WBRE/WYOU Investigative Reporter Andy Mehalshick has not been seen on the air and viewers were wondering where he’s been.

Mehalshick made a return to the station, but only to announce he is retiring. He explains why:

“That’s my challenge in recent months, but no one can predict what road your life’s journey will take you, and the last year or so has been a very humbling experience. I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. I have been and will continue with ongoing treatments in this cancer journey.

So I’m stepping back, retiring from full time work, to focus on those ongoing treatments and recovery and spend more time with my family.

I can tell you this cancer journey is a humbling experience, but I’ve been blessed to have a great medical team and healthcare facilities guiding the ship, including Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and in State College, as well as the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College.

It’s been a privilege and an honor to tell the stories of the great people and communities in northeastern and central Pennsylvania and beyond.

My focus, my mission if you will, has always been to seek eye truth, report the facts. Every day I ask myself: what can I do, or we as journalists, do to benefit our communities?

That includes holding those in power accountable, asking tough questions, and to never be intimidated to get to the truth!

We all want to be liked, but earning the respect of our viewers is more important. Hopefully I have done that.”