However, much cooler weather is right around the corner. That makes them have almost zero interest in rooting out corruption anywhere. But, I never Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Weve learned so much about the weather in the 5 yrs. Simple as that. And at this point Im only doing a limited amount on my Blog. You got rid of Ben Hoover, now John Farley. sold 451,500 1.14.13 after commission thats about a break even deal. Tropical Depression Nine has strengthened into Tropical Storm Humberto. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - After eight years of bringing the weather forecast into the homes of thousands across the Midlands, Meteorologist Tim Miller is saying farewell to WIS-TV in Columbia. Well, we dont have a lot of it over the next several days. or my pursuit to find another job. Wis you made a bad decision. LMAOSmirks and Squishy are like that little runt guy, with Scott Farkas, on A Chrsitmas Story.Hes on this page: http://slorober.blogspot.com/2011/12/scut-or-farkus.html, FITSll show you, bo. Loyal friend, the colleague said. But we have a glimmer of hope. Have you read Hoovers contract? Were tracking more triple digit heat and thunderstorms over the next several days. Buffalo Station Is Losing 3 Anchors In Less Than a Month - Adweek WIS TV Sunrise Anchor 'No Longer With' Station - FITSNews pic.twitter.com/d7XWD4pGoP. Judy is sweet hopefully one day shell leave on her own and we will see her on another station. Farley, who has been at WIS for five years. That Ben Hoover Thing Keeps Going And Going - FITSNews I am sure WIS hasa well paid law team to cover their butts. He comes to WIS from Duluth, Minnesota, where he served as chief meteorologist for more than nine years. recently slated me to do a follow up to Hope in Hard Times this coming God bless you and your family. Non-competes dont apply if you are terminated. GT is a woman? SC is a right-to-work state. Wis TV has made a big mistake in not renewing John Farleys contract. Karl Bohnak, a meteorologist who spent 33 years at NBC affiliate WLUC, has been fired. We call that overconfidence . Adam Clark - Chief Meteorologist | Columbia SC When Ben Hoover news came across the lines I wrote and will continue to boycott WIS news, and now more so I will continue to boycott until Todd is terminated. As we previously noted, she developed quite a fan base in the South Carolina capital city during her first year on the local airwaves.. My children were In the late 1990s, WLTX hired longtime WIS weatherman Jim Gandy shortly after the former station was purchased by Gannett. Lets just dump Donita instead. If convicted, Roesler could face up to fifteen years in prison and fines of up to$30,000(aggravated assault is a class three felony in South Dakota, per S.D. Roesler was hired at WIS to replace Mary King, who left the station to become the new morning anchor atWBTV TV-3(CBS Charlotte, N.C.). TVSpy was. Wis., and Milwaukee, he made the . You could read hard to enforce as damn near impossible to enforce in SC. Team player. He joined WIS after serving as chief meteorologist in Duluth, Minnesota, for more than nine years. Here is the statement: "During the last several days much has . He started his career in Lynchburg, Virginia in 2010, and joined NBC12 in 2013. Trite and empty insults, with no content other than hate, are a sure sign of the mindless and ignorant. Mr. Farley you will be missed. taped station promotions that historically have run for several months. We are Fu@K1n6 prolife. Please, amateurs, step aside as Master of the Interwebs GrandTango schools you on how to run a wildly successful blogspot turd pile. The retarded down syndrome blog with no legs and rectal cranial inversion will be kept alive on life support for many years until god calls her back home. I dont know where my next job will take my family FIRST ALERT: Tropical Depression Three forms in the Bahamas; poses no threat to the Midlands for now. Love @BenTanner71! My announcement last Thursday was in Jamie Bittner joined the Gray Television Washington News Bureau in December 2021. Andrew joined WIS in June 2022 as a general assignment reporter. ", He gives a final message to potential future employers saying "Please judge me on the hundreds, thousands of hours of television that I am so proud of not the couple of minutes of salacious video that is probably going to soon define me in out 'click-bait' culture.". Adam Clark - WIS When you add in the fact that he was let go and did not quit, WIS can not keep him from working when theyre the ones who are responsible for him not working. (And yes, for a story we dont especially. While it is not immediately clear how this charge has been disposed, Roesler has clearly gotten the second chance we argued that she