Katherine Chloé Cahoon

It’s true! Small towns always pull together during the holidays.

Can you believe that I got to judge a major cooking contest and do a CBS story on it? That was definitely a delicious day!

Reporting on Breaking News is always an adrenaline rush. Often, your heart is racing before you even arrive at the scene…because you never know what you will find there. In this video, I take you along while covering a large fire for CBS NewsChannel 5. I tell you exactly what it’s like to report on events that are changing moment-by-moment. Everything is out in the open, from the excitement to the sorrow.

Thank you so much for your encouraging messages about my Day in the Life of an Anchor/Reporter video series. Here’s a look at what it’s like to anchor and report as the final midterm election votes are counted. I take you with me from the anchor desk to an elegant watch party peppered with impromptu live cut-ins!

After taking you all along with me last week on a Day in the Life of a CBS News Reporter, I’ve received messages asking for more of these videos. So today, I’m showing you what it’s like to report Live on the news without a photographer. I’m sure you know that today is Halloween, but don’t think the holiday festivities will end at the stroke of midnight. As you’ll see from my Live shot, in Cheyenne it’s just beginning!

Recently, the most requests I’ve received have been for Day in the Life videos…showing what it’s really like to be a TV-news reporter and anchor. If you’d like to see more of these types of videos, just let me know.

After winning last year’s Dancing with the Stars of Cheyenne, I was thrilled to MC this year’s competition.

The event was spectacular from start to finish, complete with fire throwers, acrobats and, of course, dancers! Here’s a front-row look at the excitement.

This memorable evening is a major annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne. I’ve seen first-hand how much this Club does for the kids in our community, from its academic programs to the award-winning art it encourages our boys and girls to create. For me, participating in DWTS 2017 and 2018 and getting to know those involved in this Club has been a privilege.

A girls’ weekend is always more fun with my mom. When she came to visit me in Cheyenne, we stopped off in Denver for a relaxing getaway. After servings of peppermint tea, pastries, and cucumber sandwiches, we felt completely at home.

If you visit Denver, I highly recommend stopping in for tea at the Brown Palace. You will be welcomed by a live pianist, an ornately-decorated ceiling that seems to extend to heaven, and friendly servers who won’t pressure you to finish in a timely manner. After all, taking your time is key to enjoying this outing.

And since my mom and I ordered seconds, we definitely felt like we had moved in.

If you’re really into relaxing, after tea, you can always stop by the spa for a massage or manicure.

My life in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is filled with covering breaking news, motivational stories, politics, and jury trials. Every single day as a reporter and anchor is an adventure, and I love it, but sometimes I want to relax. That’s when I go to Denver. It’s in a whole different state, yet it seems so close. Some might think it’s ironic that I go to a bigger city for relaxation. They could be right. Oh well. Welcome to my world!

My mom recently visited on a few-day Denver getaway.

In this town, I’ve gotten relaxation down to an art form. A favorite oasis is Larimer Square.

That is the oldest and most historic block in Denver.

When you step foot onto Larimer, you feel like you’ve entered an island of twinkling lights, flowers, charming shops, and scrumptious restaurants.

One of those restaurants is Vendome…

where salads taste so delicious they might as well be dessert, duck is so soft and juicy it melts in your mouth,

and the ambiance is intimate.

My mom and I didn’t want our Denver visit to end.

I can’t believe I just performed with Reformation Dance, Cheyenne’s premiere contemporary ballet company, in “Star Tributes,” honoring the music of Star Wars composer, John Williams.

“Grateful” doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about Kathy Vreeland, the Founder/Artistic Director, for graciously inviting me to participate,

and the Company members for bringing me into their fold.

As Williams’ stirring music played, the dancers portrayed scenes of war.

Loss.

Hope.

Rebellion.

And Relief.

The audience got so involved in the production that some even came as Star Wars’ characters.

After the outpouring of all this emotion, the second act shifted gears with a tribute to the great 80’s band, Rush!

The combination of ballet and hard rock was fascinating.

I had the honor of appearing in the finale,

reuniting with my Dancing with the Stars of Cheyenne partner, Jonathan Hedger,

and then joining the cast onstage

before racing off to CBS to produce and anchor two shows.

I have to admit the timing was incredibly tight, but I am so thankful to have been a part of this production.

When I arrived at CBS NewsChannel 5, I learned of the station’s devotion to serving the community. Before long, our manager, Tregg White, asked me to be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars of Cheyenne, a competition that raises thousands of dollars for the Boys & Girls Club. I wasn’t experienced at ballroom dancing, but under the direction of my terrific partner, Ballet Wyoming’s Jonathan Hedger, we won.

