MILWAUKEE — It is with sad hearts that we announce Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Jesse Ritka's departure from TMJ4 News.
On Friday, Ritka will work her last shift with TMJ4 before her family packs up and moves to Fargo, North Dakota.
Ritka has been with TMJ4 for nearly a decade, and we are sad to see her go but wish her the best in her future endeavors.
We want to take a moment and thank Jesse for all the wonderful memories. We will sure miss her smiling face around the station.
Ritka broke the news of her departure on her Facebook and during our newscast Sunday night. Here's what she had to say:
The clouds rain when things get too heavy... and it is with a heavy heart, and a few tears that I finished my last Sunday night weather-cast here in Milwaukee.
My family and I are moving to Fargo, ND which is just across the river from my home state of Minnesota. This will put us closer to family and give us more time to spend together as well.
I'd like you all to know how much I appreciate your viewership, weather questions (please keep sending those my way), and your acceptance of me into your homes and phones to deliver the forecast over the last (almost) decade.
I really am amazed at all of the wonderful and kind people I've met at Summerfest, State Fair, out working on science stories and riding across southeastern Wisconsin in the Storm Chaser.
Major shout out to all the teachers, administrators and home schoolers who have had me come do weather talks.
I'm so grateful for all of the attendees at Weather Day at Miller Park and Science Day with the Milwaukee Bucks, those were some of my favorite days of "work" and I've been so humbled by the amount of kids interested in science and weather who have tried out some of the experiments.
We will miss Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin dearly but cherish the memories. And don't worry, I will never stop cheering for the Packers!