deserved. Madison Radar Forecast 8 PM 8F 10 PM 5F News Weather Sports Obituaries Madison Magazine Contests. When Kevin isn't checking weather models, you can find him bowling. Kyle Rogers is the News Director for 'Local News Live'. Got a tip for a story? WIS-TV | 1,307 followers on LinkedIn. Who told her that she had valid opinions. This is correct. I would agree, if he doesnt have a contract, they didnt renew his contract then a no compete could not apply. According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, the long and winding road leading to the stations decision to bail on Hoover began weeks ago when he applied for another anchor position within the Raycom Media family of networks (Raycom is the corporate parent of WIS and more than four dozen other local television stations across the country). Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison, lawyers plan to appeal. Go to WLTX with Jim Gandy and Tim Miller. This is a small town and the media all have to work and play together in the same sandbox so they will not touch him with a ten foot pole. saying it's all about what he did on a webcam site that's extremely NSFW. She moved to the Palmetto State the following month and began appearing on WIS Sunrise shortly thereafter. I practiced in SC for 38 years and never heard of that happening. My sources tell me, the Hooves had already sold his house because he was so confident in the other gig. Even hotter weather is in store for your week! afford to let vague comments, including those by others outside of the Donita Todd is the one that needs to go. What happened? The owner of the house he rented sold the house. Kamie . So, Columbia and the Midlands, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of the love and support over the past five years! Brown wrote on social media. Keep Ben Hoover on WIS shared Ben Hoovers status. Dominic joins WIS-TV after spending five years as meteorologist at WTKR-TV, the CBS affiliate in Hampton Roads, VA. Tanner said he and his family have deep roots in the Midlands and wont be leaving. He said the television station fired him because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Told him it was fine and then back-stabbed him., A colleague of Hoovers described him as the whole package.. professionally and personally I needed to fill in some blanks so that They also I want Kamie back.. (A) It is but an infant right now. The Midlands' first choice since 1953! And, in order to move on both WKBW anchor Ashley Rowe is leaving the station next month to "focus on. See more stories on Insider's business page. Brown, who has been with WIS for five years, announced the move in social media posts Monday morning. John Farley was the best part of the 11:00 news. Tim Miller has accepted the position as Chief Meteorologist at WJBF in Augusta, Ga. His love for weather dates back to his childhood when he served as a weather observer for WGN-TV in Chicago at age 12. Damn that is funny! whats been a big part of my career doing the right thing. ", He says he secretly appeared on an adult webcam website while still being employed with Spectrum News NY1 stating he acted out his "compulsive behaviors, while at home, by performing on camera for other men.". in situations when ratings might be down or the employee did something WIS, is the NBC-affiliated television station located in Columbia, South Carolina. Nothing is promised to you. Hence your issue with bent of former employer. While at WTKR, Dominic tracked several major weather events to affect Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, including Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, deadly tornado outbreak in Virginia in February 2016 and a deadly tornado along the Virginia Eastern Shore in 2014. Meteorologist Columbia, SC current today tonight 68 F C Fair Pressure 29.62 in Wind VAR 6 MPH Dew Point 61 Feels Like 68 Sunrise 6:50 AM Sunset 6:22 PM Moonrise 2:50 PM Moonset 4:57 AM. I truly appreciate the support from the Von Gaskin Meteorologist. There will be no abortions in the Tango media empire. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I understand and Is that his wife and toddler in high chair in the background? "Of course I don't harbor. Ever since that event, all he ever wanted to do was learn about weather. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Get ready for some cooler weather to settle into the Midlands. In the late 1990s, WLTX hired longtime WIS weatherman Jim Gandy shortly after the former station was purchased by Gannett. After graduating from Western Connecticut State University with a B.S. with long-term contract options for management to consider. Karl Bohnak, a meteorologist who spent 33 years at NBC affiliate WLUC, has been fired. Codified Laws 22-18-1.1). TV meteorologist fired over slur says he doesn't 'harbor any racist If the employer terminates the contract, they can not prevent the employee from finding suitable employment even with a competitor. It also reminds us of how freaking hot Katie McKee is. Contests. Get ready for some big changes in your First Alert Forecast. Lee also works as an Evening News Anchor and Chief Investigative Reporter at WVUE. Were tracking a return to the 90s. They wont go to court over it. If I entertained potential advancement Ive met him. 9/19/2022 1:52 PM PT. Wouldnt want to give the shitizens ideas now would we it might spread to our state. Always have. Ill entertain myself, and stay sharp over here, to pass time until I move forward. In fact, Alert Days are posted for Saturday and Sunday mornings as temperatures drop into the low 30s. Timothy Knapp joined the Gray Television Washington News Bureau in September 2018 as Studio Manager and Photojournalist. Dominic is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. It wouldnt be unheard of for Hoover to land with a competing station, though. Shes also loathed by people that arent particularly appreciative of her talking down on people watching her opinion pieces and telling them how they ought to live their lives. Plus, all the things we do not know, all the private conversations and dealings not yet public that caused both sides to be so far apart, are more obvious to management of other local stations who deal with this type of thing all the time. and went to Georgia Tech in Atlanta for her bachelor's and master's degrees in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Go Jackets!). COLUMBIA, SC Popular Columbia TV meteorologist Ben Tanner is leaving WIS, the station announced Wednesday. paid 420,000 5.8.09 Columbia SC reporter Kuenzie out at WIS TV; fans react | The State Hoover reportedly has a one-year non-compete clause in his contract with WIS, meaning he could not broadcast with one of the stations local competitors until next July. Intisar Faulkner is a co-anchor for WIS Sunrise, weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. You can also catch her anchoring WIS Midday 3 days a week. Brace yourself! I was standing behind C. Goldsmith at Stax the other week waiting to pay. John Farley has been let go as chief meteorologist at WIS-TV- Columbia's NBC affiliate. Accordingly, we wish her nothing but the best as she relaunches her career in her home state. Think about it, The Ben Dover Back Story. Right-to-work means that an employee cant be forced to join a union to remain employed. asked why my contract wasnt being renewed station management assured me Caresse Jackman is a national consumer investigative reporter with a focus on exposing scams and digging into consumer concerns. Im going to have to reevaluate the pedestal I have placed women on. I pictured him as a fat, drooling 50-year old virgin living in the basement of his mothers trailer. Poor guy. Tropical Depression Three forms in the Bahamas. Several X WIS News Broadcasters have successfully landed in Charleston in the Past. He also. Maybe you should try his tried and true theory over on your blog, God knows you need the help. Cooler weather is on the way. Molly Martinez rejoined Gray Television in March 2022 as a multimedia journalist in the Washington News Bureau. A meteorologist is looking to clear the air about why he got canned from his job . Ive always put the viewer first. Not only did Hoover inform his bosses at WIS of his intention to test new the free agency waters, our sources say he was conducting interviews with their blessing. You Get em FITS.please.. . Well the non-renewal meant there is no contract and therefore the terms of the contract, like the non-compete, dont apply. line with how I was trained, my high standards of journalism, and with That summertime feeling is back! Claudette will bring some active weather to the Midlands through Sunday. He now serves as Supervisor of Videography. CLICK HERE. Dominic Brown joined WIS-TV as chief meteorologist in June 2017. Thank you teachers and students for inviting me to your schools!, The crash occurred near Fort Jackson in Columbia. In fact, he is honored to hold the prestigious AMS Television Seal of Approval. One person killed walking on Richland County Interstate, You can get some of the best tacos in SC at these 10 restaurants in 2023, Yelp says, Former SC governor, Trump ally Nikki Haley coming to Myrtle Beach as she runs for president, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Alex Murdaughs attorneys say theyll appeal double-murder conviction, South Carolinians praise the $2B electric vehicle company coming to Richland County, Two Lexington County men charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Weekday evening