Rob Holbert - 2/112 - Lagniappe Mobile

Al.com evacuates after bomb threat

Posted by Rob Holbert | Aug 2, 2017 | Media Frenzy |

Staffers at al.com’s Royal Street headquarters were evacuated from the building Monday morning following a phoned-in bomb threat. Mobile Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Anthony Joiner of 5065 Sweetbriar Lane in Eight Mile, charging him with making the threat and also for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. While neither the police nor al.com officials have released information regarding why Joiner is believed to have been the source of the threat, al.com insiders told Lagniappe the threat is believed to have been the result of an argument in the publication’s online comment area. The building was evacuated sometime around 11 a.m.,...

Just how much do you want it?

Posted by Rob Holbert | Jul 26, 2017 | Damn the Torpedoes |

I can’t say I was ever much of a fan of those TV shows like “Fear Factor,” where you have to make out with a tarantula, eat a live squid or get buried in a pile of cockroaches. I don’t have an especially weak stomach, but that stuff was hard to watch. The premise was more or less, “How badly do you want to win?” “What are you willing to do to win the prize money?” “Would you pour worms into your underwear?” Sure. “Let a rattlesnake slither across your stomach?” Yeah, why not? “Eat a spoonful of hot...

A brief history of the past

Posted by Rob Holbert | Jul 19, 2017 | Damn the Torpedoes |

Four years ago a rap group known as 3UnbornSoulz captured the city’s attention with their monster political hit “Sam Who? Sam Jones!” just as the mayoral campaign between Jones and Sandy Stimpson was heating up. Perhaps unintentionally the 3UnbornSoulz were asking a question a lot of Mobilians hadn’t really given much consideration. Sure, Jones had served for years on the County Commission, but “Silent Sam” never made much noise there. He swept into office on the recommendations of then-still-popular outgoing Mayor Mike Dow and the then-still-important Press-Register. Both assured the electorate Jones was the man. Sam Who indeed! I...

Like a bridge to the future

Posted by Rob Holbert | Jul 12, 2017 | Damn the Torpedoes |

There are so many times while driving to the Gulf that I can’t help thinking how lucky we are to live so close to such glorious beaches — beaches that are the envy of the rest of the country. But Saturday wasn’t one of those days. The girlfriend and I were headed to Orange Beach for the Alabama Press Association awards, but figured we’d be smart and wait until close to lunch before leaving. We knew the Blue Angels were packing Pensacola’s beaches and that, combined with the usual Saturday beachgoers, meant the morning was likely to be traffic...

Renee Dials retires

Posted by Rob Holbert | Jul 12, 2017 | Media Frenzy |

One of the biggest names in Mobile broadcast journalism announced her retirement at the end of June. FOX10 anchor/reporter Renee Dials retired after her June 30 broadcast. She made the move with little fanfare as the station announced the news just five days before her final time on air. Dials’ retirement comes after 40 years at WALA-TV. She’s a Detroit native who attended Wayne State University and joined WALA in 1977. It was her first — and last — job as a reporter. She also broke barriers as the first female African-American reporter in the Azalea City. FOX10 celebrated...