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At year’s end, gratitude and service

By on December 23, 2012 in Stories

As 2012 comes to an end, we thank the entire KNOM family for keeping positive programming beaming to thousands of families. Your support affects listeners across 100,000 square miles of snow-covered tundra and the frozen Bering Sea. The KNOM staff and volunteers appreciate the opportunity to serve remote listeners, 24 hours a day!

We wish you could see the young, enthusiastic volunteers recording, editing, and producing inspirational spots, PSAs, news stories, interviews, music, and many other radio programs. These young professionals work tirelessly to make a positive difference throughout Western Alaska. As we have said in the past, KNOM lights the fire of their desire to make a difference in the lives of everyone. We also remember all the past volunteers and staff that helped build up the KNOM radio ministry.

In recognition of all who donate, pray, volunteer, and help KNOM, we offer our gratitude: thank you, and all best wishes for a healthy, happy, and very blessed 2013.

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Christmas lights

By on December 16, 2012 in Photos, Stories
John and Les

In late 1999, former KNOMer John Albers (dressed in brown) works at the base of the station’s FM transmitter tower alongside volunteer engineer Les Brown (blue jacket). Les is holding the Christmas star that, shortly after this photo was taken, was hoisted back to the top of our FM tower; a star has decorated the tower every year since 1971, shining brightly over downtown Nome.

As we move through the dark days of winter and sub-zero weather, KNOM brings light to the lives of remote listeners throughout 100,000 square miles of Western Alaska.

It is a special time of year for the KNOM volunteers. They are far from their families, yet they treasure the gifts of service that they share with each other, the KNOM listeners, and you!

As in years past, the Christmas star is illuminated, and its tiny, bright lights reach into the darkness, sparkling and twinkling with anticipation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. We continue to witness marvelous signs of the great love and support we have for each other. The familiar aroma of a Christmas wreath in our broadcast studio reminds us that, through the cold and darkness, the hope of a new beginning will bring a great light.

From all of us at KNOM, Merry Christmas!

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Christmas greetings, over the airwaves

By on December 9, 2012 in Stories

KNOM broadcasts to remote listeners throughout a signal area roughly the size of California.

With about 4 hours of sunlight each day at this time of year, communication can mean everything to families far away from each other.

Every year, KNOM broadcasts a seven-hour Christmas greeting program (call-in show) in which families separated by hundreds of miles can come together through the radio.

In remote stretches of western Alaska, some of KNOM’s listeners rarely get to see many of their relatives and friends, even at Christmastime. They so enjoy greeting each other during our call-in show, their happy voices spanning hundreds of miles to make a personal connection that their physical distance so often prevents. Listeners of all ages reach out to each other through KNOM to offer Christmas wishes. You can hear their joy and delight as they send out their heartfelt messages of love.

We wish you and everyone you care about the best this joyous Christmas. KNOM’s supporters make a remarkable difference in thousands of lives every day.

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Bright colors in the cold skies, and warm thanks from a listener

By on December 2, 2012 in Photos, Stories
Sunrise over Nome

Sunrise over downtown Nome, Alaska on a clear November morning.

The Northern sky has seen a thousand shades of red and yellow as the sun pokes up in the southeast and sinks into the southwest. There have been beautiful auroras streaming in the night sky: like sparkling, swirling curtains of green and red light. God has blessed us with a bounty of beauty, reminding us, every day, to delight in the splendor of His creation.

A local listener called KNOM on Thanksgiving and asked that her message be passed on to all who support KNOM:

Tell everyone thank you. Thank you for my radio station. Thank you to the volunteers who have traveled so far to be with us. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for the music, prayers, news, and announcements. Thank you for being my friend. God bless and quyanna*.

We pass on these thanks to the entire KNOM family.

*Quyanna means ”thank you” in the Alaska Native languages of our region.

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What we’re thankful for…

By on November 28, 2012 in Stories

The sun dips down a little more each day, as our days get shorter and the light grows dimmer. Yet, the bright voices of our staff and volunteers shine as radio listeners throughout cold, remote western Alaska listen to their favorite radio station: KNOM!

This Thanksgiving, we remembered supporters, past and present, who worked together to fund, create, and operate KNOM radio. As we enter the Christmas season, we give thanks for an incredible KNOM family helping to keep alive the dream of positive, inspirational radio.

Life can be very difficult at times, but by working together, we can help each other: especially those hardy souls in remote locations in Alaska and Russia. Thousands of families tune in each day to share in KNOM’s uplifting programs. We wish we could share their smiles, kind comments, and thanks with everyone who strives to make their lives better.

