780 AM | 96.1 FM 

“YOURS FOR WESTERN ALASKA”

(907) 443-5221

Caitlin, Spot-On

Producer and Morning Show host Caitlin Whyte.

She’s come a long way to help make our mission possible, and she’s the first voice many of our listeners hear every weekday. First-year volunteer Caitlin Whyte, most recently a resident of New York City, is now our Morning Show host and, in her off-air hours, a producer at KNOM.

Still part of the family

Speaking of our facilities and equipment: we’d be remiss not to offer our thanks to Les Brown, the longtime volunteer engineer who, although retired from daily service at our mission, still contributes his considerable expertise and guidance to KNOM. Les (seen here at KNOM during his last visit to Nome, in 2011) has been part […]

Whales!

The temperatures are hovering in the low-50s, and our region’s families are fishing, hunting, and preparing to gather greens and berries. They are also listening to KNOM. The radio is a constant companion for thousands of Alaskans, and if they could, they would thank all who make this radio ministry possible! Last week, KNOM staff covered a […]

Made it to 42!

As you may know, on July 14, 1971, a dedicated staff of volunteers helped to launch a new kind of radio station. KNOM signed on as a mission radio station: a unifying source of inspiration, education, news, and entertainment. At 42 years old, KNOM is the oldest Catholic radio station in the United States. Since 1971, we […]

July ’70: Applying for the letters K-N-O-M

July 17, 1970 The Nome Catholic radio project’s pro bono attorney, Joe Hennessey, applies to the FCC for the call letters KNOM. The following week, he is informed that the call sign KNOM is unavailable because it is already assigned to a Coast Guard schooner, the Chiquimula, which had been scuttled. He dispatches a letter to […]

June ’81: The KNOM Marching Band

June 20, 1981 The “KNOM Marching Band” captures second place in Nome’s Midnight Sun Festival parade, organized by Mary Yanikoski. In pouring rain, a group of kids walk down Front Street, wearing KNOM 10th anniversary T-shirts. Each child carries a portable radio blaring the KNOM signal, which is playing march music over the air. It’s an idea […]

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 […]

February 1993: Hearing the Mass in remote Diomede

February 28, 1993 KNOM volunteer news director Cherie Collins is on incredibly remote Little Diomede Island (pictured above), her small plane having landed on a strip cleared of snow on the Bering Strait ice pack. Diomede does not see a priest more than one or two Sundays a year. On this day, a Sunday, Cherie […]

February 2000: A “great gathering”

February 22, 2000 Once again, it’s time for the Nome region’s great gathering: the Bering Strait Elders & Youth Conference. Now three days long, the 2000 conference explores the theme “Elders reviving traditional festivals and ceremonies.” This year, there are many round table discussions not suitable for airing. Still, KNOM’s live broadcasts total 14 hours.