WV station for sale

[Jet Black]

What was that restaurant there at the crossroads in Grafton, the Three Gainors? That always seemed exotic to me, passing through there as a kid. Still open? I have been to the KFC there once. Am I thinking of the right place? I've also been to the military cementary - a place for contemplation. Now, if that Go-Mart was for sale, I'd bet that was a money-making proposition.

[MTocco]

You passed map passed the test. Only problem no one was at the station this afternoon.

Steve was up on the hill at the transmittor building securing the Energy Onyx. He's the only one there now... I do the billing, production, and server from here via internet.

[MTocco]

What was that restaurant there at the crossroads in Grafton, the Three Gainors? That always seemed exotic to me, passing through there as a kid. Still open? I have been to the KFC there once. Am I thinking of the right place? I've also been to the military cementary - a place for contemplation. Now, if that Go-Mart was for sale, I'd bet that was a money-making proposition.

It was 4-Corners Restaurant... there is a Walgreen's sitting on top of it's grave. The locals are still stinging from the loss of their beloved 4-Corners. The previous owner is one of my best friends... She moved to Morgantown because the locals practically spit in her face when they see her for selling it... KFC has expanded and remodeled... across the street from Walgreens... there are two national cemetaries... the one on 50, and the other is the "old" cemetary dating back to the Civil War... since there are 2 Go-Marts in Grafton, both on 50 - one on each end of 50 - and neither one will be closing anytime soon, I'd say you were right about the money making proposition... Yeppers, you would have to pay a lot more money for them than a scruffy ole' radio station. I do, however, know all the ladies who work at the Go-Mart in Fetterman. Nancy particularly is a gem. I mean that is the kindest of ways.

One thing about Grafton... everyone knows everyone, and the natives either like you or they don't. If one Graftonian decides he/she doesn't like you -- the WHOLE FREAKING TOWN doesn't like you. And like elephants... they do NOT forget! Get the politics of the locals down, you have it halfway made. There is nothing like small town politics - and I don't mean Democrats or Republicans - to make you scratch your head and wonder "who's on first."

[contracteng]

If I had known that I would of gone up and help him load it.

Maybe I will be able to stop by next months trip.

[MTocco]

If I had known that I would of gone up and help him load it.

Maybe I will be able to stop by next months trip.

He sure could have used the help. He has his son-in-law, and his son who helped. Neither one knows squat about anything that has to do with the radio station... they'd rather get swine flu.

Are you the engineer for the old FM that KLOV now has? I've never been to that site. We know the old guy from the Bluefield area who serviced it before you. He took my husband up once. You must be busier than a one-armed paper hanger using spit for water.

If you call before you get to Grafton, knowing Steve, he'd enjoy meeting you. As I hinted before... when you guys start to talk about all that equipment stuff, how it's wired, worshipping the tx -- give me a good book. And I don't mean the parts manual.

[contracteng]

I check on WDKL once a month. Also WCKU Clarksburg and usually stay over night and go up to Moundsville the next day.

How is Bernie? Went to the factory 4 or 5 years ago and got the tour and lunch. I have a daughter that lives a couple hours away in CT.

[Big Media]

I do the billing, production, and server from here via internet.

You're already about 10 years ahead of some large market stations.

[Paradigm]

I check on WDKL once a month. Also WCKU Clarksburg and usually stay over night and go up to Moundsville the next day.

I think you'll be back to Moundsville sooner than you think. Klove up here has been off the air for 2 days now.

[Hoosier Daddy]

A question to MTocco:

What do you think it would take to make Grafton's 1190AM a success for a new owner?

[contracteng]

You were right, I was to Moundsville today. Circuit breaker in the disconect switch out on the meter pole had failed.

[MTocco]

Since it takes forever to do the quote thing, I'll just answer everyone here.

Contracteng: Bernie is as saucy as ever. The man hasn't aged a minute from the first time I met him. But then again, when you're in that neck of the woods, you ARE in Rip Van Winkle territory!

Big Media: It's so incredibly easy to handle practically the whole business via internet. It isn't much money, either... the program costs barely $20/ mo to connect all the computers I need to work with. Way cheaper than hiring warm bodies. I don't want to offend anyone, but we just can't afford to pay people to do what I can do, plus train people to do what I do. Of the four people we have hired in the past 3 years, one quit because she thought she was going to get rich. One ripped us off while she did her internet job -- Sugar Daddy dot com or something like that -- complements of my high speed; one was so dern bossy, she bossed us around. Not good to boss the boss. And the 4th one, well, she tried hard, but she is why we signed up for the inernet program to let me control things from Richmond -- after 4 months she still could not get the weather downloaded, trim it, and set the weather bed. She called me every day to see if she was doing it right, and I had to walk her step by step every time... it got a trifle old.

And Hoosier Daddy... to make Grafton profit, you have to be able to talk to the locals man to man most of the time. I'm not a very good "good ole boy." That's right -- Graftonians still believe that women should be barefoot and pregnant, and the men don't relate to women who they perceive as doing a man's job. I did ok, considering... before I left for health insurance. What I excell at - and really like to do - is writing copy. But to write copy - you gotta sell. My husband is strictly a wires an plugs guy... he'd rearrange the wiring of this station ever day if he had to, just to keep from having to talk to anyone about sales. You have to have someone who not only CAN sell, but actually likes it. I can sell a little bit, but I hate every second of it. I don't have the training, and I don't have the confidence... This station and I have a love hate relationship -- I hate it until someone knocks it, and then it's my baby that I raised from a very sick infant to a healthy toddler... if that makes any sense... When someone tells me no, instead of kicking into sales mode, I walk away with my feelings hurt... I am NOT a sales person for my baby. Frankly, I suck at sales. Also, if you look at the coverage map, there is a lot of secondary ad dollars out there that has never been tapped. Also, the paid religion does well, and it could be increased. I know, it's hard to listen to the fire and brimstone, but preachers ALWAYS pay. And they like to hear themselves talk. And finally, we're out of seed money, and we really put every cent we had left in the upgrade, and had too little left over to promote the change. It needs promoted, even now. People are finding us by chance. They like the Timeless Favorites, believe it or not... makes them want to sing along. Since Grafton is becoming a bedroom community to the bigger towns around it, it seems that drive time would be something to promote with businesses.

I hope I nipped at the tip of the iceberg... especially Hoosier Daddy's question...

[Jet Black]

Since Grafton is becoming a bedroom community to the bigger towns around it, it seems that drive time would be something to promote with businesses.

Phillippi?

[MTocco]

Since Grafton is becoming a bedroom community to the bigger towns around it, it seems that drive time would be something to promote with businesses.

Phillippi?

I am so sorry for you, you poor thing... You must not get out much...

[Jet Black]

Dang. Exposed again.

[MTocco]

Dang. Exposed again.

Just an observation, Jet -- I wouldn't expose a dang thing on this board if I were you.

[Scott Reppert]

I wouldn't expose a dang thing on this board if I were you.

Not a nice way to talk to a man that has searched out the Blackshere Drive-In!!!

[Jet Black]

I wouldn't expose a dang thing on this board if I were you.

Not a nice way to talk to a man that has searched out the Blackshere Drive-In!!!

Dang. Exposed again.

[Scott Reppert]

As long as you weren't with Pee Wee Herman...

[Jet Black]

HERMAN?! You said the Secret Word! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[MTocco]

HERMAN?! You said the Secret Word! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Are you sure it isn't Pee Wee?