WKFL-AM 1170 Wildwood

History Of WKFL
The Tampa Tribune, Monday, July 25, 1988
Sumter radio station ready to hit the air
by Valeri Oliver Tribune Staff Writer
BUSHNELL-Sumter County's first radio station is expected to begin broadcasts in two or three weeks, 10 years after a husband and wife took an afternoon drive and fell in love with the countryside. Jim and Roberta Johnson, who have lived in St. Catherine since moving from Tampa about five years ago, said radio station WKFL, 1170-AM, in Bushnell could receive final permit approval from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington any day. Application was made almost three years ago. A tower to broadcast the station's 1,000 watts of power will then be constructed to reach a 35-mile radius from Ocala to Zephyrhills and from Leesburg to Inverness. The permit is listed in Roberta Johnson's name, but both will be heavily involved in the station's operation. Jim Johnson, with more than 20 years in the broadcasting business in the Tampa Bay market,' said he and his wife wanted to move out of the city and own their own radio station. Because purchasing a station is too expensive, the two invested between $300,000 and $400,000 to build one. Roberta Johnson said the residents of Sumter County have for too long missed the luxury of a hometown source of radio entertainment and news. "When you live in Sumter County, you begin to realize there's not a direct line to the community," she said. During periods of hazardous weather, she said, Sumter County residents must tune in to radio stations in other cities and try to guess whether their communities could be threatened. "They have to rely on what's going on in Lake and Citrus counties and try to glean out of that what they think is going on here," Jim Johnson said. The station will operate between about 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. daily, playing a range of contemporary adult music that includes country. Jim Johnson said the format will be similar to that used by WSUN, 620-AM, in St. Petersburg. ", Johnson is not an unfamiliar name in broadcast circles. He has worked for several radio stations and managed three Tampa Bay radio stations before moving to Sumter County. He served as manager of WQYK, 1010-AM and 99.5-FM; WKRL, 98-FM; and WNLT, 95-FM. He also operated a radio station in Williston and is a partner in West Florida Television Ltd., which is vying for a permit for Channel 64 in Citrus County. The FCC has been holding hearings in an attempt to decide whether to award the permit to West Florida Television or Meredith Corp., which owns WOFL-TV in Orlando and is also vying for a permit in Citrus County. Roberta Johnson is a former editor for a publisher of legal research in Tampa, and together the couple operates a longhorn cattle ranch near St Catherine.

In 1987 WKFL began simulcasting with WKIQ-AM 1240 in Eustis. The new slogan became "Country 1170 and 1240". In September of 1987, the call sign was changed to WBEA, then changed again in November of 1987 to the current WKFL. In 1992, Henry Fehrmann's Maranatha Media purchased the station.

Tampa Tribune, Sep. 18, 1994
New radio station for Sumter Sumter County is growing and a new radio station began broadcasting this week. Radio station WKFL, 1170 AM is offering Christian broadcasting to Sumter, Pasco, Citrus, Hernando and Lake counties. Welcome to Henry Fehrmann, executive director of the station.

In August of 1998, Fehrmann purchased the 59-year-old Martin Theater on Main Street in Wildwood in the hope of turning it into a Christian radio station and performing arts center. The theater was renamed The King's Theatre. The dilapidated $500,000 property included a 6,500-square-foot hall with 500 seats and a large stage for performances. Fehrmann's radio station, known as American Family Radio, used part of the site for a broadcast studio and offices.
(The Martin Theatre opened in 1949 and had closed by 1988. The building is now split between a realtor and a church, but it still retains many theater attributes.) Fehrmann later sold WKFL to Keith Walker who flipped the format to Southern Gospel and paired it with WWKO-FM 91.3 Ocala. Walker's estate sold WKFL to Bruce Cox for $155,000 in 2004.

WKFL is on the air 1170 Bushnell, Classic Country, Bluegrass, Western Swing, on the air as of 3pm on the 1st of Feb. LMA operator KickinCountry, zmediasvcs@gmail.com "Cowboy Rowdy Live" 6AM-10AM-Mon-Fri .

2014-WKFL-AM 1170 in Bushnell is now simulcasting on WHNR-AM 1360 Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven.

SOLD: WKFL-AM 11-3-18
Ferris Waller owner/operator of the Plant City Farm & Flea Market is acquiring the silent WKFL-AM 1170, licensed to Bushnell. A $10,000 down payment is being paid by Waller to WKFL owner Talknsports, Inc. The remainder of the $30,000 sale price due at closing. Waller, who resides in Plant City, is well-known in Central Florida as the owner of WHNR-AM 1360 (Boss Hogg Radio) in Cypress Gardens, serving the Lakeland-Winter Haven market.

