“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). Read more

Gannett Broadcasting has named Maria Barrs president and general manager of KXTV, the ABC affiliate in Sacramento. Barrs has been the vice president and news director for KDFW, the Fox owned-and-operated station in Dallas, for 13 years.

“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.”

Anita Helt, who has served as president and general manager of Sacramento’s KXTV since October, has been named vice president and general manager of KNXV in Phoenix.

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.

Sacramento’s KXTV has promoted Monica Woods to chief meteorologist. The position opened up earlier this month when Ken Barlow announced that he was leaving to join KSTP in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the market he called home for 16 years.

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. Read more

Veteran Sacramento reporter Jonathan Mumm is set to retire after nearly 30 years with KXTV.

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.”

Meteorologist Ken Barlow is returning to the Twin Cities, where he worked for most of his career before jumping to Boston’s WBZ in 2006. KSTP, a Hubbard Broadcasting-owned ABC-affiliate, announced today that Barlow, who spent 16 years with rival KARE, will join its weather team in June.

“Ken may have left Minnesota but Minnesotans have never forgotten him,” said news director Lindsay Radford. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him back to town.”

Barlow served as WBZ’s chief meteorologist for 4 1/2 years but the station decided not to renew his contract in 2010. After being cut by WBZ, Barlow wound up in Sacramento, where he has worked as KXTV‘s weather chief since last summer.

“What a great opportunity to return to the place my family and I consider home,” Barlow said. “I am excited to get back forecasting weather for the people of Minnesota.” Read more

KXTV weekend anchor Lorraine Blanco is leaving the Sacramento ABC-affiliate after just a year with the station. She anchored her final KXTV newscast this weekend.

Blanco, who grew up in northern California, joined KXTV in May of last year after seven years with Las Vegas Fox-affiliate KVVU. She has been anchoring the station’s 6 and 11 p.m. weekend newscasts in addition to reporting throughout the week.

“Just finished anchoring my last newscast at News10,” Blanco tweeted on Sunday. “Feelings bittersweet. The future is wide open.”

Blanco, a graduate of UCLA, got her start with KABC. Read more