The cute, vivacious blonde won’t be seen on the air, however. Instead,  as KENS’ new assistant news director, she’ll help decide what stories go on the news.

Will she share some secrets from her longtime job home of KSAT, the city’s No. 1 news station, where she worked from 2006 to 2013? Your guess is as good as mine.

Dodd’s first day will be Aug. 25.

According to KENS:

Dodd currently works in Victoria as news director for the Victoria Television Group. As such, she oversees the daily on-air news operations for the ABC, FOX and Univision stations.

Previously, she worked a short while as morning anchor on the NBC affiliate in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Though Green Bay marked a step down in market size — 69th vs. San Antonio’s ranking of No. 36 —  the job offered Dodd something KSAT didn’t: a shot at anchoring.

So, she left S.A.’s ABC affiliate in late 2012, taking her husband — Mike Taylor, veteran sports talk host on KTKR-AM (Ticket 760) — and their twin daughters, Molly and Sevi — with her.

Taylor remained on KTKR — as morning host, from 6 to 9 a.m. — broadcasting his show via remote hook-up from their Wisconsin home.

It didn’t take long for the couple to scoot back to the much warmer climate of Texas, however, citing personal reasons.

Taylor continued doing his popular gig on S.A.’s Clear Channel-owned station, even expanding the reach of “The Mike Taylor Show” —  via syndication — to Austin.

However, it wasn’t long before the pair hit the road again — to Victoria, where Dodd got her present job as news director.

Both are excited to return to the Alamo City, where Taylor can, once again, broadcast his show from KTKR studios here rather than from a long-distance locale.

“My husband and I are thrilled to be moving back to the city we love,” Dodd said. “We met in San Antonio, my daughters were born there and many of our loved ones live there.”

KENS executive news director Triston Sanders said she’s happy to have Dodd on her team. “She is a familiar face to San Antonio viewers,” Sanders wrote in an e-mail, adding: “Her role as the ‘Eyewitness News’ assistant news director is of critical importance. We are happy to have her knowledge of this unique and growing city.”

Photo: Courtesy Jennifer Dodd

Weekend anchor Myra Arthur, the designated sub for Romero during her baby leave, filled in next to Steve Spriester.

But don’t fret, Romero fans. The anchorwoman, who’s now in her eighth month, will be back Wednesday night, the final day of May ratings.

Romero said she plans “to continue working until my due date (unless the doctor puts me on bed rest).”

The first child — a boy — for Romero and her fiance, KENS-TV weekend anchorman Phil Anaya, is expected Aug. 24. Romero said she plans to take the full 12 weeks of maternity leave to enjoy her intro to motherhood.

She’s joyful not only over the upcoming event, but also the sweet response from viewers. “(They’ve) been so amazing and supportive,” Romero wrote in a text. “We’ve been overwhelmed by their well wishes and prayers.”

Her KSAT co-workers also have been a huge blessing, judging by the fabulous baby shower fellow anchors Ursula Pari and Arthur and others at the station threw for her earlier this month.

Ted Garcia, the Saturday-Sunday anchorman on KABB-TV for the past four years, and a former KSAT television news veteran, is once again leaving the Alamo City.

This time his lure is talk radio in San Diego. His last day on KABB will be Saturday.

“I’ll miss my Fox family,” Garcia (photo at right), who’s been called a dead ringer for Donny Osmond, said. “We’ve been through many ups and downs in my four years here. I’m very proud of the work that we’ve produced. It was great coming back to S.A. Many viewers remembered me from my KSAT days, which always surprised me.”

However, he added, “the opportunity I’m taking was too good to pass up.”

The cute, bubbly Garcia anchored on San Antonio’s ABC affiliate in the 1990s, before spending a decade reporting for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. While there, he also appeared in movies, also as a reporter, in everything from “Bruce Almighty” to the TV series, “Six Feet Under.” He left the West Coast to take his most recent job as weekend anchor on the Fox affiliate here in 2010.

Robert Price, a reporter at KABB, will fill in as weekend anchor for the time being, said Blaise Labbe, director of news for WOAI/KABB.

Also leaving KABB is the station’s assistant news director James Keith, who, prior to the arrival of Garcia, spent some years anchoring the station’s weekend news as well. His last day is Aug. 22.

He confirmed that he has taken a job as chief communication officer  at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. “This is one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make,” Keith said. “Great things are happening at KABB and WOAI and I’ll miss everyone I work with.”

