WKKX

WKKX

Wheeling, West Virginia
Broadcast area	Wheeling, West Virginia
Frequency	1600 kHz
Branding	AM 1600 WKKX
Programming
Format	News / Talk
Affiliations	Fox Sports Radio (formerly ESPN Radio)
Ownership
Owner	RCK-1 Group LLC
Technical information
Class	D Region 2 Station Class
ERP	5,000 watts (day) / 33 watts (night)
Links
Website	WKKX.com

WKKX (1600 AM) is a local talk radio station operating out of Wheeling, West Virginia, currently being the only talk-radio station in the market to provide local content from 6AM to sundown. Beginning at 6 a.m., the schedule includes four daily programs as well as coverage of local sports. The station offered an all ESPN Radio format until RCK 1 Group's managing partner Robert Fitzsimmons, a nationally-known attorney who practices law out of Wheeling, purchased the station in hopes of providing a local talk radio station to counter the syndication supplied by WWVA. The station's offices and studios are located on the 1st floor of Absure Towers along Main Street in downtown Wheeling, and AM 1600 WKKX is news partners with WTRF TV Channel 7. All of WKKX's programming can also be heard on the internet via the station's website.

Shows

All shows on WKKX have two anchors, the main host in which the show centers around, and a co-host who maintains the switchboard for callers.

Daily Shows

Whole Lotta Luv (6:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

John "Mutha Luv" Blackmore and Brad "Biff" Leonard host this popular morning program that features both levity and hard-hitting news coverage. Blackmore and Leonard initiate interaction with the Ohio Valley area concerning news, politics and the issues most important to West Virginia's northern panhandle and to the East Ohio region. From local law enforcement officials to federal lawmakers, the "Whole Lotta Luv" program offers a wide range of guests and also features special segments that include the insights of local legal and medical sources.

The Broadcast (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM)

Hosted by former WTOV anchor Sherrie McCutcheon and co-hosted by Lola Miller, the program is billed as one with a female point of view. Sherrie and Lola account for the first and only female hosts on the station thus far. The hosts welcome both male and female views and provide needed information on specific topics such as animal care on Thursday's with an accredited vet.

Steve Novotney Live (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

Steve Novotney, the former AM 1170 WWVA drive-time host, offers a more experienced opinion during his time slot. After a two-year stint at WWVA, Novotney's service were terminated by Clear Channel as the corporation prepared to sell the heritage station. Novotney, however, was hired in July for the 12-3 p.m. shift on WKKX and he concentrates on covering the Ohio Valley. Novotney is also a writer for several newspapers, including the State Journal, the Charleston Daily Mail, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and he also writes columns for the web site, www.forwhomthebelltollsohiovalley.com.

George Kellas (3:00 PM - Sundown (either 6 or 7 PM)

Kellas was the cornerstone of WKKX's lineup having compiled a storied history in the Ohio Valley up until his recent death from a lost battle with cancer in February 2009. Kellas served as a sports anchor for both WTRF and WTOV, as a former host of a WWVA radio show, and former owner of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. The topics of his shows were wide and varied, but most focused on lambasting "Corporate America", such as Wal-Mart. Kellas was known to be very passionate about the issues he discussed, and on occasion a topic would be brought up during the day that fired up a usually even-tempered host. Kellas supported local businesses, and had regular call-in advertisers who promote a daily special or to provide information about their business.

While Steve Novotney had been taking over for the show during Kellas' final days and after his death, it is currently uncertain who will be permanently taking over the show.

Special Weekday Shows

The Legislative Watchdawg (Wednesdays 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)

A round-table discussion on local and national politics. The opinions are usually of a democratic slant, although different views have been taken from time to time.

Whispers Radio (Tuesdays 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

Whispers Radio is a paranormal themed radio show hosted by Jordan Cline and Nick Queen and tends to be interview-based. Topics range from ghosts to cryptozoology to UFOs, as well as others that fall into the general paranormal realm. The show is growing in popularity not only locally but also via the internet as a podcast, distributed via iTunes and other services. This is due to a varied roster of guests including Stanton Friedman, Michael Cremo and many others.

Saturday Shows

The Saturday Sports Huddle (Saturdays 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM)

Weekday host Steve Novotney hosts a round-table discussion each Saturday morning that covers local, regional and national sports topics. Novotney is joined each week by Jerry Ames, Chad Anthony and station operations manager Doug Boyd. All four home-grown personalities have competed in Ohio Valley high school athletics for Linsly School (Novotney), Wheeling Central Catholic (Ames and Anthony) and Wheeling Park High (Boyd).

Round Up The Hounds (Saturdays 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM)

Kellas is joined by Sammy "The Bull" Zavatsky each week to discuss greyhound racing, a staple of the Ohio Valley. Kellas and Zavatsky examine the Saturday afternoon greyhound racing lineup at Wheeling Island Hotel Casino and Racetrack, and all issues surrounding West Virginia's live racing industry.

Other Shows

FOX Sports Radio

When no local programming is being broadcast, the station will switch to FOX Sports Radio, which provides shows such as Gametime React and The Third Shift.

Wheeling Jamboree/Jamboree USA

It has been recently reported that WKKX had acquired the rights to broadcast the Wheeling Jamboree. However, due to the Capitol Music Hall (the former home of the Jamboree) being bought and the Jamboree more than likely to return to the Capitol upon its reopening, WKKX will more than likely retain those rights if and when the show resumes under its original name, "Jamboree USA".

Trivia

• During the Sago Mine tragedy, Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church promised to picket the funerals of the victims killed in the collapse of the mine, believing that the deaths were God's way of punishing America for sinful behavior. On one of the days leading up to the funerals, Phelps called into the Kellas show to provide his viewpoint. During the call, Kellas was commended for not losing his temper with Phelps and letting him speak his case (although he had revealed that he considered "blowing him up", an inside term for dropping a caller by using a bomb drop and blow sound effect), because Kellas "wanted Phelps to call again", most likely to provide an example of intolerance.
• Kellas has regularly referred to WWVA as "the bastards down the street", making reference to their nearby location to the Capitol Music Hall in which WWVA's studios are located. Kellas was reported to have an ugly situation involving WWVA's parent company, Clear Channel, which resulted in his departure from the station.

Future

WKKX used to broadcast from the Laconia Building on Market Street until conflicts with local politicians forced their lease to suddenly end. They have since moved to a building on Main Street along the river front where their banner is quite visible. However, station owner Bob Fitzsimmons, owns a parking lot across the street from the main street location, and they are planning to build a studio there. The rumors about WKKX owners expanding their communication footprint in the Ohio Valley have appeared to have ceased for now.

On February of 2009, George Kellas lost a battle with cancer and passed away, leaving a gaping hole in the WKKX lineup. It is unclear who will take over the show, as no plans have been mentioned, most likely to give time for mourning for who had been known as a local broadcasting legend in the WKKX market area.

In Feburary 2009, Kellas's replacement, Todd Jeffers passed away due to suspicious resons. It is unsure of who will take over the open spots.

External links

• WKKX.com
• Whispers Radio Homepage
• Template:AML
• Template:AMQ
• WKKX in Nielsen Audio's AM station database