On Thursday, McDowell County’s long-time radio station WBRM AM 1250 celebrated 70 years of broadcasting music, news, sports and community announcements with a big party complete with fun, fellowship and food.
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On your FM dial: WBRM announces dual signals
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MIKE CONLEY/MCDOWELL NEWS
During Thursday’s celebration of WBRM’s 70th anniversary, officials from McDowell County, the city of Marion and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the station. The big highlight of the event was the announcement by owner Annette Bryant that her station is now on the FM dial at 103.9 as well as still being on AM at 1250.
MIKE CONLEY/MCDOWELL NEWS
On Thursday, McDowell County’s long-time radio station WBRM AM 1250 celebrated 70 years of broadcasting music, news, sports and community announcements with a big party complete with nostalgia, fellowship and food. And as the highlight for the celebration, owner Annette Bryant made a big announcement concerning her station’s future: WBRM is now broadcasting in FM as well as AM. WBRM can be found on the FM dial at 103.9 and it can still be heard on AM at 1250.
MIKE CONLEY/MCDOWELL NEWS
During Thursday’s celebration of WBRM’s 70th anniversary, owner Annette Bryant received a plaque from McDowell Chamber of Commerce Director Steve Bush.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WBRM
Coach Richard Laney would sit in with sports director/announcer Van McKinney and add local color to the ballgames that were broadcast over WBRM.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WBRM
Sports director/announcer Van McKinney (right) and sports announcer Walt Bagwell (left) are calling a football game over the radio during a very cold night at East Burke High School.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WBRM
In 2003, beloved WBRM announcer Sam Paul Combs retired from his long career in broadcasting. A reception was held in his honor at Carolina Chocolatiers, shortly after Combs said goodbye to his radio audience. At the reception were (from left) station owner Annette Bryant, sales manager Mike Bryant, Combs, announcer Bruce Ikard, officer manager Gail Sewell and news and sports director/announcer Van McKinney.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WBRM
In this photo, Mike Bryant is interviewing Carol Holt at the Walmart in Marion during an Operation Backpack remote. Bryant is the son of station owner Annette Bryant and has been sales manager since January 2001. Carol Holt is the events coordinator for Walmart and has helped the radio station with the Operation Backpack remote for many years. “We set up in front of the store and periodically during our broadcast Walmart will runs specials on school supplies during the two hours we are there,” said Annette Bryant.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WBRM
This is the tower and AM transmitter for WBRM, located along Roby Conley Road. Owner Annette Bryant said this photo was taken Nov. 14, 2011, the day the grass had been sown. The new FM transmitter is located on Grant's Mountain.
FILE PHOTO
During the week of Jan. 29, 1985, McDowell elementary school students received a hands-on experience in the area of communications with their new radio segment called “School News Today.” It was broadcast on radio station WBRM. The students recorded the one-minute show in the newsroom of the station. Pictured getting ready for their radio debut were (from left) Rebecca Cross, Tess Rumfelt, Andy Baker, Jay Neal and Kerry Cloherty, all Marion Elementary students. WBRM announcer Kevin Estes was there lending them a hand. This photo is from The McDowell News archives.
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