Viewers also have been missing the sunny delivery of Danielle Saar (photo right), who, for the past year, has done morning traffic reporting and fill-in co-hosting for “Great Day SA.” A new face is in her place and Saar is no longer present on KENS’ web page.

The CBS affiliate has yet to officially share the details of her departure or the station’s new traffic hire. Requests to KENS’  executive news director, Triston Sanders, have gone unanswered so far.

Meanwhile, you may have noticed a new face on WOAI’s sports desk.  Jeff Jones, a Trinity University grad and former intern for WOAI, has been hired as the official sports fill-in guy, Labbe said. He replaces Cameron Cox, who left at the end of July to pursue other interests.

Jones, so far, is most famous for winning the NBA’s  national contest that had interns across the country conducting interviews with players during the 2014 All-Star Game.  Jones was deemed the best and, as such, Labbe said, won the opportunity to conduct interviews with players on the NBA’s digital platform.

Photos: KABB, courtesy.

SAN ANTONIO — It looks like Cleto Rodriguez of WOAI-TV won’t be the only comedian on the San Antonio news.

Meet improvisational comic Jennie Stencel, who has informed her Facebook followers that she has been hired by KENS-TV as part of the station’s morning news.

“I’m the new traffic reporter for KENS 5 and part of ‘Great Day SA’ in San Antonio,” the pretty, fair-haired Stencel announces on her Facebook page. “I’m still performing standup and improv when I’m not sleeping.”

At her former news gig, Jennie was known for her many costumes and on-air antics, including traffic rapping — yes, rapping. Watch here:

In fact, one of 38-year-old Stencel’s raps, according to Wikipedia, ended up as No. 11 in the year’s top 40 viral videos on the 2006 VH1 countdown. The rap and YouTube favorite also is said to have aired on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” E!’s “The Soup” and CNN.

Her past traffic experience includes a four-year stint on WXII-TV, an NBC affiliate in Winston-Salem, N. C., between 2006 and 2010.

As I reported earlier in the week,  Danielle Saar, who delivered morning traffic reports on KENS for the past year, has been missing from her shift for a while. Attempts to reach KENS news director for more information on this and its new traffic hire have gone unanswered.

All this week, Priscilla Gutierrez, KENS’ fill-in traffic reporter, has been pinch-hitting, but people in the know say Stencel will be introduced soon.

I can’t wait. She seems like a lot of fun, or, at the very least, something kind of different to perk up bleary-eyed viewers of the 4:30- to- 7 a.m.  news.

For now, check out Stencel’s fond farewell to her North Carolina news team and playful highlight reel from her four crazy years at WXII.

Video: YouTube

It’s official: Starting Monday, KENS-TV’s new morning personality, Jennie Stencel, not only will help you drive, but also drive you a little batty — in a fun way.

Stencel, 38 (in photo above), an improvisational comedian, who’s been known to get zany on the air with the help of props, costumes and rap,  is the station’s new traffic reporter and “Great Day SA” contributor. She replaces the mysteriously departed Danielle Saar.

It also sounds like she’ll be giving that other morning news comedian, Cleto Rodriguez of WOAI-TV, some competition.

“I’m the new traffic reporter for KENS 5 and part of ‘Great Day SA’ in San Antonio,” the lively Stencel announced on her Facebook page. “I’m still performing standup and improv when I’m not sleeping.”

KENS-TV general manager Bob McGann touted his find in a press release: “We know how important traffic is in this community – it’s critical information as you plan your morning commute, to get your family out the door on time.

“But we also want to offer viewers something fun and a little unexpected as they start their day,” McGann added, “and Jennie is definitely unlike anyone else you’ve ever seen on San Antonio newscasts.”

So far, the most pressing challenge of her new job seems to be getting used to the ungodly hours of  ”Eyewitness News This Morning,” which runs daily from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

“Trying to adjust to my schedule,” Stencel said in a message. “I feel like a zombie.”

Her past traffic experience includes a four-year stint on WXII-TV, the NBC affiliate in Winston-Salem, N. C., between 2006 and 2010. Jennie was known for her many on-air antics, including traffic rapping. Here’s an example:

In fact, one of Stencel’s raps, according to Wikipedia, ended up as #11 in the year’s top 40 viral videos on the 2006 VH-1 countdown. The rap also is said to have aired on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” E!’s “The Soup” and CNN.

