It doesn't seem a week passes by where we're not reporting the depature of some local media figures, so it's nice to report that Joe Schmit will be returning as sports director and main sports anchor for KSTP News.

"Joe was an integral part of our newsroom and we are thrilled he will be back on our team," said news director Lindsay Radford.

We've got a call into Joe. Check back for updates.

UPDATE: Just talked to Joe Schmit, a few hours after signing his new contract with KSTP.

"I missed it," he said. "It's great coming back to the best job I've ever had."

Schmit originally left the station in 2006 to work for Tom Petters. For reasons that should be clear to anyone who reads the daily paper, that job really doesn't exist anymore. Radford asked Schmit out for lunch about a month ago to pick his brain on a few sports subjects. During the meal, she suggested he come back and run the sports department.

Schmit, who was diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago said "he's healthy as a horse" and that the lymphoma has stayed stagnant. He said some safeguards are built into the job in case the disease takes a turn for the worse.

As for Schmit's predecessor, Phil Aldridge, he'll move to weekends until he leaves the station in July. Helping Schmit will be newly hired Chris Long, who formerly worked in Duluth and is currently in Ft. Myers. He joins in mid-February.

Oh, one more bit of news: Schmit's "Sports Wrapup" show will return next Sunday at 10:35 p.m., just in time to analyze the Vikings playoff game.

"I did one better than Brett Favre," Schmit said. "I not only missed training camp, I missed the whole season and get to jump on the bandwagon at the end."