Author: Cole DeWispelare
Life of Gene Roncka
For the Willow Point Gallery in Ashland, Nebraska its beginning and continuing success is all thanks to Gene Roncka. The man behind the artistry that fills the gallery.
Before pursuing his passion in art, he served in the military for four years as a mechanic in the marines. After his time stationed in North Carolina, he went back to Nebraska to begin college.
Roncka’s skill with his art was honed in several places, but began at the University of Nebraska – Omaha. For a few years he pursued his major in the fine arts. His starting work gained him recognition on campus and off.
Roncka received a letter from the California College of the Arts, where he then enrolled with a full-ride scholarship. Staying in San Francisco, California for a time, his artwork became more critically acclaimed.
Roncka’s schooling took him to another college in Illinois where he attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After finishing his degree he was invited to another college in New York City.
After only staying in the Big Apple for three days, Roncka finally decided to move on to a career field.
With an outstanding portfolio, Roncka quickly found work with Chrysler in Detroit. Within a short amount of time he had become a lead graphic designer.
After working with Chrysler for nine years, he became an independent designer moving between cities. After a time, he then moved back to Nebraska and married.
Unfortunately, he divorced and then remarried to Mary who is his current wife.
Over the years Roncka had been accumulating a lot of his own work and decided to open his a gallery. Between Mary, his brother Samuel, and himself they designed and opened his current gallery in Ashland, Nebraska.
Now 88-year-old Gene Roncka co-owns Willow Point Gallery with his wife Mary. The two of them recently celebrated the gallery’s 20th anniversary.
Gene Roncka
Sources: Gene Roncka, Mary Roncka
TV/Radio News Writing -RoosterTeeth
RoosterTeeth is an entertainment production company located in Austin, TX. It was founded in 2003, the company has one of the most interesting beginning stories.
In the early 2000s, videos posted on the internet were becoming more popular in everyday society. When YouTube was created, RoosterTeeth was one of the first channels to be created on YouTube. Starting out, they were not an official company, just a YouTube channel and they became well known for their comedy-hit series Red vs Blue.
Once their web series became more popular, they officially made their company and began working on an assortment of other projects that focused on comedy-based media pop culture and internet series.
In the past 12 years, RoosterTeeth has expanded into an ambitious multi-million dollar company. What started as a small YouTube channel became a internet hot spot for a variety of popular shows.
Millions of fans tune into RoosterTeeth videos, news, and updates daily. This past summer, their annual convention, RTX, had over 50,000 attendees.
Company Logo
RTX Summer Convention
MS2 Infographic
Artistry In Ashland
Two beading eyes look down at you, both belong to one of the largest polar bears taken from the Arctic Circle. The large animal is one of many other species found in the Willow Point Gallery and Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.
Once inside, a unique atmosphere envelops guests that is truly special and rare to come by in art galleries found across the nation.
On the left, a creek snakes alongside the gallery with foliage, a waterfall, sounds of nature, and a collection of 30 different animal species. On the right, a wall of endless art depicting American and Nebraskan history done by the critically-acclaimed artist, Gene Roncka.
Hightshoe Big Game Collection:
The Willow Point’s large animal collection is half of what makes the gallery come to life in a special way. It is also locally referred to as the “Home of the Bear.”
The animal collection was donated a little time after the gallery opened by local leader-figure, Archie Hightshoe after his death in 1989. Highsthoe was a big game hunter and much more.
Hightshoe was a respected community member serving in groups like the Red Cross, Ashland’s Chamber of Commerce, the school board and city council.
The Hightshoe Big Game Collection includes:
- Polar Bear
- Black Bear
- American Alligator
- Caribou
- Mountain Lion
- Wolves
- Deer
- Several Wild Fowl
- Honey Badger
The large animal exhibit is exemplified by the simulated natural habitat created by Gene Roncka and design collaborator Jim Shaul.
The design of the collection lets guests venture through all four seasons. From summer to winter, a winding creek holds real fish and a “wishing pond” and leads to the arctic exhibit with fake snow coming down on the polar bear. Transitions from daybreak to twilight is brought to life by naturalistic music.
The Arctic Polar Bear in the Hightshoe Big Game Collection.
Artworks of Gene Roncka:
88-year-old Gene Roncka has made his passion for art into a successful, life-long career.
His latest piece depicts a historic Ashland homestead from the 1800s with a Christmas and winter theme. This project follows the same theme Roncka is known for in his art.
From Ashland’s history to all of America’s history, Roncka has several topics of style he has pursued in his career. One of his favorite pieces depict the adventures of Louis and Clarke.
“It brought people to meet the first Indians and they came down and parked on the salt creek, which is the Missouri and Platte Rivers. And they came down to the Ashland area to meet the Indians that lived there.” – Gene Roncka.
Not only does Roncka bring these events in history to life, but has shown how knowledgeable he is of them.
Roncka’s artworks also have been commissioned by several outlets; painting animals for Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, portraits for ConAgra, and paintings for Ducks Unlimited.
Artworks of his have gone as far as an ornament featuring the Homestead National Monument of America which was then hung on the White House Christmas tree in 2007.
Most of the pieces shown in the gallery are up for sale, but a portion also holds his prized works that are not for sale.
The right wall depicting Gene Roncka’s artworks.
The Gallery Now:
Just recently Gene Roncka celebrated the gallery’s 20th year being opened since 1995. Artists locally and abroad attended the celebration and commemorated Roncka.
Recently the gallery has made more additions, such as star-lighting and chandeliers. Gene’s wife, Mary, manages the gallery almost all days of the week.
