Indiana RadioWatch: April 1, 1998

Northeast

Country/WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur) welcomes back former night guy Dude Walker. Walker will now be the producer of Dan Austin and B.J. Stone's morning show. Walker did nights at "K-105" from 1993 through 1997.

Talk/WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) has re-added G. Gordon Liddy and Art Bell. Both, along with local hosts, were removed in late January, when the station changed formats. A long history of format and personality changes surrounds this station.

Jen X., middays at Alternative/WEJE (96.3fm, Churubusco) departs to join former PD Sean Smyth at KGDE in Omaha, Nebraska, where she'll have an airsift, along with MD duties. Weekender Chad Silvieus replaces her at WEJE.

Where are they now? Former WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) talk host Rusty Humphries is now doing afternoons at KKOH in Reno, Nevada.

Northcentral

Bill Mitchell, PD/MD at CHR/WNDU (92.9fm, South Bend) departs for ownership & mornings at WHDG in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Radio & Records reports that Casey Daniels takes MD responsibilities, while the search for a new PD continues.

Northwest

WLTH (1370am, Gary) is sold by Pluria Marshall to Marion Williams for $750,000.

Chesterton High School's WDSO (88.3fm, Chesterton) just completed a 72 hour "radio-thon". While we haven't heard how much they raised, station officials tell us they hope to double last years $1400 effort.

Central

Inside Radio reports that Bill Shirk Poorman, owner of Dance/WHHH (96.3fm, Indianapolis) recently turned down a $15 million offer by Emmis Broadcasting to buy the station. An Emmis spokesperson says that they've been in discussions with Poorman, but no offer was made, nor a price named.

Speaking of Emmis, Morry Smulevitz is promoted to Senior Marketing Director. Radio & Records reports that the former Director of Marketing & Promotion will now be responsible for Emmis' 5 radio stations and two networks.

Monte Maupin Gerard earns a promotion to VP/Market Manager of Susquehanna's Indianapolis stations. Previously, she was VP/GM at Susquehanna's Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Indianapolis).

News-Talk/WIBC (1070am, Indianapolis) adds Vince Welch as Sports Director, starting April 6. Welch arrives from Paramount's WNDY-TV (Channel 23) in Indianapolis.

Vanessa Wilde, morning co-host at Alternative/WRZX (103.3fm, Indianapolis) departs for a station in the Detroit, Michigan area. Ed Wank, her co-host stays on at "X-103", while newsman Dave O'Brien adds co-host duties.

Westcentral

Standards/WAXI-FM (104.9fm, Rockville) is sold by Covered Bridge Broadcasting to Crossroads Communications, Inc. for $485,000.

Also sold are Terre Haute stations WTHI(AM) & FM (1480am, 99.9fm, both Terre Haute), WTHI-TV (Channel 10, Terre Haute [CBS]), and WWVR (105.5fm, West Terre Haute). All three stations are sold by Wabash Valley Broadcasting to Emmis Broadcsating for $90 million.

WCBH-FM (104.3fm, Casey, Illinois) is sold along with two Effingham, Illinois stations to the Discovery Group, for $1.25 million.

Kris Baker is the new night guy at Rock/WZZQ (107.5fm, Terre Haute).

Southwest

WUZR (105.7fm, Bicknell) is sold by the Media Five Corp. to Mark & Saundra Lange's The Original Company for $640,000.

That's it for this issue! See you in two weeks...

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
irw@well.com

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