I write this blog today to wish my good friend, Bill Martens well on his new adventures in Madison.  Today (Friday 8/29) is our web producer/director (former DayBreak/Noon anchor) Bill Martens' last day after 5 years of great work at WSAW.   Everyday you read www.wsaw.com , you are reading the AWARD WINNING work of Bill Martens.

I've known Bill (Billy Bob as I call him) for just about 5 years now... and remember one of the first times that I met this dude.... it was after Friday Night Football Games ... he was working at ch. 7 and I was still working with the "other" guys.  In any case, there was a large group of us sitting around a table at a local establishment... playing trivia and relaxing after a hard night of shooting football highlights.   We would play trivia against each other (about 10 of us) and see who could win the most games.... and this dude (Bill) kept winning most of those games.  I remember going over to talk him a bit and see if I could throw him off his game a bit... so I could win one of those trivia games.  After 5 minutes of chatting with this guy, I knew he was cool, since he is a fellow Steelers Fan.... and that he is a weather nerd like me.  LOL

My first experience of working with him came in May 2006... when I first started on DayBreak.  In addition, I also got to work the Noon Show with him, in which I would always try to talk him in to running and doing news stories on car chases... because I am fascinated with people that are dumb enough to try and run from the law.  I could usually talk him in to at least considering it for the shows... LOL

Just an FYI...   I'm always trying to mimic his deep voice on the station's PA system.  I have a tough time hitting notes that low... but know Bill, I will continue that tradition even when you're gone.

Bill is moving on to greener pastures to move on to Madison, get married in October, and pursue other opportunities outside of television.  I wish him and his future wife (Katie) all the best in their lives together.