Indiana RadioWatch: April 9, 2018
Good Morning from the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Northeast
Federated Media’s WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) GSM Allison Delagrange adds GSM responsibilities for sister Country/WQHK-FM (105.1fm, Huntertown).
Northwest
Adams Radio Group announces that VP/GM O.J. Jackson recently retired, capping a 40 year broadcasting career. DOS Jennifer Finnerty-Figg succeeds Mr. Jackson in the GM chair.
In the late 1960s, Mr. Jackson began on air in broadcasting. He later joined the sales team at what was then Porter County Broadcasting (owned by Len Ellis). Mr. Jackson designed and built their Wabash radio station (WAYT 1510am), which went on the air in late 1971. Mr. Jackson later became VP/SM for the Ellis’ Radio One Communications in Valparaiso and ascended to VP/GM in 2012.
Lafayette Schools’ WJEF (91.9fm, Lafayette) will go off the air this summer, as their building will undergo an HVAC renovation.
Central
Indianapolis broadcaster Cindy Wine died on March 30 after fighting cancer for over 15 years. Ms. Wine was 62. We don’t have her complete broadcasting history, but Cindy was part of the WHHH (96.3fm, Indianapolis) morning show with Tony Lamont in the 1990s until the middle of 2001. She also worked at what was then WKLR (93.1fm, Indianapolis) and worked as News Director at what was WYJZ (100.9fm). A celebration of life will be held on Saturday April 14 at First Christian Church, 58 S. Columbia St, Frankfort, IN 46041. The service will be held at 3:00pm with visitation to follow.
Cumulus Media welcomes Christopher "Boomer" Layfield as their new OM for their Indianapolis cluster: Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Fishers), CHR/WYRG (93.9fm, Lawrence) and Classic Hits/WJJK (104.5fm, Noblesville). Mr. Layfield will also program WFMS. Finally, Mr. Layfield last programmed in Charlotte, North Carolina for iHeart at their CHR/WHQC.
Former Indianapolis newspaper reporter Zach Dunkin dies at age 70. Mr. Dunkin wrote for both The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star from 1969 until 2009. A music lover, he wrote a “Rock Pile” column, which generated reader comments well before the modern day ubiquitous online commentary sections. When Mr. Dunkin started his “Rock Pile Rock Poll,” he included categories such as “Top Indy Rock DJ” (WNAP’s Buster Bodine).
Westcentral
Donald Featherstone, the final person accused in the murder of Terre Haute and Indianapolis DJ Matt Luecking received a 50 year prison sentence.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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