Infobox Radio station
name = WEEL
city = Dothan, Alabama
area =
branding = "Oldies 700 and 100 Point 1 FM"
slogan = "The Wheel" "Greatest Hits Of All Time"
airdate =
frequency = 700 kHz and 100.1 mHz
format = Oldies
power = 1,600 Watts daytime and 16 watts 24/7
erp =
class = D
callsign_meaning = "The Wheel"
former_callsigns = WGZS
owner = JALO Broadcasting Corporation
webcast = Yes
website = oldies700.net
affiliations =
WEEL is an oldies-formatted radio station broadcasting from Dothan, Alabama.
History
WGZS was purchased in 2006 by broadcaster Jack Gale. WGZS switched their calls to WEEL on February 20, 2007, a couple of days earlier than planned. Gale launched an oldies music format known by the branding "Oldies 700, The Big Wheel" on that frequency on March 1, 2007 at 5:45 a.m., according to the station's website.
Programming
Gale hosted the station's morning show from 6 a.m to 9 a.m. Afterwards, Kevin Larkin hosted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by Chris Morgan from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The trio used the collective name "The Good Guys" on-air.
ilent
On August 3, 2007, WEEL, along with the station's webstream, fell silent. The reason listed on the FCC "Remain Silent Authority" Application is "Financial".[cite web]
url = http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1198374
title = Application Search Details
accessdate = 2007-08-06
last = FCC
language = English] As WGZS and before the JALO ownership, the station was issued a similar remain silent order in 2006 [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=23614] also citing financial problems, plus two STA periods in 2002-2003 for "Technical" reasons. [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=23614] On January 30, 2008, the station applied for an extension to the Remain Silent Authority, still citing financial problems, with a statement that they expect to resume operations in 60 days, but no specifics were mentioned as to how the station was going to solve its financial problems. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1230365&Service=AM&Form_id=910&Facility_id=23614]
Return To Broadcasting
Following a period of silence, WEEL returned to the air on June 24, 2008. The station resumed its format of oldies. In addition, Jalo Broadcasting acquired an FM translator on 100.1 Megahertz allowing WEEL to provide 24/7 service to its city of license.
On July 25, 2008, Jalo Broadcasting signed an option to sell WEEL-AM and its translator to veteran broadcaster Bob Mathers.
Mathers resigned his position as anchor and editor for KOMO 1000 AM Newsradio in Seattle to take over WEEL operations on September 2, 2008.
Mathers and Dothan radio vet Tom O'Brien are WEEL's drive time personalities, with more announcers to be added in the future.
References
External links
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