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Best Places to Retire ...pages 11-17
Northwest
Prime Time
CELEBRATING LIFE AFTER 50 IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION SINCE 1986
www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com
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JULY
VOL. 16 NO. 6
/AU 201 GUST 6
Jeff Renner Our King 5 Television Weatherman …by Suzanne G. Beyer
To this day, Renner reflects on the vast size of eff Renner thinks of his the blast zone with no trees standing, no vegetation and career and life as premud—a lifeless environment. Mount St. Helens and postIt’s like the size of the entire Seattle area, including Mount St. Helens. Federal Way and Tacoma,” says Renner. The eruption of Washington’s St. Helens became a Mount St. Helens made history with significant event in Renner’s its 80,000-foot plume which deposited life…a life filled with ash in eleven states, spreading as far many diverse interests and as Oklahoma and sending Yakima opportunities. and Spokane into darkness. As St. Childhood Helens’ ash circled the globe in the As a child, Renner upper atmosphere, mudflows poured grew up thinking about down the Toutle River and into the outer space. His interest Columbia. The historic eruption also in astronomy increased became a big part of Renner’s life. when he visited the Adler Over 55 people were killed that Planetarium in Chicago, day, May 18, 1980, including Renner’s which heightened his desire good friend, David Johnston, a geoto become an astronaut. But chemist for the U.S. Geological Survey without 20-20 eyesight, this (USGS). Jeff feels it fitting that the dream slipped away. Johnston Ridge Observatory on the Jacques Cousteau and his KING 5 News meteorologist Jeff Renner recently retired from that long-time post mountain is named in his friend’s underwater sea adventures honor. comprised Renner’s second dream. your voice?” The teacher offered him a went back to school at the University As a reporter for King 5, Renner Maybe he could join the crew; but as speaking class, which led to a vast realm of Washington to study meteorology and to earn his Bachelor of Science made several trips to of new experiences. degree in atmospheric sciences. As St. Helens, where in While at the University of part of his new job at King 5, he took a 1979 he observed and Wisconsin, Jeff got a job offer at a reported on steam television news station in Milwaukee. class on mountain climbing at Mount Rainier. This experience paid off when, explosions coming With his rich, deep voice and a on assignment, he climbed to the from the mountain. degree in broadcast journalism and summit of Mount Baker and into the Late March, 1980, he political science, he became the crater. Today, viewers know Jeff Renner flew via helicopter to science and health reporter for the as King 5’s weatherman and chief the volcano with a station. meteorologist, a position he held since photographer where Happily, he interviewed local during this 1984. The King 5 Family residents, worked time, Jeff’s Over the years Jeff made lasting with engineers and neighbor researchers and also introduced friendships with his King 5 colleagues, forming a close-knit family with lived under “camping” him to his Jeff and his wife Sue taking a break during a trip conditions with no future wife, Jean Enersen, Mike James and Tony to Italy Ventrella, to name a few. He also stays warm water for showers. Sue, who in touch with photographers, producers Renner grew a beard at that time, he noted, “They were all worked as and engineers, the behind-the-scenes fitting right in to mountain-man mode. French.” a medical people who make it all happen. Days before St. Helens erupted, Fortunately, Jeff got social Along with sad stories, there are Renner returned to the mountain to see plenty of support from his worker comical antics in the news room as well. the north side bulging. Since engineers parents, no matter the at a local Jeff says, “The news report that day didn’t think the mountain would blow dream. hospital. was about a giant sink-hole opening that soon, Jeff left for Seattle. “We were a close As On May 18th at 8:32am, while family. I had extremely opportunity up in Florida.” During the telecast, inside his Redmond home, Jeff and his attentive parents,” says would have Jeff and a colleague pulled the lever in Jeff with his 10-year-old Siberian Husky, Roger it, while their chairs to lower themselves. With wife, Sue, heard a thud on the side of Renner. He was also a reprimand from management not to the house. particularly attached to his attending ever perform that stunt again, everyone His phone started ringing. It grandmother who taught him anything a conference in 1977, Jeff met King 5 on the set, and behind, laughed was a colleague in Toledo, Wash., is possible. Science and Health Reporter, Wendy uncontrollably. yelling, “Eruption going on”… with a As Jeff had no siblings, he became Tokuda, who said, “We have an Renner was often blamed for the subsequent call, “Lightning coming out close to his Dachshund “Schatzi.” He opening in Seattle.” weather on and off the set. As a guest of eruption cloud!” always loved animals and provided This appeared to be a good move of honor at Opening Day of Boating Viewers needed to see what was refuge to various frogs and salamanders. since Jeff loved outdoor activities and happening, so Jeff hopped in the King 5 Since Dad was a salesman, the family looked forward to hiking in the majestic Season in Des Moines, the sunny day Jeff had forecasted, turned cold, gray helicopter. As ash spouted, it was tough traveled, living in Chicago, Ohio and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. getting close enough to the volcano to Wisconsin. With that job offer, Jeff became King 5’s and drizzly. The Master of Ceremonies handed him a hangman’s noose for his report on the eruption. Coast Guard It was in high school that a new health and science reporter, replacing screw-up prediction. helicopters forced Jeff’s helicopter away possibility opened for him when his Wendy Tokuda. from the area. teacher said, “Have you ever heard To add to his interest in science, Jeff continued on page 22
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