1430 AM, Grand Island

Through the Years

• 1953

  April 1, 1953-  KRGI AM signs on at 1430 kHz, 1,000 watts with unlimited hours of operation.  Directional pattern antenna at night with three towers.   Studio: 315 South Locust  Transmitter: North side of U.S. 34, 5 miles southeast of town.

  Owner: Grand Island Broadcasting Co. (Robert Lester, Wilber Bachman, Jake Grasmick, Walter Siebert, Samuel Wohlback, Wick Heath)  [During construction permit phase, Samuel Wolhback retired and sold his 20% interest in equal parts to Robert Lester and Wilber Bachman.  Total consideration- $10,000.]

• 1957

  Grand Island Broadcasting Company (Robert Lester & Associates) sells to James L. Stuart (subsidiary of Stuart Investments, Richard Chapin VP) for $145,000.  Stuart owns KFOR, Lincoln.  Bob McKune is named General Manager.

• 1959

  Granted assignment of license to Grand Island Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

• 1963

  Daytime power is increased to 5,000 watts.  Remains at 1,000 watts at night, directional.   Station begins long time affiliation with ABC network.

• 1966

  Gary Fries is named General Manager, and stays for two years.

• 1974

  Programming is described as Middle of the Road, Top 40.

• 1975

  KRGI FM signs on.  Programming is separate from KRGI AM.

• 1980

  Studios move to 3205 W North Front Street.

• 1983

  Format is adjusted to Adult Contemporary

• 1986

  KRGI AM & FM are sold by Grand Island Broadcasting Co. (subsidiary of Stuart Broadcasting Co. James Stuart & family) to Harris Enterprises Inc.  (John P. Harris and family) for $3 million, comprising $1.5 million in cash and remainder in a note at 9.5% over seven years.

• 1991

  KRGI AM/FM sold by KRGI Inc. (subsidiary of Harris Enterprises headed by Lloyd Ballhagen) to JRK Broadcasting Ltd (John R. Kidd) for $1.95 million.

• 1992

  Lyle Nelson is General Manager until the sale of the stations in 1996.

• 1996

  JRK buys KMMJ, Grand Island and KLRB (later KRGY, Aurora) for $700,000.  Stations move in with KRGI at 3205 W North Front Street.

• 1999

  KRGI AM format adds News-Talk to Adult Contemporary mix.

• 2003

  JRK Broadcasting (J.R. Kidd, President) sells KRGI AM/FM as part of a package that includes KMMJ Grand Island and KRGY Aurora to Steckline Broadcasting (Gregory R. Steckline) for $2 million.  KRGI AM format News-Talk.

• 2004

  Steckline Communications LLC (Gregory R. Steckline) sells KRGI AM/FM as part of a package that includes KMMJ Grand Island, KRGY FM Aurora, and KIMB Kimball to Legacy Communications LLC (Jay Vavricek) for $4.75 million.

• 2018

  Translator for KRGI AM rebroadcast signs on , K288HC, 105.5 FM, 250 watts, located on the KRGI FM tower.

• 2024

  Legacy Communications applies to switch to non-directional operation 24 hours/day, replacing the current 1,000 watt night time directional pattern with 21 watts non-directional.  The switch would allow two towers to be removed from service.  The station would remain 5,000 watts non-directional during the day.  Due to the drop in night time power, the station’s class would change from B to D.