KIAH 39 staffers jumping to KTRK, KHOU, KRIV

I found out over the last few weeks that some KIAH 39 staffers have made the jump to other Houston television stations.

Damion Smith - KTRK 13

Just when I thought no one was left to remember me at KTRK 13, the station keeps hiring my former KIAH 39 colleagues. The most recent hire is photographer Damion Smith who I worked with at channel 39 on the night shift (photo is of Damion and me working on a story together - thank you Ben Lutman for the snap).

Damion is a great guy, and I'm not just saying that because he is a fellow Baylor University graduate and star basketball player for The Bears. The first times we worked together, the entire conversation on the way to interviews was about BU. He told me things even I didn't even know about the school.

Smith is among several recent hires replacing some of the photogs who have disappeared from the KTRK roster...but that could be a whole separate post and we're keeping things positive and happy right now for Damion. You might also remember how one of the other KIAH night photogs I worked with, Matt Robbins, arrived at KTRK last spring, not to mention an entire list of 39 folks in other positions going to work for The Mouse in Houston. That means I have a bunch of people to eat lunch with still at the 13 Courtyard Cafe.

Previously Smith worked at KCEN in Waco.

Misti Moore - KHOU 11

KIAH 39 producer Misti Moore returned to her old home at KHOU in the same role. She left for KIAH in early 2010, and had been with Belo Houston since 2006.

Unfortunately I did not work with Misti close enough at 39 to have any great stories. Although I used to apparently walk up quietly behind her when she was at her desk and startle her. Moore is not the first to tell me this. I always mention this fact to my wife when she says I walk down the hall too loudly at night and will wake up the kids. My wife does not believe that I am a light walker at work.

Amor Lemus - KRIV 26

I've already told you that KIAH 39 assignments editor Amor Lemus moved up the dial to Fox 26 KRIV in late August. However I hear she is now the morning desk person at KRIV. So PR people, Amor is who you want to target with all of your phone calls to start out the day - just kidding. I should also mention that KIAH 39 assignments desk manager Joe Segura also now works at Fox 26.

As psychic as people think I am - I do not always know when people move jobs in TV news. So you have to let me know.

abc13 photographer Damion Smith shares cancer fight

KTRK abc13 photographer, Damion Smith, who normally is on the other side of the camera, shares his story with H-E-B customers across Texas to help fight cancer.

KTRK 13 brings Doug Zepeda Ortiz from KUVN 23

Here is an update for you. It was almost a year ago that I wrote how a former KIAH 39 co-worker of mine (I do not work for the 39 anymore by the way) was leaving for the DFW Metroplex. That's right, photographer Doug Zepeda Ortiz moved to Univision 23 KUVN Dallas.

Now I can brag about my powers of prognastication. Here is what I wrote in 2010:

The only thing I wonder is, how will a guy who lives and breathes Houston and UH survive in DFW?

Wow, was I right or not? Doug just recently started in the programming department of KTRK 13. He joins another recent KIAH 39 photog arrival, Matt Robbins, in that department. You might also remember that former KIAH 39 photog Damion Smith just joined the Eyewitness News department.

So now Doug can feel at peace once again driving the 610 Loop, sitting in traffic in the Galleria area and watching his UH Coogs.

ABC13 photojournalist Mike Menchaca toasted by legendary anchors

Mike Menchaca, a photojournalist with ABC13 KTRK Houston for over three decades who just retired, was toasted by family and current and former Channel 13 colleagues Friday night.

Menchaca's wife, Traci, threw the party and told the crowd how she met Mike by calling the Channel 13 sports department!  Now you know KTRK is all about news, weather, sports...and love!

Retired KTRK photojournalist Jaime Zamora read a proclamation by Houston Mayor John Whitmire and emotionally recounted how he and Menchaca, friends for decades, helped each other through the Texas television landscape from Corpus Christi to KVUE Austin and KTRK.

In thanking everyone for coming to his retirement party, Menchaca remembered those who were important to him and who couldn't attend. He mentioned names like 13 Outdoorsman Thom Dickerson, Bob Allen, Tim Melton, and former KTRK general manager Jim Masucci.

Iconic anchors and reporters such as Shara Fryer, Tom Koch, Don Nelson, Don Kobos, Art Rascon, Deborah Wrigley, and Jeff McShan were there to honor Menchaca. 

I saw current KTRK staffers celebrating the legendary photographer, including Jessica Willey, Jeff Ehling, Pooja Lodhia, Mycah Hatfield, Joe Gleason, Chaz Miller, Courtney Fischer, Rosie Nguyen, Pat Tobin, Damion Smith, David Aguillard, John Carreon, and Doug Schurtz among others.