meteorologist Robb Ellis has departed to become chief meteorologist for WIS-TV Channel 10, the NBC affiliate . However, better weather is on the way. that hes been at WIS .WIS now stands for WORST IN STATE . Former WIS TV Anchor Lands Gig In Minnesota - FITSNews GREEN BAY - Brad Spakowitz isn't leaving WBAY-TV entirely, but viewers will see a lot less of him, including in front of the weather map. https://t.co/Ooa8a4DK4B All of us at @wis10 love you, @BenTanner71! Completed Contests. Bottom line, Kiss Ben Hoover goodbye in Columbia. Some anchors I wish WYFF would hire him. Ben was a popular anchor that was engaged in the community, whos contact was not renewed for some unknown cryptic reason. His 1 year contract was not renewed. Thats one long job interview. She comes to WIS from Gray's KSFY Sioux Falls, S.D., where she has been the morning show anchor since 2015. Nicole Neuman joined the Gray Television Washington News Bureau in June 2021. Billie Jean Shaw anchors Soda City Live at 3:00 & WIS News 10 at 4:00, and 5:30. However, you may find it difficult to find an employer who is willing to offer employment as they too could become a party in the lawsuit should the employer decide to hold your feet to the fire. But the best way to remember his name is to think of Dennis The Menace. Really! Im so happy to be here in Rochester joining a great news team, Roesler said in a welcome video posted to the stations Twitter feed. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. community. Get ready for even hotter weather as we continue moving through the week. Yeah, sure. Its a family name. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? First Alert Forecast: Get ready for more showers and storms and more 90s, First Alert Forecast: Tracking storms for your weekend; also watching the tropics. CLICK HERE. Shocked & disappointed about John ! She currently serves as a weather forecaster at WKBW-TV ( ABC affiliate) in Buffalo, New York, United States. Keep your rain gear handy! Two on-air news staffers leave WISH-TV - Indianapolis Business Journal Chief Meteorologist Dominic Brown joined WIS-TV as chief meteorologist in June 2017. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? In fact, I got a very Ill hide and you look for me. You show him.. It is clearly written that way and signed by the person (in this case Ben Hoover) voluntarily, so even in right to work states, these non-competes, especially in media are very easily enforced. He said the television station fired him because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine. CLICK HERE. Some of the social media comments (Below) regarding WISs decision not to renew chief meteorologist John Farleys contract. You can see @KamieRoeslerTCshare the anchor desk Monday through Thursday and will be running the show solo on Fridays! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina's 'Trial of the Century' is over but the 'Murdaugh JOB SEARCH GONE AWRY LED TO CONTROVERSIAL DECISION NOT TO RENEW TV ANCHORS CONTRACT, http://slorober.blogspot.com/2011/12/scut-or-farkus.html, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced To Life Behind Bars, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts. She has a future in this business.. Addison . Pretty sure that happens all of the time if the price is right. was made clear that management did not wish to renew early on in that This is why you are not supposed to feed trolls. Danielle A. Sheilds, 18, of Decatur, Georgia, according to Fort Jackson officials. Kevin recently got married in September 2017 and the couple takes care of their two miniature Golden Doodles! And while KXLT is obviously a step down from WIS in terms of viewership, Roesler could soon find herself auditioning for a larger market thanks to the upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin the former Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer who is accused of murdering George Floyd last Memorial Day. Guy does 2 reports that are memorable 1) the homeless thing and 2) walk to work in the snow .while good, he was frankly just doing his jobjust like the guy at Jiffy Lube changing oil. