Indiana RadioWatch: April 30, 2006

First, IRW now provides content on http://www.tophour.com. IRW knows everyone in broadcasting likes a particular facet of the industry. IRW really likes the Legal ID. We believe this puts IRW in the upper echelon of radio "nerds" now. If you want to hear everything from the most mundane to very well-produced Legal ID's, give the website a listen. You may even hear an ID from your own station!

Second, if any of your colleagues are interested in receiving IRW, have them drop us an e-mail (irw@well.com)

Finally, a question: A reader e-mailed this week asking where and when John Roberts programmed in Indianapolis. Roberts is now Group PD with First Broadcasting in Dallas. If you know, e-mail us - irw@well.com

A few stories still remain on our plate, but here we go:

Northeast

The $1 million sale of AC/WNUY (100.1fm, Bluffton) by Wells County Radio Corp. to Independence Media closed in late March. Ed Roehling's Roehling Broadcast Services brokered the sale. After tweaking the format slightly to Soft AC, Independence Media started a billboard campaign around the Fort Wayne metro - "Y100.1 Great Soft Rock, Less Talk."

Summit City Radio removes "interim" from the PD's at Rhythmic CHR/WNHT (96.3fm, Churubusco) and CHR/WYLT (103.9fm, Fort Wayne). Now, MoJo is PD of "Wild 96.3" and McConnell Adams (mornings as "Man at Large") is PD of "My 103.9."

Summit City Radio Group's Alternative/WXTW (102.3fm, Auburn) morning co-host Jack Hammer exits. He is moments away from resurfacing, proving you can go home again...

Where Are They Now (Part 1)? Former Summit City Radio Group Director of Sales Dave Wisniewski is now Director of Sales for the Zimmer Radio Group of stations in Mid-Missouri (Columbia, Fulton, and Jefferson City).

Where Are They Now (Part 2)? Former Fort Wayne DJ (he was at several places) Sammy Suarez is now PD/afternoons at Clear Channel's KISN in Bozeman, Montana.

Where Are They Now (Part 3)? Former Summit City Radio Rhythmic CHR/WNHT (96.3fm, Churubusco) and CHR/WYLT (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) PD Dave B. Goode is now MD/mornings at WKHQ in Charlevoix, Michigan.

Northcentral

Citadel Country/WWKI (100.5fm, Kokomo) suffered a fire Wednesday night (4/26). Just before 8pm, night jock Kenny Beasley smelled smoke and called the fire department. Mike Fletcher's Kokomo Tribune story reports that the building was engulfed in smoke and flames were shooting from the roof when fire department crews arrived. WWKI returned on air at 9:30am Thursday morning, however, it went silent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, and all day Sunday. During Sunday's off-air period, station personnel will move broadcasting and office equipment into two large portable trailers in the station parking lot, and temporarily work out of those trailers. WWKI GM Mike Christopher tells IRW the entire power grid was destroyed. The building was damaged; however the full extent remains unclear. In an unrelated story, IRW extends Get Well wishes to WWKI PD Dave Broman as he suffered a heart attack on 8 April. Broman is now home from the hospital and recovering.

Several Artistic Media stories here:

First, Artistic Media shakes up the South Bend AM dial as WNDV (1490am, South Bend) breaks off from its long time simulcast of sister CHR/WNDV-FM (92.9fm, South Bend) and starts simulcasting Sports/WDND (1580am, South Bend). WDND formerly partnered with an Artistic station on 1620am and that station (starting March 15) became Soft AC/"Love Songs," returning the call letters WWLV to the market. WWLV was last heard on 102.3fm.

Second, Artistic Media promotes Casey Daniels to Station Manager of Rock/WZOW-WOZW (102.3fm, New Carlisle; 97.7fm, Goshen) and Soft AC/WWLV (1620am, South Bend).

Finally, Artistic Media CHR/WNDV (92.9fm, South Bend) welcomes Karen Rite to the PD chair. Rite was last PD at WGKS in Lexington, Kentucky. Rite replaces Tommy Frank who is now with NextMedia's stations in Saginaw, Michigan. Also at "U93," MD/afternoon guy Scotty Wylde adds APD duties and resets the alarm clock much earlier as he's now doing mornings.

