Veteran NBC10 anchor Tim Lake worked his last shift at the station Friday night, though you wouldn't have known it had you seen the 11 p.m. newscast.
Lake, whose contract was not renewed, sources tell us, made no reference to leaving the station, where he had worked for 20 years.
News Director Anzio Williams emailed staff around 11:55 Friday night to say "I would like to thank Tim Lake for his many years of service as a reporter and anchor at NBC10. Today was Tim's last day. We wish him well in the future. A search for a new anchor is underway."
We're told Lake knew for several months that his contract was not being renewed by the station, but that Williams' announcement blindsided most of his colleagues.
Sources say they expect management to do more housecleaning of on-air talent, in addition to recent firings of writers, producers and other off-air staffers.
Lake had co-anchored the 6 and 11 p.m. news with Renee Chenault-Fattah for 11 years.
Reached at home Sunday, Lake declined comment. An NBC10 spokeswoman confirmed Lake is no longer with the station but would not provide any additional details, or say why Lake's departure was not referenced on air.