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One of my Holy grail stations caught and secured

Here is the sign off of KVSH 940 AM, which still signs off in 2026. The Statler Brothers version of the National anthem, which also played on KTRX (now KRSS), WKYR, and WCTY when they signed off years ago, is heard at the end, is currently the anthem audio for KVSH. I recorded it on Friday night. That was the real reason why KVSH has been one of my holy grail stations for a couple of years now.
 
I'm not sure what the point of this post is, but on a chance I looked up the station's website at KVSH

I was amazed at how much this "little" station does, starting with a staff of 12 people in a town of under 3,000 and a county with about 5,000 people. The website is full of local information, running from births to obituaries and including a lot of farm news and features.

They also have a staff dog, labeled as "greeter".

If this is going to be a true "National Radio Topic" we should ask others to post information on other local stations that still have full staffs and lots of community service. The overall subject is "can small town localized radio still survive?"
 
I'm not sure what the point of this post is, but on a chance I looked up the station's website at KVSH

I was amazed at how much this "little" station does, starting with a staff of 12 people in a town of under 3,000 and a county with about 5,000 people. The website is full of local information, running from births to obituaries and including a lot of farm news and features.

They also have a staff dog, labeled as "greeter".

If this is going to be a true "National Radio Topic" we should ask others to post information on other local stations that still have full staffs and lots of community service. The overall subject is "can small town localized radio still survive?"

I doubt there are many stations like KVSH anymore. For what they have to work, a few things have to happen: 1) the station has to be located in a small town where access to other radio stations over the air during daylight hours is limited; 2) the town, specifically through its local businesses. must be willing to carry the freight of a single station with a large staff for a town of its size. While I can think of several towns, particularly in the West, that would meet the first creteerium,
But full time stations don't sign off very often....

Right! This has been the case since most stations dropped (I can't remember if the FCC had a hand in this--K.M. Richards would know) their Monday morning sign-offs for maintenance and programming was delivered by satellite which made it unnecessary to pay for overnight shifts. And there are some daytime only stations (KAZG in Scottsdale used to be one) that do not have an official sign-off. When the time comes for shutdown, the transmitter is turned off, interrupting without explanation whatever is currently playing on the air. So, my advice to you, SarahB, is good luck!
 
KVSH also, last i knew, did not have automation.. and there was a live operator in the studio 6am to 10pm 7 days a week when they are on the air. Now that was under previous owner Dave Dent Otradovsky, but the new owner, a long time morning man there and long time county official may have change that (the new owner is the man you hear in Sarah's sign off clip)
 
And there are some daytime only stations (KAZG in Scottsdale used to be one) that do not have an official sign-off. When the time comes for shutdown, the transmitter is turned off, interrupting without explanation whatever is currently playing on the air. So, my advice to you, SarahB, is good luck!
KCTE in Independence, Missouri did that when I last listened to it around 25 years ago. It's still a daytimer, but has an FM translator.
 
@SarahB98

Holy Grail, Batwoman!
I know your city's MLB Jimmy Piersall was famed far and wide (among other things) to catch anything ever hit to centerfield that stayed in the park (and a few retrieved before they cleared the fence). But that KVSH is a terrific nab from Waterbury.
A tip of my $9 headphones to you. What other stations are you pursuing? What mode of radio did you use?

Send that clip to them for a QSL. If they verify, it would make a nice Valentine's present from admirers in Nebraska, hi.

* * * * *

According to the sometimes-infallible but always entertaining files of Radio Locator, the station's COL gets a total of four stations well. Three are on FM; two of them religious and one is Country. Lone AMer KVSH must be some sort of lighthouse to the locals.
 
@SarahB98

Holy Grail, Batwoman!
I know your city's MLB Jimmy Piersall was famed far and wide (among other things) to catch anything ever hit to centerfield that stayed in the park (and a few retrieved before they cleared the fence). But that KVSH is a terrific nab from Waterbury.
A tip of my $9 headphones to you. What other stations are you pursuing? What mode of radio did you use?

Send that clip to them for a QSL. If they verify, it would make a nice Valentine's present from admirers in Nebraska, hi.

* * * * *

According to the sometimes-infallible but always entertaining files of Radio Locator, the station's COL gets a total of four stations well. Three are on FM; two of them religious and one is Country. Lone AMer KVSH must be some sort of lighthouse to the locals.

why would they QSL a station she heard online? Thats not a real QSL and some will issue that but thats frekain silly and pointless.

The full power FM in Valentine is simulcast with an Fm to the east owned by state sen. mike flood.
 
Love these small town full-service stations. I heard KVSH once in 2023 near sunset, carrying Valentine HS basketball, with an ID at the TOH by the play by play guy.
 
Love these small town full-service stations. I heard KVSH once in 2023 near sunset, carrying Valentine HS basketball, with an ID at the TOH by the play by play guy.

The morning guy and new owner is also the sports guy.. or he does most of the sports
 
I cant believe (as mentioned earlier by davide) that KVSH has 12 employees???
Included in that 12 are the two owners. Mike Burge has worked there for 40 plus years, was minority owner but bought it outright from Dave Otradovsky a few years ago. HE does the morning show, sports play by play, some engineering work, is also the economic development director for the city and also works for the resource and conversation district.

In that 12 employees, counting Mike is his wife... his son also works there. THeres several sales and a few office people. One or two of the staff are combo news/onair or air sales.

As to how they do it, afford it.. theyve been doing it this way for ever and have built up and kept the heritage.
 
Included in that 12 are the two owners. Mike Burge has worked there for 40 plus years, was minority owner but bought it outright from Dave Otradovsky a few years ago. HE does the morning show, sports play by play, some engineering work, is also the economic development director for the city and also works for the resource and conversation district.

In that 12 employees, counting Mike is his wife... his son also works there. THeres several sales and a few office people. One or two of the staff are combo news/onair or air sales.

As to how they do it, afford it.. theyve been doing it this way for ever and have built up and kept the heritage.
They sound like a great little small town station. I hope they stick around for along time.
 
They sound like a great little small town station. I hope they stick around for along time.

I've been a listener on and off for 15 plus years and they are the epitome of what local radio was way back in the day, and theyre still doing it. KBRB Ainsworth, NE and KBRX ONeill, NE are exactly like KVSH. the same people were involved in the 3 stations way way way back when at some point or another.
 
Flipping through this thread and the stations web site, the only non-local programming seems to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers' sports broadcasts, but I'm guessing some may get bumped for local games. That's community radio.
 
I've been a listener on and off for 15 plus years and they are the epitome of what local radio was way back in the day, and theyre still doing it. KBRB Ainsworth, NE and KBRX ONeill, NE are exactly like KVSH. the same people were involved in the 3 stations way way way back when at some point or another.
KBRB & KBRX are 24/7 now
 
Flipping through this thread and the stations web site, the only non-local programming seems to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers' sports broadcasts, but I'm guessing some may get bumped for local games. That's community radio.
they have/had a count down show or two on the weekend... but even during those, theres a live op in studio
 
Flipping through this thread and the stations web site, the only non-local programming seems to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers' sports broadcasts, but I'm guessing some may get bumped for local games. That's community radio.
I heard the last 10 minutes of the cornhuskers game on Friday night before sign off
 


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