Jeff Korbelik: Ken Siemek at 30 years and counting at KOLN (2024)

By JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star

Lincoln CBS affiliate KOLN/KGIN-TV hired Ken Siemek as an intern30 years ago. The meteorologist said his job duties then includedsweeping the studio and taking out the garbage after the 10 p.m.newscast.

"Not much has changed," Siemek joked.

Seriously, a lot did change for him. The next year Siemek beganbroadcasting the weather on weekends, and in May 1986, he took overfor Linda Beermann as 10/11's full-time weather person.

He met his wife, former news anchor Deb Collins, at the station.They have a 13-year-old son, Parker.

Today, he is arguably Lincoln's best-known TV personality and atrusted source for weather information.

He is to Lincoln now what legendary newsman Mel Mains was 30years ago when Siemek was cutting his broadcasting teeth.

"When I started, I teased Mel all the time," the 52-year-oldSiemek said. "I'm the old one now. I've become Mel, with theyounger guys nipping at my heels a little bit. I really appreciatehow cool Mel was to put up with me."

To celebrate his 30 years, I asked Siemek to list five memorablepeople, things or events during his career so far. This is what hecame up with, in no particular order:

* Hallam tornado, May 22, 2004. Incrediblypowerful (F4, 200 to 250 mph winds), destructive and WIDE. Believedto be 2½ miles wide at one point. If that twister would have hitLincoln instead of Hallam and outlying areas, catastrophicdamage.

* October 1997 snowstorm. I will never forgetthe sounds of the tree limbs CRACKING down in the middle of thenight -- scary and incredible at the same time. Deb was eightmonths pregnant with Parker ... so that helped!

* Technological advances. Computer graphics,Nexrad Doppler Radar, storm-based warnings, etc., and the new mediaand our ever-ongoing and endless effort to get all manner of newsand weather to the Web, to your phone, etc. We Facebook and tweetuntil the cows come home. The Internet is never tired, never sleepsand has a voracious appetite.

Back in the early '80s, I came in and produced and delivered oneweathercast at 6 p.m. and another at 10 p.m., needing eight hoursto get that done each day. Now, we have radio forecasts (four),updated webchannel forecasts (six to 12), 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 p.m.newscasts every day as well as morning and evening shows on theweekend.

Back in the day, if you had "equipment failure," it meant theMagic Marker you used to draw on the big U.S. and Nebraska maps hadrun out of ink. Now, a power hit to your computer system at anytime has you contemplating retirement or heavy drinking.

* Working with Mel Mains. He probably has moreto do with my career at 10/11 than anyone. I appreciated hisprofessionalism, his work ethic and his sense of humor. A news iconfor Nebraska in his 34-year career, he allowed me to be me andshowed me what this broadcasting business was all about.

* Nebraska viewers. Their kindness and supportof me for these past 30 years has been remarkable, and I willalways treasure that. With all that has changed in 30 years, onething has not: Serving the viewer to the best of your ability isthe key to sustained success. I have been blessed to have had thatopportunity for so long.

Around the dial

* Lincoln ABC affiliate KLKN-TV will replace Brittany Jefferswith a familiar face: Former reporter Erika Summers is returning tothe station to take over as morning and midday anchor, beginningOct. 19.

Summers has been a reporter at Omaha CBS affiliate KMTV sinceleaving KLKN in September 2008. She worked as a reporter at KLKNfor 2½ years before leaving for the Omaha station.

* KOLN has lost two Stephs in the past month.

Reporter Stephani Ruiz left Sept. 9 to become a reporter for theweekday morning show on ABC affiliate KGUN 9-TV in Tucson, Ariz.Ruiz, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, had been at 10/11since December 2010.

Friday was Stephanie Ortmann's last day. The weekendmeteorologist is heading to ABC affiliate WRTV in Indianapolis,Ind. She came to 10/11 in October 2009 from KPTV in Portland,Ore.