Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at Channel 3.The time machine takes us 25 years in the past to 1994 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC.
January 1994: Jon Loufman joins WKYC-TV from WEWS-TV/Cleveland.
March 5, 1994: Connie Dieken departs WKYC-TV after a 10-year run. She became the first female to anchor all three major evening newscasts at WKYC-TV: 5, 6 & 11 p.m.
April 1994: Channel 3 covers the opening of the Gateway sports facilities for Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers. In one of the most exciting periods in the city's recent history, the former Central Market site gave way to the new homes of the Tribe and Cavs. On April 4, 1994, Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field) opened as the Indians defeated the Mariners in extra innings. President Bill Clinton threw out the first pitch. Billy Joel officially opened Gund Arena on October 17, 1994. The Cavaliers played their first regular-season game in the arena a few weeks later, losing to the Houston Rockets on November 8, 1994.
April 1994: WKYC-TV Anchor Dick Feagler departs WKYC-TV after his 11 p.m. commentaries were shortened, taped and moved to the end of the broadcast.
April 25, 1994: WKYC-TV begins a 5:30 a.m. newscast with anchors Art Edwards, Jodine Costanzo and weather forecasters Eileen McShea and Jon Loufman.
May 1994: Lillian Williams departs WKYC-TV she moves on to pursue other interests.
May 1994: Eric Mansfield joins WKYC-TV from WAKC-TV/Akron-Canton to become the new Akron Bureau chief replacing Lillian Williams.
June 1994: Mark Nolan joins WKYC-TV from WAKC-TV/Akron-Canton as a part-time, weekend 6 & 11 pm weather anchor along with Cory Thompson and Liz Habib.
July 1994: Donna Terrell joins WKYC-TV as a reporter and weekend anchor of Channel News at 6 & 11 p.m.
August 1994: Dawn Stensland joins WKYC-TV from WBBM-TV/Chicago to co-anchor the weeknight 6 & 11 p.m. newscast with Judd Hambrick beginning September 1st.
August 1994: WKYC-TV introduces “StormTracker3” that pinpoints the location of storms right down to street-level.
August 1994: WKYC-TV kicks off “Friday Night Fever” during its 11 p.m. broadcast. FNF is roughly a 15 minute fast paced, highlight intensive look at area high school football games hosted by Jim and the Channel 3 News sports team.
September 15, 1994: Alice Weston joins WKYC-TV from WUAB-TV/Cleveland as a senior’s reporter.
November 1994: Nick Cellini departs WKYC-TV.
December 1, 1994: Ron Jantz joins WKYC-TV from WUAB-TV/Cleveland as weekend 6 & 11 p.m. sports anchor.
December 1, 1994: Chuck Galeti moves to full time sports reporting.
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This timeline is based on station archives and various newspaper stories. If you feel something is in error, please let me know and we'll make any necessary corrections. Email me at fmacek@wkyc.com
This timeline is based on station archives and various newspaper stories. If you feel something is in error, please let me know and we'll make any necessary corrections. Email me at fmacek@wkyc.com
