Pushed Out In Peoria
/
Back in June, FTVLive told you that Quincy Media is pulling the plug on the longest running Anchor team in Peoria.
Gretchen Wirtz and Mark Welp were told they would be removed as Anchors at WHOI.
It happened sooner than both expected and there was no chance to say goodbye.
The Journal Star writes that station management informed the two that they were finished after its shows Thursday.
Wirtz and Welp assumed they would be together on TV until Friday, at least, and possibly into next week.
″... Sad to say today was my last day on Good Company & Daybreak,” Welp posted Thursday. “Gretchen and I were informed after the shows today. I apologize for telling everyone we would be on the air tomorrow.”
Stated Wirtz: “Since I didn’t get to say ‘Goodbye’ or ‘Thank you’ on the air ... I wanted to take this opportunity to say thanks to all of my viewers. I have really enjoyed giving you the news and weather these past 17 years.”
Welp and Wirtz also praised each other. They had co-hosted “HOI Daybreak” for their entire anchor span and “Good Company,” which had been telecast in the afternoon, for about seven years.
WHOI/WEEK reporter Jenise Rebholz anchored the “HOI Daybreak” telecast Friday. “Good Company” no longer will be shown, according to Mark DeSantis, the vice president and general manager of both TV stations.
DeSantis had no additional comment.
