What's News July 2021

Happy Birthday 7-7-21
Birthdays coming up; Ken Dixon celebrates tomorrow. WPOZ-FM 88.3's Shadow blows out the candles on Friday.

Tom MacCubbin To Retire 7-9-21
"Better Lawns & Gardens" with Tom MacCubbin has been a staple on Florida stations for the past 33 years. At the end of July Tom will be retiring from the program. Teresa Watkins will be the new host. Florida News Network Operations Director Jim Poling said “The show name will continue and the basic premise of serving Florida gardeners will continue but that’s where the similarity will end. It will be Teresa's show. We hate to lose a legend like Tom MacCubbin, but with Teresa, the program won’t miss a beat.”

Dan Sileo Joins Florida Man Radio 7-12-21
JVC Media's Florida Man Radio announced Dan Sileo's syndicated show for late nights. Sileo returns to Orlando via WDYZ-AM 660/105.5-FM. Sileo will also be heard on WYGC-FM 100.9, Gainesville and WZLB-FM 103.1/Valparaiso/Fort Walton Beach. In Orlando Dan worked at WFLF-AM 540 and WQTM-AM 740 and WYGM-AM 740.

Fined For Late Filing 7-13-21
WPGS-AM 840 has been fined $3,000 for a late license renewal application. The renewal was due in Oct. 2019 but wasn't filed until Jan. 2020, without an explanation.

June PPM Ratings 7-15-21
Nielsen PPM ratings are in for June. See them here.

South Brevard News 7-18-21
Thanks to Keith Willis for reporting these happenings in South Brevard. WMIE 91.5 has not been heard for several weeks...Neither has its FM translator on 102.3. WIXC 1060 is not audible here right now and WLZR 1560 added a translator on 107.9.

Mike Cooper Passes 7-19-21
Laurence Kahn, producer for Gene Burns on WKIS-AM 740 from 1982 until 1984 when they left for Boston’s WRKO, has let us know that another producer for Gene has passed away. Mike Cooper, was Gene's producer previous to Larry, passed away suddenly at his home in Weeki Wachee on July 16, 2021. Mike was Gene’s producer from 1980 through 1882 (after Bob Poe). Mike was also Gene’s Producer at WCAU-AM in Philadelphia in 1981 (in the middle of his run as producer) when Gene departed Orlando (only to return 10 months later to WKIS) for WCAU in Philly. Mike went on to have a successful and diverse career as a TV Producer for Channel 9 in Orlando, as a PR Director for The New Orleans Worlds Fair, Radio Producer for nationally syndicated The Fabulous Sports Babe and most recently as a school teacher and football coach. He is survived by his wife Cory.
In Memory

WMIE Translator Back 7-22-21
Thanks to Keith Willis; the WMIE-FM translator (W272BA) on 102.3 was heard last night (7-20-21) with music and an ID.

Stephen McKenney Steck Killed 7-25-21
Stephen McKenney Steck former President/CEO of WMFE-FM 90.7 was killed on Saturday after being struck from behind while cycling in Oviedo. He was 77. In Memory

Here They Grow Again 7-26-21
Ferris Waller's Walco Enterprises, owner of the "Boss Hogg Radio Network", WHNR-AM 1360, WKFL-AM 1170, WWAB-AM 1330 and WFHT-AM 1390 /107.9 FM has agreed to purchase WSIR-AM 1490 in Winter Haven. Steve Reszka is the CEO/President of owner Anscombe Broadcasting Group, LTD. The sale of the station Assets are valued at $27,500 for the equipment and $20,000 for the License.

Happy Birthday 7-31-21
WJRR-FM 101.1's Taco Bob celebrates today. Pete Simonson and Peter King blow out the candles on Friday. On Saturday, former WTRR-AM 1400 PD, Rick Padilla celebrates. "Press On Regardless" Russ Wheeler turns 86 on Sunday.