Northwest

Radio One Communications' Country/WLJE (105.5fm, Valparaiso) adds Hollywood Hendrix Productions for station imaging.

Two long-time Indiana radio vets were recently married; Kevin Burris (ex-WIRE, WIBC/WKLR, WTPI/WXNT, now afternoons WWKI), and Karen James (ex-WZWZ, WFMS/WGLD, now sales WRDZ) exchanged wedding vows February 11, 2006 at Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg. The happy couple welcomed an array of broadcasting talent to the ceremony/reception. Some attending included Gia Berns, J.D. Cannon, Doug Dahlgren, Terry Fullen, Gary Havens, Tammy Lively, Mike O'Brien, Steve Rich, Scott Roddy, and Steve Simpson. The newlyweds honeymooned in the Bahamas.

Eastcentral

Mid-America Radio's Soft AC/WMRI (106.9fm, Marion) is now WXXC. No format change. Remember, WMRI's call letters live on at 860am, as a News/Talk station (that format/call letter change happened recently).

WKBV (1490am, Richmond) sports broadcaster Phil Stigleman passed away on Sunday 9 April. The 79 year old Stigleman worked at WKBV from 1961 until retiring in 1989.

Central

A longtime jazz aficionado returns to broadcasting as Chuck Workman recently commenced hosting "The Saturday Evening Jazz Show" (6pm - 8pm) on the University of Indianapolis' WICR (88.7fm, Indianapolis). Workman was last heard on the former WTPI (107.9fm, Indianapolis), hosting "The Sunday Morning Jazz Show" and from 1970-1990, ago was on the board and hosted a jazz show on the former WIAN (90.1fm, Indianapolis).

Congratulations to Ben Davis High School's WBDG (90.9fm, Indianapolis). Recently, students Keith Czerwinski and Alex Kirby were named "Radio Sports Casting/Radio Sports Play-by-Play" Grand Prize winners at the 2006 Columbia College Chicago High School Student Radio Awards competition. Also, students Garrison King and Ryan Huber received Honorable Mention in the same category. WBDG Station Manager Jon Easter commented: "These four students deserve this honor tremendously."

Dan Pantos exits as Promotions Director at Emmis' Country/WLHK (97.1fm, Shelbyville). His last day was Friday 7 April. If you're interested in applying for the job, we have all the details; just drop us an e-mail.

Alice Cooper's radio show - "Nights with Alice Cooper" debuts on Clear Channel's WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis) 7pm until 12am, weeknights.

Westcentral

Midwest Communications' Hot AC/WWSY (95.9fm, Seelyville) flips to Adult Hits as "95.9 The Valley." An IRW reader mentions that it's the same format that Midwest Communications has on several of their stations.

Southcentral

White River Broadcasting's Sam Simmermaker was inducted recently into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as the St. Vincent Silver Medalist Winner. Sam was also recognized by top statehouse officials. Indiana Senate Pro Tem President Bob Garton along with the Indiana General Assembly congratulated Sam yesterday at the statehouse. The Assembly congratulated Simmermaker on a long and prosperous career in the sportscasting profession and recognizes his accomplishments and contributions to the community of Columbus. Simmermaker has been with White River Broadcasting for 47 years.

Southwest

Dan Egierski exits as Sports Director for Regent's N-T/WGBF (1280am, Evansville) and Sports/WYNG (94.9fm, Mount Carmel, Illinois). Dan Korb's Evansville Courier and Press article indicates that WGBF/WYNG PD John Story will take some of Egierski's duties for now, but the stations "will no longer have a sports director." Egierski told the Courier and Press that "it's very rare for a market this size to have a title (sports director) like that at a radio station."

Eric Page exits as Imaging Director/Nights at Classic Rock/WABX (107.5, Evansville) for Sports Director duties at WGST in Atlanta, Georgia.

That's it for this issue. See you in a week!

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All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.