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NBC 4’s Pat Collins to Retire at the End of 2022

NBC Washington (WRC-TV) announced today that longtime reporter Pat Collins will retire at the end of 2022. Collins joined News4 in 1986 and has spent over fifty years covering news in the DC area.  Prior to News4, Collins worked for WJLA-TV (ABC 7) , WDVM-TV (now WUSA-TV), and WLS-TV in Chicago . In addition to covering breaking news, Collins is most well-known for his human interest stories, including a 2011 clip of Collins dressed as a bunch of grapes that went viral(video below), as well as his “Snow Stick.”    NBC4 Washington posted the following message on their social media accounts:

“My career has morphed into two things,” longtime News4 reporter Pat Collins is fond of quipping. “I cover murders, and I measure snow.”⁠
⁠But Collins — who announced he will retire from News4 at the end of the year — has covered so much more than that. And to the D.C. area, he is an institution.⁠
He tells the stories that will break your heart. He tells the stories that will crack you up. He tells the stories that will leave you in tears — of sorrow, or laughter. Many times, the entire newsroom has stopped to watch a Collins piece as it airs live, the normally bustling newsroom slipping into relative silence.⁠”
Read the full NBC Washington article here.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl364RHuNsg/

 

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NBC 4’s Doreen Gentzler to Retire After Tonight’s 6PM Newscast

Tonight’s 6pm broadcast will be the last for longtime NBC4 newscaster Doreen Gentzler.  Gentzler, who joined NBC4 in 1989, following the departure of Dave Marash, has been with the station for 33 years. She announced her plans to retire back in October. Gentzler co-anchored the weekday 6pm and 11pm editions of News4 on WRC-TV (NBC4) and was also the station’s health reporter.  She has also made appearances as herself on NBC shows The Event and The Blacklist. Gentzler anchored WRC’s 6pm news alongside veteran anchor Jim Vance for 28 years – a partnership that lasted until Vance’s death in July 2017.

Per NBC4, Gentzler shared the following, “I have some personal news to share this evening. It may cause me to get a little emotional, so I’ll just say it outright. I’ve decided to retire. Not an easy choice, but something I’ve been considering for a while … I’ve been working here for more than half my life. The babies that I had during the ’90s have grown up and moved out.” Gentzler, a native of Arlington, Virginia, returned home to the Washington area in 1989 to join Jim Vance, Bob Ryan and George Michael on the WRC anchor desk. On her first newscast, Gentzler’s longtime co-anchor and close friend Jim Vance welcomed her by saying, “This is Doreen, folks. Doreen Gentzler. She’s going to be with us for quite a while.” Thirty-three years later, it’s safe to say Vance was right.

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NBC 4’s Leon Harris to Serve Jailtime for DUI Arrest

Earlier this week, NBC4/WRCTV anchor Leon Harris was sentenced in Montgomery County District Court to one year of jailtime, with all but 10 days suspended, after pleading guilty to driving under the influence. Harris was arrested for DUI in January when he failed a field sobriety test after being involved in a collision on Bradley Boulevard near River Road. Harris was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised probation and must have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle, according to NBC4.

In March, Harris returned to the air on NBC4 and called his decision to drink and drive the “stupidest decision he could have made,” and said he knew that he let a lot of people down, and that he had spent the previous month to reflect and seek professional help. On the disease of alcoholism, Harris went on to say, “I’ve learned that this problem is treatable, and that it is possible to embrace recovery and sobriety, and with the help of my family, friends and professional advisers, have sought some help now to do just that.”

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Longtime NBC4 Anchor Wendy Rieger Has Passed Away

Longtime local news anchor Wendy Rieger died Saturday morning at the age of 65 after a battle with Glioblastoma.

A tribute by Doreen Gentzler that has been posted on NBC4’s website notes that Wendy was holding the hand of her husband, Dan, as she passed away.

On Friday, WRC-TV (NBC4) anchor Jim Handly announced that his former broadcast partner Rieger had entered hospice care, noting that things recently “got a lot harder” for Wendy.

 

Rieger had surgery to remove a brain tumor (Glioblastoma) in June of 2021, which returned shortly after her recent retirement.

Rieger retired from the news desk on December 17, 2021 after spending more than 25 years at WRC-TV. She began working at the station in 1988 as a general assignment reporter and began anchoring the weekend evening newscasts in 1996, before becoming the 5 p.m. anchor in 2001.

Prior to NBC4, Rieger worked for WMAL, NPR, WTOP and CNN.

Our thoughts go out to Wendy’s family and colleagues.

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Longtime NBC4 Anchor Wendy Rieger Has Passed Away

Update: Wendy Rieger died Saturday morning at the age of 65 after a battle with Glioblastoma.

 

Friday 4.16.21:
On Friday, WRC-TV (NBC4) anchor Jim Handly announced that his former broadcast partner Wendy Rieger was entering hospice care.

Rieger had surgery to remove a brain tumor (glioblastoma) in June of 2021.  Handly said that things recently “got a lot harder” for Wendy and that she is being well taken care of now in hospice.

Rieger retired from the news desk on December 17, 2021 after spending more than 25 years at WRC-TV.

She began working at the station in 1988 as a general assignment reporter and began anchoring the weekend evening newscasts in 1996, before becoming the 5 p.m. anchor in 2001.

Prior to NBC4, Rieger worked for WMAL, NPR, WTOP and CNN.

Our thoughts go out to Wendy, her family, and colleagues.

Full message from Jim Handly:
“As we head into this holiday weekend and you gather with family, friends and loved ones, we ask that you send some love and good thoughts to our beloved Wendy Rieger.

