Small town live local radio radio stations are pretty much extinct. While on vacation from Dallas, Tx to visit my hometown of La Grande I drove through many small towns scanning the dial looking for some local flava. Didn't find much till I passed KSRV in Ontario. Their 2 towers and studio are visible from HWY 84. I tuned in their FM side in Boise and it was typical sounding cookie cutter FM, however as I approached Oregon the AM was a very nice treat! No simulcasting of the FM here, but a very wide country format with what appears to have a LIVE DJ. Small market time and temp checks and some commercial reads for local ma and pa businesses in Ontario. Pitch to some pre recorded local news about road construction, city council, local charity events, etc. Talk about the weather and back into some music with local mentions. There was even a actual car in the parking lot of the station when I drove by. This was SO REFRESHING to experience!! You don't see or hear that much anymore.
In La Grande, my first job as a teen was at KLBM 1450-FM 98.3 in the late 70's as well KEOL-FM 91.1 the college station and those were the only stations in town. It was very full service for small town La Grande. Now there are nearly a DOZEN stations there and NO LOCAL PROGRAMMING. ANY news that happens here you will have to wait for the bi weekly newspaper. As I sit on this patio overlooking the Grande Ronde Valley, watching the lone AM 1450 tower light still blinking away in the night sky above La Grande, it saddens me to think of how its hey day has become to this. By the way, when I went to revisited KLBM (and cluster) the next day, it was locked up and there was no cars in the parking lot.
In La Grande, my first job as a teen was at KLBM 1450-FM 98.3 in the late 70's as well KEOL-FM 91.1 the college station and those were the only stations in town. It was very full service for small town La Grande. Now there are nearly a DOZEN stations there and NO LOCAL PROGRAMMING. ANY news that happens here you will have to wait for the bi weekly newspaper. As I sit on this patio overlooking the Grande Ronde Valley, watching the lone AM 1450 tower light still blinking away in the night sky above La Grande, it saddens me to think of how its hey day has become to this. By the way, when I went to revisited KLBM (and cluster) the next day, it was locked up and there was no cars in the parking lot.