Longtime WLOS reporter Russ Bowen announced late on the evening of Jan. 3 via his Facebook page that he's leaving his post Feb. 8 in favor of a job at KOMO-TV in Seattle. Here's his message via Facebook:

I'm so excited to finally be able to share some exciting news! I'm heading to Seattle. I'll be the new weekend co-anchor for KOMO-TV. My last day at WLOS is Feb 8th and I leave for Seattle Feb 10th! I can't thank you all enough for being such wonderful friends and viewers. Western North Carolina and everyone who lives here will always have a special place in my heart....

Judging from the hundreds of responses from his Facebook friends, Bowen will be missed. Here's more on him from his WLOS bio page

RUSS BOWEN first came to News 13 in July of 2000. Russ is a co-anchor for News 13 on My40 at 10pm and reports daily for News 13. Before that, he served as anchor for the Saturday and Sunday editions of News 13 at 6pm and 11pm. He started at WLOS as Bureau Chief of the Western Carolina News Center.

Russ broke the story to the nation about a mountain preacher who told his congregation if they voted for John Kerry they needed to "come to the altar and repent or resign". He was also the first reporter to ever step inside the controversial Washington DC townhouse where several members of congress live. It's better known as C Street House.

Russ is no stranger to the Tar Heel state. He grew up in Eastern North Carolina. He came to the mountains from WCTI-TV in New Bern. Russ is an 9 time Emmy Award Winner. He's won four N.C. Associated Press Awards. He's been honored by the North Carolina Chapter of Mother's Against Drunk Drivers and Veteran's of Foreign Wars.

He has a BA from UNC-Wilmington in Mass Communication and a BA in Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism from UNC-Greensboro where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.