Controversial St. Louis AM Cluster Goes Into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7

The cluster of ST. LOUIS-area AM stations owned by ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TRUST has been plunged into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The stations -- News-Talk WQQW-A/HIGHLAND, IL; News-Talk-Oldies KZQZ-A/ST. LOUIS, MO; News-Talk-Classic Country KQQZ-A/FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL; and News-Talk KFTK-A/EAST ST. LOUIS, IL (LMA'd to ENTERCOM as a simulcast of KFTK-F), plus the construction permit for W275CS/HIGHLAND, IL -- were earlier this year designated for hearing by the FCC to determine whether the licensee, nominally controlled by trustee DENNIS J. WATKINS, is a "straw party" for controversial host BOB ROMANIK, whose INSANE BROADCASTING CO. operates the stations under LMAs, and whether the licensee lacked candor in its dealings with the Commission. A Chapter 7 case was filed in Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of ILLINOIS last week; DONALD M. SAMSON, an attorney in BELLEVILLE, IL, has been appointed trustee for the Chapter 7 liquidation.

In other filings with the FCC, MID-WEST FAMILY BROADCASTING is merging its MID-WAY RADIO, INC. into LONG NINE, INC., leaving the latter as the surviving company. MID-WAY RADIO, INC. is the licensee of Hot AC WDKB/DEKALB, IL; AC WGFB (B103)/ ROCKTON, IL; Sports WNTA-A (SPORTSFAN RADIO 1330) and W246DW/ROCKFORD, IL; Country WRTB (95.3 THE BULL)/WINNEBAGO, IL; Active Rock WXRX (104.9 THE X)/BELVIDERE, IL; and Classic Hits W263BJ-WXRX-HD2 (100 FM)/LOVES PARK, IL. LONG NINE is the licensee of News-Talk WMAY-A, AC WNNS, and W273DR//SPRINGFIELD, IL; Active Rock WQLZ/PETERSBURG, IL; Country WUSW (US 92.7)/TAYLORVILLE, IL; and W234CC/SHERMAN, IL. MID-WEST FAMILY is also moving stations held under its MID-WEST MANAGEMENT, INC. into a new company, CLEAR WATER BRANDS, INC., with the same ownership interests.

CONNOISSEUR MEDIA LICENSES, LLC is selling News-Talk WBYN-A/LEHIGHTON, PA to TWILIGHT BROADCASTING, INC. for $50,000 plus a time brokerage agreement before closing. The buyer has flipped the station from a simulcast of the seller's Sports WEEX-A/EASTON-WTKZ-A/ALLENTOWN (FOX SPORTS LEHIGH VALLEY) to a partial simulcast of its recently-acquired News-Talk WEEU-A/READING.

WILLIAM DARRELL HOLDERFIELD and SUSAN HOLDERFIELD HARRISON are selling their 35% and 25% shares in BOLL WEEVIL COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, licensee of Country WVVL (WEEVIL 101)/ELBA, AL, to 40% partner MICHAEL D. HOLDERFIELD for $17.500 and $12,500, respectively.

Applying for STAs were ARMIDA A. SAILLE (K283CJ and K290BV/ABILENE, TX, temporary site with reduced power to keep the licenses active while looking for a new site) and LEGACY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (KUVR-A and K245CK/HOLDREGE, NE, alternate site to keep the station on the air after being evicted from licensed tower site).

And COMMON COMMUNICATIONS NORTHWEST has closed on the sale of noncommercial Variety KDOA/THE DALLES, OR to OPEN SKY RADIO CORP. for $35,000.

The Commission has also denied ROY E. HENDERSON's application for license renewal of KHTZ/GANADO, TX and has cancelled the station's license as expired. The Media Bureau cited HENDERSON's failure to fulfill its pledge to VICTORIA RADIO WORKS for compensation after the latter's KVIC/VICTORIA, TX had to move to a new frequency to accommodate KHTZ's upgrade; instead of paying the agreed-upon $98,179.08 plus interest, HENDERSON tried to give VICTORIA RADIO WORKS KJAZ/PORT COMFORT, TX instead.

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