WMEO 9 Spotlight: Felines Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts

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An orange cat and a black cat sit behind the WMEO 9 news desk like anchors, with a microphone and papers in front of them and a fall foliage newsroom backdrop behind the desk.

📰 WMEO Cultural Moment: “Cats Who Changed the Internet”

We Meow- You Listen

Felines Who Left Pawprints on Our Hearts deserve a moment of recognition, and WMEO 9 is proud to share a special cultural segment honoring the cats who shaped online culture. From Cole and Marmalade to Lil Bub and Grumpy Cat, these beloved companions changed the digital world with their charm, courage, and connection to millions.

Banner: “Today, WMEO takes a moment to celebrate the cats who shaped the internet — the ones who made us laugh, comforted millions, and left pawprints on our hearts.”

Balboa: “And they paved the way for all of us newsroom cats who followed.”

Banner: “Lil Bub’s sweetness… Grumpy Cat’s legendary frown… Morris the finicky cat… Oreo… and Cole — the brave, bright soul who stood beside Marmalade for years.”

Balboa: “Cole fought the Big C with more courage than most humans. And he still inspires people. Deborah wears his shirts all the time.”

Banner: “And now Marmalade joins the great ones. A good cat. A beloved cat. A cat whose presence made the world feel kinder.”

Balboa (lightening the tone): “And he had better camera presence than Banner. Just saying.”

Banner (giving him a look): “Balboa…”

Balboa (shrugs): “What? It’s true.”

Banner (closing): “We honor them not with sadness, but with gratitude. Their legacy lives on in every whisker that appears on a screen.”

This has been a WMEO Special Report

 

Driving the Mohawk Trail

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Large bronze elk statue standing behind a black metal fence in Charlemont, Massachusetts, a well‑known roadside landmark along the Mohawk Trail with a house and trees in the background.

“The Elk of Charlemont — guardian of the Mohawk Trail.”

The Mohawk Trail Elk

If you’ve ever driven the Mohawk Trail, you’ve probably met this fellow — the famous elk statue standing watch in Charlemont. He’s been greeting travelers for generations, a quirky landmark from the old roadside‑attraction era. Locals simply call him The Elk, and for many of us, he’s the unofficial mascot of the Mohawk Trail. Seeing him always meant you were on one of New England’s most scenic drives, where the road bends, the hills rise, and the pace finally slows down.

A Fast Life on the Mass Pike

When I first moved to Massachusetts, most weekends were spent racing back and forth to New York where my family lived. I’d rush out of the house, toss an overnight bag in the car, and shoot straight onto the Mass Pike. Then I’d drive like a bat out of… well, let’s just say the posted speed limits and I weren’t always on speaking terms. It became a game — how much faster could I make the trip this week compared to last. I was lucky. Out of all those runs, I only got stopped once.

Breaker Breaker 19: The CB Era

A person in a tan cowboy hat and red shirt sits in the front seat of a moving vehicle, speaking into a CB radio microphone. Behind them, another person with long brown hair looks out the window while brushing their hair back. The blurred scenery outside suggests the vehicle is in motion.

A close-up of a handheld CB radio microphone used for two-way communication.

Back in the ’70s, my need for speed had a little helper: the CB radio. Breaker Breaker 19 — any smokies ahead? Sometimes I’d slide into a “rocking chair” between two big rigs and we’d fly down the highway together. But one day, I decided to try something different.

Discovering the Mohawk Trail

Instead of putting the pedal to the metal, I went north on 128, cruised right past the Mass Pike entrance, picked up Route 2/2A near Concord, and headed west. Welcome to the Mohawk Trail.

You don’t take the Mohawk Trail for speed. You take it to enjoy an old‑fashioned, winding two‑lane road. It wanders through tiny villages and hamlets, follows rivers and streams, and even throws a full 180‑degree hairpin curve at you.

hairpin curve on the Mohawk Trail

That’s one turn you definitely don’t want to take at highway speed.

Briight fall colors and foliageFall Foliage at Its Finest

In the fall, the scenery is spectacular. Maple trees blaze bright red, and every other tree seems to toss in its own color for emphasis. The road winds through the Berkshires, always curving, always meandering — which makes perfect sense. For centuries, the Mohawk Trail served as a Native American footpath connecting tribes between the Hudson and Connecticut River valleys. Once automobiles arrived, it was only natural that a motor road would follow the same path.