Stencel and her husband, a neurobiologist – who also is an improvisational comedian – own their own comedy club: The Idiot Box in Greensboro, N.C.

“She and her husband have three children,” added executive news director Triston Sanders, “so you know having a sense of humor is crucial!”

Watch how Stencel exercised that sense of humor during her “goodbye” at her old North Carolina station in 2010, which included a lively highlights reel:

As for Saar (in photo at right), she celebrated a year as KENS traffic reporter in an ebullient Facebook message on Aug. 1 (“Moved to TX one year ago today! Shout-out to the universe for placing me somewhere I can work on myself professionally and personally.”); not long after, she seemed to vanish into thin air.

All week, Priscilla Gutierrez, KENS’ fill-in traffic reporter, has  handled the duty on the morning newscasts.

Queries about her departure — what else is new? — remain unanswered by KENS management. . .which seems unfair to the many viewers who faithfully watched Saar’s traffic reports.

Photos: KENS-TV and courtesy.

On Saturday, the TV news pair became parents of a beautiful baby boy named Elijah.

Both Romero and Anaya expressed their excitement on Facebook.

“We are so pleased and blessed to announce the birth of our sweet baby boy Elijah! Born August 23, 2014 at 5:31 p.m.! Best of all…healthy happy baby and healthy happy mama!” KENS-TV weekend anchor Anaya wrote.

“Our gift from God has arrived!” was the post on the page of  KSAT-TV anchorwoman Isis Romero. “Introducing Elijah Anaya, our precious baby boy, born this evening. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!”

Elijah, weighing in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces, is the first child for the engaged couple.

Congratulations to both on this blessed day!

Photo: Courtesy of Isis Romero and Phil Anaya

KSAT-TV has announced plans to discontinue its 4 p.m. television news half-hour, which, in ratings period after ratings period, has proven to be the sole achilles heel for the generally No. 1 station.

Its last broadcast, featuring solo anchor Ursula Pari, will be Sept. 5. An entertainment show will slide into the 4 p.m. slot on Sept. 8.

However, the removal will be followed immediatly by an addition at KSAT. On Sept. 8,  the local ABC affiliate will add a new half-hour of news to its lineup, expanding its 6 p.m. half-hour to an hour.

Pari and Steve Spriester, who currenly co-anchor the 6 p.m. news, will expand their duties to include the 6:30-to-7 p.m. half-hour.

The addition will end WOAI’s status as the only station to feature local news at 6:30 p.m.

The change likely registers as a victory at news rival KENS-TV.

In 2010, the CBS affiliate was the first to debut a newscast at 4 p.m. — “First at Four” — featuring Deborah Knapp as anchor and Bill Taylor as weathercaster. The half-hour, which leads with hard news but otherwise has a lighter feel, has proven to be a feather in the cap for KENS. It was an immediate ratings success, and continues to be the No. 2 station’s sole top-rated news half-hour.

In 2011, KSAT followed suit with its own entry, “First News @ Four.” However, the  half-hour conistently finished second to KENS’ version, keeping KSAT, which is No. 1 in news for every other local broadcast, from claiming a full sweep.

In a press release, KSAT chalks up the 4 p.m. news cut to people’s preference for online news during that early afternoon hour.

“We’re constantly reviewing our commitment to the community and listening to our viewers and we’ve learned that people get more news in the early afternoon ‘on the go’ using their smartphones, tablets and online,” said KSAT vice president/general manager Phil Lane.  “That’s why we’ve recently launched a brand new web site and offer live-streaming of all our newscasts on our mobile apps.”

As for the expanded 6 p.m. news, Lane added, “it will be more accessible to people who work outside the home and want to catch up on the latest breaking news when they return home.”

KSAT has long proven successful with hour-long news formats, finishing strong with both its noon-to-1 p.m. broadcasts and 10-to-11 p.m. news.

The changes will require KSAT to reconfigure its current afternoon lineup. Come Sept. 8, “Inside Edition” and “Entertainment Tonight” will fill the 4 p.m. hour.

Photos: Courtesy Pari and KENS

“It was one of those most rare perfect evenings, surrounded by everyone we love as we joined our lives and families together at Mission San Juan,” Knapp, KENS-TV’s 4 and 5 p.m. anchor, said in an e-mail Sunday.

