Latest news with #WBAY
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorologists from WBAY and WFRV depart for other markets; Cami Rapson's new co-anchor announced
A flurry of activity at Green Bay TV stations at the end of May includes the departure of two meteorologists. Keith Gibson, who joined WBAY-TV in 2021, gave his last forecast on May 28 after announcing earlier in the month he had accepted the position of chief meteorologist at WISH-TV in Indianapolis. His first day on the air there was May 30. The move allows him to be closer to family in Lower Michigan, he said in his Facebook post. WBAY chief meteorologist Steve Beylon thanked him for the knowledge and wit he brought to the station during his nearly four years. 'When we first hired him, I told everyone that we 'just got a ringer' in our lineup. Little did I realize that he would be so much more than that ...' Beylon wrote in a Facebook post of his own. 'Keith elevated our game, especially with our weather graphics. He also created a steady presence during our weekend and midday newscasts, plus our severe weather coverage.' Gibson had been working as chief meteorologist WCBI-TV in Columbus, Mississippi, when he joined WBAY. The Michigan native had also previously worked in TV markets in North Dakota and South Dakota. WFRV-TV also said goodbye to a member of its weather team over the weekend. Meteorologist Alexis Staniec's last day at the station was June 1. She is joining CBS affiliate WDJT-TV in Milwaukee and will be on the air there beginning in July, according to post on her Facebook page. Staniec, a New Jersey native, joined WFRV in June 2022, a month after graduating from Millersville University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. Following Bill Jartz's retirement on May 23 after just shy of 40 years at WBAY, Chris Roth has been promoted to the co-anchor chair next to Cami Rapson for the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. Roth is a familiar face to WBAY viewers as the station's longtime sports director. He joined WBAY in that role in 1999. Since 2020, he has also been the anchor of "Action 2 News at 4:30." He'll continue to anchor that newscast in addition to his new duties. WBAY has a history of finding longtime news anchors from within its sports department. Jartz was the sports director when he made the move to evening news in 1998. His predecessor, Chuck Ramsay, also was sports director at WBAY before becoming news anchor in 1971 for 31 years. It was the end of an era at WLUK-TV on May 30 when news director Juli Buehler retired. She started as an executive producer at the station and was promoted to news director in 1995. Her colleagues called her "a newsroom leader and journalistic driving force" in an on-air sendoff piece. Among those who checked in to wish her well was CNN correspondent and former WLUK reporter Bill Weir, who said she's "an institution." It was under her leadership that WLUK launched popular morning program "Good Day Wisconsin." She was also instrumental in Fox 11 Packers Family Night and the Fox 11 Field House. The station first announced her retirement in March. Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@ Follow her on X @KendraMeinert. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: WBAY and WFRV meteorologists move on to new TV markets
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen Spends 10 Months in the Hospital After Freak Tire Accident, Then Gets Escorted Home by Responders Who Saved Him
A 16-year-old boy, Brett Jedwabny, is finally home almost a year after he suffered a traumatic brain injury The first responders who saved his life escorted him home in a fire truck "Brett, we're wishing you continued healing and strength on the road ahead," the fire department said After 10 months away, a 16-year-old boy was finally able to return to his home in Wisconsin after suffering a severe brain injury – with an escort from the emergency responders who helped save his life. Last July, Brett Jedwabny was using a power washer to clean a cart at his family home in Appleton when the dangerous accident occurred, NBC affiliate WGBA, ABC affiliate WBAY and the Post Crescent reported. Unexpectedly, the tire shattered and debris flew into the teen's right eye and skull, according to WGBA. He lost consciousness and had to have immediate medical attention. The teenager was first flown by helicopter to a hospital in Milwaukee, before going to the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago and then transferring to the Ronald McDonald House, the outlet reported. Almost a year later, Jedwabny was able to come back home. On Saturday, May 24, the teen and his family were finally able to meet the paramedics and first responders who saved his life, WBAY reported. 'That was probably the most emotional part of this, was seeing the people that were there, who gave everything that day, and were at their best,' the boy's father, Tyler Jedwabny, told the outlet. Brett, who now uses a wheelchair, was helped into a fire truck and escorted home, where a group of family and friends met him with cheers and hugs. The Appleton Fire Department said it was thankful for the opportunity to meet Brett and his family. 'We're honored to have played a part in your story, and grateful to see you home,' the fire department said in a statement on Facebook. 'Brett, we're wishing you continued healing and strength on the road ahead.' For Brett's loved ones, it was a moment they weren't sure would happen after the initial accident. 'Looking back to where we first went from those first text messages with my sister, I didn't think we'd ever get to be in this position,' Brett's aunt, Sara Parock, told WGBA of the emotional homecoming. It's been a long recovery for the teen. Six months after the accident, Brett was just beginning to stand up and walk with less help from others. He was also better able to tackle full sentences, WBAY reported in January. To help offset the medical costs, friends organized a GoFundMe that has raised more than $100,000, far exceeding the original goal of $40,000. The organizer and Brett's family did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. 'We as family, friends and community must hold Nicole, Tyler and Grant in our constant prayers and unbounding love to keep them strong for Brett,' the organizer wrote. In May, Tyler got confirmation that his son was ready to return home when Brett was able to step out of the car – his first since the accident. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'We've been working hard on the left leg. He started initiation a couple weeks ago, and then he did kind of a quarter step,' the proud dad told WBAY at the homecoming celebration. 'We get here today, and he takes one full step with his left leg, two full steps actually. Nicole and I both looked and were like, 'Guess we needed to be home.' ' Brett's cousin is grateful to have him back. 'Just to see him today and the improvements that he has made," Brent Radtke told WGBA, "The gains he's made is just an absolute blessing." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two Veteran Anchors Retiring: One in Wisconsin Another in Michigan
It seems like veteran journalists are dropping out of local TV in larger numbers than usual. Either that, or I'm just getting old. Hopefully, no one feels shorted by this combo post where I cover two retirements in one. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Bill Jartz is retiring from ABC affiliate WBAY, while Sheri Jones has announced her retirement after almost 37 years from CBS affiliate WLNS in Lansing, Michigan. WBAY general manager, Steve Lavin, said, "There is just no one like Bill. Our viewers will miss him, his co-workers will miss him, and I will miss him." He started his broadcasting career as the 10 o'clock sports anchor in Wausau. He joined WBAY as a sports reporter in 1983. He left local TV in 1990 and came back three years later as sports director. He moved from sports to news in 1998. Jones's contributions to broadcasting have earned her a place in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. In addition to her professional achievements, Jones has traveled to Japan as part of Lansing's Sister City program, contributing to cultural understanding and international relations. She has also spent time in China taking part in economic development efforts on behalf of the city of Lansing and the state of Michigan. She also led a team to Kenya, Africa, to build a home for a deserving family in Homa Bay as part of Habitat for Humanity Capitol Region. Since 1994, Jones has been the spokesperson for Mid-Michigan Crime Stoppers, producing segments that have aided in the capture of many of the area's most wanted fugitives. In 2018, Crime Stoppers had an 80 percent success rate in taking fugitive felons off the street.
