VICTORIA DUNKLE joins News 13 as the station's Morning and Noon anchor by way of Lansing, Michigan, where she was the main news anchor at FOX 47. She took the opportunity to be part of the new news program at FOX 47 in 1997. Eight months after the news started, the station promoted Victoria to the main anchor position.

Along with the newscasts, Victoria co-produced and anchored several health specials. She also worked closely with the local American Heart Association chapter and the Lansing Area AIDS Network.

Victoria started her career at the NBC affiliate in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1993. She worked as a reporter, producer and fill-in anchor. In 1995, she moved to Traverse City, Michigan, to anchor and produce the new morning news for WPBN/WTOM, the NBC affiliate.

Victoria also has a strong interest in community involvement. She encourages young people to read and believes that reading and writing are fundamental to becoming successful in life.

A native of western Pennsylvania, Victoria is a graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her bachelor degree in communication. While there, Victoria served as anchor and station manager for the University's television station, as well as promotions director for the radio station. She served as president of the Society of Collegiate Journalists, Clarion Chapter, and was a founding member of Clarion University's chapter of the National Broadcasting Society/Alpha Epsilon Rho.

Victoria and her husband, Dave Noyes, are enjoying life in the mountains of Western North Carolina and enjoy golfing and sailing. Noyes is a REALTOR® with Beverly-Hanks & Associates in Asheville.

E-mail Victoria: vdunkle@wlos.com

FRANK FRABONI comes to WLOS from Greensboro, North Carolina, where he has lived and worked for the past 10 years. Before moving to the mountains, he was employed at WLOS' sister stations, WXLV and WUPN where he anchored the evening newscasts.

Frank first moved to North Carolina in 1983, landing a position as a reporter and anchor for Park Broadcasting's legendary WNCT-TV in Greenville. His story assignments included President Ronald Reagan's visit to Camp LeJeune after the Beirut bombing, deadly hurricanes and tornados and the annual ritual of the tobacco market. He then moved to Winson-Salem as a bureau chief for WXII-TV, covering everything from wildfires in the mountains to KKR's $31 billon takeover of RJR Nabisco, the largest commercial buyout in American history at the time.

His career then took him to Tampa, Florida where he anchored weekends for WFLA-TV before moving across town to anchor mornings at WFTS-TV, a brand new ABC affiliate owned by Scripps Howard Broadcasting, right across the street from the Buccaneer's Tampa Stadium. It was here that he interviewed such notable figures at New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Former Vice President Al Gore, and ABC's Charles Gibson and Joan Lunden.

After 8 years in the sunshine state, Frank returned to North Carolina, the place he's raised his four children and called home for more than 16 years. Upon his return, he replaced long time broadcaster Lee Kinard as the evening anchor at WFMY-TV before joining Sinclair Broadcasting in Winston-Salem.

Frank's award winning career spans more than 20 years with honors for his reporting and anchoring. Frank began his broadcasting career at his hometown station WGMF in Watkins Glen, New York at the age of 16. There, he mentored under a retired writer from the Reuters' news service. He went on to study broadcasting and journalism at SUNY College in Buffalo. During an internship, Frank worked undercover with an investigative reporter at WIVB-TV. Their work resulted in several honors, including UPI's Best Investigation Award for a story that captured New York Telephone workers routinely drinking on the job. Frank went on to receive awards for Best Newscast from the Associated Press in Greenville and Best Feature from The Society of Professional Journalists in Tampa where he documented the plight of the homeless by living for three days on Tampa's city streets.

Frank spends most of his free time with his wife Sara and their four children traveling and visiting family in Eastern North Carolina. He enjoys volunteering at the children's schools and staying active in the community. He's an active member of his catholic church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Frank is an avid outdoorsman and loves boating, skiing, fishing and camping.

"North Carolina is our home," according to Frank. I've lived up and down the east coast and there's nowhere else I'd rather be. The people are warm and friendly and nothing beats a Carolina blue sky."

