The early part of 2006 marked a significant transition period for "First Coast News". Primary co-anchor Alan Gionet, who had anchored the 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. anchor for eight years, announced in October 2005 that he would be leaving the station the following year; Gionet was later hired by CBS owned-and-operated station KCNC-TV in Denver (where he had previously served as an anchor and reporter) in November 2005, and left WTLV/WJXX in March 2006. The stations' general manager, Ken Tonning, said he received hundreds of applications for the position and had also considered hiring from within its on-air staff. Seven potential applicants were brought in and filmed with 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. anchor Jeannie Blaylock and 11:00 p.m. anchor Donna Hicken (later known as Donna Deegan after her marriage to chief meteorologist Tim Deegan in October 2007), with focus groups being brought in to critique each one. On March 28, 2006, the station announced the hiring of Shannon Ogden, anchor of New England Cable News's "Good Morning Live", as Gionet's replacement. During the period between Gionet's departure and Ogden's arrival, "First Coast News" reporter Kyle Meenan anchored with Blaylock and Hicken beginning on April 10, 2006.