“We celebrated with an outdoor reception and the weather was glorious,” she added. “Absolute bliss and feeling very blessed!”

Knapp, who has been a newscaster here for some three decades, had said previously she wanted a small wedding with close friends and family — including her grown son Austin and daughter Alicia, not to mention her two grandchildren. She and her “handsome Cuban” had been dating for six years before their March engagement.

As for her wedding dress, she told the Express-News recently that she wanted “something elegant, understated and, most importantly, something I can dance in easily.” It looks like she got her wish.

The two reportedly danced the night away to Latin-themed music.

It’s Deborah’s second marriage. She and former U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla divorced 10 years ago.

Knapp’s new partner also has kids: two teenage sons.

Oh, and when she returns, don’t expect her to be sporting a new name on air. In an earlier interview, she said she’ll continue as Deborah Knapp.

Photos: Courtesy

How about KENS-TV’s Jeff Goldblatt? Do you find yourself becoming flushed while taking in his intense delivery and manly eyebrows?

Or do your tastes run more to the guy-next-door charms of family man Steve Spriester of KSAT?

If any of San Antonio’s male anchors — or weathercasters or sportscasters, for that matter — strike your fancy, People has a proposition: Help the magazine find the “Sexiest Local News Anchor Alive.”

Honest. Last week, People, famous for its annual “Sexiest Man Alive,” which almost always is a movie or TV star, made this announcement: “We’re weeks away from revealing this year’s hot Hollywood guy, but before that, we want your help finding the hottest guys in your neighborhood – namely, your local news anchors. We’re interested in the men who read the news or the sports headlines, or those who do the weather. Anyone who sits behind the news desk is eligible.”

Here’s how to enter your local favorite(s): Tweet People @peoplemag with the man’s name (and Twitter handle if he has one) using #SexiestAnchorAlive. Magazine staffers will sift through the entrants and announce more details in early November.

KENS-TV’s Deborah Knapp already has tweeted her 5 p.m. co-anchor Goldblatt, although I’m wondering if her 4 p.m. sidekick, easy-on-the-eyes meteorologist Bill Taylor, also might be a suitable candidate.

Another KENSer — weekend dreamboat Phil Anaya — certainly would fit the title as well.

Those of you who remember Bob Salter, S.A. anchorman of yore, know that the Alamo City’s TV men can hold their own with the sexiest of local newscasters. 

If memory serves me right, handsome Salter (in old photo at right) , who worked for both KENS and KSAT during his time here, actually was named Playgirl magazine’s “sexiest anchor” back in the ’80s.

P.S. If you vote and would like to elaborate on your choice(s), comment here or write me at jjakle@express-news.net.

SAN ANTONIO – Just in time for football. . .KENS-TV returned to the air at around 11:30 a.m. after being dark for most of the morning.

After viewers were deprived of “CBS Sunday Morning,”  ”Texas Country Reporter,” “Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer” and other favorite Sunday programs on the San Antonio CBS affiliate, technical problems that interrupted programming were resolved.

The station reported that some problems arose during an overnight attempt to do some routine maintenance.

KENS went dark and stayed that way since early morning.

The technical snafu affected everyone: over-the-air viewers, as well as cable and satellite subscribers.

According to the station, the engineers worked on it steadily until KENS was back on the air.

Reporter Barry Davis recorded this apologetic video for KENS’ Facebook page to explain the situation:

Post by KENS 5 & Kens5.com.

Photo: CBS

A brief roundup of broadcast television’s 9 p.m election specials:

CBS. You never go wrong when tuning in San Antonio’s thorough on air news pair — Scott Pelley, who was born here, and Norah O’Donnell who grew up in the Alamo City and graduated from MacArthur High. They’ll co-anchor the network’s prime-time hour. Joining them will be Bob Schieffer — another Texan, born in Austin — Gayle King and Charlie Rose. Leading up to the special hour will be updates galore from 7 to 9 p.m.

ABC. George Stephanopoulos will anchor “Your Voice Your Vote” after an evening full of  mid-term election updates during prime-time programming. Joining him? “World News Tonight” anchorman David Muir, Diane Sawyer, Cokie Roberts and more.

NBC. Lead anchor Brian Williams will helm the peacock network’s special hour, “NBC News Decision 2014,” and will be joined by pros Andrea Mitchell, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd and others. Keeping viewers up to date will be plenty of poll results from 7 to 9 p.m.

