By Stephen D. Bowling

The application arrived in Washington, D.C., at the offices of the Federal Communications Commission during the first week of June 1969. The multiple-page form took weeks to complete, and the men behind the project were unsure it would be approved. The idea was simple- to create the first commercial radio station in Breathitt County.

The application was not the first for a radio station in Breathit County. Mrs. Lela G. McConnell and Raymond L. Swauger applied for a radio license in early 1948 to broadcast the “news and weather and in support of Mount Carmel School’s evangelical efforts.” The application highlighted the need for emergency broadcasting and cited the loss of life in the service area during the 1939 Frozen Flood.

The notice came by mail to Ms. McConnell in November 1948 that the application was approved for a 1,000-watt station to operate with 730 kilocycles from 11:00 a.m. until sunset each day. Ms. McConnell continued to raise money, and in early 1948 construction began after donations of more than $20,000 poured in to cover the costs.

The Mount Carmel station, located 4.5 air miles from Jackson, later received the call letters WMTC. Mr. Swauger ordered a transmitter from Massachusetts. The school hired Herbert Headrick of Wyoming as the station’s engineer as the work progressed rapidly. Crews installed the transmitter tower in April. McConnell announced that WMTC would broadcast for the first time on May 1, 1948. Since 1948, Mt. Carmel and WMTC have continued that first mission established in 1947.

The proposed station at Jackson had an entirely different mission. The new station would be a commercial venture designed to produce revenue for its stockholders. The initial idea for a new radio station came from several discussions among a group of small businessmen in Jackson. Jerry F. Howell, Treva T. Howell, Marie R. Turner, and A. Dale Bryant formed the Intermountain Broadcasting Company, Inc. as the parent company for the radio station. The application for a license to broadcast was submitted in 1966 and indicated that the station would serve all or portions of seven counties, including Owsley, Lee, Wolfe, Perry, Magoffin, Morgan, and Breathitt Counties. The initial application asked for a license to operate a 1,000-watt AM station and an FM station within an “impressive 50,000 watts of static-free power.”

The Federal Communication Commission approved the application for the new commercial AM radio station on July 12, 1967. The letter, signed by Secretary Benjamin F. Wade, arrived at the radio station’s offices at 1138 Main Street. The letter indicated that the new station would be assigned call letters within 15 days of the approved application. Several suggestions had been submitted with the application, and it was up to the FCC to assign a permanent station identification.

Intermountain Broadcasting established an office above the Citizen Banks & Trust Co. on Main Street and began operations. The license, when it arrived, permitted the station to operate on 810 kilocycles with 1 kilowatt of power for 18 hours a day. The FCC did not approve the FM station as proposed.

“We are deeply appreciative of the assistance (Senator) Earle C. Clements gave in helping Jackson to receive this highly coveted location,” Jerry Howell told The Jackson Times in 1966.

Jim Hay, the station’s general manager, ordered the necessary equipment. The tower was purchased, and installation was contracted. Under the proposed plan, the new transmission tower would be located on a point at the head of Snowden Branch on property owned by Jerry Howell. The tower’s location and increased elevation would increase the reach of the 100-kilowatt station. Final construction started in 1968 as the town was erected.

Howell said, “We are investing in this vital facility because we have faith in the economic growth and development of Breathitt County and the surrounding area.” He added that “although the radio station is a commercial venture, it will never lose sight of its obligations in the field of public service and the overall promotion of the entire area.”

Intermountain Broadcasting announced the format of their station would include: news, music (country, classic, and jazz), farm information, entertainment, and sports.

On April 17, 1969, WEKG, known as “The Big 81 Sound,” went live on the air at 3:00 p.m. Mike Wilson signed onto the air and did a show from 3:00 until 4:00 p.m. Jim Maggard took the reigns and ran programming until sign-off at dusk. Other staff worked at the radio station, including a young Dale Torok. The station broadcasted from “daylight to dusk” and covered all of Breathitt County with its signal. Wilson served as the News Director at the new station. Jackson Post Master Joy Fletcher resigned from her government position and started work as the station’s financial manager.

WEKG continued to operate on the 810 AM frequency. The Federal Communication Commission finally approved an application for a new FM station in Jackson in 1977. WJSN-FM went live on the air on January 1, 1978, at 97.7 FM. Station Manager Jim Maggard was the first to broadcast over the FM airways from their new studios on the second floor of the Breathitt County Library on College Avenue. The station was established to broadcast top 40 music and sports, including live play-by-play for the University of Kentucky football and basketball games.

Today, WEKG continues on 810 AM and WJSN has made a few dial moves but operates on 97.3 FM.

© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling