FROM THE CONGRATULATORY FILE

I4J wants to add it's voice to the many extending congratulations to WFLA-TV 8 nighttime co-anchor Gayle Sierens on her 30th anniversary with the station. Mrs. Sierens has accomplished much during her broadcasting career, including moonlighting doing play-by-play duties for ESPN and a shot in television history as the first woman to ever do PBP for a National Football League game.

I'm sure that Gayle has had opportunities brought before her to leave in favour of fatter network paychecks, but she obviously loves the Tampa Bay area and the security of NewsChannel 8. In an industry where an old saying says "you're hired to be fired", being at one station for three decades is nearly unheard of today.

Mrs. Sierens' co-anchor, Bob Hite, will mark his 30th anniversary with WFLA this summer.