Dawn Sterling set to join WICS-TV as news anchor after nearly 20 years at WAND
Shortly after signing off WAND-TV in Decatur in late November, news anchor Dawn Sterling took to social media to address her future.
"For my fans − don't worry you haven't heard or seen the last of me yet," Sterling wrote.
She's about to make good on her promise.
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Sterling is joining her former WAND workmate and friend, Stacey Skrysak, as a co-anchor at WICS/WICD-TV beginning Jan. 15. The newscasts air at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Sterling will also make appearances on WRSP-TV newscasts at 5:30 and 9 p.m.
Sterling spent nearly 20 years at WAND working with co-anchor Sean Streaty, a Decatur native. Skrysak worked at WAND from 2012 to 2015 before moving to WICS.
The two stations cover the Springfield and Decatur markets.
The anchor seat opened at WICS after Jon Hansen left in early December to become the director of communications and engagement for the Rochester school district.
Sterling did not return a phone call to the SJ-R on Thursday.
"It’s rare that you get to hire someone with Dawn’s skills and abilities with two decades of experience in the market” said WICS/WRSP general manager Robert Richardson.
Clay Koenig, WAND's president and general manager, said Sterling was offered a new contract in the fall. He added he and the station news director, Jacklyn Sylvester, expected Sterling to sign, but she did not.
Koenig reached Thursday said the move caused no bad blood and the station is searching for Sterling's replacement.
"It's a loss because she's been such a great anchor for us for so many years," Koenig said. "We understand things like this happen."
In a news release Friday, Sterling said that "happiness is important," and that once she met Richardson and news director Heather Nodine "I knew it was time for a change."
Koenig insisted that viewers pay attention to TV stations more than anchors.
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"Does it cause pause for thought when you've got one of your main anchors going to the competition? Absolutely it does," Koenig added.
Sterling reported for stations in Binghamton, New York, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Flint, Michigan, before landing in Decatur in 2004.
WICS is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Dawn Sterling joining WICS-TV in Springfield as news anchor
