Survivor

SAY IT AIN'T SO: KENTUCKY JOE
April 12, 2001

It was a bittersweet exit for Rodger Bingham, the 53-year-old farmer and school teacher from Crittenden, Kentucky, who earlier in the day had sacrificed himself to the group to save Elisabeth Filarski, who, he believed, should stay should the choice come down to him or her. "Kentucky Joe," as he was fondly called by his tribemates, was the oldest member of the tribe. Upon his departure Rodger reflected, "I am the oldest person out here and have been going for 36 days, and would have gone the remaining 6 without food if I had to. I wish them all luck, especially Elisabeth. I hope she goes all the way." Kentucky Joe becomes the fifth member of the Jury, which will ultimately decide who will be the sole Survivor.

Misery at Barramundi

With the rain continuing to pelt the Survivors and their new shelter leaking, the tribe awoke on Day 34, miserable from another difficult night's sleep. The harsh environment left the remaining Survivors longing for home. Tina Wesson, the mother from Knoxville, Tennessee, lamented, "I miss my husband and my kids. I am still a newlywed, and I miss picking my kids up from school and have them happy to see me. I just miss everything about them." Said a tearful Elisabeth, who acknowledges drawing much of her strength from her mother, "If I could just talk to my mother, that would be all I need to get me through the rest of the time here." (

Elisabeth on missing family. )