The Ballad of Kent and Brenny

As a guy who just celebrated his 20th wedding anniversary, I can appreciate a good partnership. Which is why I've got such mad respect for those reporter/photog teams that toil side by side, day after day. Take Kenny Cravens and Brent Campbell. For the better part of eleven years, this dynamic duo has covered Winston-Salem and points beyond for the kingdom that is El Ocho. Eleven Years! There are whole nation-states that haven't lasted that long! Even more amazingly, at no time has anyone ever had to pull either of them from the other one's jugular. Me - I get sick of anybody after about three days. Throw in the stress ball that is your average news day and perhaps you'll understand why I've been caught fashioning reporter voodoo dolls out of duct tape and toothpicks on more than one occasion. But this post isn't about my own shortcomings. It's about a seasoned pair of pros who've never let the vagaries of the chase unravel their friendship. Hell, in certain Winston-Salem news circles, 'Brent and Kenny' are considered one person! That is, until now...

See, Kenny's leaving. Soon, he'll pack in his local lens and hightail it back to his beloved Kentucky. There, he'll join his bevy of beauties for a whole new set of adventures and while some of them may involve a fancycam or two, it's safe to say he'll never again be a part of such a celebrated news crew as the Campbell-Cravens Continuum. It's our loss. Since arriving in the better of the Carolinas back in1997, Kenny has maintained a level of professionalism that still eludes your rather lippy lenslinger. While he spent most of his time in the Winston bureau, he played an integral part in our hurricane coverage - which may explain why he's soaking wet in so many of my memories. I also remember standing in a convention center full of American Idol wannabees, staring at my cellphone in disbelief as Kenny's voice told me he wouldn't be joining Shannon and I on our D.C. junket because, well, the satellite truck just stranded him on 1-95. (I thought he was screwin' with me until he didn't show up).

Now it seems Kenny's leaving us for good - just in time to miss our switch to smaller cameras, Final Cut Pro and my eventual mental breakdown at the hands of new technology. But as fragile as I am, we're all a tad worried about reporter Brent Campbell - who'll have to carry on in Winston without his favorite partner. As for Kenny, he'll fare just fine in his home state - though if he ever gets the urge to shoot another hurricane, he'll have to head East and strap on the laptop that will someday replace the sat truck. We'll be glad to make a spot for him - provided he bring some of that Kentucky bourbon to wash down the half-frozen ham-sicle sandwiches that pass for storm coverage cuisine. So good luck, Kenny. Promise us you'll stay in touch with Brent - lest we find him atop the receive tower, staring Westward, pining for his photog and friend. Otherwise, we're sending you a bus ticket...