To avoid reporter, woman hides under desk

The St. Louis woman has regularly asked Roberts Brothers Properties—which owns the property next to her house—to chop it down.

It’s a good reminder of why I always remind companies to provide their receptionists with basic media training, especially when they know that a reporter is working on a story in which they’re involved.

Making matters worse, a Roberts Brothers representative named Michael States showed up and made even more damaging comments on camera (he returned a short time later with the chastened tone he should have employed from the start).