Obituaries
Longtime Cedar Rapids journalist Cary J. Hahn, known as “The Iowa Traveler” on Sinclair CBS affiliate KGAN/2, has died at the age of 75. KGAN reports that Hahn began his career in radio and worked at KTVO/3 (Kirksville-Ottumwa) before moving to KGAN, where he filed more than 5,000 “Iowa Traveler” reports from 1983 to 2008. He then served as news director at KMRY/1450 (Cedar Rapids).
Longtime broadcast engineer Ronald Kazda has died at the age of 86. His obituary says Kazda worked for several stations and groups in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Minnesota before culminating his career as Director of Engineering at Hubbard Radio, where he worked until 2002.
Gray NBC affiliate WOWT/6.1 (Omaha) reported on the death of former anchor Ray Metoyer, an Omaha native who started his career at the station before working in larger markets.
People
Tegna NBC affiliate KARE 11 (Minneapolis) announced the hiring of John Zeigler as morning meteorologist, J.T. Messinger as sports photojournalist, and Tyler Teal as photojournalist.
Gray NBC affiliate WOWT/6.1 (Omaha) announced the hiring of Clayton Collier as sports director.
Gray NBC affiliate KVLY/11.1 (Fargo) announced that chief meteorologist Hutch Johnson has departed the station to pursue new opportunities.
Sports anchor/reporter Cam Derr announced her departure from Red River’s FOX 21 (KQDS-TV Duluth) for a new job in Alabama.
Dennis Voy, owner of KMAQ/1320 and KMAQ-FM/95.1 (Maquoketa, IA) announced plans to retire and sell the station after 65 years on the air. The station is listed with Nemmers Realty with an asking price of $1.1 million.
“Current” named Nebraska Public Media software developer Jacob Schwitzer as one of 22 rising stars in public media.
The Star Tribune profiled Jason Matheson, who hosts daily shows on FOX 9 (KMSP) and “My Talk 107” (KTMY/107.1).
The Strib also did a Q&A with former KSTP and WCCO talk radio host T.D. Mischke about his podcast and upcoming book.
Stations
The Star Tribune reported that KMOJ/89.9 (Minneapolis) is among the organizations that could be displaced by a new light rail line.
Gray NBC affiliate KTIV/4.1 (Sioux City) has switched its newscast graphics to a new look, replacing a previous Quincy Media-era graphics package. The station reported that the change coincided with a larger upgrade to its behind-the-scenes production equipment.
Listings at 506Sports.com indicate that Hearst’s KCCI/8.1 (Des Moines) and KETV/7.1 (Omaha) are the only stations in the region to have the rights to both Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers preseason games. The teams are split between stations in other markets. There’s no Minneapolis station taking the Packers preseason games, which air in seven states including Alaska.
Midwest’s WIXX/101.1 (Green Bay) released a takeoff of Fallout Boy’s new version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” called “Wisconsin Started the Fire.” The song name-checking Wisconsin places and events, written by WIXX’s Corey Carter and performed by afternoon host Huggie, was posted to Facebook on Monday and passed 50,000 views Thursday. The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that the song is playing on the air about every four hours.
Gold Award winners for best newscast at the Nebraska Broadcasters’ Association’s Pinnacle Awards included Hearst ABC affiliate KETV/7.1 (Omaha) and NRG’s KGFW/1340 (Kearney). JP, Coryelle & Husker Nick from Alpha’s KZKX/96.9 (Seward-Lincoln) won the Gold Award for best local radio show.
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Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.