Career
Lemon joined WGAL in 1979, which was her lifelong dream to work there. She was hired to replace TV pioneer Marijane Landis as the Weekend Weather Girl on Sunday nights when Landis passed the torch to her. [3] It was during that time that Landis would be a mentor and friend to her (Kim would always remember how Marijane Landis' influence and legacy landed her at WGAL). After 9 months as a reporter and Morning News Anchor, she was named the first WGAL co-host of the syndicated national show "PM Magazine" (the show where not only did she travel around the Susquehanna Valley but also traveled worldwide. It all became some of her most memorable stories, fueling her desire to enjoy traveling) in 1980, while anchoring the weekend news. [4]
In 1985, Lemon's big break came when she permanently returned to the news department full-time and became co-anchor of the number one-rated News 8 at 6, and since then, she has been a long-serving anchor at WGAL. She co-anchored with Dick Hoxworth, Keith Martin, Wayne Herman, Brad Hicks, Ron Martin (a partnership that would endure the longest), and Danielle Woods. Lemon would anchor newscasts covering the most fascinating stories throughout her tenure, including numerous major stories, weather events, and breaking news, since she began at WGAL. She covered the Camp Hill State Prison Riots at State Correctional Institution - Camp Hill, the September 11 attacks (which on the first anniversary of 9/11 in D.C., she was asked by then Governor Mark Schweiker to emcee the ceremony), the West Nickel Mines School shooting, the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the COVID-19 pandemic. She met and interviewed dozens of people, from boxer Muhammad Ali, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to music legends Julio Iglesias, and Huey Lewis. She was even an emcee for dozens of Susquehanna Valley public events, which she couldn't refuse when asked to do so.
She also covered new ground when she did a WGAL Chronicle called "Chronicle: The Power of Prayer", where she interviewed leaders of different faiths, including protected nuns and an Imam. It was from this special that Kim found it important, which stretched her boundaries personally and professionally, and it made her proud of how her work on the special stood out. [5]
On November 5, 2021, Lemon announced her retirement from WGAL online and on TV near the end of News 8 at 6 with her final broadcast set on the day before Thanksgiving (one of her favorite holidays). [6] In the 2 weeks leading up to her retirement, WGAL honored Kim for her 42 years with some of her most memorable stories and how she was the most trusted voice to viewers in their living rooms for her hard work, integrity, and excellence. [7] She retired from WGAL on November 24, 2021. [8]
In retirement, Lemon continues as a role model in public events, resting and spending more time with her family. She returned to WGAL when she was interviewed as one of the women nominated and honored for the Women of Distinction Life Skills of 2022. [9] She returned to WGAL again to help celebrate the station's 75th anniversary with other former WGAL anchors. [10]
Awards and recognitions
Lemon is the recipient of 12 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, Associated Press Awards, and the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Awards, among other awards she has received. A year after she retired, Lemon was inducted into the WGAL Hall of Fame for her work of 42 years at WGAL and her commitment to the Susquehanna Valley. [11] She was also committed personally and professionally to raising money for the Children's Miracle Network, The Salvation Army, The Silent Samaritans, and the most important one, The Extraordinary Give.
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