Cindy Matthews Update

Cindy Matthews has achieved her goal – a full-time anchor job.

The Sycamore High School graduate, last seen on Fox 19 last summer subbing during Sheila Gray's maternity leave, has been named 6 and 11 p.m. co-anchor on Youngstown NBC affiliate WFMJ-TV.

Yes, it's starting small, but the Mariemont native told me last May that she figured she would have to move to get a full-time anchor gig. "I'd love to stay and work in my hometown, but I know it's fairly likely I'll have to move somewhere else," she said.

Her Channel 19 stint came nearly a year after she subbed on Channel 9 during Kathrine Nero's maternity leave in summer 2006. Between the two local TV jobs, she spent most of a year traveling to Cambodia, Thailand, Los Angeles, Seattle, and to see her mom in Florida.

On Youngstown's Channel 21, Matthews will be paired with Bob Black. He had been working without a permanent co-anchor since Autumn Ziemba left the station last spring.

Word of her Youngstown job comes from Dave Sess, a 1982 Colerain High School graduate who anchors at 6 and 11 p.m. on Youngstown's CBS affiliate, WKBN-TV (Channel 27).