Tony Cipolla signs off early from KSBY

May 28, 2010

Tony Cipolla has apparently left the building.

Karen Daniels Cipolla announced–on Facebook–that her husband, the veteran KSBY news anchor, has decided to leave his job sooner than originally announced.

Cipolla’s wife wrote a message to her Facebook Friends on Friday, saying, “ALERT.  Tony and KSBY have mutually agreed that TONIGHT will be his last night at the station. He will do the 5:00 and the 6:00-7:00 newscasts before his final sign-off. If you get a chance, please watch. Thank you for all your support.”

Cipolla was scheduled to do his final broadcast on Thursday, June 3.

As widely reported, Cipolla is leaving KSBY after 20 years, following a contract dispute with station management after they requested another salary cut. Sources indicate that general manager Evan Pappas wanted to slash the anchor’s annual salary from $160,000 down to $110,000.

Jeanette Trompeter will continue to anchor the KSBY evening news segments. Richard Gearhart has been named interim co-anchor.