As of this writing, KCCK is back up to full power for the first time since December 1st. During ice storms, radio towers, like trees and power lines, get caked with ice. As ice builds up, so does electrical resistance. Our transmitter automatically starts to reduce the power sent through the line to prevent dangerous overloads.
At one point last week, we were down to a paltry 250 watts. I have fluorescent lights that put out more power.
The situation is even worse with our 106.9 translator, which has been off completely for several days. We hope to get it going again this week.
Anyway, if it seems like it's been harder to pull KCCK in of late, it's not your imagination. But, it's better than the alternative. During the February storms, we were off the air for nearly 3 days.
And, with more freezing rain predicted for later this week, we aren't out of the woods yet. But, we'll do our best to stay on the air. If the signal is a little fuzzy, you might check out the online webcast, which is not (usually) affected by transmitter problems.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Any Jackrabbits, Bison in the Audience? - George
There’s a big football game in Brookings, S.D., Saturday when South Dakota State and North Dakota State play for the Great West Football Conference championship. It’s also the “Battle for the Dakota Marker” – sort of their version of Floyd of Rosedale. The trophy is a replica of the border marker between the states of North and South Dakota.
The game is of special interest to me because I am an SDSU graduate, my daughter-in-law is an NDSU grad and one of my sons attended NDSU for a year before transferring to Iowa State.
There are two polls for the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision and for most of the season, North Dakota State has been Number-One and Northern Iowa Number-Two in the Coaches’ poll while UNI has been Number-One and NDSU Number-Two in the media poll. (SDSU has been in the “Among Others Receiving Votes” category.) But the Bison and Panthers won’t play this year because NDSU and SDSU are in the final year of transition from Division II and are not eligible for the playoffs.
Next year, however, the Jackrabbits and Bison will join the Panthers in the Gateway Conference. It will be a renewal of rivalries from the days when all three were members of the North Central Conference, which is disbanding at the end of this year. The Jacks and Panthers have played the past two years, with UNI winning both games. The Rabbits led at halftime before losing in the UNI-Dome in 2006. The Panthers dominated much of this year’s game in Brookings.
Both SDSU and NDSU have outstanding engineering colleges and I know many engineers from the two schools have been attracted to Cedar Rapids by Rockwell Collins. I’d be interested in hearing from any of them who are KCCK listeners.
George Dorman - News Director
The game is of special interest to me because I am an SDSU graduate, my daughter-in-law is an NDSU grad and one of my sons attended NDSU for a year before transferring to Iowa State.
There are two polls for the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision and for most of the season, North Dakota State has been Number-One and Northern Iowa Number-Two in the Coaches’ poll while UNI has been Number-One and NDSU Number-Two in the media poll. (SDSU has been in the “Among Others Receiving Votes” category.) But the Bison and Panthers won’t play this year because NDSU and SDSU are in the final year of transition from Division II and are not eligible for the playoffs.
Next year, however, the Jackrabbits and Bison will join the Panthers in the Gateway Conference. It will be a renewal of rivalries from the days when all three were members of the North Central Conference, which is disbanding at the end of this year. The Jacks and Panthers have played the past two years, with UNI winning both games. The Rabbits led at halftime before losing in the UNI-Dome in 2006. The Panthers dominated much of this year’s game in Brookings.
Both SDSU and NDSU have outstanding engineering colleges and I know many engineers from the two schools have been attracted to Cedar Rapids by Rockwell Collins. I’d be interested in hearing from any of them who are KCCK listeners.
George Dorman - News Director
Monday, November 12, 2007
Bobby D. Featured in Gazette - George
A nice article in the Monday, Nov. 12 Cedar Rapids Gazette about KCCK's DaBlues host Bob DeForest. Check it out at http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071112/NEWS/711120021/1002/NEWS
George Dorman - News Director
George Dorman - News Director
Friday, November 9, 2007
KCCK's Veterans
With the coming of Veterans Day, it's worth noting that several veteran KCCK staffers are also veterans of military service.
KCCK Morning Man, Talking Pictures co-host and Got-a-Minute's Mark Yother was in the Air Force for three years. He was editor of the base newspaper at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, then worked in radio and television with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) for a year.
News Director George Dorman spent two years in the Army, including a year in Korea -- the first six months in field artillery, the next six months as a reporter/photographer for the 2nd Infantry Division newspaper and as a weekend radio newscaster and occasional television sportscaster for the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN).
Big Band Memories co-host Cary J. Hahn served four years in the Navy, broadcasting on Armed Forces Radio aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier during Vietnam service and on the island of Kodiak, Alaska.
Our other BBM co-host, Murray Kent, was a news and sports announcer for American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) and an FM radio music host.
Gentle Jazz's Bob Naujoks spent his entire two-year army tour at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., managing an enlisted men's service club and did some interviews for the Public Information Office.
George Dorman - News Director
george@kcck.org
KCCK Morning Man, Talking Pictures co-host and Got-a-Minute's Mark Yother was in the Air Force for three years. He was editor of the base newspaper at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado, then worked in radio and television with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) for a year.
News Director George Dorman spent two years in the Army, including a year in Korea -- the first six months in field artillery, the next six months as a reporter/photographer for the 2nd Infantry Division newspaper and as a weekend radio newscaster and occasional television sportscaster for the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN).
Big Band Memories co-host Cary J. Hahn served four years in the Navy, broadcasting on Armed Forces Radio aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier during Vietnam service and on the island of Kodiak, Alaska.
Our other BBM co-host, Murray Kent, was a news and sports announcer for American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) and an FM radio music host.
Gentle Jazz's Bob Naujoks spent his entire two-year army tour at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., managing an enlisted men's service club and did some interviews for the Public Information Office.
