Nancy Naeve to leave KSFY-TV

Longtime television anchor Nancy Naeve is leaving KSFY-TV.

Naeve started her career at the station in 1992. She has anchored every newscast and currently anchors the morning show. She announced her departure on air this morning.

Her last day will be May 15.

Naeve is returning to her native Spencer, Iowa, where she told viewers she is looking for a job.

"I'm moving to go be happy," she said. "I'm excited to start anew."

Co-anchor Shawn Cable praised Naeve for her longevity in the Sioux Falls market, which is rare for many on-air television personalities.

"You're killing me here, you know that?" he said to her on air after the announcement. "I'm going to miss you as we're all going to miss you."

Naeve has been involved in many community organizations, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosting the local portion of its Labor Day telethon for years. She also is a former board member of DakotAbilities, the Food Bank and is an advocate for Feeding South Dakota and the Dakota Dachschund Rescue.

"Nancy has a way of connecting with viewers unlike anyone else in this market," said KSFY president and general manager Jim Berman. "Our success in the mornings is due in large part to her hard work both on the air and behind the scenes. Nancy will be greatly missed."

Naeve made national news last year when she rebuked viewers for calling the station to complain about severe weather coverage cutting into prime time programming.

But most mornings, she took a lighter approach to the job, as she did signing off Thursday.

"I've become a cranky old woman," she joked with viewers on air. "It's time for me to go."