Articles
Monday 12th of May 2008 
Sioux City, IA
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KTIV TV :: Sioux City, IA
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 Tonight On TV
 Picture Of The Week
Kristie VerMulm
Anchor Live @ Five, Co-Anchor NewsChannel 4 at 6pm and 10pm

In the "news" business there is never a dull moment. In fact, that's one of the things I enjoy most about working at KTIV. I anchor Live @ Five and co-anchor NewsChannel 4 at Six and Ten.


I grew up in Harrisburg, South Dakota and got my broadcasting start at South Dakota State University in Brookings. I have degrees in Broadcast Journalism and General Agriculture. My career goal was to be a farm broadcaster, but I got bit by the TV bug during an internship at KCLO-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota. I've worked as a reporter and anchor at both KTIV and KELO-TV in Sioux Falls.

There are a few things most people may not know about me. I was an Aerobic instructor for seven years. I was a State FFA Officer for South Dakota and hold the American FFA Degree. Plus, I'm related to most of Lyon and Sioux Counties.

My husband and I have one daughter, Sydney, and a son, Sean. So when I'm not at the station or speaking to groups, they keep me very, very busy!

My address is:

kvermulm@ktiv.com
Matt Breen
Co-Anchor, KTIV NewsChannel 4 at 6pm & 10pm

"I wanna be a lawyer!"

That's what I thought growing up in my hometown of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Then, in college, I stumbled upon the other "family business." At Northwest Missouri State University, I took a few broadcasting classes. It turns out, my grandfather, Ed Breen, was a fixture in Fort Dodge television and radio for more than four decades.

After graduation, I landed a job of General Assignment Reporter/Weekend Weather Anchor at KTIV. It's a job I kept for nearly two years before packing my bags for our sister-station, KTTC, to anchor morning and noon newscasts in Rochester, Minnesota.

Before I knew it, I was back in Siouxland anchoring morning and noon newscasts here at KTIV. Then, in January 2002, I "traded places" with anchor Al Joens, and now anchor "News Channel Four at Six" and "News Channel Four at Ten" alongside Kristie VerMulm, Ron Demers and Brad Pautsch.

My wife, Bridget, also has a place in the "News Channel Four" newsroom... she's the station's News Director. She's also made some headlines of her own. In March 2001, she gave birth to our first child, a son named R.J.. Two years later, she had our beautiful daughter, Elizabeth. And, in November of 2004, our youngest son, Jason, was born.

Have a question about a story, or a news tip? Just e-mail me. My address is:

mbreen@ktiv.com
Ron Demers
Chief Meteorologist

When Ron Demers (pronounced da-MARS) was growing up in Storm Lake, Iowa, he never would have guessed he'd be doing weather for the station he grew up watching. Ron's attention didn't turn to weather until after he started working at KTIV.

Ron's interest in broadcasting began in news. His first job was a part-time summer position at KAYL Radio in Storm Lake anchoring sports and weather, which eventually led to doing the news. While in college, Ron was news editor of the campus newspaper, worked at KWIT radio, and started an internship at KTIV all in the same year.

KTIV's internship turned into a part-time job as editor and reporter, which led to his full time reporter job on graduation. Shortly thereafter, Ron started doing the weekend weather. His interest in the weather grew and he took the morning weather position at KTIV. Of course, now Ron is Chief Meteorologist and Weather Anchor of Channel 4 News at 5, 6 and 10pm. He graduated from Briar Cliff College in 1992 with a major in mass communications. Ron did his meteorology training through Mississippi State University and was awarded the coveted Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society in 1998.

Both Ron and his wife are Siouxland natives. Ron was born and raised in Storm Lake, IA, while Katie is from Sioux City. She is a 2nd grade teacher in Sioux City and also graduated from Briar Cliff. Ron and Katie are the proud parents of Patrick who was born in April of 2002, Ella who was born in December of 2004, and Abby who was born in April of 2007.

