Bob Solarski is a news anchor for WEAR-TV who hosts the station's 6pm and 10pm evening news broadcasts.
| Bob Solarski | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | News anchor |
| Spouse | Jennifer Solarski |
| Children | Daughter Erika, twins |
A native of Long Island, Solarski was raised in upstate New York, near Montreal, Lake Placid and Burlington, Vermont. He received a degree in Mass Comminications from the State University of New York and in 1987 began reporting for WPTZ, the NBC affiliate for Plattsburgh and the surrounding area. He became a news anchor and managing editor in 1989 and received a number of Associated Press Awards.
Joining the WEAR team in March 1994, Solarski hosted "This Week with Bob Solarski" until 1995, as well as a live call-in show called "Extra" from 2003 to 2006. He has interviewed politicians including President Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, Mario Cuomo and other state and national figures, and has received several Florida Associated Press Awards for his work, including Best Editorial Feature and News Magazine.
On October 1, 2008, Solarski was arrested for driving under the influence, in addition to several other charges. According to witnesses and police, Solarski caused damage to several vehicles in the parking lot of the Sears Auto Center at University Mall. On open bottle of vodka was discovered in the vehicle, and he later registered a 0.296 and 0.30 percent blood alcohol level on two separate breath tests. (The legal limit in Florida is 0.08 percent.) Solarski was also charged with driving with an open container, leaving the scene of an accident with damage, criminal mischief and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.[1]
On October 21, 2008, Solarski pleaded guilty to the charges of DUI, driving with an open container, and resisting arrest. The other charges were dropped by the State Attorney prior to the hearing. Escambia County Judge Joyce Williams sentenced Solarski to one year of probation, a one-year license revocation, $2,300 in fines, 50 hours of community service and first-offender DUI school. Solarski must also attend two drunken-driving impact panels and have an interlock ignition device installed for one year.
According to a WEAR statement, Solarski will remain off the air as he “progresses through treatment".
References
- ↑ "Bob Solarski arrested." Pensacola News Journal, October 2, 2008.