WKKX

Infobox Radio Station
name = WKKX-AM
frequency = 1600 kHz
city = Wheeling, West Virginia
area = Wheeling, West Virginia
affiliations = Fox Sports Radio (formerly ESPN Radio)
format = News / Talk
owner = RCK-1 Group LLC
erp = 5,000 watts (day) / 0.033 watts (night)
branding = AM 1600 WKKX
slogan = "The Valley's WatchDAWG"
class = D Region 2 Station Class
website = [http://www.wkkx.com WKKX.com]

AM 1600 WKKX is a local talk radio station operating out of Wheeling, West Virginia, currently being the only talk-radio station in the market to provide local content from 6AM to sundown. Beginning at 6 a.m., the schedule includes four daily programs as well as coverage of local sports. The station offered an all ESPN Radio format until RCK 1 Group's managing partner Robert Fitzsimmons, a nationally-known attorney who practices law out of Wheeling, purchased the station in hopes of providing a local talk radio station to counter the syndication supplied by WWVA. The station's offices and studios are located on the 1st floor of Absure Towers along Main Street in downtown Wheeling, and AM 1600 WKKX is news partners with WTRF TV Channel 7. All of WKKX's programming can also be heard on the internet via the station's website.

hows

All shows on WKKX have two anchors, the main host in which the show centers around, and a co-host who maintains the switchboard for callers.

Daily Shows

Tainted Luv (6:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

John "Mutha Luv" Blackmore and Mike "Teddy the Taint" Drosieko host this popular morning program that features both levity and hard-hitting news coverage. Blackmore and Drosieko initiate interaction with the Ohio Valley area concerning news, politics and the issues most important to West Virginia's northern panhandle and to the East Ohio region. From local law enforcement officials to federal lawmakers, the "Tainted Luv" program offers a wide range of guests and also features special segments that include the insights of local legal and medical sources.

The Broadcast (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

Hosted by former WTOV anchor Sherrie McCutcheon and co-hosted by Lola Miller, the program is billed as one with a female point of view. Sherrie and Lola account for the first and only female hosts on the station thus far. The hosts welcome both male and female views and provide needed information on specific topics such as animal care on Thursday's with an accredited vet.

Steve Novotney Live (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

Steve Novotney, the former AM 1170 WWVA drive-time host, offers a more experienced opinion during his time slot. After a two-year stint at WWVA, Novotney's service were terminated by Clear Channel as the corporation prepared to sell the heritage station. Novotney, however, was hired in July for the 12-3 p.m. shift on WKKX and he concentrates on covering the Ohio Valley. Novotney is also a writer for several newspapers, including the State Journal, the Charleston Daily Mail, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and he also writes columns for the web site, www.forwhomthebelltollsohiovalley.com.

George Kellas (3:00 PM - Sundown (either 6 or 7 PM)

Kellas is the cornerstone of WKKX's lineup having compiled a storied history in the Ohio Valley. Kellas served as a sports anchor for both WTRF and WTOV, as a former host of a WWVA radio show, and former owner of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. The topics of his shows can be wide and varied, but most focus on lambasting "Corporate America", such as Wal-Mart. Kellas has shown also to be left of center, even though he has been known to take a right-wing view on more than a few key issues. Kellas has been known to be very passionate about the issues he discusses, and on occasion a topic will be brought up during the day that fires up a usually even-tempered host. Kellas supports local businesses, and has regular call-in advertisers who promote a daily special or to provide information about their business.

pecial Weekday Shows

The Legislative Watchdawg (Wednesdays 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)

A round-table discussion on local and national politics. The opinions are usually of a democratic slant, although different views have been taken from time to time.

Whispers Radio (Wednesdays 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM)

[http://www.whispersradio.com Whispers Radio] is a paranormal themed radio show hosted by Jordan Cline and Nick Queen and tends to be interview-based. Topics range from ghosts to cryptozoology to UFOs, as well as others that fall into the general paranormal realm. The show is growing in popularity not only locally but also via the internet as a podcast, distributed via iTunes and other services. This is due to a varied roster of guests including Stanton Friedman, Michael Cremo and many others.

aturday Shows

The Saturday Sports Huddle (Saturdays 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM)

Weekday host Steve Novotney hosts a round-table discussion each Saturday morning that covers local, regional and national sports topics. Novotney is joined each week by Jerry Ames, Chad Anthony and station operations manager Doug Boyd. All four home-grown personalities have competed in Ohio Valley high school athletics for Linsly School (Novotney), Wheeling Central Catholic (Ames and Anthony) and Wheeling Park High (Boyd).

Round Up The Hounds (Saturdays 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Kellas is joined by Sammy "The Bull" Zavatsky each week to discuss greyhound racing, a staple of the Ohio Valley. Kellas and Zavatsky examine the Saturday afternoon greyhound racing lineup at Wheeling Island Hotel Casino and Racetrack, and all issues surrounding West Virginia's live racing industry.

Other Shows

FOX Sports Radio

When no local programming is being broadcasted, the station will switch to FOX Sports Radio, which provides shows such as Gametime React and The Third Shift.

Trivia

*During the Sago Mine tragedy, Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church promised to picket the funerals of the victims killed in the collapse of the mine, believing that the deaths were God's way of punishing America for sinful behavior. On one of the days leading up to the funerals, Phelps called into the Kellas show to provide his viewpoint. During the call, Kellas was commended for not losing his temper with Phelps and letting him speak his case (although he had revealed that he considered "blowing him up", an inside term for dropping a caller by using a bomb drop and blow sound effect), because Kellas "wanted Phelps to call again", most likely to provide an example of intolerance.
*Kellas has regularly referred to WWVA as "the bastards down the street", making reference to their nearby location to the Capitol Music Hall in which WWVA's studios are located. Kellas was reported to have an ugly situation involving WWVA's parent company, Clear Channel, which resulted in his departure from the station.

Future

WKKX used to broadcast from the Laconia Building on Market Street until conflicts with local politicians forced their lease to suddenly end. They have since moved to a building on Main Street along the river front where their banner is quite visible.

The rumors about WKKX owners expanding their communication footprint in the Ohio Valley have appeared to have ceased for now.

External links

* [http://www.wkkx.com WKKX.com]
* [http://www.whispersradio.com Whispers Radio Homepage]
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