My address is:

rdemers@ktiv.com
Brad Pautsch
Sports Director

Brad Pautsch was named Sports Director in 1996 after serving as weekend sports anchor at KTIV since May of 1990. Brad grew up on a farm near Early, Iowa, and is one of the many native Siouxlanders who work at "Siouxland's News Channel".

Brad graduated from Crestland High School in Early, Iowa, in 1984. While attending Iowa State University, he got his first initiation into the broadcasting field, working as a news and sports reporter at KASI radio. Brad covered the many Presidential hopefuls who passed through Central Iowa during the 1988 campaign. He also covered the Iowa State football team for the university's information service.

Before coming to KTIV, Brad worked as a news and sports photographer at WOI-TV in Ames for nearly two years, covering everything from the Big 8 Basketball Tournament to Iowa Cubs Baseball.

Brad has won several awards at KTIV, including "Best Sportscast" in 2004 from the Iowa Broadcast News Association and 1st place for "Sports Reporting" in 2007 from the IBNA for his series on the Crestland Cadets football team.

Brad's wife Sally is an Art Teacher in Sioux City, and they are the parents of a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Mary, who welcomed a baby brother, Reggie, in 2007. In his spare time, Brad likes to play baseball and basketball.

My address is:

bpautsch@ktiv.com
Al Joens
Co-Anchor NewsChannel 4 Today and Anchor NewsChannel 4 at Noon

I call Manilla, Iowa my hometown although the first years of my life were spent living near Houston, Los Angeles and New Orleans as dad's job kept us on the move. When I was 11, dad moved our family to the farm outside Manilla that his father started. Since then I've been a farm boy at heart.

I joined KTIV as a reporter after graduating from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake in 1985. Over the years, I've served as anchor of the weekend, noon, morning and evening newscasts.

Among the recent accomplishments I am proud of is winning 1st place for feature reporting at the Iowa Broadcast News Association Awards in 2004 and again in 2005.

Aside from work, my three children keep me busy and I enjoy an occasional bicycle ride through the Siouxland countryside (to those motorists who pull all the way into the other lane to pass me, thank you!). I got bitten by the RAGBRAI bug at an early age and have taken part in the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa 23 times.

My address is:

ajoens@ktiv.com
Christy Batien
Co-Anchor NewsChannel 4 Today

Raised in Eureka, South Dakota, I grew up a small town girl, living my first 18 years in the same house, and loving it. I spent my summers swimming at the local lake, and my winter's playing in the snow. After graduation from high school, I went to Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota. It was there I discovered my love for television. Many hours were spent helping out with the campus station daily newscast.

In 1997, I moved to Sioux City for my first job in T.V. I worked for a year before coming to KTIV. It was here where I learned all the ins and outs of news. In my years here, I've produced the 5, 6 & 10 newscasts, worked on the assignment desk, and now have moved to the anchor desk. Many times I'm asked about the hours I work to anchor News Channel Four Today. Simply I can say my love has always been television, no matter what job I'm doing or what time I have to be at work. It's a priviledge for me to wake up with Siouxland and tell you what to plan for in the day ahead.

My address is:

cbatien@ktiv.com
Dave Winslow
Meteorologist

Dave Winslow grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN. And yes, he apologizes for occasionally talking "Minnesotan." Even as a young child, Dave knew he had an intense fascination with clouds and the often destructive but intriguing forces of nature. It was only natural that he pursued a career in weather.

Dave attended Saint Cloud State University in Central Minnesota from 2000-2004, somehow graduating in four years with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology despite his distaste for Calculus. During school, he scored many free dinners from his Weather Forecasting professor during semester-long forecasting contests, and that has taught him the importance of accurate forecasting, even when free food is not involved. He holds the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval.

