Options for 1190 as I see it:
Make it 24 hour newsradio operation. Heavy use of AP Radio's 24 hour newswheel format with local inserts updating local stories, traffic, weather, and sports. During drivetimes 6-9 and 4-6, use expanded local programming. Could be semi-automated like is done on television for Headline News and TXCN. Anchors record stories in various forms that rotate like songs in a music format...station would be manned in case of breaking news, at which they'd go live. Could make use of Metro's news anchors locally. Perhaps work a tie-in with a local TV station whereby their reporters could report or feed audio (bites) to the station in exchange for crosspromotion or somesuch.
Local segments would feature top stories and various "daily segments"...that rotate in and out.
The biggest negative on an all news station is it is cost heavy. This would be a way of making it more affordable. There is a way for this to work.
Option 2: Oldies. Play all the great oldies (500 songs) and on a very light rotation all the one's that most oldies stations don't play (the other 1500 songs). Get some fun retro jingles (those are VERY affordable these days)...hire some local talent who'd almost do it for fun and let 'em voicetrack from home (those systems are fairly affordable too now). There's a lot of out-of-work DJ's who'd probably jump at the chance to do a local shift at an affordable part time salary, perhaps some network people who'd be interested in a side gig. Do 3 hour jock shifts (fresh every 3 hours!)...let 'em have fun with it...do some easy, fun instant win promoting (T-shirts, free tickets, Oldies CDs etc)...make it upbeat, fun, exciting, and keep the music flowing with jock talk on intro's and quick in and outs to spots (that you'll hopefully get)...would you rather have live jocks 24/7? Sure, but at least to start, you'd have to find a way to do it on a budget and still maintain a high quality. The "right" people can make this happen when properly motivated, instructed, and given the tools to work with.
Option 3: Pick up "The Oldies Channel" from ABC Radio Network. Scott Shannon's Oldies format would be an interesting fit on the heritage frequency, perhaps with a local morning show. Where is Zippo anyway?
Option 4: Keep the Classic Country format. Hire local DJ's to voicetrack as mentioned above. Put at least a MINIMUM of effort into it! Get rid of the sad, tear in my beer music in favor of some more upbeat great country classics of the past 4 decades! Think Hank Jr NOT Hank Sr.
Option 5: Push "7" and "Lower".