Barney Lerten

Barney Lerten is the face of KTVZ.COM and has been seen often on KTVZ and KFXO in the past, offering his unique perspective in commentaries entitled “Leave itto Barney.” Barney serves as Digital Content Director for KTVZ.COM and helps the newsroom in a variety of ways, from writing to editing and generating dozens of story ideas a day, as well as moderating our busy online comments community. He joined NewsChannel 21 in February 2005. Barney has been a journalist since the second grade (a product called the “Room 210 Tooter,”) a professional reporter for 30 years and a Central Oregon newsman since 1991. Barney, a graduate of Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., spent 14 years with United Press International in Portland and San Francisco, then nine years with The Bulletin before a unique 5-year stint reporting for the Website Bend.com. He lives in southeast Bend with his wife Debbie and their two fun-loving cats, Salem and Buddy. You can reach Barney at blerten@ktvz.com.