Although WABI received applications from all across the country, the Bangor station stayed nearby when selecting its new co-anchor.

Denise Keniston, who had been co-anchor at Bangor’s WVII, has been chosen to replace Kim Vatis, who is departing in search of a TV news job in a bigger market. Priscilla Monti will replace Keniston as co-anchor at WVII.

Keniston attended Bangor High School and was a member of several sports teams, including an Eastern Maine champion basketball team. She graduated with honors from the University of Southern Maine. She worked at WGME in Portland and KAPP in Yakima, Wash., before coming to WVII.

“Denise’s knowledge of the area will help us greatly as we do our job of reporting about the people and events of eastern and central Maine,” said Don Colson, WABI news director and co-anchor. “It’s particularly nice to pick up a Maine resident once again.”

Keniston begins work at WABI on Monday, but the date of transition is less certain. Vatis has told Colson she will be leaving by the end of August.

“This is a day of contradicting emotions,” said Colson. “Earlier this year, Kim told me she intended to move on. We tried hard to find a way to entice her to stay, even for a few more months, but she has decided it’s time. Frankly, I agree that she is certainly talented enough to move on, but I still hate to see her leave.”

Colson took three months, and looked through 105 applications and tapes before naming Keniston. One other woman had previously been lined up to replace Vatis. Amy Hasten, from a station in Paducah, Ky., had signed with WABI, but she bought out her contract to take a job as weekend meteorologist with KUSA in Denver.

“I can understand that,” said Colson, who had formerly worked in a major market, San Antonio. “Young people with visions of working at the networks get found in the larger markets.”

Vatis leaves Bangor two years after replacing Felicia Knight, who moved on to WGME in Portland. Colson admits turnover is a problem in the upwardly mobile business of broadcast news.

“I have toyed with the idea of hiring lesser qualified people, because of the turnover,” said Colson, who has been a news director for 15 years. “But it doesn’t work. So you hire the best you can and most of them move on to improve their situations.”

Monti becomes WVII co-anchor after a year at the station. Previously, she had worked at WDME radio in Dover-Foxcroft.

“She’s an experienced news person who’s proven herself,” said Tim Gaier, WVII news director. “She has earned a chance. I’m very comfortable with her as anchor.”