One of America’s Oldest Scenic Byways

Today, the Mohawk Trail is one of the oldest scenic byways in the country, and it rewards anyone willing to slow down. Soak up the atmosphere. Explore the little towns and villages. This is some of the most beautiful country in all of New England. The Mohawk isn’t a route to rush through — it’s meant to be savored.

A Drive Worth Remembering

It’s still one of my favorite drives, even if I don’t get to enjoy it as often as I used to. Maybe that’s why it remains so special to me. So the next time you have a few extra hours and want an old‑fashioned road trip — a true Sunday‑afternoon drive — think of the Mohawk Trail and give it a try. You might be surprised by how much you love it.

 

WMEO Reports- Howl-O-Ween Parade

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This weekend brought another round of festive chaos to Salem, and as a result, WMEO has plenty to report. Before we dive into the details, it’s worth noting that the Howl‑O‑Ween Pet Parade continues to be one of the most anticipated events of Haunted Happenings. With that in mind, let’s head straight to the WMEO News Desk for today’s update.

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk; the orange cat wears a black bow tie and the black cat wears a blue witch hat. A microphone, paw‑print paper, and small toy mouse and bear sit on the desk. Behind them, a screen displays a dog in a zebra costume during the Howl‑O‑Ween Pet Parade in Salem, MA.

WMEO — Howl‑O‑Ween Parade , Salem

Good Morning Readers This is the WMEO News Desk with an update on the Haunted Happenings in Salem, MA. This is WMEO — We Meow, You Listen.

Banner: Good morning! This past weekend one of WMEO’s favorite events was held on Saturday — the Howl‑O‑Ween Parade. Now, Balboa… what are you wearing?

Balboa: It’s my genuine Witches and Warlocks hat.

Banner: Well take it off. It looks silly.

Balboa: It is not silly. It gives me great power. Best watch yourself or I’ll be forced to put a spell on you.

Banner: Anyway, let’s get back to the exciting Howl‑O‑Ween Parade. The weather was perfect for the outdoor event. So, let’s go to Pumpkin Spice, on location, to get his first‑hand observations.

Small dog wearing a black witch hat with purple spiderwebs sits in a pink stroller at an outdoor event, looking toward the camera.

Pumpkin Spice: Good morning, Banner. I’m here on Essex Street where the Howl‑O‑Ween Pet Parade is in full swing. As you can see, spirits are high, costumes are questionable, and at least one participant has already tried to eat my microphone.

I’m joined now by two parade participants. First, can you tell WMEO what inspired your ensemble?

Three cats in colorful costumes sit inside a red cardboard car; one wears a red‑and‑white striped hat, one wears a blue tulle headpiece, and one wears an orange “Thing 2” outfit during a festive pet parade.

Black Cat in Red Bow Tie: Professional attire. I saw Banner wearing a bow tie and thought, “Yes. That’s the look.”

Orange Cat in Blue Tulle Wig: I didn’t choose this. My human did. Please send help.

Pumpkin Spice: With that, powerful statements from the field. Back to you, Banner.

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk; the orange cat wears a black bow tie and the black cat wears a witch hat. A microphone, paw‑print paper, and small toys sit on the desk, while a screen behind them shows a dog in a lion costume for the Howl‑O‑Ween Pet Parade.

Banner: Thank you, Pumpkin Spice. As always, it’s a pleasure hearing from our field team — especially when they’re not being chased by bears.

Now then, Balboa, I understand you also attempted to attend the parade?

Balboa: I did! I was ready to march proudly in my hat of mystical authority.

Banner: You mean the silly hat.

Balboa: The powerful hat. I was prepared to bless the parade with enchantments, but someone — (glares at Banner) — said I wasn’t allowed to leave the studio wearing it.

Banner: For the record, WMEO does not endorse unsupervised magical activity.

Balboa: For the record, WMEO does not appreciate my greatness.

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

Banner: In conclusion, that wraps up our update on the Howl‑O‑Ween Pet Parade. Stay tuned for more Haunted Happenings throughout October.

Balboa: And stay tuned for my spell of revenge.

Banner: Balboa…

Balboa: I’m kidding. Probably.

Banner: This is WMEO — We Meow, You Listen. Have a safe and spooky day.

Black cat wearing a dark witch hat with a crescent moon sits with a press badge and camera, posed against warm blurred lights.

 

 

 

 

Wildlife Viewing over the Years

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Two small brown owls sitting close together, wide‑eyed and alert, with round faces, speckled feathers, and a soft green blurred background.