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He has also gone on to achieve the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the AMS. Rick first joined WIS in 1988 as an anchor/reporter. By Kevin Eck on May. In other words its leaders believe every government program is good, any cut to government is bad and any statement handed down from a pandering politician like Nikki Haley or Lindsey Graham should be taken as gospel.. A graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, Roesler was on the university's golf [] A wintry mix could push into the Midlands this weekend. CBS All Access. Lee leads Gray Televisions National Investigative Team. I think most people dislike her whole opinion piece that she seems to do everyday. I'm not in a position to argue with any of these descriptions. To think T is a woman. The Ben Hoover Back Story - FITSNews Thats simply not true. Von Gaskin joined WIS in April of 2010, and is a proud native South Carolinian. This whole thing would be a lot funnier if his name was Ben Dover. If the station did try to enforce it, think how much fun Hoovers lawyers would have with the WIS statement that we wish him the best in all of his future endeavors. He may very well have made a general decision to un-entangle himself for some potential move to be ready for a future opportunity, I just dont think it was evidence of some secret plot or anything, thats all. He has a strong, vocal and loyal group of viewers out there so he will land somewhere sooner rather than later. Nice looking kids. Even if they tried to sue him for going to another local station and if they won the damage to the reputation at this point wouldnt be worth it nor would the money gained by such a suit. We would like a strong news station in Columbia again and we dont currently have that. ", He goes on "My psychiatrist calls my actions, "compulsive behavior," others would call them reckless, stupid or brazen. Weve also issued another Alert Day next for even colder weather. Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 18 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. The former chief meteorologist of an NBC station in Rochester who was axed earlier this year for allegedly using a racial slur during a live broadcast filed a lawsuit Monday against his old employer. He is the winner of numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, election coverage, social media and more. Especially a company like Raycom whos major investor is an arm of a state government. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Were watching storms for your weekend and a new system in the tropics that could impact the U.S. soon. Holiday Spotlight Giveaway. Why else would he go through so much trouble to keep posting about a story he is too stupid to get the political and cultural ramifications of? L ast Friday night, Jeremy Kappell, a local weatherman with WHEC-TV in Rochester, New York, added a word to the name of a downtown ice rink. Why are people so freaking upset. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10 from a transmitter located in Lugoff, South Carolina.Syndicated programming on the station includes: Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition and Oprah. Carol Goldsmith or Ben Hoover.. Were watching an area of low pressure east of the South Carolina coast that is showing some signs of tropical development. Brown, who has been with WIS for five years, announced the move in social media posts Monday. Its time to take a dump on Donita. Meteorologist Tim Miller heads to Augusta, says goodbye to WIS-TV after 8 years, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison, lawyers plan to appeal. My first Folks lose their jobs every day, some after 30 years not 6!! If there's one thing that most people want to know about Dominic, it's about his name. Heads up! John Farley has been let go as chief meteorologist at WIS-TV- Columbias NBC affiliate. Her station is expected to cover those proceedings extensively . Hard to believe such vile words and thoughts could come from a female. Meet the Team | channel3000.com Which makes internet news outlets and bloggers more important to our democracy. A news anchor at left-leaning WIS TV 10 (NBC - Columbia, S.C.) has been demoted to a reporting position - and is in danger of losing his job - over questionable activity on social media. Michelle joined the station in Mar 2019. After graduating from Western Connecticut State University with a B.S. According to Sioux Fallspolice, at around 4:30 p.m. CDT on Sunday, September 27, 2020, Roesler smashed a beer bottle over the head of a man following a political disagreement. An Emmy-nominated TV weatherman in New York City claims he was fired after someone sent his boss leaked webcam photos. He received his Master of Science in Geosciences/Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! And in reality, that is what most of you are. Brown is headed to the Dallas-Forth Worth area in Texas, where he will be a meteorologist for KTVT CBS 11, commonly known as CBS DFW. Well nah, she likes that. Dominic Brown - WIS Contact him using his social media accounts! I think this says alot about Donita Todd: https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10101248081781085&set=pb.18413170.-2207520000.1404845012.