One of the most familiar voices on the Twin Cities radio dial, Mary Lucia announced on air Wednesday afternoon that she is taking a leave of absence from 89.3 the Current. A candid open letter posted on the station's website says she's making the hard decision after she was harassed by a stalker at both her work and home.

"My life over the last year has involved a series of restraining orders, seemingly endless calls to 911, the installation of security cameras at home, and police photo ID line-ups," Lucia wrote in the blunt, descriptive manner that has made her a favorite of Twin Cities rock listeners going back to her '90s stint at REV-105. "I've been constantly looking over my shoulder, dead-bolting doors, and jumping when someone rings my doorbell or my motion lights go off."

Lucia alluded to her pending leave as her usual afternoon shift wound down Wednesday. After spinning teeth-clenched hard-rock tracks by Joan Jett and Motorhead, she said, "Things out of my control have taken away all my power this year," but she promised to fight on with the force of those two personally beloved artists.

Her letter ended with a similar strong will to return soon. She wrote: "Just know that I will be back, at The Current, and soon. I mean, come on. Someone's gotta play Rick Springfield and En Vogue weekdays at 4 p.m. and Motorhead on Friday nights."

It's unclear how long Lucia will be out of pocket. In the interim, her afternoon shift will be covered by a rotation cast of Bill DeVille, David Campbell and Jim McGuinn.

The Current's on-air lineup will be unusually mixed up over the next few weeks, as Steve Seel will continue his own leave of absence from the morning show. Mark Wheat will be taking his trip with listeners to his native England toward the end of April. Also, "Teenage Kicks" host and membership-drive guru Jacquie Fuller is leaving the station to return to her native Texas and work for KUTX in Austin.

Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Photo by Nate Ryan / Minnesota Public Radio