WRPO-LP

WRPO-LP "Indian Lake Radio" (for Russells Point,Ohio,its city of license) is a non-commercial and educational low power FM community radio station at 93.5 mHz licensed to the village of Russells Point which up until recently aired a Big Band and Adult Standards format. The station now airs a smooth jazz format. Its studios and transmitter are both located in the city of license and serves the communities of Russells Point,Lakeview,Orchard Island,Island View,Avondale,Santa Fe,Belle Center,Huntsville,Jackson Center,New Hampshire,Waynesfield, and the perimeter of Indian Lake State Park in northern Logan County, Ohio.

Brief history

WRPO...also known as "The Point,Your Memory Station" was founded in 2002 and commenced broadcasting on Memorial Day May 27th of that year. Its transmitter power is 100 watts. Robbie Robinson and station manager Gene Kirby are just a few of the station's air personalities who are all volunteers. Its studios and offices are located at 433 State Route 708 in the village municipal building.

WRPO's former big band format was a tribute to the live performance venue of the now long gone Sandy Beach Amusement Park which was frequented by many of the popular orchestras and singers of that era...many of which were broadcast live nationwide on network radio.

WRPO is owned by the Village of Russells Point and leased to operator Gene Kirby (dba: Gray Fox Broadcasting) which also owns and operates WMHO, a micropower AM broadcaster at 1620 kHz in Marysville which airs a classic country format (following the departure of WUCO's studios and offices to Columbus) in addition to Audio Sensations Productions,an itinerate DJ and audio production service which also promotes local singing talent Kelsie Ross and DJ Dale Madison who in turn also help promote the local community station.

According to its updated website as of February 22,2007,the station announced a switchover to a smooth jazz format. However the live local Saturday morning talk/interview program with Robbie and Gene at 8 AM followed by the weekly Big Band Jump program hosted by Don Kennedy at 9 AM both remain.

The format switch to smooth jazz took place on Saturday March 8,2008. Ovenight programming will also include oldies from 12 midnight until early morning. The format switch has also been reflected in its website which was upgraded one month later on April 8,2008.

Kirby also hosts a Saturday morning Big Band program on WSWO-LP in Huber Heights.

References/Sources

* [http://www.rickcooper.com/page40/page40.html Rick Cooper's Original WRPO webpage]
* [http://www.indianlakearea.com/wrpo.htm WRPO information page at Indian Lake,Ohio Portal]
* [http://atsf.railfan.net/oddities/wrpo.html WRPO mention on Railfan website]
* [http://radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=88893.0;wap2 WRPO mentioned on Radio-Info website]
* [http://www.prx.org/station/WRPO/ WRPO information at Public Radio Exchange site]

ee also

*Smooth Jazz
*Indian Lake (Ohio)
*Low power FM
*
*List of radio stations in Ohio

External links

* [http://www.wrpo-fm.com Official WRPO site]
* [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WRPO Query the FCC's FM station database for WRPO]
* [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=wrpo&sr=Y&s=C WRPO-LP technical information from Radio-Locator website]
* [http://ohiounioncountyfair.org/GrayFox.html Website of Gray Fox Broadcasting and Audio Sensations Productions]
* [http://www.bigbandjump.com Official Big Band Jump website (with streaming audio)]