We heard the rumors back in May, but today it's official: chief meteorologist Katie Horner is leaving KCTV Channel 5.
The TV station issued a news release today that gave no firm end date for Horner's KCTV5 career, only saying that she'd be leaving "sometime later in the year."
KCTV5 general manager Bobby Totsch said in a statement that Horner wanted more time to spend with her daughters.
"We have spent a great deal of time talking about her future, and right
now she feels she needs some additional time with her young daughters,"
Totsch said in the statement. "We discussed several options, but we
simply couldn't figure out a way to make it all work. I'm certain her
career as a meteorologist is far from over; it may just be on hold for a
bit."
Horner also was quoted in the statement: "I will miss the day-to-day
excitement that comes with the job and the opportunity to inform our
viewers. I believe all meteorologists play a role in keeping people
feeling safe in severe weather conditions, and I know we have made that a
focus at KCTV over the years. I have met and worked with a lot of great
people in the KC area and I will still be happy to call KC my home. I
will still be around, and hope to be involved with something that allows
me to do what I enjoy and still do what is best for my girls. I just
want to say thank you to all of the viewers who allowed me to come into
their homes each night!"
Interesting quote from news director Blaise Labbe: "Having Katie here awhile longer will allow us some time to plan our
future. In the meantime, we will have a chance to have some fun with
Katie, so stay tuned as the summer unfolds."
Fun? Could Labbe be referring to the Katie Horner Drinking Game? The game was created by Adam Yarbrough one stormy night in 2009 when Horner
interrupted regularly scheduled programming for a marathon
forecast, and I'll take any opportunity to remind readers of it:
The Katie Horner Drinking Game
If
Katie's wearing jeans, it's clearly casual day. All players must be in
their underwear.
If Katie mentions a watch or a warning of any
type, hold tight to your drink and sip nervously.
If Katie tells
you it's hailing in your area, run outside to freshen the ice in your
cup.
If Katie speaks directly to your children, give them a heavy
dose of cough syrup. (If you don't have kids, drink it yourself.)
If
Katie says, "Tonganoxie," everyone passes their drink to the person on
the right and chugs.
If Katie says, "Take cover," top off your
drink. It's gonna be a long night.
If Katie talks about being
scared for your life, chug.
If Katie asks the audience to e-mail
her rainfall totals or storm-damage reports, take a crazy party pic and
send it to her.
If Katie references Newschopper 5, take 5 gulps.
If
Katie announces a tornado warning, fire up the blender and make some
pina coladas.
If Katie talks about Doppler coupling, make out with
the person to your left.
If Katie walks off screen, take a long,
steady chug until she returns.
If Katie talks about peace of mind,
drink.
If Katie tells you that you're in the clear, the game ends.
If
a tornado actually hits your house, move the party to KCTV5 and get
Katie drunk with you!
H/t: The Star.
Showing 1-20 of 20
Katie was our favorite and we miss her. She was our only reason for watching ch news and weather. But we can certainly understand her wanting to spend more time with her young daughters. Hopefully, we will be able to turn on TV weather sometime in the future and find Katie.
she needs to stay away from the northern , southern , eastern, zones, maybe then she would stay focused on the areas around kansas city
I always feel, when there's threatening weather, Katie is in it with me, not watching from the sidelines like many of the others. I'm going to be very sorry to notice her absence, which I will notice, no doubt in my mind...
Thanks, Katie, for a superb job while being here.
Linda in Freeman
Katie is doing her job and she does it well. I am sure the next meteorologist will do the same. Interruptions aren't just her call, it's station protocol.
I liked Katie the best when I moved to Kansas City 12 years ago. I've always liked Mike Thompson's forecasts as well, but I thought Katie's forecasts were the most informative. Brian Busby is a very nice guy, but I've always found his forecasts to be lacking and a bit dry. The problem now with Katie is really KCTV and their brand of sensationalist, yellow journalism. They are tantamount to ambulance chasers. If you put Katie on another channel, she'd have better success, without being drug down by the rest of Channel 5.
I like Karen Fuller. She's the only tolerable newscaster in Kansas City.
Thank God...........Don't let the door hit her on the way out!!
The only reason I watch TV 5, is because of Katie. She`s a GREAT Weather forcaster. I used to to watch TV 9,and turn it to 5 for the weather. But I really started enjoying the News Caster too,so now all I watch is TV 5. If and when Katie leaves,I`d sure like to know where she`s going to go, and what news station she`ll be on. I hate to say it,but,I`ll probably switch statons,cause I`m not really thrilled about the other Guy forcaster. Just because of a few grumpy people,I think you`re making a BIG mistake. Not looking forward to, when she`s gone!!!!!
Sharkbait
Yes, but she's a little weathered if you ask me. Ta-dum-ching!
I dont remember the local news outlets in the 80s / 90s, over analyzing the weather to the extent that they do now!! Its almost comical to watch the local news .
at long last chicken little won't make me take meds for every cloud. bob warrensburg
This is terrible news. Now who am I going to trash talk anonymously in online forums to boost my flagging self esteem? If I'm lucky, maybe her replacement will be a less-than-perfect physical specimen whose looks I can criticize from relative safety.
What's worse, the loss of a drinking game will force me to get plastered on my own initiative.
I've been away from K.C. for a few years now, but it seems like extreme weather events are becoming more the norm there with climate changing...Katie probably realizes that if she keeps working there as a forecaster she is in for more and more long nights for no extra pay...
Why dont they get rid of the overweight and unapealing Karen Fuller. What a dumpy broad.
tv viewers all over the metro area are celebrating.....no more interruptions by katie "chicken litte" horner
like
dislike
