Melissa Andrews spent two years attending the University of Toledo, but she was undecided on her major.
After transferring to Kent State, she decided to enroll in the journalism program.
She began her television career as a weathercaster for the student-run station.
Now Andrews, 25, will return to Toledo as a weekend anchor/reporter at WTVG-TV, Channel 13.
She replaces Sashem Brey, who moved to weekday mornings, and will be paired on the weekend news show with co-anchor Efrem Graham and weathercaster Theresa Pollick.
"I grew up in Cleveland and I have family in Toledo and Ida (Mich.)," Andrews said. "My dad comes to Toledo once a week for work. I'm just thrilled with the opportunity to come back there."
Andrews landed her first job out of college as a morning producer and reporter at NBC affiliate WTWO-TV in Terre Haute, Ind.
She left there after three months to join crosstown station WTHI-TV. She has been a weekend anchor/reporter at the CBS-owned station for the last two years.
Andrews is working her final day at the station today. Her first day at Channel 13 is Wednesday.
"I'm making a quick switch, but I'm looking forward to it," she said.
Andrews, a huge Ohio State fan, covered some of the biggest events in Indiana history.
She was the only Terre Haute reporter to travel to Volk Field, Wis., for the emotional homecoming of the 1544th Transportation Company from Iraq after five soldiers in that unit were killed.
And she covered the Evansville tornado that killed dozens of people in November of 2005.
"Melissa's enthusiasm will fit in extremely well with our weekend morning news team," WTVG news director Brian Trauring said. "She knows the state of Ohio well and has family and friends in the Toledo area. We're really looking forward to her return home to Ohio."
Ironically, Channel 13 assignments editor Joe Stoll is headed to Terre Haute to replace Andrews as the weekend anchor/reporter.
In other news:
•Pat Livingston has been hired as the news director at WNWO-TV, Channel 24. He replaces Gil Buettner, who has been filling in on an interim basis since Jonathan Mitchell left for a job in Spokane, Wash., following last November's ratings period.
Livingston attended Youngs-town State and has been in the business more than 20 years. He has been the news director at WYTV-TV in Youngstown for the last six years.
Before that, he was the news director at WHOI-TV in Peoria, Ill.
"Pat's experience, enthusiasm, and track record, in addition to his unhealthy obsession with the Ohio State Buckeyes, make him a perfect fit," WNWO general manager Rick Lipps said.
As a journalist, Livingston covered the first Clinton inauguration and he helped fly supplies with the 910th Airlift Wing to victims of Hurricane Andrew. His personal work, as well as news content under his direction, has been nominated for two Ohio Regional Emmys. In 2001, WYTV won the Associated Press news station of the year award.
Contact Ron Musselman at: mussel@theblade.com
or 419-724-6474.
First Published March 2, 2007, 12:50 p.m.