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David Bernard is well known to many South Floridians from his time at WFOR-TV as chief meteorologist, but most recently he returned to his former stomping grounds -- New Orleans -- where he was the morning meteorologist at WWL-TV prior to moving to WFOR-TV. He has recently been the weekday morning meteorologist for WVUE-TV in New Orleans where he replaced Chris Franklin whose contract was not renewed by WVUE-TV and Raycom Media management. Now David will make another move at the FOX affiliate as Chief Meteorologist. He will be replacing longtime Chief Meteorologist Bob Breck. Bob's retirement is effective beginning March 2, 2016 after 35-years at the station.

#FunFact: Bob Breck's retirement as WVUE-TV Chief Meteorologist came almost a full 38 years to the day his predecessor, the late Nash Roberts, gave his final forecast on Newscene 8.

In

New Orleans will lose a unique legend this Wednesday, March 2 as WVUE FOX8 Chief Meteorologist Bob Breck retires after nearly 40 years in New Orleans. Ch. 8 will air a one-hour special on Wednesday (03-02-16) from 6-7 p.m. CDT.

 

David Bernard will officially take Bob's place as chief meteorologist after that.

 

Breck is the last remaining hire during Alec Gifford's era at WVUE to persevere at the station. My forecast: warm wishes and a sunny retirement for Bob!

Ladies and gentlemen, once more the lush arrangements of Otis Conner.

Don't know how many stations were still making "There Goes That News Van, Again" promos in the late 90s; but KVBC decided that the 1998 public wouldn't find silent home film reels too dated.

 

Stolen straight from WVUE-TV in 1979!

Former WWL-TV chief meteorologist Dave Barnes passed away Saturday in Florida due to complications from cancer. He was 78.

 

Before coming to Channel 4, he spent eight years as head of the National Weather Service's New Orleans office (office later moved to Slidell). He was part of the powerhouse team that included Garland Robinette, Angela Hill and Jim Henderson.

 

http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/2014/09/15/former-wwl-tv-chief-meteorologist-dave-barnes-dies-at-78/15670189/

 

My belated tribute to David Plank Barnes Jr....

That leaves Eric Paulsen as the only surviving member left of the original "Eyewitness Morning News" when it debuted on 4WWL-TV in the 70s.

Absent friends...

 

WBNS 1977 is "Take a Good Look at 10" by Gavin/Conner Productions (Kevin Gavin, Otis Conner, short-lived partnership from 1977 to 1979):

 

Broadcasting September 12, 1977

 

Otis Conner was also instrumental (sic!) in writing/producing the TV station package "The Best Things In Life" for TM Productions in January 1979, sometime before he parted ways with TM to form his own company.

WWL-TV and KATC-TV also dabbled in usurping graphics for their newscast intros in the 1980s, being sister stations at the time (KATC was sold to Loyola, WWL's owner, in 1971). They both even used the same music jingle package: TM Productions' "The Best Things In Life" (1979).

KATC-TV Action 3 News 5PM open (1983):

WWL-TV Eyewitness News 4 Weekend 6PM open (1980):

From the 2007 WWL-TV Celebrating 50 Years special:

1980 WWLTV - Eyewitness News Noon open

[MEDIA=dailymotion]x12nm19[/MEDIA]

WWLTV -1980 Eyewitness News 6PM open - edited*

[MEDIA=dailymotion]x11vcuu[/MEDIA]

*This was shortened in the special to exclude "Jim Henderson, with Sports...and Nash Roberts, with The Weather!" to focus on Garland and Angela. If there's anyone out there who has the full intro (preceding hurly station ID cue included), please gimme a buzz!

BTW, the news theme was cut in 1979 at TM Productions in Dallas, TX as part of a TV station package entitled "The Best Things In Life."