Former Local Personalities Today

[CYdTracked]

Was listening to the Morning Rush and they were talking about Travis's days in TV broadcasting and where some of the people in the intro they played are at now. For instance one of the guys he worked with got arrested the other year for sending threatening emails to an official over COVID closings. That got me thinking, what personalities do you remember growing up or from several years ago that left the market or business in general and are either somewhere else or doing a different job?

There are plenty from channel 13 I remember watching over the years, John Bachman was obviously a staple in the market and retired several years ago but what happened to all his former co-anchors?

Really surprised when I found this one but Tiffany O'Donnell is apparently running for mayor of Cedar Rapids:



Kathy Soltero apparently went into real estate:



Kelly Eckerman was anchor in the late 80's and is appears to be working for KMBC now

Just searching YouTube for WHOTV openings brought back some memories of the old school openings they had and some of the personalities I remember growing up like Scott Pope and Laurie Grove along with Jim Zabel doing sports too. What other local media personalities do you remember and have updates on what they are doing today that might be surprising?

 

[deadeyededric]

Recognize anyone here other than Mike Lazano?

 

[CascadeClone]

A lot of local TV personalities end up in real estate or working for utility companies doing PR or other community outreach type stuff (Pete Seyfer, Scott Lind/Dryzinski come to mind but there are others I think).

I'd imagine in the latter case the hours and salary are both better.

Oh, and Ashley Hinson went from TV9 to the US House of Reps. I guess name recognition and a likeable face go a long way for certain jobs.

 

[deadeyededric]

This KCCI storm alert music used to terrify me as a child.

 

[KnappShack]

Not former, but this is the Dr Love Ed Wilson I remember....

 

[theshadow]

A lot of local TV personalities end up in real estate or working for utility companies doing PR or other community outreach type stuff (Pete Seyfer, Scott Lind/Dryzinski come to mind but there are others I think).

Tina Potthoff from WOI was in PR/comms at the Iowa Lottery and MidAmerican Energy. I think she's in the same position for Hy-Vee now.

 

[Angie]

I remember probably fifteen years ago, a group of us went down to the BWW in Jordan Creek when it first opened. Ben Ulin came up to our table and did magic for us. It made me sad. I think he still does magic at Adventureland.

 

[cmjh10]

Ron Steele is still on air I believe. He was old AF when I was growing up.

 

[laminak]

Was listening to the Morning Rush and they were talking about Travis's days in TV broadcasting and where some of the people in the intro they played are at now. For instance one of the guys he worked with got arrested the other year for sending threatening emails to an official over COVID closings. That got me thinking, what personalities do you remember growing up or from several years ago that left the market or business in general and are either somewhere else or doing a different job?

There are plenty from channel 13 I remember watching over the years, John Bachman was obviously a staple in the market and retired several years ago but what happened to all his former co-anchors?

Really surprised when I found this one but Tiffany O'Donnell is apparently running for mayor of Cedar Rapids:



Kathy Soltero apparently went into real estate:



Kelly Eckerman was anchor in the late 80's and is appears to be working for KMBC now

Just searching YouTube for WHOTV openings brought back some memories of the old school openings they had and some of the personalities I remember growing up like Scott Pope and Laurie Grove along with Jim Zabel doing sports too. What other local media personalities do you remember and have updates on what they are doing today that might be surprising?

Tiffany O’Donnell was also a lead anchor for KGAN CBS in CR market after leaving DM and before her current mayoral run.

 

[wxman1]

KCRG has two former reporters and a former meteorologist in PR at Alliant, one former meteorologist in marketing at Collins. Not to mention former anchor Liz Mathis as a state senator for some of this area,

 

[CYdTracked]

A more recent one is Chris Hassel who went to ESPN then to CBS Sports. He's probably one of the few local media personalities that I can think of that advanced his career onto a national stage. Zubin Mehenti is another one that went to ESPN as well but I see that recently there are rumors floating around about his future there as he's been absent for a couple months now but appears he also have recently learned he has diabetes so may be a health thing why he hasn't been on air lately?

 

[3GenClone]

The technical director that runs the videoboard promotions for ISU football and basketball games used to be a sports anchor/reporter for KCCI in the 80s-90s.

Also, Angie Hunt was a reporter for KCCI in the mid-2000s and she now works for ISU.

 

[Rural]

Recognize anyone here other than Mike Lazano?

I think the year before that we were on a class trip to WHO to see the workings of the noon hour news broadcast.

We're looking at assorted things around the studio and in walks the noon hour anchorman wearing jeans and a Grateful Dead T-Shirt.

They slip the fake white shirt and tie and sport coat on him, sweep the hair back a little , apply make-up and produce an anchorman.

 

[madguy30]

Tiffany O’Donnell was also a lead anchor for KGAN CBS in CR market after leaving DM and before her current mayoral run.

Saw her in a bar once in C.R. 10ish years ago. Also used to see Bruce Aune out and about occasionally. Close to Ron Burgundy status.

Pete Seifer was the man at KGAN, and I saw that his co-anchor Amy Johnson had some position in Linn County for a while.

 

[CloneJD]

Laurie grooves does ad work for the Farm Bureau.

I thought Ric Silvistrieni (sp) opened a container/storage store at one point. I’ve also seen him do high school state basketball.

 

[dmclone]

Doesn't steve deace have a nationwide show now? I may have disagreed with some of his politics but I don't remember anyone more entertaining when it came to sports.

 

[CascadeClone]

Ron Steele is still on air I believe. He was old AF when I was growing up.

I met him once when I was in hs (so like, 1989). He'd been the anchor as long as I could remember already at that point. He is also shockingly small compared to how he looks on TV.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Ron Steele is still on air I believe. He was old AF when I was growing up.

Yep. Still going at 72. He quit doing the 5:00 news but he's still faithfully there every night at 6:00 and 10:00.

I will say though, he's an absolutely authentic, kind and generous guy. The state is going to lose a lot when he does decide to retire.

 

[JohnnyFive]

Live look at what Marty Tirrell is up to

 

[CYdTracked]

Live look at what Marty Tirrell is up to

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This may be the best one yet! LOL dynamite drop by you!