So it's down to the Top 4, and Holly Kiser of Coeburn is hanging in on "Make Me a Supermodel."

The 21-year-old has held her own against 13 other finalists in the first season of Bravo's answer to "America's Next Top Model."

A native of Wise County, she now is working on her modeling career in Miami. If Kiser wins "Supermodel," it will be a heck of a kickstart: The winner will receive $100,000 and a modeling contract with New York Model Management.

Viewers say Kiser comes across as a genuine human being with a heart of gold. According to her bio at bravotv.com, she has overcome many hurdles, including third-degree facial burns after graduating from high school.

Kiser credits her faith for helping overcome life's obstacles.

The 14 contestants have lived together in New York for the past couple of months. Join hosts Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford in finding out how Kiser fares in the season finale at 10 p.m. Thursday on Bravo.

Kiser's (now all-male) competition? Perry Ullmann, 22, of Phoenix; Ronnie Kroell, 24, of Chicago; and Ben DiChiara, 22, of Nashville.

From city Crime Stoppers to 'Bangers and Mash'

If you're listening to WZEZ-FM (100.5) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a weekday and think the announcer's voice sounds familiar . . . it probably is.

Sgt. Mike "Crime Stoppers" Randell is host of the easy listening station's midday show.

Randell wasn't looking for a radio gig. As board president of Chamberlayne Actors Theatre, he had visited the station to cut a 60-second promo.

"Before I left the station, I was offered the job," he says. "Not a bad way to get work."

Anyone who remembers Randell's stint as Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers spokesman from 1989 to 1998 can guess why he was offered the job. It must have to do with that easy listenin' British accent.

He comes by it honestly, having been born in Cambridge, England. The accent has been slightly tempered, of course, by having lived Stateside for more than 30 years.

People still ask Randell to utter those immortal words -- "This is Sgt. Mike Randell with Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers" -- which he doesn't mind doing, though he retired years ago as a Richmond police detective.

These days, in addition to tripping the spotlight fantastic at area theaters, Randell often plays Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer of the Virginia colony, in St. John's Church productions of Patrick Henry's liberty-or-death speech.

And now you can hear those dulcet tones on WZEZ's "Bangers and Mash Show With Mike Randell."
Contact Cynthia McMullen at (804) 649-6361 or cmcmullen@timesdispatch.com.