Nearly six months after a microburst destroyed the studio building and AM transmission facilities of News/Talk 920 KLMR and Hot AC “93.5 The Heat” KLMR-FM Lamar CO, new buyers will acquire the stations with the intent of rebuilding and returning them to operational status.
Riverside Communications, owned by Dan and Kathy Cochell and Kirk and Andrea Crespin, will acquire the two stations from 25-7 Media for an undisclosed amount. Dan Cochell currently serves as afternoon news anchor for News Press & Gazette News/Talk 105.5 KRDO-FM Security/Colorado Springs after a previous stint in mornings from 2005 to 2012 and has also worked on-air at KOA Denver and as General Manager of 1580 KREL Colorado Springs. He also worked at the stations in Lamar in the 1990s and will serve as General Manager for the new company. Kirk Crespin is currently the mayor of Lamar and works as IT Officer for a local bank.
Dan Cochell told the Prowers Journal, “In the summer of 2022 I was made aware of a weather-related situation that hit close to home. When a microburst destroyed my home in McClave, Colorado in 1997 I knew the damage it could cause. KLMR is a Heritage station, so when the opportunity presented itself to my family, I jumped at it. I invited my brother-in-law, Kirk Crespin to form Riverside Communications LLC and purchase 920AM and 93.5 FM. We are excited for the opportunity to bring KLMR back to Southeast Colorado. We are proud to be part of the community. I think everyone will be excited when we launch the stations in early 2023. We will have more information soon.”
The microburst came through Lamar on July 23, 2022 with the studio building and tower of 920 KLMR being completely destroyed. 25-7 Media surrendered the two licenses to the FCC in September stating, ““Studios are a complete loss. Unable to restore service for both KLMR-AM (920) & KLMR-FM (93.5) 25-7 Media requesting to cancel both licenses, return spectrum, and release call letters.” A couple of weeks later they requested and were granted the resurrection of the licenses and replaced by Silent STA’s stating the stations are silent for financial reasons.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com