KFAL and KTGR-FM, Fulton, suffer storm damage

[Mark Roberts]

After a severe thunderstorm destroy the stations' tower, Zimmer Radio has filed STAs for KFAL (900) and KTGR-FM (100.5) in Fulton, seeking temporary operation at lower power.

KTGR-FM, which functions as a repeater for Columbia's KTGR (1580), a sports-talk station, is proposing operation from a 50-foot pole with 1 kw near the station's licensed site on Westminster Avenue in Fulton. KFAL proposes using a longwire at the same temporary site, using 250 watts daytime and 100 watts nighttime. KFAL is licensed for 1 kw daytime and 135 watts at night; KTGR-FM uses 6 kw.

KTGR-FM and KFAL both have translators in Columbia, the largest city in the region. The FM is basically a Columbia rimshot. KFAL appears to have some coverage of Fulton and Callaway County events, but its classic-country format, which until recent years had a very homespun presentation, has long had a regional audience. Until the late 1980s, when Zimmer's KCLR(FM) increased power, it was the primary source of country music for Columbia listeners.

The KTGR-FM filing seems to indicate that the station is on the air from its temporary site; I don't know if the AM is currently on the air. The KTGR-FM filing also states that the tower will be replaced.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I don't know if the AM is currently on the air. The KTGR-FM filing also states that the tower will be replaced.

A report from a correspondent in Columbia: KFAL is on the air, though weaker than usual.

 

[JJFMJOCK]

After a severe thunderstorm destroy the stations' tower, Zimmer Radio has filed STAs for KFAL (900) and KTGR-FM (100.5) in Fulton, seeking temporary operation at lower power.

KTGR-FM, which functions as a repeater for Columbia's KTGR (1580), a sports-talk station, is proposing operation from a 50-foot pole with 1 kw near the station's licensed site on Westminster Avenue in Fulton. KFAL proposes using a longwire at the same temporary site, using 250 watts daytime and 100 watts nighttime. KFAL is licensed for 1 kw daytime and 135 watts at night; KTGR-FM uses 6 kw.

KTGR-FM and KFAL both have translators in Columbia, the largest city in the region. The FM is basically a Columbia rimshot. KFAL appears to have some coverage of Fulton and Callaway County events, but its classic-country format, which until recent years had a very homespun presentation, has long had a regional audience. Until the late 1980s, when Zimmer's KCLR(FM) increased power, it was the primary source of country music for Columbia listeners.

The KTGR-FM filing seems to indicate that the station is on the air from its temporary site; I don't know if the AM is currently on the air. The KTGR-FM filing also states that the tower will be replaced.

Wow, worked at KFAL (KKCA-Fm) for many years. Nice solid 300 foot tall (30 plus story) guyed tower, quite visible around town. Sad to hear it finally collapased. Must have been quite a wind gust. Ron Lutz probably turned over in his grave.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Wow, worked at KFAL (KKCA-Fm) for many years. Nice solid 300 foot tall (30 plus story) guyed tower, quite visible around town. Sad to hear it finally collapased. Must have been quite a wind gust. Ron Lutz probably turned over in his grave.

That tower was the original KFAL tower from 1950, built very solidly. I'm told it was due for replacement.

Speaking of Ron, the Rooster Creek Boys, which broadcast Saturday mornings on KFAL, have a Facebook page. They don't post too often, and haven't posted about this yet.

Thanks to Ron and Bette Sue, KFAL pulled a surprising amount of advertising money out of Columbia. That sort of country-folk music was very much a part of the area's rural culture; KOPN in Columbia still airs some of it. KKCA was a more mainstream station. It moved from 97.7 to 100.5 when KFMZ got its upgrade.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I've been informed that Zimmer has decided to rebuild the tower. The main motivation is to restore the FM signal (KTGR-FM, originally KKCA) to its licensed parameters. KFAL has an FM translator in Columbia, which no doubt is a motivator as well.

 

[JJFMJOCK]

That tower was the original KFAL tower from 1950, built very solidly. I'm told it was due for replacement.

Speaking of Ron, the Rooster Creek Boys, which broadcast Saturday mornings on KFAL, have a Facebook page. They don't post too often, and haven't posted about this yet.

Thanks to Ron and Bette Sue, KFAL pulled a surprising amount of advertising money out of Columbia. That sort of country-folk music was very much a part of the area's rural culture; KOPN in Columbia still airs some of it. KKCA was a more mainstream station. It moved from 97.7 to 100.5 when KFMZ got its upgrade.

