Originally published in The Blade on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
BY RYAN E. SMITH
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Well-known local weather personality "Blizzard" Bill Spencer has left WNWO-TV, Channel 24, where he worked for nearly 12 years and was chief meteorologist, to join rival WTVG-TV, Channel 13, as weekend meteorologist.
Jon Skorburg, vice president and general manager at WNWO, said the change was announced yesterday. Spencer's last broadcast for the station was on Friday.
"Bill's decided to pursue other opportunities. We wish him nothing but the very best," he said.
Spencer has been replaced as chief meteorologist at Channel 24 by Norm Van Ness. Reared near Gibsonburg, Van Ness was hired in 2003 as weather anchor for the station's morning newscast.
At Channel 13, an ABC affiliate, Spencer will join the payroll - and fellow meteorologists Stan Stachak and Jay Berschback - on April 15. He will begin appearing on the air later that month, according to David L. Zamichow, the station's president and general manager.
"I think it will be great for the station," he said. "It will give us the top three meteorologists in the market."
The ever-enthusiastic weatherman said he was looking for a change but didn't want to leave the Toledo area because of his family.
"I'm happy about it," said Spencer, 53. "I felt like I just needed a change. When you're in the same building for 12 years … I didn't want to get stale."
Although Spencer signed a two-year contract extension last year with Channel 24, an NBC affiliate, he said there were a "couple of clauses in there that we could do this." He added that the move will not affect his radio work.
Spencer said the change should bring some more excitement to his career by getting him out of the studio more often.
"I just like being out in the middle of storms and that's pretty much what I'm going to do at 13," he said. "[Channel] 13's got a great reputation for covering severe weather."
‘Blizzard’ Bill Spencer.
