97.1 FM, North Platte

Through the Years

• 1979

  February, 1979- KELN FM, 100,000 watts at 458 feet signs on.  Studio: 1301 East 4th Street, North Platte.  Transmitter: U.S. 83, 7.4 miles north of North Platte.

  Format, Top 40 with an Oldies blend.  Network affiliation with Mutual Broadcasting System.

  Call letters are named the Dahl family members, Ed, Larry, and Nelson  (KELN).

• 1982

  Acquired by Valley Communications, Inc. for $810,000 including KAHL AM (KOOQ in 1983).  Seller was Dahl Broadcasting Inc, and Dahl FM Broadcasting, Inc.  Seller was principally owned by A. E. Dahl and son, Nelson E. Dahl, who have no other broadcast interests.  Valley is owned by Ross Beach and Robert E. Schmidt, who are a Hays, Kansas-based group, owners of four AM’s and three TV’s.

• 1985

  KELN 97.1 FM format is Adult Contemporary, with ABC network affiliation.  Gary Shorman is General Manager.

• 1989

  Jim Kamerzell becomes General Manager as Shorman takes on additional corporate duties as COO.

• 1991

  March, 1991-Ross Beach sells controlling interest to Robert E. Schmidt, Beach-Schmidt Group, Hayes, KS as part of a 12-station deal that also includes KOOO AM for $14.14 million.

• 1993

  Don Clonch succeeds Kamerzell as General Manager of the North Platte cluster.

• 1994

  Beach-Schmidt becomes employee-owned Eagle Communications, headquartered in Hays, KS.  Robert E. Schmidt, VP.

• 1998

  Rex Anderson becomes General Manager

• 2003

  Chuck Schwartz is named General Manager.