WBTV personality visits Hardin Park

By Cara Kelly

Students in the Title I reading program at Hardin Park school were reminded of the benefits of reading by a very friendly and familiar face on Friday.

John Carter of WBTV in Charlotte, right, gets a surprise visit from Appalachian State University mascot Yosef and cheerleader Courtney Henderson last Friday at Hardin Park Elementary School in Boone. During the visit, Carter received an ASU football and jersey. Photo by Mark Mitchell

John Carter, co-anchor of WBTV 3 News, returned to the High Country to spread a message that he is deeply passionate about.

“I feel very strongly about reading and how important it is,” Carter said.

After being greeted at the entrance of the school by his e-mail correspondent and huge fan, Colin Pitts, a former Title I student, the news co-anchor shook the hands of hundreds of young and eager fans.

“I try to stress to students if you read well, you will always be successful,” Carter said. “Anything you do you can do better with good reading skills.”

Following the introductions, Carter joined students in the Title I reading program in the media center to enjoy a little reading together.

Carter explained the significance of balancing watching television and reading books in a very direct and youth appropriate manor, using dramatic examples to animatedly illustrate his point.

Comparing too much television to eating vanilla milkshakes, his favorite food in the world, Carter explained that watching TV can be bad for people, just like eating too many milkshakes.

“I love vanilla milkshakes, so how can something I love make me so sick?” Carter asked the brimming students.

Unanimously, the children caught on to the lesson Carter was teaching, noting he probably got a stomach ache from eating four vanilla milkshakes in a row.

“You know what?” Carter asked. “The same is true about TV, it can mess you up. It is OK to watch a little, but reading is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from too much television.”

After his discussion on the importance of reading, Carter pulled out a well-known classic in the world of literature, the thousand-page novel Les Miserable.

“There are no boring books,” Carter explained to the bewildered children, who terrifyingly looked at the gigantic book. “There are only boring readers.”

Yet, in the effort to make the reading time a little more interesting for the young audience, Carter read the modern popular favorite, Everyone Poops.

After several minutes of giggling, Carter moved onto a personal favorite, The Digginest Dog.

Halfway through the Dr. Seuss tale, the ASU alumni was interrupted by two surprise guests.

Yosef and Courtney Hendley, a Mountaineer cheerleader, presented the former Appalachian student with a few commemorative items for his encouragement of educational initiatives and pride for Appalachian.

“On behalf of ASU cheerleading and athletics, thanks for everything you do,” Hendley said, as she handed the surprised television personality a game-day ball signed by the entire 2007-2008 Mountaineer football team and a personalized jersey.

With a look of appreciation and astonishment, Carter graciously accepted the gift and thanked the representatives of his alma matter.

“Does this mean I can play on Saturday?” Carter jokingly asked.

“No, I shouldn’t,” he said to himself. “We want to win.”