By GLENDA H. CAUDLE - Special Features Editor

The Messenger. 11.21.07
Discovery Park of America — one of the biggest news stories in Obion County’s history.
The Messenger’s Web site video production capability — one of the biggest advances in news dissemination initiatives in Obion County history.
Breaking stories about the multi-million dollar education-entertainment-tourism complex being designed by award-winning Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal and underwritten by the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation for Union City and Obion County and the emerging technical capabilities of The Messenger appeared to be a merger bonded in celestial realms.
Messenger vice president Scott Critchlow caught the enthusiasm of local residents who are helping plan the museum-green area-civic center complex and realized the news was simply too big to be contained on the printed page.
With multiple stories and sell-out editions validating his belief that both area residents and readers far beyond local delivery routes were fascinated by stories of the gift to this area that has the capacity to change the lives of every resident, Critchlow decided to utilize The Messenger’s new video capacity to provide yet another look at the story.
Two weeks ago, Critchlow invited the Kirklands to speak to this reporter for an interview that would be filmed and then linked to The Messenger’s new online site, NWTNToday.com.
Robert Kirkland responded to questions and his answers will provide our readers — who can now be our viewers, as well — with a first-person account of his vision known as Discovery Park of America. Kirkland explains the impetus for his original plans and discusses the selection of an architect with international stature, the work being done by committees involving almost 300 local citizens to determine the look and feel of the project and the impact he expects Discovery Park to have on the community.
This interview marks The Messenger’s initial effort to bring our readers a different way to “get” their news. Subsequent videos are planned, with the upcoming return visit of Cardinal and his architectural team a possibility for future print and video stories. The work of individual committees shaping the project also offers fertile ground and will, undoubtedly, come in for its share of attention, as will other stories in the future.
To access the video, go to NWTNToday.com on the Internet and click on the link to “Discovery Park Interview.”
Comments about the video or the project may be posted to glendacaudle@ucmessenger.com.