Local political junkies, of course, can find ’round the clock coverage on cable: Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN and other TV locations.

Look for the emphasis on local and Texas races in special hour editions of the 10 p.m. news.  KABB-TV will be right on top of the races in its usual 9 p.m. hour; the late news on KENS-TV and WOAI-TV will be extended by a half-hour — from 10 to 11 p.m. — for election night, and KSAT, of course, will be covering the mid-term elections via its usual 10 to 11 p.m. hour.

Crave some comedy amid all this election seriousness? Tune in Comedy Central between 10 and 11 p.m. to get Jon Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s twists on the results.  The Daily Show, renamed  “Democalypse 2014: America Remembers It Forgot to Vote,” airs at 10 p.m. Then, at 10:30 p.m., Colbert hosts “Midterms ’014: Detour to Gridlock: An Exciting Thing That I Am Totally Interested In—Wait! Don’t Change the Channel. Look at this Video of a Duckling Following a Cat Dressed Like a Shark Riding a Roomba!  ’014!”

Tune to KENS-TV at 3 p.m. and watch Sandra Collier of Uvalde sing “Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

Her performance netted her tickets to “12 Days of Giveaways” on  DeGeneres’ show.

According to a press release,  Sandra was caught singing the wrong words to Madonna’s “Into The Groove” in Ellen’s audience during the preshow. So Ellen called Sandra and invited her back to the show and challenged her to learn all of the words to “Bang Bang.”

Click on link for preview:

She’s pregnant with her second child.

Kim Spradlin, “Great Day” contributor and occasional co-host, said baby No. 2 is expected June 1.

The 2012 “Survivor: One World” champ made the big announcement during a Pictionary game with her “Great Day” colleagues — host Bridget Smith, co-host Eileen Teves, weatherman Paul Mireles and contributor/comic Roman Garcia — on Wednesday’s show.    

It’s her second child with husband Bryan Wolfe. The couple welcomed their first, a boy named Michael Thomas, early this year.

Upon her return from maternity leave in April, Spradlin shared with viewers the interested way baby Michael was brought into the world.

“I did have a natural water birth at home with a midwife which was quite the adventure,” she said.

Spradlin hasn’t said whether she’ll repeat that adventure with her second baby.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Colorful San Antonio TV and radio veteran Gary DeLaune is recovering after undergoing triple bypass surgery Tuesday in Methodist Hospital.

According to his daughter Andrea  DeLaune- Holley, the surgery came as a big shock to her 81-year-old dad as “we have no history of heart problems.”

“The doctor said it went well,” she said of the surgery.”We’re hoping for a complete recovery as he is not one to sit still.”

She said he went to an emergency clinic Saturday after feeling “discomfort and a little shortness of breath. He knew something wasn’t right.”

DeLaune was sent to Methodist for tests. The prognosis was that he needed a triple bypass.

In typical Gary fashion, she said, he spent the last few days entertaining the whole cardiac floor.

She said he’ll likely stay in the hospital for close to a week. Many of his media buddies, including Chris Duel and Richard Oliver, have taken to Twitter and Facebook to ask for prayers and good wishes.

DeLaune spent a half-century in broadcasting, most notably at KENS-TV — where he delivered sports and news reports in his trademark rat-a-tat-tat voice and loud sportscoats — until he retired in 1998. He continues to do high school football play-by-play for KYTY-AM 810.

He will be inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Feb 28.

Those who would like to send good wishes to Gary can send them via his Facebook page, his daughter said, or directly to Methodist, 7700 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229.

Courtesy photo

The subject of KENS’ February sweeps opener Thursday night: “Swingers,” or as its caption stated, “In-depth look into swinger lifestyle.”

Much of the darkly lit 10 p.m. news report consisted of the reporter — an uncomfortable-looking Jenny Suniga — talking to a longtime married couple, who didn’t want to be identified.

According to the report, “Tina and Fred”  have been in the “lifestyle” for seven years, i.e., engaging in “sex with other couples.”

Suniga goes on to tell us that one of the top clubs in the country is right here in San Antonio: Players Club. We then saw photo after photo of a psychedelic-looking dance floor, bed-stocked “cabana rooms,” hand-holding, foot stroking and other, blurrier scenes involving couples.

The club’s owner — who also preferred anonymity — then talked about what happens there.

He said the club now has 4,000 members.

