Panhandle Community Radio is launching into the new year with new staffing and a new twice-a-week morning show – part of our growing local programming!
Strong community support has made it possible for our all-volunteer station to add its first two staff positions – albeit, both are part -time, interim positions.
Suzy Prez, who has volunteered as KRFY’s business manager for the past two years, has been named station manager. Prez, who worked as administrator for Sandpoint Waldorf School for more than a decade before retiring two years ago, for the past year has also produced KRFY’s “Between the Notes,” a show featuring songs and music from local musicians. She’s also been one of the station’s broadcast interviewers. Prez said she’s excited to take on the new role.
“I love radio,” she said. “I feel it is a re-emerging media, and the potential for creating community is just exciting.”
Jack Peterson has taken the position of production manager, taking on some of the role that Matt Jablon has filled as a volunteer. Peterson also has been producing twice-a-week local music show, and has also gotten more involved over the past year in technical support.
“I’ve always thought radio was the coolest medium,” he said. “As soon as I started hearing 88.5 on the air, I knew it was something I wanted to get involved in.”
Along with their staff duties, Prez and Peterson will be helping to launch the station’s first local current affairs program. Called simply the “KRFY Morning Show,” the new program will air every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 9 a.m. The Morning Show will begin airing Tuesday, Jan. 14, and the hour will include local weather, event calendars, local news and issues, occasional music from local musicians plus a keynote interview with community news makers.
Prez said some of the interviewees slated for the first month of The Morning Show include City Council President Carrie Logan, downtown BID Manager Kim Queen, Panida director Barry Bonifas, Bonner County Daily Bee editor Caroline Lobsinger, POAC’s new director Debbie Love, some of the principal figures in the soon-to-premiere local movie “About Men,” and more.
Prez and Peterson will be joined by two other hosts sharing duties to produce The Morning Show. They are Jim Healey, president of the KRFY board as well as frequent broadcaster and interviewer; and Chris Bessler of Keokee, which publishes Sandpoint Magazine and SandpointOnline.com.
Morning Show hosting team, from right: Suzy Prez, Jim Healey, Jack Peterson and Chris Bessler. The show starts Jan. 14!
The Morning Show airs at 88.5 FM, as well as streams live on the station website right here at KRFY.org. To listen to the live stream, just click that KRFY Live Stream link above right. For those who can’t catch the show during its 8 o’clock airing, podcasts will be available to listen to or download anytime from the KRFY.org website..