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The WNKI Studio
in Idyllwild, CA |
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The Station’s
1610 AM Antenna |
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Idyllwild,
California |
March 2014 |
The
WNKI Story by Station Operator Bill Tell |
The
radio station has seen a few incarnations since its
inception back in 1988. Original station announcements
were provided using continuous-loop tape reels, when
Station Founder George Covington first broadcast from
WNKI.
Then in the summer of 1991, Mr. Carroll Lindholm
programmed and paid for a new computer system, just as
local residents donated time and money to set WNKI up in
the first place. A newer version of this software that
Mr. Lindholm also wrote is still running the station to
this day. A true testament to the WNKI’s founders for
their perseverance, intelligence and overall community
spirit.
During the 1996 Bee Canyon Fire, everyone (firefighters)
had an AM radio, everywhere. They were getting their
information from “WNKI.” WNKI broadcast the size of the
fire, numbers of equipment and personnel, where it was
located, how it involved it and what it was threatening.
With supervisors using the regular frequencies, the
firefighters guarding homes only had WNKI to rely on, as
George Covington broadcast the information that came
from the agencies’ dispatch offices.
With advances in today’s technology, WNKI is looking
forward to the next round of upgrades, improved
broadcast performance and ease of operation putting it
on track to operate well into the future. |
Related Links
""WINKY"
Gets a Thumbs-UpPlans to Expand Its Emergency Service;
"across the Hill," The Source Information Radio
Newsletter, May 2018.
See 2018 press release regarding the Cranston Fire.
"'WNKI' Eyes
Expansion," The Source
Information Radio Newsletter,
March 2014
Alert Stations across
America
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