Demetria Kalodimos says WSMV got rid of her with a letter left on her desk -- and no thanks

Demetria Kalodimos expressed disappointment with WSMV Monday, taking issue with the station's version of how she and Channel 4 split, and calling it "quite sad to end a nearly 34 year career the way this company chose to end it."

Kalodimos said in a statement the end came "with a letter left on a desk, no conversation, no face to face meeting, no thanks."

Her latest contract expired Dec. 31.

The veteran anchor also said there was no real offer to extend her contract as WSMV asserted, just an offer for two more weeks "so that the station could create the illusion that I retired."

Kalodimos' statement came just a few hours after WSMV sent a release to the Tennessean saying Kalodimos gave "no timely responses" to the station's offer of "an extension of her contract for the purpose of discussions."

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Station manager Dale Woods and news director Denise Eck didn't respond immediately to an email asking for response to Kalodimos' statement.

The station, in its statement, said it would not be "appropriate to comment further on personnel matters."

WSMV added, "Nevertheless, we expect to enjoy and applaud her future creations through her production company and other endeavors."

The split comes about five weeks after Kalodimos was named as a witness in an age discrimination suit filed by three former Channel 4 employees, Dennis Ferrier, Jennifer Johnson and Nancy Van Camp.

In that suit, the plaintiffs alleged that managers have exposed veteran anchor Kalodimos — who is not a plaintiff in the suit — to "many acts of age-based discrimination and hostility."

Those acts include "public berating" and "ridicule," spreading false rumors that Kalodimos would be retiring soon and referring to the veteran anchor as an "old maid," according to the lawsuit.

► MORE: Suit alleges Demetria Kalodimos ridiculed, called "old maid" by bosses

► MORE: Bob Mueller slaps Channel 4 over handling of Demetria Kalodimos

Paul Karpowicz, president of Meredith Local Media Group, which owns WSMV, maintained that the claims are without merit. He denied that anyone at the station was mistreated or discriminated against.

The general manager and news director at the station's helm during the time when the lawsuit alleges discrimination and mistreatment no longer work at WSMV.

A week or so after the lawsuit was filed, Kalodimos -- on vacation -- came in to work to cover a parole hearing. After the hearing, she got a text message from the news director to pick up something important, which turned out to be a letter saying her contract wouldn't be renewed.

Much later that night, without any explanation to colleagues, Kalodimos cleaned out her belongings at her desk and a storage area.

The next day, news director Eck held a meeting to tell staffers Kalodimos still worked at the station and that Eck had no idea why Kalodimos had cleaned out her work areas.

That move confused colleagues and drew a rebuke to Channel 4 from longtime News 2 anchor Bob Mueller on Facebook.

“It would be the height of disrespect if the last time Demetria exits Ch4 is at 2 in the morning through the back door with a box of memories from her 33 years of service," Mueller wrote, but took down the post several hours later.

WSMV anchor Tracy Kornet will be "expanding her role" at the station, the press release said, but it's unclear whether she is the permanent replacement for Kalodimos.

As for Kalodimos, she said in her statement that she hopes to remain a working journalist in Nashville.

"I love my work, I respect my colleagues and I am very skilled at my profession," she wrote.

"I have absolutely no intention to retire at this point in my life. There is no reason for me to cease earning a living in the field I have studied and trained for ... Stay tuned."

Kalodimos is the latest of several veterans to leave Channel 4. Rudy Kalis retired late last year after 43 years at the station, most on the sports desk.

The age-discrimination lawsuit plaintiffs had decades of combined service from Van Camp, Johnson, now the Wilson County schools spokeswoman, and Ferrier, now a Fox 17 reporter.

Channel 4 also recently laid off the actor, Steven Good, who played and provided the voice for station mascot Snowbird for 24 years.

And the station got bombarded with complaints last year when it replaced popular morning meteorologist Paul Heggen -- who has since left Channel 4 to go to another market -- with Daphne DeLoren.

In her statement, Kalodimos noted the changes by saying:

"Longtime and loyal viewers need no explanation of what’s been happening at WSMV, a once lauded 'legacy' television station."

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.