WGST traffic reporter Keith Kalland dies at 51 (atlanta traffic reporter passes away)

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | November 19, 2002 | By KAY POWELL and RODNEY HO

[anncoulteriscool]

I know most people outside of atlanta probably dont care about this but this guy was a really funny guy and well loved. He was a traffic reporter who actually made atlanta traffic humouous and thats not easy! God bless him. RIP Me. Kalland

[Rome2000]

If his traffic reports actually had anything to do with reality then he is a saint.

In Miami the traffic reports are so pathetic you know they are faked.

[dansangel]

Anyone fron the Atlanta area should have been more than familiar with Keith Kalland's gravel-voiced delivery of the traffic. .45MAN and I would chuckle over his candid portrayals of the plight of the "Gwinnetians" from the serene safety of our living room.

Very little has made me feel grounded here in my 4 years in the metro-Atlanta area. Keith Kalland's ironic (yet accurate) reporting on the horrific traffic situations was one of the few things that made living here tolerable. He will be sorely missed.

[Blueflag]

He is also survived by his wife. Not sure why that was omitted in the report.

Very shocking loss.

I'll miss him. He always said he had a face for radio. 8-/

[FreedomPoster]

Reasonably reality-based, and he had a number of erudite stock phrases that were hilarious.

"On the Outer Loop at Peachtree Industrial, there's the Ubiquitous Ladder in the Roadway™ slowing traffic back to 85."

[newzhawk]

I am sad to hear this- I got through the maze of traffic from Marietta to Alpharetta ,GA by avoiding roads he warned me of for years- Way too young-

[logan five]

i will miss kk as well.....i listened to him for years in atlanta....fork in it and all....i have missed his 'company' and familiar comments much since moving away....him and the kimmer...
and i STILL can't remember what perspe-casity....means...i can't even spell it.....unless i look it up.....

god's speed kk...

[LBGA]

What sad news! I always liked him and enjoyed listening to his traffic reports. It isn't true that he had a face for radio. I met him a couple of times at WGST Listener Lunches and he was quite handsome. What I remember more than that was how warm and kind he was to all his fans.

[dansangel]

What I remember more than that was how warm and kind he was to all his fans.

That's nice to know. So many times people are spoiled by their "fame." From the looks of it, his memorial service in Conyers will be packed.

Sigh - this news knocked the wind out of my evening.

[herewego]

gonna miss the Prince of the Perimeter...

[mombonn]

Sorry I never had the opportunity to hear he, he sounds absolutely delightful.

Condolences to the family, and all his many fans.

[Quanah]

For four years I commuted into and out of Atlanta, all the while listening to WGST; Sean, Rush, The Kimmer, and always, Keith Kalland.

Kalland got me through more than one disaster on the connector, and I always appreciated his humor, professionalism, and wit.

I've before and since lived in L.A., NYC, and DFW...Never heard anyone better.
R.I.P. and Thanks

[FreedomPoster]

Kimmer took a call this afternoon. The guy calling said his 4-year-old daughter, riding with him this AM, upon hearing of Keith's death, said "daddy, God must need someone to tell all the angels where to go".

I think about Kimmer lost it.

[FreedomPoster]

I think about Kimmer about lost it.

[mhking]

I worked with Keith when I was at WGST (I did weekend news there in 98 & 99), and I have to tell you that he was one of the good guys. He was just as genuine and generous off the air as he was on the air.

One of the wildest times I had on the air at 'GST was doing the '98 Peachtree Road Race with Keith and Pete Davis - Keith teased me incessantly about being the "play-by-play" guy, since I was at the finish line, calling the race as the winners crossed the finish line. We had a ball.

I knew Keith was sick, even though I hadn't talked to him in a couple of years. When he got out of the hospital about a month or so ago, I thought about dropping him a line, but I never did. You never know until too late...

[Mark Turbo]

I remember listening to Keith Kalland during my Georgia Tech days. My condolences to his family and the WGST crew. We could use someone like him in the Detroit area.

[anncoulteriscool]

I remember back in the mid 90's or so....mother Teresa was at a catholic church in downtown atlanta and the meeting ended around 5 o'clock and kinda caused a major traffic jam...i remember Keith Kalland saying reporting on the traffic mess: "if you think i'm going to bash mother teresa from 10,000 feet up in the air, no way" LOL!

[flying Elvis]

Keith was the greatest. I remember the good ol days when WGST had Hannity and the Kimmer. They had to put bullet proof glass in the booth because Hannity was having way too much fun bedeviling the local nation on islam whackos. lol WGST was great to listen to back then--nonstop conservative mayhem.

[chindog]

No one else will ever be able to tell Wayne to shut up in quite the same way. We will miss you Keith Kalland. RIP.

[TheLurkerX]

I loved this guy. He's the only traffic reporter that ever made me laugh, and he was spot on with his reports. I depended on him for traffic info every morning before I moved out from the perimeter. His friday rush hour rain commute commentary was classic.