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97.3 FM, Aurora

City of License: Aurora

First Air Date: March 1, 1980

Operating Power: 2,250 watts

Original Call Letters: KIAE

Format: Country & Western

General Manager: Stephen G. Kafka

News Director: Stephen G. Kafka

Chief Engineer: Emery Rodabaugh

Date of FCC Issue: May 30, 1980

Issued To: Kafka

Tagged:

Bernard Land Bernard Wiland Brad Fossberg Chris Loghry Coby Mach Dale Stephens Del Meyer Emery Rodabuagh Gene Hornburg Gregory R. Steckline J.D. Blue Jack McConnell Jay Vavricek Jeff Dale Jen Evans Jim Davis John R. Kidd Karen Land Lyle Nelson Murray Carstens Shawn Schleif Stephen G. Kafka Tom Robson Tommy Gleason Tony A. Crawford Ty Romsa

Through the Years

  • 1980

    March 1, 1980-KIAE, 97.3 FM, signs on with 2,250 watts at 90 feet.  Transmitter and Studios/offices located at 1235 M Street in Aurora, NE.

  • 1985

    Format flip to AOR/Blues.

    February 22, 1985-  Granted assignment of license from Steven G. Kafka to Mile Hi Broadcasting (Tony A. Crawford, Bernard Wiland) for $55,000 ($25,000 cash, remainder note).   Crawford also owns KRCT AM and FM, Trinidad, Colorado.

    March 26, 1985-Call letters change to KKBB FM.

  • 1986

    March 16, 1986-  KKBB tower height increased to 350 feet. Studio moves to 1227 M Street in Aurora.  Format:  Big Band, Easy Listening.    Tony Crawford, President; Jen Evans, General Manager & General Sales Manager; Dale Stephens, Program Director & News Director;  Gene Harmong, Chief Engineer.

  • 1987

    October 13, 1987-Call letter change to KMTY FM.  Format change to Adult Contemporary/Lite.
    Upgrade to 50,000 watts at 354 feet.  New transmitter location:  Approximately 4 miles west of Aurora, NE, north of U.S. 34. Tony A. Crawford, President & General Manager; Karen Land, Program Director; Jeff Dale, Chief Engineer.    Studio Address changes from Aurora to 3404 West 13th St, Grand Island, NE.

  • 1992

    Format change to Classic Rock. Call letters change to KLRB on February 1, 1992.

  • 1993

    April 12, 1993-  Wright Way Broadcasting Corporation transfers control for assumption of debt, including seller’s obligation on note of $50,995.    Seller:  Tony A. Crawford & Bernard Land, selling 42% of their interest to Ty Romsa and Murray Carstens.

  • 1994

    KLRB is purchased by Central Nebraska Broadcasting, Inc.  (Tommy Gleason, President ) from Wright Way Broadcasting (Ty Ramsa & Murray Carstens) for $374,000.  Buyer owns KAWL AM, KTMX FM, York, NE.  Seller owns KMMJ AM, Central City, NE.

    Tom Robson, General Manager; J.D. Blue, Program Director; Del Meyer, General Sales Manager; Jack McConnell, News Director.

  • 1996

    JRK Broadcasting, L. P.(John R. Kidd, President)  buys KRLB for $700,000, which includes KMMJ AM.  Tom Robson remains as General Manager; Coby Mach, Operations Manager & Program Director; Del Meyer, General Sales Manager.

    JRK also acquired KRGI AM in 1991. Shaun Schleif, General Manager; Chris Loghry, Program Director, Brad Fossberg, News Director.

  • 1998

    Studios/Offices move to 3205 West North Front Street.

  • 1999

    February 22, 1999-  JRK makes a group buy including KRGI AM, KRGI FM and KMMJ AM in addition to owning KLRB.   Lyle Nelson, General Manager; Jim Davis, Operations Manager & Program Director; Gene Hornburg, Chief Engineer.

  • 2001

    August 3, 2001-  Call letter change to KRGY FM.

  • 2003

    JRK (John R. Kidd, President) sells KRGY along with KRGI AM & FM, KMMJ, Grand Island to Steckline Broadcasting (Gregory R. Steckline), Wichita, KS for $2 million.

  • 2004

    Steckline Broadcasting sells KRGY along with KMMJ AM, KRGI AM & FM, Grand Island and KIMB AM, Kimball, NE to Legacy Communications, LLC (Jay Vavricek) for $4.75 million.

  • 2007

    KRGY changes format to Hot Adult Contemporary branded as “Star 97.3”.

  • 2020

    October 1, 2020-  KRGY format change from Hot Adult Contemporary to Classic Rock and branded as “The Wolf”.