Yes, I worked with Ron at KFAL & KKCA. He was a charachter on many levels and a great musician actually college educated in music. Bette Sue cooked him supper ever day at noon, so he went home to eat and other announcers cobevered teh noon day slot mainly with news and some music. Bette Sue bought those huge 25 orr 30 pound flour bags at Gerbes (my wife sold them to her, LOL) and she coooked homemade biscuits and garvy daily. He had a booming voice on the radio. His bluegrass oriented midday format had very strong ratings and very strong revenues. KFAL was a regional ratings monster, believe it or not. KKCA was respectable but more of a rok, Top 40 and AC contemporary station (stil has Cardinals BAseball, all these year later). KFAL/KKCA veterans included Bob Hamilton (of KMOX and KSD News) and Frank Absher (of STL Media History Website & Museum, KADI, KMOX, KWK and several other radio stations). Bob Hamilton passed away but Frank Absher is still alive, though older and retired. I will never forget a few of his radio antic "Horse is missing, Horse isn't Lost but the Owner thinks he is" and a few others too funny but off color to share on thid website. let it be said that KFAl and KKCA were the original "shock jock" radio stations, not on purpose, but by accident, frequently (no tape delays in Fulton). I appreciate your comments about the KKCA (KTGR-FM) frequency shift from 97.7 FM to 100.5 FM. It made no sense to me (but I was gone to St. Louis at the time) as 97.7 FM seemed to be a better dial spot, but I guess maybe the upgrade to 6,000 watts required a frequency shift when KFMZ jumped power too at 98.3. 97.7 and 98.3 where both local FMS (Class A FMS, originally limited to 3,000 watts and 300 feet). Ironically, after KKCA shifted to 100.5 FM (probably way too close to KJMO 100.1 FM) 97.7 FM was asssigned tpoa new 100 KW Class C FM in Sedalia that "rocks into" Columbia and Fulton and all of Mid Mo. That could have been KKCA at 100KW, LOL. Except Meyers Communicatiosn was very cheap, I don't think they woudl have ever paid for that much of an upgrade. Incidebtlly, KFAL could have boosted daytime power too, on a Mexican Clear Channel, and there was plenty of land for another tower or a collection of towers to take KFAL directional at night with a power upgrade.

 

[Mark Roberts]

KFAL was a regional ratings monster, believe it or not.

Until 1977, it was the only source for country music in the area (I don't remember exactly when KWWR in Mexico went country; I think it was around that time, too) other than a couple of hours in the morning on KFRU. KRES in Moberly was country, but focused on areas farther north than Columbia or Fulton (though they did have a Columbia phone number in addition to all the other gazillion phone numbers they would announce on the air).

Anecdotally, I can believe the strong performance in getting listeners. My uncle farmed near Hallsville and had KFAL on in his truck all the time. In the winter, he'd get a little frustrated with the 4:45 pm sign-off time.

Frank Absher (of STL Media History Website & Museum, KADI, KMOX, KWK and several other radio stations). Bob Hamilton passed away but Frank Absher is still alive, though older and retired.

I've known Frank for almost 20 years and have helped, in a minor way, with one of his projects.

I appreciate your comments about the KKCA (KTGR-FM) frequency shift from 97.7 FM to 100.5 FM. It made no sense to me (but I was gone to St. Louis at the time) as 97.7 FM seemed to be a better dial spot, but I guess maybe the upgrade to 6,000 watts required a frequency shift when KFMZ jumped power too at 98.3.

Mike Rice, the KFMZ owner, had very good engineering skills, but sometimes used them to cause problems for stations he perceived as his competitors.

Ironically, after KKCA shifted to 100.5 FM (probably way too close to KJMO 100.1 FM) 97.7 FM was asssigned tpoa new 100 KW Class C FM in Sedalia that "rocks into" Columbia and Fulton and all of Mid Mo. That could have been KKCA at 100KW, LOL. Except Meyers Communicatiosn was very cheap, I don't think they woudl have ever paid for that much of an upgrade.

KPOW-FM started out in 1998 at 97.1, finally giving KDRO an FM outlet. As I understand it, a consulting engineer hit them up to point out that there was a small window of land in Saline County where they could go and upgrade from a C2 to a C1 by moving to 97.7. That's what they did, giving them coverage between Kansas City and Columbia. A crappy radio won't pick up 97.7 in Columbia, but a reasonably good radio will, though with hiss in some locations. They are selling time in Columbia in addition to Sedalia, Marshall, Boonville, etc.

Incidebtlly, KFAL could have boosted daytime power too, on a Mexican Clear Channel, and there was plenty of land for another tower or a collection of towers to take KFAL directional at night with a power upgrade.

The protection standards that were in place for many years may not have allowed that. KWRE in Warrenton, where I had my first radio job, was similarly placed on a Mexican clear channel. Whenever I would sign off at night, Mexico City's XEX would pop in on the modulation monitor. The Mexican station on 900, XEW, was even more powerful back then. In any event, when daytimers were allowed to have low power at night, KFAL got 121 watts, relatively interference-free, and was listenable in Columbia at night. The downside was that it interfered with reception of WLS!

 

[Kent]

KPOW-FM started out in 1998 at 97.1, finally giving KDRO an FM outlet.

The 97.1 outlet in La Monte had been licensed previously by Valkyrie Communications but never built. That was how KDRO was able to get it. I believe KDRO got that frequency in an auction.

As I understand it, a consulting engineer hit them up to point out that there was a small window of land in Saline County where they could go and upgrade from a C2 to a C1 by moving to 97.7. That's what they did, giving them coverage between Kansas City and Columbia. A crappy radio won't pick up 97.7 in Columbia, but a reasonably good radio will, though with hiss in some locations. They are selling time in Columbia in addition to Sedalia, Marshall, Boonville, etc.

KPOW-FM's move to 97.7 was facilitated by the move of KCSX "Kicks 97.3" from Moberly to Lee's Summit. In order to accommodate 97.3 in Lee's Summit, KPOW-FM couldn't be adjacent. So, it was swapped with the 97.7 at Warsaw, which was a Class A. WIBW-FM was moved from 97.3 to 94.5, and KJCK-FM essentially made the reverse move, going from 94.5 to 97.5. The part about the consulting engineer pointing out the small window of land in Saline County that would allow an upgrade might still be true. I believe the original plan was a simple frequency move for KPOW-FM, and the upgrade came later.