Back in September, FTVLive told you that, without even getting to say goodbye, Gretchen Wirtz and Mark Welp were pulled as the morning news anchors at WHOI.

Well, Welp is about to resurface across the street at WMBD.

Welp will be the co-host of “WMBD This Morning” from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays on WMBD-TV and “Good Day Central Illinois” from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays on WYZZ-TV.

He and a new partner, who has yet to be hired, will replace husband-and-wife team Clay Gordon and Lindsey Mills, who are leaving for WCSH in Portland, Maine. 

Shaun Newell, news director for WMBD-TV and WYZZ-TV, said, “As sad as we are to lose Clay and Lindsey, this is the best possible scenario, to get someone who is well known in this market and who can continue our momentum.”

Welp continued to work as a reporter and in other news roles for HOI-ABC and WEEK-TV, but his last day there was Tuesday, following a two-week notice. Despite his enduring contract, the station had given him permission to leave early if he were to get a different job offer.

As for his joining the rival news operation, Welp said, “I don’t think (HOI-ABC) knew I’d do that.”

“The timing couldn’t have been better,” Welp said. “I had been resigned to the fact that I’d probably have to leave TV, because I didn’t want to leave this area.”

H/T PJStar