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Weather reports, and two more Goldie awards

By on November 18, 2012 in Photos, Stories

2012 Goldies

Please pray with us for KNOM friends and family in areas struck by Hurricane Sandy. We pray for a rapid recovery for the devastated communities. May God watch over them as they rebuild.

As our temperatures approach zero, the blustery winds remind us how treacherous the weather can be — day or night. KNOM continues to broadcast timely winter weather warnings and watches every hour of the day to everyone in western Alaska. These critical reports save lives. Our thanks to all who make KNOM possible.

Wonderful news! The Alaska Broadcasters Association has bestowed upon KNOM two more Goldie Awards for broadcast excellence (pictured above). Both awards recognize work done by KNOM volunteer alumnus Matthew Smith, whose produced pieces for the KNOM news department won Goldies in the categories of “Service to Community” and “Service to Children.”

Both of these categories are highly valued in ABA’s annual awards. As always, we share these exciting honors with you and with everyone who makes our mission possible. To our donors, supporters, volunteers, staff, and community members: thank you, and congratulations!

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As the snow falls, thanks from a listener

By on November 11, 2012 in Stories

Temperatures – and snowflakes! – continue to fall, and the ground is solidly frozen. Cold mornings and evenings are highlighted by beautifully colorful sunrises and sunsets. We are truly blessed to be a part of this radio mission serving Western Alaska.

Last week, we received a phone call from a listener. She thanked us for the companionship that KNOM offers, and she said:

Everyone at KNOM sounds so kind and friendly on the air. It seems like everyone at KNOM is visiting with me in my kitchen. And I love the news, music, stories, and the rest. Keep doing a good job, and thank you!

We wish you could have heard her thankful voice to experience, first hand, her appreciation for everyone in the KNOM family. We pass on her kind comments and thanks to all who serve through our radio mission.

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Remembering Tom

By on November 4, 2012 in Photos, Stories
Tom Busch

KNOM friend and founder Tom Busch.

The temperature is dropping, and the days are getting shorter. Although Thanksgiving is weeks away, we continue to count our blessings and be thankful for our amazing KNOM family.

Two years ago, we bid a sad goodbye to longtime KNOM general manager Tom Busch. The following was posted November 1st on our Facebook page by KNOM web director David Dodman:

Today, in a special way, we remember KNOM friend and founder Tom Busch, who passed away on this day in 2010. Today is also the 65th anniversary of Tom’s birthday. We miss Tom dearly and are so appreciative for all he did for our mission and for the people of Western Alaska.

It’s a simple testament to Tom, who, along with his wife Florence, established KNOM as a positive presence to young and old alike. Thank you, Tom and Florence.  You made a world of difference in the lives of generations of Western Alaskans.

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In Western Alaska, winter’s coming – and quickly

By on October 27, 2012 in Photos, Stories
Frozen Snake River mouth, Nome

In winter, the ice on Western Alaska’s rivers – such as the mouth of the Snake River in Nome – becomes thick enough to support people and small vehicles.

The snow covers mountains, hills, and the tundra. On clear nights, we are blessed with colorful auroras as the night sparkles with stars and planets. The scenic majesty of bush Alaska is breathtaking during the day and at night. As the seasons change and the thermometer falls towards zero, we thank all who help us make a positive difference every minute of every day.

Soon, the Bering Sea will turn to a slushy soup of ice crystals. Then the shore ice will fasten itself to the beaches (and the rivers, as pictured above) and the light will fade, declining about six minutes each day. As the seasons change, KNOM is constant in broadcasting critical weather, news, information, inspiration, and entertainment. We owe so much to so many who have helped us for nearly five decades: from planning to engineering, construction, and operation. We are truly blessed!

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A failed sensor and a frozen pipe

By on October 20, 2012 in Stories

At times, KNOM staff and volunteers face a variety of challenges. Last week brought engineering, computer, and plumbing difficulties, but with the help of professionals and an energetic staff, each problem was identified, and, when possible, solved.

Among our glitches was a malfunctioning temperature sensor at our studio building. The sensor is designed to feed live temperature data to our on-air deejays, so that we can announce local weather conditions as they change. After a visual inspection and a reboot of the computer attached to the sensor, our temperature readings are now accurate and back to normal.

As our repaired temperature sensor will attest, Nome’s temperatures are now consistently falling below the freezing point, and last week this caused a problem: the main water lines leading into the KNOM studio building froze. The water slowed to a trickle, then stopped! Every time there is a plumbing problem, however, our favorite plumbers stop what they are doing (this time it was an installation of a heating system) and come to our aid. The frozen pipe was thawed, and once again, the water is flowing.

We thank all who help to keep the heat and lights on (and all the other utilities working properly!). We so appreciate all they do for us.

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