News anchor, base cook swap jobs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacque Lickteig
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  A grill cook here saw what the view was like on the other side of the camera in the newsroom May 7 when she co-anchored the local news’ “Midday Edition” with host Rachel Wheat.

Kimbra Lyons, a grill cook at the 360th Training Squadron's dining facility, earned her minute and a half on the air through the channel's Freaky Friday contest, in which Ms. Wheat swaps jobs with winning contestants.

Ms. Lyons introduced the show's food segment without a hitch.

"I was a little nervous, but since we got to know each other … Rachel made me feel comfortable," Ms. Lyons said.

Ms. Wheat's end of the swap was a little more taxing.

She flipped burgers, dunked fries and served up hot plates for the hungry students at Ms. Lyon's workplace May 3.

"It was hot," Ms. Wheat said about her experience at the dining facility.

As if the grills, fryers and heating lamps were not enough, Ms. Wheat said she roasted in the chef's garb the dining facility staff made especially for her, including a hairnet, a bright red chef's hat and a thick-fabric white chef's jacket.

But Ms. Wheat's bubbly personality rose above the heat, and she joked and laughed throughout her one-and-a-half-hour shift.

Ms. Wheat, who was once a waitress, said she has a newfound appreciation for what Ms. Lyons and others like her do.

"They work really hard," she said.

Ms. Lyons and Ms. Wheat agreed that their experiences filling each other's shoes were "a lot of fun," and if given the chance, they said they would do it again. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)