When not out storm chasing or looking at weather maps, Dave can be found visiting family and friends, mountain biking, gardening, and cooking up whatever he might have at hand. He feels very fortunate to be living a dream and working in a friendly town. Dave can be seen during the morning and noon newscasts five days a week.
My address is:

dwinslow@ktiv.com
Kristen Johnson
Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Kristen joined KTIV in November 2003. She's excited to have the opportunity to work for NewsChannel 4 and feels lucky to be working among some of the nicest people in the business.

Previously, Kristen was an intern for NBC Network News in New York. Gaining this internship was a dream come true for Kristen, who decided at an early age that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of Jane Pauley. Kristen also spent a semester interning for ABC's Cedar Rapids affiliate, KCRG. In May of 2002, she graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Journalism and Political Science.

Kristen grew up in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago. She enjoys traveling, listening to music, and watching the news-of course!

My address is:
kcjohnson@ktiv.com
Mike Orlando
Weekend Sports Anchor

Why do I do this job? For me, it's simple: people.
I love meeting and talking with different people almost every day. I enjoy telling stories and informing the public. That's why I'm lucky to work with the team at News Channel 4.

I grew up in St. Charles Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. I have two brothers, and we all love St. Louis sports. I'm a huge hockey fan, but I was always best at playing football. In 2001 I had the opportunity of playing for the Sioux City Bandits, an indoor football team.

People ask me, "what are your career goals?" I tell them: "be happy" because that's not very easy to achieve and maintain. One thing that has brought happiness to my life is volunteering as a big brother for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I also enjoy a wide range of music. I like to sing, but I'm not much on country. I have a passion for movies, but will never commit to a favorite. If you'd like to talk music, movies, or ask questions about work, please feel free to email.

My address is:

morlando@ktiv.com
Mike Zwier
Weekend Meteorologist

My grandma gave me my first weather book when I was 9 years old, and I have been hooked ever since. My first formal weather training was through the National Weather Service when I was 14.

I was born and raised in Orange City, Iowa, where I attended MOC-FV. Just before my senior year of high school my family moved to Colorado, where I finished high school and started college. After three short years in Colorado we moved again, this time to Ohio. In Ohio, I enrolled in the atmospheric science program at The Ohio State University. While at OSU, I got my first taste of the broadcast world when I interned at WSYX in Columbus, Ohio. I also met my wonderful wife, Kim, and we got married in June 2005. Marrying Kim added two horses, Belle and My Alley Cat, to my family as well. As animal lovers, we quickly got our first dog together, a Saint Bernard named Bernie.

After graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in atmospheric science I got a job at WCMH, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, where I worked as a weather producer. I really enjoyed designing graphics for the on-air meteorologists, but I knew that I wanted to make the move to on-air myself.

I had always thought it would be fun to work at the station I grew up watching, and when I heard KTIV had a weekend meteorologist opening I quickly sent in my resume. Since returning to the area, it has been great hearing from old friends and teachers, and both Kim and I are very excited to make Siouxland our new home.

My address is:

mzwier@ktiv.com
Melissa Lanzourakis
Reporter

I hated news growing up. When my parents turned on the news, I went to watch Rainbow Brite or the Smurfs.

My excitement towards news actually began with weather in the 9th grade. Learning how the atmosphere worked and how weather was forecast fascinated me while a student at Sioux City East.

Eventually I made the transition to radio while in college at California State University in Long Beach. I went far away to college but I never forgot Sioux City. I was always an Iowa girl at heart, and my classmates in California liked to give me grief about that. Some people think ALL people from Iowa grow corn and wear overalls. I think misconceptions about people are funny…and if you actually talk to people you might be surprised at just how complex most people are.

That is why I love my job. I love meeting new people every day. I love taking pictures for television and helping people like you learn about Siouxland through my eyes and ears. I try to keep things simple and I like to get to the heart of every story. I hope most viewers appreciate that in my reporting.

In my off time I like to watch television. I also like to run, bike, and sleep. But basically my life revolves around food and what meal I’m going to eat next. I’m Greek…I figure that could be why.

