It’s an exciting season in Western Alaska: the temperatures are warming, our ice and snow cover is melting, and we’re keeping busy.

Recently, some of our KNOM volunteers have traveled by air to select area villages. The flights are free, thanks to a sponsorship with Nome’s Bering Air, a regional airline.

KNOM volunteer public affairs director Matthew Smith traveled to the St. Lawrence Island village of Savoonga, where he spent two days interviewing village elders and sent back reports for KNOM's Update News broadcasts.

Volunteer production director Matty Guiffré traveled to Little Diomede, an island community on the western fringes of Alaska located just a mile from the International Date Line (and within view of the Russian island of Big Diomede). Flights by airplane are only possible as long as the sea ice holds up and the frozen landing strip can service fixed-wing aircraft. In Diomede, Matty interviewed villagers and produced newsworthy stories for air on KNOM.

Matty also produces KNOM's newest program, Caught Doing Something Good. The show exists to capture the stories of young people in our region: to spread awareness of the good things they are doing in Western Alaska. Each episode of CDSG features an interview with a Western Alaskan student and puts a spotlight on the impact he or she is having in the community.

Matty’s mission statement for the program reads,

The program, first and foremost, exists to inspire people in the region, especially youth. Hearing stories about youth doing good things in Western Alaska is meant to provide an inspirational outlet… (and) this is a great opportunity for people to be reminded about all the good that exists in the world.

Even though Caught Doing Something Good is a brand new show, the goal of connecting with Western Alaska’s communities has been part of our radio mission from the very beginning. That’s why, last month, we were so excited to learn that KNOM had won the National Association of Broadcasters’ Crystal Award, which recognizes excellence in community service. Our station was one of just ten stations to receive a 2012 Crystal.

The 2012 Crystal is our fifth; KNOM also took home this prestigious honor in 1987 (the first year the Crystal was offered), 2000, 2003, and 2005. We’re the fourth radio station to have won five Crystals. This award recognizes all our efforts to reach out to thousands of families in the remote villages of bush Alaska, and as always, we gratefully share this award with everyone who supports and sustains our mission. Congratulations!

Finally, thanks are in order to radio engineers and technical specialists Les Brown, Chuck Lakaytis, and Rolland Trowbridge, who recently combined their efforts to install a new system of power management – known as dynamic carrier control – at our AM transmitter. Recently approved for use by the Federal Communications Commission (or FCC), this modification should save KNOM between 18% and 25% on our electricity bill!

Les and Rolland also concluded their inspection of the KNOM buildings and grounds to help guarantee our safety and to make sure that any repairs are scheduled and performed. Taking care of the equipment and facilities entrusted to our care is a high priority.

As always, we are working every day to make sure that the people of Western Alaska are well served by KNOM, 24 hours a day. KNOM is a constant companion to thousands of families. We strive to serve all of our listeners with great programming to enrich and uplift their lives.

We continue to thank everyone who prays for and contributes to KNOM! We remain “Yours For Western Alaska”!