The Manhattan skyline shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
September 11, 2001
Starting at 6am, KNOM airs 68 hours of live, continuous news coverage on the terrible events of today, interrupted only three times: for weather, for important announcements, and for the Rosary.
A snapshot of the plans for the expansion and digital renovation of KNOM studios.
The days are getting shorter, and the first freeze will be here very soon! Berry pickers are busy harvesting buckets of tasty treats, and the fish have finished their runs. Some of the families in our listening area will spend this season canning, freezing, and processing meat, fish, berries, and greens. We rely on the bounty of the land to sustain us, in one way or another, during the dark, cold winters.
Thanks to generous supporters, work will soon begin on the Tom and Florence Busch Digital Studios. Please join us in prayer for a successful completion of this critical project.
We ask for your help with our latest batch of prayer requests. Please pray for all of our KNOM family and, especially, those who have asked for prayers for their families, friends, and special intentions. As we pray for these intentions, we ask God to bless and protect those who need our assistance.
Father Ross – pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Nome and president of the KNOM Radio Mission board of directors – is back in Nome from a short sabbatical. Fr. Ross was a KNOM volunteer in the late 80s and has been a part of the radio mission in one way or another ever since. He was ordained a priest in Nome on July 15, 2001. We are so thankful for his service, guidance and love for KNOM’s critical radio ministry.
Tom Bunger and John Kelsey in KNOM’s engineering room.
Last week, the technical dynamic duo of John Kelsey and Tom Bunger (pictured above) visited KNOM to help with a myriad of engineering issues. They coordinated with engineering volunteer Rolland Trowbridge to fix, restore, renew, and update radio equipment throughout the KNOM studio building. The improvements will extend the life of some of our equipment and increase the productivity of our computer systems. We thank all who keep KNOM on the air!
Amy (Flaherty) Gorn, who served at KNOM Radio for over six years: first as a volunteer, and then as a permanent staff member in the position of public affairs director.
September 1, 2008
After more than six years of service to the mission, Amy Flaherty departs for more urban parts of Alaska. She has produced hundreds of programs and news interviews. Her replacement is Laureli Kinneen, who grew up in the town of Unalakleet, 146 miles southeast of Nome. Her husband Fen was raised in Nome and, like Laureli, grew up a KNOM listener.
For a town of just 3,000 people, Nome receives lots of air traffic: including this Coast Guard plane a few days before Christmas 2011. For travelers to southern Alaska or to the Lower 48, air travel is the only way out.
As you may know, the Western Alaska communities that we serve are not connected to the state’s road system. Our ability to travel and to transport goods is thoroughly dependent upon commercial and cargo airlines and, especially, upon the weather. Lately, low visibility and other poor conditions have forced the cancellation of a number of Nome-bound flights.
When our planes don’t fly, cargo (mainly food) and weary passengers end up waiting days to arrive at their destination. Fruit and vegetables bound for rural Alaska may sit for days in warehouses and on runways; the food often spoils, and many frozen foods thaw.
Last week, KNOM’s newest volunteers, Daynee Rosales and Eva DeLappe, were due to arrive at our mission to begin their respective years of service. However, both were diverted to Anchorage when fog and other poor conditions prevented their flights from landing in Nome. After layovers of 12-24 hours in Alaska’s largest city, both Daynee and Eva finally arrived at the Nome airport to hugs and happy smiles from the KNOM staff.
Daynee and Eva have just begun their two-week training programs. We are so thankful for their service.
Rural Alaska’s brief summer brings more than its share of unique challenges, many of which we can anticipate. Every year, nonetheless, unexpected emergencies find a way of catching us by surprise.
This summer, our friends at the National Weather Service are working with KNOM to overcome their latest difficulties. Normally, weather reports air on both a special National Weather Service radio channel and on KNOM. Recently, however, the Weather Service’s radio channel has fallen into disrepair.
Until a repairman can be flown to Nome, KNOM’s role as a primary source of critical weather information will be even greater.
KNOM engineer Rolland Trowbridge performs maintenance checks on our backup power generator.
Summer storms continue to dump lots of rain, and some streams and rivers are swollen with water and fish. We have seen wonderful examples of folks sharing their catch with elders and families who really savor these fresh food staples.
Recently, KNOM opened its doors to the Coast Guard to inform our listeners about voluntary inspections of boats and other craft intended to help ensure public safety throughout Western Alaska’s waterways. You can be proud of the caliber and caring nature of these young men and women. They are committed to keeping us safe.
Super volunteer engineer Rolland Trowbridge continues to save our mission time and resources. He just got back from a well-deserved vacation with his family. He wasted no time in replacing the fan on our satellite receiver, fixing headphones, and documenting equipment upgrades. Our sincere thanks to Rolland and to everyone who makes KNOM possible.
An example of maars (albeit in southwestern Alaska, rather than the Seward Peninsula); these are the Ukinrek Maars on the Alaska Peninsula, as photographed in 1977.
August 6, 1993
On KNOM’s daily feature interview program, Alaska volcanologist Jim Beget informs listeners that the large lakes on the northern Seward Peninsula are actually maars, the widest volcanic openings in the world. They last erupted ten thousand years ago.
Engineer, technology guru, and former KNOM news director Tom Bunger recently paid a visit to our station and helped us improve our networking and internet connectivity. Here, Tom makes some tweaks to KNOM’s internet wiring. Photo by David Dodman.
Fish are moving upriver, muskoxen are roaming the tundra, and bears are perched at the edge of streams looking for their next meal. Summer in bush Alaska means wildlife and fish reports on KNOM will keep everyone informed and safe.
As summer progresses, our daily high temperatures are typically about 50 degrees, and we have been experiencing record precipitation. We wish we could share our rain with the drought-stricken areas of the “lower 48.” We pray for them and for relief from their extreme dry conditions.
Former KNOM news director Tom Bunger pitched in last week as we worked on technology issues. Tom was visiting Nome and devoted some time to help us streamline our computer and internet operations. His suggestions and work should show immediate savings of $300 to $500 per month. Thanks, Tom!
Former Alaska governor Walter Hickel (right) and wife Ermalee Hickel, photographed in Anchorage, Alaska in 2008.
August 2, 1992
A letter arrives out of the blue from Alaska governor Walter Hickel. “Thank you for your generous commitment and devotion to the communities in the Nome area,” He writes. “Your radio broadcasts are really making a difference.” The governor and his wife are annual KNOM contributors.
