96.5 FM, Grand Island

Through the Years

• 1975

  October 30, 1975-  KRGI FM 96.5 signs on, 100,000 watts at 419 feet.  Transmitter location- Hall County Rd 16 (S North Road) south of county road 25 (W Schimmer Dr), about 2.7 miles southwest of Grand Island city limits.  Studios co-located with KRGI AM at 311 South Locust Street.  Programming is separate from the AM.

• 1980

  Studios move to 3205 W North Front St.

• 1981

  KRGI FM programming described as Country, add ABC Entertainment network.

• 1986

  KRGI AM & FM are sold by Grand Island Broadcasting Co. (subsidiary of Stuart Broadcasting Co. James Stuart and 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 to 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 FM format adjusted to Hot Country.

• 2003

  JRK Broadcasting (John 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.

• 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.