DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, the amount and nature of the news you’re subjected to may have a direct relationship to the joy you find in your life.
If you’re just one of the regular folks trying to enjoy each day, you might believe no news is good news. That’s because most news is bad news. So if there’s no news, that’s good news!
However, if you’re a television news reporter covering the happenings of this vast peninsula, and you’re trying to fill hours of airtime dedicated to local news, no news is bad news.
I’m pretty sure news people, just like the rest of us, don’t want bad things to befall their fellow citizens. But if there’s some kind of natural disaster, or shocking crime, it has to be covered.
Fortunately, here in the U.P., most of our natural disasters are of the white fluffy kind and will eventually melt away. And our shocking crimes are few and far between. Isn’t that why we live here?
Unfortunately, for those trying to make a living keeping eyeballs glued to the screen, the news of a new stoplight down by the lumberyard isn’t the kind of story that’s going to drive ratings.
So when some guy puts up a gallows-like structure with a hangman’s noose, just feet from a major highway, reporters start to salivate. Since no one was injured and nothing about it will raise our taxes, it’s a story with no downside. Well, except for the controversial nature of the act itself.
The Reporter Reports
If you’re the reporter assigned to the story, you naturally want to talk to the person responsible for the questionable display. Often, it’s hard to find that person. Anonymity is the artificial force field protecting the perpetrator.
Not so with the gallows. Whoever assembled the display accompanied it with a banner for his business, including his phone number!
Which brings us to intrepid reporter from MyUPNews, Schyler Perkins. In the news business, landing an interview with the famous or infamous is called a “get.” And Perkins got it.
Apparently Tom Pegenau, the guy behind the project, felt his display spoke for itself and didn’t agree to just any interview. But something about Schyler Perkins’ perseverance changed his mind, and a talk was scheduled… with one condition. Tom was fishing, on his boat, and that’s where the two would have to meet… as seen above.
I’ll reserve judgement regarding the wisdom and propriety of the display and its intent. If you’ve got the time, you can learn more about Pegenau and some of the thoughts behind his actions by watching the one-man YouTube video he posted… also from his boat. (Warning: Unlike the lake on which he floats, the language is a little salty.)
Whatever It Takes
Rather than draw further attention to something that’s already gained more notoriety than it deserves, I’ll instead choose to focus on the reporter who went the additional nautical mile, with or without Dramamine.
Schyler… pronounced Skyler, came to the U.P. after graduating from Grand Valley and working at a TV station in Grand Rapids. He started at MyUPNews as a digital content producer and then, about a year ago, moved into his current role as a reporter.
Reporters often find themselves with unique assignments. That’s part of what makes it news. But this was a new one for Schyler. “I’m sure I’ve interviewed people in some interesting locations, but the path to and final location of that shoot was a pretty novel experience.”
It was on his YouTube video where Perkins connected with Pegenau, requesting the interview on the accompanying chat. Pegenau, apparently suspect of… well, everybody, responded with, “What are you, some kind of idiot?”
Encouraged by another on the chat to grant the interview, Pegenau told Schyler to meet him on the beach at the scenic turnout on M-28. Undaunted by the less than warm welcome, Schyler lugged his gear to the shore, hopped on board, and was face-to-face with the man who had brought nationwide attention to Chocolay Township.
An Unusual Protest
The idea of someone actually building a gallows structure with a noose and a message indicating a dissatisfaction with un-named bureaucrats certainly threatens the concept of peaceful protest.
So Schyler… what’s up with this guy? “I try to not be in the business of offering my opinion about topics I cover, but I will say Tom was accommodating enough to pick me up from shore and help keep my gear dry. During the interview, he was thoughtful and generous with his time.”
What about his business, Pegenau Builders? Was he concerned about how this might affect people’s desire to work with him? “He seemed indifferent. Right now I think he’s recovering from an injury, but I imagine there is enough of a shortage of construction workers and enough variety of opinions that it’ll be a wash for his business demand in the long run.”
Though a noose carries racial implications, it doesn’t appear Pegenau had skin color in mind. If you’re in a position of authority, you might be a target for his ire, regardless of race.
Without the very visual manifestation of his anger towards the bureaucracy, his opinions wouldn’t be much more than what you might hear from one of the regulars at the end of the bar. But when you put a noose up next to the highway, you’ve created an indelible image open to all manners of interpretation… few of them good.
Take The Story Where You Get It
But it’s still news. And whether it’s good news or bad, Schyler Perkins was there to file a report. According to MyUPNews anchor Andrew Lorinser, “Schyler is an audacious, high caliber, skillful reporter. We’re grateful to have him on the team.”
So… what’s the future of this piece of protest art? “He said he wasn’t done with it before everything blew up online,” Perkins recalls. “But I didn’t get a read on whether he plans to finish. I think he also said he might burn it. We’ll have to just wait and see on that I suppose.”
Ironically, the authorities may have the last say. If they can find an ordinance it violates, a fire might be just the ticket.
As far as Schyler is concerned, you take news wherever you can find it. Even if it means tagging along while your subject trolls the big lake.
When you get a get like that, you’ve got to take it.