“Uncle” Bob and “Cousin” Mark have signed a deal that will make one of those two figures an owner of “The Talk of the Town” in Athens, Tenn., situated between Chattanooga and Knoxville on U.S. 11.
Why? The Uncle has decided to sell his stake in the station.
That would be Bob Ketchersid, who until now has served as VP, Program Director, Music Director and News Director of WYXI-AM 1390 and FM translator W233CI at 94.5 MHz in Athens.
In 1986, Ketchersid teamed up with Mark and Mary Lefler and other family members in acquiring the stations. The partnership came after Ketchersid concluded a six-year run in the Netherlands Antilles island of Bonaire, home to Trans World Radio‘s 440kw monster at 800 kHz, “Shine 800.” Before that, Ketchersid spent 14 years at WSB-AM in Atlanta, including 7 years as News Director.
Under the Ketchersid-Lefler partnership, known as Cornerstone Broadcasting, WYXI in December 1987 added a nighttime signal; it has been a Class D daytimer. The FM translator is the most recent “upgrade,” following the July 2000 switch-out of a McMartin transmitter with a solid-state Energy-Onix device.
Now, Lefler, who serves as President, and his wife are acquiring Ketchersid’s interest in Cornerstone for $100,000. Half will be delivered to Ketchersid in cash at closing. The other half will be honored by a Promissory Note bearing interest of 4% per year.
The transaction keeps WYXI locally owned, and no programming changes are expected, aside from Ketchersid’s likely retirement. He can currently be heard each morning on the station.
Syndicated programming includes The Kim Komando Show.
