It's a big day in Erie broadcast history. On April 24, 1954, WSEE signed on the air, becoming the second TV station in the Erie market.

After forging an agreement with WICU, WSEE aired its final newscast from its Peach Street home in 2009, bringing its excellent news history to our family.

Across 70 years and with a wealth of talent, WSEE-TV has made a meaningful impact in the tri-state region and launched some impressive broadcast careers.

Steve Scully, host of "The Briefing with Steve Scully" on Sirius XM's POTUS channel and former C-SPAN political editor, is among the most notable.

When big news happened, WSEE excelled. Pierre Bellicini was part of the entourage that traveled to China with Erie Mayor Lou Tullio in 1985. Connie Moser covered the time a U.S. Airways DC-9 landing in Erie skidded off the runway, crashing across Asbury Rd.

Lisa Zompa, who graced the airwaves from 1988 to 2005, said it was a culture of commitment to news and community that made WSEE and Newswatch 35 tick.

"Everyone cared about the stories, cared about getting it right, cared about being objective," said Zompa. "We were the school of Carroll Pella, so it was hard work, getting both sides of the story and just a commitment to be the best we could."

Zompa listed off the talent that surrounded her - from Phil Fatica, Gary Drapcho, and Tim Earll to the team of Zompa, Don Shriver, Drapcho and legendary weatherman Joey Stevens.

Ray Petelin, now the main meteorologist at KDKA in Pittsburgh, grew up in Ashtabula watching Joey Stevens.

"I grew up watching Joey Stevens when I was a kid," said Petelin. "Then, you get to meet these people and work with these people in a place that has been a part of your whole life. That says something."

WSEE was about breaking new ground in broadcasting, too, becoming the first to go live.

"We started going live at 'We Love Erie Days,'" said Zompa. "That's what it was called then. We were up on the deck of the dock and did some wonderful reports."

The station has been a place that let broadcasters - from fantastic writer Scott Bremner to personable Petelin - be themselves.

"[It's] a place that allowed me to be myself on air and try things and different ways to connect with people," said Petelin. "I was able to slide down I-79 to Pittsburgh from Erie."

WSEE shifted its news into our studios, bringing its broadcast excellence into the blended Erie News Now family, and we're glad they did.