Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 10, 1992 TAG: 9201100238
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONI BURKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
`MORNIN' TO RISE SOONER
Beginning Monday, Irv Sharp and his "Mornin' " crew on WDBJ-Channel 7 will be getting up a bit earlier. The show is expanding to an hour-long format and will sign on at 6 a.m."The basic concept of the broadcast will not change," according to Jim Shaver, the station's vice president in charge of news and programming. "It remains informational. Irv will continue to do what he's been doing" - just more of it.
For example, in addition to announcing birthdays, anniversaries and reunions, Sharp will solicit pictures of honorees to be shown during the celebratory announcements.
New weekly features include fitness tips from the Roanoke Athletic Club, a pet of the week from the Roanoke Valley SPCA, profiles of people at work in the early morning and an arts and entertainment segment focusing on weekend activities.
Additionally, there'll be movie and theater reviews and answers to viewers' legal and medical questions from professionals. Weather anchor Patrick Evans will have a weekly environmental segment.
Mary Burckmyer, who has been anchoring newscasts on "Mornin' " and at noon, is the show's co-host. Carla Poston replaces her in the news post. Burckmyer has been with the station since 1990. Poston came to WDBJ in December from WITN in Washington, N.C.
"Mornin' " began in 1969 as the offspring of "Top O' The Morning," which made its debut in 1956 with Sharp as host.