If you have a story idea for me (I LOVE human interest stories) send me an email…mlanzourakis@ktiv.com…and keep watching Channel 4!


My address is:

mlanzourakis@ktiv.com
David McCoy
Reporter

When I was nine years old, I had a teacher ask me, "What do you think is the coolest job in the world?" I picked this. In high school, I got an internship at WHBL radio in my hometown of Sheboygan, Wis., and never looked back.

I went to college at the University of Minnesota and majored in journalism. During my time there, I worked for the campus newspaper and radio station, and also interned at the St. Paul Pioneer Press, KFAN Radio, WCCO-TV and two cable stations in the Twin Cities suburbs. I also interned at KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls before working as a sports reporter at KELO-TV. I came to KTIV in February 2008.

I'm a big sports fan. My allegiances belong to the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides playing and watching sports, I like dining out, watching movies and listening to music. My favorite band is Pearl Jam.

My address is:
dmccoy@ktiv.com
Rebecca Sunshine
Reporter

When I was in grade school, my brother and sister and I were only allowed to watch TV after school if it was the news. It was that discipline that taught me the importance of current events and the influence people like Tom Brokaw have on millions of people’s lives. Since then, I have never second guessed that the news was the business for me.

Born and raised a Mile High, I lived in Denver until I graduated from high school and made the big move 45 minutes north to Boulder. I graduated from the University of Colorado in December of 2007 after experiencing some amazing internships at Aurora 8 and KCNC in Denver, Colorado as well as the Los Angeles Bureau for the CBS Evening News in California. I came to KTIV in March, 2008.

In my spare time I love to cook, go for long runs and do just about anything that can get me outside to soak up some sun. I love to watch all the big games, and you’ll probably catch me yelling at the TV if my home town teams are playing!

My email address is:

rsunshine@ktiv.com
Adam Uhernik
Reporter

I’ve always had an interest for broadcast all through middle school and high school I shadowed two morning DJ’s and co-hosted every now and then on Oldies 108 in Pueblo, Colorado. It was in high school I realized that my passion drew me toward the television screen. My ultimate goal is to work for the NBC Network one day hopefully as an anchor.

I went to Colorado-State University Pueblo and graduated in 2005 with a Journalism and Mass Communications Degree. Upon graduating from CSU-Pueblo I won several awards from the Mass Communications program. Those awards include: Excellent Journalist and Story Telling, Most Likely To Succeed, and a Benji Award for Television. I am now pursuing my Masters Degree from the University of South Dakota, and I am thoroughly enjoying all of the classes.

My experience this far as a journalist has been really exciting, and the rumor is true! You never know what kind of a story you are going to walk in to on a daily basis in the news industry.

On my off time I love to swim, watch movies, and work out. I am originally from Pueblo, Colorado and I love the mountains. KTIV News Channel 4 is my second official job in the television industry. Previously I worked for the CBS Affiliate in Sioux City, and I am very excited to now work for Siouxland’s News Channel!

My address is:

auhernik@ktiv.com
Bridget Schettler-Breen
News Director

Bridget is a Sioux City native. After graduation from Heelan High School, she attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville where she earned a degree in Broadcast Media.

She began her media career at KILR Radio in Estherville as a part-time announcer. While studying at Iowa Lakes, she served as the studio coordinator for the college TV and radio broadcasts.

She came to KTIV in 1993 as an intern in the news and sports departments. KTIV hired her in October of 1994 as a Morning Assistant Producer and Editor. She has stayed with KTIV ever since, serving as Reporter, Producer, Assignment Editor and now News Director.

Bridget is the proud mother of 3. In April of 2001 she had a baby boy, RJ, in March of 2003 a little girl, Beth and in November of 2004 weighing in at 10 pounds and 2 ounces Jason Matthew Breen. The trio keep mom pretty busy but help drive her ambition to make a difference and keep the Siouxland community informed.

