Veteran broadcaster Marcus Walter will join Eyewitness News anchor Whitney Martin and meteorologist Joey Marino starting Thursday. (Photo provided by WTVO 17/FOX 39)
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Rock River Current

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ROCKFORD — Eyewitness News has named a new morning anchor for its shows on WTVO 17 and FOX 39.

Veteran broadcaster Marcus Walter joins Eyewitness News anchor Whitney Martin and meteorologist Joey Marino starting Thursday.

“I’m very excited to be stepping into a morning news anchor role and hope to connect with and be of service to the stateline,” Walter said in a news release. “I hope to be a calming and clear presence when big news occurs in the region.”

Related: Why local reporting matters and how you can support Rockford area news sources

Walter joined Eyewitness News on a freelance basis in spring as fill-in meteorologist. As morning anchor, he fills the role of Elliot Grandia, who left late last year for a job with FOX 17 in West Michigan near his hometown.

Walter started his television career working behind-the-scenes at ABC’s “Good Morning America” in New York City. He then shifted to being an on-camera meteorologist, working for television stations and media companies in Cleveland, Denver, Baltimore and, most recently, Louisiana.

“We’re very excited to have Marcus on the air every weekday morning. People want to wake up and get their news and weather from people they like,” Eyewitness News News Director Matt McConico said. “From the moment he debuted on our air, he had a connection with our audience.”

“Marcus is a consummate professional with an endearing personality who will resonate with our morning audience,” said Michael Silecchia, vice president and general manager, in a news release.

Eyewitness News airs from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on WTVO 17 and 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on FOX 39. News and weather updates air throughout the morning during ABC’s “Good Morning America, LIVE!,” “The View” and Rachael Ray.

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