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“YOURS FOR WESTERN ALASKA”

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Our 42nd birthday!

Did you know? KNOM turns 42 this month. It was on July 14, 1971 that KNOM-AM first went on the air, with a broadcast initiated by Bishop Robert Whelan, pictured. We’ve been on the air ever since, with the support of so many volunteers, staffers, community members, and of course, kind donors like you. This […]

June ’87: Fixes at the transmitter site

June 8, 1987 Chief engineer Timothy Cochran and general manager Tom Busch extend the 120 ground wires at the AM transmitter site to 320 feet, 1/4 wavelength at KNOM’s frequency. Because of a shipping error back in 1971, the ground wires had been a hundred feet short for 16 years, but the money is finally in place […]

Re-connecting with family

Volunteer Eva DeLappe (pictured, left) had a special guest earlier this spring: her twin sister Sarah (right), who spent a week visiting Nome. The week included a special celebration: both sisters’ birthday. The two also co-hosted an on-air music show, went snowshoeing near Nome, and traveled together to the community of Unalakleet (YOU-nuh-luh-kleet) to report […]

May 1998: Plane crash near Nome

May 14, 1998 A Cessna Caravan airplane with ten people aboard crashes on a hilltop three miles north of Nome in near zero visibility. KNOM broadcasts frequent live reports from search and rescue headquarters and from the scene as rescuers battle heavy snow and fog looking for the aircraft. This is one of many crashes […]

Construction update

Work on our studio expansion project – the Tom and Florence Busch Digital Studios – has reached an important milestone! Thanks to your continued support, our dedicated construction crew has been able to complete the outside “box” of our annex: its floor, walls, and a sturdy, insulated roof, all of which can be seen, inside […]

April ice, and a prestigious award

The winter weather continues: temperatures hover near zero as more ice forms on the Bering Sea. The frigid temperatures bring dazzling, clear, sunlit days and awe-inspiring nights – with the moon and stars shining brightly in the night sky. We gladly share the congratulations of the entire radio broadcasting community for KNOM’s 2013 Crystal Heritage Award […]

April 1982: New stations in the neighborhood

April 11, 1982 This month, Tom Busch and pioneer Alaska broadcaster Augie Hiebert discover plans by the Canadian government to construct new AM stations that would virtually destroy long distance radio reception in the Alaska bush. They research options that will eliminate this threat.

Happy Easter!

From all of us at KNOM, a very Happy Easter! In Western Alaska, there are already a few signs of spring. The temperatures are warming slightly, the days are rapidly becoming longer, and the moon looms large in the night sky, casting a soft light upon the frozen Bering Sea and ice-covered tundra. The stunning […]

Construction begins!

In recent weeks, KNOM’s volunteers and staff have become well versed in the sounds of hammers, power saws, and heavy machinery, but it’s all for good reason: construction is continuing for the Tom and Florence Busch Digital Studios! After laying the foundation beams late last year, we are now busy building the outside structure of […]

Welcome back, Ben!

A familiar (and smiling) face graced KNOM studios last month: that of volunteer alumnus Ben Matheson, who donated a week of vacation time to help our mission with our coverage of the Norton Sound 450 (described in more detail elsewhere in our March newsletter). Ben’s presence within our studios was invaluable. A two-year veteran of […]