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1550 AM, Hastings

City of License: Hastings

First Air Date: April 15, 1964

Operating Power: 500 watts, daytime only

Original Call Letters: KICS

General Manager: James A. Lambros, Jr.

Issued To: K Baar J Inc. (James Lambros, President)

Tagged:

Bob Templeton Brian Griffey Craig Eckert Dave Nixon David Oldfather Dean Sorenson E. Eugene McCoy Jr Edward H. Tricker Jack Dinsdale James A Lambros Jr James DePalma Jerry Hinrikus John McMillan Richard Chapin Robert D. Hanna Roy Crocker Wayne Specht

Through the Years

  • 1964

    April 15, 1964-  KICS signs on.  Transmitter/studio-U.S. Highway 6, on southeast edge of Hastings, NE.

  • 1965

    February, 1965-KICS FM signs on. Separate programming from KICS AM.

  • 1967

    September, 1967- KICS A/F sold to Hastings Broadcasting, Inc.  (Jack Dinsdale, President) for $80,000.  VP & GM is Dave Nixon.

    Pre-sunrise authorized to 380 watts .

  • 1968

    ABC Network.  KICS FM duplicates KICS AM programming 100%.

  • 1969

    General Manager- John McMillan.  KICS FM duplicates KICS AM 50%.

  • 1970

    General Manager- Bob Templeton    Format-Contemporary

  • 1975

    February, 1975- KICS AM, including KICS FM is sold to Apache Broadcasting Corporation for $160,000.

  • 1978

    December, 1978-  Apache Broadcasting sells to Highwood Broadcasting Company for $475,000, including KICS FM.   President/General Manager- James DePalma.

  • 1983

    January, 1983- Stations are sold to Tri Cities Broadcasting, Inc. (R.D. Hanna, President, Edward H. Tricker) for $800,000.   General Manager- Jerry Hinrikus.

  • 1984

    Format AC/Oldies   General Manager- Brian Griffey.

  • 1985

    Transfer full ownership from half partner Robert D. Hanna to Edward H. Tricker for assumption of liabilities.  Sale includes KEZH FM (formerly KICS FM) and KROX 1260 AM, Crookston, MN.

  • 1988

    Mutual Broadcasting System network on KICS.

  • 1990

    September, 1990-KICS is sold to Heartland Radio, Inc. (E. Eugene McCoy Jr) for $570,000, including KEZH FM.   General Manager- Roy Crocker.

  • 1994

    KICS flips format to News/Talk.

  • 1996

    Nighttime power is authorized for 27 watts, unlimited hours.

  • 1997

    July, 1997-  Osage Radio, Inc (E. Eugene McCoy Jr) sells to Three Eagles Communications as part of a package that includes KEZH FM, plus KZEN, Central City, NE, and KNJP, Sargent, NE for $2.1million for stock.   Format- Nostalgia “Music of Your Life.”

    November, 1997- KICS call letters are changed to KMEM.

  • 1998

    July, 1998- KMEM call letters are changed back to KICS.

    August, 1998-KICS is sold by Three Eagles Communications to KHAS Broadcasting, Inc. for $110,000.  General Manager/Owner- Wayne Specht.   Address is 500 East J. Street.

  • 1999

    Power and restrictions upgraded to 1,000 wats, unlimited.  Address- 200 Tribune Building.  CBS Network, Adult Contemporary format.

    Transmitter finally noted as South Emerson Avenue, between D & E Streets.

  • 2002

    KICS goes to 24 hours operation.

  • 2005

    February, 2005-Platte River Broadcasting (David Oldfather, Craig Eckert) Eckert is General Manager buys KICS along with KHAS 1230 AM from KHAS Broadcasting for $560,000.

    October, 2005- Eternal Broadcasting ( Dean Sorenson, Richard Chapin) plan to sell KLIQ FM to Platte River Broadcasting for $700,000.  KLIQ and KKPR, Kearney cover the entire Tri-Cities area, while the AM stations’ main coverage areas are more limited to their communities of license.  No format or staff changes.

  • 2018

    KICS 1550 AM adds FM translator K224FK 92.7, 250 watts.

  • 2022

    Control sold to Flood Communications as part of a package that includes KKPR 98.9 FM, KXPN 1460 AM,  Kearney, KHAS 1230 AM, Hastings and KLIQ 94.5 FM Grand Island and associated translators.  Seller Platte River Radio receives $1.08million for the package while retaining 45% ownership of the stations.