As you know, Wendy was diagnosed with Glioblastoma last summer. She came back to work after surgery and her initial treatment.

She was open and authentic with all of us about her cancer journey.

Things got harder for Wendy this week.

She is being well taken care of now in hospice. She is relaxed, comfortable and with her closest loved ones.

We know you’ll join all of us here at NBC4 in sending love, courage and comfort to Wendy and her husband Dan.”

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Sue Palka’s Final Newscast Tonight at 10PM

After 36.5 years, legendary local meteorologist Sue Palka will give her final weather report tonight on FOX 5. “We know you don’t like it when we “disappear” so that’s why we’re giving you this heads up. My last day will be March 23, so I’m going to help get you through the winter,” Sue said during the initial announcement of her retirement.

Fox 5’s Chief Meteorologist began her career in Richmond in 1983 before being hired by Fox 5 in 1985– and place she has remained for over three and a half decades. “Maury Povich and James Adams anchored our only newscast at 10 pm and Ronald Reagan was the President. I’ve been here so long I’ve seen the Brood X cicadas emerge three times!” said Palka in the announcement from Fox 5.

After she steps down from her current role, she’ll continue to make appearances, per the request of Fox 5 general manager Patrick Paolini. Palka, a longtime Gaithersburg resident, will certainly be missed.

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Leon Harris Returns to NBC 4 Newscasts, Issues Apology

Leon Harris returned to NBC 4 on Friday, his first time appearing on the air since his January 29 arrest for DUI.

Harris called his decision to drink and drive the “stupidest decision he could have made,” and said he knew that he let a lot of people down, and that is why he decided to take the past month to reflect and seek professional help.

On the disease of alcoholism, Harris went on to say, “I’ve learned that this problem is treatable, and that it is possible to embrace recovery and sobriety, and with the help of my family, friends and professional advisers, have sought some help now to do just that.”

On February 7, NBC4 announced that Harris failed a field sobriety test following a three-car crash at Bradley Boulevard and River Road.  Harris reportedly tried to leave the scene following the crash and was arrested.

Watch his full message below:

Jan. 29

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NBC 4’s Wendy Rieger Retires Today After 33 Years

Local newscaster Wendy Rieger has announced her retirement from WRC-TV after 33 years.  NBC 4 will be paying tribute to Wendy and her career on its newscasts today, December 17th.

Last Friday, Rieger said the contract and her retirement were negotiated two years ago and that she looks forward to starting the next stage in her life.  This past June Rieger had surgery to remove a brain tumor and has since completed radiation and chemotherapy.

Rieger began working at NBC Washington in 1988 as a general assignment reporter and began anchoring the weekend evening newscasts in 1996, before becoming the 5 p.m. anchor in 2001.

Prior to NBC4, Rieger worked for WMAL, NPR, WTOP and CNN, according to WTOP.

Watch the on-air announcement below:

In June,

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Damascus Native Wil Armstrong Completes Cross Country Bike Ride For ALS

Damascus Native Wil Armstrong Completes Cross Country Bike Ride For ALS

72 days after commencing his cross country, against the wind bike ride for ALS, Damascus native Will Armstrong has completed his trip. He started on June 26th from Rehoboth Beach, DE, and finished September 6th in First Beach La Push, Washington. 

Throughout this journey, Wil updated his daily blog with his progress, experiences, and related statistics. Inspired by his mentor and former basketball coach, Rodney Lapp who has ALS, Will dedicated his cross-country journey to ALS and crowdfunded for the ALS Association.

Over the past 73 days, Wil has ridden and camped in various weather conditions. Riding in the haziness of the Canadian Wildfires in Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota was strenuous work. He would wear a mask while riding to avoid breathing in the smoke. 

After camping out in storms, Wil faced another one of Mother Nature’s obstacles, a heat wave in Montana. Morning temperatures were about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and would rise to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit by 2:00. To avoid as much of the heat wave as possible he started to wake up between at 3:30/4:00am to get going before the heat and wind picked up after noon.

He ran off of 6 packs of bagels for weeks, ate over 200 different kinds of bars (fruit bars, nature valley bars etc), and ran an impressive banana and apple count (86 bananas and 74 apples in his second month). Audio books, music playlists and educational podcasts (on crypto currency and economic theory) helped him pass time keeping his mind busy as he peddled his way through. A special shout out goes to the Home Depot theme song, he would loop the song from the commercial almost every day. He even got to apply for jobs and write up cover letters at camp.

Throughout the trip, Wil has been met with the overwhelming kindness of friends, families, and strangers. From getting to know and exchanging stories with strangers, to sleeping on strangers boats, sleeping arrangements (hotels and motels) paid by individuals along the way, camping in strangers back yards, and couch crashing.

To learn more about his daily encounters through out this trip his website is linked HERE. ALS Research donations can be found HERE. To learn more about his ride you can check out our previous article HERE.

 

Photo Curtesy of @wilsride Instagram

 

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Local News Media Remembers Joe Krebs

Local News Media Remembers Joe Krebs

Legendary local news anchor Joe Krebs passed away yesterday after battling pancreatic cancer.  Many of his friends and colleagues took to social media to share their condolences and memories.

Our thoughts go out to all of Joe’s family and friend.

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Interview with CNN’s Brian Stelter

Interview with CNN’s Brian Stelter

Listen to The MoCoShow’s interview with Brian Stelter, host of CNN’s Reliable Sources.

Brian discusses what it was like growing up in Damascus, his time working for the Gazette, the state of local news, how he deals with social media negativity, and Ledo Pizza!

A fun interview that allows Brian to get away from politics for a bit…check it out below.

https://www.facebook.com/678353437/videos/10160980763898438/

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