They also worked with global acts like No Doubt and Sean Paul.

Death notice policy

The Tulsa World publishes free death notices. Funeral homes may submit death notices from 4 to 10:30 p.m. daily. For information about news obituaries, call 581-8325.

Circle of Life logo

Circle of Life

In an effort to honor those who have donated either organs, eyes or tissue, the Tulsa World is participating in the "Circle of Life" campaign sponsored by the Global Organization for Organ Donation (GOOD).

If your loved one was a donor, please inform the funeral director if you would like to have the "Circle of Life" logo placed in his or her listing.

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by: Staff Reports - Tulsa World

Posted: 07 Sep 2009 01:48 AM PDT

Return to Story

Deaths

by: Staff Reports
Monday, September 07, 2009
9/7/2009 4:20:52 AM

TULSA

Jackson, Allen Ray, 41, construction driver, died Friday. Services pending. Floral Haven, Broken Arrow.

Lenox, Christopher David, 35, electrician and journeyman, died Thursday. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Moore's Rosewood Funeral Home Chapel.

Lester, Christina Lynn, 13, student, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Dana Lynn, 47, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Laura Kathleen, 16, student, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Lester, Stephen Thomas, 47, physician, died Saturday. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, and service 10 a.m. Thursday, Park Plaza Church of Christ.

Mendenhall, Connie L., 53, Turley Tag Agency clerk, died Friday. Graveside service 1 p.m. Wednesday, Rest Haven Cemetery, Sperry. Johnson, Sperry.

Neil, Ronald Edwin "Ronnie," 44, died Saturday. Graveside service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Walker Cemetery, Welch. Thomas, Welch.