Names In WKFL History

Jim Johnson-1989-President-Starstrip Communications Inc.

Henry Fehrmann-1992-President/1998-Host of "The Gospel Connection"-Noon-2PM Fridays-Maranatha Media

Bob Green-1997-"It's Time to Talk"-4PM-6PM-Maranatha Media

Roger Kwapich-1998-"Consumer Automotive Repair"-Saturdays-9AM-10AM-Maranatha Media

Rev. Gary Chambers-1998-Mornings/Station Manager-Maranatha Media

Sharon Schrepple-1998-"Seniors on the Go''-Maranatha Media

Keith Walker-2001-President-K Florida Radio, Inc.

Bruce Cox-2004-President-Talknsports, Inc.

Jan Hall-2004-General Manager-Talknsports, Inc.

Scott Walker-2011-Owner

Ron Bisson-2011-Morning Host-"Ron Bisson's Real Country USA" (The American Military Entertainment Network)-Scott Walker

Dana-2011-Morning Co-Host-"Ron Bisson's Real Country USA" (The American Military Entertainment Network)-Scott Walker

Jeff-2011-Morning Co-Host-"Ron Bisson's Real Country USA" (The American Military Entertainment Network)-Scott Walker

Owner(s):	1986-Sumter County Radio
	1988-Starstrip Communications, Inc.
	1989- Hugh E. Reams
	1994-Henry Fehrmann d/b/a Maranatha Media and Broadcasting
	2001-K Florida Radio, Inc. (Keith Walker)
	2004-Talknsports, Inc. ($155,000)
	2018-Ferris S. Waller (Walco Enterprises)

History Of Call Letters and Formats:	WWLB-1986-Gospel
	WKFL-1987-Country (Simulcast-WKIQ-AM 1240) "Country 1170 and 1240"
	WBEA-1987-Country "Country 1170"
	WKFL-1992-Sports
	WKFL-1992-Gospel/Sports
	WKFL-1998-Urban Gospel "American Family Radio" "Mighty Gospel 1170 AM"
	WKFL-1998-Gospel/NASCAR/College Football
	WKFL-1999-Urban Gospel
	WKFL-2004-Southern Gospel
	WKFL-2006-Licensed/Silent
	WKFL-2007-Sports
	WKFL-2007-Licensed/Silent
	WKFL-2008-Sports
	WKFL-2009-Licensed/Silent
	WKFL-2010-Sports "Sporting News Radio"
	WKFL-2010-Classic Country "Real Country USA"
	WKFL-2011-Licensed/Silent
	WKFL-2012-Classic Country "Kickin' Country"
	WKFL-2017-Licensed/Silent (Nov 10, 2017)
	WKFL-2019-Variety "Heinz 57 Music" "Boss Hoggg Radio"

Glen Zeigler "Cowboy Rowdy"-2012-President/7AM-11AM-Zeigler Media Svcs
Martin Rowdy Tijmes-2012-"Rowdy Radio Show"-Syndicated-Zeigler Media Svcs
Marty McFly-2013-"Live Ride with Marty McFly"-Syndicated-Zeigler Media Svcs.
Thomas Saunders-2016-Talknsports, Inc.
Ferris Waller-2018-Presdent/General Manger-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Johnny Rocket (Johnny Roberts)-2018-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Cowboy Rowdy-2018-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Lady Z-2018-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Charlie Brown-2019-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Fester Jenkins-2019-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Tater Hays-2019-Walco Enterprises, LLC.
Sal Tee (Salvatore Taglireno)-2020-9AM-NoonFerris S. Waller (Walco Enterprises)
Terry Painter-Zeigler Media Svcs.
Jon Metts "Cowboy Jon"-3PM-6PM-Zeigler Media Svcs.
Carol Saunders
Al Berry
Other Programs In WKFL History
Sports Talk-1997-6AM-Noon Mon-Thursday/all day Friday through Sunday
Branson Country Music-1997-Noon-4PM weekdays/6PM-Sign Off
"The Gospel Connection"-1998-Henry Fehrmann-Noon-2PM Fridays-Maranatha Media
"Gospel Train"-1998-Weekdays-6AM-9AM/Saturday 10AM-Noon/Sunday 6AM-10AM-Maranatha Media
Heartland Heat Basketball-2012
"Great Stuff"-2012-Syndicated-Zeigler Media Svcs
"Great Stuff Gospel"-2012-Zeigler Media Svcs
"NASCAR Live"-Tuesday nights-Maranatha Media
Dr. James Dobson-"Focus on the Family"
Joyce Meyers