Amanda Barren is back at WSAZ.  The Charleston, WV, NBC affiliate has announced Barren will co-anchor the 5:00 p.m. news beginning next Monday, December 17.

This is the second stint at WSAZ for Barren who worked for the station in 2006 as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter.  She left WSAZ for WKYC in Cleveland in 2010.

“Beyond the family that is WSAZ, I have a special place in my heart for the extended family of viewers,” said Barren. “The people in this region make it special. I can’t wait to start sharing their stories again.”

“Amanda is an outstanding journalist whose number one priority is to serve the community she loves,” said WSAZ news director Dan Fabrizio. “She’s a great addition to a great news team. We’re excited to have her back.”

You can watch her future co-anchor Bill Murray announce the news in a video after the jump. Read more

Reporter Randy Yohe was let go from WSAZ after he was arrested on Saturday morning for DUI and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

“I was let go (Wednesday),” Yohe told the Portsmouth Daily Times. “It was a seriously bad decision. It’s the first time anything like this has ever happened to me — and it will be the last. I’m embarrassed, humiliated and deeply sorry.”

According to a story on the WSAZ website, Yohe was stopped after running a stop sign in Coal Grove, Ohio at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. Police found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an open container of “an alcoholic beverage” in his car, according to the Huntington-Charleston NBC affiliate. Read more

WCHS, the ABC affiliate in Charleston, W.Va, debuted a new high-definition set designed by Devlin Design Group on Saturday. New features include a rear projection screen and a large video wall, as well as a rolling kiosk that can be used in all areas of the set.

“The new set is an obvious point of difference when compared to our competition; it elevates our people and our product to the next level,” news director Matt Snyder said in a statement. When someone tunes in to sample what local news looks in this market, the choice is clear.” More pictures inside… Read more

WCHS morning anchor Patrick McMurtry is recovering from injuries sustained during an escape from his burning house in Charleston Wednesday night.

McMurtry was asleep in his home when the fire broke out in his kitchen around 10:30 p.m., according to West Virginia MetroNews. After a smoke alarm woke him up, the anchor was able to break a window and exit the house. He suffered cuts and smoke inhalation, and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

McMurtry was not at the anchor desk this morning, although a previously taped segment of “West Virginia Wildlife,” which he reports for the Charleston-Huntington ABC affiliate, aired on the morning newscast.

Chris Bailey is returning to WKYT, the CBS-affiliate in Lexington, as chief meteorologist.

Bailey left WKYT in 2008 to join WSAZ, the NBC-affiliate in Charleston. His first day back at WKYT will be March 5.

“No one knows Kentucky weather like Chris Bailey,” WKYT president and general manager Wayne Martin said in a statement. “Regardless the season or what the weather has in store for us, Chris has always demonstrated a passion and dedication that is second to none.”

Bailey replaces T.G. Shuck, who announced yesterday he is leaving the station to spend more time with his family.

WOWK, the CBS-affiliate in Huntington, WV, has a new news director: Elisabeth Shaffer.

She joins WOWK from rival station WCHS, which is the ABC-affiliate in the same market. She is an executive producer who has been at the station for more than 30 years.

Shaffer replaces April Kaull, who is reportedly perusing on-air job opportunities. She remains the vice president of news operations at West Virginia Media, WOWK’s parent company.

Sandra Cole, who has been with CBS affiliate WOWK since 1994, announced she will leave Huntington, WV and pursue new opportunities when her contract is up this fall.

Cole, who currently anchors the 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11p.m. broadcasts, is currently on vacation with her family. According to WOWK, she will return from vacation Wednesday and continue to anchor her regular broadcasts through October, when her contract expires.

“Sandra has been a part of our community for 17 years…and we will miss her,” said station vice president Larry Cottrill. “We wish her the best in the next chapter of her life.”

Cole has worked in several other local markets, including Tampa and Sioux City, IA. She has not announced her future plans.

Like many local stations, WSAZ — the NBC affiliate in Charleston, WV — has completed the switch to high definition across their news broadcasts.

“This represents the end of a multi-year, multi-million dollar project and the beginning of a new way for all television viewers in the Charleston-Huntington market to see their world,” vice president and general manager Don Ray said. “We’ll all be looking at the drama and excitement that happens every day in breathtaking color and clarity.”

Part of making the switch included new equipment upgrades for WSAZ. The station donated the old equipment — including field cameras, editors, video switchers, television audio consoles and studio cameras — to the communications department  West Virginia State University.

WSAZ is the first station in the Charleston market to make the switch. The station will show their local broadcasts, as well as nationally syndicated NBC programming, in HD.