E-mail Frank: ffraboni@wlos.com

TERRIE FOSTER grew up visiting family in Asheville, North Carolina, the city
where her grandfather grew up. She was excited to come home after living in
Rochester/Austin, Minnesota, where she anchored the 6 and 10 evening newscasts on ABC affiliate, KAAL-TV.

Before joining KAAL, Terrie worked at WYFF-TV in Greenville, South Carolina, where her reporting contributed to several awards, including a Southeastern Regional Emmy for continuous coverage.  She also covered the tragic death of four year old Stephanie Carter, encouraging legislators to pass "Stephanie's Law."  It requires more rigorous reporting of child abuse in South Carolina.  Terrie's experience also includes television stations in Savannah, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Terrie grew up in Athens, Georgia, where she graduated from the University of
Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

While a student, she was news director at WUOG-FM, where her work was honored by the Georgia Associated Press.

Outside of work, Terrie loves being a mom and spending time with her family and friends.  Her interests include music, photography, art, and theatre.  Before switching to journalism, she attended UGA on a voice scholarship, and you might hear her sing at an event in the community.  She also loves exploring the mountains, volunteer work, traveling, and the Georgia Bulldogs!

E-mail Terrie: tfoster@wlos.com

HEATHER GRAF joined the News 13 News Team as the reporter of the Waynesville bureau, in November 2007.

She comes to us from WMGT in Macon, Georgia, where worked as a one-man-band reporter, shooting, writing, and editing her own stories. Before that, Heather worked at WTEV/WAWS in Jacksonville, Florida. She started out on the assignment desk there and quickly worked her way up to producer, first of the station's morning show, then noon, and eventually weekend newscasts. She also worked as a Traffic Reporter on the morning show.

Heather is no stranger to the Carolinas. She grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated from North Carolina's Elon University in May of 2004, where she earned a degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications.

In her spare time, Heather enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite thing about reporting is meeting new people and telling their stories - so drop her an e-mail and say hello!

E-mail Heather: hgraf@wlos.com

DARCEL GRIMES , News 13 6 & 11pm anchor, has been making it in the news business for more than two decades. She began her career as an anchor/reporter at an all news radio station in Jackson, Mississippi. Darcel had dreamed of reporting the news since she was a junior high school student in Washington, DC. Little did she know her dream would take her so far from the people she loved and the place she called home.

"I think the hardest decision I ever made was to leave Washington and move to Mississippi. But I did." And for Darcel, the move paid off. She spent six months at the radio station in Jackson, before landing a job as a reporter at a television station in Tupelo, Mississippi. After a month on the job, the news director asked her to fill in for the 10pm anchor, and Darcel has been a news anchor ever since. As an anchor and reporter in Mississippi, Darcel covered civil rights protests, the reapportionment of the Mississippi Legislature, and the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.

In 1981, Darcel decided it was time for another change. It brought her to Asheville and WLOS. She accepted a job as the nightside reporter, co-anchor of the 11pm Monday through Friday newscast, and host of a Saturday news magazine show. She worked six days a week. A year and a half later, her long hours and hard work paid off. In January, 1983, WLOS management asked Darcel to co-anchor the 6pm newscast as well as the 11pm. Over the last 21 years she has become a familiar face in hundreds of thousands of households in North and South Carolina. While Darcel loves anchoring, she has a passion for reporting. Her Healthcast reports have won awards, and her special reports from Israel, the Holy Land, raised money for local charities. When Good Morning America came to Asheville, she represented WLOS with an insightful report on Acid Fog. In her two decades with the station, she has also covered a political convention, a Presidential inauguration, the visit of Prince Charles, and the heart wrenching stories of children coping with cancer.

Darcel is married and the mother of two boys. When asked her formula for success, she answers, "hard work, perseverance and prayer."

E-mail Darcel: dgrimes@wlos.com

HOLLY HEADRICK Holly Headrick is a native to Western North Carolina. She is a general assignment reporter for News 13 as well as a co-anchor for the News 13 on My40 at 10:00 show.

She also knows her way around the newsroom as she had worked as a producer and assignment editor at WLOS before becoming an on-air talent.