Bridget is a movie and TV buff. As children, she and her brother, Jason, would shoot videos for school and weddings. They even had their own video company when Bridget was 18.

Bridget is married to KTIV News Anchor Matt Breen. In her spare time she enjoys exercise, music and movies.
Kimberly Wilson
Assignment Editor

I was born and raised in Le Mars, IA. So I grew up watching KTIV.

My first start in broadcasting began when I was in high school as an intern at KLEM AM radio in Le Mars. After a couple of years there I graduated from Le Mars Community High School and headed off to college. It was there, at Northwest Missouri State University, that I caught the television bug.

After working a couple of years away from television, I landed my first job right here at KTIV as a producer.

The last year has been very exciting for me with a new spouse and a new position at KTIV. I married my husband, John, in the summer of 2007. In January of 2008 I moved in to the position of Assignment Editor at KTIV.

My address is:
kawilson@ktiv.com
Michelle Rook
Meteorologist

Its hard to believe I have worked as a Meteorologist at KTIV for six years now. I started as a weekend forecaster, while I was still taking meteorology courses. Then in 2001, I received my Broadcast Meteorology Degree from Mississippi State University. I also have a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in Journalism from South Dakota State University.

My interest in meteorology came from my background in agriculture. I grew up on a dairy and crop farm in Clear Lake, South Dakota and I learned first-hand how important weather was to producers. Weather also drives the markets here at home and globally, so it was a natural tie-in to become a Meteorologist.

Its a challenge balancing two broadcasting jobs as I also serve as Managing Ag Business Director at WNAX Radio in Yankton, SD. As a reporter I have traveled across the U.S. to cover stories and have reported from the nation's capitol, Brazil and even Australia. I have won several state and national media awards for my reporting. In 2006, I served as the National President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, only the second woman to hold that title.

Prior to coming to KTIV I was the anchor and producer of Today's Ag on KELO-TV in Sioux Falls.

I am a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton. On Saturday nights I drive back so I can sing in our Praise Team on Sunday mornings and lead Sunday School music. I also coach youth soccer with my husband Brian.

My address is:

mrook@ktiv.com
Tia Heidebrecht
Chief Photographer

I’m back…I couldn’t stay away from KTIV. I decided last July to take another job in Des Moines Iowa at another NBC affiliate as a photographer and I worked there until December. The opportunity to return to Siouxland as a reporter came along, and I decided to come home. After a couple months as reporter I received my old title of chief photographer again.

I grew up in a little town, 30 miles from Sioux City, in Emerson, Nebraska. It’s the town where three counties meet. I graduated from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont Nebraska with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a minor in Business Administration. I got my first full-time job in TV news in North Platte, Nebraska. I learned so much there and it was a great experience. Then I moved back to Siouxland and here I am today. I love to shoot video of all types of stories. It’s fun to meet the people of Siouxland, capture images, and tell their unique stories.

I feel at KTIV everyone really cares about the people in Siouxland and we do want to tell their story. So if there is something affecting your community, you have a great news tip, or a “good” news story, give us a call. Thanks for watching.
Tom McConnell
Photographer

Tom moved to Sioux City in the summer of 2005 from Tempe, Arizona and loves Siouxlands friendly folks, the 4 seasons, the slower pace and as strange as it sounds, shoveling snow. This strange behavior may also explain his musical tastes which range from Aaron Copeland to Tool. After more than a decade in the bicycle industry, he found his way back into the media field in 2006 and began working for KTIV in 2008. Tom is a self described “bike geek”. He rides primarily mountain bikes and travels to all the hot riding spots as often as his boss will allow the time off. You’ll also see him on RAGBRAI every year but being the social creature that he is, he’s rarely up front or early on the road. Besides bikes, the loves in his life are his girlfriend Candy, their kids Brandon, Alexa and Cullen and his two dogs, Odus and Layla.
 
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