In preparation for the competition, Jonathan urged me to take classes with the ballet company. When our event was over, Kathy Vreeland, the Founder/Director of Ballet Wyoming, encouraged me to continue.

She then transitioned her troupe into a new contemporary ballet company, called Reformation Dance, and invited me to perform with them. I was both stunned and excited.

Growing up, I had received wonderful training at the official school of Pacific Northwest Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, so it was great fun to be dancing again—but the thought of performing with the company was daunting. The dancers moved so beautifully and I hadn’t worn pointe shoes in fourteen years! Let me tell you, ballet dancing is not like riding a bike. You don’t just tie on the pointe shoes and suddenly feel all those hard-earned skills come flooding back.

I was filled with doubt; however, Jonathan and the other company members encouraged me. Here is a touching message one of the principal dancers sent me at a moment when I seriously thought the production might be better if I did not make an appearance:

“Hey! I just wanted you to know that I think you are a very strong dancer!! You look great! Believe in yourself, because we all know you can do the dances for the show. I know it is a tough road – it is a challenge for all of us. The great thing is we have each other for support and encouragement. Don’t give up girl – you have this!!”

Now, two months later, opening night of our “Star Tributes” is almost here. The show runs April 13-14 at the Cheyenne Civic Center. I’m in the finale. If you live nearby, we would all love to have you join us. Here are details… https://reformationdance.com/star-tributes-rush-archieves/

This month, I’ve been reminiscing about my entrance into the CBS broadcasting world. That happened about a year ago.

Since habitats are important, my first order of business was to consider what I wanted to come home to when I became a reporter/anchor at NewsChannel 5.

I thought, “Do I want an elegant living room?”

“Or, would I be happier with a casual crash pad where I can kick back and relax?”

I had to stop and ponder the decision.

Of course, that involved little dancing around the showroom.

That’s when the answer became clear.

I decided to incorporate elements of both styles.

It’s official. According to the calendar, spring has arrived! So regardless of whether your weather agrees, we can all start thinking about what to wear as our winter clothes migrate to the back of the closet. In honor of the first day of spring, I’m dusting off my still-fashionable fair-weather frocks.

Whether tiptoeing through the tulips or enjoying a lunch date, florals are perennial favorites.

I’m not casting off my classic little black dress, but from what I see, this spring is all about wearing colors that stand out…cobalt, chartreuse, bright orange, strong red.

From taking in a tropical resort to planning a garden party, my flowy dress is a favorite when the sun makes an appearance.

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The incredible Leslie O’Hashi, owner of Bodyline Dance Theatre.

Leslie is one of the first people I met upon moving to Wyoming almost a year ago to work as an anchor/reporter for CBS NewsChannel 5. I heard about Leslie when she lost her grant for a dance program that miraculously helped kids with disabilities.

Right then, I decided that one of my first stories at Channel 5 should be about Bodyline. My goal was to help Leslie receive another grant. I was so touched at how much dance meant to the students in this program, many of whom couldn’t express themselves through words. Movement was their main form of communication.

Fast forward about nine months… The program is back up and running! My story included a cry for help to keep it going. Leslie’s cousin answered the call. He used my CBS news piece to nominate her for the Governor’s Arts Award…and she won!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfPv1U1AV-X/?taken-by=katherinechloecahoon

The award includes a grant. Now Leslie’s program has the funds to continue helping children with disabilities express themselves and develop their talents through their love of dance.

If you regularly brave variable winter weather, you know a scarf is the must-have accessory. I learned this tip by moving to Wyoming, the land of gyrating barometers. We have can endure a blizzard one day and enjoy tropical weather the next. My survival tactic is providing a permanent spot in my car for a scarf.

My love affair with scarves began about six weeks ago. It was the first time I had reported at an armed standoff. Or, let’s be honest, the first time I’d been anywhere near an armed standoff…unless you count sitting in the movie theater watching one of the Fast & Furious films.

And my close encounter occurred in a snow storm, no less! When the day started, I couldn’t have foreseen any of this! After being outside for hours filming the unfolding drama, I had to broadcast the climax live. By then, although, I had worn fleece leggings and a thermal top, my neck was frozen.

That’s when I learned to always have a scarf on hand.

One of my winter favorites is this classic Burberry cashmere.

This trench coat was my mom’s. She bought it when she was my age, which proves that the Burberry brand is enduring! Several years ago, we were having dinner on a winter night, seated next to the window at Seattle’s Space Needle. The panoramic view was beautiful, but I was cold, so she gave me her coat. I’ve worn it ever since.

Come to think of it, I have a long tradition of wearing her clothes. Here I am at about 1 ½ years, all dressed up in her heels and hat, getting her handbag ready so we can go out shopping.

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