MAKING (RADIO) WAVES: Del Hughes, 74, of Heber Springs, longtime host of Down the Gospel Road, a Sunday morning radio gospel music show on KWCK-FM, 99.9, in Searcy has been honored with the monthly Golden Mic Award in the April edition of Singing News magazine. His show, which began on the station in 1982 and airs from 8 a.m. to noon, is the longest continuous gospel music show in central Arkansas.
OFF THE AIR: Meanwhile, KARN-FM, 102.9, News Radio in Little Rock fired three employees Thursday, according to former radio director Dave Elswick’s and former morning show host Bob Steel’s Facebook pages.
News director Jack Heinritz was also terminated.
The station is owned by Cumulus Media.
Elswick’s Facebook status from Thursday night states: “I ask for your prayers tonight. After nearly 14 years on KARN I was fired by Cumulus Media. Bob Steel and News Director Jack Heintz [sic] were also fired.
I have no idea what will be on the station tomorrow.
Know that I love everyone of you who have supported me over these years. God Bless.”
Sources say the three were called into a meeting with Cumulus executive Randall Bloomquist of Atlanta shortly after Elswick’s show ended Thursday and were told their services were no longer needed.
Calls to Cumulus Media were not immediately returned. A Friday morning post from Bob Steel on his Facebook page attributes the decision to one aimed at reducing expenses to grow revenue.
“Many stations across the country have seen a decline in ratings with the explosion in social media and the Internet, not to mention the number of over-the-air and satellite competitors,” he explains.
Steel’s hour-long Arkansas Fairways and Greens golf show, airing at 7 a.m.
Saturdays, will continue on KARN and the Arkansas Radio Network.
ARKANSAS DEBUT: Devil’s Knot, a film based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Arkansas author Mara Leveritt, will have its U.S. theatrical premiere held in Little Rock. The film, which recounts the murder of three young boys in West Memphis and the three men who were charged and convicted of the crime, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the Ron Robinson Theater in the River Market District.
Leveritt and the film’s director, Academy Award nominee Atom Egoyan, will attend, as will several cast members. No word yet on whether that includes stars Reese Witherspoon or Colin Firth.
AS SEEN ON TV: Brinkley native and Harlem Globetrotters basketball player Herb “Flight Time” Lang wears a Brinkley Tigers T-shirt during his current and third appearance on CBS’ Amazing Race with teammate Nate “Big Easy” Lofton.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A crew from The Larry King Live Show plans to visit the Benton School District in about a month to film a segment, expected to air in the fall, on how and why the district excels in leading learners into the 21st century.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 04/06/2014