Reporter returns to Local 3 as morning anchor

Reporter and former anchor Michelle Heron h as returned to Local 3 News as a morning anchor, according to a news release from the station.

Heron joined Local 3 as a reporter in 2014 and later led the weekend morning team as the show’s anchor and the station’s senior reporter.

In 2021, Heron left the station to serve as a communication marketing specialist at Parkridge Health System in Chattanooga. On Friday, Heron rejoined Local 3 on the air as a morning anchor alongside Paul Shahen and Alison Pryor.

“I’m glad to be back and cannot wait to get started,” Heron said in the release. “I believe in the importance of local journalism now more than ever. I’m thrilled to play a bigger role at Local 3 and join the team in the mornings, where we know viewers are counting on us.”

During her previous tenure at Local 3, Heron covered some of the region’s major news stories, including the July 16 terrorist attacks, Woodmore Elementary School bus crash and the Easter 2020 tornadoes. Her work with Local 3 earned her regional Edward R. Murrow awards in 2020 and 2021 with the late Lee Broome, chief photographer.

“Michelle’s reporting experience and knowledge of the area will serve the Local 3 viewers well,” Local 3 President and General Manager Callie Starnes said in the release. “I have always been impressed with Michelle’s ability to uncover information and get to the bottom of stories. We’re thrilled to have Michelle back, and we know morning viewers will be, too.”

Local 3 News Director

Megan Roberts also praised Heron, her work and her place in the community in the release.

“Local viewers know and love Michelle,” Roberts said. “Michelle knows what morning viewers need to start their day, breaking news from overnight, traffic reports that help you plan your commute and accurate weather forecasting to take along. She joins a reenergized morning team dedicated to doing that every day.”

Heron’s return to Local 3 comes as Lori Mitchell, a fellow morning news anchor at the station, announced she would depart from Local 3 to relocate to Nashville.

Prior to joining Local 3 in 2014, Heron worked at stations WYMT in Hazard, Kentucky, WKAG in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and WZTV in Nashville. She is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, the release said.

Local 3 viewers can watch Heron weekdays from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Her reports will air throughout the day.

Local 3 News has a partnership with the Chattanooga Times Free Press.