George Dorman - News Director
george@kcck.org
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Check Out the Podcasts - George
Are you a fan of Talking Pictures but sometimes miss it when it's aired? Or do you want to find out what's happening this weekend but you didn't catch the Culture Crawl? Well, all you have to do is listen to the Podcasts on our web site. It's as easy as clicking "On the Air" in the menu bar and scrolling down to "Podcasts and Downloads." Got a Minute and Clean Up Your Act archives are also found there as well as a long list of interviews we've done with jazz musicians who have performed in this area. You can also subscribe to the Podcasts and have them automatically downloaded to your computer.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Keep Jazz Radio Alive! - Dennis
This is Membership Week on KCCK, which means we come to our listeners, both on the air and online, and ask them to do something counter-intuitive: Voluntarily pay for something they could get for free.
Why would we expect people to do this? Well, KCCK listeners are the kind of people who take responsibility. They understand that good things only continue if they receive enough support. Right here in Iowa, we've seen stations that used to play jazz cancel their jazz programs, so you can't take it for granted. And, thanks to our webcast, we've heard from new members around the state and around the world that KCCK is worth supporting.
Won't you help as well? Pledge securely online at this link. Or, if you'd like to talk to a live person, call 1.800.373.5225.
And thanks!
Why would we expect people to do this? Well, KCCK listeners are the kind of people who take responsibility. They understand that good things only continue if they receive enough support. Right here in Iowa, we've seen stations that used to play jazz cancel their jazz programs, so you can't take it for granted. And, thanks to our webcast, we've heard from new members around the state and around the world that KCCK is worth supporting.
Won't you help as well? Pledge securely online at this link. Or, if you'd like to talk to a live person, call 1.800.373.5225.
And thanks!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
New Weekend Lineup! -- Dennis
On-air announcements will start in a few days, but I wanted to let you know about some exciting changes coming to KCCK's weekend Lineup. Both Saturday and Sunday are affected, so we'll proceed chronologically.
First off, we are pleased to announce that one of the Corridor's most-recognized jazz experts is joining KCCK. Craig Kessler is the owner of Real Records and CDs in Iowa City. Craig began his retail music career in the Chicago area, where he got to know many of the Windy City's musicians and label owners.
Craig has also been one of hosts of "As Night Falls" on KSUI-FM, with the UI's John Rapson and Dan Moore. As you may know, Iowa Public Radio has debuted a new state-wide, classical music schedule , and they weren't able to find a spot for "As Night Falls," making Craig available.
Craig's KCCK program will be similar to the one he hosted on KSUI, with jazz music, stories and history, all around a central theme. We hope that John and Dan will be regular guests.
Craig's yet-to-be-titled program will air 3-6pm Saturdays. Ken Rinehart will move up to the Noon-3pm shift, right after Doug Jackson's Smooth Brunch.
Sunday's changes are equally as exciting.
I'm pleased to announce that Gentle Jazz will soon be expanding to four hours. For years, one of the most-requested program ideas for KCCK has been for a "softer jazz-brunch program on Sundays," to complement the vintage jazz programs which are also very popular. The return of Bob Naujoks from a summer off has given us that opportunity.
The temporary host of Gentle Jazz, Ron Adkins, did such an outstanding job that we didn't want let him go! So Gentle Jazz will double in size, now airing from 9am-1pm. Bob will host the first half, and Ron the the second.
But don't worry. Your other favorite Sunday shows aren't going away. Mark Yother's Sunday Morning Swing will remain three hours long, but will now air from 6-9am Sunday. Big Band Memories will continue to air from 1-5, with Cary J. Hahn and Murray Kent. Riverwalk Jazz moves to 5pm.
The new lineup takes effect the weekend of Sept. 29.
As always, let us know what you think!
Dennis Green
General Manager
First off, we are pleased to announce that one of the Corridor's most-recognized jazz experts is joining KCCK. Craig Kessler is the owner of Real Records and CDs in Iowa City. Craig began his retail music career in the Chicago area, where he got to know many of the Windy City's musicians and label owners.
Craig has also been one of hosts of "As Night Falls" on KSUI-FM, with the UI's John Rapson and Dan Moore. As you may know, Iowa Public Radio has debuted a new state-wide, classical music schedule , and they weren't able to find a spot for "As Night Falls," making Craig available.
Craig's KCCK program will be similar to the one he hosted on KSUI, with jazz music, stories and history, all around a central theme. We hope that John and Dan will be regular guests.
Craig's yet-to-be-titled program will air 3-6pm Saturdays. Ken Rinehart will move up to the Noon-3pm shift, right after Doug Jackson's Smooth Brunch.
Sunday's changes are equally as exciting.
I'm pleased to announce that Gentle Jazz will soon be expanding to four hours. For years, one of the most-requested program ideas for KCCK has been for a "softer jazz-brunch program on Sundays," to complement the vintage jazz programs which are also very popular. The return of Bob Naujoks from a summer off has given us that opportunity.
The temporary host of Gentle Jazz, Ron Adkins, did such an outstanding job that we didn't want let him go! So Gentle Jazz will double in size, now airing from 9am-1pm. Bob will host the first half, and Ron the the second.
But don't worry. Your other favorite Sunday shows aren't going away. Mark Yother's Sunday Morning Swing will remain three hours long, but will now air from 6-9am Sunday. Big Band Memories will continue to air from 1-5, with Cary J. Hahn and Murray Kent. Riverwalk Jazz moves to 5pm.
The new lineup takes effect the weekend of Sept. 29.
As always, let us know what you think!
Dennis Green
General Manager
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)