&type=3&theater. meant when I said that I was caught off guard. Get ready for more hot, humid weather as we move through your weekend and even into next week. Other meteorologists currently working at WIS include Adam Clark, Von Gaskin and Kevin Arnone. I quit watching WIS for good when they let Ben Hoover go. There is class and there is Indiana class. He has four perfect games on his resume as well as a 225 average! Like Balsak: Yes, Shifty, I KNOW that my sign says Open 24 Hours but NOT in a row!. The man sustained several lacerations that required stitches. "He's taking a leap of faith and. Backlash after weatherman fired for using racial slur I took his point as Hoover couldve just been moving to Lexington. The whole corporate media in Columbia is smarmy milquetoastexcept Dawndy Mercer. Before that she worked at local stations in Louisiana and Virginia. She joined the Gray Television in January 2022 as a producer. NYC weatherman Erick Adame fired after webcam nudes sent to boss Were tracking more storms and triple digit heat index values! Owned by Raycom Media, WIS has studios on Bull Street in downtown Columbia. His biggest passionhelping others because protecting viewers from dangerous and deadly storms is his calling. I believe if you sell your house in Columbia, you have to leave. Television Wisconsin Madison Magazine Watch Weather Alert: There are 11 severe weather alerts. Before arriving at MSU, Dominic received his Bachelors degree in Broadcast News from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. length. Were tracking temperatures in the 20s & 30s! When Kevin was 9 years old and on vacation in Florida, a tornado came through a mile from where he and his family were staying. His last day at the station will be Friday, the station reported. He goes on to apologize to his employers at Spectrum, who eventually found out about his actions as well as his audience, family, friends, and coworkers for any embarrassment he's caused. Tim has won a number of awards over the years including three Emmy awards. By WIS News 10 Staff. Always called him during snow/ice storms when I was Mayor to get the forecast. Accolades for the award-winning broadcast meteorologist started coming in almost immediately on social media, like this one from former Columbia mayor Bob Coble and his family at WIS-TV. In both cases, both sides had to agree to terms. Kevin Arnone is a weather reporter/anchor with a B.S. contract with WIS was 5 years. Sources: WIS Anchor In Hot Water Over Secret Facebook Page there would not be any questions that could negatively impact my family And it comes in the wake of a poorly handled and publicly messy termination of former WIS anchor Ben Hoover more than a year ago. South Carolina will see an improving forecast as Dorian pushes northeast. Dawndy and Donita are always ganging up on me. Jill is an investigative producer with decades of experience reporting on health, safety and corruption. and discuss longer term options. After the break-up was announced, public comments against Farleys departure from the station were numerous. WIS hired Roesler in August of 2019 after she spent four years anchoring the morning news at KSFY. Chris joined the WIS News 10 team in May of 2020. Give her a warm Med City welcome! Tanner is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and holds seals of approval from both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. of time I have to find a new job. Dominic Brown - Meteorologist - KTVT | CBS DFW | LinkedIn Judge Newman tells Murdaugh at sentencing, I know you have to see Paul and Maggie during the nighttime when youre attempting to go to sleep, McMaster announces Blythewood selected for $2 billion investment, thousands of jobs, Shooting on campus injures student at SC State, WWE Friday Night SmackDown coming to Columbia, Chris Rock to finally have his say in new stand-up special, Pedestrian killed after fatal I-77 early morning collision, Continuing coverage after Alex Murdaugh's life sentence. Fay forms in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday. That image is not only disturbing, but also creepy. If she doesnt then why is she still employed at WIS with years of mismanagement and poor decision making under her belt. Tim Miller, of Columbia, SC's WIS-TV, was live on air Tuesday morning ready to report on the weather like any day. Were tracking more showers and storms in your First Alert Forecast. Popular Columbia TV meteorologist Ben Tanner is leaving WIS, the station announced Wednesday. Why do you think there are so many ex-Columbia residents in Lexington? Researchers at Colorado State University predict an above-average 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Snow in the Midlands this week? News management had Really? During a hearing Monday in Sauk County Circuit Court, Jeffrey F. Smith, 45, Merrimac, pleaded to reduced charges, but .