NEWS from WTRF: November 26, 2003: Anyone who caught the WTRF Morning News this past Monday knows why I don't expect much from them. Starting with the second hour (6PM), the control room was apparently a madhouse. First, an open opened... a block of commercials. Then the talent opened.... 60 seconds of dead air, followed by commercials! Next was a live report on the first day of Hunting Season from Morgantown. The reporter intro'd his story, and told us we'd be seeing some shots of deer running around at the local park. So I waited. And waited. All the while watching the reported stare at the camera. And look at beef jerkey. Check his hair in the reflection on the cash register, and then wrap-up the story. Apparently the PVTV system that WTRF usesfailed to load the video from the server. Oy. Then, when they finally cold-opened into the newscast, just when all seemed great and David apologized for the technical failures, the prompters went down. As Leah Hegner tried to find what page she was on with her copy, Dave kinda started shaking his fist at her. Then she shook back. Then he shook. (I guess they argued silently about whose turn it was... I dunno.) All throughout the morning, papers were a'shufflin', and gazes were cast down at the camera. After a long break, they seemed to have the open stuff taken care of... so the weather open comes on, and plays, and plays... To the point where the actual music stops, and the animation freezes. Then blank. Afer 60-seconds of that, I went back to bed. God, we need a Good Day program here. *sigh* November 11, 2003: News from 7: It looks like Susan Jackson has taken on the role of Statewide Correspondant for WVMH syndicated franchise "Traveling the Mountain State". She's doing a good job, too; Susan Sarkis takes over anchoring detail at 5PM. I did happen to catch her Everybody Has A Story profile last week, and it was kind of cool to know she graduated from my alma mater, Washington High School. No sign of Steve Mazure as an anchor lately. Also, stunning report from Susan Sarkis live from the CMA Awards. She was poised, composed, and only a little off-cue. But all WVMH live-shots that are simulcasted to all 4 stations are a little screwy. Graphics are back up, courtesy my video capture card. (It's not a violation of any law to distribute less than 5 seconds of previously broadcasted material.) September 20th, 2003: Earlier in the week, I got an Email from THE HEIDI YORK! She told me that she's now in Wilmington, North Carolina; working as a morning anchor with WWAY. I sure do miss her. As for Florida, turns out it was just a vacation. Well, I replied to Heidi and wished her all the best; but just in case that email didn't make it back to her, well... Good Luck, Heidi. The Valley hopes you've gone far. (BTW- I have received many emails inquiring about her. So, I can say "we" and get away with it. :-) September 8, 2003: We're hearing reports that Martina Bills, of WTOV, walked out and had lined up a position with the competition. (Per the PG BBS service.) WTOV had no comment, and my source close to both stations was unaware of whether or not she was hired with WTRF. We'll keep you in the know. In other news, the same source confirms that Huntington-based "central cast" statewide newscasts will soon begin; both on weekends and a t 5:30 PM. They are expecting weekend weather guy Tony Summers to begin reporting. August 18th, 2003: Two weeks ago, there was a classified ad in the Sunday Wheeling Intelligencer for an AM anchor at WTRF. Today, my worst fears are realized. After weeks of the boring David Blomquist/Darnell Foster team, and lack of talent opens, it is confirmed: Heidi has left WTRF-TV. Replacement anchor is rumored to be Leah Wilson... (Leah Hegner, of WTOV.) We'll see... As for Heidi, no real info as to whether or not she has a job lined up, but we do know that she's moved to Florida. I've asked our friends at FNC to keep an eye out for our sweet girl next door. Good luck, Heidi! (And let's hope she picked Tampa!!!) July 24, 2003: Earlier this month, WTRF debuted their new set: Very WNBC temp desk-esque, as far as the desk goes... But the backgrounds are very boring... blue and this huge yellow radius that fades into id from each corner. I guess it's for the standardization. The weather center is nice, very nice. Michelle even gets her own desk in front of some of her equipment; off to the right in the background is a huge plasmascreen, generally with currents or the sat/radar composite displayed while she either teases or begins the weather forecats. Nice, overall. Whenever Yahoo lets me back into my server, I'll post the images/video. May 20, 2003: O.K, maybe I was being unreasonable. I guess in my rush to expose a story, I pulled a Fox News and didn't check into anything. Rather than totally trash my journalistic integrity and any hopes for employment at WTRF or another local station, I'm gonna do this: To Dave Blomquist and Karin Jeniszewski (and their families): I apologize for spreading the rumor any further than the Valley. I didn't take into account that this is someone's personal life; and it's not for me to say on a public forum. I genuinely apologize for embarassing you (if, in fact, I have.) To WTRF-TV, if you would answer your email, I wouldn't have to have linked to your logos! (at least, without permission!) **smile** I've removed them and I apologize for that. I'll be removing certain "slanderous" portions of my site... not because I have to, but because I now have a higher opinion about the people that I mentioned. And to Mr. Gaudino: don't take anything personally... I really didn't mean any harm to Channel 7 or it's employees; that's why I have taken these actions. May 19, 2003: Today, I received communication from WTRF-TV stating that I must remove their Benedek-hosted logos from my website, as they are not my property. If you're wondering about that, that's where they are. Check out http://www.wtrf.com for Talent photos and the new logo. February, 2003: WTRF recently updated...wait, overhauled it's station image. They've gone from the Benedek logo to a WVMH-standardized logo reminiscent of the old tri-state 7 logo. Their new theme is Arnold's Finale, the graphics are WOWK/WBOY/WTRF standard from Giant Octopus. The overall look is great. The idea behind the network of stations is much better than the "News Central" idea from SBG. And the new red-and-white 7 should remind the Valley of 7's better days. December, 2002: I turned on Seven News one morning, noticing a rather attractive woman next to Dave Blomquist. Enter Heidi York: I know very little about her: where she came from, education, credentials; but she's a great anchor. I'd say she's the best female anchor 7's got. I'm quite smitten. :-) Nov. 04 2002: WTRF recently added former WTOV-9 anchor Jim Forbes to their anchor team. In 1998, Forbes left News 9 for ."bigger and better" things. This year, he returns to the lowest-rated station in the ohio valley. August, 2002: WTRF looses it's Benedek affiliation, after that bankrupt company was purchased by Gray Mid-America Television. In an attempt to create a state-wide network of affiliates, a Limited Liability Company called West Virginia Media Holdings picked up ownership of Channel 7. Although 7 looses their "Where it All Happens" (Gari) theme, WTRF still has the Benedek-standard site, look and feel. Good luck, Mr. Cary (and WVMH). Almost all of the former owners of WTRF have gone bankrupt.