Indiana RadioWatch: January 6, 2010

Northeast

After nearly forty years in Fort Wayne broadcasting, Rick Hughes retires from middays at Federated Media's Country/WQHK-FM (105.1fm, Decatur). Rick's career at Federated Media had him on WMEE (when it was on AM), then-C&W WQHK(AM), and he has been with "K-105" since its late June, 1993 signon. In addition to his work at Federated Media, Rick has worked at WLYV(AM) (back in its music days). Finally, one other little known fact: Rick worked four days on the air at another Fort Wayne radio station.

Have you ever seen a DJ survive two radio station ownership changes? While it is unusual, Kenny Edwards has done just that. Edwards started on the former WSHI (106.3fm, Columbia City) in 1998, and stayed with the station through its 2004 sale from Shine Broadcasting Services to Artistic Media Partners and subsequent 2007 sale to current owner Oasis Radio Group. Since joining up with Oasis, Edwards has been doing afternoons for their Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville), as "Andrew Jackson." Edwards exited Oasis' stations this week. Replacing him on WBTU is AJ Maguire, who arrives in Fort Wayne from mornings at KSWF in Springfield, Missouri.

Also, a late news item for WBTU: PD and midday host Dave Steele exits. Replacing Steele in middays is Ashley Figueroa, who walks down the hall from fill in work at Oasis sister station Rhythmic CHR/WJFX (107.9fm, New Haven). Steele's programming duties are now handled by Phil Becker, who also programs WBTU's sister stations (WJFX and WJOE) at their Goshen Road facility.

Adding to the Fort Wayne LPTV application stack are a half dozen applications from Davie, Florida-based Luckland Corp. They apply for LPTV stations on Channels 16, 26, 29, 41, 43, and 49. If granted, each of the channels would broadcast from the Monroeville tower of Federated Media's Country/WQHK-FM (105.1fm, Decatur). Also, the application stack becomes a bit lighter, as the Alma Corporation has its LPTV applications dismissed for Channels 14, 15, 19, and 33.

Where Are They Now? Former WBYR/WFWI (98.9fm, then-Van Wert, Ohio; 92.3fm, Fort Wayne) OM Darrin Arriens is now PD at KKMG and KKFM in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Northwest

Alma Corporation has its Monticello LPTV applications dismissed for Channels 6, 8, 39, and 49.

Eastcentral

A bit of a correction from our last issue: Leland Franklin is moving to sales Anderson University's Contemporary Christian/WQME (98.7fm, Anderson), as WQME is commercial. Our mistake and we regret the error.

Central

Entercom's Adult Hits/WNTR (107.9fm, Indianapolis) emerges from an all holiday music format, resumes its format and rebrands as "My 107.9." The 12:30PM Monday (28 December) rebranding kicked off with Journey's 1981 hit "Don't Stop Believin'." The new "My" website is at http://www.my1079online.com/. The station is jockless. In promotional materials, "My" says they will take requests via telephone, Twitter, e-mail, or through their website. They also say that a listener panel will handle those submissions, and the members of the listener panel will contact the listener and tell them when their request will air.

Westcentral

Calvary Chapel of Crawfordsville's CP WDVL (88.1fm, Waynetown) changes call letters to WSRC.

Southeast

Good Shepherd Radio, Inc. donates its W274AD (102.7fm, Corydon) to Keith Reising. AllAccess says that Reising will use translator for commercial broadcasting.

Southwest

DLC Media's Standards/WAMW (1580am, Washington), Classic Hits/WAMW-FM (107.9fm, Washington), along with WAMW translator W240CE (95.9fm, Washington) all drop ABC News in favor of CBS News. When Citadel dropped their music formats, with little notice, DLC Media president and owner David Crooks dropped all Citadel programming, including their ABC News Radio. Also, WAMW (1580am) and FM translator W240CE both change formats from Citadel Media's "Timeless" to Dial Global's "Adult Standards." Mr. Crooks tells IRW: "I decided to break all ties with Citadel and replace their ABC News product with CBS."

Good Samaritan Education Radio has its CP dismissed for a station on 101.1fm, licensed to Bloomfield.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

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