Networks of Mid-Missouri general manager Curtis Varns has served as assignment editor, news director and now general manager at the stations, which includes KMIZ Channel 17 and Fox-22. Mr. Varns joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Varns grew up in western Missouri’s Drexel and is a sixth-generation Bates County resident. His family still lives in the Drexel, Butler and Appleton City areas. Mr. Varns tells listeners he originally wanted to do play-by-play and also wanted to be a journalist, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993. He has served at KMIZ as assignment editor, then news director for 15 years and has been the general manager since 2015. Mr. Varns says station research shows mid-Missourians want to hear about weather, particularly severe weather, along with public safety stories. He also emphasizes the importance of covering the courts and accountability. Host Parry and Mr. Varns also discussed some of the general managers at KMIZ over the years, including Pat Dalby, Carlos Fernandez, Randy Wright and Regina Moon. Mr. Varns emphasizes the importance of the news product, mentioning digital manager Matt Sanders, anchor Lucas Geisler and assistant news director Katie Greathouse Geisler, among others. Mr. Varns also discussed MeTV and programs it airs like “Bonanza”, the “Rifleman” and “Gunsmoke”: