"The appetite for local news is incredible," said Spencer. "To satisfy our viewers, our signal has to be equally as strong in the far corners of Iron County as it is in downtown St. George. Although our research is grounded in Iron and Washington counties, we also reach Price, Kanab, Moab and Delta. It's even possible for us to go into Wendover and parts of Arizona."

Lead anchor Tamara Lee is a Southern Utah University graduate, as is reporter Russell Wilde. Sports anchor Nate Dowdle is a University of Utah alumnus, while reporter Aapree Hancey is a southern Utah native who graduated from Brigham Young University this year.

The only real outsider is weather anchor Adam Stiles, a graduate of Washington State University, whose enthusiasm for southern Utah doesn't end with the area's great weather.

"We're cultivating a TV experience here," said Stiles, who spends much of his free time at one of the city's nine golf courses. "We're making a concerted effort to give our viewers what they want."

And people are beginning to take notice, said Lee, who also reports and produces special prime time programs.

"People want this station to succeed," she said. "We have a lot of cheerleaders. People are watching us, they know we're here."

Working at a fairly young station like KCSG-TV gives the staff a chance to really shine, said Stiles.

"It's nice. We can cater to our viewers' needs, and we're not stuck in a format," he said. "We're very much open to suggestions. We're doing it all for the community."

Among the highlights planned for KCSG weather watchers, said Stiles, is a service called "my backyard forecast," which delivers weather reports focused on a viewer's street address.

Plans also include several prime time town hall meetings on upcoming local election issues, a special series on the growing pains facing area cities and towns and unique stories on southern Utah's immigrant communities.

KCSG-TV can be seen on cable channel 6, on channels 4 and 16 over the air, and on DISHNetwork channel 37. The station's Web site is kcsg.com.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com