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KREJ went on the air April 20, 1990
as the result of efforts by Mike Henry (then pastor of First Baptist
Church of Medicine Lodge), Mike's brother Randy (a religious
broadcaster from Titusville, Florida.), Stan Tedrow and Mike Shinkle
(then pastors of Open Door Fellowship of Medicine Lodge), Price
Construction, and many local supporters.
The new station (with mostly Moody
network programming) was well received, but had limited coverage at
3,000 watts. Thanks to fund raising efforts led by Sam and
Kathy Spicer of Hazelton, a new transmitter and antenna were purchased.
Clarke Corp. of Medicine Lodge donated tower space on their
360 foot tower near Deerhead, Gary Gerber of Anthony
climbed the tower, and on June 20, 1993 KREJ was broadcasting with
50,000 watts at 101.7 FM.
Responding to requests and with
increased support, translator stations were installed in Woodward,
Oklahoma in 1995 at 107.9 FM (now at 97.1 FM) with the help of Glenn
Culp and in Great Bend, Kansas in 1997 at 88.1 FM with the help of Walt
Underwood, enabling these cities to be part of the KREJ coverage area.
An ambitious undertaking began in
1998. Build two 300 foot towers on Gyp Hill Road 4 miles southwest of
Medicine Lodge. One for KREJ and the other for an all music station,
KSNS. Thanks to the efforts of our tower man Fred Heim of
Great Bend, the donation of a tower site by Don Lonker, and generous
support from our listeners, "New Song 91.5 FM" went on the air July 1,
2000 with 25,000 watts. It now broadcasts with 45,000 watts.
KREJ moved to its new tower Jan. 13, 2001.
KREJ/KSNS are non-profit owned and
listener supported. They are part of a small family of radio
stations in Florida, Iowa, and Kansas. Randy and Carol Henry
oversee the larger ministry. Bookkeeping, technical, and
legal
services provided by the corporation help to keep expenses down.
KREJ/KSNS has an annual three day share-a-thon fund raiser,
yielding 200 plus supporters including many area churches and
businesses. God is faithful to supply all our needs.
KREJ is the main station featuring
Christian teaching, talk, drama, local programs, and a variety of
music. KSNS features Contemporary Christian and Praise
& Worship music with Christian Rock on Saturday and Sunday
nights.
Mike Henry remains operations manager along with a great
volunteer staff of Tom
Holloway, Russell Oestereich, Kelly Long, Larry Martin, Allison Reed, and Gary
Moore. Local young people have been
given the opportunity to DJ on weekends
through the years.
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