This post has absolutely nothing to do with Charlotte radio. However, this has been my "home" board for as many years as I've been frequenting Radio-Info (long before I moved to Kentucky and bought WFXY and WANO), and I've developed more friendships than you can imagine with the readers of this particular board. I know this is the first place many of you look when you log on, so I thought I might as well post this here.
At 3:30am, this is a very difficult email for me to write. However, since I obviously can't sleep tonight, I thought "why not". I also wanted you all to hear it from me before you read it in the newspaper or a trade publication, or see it on TV.
At approximately 9:40 tonight (Sunday), arsonists set the WANO-AM building on fire. Despite courageous efforts by the men and women of the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department, the building and transmission facilities were a total loss. Luckily, the tower is far enough from the building that it wasn't damaged by heat, smoke or water. The building is still standing despite being burned out, and it's obvious that the arsonists poured a trail of accelerant (the arson investigators believe it to be kerosene) throughout the building, then set the fire at the front door. When the alarm system was set off by the arsonists kicking in the front door, I was immediately alerted by the alarm company. I headed to Pineville as quickly as I could, and by the time I got there, the fire was mostly extinguished. At that point, only the front part of the building was damaged, and our transmitter was still safe and free of smoke and water damage. At that time, I was actually able to look through the building with the firefighters and survey the damage. However, about an hour later, embers ignited the ceiling directly over the transmitter, and extinguishing these flames caused the transmitter and processing equipment to be destroyed. It was a total loss, and what is left of the building will have to be razed. Due to the location of the building (in a high-flood area and crime-ridden neighborhood), and because the property has had many insurance claims over the past few years, insuring the facility simply wasn't economically viable, so I'll have to pay for the rebuild myself, without the benefit of an insurance adjustment.
Ironically, WANO celebrated 50 years of service to the Pineville/Bell County community on Friday March 16th. It's a tragedy that, when we should be celebrating, we are instead crushed by the acts of these awful people. In the past thirty days, well over a dozen fires have been intentionally set in Bell County, so we are simply one of many victims. My hearts go out to the other folks who have lost homes and property to arson this month. I can personally relate now. However, the community is the real loser in this situation. Sure, I'll have to bear the expense of rebuilding the station. However, I can handle it. The community, though, will be without its' radio station for at least a few months. Walking through the building was like walking through a time capsule, with years and years of history present in the old Carts and 45s stored in the building. Everything from Elvis's first album, to old County Fiscal Court recordings, and even the room where Loretta Lynn sang in person before she was famous. All that is gone now, thanks to the actions of idiots who are incapable of even comprehending the history they've destroyed.
I have every intention of turning this tragedy into a victory. I'd like to ask that you all please keep your thoughts and prayers with me and my staff as we sift through the ashes and work to rebuild WANO. It WILL be back, better than ever. I'm not about to let the actions of a few idiots with matches prevent WANO from enjoying fifty more years of broadcast excellence.
Take care;
-JW
At 3:30am, this is a very difficult email for me to write. However, since I obviously can't sleep tonight, I thought "why not". I also wanted you all to hear it from me before you read it in the newspaper or a trade publication, or see it on TV.
At approximately 9:40 tonight (Sunday), arsonists set the WANO-AM building on fire. Despite courageous efforts by the men and women of the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department, the building and transmission facilities were a total loss. Luckily, the tower is far enough from the building that it wasn't damaged by heat, smoke or water. The building is still standing despite being burned out, and it's obvious that the arsonists poured a trail of accelerant (the arson investigators believe it to be kerosene) throughout the building, then set the fire at the front door. When the alarm system was set off by the arsonists kicking in the front door, I was immediately alerted by the alarm company. I headed to Pineville as quickly as I could, and by the time I got there, the fire was mostly extinguished. At that point, only the front part of the building was damaged, and our transmitter was still safe and free of smoke and water damage. At that time, I was actually able to look through the building with the firefighters and survey the damage. However, about an hour later, embers ignited the ceiling directly over the transmitter, and extinguishing these flames caused the transmitter and processing equipment to be destroyed. It was a total loss, and what is left of the building will have to be razed. Due to the location of the building (in a high-flood area and crime-ridden neighborhood), and because the property has had many insurance claims over the past few years, insuring the facility simply wasn't economically viable, so I'll have to pay for the rebuild myself, without the benefit of an insurance adjustment.
Ironically, WANO celebrated 50 years of service to the Pineville/Bell County community on Friday March 16th. It's a tragedy that, when we should be celebrating, we are instead crushed by the acts of these awful people. In the past thirty days, well over a dozen fires have been intentionally set in Bell County, so we are simply one of many victims. My hearts go out to the other folks who have lost homes and property to arson this month. I can personally relate now. However, the community is the real loser in this situation. Sure, I'll have to bear the expense of rebuilding the station. However, I can handle it. The community, though, will be without its' radio station for at least a few months. Walking through the building was like walking through a time capsule, with years and years of history present in the old Carts and 45s stored in the building. Everything from Elvis's first album, to old County Fiscal Court recordings, and even the room where Loretta Lynn sang in person before she was famous. All that is gone now, thanks to the actions of idiots who are incapable of even comprehending the history they've destroyed.
I have every intention of turning this tragedy into a victory. I'd like to ask that you all please keep your thoughts and prayers with me and my staff as we sift through the ashes and work to rebuild WANO. It WILL be back, better than ever. I'm not about to let the actions of a few idiots with matches prevent WANO from enjoying fifty more years of broadcast excellence.
Take care;
-JW