J Warren Hockaday has been named general manager at KIEM, the NBC affiliate in Eureka, Calif., according to The Times-Standard.

Hockaday is a former news director of KVIQ, the CBS affiliate in Eureka. For the past 14 years, he has been president and CEO of the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce. He will continue to remain in both roles temporarily.

“We’re very excited to have J taking over at News Channel 3,”  KIEM owner Bill Pollack said in a statement. “He has deep roots in Humboldt County, knows the community well and is widely respected. I am confident he’ll do a great job for us.”

Hockaday replaces Roy Frostenson, who is joining the University of Mississippi.

Police in Eureka, CA, have found one of four cameras recently stolen from local NBC affiliate KIEM after searching an apartment where Edward Charles Vercoe lived.

Police were lead to Vercoe, who is on parole, after a neighbor complained of excessive foot and vehicle traffic coming from an apartment located in an alley. In the apartment, they found a SONY camera and a half a gram of heroin. Vercoe is currently wanted for being in possession of a controlled substance and possession of stolen property.

Sunday, KIEM reported four news cameras and a scanner had been stolen from a trailer behind the station.  The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office is asking the public to be on the lookout for what is now two SONY cameras and one Panasonic camera along with a Radio Shack scanner.

[Eureka Police Department][Eureka Times-Standard]

Bonten Media and Esteem Broadcasting have announced the acquisition of television stations in two California markets, Chico-Redding and Eureka, from Sainte Partners.

The transaction, which is subject to approval by the FCC, includes KCVU, the Fox-affiliate in Chico, and KBVU, the Fox-affiliate in Eureka, which will both be acquired by Esteem. Bonten will provide services to these stations through shared service agreements, and will also acquire a number of low-powered stations in the two markets.

“We are excited to acquire Sainte’s fine FOX affiliates in these two markets,” Esteem president David Bailey said in a statement. “We are also looking forward to extending the successful SSA/JSA arrangements we have with Bonten Media Group.”