Wildlife Viewing upclose (but not too) and personal

This has been quite a year for wildlife. Stories have been popping up from all over the map — bears wandering through Connecticut, moose strolling around Gardner, and all kinds of unexpected visitors showing up in places they normally avoid. It’s made me think about the trips I’ve taken where I got to see animals in their natural habitat instead of behind zoo glass. Honestly, it makes me want to go on a safari someday. Lions and tigers and rhinos… oh my.

I’ve always looked for wildlife when I travel — whale watches, manatees, anything with fins, fur, or feathers. But two vacations stand out above the rest: South Dakota and Wyoming.

South Dakota: The Highway Wildlife Parade

South Dakota was the first place I ever saw so many wild animals just… out and about. Pronghorn grazed right beside the highway. Deer darted across the Badlands and Black Hills. We even watched a whole herd of Big Horn sheep crossing the road, stopping traffic like they owned the place.

Five big horn sheep crossing a paved mountain road while a white car waits, with rocky hillsides and green forest in the background.

And the best part? People actually stopped for them. There was a respect for wildlife I don’t often see around here. Even with all those animals, there was surprisingly little road carnage — unlike Massachusetts, where you can tell the seasons by how many dead deer line the roadside.

Here’s what we saw in South Dakota:

Four wild horses running across a grassy field, their manes blowing as they move together through open terrain with low shrubs in the background.

  • White‑tailed deer
  • Mule deer
  • Pronghorn
  • Rabbits
  • Bison
  • Big Horn sheep
  • Wild horses
  • Wild burros (the famous “beggin’ burros”)
  • Prairie dogs
  • And Birds, lots of birds.  Meadowlarks, Blue Birds, Swallows  and a Road Runner (where’s Wile E. Coyote?)

Wyoming: The Elk Jackpot

Wyoming happened because it was the only place with elk available for a timeshare exchange. I’d started looking in Utah, but I ended up near Jackson Hole — and I hit the wildlife jackpot.

I wanted elk, and I got elk. I didn’t hear the iconic bugle — the rut was over — but I did get to see part of the elk migration. A huge herd of does, calves, and bulls moving across open fields toward their wintering grounds. It was breathtaking.

A large herd of elk moving across a grassy field in a wide panoramic scene, with tall leafless trees in the background.

Elk were #1 on the list, but Wyoming had more:

  • Grizzly bearsA mother brown bear and two cubs walking across rocky ground with autumn foliage in the background.
  • Black bears (not always black, which got confusing)
  • Mule deer
  • Pronghorn
  • Chipmunks
  • Bison
  • Moose

One of my favorite moments was seeing a mixed herd — bison, pronghorn, and deer — all grazing peacefully together like they’d formed a temporary wildlife union.

I looked for wolves in Yellowstone, but the Lamar Valley was quiet that day. Beautiful, but empty. I found geysers instead.

Old Faithful geyser erupting in a tall column of steam and water against a bright blue sky, with rocky geothermal ground and forested hills in the background.

Wild Kingdom, Dusty Edition

I’ve had so many wildlife adventures over the years that I could practically write my own Wild Kingdom scripts. But that’s enough reminiscing for now.

With bears in Connecticut and moose in Gardner, maybe the next wildlife story will be closer to home than I think.

 

California Builds Wildlife Overpass

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A newly built wildlife crossing bridge stretches over a highway, with three mule deer walking across the top. Cars travel beneath the structure, and forested hills rise in the background. Construction equipment is still visible on the bridge, highlighting how quickly wildlife began using it.

Wildlife Overpass comes to California

 

Good Morning, Readers

I love good‑news stories, and there never seem to be enough of them. Recently I’ve shared updates about Colorado’s new wildlife overpass and the incredible success they’re seeing — fewer crashes, less carnage on the roads, and migratory animals like pronghorn returning to their historical routes.

Then I learned about Arizona. They already have more than twenty wildlife overpasses and tunnels. I had no idea they were so conservation‑forward, but apparently they’re planning another one because the existing crossings work so well.

And now California has joined in. Up in Siskiyou County, their new wildlife overpass isn’t even officially open yet, but it’s already proving its worth. Just 15 hours after construction wrapped, three mule deer crossed. They were followed by a bobcat… and then a black bear.

I guess it really is a case of: If you build it, they will come.

A forested highway runs beneath a wide wildlife overpass covered in soil and vegetation. Dense pine trees surround the scene, and a snow‑capped mountain rises in the background under a bright blue sky.