“It looks like any other nightclub,” Suniga said, with a dance floor and music, but this club has private cabanas and a special room with toys, among other items.

She said sex is not allowed on the main floor but anything goes in the cabanas and that special room.

As for how this extracurricular activity affects the aforementioned couple’s sex life, “Tina” said: “Both of us enjoy watching each other to the other point that we’ll forget what we’re doing and we have to say, ‘Hey get busy. I was watching’.”

It’s made their sex life at home even hotter, the report concluded.

Watch it all by clicking here.  KENS’ tweet:

Inside San Antonio’s ‘swingers’ club http://t.co/FNKEHdpNyb

— KENS 5 (@KENS5) January 30, 2015

Scintillating stuff, sure. But for KENS to characterize this story as “in-depth” or even news is kind of a stretch.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s 10 p.m. sweeps opener by WOAI — the station that managed to top KENS at three news times in November ratings — was a well-crafted and timely “gotcha” piece from Jaie Avila.

The report, which required some hefty surveillance, showed that the City Council members who voted unanimously to pass the “hands free” ordinance — the one that prohibits local drivers from using their hands to text or talk on a cell phone — weren’t exactly practicing what they preach.

Several council members were photographed holding their phones and talking while driving after passing the law; one even was seen texting during traffic stops. Watch the full report by clicking here. WOAI’s tweeted promo:

See which SA city council members Trouble Shooter @JaieAvila caught driving not-so hands free http://t.co/xWRxrIJH5K.

— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) January 30, 2015

Which newscast was most watched by S.A.-area viewers Thursday?

According to Nielsen overnights shared by KSAT spokesman David Cuccio:

Perennial No. 1  KSAT — which touted a story about “the roots of the Mexican Mafia,” in relation to the Balcones Heights officer murder — claimed the largest audience.

KENS nabbed second place with its swingers piece and WOAI finished No. 3 with its “hands free” report on City Council phone use while driving.

Hmm. If these two sweeps approaches continue by KENS and WOAI, it’ll be interesting to see which one S.A. audiences ultimately prefer.

I’ll let you know when sweeps come to a close Feb. 25.

Next stop? My email box. Messages have been pouring in from concerned fans of various newscasters. A sampling:

“What has happened to Randy Beamer, Delaine Mathieu and Evy Ramos?  Usually 1 or 2 of them do the news.  I have been a faithful  watcher of Ch. 4 news since before Randy Beamer got here.  That might not continue.” — Millie Cooper

“Where is Randy, Delaine and Evy at 5 or 6 on WOAI? Why are they all off at the same time? I didn’t hear any explanation at the start of the broadcast like I usually do. I don’t have a problem with Michael Garofalo, I just miss Randy.” — Diane Migl

They’re definitely not alone in their worry.

Many others have wondered what the heck is going on at WOAI-TVl; Garofalo, usually the morning news anchor, has been subbing in the evenings.

The answer to the mystery? Spring Break.

“Randy Evy and Delaine are all out enjoying spring break with their families. They will be back on Monday,” explained Blaise Labbe, director of news for WOAI/KABB.

Steve Spriester of KSAT’s nightly newscasts also is enjoying the holiday with his family. On Facebook, he mentioned he’s been growing  a “greying vacation beard.”

In fact, “nearly everyone’s out for Spring Break” at KSAT, wrote spokesman David Cuccio. “Back to full staff next week.”

Ditto for anchor Mat Garcia of  KENS-TV’s morning show. According to his Facebook page, he, too, is enjoying the weeklong holiday with his kids. Thursday, for instance, they all had a ball in Gruene. Barry Davis of “Eyewitness Wants to Know” fame has been subbing for him next to Sarah Forgany.

Moreover, KENS’ 6 and 10 p.m. co-anchor Sarah Lucero opted to take off a couple of days to enjoy “our lovely city!” she said.

OK? Boy, S.A.’s newscasters should feel flattered that viewers not only miss them when they’re absent, but take the trouble to send their concerns via email.

Now, Miami television has Rita Verreos — just snapped her up — and though she’s sad to leave her longtime home of the Alamo City, she couldn’t be happier.

Verreos, who first caught our attention when she was chosen to compete on “Survivor” eight years ago, said she has been hired as entertainment news reporter on “Agarrese Quien Pueda” (“Save Yourself if You Can”). It’s on America TeVe, a Spanish language network based in Miami.

