KXTV evening anchors Dale Schornack and Cristina Mendonsa are celebrating 15 years on the air together at the Sacramento ABC affiliate.  “I knew it was going to be a good partnership from the beginning, basically,” Mendonsa said in a tribute segment that aired Thursday night (video above).

“It was like, wow. That was the first newscast of the rest of our careers, and it felt really good,” Schornack recalled.  continued…

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Beginning Saturday, the station will air from 6 to 7 a.m. and 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They will be anchored by Kate Larsen (pictured), who was previously a reporter on KXTV’s weekday morning newscast. Larsen will be joined by meteorologist Darla Givens.

“[On the weekends,] people aren’t as rushed and their priorities are different. So we’re putting together a fun, energizing show to reflect that,” KXTV news director Jerome Parra said in a statement.

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Ito, who grew up in the Sacramento area, first started with KXTV in 1985 as a reporter and producer.  After leaving KXTV in 1990 for a job at KCAL in Los Angeles, she returned to the ABC-affiliate in 1996.

“It’s been wonderful being a part of the News10 family all these years,” Ito said in a statement.   “But of course, closest to my heart is raising our 11-year-old daughter here in Sacramento, the place I love.  It’s so true, there are stages in life and a break just feels right.” continued…

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Jerome Parra

Parra began his career as a writer and assignment editor at KXTV. He is currently the assistant news director at KPNX, the NBC-affiliate in Phoenix.

“He is a smart, innovative journalist who is passionate about news,” KXTV president and general manager Maria Barrs said in a statement. “He has great energy and ideas, along with the right experience, skills and drive to lead our team.” continued…

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In what seemed like an elaborate set-up to soak KXTV‘s Kate Larsen, the Sacramento ABC-affiliate dispatched the morning reporter to a busy roadway, where anchor Dan Elliott had spotted a large puddle.

Just as Keba Arnold, Elliott’s co-anchor, was warning Larsen about getting splashed, a car plowed through the puddle, drenching her (video above).

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In a post on his Facebook page this week, Myers announced that he had accepted “the newly created position of Political Editor at KXTV.”

“The position allows me to not only continue my reporting on the Capitol and state politics (for broadcast and online), but to help shape News10′s 2012 election coverage and beyond,” Myers wrote.

In moving to KXTV, Myers is returning to his TV news roots.  He worked as an anchor and reporter at KSBY in San Luis Obispo before making the move to radio.  His first day at KXTV will be April 2.

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The Orlando-based cable news channel announced today that Geraghty will join its staff on March 19th.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone of Tim’s caliber joining News 13. We have a great newsroom and we expect it will become even greater under his leadership,” News 13 vice president and general manager Robin Smythe said, announcing the hiring. “Tim has a strong understanding of local news and has a track record of paying quality attention to his viewers and delivering them a relevant product.” continued…

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KXTV reporter Dave Marquis and photographer Jeff Baur were on their way to a homeless encampment in Sacramento over the weekend when they stumbled upon an injured man who had just fallen from a train.

“We saw a figure coming towards us on top of the tracks, who kind of waved to us, asked us if we had a cell phone and told us we needed to call 911,” Marquis said in his report (watch above). continued…

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Robin Whitmeyer

Whitmeyer joins KDFW from WSOC, the ABC-affiliate in Charlotte, NC, where she has been the news director for the past eight years.

“Robin brings an extensive news and management background to the FOX 4 newsroom and the Dallas-Fort Worth market,” KDFW general manager Kathy Saunders said in a statement. “We are thrilled that she will be joining KDFW.”

Whitmeyer replaces Maria Barrs, who left KDFW to be president and general manager of KXTV in August.

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KTXL

Becerra joins KTXL on December 5 from KSBW, the NBC-affiliate in Salinas. She replaces Ama Daetz, who left the station last month.

In January, KTXL is set to launch a 6 p.m. newscast anchored by Eric Harryman, the Sacramento Business-Journal reports. The station will compete in the early-evening timeslot with NBC-affiliate KCRA, CBS O&O KOVR and ABC-affiliate KXTV.

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“I would not want to be the people living here,” KXTV producer Duffy Kelly said, slamming her car door as a wild turkey pecked at the window.

Kelly was out in the Arden Oaks neighborhood to investigate reports of wild turkeys terrorizing walkers and joggers in the residential area. Once Kelly found the turkeys in question, she was chased several blocks — with the camera rolling the whole way (watch the video above). continued…

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“She is an innovative manager, having built ratings growth during an era of challenging times,” Gannett EVP Lynn Beall said in a statement. “Maria has overseen eight hours of live news production a day … We are thrilled to have someone of her caliber lead KXTV.”

The move is a return to the Sacramento market for Barrs, who began her career as a desk assistant at NBC affiliate KCRA. She joined KDFW in 1994 as managing editor and was named news director in 1998.

“Maria is an incredibly talented product leader,” Gannett president Dave Lougee said. “She has a passion for what she does, and it shows.”

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Anita Helt

Helt, 49, has considerable experience in the Phoenix market. Before joining Gannett’s KXTV last year, she worked for 15 years at the company’s NBC-affiliate KPNX, where most recently she served as vice president of marketing and programming.

“With her keen market insights and industry leadership, Anita will develop local news and programming that will continue to engage a growing numbers of viewers and advertisers alike,” said Brian Lawlor of Scripps, which owns KNXV.

Helt’s first day with the station is set for June 20th. She is replacing Janice Todd, who retired earlier this year after five years as VP-GM.

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Woods joined the Gannett-owned ABC-affiliate in April 2001 and has most recently been working the station’s weekday morning newscasts.

“Monica is a proven strength in this market,” said Tim Geraghty, KXTV’s news director. “With more than 10 years weather forecasting at News10, she brings great experience and leadership to our weather team.”

Before joining KXTV, Woods worked as a morning meteorologist for Gannett’s WXIA in Atlanta. As chief meteorologist, she will appear on KXTV’s 5, 6, and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts. continued…

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A five-time Emmy winner, Mumm joined the ABC-affiliate in 1983 and currently hosts KXTV’s regular travel feature “California Postcard.”

In a recent interview with the Sacramento Press, Mumm described how the industry has evolved during his career.

“Each innovation that has happened in the industry has increased the workload and the intensity,” he told the Press. “The opportunities are there. But you have to be skilled at more things.”

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