Cynthia McLaughlin Biography
Cynthia McLaughlin is an American Journalist who joined the KETK News Team in September of 2018 and says she’s more than thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State.
McLaughlin is a Texas native, spending nearly a decade in Arlington where she was born before moving further east to Rockwall-Heath where she was raised. She describes Heath as a very small town. So small, she can still recall the day the town got its first traffic light.
Cynthia McLaughlin Age
McLaughlin is 44 years old.
Cynthia McLaughlin Early Life
Since she was a little girl, Cynthia has loved performing and being in front of the camera. In fact, Cynthia began her reporting career in elementary, joining their broadcast news station. Sparking a passion for both journalism and live tv.
She was also later signed as a professional runway and print model at the age of 15. In grade school, Cynthia was also heavily involved in cheerleading and dancing. Having competed with one of the best cheer gyms in the world.
Cynthia McLaughlin Career
After high school, Cynthia explored West Texas at Texas Tech University. She pledged Zeta Tau Alpha and became the biggest Red Raider football fan. During football season, you can find her throwing tortillas at kickoff almost every Saturday. Cynthia graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism, Fashion Media and Business from Southern Methodist University.
Cynthia’s first job out of college took her to the Midwest, where she wore many hats at NBC and FOX affiliate KFYR-TV in Bismarck, North Dakota. Cynthia’s primary duties were weekend anchor/producer and weekday education reporter. She’s grateful for her experiences in the Peace Garden state but says she’s happy to be back home.
Cynthia McLaughlin Cresson
Article by Cynthia McLaughlin;
In our Serving Those Who Serve report, once out of the military, veterans sometimes struggle to find the brother or sisterhood as they had overseas. Others may be left with idle hands.
Their time serving our country has come to an end, but you wouldn’t be able to tell.
Veterans Xtreme Adventures, or VXA’s, mission is to help post 9/11 combat veterans rediscover their purpose.
“Through adventure and comradery we eventually seek therapy,” said Matthew Yates, Vice President Board of Directors.
VXA founders say they formed the group based on what veterans want.
“Well they generally don’t want red carpets, and they don’t like spotlights, and they don’t want interviews. You’re not going to get a grown man to sit around the table and talk about their feelings, no matter who they are and especially not veterans,” said co-founder Matthew Klentzman.
Many veterans say re-adjusting to civilian life is harder than it seems.
“When you go into combat, you jump right into mission tempo. You’re elevated and you’re constantly moving and constantly going and something is expected of you every day. Then you come home and all of a sudden you have idle hands. They say idle hands do the devil’s work,” said Yates.
Now, these veterans are ready to aim their life in a new direction.
“It’s just a break, a deep breath, for a lot of guys,” said Yates.
Veterans Xtreme Adventures aren’t all that extreme. Some trips include hunting hogs on someone’s land or a simple fishing trip.
“When VXA goes out and we take veteran hunting, it’s to release some stress that they might encounter after doing their duty. It really seems to help them out and that’s what VXA has done for me,” said Clayton Caley, board member.
“We have guys that never met before, went on a hunt with us and are now friends 5-6 years later and go on hunts without us. We don’t even have anything to do with them anymore,” said Klentzman.
One property owner says they do just as well as a professional trapper, which could cost several thousand dollars.
“Every time they come out they are able to kill hogs. If the hogs are slow, they will pull out a predator call and the last time they were out they shot two bobcats so that’s something that helps our herd as well,” said Jason Land, the property owner.
Now a successful support group for former service members, that wasn’t the original plan. The founders wanted to make hunting safer for disabled veterans.
Cynthia McLaughlin Tyler
Article by Cynthia McLaughlin;
You might remember our story on Veterans Day when two Vietnam veterans reunited for the first time in 49 years.
Two men brought back together through the powerful platform of social media.
KETK Today anchor Cynthia McLaughlin checks back in with the duo to see what they’ve been up to all of these months.
A reunion Wayne Ochadleus and William Hennessey never imagined possible, made a reality.
“I’m not leaving yet,” said Wayne Ochadleus, Vietnam War veteran.
Four months later, just two friends sharing a meal.
“I’m excited that he wanted to get out of the cold weather in Michigan and come down to Texas. He flew down a couple of weeks ago. So now we’re just planning his escape,” said William Hennessey, Vietnam War veteran.
“We’ve just been hanging out, me and Will. Just reliving the past. I love it,” said Ochadleus.
What would you do if you hadn’t seen your best friend in fifty years?
“We’ve been out in the yard doing yard work,” said Hennessey.
Wayne says once it warms up in Michigan, he will pack up his things, sell his house and come right back to Texas, trading the Great Lakes for Lake Palestine.
“By the lake is nice, it’s beautiful out there,” said Ochadleus.
Once Wayne is all moved in, the guys have some pretty big plans.
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