Jillian Pavlica, the weekend anchor at WZDX-WAAY in Huntsville, Ala., was tricked into introducing the beginning of her own marriage proposal Saturday night (video above).

“We do have some breaking news to report to you. Fox 54 has just learned that a Huntsville news anchor is being proposed … on live TV … right now…” Pavlica read off the teleprompter, trailing off as she realized what was happening.

Her boyfriend walked onto the set and proposed. Pavlica said yes.

Christine Killimayer is leaving WHNT after two years at the CBS-affiliate in Hunstville, AL.

Killimayer’s final day at WHNT is today. She has accepted a position in media services at Teledyne Brown in Huntsville.

She began at the station as a sports anchor and reporter in 2010, later shifting to report on the morning newscast. Before joining WHNT, she worked as a multimedia sports journalist for the Greenspun Corporation and as a sports anchor and reporter at KTKA in Topeka.

Just in case his extensive coverage of tornadoes sweeping through Alabama wasn’t enough to entice viewers to Like WHNT chief meteorologist Jason Simpson on Facebook, the Huntsville CBS-affiliate is now offering $519 to be his friend.

WHNT, channel 19, has posted a big promotion on Simpson’s Facebook page, offering viewers a chance to win an American Express gift card if they Like the veteran meteorologist.

This is certainly not the first instance of local stations offering prizes in an effort to boost Facebook connections, but it is the only time in recent memory where a dollar figure for friendship was placed so closely to someone’s head. Read more

Dan Satterfield is joining WBOC, the CBS-affiliate in Salisbury, MD, as chief meteorologist, dcrtv.com reports.

Satterfield was formerly the chief meteorologist at WHNT in Huntsville. He left in December after 17 years with the station to explore new opportunities.

The veteran meteorologist has more than 30 years of experience on the air. He will join Brian Keane and John Trout on the WBOC weather team.

Jason Simpson has been named WHNT‘s new chief meteorologist.

The Huntsville CBS-affiliate announced today that Simpson, who currently serves as the morning meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, will become the station’s lead weathercaster.

“Jason is an exceptional broadcast meteorologist and has outstanding severe weather tracking skills,” WHNT president and general manager Stan Pylant said, in announcing the move.  “We had a tremendous amount of interest from a lot of qualified candidates from all over the country.  In the end, the right person was right here in our own backyard.”

Simpson replaces Dan Satterfield, who recently departed WHNT after 17 years as chief meteorologist to “explore new opportunities.” Read more

Dan Satterfield is leaving his post as chief meteorologist at Huntsville CBS-affiliate WHNT after 17 years.

Satterfield, who is the meteorologist on the weeknight evening newscasts, told station management he wanted to explore new opportunities earlier this year, according to The Huntsville Times. His last day will be December 2.

Stan Pylant, the president and general manager at WHNT, said in a statement the station has conducted an extensive search for Satterfield’s replacement, and expects to make an announcement in the near future.

Viewers tuning into WAAY last Thursday morning expecting a weather forecast, got an air guitar performance instead.

WAAY morning meteorologist Gary Dobbs apparently called in sick at the last-minute so Chad Rose, the morning show’s producer, subbed for him.  Wearing sunglasses and a lanyard with an ID badge, Rose played air guitar to kick off his weather report coming out of a commercial break, and then explained that he got a call from Dobbs’s wife at 2 a.m. saying that the veteran weathercaster wouldn’t make it in.  Video after the jump… Read more

WHNT has announced a major overhaul of talent on the evening broadcasts, shuffling the same five anchors into new assignments to change up the primetime chemistry on the Hunstville CBS affiliate.

“Just like a coach of a football team makes adjustments, the goal with the new anchor teams is to better align the strength of our players to deliver on the expectations of Tennessee Valley viewers,” WHNT news director Denise Vickers said in a statement.

Starting August 29, the 5 p.m. broadcast — currently anchored by Greg Screws and Clarissa Stephens — will be helmed by Stephens and fellow shoe-loving anchor Lee Marshall (watch a promo of the two, above). Screws will move forward an hour to anchor alongside current 6 p.m. anchor Elise Morgan, and the pair will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by Marshall alongside Jerry Hayes. Marshall and Hayes have been teamed up on that newscast since April. Hayes and Morgan will also continue their duties as 10 p.m. anchors. Read more