WLBT is looking for someone to be the television station’s eyesand ears for weather news in Lincoln County.

In cooperation with The DAILY LEADER, the station is seeking alocal Weather Watcher for its new program. Weather Watchers arebeing sought in communities across central Mississippi.

“We’ve been getting tons of phone calls and e-mails about it,”said Jacqueline Ellens, WLBT promotions manager. “We’ve had a lotof positive response.”

Weather Watcher applicants need to be very interested in theweather and be able to collect weather data several times a weekusing equipment provided by the station. The chosen applicant mustalso be able to come to Jackson one evening later this month toreceive certification by the National Weather Service.

Applications are available at The DAILY LEADER offices.Applications should be picked up and returned to the newspaperoffice by Jan. 17.

Ellens indicated that Weather Watchers would be very valuable tothe station during extreme weather conditions.

“In bad weather, we need them to be able to call us and reportwhat they see,” Ellens said. “What we want is someone who can bethe eyes and ears of WLBT on the ground.”

The weather data, along with the Weather Watcher’s photo andlocal newspaper’s logo, will become part of WLBT’s weather castwhen used on air.

Ellens said the Weather Watcher program is the brainchild ofchief meteorologist Barbie Basset.

“We’re really excited about it,” Ellens said.

Station officials were hoping to schedule the NWS certificationtoward the end of the week of Jan. 24. Ellens said Weather Watcherswould also receive a tour of the station and have their photos madefor the weather cast.

Ellens said Lincoln County weather information would be featuredthree times a week on WLBT. Scheduled times include Mondays at 6a.m., Wednesdays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 a.m.

Lincoln County’s Weather Watcher would need to be able tocollect weather data and call it in to WLBT about an hour beforethe scheduled broadcast. That would mean the watcher should be anearly-riser and one who is awake until at least 9 p.m.

Also, as part of the newspaper and television stationcollaboration, The DAILY LEADER will include a daily WLBT PrecisionForecast by Basset. The WLBT forecast in The DAILY LEADER isexpected to start within the next few days.

“Weather is extremely important to our viewers,” said WLBTGeneral Manager Dan Modisett, “and partnering with the papers ourviewers trust and respect is very important to us.”