WGEM
QUINCY — For the first time in nearly 80 years, you can’t listen to Quincy High School or Quincy Notre Dame sports on your radio (if you still have one of those). Muddy River News learned last week that WTAD-AM, one of five local radio stations owned by STARadio Corporation, has dropped its high school…
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QUINCY — Registration is open for the 14th annual “Strike Out Breast Cancer” at Tangerine Bowl to benefit patients of the Blessing Breast Center. The event will take place Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 27, with three sessions to choose from: noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Teams of five can…
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The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is appalled and disappointed by a recent incident at KMOV, Gray Television’s affiliate in St. Louis. While teasing a story about Black homeowners and appraisals, an anchor referred to the homeowners as “colored.” It is upsetting that such a slur would make it to air. The term is outdated, offensive and racist. We are concerned…
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QUINCY — The WGEM Academic Challenge, a high school scholastic bowl competition, is back for its 30th season. This season kicks off with the inaugural “All-Star Challenge,” featuring eight standout players from local high schools. Hosted by WGEM chief meteorologist Brian Inman on the JWCC Quincy campus, the WGEM Academic Challenge pits local schools against…
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QUINCY — Ben Van Ness, vice president and general manager at WGEM in Quincy, confirmed Friday morning that Makenzi Henderson is no longer employed by the television station. Van Ness did not elaborate on Henderson’s departure in an email to Muddy River News. Henderson was an anchor on WGEM’s newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m.…
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Ashley, Bobby and Brittany talk about how local news has changed over the last 30 years. Nora Baldner, QU communications professor, joins the ladies to discuss those changes from her experience as a teacher and journalist.
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Rajah Maples is a tremendous boost for WGEM.. She has a wealth of experience and excellent on-air presence. She raises the bar for TV reporting in Quincy. Very smart move for WGEM. Rajah is not only a great professional, but she is a very nice person. That is a huge part of a broadcaster’s success…
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Frankie, Bobby and Ashley discuss having kids at certain ages and about the ever-shifting landscape and evolution of local media.
Read Full Article QUINCY — One familiar face is returning to the local airwaves while another is departing. Rajah Maples, a Northeast Missouri native and long-time reporter/anchor at KHQA-TV, is now reporting and anchoring Saturday night newscasts on WGEM-TV. Maples, a University of Missouri School of Journalism Master’s program graduate, left KHQA after seeing her role downsized as…
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QUINCY – Judge Robert Adrian has denied a petition sought by local media outlets to unseal all motions in the first-degree murder case of Tim Bliefnick. Adrian issued his ruling Friday. Rebecca Bliefnick was found shot to death in her home on Feb. 23. Her estranged husband, Tim, was arrested on March 13 and entered…
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QUINCY — Legal counsel for three Quincy media outlets appeared before Adams County Circuit Judge Robert K. Adrian to request he unseal court documents related to the first-degree murder case of Timothy Bliefnick. Adrian told the parties he would take the motion under advisement. He gave them seven days to submit briefs. He said he…
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QUINCY – Judge Robert Adrian will hear arguments regarding a blanket unsealing of all documents pertaining to the first-degree murder case of Tim Bliefnick. But those arguments won’t happen before a Thursday court appearance by Bliefnick that is expected to last for most of the day. Muddy River News, WGEM-TV and The Herald-Whig, represented by…
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Lesley Swick Van Ness, a former news anchor for WGEM and executive at Gray Television, died Monday in Naples, Fla. Van Ness, 42, was a Hancock County native from Elvaston. She graduated from Hamilton High School and Illinois State University. She and her family were living in Morton, Illinois. She is survived by her husband,…
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QUINCY, IL – Three companies representing media organizations in the Quincy/Hannibal/Keokuk market have filed a joint motion to unseal all motions in the murder case of Timothy Bliefnick. The Honorable Robert K. Adrian will hear the motion on April 19, 2023. “WGEM is proud to be part of this effort to keep our judicial system…
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I’m sure you’ve noticed the recent rash of reports regarding the further decline of local media — especially when “local” doesn’t mean “locally-owned.” So what does it mean for you when companies out of Atlanta, Arkansas, New York or Maryland own the call letters and mastheads for media outlets in Quincy and Hannibal? What does…
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QUINCY — The station that brought you “Silly and Billy” weekday mornings and a few innings of Harry Carey during years of Cubs’ broadcasts will be off the air for good on March 1. Gray Television, owners of WGEM, has informed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that the company is pulling the plug on WGEM-AM,…
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It’s too bad Mike Miletich is no longer with WGEM. His presence in Springfield was a real asset for the station. He is a solid reporter with great on-air presence. He gave viewers insight into state issues which we lacked until he came on board. Mike’s use of the word “hate” is over the top…
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WGEM reporter gets let go for making an opinionated statement during a live news cast. We talk about the blurry lines between news and commentary that we have in today’s world.
Read Full Article Mike Miletich says he is no longer employed by WGEM First…the letter to the editor… To WGEM Vice-President and General Manager Ben Van Ness: Reporter Mike Miletich did not misspeak about the citizens of the United States of America when he said, “… We are in downstate Illinois (true) where they ‘hate’ the media.” He…
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QUINCY – Thomas A. Oakley, who helped grow Quincy Media, Inc., into the 13th largest media company in the country, and for nearly seven decades was a driving force for economic development in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, died Wednesday at his home in Quincy. He was 89. “A mighty oak has fallen, that’s for…
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Les Sachs has been a friend, colleague and neighbor of mine for years. He and his wife, Linda, just moved out of our posh Woodside Drive neighborhood last year, but he’s been sending us some notes about how much he loves Muddy River News. These words from the longtime news anchor and director of WGEM…
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For the second time in 33 days, WGEM-TV has terminated the employment of one of its male on-air anchors. Dylan Austin, anchor of WGEM’s 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, was reportedly told Monday by management his services were no longer required. Ben Van Ness, vice president and general manager at WGEM, was asked by…
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QUINCY — Don Dwyer, an anchor on the WGEM Today morning show since January 2019, was terminated from his job Thursday afternoon because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Dwyer was told of his dismissal after a noon meeting with his supervisors at WGEM. “I didn’t know it was coming. I followed every protocol…
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So the company that just shelled out nearly a billion dollars for a bunch of local TV stations happily cashed our check yesterday. If you need the money, you need the money, right? I would’ve rather paid one of our homegrown stringers to deliver local stories. I would’ve rather purchased some new equipment to better…
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Like a digital media Rocky Balboa, Muddy River News LLC will have its stumbles and falls. However, we plan to get back up, finish the rounds and stand for something special for our community and local journalism. We have a growing group of quality (and mostly homegrown) staff, stringers and others behind our efforts —…
Read Full Article July 12, 2025
MUDDY RIVER TV+: DEATH OF A BREWER
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