Though the Venezuela native officially left S.A. on Sunday, she already has worked the red carpet for the show. Watch her at work here.

She said it’s similar to “E! News” but with some pranking involved. For instance, she explained, “we may be interviewing a senator, but then, suddenly, we’ll take him out of his box to a Zumba class.

“It’s just the next chapter,” Verreos said of her new job. “As you know for years I’ve been trying to get a permanent position in my line of work as a host or anchor on the stations in San Antonio.”

Among her temporary stints were fill-in traffic reporter on KENS and freelance news correspondent on KVDA. “But for whatever reason, it never happened — though I was very consistent in getting freelance work and kept trying because I wanted to stay in this city.”

The primary reason for remaining here the past 10 years? To provide a stable environment for her two children, who are now 18 and 14.

Now that they’re older, and one is about to graduate and head to college soon, Verreos decided it was time to spread her own wings.

OK? We’ll miss you, Rita — your long legs and contagious personality — but send you warm wishes for the television success you’ve been working toward all these years.

Photo: Courtesy

KENS-TV’s Knapp has been missing from her anchor chair the longest, since March 13, and some viewers, such as Joy Hendrix, have e-mailed their concerns.

No worries, mate, as they might say in the Land Down Under, where, in fact, Knapp has spent part of her time away.

Deborah will be back on the air at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday.

She spent her first vacation week visiting her daughter, Alicia, and two grandchildren in Hong Kong, China, where they live. Then, they all packed up for a rustic family jaunt to Australia, the home of koala bears and kangaroos.

Specifically, Knapp and the gang visited Western Australia and stayed in Yallingup —  frolicking on the beach (see photo above) and hiking and exploring the wilds.

As Knapp wrote on her Facebook page, she and the family were amazed to see  kangaroos right outside their front door of their vacation house.

Meanwhile, Pari just returned from her own exotic trip. As she wrote on her KSAT-TV blog, she jetted to Pakistan with the San Antonio Polo Team.

Ursula, who’s right at home on the back of a horse, not to mention in a polo field, explained she was invited to play in a historic match at one of the oldest polo clubs in the world.

“The Lahore Polo Club in Lahore, Pakistan,”  she explained, “is just miles from where the sport was perfected by tribesmen as a form of military training.  We are the guests of the Shah Jewana clan, some of whom live in San Antonio and Houston. We are the first Americans to venture through some of their region so it’s a learning experience for all of us.” Read more of her blog here.

While there, she also attended a beautiful Pakistani wedding, as colorful photos on her Facebook page illustrate.

Pari is now back in her 5 and 6 p.m. anchor chair next to Steve Spriester.

OK? Just figured some of you might appreciate a heads-up on how two of the city’s most popular newscasters have been spending their time in recent weeks.

Photos: Courtesy and SAEN.

“Wheel” airs locally at 6:30  p.m. on KENS-TV.

A press release said Charles Vaith has been a fan of the show for more than 20 years, enjoys collecting records in his spare time and hopes to use his winnings to buy the car of his dreams.

When he heard the “Wheelmobile” — a 36-foot Winnebago that tours nationwide in search of contestants — would be in San Antonio late last year, he was thrilled for the chance to try out.

Vaith will be competing during “Wheel Loves N.Y.” week — a special series of shows that celebrate New York City. During this week, contestants have an opportunity to win once-in-a-lifetime trips and big cash prizes, while experiencing loads of fun moments with “Wheel” stars Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

Watch promo here:

As viewers saw on the popular half-hour — at 6:30 p.m. on KENS-TV — the local lawyer’s 20 years of watching “Wheel” religiously paid off.

He walked away as the night’s champion, winning $31,890 in cash and prizes, including a trip to St. Maarten in the Caribbean and a brand new Nissan car.

His game-playing skills were impressive, despite losing the bonus round (which would have meant another $100,000) and picking up a couple of “bankrupts” when he spun the wheel in early rounds.

Vaith also revealed his preference for partying with friends back home. He likes to hold “scratch” parties, he said. He collects a certain amount of money in advance from those on the guest list and buys a bunch of lottery tickets. “We eat, drink and scratch tickets all night,” he told co-host Pat Sajak and Vanna White. At the end, they all divide the winnings.

Vaith competed during “Wheel Loves N.Y.” week — a special series of shows that celebrates New York City in its various puzzles.