She returned to the mountains after reporting at WWAY-TV in Wilmington, NC. During her time there, she received the Associated Press Rookie of the Year award in 2001.

Holly is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill where she earned a degree in Journalism and Mass Comunication. She was also recognized as an award winning journalist while in school by the Society of Professional journalists and Hearst Foundation.

Holly's always called the mountains home. She grew up watching News 13 and is excited to be a
part of WLOS.

In her spare time, Holly enjoys spending time with her family and friends and snowboarding, and traveling.

E-mail Holly: hheadrick@wlos.com

CHARU KUMARHIA came to News 13 in May, 2002, leaving a Bureau Chief position at the ABC affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama. She has worked at CNN International, National Public Radio, several newspapers and even one-man banded at her first job! She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in broadcast news and political science.

Charu reported for ABC affiliates across the country during coverage of a prison escape near Birmingham. She won an Associated Press award for radio reporting and an Emmy award for "Remembering Mitch Carver"  a series of reports about a Leicester army pilot's life and tragic death.

Charu is a news junkie from Georgia who is especially fond of following international events.  She is very close to her parents and two younger sisters all back home.  She enjoys working out, salsa dancing, cooking and traveling. 

Charu says the smartest thing she ever did was marry her husband - a Swannanoa native and rabid Tar Heel.  Together they enjoy gardening, hiking, yoga, and debating politics.

E-mail Charu: ckumarhia@wlos.com

JOHN LE 's mission is pretty simple: to find the most memorable story of the day. Sometimes he finds an emotional, human story. But more often he thrives on meeting the colorful characters that make Western North Carolina such a diverse place. No matter what type of assignment, John enjoys the thrill of writing and telling a good story.

In the fall of 2002, John was part of a close vote in a "Mountain Express' readers' poll. He tied with anchor Darcel Grimes in the category of "Best TV Reporter." "I'm stunned and flattered to even be in the same company as Darcel," John says. "I am very fortunate to get to do the types of stories that viewers respond to."

John is originally from Orange County in sunny Southern California, where he majored in Broadcast Journalism at Cal State Northridge. His humble beginnings included a memorable stint as a reporter in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at ABC affiliate KHOG. The call letters of that station made the job especially enticing.

John also attended Rancho Santiago Community College, where he teamed up on college news productions with Will Ferrell. Ferrell later became a famous comedian on "Saturday Night Live." Ever since those days, John has never been afraid to have fun on camera when the opportunity presents itself.

In 2007, the NC Associated Press honored him with an award for "Best News Writing." John was also nominated for an Emmy for his tongue-in-cheek "investigation" of high school mascots.

E-mail John: johnle@wlos.com

EDWARD MCDONALD was given a piece of advice once that the weekend sports anchor has taken to heart.

" Its not physics, its not rocket science, its not brain surgery. Its sports. Have fun with it. "

He got his start in television as a news videographer/sports producer at WRDW-TV in Augusta, Georgia. After a year in Augusta, Edward went from "behind the scenes" to "in front of the camera" when he became a news reporter/fill-in sports anchor at WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi. Exactly one year later, he went across town and became the weekend sports anchor WABG.

After Greenville, Edward's career took him to stations in Jackson, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama and Birmingham, Alabama as well as a stint at FOX Sports Net before coming to WLOS. He has also done free-lance assignments for CBS News CNN and ESPN as well as play-by-play, color and sideline reporting for BET, The Black Family Channel, ESPN and CTV in Canada.

Known for his enthusiastic style, the native of the South Carolina Low Country has covered two World Series, three Super Bowls, two Final Fours, 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt and too many high school and college sporting events to remember.

Edward is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. In his spare time he enjoys weight training, running, writing, music, traveling, video games, public speaking, doing community service and spending time with family and friends.

E-mail Edward: emcdonald@wlos.com

STAN PAMFILIS , Sports Director, first joined News 13 WLOS more than twenty years ago, in 1979.

