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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Former WLWT-TV Anchor Mark Hayes Back In Atlanta

Mark Hayes

Anchor Mark Hayes, who left WLWT-TV in August,has returned to Atlanta, where he and his family lived for 10 years.

While anchoring mornings at Atlanta's WAGA-TV, his wife Latonya spent five years as a prosecutor in suburban Atlanta, he says in an email.

"My wife had been working in Atlanta for the past year, and it was a real strain on our family," says Hayes, who lived in West Chester Township while working three years at WLWT-TV.  Branden J. Frantz, Channel 5 general manager, told me last month that Hayes "left the WLWT newsroom to pursue other future assignments."

Hayes says he's focusing on his new Mark Hayes Consulting business providing motivational speaking, brand management and media training. "It's actually taking off quite well for me," he says.

"I'm also working with a very progressive company to help with the treatment of chronic pain and CTE, and it may be promising for anti opioid addiction treatment as well," he writes, referring to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease found in athletes, military veterans and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma.

"The company is called Pro IV Drip Fusion. I've got a lot going on, and I'm looking forward to speaking to as many groups as possible about the opioid addiction and the ripple effect on families. Far too many families, even mine, have suffered because of it, and my purpose is to help families avoid that pain," he says.

When Hayes left, Channel 5 hired by Mollie Lair, who reports and co-anchors weekends with Courtis Fuller.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.