COMEBACK KEITH.18 News's Katie Phernetton and Nick Tabbert announced their plans to move on from the station at the end of 2026. As of Jan. 16, we know who folks can expect to see during the evening news – including a familiar face. (Submitted photo, left to right: Cooper Wild, Jessica Djukic, Keith Edwards, Matt Schaefer)

WQOW News 18 is welcoming some new folks to its evening news team alongside a familiar face: Keith Edwards will be back at the 5, 6 and 10pm anchor slots beginning Monday, Jan. 19.

In a media release shared Jan. 16, the local ABC affiliate announced Edwards’ return and introduced the folks joining the local news team – following the recent departure of longtime anchor and journalist, Katie Phernetton, and Nick Tabbert, former sports director.

WQOW saw the loss of a number of its team members at the tail-end of 2024 as a result of Allen Media Group's 'cost-cutting measures.' Among those staffers was Edwards, one of the Valley's longest-serving, lauded local journalists and broadcast anchors.

“Our viewers are already familiar with Keith's trusted voice and commitment to our community, so we know they'r excited to see him back on our nightly newscasts,” 18 News Director Kristen Shill said.

“I’m extremely excited for this opportunity. To be able to continue to work with such a dedicated team of journalists and editors is a privilege and I’m excited just to get back to work,” Edwards shared in the release. “The viewers’ trust means everything to me, and I promise to keep bringing them the same insightful and engaging stories the 18 News Team and I always strive for.”

Jessie Djukic, formerly of WFJW in Rhinelander, will also join the team as evening anchor. She earned her broadcast journalism degree from Ohio’s Kent State University and has previous experience anchoring, producing and reporting at KODE-TV (Joplin, MO), KJRH-TV (Tulsa, OK) and KAUZ-TV (Wichita Falls, TX).

Cooper Wild, formerly of WAOW-TV in Wausau, is WQOW’s new sports director. Wild, who has family in the Chippewa Valley, earned his degree in sports communication from UW-Green Bay and was a multimedia journalist in Wausau.

“These three, along with 18 Storm Track Chief Meteorologist Matt Schaefer, will make an excellent team, one we know our viewers will be excited to tune into every night,” Shill said. “They’re going to be a lot of fun to watch.”

Welcome to the community, folks – and welcome back, Keith.

See the new evening news team beginning Jan. 19 on channel 18 • Learn more about WQOW online