Good Morning:

Sad news this morning out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Broker Ray Rosenblum died on Tuesday February 27.  He's brokered several Indiana radio station and FM translator sales.  Last year, the United States Bankruptcy Court appointed Mr. Rosenblum to sell the licenses and assets of LaPorte County Broadcasting's Oldies/WLOI (1540am, La Porte) and Country/WCOE-FM (96.7fm, La Porte).  Here's the obituary.

Eastcentral

In December 2004, we wrote about Backyard Broadcasting creating a radio studio inside the Mounds Mall, located in Anderson.

Backyard Broadcasting stations (WLBC WERK WURK WHTI WHTY WHBU WXFN) with studios in Muncie and Daleville now have an additional studio in the Mounds Mall. IRW reader Sean Mattingly, Backyard Broadcasting Director of Technical Operations, has the details:

The new "Special Events Studio" is constructed in a storefront at the Anderson Mounds Mall. It is used on a regular basis by NewsTalk 1240 WHBU, Anderson. The morning show is there every weekday. Starting at 6pm, live evening shows are performed from the mall as well. Passers-by have an open view of the 5-microphone setup. Mall shoppers can stop and comment during a live show via a specially mounted microphone in the hallway on a studio window frame.

The "Special Events Studio" is shared amongst the seven commonly-owned stations. The Oldies format (WERK 101.7 & 104.9) and the Classic Rock format (MAX 93.5 & 96.7) will be using the studio for live remotes on a heavy shopping day: the day before Christmas.

The graphics along the 60-foot wide storefront are impressive. People stop by to watch a live radio show and say "Wow!, this is cool." Sometimes, shoppers will pause, whip out their cell phones and dial into the talk shows.

Late last week, the Mounds Mall in Anderson announced they will close at the end of March.  Now owned by Woof Boom Broadcasting, News-Talk/WHBU (1240am, Anderson) and FM translator: W279CL (103.7fm, Anderson) morning host Doug Zook will move his show back to the WHBU main studios in Daleville.  Woof Boom plans on an additional studio location.

Central

After just over two years, meteorologist Brittany Rainey exits WXIN-TV..  Ms. Rainey joined "FOX 59" in November 2015 after working in Tulsa, Oklahoma at KJRH-TV.  She posted on Twitter that she's heading home to Tampa, Florida.

Westcentral

After agreeing on a last minute plea agreement, Donald Feathersone pleads guilty to the 2016 murder of popular Terre Haute DJ Matt Luecking.  Mr. Featherstone will learn his sentence on April 4 in Vigo Superior Court.  Between the law and his plea agreement, Mr. Featherstone will spend between 45 and 50 years in prison.  Mr. Featherstone would have stood trial next Monday.  The other two co-defendants (John Collins and Kathleen Featherstone) both signed plea agreements, and both will be sentenced this Friday (March 9). 

Southcentral

Roughly 68 years ago, Syndicate Theatres signed on WCSI radio in Columbus at 1010am, as a 250 watt daytimer.  White River Broadcasting (Findlay Publishing) purchased WCSI for $150,000 from Syndicate Theatres in 1957, and owned WCSI ever since.  The FCC recently granted WCSI's application to add a 250 watt FM translator: W251CK (98.1fm, Columbus).  The translator will increase coverage, as WCSI(AM) only operates with 330 watts during the day, scaling back to 20 watts at night.  White River plans to have the FM on the air later this year. 

This Week in Indiana Radio History

Sign-on dates seem to be a prickly matter, subject to great debate, and mostly impossible to confirm.  If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Please e-mail us if you have updated information.

March 4: In 1993, 92.3fm in Fort Wayne signs on as WFWI and returned to those call letters in late 2015.  In 2005, Dave Bailey, VP/GM of WTHI/WWVR television and radio in Terre Haute retires.

March 5: In 1984, 1180am in Newburgh signs on as WJJN.  Today, it's airing a religious format as WGAB.  In 2009, Backyard Broadcasting (Anderson/Muncie) News Director Dave Stout dies.  Age 63.

March 6: In 1997, 107.5fm in Evansville signs on as WABX, and remains so today.  In 2015, the WIOE-LP call letters moved to 101.1fm, South Whitley allocation, which then became WIOE-FM.

March 7: In 1938, 1500am in Owensboro signs on as WOMI (and moves to 1490am with the NARBA shift.).  1490am remains WOMI  In 1983, Bob and Tom debut in mornings at WFBQ in Indianapolis.  In 2002, Ralph Miller, who helped start Crawfordsville's WCVL(AM) dies.  Age 80.  In 2015, William Greene (Greene Electronics), WAMW(AM) owner and WAMW-FM founder dies.  Age 85.

March 8: In 2005, Fort Wayne's WPTA-TV (Channel 21) and WISE-TV (Channel 33) merge operations, as "Indiana's NewsCenter."  In 2002, "Elvis and Hammer" (Billy Elvis and Jack Hammer) end their successful morning show at Fort Wayne's WBYR "98.9 The Bear."  In 2010, WETL (91.7fm, South Bend) flips format to 1970's, 1980's and 1990's music.

March 9: In 1949,WCTW-FM in New Castle was granted a CP for 102.5fm, running 4000 watts at 250 feet. 

Employment Opportunities

Z96-5 WAZY, a heritage Top 40 station in Lafayette, Indiana and Star City Broadcasting are looking for a full-time Assistant Program Director/Afternoon Drive Host. Duties include:

Hosting an afternoon drive shift live every weekday.

Producing/updating imaging, promos, and liners for use on the station.

Working promotional events and remotes as needed.

Helping with music scheduling as needed.

Updating the station’s website and posting on our various social media platforms.

Helping develop promotions/contests for the station.

RCS Selector, Adobe Audition, and AudioVAULT experience is a plus! Females and minorities are also encouraged to apply. Please send your resume, on-air demo, a production sample, and ratings history (if applicable) to Boomer@wazy.com No phone calls please.           

Star City Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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

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