Menchaca and I reminisced about our trip to Central Texas to interview the legendary Cadet Don, AKA Al Eisenman, who entertained Channel 13's younger viewers on weekday mornings from 1959 to 1968. Now, before you ask, no, I can't remember if we got to "meet" his pal Seymour or not! The Houston Chronicle even mentions our Cadet Don story!

Texas TV news and radio job moves September 2019

RELATED
Best TV News bloopers September 2019


DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Jeff Jamison, the longest standing meteorologist at DFW’s CBS11, announces departure.

CBS11 KTVT adds Caroline Vandergriff to reporting staff from KOKH Oklahoma City.

Reporter Jay Wallis joins WFAA 8 from KVUE 24 Austin.

John Trevino Named VP-GM Of KDAF Dallas.

Nexstar Media Group promotes William “Bill” Sally to executive VP of sales.

- "TV News: Life & Live shots" WFAA Off Air


HOUSTON

Astros extend broadcasters Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum through 2021.

Former abc13 KTRK medical reporter Christi Myers tells me her daughter is following her into the TV news biz. Her daughter, Laura Laughead, is interning with Good Morning America. Check the show's website and you will see her bylines!

Former SportsRadio 610 KILT host Paul Gallant joins 710 ESPN Seattle.

Tessa Barrera joins "The Rod Ryan Show" on 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ from KFI AM 640 Los Angeles.

Mizanur Rahman named Houston Chronicle’s new Senior Editor for Local News.

Rockets sideline reporter Michelle Margaux to leave TV broadcasts.

Former MIX 96.5 KHMX morning host Larry 'Moon' Thompson prepares for his final radio broadcast in St. Paul/Minneapolis.

Bill Spencer has a new contract with Houston’s KPRC-TV as investigative/consumer. - Eatman Media Services

Nicole Jones moves to KHOU-TV in Houston as 5 p.m. Producer (from WNCN-TV, Charlotte).
- Represented by Steve Swienckowski at DCA Talent. http://www.dcatalent.com.

Rice Radio KTRU buys back original call sign.

2019 National Association of Broadcasters' (NAB) Marconi Radio Awards bestow honors on 104.1 KRBE and MEGA 101 KLOL.

Entercom rebuilds Houston Cluster.

- Rehan Aslam named abc13 KTRK news director
- Britta Merwin has her baby during a tropical disturbance!
- Cynthia Cisneros announces retirement from abc13 KTRK
- Melissa Wilson celebrates 19 years at FOX 26 KRIV
- Haley Hernandez and Sophia Beausoleil have babies same day!
- Melanie Lawson's car broken into, a look at car break-ins in Houston
- Tiffany Justice joins FOX 26 KRIV
- GM David Loving exits KXLN Univision 45
- Mike Glenn leaves Houston Chronicle for Washington Times
- abc13 photographer Damion Smith shares cancer fight
- Doug Miller talks KHOU and media career
- KPRC 2 expands 4pm news to one hour, Extra moves to 12:30pm
- Downtown Houston architecture
- Erika Lopez is married
- abc13 anchors celebrating some big anniversaries
- Owen Conflenti adds a boy to the family
- Where is Lisa Hernandez?
- Lainie Fritz appears on WDSU New Orleans


SAN ANTONIO

Camilla Rambaldi joins Fox News at Nine KABB with Ryan Wolf.

Mariah Medina becomes KENS 5’s new investigative reporter.

KENS-5 Great Day SA co-host Roma Villavicencio celebrates 10 years of being cancer free.


AUSTIN

KVUE’s Kristie Gonzales, Marketer Turned General Manager.

KATV 7 Little Rock, Arkansas reporter Matt Mershon joins Spectrum News.


AROUND TEXAS

Zoltan Csanyi-Salcedo is the new News Director for KRGV Channel 5 News and Somos Noticias.

Paul Alexander is moving up to become Director of Local Content Development at KRIS Corpus Christi.

East Texas news anchor Dana Hughey returns to CBS19 KYTX to host several hours of newscasts and have a leading role on all of the station's digital and social platforms.

Troy Clingerman joins Townsquare Media as Market President and Chief Revenue Officer for Wichita Falls, Texas cluster - Country 102.3 The Bull (KWFS-FM), Rock 106.3 The Buzz (KBZS-FM), CHR 92.9 NIN (KNIN-FM) and News-Talk 1290 (KWFS-AM).

Beaumont TX Radio: Joe “Flu Season” Lewis Arrives At KTCX-FM.


REMEMBERING

CBS 4 KGBT Meteorologist Alex Herbst dies at 26.