August 23, 1987 – Victor Stredicke … TWISTING THE DIAL
Marc Kaye is new general manager of KHIT, replacing Lee Douglas, who resigned effective Aug. 18. Kaye is from the Gannett sister-station in Houston, KKBQ . . . Ric Hansen left as morning show host at KNBQ after a new general manager arrived for the Viacom station . . . Gary Vance is back on the morning shift at KRPM-AM, 770 kHz.
Also, Charlye Parker switched to the midday shift on KRPM-AM, and Ed Dunnaway switched to middays at KRPM-FM, 106.1 mHz. Among the considerations: “giving country listeners a choice of a male or female voice middays,” said Lee Rogers, KRPM program director . . . Jay Albright, program director at KMPS-AM-FM the past three years, has announced his resignation to pursue other activities. He said he plans to do broadcast consulting and will continue at KMPS until a successor is found . . . Now that KIRO is carrying Seahawks broadcasts again, several Mariners games are moved to KMPS-AM, 1300 kHz. Next game conflict is Aug. 28.
August 30, 1987 – Tom Hutyler came back on the air at KUBE, 93.3 mHz., last week, after expiration of contract restrictions that kept him off. . .. With Hutyler back in his 10 a.m.-3 p.m. time slot, Wendy Christopher has returned to her 6 p.m. time slot. Hutyler was one of the original KUBE staffers back in 1981, but left to work at KVI and then KLSY.
Today’s edition of “Homegrown” is the last one for Cyndi Bemel, host for the past 3 1/2 years. The program, at 9 p.m. on KEZX, 98.9 mHz., has been a sincere effort to display talents of musicians living or working in this area. Bemel will be taking graduate studies at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles this fall.
September 6, 1987 – KRKO, 1380 kHz., Everett, is operating from its old studios at the transmitter site on Lowell Road and has extended on-air hours for disc jockeys as part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, begun July 16. General Manager Sparky Taft said the reorganized station has been successful, but could not manage debts incurred under a previous ownership. The station has been involved in a financial maze through several ownerships. The maze continues, with such evident things as the old call letters KBAE still on a downtown Everett office building and at the Evergreen fairgrounds, even though the frequency has had two name changes since.
Fair warning
Radio stations usually make their strongest public appearances at the Puyallup Fair, this year from Sept. 11 through 27. Booths or broadcast centers are scattered through the fairgrounds. Here are some promised features:
KJUN, Puyallup station at 1450 kHz., promises three-times-an-hour “fair news,” including driving instructions and parking locations.
The KMPS morning team “Ichabod, Donn and Patti,” will broadcast on 1300 kHz and 94.1 mHz., from 5-9 a.m. Friday, opening day, with an invitation to be part of the radio audience from 6-9 a.m. _ at the Gold Gate entrance.
Fairground broadcasts will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily on KRPM-AM-FM, 770 kHz. and 106.1 mHz. That means mostly Ed Dunnaway, Bob E. Scott and John Shuck meet fairgoers on weekdays.
KTAC personalities will do “drop-in” reports daily during midday and afternoon drive-time segments beginning Friday.
New educational station
When new owners took over KNBQ, Tacoma, Don Hofmann’s position as operations manager was eliminated.
Hofmann will be station manager for a new modest-power FM station to be licensed to the Peninsula School District. In the educational band _ over there in the 88 and 89’s _ the station will have the call letters KGHP, presumably standing for Gig Harbor Peninsula _ or Gig Harbor, Purdy. Hofmann said the station is targeted for an October air-date.
Twisting the dial
Steve Weed resigned as program director at KHIT, 106.9 mHz, after a new general manager was appointed. Maureen Matthews, music director and Weed’s assistant program director, has been named new program director.
Joe Cohn, a public-broadcasting veteran from Arizona, is new music director of KPLU, 88.5 mHz. Charles Tomaras, previous music director at the jazz and NPR format, left the station in June.
Kirk Russell has been replaced as 6-10 p.m. disc jockey at KVI, by Scott Norman. The KVI change includes new hours for Jim Martin _ 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. _ and a new wee-hour host, Janice Kayne, from KRKO, from 2-6 a.m.
Meagan Murphy has left KEZX-FM to see the world, so Nick Morrison has moved from mornings to the 7 p.m.-to-midnight slot also picking up the hosting of “Softspace” segments. Maxane Sartori, previously a weekender, moves into the morning shift.
Jim Rondeau, formerly a KUBE weekender, has the 6 p.m.-midnight shift on KRKO, 1380 kHz.
Former radio columnist for the Seattle Times (1964-1989).
— View other articles by Victor Stredicke
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