Atlanta City Council declares today 'Karen Minton Day'

ATLANTA — On the same day Karen Minton celebrated her 30-year anniversary at WSB-TV, members of the Atlanta City Council released a proclamation declaring Sept. 30, 2016 “Karen Minton Day” in the city of Atlanta.

Minton learned of the proclamation during a luncheon to celebrate her years at Channel 2 Action News. The luncheon included a surprise guest - Atlanta city council president Ceasar Mitchell. Mitchell read a proclamation honoring Minton for her years of service which read, in part, "Now, Therefore, We, the members of the Atlanta City Council, and on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta, hereby proclaim this 30th day of September 2016 as Karen Minton Day in the City of Atlanta."

Minton joined Severe Weather Team 2 on September 30, 1986, first covering weather on weekends at noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. as well as the weekday early morning and noon newscasts.

Minton’s career in meteorology emerged from an unlikely start. She grew up in Lodi, Calif., where her family spent several years living on a farm and tending to 20 acres of a grape vineyard and almond orchard.

“I drove the tractor for my dad in the orchard, gathered eggs, was chased by roosters (they were mean), and tended the garden.  The garden was so huge we did not need to buy vegetables at the store. I also milked cows for our neighbor at their dairy,” Minton said.

After high school, Minton attended University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with plans to go to dental school. She changed her mind about dentistry after an internship and, instead, spent time working as a substitute teacher, work experience coordinator and summer youth employment advisor while figuring out her career goals. She ended up landing a job as a district manager for International Dairy Queen where she was put in charge of franchisees in five western states.

An abrupt career change came in the early 1980s thanks to a chance meeting with the bureau chief at KCRA-TV in Sacramento.

“He did not think Dairy Queen was the place for me and asked me to join him and his photographer on a story.  He wanted me to see if I had an interest,” said Minton.  “That day planted a seed which grew over the next few months.”

Minton said she woke up one morning and decided to quit her job with International Dairy Queen. She enrolled in broadcasting and journalism classes with a focus on a career in television. On the first day of one of those classes, a professor took a video of all of the students and then asked Minton to stay behind as her classmates left.

“He asked me to view the video with him.  He turned to me and said, ‘I think we are on to something here.’  He then handed me the business card of Craig Prosser, the bureau chief of KOVR-TV.  Craig needed an intern.”

Minton spent four months working as an intern in the Stockton bureau when a weekend weather position opened up at KOVR’s main station in Sacramento. In 1981, she accepted the position, landing her first job in television.  Three years later, in 1984, she was on the move to Atlanta after The Weather Channel called to offer her a position as one of their first on-air meteorologists.

In 1986, Minton changed jobs for the last time when she accepted a position at WSB-TV where she had the dual role of anchoring both news and weather.  She now serves as the primary meteorologist for Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and Channel 2 Action News at Noon.

While reflecting on her 30 years at Channel 2, Minton said her most memorable time remains the Blizzard of 1993. Minton and Glenn Burns were the only meteorologists on staff at the time and were called upon to cover the storm 24/7. Minton left her two daughters with a babysitter and moved into the WSB-TV studios for the week, even sleeping in the sitting area of the ladies rest room.

“They looked almost like small living rooms.  I moved my sleeping bag in there and set up shop for the week.  WSB brought in food for the staff and we worked until the crisis was over,” she recalled. “When I got home, there were two ‘snow-people’ holding signs saying ‘Welcome Home Mommy!’ followed by squeals and big hugs from my two baby girls!”

When asked what she thinks has changed the most about her job over the past three decades, Minton said technology overall -- from the speed of weather computers to the power of the weather radar to the way she connects with viewers via social media.

“Thirty years ago, viewers contacted us by phone or letters.  Today it is much easier to stay engaged with our viewers with social media.  We can respond to them during the news, or in our off time.”

[RELATED: Follow Karen on Twitter | Like Karen on Facebook]

Since joining WSB-TV, Minton has been honored with the Associated Press Award for Excellence in Weather Reporting (1988) and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement Team Coverage of the Americus tornado (2008).

Minton insists she has never once regretted switching to a career in television.

“It has been a wonderful career.  Every day is different.  It is not the typical 9-5 job.  We are on call 24/7, we work weekends, holidays and long hours.  The people at WSB-TV are the best of the best.  Most important, we are family.  It’s fun to go to work every day!”

Cox Media Group