Good move for WKRC-TV, and for Wells, who held a similar position at Fox19 until July, when the station cut a second full-time sports anchor/reporter out of the budget. The Denver native can stay in the city he loves, where his children were born, and do the job he loves, covering sports. And Ch 12 gets an experienced, talented, versatile reporter to replace Tara Pachmayer, who was fired in July. Wells started filling in on Ch 12 just days after his 3-year contract ended with WXIX-TV.

“We are excited to have him on board,” says Elbert Tucker, Ch 12 news director. Hiring Wells could be one of Tucker’s last personnel decisions. His last day is tomorrow. He starts next week as news director at WBNS-TV in Columbus. (No word yet on Tucker’s replacement to run Local 12 news.)