The Willow Point Gallery and Museum is open Monday through Saturday between 10am and 6pm. Also, Sundays’ between noon and 4pm. Admission is free for all visiting guests.
TV/Radio News Writing – Lung Force Expo Story
The Lung Force Expo in Omaha took place Tuesday, November 10th and lasted the majority of the day at the Embassy Suites by the Old Market.
The convention is way a for the community to come together and learn from each other and from medical professionals. During the expo, there were agendas for both patients/caregivers and the medical professionals.
Patients/caregivers that attended were educated in how to stay connected and how to to become advocates for their own healthcare. The medical professionals were given the opportunity to speak with colleagues in similar fields and to learn about new research in respiratory issues.
The expo held many exhibitors and guest speakers which provided further insight and resources for attendees to know about new medical trends.
The convention is also a way for sponsors to provide patients/caregivers and medical professionals products and benefits that are normally hard to come by.
Lung Force Expo Logo
Convention attendees.
Guest speaker panel.
Media Storytelling 2 Spooktacular Story
OMAHA FAMILIES WERE TREATED TO A SPOOKTACULAR TREAT AT THE HENRY DOORLY ZOO’S ANNUAL SPOOKTACULAR. THE EVENT IS HELD FROM 5:30 TO 8:30 ON EIGHT DAYS BETWEEN OCTOBER 17 AND NOVEMBER 1ST. CARVED PUMPKINS, ORANGE LIGHTS AND LIGHTED ANIMALS, LIKE BATS, MADE THE ZOO FESTIVE. THERE ARE NEW ATTRACTIONS EACH YEAR THAT FAMILIES ARE EXCITED ABOUT, AS ONE PARENT SAID:
“WE CAME LAST YEAR……”
FAMILIES ENJOYED MEETING POPULAR CHARACTERS ALONG STORYBOOK LANE. SOME INCLUDED ANNA AND ELSA FROM FROZEN, SPIDERMAN AND CAPTAIN AMERICA AND TINKERBELL AND PETER PAN. SPOOKTACULAR HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT’S RECENTLY DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING NEW, AS RACHEL METSCHKE (METCH-KEY) SAID:
“……”
EVEN PARENTS WERE GETTING INTO THE FUN AT THE EVENT. ONE FAMILY WAS DRESSED UP AS BATMAN, A WITCH, DARTH VADER AND SOMEONE ATTENDING A MASQUERADE. A MOM SAID SHE THOUGHT THE EVENT WAS PERFECT FOR KIDS BECAUSE:
“..MAKES THEM FEEL THEY’RE DOING SOMETHING THEY’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.”
KIDS ENJOYED THE ANIMALS, TRICK OR TREATING IN A NON TRADITIONAL WAY, A FRANKENSTEIN FOAM PARTY, DANCING TO KID FRIENDLY BAND THE STRING BEANS AND MANY OTHER FUN FALL ACTIVITIES. TICKETS ARE EIGHT DOLLARS FOR NON-ZOO MEMBERS AND SEVEN DOLLARS FOR ZOO MEMBERS. CHILDREN 2 AND UNDER GET IN FREE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PARENTS CAN VISIT OMAHAZOO DOT COM. FOR MEDIA STORYTELLING 2, I’M ALLISHA ANDERSON.
TV/Radio News Writing – Haunted Heartland Story
UNO’s MavRadio is hosting its third annual Haunted Heartland show on October 29 between six and nine at night.
The show focuses on the alleged hauntings throughout the Omaha and Council Bluffs’ area. For instance; the Magnolia Hotel, Hummel Park, and the Dark Angel.
The Haunted Heartland will also cover the history of Halloween, sleep paralysis, and other spooky related subjects.
MavRadio staff utilizes the show to provide an opportunity for students to get out in the field and gain experience in radio.
The show will be hosted by Production Director Dan Downs and General Manager Matthew Barros.
The Magnolia Hotel
Hummel Park
The Dark Angel
TV/Radio News Writing Radon Story
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Douglass County is rated as a Tier 1 county. The Tier 1 label means that there are relatively high levels of radon present in the area.
Radon is a uranium derivative that appears naturally. High concentrations can be found in caves, aerated mines, or water hot springs.
Being an odor-less, color-less and taste-less radioactive gas, it is hard to detect for any individual. Radon exposure can be linked to cancer, second only to cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer.
Raising awareness of radon exposure and how to stop it is important for the EPA. For children that are still developing their lungs, they are more susceptible to the exposure and are at high risk.
Henry Doorly Zoo Expansion
https://soundcloud.com/dewisp/mediastorytelling-2-zoo-audio-story
Bustling crowds and trumpeting elephants are some of the few sounds to be heard at Omaha’s pride and joy, the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Thousands of guests attend the zoo per year and continue to do so because of how much the zoo has to offer.
Henry Doorly Zoo has won many awards and has been ranked by many to be the number one zoo in the world. Right now the zoo is working on their latest project, the African grasslands exhibit.
Recording: 1 Source: Marketing Associate Soundbite: “We first announced the…”
Plans for Phase 1 are projected to be done by next summer of 2016. The zoo hopes to then have Phase 2 started and completed by 2017, which will consist of an elevated site for a better view of the exhibits.
With such a large change coming to the zoo, many guests seem to be excited for the change.
Recording: 2 Source: Zoo Guest Soundbite: “I’ve been going…”
For Media Storytelling 2, I am Cole DeWispelare.
Cole Dean 