Indiana RadioWatch: April 2, 2008

Something we noticed in this morning's Inside Radio gets top mention this issue. On Monday, Bloomington, Indiana-based Cook Medical won a preliminary injunction against Endologix, Inc., and four former Cook employees, barring them from violating Cook's non-compete agreement. This ruling took place in U.S. District Court - Southern District of Indiana. Cook EVP Pete Yonkman said in a press release: "This ruling further supports Cook's position that it is improper for competitors to ignore non-compete agreements that are fair and reasonable." We asked the question: "Might this case become the catalyst for outlawing non-compete agreements" to a few knowledgeable people today and none said "Yes," but all said, in various ways, that interested people (i.e. broadcast executives) should keep an eye on this case and any legislative developments resulting from this case.

Northeast

Federated Media's Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) welcomes a new morning show: "The WMEE Morning Show with Shelly, Scott, and Brady". Shelly is "Shelly K." who we mentioned (IRW, 2/27) was last APD/morning co-host at Kalamazoo, Michigan's WKFR. Scott is Scott Woodman, last in mornings at WSPK in Poughkeepsie, New York. Brady is Brady Garrison, who segues from afternoons, and is the original winner of the "WMEE Radio Idol" contest a few years ago. Trina Neeley remains in middays, Sean Bratton ("Boomer") segues to afternoons, and the night shift is wide open until OM Rob Kelley finds a new air personality.

Where Are They Now? Former WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) weekend guy (for a few months in 1992!) Sean Compton recently left Clear Channel and has not yet announced his next move. Compton was Vice President of Programming at both Clear Channel and Premier Radio Networks, and was based in Cincinnati.

Central

Carolyn Williams is now News Director at Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WTHR (Channel 13/DT46). Williams has been Assistant News Director there since October, 2000. Williams replaces Jim Tellus was is now GM there.

A tip of the IRW hat as we note the very sad passing of legendary Top 40 DJ Jack Armstrong. Armstrong (John Larsh), 62, passed away on 22 March. He worked in the 1970's at Indianapolis Top 40 station WIFE (1310am).

On a much happier note, a congratulatory tip of the IRW hat to Russ Dodge. Dodge, now GM at Continental Broadcasting's Spanish/WSYW (810am, Indianapolis) and Regional Mexican/WEDJ (107.1fm, Danville) celebrated 35 years in broadcasting on Monday (31 March). Dodge tells IRW that his first job was as a junior attending the University of Notre Dame. What was Dodge's first job? It was part time overnight work at South Bend's then-CHR/WRBR.

Southcentral

CSN's Religious/WCJL (90.9fm, Morgantown) is temporarily silent. We are told the station needs a new antenna and coax.

Westcentral

Oldies/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville) reworks its airstaff lineup. Morning man Ron Mott moves to Saturday mornings (6am-10am). Replacing Mott in mornings is "Party Marty" (Marty Combs). Also, Bryan Thomas exits afternoons and is replaced by Julie Henricks.

April Fools

The only e-mail we received from an Indiana station was about Mid-America Radio's AC/WZWZ (92.5fm, Kokomo). We're told: "The morning show here ran a "news story" that a brand new Subway was opening in the Howard County Jail - for both officers and inmates. The reasoning behind this was that the "Five For A Footlong" deal was more cost effective for the tax-payers than jail meals that usually cost over $6. Allan James eventually came clean about it being an April Fool's joke around 9 a.m. Howard County Sheriff Marty Talbert found it funny, and we actually had one of our sales reps ask if we were scheduled to do a remote broadcast from the "new jail Subway."

That's all for this issue. Until later this week...

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