Prior to anchoring the sports reports here at News 13, Stan wore many hats at WJHG-TV in Panama City, Florida. He was the Weatherman, News Anchor, Talk Show Host and Sports Director. During his career in Western North Carolina, Stan has also worked as the play-by-play announcer for Western Carolina University's Catamount football and basketball.

Born March 23rd in Atlanta, Georgia, Stan graduated from the University of Georgia.

Stan spends most of his spare time on the golf course but he also enjoys weightlifting, history and going to the movies.

E-mail Stan: spamfilis@wlos.com

KASSANDRA PRIDE joined WLOS as a general assignments reporter in September, 2006. What she enjoys most about reporting is meeting new people and telling their stories.

Pride, of Mexican/Welsh ancestry, got her start in broadcasting in 1997 when she landed a producer/fill in anchor spot at KMNY, AM 1600. After a year of reading the market updates and reporting on the Pacific Rim crisis, Pride went on to finish her Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism at California State University, Fullerton.

She then made her debut on television as host of the Huntington Beach Report while also writing for the Orange County Register's Website.

Four years ago, Pride traded in her flip-flops for snow boots when she landed her first reporting job in Pocatello, Idaho. Not only did she learn how to drive through a snowstorm, Pride quickly learned the workings of a newsroom inside and out.

After six months of reporting, she was promoted to weekend anchor while she pulled "double duty" as a producer. Pride later anchored the No.1 rated morning newscast in Southeastern Idaho. Pride then decided it was time to get out in the field again. So she moved to the capital of Idaho to continue reporting. This time for ABC affiliate, Today's 6.

Pride is excited about the new challenges and opportunities in Asheville, especially at WLOS.

When Pride's not telling stories, she often gives vent to her energy in taking care of her dogs, Zorro and Chewey, running, reading, watching movies and perfecting her salsa and belly dancing. Every now and then she also takes "pride" in cooking a gourmet meal.

Pride is an active member of N.A.H.J., National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

E-mail Kassandra: kpride@wlos.com

CAROLYN RYAN came to WLOS as a general assignment reporter in April 2006.

Carolyn graduated from Florida State University where she earned a degree in Mass Communications. She minored in Journalism and Spanish.

Her career began with an internship at Entertainment Tonight in Los Angeles. She spent a summer at movie premiers and on the red carpet learning the in's and
out's of entertainment television. Then she landed a job at WTXL in Tallahassee, Florida where she attended college. From there she traveled back to her roots in the Midwest. She reported the news at the CBS affiliate in Rock Island, Illinois.

Carolyn loves volunteering and has traveled as far as the Dominican Republic for mission trips.

She is a huge seminole fan, enjoys trips to Florida, playing tennis and learning about other cultures.

E-mail Carolyn: cryan@wlos.com

JAY SILTZER , News 13 morning anchor, joined WLOS in 1999. He is in his 17th year in the news business.

After co-anchoring News 13 Early Edition and News 13 This Morning with Victoria Dunkle and Julie Wunder, Jay provides health stories for News 13 at 5pm.

Also a meteorologist, Jay completed the broadcast meteorology program at Mississippi State University. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Friends call him "Stormy" because outdoor conditions are often at their worst when he fills in at the weather desk.

A 1989 graduate of Lander University with a bachelor's degree in political science, Jay previously worked as a reporter for WVLT-TV in Knoxville, TN, WJHL-TV in Johnson City, TN, and the Index-Journal newspaper in Greenwood, SC.

Since joining News 13, Jay has followed the oldest ever Tarheel voter to the polls, covered the capture of Eric Rudolph, and witnessed the execution of a death-row inmate. Jay's work in 2000 earned him a first place Associated Press award for general news reporting.

When he's not working, Jay often shares his experience as a two-time cancer survivor with school, civic and church groups. Jay and his wife, Kelly, live in Henderson County. They are members of Mills River United Methodist Church and share their home with Caper, a destructive tabby cat.

E-mail Jay: jsiltzer@wlos.com

PAT SIMON grew up in "Cajun Country" - Lafayette, Louisiana. He can even make a spicy gumbo although he admits his wife Rebecca is the "real" Cajun chef of the family. The broadcast news bug hit him early on after he got a job as a disc jockey at a rock radio station in the early 1980's, then began to report the news ever since.

After a quick tour with the Army's 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Pat returned home to Louisiana to earn his degree at LSU in Baton Rouge and received a commission as an Army officer.

After many years in radio news, in 1999, Pat joined the television news team at WAFB in Baton Rouge to anchor the morning and noon news.

He has covered major news events like the search, capture, and trial of serial killer Derrick Todd Lee and the powerful one-two punch of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In fact, Pat was called to active duty to serve with the Louisiana National Guard a few days after Katrina struck. He is currently in his 19th year of military service and plans to retire in the North Carolina National Guard. He holds the rank of Major.

Pat has also been honored numerous times for broadcasting, including two AP awards.

He looks forward to working in the community of Western North Carolina (as soon as he catches his breath because of the higher elevations of North Carolina).

Pat and Rebecca have three children and enjoy traveling, snow skiing, and fishing.

If you have a great story idea, give Pat a call. He would love to hear from you.

E-mail Pat: psimon@wlos.com

COURTNEY WARD joined the News 13 News Team, as the weekday morning and noon reporter, in November 2007.

Before she came to Asheville, Courtney was a reporter at WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina. While there she won a South Carolina Associated Press Award for a story she wrote about Black Friday shopping. She was also a finalist for the National Association of Black Journalists' Chuck Stone Salute to Excellence Award for a series of stories she wrote about the Tuskegee Airmen during their 35th annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Courtney's news career officially began with internships. During college, she interned at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina. She later interned at WSTM in Syracuse, New York and WJET in Erie, Pennsylvania -- serving as the station's Washington, DC correspondent while finishing her masters in the nation's capital.

Courtney graduated from Davidson College, in Davidson, North Carolina with a B.S. in Psychology. She then headed up north to New York where she earned an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

A native of Columbia, Maryland, Courtney grew up playing soccer. In her spare time she likes to hang out with her friends, work out, travel, eat good food, and watch "Desperate Housewives." So if you see her on a Monday, don't tell her what happened on the show the night before as she wouldn't have seen the episode because of her early bedtime!

E-mail Courtney: cward@wlos.com

TAMMY WATFORD, before moving to the mountains, worked at television stations in Alabama and Florida. After graduating from Troy State University, she landed her first job at WCFT in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Four years later the Dothan, Alabama, native accepted a job in Tallahassee at WCTV-6. In 1993 she arrived in Asheville just ahead of the "Storm of the Century."

Tammy currently anchors the 5:00, 5:30 and 6:30 news programs, and continues her education franchise, "Never Stop Learning."

She has won several awards in communications including the North Carolina Association of Educators' 2002 School Bell Award for excellence in coverage of education issues. She also received Associated Press Awards for Best Newscast in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Tammy also captured the AP's Best Photographer award while working in Tuscaloosa.

E-mail Tammy: twatford@wlos.com

JULIE WUNDER joined the News 13 Weather Team in September 2003. You can catch her weather reports during the weekday morning and noon shows. She also contributes weather related news stories to WLOS. Before coming to Asheville, Julie was the Chief Weather Anchor at WGXA in Macon, Georgia. While in Macon, Julie also worked for WPGA. Julie has also had jobs in both radio and TV in Gainesville, Florida.

Whether giving the weather reports from the field or studio, Julie prides herself in giving accurate information with a smile. She also uses her role on television to help find homes for animals. In 2003, the Save-a-Pet organization of Georgia awarded Julie for her efforts. Julie has also been awarded an AP News award for feature reporting.

Julie graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Minors in Dance and Political Science. She has meteorology training through Mississippi State University. She is a member of the National Weather Association.

Julie grew up in Orlando, Florida, and spent time working at Walt Disney World. She danced in parades and played Mickey's best friend, Pluto. In her free time Julie loves to read, travel, watch Florida football, and play with her miniature longhaired dachshund, Rhett.

E-mail Julie: jwunder@wlos.com